Pain Is We

Before

After

Kellie Said….

This has been an interesting journey.  I have enjoyed having Allen as my partner and cheering me on all the way.  I lost a grand total of 9lbs.  I will say that I am a little disappointed that I still have at least 5 more lbs. to go before I think I will have the body I envision but I’m very happy to have shed much of my dreaded love muffin.  If you have kept up with our journey, you know that I spent much of my time on the injured list.  I am still being tortured by a physical therapist at the time of this posting.  Ok, enough of that, I did get healthier, I ate more and I ate good foods.  I exercised until I couldn’t and then I ate even healthier to make up for what I couldn’t do.  Most importantly, I had fun, nurtured a friendship and lost a few pounds in the process.

I want to say that I am so beyond proud of my workout partner.  He has stated time and again that he has attempted to take on getting healthier alone in the past and has never really stuck to it.  I am so proud looking at his after pictures to say he….pardon my language kicked ass!  He stuck to the task and surpassed the goal.  I will carry on for that last 5 lbs.  (I think if I shoot for 10 I will look a little too slim, especially since as you can see, I’m not really overweight)  I just needed a new shape other than round  I hope he will carry on and stay on track while I work….a little slower to still move toward the goal.  I told Allen on facebook that I am so happy that this was a partnership and not a challenge because I hate to lose and he would have won hands down.  We have encouraged one another through this journey, we’ve both had our own special challenges and we’ve really grown a friendship over the course of these past few months.  I’m proud to have him on my team & truly count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful person.  I have a feeling, that just because this journey is basically over, you have not heard the last of this dynamic duo.

Allen said:

My biggest focus in all this was to really try to reach some people and possibly help them see that getting fit, eating right, etc. can be fun and feasible all at the sametime.  And what Kellie said is very true.  I stated it in my first post that over the last 10 years I’ve started and stopped more workout routines that I could ever count.  A couple very big factors were different this time.  A workout partner(and the best workout partner at that); A virtual workout partner at that(and we have proved that the virtual buddy system can be very effective); and then making it public and talking about it.  How do you quit something when you’ve told everyone what you’re doing and giving updates about it.  Who wants to get talked about like that?lol 

I must say, although I’m not completely satisfied(thats just me) I am pretty surprised in the difference in before and after.  I simply couldn’t tell through the process visually.  I knew my clothes were feeling awful big, but I couldn’t really see it.  So there’s another pointer for you. Use comparisons to track your progress. 

Just to reiterate from my post yesterday.  Kellie has been the best workout partner you could imagine.  Talk about the definition of “consistently positive and upbuilding”!  She should be an example to all of you out there that think you don’t have the time, you’re too busy, you’ve got a booboo, or whatever else the excuse may be. She sets the example in balancing it all and not letting challenges stop her.  And I definitely owe most of what I did to her for sure.

With all that said I almost forgot there is a number involved here………………………………………………………..drum roll please………..

Lets see I actually did the before pictures and weigh–in on April 6th and then ate my last in & out burger on April 7th, so in roughly 80 something days I lost…………………….-21  1/4 lbs.!

So there you go, hopefully this reaches some people, gets some off their tails, puts some added inspiration into others and so on and so on!  Thanks everyone for your following, and please…give us some comments!  Let us know.

Before

After

90 Days…20lbs…NO Scale

I’ve taught for many years on the importance on Process focus vs. End Result focus.  With the overall point being that you have to put your efforts and focus into the process or journey that gets you the end result.  You cannot effectively achieve your desired end result by just worrying about that result.  That result comes from the preparation, planning, work, and effort that it takes to get there.

Well I’ve really taken this principle to an extreme in my journey with Kellie on this fitness challenge.  Remember, one of our objectives here is to help other people and hopefully give them best practices and real life experiences that can benefit.  So, when I decided about half way through this that what better way to make my point on process vs. result than to, NOT weigh myself at all from start to finish.  I’ve made major adjustments all the way through in diet, portions, workout routine, workout schedule, etc. etc. etc. all based on constantly tweaking the process to get better results.  And doing it without having the ability to check the result constantly.

So, we are less than 24 hours away from the finish line of July 1. So YES, I will be weighing tomorrow, and NO I really have NO idea how much I have lost or how much I weigh. And YES, I am now very curious, and a little anxious as well because I’ve made it public.  But right now my focus is, ummm, finding a scale tomorrow because I don’t own one…lol

I do feel real skinny, but when I look in that slanderous mirror I must say I’m not happy, but then again we’ll see the comparison with the before and after pics.  And note to self, and everyone else out there…90 days to cut all the fat and get “shredded” so to speak at my age is, uh well I think impossible at this point. Because I did a lot to get there, and to just throw it out there ahead of time…THE 6-PACK AIN’T HAPPENIN!!!

So, it looks like this is my last article prior to the big day tomorrow, so I have some things to address:

1) I want to take this chance to publicly thank the best partner ever.  Kellie has been amazing, supportive, an inspiration, and definitely a trooper during all this. For those of you that don’t know, she has suffered multiple injuries during this journey to the point that she has spent the last 4-6 weeks as her only ability to work-out being her mandatory physical therapy.  The positives to that is she is not satisfied and has vowed to continue the journey beyond our deadline.  Also, being that this was her idea to begin with and she was the cause of me getting off my butt, I have probably went harder than I would’ve over the last few weeks just to try to offset what I know are Kellie’s frustrations.

2. Based on the above, we have decided to keep this blog going and continue on in our pursuit to help and  support everyone out there who needs a little oomph in getting themselves into a healthier lifestyle.  So, we urge everyone to keep on following, provide input, and share with us.

3. And finally, hmmm…Like I said above, I need to find a scale in the next several hours.  Just realized I have no access to one. Anyone know where I can just walk in somewhere and borrow a scale for a few seconds?  I guess I better start searching.

And finally, thanks to everyone who has came to our site, provided comments, cheered us on through Facebook, and simply paid attention to our little quest here. 

See ya tomorrow at the weigh-in, and for the after pics! uggghhhh

Never Get Hungry When Dieting

Oxymoron? Nope! Just a simple way of thinking about the proven plan of consuming 5-6 small meals per day 2-3 hours apart to keep your metabolism going strong and to ensure that your energy levels remain constant throughout the day. This along with a consistent exercise regime is the most effective way to lose weight and transform your body. Ok, that was a little boring and clinical sounding, but oh so true.
In my opinion the #1 reason why the majority of people aren’t able to stick to their diet plan and cannot maintain their weight loss is because, well, dieting doesn’t sound like, and isnt’ very much fun. That is why you continually hear about changing your habits, adjusting your behaviors, eating differently in combination with a regular exercise plan yada…yada…yada. Yes, there I go again sounding like an infomercial. And yes, I have discussed this in past articles. Why? Because it’s important. Depending on who you talk to or what article you read, proper diet(eating) is responsible for 70-80% of your success in losing weight and getting fit.
In my last article I was in a panic about the plateau I hit, and low and behold, after I wrote that article I stumbled across the real reason I wasn’t losing anymore weight. Let me remind you, I have been eating very good during this entire challenge, no issues! But, I forgot something….Portions! Duh Allen, I may have been eating great food but I was also eating a lot of it! My calorie intake was still through the roof. I guess I just assumed that “hey, it’s good food bring it on”. But NO, not how it works. You do have to reduce your portions and eat a little less, and that is why the NOT getting hungry thing is so important. That is why you need to have those small meals every 2-3 hours. Because the second you skip that and allow yourself to get overly hungry throughout the day, well, that is when the will power takes a beating from the body and mind and says, “get outta my way, I’m hungry and I’m gonna eat until the cows come home”.

 
So, I reduced my portions, and no I’m not counting calories, I just simply watch the quantity of what I’m eating, and walk away knowing I don’t have to stuff myself because I get to have some more and something different to eat in a couple hours. And yes, it’s working!
Kellie and I are on the homestretch, less than 2 weeks away from the finish line and although we have both had our challenges, we are both excited to show everyone that this wasn’t a joke and we have done this and so can you.
Please pay close attention over this last couple of weeks, it’s going to be fun.

Oh Yeah, P.S. NO, I still haven’t weighed since the beginning! But I’m confident and feeling good about this! Stay tuned.
And, I even survived my son’s graduation party where there was more food and cake than you can imagine. I just kept thinking about those dreaded “after” pics coming up in a couple of weeks.

Stubborn Belly Fat!

photo credit: Vegetarians-Dominate-meat-eaters

Well, we are truly down to crunch time and I mean that both literally and figuratively.  LOL, Allen mentioned hitting his plateau and not being able to shed the tummy in his last post and that is where I have had my biggest success was at the waistline.  (I’m not bragging….well, maybe a little).  We have only a few weeks left and like Allen, I won’t get on the scale.  I made that mistake once on this journey.  You know how you have those friends that say “I have faith in you, you can do it!” but you know that in the back of their minds, they are really thinking “yeah right, poor sucker thinks they’re going to make it”  well for me, the scale is that friend.  I even think it has sat and tried to plot my weight loss demise but fortunately, the tape measure has been by my side the entire way through.  The point of this rant is that I personally would not have made it to “crunch time” if I paid any attention to what the scale had to say to me.

As women, many of us are slaves to the scale.  I do not own one, I learned a long time ago that if you are losing weight properly, the scale can be quite discouraging.  We used a specific number that we wanted to lose along the way but the goal really has nothing to do with the 20lbs as much as it has to do with getting healthy.  Think about this, how significant to you is the bug that gets in the house & you step on it.  What about as you walk to your car, the cracks you step on? Then why would something else that you have to step on have the ability to send us off into crash diets, tears & shameful feelings.

If you are exercising, eating healty foods and your waistline is shrinking then who cares what the scale says.  We women fight our mid-sections and we do a million crunches in our attempt at a sleeker waistline.  If you want to get rid of stubborn belly fat, you have to exercise the ENTIRE body, you have to eat the right foods.  If you go back and read Allens last post, he is having trouble with his love muffin (insert cheesy music here and pronounce it luuuuuvvvvv muffin) lol because we got them loving on all kinds of foods and just living life.  But seriously, if you read his post, he didn’t say he decided to go do a million crunches nor did he say he was going to go on a crash diet.  In fact, just the opposite.  His solution was to actually freak his body out by “So guess what, I’m going to be grubbin some oatmeal, sweet potatoes, bananas, even some P&J’s this weekend!”  Now don’t go doing this until you read his post and can keep things in context to know why he’s doing this.

We have both faced some challenges and I think that we both got a “lovely” (note the sarcasm) reality check that life after 40 creates its own fitness challenges but we are muddling through and I think when we post our after photos, you will be happy to know that progress was made in spite of these challenges.  3 more weeks!  It’s been interesting to say the least!

Crunch Time + Plateau’s = What Now?

photo credit: larstho

Uh Oh, we are literally down to a month and a few days to go.  And NO don’t ask! I have not weighed, meaning I do not know how much more I have to go.  I do know I’ve made tremendous strides and have been going hard despite some things we will define as the aging process.  Aches, pains, and near injuries!

The reason for the lightweight panic here is that for the last couple weeks I have hit a serious wall.  No, not in motivation, not in my diet, not in my workouts…all that has been right on track, and surprisingly consitent!  The big brick wall is concerning something a little more important actually….RESULTS!  I have hit a serious plateau involving any change to the old body at all.  And most noticeably my (I will use Kellie’s Term here) Love muffin has made a decision that he is as small as he is going to get, and he ain’t goin nowhere!  And yes, let me repeat my diet has been stellar, amazingly consistent and disciplined.  I haven’t ate this clean in decades.  And the workouts? On point!  Despite some pain, pulls, and strains I have been able to stay on top of it, and actually the results in that area have been noticeably positive.  My strength is improving every week, my cardio is simply great, and I have been pushing hard, with intensity every session.

So, what to do? OK, from a diet standpoint I did read where if you go on a high protein, low carb kick that over a period of time your metabolism slows, which in turn impedes fat loss. So, to counteract that you are suppose to throw in a high-carb day to basically trigger your metabolism to get things going in the right direction again.  So guess what, I’m going to be grubbin some oatmeal, sweet potatoes, bananas, even some P&J’s this weekend! It better work!  And from a workout standpoint…hmmmm?  As I said the workouts have been good and intense.  But, I’m thinking it may be time to ramp up the cardio some.  Probably time to throw in a few extra sessions on the trail a few times a week.  What does that mean with a busy schedule…yep, time to ramp up that alarm clock and start the day before it’s light out.  It’s really the only way!

So, there it is! Coming up on our 1 month to go timeframe it’s no time to be the definition of insanity.  That is to keep doing the samething over and over and expect a different result.  So, it’s mix it up time!  Here we go!

And, before I go I just want to throw it out there that Kellie, shall we say, has a whole lot on her plate right now and can definitely use a little extra support from all you faithful followers out there.  I know she’s going to come through with flying colors, but it won’t be without getting through a little adversity.

Did I mention that I love Crunch Time?!

Losing Weight & Getting Into Shape After 40

photo credit: TheTruthAbout...

I remember being 17 like it was yesterday.  In my little head, I still feel young and spry just like that fit and fabulous 17 year old.  Heck, I don’t even have to go back that far to remember really being fit, my first fitness competition I was 28 years old.  I thought I’d have that body forever!  Yeah right!  Didn’t we all?  Allen & I post frequently on Facebook when we have milestones in our workouts as well as our challenges.  It seems our challenges are met with comments about how we’ve gotten old.  Allen is teased about how at one time this weight loss would have taken one workout, I mentioned going back to being a mall walker and was met with a comment about the geriatric groups.  LOL

While our friends jab harmlessly at us knowing we can take the jokes, the fact is, we’re not as young as we used to be.  Stepping to this challenge presents some issues we didn’t have to deal with 10 or 20 years ago.  If you are over 40 here are a few additional steps you should take to stay safe during your workout.  (Not that Allen & I did many of these, we’re both nursing hamstring strains).  Learn from our mistakes:

1. Take things slow.  - Weight gain was not an overnight situation, it took time for you to put those extra pounds on.  Don’t approach your workout as if it’s going to come off overnight.  Allen & I started our venture to lose 20 lbs. at the beginning of April.  Based on the healthy standard of losing 2lbs a week, by giving ourselves a deadline of July 1, we allowed ourselves a realistic timeline to work with.
2. Warm up – Many people don’t realize that a 5 minute walk before weight training or cardio is essential to keeping your workout regimen on track.  You are prone to fewer injuries if your muscles have been fore warned that they are about to undergo some stress.  If you are walking at a good pace, your entire body warms up so your muscles are less likely to rebel when they are warm.
3. Drink plenty of water – Water is essential to your workout plan.  If you are dehydrated you are more likely to have cramps (I know this first hand)  the killer cramp that turned me into a tumbleweed was because of being dehydrated and it’s created more trouble than it was worth.  There is a reason your body is over 60% water, it must be replenished for optimum health.  If your body isn’t receiving enough water, it will hold on to what it can which equates to a heavier you.
4. Stretch – I’ve heard varying opinions on when you should stretch.  As a former fitness girl & personal trainer, my advice is to stretch after your warm up and/or your workout.  The muscles are warm and ready for the stress.  Whether you realize it or not, stretching creates stress for the muscles.  Don’t believe me, ask someone that practices Yoga or Pilates, they are workouts all by themselves for a reason!  Think of stretching like gum, how much pull does a piece of gum have before it’s warmed up?  Not much, it tears when pulled, see the point?  Warm up before stretching.
5. Listen to your body – Allen & I have a goal, we’ve put ourselves out there publicly and added a little pressure to the workout by doing so.  The other thing we’ve done is to keep our supporters in the loop on our progress.  Since they all know that we’ve both suffered a “geriatric” injury, they know we must add some rest and recovery to our workout timeline.  When your body says take a rest, do just that because if not, you may never see that goal if you create too much damage.
6. Rest – Proper rest is required for your body to repair itself.  You are working the muscles, they get tired just like when you work your job, you get tired.  This goes hand in hand with listening to your body.  If you are dragging and can’t get through the workout, there may be a reason for that.  Taking the day off or napping a little longer than usual does not equal failure.  Rest and recovery are essential to getting to your end goal.

We are taking our own advice and we’re both taking it easier on our bodies, we’ve made some awesome strides.  We are not going to ruin it by being overzealous.  As Allen said in his last post, do something.  If you happen to find yourself with an injury, there are always alternative exercises but be sure to pay attention so that you don’t put yourself completely out of commission.  All the best!

Just Do S.O.M.E.T.H.I.N.G

A few years ago I read an article from an up an coming fitness guru, and there was one point he made that stuck out to me loud and clear. He was referencing the old school thought that to continually get in better shape you have to workout for longer periods of time.  His condescending thought on this philosophy was, “What’s your goal, to workout all day?”

Since then I’ve prescribed to the notion that its not about the quantity, but the quality of time spent per workout session that matters most.  Bottom Line…We are busy!!!!!!!!!!!!  Kellie just referenced in her last article her incredibly busy schedule.  And yes, being a new entrepreneur getting a new business model off the ground takes an incredible amount of time along with being a father of 4 and a husband. Let me be clear though!  I wouldn’t trade being at home, developing a nationwide Real Estate Mentoring business for the routine of a job at all. It allows for control of my schedule for the most part, not to mention freedom!

This past week was an incredible test to my workout schedule.  To save you the boredom, I will just tell you that there was an inordinate amount of meetings and some crunch time stuff to do to prepare for this new launch I have going.  There were some early starts and late finishes to the day.  And with my days in general on any given week, if I still had the mindset that I had to workout for 2 hours to get a good workout in, it just wouldn’t be able to happen.

My workouts are intense, but they never exceed 1 hour and for the most part they stay within the 45-50 minute mark.  And I will tell you these are the most effective workouts I have ever went through(hopefully you’ll see that through proof on July 1). If anyone wants some details on how these workouts go, just let me know, I’d be happy to share.

This past week though, I had to make some alterations to even these workouts, whether it was to shorten them up, or skip one day and make it up the next, etc.  None of which made me happy, but the bottom line…I kept moving forward and I did something.  Anything you can do is beneficial! Just do SOMETHING! I have such a good routine going with the help of my incredible workout partner, that I was bound and determined to not fall off, and rationalize that I had a busy week so I’ll get back on track next week.

More reasons that workout partners are vital.  Having that accountability to someone else went a long way to keeping me committed to staying on track.

So, the moral of this story…keep moving…do something…you can get great workouts in using very little time…and get a workout partner.

All of the above helped me this last week.  And I’ll say it again, in the past this would have been another one of those easy to rationalize my way out of doing anything weeks. But not now! July 1 here we come!

Running on Fumes

photo credit: philip pannenkog.

Let me just start by telling you, it’s been an EXTREMELY busy couple of weeks!  As a single mom, I am the chauffeur for football practice, band practice and anything else that says practice.  Then of course, there is the “I need a ride” for social events.  Being a single parent is job enough to wear most people down for sure, even when you have teenagers….especially when you have teenagers.  Add to that having to rise at 3 a.m. to go play with heavy machinery and big boxes.  Yes, I drive the forklift, reach truck and an order picker and move packages that weigh more than I do at times.  I do that before most people get out of bed and pour their first cup of coffee.  Once I arrive home from the heavy lifting, you can imagine, I’m pretty wiped out.  Time for a nap right?  Wrong!  Time to work on my shoe business.  I post the shoe of the day, stalk one day sales to post the daily deals, then I proceed to go out in my 3 to 4 inch heels and network.  The afternoons I spend shuttling the man child around some more and then off to some after five networking events.  When I’m not networking, I’m hosting shoe socials.  Last night, the social was 40 minutes away from my house and lasted until 10:30 p.m. so once home there was a shower & a nose dive into bed to start all over again at 3 a.m. I am currently writing this post at my local Borders to keep from the temptation of the bed because there is so much that still needs to be done today.

Now that I have given you all the reasons that I can’t workout, let me just say that I am still squeezing it in.  I am all about accountability, I lead a very, very….did I already say VERY full life and to add this little goal of 20lbs to it seems like it only fueled an additional Very!  I hear people serve up excuses all the time for not getting things done.  I don’t want to hear it!  It all sounds like Charlie Browns teacher to me so tell it to someone else.

photo credit: Carly & Art

You’re going to think I’m insane when I reveal this next portion to you but it’s the truth.  As you can tell, I really don’t have a ton of time to stop and specifically work out so here is what I have been doing.  In the mornings as I brush my teeth, I do my lunges.  If you’re doing what your dentist told you, then its one minute on top (left leg) one minute on the bottom (right leg).  While washing my face, I squat, get low and hold.  I do additional lunges in the shower…yes I said in the shower at night.  It’s a twofer, LOL, most people workout and then shower, this way you’re getting them both done.  When I wake up first thing I do a set of push ups, one arm in close, the other in the standard position.  This way, I’m getting the chest, back & tricep muscles (the arm in close takes care of the triceps).  The only thing I do that I can’t seem to figure out how to pair with anything is my run.  I will admit, there are times when I am so exhausted that a walk is all I can muster.  The other day, I decided, it didn’t matter how tired I was, a run was in order.  Let me tell you, your body will let you know when it is not capable of doing something.  I was moving at a pretty good clip and then it happened.  The worst cramp in all the world.  The hamstring locked up, then the calf and believe it or not, the sole of my foot to the point where I had to take my shoe off.  I have to tell you, that I wish I’d had a video camera placed in just the right place because what ensued as I came to a screeching halt and almost became a human tumbleweed had to be one of the funniest scenes ever!  I was running on fumes and my motor conked out LOL (This part of the story really has no point other than to make you laugh at me as hard as I did once I worked out all the kinks).  The overall point of the post is this, you can make all the excuses you want, we all have reasons not to do the things that we know should be done.  The fact of the matter is, if you really place some importance on your goals, you will go for them no matter what.  I have a million reasons not to keep working out, Allen has a million reasons not to keep working out, yet day after day we fit it in.  I want you to know, we’re not perfect & there are days when it just doesn’t happen but if we can fit it in, tell me again why can’t you?

By the way, I’ve lost 2 inches on my waist and my hips so my method is working.  I have not yet braved the scale but at least I am seeing some progress.  Come on, get moving, Allen & I are here to cheer you on!  No more excuses.

2 Weeks a Hero Does Not Make

Image by Creative Tools via Flickr

 

Have you ever started something in life, whether it be a new job, career, a relationship, a sports season, a fitness routine…anything at all that required a new focus or change?  All of us have, but how many are guilty of the flash in the pan, 1-hit wonder, 2-week superstar type approach.   

You know what I’m talking about….you start a major new event in your life and you are absolutely, unequivocally the best in the entire universe…for…2…whole…weeks!  It’s what happens at the 2-week mark that makes this entertaining.  As a manager and leader of people for years I counsel on this constantly.  2 weeks a hero does not make…it’s your body of work, the ability to stay focused, consistent, and persistent over a long period of time. Thats how success is achieved….Pace yourself people!   

Do not make that career move and show the new boss a world-class effort for the given 2 weeks, and then go into an excuse laden slide into eternal mediocrity.  Do not be the boyfriend that she wants her parents to meet from the jump, and then 2 weeks in start showing your true colors.  If you’re a slob, insensitive, are always late, and really need a second mother vs. a real relationship then show her that from the start so she can make a true evaluation.  It’s going to be all bad regardless, if you portray one image but are simply not that person. Wait, what was my point? My bad, didn’t mean to mix in a little lecture there.   

Kellie and I are a little more than 2 weeks into our fitness challenge here, and, I GET IT! This trek thus far has afforded me the ability to analyze why this 2 week thing happens…it’s hard doggone work!  You’re making a drastic life change, and you want real results, and you want them now!!!  Longevity and perseverance my booty cheeks….I’m busting my tail here, making sacrifices, lets see the reward.   

Well, that’s not how it works.  This is about changing behaviors and creating better routines and habits that result in long-term achievement and rewards.  The get-fit version of this is probably one of the most challenging because it requires two 180-degree changes…1 is your diet…you’re used to eating whatever, whenever, and how much you want. 2 is the workout…this involves finding the motivation after the newness has worn off.   

So, what’s the answer?  Is it to pace yourself?  Is it to make subtle changes initially and continue to add to those changes as you go? Is it to be so planned out that you’ve already prepared yourself to overcome the desire after 2 weeks to bag it? yeah right!  It’s probably a little bit of all of that.   

Trust me, that mirror that Kellie was talking about in her last article is really p***in me off!  And yes, in the past this is where I would start finding the rationale to waiver, to skip a workout here and there, to explain it off due to being too busy, etc. when it really comes down to…I’m just not satisfied with the lack of instant gratification.   

It’s well known…it takes 21 days to change a behavior.  Do something new consistently over a 21-day period and you are able to create new habits and behaviors.  The key is getting to that 21-day mark, and also when it comes to the fitness game, it might be a little longer…again its hard doggone work.  But I do think that at the 21 to 30 day mark you can and will start seeing the results that are significant enough to spark your desire vs. kill your motivation.   There is no magic bullet! But the outcome of the hard work over time is well worth it!   

I’m able to say all this because this time….It’s on!  I’m not only still going past the 2-week timeframe, I’m getting better and more passionate about it daily vs. the opposite.  And any time at all, even for the briefest second, that I’m not feelin it…guess what?  I have my workout partner!  Knowing that she’s over their on the other coast sticking with her new behaviors is a driving force for me.  Not to mention she provides me a daily update as to how her day went and she ends it with…”How did you do”?  I’m not one to lie, besides can’t do that I have a mirror and a July 1 public deadline.  Huge motivation to stay on point.   

So, for everyone out there!  Recognize that the 2-week curse will happen if you aren’t ready for it, and if you haven’t put your mindset in place to get through it!  The hard work turns to gratification over time and the results will speak for themselves.   

And with all that said, I definitely have to be on my game going forward, Kellie is at a Motivational seminar today and I’m sure will be returning with a vengeance!  Ok, gotta go….there’s a grilled chicken breast calling my name!

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

We’ve been riding our rollercoaster of work, play, exercise, eat right, family time and so on.  As we have made sure to get our workouts in regardless of our schedules, I’ve found that we are both looking for some results.  I typically gauge how I “look” based on how my clothes fit.  I’ve not had a scale in my home for well over a decade, but now I find that since I started this journey on the scale that every time I pass one, I have this overwhelming urge to hop on it.  I yield not but only because I know it has not been nearly enough time for the scale to have anything encouraging to say.

Allen & I touch base quite frequently with our progress.  I thought I was the only one wanting to run and see what progress if any, I’ve made.  I took one measurement and decided that the measuring tape is my new nemesis.  After chatting with Allen, I’ve learned that his mirror may be in danger and my workout partner may soon be facing 7 years of bad luck if that mirror doesn’t shape up.

I have no issues with the mirror, it loves me (I’m sure it’s because I only look in it when I am preparing to go out in my love muffin friendly attire).  It always tells me that I’m the fairest in the land.  That measuring tape however, my be in danger of being downsized soon if it doesn’t produce the proper numbers.

We are anxious to see progress because while we have had a few challenges & some setbacks (I had hotdogs & Allen had Spaghetti casserole & we’ve both missed a couple of workouts), overall, we know we are working pretty consistently toward the goal.  Everyone has a bad day but we’ve had enough good ones to know that something should be changing.  We have time to see those changes, patience is a virtue….or so I’ve been told.  Time will eventually jump on our side and our mirrors, tape measures & scales will be safe again and will live to torture someone else another day long after they have become our best friends.