No Quick Fix

Good Tuesday Morning fit fam! Yesterday was my first day walking over to the weights section of the gym and I wasn't scared! I felt so cool like I was playing on the playground with the cool kids haha! Anyways my arms are feeling that workout today. I decided to follow Jamie Eason's LiveFit program. I'm not going to be as strict and follow it to a T because I still need to get my runs in and her first phase doesn't include cardio. But she definitely knows her stuff so I will follow her gym plans everyday along with modifying when needed day by day. I also did my first ever Yoga class. It was amazing!!! I loved it! I think I'm going to stick to that class weekly! I was so surprised that I could do the Bird of Paradise pose (it wasn't very pretty) but I did it, and I held Crow pose for 30 seconds! I was so proud!

I came home and tried it and it wasn't as easy as in class and the picture credit goes to my 3 year old but you get the point right ha!

 

 

Moving on to what I really wanted to talk about. I was driving my kids to school this morning and a commercial came on for MediFast and how if your looking to lose 10-20lbs by summer this is a great plan. It made me think back to the days when I used to hear those kinds of commercials on the radio, and I wanted to call them and order whatever they were selling asap. Sometimes I did call them and I would spend money on these wasteful products that do not teach you how to be healthy! They are a quick fix and you'll gain the weight back as soon as you put normal food back into your body.

 

So if there are any readers out there that are looking into these silly products like the "weight loss shakes" I won't name the products because there are so many (I do like shakeology but it's too expensive for me these days, and I wouldn't consider that a weightloss shake), but if the person telling you about it is the one making the money off it, then it's most likely a product that is not going to work unless you keep using/paying for it forever. These shakes may help you lose weight but they do not teach you how to eat healthy they are doing the work for you and we all know work is what gets you results. Moving onto more silly products....

 

Those silly wraps that are so popular right now! All I have to say about that is bahahahahahahahahaha really?! I can do a review on this because I actually tried one. Lets just say I could have gotten better use out my 25.00 if I wrapped it around the toilet paper role in my bathroom.

 

 

Meals sent to your house. Once again unhealthy full of chemicals and still not teaching you/your not learning how to cook and make your own healthy meals and once you stop having food sent to your door, you're not going to know what to do with yourself or how to eat except for go back to how you used to eat.

 

 

I know there are so so so many weight loss blogs /stories out there of people who have been over weight and who are now fit. Do you notice that those are people shouting to the world how they did and that you can do it too for free. They are not getting paid to be on a commercial, they are telling you all of this for free because they are so happy that they finally found the magic pill and it's called Healthy Diet and Exercise! Ever stop to think maybe it's because we tried all these quick fixes and we are now so happy to have found the right way! and actually how much easier and cheaper it is to do it all on your own, and most of all it's the most rewarding.

 

 

 

Don't take the easy way out, if it was easy America would not have an obesity epidemic. We can make the choice to change. We can end the trend. Yes it's hard but YES it's worth it! For the health of us and our children.

 

I hope you all have a FITtastic Tuesday

XOXO

Elisha

 





Big News! Like 13.1 Big News

Yeah I'm crazy and signed up for a Half Marathon race in 5 weeks! I haven't been training at all, but I'm a runner, and I run ALL the time! I'm pretty confident going to the race without being on a training plan! I'm pretty sure I won't PR, but that's okay I hit my sub 2 hour goal! I'm just doing it with some girlfriends and we are gonna have some FUN!!!!!

In other big news! I finished my second round of Jillian Michaels 90 Day Body Revolution!!!

I am so happy to be done with these 90 days! I have noticed a huge huge change in my body after this round, but y'all are going to be mad at me and think I'm the worst blogger ever! I didn't do my measurements before and I can't find my before pictures that I took :( I think they may have gotten deleted off my phone by a certain 3 year old. But I compared my measurements to the ones taken at the end of my first round and I lost 3 inches in my stomach alone!!!! I am SO SO happy with that and I can definitely feel and see the loss in that area! I even gained maybe a half of an ab! I also gained 1 inch in my calf but I'm assuming I can thank running for that one.

My mom and sister came down to stay with me for a few days and visit so I missed a lot in the blogging world this week, but I got some good runs in and ran with my mom a couple days which is always amazing! My kids have the coolest grandmother on the planet and she RUNS!!!!

After our wonderful visit ended on Saturday we headed to the beach for a Family Fun day. I brought my running gear and hubby brought the surf board. He surfed, the kids built sand castles and dug a hole to china, while I ran 8 miles around the bay and Mission Boardwalk. It was SO packed with people I had to run very slow and even stop at points. SO I don't think I'll be running there again on a Saturday, but I can say it is AMAZING for people watching while you run! I even ran out to the end of the pier to snap some photos! SO FUN!

Well that wraps up the big news! 13.1 miles coming soon, along with no more at home DVD workouts for a while. Yep that's right I joined the gym, and yes I have been working out at home for the past 3 years! Amazing right ?! you can sculpt your body at home too not just at the gym! We'll touch more on that this week!

See y'all on Instagram

Happy Sunday

XOXO

Elisha

 

Shopping for the Magic

So my husband and I were having a conversation the other night on how different our lives are now that we have choose to live a healthy and fit lifestyle.

When we lived in Texas I was a stay at home mom and we lived about 2 miles from the mall. I would go shopping at least 3 times a week trying outfit on, after outfit, searching for that one magic outfit that would some how make me look thin. I remember loving so many cute clothes and thinking that would make me look so thin but there was only smalls, and extra smalls left. Thinking to myself all the fluffy girls got to the magic outfit first. I know so so dumb but I as I look back at the old me now I realize this is what I was shopping for. Because really I'm not that into fashion I was just into finding clothes that made me look thinner. I would always come home with black clothes. My entire closet was BLACK!

You have all seen my before pictures and I am wearing black in almost all of them! Maybe a dark blue in a few ha! Anyways, my life now is, I pretty much only shop for workout clothes. Even when I try to go shopping for a new spring outfit ,or for a special occasion I still am drawn to the workout clothes section.

I guess I was smart enough to know that there wasn't a magic pill, becuase I knew what I had to do I was just too lazy to do it! but I was not smart enough to know that clothes were not going to change the way I viewed myself in the mirror! Because when the clothes come off it was still the same ol' fluffy me.

When I started losing weight the first 20lbs gave me all the confidence I needed to keep pushing and keeping moving towards my goals. So my advise is to remember the process is a slow process, but to celebrate every accomplishment. Every 10lbs and know that you are beautiful no matter what the scale says! I am still the same person looking into that mirror  as I was 3 years ago, only the appearance on the outside has changed. You are beautiful no matter what, and confidence is the most beautiful outfit you can wear! Smile bright love yourself, you are beautiful!!!!! Keep working towards those goals!!!! The happier you are the brighter you shine to the world!

XOXOXO

Elisha

 

Time to Start Playing with the Big Boys

I'mmmmmmm baaaaaack!!!! So sorry I've been gone for a week, but that's why y'all love me right?! right?! Random and never knowing when I'll pop up! Well if y'all follow me on Instagram @run_elisha_run you see I'm still here, and working out and running 8.63 miles this weekend!!!! It felt amazing!!! I felt like Forrest Gump Saturday and I just kept runnin'! I tried to make it to the edge of Cali where the trail really ends but I took a wrong turn and got a little lost. So I had to stop at 8.63. I had Boston on my mind and that run was for them for sure!

Moving on..... the personal training certification process is going well. There is SO SO SO SO SO much to sink in and learn. It is so amazing to me to learn about how incredible the human body is and more important now to really learn how our body responds to nutrition and exercises. It amazes my how my body functioned for so many years with the way I treated it. I'm telling you people take care of that precious body nutritionally and physically :)

Next up I'm so excited to say that it's time for me to start playing with the BIG boys! I signed up for a gym membership! I want to start picking up that heavy iron baby! This girl wants some nice round shoulders and maybe a couple abs. This is my last week of Jillian Michaels Body Revolution, and after my second round I think Jillian has prepared me to move onto to heavier weights I'm maxed out at 15lbs with her circuits. I have had amazing results from my second round. I'll post pics soon but it's time to put down the baby weights and start lifting a little heavier!

 

I hope y'all have a FITtastic week! I promise I will try to keep on top of the posts this week. I have been getting a lot of questions so I decided to do a Q&A post. If you have questions you want answered please email them to me and I will get a post together soon with that.....

elishavillan@gmail.com

 

XOXO

Elisha

 

Runners United for Boston

So much emotion and thoughts going through me since the horrific news of yesterdays Boston Marathon tragedy. My constant thoughts and prayers are with Boston. It weighs heavy on my heart to know that someone can plan something so sick.

As a runner only running a half marathon and knowing the emotions, and heart and soul that go into a race. These were Boston Marathon runners from all over the world that have put their entire heart and soul into just making it to this race, and for someone to plan this at that moments when your entire soul is running out in those last moments before the finish line as you see your friends and family on the side cheering you on. It makes me sick to my stomach to know the heartless scum that live on this earth to even think about planning something like that it at that moment when the most highest of highs and strongest of strong are joined together. They are trying to mess with our minds, our hearts, our strength. We have to keep running, we have to keep praying, we can't let them win and we can not live in fear.
 
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

To see the hero's running towards the explosion, and to hear the stories of the hero's, and the runners that kept running miles to the hospitals after their race to donate blood warms my heart and is comforting and inspiring to still see the good in this world after so much evil. To see the nation come together so quickly, and the runners united in honor of all involved is amazing to see.

Today I'm wearing one of my race shirts in honor of Boston

 

 

And later I will be running my 4.15 miles with my Runners Untied to Remember race bib on. For more info on running here is the link to the page. Runners United to Remember Event

 

 



Runners are a community of people who support every person out there on their feet, who celebrate every mile, who will help any person in need, and never boo a competitor, and someone is trying to break some of the biggest hearts and souls. We can not let them win.

KEEP RUNNING!!!!!

XOXO

Elisha

Girls that have to Fight to be Fit are Strong!

Ok so I have been getting some comments about people thinking that I'm on this weight loss journey from a size 4 to a size 2.  With them not knowing my background. Well NEWS FLASH, in case you've never read my blog, I have been a chubby girl my entire life!!! In high school I was a size 13. After having kids I was a size 16. Never in my life have I ever bought a size 2 jeans until the age of 30.

With that being said, I always tell people don't compare yourself to others, when in fact that is very hard for me. I have been comparing myself to others my whole life. Especially in high school and jr. high, when all my friends were skinny and they all could share each others clothes and borrow each others dresses and tops. Nope not me, I never had that, because I was always the bigger girl that didn't fit in the same clothes as all my friends. That mentality of comparing myself to other girls never leaves my brain. I have to catch myself and remind myself what I am doing. I still compare myself to the other "skinny" moms, who are blessed with flat tummy's when they walk out of labor and delivery. The only difference now is that it doesn't make me sad. It gives me more motivation and inspiration to know that I can look like that, I just have to work harder at it. I can shape my body however I want to. I always had that power! I just never knew I did until NOW! and the fact is, is that naturally skinny girls are lucky, but girls that have to fight to be fit are STRONG!!!

I could go on and on about my emotions and feelings of being a fluffy girl in high school but we can save that for another day. I will say that I will teach my children not to judge others based off their appearance, because one day that "skinny mean" girl may just switch roles with that "fluffy girl" ha! That may or may not be a TRUE story!

So here is to you! Taking control of your body! You telling it when to stop, when to run, when to push, and to keep digging deeper. Because you are a strong beautiful woman who works her arse off to be fit and healthy and only you can stop you.

 

I hope y'all have a FITabulous Thursday

XOXO

Elisha

RUN RUN RUN

 

I'll leave you with my OOTD since it's the one day I got out of gym clothes so far this week......

 

 

Fear Regret over Failure

So I took the plunge and I enrolled to become a Certified Personal Trainer. I have 8 months to take the exam and I will not fail. I have dreamt of doing this from the first time I fell in love with fitness three years ago. It's so amazing to feel this close to living out one of my dreams. That dream is to help the people who are in the same shoes I was 3 years ago, and to get paid for doing what I love. I read the introduction to the course and the numbers are so scary. Our children are growing up in a country where 1 out of 4 Americans are couch potatoes, and due to government cuts the first to be taken out of schools is sports and physical education. Which is why I make it a mission to talk to everyone I know about the importance of health. I'm sure my friends and family are getting sick of it, but I'm also sure they are thinking about it when they eat something they no it not healthy or sitting on the couch night after night, knowing that one show could have been a workout. Now I can and will really know what I'm talking about. I can't wait to know what I'm talking about hahaha.

This last week was spring break for my kiddos so we went up to visit my family. Y'all know when I'm there I have to go hiking. The mountains and views are amazing there.

I was able to get a couple of runs in with a few awesome girlfriends and we even got a group hike in that was amazing. I will be there a lot this summer and I will be hiking. It is a hobby of mine for sure. There is nothing like a view from the top of a mountain.

You know what they say, pictures speak a thousand words, and this hike was with some amazing momma's who I hold close to my heart! It was a FITabulous day to say the least........

Hope y'all have a wonderful week. Always move towards your dreams, remember today is the youngest that you will be for the rest of you're life, it is never too late to start.......

XOXO

Elisha

RUN RUN RUN

Sticking to the Plan

Hello Blog world! I have been so so busy these past few weeks I haven't posted much or been reading much. Hopefully I will get some time soon to catch up on all my favorite blogs. I miss y'all. I can't even begin to catch you up on all the great fun things we have been up to with spring break these past two weeks but this week I am spending some time with the family and it feels so good to be home.

I was out on a walk with my sister today and we were talking about motivation. We used to live two streets down from each other a year ago and kept each other going, pushing each other every day. We were running partners and ran the half marathon together. We miss that and she misses having a workout buddy. She told me "I don't know how you workout everyday at home alone?!" She needs someone to push her. I told her it's  all about sticking to the plan. Maybe it's the tiny bit of OCD I have in me but when I start something I HAVE to finish it not matter what. I stay 100% committed to the end. That goes for in everyday life and in fitness.

It's like being married. I said I DO until death do us part. That goes for fitness too. Stay committed. If it's important to you than you are going to find a way to make it work. That is why you pick a plan. I am currently in Phase 3 of Jillian Michaels Body Revolution and I haven't missed a day yet. Even if that means packing my DVDs and weights to bring on vacation. I didn't have a plan/schedule for my workouts I would not have the motivation to just pop in any workout DVD and workout.

Same goes for running. Pick a plan. Sign up for a 5K and start the couch to 5K training plan. Sign up for a half marathon and stick to the half marathon training plan. Put the plan in your phone, on your calendar somewhere, or on something you look at every day. Write it on the mirror in your bathroom. No matter what, YOU do what you are scheduled to do on that day. Dedication, determination, and commitment will get you to your goals.

Always plan ahead. When you are getting close to the end of your current program you are following. Start to think of your next one. Move on to bigger better stronger plans and you go out there and execute it.

Well you know me short, sweet, and to the point. I'm outta here for today but you go out there get yourself and plan and stick to it! Announce it to the world so people will hold you accountable. Social Networking is a great place to shout it out!!! See y'all on instagram @run_elisha_run until next time......

XOXO

Elisha

 

Find what you LOVE and COMMIT