Hay y'all.
It's been awhile.
I've been slacking on here.
Let's see... in 10.5 months I've gone from 225 to 185. YAY!
(40 lbs gone!)
This has NOT been easy.
I've had to fight, sweat, cry, bleed a little, and learn so much to get here.
And I'm by no means done, either.
My Ultimate goal weight is 150.
35 lbs left to go.
(this pic is today.. 185 and my smallest ever since having any of the kids.)
(woah.. excuse my snaggle toe there... O_o)
I originally had hopes in having myself in the 165 range by Jensen's 1st birthday but I don't see myself losing 20 lbs by next month so... I'm pushing it for the beginning of the following school year in August.
Reasonable, yes? I certainly have my eyes on that month.
So, on a side note, I've been having a flood of questions coming in since posting a photo last month of my progress photos from April 2013 until last month Feb 2014. I've made big changes since joining Golds Gym and lifting free weights and doing heavy cardio 2-3x a week. I'm now on phase two of my workouts with my personal trainer and I've slipped up some with my son being sick all in February... but March is my comeback month!
I cross off a few questions here:
Q: What are you doing to lose weight?
A: Right now I'm lifting 3-4x a week, zumba every Wednesday night, and I do at least 20-30 mins of cardio 5-6x a week. Some times I get lazy, or busy and choose to skip (dammit, I'm getting better about this!) but if I can't get myself into the gym due to my bitties -- I usually do my Insanity DVD's at home, go for a run outside for 30 mins (even if I'm walking a super fast pace that someone thinks I'm trying to rush somewhere because I look like I gotta poo real bad -- clench those cheeks!) I found that if I don't workout I get antsy. You HAVE to move! You can even lift daily... but if you sit on your ass all day and don't do anything before or after that then... you're not really that active. I learned with a special device called a "body media band".. it tells me all kinds of cool stuff and where I need to pick up the pace. EX... everyone should be taking at least 10k steps daily. Less than that means you're not moving enough.
Q: What's a "Body Media Band?"
A: Glad you asked! Check this out -- http://www.bodymedia.com
It tracks your steps, calories burned awake and asleep...24/7. You can sync it with my fitness pal, too... so you can record your calorie intake. It also tracks stuff like sodium, cholesterol, fats, ect... it's super detailed! I only take mine off to charge or shower since it can't get wet. This puppy has helped me drop 40 lbs in 5-6 months... and it could have probably made me manage faster if I was more disclipined -- and like I said, I'm a work in progress.
This band has an app that you have on your phone so you can check it where ever you are at -- but you can log onto their website on your computer to get more in-depth details. Very very useful too. :)
Q: Hey! Just wondering if you had any motivation tips. I'm going into my (X) week of diet and exercise and last week I was, I guess, losing focus. I'm getting frustrated and disappointed with how slow results are showing.
A: Ah.. I get asked this question probably the most out of any of them. You see... I lose focus too, just like everyone else. I wanted to put that out there first so you don't feel alone. It's common. BUT. Here's the thing... you keep moving. Just because you didn't workout on Monday and Tuesday... don't let that gut the rest of your week! Pick it up!
I often look to my children (for all you mommies out there!) They are little sponges; absorbing EVERYTHING that is going on. Especially us, their parents! YOU set the example! I totally understand that not everyone is a stay at home mom and has the time of day to go to the gym when they want, and once school is out and you come home... it's a race of events it seems daily to get homework, dinner, bath, bed, ect... all completed. Now.. do you have 10-15 mins to do some squats, lunges, calf raises? I used to use empty milk jugs and fill them with water as weights.If we watched TV I'd do stuff between programs when the commercials aired. Do pushups with your kids on your back! Arm curl your babies! (They love that haha)
I also look at myself in the mirror and pick apart everything (not the best way but this gets me going.)
I ask myself -- are you okay with this? Most of the time I find something I wanna change -- and the only way for that is if I get up and do something about it. 80% of this change is your diet. Empty calories like fried foods, alcoholic drinks, sodas, candy, baked goods, heavy breads, white rice, salty foods... stuff like this... is NOT what you want to eat. Sorry.. :(
Shop the outer isles in the grocery store. If it's processed, switch it for fresh.
(more on this later.. because I'm still learning my diet as well)
The other 20% will be your workouts. You must lift weights (be it your own body weight, water/sand filled milk jugs, your kids, or dumbells and the bar off a squat rack) this is a key component!
Cardio is also a major role in this as well.
BUT -- only running on a tread mill day in and day out will only get you so far. So don't forget to lift!
....but back to the original answer! *ahem*
I pull motivation from other areas such as photos of fitness icons, or inspirational quotes I've seen online to kick it into gear. I want to look like that! Sitting won't accomplish that goal! YOU can be SO MUCH MORE than what you are if you just get up and go!
The hurting and sweat sucks... but being flappy and smushy because you sat around sulking forever feels worse.
OHHH. AND. I take photos weekly as well as measurements.
That way if I'm feeling down about myself I can refer back to photos and measurements to see if anything has changed.
Some times it's subtle and a non-scale victory! I can shrink in inches but not weight some weeks.. and this lets me know that i'm in a "transitional phase."
Seeing this gets me fired up because I know the weight will soon slide off the scale :)
It also helps when others tell me they see changes and that I'm inspiring them to do well themselves.
THAT always feels good. :)
Q: Do you have a specific routine?
Yes. My personal trainer, Joe as written one out for me per request. I have his info if you'd like to consult with him. Mine was tailored according to areas he knows I need to work on and fix up. A GREAT place to get ones to start off with though is bodybuilding.com
Look up Jamie Eason's 12 week lift challenge/schedule. I've seen a few friends do it and they LOVED it and had great results on it! :)
If you want to do at home workouts -- get p90x or insanity. Trust me -- you'll get your butt whooped.
If you are time pressed.. get the T25. It's only 25 mins long!
Q: What workout clothing/gear do you normally wear?
A: I LOVE old navy's workout clothes.
They are affordable, comfy, and colorful!
I mostly get their workout capri pants though.
Texas is kinda hot. And my thighs don't rub when I walk around haha.
I'm eyeballing a few etsy shops for workout tanks though.
here are a few places I'm currently in love with:
Fun colors make it more fun to workout in so I say dress up to go workout!!
Get a good playlist of songs that get you fired up to workout!
DRINK LOTS OF WATER! I cannot stress this!!!
(find that 8 cups of water blue jug at walmart and drink that empty 2x daily)
And lastly -- don't freak out (easier said than done) if you have a bad day, or stray from your goals some. Take that moment to get back on top of things and keep going! As my PT says ... this is YOUR story. YOU write it. Don't make it boring and sad... somewhere YOU will inspire someone and may not know it, so it's your responsibility to keep creating yourself. <3
I'm sure I could write more on all of this but it's almost 2 am and I just got home from the gym nearly an hour ago. Time for bed for me. Because SLEEP is important too with your health journey.
I hope this has helped someone.
XOXO
Here are my babies <3
Kaelyn turned 4 in Feb, Emma turned 6 yesterday,
and my baby boy will be 11 months old on the 20th.
NOT READY FOR HIM TO BE ONE.
I have baby fever already.
LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE. ;)
More info to come soon.
XOXO,
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