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

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

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 

Beach Sexy Summer 2013-Goals

"A Goal isn't a goal until you put it out there"-Blake Mallen

So I am putting out my goal and my plan! 

Because a goal without a plan is a resolution and we all know no one keeps their resolutions! 

Goal: Beach Sexy Summer 2013

Fitness:

• Workout No Less than 4 Days a week,even if it's a walk You will do it!
• Complete a competition run before May, even if your walking it, your going to start and finish it!

Nutrition:

• If your not going to workout..Your not going to get carbs! 
• If your not going to workout, You can only have 1400 Calories for the day
• NO MORE than 2 sweet tea's a week, no more than 5 half/halfs.
• Non-sugar creamer only in coffee.
• You can't have Starbucks if it doesn't have Skinny in front of it.

2013 it's on....Check back for our starting challenge pic's and weigh ins!

365 Days of the Vi-life!

Today I am celebrating my 1 year Vi-anniversary! I never in a million years thought it would be the journey that it has been. Matt Ward always says there are two times you get into Visalus. The first time is when you click that button that says join the challenge, and the second time is when it get's into you! I didn't understand that for a very long time, but I do now. I sat here and read back through everyone of my post over the last year! How hesitant I sounded in those first couple. A few I even sound a little beaten and angry ha ha! Which was probably true. 

 Changing your life is a LARGE journey and not everyone will understand what you are doing. Basically that is what it takes if you don't want this to be some "fad" thing you tried! You have to change! Your mindset is the BIGGEST thing you have to change and frankly the hardest to convince!

Some days people will hurt your feelings (ALOT) and some days you will get support from a stranger and it will completely make your day! So many times I get asked how did you do it, first I say dedication because will power isn't always there! Second- I had hit a point in my life where I knew I had to change it all no matter what the cost to make ME better. It didn't need to have anything to do with anyone else but me! Third- Support-Support-Support you need someone to lift you up and also someone who occasional will commiserate with you(briefly ha h a)!

For every set back you will have bigger strides forward! Just keep faith that you can do this! If you don't think you can... pick up the phone and call me and I will tell you.. YOU CAN!!! There are failures right along side every success story! It's ok to fail it's however not ok to QUIT!

So quick flashback to 1 yr ago.. 

I weighed 150 lbs

 (that day I happened to weight 147.9 so by gosh I went with that for a starting weight, but lets be honest.. most days it was 150!)

My chest/waist/Hips were all 38 inches around! What a perfect blob I was! 

I was squeezing into size 32/33 jeans which is like a 12/14 I believe!

My first Weight loss goal was 130. Then I thought well 127 was the lowest I had gotten taking diet pills so let's shoot for 125 and while I had been able to hit this before with aide it never really changed my size cause I just couldn't drop the inches like I wanted to. I blew that outta the water and hit 118 which is where I decided I didn't want to lose any more weight. This is also where I picked up working out! I have maintained a weight between 118-121 lbs since March. I also have gone down two jean sizes without losing any more weight! (yay for the flabby stomach going away) 

Currently today: 119.8

Chest:32.75 :( lol inches

Waist: 26.75 inches

Hips:30.125 inches

Size ranges from 25-26 which is like a 2/4 I think!

(Can you believe that! I get excited every time I get to talk about that!)

I am not writing this to toot my own horn. Although I also know that it's ok to do so! I write this so hopefully you will read this and think "hey if that chunky chick can do it why can't I" Let me answer that again with YOU CAN! I have faith that whatever your journey may be a life change-health change or even a prosperity change that if you set reasonable goals and go public with them to both hold yourself accountable and get the support you need, there will be no obstacle that can hold you back. We can't always jump to avoid Obstacles sometimes they trip us, but always remember if you fall forward when you trip that once you dust yourself off, your two steps ahead!

90 days to Fit!

Here goes our first ever all in Fitness Challenge! 

We have both chosen the amazing Body By Vi Fit Kit!

We (mostly I) have vowed to only weight on days 10/30/60/90.

And I am not listing the program we chose to use because we want to give ourselves time to form our own educated/practical opinion on it! Without anyone Else's influence! So I will reveal the program of choice after the 90 Days! 

#3 Complete- Cheers to not being defined by a chart, a scale, or others!

April of 2011 my cousin proposed to his fiance' I set a goal right then that I was not going to attend another wedding in my family looking fluffy! I don't even like to look at my own wedding photo's because I was fluffy! So I struggled from April-July to loose 10 lbs! Gave up in July and that's when I went to get a Mommy Makeover consult. You can read back through my blogs to see that was tramatic enough to make me want to jump off a cliff! Which left me at the bottom of the barrel and facebook stalking Bryan's cousin Leigh and all this Body By Vi crap she is always posting about! Man if facebook stalking ever payed off this was it! So here it is the wedding is upon us and while I am not at the goal of what I want my body to look like I am completely SATISFIED with where I am at. Being comfortable in your own skin is a major accomplishment for an insecure person such as myself. I put off shopping for a dress to wear until the last minute and when I finally started trying on and got to the SMALL and it fit I was so excited I almost cried. A small... I don't even think I wore a small in highschool lol

So official challenge results.. I tried not to weigh but every once and a while. I will tell you it ranges from 118.2 to 120.8 throughout my whole challenge. I haven't measured at all since the end of my last challenge. I  get the transformation kit still but most days I only do one shake a day and 2 sensible meals and lots of snacks of course but I love all the other goodies that come with it! Also Bryan gets the Fit kit and I will admit at first the cookies and I were not friends but in March when they came out with the new ones I LOVE them. Especially the Oatmeal, pop that lil guy in the microwave for 17 seconds and heaven awaits! I work out 3-5 times a week. Mostly cardio and resistance training. I am a Body Rocker! I have several home workout programs and some list of my own I go by. So here it goes!!!

Weight: 119.4

Chest: 32.75 (Ahh geez really)

Waist: 27.25

Hips:31.25

Legs: 19 inches

Arms: 10.75

I AM OFFICIALLY UNDER 20% BODY FAT!

17.47%

 BY THE CHART STANDARDS THAT'S AN ATHLETE! HA WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGH OF ME AS AN ATHLETE! I have always hated those charts because they always put me in a category I didn't want to be in! The dreaded Borderline state, which is almost worse than the actual above or below cause it screams hey idiot do something or else! So cheers to not being defined by a chart, or a scale for that matter!


I have no clue what my next challenge will be.. so comment or msg me with some ideas! I am ready to take it to the next level!

Challenge #3 update!

My third Body by Vi challenge I have labeled "Be the fit chick" as some of my haters have pointed out skinny isn't fit. YOUR RIGHT but I spent a lot of time in chunky unhealthy land so I am ok with skinny for now. Someday I will be that other girl who likes to workout and go for a jog. Today I still struggle with it, I workout 4 to 5 days a week. I use various home programs or the c25K program. I currently use a Core Kit somedays if I am in a hurry I still have two shakes. I had a really busy week where I got into a run of Shake for breakfast and eating nothing else until dinner. I felt HORRIBLE!! Then after I was naggin a teammate for the same reason I though geez take your own advice! So those days I am too busy to grab lunch I Shake It!

What a SIZE 3!!! LOVE THAT FEELING!

So we are a little over half way through this challenge. I have maintained my weight loss! In fact I have gone down a lil from my last end challenge. I also haven't measured purposely. I am doing my very best to not live by the scales! I know I went WAY beyond what I thought I could ever do so I don't need those scales to validate me anymore so I put them away! Occasionally though they do find their way out! So I can tell you that as of today I have maintained since the end of February a weight in range of 118-121. It's never the same lol that is why you shouldn't rely on your scales! We have completely changed out eating habits! Listen when I tell you this is a lifestyle change you couldn't come off any plan and eat pizza and beer and maintain a weight loss. We eat as "clean" as possible! Don't eat a lot of red meat more fish and chicken and pork and Oh my weakness sushi! I don't consume alcohol except for rare occasions, pop is a major no-no :) and I haven't kicked my sweet tea habit completely although I can drink smart water, it just taste better not bitter !

THE HATER NOTE:
A. Seriously if I wanted to photoshop my pictures they would love a heck of a lot better than what they do. It took some major gustos to be able to post my true bare all photos, and I couldn't even do that until I had lost 20 lbs. So for once have some tack and hold your damn tounge or finger in this case cause typing filth is about all it amounts to.

B. I've said it before I will say it again! There are 100's of programs out there. Whatever you do I am HAPPY for you! Way to go for taking your life seriously enough to make a change. No matter what road you take it isn't an easy one. We didn't get unhealthy over night and we aren't gonna get healthy overnight. There will be slip ups and you will have small failures it's OKAY!  All I can do is tell you about my journey and the journey's of my amazing Vi-family and help you out if you choose to join us. Even if you choose not to join us it isn't going to change the fact that I want to help you. Ask around my advice is free lol

C. If you want to insult me either through technology or face to face. It is going to change the way I look at you and probably won't have that much to do with me in the future. Body By Vi is not just a shake I drink, it is a community of very tightly nit SUPPORTIVE people and it reaches far beyond the stretches of your small town. So if you think that it is some "FAD" that I brought from the big city to the small town that will soon run it's course and be gone out of your life like yesterdays garbage..YOUR WRONG! and trust me any insulting of Body by Vi I do take as a direct insult to me. I also don't mean you saying it didn't work for you or you didn't like it, that's not an insult. If you tell me it just wasn't for you hey that's perfectly fine! It is however the fastest growing health and fitness company in NORTH AMERICA not just your neck of the woods! They average over 100,000 new customers a MONTH! Over 1000 promoters a month qualify for BMW's do you get it yet? It's way more than the $$ and cars but let's face it people it takes some HARD work to earn those cars so when I post pics on facebook it's not to brag or show how materialistic we are or rub it in your face. It's a pat on the back for all our blood sweat and tears.When was the last time you worked hard and loved what you do for a living and even after that your company rewarded you with a car allowance? "Celebrate your Victories" in whatever form they come in. If you lost 5 lbs don't think of it as just 5 lbs. People that is FIVE LBS  that is alot! If your struggling...pick up the phone and call me or anyone of our team members I am always here for support! Ask my poor husband I am on the phone 24/7!

Anyway at the end of the day it isn't a dang diet. It's a lifestyle choice you HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE. If you don't want it for yourself it's never going to work. I will push you to the ends of where you want to be, yet I can't drag you because then one of us would be looking backwards when we should both be pushing forward. No one can force you to make this choice. You have to find your "WHY"  If you don't get that...Why am I doing this?? For myself, for my kids, for my family, for extra cash, to dig myself out of the hole I am in...WHY!! It also goes without saying.. YOUR WHY SHOULD MAKE YOU CRY if you feel that passionately about something you won't have a problem following through with it! Mine constantly changes, it started out I wanted to be able to stand in front of a full length mirror and not be disgusted with myself. As I go along I add more why's! When I get close to marking one off the list I add more so I am never not reaching for the better in life!


It's really cliche but I am gonna close with "Rome wasn't built in a day" So keep Challenging yourself!

8 months of Visalus!

8 months ago today I started what I thought was gonna be some plan to appease my husband. I had no idea drinking that first shake was going to change my whole entire life. Open so many doors for me, help me find who I am and who I was meant to be. Improve some relationships, worsen others lol, give me life long friends across the country and a chance to be apart of a community that wants to set out and change the world! Matt always says there are two times you get involved in Visalus..1st was this day when I chose to set a goal and follow through with it. 2nd is the day this amazing company and it's mission get's into you! Most people don't get it and think I am over here blowing smoke.. but to the ones that do... TOLD U SO!!!

Words that changed my life!

 If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you. 


This is from the movie "Eat Pray Love" One very lonely bitter night alone with this movie changed my entire outlook on my life. In my very first blog post I wrote I believed my word was lost. I no longer believe that. I now have so many words that I am not so sure which one to pick! If I had to sum them all up somewhere between (Inspired;Hungry;Determined;Loved;Optimistic) would be where I would find little ol me. 


Happy Reading 
xOxO H