Switch-A-Roo

No! I haven't totally ditched the weight loss journey blog thingy. I am still on the journey! I just took a break from the 90 days of P90X. Since my last blog I've re joined Weight Watchers. I started attending meetings on August 7th.I have lost ten pounds just by exercising and following the point system. I have about twenty four pounds to go before I hit my goal weight! It's encouraging for me to be able to run faster and for longer amounts of time. I can't lie, it's nice to see me fit some of my "skinny" clothes again too! I will be sure to keep you updated on each new milestone of my journey. I might throw in a few pictures, motivators, and funny clips just to mix things up a bit! For those of you on this journey with me... I will be praying for you and please know that I am here if you need anything!

30 Days Down - Pictures

Done with phase one

Yay! I finished Phase one of the P90X Program. How did things measure up?!

Arms - 11.5 inches (and way more toned)

Waist - 32 (down one inch)

Hips - 41 (down two inches)

Thigh - 25.5 (and way more toned)

I lost 6 pounds this month too!! Yay...Going into Phase 2 I hope to lose 8 - 10 lbs! I have scale shot pictures and 30 day pictures still to post. I can't find my camera cord to download the pictures yet....so stay tuned!

Week 3 of P90X

I started out strong in week three up until day four the Yoga workout. I hate it! It's not too difficult or anything like that, it is the fact it's ninety minutes long. I like Yoga... but not for ninety minutes worth. I would rather do a high energy workout in thirty minutes than ninety minutes of Yoga. I sorta fell off the wagon after that point in my week and missed my workouts for the next three days.
Tracking my WW points has been easy. I was tempted with ocean water shakes and chocolate doughnuts and lost. I tapped into most of my weekly allowance points. Temptation in combination with not working out as hard as I should have resulted in a lose of only .8 lbs.
Today I weighed in at 170.2....So only 20.2 lbs to go!
To suceed this week I substituted Stretch X for the Yoga workout.I will do Yoga at the end of my week.
My goals this week include: workout everyday and track every day. I need to find time to run too....I have another 5k race on July 3rd.The key to success is to find a pace that works for you and stick with it. I will continue to track and workout until every last extra pound is gone. It may take longer than ninety days and that is fine but I am not giving up!!!

Changing Things Up A Bit

Blogging everyday is really time consuming and I really don't have the time so I will start blogging weekly along with posting pictures just to keep things interesting. I know I know some of you will be sorely disappointed but that is just how it has to be. Ha ha ha just kidding.
I have decided to switch P90X programs. I was doing the P90X lean program but I wasn't seeing the results I wanted on the scale. So after doing a little research and talking to other P90X pros I have decided to switch to the P90X doubles program. This program is for people who want to lose weight.I'm not really trying to build muscle or get ripped. I have been doing the new schedule since Tuesday, June 15th and I feel like this one suits my needs better. I have already had a few people comment saying they can see a difference in my stomach and face....that makes me smile! Stay tuned for my next blog on Tuesday, June 22nd (After Weigh In).

Day Fifteen

Just finished Plyometrics...Oh....My! That is the hardest workout by far. My face is the color of beet juice and my back is covered in sweat...yuck! I worked off five WW activity points today and I took a one mile stroll around the track before my Plyo workout. Go me!!
I have been doing awesome at tracking all of my WW points today. It was a good day. I feel happier! I can actually feel myself getting into better shape. I did Ab ripper last night and I have to admit it's getting easier. I only say that because I am taking way less breaks than I did in week one. Pretty soon I'll be sayin' goodbye muffin top hello flat tummy!

P90X Bringing It! (During and After workout Pics)

Day 14

I blew chunks after my workout tonight.....that is the first time it has ever happened to me! I am not sure if it was because I ate dinner two hours earlier or if it was because I was working out so hard. All I know is that it was gross...
Today I did a lot of self talk. You can do this! I WILL lose weight! I won't give up! Push harder...you got this! I have to say it really helped. I also like to give a huge thanks to my friends and family for the continuous encouragement and support. I couldn't do this without you. I had Adrianna take a few shots during my workout. (Just to help paint the picture of how hard P90X really is) It's not a race it's a journey. Thanks for reading....

Today's Weigh In Results (Scale Shot)

At least It is headed in the right direction!

Day 12 & 13

Yesterday I did my P90 X workout before bed and I was really good about tracking up until dinner time. I ate a salad with chicken so I figured I was safe!
This morning I weighed in after having a very disappointing week last week...I wasn't too hopeful. To my surprise I've lost 2.2 lbs. No it's not a huge milestone but I will take it! So after two full weeks of P90X and tracking I have to say it has been very difficult. I do believe I am seeing results in the mirror more than on the scale. Part of me is thinking I should only weigh twice a month. Once in the beginning and once at the end. What do you guys think??

Day Eleven

Today Sucked....No workout no tracking... Struggling because my weight loss journey is feeling more like my P90X journey....I am not seeing the scale go down at all :(
I am not giving up! I just needed a day to wallow in my own self pity...somebody please call the Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhbulance. Tomorrow is a new day!

Day Ten

Day Ten sorta slipped away from me. I was totally planning on getting my workout in before bed time and I was just too pooped. My plan for today is to get both workouts in...yes, I know it is crazy but I gotta try to "bring it" here in just a few minutes I am going to do shoulders and arms along with Ab Ripper X. Tonight I am going to do some yoga. WW Tracking is going well it's easier for me than the workouts I am making better food choices and watching my portion sizes. Today I noticed my stomach is looking a little flatter...yay!

Day Nine

It's getting harder and harder to wake up in the mornings to get my p90x workouts in. My body is sore and I wake up very tired. Yesterday two people asked how my workouts were going...thanks guys, I need that accountability!
I worked out last night right before bed, believe it or not, I think it helped me sleep. Surprisingly My girls were really good about letting me finish a work out and they even jumped in to do a few moves with me. I am not sure if it was Anna or Lily who snapped a few pics with my camera phone during my workout but they are hilarious...
WW tracking is going well too. I know I need to do a better job of getting my water and my five servings of fruits and veggies in every day. I sure hope I lose this week!!!

Day Eight

I have to admit yesterday I was pretty bummed after weigh in but I am determined to stick with the plan. This morning I woke up and worked out hard... Let's hope next Tuesday will show me some weigh in results!
It looks like we need to pick up some produce...my house is really low on fresh fruits and veggies. I know if we get too low on food we are tempted to just go out and grab a few meals from fast food places near by. Danger!! Today's goal burn more calories playing with my girls for a few hours after work and track every WW point.

Day Seven

Last nights date went well.... Green Papaya served up great fresh steamed veggies, white rice, and small pieces of beef topped with a nice spicy ginger sauce. Desert was a delicious fresh frozen yogurt parfait topped with real strawberries, blueberries, mangos, and blackberries...yum Although I am not really sure how many points...but I know that I had eight left for the night plus plenty in reserve.
By the time we came home after our date I wasn't feeling like working out so I skipped last night and told myself I would make sure to get it in this morning.(Fail)
This morning I was very excited to weigh in....but after I stepped on the scale that excitement, my huge grin, that feeling of knowing I really worked out and meticulously tracked every bite
vanished....173.2 What!? How is that possible? I worked out so hard...I stayed within my points...
They say it's not failure it's feedback. Yeah right! In my mind.. I am thinking what do I need to do to lose a little weight!? Is my metabolism really that messed up? What the heck?
Going into next week I commit to working out harder and using less reserve WW points.
Chin Up Chin Up....Gotta keep this show on the road 83 days left.

Day Six

I didn't get an early morning P90 workout in today but I will make sure to get it in before bed. After all it is my "last chance workout" before tomorrow's weigh in. Tonight I have a bit of a challenge...(date night with my husband) which means I will be faced with sweet temptations and high calorie delights... but I will do my best to resist all evils and stay within my WW point range. Stay tuned for tomorrows weigh in results!Yay...

Day Five

97 Blog views wow...I didn't think I would have so many! Well hopefully all you reading are getting more motivated or inspired to go out and do whatever fitness goals you have set for yourself. And at the very least I hope you are entertained.

So, yesterday I was able to get in a two mile walk. Man.. it is getting so hot here I think I've lost weight due to sweating my booty off just walking to my car. I did manage to get my p90 leg and back workout early this morning (7:30) and tonight I plan on doing the Ab ripper X. I am still consistently tracking my WW points and staying on target to lose a few pounds this week. I have been trying to stay away from all soda but today I gave in and had a diet Pepsi. Shucks!! Well, as they say, if you fall down.. dust yourself off and get back on the horse!

Day Four

So far so good...I have been tracking my WW points and sticking to the P90 workouts everyday. I think it's paying off too. I snuck on the scale and I've lost 2.2 lbs so far (but I don't officially weigh until Tuesday morning.) I woke up this morning feeling well rested and satisfied. Such a great feeling! Thank you Jesus...

The Zumba workout dvd makes me giggle.. Yesterday, while I was trying to keep up with the various Zumba moves... Lily, my three year old, says to me mom turn this off it's too hard for you. Ha Ha Ha I have to admit they move pretty fast but I think after a few tries I will look more coordinated...I hope! Today I went over my daily WW point allowance and dipped into the weekly reserve. Oh but it was worth it! Can I just say bacon wrapped serloin steak. Tonight I am going to TRY to get a two mile walk in and in the morning I am going for a one mile jog in addition to my P90X workout (Melting me some goo...)

Day Three

Awake at 6 am this morning...workouts went well. Ab Ripper X is very very hard! I think my core muscles are in need of the most attention. I am feeling pretty sore but not sluggish.
Yesterday, I tracked all of my WW points...I used 23 WW points. I was only able to consume four servings of fruits and veggies, five servings of water, one lean protein, and one milk serving.
I didn't get my Zumba dvd workout last night but that will be my goal for tonight after supper. Have a good weekend everyone!

Day Two

Yesterday I did really well tracking all of my WW points. I only ate 24 points (I get 23 per day) and I got all of my liquids, all of my fruits and veggies, one milk serving and one oil serving in. Yay!! I burned five activity points too.
Today, I set my alarm for 5 am but I didn't actually wake up until six. I made it through the Cardio X workout "Superman-Banana" which burned 3 activity points.
My goals for today: Continue to track those points and do a zumba workout dvd after supper...skinny here I come!

Day One

I woke up at 5am and made it through a my first P90X workout. It was pretty hard but I pressed through.Can I just say, I am not digging all the push ups involved in this workout! Oh and I stepped on my scale this morning, after my shower,Guess what? I gained three pounds over the last two weeks…shoot! I can believe it though. I didn’t work out at all over the last two weeks while I was traveling and eating high calorie foods. So now my goal is to lose 28lbs. Today's goals: Track every point I eat and go on a 2 mile walk.

Getting Started

Success takes determination, discipline, and sacrifice…

So, here is my workout plan for week one on P90X lean:

Day 1: Core Synergistics 44 min work out

Day 2: Cardio X 44 min work out

Day 3: Shoulders and Arms 60 min work out Plus Ab Ripper X 25 min work out

Day 4: Yoga 93 min work out

Day 5: Legs and Back 59 min work out Plus Ab Ripper X 25 min work out

Day 6: Kenpo 56 min work out

Day 7: Rest and Stretch work out 58 mins

I work full time from 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday and I have a family so there will have to be sacrifice in order to make this plan succeed. I am going to need to wake up at 5 am every morning in order to get my workout, bible reading/prayer time, and a shower in. I start school in August so I may need to re adjust my wake up time..I know this may sound crazy to some of you…. but I am determined!

My shopping list and meal ideas for week one includes:

Low fat yogurt 1% organic milk
Fresh bananas fresh fish - Salmon
Fresh apples Chicken Breasts
Fresh melon Ground Turkey Meat
Egg whites Whole Wheat Cheese Frozen Pizza
Fresh mushrooms Turkey Bacon
Low fat cheese sticks Broccoli
Salsa Cauliflower
Whole grain waffle mix Sugar Free pudding
Sliced ham meat fat free 100 Calorie Chocolate desserts (Hey I know my cravings)
Sliced turkey meat Spray butter
Light bread Red Potato
Carrot sticks
Cabbage
Zucchini
Red onion
Garlic
Canned corn
Canned green beans
Onion soup mix
Romaine lettuce

Week 1 - Meal ideas for Breakfast:

Low fat yogurt with one fruit serving
Egg White omelet with salsa, cheese, and fresh mushrooms
Whole grain waffles with fresh fruit topping
Protein shakes with fresh fruit
Banana and coffee

Week 1 - Meal ideas for Lunch:

Turkey or Ham Deli Sandwich with a serving of fruit or veggies
1 cup of WW homemade garden vegetable soup
WW Smart One or any other lean frozen meal
Grilled Cheese
Stuffed potato topped with FF sour cream, FF cheese and homemade salsa

Week 1 - Meal ideas for Dinner:

Fish Tacos
Grilled Chicken
Turkey Burger Sliders
Frozen Pizza and Salad
Pasta with organic sauce and a salad
Chicken lettuce wraps
BLT with turkey bacon and low fat cheese
Chicken with Broccoli

Let me know if you want me to post any of the meal recipes! So, now I have my workout planned, I have the food I am going to eat, I have purchased the workout and diet plan needed to succeed, I have an optimistic attitude and drive! Time to GO FOR IT! Stay tuned folks for the trials and triumphs of week one.

Running is Cool

If you asked me to be your running partner two years ago, or even if I enjoyed the thought of running… I would have giggled at you. In high school I thought cross country and track runners were ridiculous for not choosing in my opinion, a “real” sport. I was very closed minded back then so please forgive me.
I started running last October with my friend Anna. We started off slow and together we would jog a lap and walk a lap until we ran one mile. Eventually we increased our endurance and speed, we would jog up to two miles. Anna and I ran in the cold and in the rain our dedication inspired us to run a 5 K. In January, I ran in my first 5K (The Jiggle butt) ladies only run. I finished in thirty nine minutes. No it wasn't a great time but it gave me a starting point. I love the feeling I get after a good run. I love listening to nature and admiring all that God has created around me. I like to clear my mind and push myself to run faster and run longer.
On Saturday, I ran my second 5 K (Run For the Hills) it was a beautiful run through lush greenery up and down narrow hills. I walked more than I should during this race but I didn’t train as hard as I could have either... and I defiantly didn’t anticipate so many hills. I finished the race in thirty nine minutes and four seconds.

Now if you asked me to be your running partner I’d ask where are we going to meet up? I enjoy running, I enjoy the thought of running, and I respect runners. Its funny how much your thought process changes when you open your mind. For those of you on this weight loss journey with me...have you considered running?

Start Pictures

You gotta start somewhere right?

Posting my “start” pictures is probably the most humbling thing I have done in a long…long… time. Trust me, this is not easy! But ya know what!? When I take a look back at these pictures in just a few weeks I know, I will see results.

Starting Body Measurements –

Right Upper Arm (midway between the shoulder and the elbow):11.5 inches

Waist (one inch above the navel):32.3/4 inches

Hips (at maximum width):43 inches

Right Thigh (just below the buttocks):26.3/8 inches

Starting Clothing Size: mostly 9/10 my favorite brand of jeans are Silvers and I wear size 30/33

Now… for those of you, who are in this journey along with me, go and take your measurements, write them down or post them now…. We will re - measure on July 1st.

May 15th I am jogging in my second 5K race...I will post my time and pictures shortly.

Let The Journey Begin

Staring Weight = 170 lbs (so embarrassing)

Goal Weight = 145 lbs or size 5/6 which ever comes first :)

Motivation is one of the reasons I am starting this blog. I need accountability and a way I can track my progress or I will not follow through (sad but true) I need to know that working my butt off in work outs and cutting my calorie intake is worth the pay off. No! it's not just about how I look, it is about getting healthy and making better choices for myself and for my family.

I am really interested in fitness and nutrition. I have a lot of practical knowledge and know-how but I don't seem to apply it to my own habits. Why is that? I am planning to go into the field of Kinesiology one day to help others fight the weight loss battle... but first, I must fight the battle to prove to others it is possible and I can assist them.

I am not officially starting my diet and exercise program until June 1st because I have to travel for work and that makes it difficult. I will be following the Weight Watchers Momentum plan for my diet and I will be doing P90X for my high intensity work outs. Stay tuned for my before pictures and body measurements. Does anyone out there want to start their journey with me?