Vocabulary

I am pretty sure most of you readers know by now that I am a mom. What I am not sure of is if you all know I am a mom of two little (but very observant) girls. I also have one very cool (and total gift from God - another story that deserves its own blog at another time) son. Right now, let's focus on my girls. They are 5 and 3 years old. They love going to the gym with me. We call it "zumba" because that's what I went for all the time when I began my weight loss journey.

My 5 year old has been coming to the gym with me since she was about 6 months of age. She is very familiar with the employees, the equipment and how to navigate the area to get to the children's area. Now that I am home working out and going to the gym and openly talking about my journey with a lot of people, she has also picked up on some jargon.

Just as I have become more acutely aware of how big I had allowed myself to be, she also became aware of that. I was using words like "skinny" or "fat" instead of fit and healthy. Since I was so concerned with my weight, she was concerned with my weight - worse though, she was concerned with her own weight. She started asking if she was skinny or fat. My daughter also began looking at other kids as skinny or fat. I was very worried! (Still am a little bit)

I need my daughters to know that no matter how big or little they will ever be, their attitude is what makes you beautiful and that you should only worry about your weight to be healthy. Being 80 lbs over weight isn't what makes me unattractive - being a smart mouth and having a short temper makes me unattractive. (That's right people, those are two of my biggest flaws!) Being 80 lbs is what makes me unhealthy. My body is not meant to carry that. My Heart was not build to have to work harder to pump blood through all that fat and all that tissue. My lungs shouldn't have to breathe harder and my joints were not meant to hold up all that weight. That is what makes it unhealthy - not ugly.

So as I started to see what my little 5 year old was seeing, I started to change my way of thinking inside and to verbalize what really mattered, being fit. Now when we go to the gym, when my 3 year old says, "Mom, why are we going to zumba?" I do not reply with "Because I want to be skinny" I reply with "Because I want to get fit and healthy."

I don't ever want my daughters to feel like they have to be a weight or size to be pretty. I want them to KNOW its important for them to be fit and healthy because that is what is important. I want them to want to be active and not sit on the sidelines and an unhealthy body cannot do that. Furthering this a little bit down the road - I am making a lifestyle change and as my son begins to realize what is going on, I want him to value a girl who she is, not her size. A girl who is fit - healthy and active.

I know I will never be a size 2. I am okay with that. I have wider hips, a round butt and I like my curvy thighs - my husband likes them too! I just want a toned and healthier version of this. :) It is all about perspective - from your eyes and from your children's eyes. So for all of you who are in a child's life and who are on their own weight loss journey to a newer, more fit you - I encourage you to change your vocabulary like I am. It will trigger a new mindset for you  as well. I changed from wanting a size to a weight to just hitting goals that will SHOW me I am getting HEALTHIER.

New Goals

At the beginning of my challenge, I posted some goals I wanted to meet. So I thought I would update since its been 2 weeks.

Goals I met:
- Signed up for 2 races (Race for the cure and Color Run)
- We have started gathering people to run the Ohio/Michigan Tough Mudder in June of 2013
- Started a downline with my new job as a Beachbody Coach
- I am down 4 lbs
- I track my food daily - being good at doing my Shakeology and staying within my calories
- Completed all my current and past Challenge Workouts


Some of these were not on my old goal post, but they are things I am proud of and habits I am anxious to keep! Just over 2 more weeks to go and I have a 10 lb goal. I could use all the encouragement I can get!





 I am so grateful to my husband because he is so good at pushing me to my limits and beyond. I truly could not do this without him. We have become so much closer. Before I would never share my weight or workout infront of him - now I dont like to do it unless he is there. We can laugh at ourselves and we enjoy our workout time together! I love it.

Here's to a happier healthier me (and you!)

-Kayla-

RANT

I try to be a positive person but there is really ONE thing that ticks me off about weight loss. So here it goes:

The cost of healthy food. I have a family of five on a single income that I have to provide for - much like everyone else. The cost of McDonald's food and junk in the grocery store is so CHEAP but to get out the door with enough fruit and veggies to last me a week and meat and dairy to last a while runs me about 200+ a trip! I have found a local produce market who sells ripe produce at a fraction of the cost - but if I am not careful, it goes bad very quickly. I still chose that one over a mega food store - just make multiple trips.

We wonder why there is an obesity epidemic - a lot of it has to do with choices - but what influences a purchase choice? Money. Everyone wants more bang for their buck and when it comes to food - cheaper = junk.

Why isn't there a sin tax on fast food or junk like there is alcohol and cigarettes? Just seems like it would be the right step in the right direction to encourage people to eat healthier!

------------------------------------

The solution?

My solution was to seek out (by recommendation of others or ads) smaller produce markets. They normally have better deals than the big grocery stores. I also have started shopping at my local ALDI store for the canned goods and boxed foods - which leaves me more money for meats and produce. I encourage you to do the same. My husband and I have also allowed more of our monthly budget to go towards food too.  See what works for you and keep moving!

One week weight!

So as promised ... my weight! 204lbs! Down THREE POUNDS! I will take it! My body will take it. Did you know that for every pound lost, you lose 4 pounds of pressure off your joints? That is insane! So I will keep this post short, but I will leave you with this, a pound is a pound - and in 7 days I lost three.

 A plan, some hard work and dedication - thats it! That means YOU can do it too!

Compliments

Today I have received a compliment from someone who didn't know I was working hard to lose weight and that was awesome. What a motivator to be told you LOOK different! That's the goal right? (Kinda) It's half the goal. The goal is to LOOK and FEEL good. To be HEALTHY inside and out. But none the less, it felt good to have an adda-girl without expecting it.

Its nice to see what hard work does! It makes things worth it and gives you that little bit of a push that you need to keep going when you just want to end a little sooner than you should end.

This week I am trying to push just a little harder. I am pushing to track my food better, to drink more water, use heavier weights and really focus on my form for ideal results.




I really am starting to think all this is, is mind over matter.
It is your mind thinking you can do more than or less than you can -
and if you believe it and follow it - that is what you will achieve. Its
all a mind set. So start thinking, YOU CAN DO IT!

When I signed up for my challenge and I decided to start working hard, an hour seemed so long, now I think an hour is nothing! I try to tell myself
"What is an hour of your day for a lifetime of memories 
you can have because you are tight and lean and healthy!"

The more you want to succeed the harder you will work! The harder
you work, the better results you will have and that will give you the
motivation to keep you going! (kinda like that book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie")
You can do it. I know this because I am doing it - a mom of three under 5 - who is about
80 lbs over weight! I am seeing it in myself and now I know other people see
it in me, because I just got my first non-prompted compliment!

Feel free to make your own MyFitnessPal food diary and join me (DearGym)
 on phase 2 of my journey- really tracking what I am eating. I would love the
accountability of your commentskeeping me in check! If you eat poorly and
workout, you wont see huge changes. It just wont happen. I'd love you have
you join me on my journey and work along side you as you begin yours!

-Kayla-

Day 8 (start of week 2)

Weight - I forgot to weigh myself BEFORE I worked out - I will update tomorrow (sorry!)
Workout today : Ab Jam - Chalean Extreme Burn Circuit 1 / Dance Party - 1 mile walk at local gym

My next official weigh in is on Friday. Kinda nervous - whenever I work out, I never show great weight loss quickly. My only comfort is I KNOW I am putting in the time and effort way more than I was before so I should see something, right?

As promised, here are my new pictures. I will put the other ones up here too just so we can compare.

There is a slight difference

Notice the saggy arm skin - at least its smaller, right?
There is a slightly smaller pooch and gut -
better results come next week!

So there you have it! Hard work is paying off! Tracking calories IS paying off. I can do this!

-Kayla-

Bring on WEEK 2

I feel like its been forever since I blogged last! (when really it has only been two days) - I am on the start of week two for my challenge. I am experiencing so weird heel pain (plantar f!@#$%^&*()_  or maybe heel spurs? I don't know how to spell that f word that follows plantar) and I have had to take the weekend really easy - only doing my challenge workouts! It is hard to feel like you are limited! I know maybe some of you are feeling kind of the same way - weight is holding you back or some kind of disability - but a little bit is better than nothing at all!

So tonight, I will have John take pictures of me so you can see my one week progress - not thinking you will see very big changes, but the pictures are for me as much as for you! I like to see change and I know put the work in to make change!

So - here are a few things I have learned this past week -

1. In the past I did not work as hard as I thought I was. I have pushed myself to muscle failure multiple times this week - doing everything I could to not drop the weights I was holding in my hands. If I had worked out that hard and had the confidence that I do now (I CAN DO IT) I would be a lot further than I am now

2. I felt like my arms were level and working and they were not! I thought I was doing full range of motion and didn't get why my arms weren't getting as toned as I thought they should - people BUY a mirror and use it! You cannot correct what you cannot see! It makes a huge difference!

3. Having a workout buddy is a must! Without my sister or my husband doing this with me (along with a few other friends) I would have been burnt out and ready to give up! This is no joke- its hard work. No one likes to be doing something that's not always fun, alone! Get a partner and start walking - go for bike rides - do your own home workout - join a gym together and just the classes together (I think you work harder in a class anyhow) I don't know of anyone who says "I am happy being tired and unhealthy. No, I do not want to get fit! Especially if I have someone with me to be my accountability partner... nope."

4. Breakfast is essential. I like to workout in the morning - just starts my day right! I have been eating breakfast and when I don't I am so tired. I know I am not giving it my all and its because my body is used to and NEEDS that energy. (PS - Breakfast does NOT mean doughnuts or coffee cake)

5. Shakeology WORKS! I am full - I am content - I am energized - I am not craving sweets. It works.

6. Stop taking yourself so seriously. When I am serious, I am so focused on what I am doing and then I compare myself. When I do dance party, I let go and I don't care who looks at me funny. I am more willing to jump more willing to make bigger arm movements and get my heart pumping!

7. Keep making goals. Since doing the challenge I have signed up for three more 5k runs! I am excited because I know these are short term -REALISTIC- goals!

Bring it on Week Two - This girl is READY for some FAT GIRL SHRED!

-Kayla-

Day 5

Today was a real life day. Today I did not have the ability to just stay home all day and I did not make time to do my workout. Today I made a choice to hang out with friends and do a garage sale, clean my house, and then go out with my hubby. I decided to make time for my family, so Sunday - my normal day of scheduled rest, I will be completing Saturday's workout and going right into week 2. Today I allowed myself a few indulgences. I ate pizza had a hamburger and had a drink (cherry vodka with sprite) - and I am not upset about it. I went out with my husband and we laughed and laughed and laughed and we have not done that in a long time.

I am not upset because I know I will get right back to where I need to be because I WANT this - I want it bad. I know I can do this and I will not let one day determine tomorrow. I will still track my calories on www.myfitnesspal.com and I will still report to my fellow challengers how my day went.

I am posting this because I need to be honest about it - just like I want you to be honest about your journey. If you keep a food journal, you need to be honest about what you eat. You will change nothing - not your weight, not a bad habit, not a relationship if we pick and choose what we are honest about and what we choose to hide.

Whether you have big plans or lazy days, make choices and keep going. If you get off track, get back on. YOU can do this. If I can do this, you can do this and it has taken me a lot of years to realise things wont happen in an instant. Its a process and everything you do have to be maintained at such a  level this can last a lifetime! Have a great weekend!

-Kayla-

Day Four Part 2

Today I dud 2 workouts, both Turbo Jam. It feels good to say that I have completed everything I have been trying to accomplish.

Today I ate some yummy food - the kicker, it was all modified to be better for me! The biggest meal for me was dinner. I had sloppy joes - french fries and corn on the cob! The sloppy joes were cooked with sirloin so there was less fat, i only used half a bun but ate more meat - i baked the fries and added no salt to my meal. I had corn, but did not butter it and it was so sweet! One small paper plate filled and I was full!


Today during my home "challenge" workout, I was feeling some pain in my heal so I decided to take it low impact. John was watching me and made the comment, you are barely doing it. He was right, I had taken it so low impact I wasnt punching hard - my arms didnt hurt - my foot did. So just cause I wasnt jumping didnt mean my arms couldnt have been higher or stronger - so I pushed myself harder and ended it on a good note!

Where are some areas you arent trying hard enough? Could  you just apply part of you to that and see if you can work a little harder?

There are two more days left in this weeks challenge! Have a happy Thursday night!

-Kayla-

day 4 - part 1

The other day I had shared how I threw myself a pity party. After talking to a few trainers and friends, I need to share something new with you - celebrate your accomplishments! We are so upset about what we haven't lost or what we cannot do. It will come with time. Focus on the big picture. For me, I started out at 230 in August - the beginning of my weight loss journey. I am down 23 lbs. That is the size of my son. I cannot imagine carrying him around all day. Are you kidding me? Up and down stairs, doing laundry, standing doing dishes - or even on the elliptical or doing zumba. But I was - I lost the size of my 13 month old child! Its all about perspective and when I think about what I DID do, I am amazed at what I am capable of doing! Here are some other items you may have lost in your own weight loss journey.

I hope that I reach an "Irish Setter" or "the World's Largest Ball of Tape" - but to think that I have already lost an automobile tire or how much Americans consume in pizza - that's crazy to think that my HARD WORK did that - and you can too! It's not about a pill or a wrap or a fad - those things work but they are only temporary and I don't know about you, but I want to look good in 20 years from now too! So be happy about what you have accomplished and you and I can look forward and get more motivation from that. Being upset about what you haven't done only makes you want to give up and then we lose nothing, not even a dozen Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.

-Kayla-

day three

Here are just a few of my pre August pictures

Today was a good day. My husband is getting way to excited about his workouts (Maybe its what keeps him going) but he is just insane. Keeps the house interesting anyhow :) I had three good workouts. One at my local gym and then I did ChaLEAN Extreme burn circuit 2 and Turbo Jam's Ab Jam. I was dying and John was right there helping to push me - he even threatened to call my Challenge Coach! Really? (I wont tell him, but I would hate it if he wasnt there pushing me. I know he will be a big reason I will have made such a success in my challenge!)

 Over all good day. I am starting to feel more hungry more often - I think that is a good thing.

Today my daughter asked my why skinny girls work out when they are already skinny - made me feel like sad, like she totally knows I'm fat and my daughter has the fat mom :( John answered her for me. I don't want to be the fat mom.

So far its been easy fitting in my Challenge WORKOUTS in to my daily routine. I think its cause I really want this. I talked to John's aunt last night - shes on her own weight loss journey and she said it best - It just comes down to how bad do you want it? I want it bad. I really do.

I think I may have mentioned this before, but I recently became a Beachbody Coach. They hold an annual summit in Vegas. How awesome would it be for John and I to use our 5 year anniversary to FINALLY get a honeymoon and do it there - since it is just about the same time we would celebrate! I love working for Beachbody. It is so easy to incorporate in my everyday life since I am already on this journey. I am finding people will text me or message me on here or on myfitnesspal or on facebook. Its so cool how we can all connect together! I am not a coach because I am perfectly fit - I decided to become a coach so I can learn with others and together beat obesity.

I don't think people realise how dangerous it is to be obese - I think sometimes we equate being fit with hard work and unenjoyable. I mean I remember my friend and I saying I would rather be fat and happy then skinny and deprive myself.

We hear things like it can cause heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Do you guys know what that means? Did you know you can lose your FEET form diabetes? Its insane. Here's a few more facts that may sway you to begin your own journey now--

http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/obesity/health-effects-of-obesity.html

Please just at least skim that link. (PS - you don't have to be over weight to be at risk for some of these, being unhealthy and not striving to be fit puts you at risk too!)

My next short term goal is to figure out how to incorporate more sleep into my night - after my kids fall asleep I am a night owl and it never fails, I only sleep 6-7 hours. If I only went to sleep and hour or two sooner...

Have an awesome Thursday people! Looking forward to day 4 of my official challenge!

-Kayla-

Pity Party

Today I was a big baby. I have written about this before but, I am not sure if I have become more aware about how much I really weigh and how big I really am. Being a size 16 is no joke people. I mean I started at an 18/20 in August, so I know I am making progress - it just seems like I will get dressed in the morning and then I leave and I feel good about myself. Later, I will look at pictures from a day when I thought I looked good and I think - WTF? Who let me look like that and why didn't anyone tell me you are putting on weight. Obviously these questions are both rhetorical, but still in my mind I am upset about how I really look. I hate how acutely aware I have become about how I look and what I weigh. But I need it. I cant hate something that isn't there, and I need this not to be there. I need to not wonder if my husband is checking out other women cause they are skinnier than me (Ladies, you know you have wondered the same thing here and there) or if the people in the gym are looking at me because when I run I jiggle more or because when I dance I have extra bounce in my body. I mean I specifically go to my 24 hour gym at night so people don't watch me run, silly right? I know I shouldn't compare but you would be lying if you said you never compared yourself to someone else physically. How I physically look and not just how I feel.

So today I took my daughters to a movie and ate crap. I told myself I would push myself in my workouts today to compensate. I did my Turbo Jam and then headed to a class at the gym, Dance Party. While I was at dance party it was hard not to notice I was the fattest girl in that class. Pity Party - party of one.. right here! I really didn't push it because I was so focused on what was around me and not focused on ME.

I didn't sign up for this challenge because I am already skinny and fit and runner ready - I did it because I need help. I need accountability. I need to shred these pounds to be a better mom for my kids. I need to shred these pounds and get fit to have a better marriage with my husband. I want to be confident and enjoy what I do and never have weight and unhealthy reasons to be self conscious or worry that I cant participate in things with the people I love. I wanted to join this group challenge to learn and establish healthy habits that I can continue after the next 28 days are over.

So now that I have allowed myself to be down about how I look, I have decided to never do this again! I have spent the last how many days being down. I need to just look at the skinny fit girl thats inside me and know that I am working hard to bring her out! At least I can rest in the fact that I still did the workouts, finished the day with healthy eating and didnt give up all together!

Here's to tomorrow! I think maybe I needed a slap in the face like today. I know I will accomplish more tomorrow because my attitude will be better!

-Kayla-

Today I weigh 207 lbs
I wear a tight 14/ loose 16 pant
I am only 5 feet 1.5 inches tall (I say 2 to make me happy)
My BMI is a 38 - for a healthy BMI it should be between 18 and 24 (between 100 and 130 lbs)

Bust 42'' - Waist 46.5" - Hips 52" - Thigh 29" - Arm 14"

I am doing a CheLEAN Extreme/ Turbo Jam Hybrid as my challenge
I am consuming Shakeology a minimum of one time a day

Today's Workout:
Dance Party at my local gym (50 minutes)
1.5 mile walk/run (26 minutes - my cool down)
ChaLEAN Burn Circuit 1 (36 minutes)
Turbo Jam 20 minute workout  (... 20 minutes)
Total time - 2 hrs 12 minutes

Today I tried the Chocolate Shakeology just plain - with water and ice in the blender and it was really Good! They send you a calendar of a different recipe for every day and I am not sure I will even use them! There was no funny after taste or anything. I was pleasantly surprised!




After working out at the gym, I was afraid that I wouldnt be able to complete my Challenge workout that I had committed to, but I did. I had John in my ear helping me with my form and pushing me to pick a heavier weight. By the time I was done I was dripping with sweat, from everywhere. My daughter said, mom you're wet! It felt good. I feel good. I am so pumped for the rest of the challenge.

John did the first step to p90x today. He really surprised me with how far he pushed himself. I was not as good as a cheerleader as he was for me. :[ I need to get better at that. It wasnt that I didnt want to, I didnt know what to say. He was in much better shape that he and I both thought and really rocked it! Yay, Honey!

Hope you all enjoyed the pictures from yesterday! Look forward to updating them weekly (not all of them) so you can join me on my journey. You can also join me on my food journey. I am on www.myfitnesspal.com and my screen name is DearGym. I will be logging what I eat daily. You can do it too!

-Kayla-

John and My Fit Test... yikes!

Push Ups Knees - 6

SO - as I promised (but a few minutes later than midnight so TECHNICALLY Monday) I am posting pictures of my fit test before I start ChaLEAN Extreme! It was not as bad as I thought, but the results were not as good as I had hoped. They really stress to only count what you can do while maintaining and striving for perfect form. So be kind and enjoy the beginning of my official 30 day Challenge journey.

Push Ups Toes - 0

Crunches - 61

4 count up and 4 count down Squats

23

Forearm Plank - 28 secs

Bicep Curl

15 lb weights - 12 reps

Flexibility Test

Ruler Lined Up With My Heels

Right at the end of my ruler. Fingers went passed just a little bit!

Overhead Shoulder Press - 10 lb Weights - 13 Reps

Bust 42 Inches

Waist 46.5 Inches

Hips 52 Inches

Thigh 29 Inches

Arm 14 Inches

John's Journey - My husband has been very supportive of me and agreed to do this with me. So I have decided to update him here and there. You guys can see us both do this together. It is so important to have people who uplift you and support you and motivate you. So I am thankful to have someone in my own house to really give me the truth how it is. (He started this already while doing the fit test, and he was right. I wasnt pushing myself hard enough!)

Crunches 60

4 count up and 4 count down squats 30

Side Profile

Forearm Plank - 50 secs (He didnt have three babies!)

Overhead Shoulder Press - 25 lb weights/ 10 Reps

Shoulder Press

Bicep Curl 30 Lb Weights/ 10 Reps

Push Ups (John says he doesnt so knees) Toes 26

Flexibility Test

Three Inches from his toes (I beat him at something)

( Look at that piece of sexy! :] )

I hope you noticed my sarcastic remarks about John. Really, I love the man to death but it really gets me going that men in general can say "diet" and lose ten pounds. :) I am excited to have my best friend with me on this road to healthy living. I am inspired by all the people around me, that I see regularly, who are encouraging to me! I am so excited for the opportunity I have in front of me and while I am still a bit nervous, I am eager to start tomorrow morning and get my workout and shakeology on!

Oops!

When we diet, we have to stay on track. It is so easy to spiral out of control after just one slip up! This is my biggest issue on my weight loss journey. I always give into temptation and then keep giving in - again and again and again. For about two weeks I have been trying really hard to eat right and exercise daily - do something, not always hard core but even a hour walk is better than a hour of sitting in front of the TV. But for the last few days I have deviated. I have eaten Popsicles, ice cream, Chipotle, and french fries. Between funerals, luncheons and picnics in the hot summer - I have decided to ALLOW myself to do this. I plan for it.

I think this is why things are going different this time. Because I am ready for the oops! moments in my journey and I am ready to say ITS OKAY. I will eat a better lunch if I am going to go out to dinner. I will not spend my calories all in one place. If I go over, its okay. I will do better the next day and maybe add in an extra workout to compensate. I will not give up!

Everyone has their own little tweaks that get them off track, its important to acknowledge that those things will happen and do happen and it doesn't mean it has to throw you off you game. Start tracking your food and planning out your meals. If you know you are doing pizza for dinner with friends, then plan to eat a lighter healthy lunch and breakfast - something like fruit, hard boiled eggs, half a lunch meat sandwich, veggies, etc. Just know that if you want this to happen you will learn habits (like  I am trying to learn) to make it happen. Mind over matter (and I have a lot of matter!) and you can make it work!

T minus 26 hours till CHALLENGE TIME. Check back tomorrow for fresh weight - size - photos - and fitness test results to kick off Monday's challenge!


-Kayla-

Challenge schedule :)

Yesterday I pushed my body so hard. I did a turbo with my challenge coach, Cory. I am telling you what -  I think everyone should join a gym. Its not because its cooler to say you belong to a health club or whatever, its because you push yourself harder when you take a class with people.  I worked so hard that when the class was done it was all I could do to NOT puke right there in the middle of the classroom floor. I can honestly say that from August 2011(when my unofficial journey began) until now, this was the hardest I have ever pushed myself - and it felt GOOD!

My last post I talked a bit more about my challenge and the hybrid that Cory has designed for me. I thought I might share it with you so you can get a little more intuned with what I will be doing.

Week 1

Monday - ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 1 + Turbo Jam 20 Minute Workout
Tuesday – Turbo Jam Punch, Kick and Jam
Wednesday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 2 + Turbo Jam Ab Jam
Thursday – Turbo Jam Cardio Party
Friday - ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 3 & Turbo Jam Ab Jam
Saturday – Turbo Jam Punch, Kick and Jam + ChaLean Extreme Recharge
Sunday – Off (or make-up day if another day was missed)

Week 2
Monday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 1 + Turbo Jam Ab Jam
Tuesday – Turbo Jam Cardio Party + ChaLEAN Extreme “Extreme Abs”
Wednesday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 2 + Turbo Jam 20 Minute Workout
Thursday – ChaLEAN Extreme Extreme Burn Intervals + Turbo Jam Ab Jam
Friday - ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 3 + ChaLEAN Extreme Recharge
Saturday – Turbo Jam Punch, Kick and Jam & ChaLEAN Extreme Ab Burner
Sunday – Off (or make-up day if another day was missed)

Week 3
Monday - ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 1 +Turbo Jam Cardio Party
Tuesday – Turbo Jam Turbo Sculpt + ChaLEAN Extreme Burn It Off
Wednesday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 2 + Turbo Jam Ab Jam
Thursday – Turbo Jam Punch, Kick and Jam and ChaLEAN Extreme Recharge
Friday - ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 3 & Turbo Jam 20 Minute Workout
Saturday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Intervals and Turbo Jam Ab Jam
Sunday – Off (or make-up day if another day was missed)

Week 4
Monday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 1 + Turbo Jam 20 Minute Jam
Tuesday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn It Off + Turbo Jam Turbo Sculpt
Wednesday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 2 + Turbo Jam Ab Jam
Thursday – Turbo Jam Punch, Kick and Jam + ChaLEAN Extreme Ab Burner
Friday - ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Circuit 3 & Turbo Jam Cardio Party
Saturday – ChaLEAN Extreme Burn It Off & ChaLEAN Extreme Extreme Abs
Sunday – Off (or make-up day if another day was missed)

Week 5
Monday - ChaLEAN Extreme PUSH circuit 1 + Turbo Jam Cardio Party
Tuesday - ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Intervals + Turbo Jam Ab Jam

So there is is - 4 weeks and 2 days of excitement :) Be looking on Sunday for my fit test results and monday for my next photo of progression to docutment my first official challenge day! Have a great weekend!

-Kayla- 

Scared

So - I started this blog to write about my 30 day challenge and beyond. Here's the brake down. On July 16, will begin a 30 day challenge along with three other people. We each chose our own BeachBody fitness program and we commit to following its program - food and workouts and shakeology - for a month. We check in weekly with our team and keep each other encouraged to keep pushing on. There is no "winner" at the end. There is no prize money. We only win what our bodies have accomplished. For me, I am hoping that will be shredding a good amount of weight and seeing some muscle definition start to pop out of my limbs. I am hoping to feel happier and healthier - more energetic and spunky. I want to feel confident.

So there's the run down. Pretty simple. Not too hard to grasp.

So for a while now - it seems like weeks- I have been sharing this challenge with my friends and family. I have even tried (unsuccessfully) to talk them into doing the challenge with me!  I think I will just have to be a shining example for them this month so that next month they will do one with me! :)

Today all my stuff for the challenge arrived in the mail. I always love revieving things in the mail :) I have been pumping myself up and mentally making a game plan for this challenge. I have been bugging my coach/team leader - Cory - daily and I THOUGHT I was ready for this. I mean I was so excited that I wanted to use two programs (to double results... maybe?) and Cory made a hybrid program. So I thought I was all set to go and then tonight after dinner with my in laws I take the box out that I received this morning and I look at it and I see all this stuff. Books on how to use the program to achieve optimal results and bands and DVDs and I started to get all overwhelmed and nervous and my husband had to ask me if I was okay. I was. I was just all of a sudden scared.

Why. Why are we scared of trying new things? New things that we KNOW are going to benefit us if we can just stick to doing something new. I think its because its not the newness that scares us, its the unknown or the thought of failure. I think I got so nervous that I would fail in front of my blog audience, in front of my husband, my family, and fail my coach, Cory - who also teaches at the local gym I belong to.

But I think this could be a healthy fear and when channeled right, could be some kick ass motivation. I already know that I want to do this for myself and I think that is the most important thing. You wont achieve anything unless you want it for yourself first, especially weight loss. BUT now I have someone else to work for. I can work for my kids - for them to learn what healthy living is and for them to have a healthy respect for fitness. For the people who read this - to encourage them. If a girl who weighs over 200 lbs can do it - they can too! For my family who has suffered heart attacks at the age of 45 and for the ones who battled cancer and for the ones who have heart disease and mental illness and diabetes and joint pain and the list goes on and on and on. They don't have to worry to much about me or my family. We are making the change together. John has committed to do this with me and I have my sister who has joined me in a gym routine. We are doing it together - because truth is, when you work out you don't just work out your body, you work out your body and mind. And when you work out, you cut out your risk of cancers and heart disease and diabetes and high cholesterol.

So when I looked at the positives of what this challenge really meant for me - I wasn't scared anymore. I was once again excited! So now I have 4 more days until my challenge officially starts. I have four more days to prepare my meals for next week. I am stoked! I can do this.

-Kayla-

What does this workout stuff mean for me?

Goals.

I realized I haven't shared any goals. I mean not real tangible goals. So here it goes:

- I want to feel good when I wake up -
  not ache not feel like I need more sleep.

- I want to run a 5k without walking at any
  point during the route

- In ONE year I want to run a 
  Tough Mudder along side my HUSBAND

- I dont want to fit into maternity clothes
  when I am not pregnant

- I DONT want to feel tired after only a
  short while playing outside with my kids

- I want to ENJOY shopping

- Run a 10 minute mile

- Not be at risk for heart disease or diabetes

- I want to wear shorts and tank tops really not care...
                                                                     not just pretend like I dont care (like I do now)

- I want to sing infront of people again and want them to look past my weight

- I want my kids to know a healthy mom and learn their healthy habits from me

- I am a young mom -
            when my kids are gown, I dont want to be fat and not be able to just enjoy
                                                                      life with my husband and do all the fun things we wanted to.

- In one year I want to - in this order
              - complete ChaLEAN extreme
              - run a 5k
              - run a half marathon
              - run a warrior dash
              - complete a tough mudder

- I want to go to a wedding and dance my butt off and not be looked at cause I have too much jiggle

- Be a fitness trainer and motivate people with MY story

New!

I haven't worked out since Friday. I did two workouts that day but this morning, I felt like I hadn't been to the gym in FOREVER. Its kinda funny, once things become habit how you miss them - even if your habits hurt you... in a good way! I love the feeling of success I get when I workout. I love how I can look at a clock in class and see there are only 15 minutes left and I want to leave SO BAD, but you stay and you feel so accomplished when its done. This is particularly true in the turbo kick classes I attend.

Today I was inspired by my little sister. She and I both battle weight issues. (I only wish I had her confidence!) Today she joined the gym I belong to! I am really excited because a minimum of two time a week, I will have a gym partner. (I laughed while writing that because she struck a deal with our dad to pay for it and her end was to go a minimum of 2 time a week.. score one for me!)  Things are always more fun when you know someone else with you! If you are like me and you take Zumba or some kind of kick boxing class, you want to be those ladies who know everyone in the class - who has someone to talk to!

I like this picture I posted because it is so true. It can be really intimidating to go to a new class, with a skinny instructor or one who is so insane you want to be like them cause their intensity is so high and they look like they could just kick ass at anything so you want their energy - yup - you know the type I am talking about! And here you are a newbie, a novice trying to hide in the corner doing your best to learn the moves, let alone keep up with the people around you. How did I know how to describe you -BECAUSE I WAS YOU!

Its not easy learning and it can be SO intimidating to be the new person who knows NO ONE and the moves your attempting feel like you are playing twister! But don't be afraid of it. Be an amateur. It is okay to mess up and look silly (that's why you picked the corner in the back, right? so no one could look at you). This morning my sister stood next to me in the front - tried hard to shake her booty and really got a work out! She also tripped over her own two feet, looked as red as a tomato , and did lower intensity as she got tired. BUT SHE NEVER GAVE UP! She never left, she never complained and she kept trying! I was really proud of her and for her. I know she wants to be healthy too!

If we always waited to be perfect at something before we tried it, nothing would ever happened. Its kinda like saying I want to lose weight before I join a gym. Um, excuse me - but I think that defeats the purpose.. right? If you wait, you miss out; and really, half the fun is experiencing getting better at it. Its fun to look in the mirror while you are kicking your own ass and say YES - I can do that!

My encouragement to you today is more like a challenge I suppose. My wish for all of you guys would be to try something you are afraid to try. Try something NOT in your own routine. Mix it up and get excited about it. Who cares if you aren't a professional. Professionals had to start as amateurs too.

-Kayla-