Friday, December 4, 2009
50 things to know when you want to lose weight.
2. The gym is a scary place, and some people are jerks. People who are jerks are not worth caring about anyways, so just ignore them.
3. There are also a lot of great people at the gym, who will support you and cheer you on.
4. The first month is going to be hell, the second month will be better but still will suck, and after that, it starts getting easier.
5. You will plateau. You might not lose anything for a month straight, but if you give up and go get a cheeseburger, then you aren't taking yourself any closer to your goal.
6. No matter how good you think you feel now, you will feel at least 20 times better when you start losing weight.
7. Exercise is not fun, especially if you never do it. It actually kind of sucks. But, if you want to sculpt your body, there's no getting around it. So suck it up and just do it.
8. I don't care how big you are, you can start losing weight. Look at the people on biggest loser! If they can do it, anyone can.
9. There will be obstacles ALL around you, you just have to ignore them.
10. your friends are not going to understand. They might want you to lose weight on the surface, but they will give you a hard time when you cant go out to eat with them.
11. healthy food is tasteless when you are used to eating junk. This is your life now. tasteless food and exercise. result = great body, confidence, health.
12. shopping is a whole other world when you can fit into regular size clothing.
13. you will feel really really skinny some days, then get used to how you look again and start feeling fat, and the cycle will go on and on for a long time.
14. you really need to get a lot of sleep. If you don't your body will be stressed out and start storing fat.
15. you have to cook, and do dishes. a lot.
16. you will probably have to wake up earlier than before because now you have to prepare your meals for the day, especially if you work outside the home.
17. junk food will start to make you feel sick when you eat it, after a few months of not having it. This is a very good thing.
18. Dont drink alcohol. It's stupid and it just makes you fat. Learn to enjoy life without it.
19. Not having junk food is not deprivation. Junk food is not a "treat". It's bad for you and just contributes to poor health. If you really want to treat yourself, start living a healthy lifestyle.
20. If you have been overweight for a long time, when you lose it you will have overwhelming regret over not doing it sooner.
21. When people say it's a lifestyle change, they aren't kidding. EVERYTHING changes. You cook more, you clean more, you eat more, you wake up earlier, you go to sleep earlier, you become more confident (even if you thought you were confident before)
21. Little things change that you may not even think about: being able to cross your legs, running in shorts without your thighs rubbing together, wearing dresses and skirts, being able to bend over and pick up your kid's toys without getting out of breath, having energy and feeling like doing everything......
22. Vegetables won't seem gross forever. If fact, you will start to like them. I promise.
23. You will start to like that sore feeling you get after working out. Because you will start to realize that it means it's working.
24. You HAVE to make exercise and diet a top priority. It has to be important to you. You have to make the time.
25. You might cry a lot. Especially during biggest loser, or when you go to a store and buy a size small for the first time.
26. You will want to help everyone else lose their weight too because you know how great it feels. Sometimes, your advice will not be welcomed.
27. Some of your friends might get frustrated with how much you talk about your new healthy lifestyle.
28. You will feel like a completely different person. Physically, mentally.... in every single way.
29. It's going to take a loooooooooooooooooong time. But, not really when you think about it. Maybe a year. And what's a year really? If you have ever been pregnant before, you will realize how fast time can go by.
30. You can either keep eating crap and staying still, and stay the same as you are or even gain more weight, or you can start eating healthy and get some exercise, and lose the weight. It really is just that simple.
31. Your bodyfat percentage is more important than how much you weigh. Muscle weighs more than fat, so it is all about your body composition.
32. Trying to make healthy versions of junk foods often doesn't work and just makes you miss the junk food even more. lol. Like having hamburgers with portabello mushrooms instead of the buns? Yeah. Burger days are over. The sooner you except that, the better.
33. You have to have the support of your family. Without it, you're going to have a really hard time. If they don't want to be a part of your new healthy lifestyle, you just have to be the example and hope that they follow suit.
34. If you are saying any of these things to yourself: I don't have time, I hate vegetables, I can't afford healthy food, I can't afford a gym membership, I will go crazy without chocolate... I'm sorry to tell you but these are all absolute excueses. You have to make time, get less sleep if you have to - workout at midnight if that's what it takes. You probably have no idea how much you spend on fast food. If you cut it out, then you will have the money to spend of healthy food. You don't need to go to the gym. Run outside (yes, even if it's cold) and do pushups, squat jumps - there are a ton of exercises that you can do without a gym or any equipment at all. Google it. You might not like veggies and healthy food, but grow up and eat it anyways.
35. Sugar is the devil. No joke. On par with coccaine. It's addictive and the more you eat the more you want and the fatter you get and the worse you feel and.....it's absolutely everywhere.
36. You have to read labels. Don't buy something and assume it's healthy. There is crap all over the place and the world is full of food that falsly claims to be healthy.
37. Yes, people who are thin and fit really do live like this. It will seem unbelieveable at first, and then the more you do it, the more you will be confused by people who DON'T live like this.
38. Starving yourself is a ridiculous practice. It doesn't work, makes you feel deprived, and it is not going to last forever. You need to change your life, in order to make it permanent.
39. Fat free doesn't mean healthy, neither does sugar free.
40. Eat 5-6 small meals a day. It will keep your metabolism up, prevent you from feeling hungry, and keep a steady flow of nutrients through your body. It doesn't get much better than that now does it?
41. Supplements are wonderful. BUT, there is no point in taking any unless you have a great diet that you stick to carefully and an exercise program that you follow. They are meant to enhance your program, not substitute for it.
42. No one who has never been fat before will understand what you are going through. Even when they are supportive, they still won't completely understand.
43. Missing a workout or cheating on your diet is not an excuse to throw your healthy lifestyle out the window. The failure comes when you CONTINUE with the bad behavior. Just have your cheat meal, and then move on.
44. If you think that your are "fat and happy" then you are majorly kidding yourself.
45. Food is an addiction. That's how you got this way. Your addiction will make you think illogically. It will make you say to yourself "I'm so fat, I feel awful. I better go get some pizza." And that statement will make complete sense to you. That is why people who have never been fat do not understand - they don't have the addiction that you do. They don't understand why it is so difficult NOT to eat that way.
46. Don't be scared of lifting weights. It won't make you bulky, and it will only help you burn fat and tone your body.
47. Make this time THE time. Don't give up, because your life will be so much better if you stick with it.
48. Tell everyone that you can. When you put yourself out there, you will be scared to disappoint people, and it will help you to keep going. Even those who aren't supportive, because proving them wrong is an awsome feeling.
49. If you have fifty lbs of weight to lose, just imagine carrying around a fifty lbs backpack 24 hours a day, every single day. THAT's exactly what you are doing. Why not make things easier?
50. This is a journey. It will have ups, downs, successes, failures, happiness, sadness, and it is one of the hardest things in the world to do. But, anyone can do it, if you really really want to.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Yay! 170lbs today.
I decided to get some coaching to help me reach my goal. I went to see Heather LeBlanc, (www.heatherleblanc.ca) in New Brunswick last weekend and she gave me a new intense workout and a new diet plan. I was beginning to plateau there for a while so it was time for a change, and it looks like it's going to be just what I needed. It is still low carb, for now, but lower calorie and lower fat. Chicken, fish, sweet potato, egg whites, brocoli, oatmeal..... quite a change! I feel great so far. Workouts are intense but in a great way. I still have a long way to go, but at this point, it feels like no big deal. When I get to 150, that will be a HUGE deal. I haven't been that low since junior high! I bought a size 10 pair of jeans yesterday, and I can't wait for them to be too big. It's almost time for another bikini pic......
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Hi Everyone!
So here is a brand new before and after picture! The new one was taken just last night. It has been a long long LONG time since I have felt comfortable enough to put on a bikini!
A lot of people have been asking me for tips.... well....
I guess the best tip that I can give is to be strict with your diet, and stick to a workout program. I have been running a half hour to an hour each day and I have found that to really kick up my weightloss. After I run, I feel skinnier instantly!
As far as diet goes, you really have to LEARN about food, and nutrition. There is a lot of information out there, but you just have to use common sense. Don't eat junk food, if you have something that you refuse to give up, like say, chocolate, well that chocolate isn't going to get you to your goal, right? So, don't eat it! Eat natural, nutrient-rich, healthy food that doesn't come in a box. Learn to cook, and make from scratch whenever possible. Don't eat sugar - it's the devil. Don't eat white bread, white rice, or white anything, really. AND - VERY IMPORTANT - you have to eat small meals, often. Starving yourself truly doesn't work, it will only mess up your metabolism and make your problem worse. Lastly, don't be scared to lift weights. That is the key to toning and staying tight through your weightloss.
So, hopefully that is helpful to everyone!
P.S. Today I'm down to 174lbs. At my very heaviest, in 2005, I was 275 lbs.
Friday, November 6, 2009
My Workout and Exercise Plan (right now, anyways)
My workout program is one that I just put together, based on what body parts I want to focus on and what exercises I like/work best. Here it is:
Monday: Back/Arms/Abs/1/2 hr of cardio
-single arm dumbell rows
-seated rows
-lat pulldowns
-stiff legged deadlifts
-bent over dumbell rows
-seated dumbell bicep curls
-standing triceps extensions
-underhand grip pulldowns
-hammer curls
-mountain climbers
-crunches
-alternate dumbell curls
-arnold presses
-upright rows
-reaches
Tuesday: Legs/Glutes/1/2 hr of cardio
-squats
-lunges
-leg extensions
-standing calf raises
-seated calf raises
-step ups
-hip ups
-kick backs
-hack lifts
Wednesday: Cardio Only (1 hr)
Thursday: Shoulders/Back/1/2 hr of cardio
-dumbell presses
-arnold presses
-upright rows
-reaches
-seated rows
-bent over dumbell rows
-single arm dumbell rows
-lat pulldowns
-flys
-swings
Friday: Arms/Chest/Abs/1/2 hr of cardio
-standing triceps extensions
-seated dumbell curls
-underhanded grip pulldowns
-planks
-mountain climbers
-seated bent knee tucks
-crunches
-alternate dumbell curls
-incline flys
-pec deck flys
-standing hammer curls
-flat dumbell bench presses
Saturday: Legs/Glutes/1/2 hr of Cardio
-squats
-lunges
-deadlifts
-hip ups
-kick backs
-leg extensions
-step ups
-calf raises
SUNDAY IS REST DAY
On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday I add a Plyometric routine. 25 of each:
-squat jumps
-jumping jacks
-jumping lunges
-high knees
-bicycles
-mountain climbers
-butt kicks
-push ups
-jumping jacks
I was doing double the cardio that I have written here, but I am cutting it in half for a few weeks and then I will double it again. Just to keep my body guessing!
So there it is folks, it certainly kicks my butt that's for sure!
p.s. down to 178 today :)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Still going!
I know I have been due for an update for a while, sorry I took so long!
So, I am now down to 180lbs, as of today.
Here are the comparisons in my stats since august 29, 2009.
Bodyweight Aug 29 was 203.6 Bodyweight now is 180. Total loss is 23.6 lbs
Bodyfat % Aug 29 was 46% Now it is 37% Total loss of 9%
Measurements
Shoulders Aug 29 were 47 inches, now they measure 44 1/2 inches Total loss is 2.5"
My right arm Aug 29 was 14" and now it is 13" Total loss is 1"
Upper Chest Aug 29 was 40" and now it is 34" Total loss is 6"
Chest Aug 29 was 41 1/2" and now it is 36 1/2" Total loss is 5"
Waist Aug 29 was 44 1/2" and now it measures 33" Total loss is 11 1/2"
Abdomen Aug 29 was 49 1/2" and now it is 38" Total loss is 11 1/2"
Hips Aug 29 were 48" and now they measure 42" Total loss is 6"
Right Thigh Aug 29 was 28" and now it is 24" Total loss is 4"
Right Calf Aug 29 was 17 1/2" and now it is 17" Total loss of 1/2"
For a grand total loss of 48 inches all over!!
I did the first diet and exercise program for a while, diet consisted of a high carb high protein low fat combination, and then I hit a plateau so I decided to change my diet and see what happened. So now, my diet consists of high protein, high fat, low carbs on the weekdays, and high carb moderate fat and low protein on the weekends. Since the swich my weightloss has been fired up again, and it's coming off faster and faster. I also changed up my workout, and added a little more cardio, and it is working wonderfully.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
193Lbs!!!!!!!!
Friday, September 11, 2009
My Menu Plan
Breakfast (usually around 6:00am)
1 cup of Kashi Go Lean cereal with skim milk
1 tbsp of all natural no sugar, salt, or oil added peanut butter
6 scrambled egg whites, with only two of the yolks
10:30am Snack
3oz grilled chicken breast (no salt added or oil)
1/2 cup brown basmati rice
12:30pm Lunch
1 grilled chicken breast, no salt or oil
1 cup of raw baby spinach
1/2 cup brown basmati rice
2:30pm Snack
Promasil Protein shake
5:00pm Supper
2 grilled chicken breasts, no salt or oil
2 cups of raw spinach
1/2 cup brown basmati rice OR 3oz brown pasta
Then I go to the gym around seven o clock, and afterwards, I will have another protein shake!
It is a lot of food, and sometimes I am so full that it is difficult to eat it all. Especially breakfast and supper! I cook a bunch of chicken breasts at once and then put them into a tupperware dish in the fridge so that they are ready to go, and I also cook a bunch of rice a head of time so that I can easily measure my servings. Once I started doing that, it made eating just as easy as it was when I was eating out.
I really look forward to the shakes, they are so delicious. I was using a brand called BSN Syntha-6, and it was great, but now I am using a new brand called Promasil and it is even better! And, lower calories, lower fat, and lower carbs than the Syntha-6, and than other proteins that I have seen.
It was pretty boring at first to eat this way, but now it is a lot easier because it's working, and it's so easy to cook when you know exactly what to make all the time and it just becomes a routine!