Fruit Pizza

I found this recipe on Instagram (@shonda1020)

I figured I would give it a try because it was a lot simpler than some that I had tried and failed miserably at. I also added half a scoop of protein powder to the crust. (I use American ISO Whey-Apple Crumb Pie) Bryan isn't a huge Greek Yogurt can so I think next time maybe I will do half in only PB spread instead but he said the crust was worth the double NOM NOM's!

Crust:

1/2 Cup oats
1 banana mashed
2 tbsp coconut flour
1 tbsp nut butter
1 tsp agave

Toppings:

Flavored Greek Yogurt
Berries
Almonds
Natural Honey

Mix toppings together. Scoop mixture into nonstick pan. Flatten into 1/4 inch. 
Bake @375 for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for 8 minutes. Cool and top with toppings.

3 Year Fit-iversary

I have become a total blog slacker again! In my defense this time of year kills me and I just keep adding to it so now it is more like a busy mom Buffet than a full plate!

So it's been 3 year since I decided my life needed a major change. I feel like my blog has gone from Chasing Angry & Depressed to Chasing Healthy & Fit! I have to say without the help of my hubby jumping on board I don't think I could have accomplished any of it. Even when he takes it way to the extreme and makes he yell "I hate your face" I still appreciate the effort! So I don't have any solid weight or measurements because I am trying to be in a phase of just let my body change and accept that. It's hard, I get on the scale every now and then at the gym. It ranges from 122-125 which I am actually not happy about (yes I am aware most women are reading that and cussing my name right now). I had gained up to about 130 before my braces and then the whole what I can eat part killed my gains and it's been a slow track back up. About 3 weeks ago I was sitting at 18% body fat, which is down from my March measurement of 24% so I was super happy with that. Other than that, I know myself well enough that even post hysterectomy my one remaining ovary still sends me for a hormone-coaster ride when I am not expecting it and it can change my body (especially my mid-section daily). It's probably something I am always going to deal with and why I will never be ok with it, it will NOT defeat me. 

So I am taking the average at 123 lbs.

27.25 Waist

32 Hips (I am growing a butt here!)

20.5 Thigh (GOODBYE THIGH GAP)

11.50 Flexed Bicep ( Welcome to the BBGun Show)

My most recent self improvement is dragging my butt out of bed at 4:45 a.m. 5 days a week. I am not a morning person and GOD BLESS the poor people who have to deal with me! (Gina & Robin are seriously the best workout partners every!) Also I made the big decision to go back to school. I LOVE helping people with their health. Helping someone learn to love themselves is the greatest freaking high in the world! That is what I like about promoting for a MLM. I am just terrible at the marketing gunk! I am emotional, hate public speaking and I cry when I talk about my past! I also am not good at being brand specific. I love to sample company's products and creating stacks that work for me and where I am at today and that usually involves a little of this and a little of that! "That" may also change next week, so when I get approached by friends and acquaintances I am always honored that you think I would be great at selling your product. The truth is I probably wouldn't! 

So for those that ask if I still sell BBVI: My website is still up because I haven't had the time to sit on hold for an hour to shut it off. I am not using or promoting it! Nothing bad to say about it, just one of those my needs changed and so did my supplements. If you are a follower of my blog than you know my theory on "programs" like that or Herbal Life, Advocare, Shakeology,Weight Watchers,etc: If you like them, can afford them, are not harming your body and it works for you.. THAN KEEP DOING IT! 

(Just don't expect everyone to jump on the train with you)

Last grump on this subject: DON'T REP A PRODUCT YOU DON'T USE.  You are seven kinds of shitty if you are selling other people on something you have not or do not use. You see all these "sponsored" athletes these days that you can't trust that they are actually even using that product. Don't paddle up the river in the Douche Canoe!

So after that rant. I have decided to go back to school. I am currently working on my Personal Trainer Certification. I was so flipping excited until the day I got my textbooks in the mail and then I thought what the hell was I thinking! I am managing (aka struggling) but eventually I will get there. After that it's off to the big kid school for either BS Exercise Science or BS Nutrition. Haven't really made up my mind on that one yet, so hey if you have some input shoot me an email! All of this while being an Oilfield Wife and Football/Basketball/Bulldog Mom. Honestly the end game here is to find a career that I am passionate about and that would make up a lapse in income because the Oilfield is ass backwards and when you get an office job you have to take a cut in pay. BIG TITLE less PAY = DUMB!!! But that is what it is going to take to have my hunny on a normal schedule instead of the craziness we have lived for the last decade! It's hard on both of us and some days it gets harder instead of easier! So maybe by the time I am 40 I will have a big kid job to go with my big kid degree!

So there is my Fit-iversary Update. 3 years: It took me 3 years to pull that off, so don't beat yourself up if you haven't accomplished a big goal in a short amount of time. 

Happy Chasing

H

August Resolutions!

-I will say this is a long one. I tried to address some of the questions I have been getting along with my blog topic at hand! 

If you are a mom, especially a SAHM with school age kids, then you know August resolutions are almost as popular as New Year's resolutions. If you don't have kids then you are reading this thinking this lady is batty! Why you may ask? 

Well summer break is over. The children are back in school and you have possibly more than 5 minutes a day to think about yourself. Instead of the crazy mecca of camps, vacations, sleepovers and pool parties! 

I started my "stop hating me" journey Brody's first day of kindergarten. He is going into the 3rd grade this year and I might be having a panic attack as I type that. I keep getting a lot of "I wish I had your dedication" comments lately. Well let me tell you it isn't always that way. I am human, just like you and I make mistakes and fall flat on my face. I am probably not someone you should put at the top of your people to imitate list. ha ha

The one thing I can tell you is that once I got the weight off, I knew I never wanted to go back to that feeling. It's not just the amazing feeling that overwhelms you when someone tells you how fabulous you look. It's when you pass your reflection in a mirror and you don't automatically look away. Now I am not saying stand there all damn day and have a love fest either! It's called being comfortable in your skin, once you reach it you would do anything to not give it up. Am I satisfied in my skin, absolutely NOT! That is what fuels my drive to achieve better. Not just in my appearance (yes I hear you calling me vain) but me as a person inside and out. To learn to judge less, uplift more!  Not just in other's but with myself also. As women most of the time we are our own worst enemies! Which sets us up for immediate failure. It is ok to pat yourself on the back. For all the victories large and small!

If you read past blogs I am pretty sure at least 10+ times I have said " I will never be in love with fitness, I will never be the girl who likes to work out" HA well guess who went and fell in love! It really is an addiction. It's a mood changer for me, I can be in the shittiest mood and go to the gym sweat it all out and leave it alone. I don't like the whole "strong is the new skinny" quote but getting strong and pushing your body to do things your mind says you can not do, and then 3 months later you can do it with no struggle. It's an endorphin high I am not giving up. Might as well find me a support group :)

  Do I think that everyone should work out like I do? 

No! Fitness is a very big word. There are vast amounts of ways to be healthy and fit. It comes in all shapes and sizes. I think everyone should test out the waters and see where you belong. 

If the number on your scale is what matters most, find a high cardio exercise. 

(Zumba,biking, running, machine cardio, spinning, swimming)

If transforming your body is what matters most, find some weights!(If you don't have a gym then look into home workout programs: Tapout, p90x, insanity, etc.)

Even if you choose to mix the two, if you are losing weight try out 30 minutes of cardio on top of a weight session. Women tend to freak the F out when we don't drop weight and are spending hours in the gym.

To my endo-sisters: Is working out post hysterectomy more difficult?
That's kind of tough to answer. I didn't to a whole lot of working out pre-hyster. It was super painful to do anything that strained my abdominal region. Some days the fatigue is harder to deal with. I artificially generate it on those days. It is much easier to push past now-a-days. If you are in the middle of a flare there is no pushing past anything but the heating pad and a bottle of Demerol! I DO NOT MISS THAT AT ALL!

What do you use for Supplements?
For me, if I don't keep it simple I will never follow through with it. Going into a supplement store can be overwhelming. The sales people will convince you into a ton of things that are probably going to do something for you other than damage the balance in your savings account. However, I want to keep it as simple as I can. I am a busy mom I don't have time to track pills and drinks 10 times a day!
My stack consist of a protein, pre-workout, amino options, and a multi-vitamin! I may dabble in this or that every now and then but this is what I stick to! Keep in mind this is what I use for MY goals right now. No weight loss! No "diet"
I like OPTI-WOMEN multivitamins they are not harsh to take and won't kill me if I don't eat right away after taking them.
I have to Proteins here: The Combat- is really Bryan's but I use it occasionally. I prefer the ISO it digest easier and let's face it, it's the best tasting powder I have EVER tried! I pretty much let my hubbs pick my protein and I decide on the flavor but if MGN American ISO in Apple Crumb Pie is ever in stock BUY IT PEOPLE!!
Amino aka BCAA's  I have several options for these depending on when I take them. The Musclepharm I usually drink while working out. The orange bottle has caffeine in it so I don't mix it with my pre-workout. I use it more in 2 a day's or an afternoon pick me up. The chews are for on the go times!
Saved the best for last. Pre-workout
Pictured is adrenHERlyn CUTS by Blackmarket Labs. Hands down the best I have ever tried in a pre-workout. It makes me sad when I cycle off it. I am so sensitive to stuff like this yet, somehow this product give you that WAHOO itchy wonderful pump without the side effects I get from others like it afterwards. I have even had some give me an anxiety attack. Not this when it's gone it's gone and no nasty habits left behind.

Do I think using a food program is cheating?

This is a loaded question! So I will do my best to answer it in MY OPINION!

I can't say I disagree with them, I used one to dynamically jump start my journey. That being said, let it be your guide to learn to do better. You can NOT quit it and go back to life as usual. There are more programs out there than I have fingers and toes. I won't tell you one is any better than the other. Find something you like, taste and financially! I had no problem at all adapting to a meal replacement plan, some people do. I used to to teach myself how to fit the proper calories into my day. I think of it as "the patch" it helped ween me off my smack (junk food) and when I didn't need it anymore I quit using it. I am not a cold turkey type of person. I know that about myself! Whatever you do, make sure you are eating enough. Seriously, nothing will halt your results like in-taking under 1,200 calories a day. If you are over 150lbs I suggest upping your minimum to the 1,350-1,450 range. Yes I know things like MFP isn't going to agree with that but I am speaking from personal experience here! 

Whether you're drinking a shake,calling Jenny, guzzling a pink drink or wrapping it up. Be prepared to take flack for it. Like I said fitness is a big word and it has lots of different approaches and opinions behind it. If it works for you and you like it and your not actually damaging your body beyond repair go for it. Also, be prepared that not everyone will want to do it with you. Don't hound people to be on your bandwagon, let them hitch a ride on free will!

So onto goal setting. 

•  Set reasonable goals in a reasonable time span! My goals I am setting are about a 12 week range. 
• Find a friend with similar goals to share with. I can promise this will make a difference in your results. It is also someone to keep going when you want to give up and vise versa.
• Try to set personal goals along with physical ones. Inner you needs to be as beautiful as outer you!
• Set up a reward system that does not involve food. To the person who taught me this, my shoe/workout clothes appreciate you. My checkbook not so much! Granted a double cheeseburger is a lot cheaper than new heels but you are not a dog, you do not need rewarded with a beggin strip!

I hope that answers some of the things I have been in-boxed. It seriously flatters and amazes me that people actually want my opinion on this stuff!
You all inspire me! Now I am off to put some serious thought into my goals. Make your self a road map of how you are going to hit it. If I wake up tomorrow and decide I am going to New York, never been there and I am not using GPS. It is going to take me twice as long! Don't take on becoming healthy without your GPS. It's 2014 use your computer and if that doesn't work chances are there is an APP for it!

What are your new goals?

HAPPY CHASING
H

What is a Bikini Body?

Many of us women agonize over having a "bikini body" but really what is that? Is there some universal stereotype for what a bikini body should look like? I have seen several Facebook post and had several conversations with some of the most gorgeous women who are intimidated to put on a two piece.

My answer is, if you want to wear it, it comes in your size, then you my friend..Have a Bikini Body!

Now that being said, the comes in your size part. (I have stated before I DO NOT support the I am Fat and Proud movement.  It's not healthy. That is a debate for a completely different blog.) If your string to your string bikini is lost somewhere in your spare tire. IT IS NOT YOUR SIZE! I have spent the majority of my life being uncomfortable in my skin. I wouldn't even call it comfortable now, my body and I are just starting to be cozy! Yet, I have mostly always worn some type of bikini, tankini, monokini.
Even now I get all insecure to take off the cover up at the pool. I have stretch marks from my chin to my toes! I have just decided they look better with a tan so they are going to see the sunshine!

I am not a size zero, I have been really close before I started lifting but I will tell you I drastically like my reflection at 125lbs more than I did and 114 lbs and a size 1! This body made multiple humans, has battled disease, survived surgeries, and it's about time I gave it credit for all it's been through. Reward your body, stop punishing it. Just don't reward it with food, try a new swimsuit, a lawn chair and a beach!

Happy Chasing

H

Habits or Genetics: What are you passing along?

I have been working on this post for over a week now. I have deleted more lines than I have left typed. I know this is going to be a touchy one so I battle between being blunt and being sensitive! First, my sensitive side tells me to let you know that I have been the habit person, the habit parent, and the habit enabler! BUT the very blunt no filter side of me sees malnutrition & obese children and it absolutely enrages me.  It is one thing to destroy your body, but when you aide in destroying someone else's body......

Most of us have set in the doctor's office and have had to go through a family history report. How many of those things that we list off are actually based more on family habit's rather than actual family genes? At one point in time we have all played the blame game for disliking our bodies. How many times have you said or heard "it's genetic"?  Truthfully most of our problems are more bad habits that have been inherited than an actual bad gene. Since I am not one to point fingers I will use myself as an example!

I have a family history of: Diabetics, High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Breast Cancer, Mental Disorder, to name a few. Now the question is how many of those are more lifestyle based than a genetic precursor? Let's also take into account things like addiction, I can't count how many times I have heard well alcohol addiction runs in your family.. Really people! Don't set yourself up for that failure.  What is in your gene's should not dictate how you live your life. This is the plate we were handed, full of all this stuff we don't want anything to do with. So are we going to pile more on top of it to pass it along to our children? Are we going to brown bag our kids health or are we going to dump it in the trash and start from scratch? I was watching Katie when a Dr. was talking about the connection between mind and body. They talked about how genetically one 1/3 of the genes pre-disposes us to family diseases. That means 2/3 of your life is completely up to YOU!
  (Also fun fact they stated is 85% of all human disease is caused or irritated by stress!)
Both my husband and I have eating disorders in our families. Both on either extremes of the scale, both taking valuable time off lives. Oddly this is something that can be controlled with something as simple as the right food. FOOD is the answer to so many of those health conditions I listed above. I will be the first to admit it is easier in my life to take the quick and easy route to dinner, especially when my husband has been gone for days and I am just so exhausted that cooking and making my kitchen dirty causes me extreme grief! We as a society have got to be more like the tortoise than the hare.. Slow and steady not only wins the race but prolongs your life! 

 I am also doing my best to break the pattern of food being a reward. That is a bad habit I have for myself and my kids. I used to reward myself with food and it wound me up in the chunky chick section of life! Instead I am trying to do reward with "things" instead of a trip to DQ! It seems to be working pretty well although let's be honest I want DQ over a trip to the park or pool.
This is where I will end my ramblings on this subject. I could go on for days and make this the most boring post ever. I guess my reasoning for it is so many  people comment on my motivation and dedication and how they wish they could find theirs.
These pictures below. They are the simplest answer I have to that. It opens into so many more smaller reasons but in the end it all adds up to:
Healthy Family, Lots of love, Endless Happiness

Happy Chasing 

H

Death by Legs

Heavy Leg Day! 

Either you just shuttered in fear or rejoiced. There isn't an in-between here!

Against my better judgement I chose to do this on a Monday. See Monday evening at my gym are full of people who slacked all weekend and are ready to crawl back on the wagon. Thus I usually use it as my rest day. But I was a raging{INSERT CURSE WORD OF CHOICE HERE} so I really needed to go. 

 but standing in line.....

When I say Heavy Leg Day, this is NOT my max out day. I don't do those that often and only when my hunny is with me. I love my workout buddy to death but she is the same size and me and truth be told I don't trust she can get 420 lbs off of me if I fail!For those of you cardio junkies, my other leg day burned 713 calories. This leg day burned 737 and my heart rate stayed elevated for 23 minutes longer than my other leg day. Yesterday I did cardio and abs for a solid hour.. Only burned 416 calorie.. LIFT THEM WEIGHTS!! Start at a medium weight for the first set and then go up to about as heavy as you know you can go and still complete the reps. Be sure and keep form, just cause your lifting like the Hulk doesn't mean you can break proper form. Broken butts are not fun people!

Warm up: 10 Minutes of Cardio

Sissy Squats w/medicine ball 3 sets 10

Dumbbell Step Ups (3 sets 10 each leg)- 

Pick up the heaviest dumbbells you can and still be able to hold balance.

Dumbbell Squats (10 wide 10 narrow)- 

Don't do these fast, low & slow! Make sure and keep proper form.

Bar Squats- (10 traditional, 10 front)

Use a barbell, in the rack out of the rack, smith machine whatever you choose!

Deadlifts- (10 reps)

Straight leg, again do it solo or in a rack or smith machine however you like to do them.

Walking Lunges- (Dumbbell 16 reps)

Be sure on your heavy set to not topple over. 

I end this with Calf Exercise. I have to save them for last because once I burn them out I can't walk anymore let alone squat! I do 3 Set then some body weight stretching to make sure I can still walk to my car! Today's was 80,100,120

That was my Heavy Leg Day! If you are dying from pain I suggest you look up some exercises on rolling out with a foam roller. Guys no matter how girly you think this is.. It is heaven afterwards! 

This video is a great example! 

Happy Chasing

H

Dip it!

Summer aka Barbecue season is upon us. I get to where I cringe when I am invited to a cookout because chances are there isn't going to be anything there I can eat. So I stumbled upon this dip recipe and tried it out. Tada it is pretty fabulous, something you can take anywhere, taste good, and isn't completely terrible for you. It is also quick, I am a busy mom so I don't have all day to spend in the kitchen!I use this dip on everything! I actually made it tonight to top my sweet potato for dinner!

16Oz Greek Nonfat  Plain

If you are a spice lover, go for the Fiesta Ranch

If you are not grab the regular Ranch

The Kick'N Chicken Seasoning will also add a little kick so if Kickn it up isn't in your book use it sparingly!

Skinni-Zini

My family has this amaze-ball recipe called Chicken Tetrizini. It's loaded with butter, salt, smothered layers of Velveeta, noodles and chicken. Ya know everything but the kitchen sink. I tried to figure it up once and I lost track at 1,200 calories per serving. WOWZA can't go eating that very often can ya. So when I get a serious hankering for it I try and come up with my own twist! It isn't the same but my waist line and taste buds are completely fine with it.

I start with Spaghetti Squash. I <3 this Squash. A lot of people are scared to try it because it seems complicated but it really isn't. Also tonight I got caught in a time battle so I had to buy some store cheats since I didn't have to time completely go at it from scratch!

1. Cut your Squash in half and clean out the seeds.

Then you are going to season them and roast them flesh down.(450/35mins)

I used my new wave here because I didn't want to heat the house up but I do it in the oven all the time, same concept. I used pepper, evoo, and cavenders (it's a staple in our house)

2. The Sauce- If you don't have time to roast your own tomatoes buy 2 cans of them. I get low salt!

Combine tomatoes, mushrooms, 1 tsp smart balance, olives, and season with pepper & garlic. Bring to a boil over medium heat on the stove. 

3.Chicken- you can use whatever chicken you want here. I chose to get a rotisserie because I didn't have time to cook one myself. It's best if you just use white meat! Shred or pick apart a couple handfuls to add to the mix.

3.5 Squash again- After roasted set it down in a large container, face up, and grab a fork. Just rake the fork along the squash and it SHOULD peel away just like pasta strings. Throw away the outside when you think you have it all peeled out.

4. Mix it all together! Now my family recipe says you need to layer it up like lasagna using Velveeta as a barrier! Not healthy in the least bit people! So I sprinkled some mozzarella/cheddar mix over the top of mine! Life is too short to not eat cheese!

Enjoy- I am stuffed and need to go for a walk!

Happy Chasing

H

Abs are not made in the Dough Boy's Kitchen!

 Welp- Guess what, I can't eat whatever I want no matter how hard I train. It really didn't take me 9 weeks to figure out. I would say it took me 9 weeks of stubborn arguing with myself to get over it! I don't have any measurements or weigh in checks for the first time EVER. I made it a point to judge solely off appearance. I did finally weigh and I Lost 3lbs from my March date. Which was shocking because I feel like I put on a 100lbs. I stuck to a 90% clean diet for 9 weeks. Teacher Appreciation Week nearly killed me. When you work in the office of a elementary school you are the main drop off for all things junk food related. I didn't give in every day but you can only turn down Olive Garden and fresh donuts so many times before they start calling your name! I also had several orthodontist visits this last month that then took my diet in the opposite direction, strictly liquid for 4 days.. YUCKO! But over all I am starting to see some abdominal shredding so I will keep at it, bread I have learned to live without, however I tried to be Paleo for a whole 6 hours and then I had to have some cheese! 

As I hit the first official pool day of the year I was being rather hard on myself because I think I could/should have done better. Whenever I tend to bully myself I find it's time to look back and give a pat on the back for where we came from. It's easy to forget what the reflection in the mirror used to look like instead of that I don't see Megan Fox in my current reflection. So if you follow me on IG (@thehaileyd) I gave a description when I posted this. 

Photo1 /Aug 2011- The day I decided I was disgusted with myself and had to make a change. I have ZERO self esteem and 100% self hate!

Photo 2- After fixing photo one and about 40 lbs later, I had to have major surgery with a 12 week downtime due to my Endometriosis aka the black plague of my life.

The last two are recent photos obviously :)

Last but very not least: Probably one of the most important progress photo's I have ever taken.

Now the Nay Sayers of the world will say it's cosmetic, I am NOT against cosmetic procedures IF it is something you can NOT change. I have HATED my smile for the majority of my life. I have been teased and made fun of for it by more people than I can count. I have had small kids point it out and a few rude little kids I would like to punt like a football. So I am changing it. How you feel if every time you laughed or smiled a part of you cringed? YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO SMILE! What's a world without smiling and laughing! So now I have been called brace face & metal mouth only 20 to 50 times, I am sure that will go up! But I am dealing, it's worth it in the end right?!? and No pain no gain..

In the words of my favorite fish.. Just Keep Swimming!

Happy Chasing

H

Clean eating update!

I don't really have any great epiphanies today just some progress photos. I HATE posting stomach shots. It is my weakest link, my kryptonite and my biggest nightmare. Some moron will comment on my stretch marks and I will have to go on a crazy lady rant about it!  But I am a real person, with real issues and real progress. 

Never fake and never photo-shopped! 

This is 4 weeks on a 90% clean diet, I say 90% because I stumbled a few times. It's a learning process.

Also apparently abs are made in the Kitchen, which I am deeply saddened about! It only took 4 weeks to prove "Ya can't out train a bad diet!"

Happy Chasing...

H

This Is How We Do It!

First off, if you didn't sing Montell Jordan in your head when you read that title, 

than SHAME ON YOU!

Back to the matter at hand. For some reason I have been getting lots of questions lately. Why people seem to think I am appropriate to ask these I have no clue but I do  always offer my semi-educated opinion and always personal experience insight.

Question One- "How do you do it,get started to lose weight?"

Well all I can tell you is that is up to you. You have to be so completely done with your reflection that you are willing to do what you have to so that it will change. This has to be a deep conversation with yourself. You need to weigh in all your options. Why do you need to do this? Is the question you have to ask yourself and you need to answer it honestly. If you give more than 5 excuses as to why you "can't" then you are not ready. Sure you might lose weight but keeping it off has to be your end game. 

Question two- "How to you keep it off?"

Well it is a lifestyle change. You hear people say that all the time and it sounds really trivial but it is honestly the truth. You have to change. Which is hard for most of us. Habits are hard things to break, especially if you have negative influences around you. I know for a fact that people who knew me 5 years ago probably think I am bat shit cray cray. I didn't work out, I drank excessively, dang sure didn't go to the gym. Eating clean meant ordering one cheeseburger instead of two. I hear remarks, see comments written on social media and get snickers when I walk into certain conversations. Point being the feeling you get when you notice your hard work paying off it worth every second of it. 

Question three- "How do you stay dedicated?"

Especially with the last thing mention in question two, dedication is a tricky little devil. For me, most day it comes in waves. I am a textbook emotional eater. With small everyday stress, I would and still sometimes do eat junk. Yet, with heavy stress I don't eat at all. Both are equally terrible for you. So I do my very best to reprogram my mind into going about it a different way.This for That rule. I want a recces cup instead I will have some chocolate peanut butter jif with an apple. I still get my sweet fix without the senselessness of the candy.  If a trainer or even an IFBB pro wants to tell you they never fall, they are feeding you a complete load of BULL! Everyone falls, has a cheat meal, has a off weak. Life will happen, routines get broken, illness arises, little things will come up to knock you off your game. Best thing you can do is go get a good night sleep and start all over again tomorrow. 

Question four- "Where do I begin with exercising?"

Welp, for this answer I suppose you need to know what you want from your body. This is a really hard question. One I didn't quite know myself until recently. My idea of what I wanted was jumbled into a bipolar hot mess of main stream cosmo ideas. I have been asked point blank and answered all over the board. Until a couple weeks ago I was in the middle of a set and someone offered me some advice on a better approach. He followed with only if you want real tri's and not tiny toned ones. My off the top, no thinking about it response was... I don't care about having skinny arms. I want big girl arms! I care about being fit. I have zero desire to be skinny anymore.  I read a IG post about being toned not being actually possible. I believe it. Toned is not a NOUN it is a VERB!

So that is the level I am at now. I want to be a buff, bad @SS B****!

Now everyone in the fitness world as their own opinion on exercise vs weightless. Some will tell you hit the weights out the door and some will tell you not to at all. 

+Kelly Fuston  wrote a great blog about this that I agree 110% about.

Fat Loss before Lean Mass Gain

If you get lost on exercise lane, my philosophy is Fake it till ya Make it! As long as you are doing something you are better than someone who is doing nothing. Get up and get your cardio on. Everyone knows how to walk, it is where most people start. If you don't have a treadmill than grab a kid, grab a dog, sit on a bike or take a hike (Channeling my inner Dr. Sueus there) any who get to moving.  There are many different types of cardio, find one that you hate the lease. I don't say enjoy because when I started I hated everything. Find a buddy or take a class. Power is in numbers. I

f someone is there to tell you good job and keep going when you want to give up success will come easier.

I could go on for hours on working out, lifting weights, and avoiding cardio(because I do avoid it because I hate it) I am always open to questions and comments feel free to PM me! 

Tomorrow is a great place to start

Happy Chasing

H

Eat clean, Train EH?

One week down of cleaning up my diet. I had a few "dirty" moments this week but for the most part I did rather well. Wednesday was the biggest test of all. I work at an elementary school, which is the worlds largest cesspool of junk food you will ever see. This week brought on a birthday party, with chips and salsa and cupcakes from my favorite bakery. That is just the tip of the ice berg! You name it and it was probably in there. The last time we had one of these I dove straight into the sea of chocolate and rowed right up the river of denial. Denying that it was going to affect me at all!  This go round I managed to only slip into the wading pool aka some whole wheat crackers and cheese. I took fruit and pb to hopefully aid in my sweet tooth getting the best of me and it did!

I actually made it all week on regular ice tea. It's hasn't been too terrible either. My only other major slip was alcohol. I don't get out that often and I had a girls trip to the Thunder game. I stuck to vodka to keep the empty calories as low as possible. So while I woke up feeling like poo, I didn't have to hate myself at the same time. 

I don't think there is an easy way to just cold turkey into the perfect diet. Unless you have someone prepping and planning for you I think it is a giant trial and error ordeal. I now know while I ate clean all week I need to tweak my type of carbs and proteins. I was dead tired when it came to my workouts. This was also a week where my other half left out for a long hitch so my sleep patterns have been very sporadic. I am going to switch it up this week to see if it helps. 

 Which brings me to the topic of supplements! It's a edgy subject in the fit world. Some do and some don't and the in-between people like me get pulled on like a tug rope! I am posting a picture of my stack below. That being said, sometimes I use them all and sometimes I don't. I use a pre-workout when I know I don't have it in me to give my best. Remembering I am in surgical induced pre-menopause. Some days my body thinks it is 29 and some days it thinks it's 92! On the 92 days I need the umph! I have tried tons on the market. Some days I like the pump and some days I like the sweat. Just depends on what I am working and my mental/physical state that day. I take a vitapak almost everyday. My newest supplement is Amino support. I have done a lot of reading on amino's and the uber helpful guy at ASN in OKC recommended the MusclePharm Amino's. I also have protein for shakes. I mostly use them for days when my diet is lacking or an after workout recovery. Taste is at the top of my important list for protein. If it is nasty in taste, I can't force it down. Cinnamon Bun Combat Powder is FABULOUS! I also like the combat because it has casein in it, which is a slow release protein so it last in your system longer. I have tried just regular casein before bed and it all taste so horrible I spend the next two hours gagging instead of sleeping. So combat works great for my needs right now. 

I no longer use protein shake to replace meals but I have before don't get me wrong. It is about knowing what you want out of your goals. I am not in "weight loss mode" anymore. In fact it has almost been a month since I stepped on the scale (I have stepped on one, I just didn't look. I let the trainer look to figure my BMI & BF%) That has been tough. I had become so obsessed with the number that I lost site of the fact that my body shape is the goal not a number in a box. Below is my starting stats. Trying not to have a panic attack over those thigh measurements. EEK! Squatting does a body good right?

Happy Chasing Readers!

H

Clean it up

I was reading a blog about pushing past your greatest obstacles. I know without a doubt that my greatest obstacles are my emotions. There are days when I let them rule me and everything in my life.  I am always my worst critic and never my greatest supporter.

   How do I push past that?

Well I don't know yet but I am going to give it everything I have to do it.

Tomorrow marks 9 weeks until our summer break. I have been killing myself in the gym every free second of time I have the past couple weeks. I have finally fallen in love with the gym. Don't get me wrong, I still don't like the workout. However, I love to let all the tension, stress, and daily yuck out! It is an instant mood improver. Aside from being a working mom, I am an oilfield mom which means for weeks at a time I am a single parent and not by choice. 

So sweating it out keeps mommy a little closer to sanity! 

It took months to get over my gym fear. I know so many of us avoid it because we are afraid;of being judged, of not knowing what to do, or flat out insecurity. I was all of the above, some I still am.

My solutions to gym fears:

• Get through the door it's the hardest part. 

• Ear buds, drown out the outside world and focus on you. Eventually you will find you don't need to.

• Get a buddy, this to me has been the most beneficial thing. Someone to help you stay on task, commiserate with,celebrate with and bounce ideas off.

• Make sure it is someone with the same goal set in mind as you. I am pretty sure my gymrat buddy keeps me going long after my head says go home! Even though she runs circles around me.

• Ask! Don't be afraid to ask people questions. Most gym goers are happy to give input even if they look like a douche-canoe!

• Most importantly- laugh at yourself! Example:Yesterday my set called for single arm machine preacher curls. I couldn't even lift the bar let alone add weight to it. As those creepy failure thoughts crept into my head and the voice started to whisper you suck go home, I busted out laughing! I looked like a fool. But someday I will be able to rock those bad boys!!

 I always do my best not to overwhelm myself with too much fit trauma. I know my emotions well enough to know that I will go into shut down mode. So now that I feel I have my fitness in control it is time to knock the diet into check. 

First off, I do not have a bad diet. Yet, I do not have a clean one either. 

My main issues lie in:

Carbs (the wrong kind and the wrong time)

Not enough protein

Most times not enough food

(My maintain calorie intake is 1885, I have a bad habit of getting busy and not eating enough

I always get over 1200 it's the area between there and the 1885 that is fuzzy!)

So 9 weeks of clean eating here I come. I am digging deeper into my macro intake. It's a long scary process, I am still a tad lost but I will figure it out eventually.

My greatest accomplishment will be kicking sweet tea.

 It is my worst addiction! Just had my last one and I am already missing it ha ha :)

I have my supplements all lined out.

Food prepped for a couple days

Measurements taken (No WEIGHT, NO SCALES)

However, I did stand on the scale and let the trainer see it but not me so he could redo my BMI & BF%

I will try to post an update with all that info tomorrow!

I want to know..
What is your favorite CLEAN recipe.
Email me, tag me on instagram, facebook, or comment below!

Happy Chasing..

H

I am a Warrior..

I am taking advantage of a snow day to catch up on some blogging since I am behind a couple months! I added in a little soundtrack music to this blog! If your not a metal fan, you probably just want to read on instead of hitting play! 

So my last post of.. This is why I squat. 

Since I got a gym membership in October, I have been steadily gaining about 2 lbs a month so I am avoiding the scale because as I have mentioned in the past I am a junkie of the scale. Obsessed with the numbers on it. After having been on a weight loss journey for so long, I had told myself that becoming fit I would be ok as the scale went up. Dear GOD, was that a lie I told myself! When I hit 125 I have a complete meltdown, I avoided the weight rack for days doing nothing but cardio! So I am doing my very very best to avoid that stupid scale. I know my waist is not getting bigger, however putting my skinny jeans on is becoming a task as my thighs are getting bigger. I add that is BIGGER not THICKER! So until they rip out I just do the bend and snap to get them up :)

Here is my photo progress from January's challenge. I squatted almost every day that month whether it was sumo,kettle bell, bar, or dumbbell.

On to next topic! 

The most important. March marks Endometriosis awareness month.

• Approximately 176 million women and girls worldwide suffer from endometriosis; 8.5 million in North America alone.
• Associated costs of the disease are estimated to be a staggering $22 billion annually.
• The average woman is 27 when she is first diagnosed with endometriosis.
• Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of female infertility. While it is one of the most treatable, it remains the least treated. 
• I tried not to add gooey ugly actual photo's because you get enough looking at my photos! I don't want to scare you off completely! To put it in simple terms those little spots turn into gum on a sidewalk on a hot day, it sticks to everything it comes in contact with. Every dot, every stick brings immense pain. Much like gum it's almost impossible to get it all off. Getting it cut out sometimes leads to massive regrowth!

It also marks 9 months since my hystorectomy due to my endometriosis complications. 99% of my blog is fitness/health related. I do try not to open the emotional pandora's box that is me too often. Being an endo suffer I have had to come to terms with things I never imagined I would have.  That's a pity party I am choosing not to have today. Because today I am an EndoWarrior! There are obviously major downsides to making the choice to have a hysterectomy but my quality of life has improved because of it. There are also bad days, downsides, and small regrets. But nothing I wouldn't do over again. My body had already waged a war against me that I had battled for years and I was losing. So I don't see it as waving the white flag, more along the lines of dropping a nuclear bomb. Here is my 9 month post op photo. Scars are mostly faded, earlier my Dr. had thought two were going to Keloid but my plastic surgeon tells me they are just being stubborn but will turn out ok in the end! I have gone from dragging myself to the gym 3 days a week to begging for it 5-6 days a week. It's my stress reliever, the one time a day I get to focus solely on me and me alone. I am an addict. If I have to be addicted to something, at least it is my health!

Onto what's next. I am looking for a new program. I completed 4 weeks of the #fitfreakproject and it wasn't doing it for me so I am searching for something else. I have also agreed to go clean the week after spring break. I am probably 80% clean eater. I ALWAYS stay in my calorie range for the day but I could stand to improve how I consume those calories. I also know there is too much stress in my life right now to even think of setting myself up for failure. I really should look for a custom program because I can't see paying money for an online training program created for "everyone" because I am definitely not "everyone".

Happy Reading..

Believe in yourself, if you can't no one else will either! 

January Challenge-This is why I Squat!

Before I get into the squatting! If exercising on a regular basis is completely foreign to you here are some things I think you should know!

1. If you are a woman, you are obsessed with the number on the scale. It's something in our genetics that makes us go crazy over it. "The scale lies" is a common term used in the fitness world. Which isn't completely accurate in my opinion. The scale doesn't lie, but no two scales are the same and the scale doesn't know the whole truth. Weight fluctuates throughout the day and week. The scale doesn't tell us if the number is due to water retention, bloating, swollen muscle or any of the things that can make the scale move. If your starting a new eating routine your body can freak out and do all sorts of stuff! So if you are going to be a scale junkie weigh in during the same time frame and same circumstances.

2.If you insist on using scales, you also must use a tape measure! I would recommend strictly using just a tape measure but in true junkie fashion I know half of you have already been on the scale today! Inches unlike the scale know what's up! Losing inches is what is going to get you into the smaller clothes anyway. Measure everywhere (knowing that you lost 5 inches in your thighs will excite the heck out of you) Here is a link that guides on measuring :http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1281

3.Eating too little is as harmful as eating too much! I can't count the times I have heard "Well I am only eating 700 calories a day and can't lose any weight." Well friends that is because your body is PISSED off at you for starving it so everything you put into your body it is holding on to it for dear life, storing it up for winter....right in your....gut!! You have to push past 1,200 calories before you will start to burn. If your over 200 lbs. you probably need more like 1,400 as a minimum! I do recommend My Fitness Pal to track your food intake. However, their take on fitness and burning calories is a JOKE!

4. Take pictures, even if no one but you sees them. One day you will be happy to have them to look back on. I didn't dare show my pictures to the world until I was comfortable with what I looked like. It's hard to see progress in a mirror day in and day out. Take a beginning photo, one week, and then maybe once a month after that. It works best if you have someone else take it. Dress in what you feel appropriate in.

I hope that addresses some of the questions I got off my last post. Now onto the fitness challenge of the month.. SQUATS!!

In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips andbuttocks, quads (vastus lateralus medialis and intermedius), hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligamentsand insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body. Squats are considered a vital exercise for increasing the strength and size of the legs and buttocks, as well as developing core strength. Isometrically, the lower back, the upper back, theabdominals, the trunk muscles, the costal muscles, and the shoulders and arms are all essential to the exercise and thus are trained when squatting with the proper form.^[1]

In case you had no clue what a squat was. There is the official answer!  There are so many variations of the squat it would be hard to do all of them so I chose the top 3 I could find for this month's challenge!

I will also be going up in weight every week. Also 36 is a lot to do at once so I broke it apart a bit.  Goal for me is to squat more than my body weight all across the board! Never be afraid to modify for what works for you. Don't let someone else's ability intimidate you into hurting yourself. You will end up at home on the couch instead of at the gym! If your really a newbie: Start with body weight squats! Use the Internet to find proper form for a workout if you don't know it. You don't have to look like a fool at the gym thanks to modern technology. I really like bodybuilding.com they will show you a workout and workouts that do similar things in case you don't have access to exactly what the video has! I am posting a link to their site in case you want to look around and try it out!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbmaintrain.htm

That being said.. It is time to take my vitamins, drink my pre-workout, and take my butt to the gym!

Happy Squatting Everyone- Next Month is the Plank Challenge!!

Who said the "F" word?

Let's talk about the worst word in the English language. The "F" word, and by that I mean FAT! The word every woman despises and the word that bites like a bullet to the heart when thrown at you!
If you haven't ever read my blog before let me help you out so you aren't reading back 45 post for this to make sense. I used to be a Fluffy girl, I am 5'6" on a good day and my heaviest non prego ranged in upwards of 200 lbs. My scales went up and down frequently through the past 11 years until August of 2011 when I decided I had enough of hating myself. Ta-Da that pretty much brings us to today. I by NO means consider my self fit or even toned. I am a skinny work in progress! Pics on the left are that day in August and pics on the right are me 21 weeks post 95% Hysterectomy due to Endometriosis

 Now I didn't start this post to toot my own horn. If you know me you would know there is very little tooting in my world. I like most every woman on planet earth have terrible self esteem/self image! I started writing this because it is the diet industries "HUNTING" season. Every where you go there is an ad, commercial, or some person trying to shove their idea of the quick fix down your throat. So, I wanted to share some of my miraculous in sites into this.
A. There are a million different products out there that will help you get to where you want to be. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is a quick fix pill. Their are shakes, oatmeals, cereals,drinks, frozen this and that, coffee's, teas, the list goes on and on and probably 8 out of 10 of them will work....IF YOU WORK WITH IT! In other words, be consistent. Find something that taste good,doesn't make you feel lousy and doesn't break the bank. If it is nasty and gives you the jitters you won't make it past February 1st neither will your checking account!
B. Don't let someone talk you into something because it worked for them. Every body is different for everybody! Speak to someone who knows what they are talking about if you have questions about calorie and protein intake. GOOGLE AND MY FITNESS PAL ARE NOT A VALID SOURCE OF INFORMATION!
C. Know your own level of dedication. For instance: When I started if you told me I had to go to a gym 5 to 6 days a week I never would have followed through. Some people can cold turkey the couch life and some can not. I was a total NOT. Now that being said I can totally do that now, but I have learned enough to know what I can and can not do. What works for me and what doesn't. If I want to indulge in the Holiday yummies I am going to sweat it out and the gym! I didn't have that much self control when I started. Body by Vi worked great for me, it gave me options but in a spectrum I could handle. Now if you can jump off the couch and cold turkey off junk and booze and bread well GOOD FOR YOU, You are way better than me!

Moral of the story is, don't set out to lose weight. Set out to get healthy, you will lose those pounds in the process and end up in a much happier place for it. Don't believe something is a miracle because the only thing that is going to save you is you! You don't have to stick to one companies product line! Mixing and Matching is great for me. I use 3 different kinds of Protein powder. I have used assorted metab. boosters, pre-workouts, and vitamins. (P.S. take your vitamins) If you love Herbalife tea, but prefer something else from Plexus or advocare or BBVI or shakeology or.. see this could go on forever then by all means take it! Last but certainly not least. DO NOT wait until January 1st. Be aware of what you are eating and the physical activity you have right now. Of course we are going to over-do it for Christmas dinner. Just don't pack on an extra 40 lbs between now and then! If you are serious about getting into those smaller pants than be serious right now not just next week.

Happy Holiday's Fitfam
Remember the reason for the season and to spend time with your loved ones.
Becoming a healthy-happy you will give you much more time here with them!

Bunshop Closed-6 Weeks post Hysterectomy

Today I am officially 6 weeks post op Hysto. I had a DaVinci system hysterectomy taking my uterus, tubes, cervix, and one ovary. I was also scraped again of all my endo and two cyst off my right ovary. The Dr. left it so that hopefully I can milk it for hormones for a couple years to avoid medicated hormones. It wasn't really where I thought I would be at only 28 years old but after years of suffering and trying every other option out there for endometriosis treatment it is what I was left with. Although I already had been told I wasn't in the market to have more kids this just kind of made it final. Not helping that everyone around me has a baby or is having a baby..Insert slap in face here! 

I had my post op yesterday hoping to be cleared but no such luck. My internal stitches are still there and I have two scars that have gone Keloid which is kinda crappy! Needless to say it wasn't a great deal. I am however Cancer free so there is something to be happy about.

As far as other recovery I am 99% pain free unless I do something I shouldn't have then I pay for it. Fatigue is massively kicking my ass though! This has been my hardest struggle I can't go go go which was my one and only speed! Hormones are all over the board, my poor family! I have cried over the stupidest things lately and my feelings are massively hurt over stupid stuff! What can ya do!

 Cry that's what!! 

October 8th is my clear date and time to kick my rear back into shape...literally it's quite pancake looking at this point and NO ONE wants a pancake ass! 2 years ago when they boys went back to school is when I made the big decision to change my lifestyle. So again I am going for it, dear Lord I might even go get a gym membership ha ha scary I know! I have obvious watched what I was eating because I have a bad habit of eating the world while I am taking pain medication. I have had a few splurged, mostly in the way of alcohol! But I did have pizza hut on 2 occasions. I have slacked on my shake a day. Eating and me after surgery hasn't gone very well. I ate like a bird the first 2 weeks because everything made me sick to my stomach and the thought of throwing up terrified me! My appetite still isn't back to normal, but getting there. My eyes are still bigger than my stomach. I got a naked burrito at Qdoba yesterday and I think I will eat on it for a week!!
Stay tuned for updates, that is if I don't kill myself right out the door! I haven't measured and Bryan isn't home to do so today but I am sure I will get it at some point. I am not even going to attempt my BMI because the clicker will probably tell me my muscle mass is negative zero. For the first time in my life I am upset about being "skinny" especially as the other half of me just keeps on building muscle that I am losing! I think it's theft not all that working out he does! (My story and I am sticking to it) I am 118 lbs of flab! How great is that NOT! Currently I can walk.. up to but not exceeding 1 mile. No lifting/straining over 10 lbs and no pushing or pulling in that range either! I am trainer/gym shopping because I don't work well with my husband. God I love that man but we clash in the fitness department and I end up wanting to strangle him as my means of working out! I am also his wife so he lacks the positive reinforcement my fragile self needs! It's like saying do I look fat in these jeans..He has always had an honest response of well maybe you should change! Which I have always appreciated because I would hate to be the one people are pointing at in public for the worlds greatest muffin top! So email me/facebook me with your tips and tricks!!

This is before pic - through day 19

This is Day of Surgery to exactly 6 weeks