Waiting for Player 4!

That’s right! Peanut’s going to be a big sister!

This is why I haven’t been on my blog. I know, I know! It’s an excuse but a pretty good one if you ask me. The first trimester fatigue was a killer. If Peanut was asleep, so was I. My body has adjusted to all of the hormones and I am finally feeling more like myself again. Well, as close to myself as I can while pregnant. I’m currently 14 weeks pregnant and finally in the second trimester. I have been feeling the baby move for a few weeks now but his/her movement has really increased this week. I have nicknamed our new little one Blueberry and I’ll be calling him or her Blueberry for now on.

Hubby and I are very excited and happy to have Blueberry although we were DEFINITELY surprised when we found out. Haha! This just means it was meant to happen. Due to my pregnancy, my blog topic will be changing to more baby and motherly related posts. Although, I hope to continue posting about what exercise and workouts I will be doing during my pregnancy. (These are exercises and workouts I choose to do according to my fitness and comfort level. Always talk to your doctor before performing any exercise, especially when pregnant. End disclosure LOL).

It feels great to finally tell you guys about my pregnancy. I’ve been looking forward to it and will be posting more about my pregnancy soon! I missed you guys!

Sick of being sick

I promise I haven’t forgotten about this blog! I’ve had a crazy past few weeks. I feel like a bad blogger! Lately, I haven’t had the energy to do much of anything, let alone exercising. I’ve been sick for the past few weeks.

Two and a half weeks ago, I thought I had gotten bitten four times by a spider. I had woken up on a Saturday morning with these four bright red itchy spots on my side. I changed my bed sheets and thought nothing of it at first. By Monday morning, my side hurt, itched like crazy and was getting worse. I called my doctor to make an appointment to have it checked because I was afraid of it being a poisonous spider. Well, I was wrong. It wasn’t a spider bite…. I had shingles…

Shingles sounds like my arm is going to rot off. Hubby and I jokingly called it Shambling Shingles for the first few days. For those of you (like me) who don’t know what shingles is, here is a description from WebMD…

“Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body. After you get better from chickenpox, the virus “sleeps” (is dormant) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others, the virus “wakes up” when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system.”

Shingles is only contagious to people who have never had chickenpox (aka Peanut) but only through direct contact to the rash. The symptoms I had including pain around the area, aching all over, headaches, a rash that turns into blisters, etc. Let’s just say I haven’t had a great few weeks. The rash still hasn’t gone away but it doesn’t hurt or itch that much anymore.

Sunday, I came down with a cold. Sore throat, runny nose, coughing, etc. etc. etc. I have been miserable but I am FINALLY starting to feel better. I’ll be making a post soon about what I have been thinking about during this time of being sick. I have been adjusting some of my fitness goals.

Weekly Update- July 28, 2013

Every week I plan on posting an update about my progress towards better health. I will post goals I want to accomplish in the upcoming week, if I accomplished the goals I set the previous week, current weight, if I lose or gain weight (hopefully only lose weight), and a brief summary of my activities.

Goals from previous week

n/a

Goals for the upcoming week

Do the BeFit in 90 workout each day as instructed
Drink lots of water (even more since its hot)
Eat more healthy meals, especially at lunch time
Take Peanut for walks

Weigh-in Time

Start Weight: 270 pounds
Current Weight: 247.8 pounds
Lose/Gain: Lost 0 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 22.2 pounds

Weekly Summary

I have been eating healthy this week (much better than last week). I’m still struggling with doing the BeFit in 90. I’m struggling with getting myself to do it as well as trying to complete it. I did take Peanut for a walk today and I hope to take her for more walks this week. We had a great time and we took food for Hubby’s uncle to eat. I’m getting much better than last week but I’m still finding it hard to stay motivated. But I’m trying 🙂

BeFit in 90- Days 56, 57 and 58

Day 56- Saturday

The first workout I did after being sick all week. It felt great working out again. I missed moving and strengthening my body. It felt great. The double strength workouts really kicked my butt back in gear too. Day 56 consisted of the Warm-up 2, Ripped Back and Shoulders, Six Pack Abs and Arms, and Yoga.

Day 57

Rest Day!!!!

Day 58

Double Cardio! I already sweat enough on double cardio days but add in the heat this week (still no AC) and I felt like I could have filled the bathtub with sweat. **Sorry for the mental image LOL** I didn’t realize how much I missed doing the cardio until I was halfway through the second cardio video. Day 58 consisted of the Warm-up 2, Cardio MMA Phase 2, Cardio Booster (I did the Fat Blast video from my Kickboxing DVD) and the Sports Stretch. It felt great! I was really sore by bedtime though.

Weekly Update- July 14, 2013

Every week I plan on posting an update about my progress towards better health. I will post goals I want to accomplish in the upcoming week, if I accomplished the goals I set the previous week, current weight, if I lose or gain weight (hopefully only lose weight), and a brief summary of my activities.

Goals from previous week

n/a

Goals for the upcoming week

Do the BeFit in 90 workout each day as instructed
Drink lots of water (even more since its hot)
Eat more healthy meals, especially at lunch time
Eat more soluble fiber and protein

Weigh-in Time

Start Weight: 270 pounds (122.47 kilograms)
Current Weight: 247.8 pounds (112.40 kilograms)
Lose/Gain: Lost 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms)
Total Weight Loss: 22.2 pounds (10.07 kilograms)

Weekly Summary

I am so happy I lost another 2 pounds. I didn’t think I would since this past week has been terrible for my workouts. As I said in my previous posts, I have been sick all week. I finally felt good enough yesterday to start doing it again. I missed working out so much during the week. I was happy to do it again. I look forward to continuing my BeFit in 90 this week.

I ate pretty well this week. I mainly ate oatmeal and homemade soup since I was sick. I did eat a few sugary snacks this week. More than I should have. I’ll try better this week to stay away from them.

I will be trying to use metric measurements as well as standard from now on. I might forget to do it sometimes but I’ll try 😀

Before and Current Pictures

I can’t believe it. I know losing 20 pounds is a lot but I really couldn’t see that much of a physical difference as I stood in front of the mirror taking my current pictures. Yes, my belly was a bit smaller and my face looked a bit thinner but I couldn’t really see that much change. After putting these pictures side by side, I was speechless. Could there really have been that much of a difference? Have I changed that much already????

I am so happy I decided to take before pictures. At first I wasn’t going to but I knew I wasn’t going to stay that way for long. I also knew I would want to be able to compare where I will be with where I started. I cann0t believe how much I have changed in just 3 months. It is totally amazing. I am so proud of myself 😀 Hubby helped me with Photoshop and he was surprised at how much I changed as well. I guess it doesn’t seem like too much since he sees me every day.

The best part is this is just the beginning! I still have quite a long journey ahead of me. I am making lifestyle changes and this is only the beginning. I look forward to seeing more progress as I continue on this path to a healthy lifestyle 😀

Front View of my before and after losing 20 pounds.

Side View of my before and after losing 20 pounds

PS. sorry for the awkward pictures. I took the first ones in my bathroom right after a shower. I didn’t think I would be showing them to anyone. I wanted to make sure I took the current picture in the same clothes and same spot to really demonstrate how much I changed.

20 pounds down!!!

I can’t believe it! I have made it to my first major goal! I lost 20 pounds in a little under 3 months! It has almost made me speechless. I spent most of yesterday just thinking about how I have lost 20 pounds in such a small amount of time. It feels surreal. I almost don’t believe it. I still feel like me. Yes, I’ve noticed numerous changes since I’ve started my healthy journey but have I really changed so much that I lost 20 pounds??? I don’t feel that much different.

I still sweat like crazy when I workout. I still get out of breath during my workouts and feel sore afterwards. I am still a far way off from running or even jogging. I still modify my workouts and feel clumsy at times. I still feel like me. While there have been physical changes, I don’t feel like I look that much different. I also still have a long way to go.

But there are also many differences from when I started as well. I’m not nearly as out of breath as I use to be. I feel more energized all of the time and I feel happier. The rush of a good workout lasts longer and I usually look forward to my workouts. I feel stronger and can do more than I use to. I last longer during my workouts with less water breaks. I have lost a pant size and see the weight loss in my hips and stomach. I have lost inches as well as weight. I’ve had quite a few people tell me my face looks thinner. I look for extra ways to fit in exercise. I am already looking ahead to what workout program I will do after BeFit in 90. Plus so many more!

The part that amazes me the most is how I have lost 20 pounds. No diets, no “magic” pills, no special drinks or shakes, no fasting or binging, no cheat days or meals. I just eat healthy and exercise. I find it so unbelievable because 90% of all topics relating to losing weight say it is suppose to be harder doing it the right way. They make eating healthy and exercising seem like the hardest thing in the world to do. As though you must find a short cut or quick fix to lose weight because the “hard” way is just too hard. I feel baffled that I could reach my first goal within 3 months. I expected it to take much longer to reach this point. Much much longer…

I’m not complaining though. I have tried my hardest every day taking one day at a time. I make weekly goals to keep me focused and try every week to complete them. Most of the time I do but sometimes I don’t. That’s okay. I’m human. I make mistakes. I don’t let failure derail me. I pick myself up and try harder. I workout according to my current fitness program. Sometimes I do more, sometimes I do what I should halfheartedly but I am still moving my body and trying. Fitness is much easier for me than eating healthy. Working out is a lot easier when you have a fitness program telling you what to do.

Eating health is much harder. I don’t count calories and I am terrible at keeping up with a food journal but I’ve been trying. I eat what I know is healthy for me and I allow myself small amounts of less healthy foods occasionally. Being unable to eat foods containing any traces of milk or peanuts due to my daughter’s allergies has really helped me eat healthy. I believe cutting milk from my diet had a large impact on the way I feel and the weight I have lost. I have been struggling with balancing eating healthy foods and eating foods that don’t upset my IBS but I feel as though I am finally finding that balance. This has been the hardest struggle for me. Healthy foods I want to eat cause me terrible pain and discomfort. I am learning what healthy foods I can eat without discomfort and how to eat the other healthy foods in smaller amounts. I will continue with this progress and continue learning how to eat better.

I am truly thrilled to have accomplished this goal the right way. Everyone is different and not everyone would have the same results as I have if they did the same thing. Some people could even have better results. I’m far from perfect. The best advice I could give anyone reading this is listen to your body! I don’t know how I could stress this enough. Ignore your brain and all its confusing messages. Look past your mental cravings and boredom induced hunger. Listen to what your body is telling you and what it needs. I will be the first to admit how hard this is. There are times when I don’t want to listen to my body. I fight it and pout. I mentally whine and groan. There are times when I have to workout and feel like stomping my feet and saying “I don’t wanna!”. But you just have to suck it up buttercup. Your health is more important than anything else.

Random Family Picture

BeFit in 90- Day 49

Today Peanut was showing her Nana how big she’s getting.

I really didn’t want to workout today. There is no excuse other than plain laziness. I did everything in my powerful to not workout. I made excuses, procrastinated, and every other thing I could to put off working out today. First excuse, Peanut let me sleep in. By the time I could have worked out, it was noon and too hot to workout without a fan. Second excuse, I had to leave for my in-laws right away because we were going to go to Blue Marsh (a lake to swim but the weather didn’t let us go). Third excuse, we didn’t get home until 5:30 and I had to make dinner. Fourth excuse, it was too hot and I had to wait for it to cool down. Fifth excuse, it’s 9pm and I’m too tired to workout. Sixth excuse, Hubby is going to bed. I can just do it tomorrow. I even went to bed with him but my conscience refused to let me. So I dragged myself out of bed at 11pm, put on my workout clothes, got myself plenty of water and gatorade and I worked out…

Boy, am I so glad I worked out today. I know I should have worked out much much much earlier today but it is better late than never. I feel so much better now! Day 49 consisted of the Warm-up 2, the Butt, Chest and Legs workout, the Back and Shoulders workout and the Sports Stretch. Double strength training day! It felt great though! I was sweating like crazy because it is hot (summer time), we don’t have any air conditioners and the fan was in the bedroom. It looked like I ran out into the rain. haha! The more you sweat, the better you detox! 😀 I used the 5lb weights during the Butt, Chest and Legs workout like I usually do. I didn’t think about changing them down to the 3 lb weights like I usually do for the Back and Shoulders. I made it 3/4ths of the way through before my shoulders were on fire and I had to switch them to the lower weight. I’ll be feeling it tomorrow! Well, today since it’s almost 1am. haha!

BeFit in 90- Days 47 and 48

Sorry I am late posting this! I thought I had hit publish but I guess I didn’t and it went to my drafts. I am posting it now technically two days late. Oops!

Day 47

Rest Day! It worked out nicely because I had to work in the evening and I didn’t have to exhaust myself beforehand. I enjoyed a nice relaxing day 🙂

Day 48

Today was a nice challenging workout but it wasn’t too challenging. It was a nice blend 😀 Day 48 consisted of the Warm-up 2, Six Pack Abs and Arms, Cardio Booster (I did the Fat Blast dvd) and yoga. The V-sits are a killer! I love it though. It really makes my abs ache. I am just loving the Fat Blast workout. I was gasping for air and drenched in sweat by the time I was done. It is longer than the other workout video but I really enjoy it. I was so relieved to be finished when it was over! It is truly a challenge. They picked a great title for it! I wish I would have remembered this workout at the beginning of BeFit in 90! I had to take a break to get my breath back before I could do the yoga. It felt amazing to stretch out all my sore muscles from today’s workout!

Weekly Update- June 30, 2013

Every week I plan on posting an update about my progress towards better health. I will post goals I want to accomplish in the upcoming week, if I accomplished the goals I set the previous week, current weight, if I lose or gain weight (hopefully only lose weight), and a brief summary of my activities.

Goals from previous week

Do the BeFit in 90 workout each day as instructed yes!
Add more cardio throughout the week yes!
Drink lots of water (even more since its hot) yes!
Eat more healthy meals, especially at lunch time yes!
Try more ways to eat healthy that doesn’t irritate my stomach yes!
Eat more soluble fiber and protein yes!
Try food journaling- I didn’t do it today because I thought of it too late but I will start tomorrow. yes/no

Goals for the upcoming week

Do the BeFit in 90 workout each day as instructed
Add more cardio throughout the week
Drink lots of water (even more since its hot)
Eat more healthy meals, especially at lunch time
Try more ways to eat healthy that doesn’t irritate my stomach
Eat more soluble fiber and protein

Weigh-in Time

Start Weight: 270 pounds
Current Weight: 249.8 pounds
Lose/Gain: Lost 1.7 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 20.2 pounds

Weekly Summary

I had a pretty great week. I have been researching and implementing some of what I have learned. It has really been helping. I’ve been eating oatmeal for breakfast almost every morning and adding rice to most meals. I have felt so much better.

The BeFit in 90 has been great as well. I have been doing a Fat Blast workout instead of the Cardio Booster and it has really been kicking my butt. It’s awesome!

I am pretty terrible at food journaling. I try pretty hard but I always seem to forget a meal or something. I try but it just doesn’t seem to work.