Weight and Inches Lost from Fit February

Hey Guys!  I feel really successful with the month of February.  I had at least 30 minutes of exercise at least 3 days a week, and tried to be as close as possible to my goal calorie intake on My Fitness Pal.  There were some days where I could treat myself to a 90 cal. mini ice cream sandwich because I was still under my goal.  I loved those days. :)

So, by sticking with working out and paying attention to what I am eating, I have lost 3 pounds and 6 inches!

Here are my stats:

Starting weight (beginning of February...sadly, not my heaviest) : 149 lbs.

Measurements:

Arms- R:12 1/2"    L: 12 1/2"

Waist: 31"

Hips: 37"

Butt: 41 1/2"

Thighs- R Upper: 24" Lower: 19 1/2"   L Upper: 24 1/2"  Lower: 20"  I have an inner thigh problem

Ending weight:  146 lbs.

Measurements:

Arms- R: 12"  L:12"

Waist: 30"

Hips: 37"

Butt: 40.5"

Thighs- R Upper: 23"  Lower: 19"   L Upper: 24"  Lower: 19"

There ya have it.  I did all the measurements myself, so I don't know how accurate they are but at least there's some loss!

I was a little disappointed with the actual weight lost.  I thought it would have been more.  I do have to say that I weighed myself today and was actually down to 143!  After a couple weeks of my weight plateauing, it decided to drop.  I am soo close to the 130s, I am going to bust my butt to get there!  What sucks?  Before pregnancy, the heaviest I had ever been was 138.    :/   Oh to be young again.  Ha!
By the end of the month, I noticed a major difference in the way my pants fit.  I didn't feel like I was cutting off the circulation to my stomach.  AND!  My belt is one notch in.  Heck yeah!  I am also starting to see definition in my abs, and my arms and legs are tightening back up!  Yoga is so awesome and can tell that it is having a major impact on transforming my shape.

Plans for March:
SOOOO many people are doing the 10 Day Clean Eating Challenge using Advocare.  I have been interested for a while and thought I would wait and see how all my peeps do before investing in it.
I am also considering buying Jillian's 30 Day Shred DVD.  Once again, I have read and seen lots of great things as long as you stick to it.
I am also thinking about investing more time at the gym/working out on the weekends.  Waking up early and having Brian take care of the Bobe's in the morning.  Guy time, ya know? :)

Well, that's it!  I'll keep you updated as the poundage is lost!

Birthday Wish List: Fit February Style!

My 29th birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and while I will not be at my goal weight as I was hoping here, I am definitely on my way!  With this new attitude to kick butt and take names, I was thinking of all the fun stuff that I would like to have for birthday.

A Bondi Band, preferably this one.  This is meant to keep the sweat off your face.  There have been times during yoga where sweat has been dripping down my nose....real attractive.  I love the colors and the print and $8, you can't beat it.

Fabulous, no?

Either an iPod shuffle or an arm band that will fit my iPhone 5.  I would just clip the shuffle to my shirt/strap and only download workout music on it.  I have taken my phone and headphones to the Y when running on the treadmill there, but the earphone cord is not long enough to reach if I set my phone on the treadmill ledge.  I like the earphones I have because they have a clip to wrap around my ear and stay in place.  This will also help when I start running outside.  We all know music helps get the body pumped!

Love the blue!

This one is awesome because it fits the phone WITH the Otterbox on it.

Moving Comfort Juno Sports Bra.  I have heard this bra is amazing and helps keeps the girls in place.  I am a bit heavy chested so anything to help would be nice.  My girls Mamalaughlin and SkinnyMeg swear by 'em.

Any color would be awesome.

A Polar Heart Rate Monitor watch or Garmin Forerunner 110.  The Polar only measures your heart rate and calories burned, whereas the Garmin does that and tracks running distance and average pace per mile.  It has been frustrating to try and enter calories on MyFitnessPal (username:Farfignoogan) when I do classes like BodyFlow and Zumba.  Even the treadmill calculations are different at the Y and at home.  I would like to be more specific, so I can maximize my weight loss opportunity!  The Garmin is a little more pricey, but I am hoping to step off the treadmill and get outside once the weather warms up and my body gets back its running groove.  Once I gain more confidence in my endurance, I may even look into 10Ks and Half Marathons around here.  WATCH OUT!

Love these colors!


Running Gear.  Old Navy has really cute workout tops and pants, I have heard Lululemon is amazing and would love to own their products, and a new shop that is pretty sweet is Ruffles with Love on etsy.  They sell super cute tanks with funny/encouraging sayings on the front.  Here are some examples of the ones I like:

                                     

 

This one would be perfect if I decided to do a half!

 

HOW CUTE IS THIS FOR WHEN MAMA HAS HER PREGGER BELLY?!!

So....that's it!  Fun workout gear!  I am hoping to post Brody's 18 month update this weekend!  Stay tuned!

Fit February: Some awesome workout apps and my workout schedule

Hey y'all!  So, a couple days ago, I suggested the My Fitness Pal app which is amazing at tracking your calories and diet.  Let's get movin' and groovin' now, shall we?

I'm talking about exercise, baby.  Gettin' yer workout on.  Along with being more conscious of what I eat, I have been sweatin' it up and feeling fabulous.  Really, it's amazing how that spike in endorphins can just make you feel skinny.  Before I share two apps that I love using, I thought I would share the workout schedule I am following right now.

Starting with Monday:  Rest Day.  Sorry to start it off so boring, but really it's the only day that I do absolutely nothing so my muscles can relax a bit.  And it's a Monday.  I always have a case of the Mondays.

Tuesday:  Body Flow at the Y during the day.  I am lucky that I can be flexible while babysitting my niece and taking care of my son and hit the gym for an hour during the day.  If you have never heard of Body Flow, it is a Les Mills class that is like very intense yoga.  When I was much thinner, I went to these classes on the reg and totally saw my body change because of it.  I even took an instructor training class, but decided not to work at the Y since I was starting my student teaching.
So far, I have been going to Zumba at a church on Tues. nights as well.  This will change soon though, because my sister-in-law is starting up a weekly bible study that night.  I might have to add cardio at home on the treadmill.

Wednesday:  Zumba at the Y first thing in the morning and then Body Flow right after 'work.'

Thursday: Same as Tuesday.  Body Flow and Zumba.

Friday:  I take it a little easy on the weekends and have started the Couch to 5K app (which I will talk about in a second :) ).  This is just a 30 minute walk/run (for now) on the treadmill.

Saturday:  So far, I have only been running on the treadmill using the app, but I noticed that the Y has a Vinyasa Yoga class at 9 on Saturday mornings and then a step aerobics class after.  I may try to add those lovelies in this weekend to see how I feel.

Sunday:  C25K app on the treadmill.

AND THIS IS WHY I REST ON MONDAY! :)  haha

So let's talk about this app.  It's awesome.  It's FREE.  and it's so so easy to use.

After you download it, you'll notice that it's a 3 day a week program.  That is actually nice because if you are struggling with it, you can always continue it throughout the week until it is easier for you to get through it.  So far, it has been okay for me.  It transitions nicely.  I LOVE that the screen has the countdown to your next run/walk, and it even has a *beep* and then a voice letting you know to 'begin jogging/walking now,' 'halfway through,' etc.  So, if you were running outside and had your phone strapped around your arm or waist, you would still be cued through your earphones.

 Need some motivation while you're jiggling all over the place?  The Songza app is for you!  Another free one!  This app is so cool.  It recognizes the time of day and day of the week, so on the 'home page' it gives you a few playlist suggestions, such as 'Entertaining Cool Friends' (Friday night), 'Waking Up Happy' (Wednesday morning), or 'Working Out' (Thursday afternoon).  It even has 'Lauren Conrad's Workout Playlist' under 'Popular.'   The really cool thing is that you can still listen to the Songza playlist with your C25K app open, AND the song will quiet so you can still hear the 'beep' and notification to walk or run.  Pretty darn cool.



SO there's that!  Run your buns off!  While listening to fantastic hits like WHOOMP, THERE IT IS!

Fit February: A Tasty 200 calorie snack/breakfast

Hey guys!  Been workin' your buns off?  I have!  Been trackin' your calories on My Fitness Pal?  I have!  Since mid January I have lost about 4 pounds!  woop woop!  I was just trying out a couple different snack foods that could carry me over to my next meal, and I thought that this one was delicious!  The main ingredient is low fat cottage cheese.  Now, I know a lot y'all just said BLECH!  SO, you could replace the cottage cheese with some greek yogurt, but I am not sure of the calorie difference.  Here are the ingredients:

1/2 cup of Low Fat Cottage Cheese

*I chose low fat instead of fat free because you lose all the flavor with FF


1/2 cup cut up strawberries

1/2 cup blueberries




1/4 cup Fiber One cereal (aka rabbit food)



1 Tablespoon of Agave Nectar (aka a quick squirt)





Satisfies the four major food groups:  Crunchy, creamy, tangy, sweet.    Go try it!

I've got another app that is super duper awesome for you tomorrow!  (.....or Thursday)

Fit February

Hey there my blogging amigos!  I have deemed this month.........

Fit February

I have GOT to get in control of this beast!  And by this beast, I mean my body.  I have posted in the past about my time with Weight Watchers and weight loss, but I fell off that wagon after a couple months and during a very busy time (1st birthday season).  

It was when I stepped on the scale and my weight went into the next decade, I knew I had to stop it before it got worse.  

It really started mid-January when I started to run on the treadmill again, got motivated by some fun weight loss blogs, and was graciously given a Y membership.  

So, I am hoping to be more present this month with weight loss updates, foods I am eating, inspiring quotes, cool apps, and great workouts.  I took measurements of different parts of my body and hope to see a decrease in numbers.  (Don't worry--you'll still see cute pictures of my baby boy.  He'll be 18 months on the 10th!)  

I will start you off with an app that I am sure you have heard of, but might now how just how great it is.

My Fitness Pal

source

It is a free app for you to download that will keep a daily food and exercise calorie count.  When you sign up, you enter your current weight and activity information and then input your goal weight.  It will give you a 'budget' of calories for the day and then as you eat and exercise, you track it on your app.  It has SO many different restaurants and products already in the system that you can search for, AND there is even a barcode scanner.  I have had even the most random off brand products display full nutritional info.  When you exercise, it will 'credit' calories back to you and at the end of the day, will tell you 'If you continue to eat like this, you will weigh ___ in 5 weeks.'  That will definitely keep you motivated!  It is available on a bunch of different devices and you can even connect with friends for encouragement and accountability.  My user name is farfignoogan.  I was tired of typing in usernames that were already taken. :)   Here is a super quick review of the app from Redbook magazine online.

I just noticed that they have an online program that does the same thing.  Check it out.

Sign up and get fit with me!

  

Inspire Me: Healthy Week 2

Here we are again, linking up with Raven and Kristen One week later.  I am still doing WW, but I find it hard to sit down and track my points.  Especially on the weekends where the computer is in my in-laws room and I would rather be out on the lake than calculating my lunch.  But I do try to keep an estimated tally in my head and eat clean if I feel I over indulged (like taking a few bites of Brody's birthday cake).  I didn't post my weight or any before pictures last week, and I am still debating.  It sucks being a girl.  That had a baby.  That likes pizza and peanut M&Ms.  For breakfast.

Moving on.....

I was trying to think of another 'tip' or piece of advice to give you...and this quote is what has been going through my mind all week.

source  EDIT::I just saw Raven's blog and she had the same quote.  Ha!

Really, this could say, "One week from now...", "One month from now...", "Six months from now..."  I saw this quote on my Pinterest around New Year's and man, do I wish I would have gotten serious about my weight then.  Because then, I wouldn't have gained 15 more pounds and wouldn't have that much more to lose now.  Ugh.  So, I think I am going to print out this quote and replace the picture that is already next to my treadmill in the garage:

The most ridiculous picture known to mankind.  I got this picture for Brian while we were dating and living in two different states, he in North Carolina and me in Indiana.  I was going to the State Fair with my family and he says, "Win me the most redneck picture you can find."  So, I 'stepped right up' to the dart throwin'/balloon poppin' station and won my baby this gem.  I think I exceeded his expectations.  

But alas, it is time to replace this with yet another inspirational quote.  One that I will look at as I step on the treadmill and think, I AM STARTING TODAY!

I know this week wasn't much, but I hope it inspired you too!  Maybe you could print it out and put it near the place you need it the most!  

Good luck girls.  Make it happen!

Okay, okay.  Here are my stats:

Starting weight: 152 lbs. (the size of a small locomotive)

Current weight: 144 lbs.  (-8 lbs.)

Goal weight:  120 lbs. (only 24 more to go!) sheesh...

I have been losing 1 lb. a week lately with WW.  And that is with doing very little, inconsistent exercise.  So, if that pattern continues, then I forsee reaching my goal weight by February.  My birthday is March 4th.  I will be at my goal weight when I turn 29.  End of story.  

Instead of posting 'before' pics (maybe I will get the courage someday), I decided to post some 'after' pics.  How do you do that, Jessica?  Why....we go back to the future.....when I was a skinny b.

back when I actually had a waist to accentuate

This bathing suit definitely wouldn't fit right now...

I hope my stomach muscles come back...

Now when driving with the doors off, I make sure my shorts are long enough to cover my cellulite and shirt is loose enough to cover the bulge...

March 4th guys.  Just in time to drive with the wind in my hair.

Inspire Me: Healthy Link-Up

***If you want to see some bikini pictures from before the baby go here!!!***
And next week I just may show you were I am now!  WATCH OUT!

Hey ladies (and gents?)!  I am linking up today with Raven and Kristen who just started a Let's Get Healthy Campaign!  So, as you all know, I have been doing Weight Watchers for almost 3 weeks now and have already lost 7 pounds.  I love that I can see results already (by looking on the scale--not in physical appearance).  Like I have mentioned before, it was really hard when I first started.  I thought I was going to die of starvation, but I also knew that my body needed to go through an adjustment period since I was so used to overeating at every meal.  Now, my body feels fuller quicker and I can go longer without eating.  So, they are planning on having this link-up once a week to talk about what we're doing to get fit, whether it be diet plans, exercise routines, or just quick tips.  So, I thought that each week, I would connect and let people know what's working and what has worked for me in the past!  Are you ready?

Tip #1:

EAT A SALAD FOR LUNCH AND TRY TO HAVE ONE BEFORE DINNER

I have been striving to do this and feel that it has been an integral part of my weight loss.  I get a big bowl, not your average cereal bowl, and grab 4 or 5 huge handfuls of dark, leafy greens (skip that iceberg crap).  This lettuce has a punch of good for you nutrition and even a little fiber to help you feel full.

the organic variety is best when dealing with lettuces!

Then, I add some sort of protein--whether it be chicken, sliced deli turkey, tuna,  or some sort of bean.

 I grab 4-finger pinch (about 1/4 cup) of fat free shredded cheese,  and put a couple quick squirts of Low Fat/Lite salad dressing.  May I recommend Ken's Lite Northern Italian with Basil and Romano?  Seriously, I can't get enough of how delicious this is.

you should buy two.  it's that good.

Also, one time, I threw some chicken, a couple spoonfuls of FF cottage cheese, and a ton of fresh salsa and it was bangin'!!

+

+

+

=

BANGIN'

And then, I tone it down for dinner, of course, and just do my lettuce and dressing before my big meal to get my stomach kick started on feeling full.  :)



Well, there's my tip for the week!  Check back next time for more helpful advice from my weight loss experience!

Happy Eating!

Weight Update!

Alright folks, I have officially been doing WW since the Sunday before last (1.5 weeks ago).  I put in my starting weight on Sunday, but decided to do my weigh-ins on Wednesdays.  I am usually not home on Sundays, I didn't want to weigh-in right after the weekend (Monday), and Tuesday seemed too random.  So I chose Wednesday.  Hump day.  Middle of the week.  My husband said, "Wednesday is not random, but Tuesday is?  You're weird."  So.  I'm weird.  Whatev.  Getting down to business.  Between my first Sunday and last Wednesday, I lost 4 pounds!!  I couldn't believe it.  My hubby said (always the one to input his 2 cents), "Well, you just did a major lifestyle shift.  I would think you would lose the most at the beginning and then lose a little each week from now on."  Seems reasonable.  :)  Then, from last Wednesday to today, I lost 1 more pound!  So already, within a week and a half, I've lost 5 pounds.  This excites me and charges me forward.  Last weekend, I totally blew it when my friends were visiting because we went out to eat, I had fried pickles, and then we got Biscuitville the next morning.  Sue me.  This week, I have been trying to exercise more.  Going for walks outside, bike rides, and even broke in the treadmill a little bit.  Admittedly, I have been pretty hungry.  My tummy is always rumbling when I go to bed, and I am ready for breakfast in the a.m.  26 points gets used pretty quickly!  I know I can eat as many fruits and veggies as I want, and I have been, but a banana can only last you so long....I have been trying to have a big salad with a little bit of turkey and a lite dressing everyday for lunch.  I'm not tired of it so far!!  I took some 'before' pictures today.  Yowzas!  Here's hoping to look good in my Christmas picture! haha!  And keep it off for next summer!  I'll let you know when I lose 5 more pounds!  Stay tuned!

Don't I wish!  someecards.com

I'm Tired...

After spending the last few weeks constantly in a bathing suit and finding that I am starting to gain back weight after losing it post pregnancy, I realized that I am tired...


Tired of
trying on clothes thinking how much better this would look if I was as thin as 2 years ago.

sucking in.  all the time.

feeling guilty every time I eat bad food because I can just feel another dimple forming in my butt.

my thighs being intimate with each other causing pain when I have walked too long in a dress or bathing suit.

my gut rolling over my waistband.  Muffin top ruins a perfectly good outfit.

feeling self conscious playing with my son in a bathing suit where my rolls bulge and craters form when I sit down with him.  And just sitting down in general, looking down at my FUPA!

the door to door saleswoman telling me I must have some sista in me cause my 'thighs is thick.'

having no energy.

being incredibly jealous of the hot babes on the beach. So what if I've got 10 years on them.

not feeling sexy for my husband.


SOOOOOOO......

I joined Weight Watchers online.  Yep.  I did it.  I decided to do it online instead of going to weekly meetings because of the cost difference.  Right now the registration fee is just $1 and then a 3-month package is about $58.  I started today and have been tracking my meals and calculating points.  I am considering getting a Y membership too to kick my butt in the exercise department.

I am hoping to keep myself accountable through this blog and you can track along with me, maybe start up a weight loss plan with me.  This is still going to be a mommy blog (don't worry! :) ), but I am just going to post random updates with the label 'WW' if you want to keep up with me!  Here we go!

LET'S DO THIS!!

Breastfeeding is Awesome!

Seriously!  I think it's God's gift back to us mom's after going through painful labor.  A: Bonding with my baby and providing his most basic need and B: BURNING 500 CALORIES A DAY DOING NOTHING!  Can I get an AMEN?!  I am writing this because I stepped on the scale today for the first time in over a month to see what my weight was and calculate how much I need to lose to feel normal again and I had lost 10 whole pounds.  Who loses 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas?  The mother of all feasting!  Can you tell I am ecstatic?  I have been eating craptastically and still lost weight!  Hallelujah!  I am now 6 pounds away from my pre-baby weight BUT I gained weight before getting pregnant due to summer school and stopping any form of exercising cold turkey and shoveling peanut M&Ms into my gullet.  So maybe (hopefully) this weight will come off faster than expected!  Here's the scoop:  I gained A LOT of weight whilst preggers--let's just say I was closer to 200 lbs. than to 100 lbs.....okay, I'm an open book: One hundred eighty pounds!!  Holy mackerel whale!  It just doesn't hurt as bad if I type out the words.  Well, now I am 141 lbs. (still a hoss) and I was 135 lbs. when I got pregnant.  So, so far I have lost about 40 lbs. in 4 months, which is pretty awesome but I'm not done yet because this jiggly ace sho' ain't gonna be seen in a bathing suit this year if things don't change. So, I am aiming for 125 lbs.  Respectable and average for my height (5'3").  I was 113 lbs. in high school.  My glory days.  Anyway, so that's 16 lbs.  Completely doable, right?  I want to be a firm, minimal cottage cheese 125, knowwhatimsayin'?

113 pounds spring '02

inner thigh fat will always plague me!

125 pounds spring '10

at present

A Weighty Issue

hi!  Hope you are awake after the Christmas induced coma!  I plan on doing a Brody's First Christmas post but this requires uploading pictures and, once again, importing pictures from 4 different cameras/phones will just have to wait!  I still haven't learned!  Anyway, this Christmas, I received two items that will change my life: a sewing machine and a treadmill!!!!!!
New Year's is coming up and that means a fresh start....resolutions....creating goals.  Now, a lot of times, resolutions are a crock and are thrown out the window by February.  BUT!  I am planning on doing things that I have done in the past that I know work for me!  I also have pretty good self-control and am pretty accountable to myself when I really set my mind to it.
Here are my goals:
1.  Be healthier-mind/body/soul
2.  Learn how to use my sewing machine and make awesome stuff!
How I will get there:
1.  Mind--this correlates with #2--finding a hobby that I enjoy where I take time for myself to create and make cute things for my house and son.  RELAX
Body--this is where the treadmill comes in.  I have one. in my garage. waiting. it was not free. no excuses.  I must use it.  I have lost weight in the past successfully and have been happy with my body.  I am hoping it will work again!  This was a combination of exercising and eating healthy...DUH!  This included running/aerobics and yoga.  I upped my endurance level to burn the calories and then did yoga to strengthen and tone.  Really, yoga is amazing and gets such a bad rep.  I see it as an awesome total body workout that completely relaxes me for an hour.  It's just stretching and muscle burning.  awesome.  I am planning on doing some form of exercise everyday except maybe one or two days to give my muscles a rest.   Also, one day a week, I am not going to do your typical exercising but rather CLEANING!  This burns so many calories and makes the house looks nice! BADA BING BADA BOOM!  I mean full on cleaning not just picking up.  This produces great results on both ends.  Cleaning should produce sweat :).  How am I going to be motivated to do these things?  BY DOING THEM.  TAKING ACTION.  I have learned that you have to exercise to get motivated to exercise some more.  It's a conscious effort.  I noticed in the past that after getting into a regular exercise routine, like running every day at 4:00, my body will remember this and at 4:00 I will actually feel like exercising.  My body will have extra energy it needs to burn.  Our bodies are way cool like that.
Okay, and here's the eating healthy part.  This is where a lot of people get turned off.  But really, what you eat is the most important decision you can make to successfully lose weight and be healthy.  If you eat high fat foods, you are going to have a high fat body.  If you eat bright, fresh fruits and vegetables you are going to look and feel fresh and bright.  High calorie foods taste sooooooo good but they make me feel like CRAP 30 minutes later.  I am listless and heavy.  BOO!  I used to eat a vegan friendly diet.  You must think I am such a crunchy hipster--I cloth diaper, breastfeed, do yoga, and was vegan.  Really, I am the type of person that LOVES to research stuff.  Cloth diapering is cheaper and better for the environment and my baby's bum, breastfeeding jumpstarts his immune system and bonds me with my baby, yoga strengthens and relaxes the body and eating a vegan diet is detoxifying and can actually reverse a TON of diseases and cancers.  FACTS, ladies and gentlemen.  Okay, I digress.  I know from experience that eating a plant-based diet made me feel like a million bucks.  Everyone always asks, what about protein, aren't you always hungry, etc.  But there are plenty of other sources of protein that aren't coming from animals and guess what?  It's better for you!  No cholesterol, low fat, antioxidants, low calorie, high fiber...mmmmm what's not to love.  The best part--I don't have to count calories and can eat as much of it as I want because of all the awesomeness I mentioned above.  Really, if you're interested you should read Skinny Bitch (life-changer and really funny) and The China Study (research based findings on the relationship between diet and health).  Anyway, I will get off my soap box now.  Even if you don't adopt a plant-based diet, try to incorporate more fruits, veggies, beans, and grains!  DO IT!
Okay and last----soul.  Ahhh.  The most important.  I really need to strengthen my relationship with God.  I know I will be a better wife and mom for doing so.  This means reading the Bible more and finding a place to serve at my church.  It is the best feeling to help others and I want to do more of it.  I want to start now so that when Brody is old enough to model after his parents, he will see positive, uplifting people who trust God in all things.
Alright folks.  Those are my goals.  Let's see if I stick with them!  I was considering posting a 'before' picture so we can all track the progress together but then I thought you guys might barf.  So, I may take a picture now for my own keeping and then once I reach the 'after' body I am hoping for, I will post both so you can think, 'phew. good thing she doesn't look like that anymore.'  It's been over a year since I have done serious exercising and watching what I eat.  Wish me luck!