51 pounds and 37 inches ago....

Sorry this is a little late. It's been an interesting week, (and to be honest I was finding it a little hard to write). My short term goals did not fair too well this week. I did not work out everyday except for Sunday (I did work out Tuesday through Friday), I did not run/jog any of my workouts, and I did not do 250 sit-ups, crunches or leg lifts. I am also still at 209.4. If we were just looking at my short term goals, I would have failed this week. Even though I didn't complete a single one of my goals this week. I am still proud of the work I did.

My mom and I started working out with John (our personal trainer) and his wife Pam.

This is Pam

 Prior to this week, we had been working out while John encouraged us to keep going. We would use a list of exercises John would put on a whiteboard. I think I have put up some pictures with us laying in front of them. Now we are lifting weights with John and Pam. Let me just say one thing about our work out partners. HOLY WOW! These two can really pump some iron! We lifted on Thursday (chest) and Friday (back) and I am STILL sore! But it's weird, its my upper arms, my shoulders, and my arm pits! Can I just ask: How can one's ARM PITS get sore?!?!

Anyway the best part about this week. My saving grace! We did our measurements again. Its been 12 weeks since we first took measurements. Some of you have probably seen some pictures on Facebook, but here are the ones we really want you to see.



Together, in 12 weeks, we have lost 51 pounds, and 37 inches! My mom has lost 7 inches in just her waist! We have lost a small child between the two of us. John sent me this picture and told me I had lost half of my face! All this work, all this dedication, all this pain, and frustration has proven to be worth it! When we first started this my attitude was so negative. I didn't want to work out, I didn't want to eat better, I wanted the magic fix, but I didn't want to put in the effort. Now I am so glad I have put in this much effort, to get to where I am today. Recently I have come across some old shirts that I couldn't wear because they were too tight, I looked like the Micheline Man. I can now wear them with my head held high, and not have to worry about my tires protruding from my shirt.
Here are my actual numbers:
Chest: 44.25
Waist: 44..75
Hip:46.5
Arm: 12.75
Thigh: 25
Calf: 17.5
Weight 209.4

My goals this week will stay the same, because I didn't reach them.
1. I will jog AT LEAST one workout this week.
2. I will do 250 sits ups/ leg lifts by Thursdays
3. I will work out every day for 30 mins or more this week (except for Sunday)
One thing I must confess, Each day I get up with my head held high, because I have worked so hard to get where I am at. But some days I walk out the door, and I become my old self. I worry about how people see me. I still find myself hiding from people I know in grocery stores. Because I don't want them to see me this way. Some day, I will be able to bump into someone I knew from high school, or someone I knew from before I started this lifestyle change and I am going to shock them! I want to have the confidence to say hi to friends I had in high school, without worrying about what they might think as I walk away. Even though I have lost weight and inches, I still fight to be proud of my figure! Every day that I get up and pack my workout clothes, and my lunch I get one day closer. One day I will walk out my door and my head will not drop at all. 

We have 4 more days of eating clean! This has been one of the best things that I could have ever done! It has also been one of the hardest things I have ever done. On Saturday, my mom, Grandma, Great Grandma and I went to my cousin's fiance's bridal shower. And they had cake! I didn't think it would be that bad, because I had my mom there to help support me. It was THE HARDEST thing I have ever had to do. Everyone (except my mom) around me was eating cake! But this commitment to a healthier lifestyle was just the hand hold I needed to make it through. It has helped me to realize I do have strength over food, and that I do like other things besides Chili-mac and oreos. Thank you all again for your support and comfort, and encouragement. It's been nice to know you all have our backs! 
In order to change we must do things that make us uncomfortable. 
And as always, Remember you can shine no matter what you're made of! 

Another three pounds bites the dust!

Wow, has it really been a week since I wrote last. It feels like it was just yesterday. Time flies when you're losing weight! Ha! Just a little recap catch up from last week. I am now a certified diver (just have some book work to complete)! I am house sitting again, and I have lost another three pounds! Yeah buddy! The official weigh in is 209.4!

My goals from last week went splendid! I took a step back and told myself: It doesn't matter how fast it comes off, all that matters is that the weight is coming off! As I was working on getting my dive certification, I had to wear weights in my vest in order to help me stay under water. I had to wear a weight belt that weighed 14 pounds. I also had to walk up a small hill in order to get from the water to the truck with that weight belt on! I thought I was going to die. It felt soooooo heavy. But when I got to thinking about it, I was carrying that weight around with me EVERYDAY! It really put it into perspective.
I made a new recipe this week! I was so excited, and it was sooooo goooood! I made cilantro lime shrimp! oh man oh man!

I made it with noodles but no sauce. The shrimp itself was delicious, but the noodles needed a little something else. I didn't want to use a red sauce because I thought it would take away from the shrimp. I also didn't want to use a white sauce because well, its really fattening. But I was looking on pinterest and found a recipe to make Alfredo sauce out of cauliflower. So my lucky parents and my cousin Sid, are going to get to try Alfredo this week, using cauliflower!

Now onto the diet part of the blog. First off, I am going to put a disclaimer, or warning in here. So everyone listen up. If you are a boy, man, or someone who is uncomfortable talking about girl problems, you should stop reading now.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
I think the hardest part of any diet is when Aunt Flow and her baggage show up on your doorstep each month! My cravings are through the roof! I don't think I have ever, and I mean EVER craved chocolate and sweets and salts, and grease, and soda, (did I mention chocolate and ice cream), so much in my entire life! I am suppose to be on a month of clean eating and I went 17 days without one piece of chocolate, or one thing I wasn't suppose to be eating. And today it ALL fell apart. (Ok so not all of it but it felt more dramatic) I ate a handful of dark chocolate m&ms. I know, the horror! LOL. I say this because I feel it important that I remember, I am allowed to have a hand full of m&ms every 17 days, if my body says I need it. Knowing our limits, and recognizing the difference between a need, and an addiction is something that a life style change requires. When I first started this whole 30 days of clean eating, it wasn't so that I could be perfect and go the whole 30 days with out indulging ever again. I did it so I could prove to myself that I could go more than 2 or 3 days without indulging. Another lesson learned: It's called a cheat MEAL, not a cheat day, or week, or month, or life. Its one MEAL, one entree! Just because you have a cheat meal doesn't mean you get to go down the rabbit hole again.
This next week, I want to focus on exercise. My goals will focus around that.
1. I will jog AT LEAST one workout this week.
2. I will do 250 sits ups/ leg lifts by Thursdays
3. I will work out every day for 30 mins or more this week (except for Sunday)

I love how I am starting to feel! My clothes are continuing to loosen up, I catch my breath a lot faster, and I walk with more confidence and my head up so I can meet peoples gazes. This week will test my commitment, my strength, and will power. The cravings will only get worse as will the lack of desire to do anything except curl up in a ball, lay on the couch, and watch Netflix with a tub of ice cream and peanut butter and oreos. But I will concur this! I CAN AND I WILL! you just watch me!

As always, remember, you can shine no matter what you're made of!

Like a champ!

Holy cheese and rice! This week has FLOWN by! Over the last week I have celebrating many victories! My goal last week was to lose 5 pounds by Thursday at weigh in, even though I didn't lose 5 pounds, I celebrated the small victory of losing 3 pounds. I am now down to 212! My mom didn't catch me this week (phew!), but she has been working out a lot harder than I have been, so she may beat me this upcoming week. Another small victory was on Friday July 4th, while I was at work, they were handing out cookies. BIG cookies! You know the ones: Store bought, big chocolate chunks, have to break it into fifteen pieces for it to fit into a big gulp size cup of milk. Yeah! Those ones! Anyway, I turned them down! Like a champ! It was a great feeling knowing that I had the will power to say NO!
This week has also been a test of my dedication to weight loss. Over the past couple of years, I have really wanted to learn how to SCUBA dive, and finally for Christmas this past year, my parents surprised me with SCUBA lessons! Two ago, I had my first and second pool session for training. Holy cheese and rice! I was horrible, I freaked out about having water in mask, and not being able to breath through my nose. (PS you are supposed to breath through your nose under water, that's what you have a regulator in your mouth for. Just in case your were wondering) So I needed a lot of practice, but the only time to practice was after work, and that's when we work out. I decided that since I was too busy after work, I would get up at 5 am and work out before work on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Well for those of you who don't know me very well, I HATE MORNINGS! I actually have a t-shirt that says I am allergic to mornings. But I was dedicated to making this work. I told my dad every night before, that I needed to make sure that I was up no later than 5:15 am so I could work out (he gets up and goes to work that early) When Monday rolled around, my alarm went off at 5 and I shot straight up out of bed, and got to working out. ( I used an old workout we had done with John 20 mins of 25 squats, 25 push-ups, 25 burbpees, and 25 sits up.) The biggest problem I had working out in the morning (and this goes for every morning I worked out) I don't have enough energy. Monday I didn't eat before working out and it SUCKED (Tuesday we had Zumba in the Park with Sarah) Wednesday I ate a banana and a mojo protein bar about 10 mins before I worked out, and Thursday I ate a banana, and both of those days I still didn't have enough energy. I worked out but it was TOUGH! Wednesday I set my alarm for 4:45 (so I could eat and hang out a little longer before I worked out) but I kept hitting my snooze, and rolled out of bed at 5:15. And Thursday was the same. I felt like those were steps in the right direction, but I need to step up my game! My mom is about to catch (if she hasn't already) I have decided I am going to try (I said TRY) jogging, and I get really bored when I jog/run, so here is my question to you this week. What is your favorite running/workout song. I need something that will keep me going, and keep my mind off the fact that I am running. So ready GO!
Like I said before this week has flown by, but not without its challenges. I have gotten past the everyday cravings of crap, but when I get really hungry I want to throw in the towel and eat some chili-mac, or a huge pine creek tavern burger (think of your hometown burger joint, add 1000 more calories and another gallon of grease and you have pine creek tavern.), but they are soooooooo bad for you. I have worked hard to lose the pounds I have lost (13), but I have also spent the almost 10 years putting it on. This is my quote for today

My grandma Willy says this to me all the time! My goals this week are:
1. Take things one day at a time! I can feel myself starting to get frustrating with not losing weight fast enough, with the amount of effort I feel like I am putting in.
2. Continue to eat clean, and turn down those temptations!
3. Make a new recipe this week!

If I can do this, you can do this! (this includes my future/current self) I have to have the confidence, will power, and strength to move forward day by day! I got this!

Thank you to everyone who is supporting mine and my mom's journey! Everyone has been so encouraging, and helpful! I hope (and I think my mom feels the same way) that our journey can help someone else start theirs!

Remember to have strength, will power, and confidence as you go throughout your week! And as always, remember you can shine no matter what you're made of!

Death by mountain climbers, reborn by tuck jumps

GOOOODDDD MMMMMMOOOOOORRRRRRNNNNNNIIIIINNNNNGGGGG! (or afternoon or evening as the case may be) Today was weigh-in day, and I am down another pound! For those of you that are keeping track, I am down to 215 lbs with a loss of 10 pounds. WAHOO! And I feel great! I have made a lot of decisions in the last couple of days in regards to this journey. Let's just start off at the top. 

Last week I set two goals, 1) write a new post prior to Saturday (check) and 2) find two new recipes to try out this week (1/2 check). I found a lot of recipes (check my Pinterest pages Healthy Eats and New Diet Recipes), but haven't had time to make any of them. I did get feed back from my friend Breana about grilled peppers, and marinaded chicken. I did buy some marinades that I cooked my chicken in tonight (which was delish! It was a garlic and herb 30 minute marinade). I also found some great salsa recipes. I made one tonight that was a peach-lime salsa. It took a lot of taste testing but I think it turned out okay. I have some other recipes I will try (hopefully) this week. With that being said, I came to my first decision. In light of the 30 day eating challenge that I am doing, I have decided I need to stop being so picky. I think by eating a variety of foods, it will help with the boredom I have with my current diet. So this means, I get to try different foods, like grilled peppers, or onions in salsa (I never really ate salsa unless it was purified or just the juice) I also am going to make a stir fry this week, and I think I will put zucchini in it. Has anyone every tried this? Let me know!

Also over the last week, I started SCUBA lessons! And I need a lot of work! First, last Thursday and Friday, I spent over 7 hours in the pool, learning how to breathe under water. Did you know that you are NOT supposed to breathe through your nose underwater? Well I thought I knew that too, but apparently there was a malfunction between my brain and my nose, because I continually inhaled water through my nose. (Needless to say, I need lots of work!) But back to the point, I am really out of shape! More so than I thought. One of the first things we had to do when we first got in the pool on Thursday was to swim the length of the pool in one breath! Well, I did it, but I thought I was going to die! Then after holding our breath for what seemed like forever, we had to swim back anyway we wanted to. Well, lets just say I was the last one back and the last one to stop hyper-ventilating from breathing so hard. (I think I was the only one that was hyperventilating but I couldn't hear anyone else over me.)  So this week I need to focus on exercise! Which is going to be a little harder, because I have pool time set up with my dad every day this week. Then what is my goal you ask.... I am going to get up at 5:15 every morning and work out of 30 minutes. What is the problem you ask... Did you not see I said 5:15 AM! I like to sleep, and 5:15 comes around once a day on my watch, and that is PM. But there is a saying that goes matter over mind (Yes I know I said it backwards, just keep reading) if it MATTERS enough to you, you wont MIND doing it! And this is important to me! I WILL DO THIS!!!! Watch me! 

Really focusing on this, making a conscious effort this week, I believe I will meet my one goal for next week.... My goal is to lose 5lbs by Thursday.I have lost pounds by exercising two days a week, and eating kind of healthy. Imagine what I can do as I really buckle down and focus! 

A quick story before I sign off. When we first started working out, we (my mom and I) told our trainer John, we cannot do jumping exercises (box jumps, tuck jumps, jump squats) because we both have bad knees, and I would not have been a good idea to jump up with that much weight on them. So anytime we saw them on the board we would always say "We can't do those" and he would give us another exercise to do. A couple weeks ago, I made a deal with John. I said, "When I am under 200 pounds I will do tuck jumps." He agreed. When I went to work out today, the board said 20 minutes -12 BOX JUMPS, 12 swings (kettle bells), 12 squat presses, 12 TUCK JUMPS, and 12 sit-up. My first thought was ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I can't do tuck jumps and box jumps. I am going to die! As I was talking to John and his wife Pam before my workout, and I told them my goals for this week, I realized I have to start somewhere. Before I started, I was joking with them, and asked John about our deal, and he said "close enough. I know you will be under 200 soon, so close enough, get to work!" So I got to work. I did 4 rounds in 20 minutes! I did five tuck jumps IN A ROW with stopping, and I also did all four sets of sit-ups without stopping to rest (I did 12 sit-ups in a row without stopping, for all four sets!) It felt good to work out! Those little victories helped! They are helping buoy me up, and allow me to celebrate when I need a push. 

I DIED! But I finished the workout!

This week: Celebrate the little victories; buckle down and focus; and always remember- You can shine no matter what you're made of!