21 Day Fix Week 2 to 2 1/2, but who's counting!

So... my week 2 did NOT go as planned!  We had family come in for Easter and I was not able to stick my whole plan for the week.  I am going forward... and starting week 2 over!  I pretty much stuck to the eating side... but the exercise just didn't happen.   I am telling you this because this just proves that we are all human.  Shit happens... and we have to get back up and get back to what we need to do.  I am not giving up on my plan... I just hit a bump in the road.  Who cares if it takes me 27 days to complete the 21 day fix... that's my prerogative right?  Point is... keep going!

As far as my progress goes... well 60 days ago today I joined a group of girls, just like me, who were trying to stay motivated and get back their health.  This challenge group was supposed to only last 30 days, but we all loved talking to each other so much that we extended it to 60 days.  My weight loss in the past, I did alone, and I've always continued to exercise and eat clean to maintain... but I was tired of maintaining.  I was ready to love life in my own skin again, and this group has helped me do that.   My health in 60 days has improved in more ways than I can tell you.  I feel better... my muffin top is almost non existent, I sleep all through the night, and I just feel so damn better.  I can honestly tell you that drinking Shakeology has helped my gut heal, and helped eliminate  a lot of inflammation in my body that I just couldn't get rid of.  What a great experience.  Here's how I see my shake daily... as a ray of light!  

Where I stand now... 10 lbs lighter!  Yes 10!  I planned on taking measurements and posting again... but I haven't gotten around to it.  Oh and Strong... have I mentioned strong?  Strong is the new sexy right?   My gosh those 21 day fix workouts rock!  I am seeing so much definition in my arms it's insane!  

Ok... so they're not the biggest guns... but they're mine!  I can also hold a plank for a whole minute now without wanting to vomit!  Progress peeps... progress!  

This weekend is my wedding anniversary and we are taking a trip!  So once again I am going to stray a little.  Got a pretty active weekend planned though, and will try to stick to my eating.  I actually am really digging eating out of those little containers.  They are amazing.  You can fit so much food in them.  When I get back... I am hitting it hardcore.  Anyone want to join me?  

21 Day Fix... Week One!

Well I guess me trying to blog daily was a little overzealous on my part.  In a perfect world I would get to... but in my world, well that's another story.

Anyway... I can't say enough about this week!  My one big screw up was after a bad, long day at work... I came home, broke down, had a martini and didn't get my workout in.  I was so disappointed in myself... It was only day two for crying out loud. The next day, being riddled with guilt, I did that workout, plus the one I was supposed to do.  I do not recommend this... however one day was the upper fix, and the next was the lower fix so since I was working two different areas... I felt justified.  We are all human... we are not going to be perfect, and we can't expect perfection out of ourselves. If you are tired of starting over, quit giving up... those words are resonating in my head!

The workouts are so awesome!  I can't say enough about them.  I seriously was feeling pretty cocky apparently because I thought these workouts were going to be nothing compared to some of the Turbofire moves I have been doing forever... but they proved me wrong.  I have been working muscles that I didn't know I even had, and sore in places that I didn't know I could be.  My strength has improved so much in a week,  and one of the things I am starting to love about my body... My shoulders!  AMAZING workouts!!!! I can't say that enough!   This is what the schedule looks like... 

I even got to have my wine this week (no cheating like the martini).  The wine has to fit in the yellow container... but as you can see in the picture next to it... it's a good amount.  (Well at least that's what I keep telling myself) 

I still start my day with my Shakeology... 

and I am continuing to eat out of my color coded containers...

I feel great, and my body definitely needed this restart... that's all I can say!  I love it!  Day five was rough because I felt really hungry, which is funny because I really hadn't until then this week.  May have been because my monthly friend is on her way in... gotta love being a woman right?  I was kinda worried I was going to be so bloated that it would make my weekly result numbers not look so good... but my weekly numbers turned out pretty awesome I must say... so I will take it!  Bloated or not!  

So here's the deal... on Week 2.  I'm not going to commit to a daily blog, but I will post at the end of week 2 and fill you all in.  I will commit to my Facebook page and Instagram this week though... so click on those links and give me a follow!

Honestly, I am a little worried about this week.  It's Easter weekend coming up, and we will have a house full of people.  Cooking a big meal on Sunday too!   Wish me luck!  I feel a "How to get through a holiday on the 21 day fix" blog coming on!  

21 Day Fix... Day 1!

Well yesterday was my very first day on the 21 day fix!  I know it's going to sound crazy... but I feel like a different woman today!  My theory on this is this... I tend to let myself down so often, and yesterday I didn't. I stuck to my plan, and I got through it.  Your mind can make a huge difference in the way you feel about yourself.

Yesterday was Monday... always my worst day of the week.  I got home, got my workout knocked out and was feeling good about myself.  Until I walked downstairs and it was time to go into dinner and sit on the couch mode.  I am going to admit something here that is going to make me sound like a real lush... but I think it's something that needs to be talked about, and I know that other's probably face these same challenges.  I love to drink my wine while I cook dinner.  It's a habit, and not a good one.  Prior to this weekend, I had been wearing my fitbit, counting calories and doing workouts like usual.  I was staying in my calorie range, burning calories... but just not getting the results I needed.  Here's where the confession comes in... I had allowed myself calories for my wine at night.  I would actually take away the calories I was allowed for food and save them for my vino!  Crazy, now that I am saying that in my out-loud voice.  No wonder I haven't made the progress I wanted.  Not that I was drinking crazily every night mind you... but you realize how many calories are actually in a glass of wine?  Especially if you fill your glass?  As I told you yesterday... On the 21 day fix, you can have wine... but only up to three times a week, it has to fit in that little yellow container... and NO you can't have all three yellow containers in one night.  This is where we have to learn moderation people.  Anyway... back to my temptation.  I had already planned two glasses to have during the week in my menu, I left the third for a gimme.  Well... I used it.  But that's ok, because I only had that little yellow container... it was all I needed, and I was allowed that little yellow container.  To me it becomes more than just sticking to my eating plan... it means I stuck to a commitment to myself and my health.   I woke up feeling good today, a little sore because these workouts are so much more challenging than I thought they would be, but it was a good kind of sore.  Definitely different workouts than I was use to.   All in all... ready for day two!  Bring it!

Just an FYI... this is how I pre-measured and packaged my food for the week, so I could pack it up easily every morning.  I drink my yummy shake while getting it all together.  My shakeology has always been my breakfast, so that wasn't a change for me.  To be honest with you, I think I am eating more food in a day than I was before. I've been staying full, and no blood sugar crashes (which I'm prone to).  That's because I am actually eating my daily calories instead of drinking them I guess.  Go figure.   The food you see above is just my "take to work" food.  I still have dinner to eat later.

For those of you who follow my blog for my creative recipes... they will return.  I just needed a break to work on me, and all the Mom's out there can relate with me I am sure.  It was hard for this foodie to pack her nutrition up in little baggies... but for 21 days it's about eating to heal not about being fancy!  See ya tomorrow peeps!

21 Day Fix!

So for the next 21 days I am going to take you guys on a little different journey with me.  So don't just walk a day in my flip flops... walk in them for 21.

I have hit a plateau, one that I don't want to be in anymore.  15 years ago I went on a journey to lose weight... and I did.  Over 100 lbs actually!  I made a vow to myself to never go back.  I don't want to be that girl anymore.

She was unhappy and unhealthy!  Although I did drop the weight... I have been struggling to get down the last 20 lbs.  I seem to have become really good at maintaining... but I don't want to maintain anymore.  I want to better myself and my health.  I want to wear shorts this summer.  I seriously have not worn shorts out in public in over two years.  So this girl now is going to give herself a swift kick in the ass and make those goals happen.  Weight loss isn't as important to me as kicking some bad habits I've developed and getting those thunder thighs back in check.  

My eating is clean... I workout... and I have a great online support group of women that keep me in check. Since joining forces with them I have done so much better than I did on my own.   but I need a jump start to get going and an added boost!  I have committed to do the 21 day fix... Here's what it's all about...

21 days of eating real food, new exercise routine, and a new attitude.   Yesterday I spent the day cooking and portioning out my food for the week.  I knew I needed to plan, or I would come up with some excuse to de-rail.  I warned the family... and made it clear that everyone needed to support momma for the next 3 weeks.  

Here's how it works... you have to figure out your caloric needs and then you basically have to make sure all your portions fit in these containers...

So, I sat down with my book, and made my plan of action... started cooking, chopping and portioning out my food for the week.  I'm always so busy trying to create dishes , that I realized I had forgotten how pretty food in it's natural state can be.  Check out those radishes!  

My downfall with this program will be not being able to have my wine.  Actually it is allowed, however, only three times a week, and the wine has to fit in this...

SERIOUSLY?  That's one swig!  Oh Geez!

So here I go... wish me luck!  I am going to try to blog daily, and hopefully inspire a few people along the way.  I am actually on Day One today... I will always be a day behind so I can give you the full scoop on how it went.  The down and dirty!