21 Day Fix Week 2

The second week of the 21 Day Fix is done and I have already seen some awesome results! Not only am I already stronger this week than last week, but I fit into pants that wouldn't even button before I started this challenge!

I am pretty strict with my diet and making sure that I exercise every day like the program states, but that doesn't mean that I eat grilled chicken and steamed broccoli all day every day. In fact, I love to eat chili, quesadillas, and turkey burgers on my diet! Of course, I add those in to my daily allowance and I'm seeing great results!

I have shakeology every day after I exercise and honestly thought how crazy it was that people were seriously spending so much money each month on this shake when you can just eat right and use protein powder, but I have to admit how wrong I was. The other drinks used to make me sick after a while and I didn't feel any better after drinking them. With shakeology I actually have a good spurt of energy for a while and my sensitive stomach isn't bothered by it at all. Plus, the chocolate flavor isn't gross like so many other protein drinks!

I can't wait to officially weigh in and measure in a week and see what my results are! I've been working hard and it's paying off. I even signed up for the next challenge group that starts the day after this one ends so no break for me!

I really love how I'm eating and the focus I have on this diet/exercise plan. It's really been such a positive change for me!

21 Day Fix Week 1

Let's start this off by saying I am SO glad to have started this program. Seriously, it has already done  so much in a week and is definitely doable!

Here's how the program works...Basically, you workout every day to a 30 minute video. There are 7 different videos and you do one each day of the week. As for the diet, you are allotted so many "containers" to eat each day and your goal is to eat all of the food that corresponds with the containers each day and drink half of your body weight in water! Of course, you want to try to eat 5-6 "meals" per day.

For example, I get 5 Green, 5 Red, 4 Yellow, 3 Purple, 1 Blue, 1 Orange, and 5 teaspoons.

Green: Non-starchy veggies
Red: Lean proteins
Yellow: Carbs and starchy veggies
Purple: Fruit
Blue: Healthy Fats
Orange: Seeds/Healthy dressings
Teaspoons: Nut butters/oils

As you can see, I don't starve and eat a balanced diet. The focus is on less-processed foods and portion control along with exercise which is a proven method of weight loss. I am using Shakeology as part of the program once per day and it took a while to get used to, but I have to say I really enjoy having it after my workout as my "snack."

 

This was one day after my Pilates Fix workout.

 

 

The workouts have modifications that are really helpful and are still pretty challenging. I was pretty sore the first few days and my hamstrings are pretty sore today after Yoga Fix yesterday.

 

In Week 1...

 

I am already down a pant size! Last week I wore a size 18 jeans with the "hairband trick" to church and this week, I wore size 16 jeans with no hairband!

 

I can also feel more muscles in my arms and legs which is really exciting.

 

I'm still pretty tired, but I don't feel like I need a nap every day anymore! I'm really hoping my energy kicks in soon.

 

I can't wait to see what the next 2 weeks have in store for me on this program! 



21 Day Fix

I've kept it kind of quiet about this lately, but yesterday I started the 21 Day Fix! I've been counting my carbs for about a month or so and the scale wasn't budging. After being frustrated over and over again, my mom saw this program on tv and asked if I was interested in trying it. After reading a lot about it and asking some questions, I decided to give it a go!

The premise is to eat well (lots of veggies and less processed foods) and exercise. It's nutritionally sound and doesn't have a lot of gimmicks to it. Just what I was looking for. I joined a challenge group hosted by one of the sweetest girls I knew in high school and we're already on day 2 of the challenge!

It is a lot of prep work with planning and portioning out meals, but it's worth it to not have to wonder what I'm eating next and just shoving my face with whatever is around the house. Plus, I get to workout at home during naptime which is super helpful since my little guy won't let me leave him with people he doesn't know well.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the results and can't wait to see how it affects my blood sugar and A1c. I am drinking a shake once per day since it's part of the challenge group, but honestly, I was drinking a protein shake many days before so this isn't much different.

Right now I'm sore and tired, but I know it will get better soon enough. I'm pushing myself through one day at a time.
 

Fit Fridays {Week 19}

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Finally! I am seriously so excited about this! I've worked hard and it looks like I'm going to make my goal of 30 pounds lost by Christmas.

This makes me officially weigh in under 200 pounds! 

Clearly, I am not able to work out this week (or probably next week) because of my sprained ankle playing softball, but this shows how important your diet and water intake are for weight loss. In addition, I am now taking Metformin for my PCOS which can help aid with weight loss by helping your body produce the right amount of insulin needed. It is not a diet pill. Weight loss just happens to be a side effect to getting your body working right. Not sure if it has started helping yet since I've only taken it for two weeks, but I'll take it!

Weekly Stats...

 

Starting Weight: 224

Last Week: 200.6

Current Weight: 198.4!

 

- 2.2 pounds this week

-25.6 pounds total

 

 

Fit Fridays {Week 18}

Let's start this week off by saying that we got our new scale in the mail! Now, I'm able to have an accurate reading of my weight and I couldn't be happier with that.

This week I managed to get in a good cardio workout and some yoga. It seems that the more I want to get to the gym, the more comes up to try to prevent me. And, you know what? That's life and that's ok. I am learning to manage my ever-changing life in regards to exercise. In the dieting world, I'm still doing a great job! So it's still a win because the numbers are still going down.

I'm still on track to lose 30 pounds by Christmas so I'm happy about that!

So, how did I do this week?

Starting Weight: 224

Last Week's Weight: 201.9

Current Weight: 200.6

- 1.3 pounds this week 

-  23.4 pounds overall!

 

 

Living with PCOS and Follow-Up Visit

Being diagnosed with PCOS has given me a lot of answers. I used to wonder why I had twinges throughout my cycle, was exhausted no matter how much sleep I got, was hungry all of the time, had a hard time losing weight, why I gained most of the weight in my stomach, why I was irregular, and why I crave carbs and sugar like no one's business. Being diagnosed with PCOS gave me answers.

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Since being diagnosed, I've been doing a lot of research. I want to know what PCOS is and what we can do to manage my symptoms. I also want to know what we can do to help me get pregnant.

I saw my fertility doctor for my follow-up appointment last Thursday to find out what we can do. We decided to put me on Metformin ER to help manage my slightly elevated HbA1c levels so that I do not become diabetic. It will also help to regulate my hormones if it is successful because they all work with the insulin levels in my body. In addition, we are going to start treatment with Clomid. In two weeks, I will be going in for my baseline ultrasound and blood work to make sure that everything is good to start. If I respond to the clomid, we have a chance to get pregnant. If not, then we will change my dosage and pray that it works. They will give us 3-4 months of trying once we can get me to ovulate on clomid. If it works, then we continue care with my OBGYN, if not, we switch medications, which will likely include injections.

At this time, I am making sure to do what I can with eating well and working out until my appointment next week. It's so important to continue eating well and working out to help the Metformin work at its best to reduce any insulin resistance and to help me continue to lose weight since weight loss can help ease and control symptoms as well.

I am still learning a lot about my diagnosis and I have two books waiting for me at the library to continue to learn. I am doing my best to consider this a blessing. God made me this way and I strongly believe that I can use this as a platform to help others in some way.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as we work with the doctors to try to start our family!

Fit Fridays {Week 17}

This week has been a great week for me to really realize how much I have lost. This is the first week where I've really been able to appreciate and see how different my body looks! Last week I was a little frustrated with not being able to see the progress, but I can definitely see it now and that is a great feeling.

I'm still working on losing weight, but it's getting harder with the doctor appointments that I've been having. Not a good enough excuse, but I still stay in my calorie range and that's just as important.

According to my Wii Fit board/scale I have maintained my weight. I don't think it's super accurate, but that's ok. My new scale is on it's way and I should have it in the next week or so and I'm definitely excited about that.

I've also been doing some reading about my diagnosis of PCOS and it really explains a lot.

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I can identify with almost everything on this chart {except for the low thyroid, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and facial hair}. It's definitely been an eye-opener and explains so much. I used to wonder all the time why I was so hungry, had a hard time losing weight, and was so tired.

PCOS has definitely helped me gain weight and makes it difficult to lose it, but I'm doing it! My doctor did put me on Metformin ER yesterday to help with my insulin/Hb a1c levels and he hopes it can continue to help me lose weight along with my diet/exercise program that I'm doing.

It's no magic fix, but there's a plan and it could help so much more.

Fit Fridays- My Story

My weight loss journey has been a difficult one, but I wasn't always heavy.

In high school, I played softball in the summer, played soccer my sophomore year, ran cross-country for two years, and threw in track and field. I was very active. I even rode my bike a mile and a half to school my junior year.

Once I got out of high school, I worked a lot and late into the night. Oftentimes, I worked the closing shift at Disneyland and wouldn't get off work until 2 am. Taco Bell and McDonald's were my best friends when I was starving after a long shift.

In 2006 I was ready for a change. I went online to the Tyra Banks show and answered a casting call for weight loss. To say that I was shocked to receive a call back is an understatement. My sister and I went on the show and were one of three teams in the "Diet Wars." Each team got a diet/exercise guru and ours was Jillian Michaels. We trained with her once and kept in regular communication over the next three months until the "Results" show was scheduled.

Yes, this is me on the show when we met our trainer.

I ended up losing 12 pounds in the 3 month time frame and was berated on national television for it. Want to read about it? Check out this blog where someone saw the show and was appalled at the way we were treated. Yes, we were told that we "failed" and it was a horrible experience. I ended up not keeping up with it after that and gained even more weight.

It was a couple of years after that incident that I got back into exercising. I had just ended a three year relationship and felt fantastic! I started walking and was no longer eating to fill a void and I ended up losing some weight.

This is what I looked like when I started dating my husband in 2008.

I started dating my husband and started eating out a lot more. I gained more weight and reached the highest weight I had been at up to that point. In 2009 I started seeing a trainer at my local gym and started working out 4x/week! For the first time in my life, I loved exercising! It was such an awesome feeling and I looked forward to going to the gym.

In January 2010 things changed once again. I was in a car accident and the airbag deployed, hitting my right wrist in the process. Many doctors and physical therapy appointments later and I ended up getting a year and a half after the accident. During that time I tried to work out only to have my wrist hurt. It was terrible. After the surgery, it took a while to heal and didn't get better until my chiropractor started adjusting it. I went through a period of depression from the accident and my job so I ended up gaining even more weight.

I started weighing in at 224 pounds three weeks ago...Now, I am clocking in at 222.6 pounds...ouch! I have gained 50 pounds since I first met my husband.

I have a plan and so far I'm sticking with it. I am in my third week of working out! I go to the gym three days a week and do cardio and weights. I'm focusing on getting fit and not just pounds lost. The weight will come off in time if I'm making the right changes.

The first three weeks are the hardest for me and they're officially over!

I'm doing not doing this for anyone else, but for myself and for my future. I can't wait to be able to do more and I'm taking it all one workout at a time :)

*Due to many comments asking about my experience on the Tyra Banks show, I will be posting a more in-depth blog about it scheduled for Monday. If you have any specific questions, please leave me a comment and I will answer it in Monday's post!

Decisions, Decisions

I have around 6 personal training sessions left and three months until the wedding. My first thought was to buy more to get me through the wedding, but then what happens after the wedding? Personal training is expensive and I know that we won't be able to afford me to have a trainer for the rest of my life. I mean, I love the idea of having a trainer to motivate me and tell me what to do and talk to me the whole time to keep my mind off of working out, but seriously?

It's been no secret that I haven't been thrilled with my current gym. I've looked into other gyms in the past and decided that with the move, I should continue to look closer to my new place. So, I looked and you know what I realized? Unless I have someone holding my hand (aka a trainer), I probably won't go on a regular basis, so why pay for it? We don't really need to spend all of that money on a trainer or a gym membership, so why not just cancel it and figure something else out?

I've been thinking about this for weeks now and I finally have my conclusion. If I'm not going to go, then we shouldn't waste our money. Phil's parents have a perfectly good treadmill at home, they also have an exercise ball and Phil has some adjustable weights that I can use while being there and the new apartment has a fitness center I can use.

I've come to the realization that I can't have someone "holding my hand" through the weight-loss process. I need to take responsibility for myself and make it happen. I've had trainers before and I know what to do...now, it is up to me to make it happen. We have the equipment, so, let's use it!

I'm working with Phil on a goal for me to attain. We've been talking about our budget and establishing weekly allowances for all of the little "extras" we spend on. I was thinking that maybe, in the beginning, I could earn my allowance by working out. Each day would be a set dollar amount and we would set limitations. I'm also looking into a "workout planner/scheduler" where I can write down what I did each day or check off all of the days I've worked out.

Basically, I'm trying to figure a way to motivate myself to do what I need to. No one can make me do this, it has to be my decision. I'm tired of paying for people to tell me to do what I already know how to just because I don't want to do it by myself. It's time for me to get motivated and stop wasting money!

Pictures say a thousand words...

I'll admit, I read a lot of blogs. I love reading blogs because they are like a little window into someone's life. It's kind of like when you go out and see someone and wonder what their life is like...well, blogging is kind of like that, but it's ok to stalk blogs.

One thing that has been motivating to me is seeing pictures of fellow weight-loss bloggers. It's great to be able to see the difference in a picture and not just to read about it. I think I'm going to join in on that bandwagon.

I've noticed that when there are pictures, it's easier to stay focused because you actually see what you look like instead of making up excuses (especially if you wear the same thing and use the same camera). Like this one time where I saw a picture of my mom and sister walking down the road. You could clearly tell it was them, but their was a third person that we could not identify. I remember us making comments like..."Who is that fat girl walking with you guys?" Oh, it was brutal, but after we thought about it forever, we realize that we knew that "fat girl." In fact, the fat girl was ME! Wow, you could imagine the shock and horror I felt at that moment. I was mortified!

Looking back on that moment really motivates me. I need to start documenting my progress weekly with pictures and see myself in a realistic way.

McFatty Monday....er, Tuesday?

As we all know by now, I've been majorly slacking in the weight loss department. I did make it to the gym last week to get my butt kicked by my trainer, but that was it. This week looks like it might work out the same way. I see my trainer today, but I'm not sure about going to the gym another time this week.

I am hoping to get into a routine where I go to the gym straight after work. I work part-time and can literally SEE the gym from the window of my classroom. There really is no excuse right now other than I don't want to.

I feel like this is a never ending cycle. At some point I need to step up and start a new cycle where I don't let things get in the way. It should be about my health, not just pounds lost. It's easier to sit here and reflect upon it rather than to get up and do it.

I need to stop wanting to make others proud of me and to do it all for myself. The wedding date should not be a day of reckoning, but a day to rejoice in how far I've come and to know that it doesn't just end there. This committment has to be life-long. It has to be there when we have kids, not just so that I won't be the "fat" mom, but to show our kids the right way to do things. Exercise can be fun and if I make it a habit now, it will be easier in the long run.

I'm going to try to work out 3 times this week. It will be hard to get back into the swing of things, but I need to. I need to get back to the place where it felt good to work out.

Is anyone with me?

Sabotage--Diet Addition

Have you ever been trying to lose weight and realized that you are sabotaging yourself? I find that this happens to me and I don't even realize it. Of course, I put in a good effort with working out and being more active so that should help make the weight come off, right? I've also made huge dietary changes and cut out most fast food, soda, and large amounts of sweets that were consumed on a daily basis. I thought that for sure, these changes would help me lose some weight, but it has yet to come off and I've figured out why.

Sure, my food intake has been better with smaller portions and not eating as many "bad" foods, but what was happening was that there were many foods that seem to be "healthy" and really are not. Take yesterday for example: I went to Chick-fil-a thinking that it would be better to get something there than at McDonald's or somewhere else. I had a sunflower-multigrain bagel with chicken and cheese. It was quite good and had a lot of protein and multigrain is better than white, right? Unfortunately, not. That breakfast sandwich that was thought to be more healthy ended up being 500 calories with 20 grams of fat! Ewww. Well, this got me thinking...If that seemed healthier and really wasn't, what else am I eating that could be sabotaging my weight loss efforts?

For me, this was a real wake-up call. That cookie that looks so good and can't be that bad if I only have one....6 grams of fat and 180 calories. Ummm, no thanks. Because of this (and the wonderful boyfriend that lets me use our his Ipod touch) I decided to download an app that helps me track what I eat and the calories/fat/carb content in foods as well as gives me daily goals and totals to work with. It is also incredibly helpful because if he wants his Ipod back to use, they have a website where you can plug in the information as well and have an online community of other people trying to lose weight! I browsed the website today and loved seeing the ticker and goals that you can set for yourself and also be able to look up what the nutritional facts are! If you too are interested in that website click here.

Now that I have the right tools to know what is in the foods I'm eating it should make it easier to make the better choice and not continue to sabotage myself!

McFatty Monday--Revised

I went to the marriage fellowship bible study at my church last night and it was talking about attractiveness and how women need to be "attractive" for their spouses. Even though Phil and I aren't married yet we are considering it and therefore qualify for the group. The study focused on two areas of attractiveness--the inner beauty and the physical side of beauty. Since this is in lieu of a McFatty Monday post I am focusing on the goals for my physical beauty today.

It's been a tough couple of months for me dealing with my body and how I view myself physically. I will be the first to admit that when I go to the gym and see myself in all of the mirrors I cringe. I find it honestly disgusting and that is so sad when it's my body. I've been focusing so hard on feeling better about myself and even went out and bought some new clothes that actually fit and it did make me feel better! It makes me feel good about myself when I have clothes to get dressed up in and look nice. However, with buying new clothes, that only solves one of the problems and the body issues are still there underneath the clothes.

Because of this issue that I am still working on. I have decided to not focus on my weight this week, but rather focus on making healthy choices and striving to be healthy. I feel as though I have been making so many better decisions regarding my diet and when I see the scale go up I get confused, upset, and don't understand so hopefully taking a step back from that will help to refocus my efforts and give me some positive motivation for a while.

Let's look at some goals I want to achieve this week:

1. Drink more water! --I've been getting better with this, but usually only do it for a day or two before I fall off the bandwagon.
2. Only go out to eat a maximum of 1 time/week. --It's so easy for me to "justify" subway with the kids or something on the weekend because it's easier, but then I end up eating out a few times a week.
3. Go to the gym and be more active. --Since my trainer has been out of the country for a family emergency and I've been getting depressed about my weight not going down I've really been slacking on this one and need to regain some focus.
4. Pray more and think positively about myself. --God can help me through anything and that's what I need.
5. Wake up 15 minutes early everyday this week. --I've noticed that when I wake up just before 7am I am much happier and can get a lot more done. Ironic, I know, but true all the same even though I want to sleep in as late as possible.

McFatty Monday

Well, it's been a week since I've started with McFatty Mondays. I have made some changes that will hopefully make it work.

• I have completely given up soda for a whole week! It was difficult and I still crave it, but it will be better in the long run.
• I have kept on my 30 day "Keep active" promise to myself. I went to the gym 3 times this past week and only 2 were with my trainer. Other than that I made sure that I was active for at least 10 minutes every.single.day that I was not at the gym. And yes, that included taking the stairs at the mall instead of going up the elevator.
• I have also made sure to eat less sweets in general.
• The new thing I've been doing for dinners at home is if I'm not really hungry, I will eat a bowl of cereal to cut down on calories instead of skipping the meal or just eating chips and dip.

I will have to do the weigh-in tomorrow morning, but I am hoping that all of these changes have made a small difference.

Let's get the party started

Let's face it, I've gained 20 pounds in the last year. That's kinda a lot and I am not happy with it at all. The weight gain has been mostly because of stress with some "love weight" thrown in there by falling in love with an incredible man. Either way it needs to go.

I'll be the first one to admit that I am a procrasinator. The gym to me seems like a great idea until it is time to go. I'm also the best excuse maker ever --due to years of practice when I was a kid --to get out of anything I did not want to do.

I'm also a stress-eater. When stress comes my way so does my appetite. Cheeseburgers, pizza, bacon, ice cream, chocolate, cake, cookies...you name it, I want it.

Because of all of these things it has been really bad on my health. I have back pain, knee pain, and I get winded going up and down stairs. When we were at DisneyWorld this past summer, I couldn't even walk around the whole time. My back was in so much pain. My knees hurt, and my feet were so swollen I couldn't even fit into shoes or my sandals I had brought! It has gotten so bad that part of my leg feels swollen and will hurt if I have it bent too much. Unfortunately Phil's sister in law is a doctor and said it is not swollen. This of course means that it is just my fat that hurts....ouch :(

I am, honestly, about 55-60 pounds away from my goal weight. It's been exhausting to not be able to bend down while sitting to get things without having my belly get in the way. Phil will actually volunteer to do many things for me to help because he knows that it is incredibly uncomfortable for me to do myself--like carrying things up the stairs for me at his house. I'm not incapable and I do many things, but the weight does get in the way more than I would like it too.

I had just about had it today when the realization came that my insecurities all stem from my weight in some form or another. The once a month personal training is not working because we only meet once a month and other than that the average gym trip has been once a week...not too good.

Phil and I had talked about how I need more training from a professional multiple times a week to really see results and be motivated. With feeling so insecure lately I decided to talk to him about actually doing that and headed off to the gym to get prices on different training options. He agreed, surprisingly, that it would be a good idea to have me try it out for 3 months meeting with a trainer 4 times a week! This way I am guaranteed to go to the gym 4 times a week for the next 3 months and there should be some kind of significant progress by that point.

My first appointment is tomorrow with my new trainer. I am hopeful that it will go well and that it will be the kick in the butt I need to get going with weight loss and living a healthier lifestyle.

Weight Watchers Anyone?

I've been reading a lot of blogs recently and have noticed that one of my favorite blogs to read mentions that she is doing Weight Watchers with her husband and it is working for them! I've been struggling with weight loss and especially over the past few weeks my nutrition has really been aweful. Phil and I even had a talk about it to try to get me back on track. We decided that I needed a plan to work with instead of blindly going in there. We considered a couple of things:

--A supplement aka Alli. After reading the many reviews (good and bad) we decided that the oily discharge and general leakage problem from the rear end is NOT ok in any circumstance. Other supplements have high levels of caffeine and I am caffeine sensitive...it puts me to sleep--literally.

--After shooting down the supplement idea, I thought of Weight Watchers because I have been reading about the success over at this blog and thought it would be a great idea to try. You get your points allowance and get to do a lifestyle change without counting calories!

After making the decision last night, calling Weight Watchers to talk to them about the program, we headed out to BJ's to get a Momentum Cookbook to get an idea of recipes that are allowed. We also purchased a starter kit online today that should be here in a few days to get the ball rolling! I am excited to try this out and see what can happen as a result of it.

Are you ready?

It's frustrating to watch someone you love going through something so difficult and all you can do is stand back, pray, and hope for the best. It's amazing how we can be so ready for change, but not ready enough to make the changes happen. I know I've been like that many times in my life with weight loss, going back to school, getting out of debt, and leaving unhealthy relationships behind. Sometimes it took that extra push from someone I love to help me make the change and sometimes it was something I had to do all on my own. With the weight loss, Phil had to sit me down and tell me that it was something I needed to do. No, he wasn't calling me fat, but he didn't like to sit around and see me get depressed about my weight all the time. Finally, he told me that we needed to do something together. At that point I honestly looked him in the eyes and said that I did not want to put in the effort to work out and eat better. It was just not what I was going to do...or so I thought.

Later that night we prayed about a lot of things. He told me that other people were commenting on my unhealthy habits and he could see that I was not happy being how I was. The next day, I decided that it was do or die time. I stopped giving excuses and started by eating better one thing at a time. I chose moderation with foods I like and incorporated more fruits and veggies. We also got a gym membership as a student special for the summer and started working out. The first two weeks were great. We went about four days each week and I played softball on Sundays. The last couple of weeks has been a little harder. I've been exhausted from the new work schedule, but we still managed to make it two or three times each week with softball on Sundays. We are looking into continuing the membership after the summer is over so that the good habits will be able to continue and not just end because it's the summer.

I know this all seems trivial, but it really isn't. No one is really ready for change until they go through the hard, real emotions of it all and are going to do everything it takes to make that change happen. You must first realize the situation you are in and know that you deserve better, want better, and are going to go through the good and bad to get there. It will get better, it just takes time. Everyone deserves a second start, what about you?