Reality Check and Weekly Workout Recap

So we are in Kansas for Christmas and I have had a few reality checks just in the few short days we have been here.  1) I am extremely out of shape!!!--I have been working out with my mom at Project Fitness (CrossFit) and it has literally been kicking my butt.  I do CrossFit at home, but it is NOWHERE near the same as the benefits you get from an actual CrossFit "box".  2) When we worked out on Wednesday, I asked my mom to do my body fat analysis and all that on the scale.  I know it isn't completely accurate but the numbers that I saw were HORRIFYING to say the least!!!  I am hoping it is the slap in the face that I need to get my butt back in gear.  I will break it down for you.  My weight (with clothes on, no shoes) was 203.2--not as bad as I thought it would be.  My body mass index was 32.8--pretty sure that I am considered extremely obese by those numbers.  This number right here is what is most horrifying to me. My body fat percentage was 49.2%--holy crap!!!!  That means almost HALF of my body is FAT!!!!!  My muscle percentage was 22.1%.  My visceral fat (the fat around your heart) was an 8--not terrible but definitely needs to be down to like a 5 or 6.  My body age was 54!!!  Folks, I am 28 years old!!!!!  My body age is almost half of my REAL age and as old as my mom's real age!!!  I also found out that if I were to start counting calories again, just what I need to maintain and stay the same weight I am now is 1,633 calories.  So I would need to decrease that number by at least 200-400 calories.  Good to know, cause I was eating WAY TOO MUCH when I was counting calories!!  And 3) I still have a looooong way to go!!  I went shopping with my mom yesterday and everything I tried on made me look like a blimp!!!  Mind you, since giving birth to my son, I have lost roughly 35 lbs.  Yeah, I have a ways to go!!!!

So what am I going to do about these numbers and what I saw in the mirror?  Really, there is only 1 thing to do and that is let it motivate me!!!  I have worked out all but 1 day since I've been home with my mom and gotten some good calorie burns.  BUT, my diet is what needs the work and I know this.  I crave breads and sweets and all the bad stuff (really, who doesnt?!)  But I have to get past the momentary satisfaction of the taste and remember how the crap makes me feel about an hour later.  I lack energy throughout the rest of the day.  I crave caffeine just to get my through the day or if I don't get the caffeine then I need extra sleep.  I have headaches and inflammation and an upset stomach.  WHY CAN'T I GET THIS THROUGH MY THICK SKULL!?!?!?!

Anyway, I digress from all the sad, woe is me, stuff.

Onto my weekly workout recap:

12/19/12--For Time with a 20 minute time limit
75 squats
150 double unders or 600 singles
50 pull-ups
100 sit-ups
50 push-ups
150 double unders or 600 singles
75 squats

I modified this a bit and only got 50 of the singles and did a 30 calorie row in place of it.  I subbed 50 pull-ups for 50 ring rows and then when the 20 minute mark had hit I only had gotten in 80 sit-ups.  Great workout but I was gassed by the end of it!!  I think only 1 guy out the three classes RXed it and finished in 18:36!!

12/20/12
Strength: Hang power cleans 1-1-1-1-1-1

Skill:  Max calorie row in 5 minutes (I burned 56 calories)

And the WOD was a 10 minute AMRAP of:
5 hang power cleans (max weight from strength workout)--I only used the 25 lb bar and was having huge issues with form!!!
10 chest to bar pull-ups ( did ring rows)
15 push balls--I used a 10 lb ball

Completely 4 rounds

12/21/12
"12 days of Christmas"
1 power snatch (I just used a PVC pipe working on form)
2 ring dips (did these off a box)
3 burpees
4 ring rows (did these off a bar)
5 toes to bar (just worked on form--can't even get knees to elbows)
6 push-ups (off a bar)
7 squats
8 jumping lunges (L/R=1)--stationary lunges for part and walking lunges for part
9 box jumps (did step-ups off of 3 45 lb plates)
10 wall balls (10 lb ball)
11 KB swings
12 thrusters

The way the workout works is like the song.  You do 1 power snatch.  Then you do 2 rings dips + 1 power snatch.  Then 3 burpees + 2 ring dips + 1 power snatch, etc.  All the way up to 12 and back down.

My mom and I got to 10 wall balls and then on our way back down only made it to 6 push-ups.  We were fatigued but it was a wonderfully awful or awfully wonderful (however you want to look at it!!!) workout!!!!

Hope you lovelies are having a great week and enjoy your time celebrating Christmas (hopefully with those you love!!)

~Suzanne~

Out of Commission

Last Thursday evening as I was going through my routine getting ready for bed I noticed my throat starting to hurt.  I took some Zicam and all my other night time medicine and as I was crawling into bed, my entire body started aching.  Low and behold, on Saturday morning Thomas took me to the doctor and I tested positive for the flu.  Have you ever had a flu test?  I wanted to punch the nurse in throat, it hurt so bad!!!  My head already felt like it was going to explode and then the nurse came in and had to basically stick what was long q-tips all the way up my nose.  She stuck them so far up there I am pretty sure she reached my brain.  I immediately starting crying because it hurt so bad.....yes, I am a 28 year old woman, and I still cry sometimes at the doctor's office....sue me!!!  But the nurse actually kinda started laughing at me!!!  Seriously?!?!?!

After a prescription for Tamiflu, alternating between Coricidin HBP Maximum Flu (yes I have high blood pressure too) and NyQuil for the evenings, I am somewhat starting to feel normal again (whatever that is).  I still sound like a man when I talk and I'm hacking up all kinds of nasty green things...blech.  But I haven't worked out since Thursday and it is killing me not to do anything but my lungs just can't handle it right now.

I did just attempt the 12-12-12 WOD from CrossFit Mamas and only made it through 1 round before I was hacking.  So now I am extremely behind on my squat challenge and my plank challenge.  So you know what I'm gonna be doing the rest of the week?  Playing catch up!!!  I have LOTS of squats to do to get  back on track!  UGH!

On a much much happier note, the flu has done some good!  Haha!  I saw THIS on the scale yesterday!!!

And then I got dressed......blah.  But I'm there!!!  Also, Christmas came early for me!  Hubby got me a:

Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor!  Merry Christmas to me!!!!  Wooohooo!!!!  :)  So stinkin' excited!!!  Anyway, I hope y'all are having a fabulous week!  Just wanted to give a little update.  I am so bad about writing new blogs but don't want to bore y'all with the same ol' same ol' so I don't update unless it's important to me and worth updating!  Latez y'all!  :)

Suzanne

December Goals

First of all, I can't believe it is already December!!!  13 days until I get to go to Kansas for Christmas and spend a fantastic 2 weeks with my mom, dad, and brother.  It has been a long time since we've all been together for Christmas and I am so stinkin' excited!!!

Secondly, are my December goals.  Currently, I am doing a plank and squat challenge and also I entered a contest on DietBet called Holiday Weight Loss Challenge that all I have to do is lose 4% of my weight and everyone that does gets to split the pot! The pot as of right now, is up to $5000!  I am so excited!  If I do lose my 4%,  I will finally be in ONEDERLAND!!!  Woohoo!!!

I have also stumbled across Crossfit Mamas that I am absolutely LOVING and it is really challenging me and, I know, making me stronger.  My workout tonight was ridiculous and I had to stop a few times because I thought I might throw up!  I had to do "Tabata Fight Gone Bad".  You do 8 intervals of 4 different exercises with 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest.  By round 6 I was about done but kept going.  I had to take a longer break than 10 seconds on a few of the workouts but I completed it!  My goal for December is to do CrossFit everyday and keep up with my plank and squat challenges.

I think I can, I think I can!  Wait, what am I talking about?!  I KNOW I can!!!



 

A Journey in Pictures

Join me on this journey through pictures as I remind myself where I was at my heaviest, where I was when I was happy, and how I CAN get back there with a lot of hard work and dedication!

June 14, 2008 at my heaviest of 215.  This is when I knew I needed to do something and make a change.

September 28, 2008

November 8, 2008

 January 16, 2009

April 24, 2009

June 26, 2009

September 5, 2009--165ish.  This is the lowest that I got until life got in the way.  I HAD to fit in this dress for my best friend's wedding.  I did it and then sort of lost motivation.  I sure did look good that day though!

February 16, 2010--I was so skinny!  I KNOW I can get back there.  I look at these pictures as motivation and remind myself that I did it once and I CAN do it again!

This was the weekend before I gave birth.  I think I weighed around 235 (Eeeekkk!).

And FINALLY, here I am today with my sweet baby boy.  Weighing in at about 206 (minus the baby!  Hehe!!)

We can do this y'all!  I am hoping to get back to where I was, but have to take it 1 day at a time, and not beat myself up over it.  I had a baby for goodness sake!  I got this!  :)

-Suzanne-

Beached Whale

I so feel like a beached whale today.  Several days of not working out and bad food choices and the result I get is feeling like a fat cow!!!  Thanksgiving binging ended up being more than just Thanksgiving, but I'm back on it now.  I have done well the last 2 days.  I haven't weighed myself because quite frankly, I am afraid of what the number is.  I have decided to stop counting calories on My Fitness Pal because I am becoming entirely too obsessed with it and feel like if I have the calories for it, then I can still eat crap.  So I am back to paleo and am feeling so much better already.  I will weigh, probably on Friday.  Do any of you have problems with obsessive weighing?  Like, I will weigh every day, multiple times a day because I feel like if I don't I will get too off track.  I weigh after using the restroom in the morning and then pretty much everytime after I use the restroom until I eat breakfast to see if I am any lower.  I wish I wasn't so worried about a number on a scale and just was worried about feeling good and being comfortable with myself, but I guess I'm just not wired that way.  I am not doing so great on the Slimmer by December challenge that the fit camp that I am a part of is doing...in fact, I am sucking it up!!!  Anyway, just wanted to do a short blurb.  If we all get a head start on our "New Years' Resolutions", think about how much further along we will be than everyone else!!  Keep on keepin' on!!

Suzanne

PaleOMG's Baked Apple Pie Apples

Holy Cow! Y'all have to try this recipe! They are delish!  Baked Apple Pie Apples  I changed it just a smidge because I didn't have access to Gluten Free Lasagna and didn't have time to order them from the website so I made my own pie crust/crumble stuff from here: Paleo Pie Crust but instead of almonds, I did pecans and it was amazing! I just kind of globbed it on top of the apples and it turned out AHHHHMAZING!!!  Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure!!

Holly and Erin's Turkey Trot Linkup!!

This is first time I've done a Vlog so bear with me!  It was kind of fun though but took me 3 tries to get it right and it still isn't perfect!  Oh well!  Hope y'all enjoy!  Sorry for the video not being centered and being so shaky (I was recording from my iPhone and was having to hold it--sue me!!)  Also sorry for my son squealing in the background (He was watching Yo Gabba Gabba and is in his jumperoo!!)  Hehe!  Hope y'all have a fabulous Thanksgiving!

1. What do you look forward to more: the food, football or parades?
2. What is your favorite non-traditional Thanksgiving Day dish?
3. After dinner, is it football or a nap?
4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Which is your favorite float?
5. Where do you go to celebrate and eat your big meal? Who is there (family, friends)?
6. What is your favorite turkey day dessert?

Blah blah blah

After awful food choices yesterday AND not working out I am back at it today.  I just finished Day 2 Week 2 of Couch to 5K and again, felt awful.  I stopped at 14:30 and sat on the couch sobbing uncontrollably because my leg was hurting so bad and I just wanted to quit and throw in the towel.  My husband consoled me and allowed me to sob on his shoulder and during that time I am pretty sure my baby boy said "Ma-ma" or is trying really really hard to get it out!!!  That warmed my heart, I sucked it up, and I got back on the treadmill and finished it out.  I want to BE a runner.  I want to ENJOY running!  I know that some days I am going to be in pain and I need to change my mentality and not be such a wuss when the going gets tough and just suck it up and deal.  I have to do this for me, for my husband and my son, and for my immediate family.  It seems like the bad days these days are outweighing the good ones and I want that to change but I know that I am the only one that can control it and I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that I have good days!!  Thanks for reading y'all!  Feel free to comment!

-Suzanne-

Debbie Downer

It is funny how yesterday's post was so upbeat and I was feeling good and now today I am having such a down day....I think I might have some sort of seasonal depression when it is overcast and dreary in the fall/winter.  Then I got to looking at pictures of me back in 2009 when I was at my lowest weight and was loving life.  A LOT has changed since then!!  I am struggling to love myself no matter what weight I am at and also finding that the weight isn't coming off nearly as quick as it did 3-4 years ago.

I attempted Week 2 Day 2 of Couch to 5K and did awful!!  A) I stopped about 27 times to stretch out my right calf and B) I didn't even finish. So I will definitely at least be repeating that day, if not the entire week.  My right leg has been bothering me when I am jogging, but only when I am jogging.  I don't know if I just need to push through it or if there is something I can do to make it stop while I am jogging.  Any advice would be amazing!  I hope y'all are having a better Wednesday than I am!

-Suzanne-

Keepin' on!

Hey y'all!  Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  Been busy and have been limiting my computer time to get stuff done around the house.  I am still sticking with my lifestlye change and am making terrific progress.  I am now down 11.2 lbs total and am feeling fabulous!  I have been doing the Couch to 5K program and will be doing Week 2, Day 2 tomorrow and I am also doing the 30 Day at Home Crossfit Challenge.  I am pretty much using it as a guide but I feel that I am a little more advanced with some of the exercises so I add some to it and change it up just a smidge.  Overall I think I am doing pretty good with it and am so proud of myself for sticking with it this long!!  I love seeing the scale move in the right direction and that is what keeps me motivated!  Thanks for reading y'all!  Have a good week!

-Suzanne-

Tomorrow is a new day!

I have made a commitment to myself that I am starting over again tomorrow (Monday).  I am trying to become more organized and for some reason I am having a really hard time balancing life as a stay at home mom and getting all the housework done.  So, I bought a nifty planner and I will schedule my workouts and my "chores" for the day.  I have decided that to keep up with the laundry and the dishes I am going to have to do them every day.  The laundry I will do 1 load a day (whites, darks, lights, baby's clothes, and towels/blankets), clean dishes, and then clean 1 room a day.  My son is almost 7 months old....I should have this figured out by now but I don't.  I have also deleted the Facebook app off of my phone because I wasted entirely too much time checking my phone for updates and such so now I have to schedule time to sit down and get on my computer (after all my other chores are done, of course!).  I wish organization came naturally for me, but it doesn't.  Then again, what does come naturally for me?!  So, tomorrow is a new day and I WILL do this!  Here's to new beginnings!  So tired of feeling like crap about myself and after eating junk!

Goals

I just can't seem to get with the program.  I lost my motivation way back when and have NO idea how to get

it back or why I seem to be ok at this weight (even though I hate myself right now).  I don't feel like I've had that "aha moment" again.  But I am trying so very hard to get off my butt and DO.  No trying....just doing!!!

So I have created this: 

A weight loss goal list for every 15 lbs lost and a "Lbs to lose" and "Lbs lost" jar with the rocks you put in the bottom of beta fish bowls....they're purple....my favorite color! :)  So I am trying!  Yesterday  I did 4 rounds for time of: 15 kettlebell swings with a 10 lb kettlebell, 30 sit-ups (oh how I loathe you!!), 45 jumping jacks, 30 push press with just the bar (12 lbs.), and 15 standing knees to elbows.  I completed all 4 rounds in 19 minutes and 10 seconds.  I want to continue to do CrossFit because I know that it works.  Why do you ask?  Because I've done it before and I know several people and their before and after while doing CrossFit and adopting a somewhat paleo lifestyle.  And I know it works for ME!  I attempted the counting calories but I feel like if I want to be successful I need to make this as "easy" as possible for myself and counting calories was not it for me.  I took the week off that my parents were here (Oct. 13-21) and didn't do a single workout or count a single calorie...lol...I gained about 2-3 lbs back but I was on vacation!  So now I'm back to it.....yet again.  I get so frustrated with myself with all the starting and stopping and I'm just tired of it!  My goal is to at least have completed my first 15 lb goal by Christmas time.  I think I can, I think I can!!!  It has been a while since I updated so I  thought I'd let all 5 of you know I'm still alive!  :)  Hope y'all have a happy weekend!  

-Suzanne-

"Don't you know that you're toxic?"

As I was working out tonight (Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred--it's a butt kicker!!!), I was thinking about toxic people when it comes to working out and eating right.  Then of course, Britney Spears song "Toxic" came into my head!  I think I might have slight A.D.D......oh look!!! A squirrel!!!  Just kidding!  Anyway, back on topic...focus Suzanne, focus!!!

Do you have toxic people in your life when you're trying to change your lifestyle of eating right and exercising or people that try to sabotage your efforts anytime they get the chance?  If so, you need to get rid of them, or put them in their place.  It is already hard enough to do what we're doing without someone waving a Krispy Kreme doughnut in our face while we're eating our 160 calorie Oikos Greek Yogurt (key lime pie is my favorite!!).  Thankfully, right now I don't have trouble with this....or if I do, I feel like I am at a point where I can shut it out.  For example, tonight as I sat eating my grilled chicken breast with shredded lettuce and tomato with a smidge of mustard (no bun) from Sonic, my hubby had a big ol' juicy cheeseburger!!  What got me through was the fact that I had just added in my calories into My Fitness Pal and knew how many calories he was shoving in his pie hole with that cheeseburger...and quite frankly it disgusted me!  But he doesn't taunt me with it or talk about how amazing it was ('cause trust me, if I wasn't counting calories, I'd be stuffing a big ol' cheeseburger in my pie hole too!)  But, I digress!

The point of this is, if you are just beginning in your journey or don't have much willpower, you need to let everyone around you know that you are trying to adopt a new lifestyle and to either hop on board with you or get outta your way!  I know it isn't easy (trust me!!!).  I used to work in a doctor's office where around Christmas time our patients LOVED us sooooo much that they would bring cookies, cakes, and pies (all homemade yummy goodness)!!  And it was so incredibly hard to stay out of the break room and not stuff my face with all that junk food!  And to be honest, I didn't do too well at it (which is why I am in the boat I am in now....AND I had a baby!)  Lol!  Anyway, I feel like I completely lost the point somewhere in all this hub-bub so I will go now!

When you get a chance, read this article!  It's Sabotage!

Peace y'all!

Suzanne

Yo-yo

I know y'all probably get tired of reading my blog and seeing that I yo-yo so much with dieting.  Technically it isn't really yo-yoing though because I'm not off and on and off and on I just jump from "diet" to "diet".  After the 6 lb weight loss I was only able to keep 3 of the 6 lbs off that I lost during the 4 day off cycle of the  Three Day Military Diet.  I started it again on Monday but Thomas and I went to Campbell University to visit two girls that go to our church that attend there on Tuesday so I couldn't stick to the diet for supper.

So, I have now started counting calories.  It is going pretty well and really opens your eyes up to see what you really consume in a day's time.  I have been reading a blog and two of her followers decided to start a facebook "fit camp" page. It has over 7,000 members now and we all (or whoever can) started October 1st the 30 days of Jillian Michaels challenge where for every day in October you will do some sort of Jillian Michaels workout.  I decided to take on 30 Day Shred and it is kicking my butt.

I was going to attempt to do my couch to 5k (C25K) program every other day with it but I find it extremely difficult unless I do one in the morning and one in the evening.  My amazing hubby took our son to work with him on Monday so I could get the house cleaned.  I literally cleaned from 10 AM to around 6 PM that night and now it seems that it needs cleaned all over again.  I HATE DOING DISHES!!!!!!!!!!!  I vacuumed and dusted every room, changed the sheets, did laundry, vacuumed the cob webs out of the corners of the room, did dishes, and then attempted to do day 3 of C25K.  Haha, it is a 30 minute program and I got about 10 minutes in and went from the jogging 1 minute to walking 1 1/2 minutes I think the 2nd or 3rd time around and almost lost my footing because my legs completely locked up.  I felt like a total failure and knew that I probably shouldn't do the workout but wanted to anyway because I knew it would make me feel better.  Boy was I wrong.  I don't know if I still have so much weight to lose that I need to wait until I lose about 20-30 lbs and then restart C25K or just take it a little slower and make a 9 week program more like a 12-14 week program.  Thoughts? Suggestions?

I decided to stop doing the 30 day at home CrossFit workouts, mainly because I was getting bored with them.  It is all body weight exercises and I have more equipment now than when  I first started that I need to incorporate into the workouts.  I think I might start back at the beginning of my CrossFit workout notebook and do those workouts and add in some other exercises that use my new equipment.  I am getting so bored with all this but I know it is what I need to do to better myself and it makes me feel so much better.

So I know I have only been counting calories for a few days but I am so incredibly impatient and I want to start seeing some results!!!  How long does it take before you start noticing or see the numbers on the scale going down?

Take care y'all!

Suzanne

Down 6 lbs!!

I am finished with my first 3 day rotation of the Three Day, Military Diet and I am down 6 lbs.  I exercised on Monday and Tuesday but did a ton of housework with a baby strapped to my chest (thanks Moby Wrap!!) on Wednesday so that was  my exercise!  LOL!  I drank half my body weight in water on those 3 days, my skin is clearer and I am feeling good!!!  Although I didn't see the 10 lb weight loss, I will take the 6 lbs.  I am getting over closer to my first goal!  Yay!!!  I hope everyone has had a good week so far!  Keep on keepin' on!

Suzanne

Guinea Pig

I am trying something new to jump start my metabolism and weight loss.  I found this page: Three Day Military Diet while browsing Pinterest.  I bought all of the stuff that I needed on Friday and today is my first day.  So Day 1 you eat 1/2 grapefruit (grapefruit isn't in season right now so I bought a jar of the Del Monte red grapefruit in light syrup and rinsed it a couple of times and ate that.), with 1 piece of toast ( I had 1/2 of a sandwhich round) smeared with 1 TBS of peanut butter and then I ate the other 1 TBS of off the spoon. :)  And I found a purple acai and blueberry green tea and I had a cup of that this morning.  I am feeling pretty good.  I think I may need to find a different tea to drink because there isn't much caffeine in green tea.  This diet also has a facebook page and I was reading some tips on how to succeed on this and it says to take your body weight and divide it in half and try to consume that many ounces of water a day....yeah, that's a lot of water.  But I'm gonna try it!  I will just be visiting the ladies room all day!  I have already drank 30 oz. of water this morning.  Here's to something new!  I will keep y'all posted on my progress but I am not weighing again until the beginning of day 4 when the diet is complete. I can't believe I'm doing this for all the world all 5 of you that read my blog to see but you have to start somewhere right?  These are my before pictures and I never want to go back to looking like this again.  I am learning to love myself no matter what I look like but it's extremely hard when you find so many imperfections.  Will you keep me accountable and just check up on me to see how I'm doing?  I would appreciate it!  Thanks for reading!

Suzanne

Day 2 and 3

Day 2, I lovingly dubbed "CHEAT DAY!!!"...I started attending a Bible study at First United Methodist Church in Washington for Young Moms.  It started last week but I had just found out about it that day so I wasn't able to attend so I got Little Man and I ready (with the help of daddy) and hit the road.  It started at 9:30 and ended at around 11:30.  The group is going through Colossians and it is intense.  Kinda makes me feel like I'm in college all over again!  But I'm hoping to make some new friends and learn more about Paul's letter to the church at Colosse.  Little Man did wonderful in the nursery and I overall had a good time.  There are several groups that meet and then everyone comes together for a little bit of food and fellowship and a devotion.  The leader of the devotion talked about putting God first in our lives and how Paul talks about in Colossians chapter 1 how God is the head of everything and every battle that we may face, there is no need to worry about because Jesus has already gone before us to fight that battle.  I kind of got my toes stepped on a bit with the whole worry thing and also how I prioritize my life.  I spend incredibly too much time watching TV and on the computer that I don't put God where he rightly deserves to be in my life.  Hmm, just some food for thought.  

So, I didn't do bad at all during the fellowship time.  I had a few strawberries, chunks of pineapple, and a few slices of apples and water to drink.  Hubby and I were doing really well about making a habit of eating together on Wednesdays since I had to come over that way anyway for church and praise team practice but the last month or so we haven't been doing very well, so since I was already in the area because of the Bible study, we decided to do lunch.  He let me pick and we went to The Plantation House in Washington and I had the BBQ Plantation burger...holy cow it was good....hamburger with bbq sauce and grilled onions and mushrooms....YUM-O!  And I had unsweet tea with sweet-n-low and a few sweet potato fries.  Bad, bad, bad....but then supper time came and I have an extremely hard time eating healthy at church, mainly because when a group cooks you have to eat that particular food.  I guess I could start eating before I come or making my meal ahead of time and bringing it with me.  They had fried chicken, cole slaw, and potato salad and then I had a piece of german chocolate cake.....OH MY GOODNESS!!!  Soooo bad!!!  And, to top it all off......I DIDN'T WORK OUT!!!!!!!!!  So not only was yesterday my cheat day, it was my rest day too! Grrrr.....

But, day 3 (Today!) I am back at it!   I had my coffee this morning and made bacon and eggs (no toast) and I just got done working out.  I did 3 rounds for time of: walk/run 1/4 mile and 50 air squats.  I am proud to say that I ran more than I walked but I feel soooo incredibly fat when I run on a treadmill...well run in general.  First of all, I am NOT a runner by any means and all this extra weight just kinda flaps in the wind....ick.  But I completed the workout in 21:50 and thought I might pass out or throw up.......and it was glorious!!!

Happy Thursday y'all!

-Suzanne-

Day 1

While I have been eating pretty decent the last week and a half, I haven't been exercising.  Quite frankly, coming off of this ankle injury, I have been scared to do much of anything for fear of hurting myself even more.  But I sucked it up and dealt with it.  I started doing CrossFit in 2009 (I think) and was gung-ho for it, but looking through my plethora of CrossFit workouts that I've done in the past, I was afraid to go all in.  So, I looked up some CrossFit at home workouts and found this blog:

http://cleaneatsinthezoo.com/index/30-day-at-home-crossfit-challenge-workouts/

He has a 30 day at home crossfit challenge going on with pretty much bodyweight exercises and if you can't or don't run outside, you can do the running on a treadmill or bike or swim (whichever you prefer). So I did day 1 today: 5 rounds for time of: 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 10 air squats and then I added in 10 10lb kettlebell swings.  I feel great but also feel like a fatty because I know I'm nowhere near where I was!  But, as long as I keep on keepin' on, I will do this and I will get back to where I was and hopefully surpass where I was.

So, I opened my Pandora "Hard Rock Strength Training" radio station and went to it. I completed these exercises in just under 10 minutes.  9:58 to be exact.  Not where I wanted to be, but I know I'll get there.  Slow and steady wins the race.  Sometimes I wish I was one of those people that could just change the way I eat and lose weight.  Although this works for me for a time, I just become "skinny fat" (look it up on Urban Dictionary--lol) and that is not what I want.  Like I stated in a post before, I want to be one of those women that people look at and say, "She had a baby?!" And right now, I know I am NOWHERE near there!

So, I am hoping I can stick with this for the next 30 days and then move onto the level 2 that Clean Eats in the Zoo has or go back to the workouts that I have in my notebooks!

As I stated above, I've been doing really well with eating.  Saturday night I broke out my Everyday Paleo Cookbook by Sarah Fragoso:

I made her "Spicy Speedy Stuffed Peppers" also found at http://everydaypaleo.com/?s=stuffed+peppers and they were delish!  Last night, I made her Hasta La Vista Pasta Lasagna where the "lasagna" is thinly sliced zucchini.  I loved the meat mixture, but wasn't too keen on the zucchini--it was bitter!  Bleck!  But, I'll still eat the leftovers!

Anyway, hope everyone has a happy Tuesday!

-Suzanne-

I'm actually doing it!!

So, for the past 3 days, I have actually stuck to my diet and I feel INCREDIBLE!  I am pretty much doing paleo, but not completely hardcore and still doing SOME dairy.  Two and a half weeks ago, while I was in Virginia Beach for my uncle's funeral, I sprained my ankle as we were leaving on Sunday.  I was only on crutches for a day (hey, mama's can't let a sprained ankle get in the way of taking care of their baby!).  It is finally getting better and I am getting a lot more movement out of it but still not sure that I want to take on CrossFit quite yet (what can I say, I'm scared!!!) I have to ease my way back into it.  Anyway, not a ton to update on.  I had lost like 8 pounds, but the week that I sprained my ankle was heck for me in the eating department because we were doing quick, freezer meals so hubby was able to come home and just throw it in the oven.  So, I've gained it all back.  But I will do this....slow and steady wins the race.  My parents have planned their next trip for the end of October so I'm trying really hard to stick to it so I can lose some weight for that and then also, we are trying to go to Kansas for Christmas and I don't want to look like a fatty.  Ultimately, I want people to look at me and say "She had a baby?!"  Haha, wishful thinking right?  Hubby and I have also made a conscious effort to start getting up earlier in the mornings, spending time in the word, and I am hopefully going to start using that as my workout time.  Anyway, love to you and yours!

Suzanne

Weekends

So, it's been a few days since I've blogged. My lovely 4 month old takes a lot of time away from me to be able to write everyday, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!  Love that little stinker!

So, weekends are awful for me food wise.  It seems like everything I've worked on during the week is completely null and void once Friday or Saturday rolls around and I throw all of the good food choices out the window!  I don't know why I do this to myself.  I haven't done terrible this week but made a whole day's worth of bad choices but got back on track the next day thanks to my wonderful, supportive hubby.  

I've finally decided that until baby boy gets older and can entertain himself for longer periods of time I am going to save myself my sanity and just focus on my eating, rather than trying to get a workout in too.  Because waking up early to get it all in before booger butt wakes up, isn't working out well at all.  I need to go to bed earlier to make that work, but that would mean that booger bear would need to be able to let me get stuff done during the day, and that hasn't happened.  And probably won't for quite some time...at least a month down the road.  So, I spend all my time attempting to get the things done during the day that I couldn't when daddy gets home and can take the little stinker so mommy can actually do some housework.

I wish there was some class that taught you how to juggle life with an infant and housework and being a wife and a good mother and being able to eat right and exercise more and still have your sanity at the end of the day...hmmm....anyone....Buelher.....anyone??

So today's lunch consisted of fried bologna and cheese with a slice of tomato, a smidge of mayo, on no bread, and sliced cucumbers and baby carrots.  It was delish!  And here's a picture!

I had told y'all in an earlier post all of the books that I was reading. I've really dove head first into A Course in Weight Loss and am loving it so far.  I've only done two chapters, but am really getting a lot out of it.  The first chapter was about tearing down the wall.  I love the imagery in the book. You walk up to a brick wall and there are words written on each brick, such as, shame, anger, fear unforgiveness, judgement, etc. Marianne Williamson, the author, then has you go through each word and write how it makes you feel and what each word represents: a thought, and emotional reality, or a character defect that pertains to you.  Then you take each word and allow yourself to identify the situations or circumstances that connects you to that word.  "Your fear has built the wall, and love will tear it down."  Then in the second chapter, "Thin You, Meet Not-Thin You" it is all about loving yourself, whether you're thin or pleasantly plump (I don't like the word fat).  And at the end of that chapter you write Thin You a letter from Not-Thin You, and then Not-Thin you respond to Thin You.  It is a pretty neat exercise....very cleansing if I do say so myself.  Anyway, there's my little book review thus far.  In a nutshell, the book is about getting your mind right when it comes to weight and once your mind is right and you turn that fear (generally why we overeat, etc.) into love, the pounds will start melting away!  We'll see if it works!

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Suzanne

Time flies and things change

On this day, 3 years ago, I put my foot down and made the decision to better myself. Overall I lost 50 pounds and felt fabulous but wanted to lose more. Then a few weeks later I quit my job, cold turkey, because I was completely miserable.  I was unemployed for 2 months and during that time, I started to get lazy and the yo-yoing continued. 

In October of 2009, I started working at a doctor's office where 4 days a week, lunch was catered by drug reps and our patients showed their love for us by baking cakes, pies, etc and if you know me, I find it extremely difficult to say no to sweets. (I wish I didn't have this problem).  

My weight was up and down and then in July of 2011 I got pregnant.  Thankfully I only gained about 20 lbs during the pregnancy, but unfortunately it is because I was sick the whole time.  I gave birth on April 10, 2012 to a 5 lb 15 oz handsome baby boy, but he came by an emergency cesarean section.  I lost most of my pregnancy weight within the first couple of weeks, but then pretty much gained everything back.

I was only a pound or two from my highest weight.  Now 4 months later, I am only 5 pounds below my highest weight, but I never ever want to see that number again!  I CAN do this and I WILL do this!

Here is to a new, healthier lifestyle change (I hate the word diet!)!!

-Suzanne-

Is it illegal to post twice in one day?

Sorry I am posting again but I have all of this stuff in my mind that I want to share!!

I am in the middle of reading several books (yes at the same time!!) and wanted to share those with you in case you can glean some insight from them as well!

The first book that I am reading is:

The Paleo Answer: 7 Days to Lose Weight, Feel Great, Stay Young by Loren Cordain

This book really digs deep into why you should eat paleo and breaks down a lot of the common questions people ask about why they can't eat certain things and gives Loren Cordain's take on it and the scientific reasoning behind it.

He also has another book that is more of an introduction into what paleo is called The Paleo Diet.

Next I am really wanting to get into running and have tried the Couch to 5K running program but always find myself soooooo incredibly sore after the first day that I haven't had much progress on it.  So I found a book by Jeff Galloway called Women's Complete Guide to Running:

This book is written with his wife Barbara and it goes into detail about some of the problems women face when running (hormones, taking care of the household, body issues, etc.)

I am also going to start reading 2 more books.  The first one I was introduced to by a patient at my former job that she had a lot of success with weight loss by using this book.  It is called A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson.

And finally, I started reading this book a couple of years ago with a friend to start an accountability group with and life just got in the way of reading and of the group so me and another friend are going to start reading this together (thanks Exie!).  It is called Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa Terkeurst. 

I am looking forward to finishing all of these books and hope they help me on my journey to becoming a better me!

Get me off this rollercoaster!!

I feel like I am up and down, up and down.  I want to put my foot down and lose this weight for good but I'm still holding on to something, but I don't know what it is.  I know what to do, and I know how to do it, but I'm still falling back into the trap.

I need support from others but I know I only need to do this for myself and my family, but I feel like I'm only successful when I have that support.  Will you follow me on this journey and support me in my efforts?

I want to do this.  I want to be successful.  I want to be motivating and motivated.  I want to inspire and be inspired.....but I need YOUR help!

I can't have anymore excuses.  I need to make my mind up and do it and stop the whining and complaining, because I am the only one that can change this.

For my sanity, I need to set small, realistic goals that are achievable, instead of saying I want to lose x amount of weight overall or be in a size x.

Please help me on my journey to become a better mother, wife, daughter, and sister to my family!

Keep on keeping on

So, I am ashamed to say, but this is me.  It is crazy what pregnancy does to your body.  But I can't blame it all on my little man.  Most of it was mommy's poor eating choices.  But I will never go back to looking like this again!  I am on a journey that I know isn't going to be easy (I've done this all before!!) but I am willing to put forth the effort to do so.  So here is my "before picture".  At a horrible 214 pounds.  UGH!


I didn't work out yesterday but I did eat fairly clean.  For breakfast I had bacon and eggs and a bowl of paleo cereal (slivered almonds, frozen blueberries and strawberries thawed, and coconut milk...delish!!) and a cup of coffee with 2 TBS of French Vanilla creamer, and for lunch we went to a local place called Plantation House....here is where I cheated a little bit.  I had a turkey burger on a wheat bun with ketchup, mayo, and tomato and broccoli salad with unsweet tea with 3 sweet-n-lows and a wait for it............gasp..........banana pudding cupcake.....heavenly!!! For supper last night at church I ate 1 hot dog (no bun) with sloppy joe mix on top with a bit of shredded cheese and a salad with spinach and lettuce and a diet mountain dew to drink.  Today for breakfast I had an oikos greek yogurt (blueberry fruit on the bottom), a bowl of paleo cereal and 1/2 c. of coffee with a little bit of lactose free milk and 1 equal and 1 sweet-n-low.  Right now I am eating lunch and here it is:

Sliced honey ham Oscar Meyer lunch meat, broccoli slaw, and sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper.  And I am drinking water with it.  

I just got done working out and had the BEST workout!  I did an AMRAP (As Many Rounds as Possible) in 20 minutes of:  10 thrusters (bar only), 10 SK2E (standing knees to elbows--left/right=1), 10 bridges, 10 dumbbell boxers with 10 lb. dumbbells, and 10 KB cleans (each arm).  I completed 5 rounds.

Well, time to get back to cleaning the house while little man is napping.  Take care!

Jumping back on the wagon

So first of all, let me start by telling you a little bit about myself.  My name is Suzanne.  I am a mother to my beautiful baby boy, a wife to my awesome husband, a daughter to my wonderful parents, a sister to my fantastic brother, but most of all, a child of God.


In 2009 my parents started training with a personal trainer doing CrossFit and adopted a paleo lifestyle and each lost about 60 lbs.  I too jumped on the wagon and lost 50 lbs and was finally starting to feel comfortable in my own skin.  I got down to 165 and wanted to go even lower.  But my life took some crazy turns and I ended up quitting my job and was unemployed for about 2 months when I started working again at a doctor's office, where I went from running around chasing 3 kids that I babysat to a sedentary office job with drug reps bringing lunch all but one day a week.  I very quickly started gaining the weight back and then low and behold in July of 2011 I got pregnant with our first child.  Thankfully I only gained about 20 lbs, but I was sick the entire pregnancy.


Now our son is 3 1/2 months old. I wasn't able to breastfeed but the first 4 weeks, I am well passed my 6 week check-up and have been cleared to start everything back, but I am finding it so incredibly hard to get the dedication and motivation back to start working out and eating healthy again....especially with a very needy 3 1/2 month old.  


But today, I put my foot down.  I already have high blood pressure so this isn't something to mess around with.  My goal is to completely get off of my BP meds and overall just get healthy.  I would like to start training for a 5K, not necessarily so I can do one, but just to say that I can actually run!!  I have never been a runner in my life and have seen all of the health benefits that it can provide to be able to run.  Plus, I would just love to say that I am a CrossFitter and a runner.  :)  


I woke up this morning and had my cup of coffee, ate my breakfast (a banana and 3 hard boiled eggs) and put my son in his bassinet for some tummy time while I did my first workout to the new me (again!).  


I did 21-15-9 of:
10 lb kettlebell swings
goblet squats with a 10 lb weight
push presses with the bar only
and sit-ups


It took me 7:35 to complete this exercise.  I know it wasn't a long workout but I definitely feel like I did something and it was a good start.


I just finished my lunch and had a little bit of chicken salad and a bowl of strawberry and spinach salad with water to drink.


If you are interested more in what paleo and/or crossfit are, check out the links below.


 What is CrossFit?


What is the paleo diet?


So, here is to the new me!  NO MORE EXCUSES!!!