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.

Burpee Comment Challenge!

Dun Dun Dun

 Let's play a little game, shall we? To celebrate my completion of JMBR, breaking through my plateau, and new readers, I thought I'd do a little (possibly huge) challenge today.  Today is my cardio day, and I do have a run planned for this evening, but lets kick it up a notch...Are you ready?

Share your favorite type of exercise, activity, body part to work on etc... in the comments and I will do 5 burpees per comment! Deadline for comments to count is 5 PM MST. I've really been trying to push myself in my workouts and be comfortable with being uncomfortable. I figured this would be a fun way for me to do it! So comment away and torture help me out!

 You guys left me some of the sweetest comments on my JMBR Final Results post on Monday. You sure know how to lift a girl up! I started this blog to document my journey and hold myself accountable. As in, "if some random person happens to run across my blog today, I want to be able to show progress along with the failures." I never imagined to find actual support through this, and it has meant the world to me.

I have quite a few new followers, welcome! I'm happy you're here and I love feedback. Hearing from you all keeps me going and motivated! I reply to all comments via email, but if you're a no-reply blogger, I'll try to find your comment and reply to you on the blog.

I'm going to be taking a 1 month break from the scale starting tomorrow, so I thought I'd link-up my weight today. Still sitting at 169.5. Hopefully the next time I weigh in, I'll be in the 150s!

What's your favorite exercise, activity or body part to work on?

Closet Shopping

I'm getting to the point in my weight-loss where I can go shopping in my own closet. There are clothes back in there I forgot I ever had, and never thought I would be able to wear again. Today, I am wearing a shirt that I haven't worn in about 4 years. I remember it well. It was post weight-loss #1 when I got a little too comfortable in maintenance and started putting some pounds back on.

The day I bought the shirt was a depressing fitting room experience. After months and months of hard work, it was the first item I had to buy back up a size. There were tears shed in the dressing room that day. I was back up to 160 from 145ish. It wasn't tragic, but I was angry with myself for allowing it to happen. This should have been my wake-up call to get my butt in gear. It wouldn't have taken much to lose pounds put on that fast, I know that now. Instead, I just gave up that day. That was the old me.

I pulled the all-telling shirt from the back of my closet this morning, remembering the weight I was when I bought it. It was snug back then, at 9 lbs less than I am now. I knew there was no possible way it would fit comfortably. What's the harm in just trying it on, right? I figured it would be a good gauge as to where I'm at in comparison. Amazingly, it fits better than it did back then. And I weigh more.

Yet another example that the scale "lies". Don't gauge your successes just by that number that flashes back at you. It doesn't know as much as we give it credit for. 

JMBR Final Results & Progress Pics - Motivation Monday

Grab a button and join us for Motivation Monday!

<center> <a href="http://www.thefittrain.blogspot.com/"><img alt="MotivationMonday" height="400" src=" http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv234/Wendy413/Motivation%20Monday/NewMotivateTeam2.jpg" width="600"></a></center>

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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5 On Friday!

I have a weekend full of nothingness planned, and I can.not.wait! I'm fore-seeing lots of relaxation, possibly a nap, a trip to the park and splash pad (weather permitting), and cuddling with my lion baby. Well, and a workout or two of course.

Since it is the greatest day of the week, it's time for 5 on Friday!

1. If you haven't checked out, or participated in Operation Skinny Jean's and Fit & Sassy Ash's #fridayfitstagram, you need to! Looking at everyone's pictures throughout the week has been such a great motivation.

2. I'm feeling last night's workout this morning. By feeling, I mean that my abs and triceps are completely useless. Don't make me laugh; I'll cry in pain. However, I'd be lying if I said I don't love it. 2 days down on my 4 week program from Erica @efitmama and I'm wondering how I ever lived without it. 

One word: Awesome.

3. My life this week has been consumed by potty seats. The dreaded "potty training time" is approaching us, NOW and I can't decide on anything. I've been researching different methods, potty seats vs. straight to big-boy toilet, pull-ups vs. undies only. Oy... I have a headache and we haven't even started. Any tips or recommendations?

4. For anyone new here, my son thinks he is a lion the majority of the time. We have acquired quite the lion pride, and it seems to grow weekly. Who keeps buying these things? hmmm. Anyways, we have now adopted a cow into our pride. Wyatt tucked him into bed last night. Which was basically the sweetest thing that's ever happened on earth...

5. Come link up with us on Monday for Motivation Monday! I'll have my Jillian Michaels - Body Revolution final results up with pictures and measurements. 

Non-Scale Victories

Thursday; one of the greatest days of the week since we get to focus on non-scale victories.

1. I shared this on Monday, but I'm going to recap yet again. I completed a 6+ mile backpacking trip this past weekend. It was absolutely amazing. Hiking through that gorgeous terrain gave me a chance to really reflect on some things. I've been so focused on how far I still have to go, that I forgot how far I've actually come. It was not an easy hike. It's uphill and a good mile or so we were climbing over boulders. Yet, I felt on top of the world. I'm positive I could have even ran through some of it which was a great sense of accomplishment.

                                           

2. I was offered ice cream last night and I declined.

3. I completed JMBR!! Results will be up for Motivation Monday this next week. Never in a million years did I think I would follow through with it. I also chose my new fitness route and have started my 4 week program from efitmama.

4. Wednesday is a cardio day for me, and the one day a week I'm guaranteede the opportunity to run. As I was getting off work, the thunder clouds were coming in and severe thunderstorm warnings were blaring on the radio. I was discouraged and figured I'd just do a quick cardio workout at home. I finished my second 20 minute cardio workout, and decided to head out the door and pray I wouldn't be struck by lightening. I managed to get 2 miles in before the rain started, and it was a PR! I finished under 20 minutes.

5. One thing I've learned through this plateau is the importance of progress pictures. That is what has been keeping me motivated the most. I'm curious as the changes I'll see while on Erica's program, so I snapped a little flex picture for a "before" reference. I was pleasantly surprised to see a little bicep showing up.

So far, it has been a really positive week and I hope it continues!



I'm Moving On...

With my workouts, that is! I technically completed JMBR last week (final results will be up sometime next week), but had been continuing the past few days while I researched and made decisions about where I want to go from here. Then I came across Erica aka efitmama on IG (follow her, she is AMAZING), who just happens to have started a blog this week at Mom with Muscle.

She happened to have a special going earlier this week for a customized 4 week plan. The timing was too perfect and I jumped on it. The workouts are going to be very similar to JMBR, but with a big bump in intensity. I'll also be adding more cardio than I have been doing previously.

I am beyond excited for this new phase. The fire that I had in the beginning of my journey is back and it feels great! I completed my first ever Tabata workout before work this morning. It was short and sweet, but effective. Sweat was dripping off of me! I'll finish up cardio day with a 3 mile run this evening, followed by 30ds since there is still a few more days left of the challenge. I'll kick this plateau's butt if it's the last thing I do!

Busy week, so short and sweet today. Happy Hump Day!