Staying Motivated - Highly Recommend

So a friend of mine tagged me on facebook with this, and I immediately ran with it, grabbed a pen and my notebook and start jotting down ideas.

 

1) Set Goals:

• To be able to "drop & give me 50" or more...
• To sweat MORE!!
• To reach a BF% of 33%
• To run a mile

 

 

These are my starting goals, (not including weight related goals that I have) for most of these, it's only a starting goal.. when that is accomplished new goals will be created, but I feel that should go without saying, when you conquer your goals - you don't just stop/quit/give up.. you create more!!!

2) Plan:

• Work on strength training, keep using and complete Supreme 90 day, and continue with other cross fit type workouts to build muscle and strength. So far I went from being barely able to do 2 girly push ups now I can do almost 10. it's a slow process but the more I work the better the results.
• Pack small snacks to curb appetite at work, when grabbing something quick and unhealthy like a candy bar would've suited me better in the past. Apples & peanut butter, energy bites, grapes, oranges.. fruits pre portioned out and tracked already before I leave the house in the morning.
• Water, water, water!! Drink it up!
• Make healthier family choices for dinners and in general when grocery shopping! It will help keep me focused AND get my family eating healthier foods as well.
• Make a point to practice yoga 2-3 times a week, either am or pm yoga to help build my balance and over all body flexibility.
• Start the C25K program to begin running, stick with it.
• My body fat % is currently 40% which is extremely high.. a woman of my age and height should have a BF% of 21-33%.. my starting goal is to get to 33% which would be a healthy range... from there I'd like to get to 21%.

 

 

3) Set Reminders:



• Get lots of post it notes to post all over. Reminders on the fridge, on the door, on the tv, even on my computer!! Any where I'll look in case I forget to do something or really don't have the mood I'll do it anyways!
• Creating an inspiration board, I've already been told I should do that and I agree, if not more than one! Print out pictures, quotes, thoughts, anything and put it in a visible place to look at and reflect on often! Place sticky notes on it with goals I have achieved to remind me to keep going!
• The cell phone thing is perfect for me, setting alarms, or reminders on my phone at certain times a day or to remind me of my journey.. definitely doing this as often as possible (probably going to do this to remind myself to TRACK, TRACK, TRACK!!)

4) Visualize:

This one is going to go along with starting a meditation time a few days a week. I'm not delusional I know I can't run every day, work out everyday, yoga everyday and meditate everyday.. I HAVE 4 KIDS!! LOL.. But if  I set a goal of 2-3 times a week for yoga and possibly the same for meditation I have a better chance of sticking with them both. During meditation times I'd like to reflect on my journey and my goals as well as life in general.. this journey isn't jut for my physical body and health I'm making it a full life focus.. to reflect on everything, stay positive, stay healthy and be the best mother, woman and girlfriend I can be!! :D

 

 

Today is my Ultimate Ball workout, I'll be getting some of my fruits ready for freezing for the week, along with trying to sit down and do some serious research on healthy dinner ideas for this week :)

 

~XO

Erica♥

 



AM Workout, & tracking feels impossible!

I took the day off yesterday from working out. My leg day the day before was so hard on my knees they were killing me! Not a good sore, a bad painful sore.. so I took the day off in hopes that they would feel better by today & they do :) The amusing thing is, I missed working out yesterday, I felt like a blob because I didn't...(who could have seen THAT coming?!?!) so this morning I set my alarm for 6 am, my daughter woke me up at 530 hungry lol so I got her a bottle and got my workout gear on!! I did my working out at 6 am this morning. Sure there was complaints, I hadn't even had coffee yet! I was still too sleepy, my body wasn't awake yet.. but I decided that THIS particular morning - my mind would be stronger than my body & I was going to work out, and BAM that's what happened. Dripping sweat before 7am was in it's own way very liberating! I also drank near 2 bottles of water already this morning, *GASP* before my coffee, SCORE! Took a shower and am now letting myself wake up fully. I already feel productive today!!

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I am by no means saying this will happen every day. Especially with tomorrow being the weekend, I have off, the kids have off, sleeping in is almost a MUST.

 

What I am saying is working out at all different times of the day can be a great thing on your body. I feel more awake now than I do almost any morning, I feel alive and ready to eff this day up!!! If you can't work out till late at night, early in the morning, lunch time, dinner time, WHATEVER JUST DO IT!  

 

I have been dropping the ball on tracking again, UGH!! I don't know why that damn book is so hard to keep up with. There are apps I could use, I have a small little pocket book that you can take with you and an actually paper book I can write in, THIS SHOULDN'T BE SO HARD. I might need to set alarms on my phone at intervals to remind myself to be tracking!

(I really need sticky notes... a lot...)

 

I made more energy bites last night & for the first time I made protein bars!!! They smell delish, but oh lawdy they called for A LOT of protein powder lol. Pictures to come..

 

 

Life gives us all sorts of things to work through and to over come, living an unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle is just another one of those things. You wouldn't give up on your family or your kids just because things got a lot harder, you owe it to yourself not to give up on YOU just because things get hard. This journey takes time.. I had my own reflection the other night and I've been openly saying I can FEEL the changes already, but when I look in a mirror it's easy to get discouraged.. it's easy to want to say what am I even doing this for??! It will take time, but it is worth it, I believe that in my heart of hearts. When I can look in that mirror and feel not only happy with what I see, but feel the strength and perseverance that got me there?

 I am unstoppable.

You are unstoppable.

 

 

& Here's a picture to really think about, I saved it to my computer last night & wanted to write something about it, but I think self thought for each person is different, this image is powerful to me because I have felt controlled by food, I still do - it's a struggle & someday it will turn into something I wont even have to think twice about...

 

~XO

Erica♥

 

 

losing myself...

 

 

Weigh day!!!!!! DUN DUN DUN... lol So the # on the scale said, 296.6 WOOO 2.2 lbs loss from last week at 298.8. And a 3.2lbs loss since I started! Totally awesome, so happy to finally being seeing some losses!

 

That's not even the most astonishing! I took my measurements this morning as well, & first of all, I'm left wondering if I didn't take them wrong when I first started? because one of the numbers says I lost 7 inches! Around my bust! My cup size still feels the same, but it's quite possible I lost it off my back...? Or I just screwed up? lmao either way I'm gonna go with it any way since I have no way of knowing. So total lost inches, in 3 weeks as of tomorrow

17.75 inches evacuated!!! 

WOW! :D all this soreness is paying off, and I feel it. My body feels tighter, it feels a little more comfortable to get dressed and I have a little more confidence. And that's all in 3 weeks.

 

Even if I didn't lost 7 inches in my busy and I ignore that body part all together I still lost 10.75 inches which is still something to be equally proud of :).

 

Did my cardio challenge last night.

I hate burpees

I hate mountain climbers.

I hate bear crawls.

I hate jump lunges.

LOL. These are the hardest on my body and make me feel like jello when I'm finished. & by hate I mean will learn to love, conquer and accomplish full sets of.

 

My girly push ups are getting better, I need to switch over to regular ones soon.. & maybe, just maybe I can make push ups my bitch!!!

 

Today is a 'legs' day. From the things I've seen and read, leg days are usually pretty rough.

I was still sore from shoulders and arms last night, and this morning I'm all over sore from cardio so hopefully as the day goes on I can loosen up my muscles a little.

 

~XO

Erica♥

 

 

Just do it...

Yesterday, at the beginning of my workout I realized things are getting tougher. The first few weeks I was completely amped about working out and changing my body, being healthier, being the best me! And for the most part ALL of that is still true, the change? I am no longer as amped to work out. Last night as I was getting my dvd set up for shoulders & arms on Supreme 90 day, I was dreading it and hoping it would be over the second the warmup started! I stuck through it, did the whole thing and at the end, wished I had, had heavier weights!!!! THIS is my point...

 

Working out can be addicting and in some cases can even be fun, but when it becomes a chore or something you really wish you could avoid, you NEED to know that's your mind begging you not to push your limits. Once you start, the momentum will help to keep you going, the hardest part about working out is deciding that you're gonna do it! Lace up those sneakers, throw on that sports bra get you gear on, your battle gear - because for at least 30 minutes to an hour you will be fighting for one of the hardest things you've ever lost... yourself. It's worth it.

 

 

 

Coming from someone who's heaviest weight was over 300lbs I can honestly say leading the sedentary lifestyle shoveling garbage in my mouth as I please is in no way a 'happier' way of life then kicking my own ass day in and day out. On most days, I can go all day planning for that workout, looking forward to it in a sick and masochistic way, knowing I'll dread it, knowing It will hurt knowing I will want to run the complete opposite way when it starts, and feel fully accomplished and GREAT afterwards. (once I can breathe again of course).

 

 

Tomorrow is my weigh day, and I'll be taking my measurements. Not looking forward to the scale, but looking forward to the measurements! :)

 

I  tried on several pairs of jeans that don't fit me, 2 I can get up over my hips & butt without being able to button, one or both of these may be the goal jeans (picture to come) I also have a pair or two that I can't even get up over my hips, so I have goal jeans for a little while now!!

 

Cleaning out my clothes today anything that doesn't fit is gonna go expect for goal clothes, which is limited to just a few pieces.

 

My Supreme 90 day workout today is 'Cardio Challenge'  - I guarantee it kicks my ass.. this one will probably be a toughie like tabata we'll see!!

 

Side note: I need some protein shake recipe's I tried one the other day & loved it but looking for variety! Also making protein bars today I think?  Hmmm :)

 

~XO

Erica♥

FOCUS! short & sweet :)

I missed my workout yesterday.

 

There are no excuses. I feel blah.

 

So I woke up this morning and was going to attempt to do the workout I was supposed to do yesterday, this morning and then the workout I was supposed to do today this evening.

 

That was a lot harder then it sounded in my head... I was very ambitious I even started my workout, did the warm-up and started the main part.. then I let my head convince me I couldn't do it. DAMN HEAD. It was hard, to wake up first thing throw something in my stomach and then start working out - but it could be done, I let my mental self discourage me from doing it. So now this afternoon I'll do yesterdays workout & just keep progressing forward. One bad hour, one bad day, one bad week none of it has to be the end, it's just a detour. Get back on track!!

 

 

~XO

Erica♥

 

Tabata & shoes!

That's right! I did the Tabata Inferno yesterday & completed it :) There were times I had to stop for a second, there was LOTS of water breaks during but I kept pushing through, I kept working the circuits as best as I can and now I can look forward to getting better at it when it comes around each time in the next 86 days. ;)

Bought my first pair of workout sneakers yesterday. Unfortunately, they're technically running shoes, but when I went looking all I saw were running shoes.. but they were the most comfortable I wore them around the house all morning to help break them in a little before my workout later :) I really like them and it might actually encourage me to start the c25k program sooner than I had planned.

Becoming a runner, and enjoying running has been a goal of mine for a long time. I can't explain it other than I KNOW I could fully enjoy putting ear buds in, lacing up my sneaks and going out for as long as possible just letting the world fall under my soles.

I never spend this much on shoes ($60 on sale!) But a) I wanted to treat myself for starting my journey back up and b) it's for a good reason, I need to get healthier & these shoes can help that journey.

 

 

I have learned in the last few weeks, that the journey to a healthier me is filled with tons of emotions. I have been more emotional, not able to hold back tears, unable to just pretend like I don't feel things. But in the same stance I have also learned that the best parts of my day mentally, are always after a workout. I can be emotional, moody, near tears for NO reason - I get a workout in and I am floating the rest of the day. Feeling good, sore, happy, positive, playful. I love it.

 

Today is Shoulders & Back in Supreme 90 day, and I must say I'm looking forward to it!!!!

 

~XO

Erica♥