New workouts and goals!!!

I signed up for a month unlimited Stroller Strides classes for December AND my bestie and partner in crime Jenny will be with me!!  We start tomorrow and are going to rock it!!  On Mondays, we are committed to the Carmel Valley location and the Wednesday and Friday we are going to kill it in 4 S Ranch!! YIPPEE, now I only have 2-3 days to plan my other workouts!! Thanks Fufu for being my bud for the month!! LOVE U!!

I did complete the 30 day November challenge!!  It was tough and I felt stupid at times, but today I was able to do a DEMO BB workout with my neighbor at 5:45 am... yes... it was a Sunday morning!!  It was SO HARD.  However, I actually could do all the exercises and I was very proud of myself!  I remember when I could not do anything!!! And that was just 8 or 9 months ago.  Now I am trying to this AND incorporate my into my daily regime... who cares??? I do because I know have the strength to hold my beautiful daughter for hours and hours, while I am cleaning, cooking, organizing and ke eping our lives sane.  That makes everything worth it!!  Oh and fitter in to a smaller size too!

My membership to The Dailey Method expired on Friday and I am super sad!  I can honestly say my body has changed so much from doing these classes at least twice a week.  I am hoping and praying and thinking I can get back to The Dailey Method in Rancho Bernardo at the 1st of the year!!  Mom, Dad, Lola, Grannies in the hood… all donations are welcome!!

My December Challenge is this:

December 1-13

35 sit-ups, push-ups, dips, squats, biceps curls, jumping jacks and at LEAST a one minute plank

December 14-25- Stroller Strides 12-days of Fitness

12 plie squats

...11 dead lifts

10 seconds running in place (think maniac)

9 tricep extensions

8 forward lunges (each with a kick)

7 jump squats

6 reverse lunges

5 sets of jumping jacks

4 sets of shoulder raises (4 rows, 4 out front, 4 in a v, 4 to the side)

3 sets of biceps curls (out wide, regular, hammer curls)

2 sets of pushups (1 set = 8-12 push ups)

1 set of abs

December 26-31st

40 sit-ups, push-ups, dips, squats, biceps curls, jumping jacks and at LEAST a one minute plank!! This will take us right into the New Year!!

Love to all my homies….

Checking in!!!

Opps!!  I keep forgetting to check in with my peeps!!  I am 26 days into the 30 day challenge and I feel... tired, but great too!  I am happy to report I have kept my weight off and a few lbs under my goal, but I am really missing being pushed physically a few times a week.  I am working on incorporating that into my schedule... so stay tuned!!  Maybe another challenge is in the cards???

I did get to run the Race for the Cure in the beginning of November with the Chi Chi Wahine Team.  It was a 5k in Balboa Park and thankfully my sweet dad, along with my bb girlie Christina were with me.  We met up to support our other bb girlie, Lisa C, our team captain and crew to do this!!  It never seizes to amaze me how awesome Lisa C is!!  She has so many friends, family, and devoted fans right by her side, as she should!  I am just honored to know her and have her as a friend.  Finally, props out to my dad, Ron!!  He rocked the race for sure with his Scotland walking sticks!!  Thanks Pop for cheering me on and walking for the cure!! 

In between the craziness of our busy lives, Jeff and I hosted our baby girl's 1st birthday celebration.  Of course, I had it planned to the last detail!!  I was so ready to pull this party off without a glitch.  But, oh no no!!  It rained and poured all day.  Needless to say, the party rocked on.  In our house...  with a complete chaotic mess.  I am hoping everyone had fun though.  Sweet Jeffy kept the party going and I drank tequila shots with my cousins on the front patio to numb the desire to control the uncontrollable.

So, I now have a new goal!  I need to look smoking hot for my hubby's work event on January 20th!!  Starting on Monday, I am back to the food journal... codes only please and making sure I am working out HARD 6 days a week.  I have 8 weeks... so this is kind of like my own BB!  Anyone who would like to join me let me know!!  I certainly need the support and workout buddies.  I will check-in on Monday!

Thanks again for reading and the accountability. xoxo

November 30-Day Challenge!!

I proposed a 30- day challenge to all my bb girls a couple of days ago on our Facebook Body Back Page!  The challenge is every day for 30 days you will committ DAILY to AT LEAST 30 push-ups, sit-ups, squats, bicep curls, dips AND a 1 minute plank!! This challenge begins Tuesday November 1st, tomorrow, until November 30th.  We are going to post our daily goal as well as the exceeded amount.  My hope is the we can cheer one another on and stay focused!  If you would like to join us, let me know and we can also post on our facebook page!! Seriously, if you want to accomplish any goal, accountability is certainly my motivation. ;)

I also have to tell everyone that I ran all the way around Miramar Lake on Saturday morning, approximately 5 miles!!  I was constantly fighting within myself the entire way but so very proud that I did it.  Thanks Tami and Deepa for chatting the entire time and encouraging me through it.

I signed up for the Race for the Cure 5k this coming Sunday.  I am on the Chi Chi Wahine Team that my girl Lisa formed several years ago.  She is a 10-year breast cancer survivor and I am so proud and honored to be part of her team.  Love you Lisa!!

So along with this 30 day challenge, I am committed to working out 5-6 times a week.  I am trying all sorts of new things so if you happen to come across something fun and new... let me know!!  I am up for anything!! 

xoxo

MUD RUN- My 1st 5K!! We are the Hot Muddy Mamas!!

The Del Mar Mud Run was last weekend and I had a blast!  I am still cleaning up the dirt in both my showers but it was so worth it!  I was very empowered by my team.  They kept me running the entire time and most importantly, kept me laughing!  Thanks again girls!!  We celebrated afterwards with a fun brunch and lots of champagne.  What a great way to spend a Saturday!!

Week Six- Body Back Exit Plan!!

I have been mulling over the details of my exit plan since the beginning of my 3rd and final session of Body Back.  What in the world am I going to do without this little cocoon of support??  How am I every going to attain a more focused fitness regime without my bb girls??  So instead of revealing in the what ifs,  I am just going to put it out there for the world to see and in turn keep my booty accountable!!  Again, please call me up for a walk, run, new class, etc…I always want to try something new!!
Annie's BB Exit Plan!!!

I will continue to strive to be in better mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual shape by challenging myself towards new goals every 8 weeks!!
            I will post my new goals
            I will blog for motivation and support
            I will post my workout schedule weekly
            I will host a food swap, inviting new and veteran bb members

 Here is my detailed plan for the next 8 weeks after BB!

1.     I have stock piled 10 Haute Yoga Classes that I will use once a week.

Thanks again Mia for the classes!!  These yoga classes take place in extreme heat and I am told melt away every bit of toxins and excess fat...I cannot wait to report.

2.     I have a 6-week unlimited membership to The Daily Method in Rancho Bernardo. I will attend classes 2-3 x’s a week.

My friend Christina from BB introduced me to this new studio and they were promoting their grand opening last weekend.  The free class I took was amazing and I was really sore in places I never knew existed, for days even.  They even provide child care!  Thanks Dad for my early Christmas present that I muscled out of you.  And Jeff thanks you too because I plan on having a sick body after all that core work!  :) 

3.     Stroller Strides at least once a week, till I can swing to purchase a monthly pass.

Jenny and I have committed doing Stroller Strides together with Sir Winston and Queen Victoria.  We will start in November.  We can workout together with our kids and get to know moms in the area.  The beauty of this workout is that you can burn 100 -800 calories, depending on your intensity and one nugget I have taken from BB is that to "always do the harder workout or challenge."  I know Jenny will call me out for sure, so I am not worried! :)  Another bonus is that I think they may start holding classes down the street in my hood, so even better and more convenient!!

4.     Thankfully, I now have a network of women who meet up on a weekly basis to get a workout in!  I will definitely tap into that resource weekly to get inspired and motivated.  This will include an early morning hike or run.  These ladies are so in shape that anytime I am able to join them, I will for sure be challenged.

5.     If all plans fail, my back-up plan is to get on the elliptical at my moms, pull out a BB DVD or get out for a quick run.

I would love to know your thoughts and if there are any holes in my plan, please enlighten me! I have 2 weeks till I am out in the real world and I plan to really ENJOY every minute of this challenge!!

xoxo 

Week 5- I cannot believe how quickly this session is going!!!

The end of last week through the weekend I started to panic about what my life will be like without the comforting inner circle of Body Back!  This experience has truly changed my life; the way I look at fitness, eating healthy and being strong for my family.  I NEVER want to go back to the way I was living.  Not that I had a horrible life, no, not at all.  I have a fabulous life with a sweet hubby and darling baby girl.  Can you believe she is already 10 months old?  But I did make every excuse not to take care of myself and it showed physically, mentally and spiritually for sure.  No, no, I am not going back.

I now have a network of women who I can workout with and get motivated with, so the support to keep fit, get my workouts in and still eat healthy is there.  I am working on my exit plan from body back and will post it in a few days.  If anyone is ever interested in joining me for a hike, walk, run, or a new class... please CALL ME!  I am a social exerciser!  Being on the elliptical or doing a DVD is not ideal for me because I get bored, antsy and tend to not push myself, so I have to plan other things.

So far this session, I have lost 6lbs!  I am halfway to my goal!!!  I can also do way more push-ups and sit-ups than ever before.  Crazy!!

I know moving into the Holiday season will be challenging, but so fun too because I can have fun wearing cute clothes and have the energy to do all the extra things we find ourselves getting into during the time of year! 

Thanks everyone for holding me accountable!  I NEED it!  So if you see me slacking, feel free to get in my face and call me out!  I promise I won’t punch you with my new bicep muscles! 

xoxo

Week Three- Reflecting back to the beginning of this journey

We are already well into the 3rd week of Body Back.  I cannot believe how fast it is going this time, especially as I reflect back to the beginning of this journey.  That first session, I was literally counting the days till it was over.  I would give myself many pep talks and mark out the workout days like a senior in high school during the last days of school.  It's funny because now each time I go to a workout or meet up with my bb buddies, I now think... I GET to do this!  I GET to workout today.  I am physically fit enough to do these workouts!  What an amazing feeling!!

For all the encouragement and compliments I have received during this process, (thank you btw!!) I still seem to obsess over the negative comments.  Why do we do this to ourselves?  My stepfather, who I love dearly, came by on Sunday evening to visit with my daughter.  As I am running around getting ready for the week, he says to me, "Well, what happened to my plus size daughter?"  WHAT???  Really, true story!  Now, I know he was trying to compliment me in a weird, round about way, but still.  It hurt my feelings and then made me panic because I never saw myself as plus size.  Jeffy was bombarded with questions all week from me like, "Honey, did you think I was that fat, or Sweetie, was I really that big."  Poor guy!  Then, of course I proceeded to tell my sister, and a couple close friends and my mom.  And telling my mom was the kicker, because she tells me the truth.  She said, "You have lost a lot of weight and look great, but you were quite heavy."  Zing! Ouch!!  Before I became a mother to a daughter I seriously do not think I would have understood my mom's words.  I do now because I want my daughter to be the best possible version of her self in every single way.  That means telling her the truth, even if it hurts her feelings.  And to be there for her along the way…

So, today I have decided to take that comment and use it for inspiration.  That comment and all the negative comments I stew over, I will now use as motivation to continue this journey for the rest of my life.  Obviously I am not going to focus solely on the number on the scale; there are so many other aspects.  After this session I vow to continue to workout, eat right, and challenge myself to the next level of fitness.  I have never had more confidence and pride in myself until now, not because I am thinner necessarily, but because I am stronger, fitter and have pushed myself farther than I ever thought I could go.  I have to be that person now because I have two little almond brown eyes looking at every single move I make!  I am her role model and my ultimate inspiration!!

Have a fun weekend! xoxo

Week Two- Goals!!

I will get right into posting my goals for this 3rd session of Body Back.  My vision board remains the same from last session...

Lose 12lbs
Lose 2 inches in my waist
Run a 5k
Keep a positive mental attitude

I have signed up for the Del Mar Mud Run with Jenny, our sweet friend Nora and my bb buddy Laura.  It is October 15th and we are the "Hot Muddy Mama's!!"  It is a 5k and I am going to go for a run at least once a week to get prepared.  I figured this would be a fun and silly way to reach my 5k goal since you all know how I feel about running.

My sweet Mom/Mia got me 10 classes of hot yoga in Solana Beach too.  I am excited to start taking these classes because I hear you really sweat and feel great afterwards.  I am sure during the class I will be cursing like a sailor, but you gotta keep challenging yourself, right??

Tori is getting some more teeth and is having the hardest time sleeping at night.  Please think good thoughts for me as I try to balance getting enough sleep and assisting my sweetie during this time. 

Love you all!! xoxo

Body Back Session 3- Yahoo!!!

First and foremost, I have to express how sad my heart is for our neighbor who is in the midst of dealing with a horrible tragedy.  I pray that the Lord will comfort her and her family during this time.  Everyday is a gift and it could be taken away in an instant.  Grab hold of your loved ones today and tell them how much you love them.

This week started the beginning of my 3rd session of Body Back and I am excited to say this group of women is just as amazing as the last.  Two of the women have 4 month old babies at home and are still nursing...INCREDIBLE!  Lisa, my girl from the last class that won, decided to come back for another round AND train for the 3-day at the same time- WOOT WOOT!!  Love her!!  And this group seems to be a group of runners- darn!  Just kidding, kind of.  Hopefully I can get faster and stronger than ever with my running, which will always be challenging for me!! 

This will be my final round so I am going to "soak the sponge," as Anne, our BB instructor would say.  I need to get my mind right and develop an exit strategy to enter into the real world.  It sounds like I am coming out of rehab, right?  But, seriously, the next 8-weeks I will be mapping out my plan and will need all the help and encouragement to stay on course.  Hint, hint!  ;)

I will post my goals and vision board next week.  I do have a plan for the next few days through the weekend.  I am going for a power walk/run with Jenny tomorrow in Santaluz.  Friday, I am going to meet my cousins for a boxing class in PQ.  Saturday, I will hike Black Mountain with my BB girls!  I also know what I am eating for the next four days!  It feels great to be prepared so I don't have to think about it and enjoy my family instead!

xoxo

Body Back Session 2 comes to and end...

This morning was our last session to do one more workout and get our assessment results.  We actually did a 3.1 mile run from the Karate studio with the last leg up a super steep hill...UGHH!!  Thank the Lord in heaven that my girl Lisa ran with me!!  Congrats to her too because she won this session.  She pretty much blew everybody away.  I am so proud of her!!

I have to say this was such a wonderful session.  I really and truly met and made some fabulous friends and workout buddies.  The constant encouragement and smiling faces at o dark thirty is what kept me coming back every Monday and Wednesday for 8 weeks.  Thank you ladies!!!  This was an unforgettable experience!!

So here are my results and I am super proud of myself too!!  :)

I lost 11lbs for a total of 29lbs since I started this journey back in April!  Amazing!!!  I lost two inches in my chest, 2 inches in my waist, 2 inches in my hips and 2 1/2 in my thighs. I cut my run time down by 35 seconds and raised my plank time by an entire minute!!!

We are meeting again on Saturday to do Iron Mountain as a group.  If anyone would like to join us, let me know!!  Jeff is off this week and next for a staycation, so I really need to plan my workouts and food for the duration so I don’t get off track.  On August 27th, I then begin my 3rd session of body back!!  I already know most of the girls coming back so this should be another fantastic session.

Thanks again to everyone cheering me on in this journey.  I so appreciate it.  Thank you JWo for talking me through the hard parts and for my "Work It" CD.  You always know what to do to get me motivated.  Thanks Jenny Fufu for your athletic mindset and wisdom beyond your years.  You truly are my special gem.  Thank you dad and sissy for checking in and listening to me!!!  An extra special thanks to Lola and Mia for watching my lil tuttybug so I can get to these workouts on time.  She loves every minute with you both!!  And of course thank you to my sweet husband for telling me I look great and that he is proud of me!! 

xoxo

10 Days Till Assessment!!!

I have been so crazy busy this past week, but it has all been fun, good stuff.  I am sorry I have not posted in awhile though.  So much has happened, I can't keep it straight.

Food journal swap night was great fun!  My bb buddies and I came with servings for each participant and honestly it was really helpful to have my food already planned out for a couple of days.  I also came away with the pure fact that the edamame dip is THE BOMB!!!  I would have never made it until my girl Christina brought it to the swap.  This is my favorite and most satisfying snack ever!  Email me and I will send you the recipe, if you are curious. 

So, two Mondays ago, after I blogged all panicky and frantic, I was down 3lbs!!  I always seem to do that to myself.  I get all worked up and stressed over how I am doing and then I am fine.  It was certainly another hard week with Jeff on business in NYC.  Then last Monday, I gained 2.2lbs.  This is the very first time I have gained since my journey began.  I did not freak out and really tried to put it into perspective.  Did I eat too much salt, not drink enough water, not get enough sleep and have my period?  Yep to all of the above!!!!  So I drank a large glass of water and moved on.  It is easier said than done but that is where my head is, really!

From today, there are only 10 days till assessment and I am committed to making every single day count towards my goals.  Everything I did not do last week, I WILL do this week.  And it is going to be a killer week of bb workouts.  One of my buddies described our next workout as Hyperventilation Hill.  I will let you imagine how that one plays out and the "balls" class.  Another workout that if I describe you will die laughing at the pure horror of it!!  If I think too much about these workouts, I might throw up.  This time around, I do know it will be hard, but when it is over I will be so proud of myself and all the girls!  

Small victories... I can fit into clothes I have not even dared to pull out in a few years.  I am wearing shorts out in public!  I have been to the beach and pool numerous times this summer...in my bathing suit!!

I am off to my mom's to sweat my booty off while Tori plays with her Mia!!!  Think good thoughts for me!  xoxo

Hardest Week Ever!!

I am so looking forward to seeing my bb buddies tomorrow.  This past week has been the hardest since I started BB. I mean, even with the sore knees etc... crazy!!!  I want to eat crappy food and rebel against everything that will help me reach my goals.  I missed the coveted Miramar Lake walk because I over slept!!!  UGHHHHH REALLY???????  To my credit, it was date night with my sweet hubby the night before and we had a fabulous time. ! J

Maybe it’s because I am almost at the next level of fitness???  Maybe it is because I have 13lbs more to lose and I could be internally sabotaging it???  I wanted pizza, my favorite, so much this weekend.  So I made the Boboli one in the food journal, BUT, I ate the entire 8 inch pizza and we are only supposed to eat half.  I looked back and realized my mistake and understood why I felt so full.  Damn!!! WTF??!!!

Normally, at this point I would give up and go back to my old ways.  I am fighting hard with myself to press forward.  I hope everyone is at a different and more encouraging stage than I am.  Any thoughts or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

xoxo

Week Four-Half Way There!!

This week started out great!  I lost another 1.8lbs, which means I am 13lbs from goal!!!  Yahoo!!  This weight has come off slowly, but I am stronger than ever and even more confident that I really can reach goal.  Our instructor reminded us today that there are windows of opportunity to do amazing things physically and to be thankful for those windows.  I am so thankful and ready to get in fighting shape for, God willing, the next time I get pregnant!!  Yes, we are trying!  J 

Today is my 10 year wedding anniversary!  I have a wonderful husband who is my very best friend.  He has been such a motivating factor in my Body Back journey.  When I am about to throw out any and every lame excuse in the book to eat poorly or skip a workout, he is right there to remind me how far I have come and how far I really want to go!  Thank you sweet hubby!  I love you!!

I have been so lucky to have made some great friends in this round of body back.  They are fabulous workout buddies, but also know exactly what I am going through too!  I have learned that no matter what shape they are in, this process is hard for them too.  They have to refocus and recommit also.  I am not alone!!! 

I have organized a food journal food swap next week.  I think this will be helpful to share ideas and have our dinners ready for a week.  My favorite part of the Weight Watcher meetings is the "food finds."  I’m interested in knowing what others favorite food finds are and any tips they may have for me!!  I will let you know how it goes.

If anyone is up to meet for a workout next week, please let me know.  Jeffy will be in NYC for business till Thursday so I have some free time.  Oh, I forgot to mention, I signed up for a 3rd round of Body Back!  I think I am addicted to feeling empowered!

xoxo

Week Three- Refocus & Proceed with Intensity!!!

So Monday's weigh in was a little disappointing.  I lost .6lbs and I know I have said this before and I will say it again; A loss is a loss, but I was still mad about it.  I must be PMSing or tired from the crazy weekend because I could feel my motivation lagging.  And yesterday, to top it off, I did not get a workout in.  Tuesday's are always difficult because I am usually sore from Monday's butt whopping and gathering energy for Wednesday's crazy workout.  I should really make Tuesday my rest day, but then I am behind for the weekend when I want to spend more time with my family.  Anyway, I need to plan it out and just do it!

Tori woke up at 2am last night and stayed awake till 4am. We finally brought her into our bed.  This is not the norm for us and I DO NOT want to make it a habit, but Jeffy and I had to get some sleep.  My sweetie finally drifted off with one hand on each of our shoulders.  PRICELESS!!   Of course we all slept through the alarm only to wake up to my wonderful mother calling me from outside our house.  I flung myself out of bed startling, Jeff, Tori and our dog Rudy!  I wish we could have videotaped it.  I am sure it was a hilarious scene!!

I get to the workout on time and am greeted by smiling faces and words of encouragement.  Our fearless leader somehow knew it was time to refocus our efforts.  She worked us hard today and every time she looked at me, she would yell, "Refocus your core, and pull your abs in...!”  It was awesome!!  I am fired up and ready to work it.  Oh and I am running through the traveling workouts!  It is still hard but feels great that I am able to physically do this.  My BB girls are so excited for me, it helps me to keep going. YAY!

My goals for this week are to;
1. Workout 6 days this week
2. Plan all my breakfasts, and snacks through the weekend
3. Restart my abs regime: plank, sit-ups for one minute and 100 crunches a day (If you want to text me or call me to make sure I am doing these… PLEASE DO!)  Accountability is the key for me to stay on track.

Thank you again Jeff, Mia and Lola for watching Tori so I can make it to these workouts.  It could not do it without you!! xoxo

Week Two- Goals & Vision Boards

I have already posted my goals last week, but above is a photo of my vision board.  My sweet baby girl is the heart of my inspiration.  I want to be a positive role model for her and this journey is giving me the tools to do just that.  I surrounded it with words or phrases that will help me focus on my goals!!  If you put something out there, say it out loud and post it on the wall, in your pantry, then it has to become true, right???

What a fantastic holiday weekend!  I am always a bit panicked when I have a lot of social events, but this time I planned accordingly and it paid off.  Thank God for my body back buddies.  I was able to meet them twice during the weekend for a walk/run around Miramar Lake (Thanks Lucy for making me run!) and a hike on Monday.  I know now I will only get my booty up at 6am because I have set it as an appointment.  I really need to schedule ALL my workouts as appointments.

Saturday afternoon was our first block/alley party with our neighbors.  The boys actually organized the entire thing, with food, decorations and games.  I was able to make two body back food journal snacks for appetizers and they were gobbled up rather quickly!!  SO FUN!!  Good thing too because Lisa C attended the event and was able to eat something and not stray from the plan.  I did indulge in a couple skinny margaritas, but ate straight from the food journal.  Anne says,”If you HAVE to indulge, pick one thing, not everything."  So that is what I did and I felt good about my decision because I did not feel deprived or that I was missing out.

I am down another 2.4lbs too!  Yahoo!!  We have a wedding to attend this weekend and of course nothing is fitting me right now as I am between sizes.  So my sweet Jenny let me borrow a dress, well technically it is a skirt, but I can pull it up and wear as a dress.  I tried it on for my hubby last night and he said, “Wow, you lost a lot of weight!  That looks good on you."  I cannot tell you how great that was to hear from my darling.  Even after 20 years together, he still makes my heart flutter.

Goals for Body Back Round Two!!

It started all over again on Monday and I am even more pumped than when I found out I actually won the session!!  There is a new group of ladies, so a different dynamic and a ton of positive energy.  I love it!!

My goals for this session are as follows;

1.  Lose 15lbs
Eat out of the food journal only
Get in 5-6 workouts a week

2.      Develop a strong core

Do an ab workout 3x a week
Practice the "real" sit ups for 1 minute every night, add 100 crunches and the plank
Really focus on pulling in my belly during workouts and throughout the day
Lose 2 more inches in my belly

3.  Have a positive attitude to keep my motivation at the highest level
Continue to blog weekly
Set up weekly goals
Find a couple of workout buddies

We had last week off and I was able to incorporate a few workouts with my family.  Below is our hike on a gorgeous day in Del Mar.  It could not have been more perfect, fun-filled family hike with a beautiful view, trails decorated with colorful wildflowers and an introduction to a baby rattle snake that sent us flying up the trails screaming and waving our arms wildly in the air.  I am giggling again at the memory of it.  I have to give a big shout out to my cousins Mark, Beth and their sweet daughter Mikayla.  They are on their own healthy living journey and are doing so great!  Thanks for the inspirations guys!!  Love you!!!

I hope you will continue to read and think good thoughts for me.  I still have to talk myself into every single workout I do and all the encouragement helps me go further than I could ever think of going!

xoxo

Beth, Mikayla and Me



Victoria, Jeff and Me



I Actually Won!!! Yep, I cannot believe it either...

OMG!!!  I really did it!!  I WON the Body Back session, which means I get the second round of Body Back for FREE!!  Yahoo! This also means I can probably swing a 3rd round of the insanity.  Yep, I got the fever!!  But I am getting ahead of myself.  I have lost weight before, BUT I have never gained more strength and muscle in my life.  My body is changing dramatically and being on this program is assisting me with lifestyle changes.  I am going to be more intense than ever!!

Let's put this into a bit of perspective though.  I obviously was the least fit out of all the ladies.  I totally get that. But I also gave birth a mere 5 months before Body Back and had been trying to have a baby for almost 5 years.  Finally, having a baby was so emotional and overwhelming I knew I needed assistance in a huge way.  Body Back is what I needed to get me straight. 

I began Weight Watchers and “signed-up” for this crazy Body Back program!  I got my mom, Jeff’s mom, my sister, daughter and hubby on board to encourage and assist me in my journey.  Lola and Mia have committed to being there in the am during Body Back so I can do what I need to do!!! My sweet hubby wakes up to feed to baby so I am not a complete wreck during my classes.  I obviously could not have done any of this with out them!!  THANK YOU FAMILY!!! 

My biggest competition was this amazing girl who had watched a handful of friends make monumental changes in their lives.  This girl is gorgeous, super tall and yep, so nice too!!  She is everyone’s biggest cheerleader and hyped the group up on Facebook and in class.  By all descriptions, this girl is a firecracker.  She would bust your arse if you were slaking, slap your head if you were dragging and yell for you to “get the f&% up if you were lagging.  Thank you Aubrey for your spirit and fire!!!

By all accounts, she should have won the session.  But I did, and I am so proud I won, even if was only a mere 20% margin.  Apparently this is the closest ever, so I was obviously put in my place!!  I get it… I barely won.  But I still WON!!!  I am proud and will bask in the glory until I get the crap knocked out of me next round.  That will happen for sure. 

Thank you Jeffy, Mia and Lola for supporting me in this!!  I love you!  And thank you baby girl for motivating me to become a better mommy for you.

Please keep reading… I need you all in my journey!!  xoxo

Week Eight- I did it!!!

This morning was assessment day to see how far we have come from the first week.  I was so nervous I could not sleep the night before.  We weighed, measured, and took photos.  Then came the hard part- we did sit-ups, push-ups, side plank, plank, squats, bicep curls, and a run!  I am proud to say I actually ran the entire route and shaved a minute of my time!  Yahoo!!!  I improved in all the other areas as well.  But the run was a huge accomplishment for me and it was fabulous!!!

It also turned out to be pretty emotional for a lot of us.  To actually see the vast improvement on paper really hit home.  During these 8 weeks I would literally have to talk myself into getting a workout in, every single time and I am so glad I did because I feel great!  Of course I have a ways to go, but now I have the tools accomplish my fitness goals and make room for new ones.  Not only do I want my body back, I also want my sexy back!  J

I lost another 2lbs this week for a total of 11.8lbs.  I did 14 sit-ups (the real kind) and 8 (men type) pushups.  I doubled my squats, plank and side plank time.  I came pretty close to doubling my bicep curls too.  We will get our results in Wednesday!  There is a firecracker in our group and she is probably going to win.  She deserves it and I am very proud of all the girls!!  Who freaking knew a bunch of moms could be sooo strong?  I love it!!

I have to say this accountability blog has really made a difference is my success.  Thank you so much for reading it and encouraging me.  I have a week off of Body Back and then I start round 2.  There is a light at the end of my weight loss tunnel!  Hallelujah!!

I will report back on Wednesday!!

xoxo

Walk in the Hills of Del Mar!!

I am still on a high from my gorgeous walk with one of my best friends, who just happen to be my business partner, and who also had a baby just 2 months and 6 days after me!!  We use to do pretty much everything together, but since our bundles of joy take up most of our days, nights and everything in between, we have little time to talk about anything fun. 

However, today instead of meeting at the office or at one of our homes in front of the computer, we headed out to Old Del Mar for a serious power walk.  We were able to discuss what we needed to about our business, catch up with one another and truly enjoy one another’s company.  During the walk we took inventory of what was new on the real estate market and noticed who was remodeling or replanting.  We didn’t even realize we had been gone for over an hour, all sweaty and out of breath.  It was fabulous!!

My Body Back instructor said to find a workout buddy or two or three to make getting those workouts in more enjoyable.  Well, Jenny and I are taking our meetings on our walks from now on.  Hopefully, we can try and get another one in during with the babies.  So fun!

Thank you Jenny for a great meeting and all your encouragement throughout my journey!!!  I've missed you my friend!

xoxo

Week Seven-It's now or never!!!

I walked into Monday's class a little nervous and anxious.  You never know what to expect with these brutal workouts and quite frankly I was still sore from the 100's class.  It turned out to be a buddy class, which is so much fun.  I pushed myself extra hard because my buddy was there cheering me on and my buddy WON last session!!  It is inspiring to hear people's stories and know they were once where I am.  I really need to find a workout buddy outside of Body Back.  I need a workout partner that won't flake and is as committed as I am to getting and staying in shape.  Let me know if you know anyone. J

I did lose another 1lb, which is great!  It is the consistency that makes this whole experience real and really part of my life. To reach my goal of losing 15lbs though, I will have to lose 5.2lbs next week.  I know that is not going to happen, because I forbid myself to be extreme and work out 5 times a day or not eat properly.  Honestly though, I feel great and those 9.8lbs feel like 20lbs, because I am stronger, I look better in my clothes and I have definitely gained some muscle in places I never had before. 

This part of my fitness journey is coming to and end, but it is just a mere chapter.  Body Back 2 will be Chapter 2 and after that, I have no idea.  I better make a plan.  Maybe I will train for a 5k, who knows???

Now, I am focusing for assessment day, which is Monday June 13th.  I have been practicing, but today I am going to time myself for the "run."  I am still weary about starting to run because I want to make sure my knees are not going to give out on me and inhibit my progress for next session.  I plan to power walk the route, look at my time and adjust accordingly.

I will check in later in the week.  Thanks again for reading and thinking good thoughts for me!

xoxo

Annie is in it to win it!!!

I don’t think I mentioned this important motivating factor in the beginning of this journey.  Whoever has the highest percentage of loss (weight, inches, and the most improvement on final assessment day) will win another session for free.  I stated from day one of Body Back that I was going to put 100% into this experience and I can honestly say that I have.  My sore knees slowed me down a bit, but I am still committing to 100%!!  Doing my best is winning already, right??

However, I do want to win the next session for free and show everyone, including myself that I am strong.  Do I have a chance?  I think I do.  There are other ladies that are fitter and stronger than me, but I will for sure be the most improved!!  We shall see, but in the meantime, I am going to be consistent with my workouts and practice for assessment day. 

And at the end of the day, I am really only competing against myself.  But as Randy Jackson on American Idol says, “Annie is in it to win it!”  Watch out! 

xoxo

100's Class!

Today was our make-up class because of the holiday on Monday.  I was fortunate enough to get a sort of heads of from some of the girls that a "100's class," was coming soon.  Brutal? Yes!!  Empowering? Very!!  So the 100's class is 100 of each exercise- 100 squats, push-ups, lunges, dips, biceps and crunches.  Our instructor broke up each exercise by running or for me power walking to each destination and then we got right into it.  When we were finished we encouraged others to help them make it to their personal 100.  It was crazy, but kinda cool too.  The pushups made me want to puke for sure!!  AND our challenge did not stop there.  Nope!  By 12am we are suppose to do 1000 crunches.  Now 100 seems like nothing, right?

How many have I done so far you ask? ZERO!  I better get cracking, I mean crunching!!!  Have a wonderful weekend and thanks again for all the encouragement.

xoxo

Week Six- Count Down to Assessment Begins!!!

So I lost another 2.6 lbs this week.  Not bad coming in from the long weekend, huh?  The total I've lost so far is 8.8 lbs and to reach my goal I need to lose another 6.2 lbs.  If anyone has any suggestions or would like to go on an extra walk or hike with me, please, oh please call me!  I have this week and next week to make a real difference and walk out of this experience with my head held high!!!  NO EXCUSES!!!

This has been quite a journey so far and I actually think I’m starting to like exercise.  I feel great after a good sweat and I relish the times I can get a good workout in.  Making time for me, especially if it is to exercise, relieves stress and in turn, I’m indeed a much calmer, happier person!  It’s almost addicting!  My ultimate goal is to make exercise and eating "clean" a part of my everyday life.  I know I will always have to think about it and make a plan to do it, but hopefully it will get easier because I ENJOY it!  I enjoy feeling healthy for sure. Running, not so much!  

I have already signed up for another 8 weeks of “Mama Wants Her Body Back” boot camp.  It starts a week after this one finishes.  Yep, I am crazy, but hopefully in a good way!

This week my goals are to:

1.     Practice for assessment day- sit-ups, push-ups, squats, plank, biceps & side bridge

2.     Eat only out of the food journal

3.     Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, no alcohol or non-fat lattes

4.     Have tea after dinner instead of saving my second snack for dessert

5.     Get in an extra walk daily

Think good thoughts for me!  I will keep you posted!

xoxo

Week Five-I'm bored with my food!!!

I just got back from my Wednesday Body Back workout- whoo hoo, I am still sweating!! I keep thinking these workouts will get easier, but they don't.  Each time my instructor mixes it up and we have yet to repeat a workout.  Crazy!!

Last week I did try a class at Purre Barre with my mom and it was super hard, but I can see how people get results really fast.  I am going take a class twice a week for a month so I can mix it up my other workouts.  The clientele is a bit different then my girls at Body Back, but its all good, I am there for me and I don’t have to impress anyone.

At weigh in on Monday, I lost another .6lbs for a total of 6.2lbs.  It was not was I was hoping for, however, some weeks I will lose more the others.  The good thing is I am consistently going down and that makes me very happy.  Every single day I have someone tell me how great I am looking and that is motivation enough to keep going strong on this journey.

Just last night I said to Jeff that I am bored with my food and that I wished I could mix it up a little and be creative.  When I am bored with something that is where I tend to fall back into old habits.  Thank the Lord we were given our brand new shiny and clean food journal #2, today in class!!!  Hallelujah!!  I am back in business.

We are off on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday so we don’t weigh in again for a week.  My goals to stay on track are:

1. Plan all workouts in advance and schedule it in my calendar
2. Stock my refrigerator full of healthy foods, make a few meals in advance and have easy snacks on hand so I don’t get tempted
3. Be mindful of the even the little decisions

Today is Jeff's birthday!  Happy Birthday to you, my sweet husband.  I love you with all my heart, mind and soul.  Thank you for sharing such a beautiful life with me and being such a naturally awesome father.

Tame the Shrew!

Yesterday was a crazy busy day as usual, with back to back appointments.  So I was waiting until my hubby came home so we could pick up the car, once again at the shop, and I would go over to my mom’s for a workout.  I really need to get those workouts completed in the am and I am working on it, I really am.  It is not fair to my daughter or hubby if I leave them hanging around dinner time even once a week.  But, yesterday I did not have a choice.

As we are racing to get Tori back in the car, I remind Jeff that she needs to eat when he gets her home.  Or at least I think I did.  I probably said something like, “Oh crap, I forgot to make a bottle for her next feeding, which is at 5pm.”  The last 20 minutes of my workout I get a call from Jeff, asking when our baby is suppose to eat next.  Hum, it is just past 6pm and he is now calling me with a very cranky baby in the background???  Really!!!  The shrew in me started to get irritated and feathers were ruffled for sure!!

I race home, open the door from the garage and see a gigantic new pee stain on our sisal rug in the kitchen.  “Oh my gosh Rudy!!  Jeff Rudy just peed on the rug again!!!” (Rudy is our 11 year old Maltese.)  Jeff is in the next room changing a pooping diaper and has the audacity to tell me that it was there when he arrived home.  I flew into a rage that would shame Joan Crawford herself.  I knew as I was screaming, how I sounded, but I didn’t care.  I leave my house and post for 1 hour and it all goes to shit.  I take time out for me and I come home to a huge piss stain and… a happy smiley baby???  Wait, what???  Tori was fed an hour later.  Big freaking deal!  She survived and was so happy to see me and was happily playing peakaboo with her daddy.  

Now to get the record straight, Jeff ALWAYS cleans up Rudy’s pee, except this one time.  I wish he would have just lied and said it happened while he was feeding Tori, but he didn’t.  Lesson learned?  I can take time for myself because I have a willing and sweet husband who loves spending time with our daughter.  My house will NEVER be as clean as it was it in the past, before Tori came into our lives.  And that is ok because I would never want to go back to they way it was.  My life is so much sweeter and richer now and I will remind myself of that every single day.  Next time, I will try and tame that shrew with the first signs that things aren’t going how I want them to.  It is so not worth the energy.

Week Four- Holy Elliptical!!

Thank the Lord in heaven I have found a cardio workout that makes me sweat without hurting my knees!  I am also luck enough to go to my mom's house and use her elliptical and she has a brand new TV to boot.  Now I can really get down to business...watch out!!

I lost another 1.6lbs with a total of 5.6lbs.  A couple of weeks before I actually started Body Back I lost 3lbs, but I am not counting it on this journey.  It's crazy because it seems like I should be losing more, but I am ok with it because I am gaining muscle, strength and endurance all while incorporating good eating habits.  One of the girls in Body Back said she already sees a difference in my appearance.  Of course I gave her a gigantic hug and thanked her for the encouragement.  That is what is so great about this group.  Everyone is at a different place in their lives, but everyone is also cheering one another on.  We all want to be skinny bitches.  Just kidding, we all want to be strong, healthy and fit mothers for our children.  :)

This week my goals are:
1. Stay close to the food journal
2. Stay hydrated because that’s when I feel "hungry"
3. work out hard, I mean really hard at every workout
4. Try a class at purre barre
5. be grateful and thankful that I am able to go through this experience with such encouragement

Below is a photo of my Sunday dinner.  Jeff wrapped tilapia in banana leaves and grilled them with assorted veggies, quinoa and a big salad.  Our cousins joined us and then we all went for a long walk around the neighborhood.  I love Sunday dinners.

My doctor said....nothing I didn't already know!!!...

I went to the doctor on Thursday to make sure my knees were not going to crumble into sawdust before my eyes.  My doctor confirmed that they were indeed swollen and that I had knobby knees.  So what?; When can I get moving aggressively again is all I wanted to know?  He suggested icing them everyday and absolutely no running or intensive knee related exercises.  Power walking is ok, but the elliptical would better serve my endeavors.  Basically, I did too much too soon and I am paying for it. But the good news is I am still on track.  I am not an idiot and think I will get my body back in a mere 8 week session... oh how I am quite aware.  So what, who cares... I am NOT giving up!!! As I said before, this is my newly improved lifestyle and I love it.  I really do.  And I did 40 minutes on the elliptical at Jeff’s work this evening.  I basically threw a fit to get a workout in and it was worth it because I sweated my arse off.

My poor baby girl is really sick.  Her nose is a faucet and she coughs like a seal at Sea World.  Thank God her 6 month appointment is on Tuesday. Jeff and I already took her to the doctor last Monday.  Our doc is so sweet and I really like her, but I could tell as she shook her head she was thinking, “Ahhh amateurs!!  Your daughter has a cold and it will take its course, etc…”  Bummer is that Tori will not be able to join us for a charity event my business partner and I are hosting tomorrow morning.  I so wanted to show her off to all the people I only see on rare occasions.  However, there are other babies attending and God forbid I am responsible for getting the little ones sick.

I will post photos of the charity event in a few days.  I promise you will be greatly inspired.  Again, thank you for reading and encouraging me in this journey.  I am hyped and pumped to see what happens next!

xoxo


Spinach Meatballs I made from the food journal!  They are quite tasty!!





Week Three- Happy 40th Birthday to Me!!

It took all of my entire being to get up and go to Body Back on Monday morning.  My knees were aching so much, Tori had a low grade fever on Sunday evening so I was up every two hours checking on her AND I turned the big 4-0!  I kept telling myself that 40 is just a number, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.  But honestly, I was a bit down.  Maybe it was because my knees were a constant reminder that I was not in my 30's any longer. Anyway, I forced myself to go, received lots of encouragement and felt proud of myself for not taking the pity party to another level.  I also lost another 2.6lbs!!!  Yahoo!!!

I made an appointment to see my doctor on Thursday afternoon for my aching knees.  Hopefully, I have not completely injured myself.  It literally hurts to walk up and down the stairs and if you know me, you know I am not a complainer.  I will suck it up any day of the week, so if I think about it too long I will only get pissed.  I'm staying focused because I know there are other exercises I can do to keep going on this journey and my instructor has assisted me in modifying the ones that hurt.  Please think good thoughts for me.

I had a fabulous weekend with my family.  My sister and mom surprised me by taking me to La Costa Resort and Spa for a day of pampering.  It was exactly what I needed and wanted.  Jeff took Tori all day!!  He is an absolute gem, right??? 

Then my sweet sissy took Jeff, Tori and I to a wonderful dinner at the Top of the Market.  My grilled Alaskan Halibut was incredible.  We celebrated Mother's Day with a light and healthy brunch at our home.  I have always loved Mother's Day because I wanted to make sure the mothers in my life felt extra special.  This year I finally became a member of this sorority and it made me proud.  Tori gave me my first "Mother's Day" coffee mug.  It was not the dorky kind we all use to give our mom's and grandma's.  It was a cute one from Anthropologie!  What can I say; the girl already has amazing taste and she is sitting up by herself!!! 


Tori is now sitting up by herself!!!  Yay!!




Mother's Day Brunch



I Heart Cinco de Mayo!!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I absolutely love this holiday!  Number one; it is 4 days from my birthday, so it always gives me an excuse to start celebrating early.  Number two; we live next to the Mexican border so we have access to the very best Mexican Food in the United States.  And number three; one good strong margarita is all you actually need to feel just buzzed enough!  Oh but the empty calories...yikes!!!

This afternoon, Jeff, Victoria and I ventured to Old Town to join the festivities.  We got there early enough to avoid the obnoxious crowd.  Everyone and I mean everyone was having a wonderful time- from the elderly couple giggling in the corner to the swarm of children running around the restaurant.  It was a perfect place to bring our daughter, just in case she starting exercising her voice!

I made sure I got a workout in this morning so I ordered the blackened fish taco with black beans and a "skinny" margarita,(clear tequila, lime juice and a splash of orange liquor).  I was in absolute heaven, enjoying myself and still keeping within the "plan."  We technically are supposed to refrain from alcoholic beverages for the best results, however, this is a lifestyle change for me, and my birthday weekend, and my first Mother's Day.  I made sure to keep within my "allotted" amount, but I did not feel deprived or pissed that I was missing out on something.  That is certainly a victory for me!!

My knees are still very tender, but I am icing a few times a day and taking Advil.  In the meantime, I am doing other exercises to keep me on track.

I have a ton of plans this weekend, so I am sure I will have some funny stories to share.  Thanks again for following.  I would love to hear from you!!

Xoxo

My hubby wants my body back too!!!

Many of you know how great my husband Jeff is.  He is sweet, kind, loving and very, very funny.  However, I just have to brag on him a tiny bit more.  He has been so supportive with regards to this journey I am on.  Everyday he encourages me to do my best and he tells me he loves me no matter what I look like.  I can go on and on about all the wonderful ways he shows me his love.

However, last week he saw how hard it was for me to get up in the middle of the night to attend to our precious girl and then turn around and get up at o' dark thirty to go to my workouts.  He has to be into work by 6am everyday, so I take care of of Victoria's feeding throughout the week.  He turned to me last night before we went to sleep and said, "I will take Victoria during the nights before your big workouts."  What a lucky girl I am, but I also know he secretly wants my body back too!  So I got to bring it!!!

Thanks honey for all the support!

xoxo

Week Two- Sore Knees!!

I made it through Week One of "Mama's Wants Her Body Back," program.  I logged everything in my journal, even the forbidden items (wine!!!).  I am also down 1.4lbs!!! 

However, today's workout was super hard for me.  We did a "traveling workout," which means we had to run, sprint, pushups, jumping jacks and the list goes on and on.  Everybody in the program can run faster than me.  I actually power walk faster than I run because running hurts my knees. Running has always hurt my knees and so I made a choice a long time ago that running is just not for me.  Well, that is not an option in this program, so I got to get it together.  Apparently, my form is wrong when I run and that is why my knees hurt and why I am so freaking sore.  As I am writing this I have a package of frozen, no, not peas, corn or green beans, but a package of edamame between my knees to help with the swelling.  The visual is actually quite hilarious and humbling all at the same time.

After hobbling around for most of the day, I kind of started to panic.  What if I cannot reach my goals because I have already injured myself?  What if I can't get through 13 more insane workouts, plus another 3 days of my own workouts every week?  The bad self talk was creeping in big time, so instead of having a pity party, I emailed my instructor and explained my problem.  I am meeting her early on Wednesday before class so we can work on my running, squat and lunge form.  Whewww!!!  I have a plan now.  I just needed to get my head back in the game. 

My goals for this week are:
Stick to the food journal recipes by planning all my meals 3 days ahead of schedule
Workout hard, but give my knees a rest so they will heal
Stay focused and positive

Think good thoughts for me!  I would love to hear from you!!!

xoxo

Sunday Family Dinner!!



Dijon Salmon




















Since my mother-in-law (Lola) has agreed to baby sit Tori for my Monday morning Body Back workouts, Jeff, my hubby and I decided to start having Sunday family dinner.  Tonight was our first dinner and I took a recipe straight out of the "Mama Wants to Get Lean" Food Journal.   Instead of baking the salmon, Jeff barbequed the fillets on cedar planks, to enhance the flavor.  It turned out delicious and our family enjoyed every morsel.  We grilled zucchini and onions skews and added the blackberry salad pictured below.  Aren't the colors just beautiful?

I think Sunday family dinner may become a new tradition in our house.  Lola said the blessing and we all chatted about our weekend and what our upcoming week entailed.  It was truly an enjoyable evening.  I am ready for the week to begin and am focused on working hard in every single workout so I can get the most out of this experience.

I need to get into bed so I will be bright eyed for another killer workout!!  Think good thoughts for me!!!



Berry Salad



If first you don’t succeed, try, try again! Don’t give up!!

Last Wednesday’s workout rocked my body all over!!  Can I hear an Amen? I was still sore in places I never imagined… so I decided to take a nice walk with the family around the neighborhood on Thursday.  But today, I was ready to bring it!!!  I planned during my sweet daughter’s morning nap to record not one but two Mama DVD workouts!! 

Low and behold halfway through workout one, Victoria is awake and screaming… wait, what???  Pause DVD. My sweet darling baby girl needed a lot of extra attention today.  Why today??  I have no idea.  Oh wait, she is growing leaps and how dare I exercise or take time for me??? I confess, so please don’t judge, I was so pissed my 5 1/2 month old was not respecting my workout schedule.  Really, you say??? Yep, really….

So, did I let my workout expire?  Nope, I am so proud to say, I packed up Victoria and took a 45 min walk around the hood.  It wasn’t exactly what I hoped for but I did get my workout in!!

Lesson learned:  I don’t have to be perfect in accomplishing my goals.

Mama use to say, "Suck in your belly!!"

As a little girl I can recall my mom directing me and my sister to suck in our stomachs.  These commands would be at various times during the day like at a traffic light, in the grocery store or on one of the adventurous nature walks in the canyon.  My sister and I would sigh, roll our eyes, and suck in our bellies with exaggerated gasps.  We didn't know it then, but she was actually trying to teach us a tool that would help us with our bodies for the rest of our lives.

The "Mama Wants Her Body Back" program focuses on the core, which is actually your entire trunk of your body.  We are told to engage our core throughout the day in all activities and when we exercise.  So now, every time I touch my belly, I pull it in, stick back my shoulders and stand up straight! 

No More Excuses!!

I have finally run out of excuses to lose weight, work out consistently and eat healthy!!  So, I signed up for an 8 week program called "Mama Wants Her Body Back," and this blog is one way to keep me accountable and well, let's face it, I need all the positive feedback and encouragement to make it to the end. 

The program is every Monday and Wednesday at 5:45- 6:45 am.  I am so lucky to have my mom and mother-in-law come over at the crack of dawn so I can do this.  Thank you Mia and Lola!!!  I am supposed to keep a food journal and work out a minimum of 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes. I am promised big results if I commit myself 110 %.

Monday was assessment day and boy was it a rude awakening!  But my instructor, who is awesome, sweet and obviously hard core said, "Don't judge, just do."  Okay, no more excuses!!  Today was a full work out and it was tough.  At one point I though I could not go on, but I did, just barely.

I have 3 goals for this 8-week program:

1.  Lose 15lbs
Commit to the food journal
Workout 5 days a week and bring more activity into my daily routine
Track progress and set up weekly mini goals

2. Tone my body equals lose inches
Commit to all workouts
Make all workouts count- no more excuses
Stay focused in form- do moves correctly

3. Stay positive and motivated
Accountability- this blog will help me accomplish this goal
Cut the bad self talk and push through all the excuses I think I have to not push myself

Thank you for taking the time to read and keep me accountable! 

xoxo