My First Appointment & 3-Day Detox

 My first appointment went so much better than I expected!  I was so nervous that I actually brought the boys with me for support.  Thank goodness they are in virtual learning, so they did their last class in the car while Mom had her first appointment.  

Please excuse the unedited video, but I wanted to capture my thoughts before I truly begin this journey, and I've got enough on my plate than to try an edit a video.  I am a newbie at the whole editing, so I'm sure my videos are going to be cringy at the beginning. Please be patient with me, and if anyone has any video editing tips for me I'd love to hear them!

I was so nervous and it didn't hit me why until I was actually in my appointment.  It's not the weight loss itself, it's the emotions behind it.  There is so much more than weight that I am carrying around, and I've been so consumed with other things that this realization is just now dawning on me.

Lab Results

All the lab work came back perfect, with the exception of my blood sugar.  It was 101, which isn't too horribly high, but it's still something to keep an eye on.  My doctor thinks because my diet has been so high in processed sugar that it could be what's causing it to elevate, but one good thing about having a diabetic child is constantly having the supplies to check if need be.  She's not too concerned, since I am starting a new eating regimen, so I am not going to be concerned either.

The Plan

For the first month I will be going back to the doctor weekly to see how I am doing on my plan.  We are starting the first three days with a detox, which I figured we most likely would, but it's totally doable.  I will be taking a new supplement, and after my detox will add a weight loss prescription.  This is just to kickstart my weight loss and will not be something I continue on long term.  This truly is to give me a strong start, while helping me with my eating habits, which is my number one focus.

For the detox, I am pretty much following a strict keto diet, with just meats, green vegetables, and a ton of water.  I can have unlimited meat, which is great, though I am not a big meat eater, but L has been grilling a lot more since we moved into the house, and is more than happy to help me out.  I love salads, so getting in all those green vegetables shouldn't be a problem.  My only issue is I can't eat meat "dry" and the only dressings I'm allowed to have is low calorie (just for the detox).  I HATE low calorie anything.  I swear I can taste the "fake" and it grosses me out!

Once my detox is finished, I will start my actual plan on Saturday, along with my new medication.  My doctor has went over everything I am taking and feels confident in the medication that she chose for me, but wanted to play it safe and have me start on a Saturday, just to be on the safe side.  I cannot wait to get started!!  

I am a little nervous, especially since my sugar cravings are close to that of someone being addicted to cocaine, but I am praying throughout this whole process, and letting the Lord, and you guys, be my strength.  The support I've received just in these past 24 hours has been amazing. I am truly blessed.

I also have to track all my food on MyFitnessPal so my doctor can see my eating habits, so if you're on the app friend me! I could use the support on there as well.  My username is CherryPie0420.

Weight Tracking

For the first week I have to weigh myself first thing in the morning, after I pee, completely naked, and take a photo of the scale.  I used to weigh myself daily when I lost the weight the first time, so no problem.  I also took my before photos, and didn't think to wear anything cute, so I'm sure it looks bad.  My doctor doesn't want to show me until I hit my goal weight so that I can see how far I've come.

My hashtag for this journey began with #140x40, as in I want to be 140lbs by my 40th birthday (May 2021), but my doctor feels this will be too slim for me, so my official goal is 150lbs, which is how much I weighed when I married L in 2013.❤️

 

My 32nd birthday 2013

  Follow Up

   I go back to the doctor next Wednesday to do my weekly weigh in,  look at my food journal, and talk about how I am feeling on my new medication.  I couldn't be more excited.

This time truly does feel different.  Having a doctor that is supporting me through the whole process, how focused I've felt about finally losing the weight, feeling the hope that I feel deep inside.  For the first time in a very long time I actually feel happy.  I feel content.  I truly believe that I am right where I need to be at the right time, and it feels awesome.

I will be posting the next few days about my detox, since I know I am going to need an outlet.  My biggest feat is the sugar cravings and the fact that my doctor said I will most likely be tired and feel off for the first few days as my body adjusts.  I hope my body adjusts quickly!

My game plan is to keep myself as busy as possible.  The boys are in virtual learning, so that helps keep me busy for a large part of the day, plus my book review book stack is insane, so I'm sure I will get lost in a few books, and the time will zoom by!  The number one thing is listening to my body and following my doctor's instructions.  That and water...lots and lots of water...

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STRONG

Well Hello 2016!!!  Two weeks late! LOL  Gotta love it...

I finally started feeling human this past weekend thank goodness!  I've been deathly sick since right after Christmas and let me tell you I am SO over it!  This week has been spent getting caught up on housework (three boys left to their own devices...let your imagination go with that one) and getting ready for our new Bible study group that started yesterday.

This crud is sticking around for awhile apparently as I am still not feeling super great so I am listening to my body and taking things moment by moment.  It's my head that is the worst.  I can deal with a cough and body aches but I've been battling some sick migraines and those pretty much render me powerless.  Not the best start to the year but like my MIL said maybe I'm getting all the sickness out of the way at the beginning of the year.  How's that for a positive spin?

Every year I choose a word to focus on for that year.  This year I chose STRONG and I chose this word for several reasons.

Stronger In My Faith

First and foremost I want to become stronger in my faith. My belief in my Lord, Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life and its time to get stronger in that belief.  Even though I've been a believer since I was 16 I have not always lived my life that way.  When our family joined Crossroads in 2014 I rededicated myself to my faith and have grown since that time but I want more.  I want to be in the Word more.  I want to be able to witness more and give more of myself.  I want power behind my prayers.  I just want more.

I am tired of feeling ashamed of what I believe because of some Christians giving that title a bad rap or being labeled a "goodie goodie."  For me, it's not about that.  It's about living my life for a higher purpose.  I know people are going to judge me but let them judge.  If they're not going to judge me about my faith then those same people will find something else to judge me for so whatever.  I want to live my life where I can reach people without words and let my life be a testimony of what I believe.

Stronger In MySelf

With my faith getting stronger I want to become stronger in who I am as a person.  I have an extremely low self-esteem and have spent the majority of my life as a people pleaser and not being true to who I was born to be.  In doing that I have lost who I am and quite honestly feel lost as a person.  I care so much about what other people think of me that it shadows my true self.

My goal is to get out of this people-pleaser mentality and be true to myself.  I also want to discover more about who I am and what I like.  There are those things that I definitely know are Christi but there are some areas that are gray and I want to bring those gray areas to light.  I'm excited to discover more of my loves and passions and hope that the journey will help me realize the path I want to pursue as far as a career.  I have some thoughts but I'm not 100% sure and I want to KNOW my purpose.

Physically Stronger

Then there is the strength I want to physically find.  I am SO ready to get this fat off me for good and pursue one of my known passions: bodybuilding.  I've always been fascinated with people that can transform their bodies just by moving more, lifting more weights, and eating healthier.  It's one of the few things in life that YOU have control over and I am ready to take that control back!

I finished up my Flavilicious challenge and needed a new plan so I went on bodybuilding.com while I was down and found a new program called Dymatize Transformed and I thought perfect!  I've missed a few workouts since I started due to the busyness this week but I think it's a great way to start 2016!  

I really want to focus more on gaining muscle and increasing my PR's and not just on losing weight though I know that'll be an added bonus. ;)

My in-laws purchased a 24 Day Challenge for me from Advocare and I started that on Monday along with thousands of others around the world for their All-In challenge.  If I wouldn't have had these supplements this week I don't think I would've functioned as well as I have!  I think Advocare is going to definitely play a part in my gains this year.

I cannot WAIT to see where this year takes me and my family!

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What's My Problem?

The first full week of October has been rough.  My pain is back full force, still fighting depression, and I don't know about you guys but this allergy season has been the worst for me.  Usually I battle allergies more in the spring but this year it's fall for the win!

Yesterday I tried to start back on the 21 Day Fix eating plan and lasted half a day until I got so hungry I started shaking and then it was a free for all.  I did make healthier choices though there was a lot of cheese but I did not get the workout in.

I have started walking to pick my son up from school instead of driving to pick him up and found out that's a 15 minute walk and my iWatch counts it as workout minutes. Sweet!  I am also try to get 5,000 steps each day for October and this has helped me get close to my goal but I'm still not there.  Right now I am averaging anywhere between 2,000-4,000 steps a day depending on how I feel and what's going on that day and that just doesn't cut it for me.  My goal is to get up to 10,000 steps per day but I am really trying to break that up into smaller, attainable goals thus the 5,000 for October.

I am realizing something about my many failed healthy eating and workout attempts that I think rings true for many people:

I do not like to feel restricted 

I think this is where my problem starts.  Every time I try to count calories or just stick to a certain meal plan I always fail because I don't like being told I can't eat or drink something.  So now I am trying to figure out what I can make of that.  Maybe instead of restricting myself I can add goals like a certain number of servings of vegetables per day or watching my portions instead of counting calories.

I really want to get to the bottom of why I continue to fail.  It's like in some sick way I don't want myself to succeed though that's what I want more than anything right now!  There must be other people out there like me.  I'm not alone in this right?  What have other people done to find out what makes them succeed?  Well, that's what I'm going to try to figure out.  I have to fight for my health and right now everything I've tried has failed.

A friend of mine started Jenny Craig and so far as lost 15lbs but at this point there is no way I can afford to do that.  I just feel so discouraged.  I was really hoping October would be my month and so far it hasn't been BUT I still have a few weeks to turn things around right? ;)

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Only By Grace Joins SparkPeople

Last week while my mind was in a complete haze and I suddenly had hours and hours to think about things and life I realized just how much I hate my body.  I can't stand it!  I'm not comfortable the way I am right now and I remembered I've been here before.

It was April 2009.  I was sick in bed on a Saturday afternoon.  I got up to make everyone dinner and then went to lay back down.  I was in tears because it took all my energy to take care of my family and the past few years had been like this.  I was sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time.

Being a one income family didn't leave any room for extra expenses so I grabbed my laptop and searched on Google "free weight loss programs."  That's when I found out about SparkPeople for the first time.  I signed up immediately and thus began my first weight loss journey.  I kept up my journey until I got married and after that I stopped signing on.  I figured I didn't need it anymore.  I had hit my goal and that was that.  I had maintained my goal weight for a year and life was going good so I just left it alone.

That is until this last week when I remembered the last time I felt this was April 2009 when enough was enough and I had taken action and lost 60+ pounds.  I logged in and looked at my old page.  I couldn't believe how much I had changed from then to now.  In the two years since I've been on I've gained all that weight back PLUS!  It actually discouraged me so much I logged off and decided it was time for a new beginning so I signed up again and this time I am OnlyByGrace0420 because it truly is only by grace that I am here today and April 20th is the day my life changed forever.  I married my best friend and started my new and wonderful life.  I never felt more hope than I did on that day and I always want to remember how that felt.

I've been back on there for a week and it's been a struggle.  I remember just how much I hate logging food (though I know right now I need to) but I also remembered how amazing the community is!  I've already "met" two girls that are almost exactly in the same boat that I am in and are just as determined as me!

When I signed up again it helped me create a weight loss goal:

How perfect is this!!  April 2016 L and me will celebrate 5 wonderful years together and 3 years being married.  :)

I have a feeling this time will be different for me and if you too are on SparkPeople or would like to join look me up!!  I could use the support and you know I'll be there for you too.

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Employed No More

Life has came on me pretty hard and I have had some major turmoil.

The biggest cause for turmoil is I am no longer employed.  The decision was by my own choosing but it was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in a long time.  My family relies on my income so me leaving my job was not something that was not taken lightly.

I left mainly for moral and ethical reasons.  I was being asked to do things that were unethical and I did not feel right doing what was asked of me so there was pretty much an ultimatum.  Either I complied or I left.  So I left.  I felt horrible not putting in my notice but just the thought of going back to that place one more time made me physically ill.  When a job starts to affect you both mentally and physically its time to bounce.  There are some things that money just cannot buy and health and happiness are two of those things.

This week has been a huge adjustment.  I feel like I've been in a daze.  My head is constantly hurting and I don't know what to do with myself.  My house is getting a lot cleaner and I love being able to drop off and pick up my boys but I am already feeling the financial pressure on me big time.  I would give more details but I promised my husband that I would not say much about it BUT if you are a prayer warrior our family could use a lot of prayer right now.  I'll just leave it at that.

So what now?

Well...I'm not 100% sure.  I really want to change careers completely and go back to school but financially there is just no way right now.  I'm debating on finding something else in my field or just get some meaningless whatever job to help get us by and go back to school part time.  If this was a perfect situation and we didn't rely so heavily on my income I would just go back to school and enjoy my kids and being a stay-at-home wife/mom but it doesn't look like its going to work out that way.

I am just praying and continuously giving it all to the Lord.  It's all too big for me.

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Let's DO This! Goal Setting Sunday

Here I am today and here are the few stats I am comfortable to share right now. ;) 

Weight: 186lbs
Height: 5'7
Feeling: Like I am ready to get over the crud and get some of this fat off my body!!

Faith

I have been struggling with finding the time for a real Bible study.  I think the craziness of summer just makes it all harder so I am going to put that on hold for a few weeks.  I cannot believe school will be starting in less than a month! 

• Audio Bible in a Year in the morning
• Personal devotional at lunch
• Nightly devotional/prayer time with the family

Fitness

My MIL and me are still going for three mornings this week so that is happening.  She has been doing cardio but I am going to start back on my Full-Body-Licious.  Flavia inspires me on a daily basis and I've seen how awesome she's done since she had her daughter and I know if she can do it so can I! 

• Full-Body-Licious three mornings before work
• 3 15-minute cardio sessions either on the elliptical or treadmill
• Dance time with the boys at least once this week

Food

Right now my supplements have been the only consistent thing in my journey to health.  I've been faithfully taking Advocare since MIL came to visit us in June and got me back on track.  Before the crud I was starting to feel better so I'm going to continue with my Spark and MNS3.

As far as meal planning I am still struggling with this one majorly so I am going to break this goal up into smaller goals and hopefully in the next month or two I will be a meal planning fool!  

• Eat every 2-3 hours
• Eat one veggie at every meal/snack
• Start working on food categories in Evernote

I hope and pray that this week I can stay focused on my goals.  My problem is I will write them all out and then the busyness of the week engulfs me and I forget until next week.  I really do not want that to happen.  I hope to keep this blog going all through my journey and one day have reached the changes I so long to see in myself and I will have my journey documented.  How amazing will that be??

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." -Hebrews 11:1

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Accountability

I have the best mother-in-law in the world.  I love this woman SO much!  She is a huge inspiration to me and I feel so blessed to have her in my life.  I hear all these horror stories about crazy mother-in-laws but I was lucky enough to get one of the good ones.  She is not only family but quickly becoming one of my best friends even though she lives over 8 hours away from me.  She has breast cancer for the second time and seeing what all she has been through and is going through with such grace and faith is so inspiring.  I want to be her when I grow up. :)

Me and my mother-in-law getting ready for the wedding.
Not the best picture but its the first one of just the two of us and I
will always treasure it. :)

She found out she had cancer a few months after my hysterectomy.  Up to that point we both had been losing weight and feeling awesome.  As you all know my hysterectomy has made me gain almost 40lbs and the chemo has made her gain quite a bit as well.

Her and my niece came to stay with us a few weeks at the beginning of the summer and we talked a lot about how we are ready to change but how life can get in the way.  We talked about how our faith is growing and wanting the Lords will for our lives.  I cried when they left.  It was so great to have someone so positive around the house.  It was refreshing to have a different perspective on things.  It was amazing to watch someone that is dealing with cancer have so much zest for life even after getting a raw deal.

We have been calling and texting a lot more since they left so I wasn't very surprised when she texted me early last week.  What she said to me stuck with me that entire day...

Are you ready to be held accountable?

During our many lengthly discussions we had talked a lot about me being scared.  How I have lived so much of my life in fear.  How I have let that fear stop me from doing so many amazing things in my life and how that fear had fueled a lot of very bad decisions.  I told her I am tired of fear and I am ready to step out in faith.  I am ready to not be afraid of failing.  Knowing my mother-in-law is there watching what I do on MyFitnessPal and when she calls me at 5:30am to get up and work out is a big time motivator.

Pinterest

We are starting out slow.  Last week it was two mornings and this week our goal is three mornings at least 20 minutes and tracking our food.  We both bombed this weekend which I think is so funny but we are both back on track today.  It really makes a difference knowing you have someone that not only has your back but is on this journey with you.

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Time To Think & Another Flavia Challenge!

I'm not sure if its the flu or what but I have been sick since this weekend.  Went into work on Monday and barely lasted the day.  I came home, crawled into bed, and have been there ever since.  I can't miss anymore work so I am up right now and "thinking" myself well. So far its not working too well but I seriously cannot afford to be sick.

I don't know about you guys but when I am sick I think...a lot.  I remember getting super sick April 2009.  I cried on the couch because I was so fed up with feeling sick and being 50+ pounds overweight.  I got my laptop and searched "free weight loss programs" and SparkPeople popped up.  I joined immediately and never looked back.  By July 2010 I hit my goal and was 130lbs.  It was such an incredible feeling but I did not lose the weight the way you would think.  I went through a horrible "life change" and pretty much starved myself thin.  I wasn't fit at all.  I was skinny fat.

Over the next year I would turn my life around and with my happiness came the weight gain.  I quickly got on a plan to lose the 20 "happy" pounds I'd gained and was starting to lose when I had to stop for my surgery.  That was August 2013.  Since then I've gained 30 more pounds and hit 171 last week.  My "fat" pants are tight and I refuse to go shopping.  My first New Years Resolution is to get back to the 130's and today I am starting my journey to that goal.

My girl Flavia is doing another challenge that started on Monday and I just signed up!

Here are some pics I took last month after my only workout in December.  AND I've gained 6 pounds since then! :(

Taking my measurements earlier was SO hard!  I've stepped on the scale a few times since my surgery but I've never taken measurements.  Man I have gained so much!  My body fat is up 5% and I've gained almost 10 inches all over my body.  It makes me sick but hey-it is what it is right?  I am still recovering from major surgery so I'm not going to be too hard on myself.

As far as eats I am really trying to find quick and easy.  My goal is to get more whole foods into my diet and find healthy, quick, and easy meals that I can make for the family.  This time instead of doing this challenge on my own I am going to include not only my family but the Flavilicious forums.  I can't do this alone.

It's time for action baby!  No excuses!

Photo Credit

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2014: A New Chapter

For those of you that do not already know I am a major bookworm.  I am usually reading at least 3-4 books all at the same time and they vary from Christian books to Stephen King and everything in between.  I am a huge history buff especially when it comes to the 1960's (thanks Dad!) and pretty much read anything about the Beatles, JFK, Vietnam, and the Civil Rights movement.  It amazes me how so much was going on at one point in time but that's a whole other blog post in itself! ;)

I say all of this about my bookwormness (is that a word???) because that is how I view my life...in chapters.  I have my childhood which is Chapter 1.  Then Chapter 2 is when my parents went through their divorce which was when I was 11.  Chapter 3 was those oh-so-fun teenage years, 4 was my first marriage and becoming my mom and of course Chapter 5 started April 20th when I married my LouLou. Granted there are sub-chapters in each major chapter and many of those sub-chapters begin January 1st.

Photo Credit

It's something about a new year that makes you reflect over the past year and celebrate the accomplishments and mourn the things that didn't go your way and people you've lost.  I am blessed to say that this year I have not lost anyone close to me.  My grandmother is not doing great so I have a feeling that 2014 I will not be able to say the same but for 2013 all my family and close friends are still here with me.  I have put another year in at my job and actually was promoted this year!  I married my best friend, paid off my car, and am on a path to being debt free very soon.

This year also brought some very hard things too.  The effects of my hysterectomy are almost too much to bear which is why I haven't been on here that much.

Since I last posted I have ballooned 25 pounds and this is without changing anything.  I've read a lot about it and apparently this is a thing but I hate it.  I have been beating myself up about it but it is what it is and I have to accept that I am starting 2014 almost 50lbs overweight.  It's also still a struggle that I will never have kids again.  I didn't realize how much having more kids meant to me until I was told I couldn't.  I struggle with it pretty much every day and pray with time that my wounds will heal.  I just hug the two little rugrats I have and enjoy the heck out of them!

I have also been working a TON of overtime which leaves little room for anything else but thank goodness our new guy starts next week which will help take some pressure off of me.

Photo Credit

I have high hopes for this next year.  I don't want to say 'resolutions' because that seems to jinx it somehow but my goals for this next year is to:

---->  Get back in the 130's!!
---->  Blog more! ;)
---->  Go back to school!
---->  Look more into figure competitions (one of my secret dreams)

I haven't decided if I want to focus more on a certification or go back for a degree but I am going to go back to some type of school.  I really want to focus on nutrition and would love to finally get my PT certification.  I have always wanted to compete in a figure competition but have been so chicken but I am hoping by the end of 2014 I can say that I've either competed or I am prepping for my first show.

Just saying a few of my goals gets me so pumped!!  This year is going to be awesome and I am so glad I am starting the new year with you guys!

See in you in 2014!!! xoxo

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Getting Super Shredded!! Goal: April 2014

When L and me got our wedding pictures back we went from happy to mortified.  We had ordered a wedding book with all the best pictures and as we sat there flipping from page to page we both realized one thing: we got fat!  If it wasn't me exclaiming "Ew my chin!" or "Ew my arms!" it was him saying, "What happened to my neck?"  How did this happen?? I can tell you right now what it is:  I married a man that loves to eat...and not just eat but eat OUT!

After my Thanksgiving binge I weighed myself and tears welled up in my eyes.  165.  I haven't seen that number in YEARS.  My highest weight ever was 184 and my plateau when I started losing was 165 so seeing that number scared me big time.  I can't believe I let myself get this bad.  In the three years I've known Louie I have went from 128 (skinny fat) to 165 (flabby fat).  It makes me sad but even more than that it makes me MAD.  I promised myself I would NEVER get back up past 150 and here I am.  Do you know what I do when I get mad???

Natalie Jill Fitness

I get a plan and I get determined!!

I've been following Natalie Jill for awhile and have been wanting to purchase her 12 Week Super Shred but something has always came up so when I received an email about a Black Friday deal I was all over it.

This weekend I have been devouring every piece of information and getting a plan together so I can begin ASAP.  I know my first thing is setting a goal.  Louie and me discussed it and decided April 20, 2014, our one-year anniversary, we are going to hit our goal together and get new pictures taken that we can be proud of.

I also wrote out a contract to keep myself accountable.  I posted it on Instagram earlier and Natalie Jill herself commented on it!!  Talk about motivation!! :)

Something about this time feels different.  Having my husband and Natalie Jill rooting for me helps. ;)  Like Natalie says...

Things don't just happen, You MAKE them happen!

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'Tis the Season To Be Healthy?

Happy Black Friday!!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I spent my entire day with family and it was amazing.

My grandparents were able to drive up and see everyone and seeing my grandmother broke my heart.  You can tell how the strokes have aged her.  I told my dad I'm so scared this is the last Thanksgiving with her and he told me he felt the same. :(

Me and my cousin, Tommy

Now that Thanksgiving, and my super sugar binge, is over its time to get back on track!  I have been feeling a bit better this last week but work has been so overwhelming its been hard for me to stay on track as far as eating.  I don't know about you guys but food has always been my problem.  I love smoothies and fresh juices but my juicer is a centrifugal juicer so you need to drink the juice soon after you make it.  I am saving to get a masticating juicer which allows you to juice and have some time before you drink it but good gosh are those buggers expensive!  Thus began a search for a cheaper alternative.

Photo Credit

Hello Nutribullet and thank you Kohl's cash and whomever gave me a Kohl's gift card for a wedding present for making this purchase possible. ;)

I've had a Magic Bullet in the past and used it so much that I blew the motor out.  I have a Ninja blender but I was wanting something I could take with me to work so I could make smoothies there and that Ninja base isn't going anywhere but my kitchen counter.  So my amazing, super analytical husband did some research and found the Nutribullet was probably going to be my best bet.  After a freezing cold trip to Kohl's I came home with this baby.

I made me a kale and apple smoothie for breakfast yesterday and all I can say is...YUM!!!  Awesome purchase and so worth the moolah in my opinion.  I'm about to make my son a carrot and apple smoothie so he can see it in action and get a healthy breakfast at the same time.

I really want to start the holiday season on the right foot and I am SO ready to get this nasty, disgusting flab off my body.  Since I've gotten married I've gained 30lbs.  I blame marital bliss and the hysterectomy but I am so tired of excuses.  I am ready to claim my body back and hopefully having this little gadget is going to get me one step closer.

I hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving and if any of you are crazy enough to go out today please be safe.  People get crazy this time of year, am I right???

Hahaha!!!  Truth...

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Ever Heard of Everest?

I'll admit that I am an app junkie.  I don't keep a ton of them but I try out pretty much everything that piques my interest.  We had a birthday party on Saturday and didn't get home until after 2am so L and me slept in yesterday and when we woke up we were both on our phones.  I had a few updates so I was in the App store and one of the featured app this week was on called Everest.  After reading the bio it was downloaded and I have been hooked ever since!

This is a screen shot of my main page.  What you do is you have one main goal and that is your "Everest" then you can have other goals which are your "Dreams".  Here are my dreams so far...

There is a community within the app too that lets you see what other people's goals are and you can even select which ones inspire you.  I am happy to say that I've already inspired 5 people!  That makes me so happy. :)

If you haven't checked out the Everest app you should!  If you search "Everest goals" you should find it.  As you can see my Everest right now is "Eating Healthier" and I have already taken several steps including finding a nutrition program that works for me and I started logging again in MyFitnessPal!  Search "Christi Flores" and I will pop right up (my pic is a gorgeous sunrise I took a few months ago) and I would love for you to add me!

Even if you choose not to download the app I'd love to hear what your goals are for this week in the comments. :)

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Ups and Downs

Yes, I've been MIA.

There is no excuse other than busyness and life.

I entered The Best of Flavilicious Workouts Challenge in August and its going pretty well.  I am learning that the biggest key in doing a challenge is the life challenges.  Work has really picked up and since school started I've been getting off at 3 to pick up my boys.  I love that I am getting more time with my kids but the extra time is usually spent fighting the boys on homework.  My oldest is learning that 3rd grade is no joke and homework is a nightly thing!  I'm working on a schedule right now that will hopefully help keep a focus on time and help us all be able to get done what we need to get done.

I love that the Flavilicious challenge tells you what your workout is going to be.  Having that already mapped out is a huge help.  I've put the entire schedule in my calendar so all I have to do is pull up my day and see what I am going to be doing.  Now if I could get a good after school schedule going I will be set!

Another awesome thing about this challenge is it also focuses on your eating.  I've always had a problem with food and with this challenge I am learning SO much!  Right now my main goal is having two servings of vegetables with every snack/meal.  It sounds so easy but its harder than what you think especially when you're only used to getting 1-2 servings of veggies per day.

The Best of Flavalicious Workouts Challenge has been my up lately.

Now my down....

I have my hysterectomy scheduled for October 4th which is right at the halfway point of the challenge so I probably won't be able to finish the fitness part of the challenge.  My plan is to really focus on my clean eats while I'm down and really start to build that habit.

Emotionally I am trying to handle things as best as possible but I'm not going to lie...it's hard.  I really did want another baby but I know that the Lord has a plan for me that gives me hope and a future and I take comfort in that.

I have a little over two weeks until the surgery so until then I am trying to push past the pain and do what I can do.  I know getting fitter will help my recovery time so I am trying to stay as focused as possible.  This weekend has been spent on the couch but I am about to try to fit in a workout and get myself up.

I will try not to make it too long next time.  I need a place to vent and this is a great place to keep me focused on what I need to be focused on. ;)

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New Challenge

Tomorrow starts the official Full-body-licious 12 week challenge!!

I'm pretty excited considering the fact that I need some mucho motivation right now.  I'm not sure what has been wrong with me lately but my consistency has been awful!  BUT there is nothing like a good challenge that will help you get your head back in the game.

Nutrition is my biggest struggle right now so this week my focus is to get every workout done on the beginner level which is to go through each set once and to plan my meals as best as I can.  Tomorrow is going to be a struggle since we really don't have much food in the house and both L and me had zilch for motivation to do anything so I am going to have to wing it and make the best choices that I can.  Hopefully by this time next week I will be a meal planning whiz!

Meal planning has always been my downfall.  I've studied about macros but for some reason it still confuses me so I am going to track everything in MyFitnessPal and have them show me where I fall short.

I am starting the challenge the same weight I have been for the past few weeks: 154 but my goal is by the end of the challenge to be in the 130's and having some muscle!  

Here's to a new challenge and new beginnings!!! 

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A New Goodie & My Plan For This Week

Pic courtesy of accessories.androidxiphone.com

Look what my man bought me today!!!  What I love about it is that I put my phone in it with the case on  it!!  I've been doing a little research trying to find one that will do that but they are harder than you'd think.  We got this one for $30 at Fry's.  Not a bad investment if I don't have to fuss with my phone which is exactly what I did every time I went to the gym last week.  I need the least amount of distractions.

The only downside is I can't look at my workouts like I was.  This also doesn't have to be a bad thing. I see people with notebooks everywhere so maybe I need to dig out a notebook and write out my workouts in there?  My problem is remembering how the moves look.  Maybe I can print out the pictures, cut them out, and put them in a spiral and take that to the gym?  That's a possibility...

the plan

Sunday

Sunday's are my off day and believe me I am ENJOYING it!  I am spending time with my wonderful husband, blessing my house, and planning my week.  It doesn't get much better than this.

Monday

Flavalicious Tight & Trim Thighs

Tuesday

Flavalicious Showoff Stomach

Wednesday

Flavalicous Booty Booster

Thursday

10k Treadmill Training

Friday

Flavalicous Sleek & Shapely Shoulders

Saturday

Flavalicious Beautiful Backside

I am going to try to get up at 5am and do my workouts and then hit the gym after work to finish it up that way I can finish the workout.  Last week I struggled with getting my workouts finished in the time I had so hopefully doing a part of my workout in the morning will help.  I am definitely in the trial and error phase of my Flavalicious program and getting back into the fitness thing but I know that planning is a big step.

I am going to DO this!!!

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Reinstated Baby!!

Something I thought would never be possible happened at 8pm tonight...L and me signed up for a gym membership!!!  I've been an on-again, off-again member at this gym and actually had it suspended so I reinstated it, added L and the kiddos and BAM!  I am back baby!!

When we got home we decided to do a few before pics and OMG are my eyes opened!  Here's the front view...

I am really trying hard not to bash myself right now.  This is so much worse than what I thought!  When L and me started dating I was 128lbs and looking good but being in a happy, healthy relationship I put on a few pounds but I never thought it was this bad.  I have been trying to not be photographed much. ;)

The side view isn't too bad but man look at those thighs!  I am woman is all I can say! LOL

To be positive, I am so loving my new hair color and I still love my smile. :)

...and the back view.  I'm no even going to comment.

So here I am, fat rolls and all.  My shorts are a size small and when I met L were actually a little big on me.  I will get back into these and look fierce!  I do have to say that these pics are very unforgiving but I also know the next time I pick up a candy bar I will think about these pics believe you me!

Tomorrow I am going for an MRI.  I am praying they don't find anything wrong but then again I am hoping something comes out of this testing so I can find out what's been wrong with me.  I plan on hitting the gym after work and am going to start with a Beginner Training Program I found on Bodybuilding.com.

Here's to a new fitness beginning!

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