I used to be "fat"

I know "fat" is an ugly word. But that's how I felt sometimes. While I was blessed with high self-esteem and confidence, there were definitely occasions where I was self-conscious because of my weight. And during these times I felt "fat." Not heavier, not thick or any other word that people use to describe being overweight. I felt fat. 

It always makes me giggle when people say they don't believe I was ever bigger. I definitely was. I have spent more of my life being "heavier" than I have spent being in shape. 

I was skinny as a child and then around 2nd grade I started gaining weight. I remember my stepdad's mom making comments to me about being overweight and I remember my uncle telling me I would have to lose weight if I wanted to be in his wedding. I was in 4th and 5th grade reading weight loss articles in magazines. When I was in 6th grade I lost a bunch of weight and started playing sports the next year, so then I maintained an average weight and then in high school I gained weight slowly - despite playing 3 sports.

12th grade

Fast forward to college where I reached my heaviest weight of 220+ lbs. 

Freshman year of college

See? I haven't always been in shape. 

Summer after freshman year

And when I was losing weight, I didn't have one of those overnight transformations. I have had to bust my butt and keep working at it for years to get to the point where I am today. I've lost 20-30lbs and said, "Ok that's enough" and got stagnant for awhile. I've had unplanned pig out sessions with friends and quite a few by myself. I've eaten snacks/meals and felt guilty about it. I've regained some weight that I'd already lost. I've pretty much done it all.  

So when people tell me they want/need to lose weight - I get it what they are up against! I know that it seems daunting and if you have never lost weight before it is even more frightening. 

When you tell me that it's hard giving up certain foods - I can relate to that. 

When you say you are having a hard time making exercise a habit - I can relate to that. 

When you say you just don't know where to start - I can relate to that too. 

However, because I have done it, I have tips and advice for making it seem more doable. It's really a mind game. If you can learn to control your mind and your thoughts, losing the weight is easier. 

Spring 2013

Similarly though, I know the pride and satisfaction that comes along with accomplishing this kind of goal, whether it be 10lbs or 100lbs. As a coach, it is my goal to help as many people as possible feel the joy that comes along with accomplishing a fitness/healthy goal. 

For those of you that have never seen my transformation pictures:

Summer 2005 - Fall 2014

And now here are 3 quick tips to get you started - 

1. Don't try to change all your unhealthy habits at one time.  It has taken you a lifetime to develop these bad habits, don't expect to drop them all cold turkey. Pick 1 or 2 habits to work on each week and focus on them in small steps.

2.  Research! There's so much information on weight loss, training, nutrition. muscle building, increasing flexibility - whatever your goal is. Start googling and try to learn new info that can help you get to your  ultimate goal. 

3. Be patient with yourself. You aren't perfect. You will make mistakes. You will have setbacks. It's ok. It isn't the end of the world Just pick yourself up and get back at it. Beating yourself up only worsens the situation.

The beginning of my PiYo journey

I started PiYo today and I couldn't be more excited about what's to come. If you know my story, you know I've lost a ton of weight. But, you should also know that I'm not quite at my goal body yet. I still want to work on adding muscle and becoming more lean.

PiYo combines yoga & pilates, so it is low impact, but there is a lot of movement through the poses, so it is still high intensity.

Over the next 60 days I'll be doing PiYo and following the nutrition plan that came with it. Every weekend, probably Sundays, I will do a post on the previous week.

Come along for my journey so you can see what this PiYo business is all about. And whenever you feel like you want to join the fun, let me know :-)

Here's where we're starting...

Stay tuned for weekly updates on my progress! 

Want to join me? Shoot me an email & let's talk about how to get you started! 

My "Crazy" Dream

As long as I can remember I have told people I wanted to "save the world" when I grew up. I never actually knew what that would entail. I never even really knew what I was saving the world from.

Until now. 

As a child and a young I struggled with my weight. I was overweight, but never officially diagnosed with any weight related illness/disease, although I had some significant illness every year - pneumonia, the flu, chronic stomach issues, etc. Since losing weight and taking better care of myself, I rarely ever get sick. Having experienced being overweight and going through the process of losing a lot of weight, I want to help other people take control of their bodies & their health. 

It's no secret that being overweight has a negative effect on our bodies. These are just some of the possible effects.

And it is also not a secret that obesity is becoming more and more common. It is safe to say we all know at least one person who is overweight or obese. 

So I guess you've figured out what I want to "save the world" from, huh? 

Weight related issues. 

And I plan to do it by sharing my tips, recipes, motivation, advice, etc. with as many people as possible, by coaching people through their weight loss journeys and helping other coaches get started doing the same. I can't do it by myself! I need a team of people to help me "end the trend" of obesity. 

I'm crazy enough to believe that I can make a difference in the world. 

Are you crazy enough to think you can help? Let me know if you are. 

Chocolate Vanilla Ginger Shakeology

I drink Shakeology every day. Thing is, I tend to stick to the same handful of recipes. Today I decided to try something different & I'm glad I did. Expect a few different recipes in the near future.

Today I tried a recipe that incorporates ginger because of the many benefits of ginger.

I try to add ingredients to my diet that have extra benefits. I emphasize quality over quantity when it comes to food. Anyway, here is the recipe I tried:

My Next Workout Adventure

I have lost a lot of weight, 60lbs to be exact, but I still have fitness goals. I want to be stronger and I want more visible muscles.  This means I need to lose more body fat and sculpt more lean muscle mass. I'm ready to do it! 

What's my plan? Tightening up my diet and adding the new workout PiYo to my current exercise regimen.  

Look at the results my friend Lyndsi got using it! She's back in her pre-pregnancy clothes! 

These kinds of things are always more fun with friends. Who wants to do it with me? Email me if you are interested! 

 

Surviving a "bad' Weigh-In

The battle with the scale can be gruesome. Have you seen the contestants on the Biggest Loser when they have a bad week on the scale? Devastating and quite often they are baffled and so are their trainer(s). If it can happen to them, when they have all the support and pretty awesome trainers, it can happen to those of us that are going at it on our own.

I tell people all the time that they should ignore the scale & focus on their measurements or their progress pictures. It's true - those two things will show you the most accurate transformation. 

That being said, I am not immune to a little scale frustration myself. It happens.

Generally I weigh about 155lbs. Lately, I've been weighing in closer to 170lbs. My measurements aren't way off, my pictures don't indicate a 15lb difference and my clothes fit fine. It's just that 'ol hateful scale of mine trying to get on my nerves, but I won't be defeated! 

Usually, I bounce back pretty well from scale disappointments, and even though I'm not depressed by it, I am occasionally annoyed though. But that's why I keep pictures like these. Different poses make some body parts look different, but I can see that I did not put on 15lbs of fat. 

Truth is, I don't know what it is. It'll balance out sooner or later. And hopefully, some of it is muscle. My legs feel more developed anyway (woo hop hams & quads!!)! 

Now sometimes the scale is a reflection relaxed eating habits and/or commitment to exercising.  But even if that is the case, weigh-ins shouldn't get you down and out.

Here are my 7 weigh-in affirmations. 

1. I am healthy!

2. I make good eating choices & I exercise!

3. My weight does not make me a good/bad person!

4. My weight is a number that no one knows but me! 

5. I work too hard to be setback by what the scale says! 

6. I love myself! 

7. A healthy lifestyle is a marathon not a sprint! 

I wasn't always this positive or resilient. I have had a bad weigh-in and lost my motivation to workout and eat healthy or sabotage my efforts in one way or another. But that has never made me feel better. So now, I take it with a grain of salt & use my frustrations as fuel for my fitness journey.

What do you do to cope with a frustrating weigh-in?

Clean Eating Oatmeal Pancakes

I eat the same thing for breakfast almost every day, but sometimes I want to switch it up from my egg whites and veggies routine. And what's better than pancakes or waffles? The problem is, traditional pancakes and syrup aren't going to help me get abs. So, I found a recipe for clean pancakes that I can enjoy guilt free. 

I prefer mine with peanut butter, but you can top it with honey, agave, fresh fruit, etc. 

I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments below.