12 weeks are up!! Progress pics are posted.....

All right my peeps! You all got to see the pics first! If you can't tell which ones are the "after" pics then you'd better phone a friend!  I feel great and I am amazed at the changes that have happened in just 12 weeks!  My energy level is out of control, I feel stronger and happier all around.  My clothes are fitting loosely and you want to know what??? As far as the scale goes, I've only lost 5 pounds!! Let this be an affirmation of resistance training and don't be afraid to lift those weights.  You will not look like Iris Kyle (google her name) unless you are on copious amounts of steroids and/or other performance enhancement drugs.  A good weight training program will be the only thing that can change the "shape" of your body.  Weight loss programs will not change any shape, you'll simply just lose weight.  I'm proud of my changes.  I have worked hard, and no I didn't starve or deprive myself.  I probably ate clean 80% of the time.  I did eat some cookies and chocolate here and there, but not everyday nor did I eat the whole bag.  I probably could have looked a little leaner if I was more strict with my diet, but unfortunately I think life is too short not to eat the cupcake at the birthday party.  I will continue to work hard, because I love it and I love having the freedom of allowing myself a treat here and there.  Only you can change your body, life, shape whatever you wish to change or improve.  The power lies within yourself and the limits you have are only the ones you set upon yourself.  Get up, get out and live life to the fullest.  Take responsibility for your self and take control of your life and future, no more excuses.  As far as I know, we aren't getting any younger.  GET SOME!! XOXOXOXOXOXO

P.S. Measurements are yet to come, I was in a hurry when I was taped at the gym this morning I will update by the end of the week, so you can see the inches and body fat % lost :)

8 Weeks In, 4 More to Judgement Day!

Alright folks its been 8 weeks since I started my transformation.  I can say I feel stronger and I have more energy.  I haven't lost a lot of weight, but that wasn't my goal.  My goal is to shape up and get stronger.  I feel I have done that.  I will continue on this journey and hopefully will come out on top in 4 weeks.  If I don't, I can be grateful that I have gotten back into a workout routine and I've cleaned up my diet.  These are rewards in themselves.

4 Weeks In....

 All right I am now 4 weeks into the competition and I am grateful I signed up for the motivation.  I have been working hard in the gym and I wish I could say I was working as hard at my diet :(  My diet hasn't been that bad, but there have been times I should've exercised more will power.  I did have some chocolate and sugar cookies for Valentine's Day.  No, I am not perfect.  The important thing though is that I am conscious of what I'm putting in  my mouth and I strive to do a little better everyday and every week.  I feel stronger and I know I have lost some inches, I haven't kept track of my weight loss nor did I measure myself before I started.  They measured me at the gym and weighed me, so I kind of want to keep that a surprise to myself and find out in the end how much progress I made.  I have more energy throughout the day and my moods have been more positive and happy.  Whether I win the challenge or not, I can feel satisfied with the progress I have made and the way I feel mentally and physically on a day to day basis.  Eight more weeks to go! I am going to buckle down and be more disciplined with my diet, that is what will help with the drastic changes, visually.  I will try to pst side by side comparison photos for you.

Ok that's as close as I can get it. I'm not patient enough to fiddle with this picture stuff. You may or may not see a difference, but I do and I feel so much stronger and energetic.  I love exercising and pushing myself to become better!!

12 Week Transformation

Here we go!! I know it's been a long while since I've posted, but since then I've had a baby and completed 2 semesters of school.  Yes I have been a little busy.  My baby, Alexis Rose is so beautiful, she is 6 1/2 months old.  I love her with all my heart and soul.  Anyway let's get right into it.  I have signed up to do a 12 week transformation at the Gold's gym, I weighed in today at 146 lbs.  This weight is actually less then my pre-pregnancy weight.  No I'm not thrilled about that because my muscles have atrophied and I am flabby in areas I don't want to be.  It's time to start weight/resistance training again and tighten myself up.  As some of you may know, diet is between 70-90% of your success, depending on who you ask.  To say the least it is greater than half the battle.  My diet is getting kicked into gear, lean meat (chicken, turkey, fish, lean cuts of red meat), lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.  I'm trying to eat every 2.5-3 hours to keep my metabolism burning.  I enter my food intake on a free website called sparkpeople.com, it helps me moniter the calories I'm really ingesgting and it also makes me accountable for the food I eat.  I strongly suggest anyone trying to improve their diet to write down and record what you eat.  I use a free website where you can input the food and it breaks it down for you.  There are a ton of programs out there and they are fairly easy to use.  Training is the fun part! I am aiming for 5-6 days of cardio twice a day 30-45 minute sessions, and weight train at least 3 days a week.  I am busy already.  I am nursing my baby, I am taking 15 credits this semester and I work part time.  I can use a number of excuses for not being able to reach my goals but that's not going to happen.  I believe that people make time for what they want to make time for.  Fitness and Health is important to me, so I will make time to succeed.  I'm in it to win it!  As I mentioned above I am still nursing my baby so no crazy, radical diets, which aren't necessary.  I believe in clean eating, that is eating things in the most natural state possible.  I believe in food, it is the fuel that keeps us going.  I also have to do everything naturally.  Pre-baby I would use thermogenics to help with my energy level and also suppress my appetite.  I will not be using anything like that.  I will have to get plenty of sleep and kick my willpower into high gear as far as my eating goes.  I've added my "before" pics, and a bonus pic of my beautiful baby :).  Honestly if anyone has any questions about diet or exercise, I can help you going off of my own experiences.  Enjoy and God bless!