The Wild Ride

Well this wouldn't be the Wild Weight Loss Ride without the ups and down.
Unfortunately...

I got sick in July, the bronchitis and laryngitis and of course the incontinence kicked back in. Oh joy oh boy! So I ended up backlashing and then seeking out comfort foods for my throat and that led to my stomach...and that led to....

FAT!

Yyyyup! It came back! I went on vacation on top of that and took my workouts and didn't manage to get in any. Thinking that I would at the hotel and then thinking all the walking would be enough and blah blah...swimming in the ocean...blah blah..walk on the beach that didn't really happen. And then, after the first day, I got very bad sunburn and couldn't even go back on the second day.

So yea, bad all the way around and coupled with eating bad too. Oh man. It was a challenge that I just couldn't meet.

By the time I got back from vacation, that night, (bad time to weigh in by the by) I was at 190 just barely on the mark of that. After a few days of eating clean however, I dropped to 188 and then 187 and then 186/185.5 finally.

It was tough to get back to working out too no matter how grand it did feel and how much more stronger I became. August was a bit topsy turvy with it and I struggled.

I then decided about a week ago, that I would restart Power 90 The Master Series. Plus! I ordered Tai Cheng and I began them both at the same time. I wanted to have something for myself in the evenings to relax with, maybe soak in a bubbly tub or something nice. Totally destress from the busy day.

I am at 186 flat as of this morning, tho' I suspect it is truly 185.5. But that's fine, I'll start from there. The quick short term goal would be to see 179.5 at the very least by the 12th. That's a tough one. It will take a lot of clean eating and to be sure I workout, no misses.I should be able to see low 180s if not 180 by then if I am strict.

I am also drinking Shakeology of course and I love the Vegan version! I am drinking the Results & Recovery formula too which is awesome! I'll do a blog post on those two here soon.

I am glad I did not gain everything back and can now work my way from here. I have but a month left to get my behind in gear before I see the doc. Cholesterol levels will be checked then so I have to remain strict throughout the month. I'll post those results once I get them.

For now, I am off to shower as I just finished the Sculpt 5-6 this morning. :)

Restarting Power90 Master Series

Since I was so sick in June and was still recovering for the better part of July, I decided that when I get back from my vacation on August 6th, I'll be restarting Power90 Master Series.
This will take me to Halloween and I will take a break week then and as of November, I plan on starting P90X!

I won't be able to attain my goal of 165 by my birthday, and that's ok. I'll reset it for that for Halloween. So I will be rededicating myself and get back on track now that I can breathe better and not coughing so badly.

I am very happy and proud that I have been able to not regain back into the 190s but instead just hold here at the low 180s....180/182. This has always been a turning point for me and where I get stuck. So it's time to reevaluate and rededicate and take a firm stance on my health and fitness goals. I had to admit to being worried about losing my chest and getting deflated like what happened on Nutrisystem when I lost the weight way too fast and all in the wrong places! But as I have built muscle with Beachbody, I've been very happy with how the weight has come off. Yes, some has come off the chest but that's ok. I don't want to be top heavy anyway!

I know I am really not so far from my goals either, just 30 lbs more. I've lost 20 and kept it off and I have been able to see just how I can do that and maintain by working out a few times a week and eating fairly right. I do have to say THANK YOU SHAKEOLOGY! For I know, without that, I would have been in trouble. Shakeology has helped me to keep the weight off, despite being sick and me not able to work out and despite my reverting to comfort foods and me sabotaging my healthy choices a bit here or there. I didn't totally destroy it, which is a good thing and I was able to stay on track for the most part. So all of that tells me that I have learned a great deal and one day when I totally strayed, I paid for it with pain that very night. That was a huge wake up call.

I was going to just start the Master Series at the 2 month mark but then thought no, let's go to the beginning and it will make sure I am fully ready to move to P90X come November. I don't want to hurry myself at all for this is a lifetime fitness journey. I know P90X will help me to get thru the holidays and it means, I will be finished with it as of February. Where will I go or what to do after that? Good question! I'll be taking a peek at the other programs and right now leaning towards Chalene's programs, Turbo Jam and Turbo Fire...etc etc.

Oh! I will also order Tai Cheng too when I get back from vacation and incorporate that into my evenings.

I'll be setting up my physical for November to recheck my cholesterol numbers. Do the comparison after allowing myself all this time to get in better shape and eat better!

I have loved the Master Series however! It's fun and I enjoyed it alot, just was not up to it physically with being so sick. And you know what? That's ok....it's here, waiting for me now and I had to take care of my health first and foremost and get well.

So those of you who are reading this....get ready! August 6th is the start date and if you want to come along with me on this fitness journey and lose that weight! Drop me a message/email and/or add me to your Facebook! You can always email me at: ghostpeeker@hotmail.com or wandacfitness@hotmail.com either one works! :) Just put into your subject line: I want to get fit!
And away we'll go to losing the fat this summer!

Oh and for those of you who are upset that you might not have made your goals this summer, don't worry! You can always start NOW and you will have the whole year until next summer to get there! :)
You can take your time, ease yourself out of the bad eating habits, ease yourself into a better, healthier lifestyle. And you won't have to do it alone either, I will be there for you every step of the way!! :)

Let's do it! Together, we will win!!!

Working Thru the Pain?

I recently saw someone do a search that led them to my blog here. It was about working out thru the pain and asking if that's a good idea? Well, I am not a doc, but to me, the answer to that is normally, no.
Pain is your body's way of telling you it is hurt and something is wrong.

So especially if you have an injury and are feeling pain, working thru that pain is not a good idea. You can easily do more damage to it.

Now there is a difference between pain and soreness and working thru things with physical therapy. A physical therapist can explain that one to you.

Plus, there is also a difference between an injury type of pain and a menstrual cycle type of pain which the latter, is what I was referring to when I talked of working out thru that. Heat and relaxing of the muscles help menstrual cramps. Cramping is a tightening of your muscles, a clenching. Take a look here at this link: Bodybuilding: Cramps and what they mean. That will help to explain them better in reference to bodybuilding and weight lifting and working out.

Now let's look at menstrual cramps and pain here at this link: Menstrual Cramps Explanation. As you can see, these are very different than an injury cramp or pain and are quite specific as to region and what is really going on. Plus, there are many different home remedies and methodologies that people try to help to alleviate the pain including exercise and meds.

So be sure and determine which type of pain you are experiencing before you 'push through' a workout!

An example for me, is when I first began Power90 Master Series, I went a little too gungho in trying to get the exercise down right and twisted my ankle slightly and right to the floor I fell! I waited a few minutes and slowly got up, testing my ankle and didn't feel any pain, only a very slight soreness that let me know that while I could continue the workout, I needed to be mindful of that ankle and be careful with my steps and not overdo it. So I took it easy until I felt strong enough and confident enough to build up to a higher intensity and ability.

Then my menstrual cycle came along and I had some very bad cramping in my lower abdomen, I knew it was that 'time of the month' for me and so I had choices as to whether or not I would try a home remedy or take some meds or try to exercise, which would thereby, heat up my body and muscles, cause me to sweat, generating some wet heat that would penetrate into the muscles and might very well relax my muscles.

Big difference there between menstrual cramping and an injury pain. As a woman, I can easily tell what type of pain I am experiencing and when it is a menstrual cramp or when something is wrong.

Be sure and listen to your body always!

If my menstrual pain was too bad, I would have rested and not overdone it. Over the years, I have learned how to gauge my pain on different levels and can usually tell when something is not right with my body. You have to learn to really listen and pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you. :)

Just Utterly Stunned!

I had to come post....

I've been sick lately, coughing really bad to where I had to get a shot in the behind last week and it didn't get better, only worse as it settled into my lungs. I still have kept up with the workouts for the most part. I have missed a few days here or there, I think 3 tops but I am planning on doing doubles to catch up.
But...you know, I was eating a bit badly, adding in some comfort foods but not going too nutty about it and still kept up with my Shakeology.

I heard that if you are going to cheat, it was best to do so during your snack time when the calorie count was the lower versus the main meals. So I did try to keep to that. Also of course, I have been drinking water and herbal tea with honey, the green tea with lemon a great deal for my throat. Halls, Allegra...Tessalon Perls...trying to rest too which is not easy to do but I know so important for my health.

I even didn't go to the Ren Faire for the last weekend cause I was just coughing too much and I didn't want to give this to anyone. Even had to forego going to my friend's house for dinner. :( I just didn't want to cough all over her and the others and all over the food. And then of course, there is the matter of the incontinence kicking in. Oh that is just so WRONG! *ugh*

I have been just absolutely miserable. It did break me of looking at the scale tho', that and of course picking up two new kittens as well that I had to quarantine in my large bathroom to be sure I got the fleas off them before allowing them out into the rest of my home that is fully carpeted cause I been thru the flea thing and it is just not fun! So they got Dawn baths and I think the fleas are gone so they take a lil journey up to the vet to get their first shots and such now that they are 8 weeks old. :)
So my scale was in there and at times, I knew they were sleeping and didn't want to disturb them so the scale went untouched for a while.

I did peek at it here or there. I'd see 177...178...blah blah....no big deal. I knew I am sick lately and I expected it to stay still.

Well I looked this morning. I was like....HOLY MOLY!

Just floored! I couldn't believe it!

Ready for this?

174.5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES YES YES YES!!! That means folks, I only have 9.5 lbs to go before I hit my goal of 165 by my birthday, 07/31!!! Nice! That is so doable, it is not funny!

But it IS funny to me how my body is just melting this all of off me despite the colds, despite the not as aggressive workout schedule, despite the comfort food...despite everything!! I am just like wow.

Completely floored!!

I want to just sit and cry and would if I didn't think it would get me coughing away. Just....omg....
I am doing it! It's happening!

Now the bad news...I am seeing the 'girls' getting smaller...lighter feeling, not as heavy. :( But I am trying not to focus there and ignore it. Allow my body to do what it needs to. Once I reach my goal, I can decide what I want to do from there. Now before anyone goes oh man....or start the whole, oh I'd rather be fat thing....yea, I have thought that before and it has crossed my mind now.
I don't want to look anorexic. I am not going to go overboard here. Promise! I still want my curves and no, I am NOT happy with my girls decreasing some, or at all for that matter. LOL

BUT!

What we and I, have to keep in mind is that this is more healthier for me. For my body, my cholesterol and heart, my health. That's the most important thing to me. So we'll see what happens as I know more needs to go around the middle.

I got in my new bathing suit too, size 14!! and if FITS really well! I am so happy! This is just off the charts and takes me well beyond Vegas days!! I will have to look to be sure of it but it's exciting!

THANK YOU BEACHBODY!!!

It works people! It really and truly does work! Eating right and exercise CAN and WILL make a huge difference in your life!!

As soon as my voice returns, I will be making vids for youtube!! Promise!! As nervous as that can make me, I am bound and determined to do it!!!

If you are curious, teetering, unbelieving...or just unsure of yourself...or just....anything....write me! Please do! I am so happy to share this with you and to help you with your own goals!! I am living proof that it works! It is still working!! I am not done yet!! Please join me! We can get to the finish line together!!!

All of this...from 202 to 174.5...from 01/31/12 to now...today..05/31/12....over 33 inches lost....I gotta measure again! LOL
But all of this....IS POSSIBLE...FOR YOU!!! YES YOU!!

And trust me, I didn't go bonkers nor was totally clean eating either! I cheated! I had lil chocolates here or there....I slowly weaned myself off the candy and such....fried stuff...fattening things...sugar bombs...
and I didn't do supplements either...not at first...I am now, but not too too much. I just gave myself a gift of 30 mins to 50 mins...6 days a week. That was it. Up early and got it done and out of the way so I can have the rest of the day and night all to myself again and relax and enjoy my day. I felt great cause I knew I had gotten my exercising in. And it wasn't hard to do. It seems so daunting at first. When you see a big number like that, like 90 days, you go *UGH* and think no thanks. But no...NO NO NO!!

Please, please don't put it off anymore! YOU CAN DO THIS! You really can. If I can, you can. 90 days is only 3 months. That's it. Just 3. Give me 3, give 3 to you!! You will feel so much better, more energetic, lighter and stronger than you've been before and certainly more than you were 3 months ago.

Don't be there, still reading 3 months from now and go...damn...I wished I had followed Wanda or wrote her back then....she did it....I could have done it with her. Don't do that....write me now.

I am going to finish up the training that shows me how to do challenge groups on Facebook. You can find me there under Wanda GhostPeeker. Friend me. :)
I have room for more!!

Let me be your cheering section! I've been through Power90 and now doing the Master Series and when I get back from my vacation end of July/early August...I will be starting P90X!! Look out!
And you know what? I've modified things....and I've still lost, still gained in muscle and energy! Lost in inches and pounds!! You can too!

Join me.....write me...I want to hear your story...I want to hear of your struggles and goals. I want to hear of your dreams and wishes for yourself. Tell me! :) I'm just an Add a Friend away....;)

Til then....

Power90 Finished!

04/29/12: I finished Power90! I couldn't believe how I got to my goal of 179 by the time I completed Power90! I started at 202 on 01/31/12, so that's a loss of 23 lbs!!
I have lost 30 inches from all over my body! It is amazing the feeling I got and the accomplishment alone was just incredible!

This took me back to days when I lived in Nevada and had completed Slim in 6! But this time, I felt more healthier and stronger and lighter!!

I have already been doing Power 90, the Master Series for the past 3 weeks now and I have lost a bit more weight since then! I am not sure yet on inches as I still have to take my inches yet but I would not be surprised that it is way over 30 inches!

I can't begin to say how excited I was last week when I tried on my Dallas Cowboy Football jersey that I had bought over a year ago. Still had the tags on it too! Roger Staubach! It was too tight last year and I was a bit sad about it. But now? WOOHOO! I can fit into it just fine!!!
Also, my jeans that I could not even zip in January, I can fit into them and no fat hanging over the waist or nothing!

When driving now, I look down and it's not so fat as it used to be!!! It's so exciting to feel so great and so much thinner than I have been in such a long time! Now....now is the moment to lose even more!

I did lose some in the breasts/chest area and my daughter even thought I looked THIN yesterday while at the Ren Faire! :) That is great but I don't want to lose anything in the breasts! They need to stay but unfortunately you really don't have a choice as to where you will lose the weight. I just need to lose it in the belly.

I did try on my bathing suit from last year and it looks so much better than it did then! I went ahead and ordered another bathing suit, one size down as I still have two full months and a week or more to go before I go on my vacation to the shore. I want to be down to 165 by my birthday, 07/31!! I am now at 177.5, so that means just 12.5 lbs to go!!!

Not sure if I will make it or not but I will be giving it my best and not going to miss a workout!!

3 Days Left of Power90!!

180.5!!
WOW!

I never thought I'd see that number again, not this fast! Not in just 3 months??! But YES!! It seems the 180s are just flying by and I know the Master Series will take me into the 170s.

I feel like sitting down and crying! I am just over the moon! I look at myself in the mirror now and can't believe it is working, can't believe I am here at this point!!
It has been hard and a tough road but I have done it! Such a great accomplishment and pride you feel for stepping up to the plate and doing it! There are just so many obstacles and so many things you have to fight for it is so easy to be lazy and sleepy and just really not feel like doing it. Lack of motivation...just so many things! It's hard to change habits, it really is. But you know, they always say that if it's really worth it, then it's worth working hard for! Nothing comes easy! It has taken me years to get that heavy and it will not all come off in a blink of an eye nor some magic pill or potion.

No...dedication and hard work and determination! That has gotten me thru this. Plus great support and a drive and motivation helped to see me to this point!!

I finally was not going to accept defeat, not going to accept the excuses I created and oh boy am I good at making them too! I took a long hard look at what I was doing and when I would give up and why. What was happening then at those times? How can I overcome it? I know there is nothing I can't do if I set my mind to it! :)

I still have a way to go...but what a great start this is!! Just one small goal at a time! I really would love to lose one more pound by Sunday. Just one. I want to see 179.5!!

3 more days to workout, so we'll see!! :) Even if I don't make it, just to see 180 flat...wow...!!!!
Enjoy your day!

Last Week of Power90!

Here it is....the very last week of Power90! I really can't believe it's here and that I have actually made it!! But I have!
And even more that I was able to go to San Antonio and not gain weight! Not even one pound! I ate fairly well while down there, keeping as close to my normal and regular diet as I could. I did eat a little dessert, mostly mango sorbet and a few bites of a nutella x3 at some restaurant and bites of others. I also ate very late on one night and another time almost as late of a time. But! I made healthier choices and oh boy that was super hard! There I am in the heart of San Antonio, on the riverwalk and in front of all those wonderful restaurants! The Mexican and Italian were really a big challenge!
I did have my Irish Lamb Stew tho' at Waxy O'Connors, that, I could not resist. I had even eaten the wonderful brown bread they have with it, tho' it is a skinny small slice. Even the last night there at the seafood restaurant, Ostra, I had a roll too with my salmon and broccoli and a glass of red wine.

I got home yesterday, kept to my food plan for the most part too, had half of a salmon burger, corn on the cob, a side salad of just romaine and shredded carrots and a lil dressing and half of a slice of Texas Toast--(Bad I know). But...this morning? I weighed in right now at 182 flat. Tho' I normally weigh myself after I workout and just before breakfast so it could very well be 181 something or other. But WOW! Even to be 182 flat is just amazing! I did fairly well, I'd give myself like a 85 or 90% on my trip!

Very proud of myself because not only did I eat fairly well, BUT! hehee I also worked out in the room!! And that was not without it's difficulties for the disk really did not want to work in my dvd drive that I had taken with me! I almost panicked there for a moment thinking it was not going to work! I had to exit out of almost everything and then it would play it! I will be glad when I am in the Master Series with a new dvd!

The only bad thing in returning home was that I felt some fluid in my right ear. :( Took some medicine and some advil and it zoinked me right out last night. It feels a bit better but I know I will have to go get some allegraD or something for it. It's been a bother lately and may have to go see my doc.

I am so very happy that I was able to overcome the obstacle of my trips! I have another one next week, but I expect it to go pretty much the same as this time! I realize I have to make a concerted effort to do what I need to do for me. This next one however, I'll be staying in a friend's home so it will be a bit harder to get my workouts done but I am hoping I can still manage to do so.

So now, last week of Power90 here I come!!

I can't believe it...

I had to check the scale so many times this morning and even bounce on it and try to make it show heavier for I could not believe the number it showed me!!!

181.5!!!

OMG! I am like wow...where did the fat go? I mean yea, I know where it went alright, but just wow!!
I have not been this thin since I lived in Vegas! I know I still have a way to go yet but...

I sit here looking at that number and I just can't believe it!!


But what is even more touching and moving? Was the look on my son's face last night when I said something to him of his weight. I noticed his belly wasn't protruding as much and I asked him to lift his shirt so we could see the difference. He looked down and was like wow...you are right! Then I noticed his jean shorts were very loose and he said he kept having to pull them up!! Hahaha!
I told him he would soon need a new wardrobe! We laughed and he mentioned about these other shorts he did have that were too tight on him yet. I said really? When was the last time you tried them on? He said a long time, so I told him, go try them on, and let's see!
So off he goes and he comes back just in shock! Not only can he fit into them, but he can pull them UP AND OVER his belly!! He was like holy cow!! I told him it was suppose to be up there, and he said he preferred it low as it is more comfortable for him, I said yea, cause your belly was so big it was cutting into you that's why but look! You can pull them up over now and he was so amazed! He said he should be able to tuck his shirt into his shorts come vacation time!! (July 31st) I told him YUP!!
Then I said to him, look at your legs! Look at your calves and how that calf muscle is just popping!! He looked and turned his leg so he could see and he looked back up at me with his eyes shining and glittery and was just WOW!! I told him look at your thigh! Look at your other leg!! Look how thin they are now!! He was just floored! So excited and I was never more touched and ready to cry in joy for him!!

It was just unbelievable! He has made such great progress! I congratulated him and told him to be sure and get those fat pics up and we'll take 30 day pics for him here soon! We'll also take the same beach photos we did last year of him and he will be shocked I am sure to see the difference!! Hehehe!

Love it, Love it!!

That had to be such a great moment for me to see his face like that! It was just unreal! He is down to 166.5/167 and he is excited! I know he is going to go all the way and get really super fit and it's gonna be just awesome and amazing for him! I told him, he could possibly win some money! I have noticed he is ever more mindful tho' of what he is eating and how it effects his weight and such. It's just awesome! He's been drinking the Shakeology, Tropical/Vegan/Strawberry and is about finished. I hate for him to stop it but I know he wants to go back to his salads. So we'll try it for a week or so and see how he does. And if he wants it back, I'll go ahead and order him the Chocolate Shakeology.

I am so proud of him! He's done so well and he's only been in the 1-2 circuit of Power90! Wait til he moves to the 3-4 and it will kick his metabolism into a higher gear! He's going to just soar with the results he will get!
GO GO GO!!!

2 Weeks Left of Power90!

Officially, 182.5!! I've lost a total of 19.5 lbs and 22.5 inches since 01/31/12!!

WOW!

I am so excited! This was the point I was at last year in February or March...and then I stopped and gained, gained, gained!! *UGH*

I am sooooo not stopping now! So close to the 170s that I can just feel it! I had gone out on Friday night, I felt so confident and self-assured knowing how much I have lost!! What a wonderful feeling!

Power90 has really helped to kick my behind and get it in gear! I am hoping to lose 3 more lbs before I complete the program and start the Master Series. I have 2 full weeks left so we will see how it goes. It is certainly attainable however and not out of my reach! I'd love to be in the 170s again! The 180s seem to have flown past me and I am glad!!

I know 90 days may seem like a long time...3 months...but you know what? It really isn't. It goes by really fast! Already look!? It's over nearly! I do have to say it was hard for a week or so there about midway thru cause some mornings I'd wake up and really not feel like working out at all, just wanted to go back to bed! But I stuck it out and those were the times that I really pushed myself and made me workout then. I was always glad afterwards that I did that to myself.

I know the Master Series is going to be a big challenge! But I am confident that with having done Power90 for 90 days, I will be ready. I do expect to modify as I need to and it will take a while for me to get up to speed and to be able to do it all, but I know I can do it! :)

My next big hurdle is the trip coming up. If I can hold on and keep up the workout while there in the hotel room AND eat right, I will make it!! I will definitely take my Shakeology with me and my one snack. It's gonna be a big test to see if I can pull it off!!

Here we go!

Update on the Mooncup!

This is now my second time using the Mooncup and I just wanted to follow up about how it is working.

I have to say, it is really great! I thought this was going to be a bad period as I felt some very strong and painful cramps. I used the Mooncup once I was sure my body was starting it's cycle as I had a false alarm last week. Started on Monday and already it feels and seems like it is almost over! I hardly used any pads at all, mostly just panty liners as I am getting used to the Mooncup more and more all the time. :)

I have to say it is really grand and wonderful to not feel or get uncomfortable in feeling anything flowing out. It's all just neat and tidy in the cup that I just empty. I really love it!

I've gotten alot better about using it and how to do so and everything. Just was gonna take some time but I am very confident with it now. No matter how heavy, it has not let me down! I never did cut off the stem, I just fit it proper and it is ok and doesn't poke me hardly at all.

A few times during the day, I have forgotten it was in there, and I thought I'd never say that! But aye, it just fits nicely and you just go on about your day, no worries. I have even worked out with it now every day and I could feel cramps but as my body heated up with the exercising, then relaxed, the pain went away and I didn't have to take any Advil or Motrin. Now I don't have to worry over spillage or leaking either while working out nor do I have to use a pad.

I could not say enough good things about the Mooncup and that it is a comfort to know it is safe and won't get stuck nor lost and is very convenient!

Love it!!!

Testimony for Power90 with Beachbody

I saw a few were looking to see if Power90 really works? Will it help you to lose fat? The answer? YES!! :)
I started out at 202 at the end of January and now, as of this morning, 04/12/12, I now weigh 183! That's 19 lbs in just under 3 months, PLUS so far, 21 inches (as of a week and a half ago---I will be measuring again on Sunday). I only have less than 2 1/2 weeks to go on Power90 and I'll have done what I never have before and that's finish this program! Plus, I'll be ready to move on to the Master Series, the next phase of my fitness journey!! I just can't believe I am here now at this point and weight that I have not seen in years!!

That's amazing!!

What is better?

Is that I have lost this much weight in the best way you can, by building muscle at the same time AND eating right. You can go on any of those fad diets out there and yes, lose a ton of weight, but for me? All it did was deflate me without building muscle to replace the fat. You end up with flabby skin. For me, my breasts got deflated and that's just not a good way to go, not to mention it was so expensive to be buying their food each month and then you have to worry of transitioning to real, regular food.

Why do that when you can start off with buying healthy food now? Plus, when you work out/exercise, you are getting stronger and it fills you with energy!! No longer will you be lethargic or feel lazy or tired all the time as I was, you will be energized and feel better and better about yourself and watch those inches come melting right off you!! :)

Gotta love that!

The only extra thing I also did was to drink Shakeology for lunch. I replaced just one meal for the Chocolate Shakeology as it is the healthiest meal of the day for me and it actually tastes great! I do that more to balance out my system as I don't have a gall bladder and I was prone to extremes, either constipation or diarrhea----so not fun! It was always trial and error as to what I ate that would effect me badly or going on trips and getting sick from the different types of foods. Shakeology helped to balance me out and make sure I was getting all the good stuff, plus it helped me to be cognizant of what I was eating. I feel lighter and more energetic.

The thing is, you have to dedicate yourself to this. You have to ask yourself are you done with being overweight? Done with nothing ever working for you? I know I was done with that whole bad viscious cycle. I knew that Beachbody would help me to get there.

So how do you do it? How do you start? Write me. :) Yes, as simple as just drop me an email and I will help you and for nothing! :) No tricks, no gimmicks no nothing, just straight and honest. You can find me at Beachbody or write me at: wandacfitness@hotmail.com

I joined up as a coach at Beachbody and I can now help you and help to motivate you as much or as little as you like. You don't have to do this alone because you are not alone in this struggle at all. As you can see, I am not done yet. :) I still have a way to go but you know what? We can do this together! I am not going to stop. I am so determined this time and trust me, if you take a peek at my past history, you can see how much I've struggled and gone back and forth all the time. It's nutz and crazy but hey, I'm that kinda of gal! ;) Although now I am charging forward and already I have gone further than ever before and darlin', there isn't anything that is stopping me now!!!

I am putting myself right on out there, extending a hand to those who want and need help. I watched my mother and my father both get so overweight and it finally killed my father. I don't want that to happen to me, nor to you or anyone else! Its time to stop and take better care of ourselves and our bodies. What is grand is that there are so many others out there who are happy to be there at your side! :)


Ok the skinny of it? heh heh....is that Power90 just has 4 workouts to it. A Sweat 1-2 and a Sculpt 1-2 to start you off for the first month. It's a time to get used to the routine and workout and you switch off every other day for 6 days a week, give yourself one day to rest. This is the time when you need to pay attention to what you are eating, time to take out the junk and eat healthy. After your first month (which flies by, let me tell you, it's already half way thru April of 2012! WOW!) you move on to the other disk that has Sweat 3-4 and Sculpt 3-4. This will boing your metabolism again just like the first ones did at the start and then off you go! It is still the same, switching off between the two for 6 days a week. These are a lil longer then the first and they go harder and faster and more of it. I can't tell you how much I've sweated! Well, yes I can...19 lbs worth of fat! GONE!


So hey...if I can do this, so can you! :) Write me...I'll help you!
wandacfitness@hotmail.com

Power90 Master Series Arrived!

Power90 Master Series came in the mail yesterday!!



So exciting!
I have only 3 weeks left of Power90 to go and I will actually be able to finish that program and start on the next step: Power90 Master Series!!

To date: I have lost 18 lbs and 21 inches! It has been an amazing, wild journey! Here I am at 17 lbs and 21 inches:

Each of those yellow blobs is 1 lb of fake fat. I cloned the one at my toe there, 16 more times to show the wall of fat that is growing that has been burned away, melted off of my body! It is so wild to actually SEE the fat piled there and to know that it once was inside me! Yuck!! huh?!

The Power90 Master Series is a program to help prepare you for P90X for after you have finished Power90. :) Many people see the P90X on the tv and think, oh my God...no way I could do that?! It looks way too hard! Why I recommend the Power90 program first as it prepares you and gets your body started in losing fat and building muscle. I know for me, I wanted to take this slow and transition my body better and not shock it or kill myself nor attempt something that might end up being too hard and for me to give up. So, I thought Power90 first, and then the Master Series and then once that is done, I will be ready for P90X!! :) Each program runs 90 days long but you can feel free to do any of them longer than that. I found that I was more than ready to move from the Sweat & Sculpt 1-2 to the Sweat & Sculpt 3-4 after one month. But the Sweat & Sculpt 3-4 will kick your butt! I have been doing that one for 5 weeks now and this week starts my 6th. :) I am almost ready for the 5-6 of the Master Series but not yet. There are still some pretty difficult moves in 3-4 that I have not quite mastered yet.

I did finally find a good sports bra however. If you are heavy chested like I am, and you can see that in the pic above, you HAVE to find a good sports bra. That white one I am wearing is NOT it! LOL It's a cheapo that I picked up and while is ok for the Sculpting, it is not good for the cardio in the Sweat. So I did find something better to support the 'girls'. I will get a pic of me in it in another week or two. :)

So far, I have lost 18 lbs. I made it down to 184 as of yesterday morning, the first day of the Ren Faire! WOO HOO!! How exciting was that! Now to lose the rest of this...4-5 lbs and hit the 170s in 3 weeks!
It may very well be hard to do so but I will do my best!

I felt proud of myself in not eating any Easter candy. I was very tempted this morning to go for a Reeses Peanut Butter Egg but I resisted and was like, nope! I am not doing it! I made it thru!! My Jack LaLanne juicer was my Easter gift to myself!!

GO GO GO!!

3 Weeks to Go!

It's really hard to believe that I am almost finished Power90! Only 3 weeks left to go now and I will have finished the program. Most days, especially in the beginning, I was just full of motivation and excitement. As things progressed, I just got more and more excited! Then it felt like I crashed a bit, my motivation waned. It was hard at times to get up and actually workout.

I look back on it now and I think I wasn't getting enough rest and that was why. Part of it anyway. The motivation however has been returning now that I am at the homestretch. I did feel like I had reached a plateau however so I counted my calories to be sure I was eating enough and not starving my body and I read all I could about how to break a plateau. I think I was just barely eating 1300 calories and so I made sure that I did and then tossed in an extra workout with the Shakeology workout, the 30 one night. I wanted to do it more so this week but... just the evenings got away from me...

I do think it was enough however to jump start things a bit more. This morning I felt sleepy and not really working out. I rested a lil then got up and then went back and rested a lil more. I ended up not working out til late this evening/night. I feel pretty good right now actually and weighing myself tho' I shouldn't have really, but it says 185 and that's just great for night time!

Oh and I did juice too with my new juicer!! :) I did so like twice now and it's not bad! Pretty good!

So, tomorrow is faire! I will workout in the morning and then get dressed and head out there and take a walk in the afternoon, have some wine and just enjoy myself. :)

I'll post more later on, just want to relax the rest of the night for now and get some sleep here shortly.

Still holding right now at 17 lbs and 21 inches gone!! :) I know things will start to move again soon!! Just gonna keep on pushin play!! :)

Day 60 Results & Hungry for Change!

185 flat!! WOO HOO!!
I made it and a whole week early!

For some reason this week was very hard for me to get motivation going. Not sure why, either not enough rest or not eating enough or something. But I know normally I would have stopped before this point and I am going on instead!!

I know I am getting stronger too for I can do more of the incline push-ups, 5 or so! :) I am getting there with those! They are tough tho'!

Suppose to take pictures today and will do so later on. I don't expect a lot of change yet but I know alot has gone on inside me.

Something I saw the other day and it was such an eye opening education! If you have not seen it yet, please take time to do so! You won't regret it! There is a short version on youtube I believe but there is a longer version, the 90 minute one but you won't be sorry you watched it!! It inspired me to go ahead and pick up a Jack LaLanne Pro Juicer! On backorder right now unfortunately but I've been worried that I am not eating enough nor getting enough of the right foods and I figure this is one way I can be sure to do so! :) Here's the vid on Hungry for Change:

Hungry for Change

And the short YouTube clip:

Next goal is to hit the 180 mark and then break it! Wouldn't that be something to see the 170s by the time I finish Power90?!!! Man...

So those are small goals. 5 lbs, 1 more lb....nice small, attainable ones. And although they may seem like small ones, you will have to remember that this is where I would normally stop and celebrate. LOL It is where I would normally just stop.
That's NOT happening this time. I am not stopping! Last year, I hit 185 before the Ren Faire. I was able to do that now one week before Faire starts. Awesome! But here is where I went on trips, 2 of them back to back last year and I gained. I went back up to 190...192. I never got back down, only kept gaining and flip-flopping. Until finally, I hit 202....again.

This is a very bad pattern. I had to do something to get out of it.

I can not keep going back and forth. So now?...Now....I am doing it. I am going all the way!!

Next Big Goal: 165 by my birthday, July 31st. Why 165? Well the 65 for the year I was born. :) I figured that was a good number. 20 lbs more to go in 4 months. That means, 5 lbs a month. And I won't lie, that is going to be super tough for me. But I am bound and determined to do it. I just am.

I will probably increase more things for this last 30 days of Power90 and start to do some things in the afternoons. Start out slow. Plus I want to check my calories and make sure I am eating enough food so I am not starving my body. The RIGHT foods too. :)

But please...watch that vid on Hungry for Change! It will really open your eyes about alot of things!

A Good Weekend!

I did well this weekend and ate right. I am quite happy with how things are going too. I saw 185.5 this morning!! I know I will make it to my goal of 185 by April 7th now! The first goal attained!! How exciting!!

It looks like my cycle is upon me again tho' and I can feel cramps starting but I did get my workout done this morning before it hit. I'll have to get the Mooncup back out again. :) At least I got good at using it before. And the good news is that I won't have it for the first weekend of Faire which is awesome!

I thought it might be kinda early for it already and if so, it must mean my body is changing more with all the exercising. To date, I've now lost 16 lbs and 18 1/2 inches! That's just amazing to me! I am doing it! This time however, no stopping!! I can't help but wonder what I will be at by the time summer vacation is here!

So next goal will be 180 and then to break that and get into the 170s!!! I need to find another word aside from EXCITING! Hahaha!

Thrilling!

Its...just wow! This works. It really and truly does work. Thank you Beachbody! Thank you Tony Horton!

Ok back to work! I so need a nap I think lol but I have tons of work to do.

Oh and my son has lost only half a pound but he's lost 13 inches total in just one month! YIKES! He may win this contest! We have but one more week to go. I am taking my totals from when I started this in January but to be fair if I start comparing the numbers from the exact same time as he started in February, he's beating me in inches by 3 but I am beating him in pounds by 7 1/2. LOL So overall I am winning but not by much! This week will be what determines it! He's all excited and just went up to workout! If he watched his diet, he would definitely have shot right past me! So here we go!!!

Enjoy your day!!

So hard to believe...

I weighed in this morning and yes, I know...I know...I have to get away from the scale but it's just so exciting right now!

But I weighed in as 186.5!!! I was like holy crap no way!!! I had to weigh myself 3x to be sure!
Just amazing to me!!! I know now that I will definitely see 185 before Faire, April 7th. I may even see it before the 1st!!

I can't begin to say how exciting this is and to really feel so grand as the fat is just melting off me! I went upstairs and went thru all my pics too and tried to pull out a good sampling of myself getting fat and being skinny from a baby to now. I will see about scanning in those pics and then making a nice slide show vid on youtube to show how I have gained all this weight over the years. I thought it would be interesting to see. I am also going to film myself working out on Sat morning and do a lil clip of that for youtube.

It's just so thrilling to be on the edge of this whole thing and to be getting the results that I am. I am already lower now than what I believe I last reported to my dietician who was keeping me accountable. On that note too, it really does help ALOT to have someone you are accountable to. It gives you motivation and helps you to stay on the program! That's what Beachbody does too, is to give you that on their site! :)

I have to get with my coach on the rest of the info that I need yet as I only have one more training class I believe for the coaching aspect of this. It's fun tho' I am not so sure how much I want to get out there and do things, but I do like to share about what I have experienced thus far!! :) I love to help other people and motivate them and to see how happy they become when they attain their goals!! If you need help at all, please feel free to drop me a line!! :)

Til then....will post again this weekend when I have my measurements!! :)

Excitement is Contagious!

I am just thrilled as I weighed in at 188 the past couple of days! I only have 3 more lbs to lose to hit my goal of 185 by April 7th, the start of the Ren Faire! It is what I was last year and I felt so incredible! This time however, I won't be stopping nor going on a trip that will mess up my progress. I fully plan on continuing on!

I finished my 52nd day today and only 38 more to go!

My son hit 170.5! He's so excited to actually see the 160s soon! I am hoping by this weekend he should be able to. I had a feeling it was his food choices that were holding him back from losing as he has been working out consistently now for a few weeks. So I had him start Shakeology, the Tropical/Vegan/Strawberry one that he seems to like and it helped him to drop down to this point! I know he will do it and he's so excited! He's been doing the AbRipper 100 with each workout now so I can't wait to measure him on Sunday to see the difference! I think it will really help him alot!!

I did not even feel like working out this morning, but I pushed myself to do so and so glad I did! I always am! :) A lady yesterday talked to me about working out and how it is an emotional/mental thing for her. I think it might be the same with me as well for I was out of sorts a bit this morning and I felt it trying to hold me back but I wouldn't let it and so was like no, no no no!! I am going to do this! Nothing is going to stop me this time!! :)

So it's exciting I just have a bit more than a month to go! Then look out! I'll be jumping right into Power90 Master Series!! Then P90X here I come!!


Ok back to work! :)

DING DING DING!

I did it! I broke the 190 mark! I am now 189 even. I have not seen this number in ever so long. This is just simply amazing. I am just in awe and almost a bit scared as to just how far I could go with this? Could I really end up being one of those success stories on Beachbody?
Really and truly?

I did it tho'. I made it to the 180s before Faire. This makes it seem more possible to get down to 185 before April 7th.

I made it through my cycle and found a better way to handle and deal with that.
I did not get injured, did not get sick.

I do have a trip coming up but it's not til the end of April, about 3rd week. That will be a final test.

I just can't believe it. But I stepped on the scale like 3x and yes, it kept coming up the same. I even pushed down on the scale, didn't matter. It is what it is. 13 pounds gone in 7 weeks.
I should have taken better and more pics when I was 202. Wow...202. Man. I think I once saw 205 or 207? No, I think it was just 205 and yea, that was way too much for my poor little body to handle.
I did it!! I am doing it!! Losing the fat and getting more fit and healthy!! Oh my dad would be so proud of me! More so once I go all the way and lose it all!! Looking down at myself as I am sitting here, I can still see two rolls that I need to get rid of. I know I need to really work on my core and mid section. That's where my weight is at mostly, right there in the middle. I can't stand the thickening there that women go thru when they get to be my age. It's really awful. I am excited to see more and more of it gone tho'! I can so see why all those people who have experienced body transformations are so excited and full of energy, so alive!! They are ecstatic about the changes in themselves!! I can only imagine how I will be when I get to that point. I know I won't be able to contain myself!!

Today, I'll see if I can finish up some of my coach training and put together my two store sites that Beachbody gives you when you become a coach. :) Just so much information that you are given! I feel like I am on the verge of something huge! Something big!! It's happening!! Oh wow it is!!!!

LOL There are not enough exclamation points to show how happy and excited I am!


!!!


Amazing....they are right tho'....the Beachbody programs DO work. Their whole guide and set up, their plan, works. Eat healthy, exercise and get support from so many others out there who are just exactly where you are. They are also right that you have more of a chance of success when you have a friend, a buddy or a group doing it all together, even online! When you go to their site and participate and use WOWY and all the tools they have there, I mean it's all there for you!! It really is! That if you follow their plan, change your diet...exercise....get support and encouragement and motivation, you WILL succeed!! Your body just can't help but fall in line and do what it is designed to do. And with that? It makes your spirit soar! You are excited and amazed and that only feeds your motivation onward!

I think you just have to get to that point where you had enough. That you want to stop this cycle of gaining and losing and gaining. That you want to go all the way. I finally got to that point. Took me a long time and I kept allowing things to get in my way and at times, things did get in my way that I didn't have control over. I figure that it must not have been my time yet. Now is my time however.

I looked over some of the past blog posts here and I saw where I had told my dietician that I was 187.5. That wasn't that long ago. I know injuries and trips, old habits...dropped me back. I don't think I got much further than that, I gained after that. All the way back to 202.
I had read somewhere that that is not healthy to do either, flip-flopping. Well baby, I am taking off the flip-flops!! I am not leaving and going back, I am staying and going further forward instead. I have 4 lbs to go before April 7th. I think I will be able to reach that goal now!

Will I reach 182 by the time Power90 is done? That would mean 20 lbs gone in just 3 months!
It could very well be more. Already, I was able to do 5 incline pushups. Not that pretty but I did them!
Man...

Next month, I'll order the Power90 Master Series. I need to look up how long that one is and then, when it's near over, I'll take the plunge and order my first challenge pack, P90X.

Such a huge step for me. I am also going to order the supplements too next month. I know they will really help me alot.

Ok, time to go and get ready to do my last workout for the week! :) Tomorrow is rest day!

Have a great weekend!

Just before the steam...

I wanted to hop on here before my hot shower to say....

190 EVEN!!

WOW! That's 12 lbs gone!! I am so excited!!

Also to say I have joined Beachbody as a coach now! I'll soon be putting my link off to the right later on this weekend for my own coach page at Beachbody! I already started the training and found a great coach whose results are just amazing and she used the same program I am on, Power90!!

I can't begin to say how grand and right this all feels. Ever feel like everything is falling into place? Yea, like that! Tomorrow will conclude my 7th week straight of Power90, not missing a day! I will have just 6 more weeks to go before I finish the program! I have averaged about 2 lbs lost every week. That's amazing!! Check out that pic of just 1 pound of fake fat!! Awesome! I'll be doing a vid on youtube showing how I started out being a skinny kid to letting myself go and getting fat. And then, I'll also show some vids of me working out and the results when I am finished Power90!
I did decide to order the Power90 Master Series which is a smoother transition from Power90 to P90X. Thank you to my friend Tina for showing that to me! I had heard of it but wasn't sure what it was.



For those of you who come across my blog here, as I know I don't really advertise it at all, but keep it kinda low and quiet for those who just happen to stumble upon it...
But for those of you who feel like you could never be here...could never lose weight and are just accepting being overweight as 'just who you are'...please hear me...let it sink in...

Your weight, does not define who you are.
That is not part of what makes you, you. It isn't.

You can see my yo-yo'ing and struggles over the oompteen years now....there have been so many times that I just wanted to say the heck with it and just accept it. Too bad, this is who I am and that's that. Or to say it's not worth the energy. Poo! Yea, I said it...Poo! That's crap!
I know how it feels, yea, I wasn't over 300 or more or too long over 200 but for my poor little short body, where I have been at, has been truly bad for me. I could have easily let myself get heavier, settled for whatever and think to enjoy all the scrumptious cakes and pies and candy and I say that with sincerity cause you all who have read more of my blog here, KNOW how much I adore sweets. But you know...I also love a nice, tart, fresh, juicy, snappy Green Granny Smith Apple too! I so miss Vermont in that I could go to the apple orchard and pick my own MacIntosh apples! God they were awesome! I like them in the fridge, nice n ice cold! Do I love a Hershey or Snickers or Take Five? Oh yea I do....I adore Godiva and Ghiradelli too!

But....eventually, you get to a point in your life the more you let yourself go, that you realize, you can't do this anymore. You can't allow yourself to be held back in life due to your weight. And yes, you are held back in life. To not go out in the fresh morning air for a walk around the block or to go to the beach or out in public even because you are too embrassed at how you look in a bathing suit or for anyone to see your fat. Your fat, is not you.

No, it's not.

Who you are, is inside, deep inside. Beyond the fat, beyond the sadness. It's your heart and soul, that's who you are. You are a beautiful person! Doesn't matter how fat you are, you ARE a beautiful person.
Don't you think its time to take care of that beautiful person? To really and truly care for and tend to that body. Heal yourself, your body. That shell that houses you, needs to be healthy and fit and for no one else but yourself. To keep YOU around as long as possible to share in the world and let the world share the beauty and wonder of YOU!

Fat can be lost. It can be melted away. Your body can heal and transform itself. Do it slow, nice n easy. It took you a long while to get to where you are, it will take alot of hard work and diligence and dedication to get back to where you could be and want to be. Don't go the way of the fad diet or this pill or that prepackaged food...you know that won't last. This calls for a lifestyle change. Not a diet.
And why go slow? It lets your skin slowly pull back and tighten up naturally. If you go too fast, I am here to tell you, you will end up with lots of skin hanging. So go slow. Build muscle to replace the fat and let the muscles burn away that surrounding fat. They will. :) Just keep at it. Dedicate yourself.
Treat yourself to this. You deserve a Beachbody too!

If you make it a lifestyle change, it means it will stay gone. :) A permanent change in your eating habits and always exercise. Don't see any of it as a quick fix and think you can go back to whatever. No, this is a lifetime choice and tho' you may not feel the energy now, you will once you start. It's odd how it happens but it does. You actually GET energy from working out. You get stronger, more fit and healthy.

And you know what? You can breathe better! Fuller! Proof of that is that I am on allergy immune therapy where I take drops 3x a day M-F for allergies and about every 8 weeks I go into the allergy clinic to get new drops and they usually do a breathing test on me. This last time the technician Linda, told me that she could tell I had been working out. Why? My lung capacity and strength was greater!!

Now...THAT'S AMAZING!!

Totally wild!

And yes...it can happen for you too! I'll go into some of the things for Beachbody and the benefits of membership and all that jazz but its best if you take a peek at the site. :) I found out more things last night that I was not utilizing and I could have been. So many are there to help urge you on to success, they all want you to succeed! To feel happier about yourself! :)
Share the joy and energy and excitement!

You can do it!

If you ever need help or want advice, write to me. Anytime. :) I've been thru alot and love to help and share with you!!

Ok so enough of me bubbling on :) I am off to shower and start my day!! :)
Treat yourself as you would your best friend today!! Do something nice for you!
You deserve it!

I'm Melting!!!

WOW! All I can say is WOW!

190.5!! I am so excited!! To actually see this number after so long being stuck in the higher 190s. I can tell things are moving again inside me as the diligence and continued eating as healthy as I can is paying off!
I am surprised actually too because I didn't think I could really look at the scale much as I have my period and you know how it makes you hold water and blah blah blah...

But no!!

I am excited that I will be able to see the 180s before Faire!! Dare I to hope that I will see 185 before then? Before April 7th? I know with alot of hard work, I might just get close to it! After all, this is only the 14th of March! I have time!

I have to workout yet this morning, just baskin in that glory and taking a few to see if my body would kick in so I could workout. So while I am waiting, I went ahead and had breakfast and I'll go do my Sculpt 3-4 here in a lil bit! I won't stop! I was writing to my coach this morning and telling her that not only is it usually injury or illness that has stopped me from continuing on with the exercising and losing weight/getting fit, but its also been the victories if that makes any sense? To explain that, I'll achieve a big goal and then take time off to celebrate or enjoy that victory that I end up stepping aside from what got me there. Stupid I know. But just look at my history here, it shows it. Sometimes, it is just the completion of a program and then I take the break only to go hmmm now what? Or I go on a trip and then that is that. I gain weight back from not eating the same way I was at home and of course not exercising and bingo-bammo, the weight comes crawling back on! Then it becomes harder and harder to get it off. Harder and harder to find the motivation to get it off and start again.

How many starts? How many do I need to really understand and realize and ACCEPT that I can't go back to old habits. That this is my life. I have to continue to care for it and like Jack Lalane said, about putting the right kind of foods/fuel into my body. I can't simply stop and think I am ok for the rest of my life. No. I can't just go back to old habits. This is not a temporary fix, it's a lifetime experience, every day. It also is a huge push to get my behind out there too and be more active. To do more things.
I am so looking forward to being out on the beach and swimming in the ocean again.
I don't want to feel like I look like a beached whale. I know I am not that big, but I feel like it when I see myself in my pics. I know I don't want to be skinny, I just want to be more tone and shapely and not with this thickness around my middle. I want a waist back and to define the curves again.

I know too that I should not be caught up in the scale. It's hard tho'. It's an easy encouragement although it's also an easy discouragement when what would really should be and truly is, the better guide is the measurements. They do prove and say alot too. It's just grand for me to see the big number go down. Eventually, I'll get to a point where it evens out as I hit my end goal, many months from now. :) That's an exciting thing to think about too. Hitting that goal! Heck, to be in the 180s is exciting as is and I can't imagine the 170s much less 150s??

Well weight, poundage aside, to be in my 16 jeans without them being tight at all would be grand! And oh to be in 14s again...wow!! I'd love that! I'd be happy right there. I just saw the other day the stacks of pants up on my top closet shelf, all waiting for me. I can hear them calling me, Wandaaaaaaa....Wanddaaaaaa we are waiting for you!! LOL Lose weight Wandaaaaa!! Trim up!! Get fit....and it will be like having all new clothes and pants again....

:) Gotta love it!!

Well as soon as I get paid, I'll sign up to be a Beachbody Coach!! Perhaps, I may be able to give back to those who have stood by me and those out there who just need some encouragement and a cheering section! Cause I know, if Ms. Flip-Flop me can do this, so can YOU!!!

The Mooncup--Does it work?

What is the Mooncup you may ask? I am excited to tell you about this!
But for those who might get a bit whoozy from blood, pass up this post! This is more so for women and although I know this is a weight loss blog, it's also about some of the trials and tribulations a woman goes thru as well because it is tied into how much we do struggle with weight loss and some of the obstacles we face in trying to lose weight.
That's why I am tying this together. :)

For many years now, I have suffered with what is known as perimenopause. It's the transitional phase before menopause! Wonderful! How crazy, I know! But I've been going thru this since I was in my 30s, for over 10 years now! The list is long and I won't go into that right now but save it for another time.
But anyway, one of the major things is that a woman's period, her menstrual cycle gets weird at various times in her life, especially during perimenopause. My own has been so bad that I have gone to the ER in fear I was having a miscarriage or something without realizing I was pregnant? But no, I wasn't pregnant, it was just a bad period. I had never passed clots before and it was downright scary as I had not ever experienced such a heavy flow before. What to do? The doc at the time told me the best thing I could do is lay down and take it easy. So whenever I experienced a bad period like that, I would do just that, lay down and take it easy.
So if I was in the middle of a workout routine, I layed down and took days off, which of course could easily lead to a full week. :(

Well that was annoying to say the least. Not only that but as I have gotten older, especially the past few years, it has gotten worse.

When I was younger, I remember my mother telling me to not ever use a tampon as they could cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. Lovely! I was using the very tampon at the time that was known for it. Rely. Wonderful! Just great! So I always kept that in mind to not use tampons and I used mostly pads ever since. Now and again, I would use a tampon, knowing that they have gotten better and you just never ever leave them inside you for any extended time, but change them often. So I only used them when I wanted to go swimming mostly. The last few years when I tried them, they seemed to scratch my inner walls. A friend of mine told me I should just get a hysterectomy and be done with it if they are so bad but I know having surgery is not always a good idea and it's a bit drastic to me not to mention I do not want my stomach carved up some more, much less pieces and parts of me removed unless they are a danger to my life. I especially do not want my ovaries touched or messed with either!

So what to do? Pads are just a pain and not to mention all the landfills they, like diapers are filling it up! They are convenient yes and very easy but at the same time, feel just ick and bulky and you can have spillage and they shift and all this that and the other. My favorite pads to use are the Always brand. They have been my favorite since they came out. But even with them, there is the odor and the mess and just ick!

Now as you may know if you have been following me, I have been happily working out for so long now with Power90 and the thought of "what if I have a bad period and have to stop", just made me cringe. I so did not want to stop!! I don't want to rest, I don't want to stop this momentum that I have going, this great motivation that gets my butt up every morning just after 5 to get ready to work out!
No way I wanted to stop! But, I did get my period last month and yes, the cramps came on too. Grrr! So I came online to look to see how bad it might be if I tried to push thru the pain and heaviness of the flow and worked out anyway? I was bound and determined to workout, even if I had to wear a tampon and a pad to do it! Well as I was looking around, I saw that many women don't even exercise until they DO have their period! Many talked of how it can shorten the time you go thru it and it can lessen the flow. Wow!  They talked of how it can help to reduce pain as well if you are suffering with cramps. I could see that, with you warming up and stretching your muscles and relaxing them, the pain might ease! So, I would wait til the afternoon or evening when it felt the flow slowed some and I went right on up and worked out. Pushing myself to do it right through the period. Period or no, I was going to workout! I took some advil and eventually took motrin and made it thru! I actually did it and only had to wear a pad, no tampon!! And yes, my period seemed to be less too for having done it! I was thrilled!!

Now, this may not work for you, your results may differ, we are all different and it may have worked for me last month but will it this month? I don't know. I just got it again today...but this time...this time I have something new!

The Mooncup!
While exploring last month while on my period, I saw something that caught my eye that I had not ever heard of before. A Mooncup. A what? Just what is a Mooncup??

Take a look!

About the Mooncup

I looked over the entire site and read all the info I could on it!! Now this was exciting! No more tampons? No more pads?!! WOW!

Ok now at first, yes, I got the icky face at the thought of emptying it, but you know what? I was like well it really isn't much different than changing a pad or looking back into the toilet to see what it looks like. We all do it. We have to. So what difference then if we are rolling up a pad or emptying a cup? Plus we always wash our hands anyway, soooo who cares how messy it is!

Ok so there are two sizes, I wasn't sure which one to get, yes I have had a baby but I am small tho' regardless. I wasn't sure so I ordered the one for those older women who have had a baby (size A) and I thought if it was too big, I'd just order the smaller one then. I noticed they are sold more so in the UK but you can get them here in the US. Don't they always have neat stuff?! Now, I also noticed they can be made out of two different types of material, latex and silicone. I stayed away from the latex as you just never know if that part of you may have an allergic reaction and ladies, am I right or not that well, we want to be safe than sorry when it comes to that area!!
So I got the silicone, the kind that is used in the medical field. Well I like that part too! Ok so it came last month but my period had ended by then. So I held onto it, figuring I would get to use it this month.

Today, was my first day. I tried the Mooncup. Cleaned it first and then inserted it. It felt a bit funny but as it warmed up to my body, they are right, you don't feel it much. I feel the stem more so than anything else and only because I have not trimmed it yet. I wanted to be sure I could get it out! LOL I know that was a concern for other women. But, I was able to remove it. It took a lil doing and I had to remember to break the suction seal it makes and then I could ease it out. And you know what? No mess! It's smaller than I thought and holds more than you think too!

I expected it to be bloody and yucky on the outside but no, it was clean. Wow! And as I thought about it, I was like well yes, no wonder it is because the blood drips into the cup so it is not on the walls, not in your pubic hair either if you don't shave there and like the natural look. So there is no mess. It's all in the cup! How unique and wild! I emptied it out and then rinsed it and was able to reinsert it again. I got lucky and inserted it right the first time, the 2nd and now the 3rd time! It does take some doing to get it just right but they give you great instructions both on the site and in a lil folded instruction sheet that it comes with. I love it!  It will take some getting used to and before I trim the stem, I will wait til I have it down to easily retrieve it and not worry of it being stuck. I also wore a pad too just to be sure in case the Mooncup leaked but it hasn't! Not a single drop! I was like wow!

How impressive!!

I kept thinking of how wild that will be to not buy pads anymore??

Just simply amazing! Green/Eco friendly and you can use it again and again and just wash it out. Keep it in the nice lil drawstring bag it comes in and that is that. No muss, no fuss, no bulky panties or pants, no sound of the crinkle-crinkle of pads, no yucky string that sticks to you, none of that. Safe and clean and better all the way around!! Gotta love it!

I know I still have to fool with it and learn it better but all in all, for my first day, I just love it!

I got it on Amazon for those who are interested. It's the cheapest there, The Moon Cup by GladRags. If you have Amazon Prime like I do, you can even get it shipped to you for free! It was only $22.69 and so well worth the money!

Tomorrow will be a good, true test for it as I will be working out first thing in the morning!! :)

So we'll see how it goes!! Til then, take a peek and give it a try! :) I highly recommend it!

10/10 Gone! Plus One!

Not only did I lose 10 lbs, but 10 inches as well as of yesterday! I did not count how many inches I have gained in my arms which tells me I have gained muscle! :)
I am so excited!

This morning, I am down a total of 11 lbs! It's so exciting to see that it is happening! I am losing weight and inches! I am getting fit!

I can't begin to talk of how exciting this is, how thrilling to know that I am not stuck here at this weight or fat. That it is melting away with alot of hard work and healthy choices in my food. It is amazing to me that finally, after all this time, I am actually going to be fit. That in time, not tomorrow, nor next week not next month, but in time, I will be able to look at myself in the mirror and not see the fat girl. The thick plumper or whatever you want to call it. Just plain ol fat! That my hips won't hurt anymore and my back won't hurt and maybe, just maybe my feet will feel better too! That I can be proud of the hard work I am doing and about to do and that it will help me to make me feel better, stronger and more energetic and alive! I won't hide myself away in the summertime, too embarassed to go to the pool with those ripples of fat hanging off me both in front and in the back. Oh to be finally rid of those, what I call, back boobies! I haven't seen them in some time, thankfully, they are one of the first things to go and each time I do the lifting of weights and feel my shoulder blades draw back, I feel like they are carving out the fat and melting them away!

I did decide to for sure be a coach for Beachbody. I found a great coach online at youtube where she did a great vid about her own transformation, starting out where I am and was, and having more to lose. She did the same program, Power90 and wow! She really had some great results!! So I decided to join under her. I'll be doing so later this week once I know all is set and ready to go.

I know I do have a way to go yet before I can lose my middle thickness but as a coach, once I am, if you read this and think hmmm if Wanda can do this, can I, please contact me! I'd love to motivate you as well and lose this weight together! I am having a blast and I am going to keep going until I am healthy and fit!!

So started my week 7! Like I've said before...something is so very different now. I know that I am going to go all the way. Nothing stopping me this time, no more excuses and I know alot of that was not just excuses but there were alot of obstacles too but they all seem to be fading away and I feel like I am on the precipice of a new opportunity, a new turn and phase in my life and I have to say, it just feels sooooo grand!! I am soaring!!

One of those Mornings...

Where I did not even feel like getting up! I longed to just lay down and sleep some more but yet, I woke up naturally around 5 am. My body was sweating and I felt hot. I could tell I was probably having a night sweat or reacting to the food I had last night. Not sure if it was the pasta that I just had for the first time in a long while or the Weight Watcher's fudge-sickle? I normally don't have those and I have gotten away from pasta so much too.
So hard to tell just what set things off in my body. Tonight, I'll probably just steam some grilled chicken and broccoli, maybe sprinkle some crispy shredded carrots on top and applesauce and have that for dinner. Something good.

Just finished the Tropical/Strawberry Shakeology this morning, 2nd day for that flavor. I am mixing it with vanilla almond milk and had to toss in some ice cubes and ground them up in the mixer. It reminds me of Nestle Quik Strawberry drink mix. I am half and half on it. I don't like it as much as I like the chocolate Shakeology. I know it is better for you however. I am going to see if I can get some real strawberries and plunk them in as well or just see about other recipes for it. It needs something tho' it seems like to me. Still, I drink it on down with a nice big ol straw made for smoothies and it goes fast.

I was very proud of myself for being able to squeeze out 200 crunches! OW OW OW! But I did it!! I am still holding at 192 but I am so glad to see that number so close to slipping out of the 190s!! It will be grand to be back in the 180s again! Will I make it before Faire? I don't know. The weight loss has slowed down a bit now and that is probably a good thing. It is going to take a lot of hard work however but I know it has taken me a long time to get at this weight and to be bouncin around like I have been. So it will take time for me to get out of it.

I hope to at least see 180 something or other by Faire and I think that's doable and possible to attain. Ideally, it is to hit 185 by then. I will be immensely happy! I am also hoping that with the added walking around at Faire, that I may be able to lose a bit more. Of course come April, if I am feeling like my body is getting used to the 3-4, I'll probably go ahead and sneak in some Shakeology workouts 3x a week and maybe some Sweatin to the Oldies or Bellydance inbetween.

I did notice yesterday that my arms look bigger! I looked and was like wow...I can see biceps forming! I will have to be careful there too and not go up in weight lifting as I don't want to bulk up there, tho' I know the pushups will build it too.

It's one of those overcast kinda sleepy days here, but I am glad I pushed thru that and got past the feeling of just wanting to relax and all. Thoughts of putting off the workout til later on this afternoon or evening went thru my mind and yet, I quickly squashed that because I knew I would not want to do that by then. It was best to do it now and get it over with. So I got up and put in the dvd and once I do that, that's it, I know I have to work out then, no choice if it is on. So I mentally prepared myself and talked myself thru it. It's only 40 some minutes...and 3 of it is stretching in the beginning and then there I am stretching and that feels so good! Poweryoga next...oh yea, I can do that. Then the knee ups...this isn't so bad. Tho' my hips are hurting from the leg lifting so much, I pushed thru it all and was so glad for the break to get a drink of water. I remembered to turn the fan on too so that helped me to not sweat so badly. Still tho', I know I worked hard as those crunches were difficult to push myself to do but I did! Stretching is always the best!
I can feel my body is a bit sore and I feel a bit sleepy too but doing ok and feelin good that I got myself thru it! :)

Tomorrow is the last day for the Sculpt 3-4 for the week, week #6! Then Saturday is the last for the Sweat 3-4 for week 6!! Then starts week 7 on Monday!! Just amazing! I know I am going to finish this now. I am on a roll and nothing is going to stop me at this point! Just so long as I have no injury, I'll be good to go!!

I am thinking of being a coach. It's been sounding enticing, esp before I go and purchase another program like P90X. I know I have an aversion to them in a way because I don't want to be bugged or to have someone be mean like that one guy who wrote me. I know they are not all like that tho'. So we'll see how it goes. I almost feel like I need to be in shape however before I could be a coach? Maybe not..maybe I could inspire others to workout with me and lose weight with me!! :)

Well time to get some work done!! Enjoy your day!

Gone, gone, gone!!

192! Can you believe it? FLAT! I was like wow this morning!!
Just amazing!

This is almost a week of the blue disk, the 3-4 of Power90 and wow! Simply amazing! I could actually see the sweat dripping down my shins while I worked out! I was really sweating head to toe and got the mat all wet and glistening from my body sweat! I left it out so later I can go back and wipe it down with a baby wipe. I don't think I've ever seen it like that or myself for that matter!! To feel that sweat just pouring off me! I didn't have the fan on either and I keep forgetting to turn it on. It does help to cool me down some here or there.

So that means 10 lbs are gone since I started this whole thing! I can't wait to take the measurements on Sunday to see how many more inches are gone too!! It really does make all of the hard work so well worth it.

My son gained half a pound tho', but he confessed to eating a whole bowl of ice cream last night. YIKES! Plus syrup. Oops! Bad! He was a bit upset about it but I told him it was ok to have ice cream, just not so much and not all the time. To save that for a special time and then you only have a lil bit but it was no wonder he gained too cause he put pure fat into his body! YIKES!
It was a good lesson to learn tho'. I told him now he knows and now he can fix that and adjust his eating and he won't be having ice cream tonight! I know he has gained muscle too as I noticed his arms are getting bigger with muscles and once he takes measurements this weekend, I think he will feel a bit better about things. He has really done well tho' in keeping up with the workouts now for a couple weeks.
It is never easy to start a new habit and one that works your body so hard. Trick is, not to get discouraged and to see the positives and when you fall or make a mistake whether in eating or missing a day, you learn from it. It's never too late to start or to fix the mistake! :)
I know alot of people get so discouraged at the start and give up before ever really making a dent or starting even. And it's hard. I won't lie. It really is hard to change your habits. But you have to make a concerted effort and make a decision about the kind of life and body and spirit for that matter that you want. It took a while to get to the point that you are at, so it will take a while to get out of it again and the older you get, the harder it can be so best to not put it off or wait and NEVER SETTLE! Don't just accept the status quo! Believe that yes, you CAN make a difference in your body and you will! :)

I know the Power90 and certainly the P90X workouts at Beachbody are really hard and many people just can't do them. And you know what? That's ok. It really is. You have to start off slow and if that means just getting up and walking, then get up and walk. Enjoy the gorgeous weather outside! Take a nice walk along the beach or in the woods or just around the block. Ready to dance? Then maybe start with Richard Simmons' Sweatin to the Oldies! He's fun, energetic and just an absolute goof ball that you can laugh and dance and sweat off that fat to! :) A pure joy! Get your body up and going and moving. Once you do and get to a certain point, try a Beachbody program. Look them over and see what one might be the one you'd like.
While you are just starting out too, take a long look at what you are eating. That is a huge factor into your health, what are you putting into your body. Remember Jack Lalane and what he used to say about that? What kind of fuel are you putting into your body?

I'd recommend Shakeology for those who are starting out or want to be sure you are getting all the right things for your body. It will help to balance out your system as I can attest with not having a gall bladder. They have some great recipes that don't cost you an arm and a leg. The shakes themselves come in a powder you add Almond milk or ice water or other things to and they say the pouches last 30 days tho' mine lasts longer. It's $119 a month after shipping and all that jazz for the chocolate. The new Strawberry/Tropical is ten dollars more as it's Vegan and suppose to be better for you. I'll let you know how it is when I get my first pouch of it soon!

The best thing however is learning portion control and the types of choices you are making for your food. That's so important. Insert regular exercise and you have the ingredients for weight loss and a more fit and healthier and happier you! :)

So now my goal is to lose 5-10 more pounds before the start of Faire. I have a full month before Faire begins so we'll see how well I do! Stay with me! Start your workout now if you haven't and lose weight with me!! :)
It's so exciting and fun to see those numbers go down! YOU CAN DO IT!! If I can, the big Sweet Tooth Lady, you can lose too! :)


I knew I had started to plateau the past week, that and my own food choices were not the greatest too as I was eating m&ms all week, the almond and coconut ones. So when I went to the commissary this past Sunday, I did of course torture myself by going thru the Easter candy aisle BUT! I did NOT pick up any bags at all. None of it. I thought about it all but was like...no. I don't want anymore of it. I did pick up a bag of Life Savers, the regular ones but I have not felt the need to open them up. So they are just sitting on my desk and I am good. Don't need them at this point. And that's what is so nice too when you start to see things moving and losing, you feel so encouraged and excited and you just want to keep going and going!

I did go out last night to go lookin for 6 lb weights but only found 7s and 5s and 8s, no 6s!! Grrr! I'll have to look further out to Target or maybe another sports store.
At this point, I'll be jumpin to the 8s by the time I find the 6s!

Ok well enough rambling and gushin on this morning! :) Time to get to work!
Enjoy the day wherever you are!

Bring It!

This is my 3rd day of the 3-4 circuit of Power90! 2nd time for Sculpt 3-4. I thought I was gonna die the first time I did it, tho' I did modify where I had to so I could get thru it but, I DID IT!!
This time, I remembered to turn the fan on as well as the a/c! So it was alot better while doing it first thing this morning.

I couldn't believe I had gone up to use the blue disk upstairs where I normally work out and then the blue disk wouldn't come up on the dvd player! I about freaked after all that preparation, I really did not want to go back to the yellow one! I HAD to move to the blue!! I was ready for it! So I took the cd and tried cleaning it some but still no go after 3 tries. So I was like ok, on a whim, let's try it downstairs and so I went to my room and put it into the dvd player and WHA-LA! I got it to work! Granted, Tony doesn't fill my screen, the picture is kinda squished, but I didn't care, it worked!! So I just dealt with a squished Tony Horton and worked out!

The Sculpt 3-4 was much harder and quite a challenge! I look forward to getting stronger with it. It is about 9-10 minuters longer and more reps to nearly everything and an extra round of other blasting exercises! I loved it, tho' afterwards, I surely did feel it in my butt! OW OW OW! But oh so good!

Then the next day, yesterday, was Sweat 3-4. Wow! They were not kidding when they called it Sweat! I was sweating from head to toe! By the time I finished this one, my feet were going OW OW OW! So I promised myself a nice hot bubbly tub bath and soak and stretch while in there for my feet. So I did just that last night and dropped some stress reliever fizzie balls into the tub and then towards the end, I added a lil passion bubbling foam stuff to make my skin silky smooth. I was sweating a great deal as I emerged from the tub however, but I felt refreshed and my feet were tons better. I also had taken 2 Advil while I was at it earlier with dinner.

So today, back to Sculpt 3-4 and I did it right away as I got up after waiting 15 minus to wake up and I felt tons better! I just showered earlier and relaxing now. It's great to know that I am done for the day!! I do feel like going out and doing something else later today and may go to the grocery but I feel much more relaxed and proud of myself for getting thru these workouts like I have thus far!!

I can definitely tell I will be having a nice challenge over the next two months. I am looking forward to it too as I can already feel that I am getting so much stronger and feeling lighter!

I got my son off on a schedule too with me so we can do this together and a friend of mine too has ordered Power90 and we'll be off as well, taking the both of them along with me!! Rocky, you'd be proud!!

I do have to say however...I was looking at before and after pics of the many success stories and some of them....well a lady went from size 18 to 6 and I was like whoa....I know she feels tons better and lighter but....I just don't want to get that thin. I want to keep my curves. I am probably between a 16 and 18, closer to 16 but I will be happy around a 12-14. I don't want to go down under that. 152 will be just fine for me. I want to keep my nice curves. I want my hips and breasts! Just a lil more firm and I would like the middle section trimmed and slimmed some, get rid of the thickening and that's it. I do carry my weight differently than many people. My calves and feet are fine, my arms are not bad at all. My thighs are a lil heavy but not too bad either. All of my weight and fat is mostly carried in the middle area--stomach, butt, and lower chest.

I know however that we can't really pick and choose where the fat will leave us from although I figure if that's where mine is at....you'd think that's what would go!? And from what the measurements are telling me, it is leaving from those places!!

So I am very excited! To know that I am actually going to get thru this program! I will see it to the end and complete it!! WOW!
I will definitely have to reward myself with something nice to wear. Maybe at the Faire :)

Made it Through!

Oh yessss!! It's happening alright!
To date, I have lost 8 1/2 lbs and 10 1/2 inches all over! Wow just amazing!! I am so excited!
That completes my week 4 and today is rest day! I sure do need it as I can feel my muscles are sore from yesterday and the day before as I had increased the weight a bit. I am going to pick up 6 lb weights here soon as the 8s seem to be a bit too heavy right now to jump there from 5s.

It's so exciting tho'!! I am doing it!! It's happening! I'm getting more fit and healthier! YAY!!

I think I love and now prefer to take measurements every 2 weeks to see the numbers fall like that. Gives me a better average. :)

For now, breakfast and yes, that's right, NO PANCAKES! They are making pancakes and asked me what kind do I want and I said....NONE! Hahahaha!

NO WAY!

I think I will go see about some breakfast now and just be so damn happy about this weight loss and even more importantly, the inches lost!! :)

And more than that, just how I feel!!!

Richard Simmons --Love Yourself and Win

I wanted to write a review of sorts about this video.
Richard Simmons
Love Yourself and Win
Six Steps to Self-Esteem & Permanent Weight Loss

I was over at Time Life website looking for a music collection I had seen on tv when I looked at their clearance section and there was this dvd. I thought it was a cd. It was on sale for just $5.99 and I was like wow! I love Richard Simmons! He's such a kooky guy but what a heart of gold that man has! I've watched him since the 80s or so and have always been impressed with his true caring he has for people who are struggling with weight. I also admire him greatly for all the wonderful work he has done in this field.

I know he gets teased alot, but I read somewhere that he buys a 2nd plane ticket when he travels so that if anyone needed an extra seat or to come talk to him, they could. I don't know if he does that anymore but I thought that was just so sweet! Each time I see him start to cry or get emotional on shows or such, it just touches my heart.

What is funny is that I ordered this dvd, thinking it was a cd and when I got it, realized it was a dvd. It felt familiar to me but I could not remember it. So I put it into my computer and pushed play and began to watch it. I was like wow...I've seen this before! I realized then I must have a copy of this somewhere in the house! It made me smile and tear up again to watch it tho' and wow to see all those people and the results they had on his programs! Just amazing!

He's right too, you know. You have to love yourself. I won't give away all that is in the short video, but it is well worth the $5.99 I paid for it, again! I knew the reason I probably got it a second time, not just cause I forgot or thought this was something new of his I might have missed, but more than likely, it was cause I needed to give this to someone who really needs to hear his words, his message. They need to love themselves. To accept themselves on the inside so that they can start to take better care of who they are on the inside.

Aye, I am with you Richard.

I know, I needed to hear this too, again. It was probably more so the reason why I got it. Something inside me needed to hear those words. To hear the pat on your back and feel it, feel the sting in my eyes as I watched Richard tear up again. To know, that it's ok and that yes, Wanda, you are doing so well and doing the best that you can and it's ok. More than ok, it's fantastic!

So thank you, Richard, thank you for being you and putting yourself out there to the world like you do and making such a huge difference in so many people's lives. Your energy and drive are catchy and contagious and I love it and you darlin'! You are amazing!

YES!!! Back down again!

Ok now this was very cool! During my cycle, I was bad and had succumbed to those dark chocolate covered pretzels from Godiva. OMG! They are like the best I've ever had! Definitely my weakness. I had the can sitting out there and was having just one a day, maybe two...then two led to three....etc etc. Then finally during my cycle, I had more.
Of course going to that mexican restaurant with my daughter and even tho' I only had half of one of their small chicken quesadillas, I also had chips and yet just a bite of the chocolate molten cake and had more so the one sliced strawberry. Lots of unsweetened tea.

Well, I weighed myself and it was back to 196.5. :( Bad! But I also knew some of that might very well be the water retention that can sometimes happen with a woman's menstrual cycle. So yesterday, of course the goodies were gone and the day before as well as yesterday, I got back on track and wha-la! This morning is back to 194 flat!
Of course the cycle was over too which was amazin in of itself! As bad as it was, I was expecting it to last a good solid week or so like the last time but I am not sure if it was just cause I pushed thru the pain, taking good ol Advil and then finally took some ibuprofen which knocked out the pain very well and I went upstairs in the evenings to work out. I was determined that THIS TIME, I would not stop working out, short of an injury, I was going to get thru a cycle without having to stop.
What was wild was that it slowed down and then stopped. I was just amazed! I had gone on the internet to see if it was safe for me to do so, I know the internet of all things! But I read about other women who worked out during their period and some even didn't work out until they had their period! I just laughed at that. But many spoke of how it helped cramps and if you workout too hard even that it can stop your period or how many athletes don't get them much because they are always working out?
WOW!

So I thought ok, we are going to give this a try and it seemed like it worked! I was feeling fine other than the lower half of me just ick, but after taking the ibuprofen which I also read would help a lot too, I went on up there and pushed play each day! I am so proud of myself that I did that! I made it thru too! Yesterday, I was just so amazed and feeling so great! Today, I feel even better and to have seen that number like that! Right back to it! I don't mind maintaining at all, but wow! That was just incredible!

When I saw that it looked like I had gained 2.5 lbs, I was like damn! But I was resolving and telling myself, well, you know what Wanda? You lost that amount before, you can do it again, just keep on track! Plus, I know that the blue disk, the Sweat & Sculpt 3-4 is coming up in a few days and I know and have faith that that will really start to kick in my system to losing more fat! It's longer and harder and will be a great challenge for me over the next two months. I know months sound like that is a long time, but it's just 8 weeks. I can do that. It's not all that long! Faire will be here in just 4 weeks or so of that, so it's around the corner! Already,  I have finished 4 weeks as of today! I have to go upstairs yet and do the workout for today, but almost ready to do that, just waiting on my breakfast to digest a bit more. I had a chocolate Shakeology this morning and with water as I know I am about out of Vanilla Almond Milk.

So that's where I am right now! I know I will probably see 193.5 tomorrow morning when I go to take weight and measurements. I just have to be on track today and so far, so good! How exciting!
I'll be picking up some broccoli to steam for my salmon tonight and lunch will probably be a nice chicken caesar salad. I need to pick up some more apples too for the week.

I really can't begin to explain or describe the feeling I am feeling these past few days! A lightness inside me. It's almost as if a burden is lifted from your shoulders or like a weight has been removed from your heart or chest. It's just wild!

But I am going down baby! Yessiree bob I am!! YAY!

I was looking at the Insanity promo video yesterday and just amazed at all those washboard abs the men were getting! Just floored with how great their results were! And then I looked at P90X too. But wow...400 lb men going down to 6 packs?! That's just amazing!
Now there is no way I want to get any muscle definition like that. As a woman, I just want to be supple and my curves defined and to whittle away the thickening middle that happens to all middle aged women or threatens to happen to most of us anyway. I want a waist. I want my curves! I just don't want 'wide load' signs plastered on me, I just want to look good! And even more importantly? To FEEL good! Feel good about myself. I do for the most part, I just want my body to catch up to what my heart and soul feels! :)

With dedication and determination...I know I can do it! I am already on my way!