Life Gets In The Way Sometimes

I had no idea that it has been almost a month since I last blogged.  I apologize to my massive amount of readers.  The past month has really just been insane for our family.  We got everyone finished with school, and then it started.  The week of June 6th, we had Vacation Bible School at our church, which all three kids are involved with and I help with.  Following each day, we had 2 hours of swim lessons for the girls.  We would finally either go to the gym or go home about 3 o'clock.  If we went to the gym, we didn't get home until about 4:30 and then would often turn right around and head back to the gym for Spin Class.

The next week, we had a form of VBS at the church where the kids go/have gone to Pre-school.  The girls participate in it and M is in child care there throughout the day because I help with that VBS too.  We had another 2 hours of swim lessons each day after this VBS as well.  Add the gym, work I had to do for VBS, trying to get everyone fed, and it made for a tired mama!

After that week, we headed down to my parents' house for the week and had a wonderful time, but my access to the internet was pretty limited.  My folks live in the middle of a corn field and do not have the greatest service.

So, since we have been home, I have been playing catch up and am just now getting a chance to sit down to blog!  Hopefully you all (or the one of you!) :) understand that as I know that we are all busy and trying to survive the summer!!

So, catching up a tad is probably in order.  While I was so busy, I didn't get a lot of weight-lifting in.  That is mainly because I just didn't have time and I was so busy, I knew I couldn't be sore from lifting.  But mainly, I just didn't have time!  What that leaves me with then is a LOT of cardio!  I did Spin classes 4 times each week during VBS just to get my calorie burn in.  While I was at my mom and dad's I wasn't able to get to the gym, but I walked every day but one and that was so great!  Like I said, my parents live in the middle of the country and it was so wonderful to walk with nature and just enjoy being outside.  I walked at least 3 miles each time.

There is that part of me that has always wanted to be a runner.  I have tried and failed so many times.  It would get so frustrating.  It has taken me about 20 years to finally figure out that MAYBE God just didn't make me a runner, because he certainly did not give me the knees for it!  I have always joked that I can walk faster than I can run anyway!  The last 5K (3.1 miles) that I "ran" (that means run/walk, because I have never been able to run a whole 3.1 miles!) I did in 45 minutes and 2 seconds.  I have been working hard to get my time under that with just walking.  I didn't know if I would be able to do it or not.  But, while I was down at my folks, I timed myself and I did it!!  I did a 5K in 43 minutes and 25 seconds!!  I was so thrilled!  Can't wait to actually do a race.  I know I will be doing the Bumblerun in E's hometown in September and the Purdue 5K in October.  I may see if I can find some other ones along the way too. Bottom line, I can walk a 5K faster than I can run one! Woo!

I did get back in the weight room this week and it felt awesome!  I am SO sore though!  Ouch!  My booty is screaming from squats and lunges, but is that going to stop me?  Uh, NO!!!  I am going back to Spinning tonight for my second class in 2 days.

This video has been going around Facebook and I finally had a chance to watch it and I HIGHLY suggest that you do as well.  I have always disliked the term "Like A Girl" and I LOVE how this video turns it on it's head.  It is a must see!!

LIKE A GIRL

Since I haven't posted in a while, I figured I would let you know how I am doing and give you some pics on how I am looking.  I have lost 63.4 pounds in 25 weeks and I feel so strong and healthy.  I am fitting into clothes that I haven't worn in a long time and was able to buy a new pair of jeans in a size smaller than I thought I would.  I have muscles showing in places that I haven't seen them in a long time.  It is an awesome feeling and I love it and want more of it!!!

Here is a pic that my sweet daughter L took of me and my muscles.

I'm LOVING that cut in my shoulders that is starting to come through.  I'm going to keep at it though, because I want the rest of the cuts that go with them!!

It is a lot of hard work.  I am LOVING this hard work, but make no mistake.  It is HARD work.  I didn't decide to do this on a whim.  I thought a lot about it.  I prayed A LOT about it.  I talked with a lot of people about it.  I just want to be clear about what I am doing here.  I have said this many times, but this is not a quick fix for me.  This is my life.  There is no pill.  There is no magic drink.  There is no short cut.  It is all hard work, dedication, prayer, and the decision EVERY single day to change my life.  This is what it is.

Faith. Courage. Strength. Change.

G.R.I.T.

After a wonderful weekend watching a friend get married filled with greasy food, cake, and plenty of wine and whiskey, I was fully expecting a pretty high weight gain this week.  Thankfully hard work and good choices at other points made for a very small gain and one I could live with without getting down on myself.  It showed me a very important lesson.  OCCASIONALLY, it will be okay for me to indulge and eat some things that aren't good for me or have a couple of drinks.  I don't have to be scared of holiday celebrations or family functions.  That is a great turning point for me.  Life doesn't end just because you decide to make the needed changes to make that life the best it can be!

Remember all those Rubbermaid boxes of clothes that I told you about? Well, I decided to go through them.  I went through my entire closet, the 3 boxes, and 2 bags that a friend had given me.  I took out EVERYTHING that was too big, too short, out of style, or anything that I just knew I wasn't going to wear any more.  Note to self, never go that long between cleaning out the wardrobe...I had things from college in there!  Do you remember the Paul Harris store?  Yeah, lots of stuff from there...that may even be dating back to high school!!  Yeesh!  Anyway, I ended up pulling out and getting rid of 2 cabinet boxes and one plastic bag full of clothes.  The clothes that were in the Rubbermaid boxes were tried on and a lot of them fit!  Woo hoo!  I ended up having 1 box of clothes that are still a little tight, but I put them back in the box and will hold on to them.  I will be in them before I know it!

Cleaning out my closet like that left me with a lot of extra T-shirts that I am not wearing.  So, what is a girl that spends most of her time in the gym to do?  You guessed it! I'm back to cutting them up.  Here was my surgery attempt from last night.  I wish I would have taken a before pic, but it was just a white T-shirt with a blue ringer on the neckline and sleeves.  Looks a little different now!

Like my pig-tails? Yes, I am a 34 year old little kid!

In case you can not tell, the sleeves have been cut off as well as the neckline.  Neck was cut in a V as was the back.  The seams at the shoulder were cut and retied together.  I accidentally cut the back a little deep, so I cut strips in it to tie it up the back.  I tried to take a pic of it, but it is really difficult to take a picture of your back! :)  I wore it to RPM this morning and it worked out pretty well.  It is a little wide and slipped off of my shoulders some, but just looked like a cute off the shoulder shirt.  Had I not been covered in sweat, probably would have looked better!!  I can't wait to cut in to some of the others!

So, my title today is G.R.I.T.  During Spin Class this morning, our instructor told us this acronym.  I LOVE it.  I will be adding it to my list of mantras.  

GET REAL INTENSE TRAINING

Every time I walk into that gym, this will be in my head.  Real Intense Training, because going half-way just isn't an option.  I got this.

Faith. Courage. Strength. Changes.

20 Weeks!

In 20 weeks, my life has changed.  It is utterly amazing to me how every single aspect of my life has improved since January.  Don't get me wrong, I still have crappy days just like everyone else.  There are still days when I just want to dig into the chocolate and peanut butter (sometimes I even give in to that craving!).  But, when I look at my life and all of the amazing things God has blessed me with, I can't help but shake my head in wonder.  In January, I prayed.  I prayed that He would help me find a way to make myself healthier, happier, a better mom, a better wife, and a better friend.  I prayed that if He wanted me to move in this direction that He would provide the path.  And has He ever.

In 20 weeks, I have lost over 50 pounds, but I have GAINED oh so much more.  I have seen my body do things I had no idea it would ever do again.  I have lifted pounds that I haven't been able to do since I was a senior in High School.  I have found a love for spinning and rowing and even the elliptical machine.  Running around with my kids kicking a soccer ball no longer makes me feel like I am going to keel over dead.  Watching my body in the mirror has started to make me smile a little bit instead of feeling like I should be ashamed of what it looks like.  I have realized that there are some parts of my body that will never change even after I hit my goals, those stretch marks are here to stay.  And you know what?  That is okay, because each one of those marks is a reminder of the three beautiful children I was blessed to bring in to this world.

I have learned so much about food, it is almost ridiculous.  In the past, I have tried diets like the South Beach Diet and Weight Watchers.  Yes, I lost weight.  No, I was never able to keep it up.  Restricting my foods just does not work for me.  I LOVE to eat.  And I LOVE food.  Always have, always will.  I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl, not a salad chick.  What I have found is that telling myself I CAN'T have something only makes me want it more.  So, I quit telling myself that.  I quit dieting and instead found a way of life.  I still eat cookies.  I still eat steaks.  Heck, last night I had cheese ravioli with alfredo sauce from Puccini's.  What I have changed is HOW I eat.  I no longer need to smother my ravioli in the alfredo sauce.  I can have it on the side and just have a small amount.  If I DO have a salad, it does NOT need to be drenched in dressing.  I can even have REAL dressing if I want and just not drown my salad in it.  These are things anyone wanting to lose weight hears just about all the time.  But, until you really understand how it affects YOU, it is not going to click.  For me, it finally clicked.  The ONLY thing that I no longer consume is soda.  I really paid attention to how it was making me feel and figured out that it was something I really needed to get rid of in my life.  I am glad that I did.  Sometimes does it suck to choose yogurt over pie?  Yes, of course it does.  But, sometimes, that choice must be made.  Sometimes it is OK to have the pie, but it is NOT OK to choose pie every time.

The funny thing in all this is that once you start getting healthier and feeling better about yourself, so many other things in life seem so much better.  My relationship with my husband is stronger than it has ever been.  We are in this life together and we are making it the best it can be.  My relationship with my children is awesome because I have the energy to spend the time with them that I need to and that THEY need me to.  Yes, I still get frustrated with them.  Yes, they still get yelled at.  I'm human.  But, I can tolerate the little things so much better now.  Most stress I feel gets beat out of me at the gym.  When you aren't getting upset at the short people in your house, you find that they really are a LOT of fun!

I hope that I have become a better friend too.  I try really hard not to make every single conversation anyone has with me about my journey.  Sometimes, it is inevitable, especially when someone else brings it up.  But, I feel like since I feel better about myself, I can listen better to others.  Does that make sense?  I hope this is true anyway, because I have the most amazing friends and I want to be as good to them as they are to me!

My biggest and most favorite growth though has been in my relationship with Christ.  He has pushed me and challenged me in ways I would have never imagined.  When He started me on this path, I was terrified.  I was scared I would fail and let myself down.  Or even worse I would let everyone else including Him down.  What I didn't realize is this: "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it."  So very true.  By inviting Him fully into my meals, my workouts, my conversations, my life I have found so much more purpose and strength.  He is with me through every single step, push up, and bicep curl.  He pushes me, He encourages me, He celebrates me.  He is just awesome.

So, bottom line, what have I learned in 20 weeks?  Here is my top 10 list:

10. When you lose weight and commit to being healthy, people will ask you a lot of questions and assume you are an expert.  It is OK to give you opinion and share what you have learned.  But, remember you are NOT a trainer or a doctor.  It is okay to remind them of that.

9. Sometimes your body does need rest.  You are NOT weak if you take this rest.  Just don't let the rest last TOO long.

8. Occasionally you need a treat.  Swiss Cake Rolls are pretty good at fulfilling that.

7. Don't be afraid to brag about your successes, it is an awesome feeling when the world (and by world I mean friends and Facebook) celebrates with you.

6. When someone compliments you, say "thank you".  Anything else is unnecessary and either demeaning to you or them.  (Totally still working on this one!!)

5. Diet is a bad word, don't use it.  For that matter, so is skinny and fat.  Let them go.

4.  In the weight room, men are actually much more encouraging to women than you think they would be.  Don't be afraid of them.  Sure, you will have the occasional one who looks at you either with annoyance or to check you out, but most just think it is cool to see a girl not afraid to lift.  It is OK to be strong!

3.  Don't be afraid to try a new class or exercise.  Your butt, arms, legs, and every single muscle might hurt like crazy the next day and sitting down to go to the bathroom will be all but impossible.  But, I promise, the second time you do it, you will be AWESOME!

2. I am absolutely worth this.  So is my family and so are my friends.  We all deserve the best me that I can be.

1.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13, NIV

I do want to say thank you to everyone who has been following me on this journey so far.  Thanks for keeping me honest and encouraged.  Thanks for reading, thanks for praying.  Thanks for the good thoughts, and the occasional kick in the butt.  Thank you.  I still have a long way to go.  This is not a perfect journey, but it is my journey.  And I am beyond proud and excited to be making it.

To finish, here are some pics of my journey so far!

New Year's Eve, 2013 (It isn't a great pic, but it is the only one I could find with a full body shot.  Obviously, I was less than thrilled to have my picture taken and have sort of shielded my body with L's.)

4 Weeks In!

8 Weeks In!

12 Weeks!

16 Weeks!

20 Weeks!!

FAITH. COURAGE. STRENGTH. CHANGE.

New Stuff!! Good Stuff!!!

I know I haven't gotten anything posted this week, and I apologize for that.  I didn't feel much like writing the past couple of days, but that doesn't mean I didn't have ideas swarming around or that I didn't do anything to write about!  We have actually been really busy!

Last Thursday, we started the work on re-doing our kitchen.  I did a lot of cleaning and then started painting.  Oof.  Painting is a lot of work.  I did pretty well until I got to our kitchen cabinets.  For some reason, when we put new cabinets in 10 years ago, we did not put them all the way to the ceiling.  I have NO idea what we were thinking when we made that decision.  So, now, I had a foot of wall I had to paint up at the ceiling.  When you are 6 feet fall and up on a step ladder, your room to work is very minimal.  So, I spent the painting time squeezed into this 1 foot spot.  I got it done, but it wasn't pretty.  I did learn a lot about painting though, so that is a good thing.  I was able to get the kitchen painted and my husband started putting in some built-in type cabinets that we wanted.  Unfortunately, there was a mis-measure and the top cabinets we ordered were 1/2" too tall and 1/2" too wide.  So, we had to order some more, but they should be in in a couple of weeks so we can finish. But, I am LOVING how it is looking; very much worth the hard work we are putting in.

Over the weekend, we had soccer games and mass, and more cleaning to do.  Sunday was Mother's Day, and while I didn't have an exciting day, it was a nice day.  I went to mass and then had to go to the grocery store and run some other errands.  I came home and we cleaned and then my sweet husband grilled the steaks I picked up earlier in the day.  Oh, my man can grill.  The steak was fantastic, rare and warm, and perfect!  So, Mother's Day...yeah, good day.

I know you are probably wondering how the new lifestyle is going, so I will get to that.  Things are going really pretty well.  I have been working hard and have lost a little more weight which is good, but I am starting to feel really strong, which is AWESOME!  My muscles are really starting to come through.  It makes me more motivated to lose the fat so those muscles are just ripped and beautiful.

My workout has taken a bit of shake-up.  My gym had a change in ownership last week, and that means a change in some equipment.  Unfortunately, my lovely rowers are not there any more.  So, I am making do with other options.  Tuesday, I was put through a treadmill workout.  When it was first offered, I thought, "Oh, really how difficult could this be?"  You would think at this point, I should know better.This was a TOUGH workout.  I would normally have rowed this morning too, but thought I would try the treadmill workout again.  I couldn't remember exactly what my instructor had us do, so I made up my own workout based on what I did remember.  I will post it on my workout page if you are interested.  I had sweat just dripping off of me after only 30 minutes.

Have you tried anything new in the gym lately?  Let me know!  I am always looking for ways to shake things up!

Blessings!

Challenge!!

I do a lot of skulking around Pinterest and have lots of different boards, but one of my favorites to go back through and look at is my "A Shape Other Than Round" Board.  I have SO many workouts saved on there that it is great just for inspiration if nothing else.   Some of the workouts that I have pinned on there are 30 day challenges to increase the number of push ups or squats or other exercises that you can do.  I have tried to do these type of things before and sometimes I have worked my way through them.  I have obviously been working hard.  But, I really like to keep things mixed up and exciting so I do not get bored.  Also, the dreaded swimsuit season is right around the corner (the horror!).  So, the other day I decided that I was going to kick it up just a notch and put in some extra work.  I also thought this would be a great chance to hit my 50 push ups and 5 minute plank goal that I set at the beginning of this journey.  I looked through all of these different challenges and put together one that would be difficult, but doable.  It includes different movements to help build strength.  I plan on doing these exercises as an INCREASE to things I am already doing.  They will not take the place of my current plan, but will add to it.

I put it out on Facebook that I was doing this and asked if anyone wanted to join me.  I was OVERWHELMED by the response.  There are so many friends that want to join me on this journey and either bump up their hard work or to get themselves motivated.  I LOVE IT!!!  It is so exciting to be a part of this with these amazing people.  I even made a FB group and invited them all.  I had people posting to me first thing this morning that they had already completed their Day 1 workout!

I finished my Day 1 workout this morning after a KILLER rowing class and then a vicious spinning class.  I was pretty much wiped by the time I was done, but I was really excited because I was able to do the 5 push ups on my toes!  Woo Hoo!  If you want to take part, please let me know and I will clue you in.  This was today's workout:

50 Squats
5 Push ups
20 Second Plank
20 Second Wall Sit
5 Sit ups
25 Crunches

Think you are up for it?  Of course you are!!

So, the killer rowing class and vicious spinning class that I just mentioned were just that.  Killer and vicious.  In rowing class, we did some different things than we have been doing.  We did some new races which were fun and fast.  I was pulling 100 meters in 19 seconds.  I pulled 150 meters in about 30 seconds.  That is pulling pretty fast.  Our instructor said we weren't going to do a 500 split race.  After the class, we all stretched and cooled down.  Apparently though, we all got hit with the idiot stick and decided that we needed to do a 500 split race on our own.  So, we did.  I didn't pull as quickly on it as I have been, but I was still under 2 minutes which I am happy with.  Then I went to spinning and I don't know if it was because of the rough rowing class or if spinning was just exceptionally difficult today, but about 20 minutes in I hit the dreaded WALL.  I truly thought there was no way my legs would turn any more.  I thought about stopping and being done.  Thankfully, I was working with an AWESOME instructor and she is so motivating.  I knew there was no way she would let me quit.  She was encouraging and helped me keep my head in the game.  I busted through the wall and even set a new high for myself at 150 rpms!  I have NEVER done that.  I was pretty excited!  I just kept going.

The biggest thing that I did was this: I prayed that the Lord would help me bust through and stick it out. I continued to pray though out the rest of the Spin class to finish strong.   Some people may be thinking that these are silly things to be praying about and that God has better things to do than help me get through a class at the gym. I say that God loves me and He put me on this path and journey.  He knows me and He supports me.  He LOVES watching me succeed and He is there for me when I need Him (and even when I don't know that I do!).  It is because of God that I am where I am and I will gratefully take HIS support in EVERYTHING I do.  I hope that you will too.  If you are struggling in anything you are doing, then I suggest talking with Him.  He will show you what you need to do and where you need to go.  He will be with you, all you have to do is ask!

Have a wonderful day!

Faith. Courage. Strength. Change.
(I think this is going to be my new motto.  What do you think?)

Easter Food Hangover

Yesterday was an amazingly wonderful Easter Sunday in which we celebrated our Risen Lord.  After a beautifully moving Holy Week, I had so anticipated this day. The Easter Mass was awesome and our family celebration afterwards was great!  It was wonderful to visit with everyone and watch my kids and their cousins play all afternoon.  It was a great and very blessed day! He is Alive!

I don't know what Easter dinner in your family is like, but in our family, it means ham, cheesy potatoes, corn pudding, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, rolls, ham/pickle rollups, and desserts. Oh the desserts!  I had given up sweets for Lent and had not had dessert in 40 days. I was wanting dessert people!  I'd love to say that not eating all the sugar during Lent got rid of all of the cravings, but unfortunately, that is not the case.  Since I started my life change, I had not really had a day in which I just ate what I wanted to eat and didn't stress too much about the calories (otherwise known as a splurge day!).  I decided that I needed to have one of those so I might as well make it a special day.  I tried not to go overboard, but I did enjoy the day.  I really enjoyed the desserts!

Yesterday morning I weighed myself just because I was curious where I was before my Splurge Day and then I weighed myself this morning to see the damage I did.  In the course of 24 hours, I "gained" 2.4 pounds!  Now, I know that I had ham and Ramen Noodle Coleslaw Salad, both of which are SUPER high in salt.  I also didn't get as much water yesterday as I would have liked.  I also know that there was no way I ate 8400 "Splurge" calories to cause a 2.4 pound gain (3500 calories per pound to help the math impaired.) so I know that although some of that gain may be legit most of it is probably water.  Today I have been flooding my body with water.  I have drank so much water, I feel like I'm floating a little.  I have to admit I have had a couple of non-healthy things today as well, but nothing like I did yesterday.  Let's be honest though, it is in the house staring me in the face, and I only have so much will power.  I will be glad when it is gone.  All of this explanation is to just say that sometimes a gain is a gain.  Sometimes a gain is bloat.  Sometimes you have to enjoy special days in your life.  Sometimes the chocolate is just really that good.  And sometimes, even with a 2.4 pound "gain", you still lose weight from the week before!  Not bad, and I will take it!

The knee is feeling so much better now.  I was able to lift lower body today and do squats and lunges.  I was on the elliptical and did a good hard workout on the treadmill.  Tonight I am heading to spinning, which I am looking forward to since I haven't been on a bike in the week.  It will be a good night!

Leftovers for dinner tonight means some of that food from yesterday, but continuing to drink lots of water and managing my portion size will make a big difference.

I hope you had a wonderful Easter with your family.  I wish you all the blessings in the world today and every day!!

3rd Place Baby!

I finished my 500 Miles For Eli today!!  Woo Hoo!  I worked my arse off this morning and did 23 miles on the bike and 10 miles on the rower.  I came in 3rd place which is what I was working toward.  There was no way I was catching the people in 1st and 2nd, so I am THRILLED that I came in 3rd!!  Awesome Sauce!

I was a little worried about how the knee would hold up, but after riding 23 miles, my rear end couldn't take any more of the bike.  I was so close, there was NO way I was going to stop.  So, I got on the rower thinking if I couldn't do it, I could always finish the last 10 miles tomorrow.  But, YAY!  The knee felt really pretty great so I pushed through and finished out.  I was so excited that I could do it without a lot of pain.  Now, it is a little sore and tired now, but after all of that plus standing 90% of a 2 hour long mass tonight will probably do that to some roughed up knees.

I did have a pretty cool observation today.  I put on the pair of black knee-high stiletto boots that I bought right before Christmas.  I had to buy the wide-calf version because I couldn't get the regular size to zip over my calves.  Well, when I first purchased them, they fit PERFECTLY.  Today, I could stick my entire hand down the side of them.  I didn't realize that I was losing that much in my legs, but can we say awesome?!?!  I might have to buy some new boots before the fall, but it will SO be worth it.

Hope you have a blessed night!

A Hitch In The Plan

Today is my Monday check-in.  It was such a busy weekend, but it was only leading up to a busy week, so this is probably going to be a little short.  I have hit a snag in the plan, but I am determined that it is only going to be a small snag.

Saturday evening, I was giving 2 of the short people a bath.  When I went to stand up from kneeling on the floor, I heard a pop and had instant pain in my right knee.  For my readers that don't know, I have already had 2 surgeries on my right knee, so hearing a "pop" out of that same knee about made me throw up.  I stood up and walked around and the main pain went away, but it was still very sore.  Sunday was thankfully my day off from the gym so I could have a rest day.  It was very sore all throughout the day however, especially any time I made my leg go to the side.

E thought I might have something called Ilio-Tibial Band Syndrome, but is essentially Plantar Fasciitis, but in my knee (the hubs has a degree in Exercise Science...he is super smart!).  He said the only thing that will help is rest.  Well, that is all well and good, but the problem with that plan is that I am only 55 miles away from 500 Miles For Eli.  I am in 3rd place and I refuse to go down.  So, after seeing that I was visibly upset about this my sweet husband told me to relax and to rest Sunday and then I could spin on my own on Monday (today).  However, he gave me explicit instructions.  I was NOT allowed to ride with very much resistance.  I was NOT allowed to stand up and ride.  I was NOT allowed to go over 120 RPMs.  I was NOT to lift.  I assumed I was not supposed to do squats or lunges either (oh darn.).  But, I could ride.  So, today I went and rode pretty easy for an hour and a half.  I got in 21.5 miles.  It really felt pretty good.  Toward the end, my leg started getting pretty tired and I could tell the instant I wasn't keeping my legs straight when I was riding.   But, I was really proud of myself when I was finished.

In the past, anytime I attempted to really get into getting healthy, if I would get injured, that would be my downfall.  I REFUSE to let that happen this time.  I will work toward finishing the last of those 500 miles and then I will let it rest and go on with my journey.  I WILL NOT QUIT!  I WILL NOT FAIL.  I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.

Blessings!

Dinner Choices

Man, it has been a week.  And I know that it is only going to get crazier with Holy Week coming up, but it will all be worth it.  Holy week is such an awesome experience and I love that I get to be a part of it through singing in the choir.  Anyway, I have been continuing to work hard and then work harder.  I knocked out a lot of Miles for Eli this week and only have 55 to go to the finish line.  The guy in fourth place is right on my tail though, so I am going to have to step it up!  I'm hoping to be done by Easter.  I should be finished several days prior to that though!  

I did have a pretty awesome success this week...I am up to benching 105 pounds!  And I got all 12 reps at that weight AFTER doing 12 reps at 85 and 12 reps at 100!  That seriously felt incredible!!!  I love that I am feeling myself get stronger.  I was able to increase the weight on about half of my upper body lifting.

Right now, I want to talk about food.  I try not to talk about calories and such too much on here because I completely know how easy it is to become obsessed with counting calories and all of the zillion different things women are told about how many calories we should be eating and blah, blah, blah.  I have discussed this thoroughly with several different trainers and everyone is different.  Everyone has different caloric needs.  Now, remember, I am so NOT a trainer or a dietitian, anything I put on the blog here is information I have gathered from others (I will try to give credit where credit is due!) or just information that I have learned about myself through this journey.  I HIGHLY suggest talking with someone who knows what they are talking about before starting this kind of journey yourself!!  I use the Lose It App on my phone to help me keep track of what I am eating.  As of today according to the App, I should be eating 1739 calories per day.  That is a base number.  When I first started this journey, I was told I should eat close to 1900.  In the beginning, I had a really difficult time getting all of those calories.  I have spent so many years thinking I need to eat less to lose weight.  I know you all have heard the whole, "women should only eat 1200 calories each day".  Well, that may work for some people, but it wasn't going to work for me.  Discussions with one of the trainers at the gym taught me that I HAVE to eat AT LEAST 1600 calories each day MINIMUM and closer to 1800 would be even better!!  It has been really difficult to wrap my brain around that, but I am trying.  Exercise does give me more calories to eat if I need them, but I don't eat them too often.  Sometimes though (like yesterday), I get hungry, or I REALLY want an extra bowl of yummy soup, so I dig in to those extra calories.  But, the biggest lesson anyone starting a journey like this needs to know is that you can't starve yourself.  Your body will eventually go into starvation mode and you will NOT lose weight.  You won't build muscle.  You will NOT hit your goals.  Get what I'm saying?  Eat people!

That said, I was looking at some items on the Lose It App this afternoon and about DIED when I saw the calorie count for some things.  E said we could get Applebee's for dinner tonight.  So, I looked at how many calories I have eaten today and what I had left to eat to try and make my decision.  I LOVE to order from Applebee's because of their Under 550 calorie menu.  A lot of times the food on those types of menus are not very good.  But, I think the things on Applebee's tastes really good as well as being good for you.  Anyway, I was looking at the calorie count for some of the things I USED to eat.  Check this out!

Quesadilla Burger-I LOVE these but at 1400 calories, it is a no go, especially after I add the mayo I love on to it!

Riblet and Chicken Tender Platter (with fries and coleslaw)-1880.  Yeesh!

Appetizer Sampler-and YES, I would order and eat the entire thing myself, weighs in at 2340 calories.  Dude, that is more that I should eat all day and I would eat that in one sitting!  No wonder I gained weight!!

I'm not at all saying you should never splurge, because you absolutely should.  But, for me to have something like this again, it is going to take a LOT of understanding what I am eating up front and a lot of work in the gym BEFORE I even think about ordering one of these items.

My new favorites though have become:

Lemon Parmesean Shrimp

Signature Sirloin with Garlic Herb Shrimp and sides

Zesty Roma Chicken with Shrimp and sides

Each of these is under 500 calories and really they taste so good that I don't feel like I'm missing anything by ordering a healthier choice.  I think that is key in all of this.  You need to find foods that are a healthier choice, but do not make you feel like you are sacrificing taste.  I still LOVE Taco Bell (no comments please about that dangers of Fast Food...at least I am not eating McDonald's!).  Sometimes I splurge and get my favorite Grilled Chicken Burrito.  Sometimes I just get something from the Fresco menu (no cheese, but has pico de gallo instead).  You can find healthier choices just about anywhere, you just have to be willing to try them.  I promise, you just might surprise yourself!

So, for dinner tonight, I think I'm going with the Sirloin and Garlic Herb Shrimp.  What are you having?

Blessings!

PS...no, I get nothing from Applebee's or Taco Bell for any endorsements I gave today, however, if they would like to give me something, I'm good with that. :)

12 Weeks!!

Wow! 12 weeks have passed since I started my new life.  I have learned so much about myself and about the amazing people around me in the past 12 weeks.  I have had ups and downs and smiles and tears.  I have learned that life is amazing and that I can always go on, even when I feel like I can't.  I thought to celebrate my 12 weeks progress, I would tell you the things I have been able to accomplish and some things I have learned along the way.

I have lost 36.2 pounds in 12 weeks!  I am trying really hard to not place much focus on my actual number of weight loss, but I have to admit that number makes me pretty freaking happy.  My goal was 35 pounds in 12 weeks, so I am even happier that I beat that goal!

I can bench press 90 pounds!  I have a pretty big goal of being able to easily do 135, but 90 is a great start.  And for the record, that is 12 reps of 90 pounds AFTER I have already done 2 sets of 12 reps at a slightly smaller weight.

I can leg press 150 pounds.  I really have no idea if that is a good weight, but I am excited to see that number go up and up.

I can row over 10 miles at a time!  It may take me a while, but I can do it.  I did do it!

I have started spinning.  It hurts my butt and sometimes makes me feel like I am uncoordinated buffoon. But, I keep going.  I may not be able to go as fast as everyone else, but I keep going.  I feel good when I am done and it makes me happy to accomplish it!

I can use the elliptical machine for 15 minutes straight.  That may not seem like much to someone, but it took me a while to be able to do that and I am proud of it.

My singing has improved with being in better shape.  My lung capacity has gotten better which means I can hold notes for longer and it has increased my range.  Very cool stuff.

My confidence level has increased so much.  If you know me, you might think I have a pretty high self-esteem level.  If you know me well, you know that I fake that high level pretty much every day.  My self-esteem is horrible.  Years of thinking terrible things about myself and believing things I had no business believing have left my confidence battered.  After just 12 weeks of making myself think positive thoughts, working out for a little boy who can't, and sending prayers to HIM with every workout, I am starting to believe that I am a person worthy of what I am doing.  I am worthy of thinking good thoughts about myself and believing that I am beautiful.

My friends and family are AWESOME.  I mean, seriously awesome.  Any time I feel like I can't go on and that I want to give up, I am blessed by people telling me that absolutely can continue.  My husband continually tells me how proud he is of me and that I am doing awesome.  My mom was so great on our trip home and she kept me going.  My friends at the gym are always smiling and telling me how well I am doing.  My kids even keep me going by telling me they have so much more fun with me now.  All of your comments on FB keep me encouraged that I am so excited to keep going.  My support system blows my mind!

I haven't been this physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong all at the same time ever in my life.  I don't think I have ever been this physically strong as an adult, in high school maybe, but never as an adult.  Mentally and emotionally I am in such a great place right now.  I am HAPPY.  I am so much more calm than I have been in a long time (not completely calm, I mean come on, I have 3 kids!!).  I feel wonderful about life.  But, the most incredible change is my awesome relationship with God.  HE has helped me in every step of this journey, and I know that HE will be with me through every single step of the rest of my life.  And now with this new life, what an amazing journey it will be!

So, 12 weeks.  12 Amazing weeks.  I can't wait to see what the next 12 weeks bring!

Blessings!

Couple of Things Today!

As I type this, I have to admit.  I am TIRED!  It was a very busy weekend and after my workout this morning, I could use a nap.  :)  But, alas, I am probably not going to get one.  I have a lot of things I need to get done.  It was a great weekend though.  I was blessed to sing at 2 wonderful masses, had a little alone time, knocked out 20 miles on the bike, and we celebrated J's 6th birthday with our family.  Very busy, but the weekend was fantastic.

This morning was pretty nice.  The kids are on Spring Break and the oldest is at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  So, the little ones let me sleep in and it was WONDERFUL!  Then, I went to the gym.  I went to the gym with a goal.  If you remember, last week I did 20 Eli miles on the Indo-rowers.  Well, after that, 2 of the men at the gym matched that work.  Today, I decided that I was going to up the ante.  My goal was 30 miles.  That is 16,500 meters!  Whoo.  So, I went.  I went and I rowed.  Then I rowed some more.  I was doing pretty well.  I hit 10 miles, then 20.  I knew I had it and would finish.  But, honestly, I had no idea how difficult those last 10 miles would be.  I just kept rowing.  About 25 miles, I started to hit a wall.  But at that point, there was no way I was stopping.  One of the gentlemen I row with in class was stretching near me.  He encouraged me and cheered me on.  It got me through and I pushed and pushed (well, pulled and pulled!).  16,500 meters.  Yeah, I'm pretty happy about that.  Now, I just have to decide if I want to attempt spinning class tonight. :)

Saturday, my sweet J had a friend's birthday party to go to.  While she was there, I ran out to the mall and walked around.  I have been learning a song for church for this coming Sunday and I was listening to it on repeat as I walked.  Of course I did a little shopping while I was there as well.  I found a couple of shirts that I liked.  The cool thing? I purchased XLs, not XXLs (well, I purchased one XXL, but it was the ONLY one in that design and it was a T-shirt, so I can refashion it later).  My boobs aren't small to begin with, so that means that I AM getting smaller in the rest of my body.  That makes me feel pretty good.

Saturday night on Facebook, I posted that I had made a Skinny Chicken Fried Rice for dinner. I was asked for the recipe, so I wanted to share it with you here.  It is seriously SO good!  It has become one of E and I's favorite meals.  Sometimes I make it without the chicken for a meatless meal.  The only other change for us is that I do not use sesame oil.  I use Extra-Virgin Olive oil because that is what I have at home.  I also only use 1-2 T. of the oil.  I don't need 3T. of it!  You can find the recipe HERE. I hope you enjoy it too.  Please let me know if you tried it and what you thought!

The next couple of days will be a challenge for me.  I am heading down to my parents' house and I have a tendency to not eat very well or exercise very much when I am there.  My mom is wonderful and worked it out with the owner of her gym so I can come in and workout for free.  She also said that she will try and make healthy meals.  So, hopefully, I can do better.  I'm going to set a goal of working out every day that I am there in SOME way.  It may not be to the extent that I do here at home at my own gym, but I WILL keep moving.

I hope that all had a wonderful weekend and are looking at a good week.  It is supposed to be cold again this week which stinks.  I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to some REAL spring!
Blessings!

Welcome To The Jungle, Ladies

The gym I belong to is doing a pretty cool fund-raiser contest for a little boy named Eli who has a brain tumor.  From what I understand, his parents have little to no health insurance.  So, not only is it devastating to learn your child has a tumor (I literally tremble at the thought!), but his parents also have to be concerned with how they are going to pay for what I will assume will be insane medical bills.  Anyway, the gym put together a fund-raiser to help out this family.  For $5, you could buy a "car" (it is a paper car not a real one!) and you race around the track for 500 miles.  Mileage can be earned on the Spinning Bikes or on the IndoRow machines.  Since I now do both of these workouts, I figured this would be a great way to keep myself encouraged and help out a little boy.  They have been giving bonus miles for decorating your car, racking up 100 miles in the first 10 days, and even racking up 200 miles in the first 20 days!  I have decorated my car and have been working like crazy to hit the other milestones.  I am happy to report that as of this past Saturday, I finished up 101 miles (technically this was done in 6 days as I had to miss 2 days at the gym!), so I hit the first goal!  As of today I am at 123 miles!  I still have 9 days to get to 200!  Then it is an all out race to 500 miles!  There is a man that is INSANE and has over 350 miles in the first 10 days.  I'm guessing I won't be able to catch him, but this is one time where 2nd place will make me very happy!  I am going to put a thing over to the right to help keep track of my mileage so you can help cheer me on!

Since I have been working so hard on the bike and the rower, I decided to take this past week off from lifting weights.  My weight-loss had gotten a little stagnant over the past couple of weeks, so I thought this would be a good week to change things up, and shake my body into dropping some extra poundage.  It totally worked!  I dropped 4.8 pounds this week.  That is awesome and I'm very proud of the hard work I put in.  That said, I sure was happy to get back in the weight room this week!!  I'm serious when I say that NOTHING makes me feel stronger than lifting heavy weights and watching what my muscles can do.

I know there are a lot of women out there who are scared of the weight room and of lifting heavy weights.  I am here to tell you ladies...there is NOTHING to be scared of!!  The weight room can be a really fun place to work up a sweat.

Yes, there are usually lots of men down there.  Sometimes those men are lifting crazy huge amounts of weight.  Sometimes they are great to watch to learn more about correct form.  Sometimes some of those men just lift a silly amount of weight and are only going to hurt themselves in the long run, don't watch them.  If you aren't sure which is which, watch how slowly the weight is moving.  If they are swinging the weight, look elsewhere, they are just moving weight, not really "lifting" weight!  If the weight is moving slowly and in control, then they are probably a good person to watch for form.

OK, back from the tangent.  First thing I want you to realize is that no one's opinion of what you are doing (assuming you are using correct form!) matters.  If someone watches you while you lift, just imagine that they are enjoying the show.  If that isn't what they are doing, it is their own deal, not yours.  Yesterday, I had a man stare at me the entire time I was doing standing shoulder presses.  At first, I wanted to ask him what his problem was.  Then, I just decided that he was just being appreciative of what I was doing, so I kept quiet.  That may or may not have been his thought, but I don't care.  It helped me get through and helped me ignore him.  I continued my workout.  That said, if someone who works at the gym or is a trainer or someone that obviously knows what they are doing is watching you and gives you a piece of advice about your form, listen.  It will help you in the long run.  I even had a man today tell me that he loved seeing women down in the weight room and wished that more women would not be scared of it (I realize he may sound creepy, but that wasn't how he meant it!  He was a cool guy!).

Secondly, do not be a wuss!  Do NOT be scare of lifting heavy weights!  Assuming you are using correct form and are not lifting over your ability, you are not going to hurt yourself.  You are NOT going to "bulk up"!  You are not going to get big ladies.  Lifting heavy weights help those muscles get strong, strong muscles are more efficient at burning fat, burning fat means weight-loss!  Do you see what I'm getting at here?  Have you seen any women that do CROSSFIT? Seriously sexy women, not bulky, but HOT!  Strength training should not scare you.  Get yourself in front of a mirror, grab some weight and watch those muscles work!  

I found a great article here that talks about Strength Training Truths.  Check it out.  Let me know what you think!

Obviously, I am NOT knocking cardio workouts here or workouts like Pilates, Zumba, and all those types of activities.  I like them too!  I really think that mixing everything together works the best!  Just remember that every time you do one of these activities, no matter what it is, you are making yourself the best you possible.  Work is the key.  You have to put in the work.  Yes, people lose weight by just cutting their calories and sitting on the couch.  But do you know what often happens to those people?  They get flabby.  Ugh.  Flabby does not sound good.  Working out while eating healthy gets you toned and toned is SEXY! That is what I am working towards.  I don't want to just look in my clothes, but I want to look darn good NAKED.  That's right, I said it.

So, who is with me?  Who is going to venture into the weight room this week?  If you don't know what you are doing, ask someone who works at your gym.  If you are at home, check out proper form online.  I promise, your body can do it, just don't be scared!  Changes people!

Blessings!

Epiphany!

Today is 8 weeks into my new life.  I woke up and weighed in because that is what I do on Monday mornings.  I took a deep breath and stepped on the scale and waited for about 10 seconds while the scale made its decision.  My heart fell as I saw that I have gained a pound this week.  Just for a moment, I had the thought that what I was doing was pointless.  All of the hard work I have put in the past 8 weeks have been for naught.  I started to spiral.

Then I stepped off of the scale and came to my senses. I know that NOTHING I did last week would result in a 1 pound fat gain.  NOTHING.  That pound is from something else. Am I really going to let ONE FREAKING POUND derail everything I have worked for and will continue to work for?  HELL NO!  I got dressed and went and had a healthy breakfast.  I went about my morning singing a funeral and then went to the gym.  I got on the elliptical machine just like I usually do on Mondays.  Because I planned on running on the treadmill, I didn't plan on being on the elliptical machine for too long.  I set the machine for 15 minutes and kept going.  I have been working toward keeping going on the elliptical, but so far I have been stopping every 5 minutes and taking a breather.  Today, I went the whole 15 minutes!  I know that may not sound like a big deal to some, but it was not an easy 15 minutes and I didn't go slow the whole time.  I bumped it up, increased my resistance level, and even did about half of that 15 minutes with no hands.  I worked hard.  Then I jumped on the treadmill and added 5 minutes of running into my walk.  I do not enjoy running, but I am going to stick with it.  Why?  Because I can, that's why.

So, one pound.  I reminded myself that muscle weighs more than fat.  I have been lifting 4 days each week.  Muscles get bigger.  Bigger muscles weigh more.  Geesh.  Do the math Theresa.  Get over yourself and be proud of how hard you are working.  So that is what I did.  Today, I am proud.  Today, I am strong.  Today, I am a machine.  Today, I'm taking my third spinning class.  Lord help me!

Lastly today, I decided that I am no longer going to be posting my weight-loss.  At least not until I hit my goal.  I'm trying to focus less on the number on that scale and more on the changes in my body.  So, I will keep showing you pics and talking about my progress, but the number does not matter as much.

Blessings!

Marking One Off!

Today, I get to mark off one of my goals!!!!  Today I rowed 500 meters in under 2 minutes, 1:59 to be exact.  I am so excited!!  Woo Hoo!!!  I got to write my name up on wall in the #2 slot.  So, now I add another goal to my list.  Anyone guess what it is?  Yep, I am going to be #1 on that wall.  I made it under 2 minutes.  Now I need to get under 1 minute 43 seconds.  That is going to take some work.  But, I KNOW that I can do it.  I still had to take 2 small breathers during the 2 minute race today, so I'm thinking if I can push through those 2 minutes with no stop, I can DO IT!!!  So, 1:42.  Let's Do It!

The past week has been pretty interesting.  I have learned things, things that will help keep me motivated.  Some of these I posted on Facebook, so if you read those and are reading this, I apologize for the repeat.  But, I'm writing them anyway.

1) I have a very sweet friend who I adore.  She is kind and helpful and always has a beautiful smile for most everyone she meets.  It is a good thing I love her so much, because if I didn't, it would be easy to hate her (well, not really, hate is bad, but you know what I mean!).  She is in amazing shape, she is a personal trainer, she is absolutely beautiful.  Luckily she is even more beautiful on the inside.  I totally put her on a pedestal and I'm aware of that (so is she actually!), but she is an amazing example of how overall health is such a benefit in your life.  Anyway, I was talking with her yesterday and as we were discussing my progress and goals, she said to me, "You do know where you are going to end up, right?  CrossFit!".  I smiled and laughed because I haven't told ANYONE other than E this, but ultimately, doing CrossFit is where I would like to end up.  I LOVE how strong the women who do CrossFit look and are.  So, when my fitness inspiration says she can see me doing it, my motivation to prove her right about soared!!!

2) I can do anything.  I may have to stop to take a breath, but as long as I keep going, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.  Anything.

3) The second time you take a Spinning class, your rear end will not hurt quite as badly, but it will still hurt.

4) The sled on the Leg press at the gym weighs 105 pounds by itself.  When you place 130 pounds on it and do 2 sets of 12, do not be surprised if the last couple are extremely difficult.  Do you know why?  Because thinking you are doing 130 pounds when you are actually doing 235 pounds makes a very large difference!

5)  Taking 27 pounds off of your body will REALLY help in singing.  I was practicing "Someone Worth Dying For" last night at Choir Rehearsal and in the past, I had to really struggle to hit the high D and make it sound good.  Last night, it was easy.  I could hit it and I could hold it.  I can not WAIT to see what I can sound like when I get off 100 pounds!!

6)  I am not a night work out person.  I only had time one night to work out at night.  I didn't get to the gym until 8:45pm.  I was up until 1 or 1:30 in the morning because I was SO wired.  I think that needs to be a rare occurrence for me.  No working out past 7pm.

7)  Thinking that eating less is going to help you lose weight is WRONG!! After much discussion with people that know a lot more about this than me, I have been instructed that I need to eat AT LEAST 1600 calories each day MINIMUM!!  I have added in at least 1 protein shake each day and a scoop of cottage cheese at night to help me reach that minimum.  It has been a difficult transition though.  I wasn't purposely eating a small amount of calories, I just REALLY struggled getting even 1400 each day.  As much as I am working out, that is just NOT enough.  I would just be completely full at the end of the day and have no room for more, but I would know that I had not had enough to eat.  It is a vicious circle.  So, what that means, is I have to be a little more obsessive about what I am eating.  I am hoping this is just a part of the process.  I truly do not want to obsess about every single tiny thing I put in my mouth every single day for the rest of my life.  But, right now, that is just what life is.  So, I will push myself to get 1600 HEALTHY calories each day.

8)  Fluorescent pink shoe strings will make you smile every time you look down.

9)  Rowing means you need gloves.  Blisters hurt and they cause calluses.  Get some gloves.  Where them when you row and when you life upper body.  You will not regret it!

10)  My support system is unbelievable.  My husband, my parents, my In-laws, my friends, and even my children inspire me daily.  I'm not sure I could keep going every day if I didn't have them.  Add them to my Amazing God and my inspiration is supernatural!

Blessings!

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby Right Round

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch!  I tried something new last night.  I went to my rowing class yesterday at noon, just like normal.  Came home, did a couple of things and decided to get another workout in before Choir practice.  So, I took the kids back to the gym really planning on taking a Zumba class.  I walked into the gym and my sweet friend Sherry very nicely persuaded me to try Spinning.  My friend Erica is the instructor so with her and Sherry's encouragement, I decided to go for it.  They got me all set up and explained how the controls work, what the commands were and just told me to be prepared for a sore rear.  OK.  I was ready to go.  Now, I have been riding the stationary bike 3 times a week, but can I just say I was NOT prepared for this.  Oh My Goodness.  Spinning is NOT easy!  It is not just riding on a bike.  Well, I guess technically it is, but it seemed like so much more than that!  When you are "simply" pedaling, you really have to concentrate on keeping control of your body, especially as your speed climbs.  When you pedal standing up, you really have to pay attention to how your body is moving and to make sure you are shifting your weight back and forth, holding in your core, and not keeping too hard of a grip on the handle bars.  Like my first time in rowing class, I just tried not to die.  I think I did pretty well.  I had to stop one time for just a couple of minutes and walk around to get feeling back in my toes.  But, other than that, I stayed with them.  Now, there were times I maybe couldn't go as fast as everyone else or have as much resistance, but I KEPT GOING. Even when that little voice in my head said, "Hey, you know what? You have done well and no one is going to fault you if you quit a couple of tracks early!".  I told the voice to SHUT UP and kept going.  My legs were screaming, I was trying to keep breathing, my rear and girl parts felt like I was sitting on razor blades.  But, I kept going.  For me, that is a win.  I did NOT let my brain win.  My body didn't want to give up and I didn't want it to.  I Kept Going.

Blessings, Theresa

PS...In case you are wondering, today I HURT.  My muscles are a little sore, but my rear and girl parts HURT.  I feel like I did the day after I pushed out each kid.  I know that may be a little TMI, but I'm real on here.  No apologies.

You Spend Me Right Round-Dead Or Alive