I keep saying that I've cleaned up my eating. This doesn't mean I went vegan or vegetarian or anything else. I just have chose to eat more fruits and veggies and leaner meats. I'm controlling my portion sizes and I'm not having yummy sweets every single day. I do not believe in depriving yourself of the good stuff but I am a believer in moderation. I went from drinking Starbuck Cafe Mochas with soy 5-6 times a week to 2 a week, occasionally 3 a week, those are considered "treats." In between I have green tea or my new favorite chocolate mint tea. I will have the occasional small piece of chocolate, Dole's Dark Chocolate dipped banana slices (found in the freezer section at the store), or fat free pudding. These are not things I have everyday. I also, on a daily basis for breakfast have the most healthiest meal of the day, my Vegan Chocolate Shakeology. I have been drinking Shakeology for over 2 years now and would not want to go without it. I believe Shakeology has helped me have less to no illnesses in the last couple of years. It's a healthy dense dose of super food nutrition. Everything that is in Shakeology is healthy and a total and complete benefit to your health and body.
Part of the Insanity Max 30 program are the use of the color coded containers that were first introduced in 21 Day Fix by Autumn Calabrese (who just launched a new 21 Day Fix Extreme program). The containers help control portion sizes and a guide to them helps you understand how many of each container you should really be having. For instance, the red container is for protein, based on my weight and my calorie intake for the day I should have 4 of the red containers by days end. It's the same (not the number) for the other containers which are all based on your weight and what the calorie intake for the day will be, mine is 1200 calories. These containers are amazing!!!
I have a lot to say when it comes to BeachBody products. I have been using them for a few years now and have received amazing results from them. I think I have said this before how I don't have a lot of time to go to the gym. It has benefited me doing all my workouts from home. While many look at the costs of the programs or Shakeology and frown, I have seen it as an investment to my health and my family. And it's one investment I would repeat over and over again. It's well worth the money because you have these workouts forever and you can re-use them whenever you want. I can incorporate other programs I have into one I am currently doing if I wanted to (otherwise known as hybrid). The programs certainly don't go to waste. We can't keep going on the, "one day I'll start working out again," or "I'm to scared to workout." If you're health and wellness mean anything to you, it shouldn't be a choice you have to think long and hard about. You just do it! I battle the mind a lot when it comes to working out. There are many mornings I just want to stay in bed and be warm. But I'm not doing myself any favors by doing that. So, I get up and do my workouts and the rest of the day is mine and I feel so much better for doing it.
I'm sorry if I seem like I'm lecturing here but I've just seen too many people I know not make the choice for various reasons and I can see it affecting their health and well-being and it hurts me to see that. I want to help them to feel better and live healthier lives. That's why I keep on doing what I'm doing. That's why I keep posting my workouts and blogging. I want to inspire others to see it's not so bad and the reward you get from it is amazing, but you have to do the work. I know a lot of it lies with the battle of the mind, but one day you just have to recognize what's going on and make the choice to change. I did in 2013 and it wasn't to be skinny...it was to get healthy and feel better because I was not feeling all that great with myself and I knew my health was going to suffer if I didn't make that change.
From January 2013 to October 2013, I lost 40 lbs by hard work and dedication. Just this past year (2014) I battled with a lot of job stress and it took a toll on me mentally and physically. I was fully aware of what it was doing to me. I knew I had to get a grip but it was getting my mind to get there too. Sometimes it takes finding that workout program or exercise, such as weight lifting, running, walking, biking, etc that gets you motivated. For me, knowing that Insanity Max 30 was coming out was the nudge I needed to get myself moving. I did Insanity and I've done T25 and I love what Shaun T brings into all his workout programs. He's motivating, inspiring and energizing. And a month into Insanity Max 30 and I feel so energized and fresh. I put on nearly 15 pounds since I lost the 40 lbs back in 2013. To some that might not seem like a lot but to me it was a sign that I had let myself revert back to old ways, even though I was still doing workouts; my eating on the other hand was suffering. (By the way, I refuse to say dieting because this isn't a diet, this is a lifestyle change). They say 80% kitchen and 20% exercise and that's completely true. If you just changed portion sizes and ate more fruits and veggies, leaner meats; aka better food choices, you would see changes. The exercise part is the added bonus. I know this is a long winded blog but I won't apologize for it. It's my story and I want it to be heard. I hope and pray that in some way, shape, or form it will help keep you motivated or help get you started. Either way I want to be there to help motivate and inspire you to live a healthier life.
Below you will see my before photos next to my 30 day photos...again, I lost 4.6 lbs so far, 4 inches off my waist and 2.5 inches off my hips. I have one more month to go, I just started month 2 of Insanity Max and it's proving to be a typical month 2 Shaun T workout. I've had to learn to put myself out there for accountability and for people to see that with a lot of hard work and dedication results can happen. When my next 30 days are up I will post another blog with my after photos. If you'd like to follow my progress on a daily basis, go to my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FitnessFirstwithKC
