Theres the password!!!!

Nothing like loosing the link to your own blog and forgetting the password!!!! Also being to lazy to really look for it!!! Oh well that's the past.. its time for an update!!!

Wow much time has passed since my last confessional.. errr... update.

I have continued to be dedicated and have accomplished quite a bit in the past few months... albeit it hasn't been much in the way of weight loss... but I am at about 90 pounds lost since August 2011. ILL TAKE THAT!!!!! I have set a new goal to lose another 40 pounds by the end of April.

I had a slow down in the work out department for about 5 weeks, but I didn't gain any weight. My slow down was attributed to work, a stomach virus and then I did something terrible to my back which had me down for nearly 3 weeks.

I came out of the back trouble right into a scheduled 1/2 marathon.. in which I did run in (my first!!) and did it in about 3 hours and 20 minutes (nothing fast!!) but i finished it!!!

Now I have 3 more 1/2 marathon's scheduled: St. Jude (Memphis, Dec 1), Little Rock (March 17), Murray KY (4-13). Ill be ready for them.

I have finally this week gotten back into the swing of working out and running more. I ran on Thursday night (4 miles) and I ran on Saturday (11 miles). I am hoping to get back out there on Saturday this week and run some more and maybe even start back my morning running again... (Its getting cold!!!)

... Here is a picture of my daughter and the sign she and my husband made for me! They showed up unexpectedly at my first 1/2 marathon to root me on :) Love them!!!!

Keep your focus and remember your goals.. no one will take you there... but yourself!!

Running training starts now!

I recently signed up for a women's running group...I'm hopeful that I will be able to improve my pace, speed and distance! I signed up for this program along with two of my bootcamp buddies, sue and tonya! It should be fun and challenging we are all three in different groups so we will all experience the program a little differently.
Tonight was the orientation meeting and expo.
On Monday night the three of us will be running in the Stars and Stripes 5k race in midtown Memphis (7pm).....
I am changing up my training into interval training....run 3 minutes walk 2 minutes. Throughout the 10 weeks the #s will change to 10 and 1. I think I'll be able to start out no problem with the 3/2... But as we continue it will become more difficult. I think I will continue running on my own and run a week ahead of schedule than the group.....after all I'm training for a 1/2 marathon!
Doing the rain dance for tomorrow night!

Diet was pretty good today.
Lean 25 shake this am
Cherry and blueberries snack
(cover your ears) chick-filet for dinner

No sugar added 2 tbsp icecream evening snack
No exercise today.....I had enough this weekend!

Back at it tomorrow

Wish me luck tomorrow night....here's hoping I don't need my road I'd! It's gonna be a scorcher!

Too hot to work out?

Here in Olive Branch it's been very warm this week...actually most people would say its been down right HOT! I haven't had much time to pay attention! It's been all work and no play this week! Mornings have been nice and I took full advantage of the cooler temps and took the dogs on some light runs inthe mornings all week except on Friday. The dogs are getting so used to going in the mornings (one at a time of course!) that when my alarm goes off around 5:15 or so...I can hear the dogs whining and getting excited! I think they are saying:

"it's my turn today"
"No she is going to pick me!"
Made it out to bootcamp each day and had great workouts each day...in fact I was pretty sore each day as we are pushing harder it seems every day!
Got some new shoes yesterday from Breakaway running in Germantown, TN. Brooks -Ghost. So far so good!
Today I went with my friend Tonya to midtown to get started on our Marathon training...it was pretty warm by 7 am..about 86 degrees and we ran 3.3 miles. Was a good run...no record breaking times we did some interval work...we have work to do!
At 10 today I went to a Zumba class at a local club in Southaven MS...Zumba is fun...but more importantly it's a great cardio workout. I hope to be able to keep doing it on Saturdays.
On the way home I went by Kroger and stocked up on some great fruits for my shakes and snacking in general! I am really looking forward to making my own protein shakes each day. I went to GNC and got some "GNC Lean Shake" mix. Once home I had my first meal of the day...a chocolate bananna shake. Was a great treat on a hot day!
My diet all week has been good except for yesterday....when I made three accidental trips to fast foods :( but I didn't plan my food that day....and it's life! It happens...it just can't happen everyday!
Good luck and keep your goals in focus....just remember who you are making the changes for...YOU! Don't let people or obstacles stand in your way!

Weekend update + a few days :)

Last week was great for me! I lost 5 lbs, and worked really hard at bootcamp everyday! <br>
I could feel how hard I worked each day! I was so sore! <br>
On Friday I went to a Zumbathon fundraiser and it was sooooooo fun! I haven't done Zumba in a few years. The class was a full 1 hr 45 minutes and I burned 1150 calories during that time! I did the whole class with only a 1 minute break (3 times)! I didn't think I could do it ( thank u to my bootcamp class)! <\br>
To my surprise after a great diet on Friday and an extreme workout I gained one pound! But it happens it will come back off.<\br>
<br>
On Saturday I mowed the grass and sweated up a storm and then went dancing ( had a lot of fun!!!!) major workout! <\br> Sunday up another pound! I guess I built some major muscles????<br>
<br>
On Monday I had my shake 2x a day for breakfast and then lunch, with fruit snacks in between and went to bootcamp that night.    On Monday morning... I was still up those roughly 2 pounds! <br>

On Tuesday I went for my morning run/walk... gosh I love the morning time and you know.. I used to not be a morning person.. well not a 5:30 am morning person.   But really at that time in the morning its so beautiful and it feels great outside! So I am really loving getting out and running around the neighborhood with my lab! She loves it too! She started off being pulled around the neighborhood and now is pulling me! I think she deserves a paw-decure!<br>
I had 2 hard boiled eggs for breakfast and then ended up having a sandwhich from Dunkin Donuts for lunch...I don't even want to know the calories, etc! Then I had a good dinner and did bootcamp, On Tuesday I was down about 1/2 pound (so I have 1.5 to go!!)<br><br>
On Wednesday morning I was down another .5 pound, had my morning run and then 2 hard boiled eggs. For lunch I went to cracker Barrel and had a veggie plate (Oh So GOOD!!!) and some chicken breast! Now I am about to head to bootcamp!!!<br><br>
I have registered for the Womens Running Clinic that starts the first week of July and the Fire Cracker 5K in Memphis!<br>


                                                                                                                                                      

What are YOU waiting for? Day #4

Ill make this one short and sweet!

Was yesterday a full moon?
..... It must have been! I had more compliments yesterday.... I guess it has just taken a long while for people who see me everyday to notice how much weight I have lost.

I have lost 81 pounds now! Can you believe it? I really can not! Although the changes I have made feel so natural.....everything is such a routine seems like this has always been my life!

Well I lost another 2 pounds yesterday! I'm at 5 pounds for the week. So exciting! I hope this streak continues. It comes and goes in waves.
diet
breakfast - atkins shake
snack (am and pm) -naval orange
lunch- Atkins shake
dinner-left over pasta from last night + potatoes/onions and mushrooms!

Workout
Am- 2 mile run
Pm- 2.5 mile easy walk
(now I'm chilling on the couch!)

Good luck to everyone who is trying to get in shape! It doesn't happen over night and a year flys by!!!

Sweating buckets! Day #3

Day three and its pretty easy! I'm feeling fantastic and it seems even easier to do this time around....although I never fully abandoned the low sugar diet....I just allowed myself a little more wiggle room!
Today I lost another 1.5 pds! Yippee!!!
Diet today
Breakfast: Atkins chocolate shake
Snack: naval orange
Lunch: Atkins chocolate shake
Snack: naval orange
Dinner: whole wheat chicken and shrimp Alfredo pasta. (w/ fresh spinache)


Recipe:
1 jar Bertoli alfrado sauce
1/2 box (about 3 servings of whole wheat Barilli Whole Wheat Pasta (2 gram of sugar per
serving) Fresh spinache leaves
Oven or grilled chicken, diced- cooked
Oven or grilled shrimp - cooked

Combined all together 1 serving is 2 grams of sugar!)
I'm full! Thank you to my awesome cook of a husband! Because I would have ended up with another shake!
Workout today:
5:30 am run 2 miles
5:30 pm bootcamp (1hr)


I signed up for the WTRC women's running clinic today. I will be running with a group on Monday nights to learn some techniques to get better at running. This clinic will call for some additional running durning the week, so I will be increasing my morning runs and still doing bootcamp on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's
I set a 15 pd goal for July 13. So far I have lost 3 pds since Monday!

Hell-To-The-Yes!

Woke up this morning to a glorious sight.....2 pounds lost!
Did great on diet and work outs today.
Breakfast Atkins shake
Snack naval orange
Lunch Atkins shake
Snack peach! Oh so juicy!!!!!!
Snack peach
Dinner low sugar (1 gram) chicken fajita on wheat tortilla
Workout
5:30a - 2 mile run
5:30p - bootcamp (sweated buckets!!!!)

Recipe for Billy's chicken fajitas
3 chicken breasts marinated
Cooked and diced
Add in onions and mushrooms (fresh)
Cilantro (chopped 10 leaf)
Salsa of your choice
Cooked till chicken was done
Wrap in wheat/corn tortilla (mission artisan 0 sugar!)
Line in casserole dish (9x14 rectangle)
Top with red enchilada sauce and a cheese blend
Bake 10 minutes @375

Top with jalapeno's and also we used habanero salsa..
Oh so good! Enjoy this low sugar scrumptious dinner!
My husband is a genius!

21 day challenge

My bootcamp started a no junk June challenge which is essentially how I got started losing my weight in January. To date I have lost 76 pounds (60 since jan). Well I am about 18 days late in starting.....so I'm starting today! I haven't done terribly the past few weeks errr month...I just haven't been as strict as I was in the beginning. I'm hoping by keeping a strict and compliant diet and work out schedule I can lose 10 or so pounds by July 13. So for the next 21 days I'll be posting short updates each day with what I ate, and how much workouts I did. Today.... Ran at 5:30, 2 miles Bootcamp 5:30-6:30 Atkins shake for breakfast Atkins shake for lunch Bandanna for snack Awesome chicken with cheese, squash/onions and tomatoes, black beans, white rice Few handfuls of emeralds coco roasted almonds. Btw I was on vacation last week and bootcamp kicked my booty tonight!

More than half way there!

I have been on my weight loss journey for 20 years......but only been serious about it for 9 months!! In those short 9 months working out has become my passion, my habit and helped me to keep my sanity! I love the change I see in myself and can't imagine any other direction I would rather be taking my life. [insert drumroll] Yesterday I had a weigh in at bootcamp and I have lost 73 pounds and 36"!!!!!! In 9 months!!!!! I never thought I would see this day...and I am so proud of the way I did it...no pills just hard work! This Sunday I have the 11.5 mile run that I have been training for....the weather seems to be pretty cool,this weekend which is awesome! I was doing the snow and rain dance for the last week!!!! It's going to be difficult buti think I can do it...at least we shall see!!!!!!

Training

I have about 2 weeks left until I run the Navy Nautical Mile race, which is 11.5 miles. That will be the longest distance I have ever run..I was so nervous about signing up and committing myself to that long of a race! I have been training for it for the last month. I don't have as much time as I would like to have but I'm able to dedicate 1-2 days a week to running and one of those days has been distance. I started about 4 weeks ago at 6 miles, then Rogresed for 2 weeks to 7.5 miles and this past weekend I did 9.5 miles It took me 2 hrs and 35 minutes and I burned 1800 calories (thanks bodybugg for keeping track!). The course I'm training on is pretty much all Jill's and is gravel so it's definitely a trail run. 9.5 miles wiped me out....it was hard and I wanted to do 10 but I couldnt drag myself the last 1/2 a mile! I had my daughter pick me up in the golf cart! I am doing the zoom through the zoo on Thursday night, which is 4 miles, then I will do some running this weekend....but I don't think it wil be 10 miles.....sometimes my personal life gets in the way!!!! Lol I'm currently at a 69 pound loss! Looking forward to the next 50!!!!

Keep Runnin...Runnin and Runnin!

Was a gorgeous cool, rainy day here in Olive Branch today. It was a fantastic day for a run! Today was the Olive Branch MayFest 5K run. I was ready to redeem myself. The last few races have not improved my time! So today I was determined to give my all and push harder than I have before. The funny thing about pushing yourself....I seem to never think I gave my all. I always think back and say maybe I could have ran more in that stretch or maybe I could have done better on the hills. But I think that's just normal! I think I will always want to improve...that's how we grow and conquer more goals and dreams. Today was a great day! My best 5k time so far has been 42:27 and today I did it! (insert drum roll)....my time was 39:23! That's 3 minutes and 4 second improvement! I guess the last few weeks of running distances has really helped me! I am so excited! Its not a time that will win me any awards but it's a major accomplishment for me!! I don't really have any time goals in mind...but I'd like to at some point be able to do a 5k in 36 minutes. If it takes me 2 years to do that...then I will be jumping up and down at the finish line!!!! I have 2 weeks left until we run the Navy 10 Nautical Mile race in Millington, TN. I'm going to do some more distance training over the next few weeks. I really hope it rains it's butt off that day....snow in June? Maybe that's a reach!

Wash that April right outta my hair!!!

April was a difficult month! I lost both my dad and my grandmother in April this year. Both of their deaths were difficult and happened just a few days apart. Needless to say I wasn't on track or as focused for a few weeks....but I still managed to get my work outs in....eat right most days nd even participated in a few 5k races. I don't intend this blog post to be a remanifistation of my feelings....I'll just say it was the hardest things I have ever been through/ am going through and I am working everyday to sty focused and begin moving on. WARRIOR DASH!!!! I had the warrior dash race in Jackson, MS planned for nearly 6 months with 2 friends and my son. We went! We had a blast going through the obstacles, running and falling in mud (even if that last part was only me)!!!! It was a pretty chilly day....but running the race.....made even that cold frigid water feel great!!!! Byhalia 5k This past Saturday me and a lot of my boot camp pals ran in the Byhalia, ms 5k and it was fun.....errrrrrr ......being honest it was HOT and HILLY!!!! But I placed 18th. Lol out of about 50. My time was 45. Remember I'm not a runner.....I'm a finisher!!!!! Today my friend tonya and my daughter Briley (7) went to the Shelby farms Green Line trail and ran/walked about 7.5 miles. We are preparing for the Navy, 10 Nautical mile race (11.5 land miles) that's to be held on the sweltering, June 3rd! I hope I can finish in under 4 hours! It will be hard and very hot!!! We are praying for the rain god to shower us that day! We want a torrential down pour!!!! ....well I do! Zoom Through The Zoo Two friends and I are running in the local zoo 4 mile run on the 24 th of this month....i That should be fun....I'm looking forward to that! Planning: Green Mile 1/2 and St.Jude 1/2 Still doing the bootcamp everyday...but planning to try and work in a mile or 2 run before work a few days per week.....just need to increase my calorie burn. In the last month I have lost about 7-8 pds..... Onside ring the month of April....I'll take it! Watch out May....I have a biggest loser contest to win! Hey.....for a non runner I sure am doing a lot of races! Till next time....aim at your goals, take action and just get up and move! Happy early Mothers Day!

Ketchup......not on my approved food list!

I guess I should "ketchup" my blog....cause I have not posted in almost a month!

I finished my busy travel schedule for work and all in all I'd say I did pretty good! I didn't gain any weight...and I lost I think 10 pounds in the last 30 days. Starting today I'm going to startwriting my weight down everyday! It is getting so hard to keep dates and losses in my head! I'm planning to hang a sheet of paper above my scale and just write it everyday!

So for the last 6-7 weeks I have been haunted by bad weekends! Every weekend I would gain 2 pds on sat morning and maybe a pound on Sunday then I'd loose it around Tuesday and show another positive pound or 2 by Friday. Those weekends were so annoying! I don't know what was causing it but my inactivity or reduced activity was probably a good cause.

I seemed to have beat that weekend curse as of about 2 weeks ago. I didn't really do anything differently on Fridays except really watch the calories and sugar I am consuming. But I'm now working out on Saturday or sunday or maybe both days! I have really gotten into running since the beginning of the year. I'm not a fast runner....or a long distance runner....but I am a beginner...and I'm trying to really learn how to be a good runner. I have a friend that I am running with on the weekends. She is training for a full marathon and I'm training just to train...but I do plan to run 2 half marathons at the end of the year this year. Wish me luck!!!!

Soooo my big update is that I have lost a total of 60 pounds!!!!! I'm so excited about it...it's totally driving me to continue and see what I can do this summer! I set a goal at the beginning of march to lose 40 pounds by sept. now I only have 30 pounds to lose..to hit that goal, but I want to lose 78 more pounds in total by April 2013.

A few weeks ago I cleaned out my closet....I mean I really cleaned out my closet. I pulled out like 45 pair of pants, probably double in shirts, 13 shorts, suits, dresses, jackets,etc. it took up 3 rooms in my house. I put an ad on Craigslist and sold all my cloths! That was a scary moment when someone walked out with my clothes leaving me 1 or 2 outfits! Yikes! Terrifying moment!!!!!!

Well I went shopping last weekend and ended up being able to shop In a store that I have never been able to shop in ( well in years) and buying sizes I haven't worn in over 10 years!!! Was an amazing feeling to pick something up....try it on and it fit!!!!!

Well this week I'm back to my regular Workout schedule and I have a 5k scheduled for this Saturday ....actually I'm registered for 4 more races through the end of may...but I'll actually probably do 5-7.

I'm turning 36 in a few weeks and I'm actually looking forward to what this year will bring! My life has been transformed in the past 8 months!

....my daughter won 5th place at her very first dance competition!!! Her group got platinum in her category!!!!

....if you want to change your life....then make the decision...start small..and don't except excuses from yourself!

Been about 2 weeks since I have blogged and my life has been a F4!!!

I have an assignment at work that has required me to travel several days a week for 6 weeks....I'm half way through the assignment and I'm looking forward to it being over!!! It's hard to maintain a good workout schedule and make good food choices when your away from home. I could so easily go to bed early with some Bon bons and watch uninterrupted tv!

But I don't.....

Rewind to last weekend.....

I ran my first official 5k race!

It was fun and I did pretty good. I don't know that I'll ever say anything I did was great bc ...there's always something more I could have done. I did the race in 42 minutes....I think my placement was 111 out of 150 or 160 racers.

Today I am going to run another one. I'd love to reduce my time....at least 1 or 2 minutes. It's going to be raining today.....I don't know how much it will slow me down....but I bet it will reduce the # of runners.....which will hopefully not push me to the back of the times!!!!


I just don't want to be last!!!!!

Yesterday I ran almost a full mile without stopping! I'll keep working at it. I can't wai to see what I can do in a year. At the track I'm making quarter mile laps at about 3 minutes at a steady jog/ run pace.

My weight loss now is 45 pounds....for some reason it's slowed down....I'm sure work schedule is to blame....but a pound is a pound and I'll take it!

Dang Vegas was good to me!

Just a quick note to post my progress over the past few days. As you know I was in Vegas Tuesday -Thursday, and this morning when I woke up...I had lost 3.5 pounds in 3 days!!! Awesome!

So I have officially lost 41.5 pounds and 27.5 pounds since 1-1!!!!!

Here's hoping for the same luck next week!!!!

Well rested!!

Spent the last 2 whirl wind days in Las Vegas, for work. I had high hopes of going jogging on the strip...figuring I could sight see and exercise all at the same time.

Well that didn't happen.

The first night I had a sensible dinner of sashimi and a few pieces of sushi and vegetable medly lol. Oh how bad I could have been in Vegas! I had not one drop of alcohol!!!! Not one desert...I'm still shocked and checking my temperature...it must be high!

Yesterday I spent about 5 hours standing teaching a class and let me say....EXHAUSTED!!!!

....but I went back to the hotel and worked out...(definitely a fever)

After my workout I had a light dinner...shower and was asleep by 6:45pm!!!!

I slept until 4:45am...then had all day flights, today!

I was never so happy to be in my own truck, windows down, enjoying the gorgeous Olive Branch, MS weather and blarring my music (I missed Kim 106)

As soon as landed I headed out to boot camp where I ran 3 miles in about 45 minutes! I can't wait to weigh tomorrow and get started with my body bugg!!!!

RE-Bound!!!

I can totally tell that my weekend was full of sugar! I was so lethargic yesterday, tired and just didn't want to do anything! But I drug my butt to Bootcamp and suffered through! Lol it wasn't that bad....but the sugar definitely made a difference in my energy levels!

I'm back on track of my NO sugar again...I woke up this morning to have lost another pound. I still have 1 pound haunting me....keeping me from a milestone!

I'm on my way to Vegas for a few days and my commitment to myself is to give myself an awesom Angie style workout for around 1.5 - 2 hours each day....what else am I going to do????

I hope I come home and squash that 1 pound!!!!!

Stay focused...do more than you ever imagined and push through one more set! That's how it's done!!!

Com'on Monday

This weekend we celebrated our daughters 7th birthday, we had a big skating party/spa slumber party scheduled. What party is complete without tons of yummy, sugary food? I don't know of one. I had already decided (a month ago) that I would allow myself to have cake, etc. well I had the cake and ice cream, and pizza and dip and....everything else we had!

Im so ready for Monday to come so I can get back on track and get a workout in!

On a good note...I did lose .5 a pound yesterday!

Well I expect to work everything off this week and get a fresh start.

I am supposed to receive my Body Bugg tomorrow! Hopefully in time to take it to the gym.

Then Tuesday I am off to Vegas for a few days...my big plan besides working while in Vegas is to get a good workout in on both Tuesday night and Wednesday. I'll be back on Thursday in time for another awesome workout at Bootcamp!!!!

Happy Valentines Day

I don't think I was a very good "date" tonight for Valentines.  I came home hot, sweaty and determined to complete a few craft projects that were lingering all across the bar and dinning room table! Nonetheless, my husband (whom should get some kind of award) did good yet again!

He didn't get my chocolates or GiGi's cupcakes (my weakness) or even that darn peanut butter fudge that I love so much, rather he made a scrumptious dinner for the family. To be honest its totally scrumptious every night, but tonight it was rather tasty!

The dinner was very "romantic" as we had all of my crafts hanging from the light fixture, dimming the light (LOL). All of my crafts had ribbons hanging and Keaton and Billy looked pretty funny eating amongst all that girly stuff!

(I made tissue paper pom-poms, with ribbons hanging all decorated for Briley's 7th birthday party scheduled for this weekend)

We had steak, squash and shrimp (shrimp and steaks were grilled).

After dinner was the real treat when I was able to veg out on Facebook for about 30 minutes before I decided, I had all I could stand... and was in the bed by 8:30.

......I totally forgot to give Billy his ubber mushy Taylor Swift Valentines Day card....

..I didn't even sign it.

Well I guess we get a post Valentines Day celebration today!!

Work Outs Have Kept Me Busy

Forgive me.. for its been 2 weeks since my last blog post!

2 whole weeks of sweating and getting the hell beat out of me at boot camp! (Just Kidding) I love every minute of the torture!!!

Well at least it has been a productive 2 weeks! I have officially lost 36 pounds. So I've lost 6 more pounds in the last 2 weeks :) and that included 2 birthday parties this weekend and Superbowl Sunday!

Im excited because today I ordered a Body Bugg system and I can not WAIT TO GET IT!! I have been wanting one for years! I can't wait to blog and tell you how many calories I am buringing!!! I can already tell that little bug is gonna be ADDICTING!!!!

Im off to boot camp!

Ahhhhhh milestone!

Man! I never thought I would see that # pop up on the scale! This has been a great weight loss month. I lost 14 pounds in the first 2 weeks, then....nothing.....then last weekend we went out of town and somehow I gained 2 pounds.

I fought those 2 pounds all week last week. What made it even worse is that we had an annual meeting at work and you guessed it....catering, catering, catering and dinners!

Well I did pretty well....I lost the 2 pounds..that put me back at the 29'pound mark.

I wanted the 30 pounds so bad I could taste it!!!!!

This morning I woke up, and ahhhhhhh there it was a shiny 1 pound loss on the scale.

I was excited....it's only 1 pound but dang it took 5 months to lose that pound!!!!!

It's amazing how (fingers crossed) (knock on wood) how much faster and easier the weight is coming off now...all by eating better and working out....I guess my stubborn body just wanted to see if I was serious before letting the pounds go.

Ready for my pants to fall off!


Tonight's work out consisted of:

- 1-2-3-4-5-6 punches with weights across the gym for about 5 minutes or so
- sprinting for about 5 minutes or 3?
- 100 crunches
- 3 minute run
- 100 leg lifts
- 3 minute runn
- 100 mason twists with weight
- 3 minute run
- 100 toe ups ( I got through 56)

TIMES UP - thank goodness!!!!!!!!

My arms are already hurting and I bet my stomach will be sore tomorrow.

Want to get in shape? Are you starting tomorrow or Monday?
There's no time like today!

Junk food challenge

Ready to jump start your weight loss? I can tell you that this is definatly a way to radically change 1) what your eating and 2) how your body reacts to sugar!

I'm not advocating that you can't have any sugar....in fact you can have all the natural sugar you want that's found in unprocessed food such as fruit.

So this "naughty" list is primarily sugar and processed white flour.

Wheat flour is fine! Cheese, meats, wheat products, veggies, fruits, etc are all fine!!

Did you know a coke has like 50 grams of sugar in one can? tHAT is a lot!!! When your body takes in all that sugar and carbohydrates ( which later turn to sugar) you will eventually store unused sugar as fat. I don't know the scientific details of how it happens but basically whatever you eat you must utilize or it is stored as fat/weight gain!!!

I have been on this challenge since Jan 3, I have consciously slipped a few times....but everything I eat is a conscious decision and I'll tell you it's getting easier and easier.

So what are you waiting for? This doesn't even require tennis shoes!

But if you want to lace up some shoes and start a fantastic workout come on over to Work Of Art Boot Camp

Click here for the Junk Food list

located in the Old Byhalia High School Gym on 309 (between Old 78 and new 78) Mon -Thurs 5:30 - 6:30, this class is as close to personal training as you can get!

It's all exercises you can do, everything can be modified till your ready, there are still a few things I modify. Members 40 a month, non Memphis 5 a class. Come try it out, especially if you are in Byhalia, Olive Branch, Holly Springs or Collierville.

I promise you won't regret it.....well after 30 days you won't!!!

Want to run the dash? Great place to get ready!!!!

Stronger....

While I've only lost about 29 pounds, it feels like 100! I can't imagine how I will feel once I have actually lost the 100!

I remember when I started boot camp in September I could not run, couldnt do much anything without being very winded. Even the strength training was winding me like it was cardio.

I remember running on the treadmill and the fastest I could go eas around 5 mp and I was running! I could only run for a few seconds before I would back it back down to around 3...

At one time in my life I was a runner. I ran track for a while in school and then I spent a lot of time running in my free time as a hobby....(sick I know)

I still don't know where I lost myself....maybe I lost my tennis shoes?

In the last month or so I have really been focusing on running I feel myself getting stronger with every stride I take. I sometimes imagine Jillian from Biggest Loser screaming at me "let go of the treadmill" or "hit it harder"....(for the record I don't hold the treadmill when I'm running :).

Last night i ran better and faster than I have in a long time. I was feeling so strong!

We were doing circuits last night, so we were on machines spending 1 minute per machine. I was giving everything I had....but secretly I was so looking forward to getting back on the TREADMILL! So I made it to the treadmill 5 times (only because I jumped ahead on my 5th time lol) I ran at 10 and 10.5 mph for a full minute! And I know I could have done it for 2 minutes!!!!!

This coming week I'm going to spend some extra time in the gym running to see what I can do!

bTW.....running outside is so much harder than running on the treadmill!!!

I'm going to run in the park this weekend too.

#readyforthewarriordash!!!!!!

That was 5 months?

So it's been about 6 months since I joined the Work of Art Boot Camp. I am having so much fun, have met some amazing people who I get encouragement from everyday! When I first started working out I made some small strides to change And improve my eating habits. I stopped drinking cokes, I looked for more low cal-fat free and sugar free options. That worked for about 2 months...then my busy life caught up and I started back sliding and allowing the fast food back in.

My weight loss was slow from sept - dec...I lost about 15 pounds. Which is not terribly bad. I just really wanted more considering how hard I was working out.

In comes the holidays. I held strong through Thanksgiving....and only gained 2 pds during Christmas. Not too bad.

In January I began a sugar free challenge (I'll post the challenge) and wow! I dropped 14 pounds in about a week and a half. Now....I'm still avoiding sugar, allowing natural sugars....but I feel like maybe I haven't been as strict on myself with this challenge lately as I could be.

Yes there have been times I've slipped....but I mostly am eating right....I think it's just becoming an easier process and one that doesn't require so much thought. But my weight loss has stalled.

It's been over a week and I have not lost any more weight to speak of.

I think I need to increase my Cardio and maybe I'm not eating enough.

Typically I'm eating:

Atkins meal replacement shake for breakfast or oatmeal
Fruit around 10
lean cuisine for lunch
Try to have fruit or whole wheat crackers around 3
Usually a salad, or chicken/fish dinner
Sugar free jello or no sugar added ice cream .5 cup) for snack


I work out Mon - Thur for an hour

I try and run a little on the weekend....I am going to run a 5k in april :)


BTW I did quit smoking in May!

In the begining

Where to begin? I guess I should start with telling you a little bit about myself and how I got to where I am. 

Hello. My name is FAT.

I could lie and say that I don't know how I became this way... but truthfully I got this way by ignoring my eating and exercise habits for my entire adult life. I was pretty "fit" throughout high school, played sports, etc. Then after having my first kid (I sometimes like to blame it on childbirth)... I just began to stack on the pounds.

I probably literally gained 100 pounds  in about 5 years.. which honestly is pretty easy to do.  Then I was in "maintain" mode. I stayed the same weight for probably 7 years, give or take the "yo-yo" dieting, where I would lose 40 or 60 pounds, only to gain it back in a few months.

In 2011 I decided was the year that I was going to take charge of my life and make a change for the better.  When I made the decision to "get healthy" I don't think I fully contemplated what that meant. I just knew that I didn't want to spend the rest of my, likely limited years, living the way I was. 

In addition to being probably 120 pounds over weight I was also a smoker....

I still haven't answered the question of how I got this way, besides the obvious fact of pure laziness.... I guess I will have to say that I never made time for myself.

I spent the last 16 years focusing on my career and my family.  It wasn't until 2011 that I realized that if I didn't make major changes, I wasn't going to be around for the "long haul" to enjoy the fruits of my labor.... and that's when I began dabbling with "getting fit".

I have a job that is very busy and 2009-2011 I spent nearly 50% of my time traveling. Traveling is NOT easy when you are trying to get healthy! Lots of long days, unhealthy meals, end of the day exhaustion and no one to help hold you accountable to working out at the end of each day.

I started out in 2011 decently. I "worked" out about 4 times in 6 months.  More so than I had done in 5 or 6 years. I take that back.. I had some inconsistent bouts with the gym....the gym always won and kicked my ass.. and I went home exhausted armed with plenty of excuses to never return....

In July I got a wild hair up my bum and decided to buy a groupon for a local Memphis boot camp club.
I had about a month to think about this and amp myself up.  This boot camp was being held OUTSIDE in the MEMPHIS heat, 4 days per week.  I survived, did more than I ever expected I could do... and became addicted.

I have no idea what my beginning weight was b/c I didn't weigh... but i really never changed my eating habits during my this 6 week boot camp.  I want to put my beginning weight on here.. but I can't bring my self to typing the three #'s.... EEEKKK...

Fast Forward to the fall of 2011 (September) and I joined another FANTASTICALLY awesome boot camp a LOT closer to home, with a FANTASTICALLY FABULOUS instructor.  I <3 this boot camp, I am more addicted than ever to working out. I still have a LONG way to go. But I am stronger and able to do SO-MUCH more than I could in September!

Here is a link to my boot camp class... and also the FACEBOOK page for where I take boot camp.
BOOTCAMP-BLOG
BOOTCAMP-FACEBOOK

Stay tuned to see how my journey has been since September!!!

HERE IS THE MOST HIDEOUS PICTURE I COULD FIND OF MYSELF!!! THIS IS THE WEEK BEFORE I STARTED WITH MY 2nd BOOT CAMP!!!!