The New Before: Back in the Game!

I'm pretty excited to be starting Round Two of Beach Body's 21 Day Fix.  I wasn't able to match up my before photos exactly because I've been slammed for time.  But I do plan on doing that eventually! I did a collage of shots taken before starting and during my rest week after finishing the first round.  Clearly, there's a huge difference.  I lost a total of 5" in each thigh, 3" in my hips, 3" in my waist, 2" in my chest, and 1" in each arm.  I also lost seven pounds!

Mmm, sassy mama. Look at my butt! haha.

What I didn't always broadcast about the last round is that I cheated...a lot.  Definitely threw some junk food in.  This round, I am much more determined.  If I can lose that much not even giving it my all, how much more can I lose if I give it everything I've got?  This time around, I went down a calorie level.  There were so many nights when I just felt like I was making myself eat dinner--I was so full!  Not to mention, if I did throw in something off schedule, my calorie intake went way overboard.  Plus, having a little less food meant less food prep time for me.  Good times.  If I get hungry, I'll add extra food.  Gotta make sure you're eating enough!  But I know it was a good choice for me.

Another thing I'm really trying to do is work out more.  The 30 minutes a day is extremely effective.  But since I have the time to commit and because I want to excel, I'm going to try to add extra sessions in when I can.  Yesterday, I did Total Body Cardio and 10 Minute Fix for Abs.  Today, Upper Fix and a modified Total Body Cardio Fix (didn't do the weights).  I don't always want to work out, but once I do, I feel great.  I want to keep that feeling going.  I am becoming a bit addicted to self-improvement.

During my rest week, I realized how integral food prep is.  I had gotten in the habit of eating healthy every day and had no problems with it--then all of a sudden, since I hadn't pre-made any healthy meals, it was so easy to just go for junk.  It really drove the point home that you can't succeed if you're too lazy to prepare.

It's also important to ALWAYS schedule your workouts.  Know what you are going to do each day and purposefully set aside time for it.  My favorite tool is the WOWY Supergym on teambeachbody.com.  You can sign up as a free player (you don't give any payment information, you don't get charged; it's all free) to use the online gym and pre-schedule your workouts on the calendar.  Every time you log a workout, you have the chance to win cash prizes.  Become a free player today!

I am so excited to see the changes I want.  It gets discouraging sometimes because it takes time--and I'm the most impatient person in the world--but if you do the work, there's no way you won't see results.

Deceleration

I had been thinking about how to handle the transition to my next round of the 21 Day Fix.  I want to highlight that it is a three week program, so I don't want to jump into the next round right away.  I also wanted to give my body some rest after killing it with my workouts and eating plan these past three weeks.  Then, my coach inadvertently gave me a brilliant idea when she posted something in our Challenge Group: a Shakeology cleanse!

Now I have an excuse to have more than one shake a day.  Mmm.

I really think that this will be an awesome way to prepare for the next round.  I'm going to stick to a lighter workout schedule.  I'll still be doing it every day, but I will be doing yoga, maybe some pilates. I'll be focusing on flexibility and stretching for the week and then starting Round 2 the following Monday.  I am SO looking forward to it.  It's going to be like a reward/mini-vacation.  haha.  It will be so relaxing and I know my body will thank me!

I will not be focusing on eating five or six times a day during this coming week, but I will be sticking to healthier foods.  I genuinely feel better than I have in a long time and I don't want to lose that.  I've created a habit of eating more fruits and veggies and little to no processed foods.  Dropping that routine would be like quitting smoking and then starting up again a week after you've completely stopped.  You've worked hard to form better habits, don't drop them!  Junk food is truly addicting.  People have withdrawal when they quit eating it.  Once you're weaned off of that feeling, don't introduce addictive habits again!

I'm going to be posting some progress pictures soon.  I still have a LONG way to go, but I've definitely had some changes.  Keep on keeping on, friends.

Vampire Slaying and Alter-Egos

I have to be honest.  I get tired of trying to act like a guru or something.  I actually do know a lot about health/nutrition.  I've got a weird memory and tend to absorb things I read and hear--and I do my research when it comes to health.  Still, I'm not an expert.  I'm not an athlete.  Hell, I'm not even in shape yet.  I don't know everything I need to know.  I'm still learning!  I don't even generally look up to anyone people consider a guru.  I generally find them annoying, actually.  In fact, even the word "guru" annoys me, so I'm going to stop saying it now.  When I think of myself being fit, I'm a little more...imaginative.  I watch an action movie or read a comic book or think about being able to just beat up bad guys and I get motivated.  It sounds silly, but it's true.

I watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I think about kicking vampires in the face and then rattling off a cheesy one-liner.  I watch Tomb Raider and think about fighting killer robots just for funsies.  I watch the Hunger Games and I think about surviving to start a revolution.  I read Lord of the Rings and I think about grabbing a sword like Eowyn and just stabbing a wraith right in the face.  It takes strength to swing a sword, folks.  I know.  I'm nerding out here.  And no, I'm not a crazy person who thinks she can develop supernatural strength.  haha.

Yesterday I CRUSHED Lower Fix for the first time.  It had been really difficult and I hated it and then yesterday was amazing.  I didn't modify anything, I didn't slow down.  I felt like a beast.  Today, I amped up to two workouts: Pilates Fix and Total Body Cardio Fix.  I've been trying to do that for days!  I felt even more like a dadgum hero.  And as I sit here, drinking my Vanilla Shakeology with banana and reveling in my own awesomeness, I'm watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  I'm thinking about how once I get in fantastic shape, I will be totally prepared to join the resistance if an Asgardian tries to build an army and take over earth.  

Or I will just be prepared to wear an awesome comic costume this Halloween.  I've always wanted to dress up like the Black Canary, but there's no way I would have felt comfortable in a costume like this in my chubby state:

You gotta have good legs to fight crime, apparently.

The point is, when I see a hero, I identify with her or him.  I want to be that.  I want to be strong, look strong, and be able to kick some tail.  Whether it's conquering evil or fitting into a costume of a character who conquers evil, my first step is getting up and pushing myself every. single. day.  If I give myself a pass not to workout one day, it becomes easier to do that the day after that and the day after that.  If I put things that bring me temporary pleasure (junk food, beer, liquor, lazing around the house--haha) ahead of my goals, the things that will bring me consistent happiness (good health, strength, energy, looking SASSY) will remain out of reach.  And ps, I'm not giving up alcohol forever.  I think it's fine in moderation...if you're in shape.  If you've got a ton of weight to lose (like me), you're ruining your progress.  And it will be a much, much longer process.

Find your motivation.  Mine is nerd stuff and will remain so.  My temporary and extreme push to get fit is also my UPCOMING WEDDING AHHHHH!  I want to look amazing.  I want everyone to freaking gasp when they see me walking down the aisle next year.  I want Tom to be beaming and all of his friends to be jeal-jeal.  I want to look at those wedding pictures and feel only pride, not regret.  Know what you want and why...then PUSH for it until it happens.

The Knockout Legacy

So I'm coming in on my third week and I've decided not to do any more measurements until I'm done with this round!  I will be moving to the second round right after I finish this one, so believe me--I'm keeping it going.  After the 21 Day Fix, I'm thinking about other Beach Body programs that look fun, like TurboFire or Les Mills Combat.  Dear readers, are there any programs you're curious about? Because I am taking requests.  haha.  Also, for those of you who aren't ready to try a fitness program, please send me a request to add you to my new healthy eating group!  It's just a group of people trying to make healthier choices.  We post to keep each other accountable and we share tips/recipes/etc.  There's no buy-in.

This third week, I'm really trying to push myself.  I am trying to give each workout my all and just not give up.  This is the first time I've ever done a program where I have not missed a single day and I am so proud.  My biggest tip on how to not miss a day is to get your workout done FIRST THING!  If you're like me, putting it off to the end of the day lowers it down to a 50/50 chance that I'll have made enough excuses to just slack off that day.  The days that were the most difficult to push it were the days that I waited until the evening to work out.  On those days, I end up like this:

It ain't pretty folks.

Some days, my inspiration is just being healthier.  Some days it's fitting in all the clothes that are hanging in my closet.  Other days it's just plain pride.  Everyone is going to see if I quit because I've put it out there.  Every once in a while, though, the inspiration is hope that everything might change.  I haven't talked about the business side of Beach Body that much, but it is definitely a driving force for me.  I've pretty much never experienced a time when I didn't feel broke.  I haven't had a time when I didn't worry about money or scramble to get everything paid or worry how I was going to make it to the next pay day.  It's a constant thought and stressor in my life.  When I got engaged, I went from pure excitement to straight worry and dread that I could not pay for a wedding.  I'm so beyond thankful to have been given this opportunity for that very reason.

Everyone sees those big, successful people who "make it big" in things like this and you think, "They're special.  They're lucky.  I can't do that."  I've seen firsthand that it's just not true.  My coach, Sarah Lutts, was teaching fitness classes and still not getting the results she wanted.  With Shakeology and Beach Body fitness programs, she has finally gotten in the shape she had been trying to reach for years. She also earned a free cruise, won $500 for her weight loss story, and is working toward creating a full time business so that she and her husband Adam (my former youth pastor) can afford to take zero income from the church they pastor and put that money towards missions to help others.  Her coach Jennifer, who I also went to church with, has been in the business for about a year and a half and has been able to increase her income and quit her full-time job as a paralegal.  Another coach in our group has been in for a year and she quit her job in social work and tripled her income--all while doing what she loves to do.

I don't know yet if I will quit my job, but I do believe that this work that I'm doing is important.  I think that it's valuable.  I think that it helps people.  I enjoy it and I hope to keep it up.  I have always been a leader and haven't had the chance recently to lead.  This program has been awesome for letting me do just that.  I believe that it will start a financial revolution for myself and my sister.  We are really teaming up to make it our job to help other people achieve the same things we are achieving, the same things that we have not been able to achieve in a million other attempts.  We are making it our job to be healthy and help others do the same.  We are teaming up to get out of debt and help other people increase their income as well.  It motivates me and it inspires me to believe that we could have an all-around better life.  I believe in this business and I haven't seen one bad product of it.

Our team is committed to making a difference and really mentoring people through the process: whether the goal is to lose weight, get toned, have more energy, eat healthier, or just have fun.  It's not always easy to meet your goals; that's why we focus on non-stop accountability and support!  We are THE KNOCKOUT LEGACY.  And we are wanting to share this awesome gift that we've had in Beach Body.

Leave your own legacy.  Join the challenge.  Get in contact with me and I will give you details and be happy to answer any and all questions.  The worst thing that could happen is that you get in the best shape of your life.  And that's not bad at all.

Short and Sweet

So, yesterday was characterized by a complete lack of blog.  Schedules are just so...pedestrian.  Like, they're for the little people.  I am the great and powerful Haylee.  I can't be restricted to "deadlines" and "agendas."  Lol, totes pulling your chain.  I forgot, because I am sometimes (read: usually) a big, frenzied mess of a human being.  So I do apologize to those of you who might have actually cared and/or noticed (come on, didn't you miss it even just a little bit?).  I will not promise to avoid it in the future, because I also am a little noncommittal.  Why make a promise you may not keep?  Godzilla could attack, I could randomly get whisked away to some beach somewhere by an adoring fan, or my fairy godmother could show up and finally get me to that ball.  You really never know.

So, since I already did a video today (Watch!), I will keep this one short and sweet.  THE END...just kidding.

I just want to impress upon everyone who might be reading my blog and working on getting in better shape themselves...just hide your scale in a closet during your first few weeks.  Better yet, have someone hide it for you so you truly don't know where it is.  Some people lose pounds right away, but the majority of people just don't get in shape that way.  Women, especially, tend to see their losses first in inches.  Here's why I suggest you put your scale away.  Even knowing these facts, even being familiar with my body's tendency to slim and build muscle before a pound drops, I really upset myself the other day by focusing on the scale instead of the success I was seeing.

One of the women in my challenge group had lost four pounds in her first week!  I got on the scale...I've still only lost one pound.  Then I measured myself again.  I had lost another inch in my waist and another in my hips.  My pants get looser and looser.  People are commenting left and right that I look slimmer.  I FEEL slimmer.  I'm having to modify less in the workouts, and I feel stronger.  Not only that, but I can feel rock-hard muscles protruding in my legs when I do squats.  No joke.  My legs and my shoulders both are like woah.  And people may say it to make themselves feel better when they gain weight, but it is extremely true if you're making good choices that if you aren't losing yet, it could be because muscle weighs more than fat!

I say all of this to tell you that success looks different for everyone.  Some people lose a lot of pounds right away.  Some people just have inches melting away.  Some get just plain ripped.  Don't look at someone else's success and downplay your own.  And DON'T place your hopes in the scale.  MEASURE, MEASURE, MEASURE!  Measure your arms, your thighs, your waist, your chest, and your hips.  You will see the difference, I promise!  And if you get the evil urge to step on the scale, those measurements will sing "Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend" and you will sing tra la la and be a happy camper again.  When you're making healthy choices, the scale will catch up.  In the meantime, check out how awesome your butt looks in your pants.  Mmm.  That's right.  Sassy stuff.

Challenging the Universe

My last post was all about being positive and avoiding complaints.  And I have to say, without fail, any time I make a statement like that I get hit HARD!  It's like the universe takes it as a challenge.  Oh you're not going to complain?  Lightning bolt, lightning bolt, lightning bolt.  Haha.  Our family has had some rough times lately.  My mom's diagnosis and treatments, my younger sister's husband experiencing brain seizures and a possible medical discharge from the Air Force, my dad's back and knee problems, my sister-in-law's back surgery, financial problems...the list goes on.  It would be easy to get bogged down with all of this stuff and just give up.  

Guess what, though?  Everybody has problems.  Unfortunately, it's just part of life.  This past year I've really been trying to change my life in a lot of ways and part of that is focusing on the good things.  I have worked so hard.  I have done what was asked of me and then much, much more--because no one gets anywhere by striving to be average.  I had an unprecedented positive yearly review at work, I've had opportunities left and right, I've put together an awesome apartment arrangement with very little funds to work with, I got engaged, and I got involved with Beach Body.  I can't believe how much better I feel and how much I've slimmed down and I can't wait to just see more!  The one thing that you can be sure will pay off is hard work.  If you want something big to happen, you have to be willing to put in the effort.  If you don't, guess what?  Nothing changes.  And you can cry all you want, but what good will it do?  Go ahead, challenge the universe.  And when you overcome every single thing that gets thrown at you, feel like a BOSS and know that you can do anything.

Okay, I guess that's enough pep-talking.  Still trying to find the balance between sounding like fitness Barbie and just being a normal, semi-sarcastic person who wants to encourage her friends.  I'm too approximistic to be that Type A fitness freak.  This week I have had way fewer issues trying to do the workouts.  I haven't had to modify as much, I've increased the amount of time I can hold a plank, I've been less sore, and I've actually sweated MORE because I've been able to give more.  Yesterday was Lower Fix (legs) and I hate, hate, hate it.  I may sound all perky now, but in the middle of a workout anyone nearby can hear me cursing, whining, maybe even crying a little.  Even so, it's 100% better to work hard for 30 minutes than spend an hour running on a treadmill surrounded by smelly strangers. ;)

Today was Pilates Fix.  Pilates may be the exercise of soccer moms, but it ain't no joke.  Almost all of it felt completely doable.  But the side series is not.  "Stirring a pot" and "pedaling a bike" with one leg for several minutes kind of makes you want to die.  I have to say, though, it was probably a big contributor to losing so many inches in my thighs.  My favorite thing about these sessions is that the second you really feel like you're going to die if you do anymore, it's rest time!  Awesomesauce.

The nutrition has been no problem this week.  Cravings have been much less strong (although I decided last night that I will definitely be having a nice cold beer when I finish this three weeks, haha).  I actually have found myself wanting to eat less.  Some days I don't even really want to eat my dinner.  But I spent the time prepping it...so I do.  haha.  The shakes have definitely helped and what has helped with the shakes is this fantastic blender:

Boom.  $20 at Wal Mart.

My coach has one.  It comes with like six blender cups...which is good because I don't do dishes every day.  haha.  When I used to make smoothies before, it was hard to portion them in a big blender, so I would always end up "eating" too much.  And there IS such a thing of too much of a good thing.  Portions, with everything, are key.

I've gotten a lot of responses and questions so far...I'd kind of like to try to do a Q & A blog in the near future.  If anyone has any questions about just anything, please PLEASE either comment below, message me on Facebook, or send me an email at BlackCanary1531@gmail.com.

Much love and thanks for reading!

Misery Loves Company...And Other Cliches

Hello friends.  The past few days I have been amazed at which people have been offering me encouragement and telling me that I'm motivating them--people I almost never talk to, people I was convinced hated my guts, people I don't even know at all!  It's been awesome.  You know who hasn't been doing that at all?  Some of the people I call my friends, who used to constantly like or comment on my posts.  There's a defined absence of support there and honestly it was a big part of my feelings of being discouraged during the first few days.  I've been asking myself, what's the difference now?

I told someone yesterday that often I'm basically like a human Grumpy Cat.  I've got a tendency toward negativity, and like most people, when I don't check myself I could complain all day long.  You know what complaining does, though?  Absolutely nothing (except for maybe annoying the people around you).  You know what negativity does?  It brings you down and fills the atmosphere around you.  You're like a black cloud wandering around and raining on everyone's parade.  Now, like everyone I like being liked.  But I don't care what people think.  I do care how I make them feel.  If I bring someone down, that's a huge FAIL.  And that makes me kind of a selfish jerk wallowing in my own crap and doing NOTHING to change the world.

One of the biggest ways I have been a complainer in my life is with my health.  

"I feel so fat." 

"I'm so tired all the time." 

"Eating healthy is so hard." 

"I'm so broke, how can I afford to get on a program/get a gym membership/buy the right foods?"

"My friends/sisters look better than me.  Those beotches."

That whole time, though, what was I doing?  NOTHING except for obsessing about my unhappiness.  I didn't work out, I didn't prep food, I didn't even try.  You know what else?  During some of those years (actually not now), all I did was complain about being broke--but you know what I also was doing during that time?  I was eating out several days a week, going out drinking, going to concerts, going on trips, buying tons of alcohol, buying clothes I didn't need...the list goes on.  I wouldn't have been broke if I wasn't so absolutely stupid with my money.  I could've afforded to get things that would help with being fit.  No, you don't always have to spend money to get fit, but for people like me, you need a real plan with real results to stay motivated and you probably have no idea what you're doing at the gym.  The point is, I was complaining about problems I was creating and in turn was creating more problems in my interpersonal relationships.

I've been striving lately to STOP being such a Debbie Downer: at work, at home, on social media.  You know what it has done for me so far?  It's made me less stressed.  It's made me see clearly about taking action instead of just whining like a child.  It's given me better relationships with people and made me way more approachable.  It's given me the opportunity to inspire rather than drag people down or push them away with an irritating habit.

My conclusion about what has changed is the switch from negative to positive and from complainer to DOER.  I may be wrong, but this is the main change I can find.  Those "friends" don't think I'm funny or interesting or worth supporting unless I'm sitting on my butt being a victim and being borderline hateful with my grumpiness and sarcasm.  Misery does love company.  I've got another somewhat-cliche for you, except I'll turn it on its head.  People say that you find out who your real friends are when you're down.  I think you find out who real friends are when you're trying to get UP and change your life.  Some people want to keep you down, keep you unhappy, keep you chubby, keep you in a series of complete overindulgence (on food, alcohol, etc.).  I don't think they're evil.  I don't think they even know that's what's going on.  I never did realize I was doing that until recently!  It's because they're scared.  They don't want to be challenged, they don't want another person to compare themselves to and feel wanting...but guess what?  You don't have to and shouldn't feel that way!  We're all cut from the same cloth and we can all do whatever we decide to do.

Sorry if this entry was a little preachy.  I'm feeling fired up about this and I want to spread the happy.  I bit my tongue when I wanted to complain and I felt the anger, sadness, and stress just disappearing.  Your words and thoughts make a difference.

Dirty 30, De-railing, and Dat Booty

So yesterday I felt just awful.  Somehow after a few days of feeling slightly better, I seemed to be relapsing.  Anyone else tired of winter?  So I did what any fitness mogul would do...lol nope, I ate enchiladas at Soccer Taco and had a few potato chips later in the day.  Hey, I'm not perfect.  When I finally made myself work out in the evening, I was feeling bad physically and mentally.  I pushed through the Cardio session but just couldn't completely hack it.  So then I added on some extras of the moves afterward and made myself do the 10-minute abs.  I don't want to say I was punishing myself, but I was.  Let me just say, I don't think that's a good way to be.  The last time I was in shape, that's exactly how I was.  I literally freaked out if I didn't go to the gym and I spent so much time worrying about what I was eating...and even when I was twenty pounds lighter, I still felt fat.  I wasn't satisfied.  Looking at those pictures now, I would be so happy to be that small again.  And I am NOT getting in that mindset again!  It was a little wake-up call.

Today I approached everything with a less...psycho mindset?  haha.  I followed the eating plan again, but didn't stress about it.  I did today's workout, The Dirty 30, and it was awesomesauce.  I felt like I was keeping up and modifying less than I have in the other workouts.  Again, of my own volition, I did 10-minute Abs after I finished.  Halfway through it, I realized something that made me quite happy: I have a lot more energy than I did even a week ago.  Today I went to the grocery store, cleaned the whole apartment, and did two workouts...and I'm not tired or sore.  It's so sad to say it, but seriously--before I started doing Shakeology and working out again, a day like this would have had me feeling exhausted and my feet, at least, would've been hurting.  I would've had to have some caffeine to focus on anything else for the rest of the night.  But right now, I feel fantastic.  In fact, this post is much later than I intended because usually I would be clambering to get into bed by now.  Instead, I have been feeling a little too energetic to sit down and do this.  And that's even with still feeling yucky and blowing my nose about a trillion times today.

To be honest, I'm hesitant to post pictures of me working out right now because it's a sad, red, huffy-puffy sight.  I did get Tom to take a picture of me doing an elbow plank...and you can't even tell that I'm planking because my chest looks like it's touching the ground.  Trust me, I was planking.  And yes, I usually have ridiculous facial expressions while planking, but it's more pathetic than comical.  I've been noticing another fantastic thing lately...

Dat booty!

If you know me personally, you know I'm the only girl in my family without a J-Lo booty.  Maybe it's weird to say and maybe it isn't ladylike to point out, but I'm getting more roundness and definition and I'm pretty dang excited.  You can kinda see it in the picture, which was another boost for the day. Watch out sisters, I'm coming for you.