How to Burn Calories!

"Being overweight is associated with 400,000 deaths a year and an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and colon, breast, and endometrial cancers."- Cathy Newman

One of the main causes of a failed diet/workout plan is loss of motivation.  We know how important it is to eat right and exercise, but sometimes its hard to see the point when our end destination is so far away!  Fact is, it takes time to get healthy, and it is darn easy to quit when things get tough! 

Want to succeed?  Then get motivated!!!!   Read success stories, play music that pumps you up, place motivational quotes where you spend your time (car visor, bathroom mirror, office, etc.) and most of all PRAY!  His word does not say "I can do all things because I am going to work really really hard." But it DOES say "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." -Phil 4:13  Pray for motivation, strength, and persistence. Pray that HE will carry you through it.  He wants to!

Another Butt Kicking Day Deserves Some Yummies!

Today I did abs, lunges with weights, jump roped, curled, and planked with my cousin, Erika! We finished off our early morning work out with a run!  Not done yet!  Weight lifting with my dad tonight should be a great end to the day (working out chest tonight).   Keep on keepin' on! Thought I would share what we ate last night because it was so easy and yummy!

Easy Salad:

Spinach

Cherry tomatoes

Feta cheese

Fat free vinaigrette 

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken:

Boneless chicken breast

Onion

Pineapple

Teriyaki Sauce

Cooked on HIGH for 4 hours

WEEK 2: It Burns!!

It has been 2 weeks!  It feels like 4!  I have been dieting my butt off (literally), and the dieting isn’t nearly as torturous as I thought it would be. In fact, I’ve discovered some AMAZING yummy replacements for the stuff I used to crave!I focus on eating FRESH fruits and veggies, reducing sugars and fats (Especially processed white sugar. Goodbye cake, we hardly knew ye…) and taking all gluten out of my regimen.   Water has been my best friend.  There have been times where I still felt hungry after my meal, but I was really only dehydrated!   Tea has also been a lifesaver.  I try to drink at least 2 cups of green tea a day (1 in the morning, 1 after dinner) to help suppress hunger, and boy does it work.  TLS protein shakes are the bomb for breakfast and snacks, as well as non-fat Greek yogurt with fresh berries and a little bit of honey.  

What If Wild Animals Ate Fast Food?

Now, exercising, hmm… I definitely have a “love-hate” relationship with exercising.  It has been TOUGH sticking to my “2 workout a day” plan, but I have been doing it! I don’t just want to lose “some” weight. I WANT TO SHRED THIS FAT! Call me the Fat Shredder, because I’ve got BIG GOALS! This fat needs to be turned into lean muscle and a sexy bod by the time Summer hits, because I want to win $15,000!

Now that I have a great accountability partner/workout partner (my cousin Erika), it has been much harder NOT to stick to my plan!  If you do not have someone to help you along on this journey, it is a great idea to find someone that will really keep you accountable. Give them permission to go all Jillian Michaels on you – Accountability means that sometimes you need to hear you’re slacking and to quit being a baby!

I have lost 10 lbs in the last 2 weeks, which is AMAZING! However, I don’t expect to replicate that much weight loss in that time period throughout this program.  I know my body got rid of a ton of toxins and even some water weight from all of the salts of my original “diet” (Taco Bell, pizza, chips, etc.) these last few weeks.  Now that all the junk is gone, my body can focus on building lean muscle and burning fat! All this work has been SO worth it.  I feel my tummy tucking in, and I feel so much more energized than I did when I was not taking care of my body.

TIP: Green Tea can help you lose weight! Check it out!

WEEK 1: Goodbye Couch and Junk Food, Hello Pavement and Salad!

Rid House of ALL junk food: CHECK

Stock House with fresh fruits & veggies: CHECK

Break my body: CHECK

So this last week has been a great week for me.  Andrew decided he is going to join in on the craziness! We worked our butts off this week, but I know we can do better.  We have quite a few stairs in our new home, and going up them is not the problem! Every time I walk down the stairs I let out 16 squeaks of pain (one for each stair).  My butt and calves are killing me!!  We’ve worked out every day, once a day. We have rid our house of all junk food and gluten products (I’m gluten sensitive :p).  Low fat salads, blueberries,  plain non-fat Greek yogurt and chicken have been the staples in our diet this week.  Today we are putting in the order for Transitions Bars, Shakes and a few frozen meals for when we are on the go.  Thing are starting painfully well!  Should I post a picture of myself?  I don’t want to.  I am feeling too fat and too embarrassed to even go there! Maybe a myspace head shot! Nah, maybe next week.  This upcoming week I am going to step it up by getting in 2 workouts a day. Here we go!