IM BACK!!!!!! Its been soooooooooooo long!

Im so sorry its been so long. But Im back to give you some updates.....

Im at a total of 19 lbs lost. (well, 19 from what I weighed in with Sharon & 14lbs from what I weighed in with the doctor) I like the 19 better! ha ha ha
I have really been struggling with the diet part. Not because I have to eat healthy but because I have to eat soooooooooooo much. I think that is why I havent lost as much. I mean one day I ate only 498 calories all day. and then I went and trained and burned more than than so it was like I didnt eat all day. Thats not good. but After talking with Sharon & Mark who is one of the trainers & nutritionists they put me on a new diet. Its definetly not something to live off of but just to boost my weight loss during the last few weeks of the competition. It is:

2 Day Rotating Diet

2 days Protien Diet, then 2 days fat diet:

Protien Days
Eat 5......5-6oz servings of protien:

1 scoop protein power
Liquid Egg Whites
Chicken
White fish
7 egg whites
Ham
pork tenderloin

Eat 3........1 cup servings of vegetables (do not eat carrots & do not split into 1/2 cups servings eat a whole cup at a time)

Eat 1 fruit Only after workout.

Fish Oil - 6 pills a day
Multi vitamin


Fat Days
Eat 5..........6oz servingsof Protein
Examples of what you can eat:
1 scoop protein powder
Turkey
Chicken
White fish

Eat 4 servings of fat:
Organic Natural Peanut butter
Raw nuts (almonds)
Olive Oil
Macadamia Oil
Half Avacado
2 whole eggs

Eat 2....... 1 cup servings of vegetables (do not eat carrots & do not split into 1/2 cup servings. Eat a whole cup at a time)

Fish Oil - 6 pills a day
Multi Vitamin


Its not as bad as it sounds. Its only for 2 days at a time so its tolerable. But I burp up those damn fish oil pills and that part is really gross.

I only have a 3 weeks left!!! I cant believe its almost over. Im sad :(
But I feel great. My clothes are all super baggy on me. People everywhere I go notice that I have los weight and it feels sooooooooooooooo good. Not to mention I have started to love running! I cant wait till its nice out and I can go for runs outside.

They are having a get together for us at Barlycorn on May 8th to announce the winner & all that good stuff. Please come join me there.... I would love to have everyone there for me routing me on!!!!! I think its going to be exciting. Its been a hard, long tiring 9 weeks but its been worth it. I just feel amazing. an early thank you to everyone that has followed me through this and has encouraged me to continue. I couldnt have done this without everyones support!

Adios to another 3 lbs!!!!!

I feel like I have so much to tell all of you. Well 1st lets start off by cheering................. I LOST ANOTHER 3 LBS!!!!!! YEAH!!!!! Its feels so good! And again, I lost more inches. I wish the scaled moved as much as the inches did. so my total for the competition is 10 lbs & my total from what I weighed in with Sharon is 15 lbs!!!!

The principal in this contest is ridiculous! He is doing amazing. I dont know what or how he is doing it but hes blowing all of us out of the water! But you know what.... good for him. He had the most weight to lose of all of us so as much as I want to beat him... I say Congratulations to him for being so motivated and doing such an awesome job. I think hes down over 30 lbs!!!! Thats nuts! Just this past week he lost 10 lbs. Crazy huh?

So Sharon has upped the workouts. They are insane now. I thought they were hard before..... Its was a piece of cake compared to now. The only difference now is that I feel good doing it where before I was on the verge of either passing out or throwing up. I did a wall sit last week and sharon stood on my legs and I had to hold her. I yelled at her "GET OFF OF ME!" but she knew I could do it and wouldnt let me quit and guess what..... I did it!!!!! I have been running my mile everyday!!! 6 days a week!!!! Just to be able to say that I can do that now feels good.

Yesterday I did my mile, trained with Sharon for an hour and then she made me run another 1/2 mile when my workout was over. I didnt think I would be able to do it but I turned my IPod up loud, zoned out & got it done. SO I ran a mile & 1/2 last night. Our goal now is 2 miles. It seems like a lot for me but this time I actually think I can do it.

Toms Uncle & cousin are doing a triathalon in July and I told them I want to do it. I know you have to run 3 miles which is a lot for me but I figure if I keep training and keep up with my running... I can do it! How awesome would it be to say I did a triathalon?!?!?!? I told Tom I was scared and what happens if I cant finish and he just said "All you can do is try!" and I think thats true. It would be my 1st one so I really dont know what to expect so at least I can try, give it my all and see what happens. I would really love to do it though. I just think that would be so awesome.

Im looking for a workout buddy when this is all said & done or even now if anyone would like to start joining me. Gina - I know we keep taking about getting together for early morning jogs & walks with the kids. If it would ever get nice out.... lets start. Im telling you.... No more unhealthy me. I really want to keep going with the healthy lifestyle. Its changing me to be such a better person!

Love you all!

OH MY WORD.... MY WORKOUT LAST NIGHT WAS INSANE..... BUT AWESOME!!!

SO Sharon told me we really need to step it up to get back in this game and she wasnt kidding! She killed me yesterday but it was awesome. I felt good throughout the entire workout. I ran my mile, then we boxed and then we did a few other things at the end of the session. The boxing drills are awesome. I wish I knew how to explain it on here. If you ever want to take a boxing class, go to WWW.EBACFIT.COM. Its such a great workout. I was sweating last night like I have never sweat before. It was just pouring off of me. and although I cant stand the feeling of sweating... I was just thinking burn fat burn!!!! I am so sore this morning but again, I just feel good. It still takes me a few minutes to actually get out of bed but once I do...I feel great! And whats funny too is that Im starting to notice my weight loss in small places like my feet! My shoes that I wear ALL the time at work are too big on me now. My glasses fall off my face. I love that!!! Except... hopefully they dont shrink too much. I will be looking pretty fugly if I have a teenie little head & feet with a big body!!! ha ha ha I train again with Sharon tonight & then she will give me a new homework assignment for Friday.

I actually pushed myself harder than I usually do on Tuesday. My home work was:

I did 45 minutes of cardio! I ran for 15 minutes straight. Then the last 10 minutes on the treadmill I ran 15 yeards, walked 15 yards.
Then I did the elliptical for 20 minutes alternating going backwards & forwards.

Lateral Shoulder raises 8lb weights. 20 reps - 3 sets
Upright rows w/ resistant bands 20 reps - 3 sets
Rear Flys 5lb weights 20 reps - 3 sets
Plank hold 3 sets 30 secs each
150 crunches

I busted my ass again this week so I better have a good weigh in. Im getting tired of this 1 lb weight loss! I know its healthy weight loss that I will be able to keep off but its not going to win me this competition. I need like 4 or 5 lbs weight losses!!!!! :) Tonight is my "last chance workout" with Sharon. She is going to kill me again today but I need it so bring it on!
Oh and Im glad to report..... my calves are doing awesome. Getting better by the day. They still hurt but recover so much faster now. Yeah!!!!!

stay tuned..................

ONLY DOWN 1 POUND THIS WEEK.... BOO!!!

Ok so Im only down 1 pound this week. What the heck?!?!?!? The good thing is that Im down more inches. I lost 2 inches off my chest! Thats probably the 1 pound ha ha ha and Im officially down a size!
But you know what..... I cant let myself get discouraged anymore. I came into this wanting to change me for the better & I have. And I think Im doing a damn good job so far. No, my weight loss isnt where I would like it to be & I really need to step up my game a little bit but I have never missed a training session, I work out on my own, I watch what I eat.... I have to remember that this is for me!!!! Its for me to become a healthier better person so I can then teach those around me the same healthy lessions and help make them better too & Im doing that. I have to remember that every minute I spend away from Taylor (although its so hard) is a moment that Taylor will look back on and say "Thats my Mom. Look what she did. Im proud of her!" Every minute I spend crying on he phone to Tom will soon turn in to more laughter and confidence. I have to be proud of me & and really am for everything I have done so far. And as long as I continue to remember why Im really doing this I think the better I will do. I have lost that since I started this competition. Its hard for me cause Im so competitive but in the long run, the prize isnt being named the winner or getting the shopping spree. I will be a winner for making such a big change in my life.

But now to the stepping up my game part....... Now that Im going to set aside the other contestants and just focus on me..... I feel better about it. I dont feel so frusterated and down. Sharon called me today to see how Im doing (I love her!) and to give me the game plan on how to get to gettin. She wants me to WORKOUT 2 HOURS A DAY! I dont know how Im going to fit that in but I will find a way. If theres a will theres a way. I know I can do this!!!! I will keep you updates on what the actual workouts are after I meet with Sharon tonight.
I need everyones support like crazy more now than ever so please keep cheering me on!!!!!

I FINALLY DID IT..... I CAN RUN 1 MILE!!!!!

I RAN 1 MILE WITHOUT STOPPING!!!! YEAH!!! To some that might seem like nothing but when I first started this I couldnt run a 1/2 a mile without stoppping. And I beat my time again.... last night I ran the mile on a 2.0 incline at 5.2 speed & finished in 12:03 minutes. For me that is amazing! That really makes me feel like I can do anything. I just put my IPod in my ear with music blasing, focused on one thing and just kept running. I didnt look at my time distance nothing. I just kept going till I reached it. It seriously feels amazing! I couldnt believe it. I have run the mile Monday, Wednesday & Thursday this week. Im going to do it again today & tomorrow too! My own personal goal is to run 1 mile everyday!!!!! My calves (as always) are on fire but they recover a lot better than they did before so I think they are the point of just getting used to all this crazy exercise. Hopefully with this new goal I made for myself the pounds with literally melt off my body! Im going to be ready to be running miles soon!!!!
I know a lot of people say "THEY CANT RUN" and I was one of those people but you can. And Im the perfect example that you can do it. I mean it is only 1 mile but the more I do it the more miles I will be able to run. Start off slow and just push yourself. You WILL be able to do it. Now I know why people like to run too. You feel so good afterwards. Dont get me wrong Im out of breathe and tired but my body just feels good.
SO Sharon pushed me to a breaking point last night. I was so mad at her for making me do these excersizes that I just didnt feel like I could do that I started to cry. I wanted to walk out so bad but I couldnt do that. I told her that I feel like she makes me do things that are physically possible for me and when I cant do it and Im struggling, she says "Lets go Christie! This is your last workout before your weigh in" It makes me feel like Im a slacker. Like she thinks Im not putting in 100% even though I am trying with all I can. BUt then we had one of our pep talks and she let me know that she knows Im giving this my all. Its like I want her to push me but when your getting pushed so hard and doing things that are so difficult it makes you want to throw in the towel. But I doubt myself sooooooooo much and I have to stop because when Sharon does push me and makes me do all these things that I think are impossible..... I do them!!! And thats another thing about Sharon that I love so much. She knows that I able to do them. I however, dont think I can so I doubt myself. She is not only changing me physically but mentally as well. Shes really helping me realize that I can do anything I put my mind to. Im going to be a skinny, confident woman and I cant wait for that.
But again, she kicked my ass yesterday, crazy style! I can barely type today.
On wednesday she was teaching me about the the muscles and what workouts work those muscles. I love learning all of this. Im going to be able to make my own worout routine and know that Im doing it right. She let me know that the best uppper body workout you can do is: Push Ups. and the best lower body you can do it: Squats

so my homework for tonight is:

1 mile run

Swimming workout: 20 minutes of straight laps
Water Push ups 3 sets @ 25 reps
Flutter kicks 1 minute
Kick backs 4 laps

Then I have to choose 2 muscle groups (Arms, Shoulders, Legs, Glutes, Abs, Chest & Back) and do 3 excersizes that work those muscle groups.

I think Im going to do Legs & Glutes since thats the biggest part of my body so I will do:

Lunges, Squats, Side kicks, Bridges, Leg lifts, and Im not sure what the last one will be.

as far as food goes: same old same old!!!! and still wanting pizza! ha ha ha ha

Oh and how can I forget.... My new motto:

DONT LOSE FOCUS....... LOSE WEIGHT!!!!!

Say Good Bye to 3 pounds!!!!

YEAH!!!! Finally a good week. I lost 3 lbs!!!! I busted my ass this week so Im glad it paid off. The other contestants are still losing but their numbers are starting to slow down so Im hoping that while they slow down Im picking up speed and I will pass them. I was last in place but I think Im ahead of one of the girls now so I have to keep on keeping on!!!! :)
I feel amazing this week. Im back to running as much as I can, I went and swam which felt really good. Sharon (as always) is the best support system. Shes happy & excited for me when I have a week like this where I do great yet shes sad for me and understand me when Im having bad days... SHe is just the best and I seriously couldnt have been blessed with a better person to be helping me change my life. I absolutly love her. And of course I cant forget AAron (her Hubby) hes such a huge support system for Sharon and he wants this for me just as bad as Sharon & I do. They are just amazing people and I will never be able to thank them enough for what they are doing for me!
SO my calves are still bothering me BUT.... They are a lot better. I think Im just scared to push myself cause Im afraid to have to go through that pain again and not be able to workout like I want to. I still run at least 1/2 mile at a time. I just want to get to that mile. I did beat my time on Saturday. I think it was 13:32 or something close to that. I think I may have beat my previous time by a minute?!?!? SO thats pretty awesome. I cant wait till I can run the full mile and then 2 and then 3 and then I will have my nice skinny legs back and good butt that I used to have.
I put on a pair of jeans that I took straight out of the dryer and they were a little baggy in the butt!!!! Thats what I like to see. SHRINK BODY SHRINK! I told Sharon when I can get into a bikini Im going to parade in the gym with it on! ha ha ha I think I will be so excited to be back in one that someone might have to pry it off my body. I might not be bikini ready by the time the competition ends but when Tom & I go to FL at the end of May I want to be able to wear one. We will see... I have a lot to go for that to happen. I will tell you this.... I WILL NEVER LET MYSELF TO GET TO THIS POINT EVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE!!! It is a physically, emotionally grueling process to get back to where I want to be and I dont ever want to have to go through this again. (Except I absolutly LOVE working out with Sharon!)
If anyone ever wants to train.... Go to PUSH FITNESS in Schaumburg. All the trainers are so nice. Im mean I can go there be sweating like a pig feeling like Im going to pass out and be laughing with the trainers. I walk in there and feel good about myself cause you know everyone there is routing for you. Its a great feeling. I hate the days I dont train there. I wish I could do it everyday.

So today is my day off so I dont have any homework but I think Im going to do Slim in 6 in six in a little bit. It a rainy crappy day, Tom is at Johns helping him with stuff at his house, taylor is at Marks.... Im bored so why not?!?!?!?

Cross your fingers I have another 3 pound (or more) week! Competition is on....Watch out cause CHRISTIE IS BACK!!!!!!

I burned almost 700 calories tonight!!!! It feels awesome!

I had yet another amazing workout with Sharon tonight. She kicked my ass again but I feel great. I was able to run again for a little over a 1/2 mile. Slowly but surely we are getting back there. Im afraid to push myself too much on the treadmil cause of my calves but Im working em! As soon as its buring really really bad I get off and foam roll them. I just dont want them to get to the point where it hurts to walk again. Sharon stretched me out after the workout today like nobody's buisness too! I thought she was going to have to pick me up off of the floor cause I was just so relaxed and of course dead from the crazy workout.
Im feel really great again though! I feel like I can do this again! Im excited about it and not frusterated with it. We will see though come Saturday. That damn scale better move! I will be pissed if it doesnt. How could it not though. I had a bad week last week, I turned around and busted my ass this week... It has to move right?!?!?!?

SO my homeowrk tomorrow is:

Double crunches & push ups in the morning when I wake up
50 minutes of swimming laps
plank holds & v-sits
Im going to try and run for as long as I can tomorrow before I swim. I want to keep running to get my calves going again. I need the cardio!

I thinktheres more but I dont have my book right in front of me. I will let you know if theres more.

My meal plan today was:

Breakfast: Protein shake

Snack: Whole grain pita chips with hummus (Yummy!)

Lunch: Turkey burger with whole grain bun & Broccoli

Snack: Carrots

Dinner: Spicy Chicken (It was the chicken I made in the slow cooker...Its delicious!)

After workout: Protein shake


Have a good night & I will talk to you tomorrow!!!!

Sharon kicked my butt tonight!

So i got home from training with Sharon not to long ago. Holy crap she kicked my butt tonight! It was an awesome workout. I ran tonight too which made me very happy. I ran a little over a half mile. I havent been able to do that in years. Its still not a long distance but its 100% more than what I could do before. Plus, when I fisrt started training my heart rate shot up to like 179 after being on the treadmill. Now after running over a 1/2 mile my heart rate was at like 155 or something near that. Thats a pretty good improvement.
We think I lost a few more inches too! Sharon didnt have my sheet today but we took my measurements and I think I might have lost another 1/2 inch off my chest, an inch off my waist, an inch off of each thigh and an inch off of each arm. I think thats what it was. Im hoping so anyway!
so I feel alot better after todays workout. I love that I am starting to run again. It makes a big difference to me. I feel like I accomplished more when I run. But then I get home and my parents orders Rosati's!!!! I know not everyone has to change to be healthy but a little more support from my parents would be really nice. They have never once made something for dinner that was something I can eat. I come home and theres a big pan of cheesy baked pasta, or some taco caserole with cheese and bisquick mix or pizza. It makes me kind of sad when I read the articles & the contestants families area all making an effort to help them out and trying to eat healthy and I come home to nothing but crap I cant eat. It makes it a lot harder. I know this is my thing I guess I just thought they would support me more. But at least I have all of you that read this and give me supportive comments. Courtney has really been a great support system. I just wish she was here and not in AZ! :( (LOVE YOU COURT!!!)
But like Courtney says: I just need to keep trucking on and have failth in myself that I can do this. And I know I can. I just need to work harder and know that all these feelings of doubt are just hurdles that I need to leap over.

Todays meal plan was:

Breakfast: Protein shake made with Soy Milk w/ Glutamine & flax seed oil
1/2 an apple

Snack: 1 grapefruit

Lunch: Turkey burger w/ guacamole on a whole grain bun
Stewed veggies

Snack: 1/2 whole grain english muffin w/ organic peanut butter

Dinner: Protein shake w/ soy milk, glutamine & flax seed oil

Stay tuned for more. Good night!

ITS BEEN FOREVER!!!!

OK so the good new is that our computer is fixed so I should be able to blog daily again! Yeah!!! The bad news is that this is going to be another bitch session. :(

so I got weighed in last Saturday (Feb 28th) and Im only down 1 pound! What the heck is going on??? I have been busting my butt working out, following the diet and Im just not seeing the results. Its so frusterating. I dont want Sharon to think that Im some slacker that isnt committing. Shes taking time out of her life to help me better myself and I feel like such a disappointment. I feel like Im letting not only myself but everyone following this down.

I just dont know what else I can do to step up my game. I dont really have more time to put in to working out. I get up at 6 am and am not home till 9pm. I know somewhere in between this Im supposed to rest but I dont have time for that either. Its go go go everyday all day. Im exhausted. physically, emotionally.... just drained. This is so much harder than I ever thought possible. And its not even the working out part. It trying to fit everything in. I mean Taylor eats dinner in my car on some days! On Saturday I was so upset after my weigh in I balled my eyes out on the phone to Tom and then when I got home to Nicola. I know this is only a competition but I want it so bad! Sharon thinks it might be due to my calves & not being able to do cardio. Im hoping that is the case. I started running again and although my calves still hurt its nothing compared to what they were so hopefully that means I can begin running again. And I want to run. I want to get to the point where I enjoy it and can go for runs in the morning on nice days and run all the charity walks I do. I mean look at runners.... they have fabulous legs & butts!!!

I just need to suck it up and step it up!

I got my Power 90. Its a good workout but its sooooooooooooooo boring! I think it might be going back. I have a million other home workouts I can do so I think I might try those & see what one I like the best. I love Slim in 6 so Im going to start doing that one in the morning. The probelm with that is the waking up earlier than I have to part. Boo!!! But it has to be done if I want to win right????

The good thing too is that I am starting to notice a difference in my body. Not huge differences yet but at least I know the inches are coming off.

Im still in this though. My hopes is that they other contestants will start to slow down on the weight loss and I will catch up! If Im going to lose.... It better be by like only a pound. I want them to know that they need to watch out for me.

Did anyone see the paper this Monday? I look like Im trying to poop! ha ha ha ha Speaking of poop.... has anyone ever done a body cleanse? I want to try it to hopefully shed some pounds that way but Im scared! I dont want to be crapping my brains out all day every day. If its just like a weekend thing I could probably handle it. Sharon wants me to take a probiotic. Im scared of that too? If anything has any feed back on this let me know pretty please!

So I cooked yesterday! I know...dont everyone have a heart attack. It is shocking! I cooked 5 different things. 3 of the 5 turned out really good. I made Turkey Burgers that are delicious! Chicken & salsa in the slow cooker to make chicken tacos and that as well turned out delicious & I made chunky vegtable chili also delicious. Then the bad ones: Cabbage Strata (ground chicken, cabbage, brown rice, onions & tomatos) out of the Biggest Loser cookbook. It has no flavor. It needs major salt but I cant add salt so its not really good. And then also out of the biggest loser cookbook I made chicken meatloaf. Its horrible. It didnt even look good. I dont reccommend those at all. They are bland and blah!!! But at least I tried them. You dont know till you try.

alrighty..... now that I actually have a computer again...... stay tuned for more to come!

The Results are Good!!!!

The results are in..... Im down almost 10 pounds!!!!! I lost 3 inches in my waist, 1 1/2 inches in each thigh & 1/2 inch in my chest. That 6 1/2 inches total so far!! Im happy with that. I am actually starting to be able to notice a small change in my body. I havent dropped a size or anything but my clothes are starting to fit just a little bit looser. (yeah!) The only thing that sucks is that there is a 6 pound difference from what the paper says and what I weighed in with Sharon. If we go by what I weighted in with Sharon I lost 9 point something pounds. ccording to the paper I only lost like 4 (Boo!) But whatever..... The other contestants are coming strong right now but Im going to surprise everyone with big numbers later in the competition. Let them think Im the slacker.... I will show them! ha ha ha :) I ordered Power 90. I just got it this morning so Im going to try it out tonight. Im excited about it. My plan is to do the P90 in the early morning before work. Then I will continue my training with Sharon & still do my homework on days that I dont train with Sharon. Its go time now!!!! Now that I saw what the others are dropping its time to step it up a notch! I know I should really be focused on the other people but Im a really competitive person and I want to win!!! Im still struggling with my damn calves but they seem to be getting better so hopefully sooon I will be back running on the treadmill.

SO this week has been good so far. I had a relly good session with Sharon on Monday. She made me do these things called bridges..... holy crap is all I can say! I knew they were going to be hard when she told me they were her favorite. What you do is lay on your back, prop your feet up on say your couch or stairs and lift your butt up as high as you can and squeeze your cheeks together. It sound easy but after a minute of them you feel like your butt has a match to its cause its on fire! Hard! Hard! Hard! Thats my new homework :) (I love you Sharon!)

Also this week I have been craving PIZZA! I want it so bad. Its the only thing I want to eat. And I have been haunted by it. 1st Tom kept talking about how he was making his home made pizza Sunday and how it was going to be so good. I told him I wasnt staying at his house on Sunday cause of it. (His pizza is really good) That little shit.... hes lucky I love him so much! Then Yesterday I had to go to the dollar store and the people working there were talking about ordering it for lunch. SO then I got home last night from my workout and my Mom has a pizza in the oven! Whats going on here.... Its pizza everywhere!

I still need to find time to cook and stuff. I was kind of hoping this challenge made me cook but I dont have time. I thought it was going to get better but it hasnt yet. The good things is that I tacklled my room (Finally) I got my laundry done, I got everything organized so that will save up some time. I bought the fix it and forget it lightly cookbook & the biggest loser cookbook. There actually things in there that I want to make its just getting the time to do it.

so my homework is:

Cardio cardio cardio 45 - 50 minutes
Mason twists 2 sets 30 reps
Double crunches 2 sets 50 reps
plank hold 2 sets 30 secs
Bridges of couch 3 minutes (ouch!!! I can feel the burn already!)
Step kicks 1 minute

and last but not least start the Power 90!

We will see how it goes tonight... hopefully I will be able to update tomorrow! stay tuned!

Finally a new post!!!!

Hello! Hello! Hello!!! Im so sorry to everyone thats following my blog. I have not been able to update this. Our computer is STILL at Best Buy. Im not really sure why it takes this long but.....

On to the good stuff. Last week was a really rough week for me as far as the challenge goes. I was feeling very overwhelmed, exhausted, emotional etc. I have been having some "issues" with my left calf. I dont know if its the muscles or what but they are so tight after some of the workouts I can barely walk. It is so painful. I think it was last Thursday, I cried through my entire workout. Its frusterating because I walk into the gym thinking I can do everything no matter how hard and then I do it and I dont have the ability. I want to be able to run and I was starting to do well with it and now I cant even walk on the treadmill. I have still been able to get awesome workouts in though. Sharon never lets me stop (which I love) Since I cant do the treadmill I do the bike. Theres always something else you can do.
This week has been a really good week. I had an amazing workout on Monday. I couldnt move after I left and again I woke up feeling like I needed a body casy but its all worth it. Wednesday I trained with Sharon husband (Aaron) Sharon is really sick so her hubby filled in for her. He is just as amazing as she is. They are the cutest couple!!! He had me doing some things that I didnt think were possible. Like a plank hold on a pilates ball. I could barely hold myself up. He made it seem so easy! Im not training with Sharon tonight either because she so sick (GET BETTER SHARON!) but we are going to train on Saturday instead.
Tonight & tomorrow my home work is:

Bike: Steady pace for 2 minutes and sprint for 1 minute for 30 minues

Eliptical: Steady pace for 2 minutes & sprint for 1 minutes for 30 minutes (if I cant do the eliptical because of my calf them do the bike for 1 hour)

Mason Twists: 2 sets - 30 reps each side

Double Crunches: 2 sets - 50 reps

Plank Hold: 2 sets - 30 secs each

Up Downs w/ step outs for 1 minute - 2 sets

Forward step outs for 1 minute - 2 sets


As far as eating goes: again I eat pretty much the same things everyday I just eat them at different times. I was told last night however that I need to be eating more protein and I usually stop eating at around 5 - 6:30pm and I guess thats too early. Mark (whos one of the trainers & nutrionist) told me he wants me drinking 2 protein shakes a day. 1 in the morning and 1 after workouts. So thats what I have been doing. I also started taking a multi vitamin. They make me feel sick but I try to eat one of my snacks once I feel sick and it helps it to go away.

I will get weighed & measured on Saturday when I meet with Sharon. Im so nervous! Of course I want to be down like 10 pounds & 10 inches! I will be very upset if I dont have a good weight loss so far. I have been busting my butt and following everything so well. I know its takes time I just want to know that what Im doing is starting to pay off you know? I know for me, its more motivitating for me to continue when I see the scale moving.

Did you see the video on DailyHerald.com? It wasnt that bad. I thought it would be way worse. Thankfully the footage of me running is in a distance and you cant really see my body flopping all over the place.

Oh and if you are reading this or following this, can you sign up to be a follower??? I keep hearing all these people that ready this but I cant see it unless you sign up as a follower. Its very motiving for me to know how many people are actually reading this and supporting me! I get so excited and I of course dont want to let everyone down so please keep all your support coming! I appreciate it so much!!! You are all helping me succeed & I cant think you all enough.

Talk to you later!!!!!!

Not the usual Happy me :(

Today Im feeling very overwhelmed, bummed, sad etc. I just want to cry. Its one of those days. I think everything is cathcing up with me a reality is setting in and Im not really sure what to do. I feel like I have no time for anything. I havent been able to do any laundry in like a week and a half, I dont have time to cook, I barely have time to play with Taylor or just be with her and its all just really bumming me out. I wake up at around 6, get ready for work, wake up Taylor, get her ready for school, drop her off at school, rush to work to get there on time, leave work, pick up Taylor from Daycare, get home fix her something to eat that doesnt require cooking, go to the gym to train, get home, spend 1/2 hour with Taylor before she has to go to bed and by that time its 9 at night and Im so exhausted and my body aches so bad that all I want to do is lay down and go to bed myself.
Tonight my family is all going out to eat to celebrate that my brother is home safely from Iraq (THANK GOD!) and I just feel really left out. Not at all anything that my family has done. They are going to be celebrating and eating pizza & drinking beer and Im going to at the gym training and then once I get there I will be watching them.
I think everything is just kind of crashing down on me and Im realizing this is going to be harder than I thought so again, Im just over whelmed. But I will get through it. I have a great support system thats cheerling me on so I know I can do it.
Actually I cant wait to see Sharon tonight cause she always help me & makes me confident that I can do this so Im looking forward to her pep talk :) I seriously owe her my life!!! She makes me believe in myself so much.

so enough about my sorrows let talking about the good stuff! I oficially made it in the Daily Herald on Mondy. It wasnt as bad as I though but it said "Single Mom suffering from Depression!" ha ha ha ha ha. I find that so funny. DOnt get me wrong I am sad about my weight but I dont find myself suffering fom depression. Oh well. Everyone that knows me knows Im not depressed and its really only you guys that I care about. I think the video is going to be posted on the dailyherald.com on Monday.

As far as my eating goes: I have been pretty much sticking to the same thing everyday. Im pretty plain. Plus its really easy to pack up for work and stuff. I just bought the Fix It & Forget It Lightly cookbook. Hopefully there are good reciepes that I can set and have ready by the time I get off of work.

Tom is excited about this me needing to cook situation..... We went to Trader Joes on Sunday and his plan is that I will buy the healthy organic groceries and cook for him. Which actually I dont really mind. They say the way to a mans heart is through his stomach!!!! ha ha ha He's so good to me, he deserves it!!!

as far as exercising goes here is what Sharon has me doing for homework:

push ups - 3 sets of 8
mason twists - 3 sets of 20
50 squats
50 jumping jacks
30 minutes of running
Leg stretches & quad stretches


I finally saw my competition too!!! There are 2 other girls and we are all around the same weight and height. and then 2 men that are about the same weight. One of the guys is an "ex jock" I think hes going to be my biggest competition.
Who ever wins gets a $1000 shopping spree, $200 hair & makeup makeover & a photo session. Even though losing all the weight is prize enough for me.... The shopping spree will be awesome!

More to come...............

SORRY!!!!

Just wanted to send a quick message to everyone that Im sorry I havent been able to update this. I will try my best to get it all updated this evening!!!
Our computer at home is being repaired & I have been so busy at work I havent been able to get on here to update.

Stay tuned.... I have lots to tell you!

I did it & I feel great!

I survived the 2nd grueling workout with Sharon. I dont know how I managed to do it but I feel awesome! I woke up this morning and again my body is in so much pain but I also woke up just feeling better about myself. I think its finally setting in that I am doing this for myself and it feels so good to be doing it. I LOVE Sharon!!! She is amazing!! She really makes me feel like she is here for me to get me the best results possible. I feel so lucky to have her guiding me through this journey. Except I dont meet with her again until Monday. I wish I could train with her everyday. Im scared that I dont have enough discipline in myself to do the things she asks of me on my own. If Im running on my own and I get tired, I will stop where if shes there she will make me keep going. I have tonight & tomorrow to workout on my own and then Sunday I have the day off (except I think I might fit in a short workout. Nothing crazy maybe just do a Walk Away the Pounds tape or something). I find myself now looking forward to our training days which is crazy cause on Wednesday I was thinking I just couldnt do this. We will see how the weekend goes.

Thursdays Meal Plan:

Breakfast: 8:30am - 2 Egg Whites, 2 slices of turkey bacon & 1/2 grapefruit

Snack: 10:30am - String cheese with a handful of almonds

Lunch: 1:00pm - Salad with Light Italian dressing, 1/2 cup cottage cheese & sunflower seeds

Snack: 4:00pm - Carrots with Hummus

Dinner: 5:45pm - Chicken with brown rice, carrots, broccoli & Cauliflower

8:30pm (After workout) Protein Shake & an orange


Whats been making it so easy for me to follow a healthy diet is to plan the day ahead of what I am going to eat. I write down everything in my journal and then in the morning I only eat what I have set for myself to eat.

Oh and by the way: for those of you that have also started a healthier you........ GOOD LUCK!!!! I have now realized that when you really want something so bad.... You CAN do it! Its hard to get off the ground but once you do....its yours! I hope as you read these it will help you along your journey too!!!

Wednesdays Meal plan:

Breakfast: 8:05am - 1/2 of a whole wheat bagel w/ organic peanut butter 1 banana

Snack: 10:52am - 1/2 cup cottage cheese w/ 1/2 cup chopped pineapple

Lunch: 1:05pm - Turkey, swiss cheese & avocado on whole grain bread 1 apple

Snack: 4:40pm - low fat string cheese & grapefruit

Dinner: 5:30pm - Chicken w/ brown rice, broccoli, cauliflower & carrots

8:30pm (after workout) protein shake

****LOTS OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY!!!****

I survived..... barely!!!!

OH MY WORD!!!!! I got my ass kicked last night like nobodys business. I almost fainted twice and came close to throwing up at the end of the workout. It was an hour and half of pure hell. There came a point that I thought I just couldnt do it. It was very overwhelming and emotional for me last night. I never realized how out of shape I have let myself become. Its not just my weight but everything. My heart rate kept going super high after only a few minutes of training. How could I let myself get to this point? I was very disappointed in myself but then I thought..... this is why I want this and need this so bad. Im only 28 years old. Theres no reason for me to be like this. I want this now more than ever.
So, while I was struggling through this crazy hard workout.... the Daily Herald was there taking pictures & video taping my entire workout!!!!!! It was soooooooooo embarrassing! There was one point where I can feel my pants up my butt and then Sharon (my trainer) is telling me to squeeze my cheeks together.... Mr Daily Herald man has it all on tape!!! Im anxious to see what all they are going to show. This might be very entertaining for all of you! Mortifying for me but entertaining for you.
Anyway... I managed to get through it and woke up this morning and feel like I need a body cast. I have no idea how Im going to go through another grueling training session tonight. I just keep thinking "It will get better!"
Here is how my workout schedule will go:

Monday: Trainer
Tuesday: Homework - Run for 1/2 hour, 3 sets of walking lunges at 16 each, 30 crunches
Wednesday: Trainer
Thursday: Trainer
Friday: Homework - Run for 1/2 hour, 3 sets of walking lunges at 16 each, 30 crunches
Saturday: Homework - Run for 1/2 hour
Sunday: Rest

Sharon said no matter how skinny, fat, fit etc you are you MUST build strength in your core!

I meet with the nutritionist on Saturday. I will let you know what they tell me. So far here is what I have learned:

Top 10 LOW Glycemic Foods you should eat: Apples, Berries & Cherries, Barley, Grapefruit, Legumes (lentils, beans, peanuts) Nuts (almonds, walnuts, soy nuts) Oatmeal (Unsweetened) Grean Peas, Tomatoes & unsweetened plain yogurt

Top 10 HiGH Glycemic Food to avoid: Candy, Cookies, Juices with added sugar, white potatoes, chips (corn or potato) Suger, Most breakfast cereal, sweetened soda, sweet snacks & white bread & bagels (processed flour)

Fat containing foods you should eat: Avocados, Cold water fish (Cod, salmon, tuna) Flaxseed oil or meal, grape seed oil, Nuts, Nut butters (almond or peanut) Olive oil, safflower Oil, sesame oil, seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)

Fat containing foods to avoid: Cakes, cookies, doughnuts, potatoe chips and other snack foods, deep fried foods, lard, margarine, palm & palm kernal oil, shortening, poultry skin, Trans fats (such as :partially hydronated oils")

and if you can: ALWAYS SHOP ORGANIC!!!!

stay tuned for more to come.................

Lord give me strength!

I woke up this morning and could barely get out of bed. I feel like someone stomped all over my stomach & ribs!!! I didnt even do anything on Monday. Today is my 1st real day of training. Im not sure how Im going to get through these 1st few weeks cause my body is going to be hurting like crazy but Lord give me strength!

PS...... I had Tilipia for lunch today!!!

I met my trainer: Sharon "the Bully"

I met my trainer last night!!! She is amazing!!!! Im very excited to have her as my trainer. They call her "the bully" She doesnt mess around!!! Shes this tiny little adorable thing that is going to whoop my ass! All she kept saying last night is "we are going to win!" She likes to swear too which I love!!! The facility is a private studio so there will rarely be other people there with me when Im training. I love that! She told me if I have to yell, swear cry whatever it takes for me to not give up while we are training then do it. She told me I can no longer eat ANY candy! Yikes!!!! Thats going to be very difficult for me.
I didnt do a full workout last night. It was more a fitness assessment for her to know where I am at. I had to do as many "real" sit ups as I could in 2 minutes. As many push ups as I could and a 1 mile walk/run. Then she took all my measurements. My left arm is 1 inch bigger than my right!! She asked me if there was 1 specific part of my body I want to work on she I said no....just my entire body needs to shrink!
I was so nervous but now Im just so excited & pumped to do this! Its a little overwhelming but I think thats to be expected. I didnt take my before picture yet. Im not sure when they are going to do that.
My 1st real workout is tomorrow, Feb 4th!!! Let the competition begin!!!!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Today is the 1st day of my journey....my new healty life!!! I woke up with a huge knot in my stomach today and keep thinking "What have I gotten myself into!" Im so nervous!!!!! I think Im more nervous about having to take my before picture. Its going to be so embarrassing but I think it will hit home once I see my dimply, rolly polly body posted in the newspaper for everyone to see. I meet with my trainer for the 1st time tonight @ 7:30pm.
My 1st health tip I learned: Drink an 8oz glass of water 1st thing in the morning. Before you brush your teeth, pee etc. The water wakes up your body and gets your metablolism running right away!
I hope everyone will follow this 12 week journey with me! Hopefully through my weight loss experience, I can help others to live a healthier skinnier life too!!!
Talk to you all later!!! (If my fingers arent too sore to type! ha ha ha!)

My journey is about to begin.... Yikes!

Its the night before my 1st day of training and I dont even know what to think to be honest. I am so excited but so nervous as well. Im about to get my ass kicked!!! I spoke with my trainer for the 1st time and I am beyond excited that I have her as my trainer. I think this time I am just so excited about this weight loss journey that I know I will do my very best. Not to mention its going to be published in the Daily Herald for everyone to see!!! Tomorrow I have to take my before pictures....That is going to be scary!!!! But it will be the last time you see me looking like that. Im really excited & I have the best family & friend that are supporting me in this. I want this so bad and I know everyone wants it for me as well.