My Fitness Journey

I know y'all have been wondering and waiting to hear the complete story on how I lost my weight. So here we go make sure you have some time! For those that do know me I have never ever in my life been a thin person. But after I had my first son the weight really started packing on. I'm not exactly sure how much I weighed, because let's face it you're not exactly jumping on the scale when you feel like a human cupcake! But I do know by a few pictures I was pretty big! 

I am holding my first son in the above picture, as you can see point proven. You know the funny thing is that I had NO IDEA that I was this big! Thank God I have an amazing husband who has never made me feel anything less than beautiful. So I was happy! I knew I was a little fluffy but I still had major confidence! The first week of 2009 I found out I was pregnant with my second son. Here is the last picture of me before I was pregnant, new years eve 2008......

Yep that is me the fluffy one in white, and 3 years later a little less fluffy in the white! My whole life I was one of those girls that admitted I was (lets say chubby) because I really don't like the word fat. Of course I would tell all my skinny friends that they were so lucky because they had a good body and they could still eat whatever they wanted. (I was still eating whatever I wanted so I don't know why I said that?!) Their response was ALWAYS but you are so beautiful you have such a beautiful face. Yeah well this beautiful face doesn't get me into size 2 jeans does it! and neither does punching them in the face so lets just change the subject! Moving onto September 2009, I gave birth to my second son weighing in at the hospital at 218 pounds. Let me remind you I only gained 26 pounds with him. I come home to my mom and sister who came out from California (we lived in Texas) to visit the new baby. I see them and they are so skinny! My mom and sister had started weight watchers and looked amazing!!!! It finally hit me I'M FAT! Of course after you have a baby you feel like that anyways but I realized I really am fat! So that week with my new baby 1 week old I started "weight watchers", well not really I just used the calorie counting method that my mom and sister were using and by my 6 week check up I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 192lbs WOW I know still really fluffy! This is me one week after my second son was born, and my after pic 3 years later.

When I was enrolling my daughter into 3rd grade at her new school I met a friend who ended up turning into a life long friend who was also a stay at home mom and enrolling her 3 grade daughter! She invited me to go to the gym with her (let me remind you she is one of those "skinny" friends with the perfect bodies). I was really hesitant at first because you know fat people don't go to the gym, they are too fat to go to the gym of course! (In my head I always thought I was too fat to go to the gym, I felt like people would stare and laugh at that fat girl trying to get into shape) But I decided to conquer my fears and sign up! We started going to step aerobics and body pump classes and we also downloaded the myfitness pal app on our iPhones. This app is awesome you can keep track of everything you eat and drink on your phone. I still use it to this day and I have to say that tool is a huge key to my weight loss. So with those simple tools diet and exercise the weight just started melting off. Who would have ever thought that a simple workout and calorie counting would do the trick! No magic pill, no special shake, no secret, JUST GET OFF YOUR ASS!

In the last few years I have completed a few rounds of Jillian Michaels 30 Day Sherd. (I haven't mentioned yet but I LOVE JILLIAN MICHAELS)! I did one round of p90x. My favorite all time at home DVD workout is Jillian Michaels 90 day Body Revolution. I had amazing results from that workout! My body got into the best shape ever and I lost 19 inches. AMAZING WORKOUT! I stopped all strength training currently to train for this half marathon so I lost a lot of muscle but after this marathon I will be bringing the muscle back!

For the most part, I think that rounds up my really long story into a packed short version long story. HA! I lost 52 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight of my second son. If you count from the day I "realized I was fat" you can say I lost 78 pounds. My journey will never end it is now a lifestyle for me and actually a passion! I have my last "5-10 vanity pounds" I would like to lose but I will never stop living a fit life it is my new life and I am the most happy I have ever been! 

I just really want people to know, who don't know how to start or what to do. You can do it! I did workout videos with my kids climbing all over me at home, and when I needed to get a run in I put the kids to sleep for the night and went out in the dark. I found ways because I wanted it bad enough and when you want something bad enough you will find ways to get it! If you don't it's not that important to you yet. I have told my friends no I can't do girls night because I have to run in the morning. I had to tell myself that the cheesecake wasn't a good look on me anymore and I had to start saying no to the bad food. Portion control, say no to the bread, and chips and salsa when they bring it to your table at a restaurant. If it's not in front of you, you won't want it. And just start with the first step even if that is walking or playing with your kids outside for 30 minutes. Once you feel the endorphins and the energy and the confidence you have when you are working out, eating healthy, and just being over all fit, you will never ever want to go back to that fluffy version of you. I know that I will never see the words overweight or obese in the BMI calculator again! Start off with small short term goals and then set bigger ones and soon you will find out what your body is actually capable of, and you will crush those goals. One last important thing, DO IT FOR YOURSELF and nobody else. Not to be skinny, not to be popular, do it to be healthy and fit and to set a good example for everyone in your life. Most importantly your children who will have to fight to be fit in our culture today. I am here for you in every step of the they way!!!!!