Brazil Butt Lift

When I'm done the P90X/Turbo Fire hybrid I'm currently doing, I'm going to do Brazil Butt Lift.  Mostly because just saying it makes me smile.  

I'm trying to talk my husband into doing it with me!

Friday Night Eats

I work from home on Fridays and it's the one night I actually have time to make a real meal all week.  I'm going to attempt this tonight!

I love zucchini and I love lasagna so this match up sounds just about perfect to me.  It's awesome that something so healthy (zucchini) has so many tasty uses!  It looks pretty simple to make too, which is a win in my book!

Zucchini Lasagna

Many thanks to the wonderful skinnytaste.com for providing me with another dinner idea.  I'd be lost without her!

Home Improvement

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I posted!  Last week was just one continuous blur as was the weekend.  Nothing too exciting is happening on the fitness front,  but it seems like everything else is on a roll!

Our house is officially sold!  We close on November 14!  I came home from work today and the SOLD sign was up!

 We just have to get a new heater put in our current home, but I don't care. I would have had to get a new one anyone and if it means the buyers still want the house, than here you go!  Have a new heater on us!

It's just crunch time because our new house needs a lot of updating.  I demo'ed my first kitchen on Sunday and I loved it!  It wasn't exactly our plan to demo the kitchen, but once we started, it made sense to keep on going.   Everything had to come out anyway!  We have a professional coming in to replace the ceiling and then I can start shopping for new flooring, cabinets, counter tops, etc!  I can't wait!  I love to shop.

I have done a horrible job of taking pictures of our work, but I'm going to try to get better!  Just the painting we've done upstairs has made a huge difference!

Is that Me?

I don't really "see" my weight loss.  Yes, I know I've lost weight.  It's just not easy for me to see the change in my body.  You spend so long looking at the same image in the mirror and that's all you see.  Body image is such a bitch sometimes.  I wish I could take pride in how far I've come, instead of focusing on how much more I have to lose.

Once or twice before,  I have seen a picture of me and thought to myself  "Is that really me?? I look good!"  Those moments are few and far between.  Unfortunately, I need those moments.  Especially when the scale isn't moving or the tape measure is stuck in the same spot. They give me an appreciation of how far I've come and motivate me to keep moving.  Before, motivation was a picture I didn't like of myself and now it's a picture of myself I do like.

Here's the picture that had me smiling and feeling good today:

It's nothing special.  I don't have any make up on, my hair isn't done, and I'm actually covered in paint and spackle.  My arms look toned and my belly pudge isn't as noticeable though.  I showed this to Tim and said "Look how good I look here! Is that really what I look like?"  The more I see pictures like this, the more I might start to believe- Yes!  That's me!

Side note....I follow Jillian Michaels on FB....I have a slight man crush on her.  She posted a great tip for healthy snacking.  Considering I can eat at least two apples a day and almond butter NONSTOP, it validated my obsession with both.

Fitness Tip:  Snack on red apples, berries, or grapes.  They contain an antioxidant called quercetin.  Quercetin has been shown in studies to boost our oxygen capacity and subsequently our endurance, allowing us to work harder in the gym.  For your afternoon snack, have a red apple with a little almond butter or low fat greek yogurt and berries to amp up your work out.

Party Pictures

Updates

Everything is crazy right now!  On one hand, I absolutely love it; on the other hand, I'm exhausted!

• Phoebe's birthday party is this weekend
• Her actual birthday is next week and I'd like to have a small celebration for her with just our family
• I uncharacteristically decided to make almost all of the food for it
• I also (again uncharacteristically) decided to make decorations for it
• Work is busy- my boss is going on a week long vacation starting tomorrow
• We accepted an offer on our house- YAY!!!!!
• We have to completely update the house we're moving into.  I won't even get into all of the projects we have to do there....too many to list!
• I really should start sorting and packing up our house too!
• Of course, with the sale of our house, comes some major repairs that I'm handling pretty well.  I could freak out, but what's that going to get me?
• I'm leading a new challenge group starting next Monday.  I love working with these women though but I'm doing the program too and it's a tough one (awesome, but tough).
• I set a goal to lose these last 10 lbs (again), get my waist under 35 inches, and lose 50 inches total by the end of the year.  Totally doable!
• I'm also thinking of training for a half marathon for next spring or summer.  I hate running though.

I think that's about everything I have running through my head.  I don't need anymore!

Well, except Colin planted the idea of getting a dog in my head last weekend.......

1200

I'm following a dietary plan for five days that says I can only eat 1200 calories a day.  It can say anything it wants, because I am having such a hard time eating only 1200.

It's a decent meal plan.  There's real food involved and most are things I normally eat.  See my post from a few days ago for the first day's menu.  Most normal people, I would think would be full on the plan laid out.

Not me.

On my third day,  I have discovered that it is pretty much physically impossible for me to stay around this number though.  Normally I eat around 1400-1500 calories a day and I've always struggled with eating- I eat too much.  It was common for me to eat until my stomach hurt.  For the most part, I've learned to listen to my stomach more than my head and stop when I start to feel full.  It's just a struggle that I don't always win.

It's so much worse when there's a voice in my head whispering every few minutes "you're hungry!"

When I feel the urge to eat, I'm chugging water (and heading to the bathroom every hour). I have a lollipop in my mouth right now too.  I keep trying new tricks to stop me from marching down to the kitchen and eating my afternoon snack an hour early!

Pinning is So Much Fun

Follow me on Pinterest!  I just put the app on my (new) android and I can't stay off of it.  My poor kids!

I pin a lot of recipes and just made a Vegan/Clean Eating board I'm working on building out.  I absolutely love the learning and sharing aspect of this site.  I get so many recipes, gift and home decorating ideas from this site!

Five Day Inferno Plan

For the next five days, I'll be working out hard and eating lean to get myself ready for three months of TurboFire!

The Five Day Inferno Plan is designed to cleanse your body and to increase your energy.  It's a fast-track weight loss plan that says I could lose up to 10 lbs and/or 10 inches.   That would be awesome, as long as it's true, and I can stick with the nutrition plan!

Basically, I'll do one or two TurboFire work outs and eat around 1200 calories a day, with a nice balance of protein, carbs , and fat. I'll also still be able to drink my Shakeology (thank goodness!) and eat foods I would normally eat.  I did have to buy hummus today and I'm not sure how that will go.  I love chickpeas, but not in hummus form.  I'm going to stick with is and hoping the whole wheat pita overpowers the hummus.  Yeah, right!

Here is Day 1's menu:

Breakfast:  Turkey Bacon Sandwich

• one slice of low fat turkey bacon
• two slices of whole wheat toast
• one egg scrambled
• 1/2 tomato sliced

I have the egg, toast, and tomato. I wouldn't eat the rest of the bacon so I didn't want to waste the money.

Snack One:  1/2 medium banana, seven walnuts
 (OMG! This isn't a snack!  I will switch out the walnuts for almonds)

Lunch:  Tuna Salad + one cup of green tea

• Three cups mixed greens
• Four oz packed tuna
• Five cherry tomatoes
• One celery, chopped
• Three scallions, diced
• Two tbsp fat-free Ranch dressing

No tomatoes, celery, or scallion...I have tomatoes, but not cherry and I'm not a huge fan to begin with. I hate celery.  HATE it.  I might add yellow squash because I have two huge ones my uncle grew in his garden.

Snack 2: Shakeology!!! tbsp of almond butter, water, and vegan chocolate shakeology.

Dinner: Honey Dijon Chicken with Steamed Garlic Parmesan Broccoli

• One 6 oz of chicken
• 1/3 cup of dijon mustard (that's if I made four servings, so I'll have to divide by four for my single portion)
• 1 tbsp honey
• parsley to taste
• one cup broccoli
• one tbsp parmesan cheese
• Garlic salt to taste (or minced garlic since that's what I have)

My work outs are EZ Fire 55 and Stretch 10.  I am SO excited to start this. I'll take pictures and be sure to recap my results here.

A Good Reminder

I found this gem on my computer today.  It's hard to look at.

Wednesday Weigh In

I haven't lost one ounce.  I'm sitting (pretty?) at 150 lbs.

I'm ok with that because I lost four inches total in my August challenge.  I ate as cleanly as I possibly could and cut out all diet soda. I did very well- was so proud of myself considering how much I love soda!

 I don't have a September challenge for myself because I think Turbo Fire is going to kick my butt and my challenge will be sticking with it!  We took the treadmill out of the garage after a few months.  I'm trying to run a few times a week now too.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm considering training for a half marathon.

I hate running.

But the thought of saying "I ran a half marathon" makes my heart race with self pride.

 I never, ever thought it would be physically possible for me.  I want to do it for the fat girl in high school who used to cry on days we had to run in gym class.

My plan is to meet all of my goals by the end of the year.  I want to lose 10 more lbs and get my waist to under 35 inches.  I'm very close, but not there yet!

I'm on FIRE

I found this segment from my favorite morning show on youtube.  I like how Chalene describes what it is and then shows you the moves- and how fast paced a "fire drill" is.  I am so excited to get started with this program!

What is a Beachbody Coach?

I've been getting this question a lot lately- mostly because people aren't familiar with Beachbody and people think it means I'm a personal trainer.

I'm not a personal trainer. I'm not a doctor.  I'm not a dietitian.

I'm a woman who struggled her entire life with her weight.  I've tried so many things to get healthy- some good, some bad, and none that kept the weight off.

Until now.

I've found a community of people, fitness programs, and products that keep me focused on getting and staying healthy.

Icing on the cake?  I can help others and make some extra cash while doing it!  Want some more icing?  There's no cost to my clients to have me as a coach.  They only pay for the product.

As a coach, I help people get motivated, stay committed, have someone to be accountable to and check in with.  I share my experiences, tips, tricks, ideas, thoughts, and anything else under the sun!  Need recommendations for a work out program?  Looking for healthy recipe ideas?  Want to bitch about how hard it is to stay focused?  I'm here!!  I'm helping people reach their goals, find a new lease on life, and be happier.

I never thought I would start my own business, but here I am!  Working hard to help others and improve my life.  I have big dreams for me and my family and I think Beachbody coaching can get us there!

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Gina over at SkinnyTaste.com is simply amazing.  I love her site and follow her on every social space possible, which is kind of redundant, I know.

I found a recipe Pumpkin Pie Dip on Pinterest.... and I traced it back to SkinnyTaste.

·    15 oz can pumpkin
·    3/4 cup brown sugar (Splenda would work too)
·    1 tsp vanilla
·    1/8 tsp cinnamon
·   1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)
·   6 oz fat free Greek yogurt (I used Chiobani)
·   8 oz cool whip free
·   cut up apples to dip (extra points)

Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla and spices, blend well. Mix in yogurt. Fold in cool whip and chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.
Makes about 6 cups.

Banana & Almond Butter Pancakes

My cousin and I were talking about what our picky toddlers will eat and she mentioned these pancakes she made for hers.  Peanut butter, a ripe banana, and an egg.  Sounds easy enough!

Later that same day, a fellow mom posted on line about the same pancake!  I switched out peanut butter and used almond butter instead but I will try natural peanut butter next time.  All natural and very good!

Ingredients:
1.5 tbsp almond butter or peanut butter
2 egss (next time I'm going to try one egg, one egg white to cut calories)
1 ripe medium banana

This recipe made six pancakes, each pancake made from two tbsp of batter.  They were moist, delicious, and easy to make!  I didn't add anything to them but DH added syrup.

Excuse the plate in the picture below!

Calories per pancake:  62
Fat: 4g
Carbs: 5g
Sugar: 3g
Protein: 3g

Work Out With Me!

My first video post! I impress myself with my technical abilities!!   Ok, enough patting myself on the back- here is the video I've made for my Challenge Group I'm starting on Sept 10.  Sign up and get me as your FREE coach.

Challenge is a funny word to use here and I prefer "support" group.  The challenge is an internal one- how committed are you to changing your life?  Getting healthy?  Staying healthy?

The group will live on Facebook.  We'll have daily work out check ins, motivational posts, funny quotes, rants, recipes, tips, and an open forum to ask any question you may have.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Blood Type

I came across THIS article in Mens Health about how to eat right for your blood type.  Apparently our blood type says a lot of about our diet, how our bodies work, and how we can achieve our goals, according to Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, author of Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type.

My blood type is A+, and I agree with everything the article says below, except for the workout.  While I have a new respect for yoga and enjoy doing it, I definitely need to work out an intense sweat.

TYPE A

3 Character Traits: Hardworking, responsible, calm

Your Diet: When hunter-gatherer Os started thinning out, our ancestors started relying on agriculture and expanding their diet to include a semi-vegetarian approach. Type As have the digestive enzymes and bacteria it takes to digest grains and plants that other blood types might have a rough time breaking down.

Your Personality: When everyone else is panicking, you keep it cool. You’re responsible, hardworking, detail oriented and extremely organized. But you also have a classic “type A” personality—stressed and conscientious, craving success and perfection. You're the most artistic of the blood types (and even a bit sensitive).

What to Eat: Fill your plate with fruits like berries, figs, plums, apples, avocados, pears and peaches. Choose veggies like broccoli, artichokes, carrots, greens and garlic. Fish and poultry should be limited since type As produce fewer meat-digesting enzymes, which is why they have such a hard time digesting red meat. To get protein, rely on plant protein from nuts (like nut butters), seeds, beans and soy. Since your body can easily break down and get optimal nutrition from grains, carbs and proteins, cereal, breads and pastas should be staples of your diet.

What to Avoid: To balance cortisol levels (you may have high levels, which can lead to OCD, disrupted sleep, muscle loss, fat gain and insulin resistance) limit sugar, caffeine and alcohol and don’t skip meals, especially breakfast. Stressful elements like extreme weather conditions, loud noise, overwork and violent TV and movies should also be avoided.
Dinner Tonight: Tofu-pesto lasagna, broccoli and frozen yogurt.
Your Workout: Since you stress easily, try something calming like yoga.


This was interesting to read since I've been toying with the idea of going Vegetarian and possibly Vegan.  The more I read about a plant based diet, the more I like it.  I just don't know how easy it'll be to pull off.  I'm doing pretty well this month with my clean eating, so it might be easier than I think.

Sunday night, DH and I went to a concert and had free appetizers in the VIP Club.  I didn't have dinner since they usually have a spread laid out, so I was stuck with pizza balls and fried mozzarella.  In the moment, I loved those pizza balls.  Later on though, I felt really gross.  Lesson learned!

Happy Friday!

Motivation

As I "meet" more and more people through my work with Beachbody and in my health journey in general, I'm reminded how hard it is to get started on changing your life.  Nothing about losing 80 lbs was or is easy. In fact, these last 10 lbs have been the hardest, but getting to a place where I was ready to change my life was hard.

I've had a weight problem my entire life.  I don't ever remember not having rolls and pudge.  I didn't know it was normal that your thighs should NOT rub together when you walk.   I've done diets before too. If you read my first post- there is very little I haven't tried.  All those years though, I didn't know how unhealthy it was to be as big as I was.  I don't know my highest weight, but around 18 or 19, I was wearing a size 22.  At 5'8'', I was a pretty big girl.

I was 11 when my dad had his first heart attack.  I can't recall if he's technically had a second one, but in the last 22 years, he's had quadruple bypass surgery, multiple stents, coronary angiograms, and many hospital stays for various infections and toe amputations.  

He is a severe Type 2 diabetic.

I don't have memories of him playing or horsing around with me or my two brothers.  We didn't do physical activities together unless it was yard work. He always loved yard work!  Needless to say, my relationship with my father, while very good, has always been overshadowed by his ill health.  He does not eat well or exercise.

He's not even 60 yet and he is less mobile than my husband's 86 year old grandmother.  He lost five toes on one foot, has very poor circulation in both legs, sleep apnea (although uses a machine most of the time), and almost constant back pain.

I had just had Sweet Pea when my dad started losing his toes.  I had already been on and off high cholesterol medication starting at age 26.  My first pregnancy was high risk due to my high blood pressure and I dreaded every appt during my second pregnancy because my OB kept telling me to expect the same issue.   There I was- almost 100 lbs overweight, high cholesterol, borderline high blood pressure, and suffering from post partum depression.   When I heard about my dad (I live in a different state), I was DONE.  We didn't know if the infection would keep spreading. Would he lose his leg?  Would my mom be able to take care of him?  Would he be able to take care of himself? Was this the beginning of the downward spiral?  It was the straw that broke the emotional camel's back.

There was no way in HELL I was going to put my kids through what I've gone through the past 20 years.  It's horrible to think that the next phone call from my mom is going to be the one telling me my dad is dead.  

I started to educate myself about calorie consumption and healthier eating.  I joined Weight Watchers.  I had a friend who offered to do a weight loss challenge with me.  I reminded myself every time I wanted to eat more or poorly that it wasn't worth it.  Instant gratification was NOT worth the big picture reward.  I had (have) good days and bad days- good meals and bad meals, but I stick with it, got over it and move on.  Knowing that I have full control over my body, my life, my future is addictive and keeps me motivated. 

Today, I feel healthy.  I look healthy. I am healthy.

Snack On This

I'm always looking for healthy snack options!

Wednesday Weigh In

I'm very happy to report my weigh in this morning:

148.5 lbs!!!!!!

Yes, it's the same as last week, but it was a really emotional weekend for me and I got off track with my eating.  The kitchen is the first place I go when I'm feeling out of control or sad.  I just ate too much.

My weight was up again on Sunday so the past few days, I've buckled down and ate as cleanly as I could.  I also kept my calories to between 1300-1400 per day.  It paid off this morning!

I'm finishing up the last month of ChaLEAN Extreme- I still love it, even after four months!  I admit, I'm over her cardio work outs, but maybe that's because they kick my butt?  I'll post progress pictures when I'm done in a few weeks.  I've got some guns now!

Zucchini Bread

I have developed a love of all things zucchini.  Luckily for me, my uncle grows a ton of them in his garden each summer and gifted me with two very large ones this weekend.  

I googled a clean eating recipe and found this one on line.  I whipped it all together and made a delicious zucchini bread!  Below is the original recipe, but because I'm all class, I had to get creative with a few ingredients I didn't have.  I've made notes below regarding what I changed.

Vegan Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (I used regular salt)2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup unsweetened (vanilla) almond milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup organic evaporated cane sugar or sucanat (I used regular sugar and wished I had substituted stevia instead)1/4 cup virgin unrefined coconut oil, melted (liquid)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce  (I didn't have any, so I bumped the coconut oil to 1/2 cups)1 cup finely shredded zucchini
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans (optional- didn't use)2 tablespoons roasted cacao nibs (optional- didn't use)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom of 8×4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger; mix well. Set aside.

Stir together almond milk and vinegar; let stand 2 minutes until thickened. In medium bowl mix almond milk mixture, sugar, coconut oil, applesauce, zucchini and vanilla until well blended. Add to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Stir in nuts and cacao nibs. 

Spread batter evenly in pan.

Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Makes 1 loaf (12 slices)

Calories per slice: 168

Carbs: 20 g

Fat: 10 g

Protein: 2 g

Sugar: 9 g

Fiber: 2 g

When I make this again with applesauce and stevia, I will report the nutritional value.

Tip: This hearty whole grain zucchini bread is lightly sweetened. If you prefer a sweeter loaf you may want to increase the sugar to 3/4 cup

Wednesday Weigh In

In some happier, albeit more shallow news, I had a fantastic weigh in this morning.

148.5 LBS

YAY!!!  Crossing my fingers the plateau is broken.

A Sad Place

My grandmother passed away last night after a somewhat short battle with cancer.  

I 100% believed she would outlive us all. 

Even when we learned she had cancer, I didn't worry because I thought she was made of steel.  She was a strong woman and it never crossed my mind she wouldn't kick cancer's butt.

The night I found out she didn't have much longer, I was dumbfounded.   I wasn't very close to my grandmother but she was a strong presence in my life.  Her death doesn't seem real.  I'm torn between being sad and feeling detached.  It's a horrible way to feel. Memories of her keep racing into my head when I least expect it.  It just makes me feel unstable and out of focus.

I didn't grow up living close to my grandparents and I never felt like they wanted to know me.  We saw them at holidays and occasional trips in the summer, but we didn't talk on the phone or write to each other.   I only really knew her through my dad.  I'm not bothered by this because it's just the way it was.  I just wonder if I should feel more than what I'm feeling right now.

I'm dreading her funeral. I don't want to see my dad upset, as I know he is. He is flying in from out of state on Friday, along with my mom, brother, and oldest nephew.  I don't want to lose whatever control I think I'm holding on to right now.   

My Favorite Things

I love wearing my work out clothes and if I could get away with it, I'd wear them all day long.  Can you blame me?  Sports bras and yoga pants are comfortable!

Here are just a few of the ones I like and are my favorites.  Nothing too off the charts either, I have a tendency to buy a lot that I can't go spending a lot of money.

Sports Bra:  Aerie FIT Racerback Bra

Comfy, supportive, and stylish, I have this in two colors and plan on ordering a few more soon.  The adjustable straps and mesh panels never make me feel like I'm trapped in the bra (a problem I've had with other brands).  It doesn't hurt that DH thinks these are sexy!

Yoga Capris: Tek Gear Colorblock Shapewear Capris

These are SO comfortable!  They move/stretch with me and I never have to adjust them.   These are one of my few pairs that don't give me a wedgie when I run!   Plus, when I sweat a lot, they don't stick to me!

Fitness Guru: Chalene Johnson

Normally, I get pretty annoyed with fitness people.  It's impossible for people to be that positive, perky, or fit.  It's one of the reasons I've jumped around from Jillian Michaels to Bob Harper to Lindsay Brin.  I discovered Chalene a few months ago and I was dreading her work out.  Almost four months later, I've developed a man crush on her.   She just seems to say the right thing at the right time to keep me motivated and moving.  She seems goofy and relate-able.  I'm totally smitten.

Shoes: Asics

I'll be honest here- I can't remember for the life of me which style of Asics I have.  They kind of look like these: 

These are very comfortable.  That's about as in depth as I get about shoes.  Obviously, I need to dedicate more time and energy to find the right sneaker for me.

Calorie Counter:  MyFitnessPal.com

                                                      

I LOVE this site for calorie counting!  It has an extensive data base for food and exercise, it's easy to see get set up and use, and has a really active and supportive online community.  Find me there and see my daily food journal if you want:  Kini324

Health/Protein Shake: Shakeology

Four flavors are available, but I love chocolate!  160 calories per serving, 6 g of sugar, 2 g of fat, and 17 g of protein.  With my health issues, it has the extra vitamins and supplements I need: calcium (500 mg), folic acid (200 mcg), vitamin D (200 IU), Vitamin B12 (6 mcg).    Plus, a slew of other good things. It helps me with energy, suppressing my appetite, and I get a chocolate shake every morning!

Weigh In

Fridays are my official weigh in days.  Unofficially, I weigh myself again on Sundays and Wednesdays. I have an unhealthy obsession with the scale.  Three times a week is actually an improvement for me.

So, officially, I am down three lbs from last Friday's weigh in. Based on Sunday's weigh in,  I'm still sitting at 150 lbs.

I've been fluctuating between 153-150 for FIVE months.  I didn't realize it had been been that long!  Overall it sucks, but it's not depressing me too much.  Since I've started doing ChaLean Extreme in late May, I feel so much leaner and have built muscle and definition.  I'm getting leaner and that's fine by me!

I also want to share recipes (mostly healthy!) on this blog.  I'm just too lazy so I'm linking to my "Favorite Recipes" board over on pinterest.  I hope you can find something to enjoy!  Just don't blame me if you make the chocolate cookie dough dip instead of the country broccoli salad!

Favorite Recipes are here!

Intensity

I set my alarm for 5:15 am most mornings- even on Saturday and Sundays.  Before you even ask- YES!  I'm very tired.  I can't seem to get the light out at night before 11 PM, so I don't get as much sleep as I should.  Or as much as I want.

There are mornings, I can feel myself dragging.  I find reasons to delay getting my work out started- even though I know I have to be done before 6:15 when Sweet Pea will wake up screaming for me.  This morning was one of those mornings.

I planned a 50 minute cardio work out:  Punch, Kick, & Jam from Chalene Johnson's Turbo Jam.  I knew I needed a good, solid sweat, but  I just wasn't into it.  My warm up was so weak and thoughts of only doing 20-25 minutes crept in my mind.

Chalene has a way of getting to me though.  Some of the things she says to motivate throughout the warm up really struck me this morning as I swung my arms more like a money and less like a trained boxer.

I'll get out of this what I put into it.

What's the point of waking up so early if I'm just going to shuffle my way through this?  Barely break a sweat?  Doing a half-ass punch combo isn't going to make the numbers on the scale move, or give me more energy, or make me feel leaner.

So, even though I was tired and didn't feel like working out at all, I kicked up my intensity.  I threw every punch like my life depended on it.  Chuck Norris has nothing on my kicks.  I was a kickboxing dynamo.

See who's so happy she worked out?

                                                                                      

The Players

Sweet Pea- she's so full of sass and she's not even two yet!

Captain- my best buddy and so smart already, it scares me a little

My handsome husband and me on our 5th anniversary

Let's Try This...Again

As I started setting this blog up last night, DH (my husband of five years) asked me "how many blogs do you have??"  Ok, ok- yes, this may be my third blog, but third time is a charm, right?

Blog #2 is fairly new, but the title that I came up with never sat very well with me (Thoughts of a Former Fat Girl).  I hate the word "fat."  Probably because I was fat for as long as I can remember and it's affected so much of who I am and what I've done in my life.  Not really in a positive way either.  Standing in the place I'm in now, blog #2 just didn't fit my new out look and where I'm at now.  I want to project a positive attitude and nothing about "fat" strikes me as positive.  Hence, Fit and Fierce Mama was born!

Here's a brief bio in bullet points:

• Overweight my entire life, including adolescence
• Highest known weight: 252 (at birth of second baby)
• Lowest known weight prior to this weight loss: 177
• Weight when I started getting healthy: 230 lbs
• Current Weight: 150 lbs
• Current Weight loss: 80 lbs
• Lbs until goal met: 10 lbs YAY!!!!
• Things I've tried through out my life to lose weight in no particular order:
• Slimfast
• Weight Watchers
• Usana Reset
• Metabolife (before we knew how unsafe it was)
• Shakeology
• Exercises I've done throughout my life:
• Beachbody DVDs
• Jogging
• Tae Bo
• Bob Harper DVDs
• Pilates
• Zumba
• Yoga
• Jillian Michaels DVDs
• Lindsay Brin DVDs
• Married to a wonderful guy we'll call DH (stands for Dear Husband)
• Have two little ones, a boy (Captain) and a girl (Sweet Pea)
• Those are not their real names
• I've signed on to become an Independent Beachbody coach to help others get healthy
• I have a "real" full time job in arts marketing that I really enjoy
• No longer need medication for high cholesterol
• No longer have borderline high blood pressure

I'm committing myself now to keeping this blog live, viable, and thriving.  I want to use this as an outlet and resource for anyone who struggles with their body and health.  I want it to be a  positive place full of support,  good ideas, and funny moments.  There will probably be a couple of bitch sessions too!