Fitness Goals and Personal Training

I decided that I would make August-Christmas a big push for weight loss and better fitness.  We started the Sugar Detox again on August 3, and I started personal training last week.  I'm writing this post mostly to have a record of my goals and how I'm feeling at this beginning point.

My Goals:
1. Weigh the same or less than I weighed when I got pregnant
2. For my stomach to be smaller (in inches) than my chest
3. To be able to wear mid-thigh shorts/skirts/dresses without my legs rubbing together so much that it hurts

My Motivation:
1. To be able to run and play with Sara
2. To have more energy
3. To have more freedom in the clothes that I can wear

I was so nervous about beginning personal training, but my former Zumba instructor Margo is doing a lot of personal training now, so that helped me feel more comfortable.  I knew that I could trust her to do a great job.  I wasn't sure if she had worked with many people my size, but she has been incredible at modifying exercises so I can do them.  I know that by continuing to build up my muscles with the modified versions, I will eventually be able to do the full exercise.  For example, I've never in my whole life done a proper push-up, and she tells me I will be able to if I keep working.  She's so gracious about my shortcomings, but doesn't cut me any slack about what I AM able to do.  I've been pretty sore and tired, but I know it's all for my good.

I haven't done the Sugar Detox perfectly this time around, but I'm following it pretty closely.  The very few small cheats I've done were not that serious - I had some watermelon when I can only have berries and apples this week, I ate one slice of pizza when I went to a party and there wasn't anything else to eat.  Overall, I feel good, and it has been much easier this time around.

I'm not 100% sure if I will continue with the Sugar Detox.  Margo suggested that I think about seeing a nutritionist.  I'm going to see how things go as is for a few weeks and then decide if I need to change my diet plan.