The Pre

My all time favorite supplement is by far a great pre-workout! Post hysterectomy energy is something I struggle with greatly. I can't rock through a workout on a cup of coffee anymore. I have tried a lot of them, so I tried to touch on a little bit of everything in reviewing them.  Pre-workouts are similar to the fat burners in, it's about knowing your body and what it can handle. Don't ever skip to the max dosage without trying out a smaller dose first. Like in my last post- smelling sounds is not a good experience and vomiting in the middle of leg day can be unproductive!

So here we go:

1. I bought this awhile back on a recommendation from a salesman at GNC that insisted this was top notch! Their top of the line women's supplement with ton's of excellent feedback on pump results...WRONG..NEGATIVE GHOST RIDER!!!! I got about 10 minutes of sweat out of it, could have sat in the sauna and achieved the same results!

2. Another product marketed and priced for "women". It was okay, yes that is all I have. I have had far worse and the taste was manageable if you are new to this whole pre-workout game this is a okay starter. You could also try the ASSULT it is a few bucks cheaper on the fact that it isn't marketed towards chicks!

3. I did a round of this because I see so many people rave about it. It's probably also a good starter drink. I double scoop to get the results I need. Occasionally I get a headache at the crash but nothing that hangs around for long.

4. The store I get my favorite from was out and recommended I try this.  I don't get a tingle (which I love) off of this product and I have learned the hard way it is not a friend of anything cardio related. Twice I have almost up-chucked during HIIT or LEGS. BUT as far as a regular lifting day, it makes me want to do the HULK SMASH! My better have had to drag me out of the gym. It is usually the other way around I could have threw weights all day long.

5. Of course I saved the best for last. I have not tried the BULK in their product but I have the other two. Blackmarket Labs IMO makes the best most well rounded product on the block. They make sure you get a surge to every area you need it. No crazy crash either! Once a month they launch a new limited addition flavor and none that I have tried have disappointed me. I recommend it to a lot of people and haven't once got an "I hate this" response.

Quick note on Supplement Cost. If you are digging this deep into using supplements you are probably noticing it's not a cheap ordeal. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. Do your homework before you buy a random cheapy product! 

Burn it up!

Fat Burners

Something I get asked about alot! Normally I don't take them. I am super sensitive to niacin in vitamin form. Which most fat burners and thermogenics have in them. Too much of it and I get flu like symptoms and a big fat anxiety attack! Every now and then I get brave enough to try one when I need a pick me up or a jump start. Usually I just try and control my diet but that isn't always a great success in my world! Here are a couple I have recently tried. We end up with alot of samples at my house because my lovely husband spends so much time in the supp shop they are always throwing stuff at us to try!

1. White China- HORRIBLE experience! Ended up trashing the rest of the bottle. I could smell sounds people! That and it resulted in several mad dashes to the bathroom!

2. CLA Core- not extreme energy here. No reaction what so ever, could probably be safe taking it with a pre-workout or coffee!

3. 360Cut-  Pretty decent product. Not over the top, I can take one with coffee and be ok or two if I am just drinking water. No jitters, no crash, no extreme adrenaline rush.

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

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

"Back" in Action!

It's been awhile since I spent a whole solid hour on a back workout. I put my insomnia to good use last night and did lots of workout research for what I think I need in a back work out. This was both a heavy & light weight workout. I will go in depth on each workout below. I am also adding a picture for quick reference if you want to give it a try and you don't want to read through the boring description below. Again like my last workout. Superset what you can. I wasn't able to my whole workout due to someone hell bent on being in my way today. My biggest gym aggravation, a whole empty gym and you choose to be all in my way. Yes I get selfish with my time! 

Warm Up: 5 minutes Cardio of Choice- Today I chose Incline Tredmill (Speed 2.9/incline 15)

One Arm Dumbell Row- Do these off the bench. I grab the heaviest dumbell I can handle. Since I use heavy weight here in lower my reps to 8 but up to 4 sets. 

Bentover Row Palms In- I use heavy weight on this too, probably the same as I have done on the one before. I focus a lot on form here. Making sure my weight is light enough that I can keep proper form. I do these reps slowly also. I tend to swing too much if I go fast.

I Inclined the bench at a 45 (if you haven't done these before look up a how to video on youtube or Bodybuilding.com) I had two sets of weight for this super set. I used the higher on the row and the lower on the fly.

Incline Dumbell Rows- Lean chest first into your bench. I am a shorty so I an usually on the toes or balls of my feet so I don't crush the tatas (PS SOMEONE MAKE A BOOB FRIENDLY BENCH) Palms in pull up. It should look like this:

The Incline Reverse Fly- I have to drop weight for this one. I try to up my reps to make up for that. I am adding a picture for better description!

Lat Pulldowns are pretty self explanatory, I use a bar, heaviest weight I can pull for sets of 10-12. Don't rest between the wide and close grip. Take 60-90 seconds to catch your breath and go right back at it!

Dumbell Pullovers- I pick a medium range in my weight be careful not to go to the point of pulling in your chest. Some times I pull my feet up so I am more likely to not pull wrong. Always drop weight if you can't do it. There ain't a dang thing wrong with using the tiny weights! 

Seated Rows- Probably one of my favorite things to do. I can usually start at 60 and do my next two or three sets at 75. 

Face pulls- this was a first time for me to ever to these. I did a couple extra sets just to figure them out. Put the pully about eye height and attach a rope. Pull with both hands to the top of your should/trap area. OUCHIE!!

Rope Pulldowns- So NOT a bad workout but I needed something to chill out with for a second! My triceps also need all the help they can get.

IYT- I used 7.5's & 5's for this because by this point I am freaking exhausted. Repeat the I-Y-T 5 times rest and go for 2 more rounds!

The Cooldown! Finally that was an Uber lengthy workout. 

Dips till Failure. I use a dumbell to elevate my feel so I am not tempted to use them :)

Up down Planks-Pretty simple..Palms down plank for 10 seconds then full plank for 10 until you are spent. 

Happy Chasing

H

Leg workout 1

I spend hours looking for different workouts to try. So I decided to write my own. I am attaching a photo in case you are like me than if you can't screen shot it you won't remember it! I train legs twice a week. One day is always lighter weight-higher reps and one day is heavy weight-less reps. This is what I worked today. I superset in groups of two when possible, but I also know sometimes gyms are busy and it's just not possible. Also most everything in this workout can be modified for home workout or for bodyweight over added weight other than the machined legs (inner/outter & extensions/curls). I encourage you to look them up before you try them if you don't know how to do them. Bodybuilding.com has great descriptions along with video's for most. Give it a try and send me some positive feedback :)

Onto workout.

  (Pre-workout AdrenHERlyn Cuts by Black Market Labs and half an english muffin/ Intra Workout-Amino1 by MusclePharm)

Warm up 5 Minutes Cardio- Do your choice, today I chose rowing.

(incline walking, jogging, elliptical, or bike work just fine too)

 12 reps chose your weight- I go up my last set- if you are just starting don't worry about it. 

Sissy Squats

Dumbell Squats

Split Squat with alternating kick back. I don't even know how to describe this other than we got this off a Instagram video below and it is a bun burner! (courtesy @Sarah_bakian)

Good Mornings

Romanian Deadlifts- Single leg with medicine ball

Deadlifts

Walking Lunges

Barbell Front Squats- If you are able to do this as a super set, right after your 12th lunged go straight into the front squat. It is a serious burn!

Inner Thigh Machine

Outer Thigh Machine

I love these just because I feel I can really focus on isolating those specific areas.

Leg Extensions

Leg Curls

I did my cool down with 1 mile on the bike. I didn't cover calf exercises today because I was tired and on a time crunch. I usually add those to my heavy day!

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

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