Week 1- Starting Weight, Pics, Workout and Mealplan

Im keeping this short and sweet.

This is officially week 1 of my Choose to Lose Challenge Group. 

-I am just as committed as the ladies who joined to regaining control and losing weight.
-My goal is to lose 10 lbs by the end of this challenge and lose 3 inches off my waist.
-I will be doing CIZE in the mornings this week. I also plan to workout 2 times a week with my husband doing Body Beast.

-I got on the scale yesterday morning 8/30/15 and weighed in at 192 lbs.
      Even though I am more toned and slimmer than I was in my "fat days," I am my highest weight ever, aside from being pregnant. I gained this summer due to not making the best food selections while out vacationing, celebrating and having fun. Then on top of that, 8 weeks ago I was put on a new higher dose birth control pill. Twice the amount of hormones than I was on before.

Not happy with the extra weight, but oh well. Time to stop talking about it and get serious and take it off.

-Here is my meal plan. I will be following the Eat Up CIZE mealplan and using the Portion Fix Color Coded Containers.

-Here are my before pics taken today. I was actually liking the size and shape of my thighs and butt this summer but having bigger thighs/butt has its own set of problems. I will go more into that on Wednesdays post. But for now, my focus is own being comfortable in my jeans and these thighs didnt make the cut.

If you would like to join us, complete this form for more info on the Choose to Lose Challenge.

Anniversary Weekend and New Challenge

Happy Anniversary!!

I celebrated my 13 year wedding anniversary last weekend. We had a blast. Honestly, at this point in our lives, the best gift we could give each other is time. Thankfully, we had a close relative who volunteered to keep the kids 3 nights. Time is so precious and having the time to just enjoy dinner without rushing to get kids or rushing to drop kids off to make a reservation felt so good. Sometimes as parents we get caught up and used to enjoying a little time here and there that we almost forget what it feels like to be kid free for 24 hours- let alone 72 hours. I am so happy that we have learned to balance our time while pursuing our goals.

We spent a lot of time together and a lot of time eating.

Friday evening, we went to a special fondue restaurant called Geja's that I love. No electronic devices allowed so it forces conversation since you are unplugged and you are not bothered by people trying to get the perfect selfie while reaching and leaning all in your space. But, what I really like about this restaurant (aside from the food) is that the lighting is low and the tables feel so private. Kinda makes you feel like you are in your own little world for a couple hours.

Saturday morning, first thing, we went jogging/walking along the lake front. (I didn't want to get too fat celebrating. My metabolism is not what it used to be.) It was nice and I really didn't count miles but I logged into MapMyRun and I believe we went just over 3 miles. Nice time and perfect weather.

Movies!! Later Saturday morning we went to see Straight Outta Compton. Loved it!!! It was so real and authentic and it took me back. Made me remember when people started calling this rap music bad etc... Made me reflect on injustices that people of color have had to deal with through the years. But even showed how its important to have your own business, read contracts and be in control of your money.  I would see Straight Outta Compton again and again.

We then had a midday dessert at Kilwins, a fudge shop. Lastly, dinner was scallops and veggies we prepared at home.

Then came Sunday-
Sunday (Food and Shopping)
Breakfast- pancake restaurant.
Snacks- Fresh donuts at a small donut shop.
Dinner we had burgers and fries at a burger joint.   

Unless we are on vacation, I dont eat out too much. But, this weekend

  I ate out 5 times and each time I acted like it was my last meal.

Sometimes despite what I know, I just go all in and just have to deal with the aftermath later. I know when to stop and how to regain control. When eating lots of sugar and refined foods it takes a few days for my body to calm down.

Needless to say, I have struggled this week with containing my cravings for sugar and carbs.  But, I am getting on the scale and taking measurements, this Friday and every Friday from here on out. I will be posting a weekly progress post to hold myself accountable. Skinny jeans are coming and I want to feel confident in them next month.

Cize- Week 1 Review!!!

Im in LOVE!!!! 

The program is so much fun! I don't like cardio but I love cardio when I am dancing to music.
Shaun T breaks the dance moves down throughout the workout, giving you time to work up a sweat while learning the moves. It took my daughter and I til the 2nd or 3rd workout to have Crazy 8s down pact.

The first 30 minutes or so, you will spend learning the moves. You get a water break. Then during the last 4 minutes, its time to put the moves together with songs from Missy Elliot, Destiny's Child, Ariana Grande, LLCoolJ and more. It took my daughter and I til the 3rd workout to have Crazy 8s down pact.

Lots of energy. Lots of fun! Lots of fat burning!

Here's what you need to know.

~I was sore. The dancing worked my muscles in an entirely different way that I am used to. So the first few days, my body was sore. I should have had my Results and Recovery formula to help my body recover after that workout but I didnt. Because in my mind, Im always gonna be alright.

~I have a hurt knee. My knee problems go back 15 years, so I did modify. On the move "Trip," I did not jump while kicking. I kept my left foot planted and did more of a step/kick with my right leg.

~You will learn it. Even if you dont know how to dance, trust me, you will get it by the end of the week.  You will also be tempted to CIZE IT UP several times after your workout.   

~It doesnt have to be PERFECT. Have fun and put your own personality into it!!

 Here is a video of the routine "Crazy 8's"

 that you will learn in Week 1!!

Forgive me.... For my last workout the lighting was horrible!!!
Gonna add another one soon.

Im a Heavy Girl

I cant believe I just said that but....

Im 190 lbs!

There- I said it.

There were quite a few people who guessed that I was around the 140-150 lbs range. But it seemed, as time went on, as more ladies with similar body types took a good look, the estimates got closer or right on the money. At this weight, I generally wear a size 10 in jeans and M tops.

I have always kept my weight a secret because Ive always been heavier. Throughout highschool, I always weighed about 20 lbs more than my friends, even if we wore the same size. My friends would be 120-135 meanwhile, Im 145-155.  For the friends who had a clue, they couldnt understand why and how.  As an adult, when I would go to my yearly physicals at the doctors office, if the triage nurse had a manual scale, she never would start it at the 150 mark. Then she would make a comment like, "oh I didnt expect you to be that heavy."

Kidding. But really, Hahaha

Being a Slim heavy-weight gave me a complex.

So, being heavier has never been something I was proud of. I am learning though to accept it. I build muscle easily. I had more of an athletic build in my 20s. I naturally have broad shoulders and a fat behind. But particularly after having children and getting older I suppose, my body weight settles more in the lower region. I'm a pear or an endomorph body type.

Even if I go into beast mode and work my butt off to lose x amount of weight or build x amount of muscle, I will never look long and lean.  Thats NOT my body. I will likely look sick and unhealthy. The comparison game stops here.

So Im losing the mindset thats been holding me back.  Im no longer afraid to share that Im 

heavier than most my size.

My goal is to transform my own round and curvy body into the best it can be. 

What goals do you have for your body?

Guess My Weight!!!!

Guess What???
I wont tell. Not yet anyways.

Ive decided to share my weight publicly and this is a HUGE Deal for me! I just gave my husband a clue last year (hes asked a few times). He hasnt known my weight since the birth of the twins in almost 8 years ago, lol.

I dont make a Huge deal over weight, namely because I feel that if my clothing fit comfortably and if I feel confident in what I have on, I dont care.

Truth of the matter is...

I Hate to look at the scale.

And the scale Hates me Back!

But, it seems to me after all my hard work this year, my waistline is trying to get a little thicker and Im not having it. Its not even the love handle fat. Its more like, the pregnant look (Not!) 

Here's to an Awesome August!

This month is a busy month for me and my family.

-My husband and I will be celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary. We will be recreating our wedding pics.

-Ive taken away my kids tablets/phones/laptop for 2 weeks. I felt they were losing brain cells! Hahaha. So that means more activities to keep them busy and challenged.

-Family Reunion in Memphis.

-We have a family fitness/health challenge. 30 minutes of exercise and 20 minutes of reading daily.

-Back to school shopping. Blah!

-Lunch dates with a couple girlfriends.

-Dance every morning.

-End of Summer Party