Out with the Old, in with the New

So guess what I got to do a couple of weeks ago? CLEAN out my closet! It was full of clothes that didn't fit me, and it was really irritating me. I didn't want to ever be that size again, so the clothes had to GO! I pulled out all of the size 10,11,12,13,14 items. I pulled out of the the EXTRA LARGE and LARGE shirts (and even some MEDIUM!) My closet was pretty much empty, save for a few workout items. I could have just donated everything, but packed some up for my sister (who is also getting smaller!) so that she wouldn't have to buy new clothes when she got to that point in her journey. I needed a new dress for my mom's party, so my mom took me shopping and bought me THREE dresses! ( I seriously have the best mom on the planet.) The best part?! The dresses were all size 6 or a size small!!! I know it totally sounds like I am bragging .......and I guess I kind of am...... but I have worked so hard to get to this point and could not be more excited!

 I also loaded up on small target shirts because lets face it... Target rocks, before our trip to San Francisco. More on THAT trip next :)

Why I need my meals prepped AHEAD of time

So, many of you out there may be wondering why I am so crazy about having my meals prepped ahead of time. EVERYTHING needs to have zero work that needs to be done in order for me to eat it. It is not because I am so lazy (well laziness may have something to do with it). It is mostly because I pretty much have no willpower and work in someone else's home. As you will see in the photos in this post, I am surrounded by this food daily.

That is frozen HOMEMADE cookie dough in that bag!

 Working in someone else's home is so great for most things, but for eating healthy not so much. While I can make sure that I throw out all of the crappy food at my house, I then walk into a house full of crappy food for a minimum of ten hours a day. This is food that I am allowed to eat. Food like bread, bagels, mac and cheese, Oreos, pasta, ice cream, cookies, cheese, peanut butter, jelly, and lunchmeat.

Ice cream and MORE cookie dough!

Food that I have to make into meals or snacks  for four children four or five times a day. When the kids eat, I have about two minutes to get my food on the table, or my willpower is gone and I eat what they eat. So I prep it ahead of time.

It is so much easier to pop my food into the microwave, or toss some dressing on it and eat it then to have to work for my food. Because I won't do it. Not that I don't WANT to, just that I WON'T. What do you all do to help keep yourself on tack throughout the week?

My Daily Diet.

I have not posted in awhile, but have been crazy busy! I have decided to give this business a real go and have spent most of my free time running challenge groups, and getting new coaches set up :) I never thought that this would turn into something so fun and something that I look forward to doing during my "downtime." I have gotten quite a few questions about what my "daily diet" looks like, so here is an example of my typical day:

Progress pic in work attire :)

6:00AM: wakeup, check emails, and get ready for the day. 

Lunchtime Salad

7:00AM: SHAKEOLOGY- I love mine with coconut milk and frozen banana

7:30AM: arrive at work

10:00AM: SNACKTIME- I usually have one cup of raw veggies (sugar snap peas today), and 1-2 slices of Ezekiel bread toasted with almond butter.

12:30PM (ish?): LUNCHTIME- I usually do a salad with 6oz of protein (today was chicken), 2 cups leafy greens, and 1-1.5 cups of other veggies, 3oz avocado, and some aged balsamic vinegar. 

3:30PM: SNACKTIME- I usually do hardboiled egg whites (4-6 eggs with most of the yolks removed) with 1 cup of baked veggies. Maybe some hummus here if I have any. 

6:00: Home from work

6:30PM- DINNERTIME- 6oz protein (grilled chicken, bison burgers, turkey taco meat etc.), 1-2 cups veggies, and 1 cup quinoa or wild rice. 

7:30PM- WORKOUT- while I would LOVE to workout early in the AM, I just can't seem to make myself do it, so 7:30PM it is! I have discovered that if I am not in the gym by 8:30PM

ish- my motivation is GONE (also so are the other people, I tend to do better with others in the gym, maybe some sort of weird competitive thing I have-please tell me I am not the only person like this!)

9:00PM- Work on business

10:00PM- shower then BED. 

Salad at panera- on a "social" night

Now you may have all noticed that this leaves little to no time for me to have a social life. You are right. I work about 50-55 hours a week. On the rare day that I do have something to do after work (besides a Target or grocery run) I try to make sure I eat before I get home, and just tough out a later workout. Will the workout be as good at 9:00PM-10:00PM as it would have been from 7:30PM- 8:30PM? NO. But it is better than nothing, and I sacrifice working on the business. My weekends are typically work free and I have time to socialize, meal plan, shop, work the business then :)

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