The Goal has been Attained!!! Now to maintain!!!

It's not a SPRINT, it's a MARATHON!!! That saying stayed in my head throughout my weight loss journey! My "official" journey began in January 2013 when I buckled down and got serious about my weight. I had been working out prior to January 2013 but my mind wasn't completely IN it! And to successfully lose weight, YOUR MIND HAS TO BE COMPLETELY IN IT!!!! I would workout but I wouldn't take my eating habits seriously. They weren't kidding when they said it all starts in the kitchen. In January, I started working out to Insanity Fast & Furious and a Jillian Michaels DVD, I did this for the whole month of January. I had heard about ChaLean Extreme (a BeachBody program) and decided I'd give that a shot. It not only had cardio in it but also some weight training which I totally needed. I started ChaLean Extreme in February when I also started using MyFitnessPal app on my phone. It was a way for me to log everything I was eating and what a great help that app was to me. I could honestly NOT believe how much I had been eating in a day. I kept myself at 1200 calories for the day and only utilizing my exercise calories as needed, so for the most part I kept it at or just below 1200 calories a day, with the occasional overage. I started losing a pound here, a couple pounds there; slowly but surely the pounds and inches started coming off. 

My goal??? Lose 40 lbs before my 41st birthday in November 2013. Now, I had wanted to lose 40 lbs before my 40th birthday in 2012, but that never happened. But I successfully lost 40 lbs just weeks prior to my 41st birthday (November 20th). A goal that I had to work very hard to get!!! It meant changing the way I ate, eating cleaner, making my own lunches for work, not eating frozen entrees (do you know how horrible those are for you, even the "Smart Ones"??). I ate more fruits and vegetables and of course my daily dose of Chocolate Shakeology shake (another BeachBody product). I didn't give up having sweets on occasion...I knew in order to stay sane through all this I still had to reward myself a sweet treat BUT in moderation and only ON occasion. 

After I finished up ChaLean Extreme, a 3 month workout program, I jumped into Turbo Fire. It's another BeachBody program that is lead by Chalene Johnson, who also does ChaLean Extreme. Turbo Fire is also a 3 month program with a lot of kickboxing type moves, a great cardiovascular workout. Before Turbo Fire ended...Shaun T, who is famous for Insanity, came out with a NEW program called Focus T25. A 25 minute intense workout, I'd call it a miniature Insanity workout. :) It comes first with Alpha and Beta programs each lasting 5 weeks, 5 days a week and 25 mins each workout. Who can beat that!!!??? From the start of T25 Alpha to end of T25 Beta, I lost 10 lbs and earned myself a Focus T25 Nailed It tshirt from Beachbody. My first challenge shirt!!! :) 

T25 also has a Gamma program and will soon be coming out with the Delta program. Gamma still has cardio in it but Shaun T now incorporates weight lifting into this fabulous program. There are two options in Gamma...the first is just straight up Gamma workouts...the second is a Gamma Hybrid which includes workouts from Alpha and Beta. I completed the first option in Gamma and I am currently in the 2nd week of Gamma Hybrid. 

One thing I have learned is that I have to constantly be thinking of the next workout so that I don't fall into the trap of getting out of my routine. So, after I am through with Gamma Hybrid I am going to go back to ChaLean Extreme so that I can continue with weight lifting. Down the road I plan on purchasing Body Beast from BeachBody. I should also note that during this journey I also did the Couch to 5k (c25k) program and now run 3 miles on a weekly (if possible) basis. I've ran more 5Ks this year than ever in my life with many more to come. 

In March of this year I also became a BeachBody Coach. I should confess that at first I signed up for the amazing discounts coaches get. But after a while I realized that I wanted to help people achieve their own weight loss goals. This coaching journey has been slow going and I've helped a few out here and there. But I know one day, I'll be able to completely focus on "coaching" others to achieve their weight loss goals and then they in turn will help people they know...for now I shall lead by example...BE the product!!! BeachBody isn't about making a sale...it's about "ending the trend" of obesity and helping people you know and total strangers become fit and healthy. 

My journey has been long or at least it seemed long to me. But I will tell you...it was SOOOOOO worth it! I feel so much better about myself, I feel healthier and I certainly don't feel like I'm going on 41. If you have in your mind that you can't do something like this...you CAN!!!! But don't think it is going to be easy and that it is going to be fast...remember...It's not a sprint, it's a marathon!!!!!

Here is my before and after picture...I'm not one that likes to put myself out there like this, but if I've learned anything on this journey...I HAVE to put myself out there!!!

This was November 2012...my 40th birthday party...I did not feel comfortable in this outfit at all...I was very self-conscious about how I looked in every outfit I put on. BTW...that is one of my besties, Shavonne! :)

This is me in October of this year (2013). Never in a million years did I think I'd EVER get into size 4 pants...EVER!!! I don't say that to brag because I am NOT a bragger...it is just very rewarding to be able to say I can wear that size...the work paid off!!!

Does my journey end here?? NO WAY!!!!! Once you hit your goal weight, you don't go back to what you did before. It's a lifestyle change!!! You have to continue doing what got you to the goal in the first place. 

I pray and hope that my story/my journey will help you in some way!!! I've longed to be fit and healthy for a very long time but I had to put the effort and the work into it. I couldn't have accomplished this without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whom I prayed to everyday to get me up at 430-5am each morning to guide me through each struggle I had with food or exercise. I thank my husband John and my boys, Zach and Eric for supporting me, standing by me and understanding when I didn't want to reveal my numbers till the very end. I thank my faithful friends who supported me and cheered me on through each accomplishment. I thank Team SixpackStriving for their abundant support and encouragement. The comradery that is a part of this team is AMAZING and I'm so thankful that I'm a part of it!!! I thank BeachBody for having such amazing programs and amazing trainers who do them...the programs and products really work!!!  

Don't ever give up!!!!

Long overdue....

My last post was back in November and I must say that even back then my mind was NOT in the right place, although I had very good intentions. January 2013 rolled around and I decided I needed to get my act together, get my head in the right place and get with the program of getting myself seriously back into shape! No more excuses, no more effortless workouts...I needed to go head on into this and NOT give up no matter what! 

I began by doing Insanity Fast & Furious, which is a 20 minute workout with high intensity and pure insaneness. I also incorporated Jillian's Shred it with Weights kettlebell workout. I got up every morning bright and early and did these workouts...alternating them. Towards the end of January I had purchased ChaLean Extreme workout program from Beachbody and decided this was my get serious workout program. It is a 3 month program beginning with Burn phase, then Push phase and ending with the Lean phase. You're lifting 3 times a week and incorporating 2 cardio workouts, according to the program calendar. I LOVED this workout...I loved every single thing about this workout. Chalene's attitude, her enthusiasm and willingness to help you become a better and stronger person. I'd end my lifting workouts feeling pumped and felt that throughout the entire day. 

Now I've had to learn to expose my flaws...so I am going to post a couple pictures of me a month into ChaLean Extreme (CLX) and then a picture of me at the end of CLX. 

March 23, 2013, starting 2nd month of CLX

April 23, 2013 at the end of CLX

Since January 2013, I am down 17 lbs and counting. I have a goal weight set in mind, as far as when I'll achieve that...I'm leaving that open, I'd like it to be by the end of summer but I don't want to put any undo pressure on myself. The speed I am going I am very happy and content with...it is not a race it is a marathon...it is not a diet it is a lifestyle change!!!! I should note that also during CLX I was doing a couch to 5k app and I did that for 8 weeks. Slowly progressing my way up to running 3 miles. I achieved that weeks ago and I'm so thankful I did it. I LOVE running...while I may not love it while I'm doing it...I love the fact that I love it and I love how I feel after I've done it. The week of April 22nd...for the first time ever I ran 4 miles. I felt so good running that I knew I could do more than the 3 miles I had been doing. (I should note that I try to run at least 3 times a week or whenever I can fit it in after work.) Pushing yourself allows you to accomplish so much more than what your mind can even fathom. Your body can do so much more than what you allow it to. If you tell yourself you can't then it won't happen for you. BUT if you tell yourself you can then you will achieve it and you'll be on cloud 9 when you do...you'll be high fiving yourself! :) 

On April 22, I began a new workout program...I had actually started this back in October but lost the ambition. I am now revisiting it and I'm so glad I am. I am now doing Chalene Johnson's Turbo Fire. Such a great and energetic workout which leaves you pumped and dripping in sweat! I get up after 430am to do my workout videos...I HAD to make this my time to workout...attempting to do it after work was failing me miserably. Getting up early has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone, as I am not an early riser...but once I get moving in my workouts the better I feel. 

I have been using Myfitnesspal app everyday...logging all my workouts and everything I eat. My goal calorie intake is 1200 and this is so I can lose 1-2 lbs a week. That goal can be changed by how much weight you want to lose in a week's time. I feel this app has been a vital key in my journey...logging and seeing what I am eating each and everyday helps guide me to continue on the path of eating right and eating good portions. I don't go on a binge and eat whatever, I do occasionally allow myself a treat. I also have been drinking Shakeology from Beachbody...a wonderful meal replacement which is loaded with all kinds of vitamins and nutrients. I buy the regular chocolate flavor...I add almond milk, pb2 (powdered peanut butter) and a banana, occasionally I'll add blueberries and raspberries. 

On February 1st, I was invited into a 5050 Burpee challenge...doing burpees in 100 days...February 1st...I did 1, then the 2nd I did 2 and so on. Day 100 is May 11th, which is fast approaching and by that point I'll have done 5050 burpees in 100 days. Are burpees fun?? Heavens no...but I took on the challenge...I told others that I was doing it so that I made myself accountable in doing them each and everyday. It has become part of my routine. My next challenge is a 30 day squat challenge...you always need to be challenging yourself. 

I share this journey with you not to brag but to inspire you! I want to inspire and motivate people to be all they can be! In March I became a Beachbody Coach...right now the progress to build my team is slow but I know in time it will happen. I'm not doing it to make tons of money...I'm doing it to help people achieve a better, healthier lifestyle! We only get one shot at this life...we might as well make the best of it while we can! I thank God for being with me through this journey...I know it is He who is giving me the strength to do all that I am doing! I thank my husband, my boys, all my friends, and Team Sixpackstriving who are on this journey with me! You inspire me more than you will ever know!!!