Resolutions?

I did not make ANY resolutions this year. Do I have to make the same ones every year just to fall off the wagon? You already know them. If you are a woman, you know what #1 is. Lose weight....get healthy....eat better....workout more.......blah blah blah!!!!

Christmas day, I was knocked down with some kind of sickness. The only thing that I can think of is that I may have had too much sugar. My stomach was so torn up. Four days later I was able to get out of bed. Since then I have cut my sugar intake by 90%. Me. I am a sugar freak. I don't need someone to tell me why I need to lose weight. I like quick foods, cookies, etc. However, enough is enough. That may have been a stomach bug that I had but it scared me. So since Christmas day, I have lost 7 pounds. Just by cutting sugar. Do I sneak something that I shouldn't from time to time? Uh-YEAH.

I am re-starting the workout program TurboFire. When I got sick, it was hard to get back to it with the kids home for break. FINE....it's an excuse. Let's move on...cheesh!

If you are like me, I want the weight to be gone...YESTERDAY. It feels like such a S-L-O-W process. I have cut out snacking and sugar. So I should be losing...what...like 3 pounds a week, right? WELL WHY NOT?

I am reading labels now too. Anything that has really low or no sugar is ok for me. So I have a recipe that saves me. Here it is!

Grape Salad

        8 oz of fat free cream cheese
        1/2 cup of fat free sour cream
         1 cup splenda
         lots of purple grapes (whole bag...washed)

WOW.....yummy. YOUR WELCOME!
What are you doing to get healthy for you. For your family. Do tell.

Thirty Something and Evil Foods

My last post was completed while I was away with Lizzy getting oxygen therapy. It was quiet at night and I had zero distractions. It was wonderful. I was able to get all my workouts done....right there in the hotel room! Proud of myself. This program is so easy because it's fun. So getting my workouts in are no problem. They are pretty intense too.

The meal replacement shake called Shakeology came and I just can't handle the taste of it. I have tried several different additives and have probably wasted more than I have consumed. Damon drinks it for breakfast and lunch everyday and lost 4 pounds in the first week. Good for him!!! I also tried the greenberry flavor. There is a strawberry cheesecake recipe that I will try soon. I was talking with my sister, Jolie, and she listened to me complain about the taste until she finally said, "drink your slim-fast again, just drink some kind of shake for a meal." Well put Jolie and thanks. I know that it may not be as healthy as the Shakeology, but I can get it down with no problems.

So I am thirty something days into the program and I am down......0 pounds. WHAT? That stinks. Especially since I have been eating so well. Ok, ummm, I have been eating ok? Emily loves mint oreos and you really can't eat just one of them. They are evil, so stay away. Don't even buy them, they will mess you up. Weight gain, cavities, loss of control, mind games, etc. JUST DON'T! I can't be anymore serious here.

The inches are still coming off. The other day, I couldn't have been wearing something tighter (workout gear) and Damon says in a low voice so the kids couldn't hear, "Dang girl, you're looking tight." I just smiled knowing that I would need to literally peel my clothes off later. Plus they were black and we all know.....black is slimming.

Remember my college friend from Ireland? She wrote me an email telling me that in just 10 days she had lost almost 7 pounds. That might be all the sugar she cut out of her diet. Last week, she told me she was cutting sugar from her diet and I said me too! I'm with ya! Dang oreos. She is also working out consistently too! Go AMY!

This is a 90 day commitment and I'm 37 days in, I think. How is your commitment to getting healthy going? When you work out, can you feel the sweat dripping down your back into your crack? No? Then you aren't working hard enough! Ha!

11 days until Christmas! Better get moving.

From "Thick to Thin"

I swear every mirror now.....I walk by in slow motion to check myself out. I seriously am losing my "thickness"!!! I just can't believe that I have stuck with this program and still like it. Cool. I am pretty committed. I worked out in my hotel room this morning. Being on the second floor, I tried to be considerate of the guests below me. I'm proud of me:-) Yeah, me!

I seem to have misplace my original unblurred photos. I...just.......can't........find..........them.........I will keep looking. I think I took them with my phone. They are pretty unpleasant. My only regret is why the heck I only wore a sports bra? I was just following suit with the other before pictures online. Put a shirt on Lisa, dang!

I have a college friend in Ireland that has been reading the blog.  She emailed me today telling me that she is a certified personal trainer but has been a little off her game since having (seriously) the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. He's 4! I totally know that she is not THAT out of shape. Not like "Lisa out of shape".  Honestly though, even the fittest instructors or personal trainers have off days, months or even years. Would it surprise you to know that I taught aerobics in college? So it got me thinking that even when I do reach my goal that I can't just ease off.  I wish I had better genes, a faster metabolism, or more self control when eating. I wish, I wish, I wish. I should, I should, I should. I WILL, I WILL, I WILL! I have to change the way I talk to myself and the way I think. Reprogramming my mind will be a challenge.

You with? Thank you for all your support. It really means a lot to me. 

Feeling Good

I can't tell you the last time I felt this good. Really. I started that shake from the Beachbody company called Shakeology and it tastes.....ok. Damon is drinking it too but makes his with water. I couldn't even drink it without gagging when he made it for me. I gotta have milk in mine. We have been using it to replace a meal so we will see how it goes. I know most of the routines on the dvd's and love them all. The sweat just drips after every workout!

Ever walk by a mirror and check out how "thick" you are. That's me every time now. Since having three babies via cesarean, my stomach sort of....well.....hangs. A guys stomach kind of bulges out because the muscles are still intact and can hold it up. Mine have been cut THREE times so the muscle is pretty weak. Ladies you know, right? Am I crazy here calling my stomach an envelope flap? So even though I may look good with a great outfit on, what is happening underneath isn't so great. In my experience, the more I lose, the worse it gets. Just saying.

I went and purchased the Ninja blender. DANG! That thing could crush a rock! Lots of power for our shakes and smoothies. Yum. I have two friends that have made a commitment to get healthy and I'm right there with them. You in?

I will take my 30 day official measurements next week. Should be interesting! I have a goal for the next week. Try to stop drinking soda (or pop for you northerners) :-)  Take care!

Committed But Struggling

**This post was written almost a week ago but was never posted**

Getting up at 5:30 in the morning seems like I have made the commitment, right? Seriously, that is really not that big of a deal to me. They say it takes 21 days to form or create a habit. It took me three days to get used to getting up. I'm having a pickle of a time getting my eating even close to where it needs to be. Ever heard of "clean eating"? Yeah, me too. What the heck is it and more importantly.....how do I feed my sweet tooth that got me in this predicament in the first place??????  HELP!

Do you ever ask yourself these questions? Why on earth was I not given better genes? Why do I have to struggle for years only to fail EVERY single time? What lesson am I supposed to be learning here? Maybe raising kids won't be the hardest most challenging thing I will ever do.

Ever seen a bigger girl workout? I don't mean walking briskly, I mean "jumping in the air like she was in the matrix" working out. I have......and it ain't pretty. I see it everyday. My full length reflection laughs at me every morning. However, she isn't the same reflection from day 1. I feel stronger. It is amazing what two weeks of working out really hard will do to you physically. I still have 10 weeks to go!

I ordered the meal replacement shake mix from the company and should be here next week. I'm so used to slim fast that I am afraid I won't like it. But  it's chocolate...c'mon, enough said:-)

I know you come here to read but also to look at some pictures of my progress. Can you just be patient already? Soon. I promise. How is your commitment to getting healthy going?

11/26/11

I worked out really hard today. Getting used to the routines and loving it. I mentioned that my eating has not been that good. But felt like I was making progress with endurance and stamina. I decided to see how I was doing "measurement" wise.

I started this program on November 7 and today is November 26. So I am just shy of three weeks. I have lost an inch in both arms, both thighs, and in my chest. I have lost TWO inches in my hips and finally in my waist.............S I X   I N C H E S!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT? I know....this is nuts. Who would have thought that committing to six days a week would produce such crazy results! I have stepped on the scale and it has not been very nice to me so I decided to un-friend it. It never really was my friend!

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and you savored every bite. I did!

Happy girl today!

Sound Familiar?

The corn on my foot is pushing against my sneaker and it hurts. I am so tired this morning. My plantar fasciitis is still hurting. I am having my cycle and don't feel like working out. I am still sore from yesterdays workout................

I have more. More excuses as to why I can't work out. But I have not used one of them (roar of a crowd here)! I used to say that it was okay to stop with whatever workout I was doing because I could....just...start...again...tomorrow! Oh my gosh! I got so tired of telling myself that. The only thing that I was proud of was that I actually did work out again. It's funny....I say work out but nothing compares to the work out that I'm doing now. Working EVERY muscle EVERY minute you are exercising. It's crazy.

We were stretching this morning and I look over at Damon and my jaw dropped to the floor! Damon has become flexible. It seemed that last week, that cat had ZERO flexibility. Cool. I am following the low impact girl most of the time but it won't be long before I am hitting the high impact level.

I was thinking of another program that I've done that you have to commit to 12 weeks. Seriously....you will have some kind of success in 12 weeks. It's not like I'll have the same measurements or weight in three months. I am working out 6 days a week! Unless you are just watching the workouts:-) I am committed.  My eating is not perfect but I eat less and drink lots of water. That's half the battle, right? Eating less!

Do I want to be a size 0? Uh-no thanks. I will take an 8! Not sure I have ever been an 8 in my adult life. But that's what I'll shoot for. I have a dress in mind that I want. Here is it.....so cute.

I love it. I live at the beach so I could live in it. I just might too.

Damon and I are celebrating 17 years of marriage this Friday. We plan of taking our workout with us so we don't miss a day. I am pretty sure he is enjoying this too. He really doesn't have much rhythm so this is good for him. We don't go out dancing and he reminds me why every morning. KIDDING. We don't go out because of how I feel about myself....has nothing to do with him. I am hoping that this journey will change all that and I can get out with him more. You with? Stephanie H?(shout out) C'mon. Let's do this!

This is the program. She is crazy beautiful with a great attitude and tons of energy. She is pretty funny too!

Her name is Chalene Johnson and is the creator of Turbo Jam. Yes, from the infomercial. She has also created other workout programs.

We are in our second week of the program. Tomorrow is our rest day! Ahhhhhhhh.......

Humility

Have you ever looked at yourself and thought you looked pretty good? Literally, a day before we started this commitment to get healthy, I said that. Then Damon took my before pics! As I sat there telling myself out loud that I was disgusting, Damon says "babe, you really don't look like that." Awe, really? How sweet. Then he delivers the next comment without hesitation. These pictures just aren't very flattering. DANG! I know he says things without thinking and is brutally truthful. In my heart, I know he wasn't trying to be hurtful.....but come on!

It was the kick in the pants that I needed. I needed a lesson in humility. No Lisa, you don't look healthy or fit. It took my husband saying this to me to really understand that I didn't even look......well......good.  I can imagine what he might have been feeling and thinking before telling me. Palms sweaty, lump in throat, heart pounding, dry mouth, and knees shaking. I guess what I am saying is that I don't take criticisms from Damon so well. The poor guy! I feel bad that my insecurities and horrible self esteem may have become a wedge in our relationship.

You know what I mean? I am pretty sure you do.  For example, Damon could ask me where the oreo's are (not even where they went. He may not see them in the pantry) and I could either blame the kids or get offended. Like I know where the oreo's went. Are you suggesting that I ate them Damon? Are you calling me fat? And.....there it is. All the while, Damon is thinking "I just wanted some cookies and milk for a snack."  Sound familiar? Time for a change! Not just a physical change.

Damon and I had a rest day yesterday but we were back at it today. I stand in front and he is behind me. I asked him if he watches me (cause I'm not embarrassed enough) and he said no! He is keeping up pretty good. This program is great. The music is what keeps me going. I like it loud and the dvd's have this option to have the music louder than the instructor! It's pretty cool. Our next day off is Wednesday. Getting up at 5:30 is nothing now.

How is your commitment to getting healthy going? If you need to be humbled, let me know and I will have Damon call you with what he really thinks! Kidding. If you are like me, it won't be anything you haven't told yourself anyway, right?

Have a great day!

Reflection

I went back and read the post from yesterday and thought, "do I really think I am fat?" How often do we call ourselves that. It doesn't matter if we are 10 pounds overweight or 100 pounds overweight, we abuse ourselves by calling ourselves names. Is it to shame us into doing something about it? Well, I have been doing this for years and years and I am still.....well.......fat. Overweight? Not fit? Chunky? Pick one that makes you feel better. I know that you reading this (and you know me), you have cringed hearing me say this about myself. I know that you are already coming up with excuses for me to make me feel better.

1. Lisa, you have a lot going on.
2. Lisa, look at what you deal with everyday.
3. You will do it when you are ready.
4. Your focus is your family right now.

The truth is.........I am getting older and am starting to FEEL older. I will be leaving my 30's in a year and a half and want to be strong and healthy in my 40's. I look back and wonder why I didn't commit to this before. Why did I stop every time and not follow through? Why now? There is only one reason. I AM WEAK. Mentally that it. If it hurts, I stop. If I'm winded, I stop. How is it that I can be strong in every other aspect of my life except this one? It is time to change the way I think. It is time that I put myself on the list of priorities....maybe near the top for a change. How about in the top spot?

I'm going to do this. Will you keep me accountable? Pray for me? Send me encourage messages? Even start getting healthy with me? Damon is working out with me but (this is embarrassing) all his measurements are smaller than mine. He weighs more, thank goodness! I need some ladies on this journey with me.

I did a "class" today that was 15 minutes long but when I was done, I felt like I had worked out for an hour. Short and intense. I like that! Tomorrow is my rest day. I think I will take that day and..........rest.

Yes, my "before" pictures (click pictures tab) are blurry. I blurred them on purpose. I will un-blur them when I have completed the program in 12 weeks.

Have a great day!

Here We Go

I......AM.......FAT!

There is no other way to say it. It is what it is. There is fat on my body that shouldn't be there. Unfortunately, it has been there as long as I remember. I was a heavy child and it just has never been any different my whole adult life. I have no clue what it feels like to be thin. I want to feel thin. I am ready. I feel like this is it for me.

I have a 12 year old daughter that has cerebral palsy. Ever since she was born I have feared of me dying before her because of my health. If I don't do something then I may not be here for her and that scares me more than anything in this life. Not being here to take care of her.

For some reason, my husband okayed me purchasing another workout program. Unbelievable. I purchased the Turbo Fire program and when it came I immediately got nervous. I had been doing turbo jam for three weeks just so I could get her moves mastered. It is an awesome workout but as I quickly realized, the moves are faster and harder in TurboFire.

My husband and I woke up at 5:30 and stared with Fire 30. We looked so clumsy and uncomfortable, but we did it. Let me rephrase, we COMPLETED the workout. It was hard, but fun. After he went to work and the kids were off at school, I did it again with the music blaring and I kept up pretty good.

My stats are embarrassing but will post them anyway. I hesitate with my pictures but figure that you can visualize what I look like my reading my stats anyway so......

Day 2 tomorrow and I can't wait. Looking at all the success/transformation stories are so encouraging to me. I am ready to feel thin!