12 Weeks finished!!!

Not everything in my life is rosey but my health and fitness are on point!!! Here are the final progress pics from this program. Still going though!

Update

Things are hopping right along over here! I have stayed the course and I am so proud of myself and what I have done thus far in this journey of mine to get healthy. I have met so many wonderful, supportive, amazing woman out there that are doing this fit thing :) and they constantly astound me on a regular basis. I am so happy to be in such good company! I have finally found my niche and I have a support group to push me along on my journey. Here are some progress pics. These are since I started the Becoming Extraordinary program I am currently 5 weeks in, 9 pounds down, and tons of inches lost! She put me on her website :) Yay me!

Support System

Well I am use to having that in my husband on all the unique, odd, weird, and strange things that pop in my head for me to do. This competition and the amount of muscle I want to accumulate is not one of those things he is on board with ( I am going for figure). We had a mini argument this morning and I had an epiphany. I sat down with him and told him that it doesn't matter that he doesn't like the amount of muscle I like because it is my body. He loved me overweight, he loved me pregnant, and he will love me however I end up during this journey. I told him that if he doesn't than we have bigger problems than muscles on our plate. I told him I  have found tons of blogger buddies that I can turn to for support and guidance. I just hate that that is how it has to be since I have always talked to my best friend about these things but if he is not willing I understand. He told me I could talk to him about certain aspects but that I can't do. I am excited. This makes me happy and I can't gear my conversations about it to make him comfortable so I will not talk to him about it. Not in the detailed sense of the word. Before I would have been hurt and I would have stopped because he would not have found me sexy but I am a new person and that is just not me anymore. He can feel however he wants to feel because it's not his body. It's mine and I love what it is and what it can become.

Same Goal. New Plan.

SO I am not sure if I told you but I met up with my hero from the blog KarateNurse. We had lunch and talked for over two hours! KarateNurse is a figure competitor and is currently getting ready for her next show. She is an amazing person. She gave me lots of tips and has helped me iron out my plans for myself and round out my fitness goals. I had hit a plateau in my weight loss so since I currently don't have the money for a personal trainer I research some workout plans and signed up for Ashley Horner's Becoming Extraordinary program. It has a 12 week workout, shopping list, and meal plan. The bonus is that you also have access to her facebook page which is a bunch of people (herself included) either going through the program or graduates of the program that are motivating the hell out of you.  I love this program.  I have been on it for 8 days and I have lost 7 pounds thus far! Excellent! Bye Bye Plateau!

In addition...

I am slated to compete in a figure competition in October of THIS year! Yes, I said this year. I am very excited for this! My goal is to lose 15-20 pounds doing becoming extraordinary which would put me in the 120-125 range by the beginning of July. Once I accomplish that I will be enlisting the aid of a personal trainer to get me in competition shape by October which is a 12 week prep (really a 6 month prep since I am doing all this now on my own).  Lifestyle changes are key because I want to live like this after the competition so these 3 months of working out on my own are geared toward me learning what works for me and how I will lead a healthy life going forward as a fitter individual. The competition is to push my body past limits I set for myself long ago. To show myself that impossible is a mindset. Something that can be challenged and won. I've got this and I just need to push through the mental limitations and come out healthy and sexy as hell on the other side :)

Here's to doing just that!

Goal Setting 4/6/2013

1. Finish Being Extraordinary (12 weeks this is day 1)!!!
2. Hit goal weight of 120 lbs by the end of  program!!!
3. Follow BE meal plan!!!

Sickness and Such...

I have only worked out twice this week due to some bug that has been kicking every member of my households a$$. My first day back I was quickly fatigued but I did it and the second day (today) I knocked it out! I have some avenues opening up for me to finally hook up with a person who loves fitness and is actually a competitor. Remember my closet dream. We should be meeting face to face soon and I am so excited. She also has some training options. Wish me luck! Well on my way :)

I Told The Husband...

about my plan to compete. He was not very encouraging. He does not like the thought of me wearing a bikini on stage. I called him a prude. Wow. My biggest supporter being not supportive. Didn't exactly expect that one. He has already started coming around and it has not even been 24 hours, so the fact that I have plenty of time makes me feel better about his lackluster initial response. Great workout at the gym today. Onward and upward :)

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

 Hello All!!!

I have been eating really healthy and I am truly starting to see some changes in my body. Duh huh? Any way I have been working out like a beast and my eating has been really tight. Tonight however I have a problem. I am going on date night with my hubby and I truly do not see anything on the menu that I can eat that would be up to my healthy food standards right now. I don't want this to feel like  a punishment so I guess I will pick the most healthy thing on the menu and move on from there. The biggest thing is that I do not let this knock me off the wagon! I am moving in the right direction and I will need some major self control after this. I have my fail safe environment at home so I should be okay :).

I know everyone talks about having a goal so I have just found mine. I have been reading two blogs pretty religiously Melissa Cunningham's and Karate Nurse. I have decided that once I am down to my goal weight of 120 (16 more pounds to go) I will find a show and start prepping for figure!!! I know right! It has always been a closet dream of mine and I haven't shared it with the anyone even the hubby yet. I have even started saving for the competition cost! LOL. Well with my goal in mind I have to go and get ready for date night! Enjoy the itsy bitsy moments left in your weekend. I will!!!

Eating...

is finally under control! I am so excited. Maybe I needed to get back on my workout grind before I could fully commit to it ( I don't know) but it is working. It's so sad that I have been working out like a nut for the past two months but everything starts falling into place after a week and a half of eating right. CRAZY but true. Let's keep this party moving shall we? :)

New obsession: Figure blogs!!! I love them! It has made me decide that I actually want to compete next year. Graduation present to myself of sorts. I want to get down to 120 (it's the weight I was last time I was in shape so it's my go to number) and then do competition prep. I have yet to tell my hubby about my plans but I am hoping he will be supportive. Fingers crossed. Until next time...

A Whole Lotta Snow!

Boy let me tell you. A whole lot of snow can put a serious cramp in your workout style! This week I only did three days. I work Thursday and Friday so this is basically my last day of the week :( I worked out Saturday (gym), Sunday (Title Boxing), and today (home). I did do some slight chest on Tuesday in between my husband and I's Alex Cross marathon. We watched Kiss the girls, Along can a spider, and Alex Cross. Fun times.

Any way I was super excited for the next two weeks because I got living social coupons to Title Boxing. Unlimited! However snowmageddon did not care about my 2 weeks unlimited because for the past three days Title Boxing has been closed because of the 15 inches of snow that just got dumped on us this past week :( Grrrrrrrrr!!!

Oh well. I am however proud of the workout I did today at home. I did 45 mins on my elliptical machine while watching my dvr'd wife swap celebrity edition. It was really good. Kendra and Kate Gossling were a great pair up!  Then I threw on P90X legs and back and went to work! Whew! Great times.  Here's some pics of all my snow...

I HATE SNOW!

So you know that snowstorm that hit the midwest? Yeah I was smack dab in that. I am a nurse so I was snowed in at work and unable to get home for two days. The end result was no working out those two days and eating food from the gift shop. Run down of my menu

• Doritos Cool Ranch
• Cheetos Puffs
• Hershey with almonds
• Twix
• 1 Reese peanut butter cup

Now that I am safe and snug at home I want to cry over my foolishness! What was I thinking? I heard the gift shop would be closing and hauled ass down there to get the stuff too! 

Oh well. I've been home for approximately 11 hours and now I am up getting ready to hit the gym. Can't do anything but move forward. Off I go!

Sucky Day

Well today sucked. Not in a workout realm just period. Started off really well then I did crappy on a quiz I studied really hard for and I am a comfort eater so there you go. I am feeling pretty defeated right now and I am pouty faced. HOWEVER... I watched a youtube video on Angela Simmons and that girl is a beast! She has motivated me to get a workout in before bed in a sad attempt to cleanse myself of the food foolishness of the day. Until next time...

Working it out at home

Well I have bought a new baby for my home gym. I just received my TRX in the mail last week. I have been waiting patiently for the hubby to put it up and now it is ready to go. I haven't tried it yet but I will be doing it today. My son has decided to get sick today so I am getting my workout on at home. I need to hurry up because his appt is at 10 and it is already 0830. I am determined not to let life's little hiccups destroy my workouts so I will take what I can get. Workout wise I have been doing great but I have to finish one of my classes TONIGHT and I have a quiz in pharmacology tomorrow. Ugh. Then starts my work week. Fun times in this household. Hope everyone else out there in cyber land is able to get their workout on!

Knocked it out the park!

Stalled until 1230 but guess what folks I still knocked that workout out of the park! Woohoo! I mixed it up by doing a leisurely 30 mins on the elliptical machine then I went nuts on back, chest, and legs and ran the stairs in between sets. Can anyone say jello legs? I CAN!

Lots to do so little time...

I have so much on my plate people. Trying to keep it all together has been a trial I'll tell you. My Grandmother-N-Law passed away last week, my classes started, I am working, and I have been staying on top of my workouts! I am tired just typing all that. I am going to read some pharmacology before I hit the gym. Happy Tuesday :) All and all my workouts have still been good but I am falling way behind on the eating portion. :(

Food Rut

Okay guys I was doing fantastic. Then my husband and I found a mediterranean restaurant right around the corner from our house and I have been acting a fool ever since! It's been three days and I have been there all three of them :( the madness has got to stop!

On a workout note I am still kicking ass and taking names. I am seeing muscles return and I am losing inches. Now I just need to get the food back on track and ignore that damn ridiculously excellent, awfully close restaurant! I think I can I think I can!  School has started so things are getting busy. My workout will not suffer but my blogging might. Until next time...

Start of Week 3

Hello All,

After a very productive work week I treated myself to a sushi roll by myself at the sushi bar, an hour of reading in the relaxation room of a massage parlor, and an hour swedish (turned in to deep tissue) massage. Painful but excellent. My shoulder actually felt so good this morning I did legs, back, abs, and cardio. AWESOME! :) Happy girl right now. I thought I would have to lay off of all upper body weights for at least a week. So I am starting "my" week off right. Let's get it done. Much to accomplish before my school semester begins.  So time to get it done....Bye!

Ouch

I tweaked my shoulder so I have decided in order to keep my focus and remain seriously injury free in 2013 I need to take it easy.....as far as weights go. So today I got on up and did 60 mins on the elliptical machine then 30 mins on the exercise bike. Boo Yah!!! :) Keeping it moving. In my opinion hurting your upper body is way better than your lower. So many cardio options remain.

Early bird...

This girl got up and hit the gym at 4am! Sure did. Knocked out 30 mins of cardio then went hard on legs and chest! Woot woot. That's it :)

Happy Monday!

Today was my kiddos first day back at school and I missed my munchkins! The house is not the same when my babies aren't here :( However I did get some much needed things done around the house. I got the kids off and was at the gym by 0730. A little off my schedule but whatever. I had a tag along...yes my hubby decided to join me again. It went okay I just feel like sometimes I don't get my intended workout on when he's there I feel sort of intimidated. But after today he reassured me that I shouldn't. He is not super gym master...he's just my babe so moving on from that issue. We did 35 mins on the treadmill then worked strictly back. Felt pretty darn good.

The rest of the day was spent watching the Borne Legacy and going out to lunch with some work buddies. I had to do a major scan of the menu but I managed to find a soup (cup size...sneaky bastards) that was only 200 calories and it did the trick. I wasn't hungry and it was enough to keep me from trying to snatch one of my lunch partners plate from them :)

Right now I am sitting here trying to figure out if I should go down and ride my bike and do some abs for awhile. I am really not feeling it but I know if I just go down there I'll get it done and I really want to because my cardio wasn't all that I wanted it to be this morning. Hmmmmm I guess we will see tomorrow if I made it down there!

Question of the day...

How much muscle is acceptable for a woman? I love muscle. I don't want to look like a bodybuilder or anything but a nice amount of muscle is okay with me. My husband thinks I think a little too much muscle is okay. Whatever to that though.

Nerves

Feeling nervous about tomorrow. It is the first day since starting back to working out that all kids are back in school. This means that when I wake up at 5am it will not be to workout. The real world is back. I have mapped out a plan for Monday but Tuesday is a little rougher to figure out. I just have to realize that my workout time will not be wrapped up in a regularly scheduled bow everyday. It will have to be squeezed in sometimes here and there. Life doesn't care that I am a morning person and like to get it done early. Back in the day my kids went to school later but that's a wash now. Here's to making things happen.

Side Note: Last time I got fit I was really hype about watching Biggest Loser. It premiered tonight and it really didn't do it for me. I wonder why???? Hmmmmm

Dilemma

Well yesterday I had my first food dilemma. I had a work function to go to so I had to at least give a shot to being mindful of what I was eating so I carefully looked over the menu. Let me tell you folks it wasn't an easy task. I finally settled on a blackened bean burger wrap with no cheese and a house salad substitute for french fries also without cheese and I had balsamic vinaigrette for my dressing and I only sprinkled. It actually tasted pretty good. That in itself concerned me but whatever... I couldn't do anything else. I did workout everyday. Even got in a chest workout with the hubby on Saturday and an hour of cardio. Today I got up and did 50 mins of cardio, shoulders, abs, and legs. Went pretty well. That's all I've got for now.

Weighed in today: 139 lbs

Clothes are even fitting better. Let's keep it moving!

End Result for the Day

Well I woke back up and when down to my home gym and did....60 bad ass minutes on the exercise bike! Thhhheeeennnn I went to the gym and knocked out and hour of back and abs. Once this was completed I went about my normal duties until time for my physical therapy appt. There we tried out the treadmill and he took me through 30 minutes of uncomfortable exercises for my foot. He said I am doing incredibly well. Woohoo. Anyway that's it. Until next time...

In it for the long haul

This time is different. This time is reminiscent of the first time I truly got in shape and I was 100% dedicated. I am eating right. I don't crave junk and I am so focused on my health and being happy. I am eating good food that are healthy and consist of smaller portions but I am not starving myself or calorie counting. I am just really mindful of what goes in my body.

My husband and I have this thing where we weigh ourselves on our wii fit. It is really motivating because it shows our weight in a graph form and humbles you. It tells you if you are underweight (yeah right), normal weight, or obese and it makes you look whatever category you are in. No joke! Then it allows you to make weigh goals and let you know where you are in that goal. It's accountability at it's best. I am not weighing on anything other than it. I weighed on the gym scale and was 150 last Saturday and my wii fit (granted I am only wearing underwear and a bra) as of today has me at 139. I know my gym pants and top did not weight 11 pounds so I have dropped a significant amount of weight this week. I am proud of myself but I know that is probably that first week super drop. The remaining weeks will tell the tell. But it was extremely motivating.

Yesterday I did a kettle bell workout before work. Kicked my butt! But I felt proud and refreshed. Today I must admit I am a little sluggish. I figured I would lay down for a little while longer before hitting the gym. This was not a planned rest day so I want to make sure I workout but I want to listen to my body as well. I'll let you know how this goes.

Failure is not an option! Until next time...

Another Day Another...

Hello Everyone! Happy Wednesday! This week kind of threw me off due to the holiday because usually I only work Thursday and Friday 12 hour shifts however because it was my shift to work New Years (no complaints because I had Christmas off) I work Tuesday and Thursday. I don’t know how I feel…usually I’m wishing I could do them spaced out but now I am longing for my together days so I could have enjoyed my beloved 5 days.

This can only be enjoyed until my school break is over.  I don’t know if I mentioned I am in year 3 of my Nurse Practitioner program. Hence the reason I am a busy girl. I took a year off clinicals so I will not finish until May of 2014 but it gives me plenty of time to get my health and fitness regime together before I am once again doing classes, clinicals, and working! Whew made me tired just talking about it!

Anyway to chat a little about all the wonderful workouts I have been getting in this week not to mention my rock star eating I woke up at 6 am intent on getting it in early because my son had an orthodontic appt at 10. The workout fairies tried to do me in. First my wonder spin bike I have has a horrible seat and my buns were too sore to sit on it. Then I attempted the elliptical and my plug was missing! I wasted a good amount of time attempting to find said cord when I threw my hands up and decided to hit the gym. I got there at 0700 and this is what I did…

·      35 Mins on the elliptical (yes, I said elliptical)

·      (one leg) leg press (only good foot btw)

·      Chest press, limited squats

·      Leg extensions

·      Low Chest press, limited squats with attempted calf raises

·      Seated hamstring curls

·      Push ups, donkey kicks, cross body cross blows

·      Adductor

That’s it folks!

And She Does I t Again...

People I am feeling really good today despite the fact that I am at work doing a 12 hour shift on New Years day. Would you like to know why? Well I am going to tell you anyway. This woman (that would be me) woke up at 4:22 am and did 31 mins on her spin bike before leaving for said 12 hour shift. She also lovingly packed a healthy lunch before going to bed after ringing in the New Year with her husband, children, and Ryan Seacrest. How's that for being back in my groove!?! Also my lovley co-workers have ordered Jason's deli, brought in cupcakes (the kind I love), and put an entire bowl of assorted color M&Ms on the break room table and so far I have resisted all!!! And I will continue to resist all. Why you may ask? Because this girl is BAAACCCKKK! I am so happy right now I could do a backflip if it wasn't for my foot and the fact I have never been that athletically inclined. Alright people it's time to log off and get back to it. Until next time stay focused and stay healthy!!! Happy New Year!