Motivation for the Weekend

Just a little bit of extra motivation for the weekend. Stay positive and keep on track everyone!

You can be happy, even if you do not have your goal body yet. Stay positive and you will get there!

You can do anything. Whatever you can dream, you can achieve!

I still have three spots left in the Teeny Bikini Challenge! email cmsmith143@yahoo.com for more info!

Shakeology Awesomeness

As most of you know, I have a few food restrictions. I am allergic to MSG, which also means most "fake" proteins. Including soy and whey. (before everyone gets all defensive here- I have a sensitivity to free glutamic acids, or the way the amino acids align leaves an open glutamate protein. This dilates my blood vessels and causes severe migraines. Like throwing up for 24 hour migraines.)  Almost every recovery drink, protein shake, and meal replacement shake is loaded with protein isolates... and Chemicals. BLEGH. Everything that I had ever even "tasted," not only tasted like crap but made me feel like crap too. Fast forward to the beginning of my beachbody journey. I wanted to do absolutely everything to get the best results. Which led me to Shakeology. I bought a sample form my coach, and LOVED it. I drink the Vegan formula which is made from sprouted rice protein, and pea protein- so it is totally safe for me!!

I was hopelessly addicted to coffee before I started with Shakeology and I mean like ADDICTED. I would start my day with 10oz of coffee, then hit up Starbucks for a Venti ONE or TWO times throughout the day. Seriously people. I quit coffee cold turkey when starting Shakeology. I have had maybe a coffee a week now- a TALL or GRANDE as a TREAT not because I need it! 

What else does Shakeology help with?

• curb cravings

• promote weight loss

• increase energy levels

• support your immune system

• improve digestion and regulation

• support cardiovascular health

• clear skin!

The Chocolate and Greenberry Shakeology price is increasing by $10. It is now $119 and will increase to $129. If you purchase your Shakeology on an as-needed basis (not home direct) then your shipping costs will increase as well. It will total $22 a month extra! You CAN however, lock in the Home Direct Price of $119 by being grandfathered in before April 1st 2013. You will also get free shipping. Email me at cmsmith143@yahoo.com and I will get you set up before the price goes up!

Oh and I still have a few spots in this group. I don't think I will have another one until MAY!

Geckos and Motivation

So a few things have happened since I have posted last- I have been a busy woman! First of all I got my new car. His name is Gecko and I am absolutely in love with the color! It doesn't have as many bells and whistles as my last car, but is definitely much more fun! Everyone else seems to love it (minus one of the twins: J man HATES this car and seems to think it is punishment. He tells me that I lost my car because I wasn't listening and now I have to have the green car. And he cries every morning when I show up because I am still driving it- haha.)

So far I have only lost 6 pounds doing P90X. I have been feeling discouraged, but I decided to take some accountability photos and measurements and guess what?! I am down 10.5 inches and these are the photos! I am beyond excited! My current Coregasm challenge group is rocking it, and I am starting to put together a Teeny Bikini Group that will start April 8th! WOOHOO!

The photos have given me proof that what I am doing is making a difference, and motivation to push on! (and yes I realize my cat is in the same spot in all four of these photos- he seems to think the sink is some sort of pond and waits for me to fill it up anytime I am in the bathroom).  I am still not where I need to be (10-15lbs off in fact), but I have made one heck of a start. I am changing me. I can do this. The proper support group has made it a ton easier than the first time I tried it. I have already surpasses my quitting point from last time. This time I WILL succeed. Will you? Email me at cmsmith143@yahoo.com or post below for information about my upcoming challenge group to get ready for summer!

The Cost of Fitness and Tax Returns

Bloomberg and MSN Money released an article back in November that outlined the costs associated with different weight loss methods. A link to the article can be found below, but here are the basics:

If you ask a doctor for a diet medication? Expect to pay around $184 a month, because health insurance only covers this around 30% of the time. You will also have all of the lovely side effects to look forward to.

Maybe the help of a nutritionist? Expect to pay around $600 for three months. 

Or a Dietitian? $800 for three months.

How about some diet programs?

Jenny Craig? $1,251 for 12 weeks

Weight Watchers? $129 for 12 weeks

Nutrisystem? $689-$950 for 12 weeks

How about bariatric surgery? $18,000- $35,000

Gym Membership?

$43 on average plus $65 an hour for a personal trainer

Luxury Weight Loss Spa Anyone?

You are looking at a cost of about $8,100 people. 

I am tired of people saying that challenge packs cost too much money at $205. Here is the deal: for $205 you get an awesome workout- lets just say p90x (which btw is on sale this month for only $180), which is a 12 week program, shakeology, free Beachbody club membership, AND a FREE personal trainer! If you are looking to lose weight, do it the right way! It is the only way to keep it off and keep your body healthy peeps. Waiting around to have a bunch of disposable income won't change your life. Investing in your health now will. 

Everyone is getting back their tax returns and spending them on things that they do not need/frivolous things. What am I doing with mine? Well besides getting new tires I am buying ANOTHER Beachbody program. I am choosing to invest in my future body, and when I am finished with P90X? BRING IT Brazilian Butt Lift.  

http://money.msn.com/personal-finance/the-real-cost-of-losing-weight

Food Scale, Summit, and my Island Jeep

So apparently when I say I promise to post this weekend, I mean I won't. Sorry about that! Life gets in the way, and blogging has to come after other priorities in life ahem.... fitness and relationships. Some exciting things that have happened: I have now lost a total of 6 inches off my body, I bought a food scale, and I am getting really excited for my challenge group to start on March 18th.

The food scale has taught me that the label on the packaging lies! When it says 1/2 cup (40g) and I measure 1/2 cup and it is NOWHERE NEAR 40g, I am so glad I got the food scale! I also discovered that I have been under eating, and so losing weight slowly because of this. My weight loss should pick up more in the next few weeks now that I am consuming the right number of calories!

On another note, I am seriously considering going to Beachbody Coach Summit this June in Las Vegas, as my future job is currently "frozen" due to sequestration which means I will still be stateside. I may also be getting my island car in the next couple of weeks, which is this baby. I am so excited!

Keep on keeping on everyone! Make your good choices one day at a time :) As always email or comment with any questions. 

Bonking and Progress

So yesterday I started BONKING in my workout. Tuesday night was really hard to get through (core synergistics), but last night- you guys I seriously only made it through the WARM UP. Time to move to the next phase of eating! Up my complex carbs! Lower my protein! WOOHOO! This gives me so many more options. I am so excited to have more variety. I actually just finished my snack of oatmeal with strawberries and agave! I am sure you are all curious about results, I will try to get some photos up this weekend (I need to take some for accountability for my coach too! and we have a serious snowstorm coming in... I hope) but to date I lost 2.5lbs, gained it back, and lost 4 lbs. Overall I have lost 4.5 inches throughout my body! I have only lost 1.5 inches off my waist, but waist weight is the last to go. Day 25 baby! I have also been doing squats everyday from the squat challenge my team is in! I am feeling great and have tons of energy! And to add to my sunny mood, it was 65 degrees here today, I took the boys to the park and dreamt of all of the fun I will have this summer with the boys. We will be hitting the pool almost every day and I am going to be so fit and hot and the boys really love swimming now.

On another note my clothes are all starting to be baggy. Not a hot look. I may have to wear workout pants in awhile until I settle in on a size. I only have one or two pairs that don't have "diaper butt" now. I have a tj maxx giftcard form christmas that I am going to spend after day 90. I am crazy cheap so I don't want to buy clothes twice in a two month span.

I promise to post again this weekend, while snuggled up during the storm with this guy. His name is Maverick and he pretty much rocks. Have a great rest of the week!

Traveling and Eating Clean

B757 at DIA

Eating clean while traveling is a very hard thing to do and something I currently struggle with. BIG TIME. I travel fairly frequently on weekends and I have found it is very hard to eat clean or even healthy. This past weekend I flew to New York to spend a quick weekend with one of my best friends... aaannnd by quick weekend I mean I was only there for 16.5 hours. I pack really light, wouldn't have access to a refrigerator, microwave, or any other kitchen appliance.

This is ALL I packed!

So this was my plan: Shakeology with banana and coconut milk before leaving the house. Empty water bottle with lime to get through security. Banana and Justin's almond butter packet (not entirely sure this qualifies as clean). Ziplock baggies packed with one cup of blueberries, carrots, and tomatoes each. A shaker bottle with a ziplock of Shakeology. I also had a Cliff builders bar.

Wonderful flight attendants filled up my water bottle :)

I really don't like shakeo in the bottle, but I mixed
 it with water and ice cubes, and it was okay. 

Does not take much math to realize this is not nearly enough calories, especially since I am doing P90X but I did not have resources to bring more or real food. This is also WAAAY off on carb consumption (shakeo, fruit, bar, shakeo).

I was attending a Sweet Sixteen Party, and from the time I landed, I was on the go. No access to stores or anything, and so I ate what was served for dinner (or only ate the chicken after scraping the sauce off) and a piece of pizza. It is hard when I do everything I can ALL DAY, but then its either eat whatever food, or don't eat.  As it was, I only napped for about an hour before catching my flight home.

40,000 feet

On another note, I had lots of fun with my friend at his sisters party, but the only photo I have from the event right now is of my shoes in the limo while we were driving the "court" around for photos. The teenagers were rocking to really loud music, that I have never heard of. I have never felt so old.

The floor lit up :) 

On the way home, I did manage to snag a seat in first class. Where they served breakfast. I ate the eggs, fruit, yogurt and potatoes. I am sure that only the greek yogurt and fruit could even count as clean but I was hungry and out of food. I then downed a bunch of water and slept the rest of the flight. 

39,000 feet

What does everyone else do when taking short trips like this? Or what would you do? Ideas please!