When Life Hands you a Lemon...

It better be challenge approved! It's easier to laugh about it now but last week was rough, and when I say rough, that is an understatement. We had some very trying moments and when I find a stressful situation, I usually turn to food and poor health choices for comfort. So with all that stress I let my guard down and slipped off the proverbial wagon a few times. But life goes on and so must I. I need to pick myself back up and get back on that horse or fill in your own silly cliche here _____________.

For the most part people are starting to really notice the changes in my appearance, outlook, and energy level. I feel better than I have in years and I know that even though I may slip here and there I have an AMAZING support system. When they say a sorority is for life they mean it. Josipa and Abbey are my sisters for life! These two women have been truly a godsend in the last few months. I am blessed to call them friends and sisters. We may have started out as sorority sisters but we are LIFE SISTERS now. I love you both dearly!

But enough with the gush. I ran, yes ran, 33% of a mile on Thursday, I briskly walked the rest of the mile. It's not a lot but it's a start. After 4+ years battling a knee injury, a ligament replacement, and a baby; I finally feel like I can try to run. I was never a runner but I want to try and that is a good thing. I even bought new running shoes so there is no turning back now. I hope to be running a full mile by July and walking at least 2 along with the run. We'll see if I can make it there! Happy Monday!!!

Almost done with the 24 Day Challenge (pictures)

So today is day 22 of 24. Not only do I feel awesome, but I look better than I have in a long time. I still have a ways to go but this was a great start. Total inches lost so far; 19. Total pounds; 6. I had a huge start in the cleanse phase and I was walking a ton and working out 3 additional times a week. I would have had even better results had I continued on that path but as always, life happens and I stumbled along the way. I missed things in the challenge. I had to stop walking as much because my knee started acting crazy, and during week 2 we had a flu bout through our house and mother nature wasn't being very nice to me. This past weekend was full of parties and I didn't scrimp on the fun. I don't regret any of it either. Everyone kept telling me how great I looked and that is enough motivation for me to keep going. I know I need to get back to the working out part and have my 24 DVD in my bag ready to go once my students leave this afternoon!

A little perspective... this was just 22 days ago...


Here's what I currently look like. PS this white shirt used to show EVERYTHING and look pretty awful and the bra I'm wearing stopped fitting Dec 2011, it fits again! The jeans are the same from the first pic.

Day 19

It's summer weather and I just walked a mile in jeans and a black shirt at school. Not smart on my part but hey going home in a bit to get ready for the weekend of parties! Tonight is bro's 30th; tomorrow is our first solo mixer and my parent's annual Cinco de Mayo party; Sunday is Kenny's first birthday. Yikes!!!

There will be lots of party food so I better make sure I get my workouts in! Happy Friday and Weekend readers!!!

Day 16 picture

Getting smaller! The pooch is still there but it's shrinking!

Day 15 Measurements

As of Day 15 on the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge I have lost a total of 17 inches throughout my body oh and 4 pounds! That is crazy!!! I don't know if it's the Challenge, or cutting out soda completely, or a combination of both but whatever the reason, I feel awesome. Pictures to come...

And then life happens...

Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. Baby and Daddy were sick all week and baby's trying so hard to walk so I can't take my eyes off him for a second. He's sporting a few new bruises already and I don't want him to get more. :)

I'm doing well on the Challenge, haven't weighed or measured again but I feel great. My knee has been hurting from all the walking I did last weekend so I have been trying to give it a break for a little bit. I hope to start walking and strength training again tomorrow. The Spark and Catalyst are keeping me going and I can see more definition in my arms and legs which is encouraging. More to update tomorrow...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Challenge Day 8

So I'm through week 1 on the 24-Day Challenge. Against better judgement, I did measure and take a picture. I've lost 11 inches total throughout my body. I haven't stepped on a scale yet though. WOO HOO! The picture doesn't really show a difference yet. I can sort of see it in my face and definitely feel it in my pants and bra :). Yesterday I threw in some weight training instead of walking to give my knee a little break. Whipped out my 15 Minutes Workout book after my last class left and lifted some weights. Mama needs to tone these arms and get rid of the "teacher flap."

I was joking with a friend of mine and have decided to change my name to Camel, I drink so much water now it's not even funny. Yesterday I put away 128oz. That is more than 3 quarts of water! Anyway, back to work.

The Eve of the 24 Day Challenge

So tomorrow starts phase 2 of the plan to get to my 1990 NKOTB shirt. I am starting the AdvoCare 24 day challenge. Short version, it's a cleanse, supplement, diet, LIFE CHANGE all wrapped into one great bundle of awesome. I've seen the results in a few of my friends and I'm so excited to get to see similar results in myself. I'm so excited I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve, it sounds silly to be excited to start a "diet" but from all the inspiring SUCCESS stories I've heard in the last week or so I know it's a change that will work and I will be their next success story. More to come on this and with a little effort and hope, less of me to fit in my jeans!

I haven't forgotten...

Sorry I kind of left you all hanging after the great proclamation but as we all know too well, sometimes life gets in the way. Spent yesterday filing our taxes which meant a kind of late night. I was good and ordered a salad for dinner and only ate half but I drank too many Diet Cokes (3) and didn't get nearly enough walking in. I'm trying to cut back to 1 and ultimately no sodas since my beloved Diet Coke is my main vice and it is soooo bad for me. I know these things but somehow I still make the poor choice. I heard someone finally describe why it is so bad in actual terms that make sense rather than "it causes cancer and makes you fat."

So here is the explanation and I don't even remember where I heard it, but I'm sure you can confirm it with a small Google hunt. Anyway, Aspartame, the sugar substitute used in DC, turns to formaldehyde once ingested. Formaldehyde is not a compound humans can naturally process so it get stored in our fat cells. It also consumes sugar or carbohydrates. SO in essence, the Diet actually makes you crave sugar and carbs. That's why people who drink DC usually have a weight problem. It's a vicious cycle, they drink the diet because they are worried about the calories or sugar intake in the regular version, but then end up eating more sugar and carbs because the diet food and soda is making them crave it. Man why didn't I learn this sooner, and why the heck can't I just pitch it? Oh well one step at a time.

Today was pretty uneventful at work, we are in the middle of CST testing which means total boredom for the teacher. After school I got some bad news, one of my very best friend's grandmother died this morning. It was not a surprise but it was still heartbreaking. The good that came from it is that my friend will be coming to visit. I haven't seen her since our wedding two years ago. We talked for over an hour and I realized just how much I've missed her. So I was doing really well this morning-afternoon and then I let the emotions get the best of me and I sort of binged... I ate two handfuls of gluten free pretzels with artichoke spinach dip. For dinner I had mozzarella sticks. I ate a banana an apple, and grapes and a cheese stick for lunch so I didn't totally blow it calorie-wise. I also walked 3 miles today. And again, I let the Diet Coke monkey get the best of me. It will be easier once the last of this case is gone. Out of sight, out of mind.

While being totally bored after testing, I was researching something for someone and found this article. It makes so much sense. We aren't big milk drinkers but we do eat a lot of cheese and the boys in our family eat a lot of ice cream. That will have to change...
http://www.waoy.org/9.html

So on the whole, I had some set-backs in the first few days of this journey but who doesn't? I just can't let them get the better of me like they usually do. Better luck tomorrow.

Heidi and I at the Come Back concert in Oct 2008. Not the best picture but it's one of the only ones we have from that amazing night.
I forgot to add, we totally smuggled our way into the after party in Vegas after the show that night... More to come on that.

The Beginning/Inspiration

My best friend and I have been New Kids on the Block fans since we were about 7 (ehem, 26 years ago). Their new album 10 just came out and on it there is a song called "Remix (I like the)". While I don't totally fit all of the lyrics, I am far from the outcast or shy, I do feel like I need to remix myself and have found the song empowering and inspiring. So here's some background...

Five years ago, NKOTB reunited to our amazement and delight and Heidi (my BFF) and I went to their come-back concert in October. I had been working really hard on my health and weight for other reasons and was at my 10 year best by the concert. We were even able to wear my old t-shirts from our first NKOTB concert in 1990. I felt great and looked good.

Well as we all know, life happened. After being in a happy relationship and having a baby last July, I find myself about 35 pounds overweight. Still in the happy relationship and I love my family but I long to be able to fit into my old jeans and my original NKOTB shirts, which I still have. I also want to be able to chase my son and play on the floor with him with ease. So here we are. I've taken my life-long love for a band and turned it into inspiration to help me lose the extra weight and get a hold of my health reins.

The challenge: 35 pounds by July 5. July 5th because Heidi and I will be going to the Package Tour concert at Staples Center that night. While I don't care to wear the original shirts again, been there done that, I want the body and confidence I had when I was able to wear it five years ago. 35 pounds is pretty arbitrary but I chose to pick a number and I want to get as close to it as possible. I won't be totally discouraged or upset if I don't hit that magic number but I want to try.

The plan:

• drink at least 3 quarts of liquid a day (80% water)
• cut out ALL soda and replace with Spark twice a day. 
• limit carbs to healthy good complex carbs and get rid of the trash carbs.
• Implement the 24 Day Challenge (more to come on that)
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. 
• Exercise at least 5 times a week.

I know this sounds like a large bite to chew but I've done it before and I hope that by blogging it I will keep the motivation and keep myself honest ;) Feel free to come on this journey with me and share your stories and struggles as we go. Challenge on! Let's "Remix" this!

1990: Few weeks before our first NKOTB concert.

2008 a few weeks before the Comeback concert.


NKOTBSB July 2011


Now 2013 at Disneyland with my son.