You Look Fabulous!

We have something like 20 or 21 days till our final weigh in for our first round of our "Fitopia Challenge." I am so excited!!! The changes that I have seen in all of us over the last 3 months are mind blowing.  WOW, WOW, WOW!!! This truly is anyone's game right now. I am so very proud of all of us. We have taken on the challenge to be the healthiest, BEST US, we can be.  AMAZING!!! I sincerely can't wait to tackle the next 3 months with you.  Keep on keeping on lovelies. YOU look fabulous!

Love you all bunches,
Becky

I Work Out!

What a GREAT workout last night! It was so good to get back at it with my buddies! We missed you that couldn't be there. There were a couple of first-timers and that was fun! I hope we didn't scare them off!!! Someone...I won't mention any names (cough, cough Rabecca " I Love the Pain" Griffin) thought it would be a good idea to do TWO Zumba videos! Great googaly moogaly! I felt like I was doing slow motion, underwater Zumba by the time we were done.

Just goes to show that you can do more than you think you can. We did it, and when we were done a bunch of us ran for a while! I had been having a hard time doing the "5 min. at one time" increment on my C25K program. I think we hit five minutes just goofing around. If it wasn't five minutes, it was close enough that I KNOW I can do it for sure when I run!    I will show my body who's boss!

Go at it strong today, my beauties!

T Love

To the Future, Grandmas, and Youth...Salute!!

I just took the My Real Age test recommended in the previous post. Due to my healthy new habits,  my real age is 4 ½ yrs younger than I actually am. That has gotten me excited. It also has me thinking.

One of my happiest memories of my grandma when I was little was her playing “jail” with us. She would chase us around the yard, grab us, and haul us up over the fence, putting us in jail. Thinking we were being so sneaky, we would find different ways to break out and become escapees. She would see us and come right back after us starting the whole process over. The whole time we would be laughing and loving every minute of it. Afterwards, we would walk down to the corner gas station, or candy store as we liked to call it, and each of us would get to pick out a special treat. 

Other memories include going boating, swimming, and hiking along the mountain creeks. I cherished my time with my grandparents. They were fun. We went places and explored. Even when I had kids of my own, we would go for walks with them into the woods and by the creeks. Grandma was active and involved in our lives.

As I think about those times, I realize that the changes we are making in our lives are affecting more than just our pant sizes today. They are shaping our future. If I had continued down the path I was going, I might not have even been around to experience being a grandma. I definitely would not have been able to enjoy it to the fullest.   (I know it may seem weird to be thinking about being a grandparent while my kids are still young. In reality, it is when I don’t look toward the future consequences that I make some of my most selfish choices.  i.e., smoking and being morbidly obese…)

Another neat thing is that my own mom is a fellow Fitopia Gurl. She just took the real age test and it aged her 8 years younger than she is. She is following her mother’s example. The bike rack on her car often has a little bike next to hers as they head off on an adventure. Rock on Grandma!!!

It looks like I'll avoid an early death!

I had another first last night! Have you ever seen those tests that show your real age or life expectancy, etc.? I've taken more of the real age ones than the others. The life expectancy test always scared the crap out of me!! If you real age is higher than it should be and "they" don't think you'll make it out of your sixties, it paints a grim picture!

I had done the Dr. Oz test (www.realage.com) within the last year and decided to update it and see what I got.
Well, last night, for the first time EVER, my real age was the same as my actual age!!!! I was stoked! And I'm just getting started!

It was exciting to go through and make all the changes...

Do you smoke a pack a day?...No, I do not!
How many times a week are you active...At least six. WHAAAT?!?!?!?!?!
How many servings of fruit do you eat a day? How many vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, glasses of water?
No, I do not eat processed sugar and refined sweets. People, I changed that number from 6 a day to ZERO!!!

 I had to go through and change EVERY category that pertained to diet and lifestyle! It was so cool.

Who knows, maybe I'll brave the life expectancy one soon!

Keep on keepin' on, My Beauties. In addition to increasing the "smokin' hotness", we are making changes that are changing our lives forever!

T Love

My "Skinny Jeans"

     I am wearing my shelf pants!!!! You know, the pants that you love and don’t want to get rid of, but there is no way you can squeeze your body into them anymore, so they get stuck on the shelf for “some day”.  “Some day” is TODAY!!! Actually, every day this week I have taken down a pair of my shelf pants to wear. Day one, I was giddy. You cannot imagine how the feeling of satisfaction grew as each day I took down a different pair of pants to wear. I am telling you that all I had to do was put them on, zip them up, and walk out the door. No hopping up and down to slide them over my hips. No lying on the bed in a desperate attempt to flatten my stomach so they would zip.  It is a beautiful thing!

    This is the result of many good choices, but I’d have to give a lot of the credit to T-Tapp. It’s an exercise program that I do for 15 minutes, 5 days a week. Who doesn’t have 15 minutes?!

I won’t be able to accurately explain it, so here is the link. http://www.t-tapp.com/

Check it out and be sure to read the success stories. They are inspiring!

      I’d also really recommend the Slim in 6 series by Debbie Siebers through Beachbody. I actually love doing these workouts. No matter what exercise I do for the day, I make sure to include the 15 minutes of Slim and Limber stretching.  http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/slim_in_6.do

A Better Perspective

I have been pondering…    This is when all of you are supposed to say uh-oh J

      My 9-year-old daughter had to get her first pair of glasses this week. She was very excited for herself, and I could tell she felt very grown up and important as she was picking out the frames. Then all of the giddiness turned into anxiety as she thought about wearing them to school for the first time. It broke my heart to see her worrying so much about being teased and wondering what her friends would say to her. The good ole’ four eyes slur seems to be alive and thriving.

     As I watched her struggle to control her nerves, I thought about how much my own perspectives have changed. I used to be that person who was constantly worried about how I was being perceived by others. Let me just say how crippling and destructive that can be.

    I have done a lot of maturing and growing since then. I am thankful that I have gained the perspective to put the approval of others in its proper place. (Yes, there is a need for it as long as it is well balanced.) I am also grateful that I wasn’t being hypocritical when I was teaching my daughter the importance of being comfortable in her own skin, and that beauty is not altered by superficial things like glasses.

     Knowing this has been the key to success for me on this quest for health. Before when I dieted, it was always with an intensity that was fueled by how I looked to others. I was looking for my self-worth in a smaller size of pants. This led to some very unhealthy methods of taking the weight off. I always gained it back and ended up feeling worse about myself in the end.

    This time is drastically different.  Of course, I am excited to look and feel better. I celebrate with glee each time I fit into pants that I couldn’t before. The difference lies in my motivation. I am doing this for my family and myself because I want us to be active and healthy.  I no longer define myself by how I look. The reasons are too numerous and in-depth for this blog, but the special women of Fitopia are a big part of that. Thanks ladies. J

Just a Girl and Her Shoes...

Last night, as I was getting ready to relax after a long, busy, and active day, I took my shoes off and sat down on the couch. As I was sitting there thinking about the amazing walk I had with some friends, I casually glanced at my shoes. My shoes, the same shoes that were my very first reward to myself, back when I started my weight loss journey. There is nothing special about these shoes; they are black, with a splash of my signature color (purple!), but really just normal cross trainers. As I sat there looking at them, I realized that they are so much more.

Those shoes have been with me through it all. They have seen every workout. They have been there with me while I sweat like crazy, pushed myself beyond what I thought my limits were. They saw the tears of frustration when I wasn't reaching my goals. They are the one thing that has been constant throughout this journey. The workouts have changed, the goals have changed, and even the people I spend my workout time with have changed. My shoes, however, have remained the same.

Now I know some of you are reading this and thinking "Um, they are just SHOES!". Yes. But, they are my shoes. Purchasing them was one of the first things that I did to make me a better me. They were an investment in my health, and they made all of the difference in my workouts. They helped me reach my goals. They supported me when I was kicking butt at 5 in the morning. I wasn't ready to workout until they were on my feet.

Almost 4 years have gone by since I bought those shoes, and they weren't doing their job of supporting me anymore. So, I bought a new pair of shoes. They are totally different than my old ones. Different support, different colors (BRIGHT colors), and instead of cross trainers they are high performance trainers. These shoes, I am told, are more suited to the type of workouts that I do. So my old workout shoes are now my everyday "running to here and there" shoes. I don't know how I feel about my new shoes yet. They are a bit more bold than what I am used to, but as long as they do the job they are supposed to do, that 's all I ask.

So here we are starting our journey together, making new goals, sweating new sweat. I am gonna reach my goals, and I am happy to have a "constant" going on the journey with me, even if it's just shoes.

Check us out!!! We made our local paper, The Middlefield Post :0) Great article by our very own... Sarah! http://www.middlefieldpost.com/publication/mfp_current.php We are on page 8.

65 and SUNNY!!!

Good Morning, Friends! I am excited about today! The weather is going to be gorgeous. I have fun things planned. I have a new top on and look smokin' hot! (If I do say so myself!)

ONE MONTH TO GO!! Can you believe we are two thirds of the way through?!?! Well, the first installment, anyhow. I'm hearing about people getting close and hitting some milestones! How exciting! I'm shooting for a big one myself. I have a number that I'd like to see by weigh-in. Let me tell you, if I hit that, I may just lose my mind!!!!

Let's go, Ladies. We can finish this strong!

T Love

Twice Baked Cauliflower- Seriously YUMMY!!!

I tried out this recipe this week when I made dinner for my little brother.  It was very delicious so I though I would share.  This is great for Low Carb Eating.

Twice Baked Cauliflower

 

Here is the link to get the recipe, ENJOY!!!

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2006/09/twice-baked-cauliflower-recipe.html 

I did change the sour-cream and cream cheese to regular as opposed to the low fat. If you are watching your fat, you would want to stick to the recipe as is.

Happy losing, 

Becky

Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.

What a week! This has been a very trying week for me on so many levels. But through it all, my Gurlz have been AMAZING!!! I can't help but think of when we started this, we never knew what Fitopia Gurlz would come to mean to us. As I think about the conversations we have had over the last couple of months and the time we have spent together exercising, laughing and having fun, our relationships  are growing and going deeper than what we have experienced in the past. Our county has faced a major tragedy and it has affected everyone who lives here in one way or another. For me it has hit a little closer to home because of those involved. My gurlz have been such a beautiful source of strength, love, and support. Praying for me, sending me words of encouragement, texting me, emailing me and just stopping in to give me a hug. I am reminded of the scripture Romans 12:15, Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. We have definitely rejoiced together but this week has been a time of mourning and they have walked this out with me as they too have felt the effects of this tragedy. 

There have been a couple things I have learned during this time...

1.  If your hurting and struggling it is important to reach out to those who are around  you and let them know. I remember the President of my college use to say "Don't suffer in silence" (Dr. Don Meyer). I kept hearing that gentle reminder as the tragedy of the week unfolded. I had to make the effort of letting my Gurlz know where I was at. 
2.  One quick way to make yourself feel better is to help someone else feel better. I had that opportunity this week when I received a call from one of my little brothers while he was on the school bus. He wanted to know if he could come and hang out with me that evening because he had a hard day and was feeling really sad and knew I could cheer him up (if that doesn't make a big sisters heart melt). In my own grief, I seriously did not know how I was going to do that but I would never refuse his request. The only thing I could think of was, LORD HELP! I picked him up. made a healthy dinner (which he loved by the way) and as I made dinner he hung out with me in my kitchen and we talked about this tragedy that occurred. We took turns expressing how we felt about it while the other one listened. It is one of those bittersweet moments for me. So happy that he chose me to be with and talk to but so sad that at his age he has had to experience this tragedy. He is one special young man, I was so proud to hear his heart of compassion as he expressed his thoughts. 
3. CHOOSING to not let my emotions sabotage my healthy food choices and exercise habits. This became a serious challenge for me. I have been an emotional eater as far back as I could remember. I ate because I was happy, I ate because I was sad and needed comfort. This tragedy evoked in me the latter. As I told my Gurlz in a personal note, I have never wanted to reach for my beloved french fries and Doritos more. It was seriously a struggle! It forced me to reevaluate what I really wanted, the food or comfort, they are two different things. I realized that what I really needed was comfort so that is when I reached out to my Gurlz to let them know I was struggling and I was met with so much love. It filled me and has lasted so much longer than the fries or Doritos ever could. Through God's grace I continued to press through without giving in to the old habit of finding comfort in food. Thank you, LORD!!!! That's another victory for you and me :0)
4. Choosing to to be proactive in lifting my mood and relieving the stress of the situation through exercise... it really works! I had heard that exercise relieves stress and releases the "feel good" chemicals in our brains to help us feel better. "They" suggest to people who are struggling with depression to exercise for the natural release of these chemicals in the brain. I have started a regular exercise regime but the temptation to forgo it, was SUPER STRONG... I just didn't feel like it. This honestly is where the "rubber meets the road" so to speak. My new healthy life style has to flow into every area of my life including thinking and doing what I know to do even when everything within me wants to revert back to the way it was... So back to my little brother being over. I decided that after our healthy dinner  we were going to exercise too.  He was game! So that's what we did for the next hour and a half. We made the workout fun and when it was all said and done, we were feeling pretty good. Plus, it wore him out for a better nights sleep :0) When I went to take him back home he expressed how much better he was feeling and thanked me for the AWESOME dinner (his words) and for the fun workout. He also said AGAIN  he knew that I could cheer him and how much he loved me and how much fun he always has when he comes over to my house. Talk about someone feeling really good!!!

This week has shown me beyond the shadow of a doubt that what we have in place right now with Fitopia Gurlz is so much more than just workout buddies. Like I mentioned before, we our growing in so many ways, emotionally, relationally, mentally and spiritually as we continue to shrink physically! I love this group of Gurlz more than words can say. They are beautiful inside and out and I am so proud to call each one my friend. Each one of them radiates a beauty so uniquely their own, breathtakingly exquisite!

Thank you, Fitopia Gurlz
Love you bunches,
Becky

Chardon- ONE HEARTBEAT- Once a Hilltopper, ALWAYS a Hilltopper!!!! Love you and am praying for you!!!