Fit 4 Christmas Results & Link-up

It's hard to believe we have reached the end of the Fit 4 Christmas Challenge! This has been such an awesome experience for me. Not just because of losing weight and finding my motivation again, but because of all of you. The support you all have given each other has been so amazing... I just don't even have the words. Thank you all for joining in and making it such a great (almost) 2 months.

***Don't forget to submit your challenge results, including before/after pictures and starting/finishing weight to me. If you want a chance to win the awesome prize pack (handmade crochet item of your choosing, $15 Starbucks gift card, some of my favorite misc health/fitness items and a Target gift card donated by Heather) be sure to link up, post to the Facebook group or email me at tiffhult27 (at) gmail (dot) com by Sunday morning. I will announce the winner on Monday!

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I started this challenge back at a pretty unhappy place. Frustration over a very long plateau was getting the best of me and I had all but thrown in the towel. I weighed in November 1st back up 7.5 pounds at 175.6 from my lowest weight.

I weighed in this morning at 166.1.

Total lost in the challenge: 9.5 lbs
Total lost to date: 29.50 lbs

Did I meet my 162 goal for the challenge? No. But I lost during the holidays for the first time... ever. I broke a 5 month long plateau! I'm happy with the progress I've made.

Was I perfect along the way? Most definitely not. In fact, I have been unable to workout for the past two weeks. But I've managed to lose. A belt isn't even helping to keep my pants up. My rings are very close to having to go on a chain around my neck. Changes are happening and progress is being made again!

Left pictures were taken November 1st. The right were taken this morning.

 

And since I'm so close to that 30 lb loss mark, I wanted to compare just how far I've come. Again, I didn't take before pictures until I had already lost 10 pounds and was at 185. 

20 lb difference

185 lbs

That was me less than a year ago. I have a hard time looking at these pictures. I never saw that when I looked in the mirror. Clearly, I knew I was overweight and out of shape. But I had no idea how overweight I was and most importantly, how unhappy I was.

In the grand scheme of things, 30 pounds lost doesn't sound like a lot. But it is. Not just physically, but emotionally. It's taking longer to get to where I want to be than I expected, but I'm enjoying the journey and am so excited for what 2014 is going to bring.

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Alright ladies... start sharing those before and afters! I can't wait to see everyone's results!.

Non-Scale Victories - The Difference a Year Can Make

Thanksgiving brought a lot of reflection for me this year. As I was on my long drive to my dad's house last week, alone with my thoughts while Dylan and Wyatt slept, I couldn't help but think back to last Thanksgiving. It's amazing what can change in a year.

Last Thanksgiving my parents were still together. Dylan lived at home; still in high school. Wyatt was a little toddler instead of a ferocious lion cub. My youngest niece wasn't even crawling yet. Relationships in my personal life were in a different place. And me personally? I was roughly 30 pounds heavier, very sick and very unhappy.

This time last year, is when I first got that fire to workout and get healthy. Unfortunately, a year ago this week, I found out I had pneumonia that ended up taking a couple months to fully recover from. That was a rough time for me. My doctor's wanted to hospitalize me, but I continued to refuse. There was no one that could care for Wyatt while I was in the hospital. So, I continued to work full time and be full time mommy while trying to recover. This, no doubt, prolonged the pneumonia. But, I did what I had to do for my son. Looking back, I am so grateful for that time. Struggling to breath on a daily basis. Struggling to carry my son up and down the stairs. Struggling to give him a bath. Being unable to get on the floor and play with him... it hit me like a ton of bricks. If not just for myself, I had to get healthy for Wyatt.

Now, I'm about 30 pounds lighter. I'm a far more attentive mother and friend. Most importantly, I'm a much happier version of myself.

Left: Thanksgiving 2012. Right: Thanksgiving 2013

Honestly, I'm not so sure the scale is going to be overly kind to me tomorrow. But whatever it reflects, I'm going to be okay with that number. I missed a week and a half of workouts due to being sick, but I kept my eating in check. I controlled my Thanksgiving dinner and a long road trip with small portion sizes and smarter choices. I've managed stress through a trip to Urgent Care with Wyatt in these two weeks and little sleep. Sure, I've had slip ups and minimal exercise. But, I've kept the healthy mindset and I've done the best with what I have been handed as of late.

In the past, I would have thrown caution to the wind. If I can't be perfect, why try at all?

Now, I understand that sometimes other things have to come first. Sometimes, I can't be perfect. Perfection is boring... and impossible to achieve. If you set out to be perfect all the time, all you're going to find is disappointment. Trust me, I've been there. Find joy in your journey. Find a balance that works for you, and you will get there!

30 Day Shred Results

Is it really August already? I'm in shock! I thought the day would never come. I love Jillian, but 30ds gets old very quickly for me. Too repetitive in my opinion. But, it gets results. Which is the whole point, of course. I missed a few days here and there, but I was doing it along with JMBR, so I didn't sweat it too much. Let's get right to it, shall we?

 

Weight wise, I only lost roughly 5/6 lbs. 

Inches:

Start:                                 Finish:

Waist: 36"                          34"

Tummy: 40"                        37"

Hips: 40"                            39"

Left Thigh: 22.75"               22"

As I was getting my result pictures ready this morning, I decided to go further back and look at my mid-section progress. I took a bare stomach picture in April, after I was down 10 pounds to use as a reference for myself. I never planned on sharing them with anyone else, but I'm so happy with my progress today, I've decided to be brave...

I still have a ways to go, but I'm happy with my progress so far!

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Yesterday was my Burpee Comment Challenge. I posted that I would do 5 burpees for every comment I received. Around noon yesterday, I opened it up to IG as well and ended up with enough comments and "likes" to give me 80 burpees. You guys are the best!

There was no way I was giving up my run, so I headed out right after work for a 5k. As much as I love the runner's high and challenging myself to run faster/further, I don't enjoy running. I notice every step, every breath and constantly check my phone to see how close I am to being able to stop. But not yesterday. Yesterday's run felt nearly effortless. I enjoyed my surroundings and music. I said hi to people as I passed them and felt amazing. I PR'd my 5k, then went home and did my 80 burpees before I found an excuse to put them off.

80 burpees after 3 miles were torture, and I LOVED it. I had to take a 30 second break every 20 burpees to stretch my quads, but I got 'um done! Thanks to everyone that helped me out with my challenge! I think I'm going to start doing comment challenges regularly.

JMBR Final Results & Progress Pics - Motivation Monday

Grab a button and join us for Motivation Monday!

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Four months ago I ordered Jillian Michaels Body Revolution on a whim, hoping that I would finally find the motivation to lose the weight and get my health back. Day 1 of JMBR, I weighed in at 195.6

Approximately 195 lbs

I've faced some set backs with injuries and illnesses causing the program to take a little longer than expected, but I pushed through to the end. In Phase 1, I was skeptical. I struggled to force myself to get up and get the workout done. But, the pounds were falling off, so I continued on. It's hard to find an excuse to skip a workout that's only 30 minutes long. I lost 10 pounds in the first phase and was starting to feel a little better. My clothes were fitting more comfortably and I was beginning to enjoy my healthier lifestyle.

Towards the end of Phase 2, I started seeing a lot of changes. Not just in my physical appearance, but changes in who I am. I found myself smiling more and had more confidence than I've felt in a lot time. Instead of coasting through the day to day, I started to feel passionate about things again and enjoy the little moments. The old me was returning.

In Phase 3, I found a love for fitness. The scale slowed in the last phase, which I'd be lying if I said it wasn't frustrating. However, it's no longer the most important factor to me. I became more concerned with what my body is capable of. How far can I run? How fast? How heavy can I lift? How many reps can I do? My focus has switched. Am I at a healthy weight? No. Do I still plan on losing? Heck yes. Of course I do. I can't wait for the day I am at a healthy weight, however, my overall health is my main focus. For me, I am judging that by my endurance and what I can achieve in my workouts. By doing this, I have seen the biggest changes in my body this phase. Even though the scale doesn't reflect it. 

So, on to the JMBR - Final Results

Left: End of Phase 1. Middle: End of Phase 2. Right: End of Phase 3

Left: End of Phase 1. Middle: End of Phase 2. Right: End of Phase 3

Also, as these pictures reveal... I've had a break in my plateau! I am finally down 1 pound this week for a total of 26 pounds lost. This is the first time I've seen the 160's in over 3 years. Here's to hoping the 160's disappear faster than the 170's!

I'm a few days into my 4 week program from efitmama and I am LOVING it. It's a bit higher intensity, which is exactly what I was needing right now. Eventually, I do plan to come back to JMBR and repeat it using higher weights and the more difficult modifiers. 

I'm a work in a progress, but I'm amazed at how far I've come. I have tears in my eyes looking at these pictures. Tears for letting myself get so unhealthy and be unhappy for so long. But most importantly, tears of happiness. Because I'm actually doing it. I stopped looking for excuses and I just did something about it. I put the negativity aside and ignored the part of me saying "Someday" "There's not enough time." "Maybe when Wyatt gets a little older." "Eating healthy is too expensive." "I'm too tired." "I'll start tomorrow, or Monday." I'd listened to her for far too long and clearly she wasn't making me happy. Choosing to ignore the excuses was one of the best decisions I've ever made. 

I've said it a thousand times, and I'm sure I'll say it a billion more: Your body is capable of so much more than you ever dreamed of. Push yourself past your "limits" because that is where the magic happens.

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Also, I'm guest posting for the beautiful Carolyn over at Fitnasty for Life today. Go check it out!

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Progress Pics + Finding Your True Weight with Dukan Diet

                    

Towards the middle to end of June I reached my 20 pound loss mark. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, I started to get a little lax with my eating. The occasional cheat was turning into a daily cheat and I justified it to myself. I'd just lost 20 pounds! I can afford to eat some junk again, right? Wrong. 20 lbs is awesome, and I still feel great about that. The problem was, I'm no where near goal. Not only that, but this journey isn't just about losing weight for me. It's about being healthy inside and out. I want to be strong, not just physically, but strong in healthy food choices and life in general.

As you all know, I started my photo food log experiment. It definitely helped some, but still wasn't giving me the structure that I needed at this point. Then, I heard about the Dukan Diet. It is a form of a Low Carb Diet with a customized Weight Loss Plan. I want to explain the program a little bit since I've been pretty vague about it up to this point. I'll have progress pics at the end of the post, so bare with me a bit!

                                               

As you can see above, The Dukan Diet is a physician formulated program with 4 phases to help you reach your "true weight." You don't count calories on this program. You can eat as much as you want within the 100 allowed foods consisting of lean proteins, select veggies and Oat Bran.

You can find your true weight by answering 80 questions about yourself (eating habits, build, lifestyle, pregnancies etc...) This info is used to determine what your true, healthy weight is. BMI and other weight loss programs are very vague. Dukan Diet makes it personal, which I really like. My True Weight is 138.

My favorite part about the program is daily accountability. With Dukan Diet Weight Loss Coaching (less than $1 a day) you fill out a report about your day with current weight, measurements, exercise, motivation level, and the next morning they send you a response based on your answers. I've never seen any weight loss programs that do this, and I've tried many.

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Finally, on to my experience with the program.

I was nervous about starting. This program takes away all of my favorite foods. But, this was a good thing. I don't want to cut them out forever. However, I knew I needed to for a time being so I could learn to not depend on them. My body (and mind) needed to learn to eat them sparingly. So, I decided that a drastic change for some time is what I needed at this point in the game.

Knowing I was starting the program, I did something very bad. I ate junk, and a lot of it, the day before. I gained a few pounds doing so, and starting the program back up at 176 (I'm 5'4").

Coming from a girl that was once a vegetarian and really could care less for meat, the attack phase was extremely difficult for me. I don't eat fish or seafood which really limits your variety on the program. By the end of day 2 with no sweets or carbs, I thought I might be dying. No joke. Who knew it was possible to have withdrawals over food? This was a huge eye opener for me, though. I depend on food far more than I ever realized. Since the attack phase, I'm trying to learn that we eat to fuel our bodies. Not for comfort or enjoyment. There is a purpose behind it, and I need to choose my foods with that in mind.

I lost 5 pounds during my 6 days on the Attack Phase, bringing me back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Woohoo! 5 lbs in less than a week is a big loss, and I think that might explain some of the plateau that I've experienced the past 10 days.

These shorts were bought towards the beginning of the Dukan Diet. This picture was taken one week later.

Now for the official Before/Afters (weighing in at 171.2.) Darn plateau anyways...

If you wish to try the Dukan Diet you can get 25% off Dukan Diet Coaching by using code: F13BG25

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I'm off to climb a 14,000 foot mountain (yikes!). Hope you all have a great weekend, and don't forget to link up with us on Monday for Motivation Monday!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for the Dukan Diet; however, all thoughts, opinions and results are my own. 

Let's Have Coffee...

If we were to have coffee together today, I'd probably tell you:

* I am so excited for the 4th of July tomorrow! Happy Birthday, America! Fun with family and friends, and a day off from work. It doesn't get better than that.

* While standing in the checkout line yesterday, staring at all this temptation, foaming at the mouth like a rabid raccoon, I decided it should be illegal to put sweets by the register.

* I'm doing this crazy awesome 30ds challenge with Amber and Holly. Of course, I still have Phase 3 of JMBR, so I'm doing two-a-days. There is a high possibility Jillian might kill me this month... 

* But it's worth it for the results. While cleaning out the storage room, I came across this coat this past weekend. It used to barely button across me.  It is moments like this that make all the struggles, stress, sweat and tears worth it. 

Have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day everyone!!

JMBR Phase 2 Results & Motivation Monday

Good riddance JMBR Phase 2. I wish I could say I was sad to see you go. Although, I may be wishing you back by the end of this week! Sunday's are supposed to be my rest day, but I was too curious. So, I decided to give Cardio 3 a try and see what was in store for me in the next 5 weeks...

Death. That's what is in store. I'm not joking, friends. I laid there for a good 20 minutes after finishing, sure I had died and gone to hell. Surprisingly, I survived. However, if I don't post tomorrow, know that it's death by Jillian.

Of course, I can't move on to Phase 3 without sharing my Phase 2 results with you guys. I've debated sharing my weight and progress pictures. Mainly because I hate looking at myself. I hate seeing my weight in black and white. But, we are our worst critics, right? So, here we go.

Let's start with measurements. For some idiotic reason, I didn't think to take measurements of my whole body before starting the program. I'm blonde, what can I say? I only have my beginning tummy and hip measurements. I got smarter after completing Phase 1 and did my whole body at that time. Word to the wise, take measurements from the get go! I promise you will regret it if you don't.

 I use the following chart as a guideline on where to measure myself at.

Now for the scary part: pictures. Just like with measurements, I didn't take official "before pictures." I got smart and changed that after Phase 1 was complete and I'd already lost 10 pounds. I started my journey the beginning of March weighing in at 195 pounds, 5'4" tall. Yikes. The only pictures I have at that weight are from a little trip we took the weekend before I started JMBR. 

195 lbs

I lived in hoodies no matter the temperature. Always covered up and ashamed of my appearance. This was probably the first day in months that I had my hair down. I had given up on myself completely.

 Here are my "end of phase 1" results (it's not easy taking full length pictures of yourself in a little mirror):

185 lbs

And my end of Phase 2 results, weighing in at 175 this morning. 20 pounds down, lots more to go! But I will get there!

175 lbs

I have had many setbacks along the way already: injuries, illnesses, vacations, but I'm not giving up. There is still a long ways to go, but it's great to finally start seeing and feeling a difference in myself. If you have a bad day and are feeling like you've ruined your progress, or are wondering what's the point in continuing on, just remember that the time is going to pass anyways. I try to always keep in mind the quote: "6 months from now you're going to wish you started today." Oh so true... if Jill doesn't kill me first. 

Head on over and see Wendy to grab a button and link up!