If it doesn't challenge you....

So, this has become my mantra. I have been yo-yo dieting forever. Have you been there with me? You know, where you THINK you are fat, but you're not and then you really do get fat and wish you could get back down to where the prefat, but not really fat, girl is? And then all of a sudden - LIFE hits you in the face with a freezing cold snow ball so you don't forget that as we have gotten older, we have taken on more responsibilities. I dont care if they are kids, a job, a spouse, new bills - we have other things than ourselves to take care of and all the while fat girl is just longing to be prefat not really fat girl! This is me. However, I have found the trick to get back to the me both I want to be both physically and mentally.

I have my fair share of nay sayers - including my family who I don't think they even really know they are being nay sayers. You know the ones who say, "I dont know how you have time for that?!" or the ones who comment on your success of completing a 5k run, or a mud run race and their complement sounds a little like this, "I didn't think you could do it, but I am so proud of you for finishing!" I have had my kids, husband and friends all throw a wrench in a workout plan and I have definitely tried things that didn't work to make me happy.  BUT - I have found Beachbody. Please don't stop reading - this isnt about sales or really the company itself, but about the people who I have met and work with now. They are my green lights, my fit friends, encouragement and accountability!

18 months ago I weight almost 240 lbs. 18 months ago I had a baby, a toddler, a kindergartner and a husband who worked swing shift. I had family drama and I had friends who were not really friends. But I found Beachbody. Since then I have lost about 40 lbs and really discovered who I wanted to be and how I needed to get there - then I got pregnant. I had someone encourage me to make this my most fit pregnancy EVER - so I did. I worked out hard, I ran races and even completed the Dirty Girl Mud Run at 5.5 months pregnant.

Today I went to the gym for the first time post pregnancy and I saw a lot of familiar faces... and a lot of familiar bodies. All I kept thinking was what are you doing, or NOT doing that nothing has changed. Then I thought about this...

and this....

 

but mostly this!

Maintaining a good weight was hard. Not eating everything I craved was hard and getting in activity was hard - but dropping all your baby weight in 10 days was awesome. Losing 4 more lbs since baby has been awesome.  I don't normally toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT!! It was hard work though. It took time and practice and accountability from my friends and family. I found people who who wouldn't let me give them excuses. 

I don't like constantly comparing myself to others or putting people down. It doesn't solve anything or make people feel good, but know if you aren't struggling or not feeling challenged you aren't changing. If you want change, it takes time and you need to invest in yourself. Don't be that person who has been going to the gym for ages but has nothing to show for it. That was me and for far too long. That person isn't trying. That person isn't putting in the time and that person will get frustrated and give up only to start back up. It is hard but staying the same and being unhappy is hard too.

YOU can do it. It doesn't have to be expensive or pretty but it does need to be done. Be healthy and happy. Why not you to be happy, healthy, and excited about the next challenge? Why not you too?!

What's your "Why?"

So I am not good at selling things. I never thought I would find myself in any kind of sales or marketing business, ever.  I am however, good at sharing me. I was pregnant at 17, bought a house at 19 and married at just 20 years young. I had three kids by 23 and now, at 25 I have one more on the way. Make no mistake, I am a blessed girl. But it took a while for me to get here, to where I am standing and feeling right now. 

I have always struggled with weight, but in reality, I have always had a healthier weight. Then all of a sudden, I weighted over 230 lbs. Im not sure how I got there exactly or when it really started to happen.

I let a lot of things pull me down. Jealousy, anxiety, my ideal idea of what marriage was supposed to be like (you know, what we see on TV. I was trying to be me in at one age, but at many stages in my life - a teenager, a wife, a mom, a homeowner.. you get it. I lost my "me" -- and then I gained a whole lotta ME. 

For a long time, I never felt like I had a place to fit in. I never felt a place to belong or click with any group, outside church. Even in church, I had my friends but no ministry or program that I felt like I could really belong to and get in my groove. I was still trying to pick that identity and run with it.

Through Beachbody I found my own identity again. My massive me, became my "why." Weight loss hasn't been just about a physical thing; but a mental, emotional, and inspirational thing as well. Since I have been working out, I am told I look better and I seem happier. 

Feeling better in all areas of my life is my why. When I first started working out, I felt a little selfish. I was taking the kids to the gym and leaving them in the daycare. I was getting sitters to run outside and they didn't see me run my races. But now I see I am a better mom for it. I don't yell nearly as often as I did before. The urge to get angry at spilled milk now is laughing so my kids don't worry so much. THEY are happier - and when they see kids from the gym, they get all excited and point them out.

So what's your "why"? Why do you want to make changes? I want to help you get there! Being a Beachbody coach is more than just about me or money. I get so excited when I see other people's lives changing. So why not you? WHY not you start to make the changes to make your own identity or just get healthy. I guarantee weight loss will not just change your body but you life. 

Turn your WHY into 

www.beachbodycoach.com/KaylaSki

Let me tell you a little story....

Once upon a time there was this girl. Her name is Kayla. This is what she used to look like. 

Kayla HATED what this girl looked like! There was a skinny girl trapped in a fat girls body!

One day she looked in the mirror and she hated what she saw... the scale confirmed her sadness and started her drive to be better. Now, Kayla didn't really have self esteem issues, she just wanted three things.

1. To look good naked for her husband 

2. To lead a healthier lifestyle for her family 

3. To get back to her old self. The self that felt good, always.

It was a hard transition for her to make. Kayla's friends weren't on the band wagon with her fitness goals just yet. It was hard to run by herself, to workout by herself and to eat better.. by herself. But Kayla wasn't completely alone. She had her husband and a fitness coach to cheer her on.  

After a short 5 months, Kayla and John began to race together. Completing four 5k runs and a mud run.
Her proudest moment was when she finished the survival race, her first mud run!

Slowly but surely, this was the mindset Kayla took. John could encourage here, but couldn't make her do it. Cory could push her but she couldn't make her do it.  >>>>>>>

 
 It was slow moving but she began to see big changes! She isn't the fastest, she isn't the strongest, but she continues to race and improve.

Kayla's kids now talk about Shakeology, drinking water, and being healthy all the time. They prefer fruit over treats and enjoy being outside and running around! Her fit self started to turn into a fit FAMILY.

Sometimes Kayla didn't FEEL like doing the workout, but after she did she was so much happier!

 Some days she feels like this. And it took a lot to get her goals accomplished. Kayla even dealt with feelings of guilt for putting her needs first some days. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 And now with a baby on the way.. She is a little worried about her fitness goals. Will she regress? Will she snap back to the "new" Kayla?

 But she remembers that this is where she came from and where she ended -- so its not time to give up yet!

Here is the moral of the story! If a busy mama can do it, so can YOU!

Push Challenge Day 2 and 3

Day 2.

List the top three things that are important to me. These things should be what the rest of my goals are centered around.

1. My husband. He was a man when we got pregnant and he stepped up to do what a Father does, support and love his child and baby momma - it has not always been an easy and exciting road, but its been real, its been loving, and its been rewarding. I want to help him be the best he can be because he pushes me to be the best that I can be. He has never put limits on what I can do.

2. My kids. They are my sun rise and sunset. They are the reason I get up in the morning and the reason I started my whole weight loss journey. I don't want to be on the sidelines. I want to be as present as possible in their lives.

3. My faith. I am a work in progress, but I am trying to prayerfully make decisions that are best for me and my family. I am trying to make a conscious effort to read and learn and know the God who sent His Son down for me.




Day 3.

Top Ten Goals for the Year -- Then name one PUSH goal that will allow all of these things to become possible

1. Diamond Coach
2. New House
3. Have more family memory making moments -- vacations, staycations, getting outside to play
4. Show affection, admiration, and appreciation to my husband
5. Finish more intense and fun races
6. Be fit and healthy by 26
7. Take away some of the financial burden from my husband -- No more car payments!
8. Lose some stress -- priorities what I want to lead and what I can just watch
9. Make my small groups a real priority -- increase in prayer and learning about my faith
10. Keep my family first at all times

My Push Goal is to CREATE BETTER TIME MANAGEMENT

I never knew

In one week, I ran/walked 20 miles.

I know to some people, twenty miles is nothing, they run miles and miles a day but this over weight heavy girl who hoovers around 200 pounds moved her butt on a treadmill and on the streets for TWENTY miles. I didn't know I could do that. No one ever told me I could do that, but one day I decided I am going to run this race and I am going to train and now I am making doubters turn into believers EVERYDAY! I am motivating people everyday and I am inspiring MYSELF everyday!
This is the first time I am surprising myself everyday and I am getting my family into it. I am so excited that my sisters are working out with Beachbody too! Really, I am excited my family just wants to be healthy.

I never knew that this phase in my life would ever be here. I never thought I would blow up like a blimp and I never lost my self esteem over it but I never knew God would put me here where I am being a coach and having people come to me and ask me how to help them! I mean seriously - me, a normal girl who faces temptation and struggles everyday - JUST LIKE YOU!

So this next week here, I already have 3.6 miles in from today and I have 14 more mandatory miles to go - I am going for 25! I want to outdo myself. I want my body to outdo my brain and I know I can do it.  I know if you wanted to do it, you could. You just have to decide one day that your drive to succeed is bigger than the moment you want to give up so you too  can say "I never knew" but you cannot say no one ever told you because I am telling you, if this girl can get fit and succeed, you can too!

want to follow me on my journey? check out www.facebook.com/KaylaInTraining and "like" my page! I am always looking for accountability partners and in return Id love to be yours too!

-Kayla-

picture this!



And we have a belly button! I cannot believe how far I have come from picture one!

Goals!

So, I think I mentioned that I joined a few challenges... here's some updates!

1. Pre Christmas challenge, I didn't win but I lost 6 lbs! I will take it!
2. I am currently in a weight loss challenge and I am down 10 lbs! Still have a little more time to go! I am going to crush it, and if I don't win, I still have already lost 10 lbs! That's 50lbs of pressure off my body every time I take a step - isn't that insane!

I have started making my fitness commitments for the year. So far I have signed up for

Glass City Half Marathon
Dirty Girl Mud Run
Color Run

Next commitments I will be making but haven't bought my bib for yet are

Tough Mudder
Survival Race
Race for Recovery


So, here's my question to you... what are you doing? What is keeping you accountable? WHO is keeping you accountable? Have you shared your goals with anyone yet today? I recently started a training accountability page on Facebook - 13 point FREAKIN' 1 in Training.. Look it up! I have 22 people following me to hold me to my work outs, to hold me to a good diet and training regiment! What are you doing to keep your goals from becoming dreams?

Challenge Me

So many of you may or may not know that I thrive on competition and accountability. I just joined another weigh in challenge two days ago - it's teams of two and winner takes home a pot of 2400 buckaroos! My partner is Christina. It's kind of funny, our relationship. A now good friend I hold dear, was once my husband first Prom Date! Funny, right? Here's a little more added humor, my daughter and her son like to hate each other... my daughter has a crush on her son! It's really crazy the people that Beachbody have brought into my life and how much I love that I am around a lot of like minded people, from faith to fitness! My challenge is 30 days, I am really excited about it! My husband is totally on board with me and I have been shoving my face full of fruit, veggies, and Shakeology and ya know that? I LOVE it. So keep me accountable guys!

I posted about my resolutions and goals for the up and coming year. I joined another personal challenge lead by Chalene Johnson. A 30 day push challenge. It really just helps you focus on your goals and create a way to get there without going crazy! I am determined. I really want it. I want to succeed in a job I really do love and I want to be present in every aspect of my children's life!

Today was Day One.
Today was an overview of what the 30 day PUSH challenge will hold. Our homework was this: think about what you would want to be remembered by, what do you want people to know you for, what principles guide you, what is your calling?
My kids. Everything I do, I do around my kids. I never want to work in a building where my kids are not until they all are in school. Until they all are so self sufficient I don't feel bad not helping them!
My faith. I try to raise my kids in church. I want them to know its more than knowing who Jesus is but believing in the entirety of Him. I could write an awful lot on the ways I know God exists and answered prayers I have seen and miracles I am watching in the making. All things are given and taken away by God and I pray that my life shows my belief in Him. I am a work in progress and I am thankful for all the grace and mercy that is shown to me, daily.
My family. There are so many times I would love to just pick up and move, but I don't. Why? My family. I don't know what I would do with out them. We put the FUN in dysfunctional! It may not be perfect, but its precious.
Service and presence. I want people to remember me and know me by my willingness to serve and be present. Not to get an atta-boy, but I want people to remember that I was a servant and tried to lead by example. I want to show success in my business because I am wanting to help others.  Did my kids see me helping others.... did they see me helping them?

This year is going to be more than just changing physically - I want it to be mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Here's to transformation 2013. I expect slip ups, I expect triumphs and I expect success because I expect to push forward!


-Kayla-

New Year.. New Goals

Happy New Year!
Every year we have the same goals and the same ambition for about two weeks and then we fizzle out. At least I do. So this year I decided (again) this year is MY year. You know why it's different for me this time? Because I have an awesome husband who is supporting me. I have two aunt-in-laws who are on the same journeys and I have friends who want me to succeed. I have begun to do it for ME and not for anyone else. Let's recap the last few "new years resolution" failures...

Lose weight to look hot for my husband
Lose weight for my kids
Lose weight to wear skinnier jeans
Lose weight because so and so is and I am in a private competition with them... they don't know it though!

All of these things have included "for" and ended with... not me. Call me selfish or call me lazy because all of these reasons are good, legit reasons; and, I am sure great motivation for some people. For me, however, they are not. I mean I want my husband to want to show me off and I want to be healthy to be active and play around my kids more and who doesn't want to rock a pair of kick ass jeans? I do! I DO! But being in competition with someone is stupid and the minute one of the former things happens to piss you off or frustrate you - you are done! Once that one birthday cake is in your face.. these reasons didn't stop me from eating it. Here is my reason for wanting to finally be healthy...

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE SKINNY STICK GIRL. I WANT TO BE A FIT CHICK. MY HUSBAND ALREADY LOVES ME! I don't have anything to prove to anyone else! I cannot and will not compare my journey to anyone. I want to do it for me! I am not comfortable anymore with myself. For the first time I do not feel like the skinny girl who is trapped in the fat chicks body.

Since July I have been on my true, focused journey and I have grown so close to my husband. My kids want to work out with me. We are going outside to play at local parks and I have made so many new friends who are like minded and support me in all my running and work out endeavours. I joined a business that doesn't push sales, they push healthy attitudes and helping people! I like sharing my results, my set backs and my goals and during my lifestyle transformation I have started 6 months ago. I am not embarrassed or ashamed of being over weight because I know where I was and how far I have come. I have reconnected with another good friend, Christina.

Not trying to toot my own horn here, but I am pretty darn proud of what the last 6-8 months have brought me!

Ran my first 5k - Glass City
Ran in the Color Run
Ran in the Survival Race (mud run)
Ran in the YMCA 5k
I dropped my mile run by 6 minutes
I lost 16 inches and 37 lbs from my heaviest starting weight
I went from a size 18/20 to a 12/14
I helped people weight totaling over 100 lbs. and over 20 inches

Not too shabby for only about 7 months time. Here's the thing, I now know I am capable of MORE. I can do BETTER! My mind, body, and soul are continually being conditioned with a positive attitude that tells me to do MORE - be BETTER... and yours should be too! So here are my newest goals or if your will, resolutions:

Fitness:
Run in the Glass City Half Marathon in April and just aim for a finish
Run in the Detroit area Tough Mudder in June/July
Finish in this order CheLEAN Extreme, Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire and begin to attempt Insanity
Be in a comfortable size that makes ME feel good
Home:
Be more organized for my kids
Take a dance class
Audition for a few musicals
Continue in my Beachbody Business and advance in rank - earning John and I all the FREE vacations I can to enjoy that husband of mine more - one on one

What are your resolutions? What's your motivation behind it? What is going to keep you on the wagon when you feel like falling off? If you are reading this, I do have a favor to ask - please keep me accountable with my journey. I am here to help you too - I am only but an email away! 2012 ended with a great beginning for me and now I know 2013 is my year!

-Kayla-