When are you going to stop?

You’re going to find that as you are succeeding on this weight loss journey, that people will often ask you the annoying question.

 “When are you going to stop?”

My response to this is always “NEVER!” Now imagine that I have a scrunched up determined look on my face, with my fist in the air, because that’s how I imagine it.  I’m sure you’re thinking a few things, “So you’re going to workout and diet until you wither away?” or “So you’re going to work out and diet until you look like an odd version of the she hulk?” NO. No, I’m not planning on that at all. However, I’m not going to stop because this isn’t a phase or even a diet for me. You see, to me, a diet is something that you do for  a certain amount of time to get quick results. I don’t even bother with diets because they aren’t created to be done for a lifetime. So, you stop your diet and eat how you are use to and you gain the weight back. Frustrated, you think that losing weight is something that only the disciplined and determined are able to do and stick to. WRONG! You keep getting on the same tracks and just continue circling. Listen to your body it knows, what is best.

I don’t avoid certain foods unless they upset my stomach or I know they are going to make me bloated. Please don’t take this as a eat how you want, because that is not what I’m saying. Moderation is my tool, and I keep it on me at all times. If you hold a caramel brownie in front of my face and tell me I can’t have it, one of two things will happen. I will either laugh at you, and tell you “All things in moderation,” or I will rip the brownie out of your hand to prove to you that I can.  I have a sweet tooth and sadly, it isn’t just one that I can pull out so that it will stop bothering me. 

Are you seeing what I mean? I can’t stop, and I won’t stop. (Please no singing Miley Cyrus songs right now). This is  a lifestyle. Why is that important? Well, when you continue to tell yourself “this is a permanent thing” you learn how to do little things better. For example, because I know this is a permanent thing, I force myself to learn which foods are best when. How to get more food for less calories, and what foods have certain nutrients that I may be lacking. You also get a sense of what your body likes and dislikes, which is important. For so long I was drinking milk three times a day, I wanted my calcium to build my bones, but milk (even skim) hurts my stomach. I’m not lactose intolerant, milk just makes me queasy, but I learned that Greek yogurt doesn’t bother me. Listen to your body.

Now onto exercise, no I’m not going to stop it either. If I were to stop, I’d lose so much of the muscle I have gained and we all know that muscle burns more meaning you get a few extra calories to eat. Who doesn’t want that? I love exercise, there are so many benefits to it. My main reason for getting to the gym everyday, stress. I’m a huge stressor and the gym gets that out. We all know how bad stress is for your body too.

I recently found out that we are expecting. I have actually been getting this question even more now. “When are you going to stop?” Again my reply is “NEVER!” I may or may not imply that I’ll be exercising until it’s time to push. For me exercise has taken a new meaning. You see with out going into too much detail it makes this awful morning sickness bearable. Yes, I still feel horrible and I want this part to pass quickly, but if I weren’t exercising, I fear it would be so much worse.

My first pregnancy I had no sickness and ate what I wanted. Gained 60 pounds, labored for 13 hours, 2 epidurals that failed and one nurse with a bruised nose.

My second pregnancy I was so sick I lost 30 pounds, I had to eat vegetarian, I exercised lightly, labored 6 hours, with no epidural and 3 very happy and proud nurses.

Huge difference right?  I’ve learned that continuing an exercise program through pregnancy makes for an easier delivery. To me that is totally worth it. Who wants to labor for hours and not be able to walk for days after? Ugh, the thought! So, to answer everyone’s question, yes I plan on continuing my current program and modifying as I get bigger. I hope to be an example for women around me to know that unless your doctor says otherwise, when you are pregnant, you are not handicapped. So suck it up buttercup and get your butt to the gym, or park, or in front of the TV doing yoga booty ballet or whatever gets you going. To my boot camp pals, Don’t let the pregnant lady show you up  

Much love to ya!

Ain’t no mountain high, Ain’t no valley low

 

All too often I hear people say “I can’t.” What should really be said is “I won’t.” The reality is that our bodies are only as strong as our minds say they are. When someone tells me, “I can’t because (insert excuse)” in my head I hear “I won’t because (insert lame excuse).”

I don’t allow the usage of the word can’t in our home, unless it is something like, “I can’t reach the top shelf.” I remind my family that can’t isn’t in our daily vocabulary, and should only be used when something is physically impossible ( being too short) or when myself or my husband has deemed something out of bounds because of behavior, “I can’t spend the night because my room isn’t clean.” Try and take can’t out of your vocabulary for a week.

Now, replace can’t with can. “I can do burpees, I can do sit-ups, I can run.” It may not be amazing, or up to where you think you should be, but you can do it. Eventually, if you continue to say can, you will and it will be a cinch. Sometimes we just don’t want to do something, ( I know I am guilty of this) but instead of can’t say I won’t. This causes you to be honest with yourself.

One of the biggest excuses I hear is “I can’t afford a gym membership so I can’t get healthy or lose weight.” WRONG!!! gym or no gym, fitness is a state of mind. You can’t have a strong body with a weak mind (Thank you FLEX TIL YOUR FAMOUS for that phrase). I have seen people get healthy with out ever stepping foot in a gym. For those of you that use that excuse, here is a challenge for you. Eat clean, cut out processed junk ( because all it really is, is chemicals) and walk daily for 30 minutes. It doesn’t have to be fast, it can be slow, but do it for 30 minutes. Done? Good, now add this AB challenge to your regimen. Happy, Healthy, and Strong, you can attack anything. Nothing will stand in your way. “Ain’t no mountain high, ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough baby!”

 

Day 1- 10 sit-ups(SU),4 reverse crunches(RC), 10 sec plank ( P)

Day 2- 15 SU, 5 RC, 15SEC P

DAY3- 20 SU, 6 RC, 20SEC P

DAY4- REST

DAY5- 25SU, 6 RC, 20 SEC P

DAY6- 25 SU, 7 RC, 20 SEC P

DAY7- 30 SU, 7 RC, 25 SEC P

DAY8- 30 SU, 8 RC, 25 SEC P

DAY9-35 SU, 9RC, 30SEC P

DAY10-35 SU, 9RC, 35 SEC P

DAY11-REST

DAY12-40SU, 10 RC, 35SEC P

DAY13-45 SU, 10 RC, 35 SEC P

DAY14-45 SU, 11 RC, 40 SEC P

DAY15-50 SU, 12 RC, 40 SEC P

DAY16-50 SU, 15 RC, 40 SEC P

DAY17- 60SU, 15 RC, 40SEC P

DAY18-REST

DAY19-60 SU, 15 RC, 50 SEC P

DAY20-60SU, 18 RC, 50 SEC P

DAY21-70SU, 18 RC,  55 SEC P

DAY22-70 SU, 20 RC, 55 SEC P

DAY23-80 SU, 20 RC, 60 SEC P

DAY24-80SU, 22RC, 70SEC P

DAY25-REST

DAY26-80SU, 22 RC, 1:15 P

DAY27-90 SU, 24 RC, 1:20P

DAY28-90 SU, 26 RC, 1:30 P

DAY29-95 SU, 26 RC, 1:30 P

DAY30-95 SU, 28RC, 1:45 P

DAY31-100 SU, 30 RC, 2:00 P

My name is Rachelle and I am an addict

There are many things to be addicted to, and I’m sure we have all had a problem with one thing or another. I’m addicted to food, and it’s a battle but I have come a long way. Mostly in part, because of this wonderful guy named Aaron Stafford. Many people know him and many people owe a great deal to him.  I know he has saved the lives of many people by giving them the tools and showing them what they are able to do.

He has done this for me, and even through all of my complaining and questioning and often times nonsense in ramblings, he has still been there to help. This is one of the many things that are great about him and why his business has flourished the way it  has. He wants to help people change, and I have seen how dedicated he is to each and every person that walks through those gym doors.

I am an addict, I need his classes. I think about them all the time, the sweat that will be dripping off of me each class. The challenging work he gives us, and best of all the encouragement to do it. I signed a contract to continue his classes and it ends in March. I have often wondered if I will continue, if I will want to. I can tell you this, YES! I love every bit of it. I go to class everyday, even when we have class on Saturday. The friendships I have made in my nine months are wonderful. We have become a family, and we support one another in our triumphs and our flops (although there are few flops). I truly enjoy boot camp, and I don’t think I could live with out it. I don’t even want to try.

I’m telling you this for a few reasons, first, I have found something I love and that I will stick to. This is important because if you want to succeed you need to find something that you love and want to do. Secondly, registration is this Saturday and Sunday. This is your chance to see what I’m always talking about. There are more classes then boot camp, in fact, a new program called FUEL is being released ( I can’t wait, I already signed up and I’m ready for the butt kicking that will follow). There will also be two additional BOX fit classes at night. There will be so many changes so if you have attended once before and weren’t feeling it, come back and give it another try.  This is something you don’t want to miss out on. Trust me. A year will pass, will you be glad you started today or will you regret not taking that first step?

For more information or to preregister just click here and see for yourself.

Are you scared?

Let me ask you, are you scared? Yes? Good! No? WHY NOT? I’ll be honest with you, I am very scared. But, the difference between what I do with my fear now, and what I did with it nine months ago, is what I want to focus on. I live a life full of anxiety, and everyday presents a new fear or ridiculous phobia. For a long time I let this rule me, but not any more.

Nine months ago, I was afraid of failing, of not being able to accomplish what I wanted to do, of getting hurt, or looking like a fool. I was afraid that I would have a heart attack, or injure myself, or that I just wouldn’t be able to do it. I would let my fear stop me from even starting. Why do we do this? I’m here to tell you to throw those fears out the window, or stomp on them like your doing the Mexican hat dance. They are crippling and useless. Easier said then done right?  Wrong.

I did this, and guess what? I got hurt, and then I healed. I looked like a fool, but I wasn’t alone. I was able to do it, and I still can. I only get better. A little advice, take it one day at a time. You can’t fail on a large scale if each day is a new goal. I take one day at a time, and I set a goal for each day. No sugar today, BOOM! No overeating today, BAM! Portion control, POW! Target calories, ZAP! Yeah I know, I sound like a old episode of Batman, but you get the idea. Make each day a new day. By focusing on the present day, and not the day before, you can become more confident in your ability to do this. You’ll have a bad day, and slip, but that’s okay, because the next day you’re going to tackle each challenge like it’s nothing.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

You know what my fear used to be and how I over came it, so let me tell you how my fear has become my fuel. Now my fear is disappointing myself, setting a bad example for my family, going back to where I started, living a life that is less than enjoyable. These things are what I think about when I ‘m struggling, or want to give up. Sometimes, I get frustrated because I’m not where I want to be yet. I use my fears to remind me that I don’t want to go back.  It will take time, and my results will not be over night.

I talked about it before, but some of you may not have read my blog from the very beginning, so I’ll share again. What started me on my journey was a few things. I had been trying to get pregnant for four years and had been told to give up because it wouldn’t happen, and my son at five years old already had high cholesterol and was obese. I was OBESE. I hated that word, more than you can ever imagine. OBESE, OBESE, OBESE! Yes, I’m repeating it. It helps to remind me of how far I have come. I was killing myself and my child with food. I didn’t want to diet and I didn’t want to feel deprived. Guess what? I don’t, I don’t diet and I don’t feel like I am depriving myself. I treat myself on cheat days and I just make healthier choices.

It’s not a diet, but a lifestyle.

When people ask me what diet I’m on I tell them “THE I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK THERE DIET.” Did you know there is a diet called that? HAHA, yes there is. It’s called a change of diet, meaning it’s a permanent thing, a lifestyle. I can’t sell you on it if you don’t want it. Look back at what has brought you to where you are, do you want to go back there? If you haven’t started to change  your life, why not? You have to stop the excuses, and stop doubting yourself, change your mindset, and surprise yourself with how amazing you are. You can do it! Tell yourself that everyday. You are strong. How bad do you want it? If you’re not ready to commit to the change, then you just don’t want it bad enough. Picture a starving cheetah, has very little energy left, just enough for one catch. If that cheetah doesn’t catch it’s prey, it’s very well dead. Be the cheetah, your mouth watering, your heart pounding, you want it so bad you can taste it. You WILL get your prey. Now commit or go back to where you started/are, you are the only one that can make that choice.

So how do you choose?

Do as I do and as I say

Happy 4th of July! I hope you are all having a blessed day, and remembering the reason for our celebrating and shopping. I’m very grateful for the sacrifice of our servicemen past and present. It is because of their selflessness that we can cook out, go to the lake or beach, participate in the holiday’s celebrations and most of all, why we are free. You never know when your freedom is going to be stripped away, so take time to cherish it, and most of all Thank our military! 

Okay, so now that I got my gratitude out there in blog land.  There has been a thought running through my mind for a while, and I have been contemplating on blogging about it. This could be a topic that will stir up either a lot of thought, action, or possibly even anger. I hope there is a lot of the first two and very little of the third. Are you a leader or a follower?

Now think about it, and think about it as you go about your day or week. Think while you make your food choices, and while you are deciding whether or not to hit the gym. Are you a leader or a follower? It’s okay if you are a follower, at some point in our lives we all are, and there is nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong at all. But I want you to think like a leader, what I mean by that is to think about who is watching you.

When I first started attending Stafford Bootcamp, I was definitely a follower. It had been a really long time since I had worked out and I had forgotten my form and technique. I watched those that were clearly veterans in the class, and I learned from them. Now, that I am a veteran in the class, I try and help people when I can tell they are lost or when I can tell their form is going to lead to an injury. I’ve had plenty of my own and if I can help someone else prevent an injury from my mistakes, I do my best to help.

But that’s not all I do. I have adapted the mentality “Do as I do and as I say.” Why this? Well, because I try my hardest to do what I say. I may not be perfect at it, but I try my best. So why not say “DO as I say not as I do?” A couple of reasons come to mind. One, my advice is not always going to work for everyone. Two, even if my advice were perfect for everyone, no one is perfect. Sticking to something can be hard to do. This is why I say do as I do. I don’t mean copy every single thing I do, but see what I do and adapt it to work for yourself.

An example of this is when I’m in class, and worn out and feel as though I can’t continue. I stop take about three breaths and push again. I’m not going to lie and say that I continue `the exercise the entire time ( I mean really who can do push ups for three minutes straight?). I do make sure that whenever they tell everyone there are 20, 10, or even 5 seconds left that I am doing the exercise. I’m not going to cheat myself and stop when there is only a short amount of time left. This is what I mean, maybe three breaths is too short of a break and some one might need more time. Take that time but don’t cheat yourself by stopping when there is only a little bit more to do.

Another example, is my diet. I can tell you “eat clean 90 percent of the time,'” but in reality, I don’t even do that. I eat clean about 80 percent of the time. I’ve tried the 90 and I kept falling off the wagon. I’m just not there yet. I mean I have days that amaze me, I’ll juice fruits and veggies for two meals, have completely balanced meals  for the other three, and it seems so effortless. Then there are days when it feels like a struggle to make those meals balanced. SOMETIMES I JUST WANT CARBS! Who doesn’t right? When people ask me how I do it, I tell them make little changes first and to detox their system by drinking lots of lemon water. Try new things and explore new vegetables. You’d be surprised what you will like when you are open minded. This is how I have done it. I mean I hated Kale for the longest time, I could not choke it down. It would make me gag. But, I have eaten so much Kale that now I crave it! I need my Kale! Find what works for you and try your best to stick to it.

Back to the title, “DO as I do and as I say.” Sometimes my advice is really good, and you should follow it, but please see that even I am not the best at following my own advice. I try, and that’s all that really matters. We all have to try. This thought was sparked by the image of my daughter, who now copies everything our family members do. I see her reach her hand into our air popped popcorn and place a piece in her mouth, or dip her chicken into ketchup because that’s what her brother does. She also randomly does squats, because when Mommy gets bored she does some. She is watching everything we do, and I can teach her through my example. There is a saying, “actions speak louder than words.” This is very true. Children only hear about 20 percent of what their parents say (I may have grasped that number out of the air, but I know it is a really low percentage). They learn from what they see around them.

Remember that someone is always watching you. They’re watching to see if you’ll fail, or succeed, if you quit, or keep going. If you’ll let the pressure get to you, or if you let it roll off your shoulder. Someone is watching to see if you are a leader or a follower, or if you are someone they can rely on. Ultimately, it is up to you, and whatever you choose  will only effect you. I have tried to become a leader, and as I have done this, I have seen myself grow into a person I never knew I could be. The choice is yours, so choose wisely.

Goals

             Have you seen that commercial for AARP? You know the one that says “Michelle just finished her first marathon at forty. Proof that not everyone peaks in their twenties.” Something like that, I can’t remember the exact wording. Well, this got me thinking about my brother-in-law. See last year, Aaron decided that he was going to run a marathon. At first I thought he was crazy, I even thought he was crazy when he was visiting and had my sister drop him off ten miles from my house and he ran back. I really thought he was crazy when he arrived and his toes were bleeding. I mean, for the longest time if I hurt, I’d stop. So his actions had me confused, why would he do something that hurts his body? But now I understand, he was determined and wasn’t going to let anything prevent him from reaching his goal. I remember this every time I work out.

             Goals are great, but what if you don’t reach them? Like say you have a goal of a weight loss of 2 pounds per week, but you don’t meet that goal? Well, don’t give up! Just try again. You know that saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Well, that’s exactly what you need to do. Don’t get down on yourself because you didn’t meet that goal and give up. Do the work, and get out of your head. I can’t say this enough, GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD!! Here’s what I do, Every month I set a goal of 2-6 inches lost. I don’t really worry about the number on the scale, after all it is just a number and that number DOES NOT define me. I do get on once a week to make sure that I haven’t over done it. But that’s it. Sometimes I meet my goal, and sometimes I fall short. But after I pick myself up and brush the dirt off my shoulder I get back to work. I focus on each rep, or the intensity of my workout. Then I track all of my food. Sometimes I forget, I mean we all do every now and then, but I try.

                  Setting goals are important, and there are a times when you can sabotage yourself when you set a goal. There are a few rules, that I try to follow when setting my goals. I think that you will find they are very helpful.

- Set a realistic goal

      Know what you can do. If you know that you have a hard time losing weight, don’t say “I’m losing 40 pounds in three months.” First off, that isn’t safe. Secondly, it’s only going to upset you when you don’t meet that goal.

  - have a visual / tangible goal

      By doing this, you can see how far you have to go. This will also be a constant reminder. This past march I bought myself a swimsuit and I hung it up on the wall in my room. I saw this suit when I woke up and went to sleep. I would see it and think, how much work I had to do and then push for that.

-divide and conquer

   I have found that focusing on my long term goal, makes me a little nervous sometimes. I mean it’s going to take A LOT of work to get where I want to be.  Divide your long term goal into smaller achievable goals. Then celebrate, but not with food, YOU ARE NOT A DOG.  You’ll feel accomplished and this will push you to continue.

- Give yourself a deadline

   I’ll be honest, I’m not really good about this one. I have however, decided that by March I will have lost a total of 45 inches. I’ve already lost 29.5 inches so I’m not far off. If I reach a total of 45 inches before then, I will have to reset my goal.  By setting a deadline, you are forcing yourself to be accountable.  But again, be realistic in setting your deadline.

- Take it one day at a time

      Every day, I make sure that I get all my water, have two juices, drink two protein shakes, and that I don’t eat after seven o’clock. Some days, I do  this perfectly, and others I don’t. But, I try  to focus on this each day, because by doing this I’m not worrying about the result, but more about the work. Once I get focused on the work, I will see results. I talked about “the circle” before.

Now I want to share my goal with you. It may seem like an unrealistic one, and some may poke fun at me or tell me I can’t do it. For those of you, go ahead, because your ridicule will only fuel my fire. In a year, maybe a little less, but by my birthday next year, I would like to be in shape to compete like my inspiration Cody Lawyer at the protein princess. I won’t compete, but I’d like to be in the shape to do so. I have a buddy, My dear sweet sister, Emily has so kindly agreed to join me on this journey. We will keep each other on track.

What is your goal? If you don’t have one, set one. Make yourself accountable, and then achieve it. You can do it, I believe in you.

Motivation…….

It’s easy to lose your motivation along the way. What is it that causes this to happen? Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but for me, it is often because I’m looking at how much work I still have to do versus how far I have come. My wonderful trainer reminded one day, when I was complaining about how I feel like I’m never going to loose my jelly belly, that if you put in the work and take things day by day , that it will all take care of it’s self. Now that doesn’t mean that I can bust my butt at the gym, and then go home and eat a snickers and expect the weight to fall off. Wouldn’t that be nice?! It means, give your workout everything you have, and then go home and eat clean, and everything else will just fall in place.

It’s like the guy that performs the wedding on I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry, when he says, “It’s like a circle,” (that was for you Carlos ). When you do the right things, everything else just follows. I remember in a nutrition class that my trainer taught and he showed the effects. I wish I had that picture now to better describe it. But, to save you from having to read a bunch of words that don’t make any sense, I’ll spare you that. I could go on and on, and you’d still be clueless as to what I’m saying. SEE ? I lost you already. HAHA.  But this is what I have figured out, it takes 21 days of repetition for something to become a habit. So, 21 days of going to the gym, led me to 21 days of eating clean, which has led me to 21 days of avoiding being sedentary at home. See? Each habit, has caused another habit, and so on.

What does this have to do with motivation? Well, often times (speaking in my case) I may skip a day, and then I feel yucky, and it effects the next thing. Eventually, I just feel gross, and I don’t even want to try anymore. I’m not saying this happens to everyone, because there are women at the gym that I see put in 2 hours a day, leaving everything they have there, and then eat clean at home, and then they still feel like they are losing motivation. Have I lost you yet? Sometimes, that does happen to the best of us. So if you have fallen off the wagon, or feel like you are going to, or maybe you have fallen off and are still holding on to the bumper as it drags you behind. Scuffed up, and ,maybe bruised, pick yourself up, brush the dirt off your shoulder, hold your head up high, and shout to yourself “I CAN DO THIS, I’M NOT BROKEN, AND I’M NOT DEAD. THIS IS NOT MY END, AND I WILL NOT GIVE IN!” Now say it, say it everyday if you have to, but say it. Don’t throw in the towel, you have come so far and you are capable of amazing things.

Last month, I was feeling awful, and I was being drug by the bumper of my wagon. I wasn’t going to let go, but I was getting close. One of my buddies had a crazy idea, “Let’s do the CAGE!” Now for those of you that don’t know, the CAGE is a serious workout, they have a barf bucket labeled, “BARF BUCKET” Enough said. It’s an intense workout, and as I’m drinking my water during a quick break, I watch in amazement at the women participating in this voluntary beating.  So, I do it! Prepared to barf maybe more than once, I go with her. I made it through the hour and never barfed! I crawled out of there exhausted, but I made it. I flipped this giant tire, I ran two inch thick ropes, I squat pressed a 45 pound bar, I kind of did pull-ups, I swung a 55 pound kettle bell, and I did sit-ups with a 30 pound bar! All of these things amazed me! I got my pep back and was ready to attack my fat! This not only motivated me, but as I was speaking to my husband about my excitement of accomplishing such an amazing feat, he told me that I have motivated him.

Push harder, when you want to give up. Hold on tighter, run faster, press just once more, because someone is watching. To someone, you are their motivation, and they are looking to see what you do when you want to give up.  In the spirit of motivation, I’m going to share who has motivated me throughout my journey. I will just have to name some names, because I haven’t been granted permission to photos of each person.  

                     

This is Katie, she has lost 70 lbs. in 8 months. On top of that, she has lost 56 or more inches, and built a great deal of muscle! She is awesome. I have seen her push through pain to complete an exercise, press a great deal of weight, and she pushes me to increase my weights every time. She doesn’t let me give up or give in, and she reminds me that I can do this.

This is Jocelyn, she is a friend from high school. Like most women, she got married and had a baby and the weight crept on. She has lost a lot of inches and I think 35lbs, and is continuing on her journey. She is now becoming known through out the weightlifting community. This girl is like the energizer bunny.

Gloria, is a wonderful woman that I have met through boot camp. She is amazing. How can I put this without sounding horribly rude? She is a seasoned woman. She  got up and worked out through the aches and pains. She has lost (I may be wrong on this) close to 40 inches, and (if I recall correctly) is off all of her medication! That is something that she should brag about, but doesn’t because she is so humble! I could take a lesson or two from her on humility.

Brittany, is a young mom like myself. I have watched her push through every work out as if it is a breeze. I’ve seen her push to be faster, or get out more reps each and every day. Secretly, I wish I had her stamina and the ability to not sweat off all my makeup like her (her face is always fresh as can be, when I’m dripping sweat like an SNL sketch).

Nina, is an amazing mother and she has been one of my fitness gurus. I remember watching her hop on her bike one day at the park (it had an attached stroller for her sons) and she was going to ride back home. That was one of the days that I thought to myself about a change. Did I mention that she is 20 weeks pregnant and still has the energy to continue working out?

Mel, is one of my sweet friends. She has been my other fitness guru. This gal, has a very special spot in my heart. She has taught me a lot through her actions and kind words of wisdom. I always know that if I need a comforting pep talk that she is there for me. She is a running machine, and I hope to be able to keep up with her one day.

There are so many people that motivate me that if I sat here and named every single person, this post would take hours to read. So know, that I find inspiration in everyone. Each and every one of you, I can guarantee, has motivated me through your actions or words. I can’t thank you enough.

Remember, when you are struggling, and want to give up, that is when you need to push harder and give it all you’ve got.

(I hope that I have in no way, offended or upset anyone by using them in this post, or not using them in this post. Like I said if I named each person and why they motivate me this would be a novel. I love each and every one of you, and I thank you for all of your support!)

The swimsuit

Like most women, shopping for that dreaded swimsuit for the summer can be depressing or just unsettling. This year, I found my swimsuit before summer. They had one of each size, my size at the time  and a size smaller. Afraid that I was going to be too ambitious, I picked up my current size and tried it on. I loved it. It was very similar to the same one I wore last summer while pregnant. I felt sexy in it, it brought out my inner Maroline Monroe.

  

Since I had already worn a suit like it the previous year , I decided I would do the same this year, only I bought the size smaller and a different color. I wasn’t going to give up, and I kept telling myself that there wasn’t going to be any other suits around. So, I offered up my old suits to friends, and knew that there was only one. I hung that suit up, somewhere that I would see it all the time. It was a constant reminder, get fit or look bad in it.

Then the day came, and it was time to put on the suit. DUHN DUHN DUHN, I was scared. I may have been saying an inner prayer that I would be able to get it on.  Guess what I did get it on, and even better I felt great in it.  I felt so proud of myself, to know that all of my hard work had paid off. Now is the moment of truth, to prove to myself and well, those that thought I couldn’t do it…………… The proof is in the picture.

Drum roll please ……………….

                                        

I know I’m not a super model, but honestly I don’t want to be. I may not have thin thighs, or a super flat stomach with abs to wash clothes on, but I’m proud. I’m grateful for the body I have, and the amazing things it can do. This picture may be offensive to some people ( CEO of Ambercrombie and Fitch) but I know to others that it may serve as inspiration. So do as your mama says, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”  Be proud of the body you have, and the amazing things it does, even if it isn’t in the shape you want, it’s a gift. So when you put on your suit, don’t look in the mirror and say things like “my thighs are too fat”, or “I have cellulite”, “my stomach is so jiggly,” instead tell yourself that you are beautiful, you’re real, and you are amazing. Now hold your head high and wear that swimsuit proudly!

Addiction? Ha, I laugh in the face of my addiction!

There are so many addictions, and each has its own crippling effects. I don’t smoke, do illegal or legal drugs, and I don’t drink. Yet, I have an addiction like everyone else out there. I’ve tried to conquer it many different ways, but each time, I have failed. My addiction is food. Creamy food, cheesy food, ooey gooey drizzled in caramel food.  I love food.  Now I have never dealt with other addictions, but from my experience food is a hard addiction to break, I would think it is the hardest. We need food to sustain life. We can stop eating, but eventually we starve, and could possibly starve to death. I’ve gone through different phases with food. I’ve done the starvation thing, the eat it all and barf it up later, and even the calculate every single calorie and burn everything off kind of thing. Each time my body suffered. Eventually, I just gave up and gave into it. If I were to guess I would say that I was eating around 3000 calories a day. WAY TOO MANY!

How did this come about you ask? Well, I’m the second oldest of five children, and in our home, we ate what was made or we didn't eat at all. I have two brothers, and any person male or female knows that teenage boys can put food away! So, often times I was still hungry after a meal. I got used to it, until I moved out on my own and I asked myself one day why I was still hungry, I mean I didn’t have to save food for anyone else. So I ate. I promised myself that I wouldn’t have this weird relationship with food that I did when I was a teenager. I was a WOMAN, and I was going to get what I wanted. Unfortunately, everything I wanted got me 60 pounds heavier.

Food is always on my mind. I mean always, but it’s not on it the same way that it was before. Now it’s how many burpees would this cost me? How many squats? How many sets of stairs? Now don’t get me wrong, there are days when all I can think about is the warm gooey center of a freshly baked chocolate chunk cookie, or the sweet and salty caramel dripping off of a warm fudgy brownie. AH here comes the fat girl again, just thinking about these things gets my mouth watering. There is a reason for that. Addiction. Food companies have put a lot of money into finding chemicals that are going to get us hooked. Can you eat just one Oreo? What about those Doritos?

See, there are all those chemicals in the ingredient labels and they use the scientific names so that we don’t know what’s going into our bodies. They have found the perfect cocktail, that gets those brain cells excited and wanting more. These are called exictotoxins. They get the brain cells so excited that they explode, and then you want more. Just like a cocaine addict, one fix is never enough.

Now, I haven’t quite figured out how to reverse this damage, and I honestly doubt there is a way. But I have found it’s easier to avoid these things. My rule of thumb is, if I can’t stop at one, then it’s better to avoid it completely. That’s hard, because it’s a habit, like after a hard day at work one might reach for a beer or glass of wine. I would reach for a cookie, or brownie. Okay, I’m a sweets gal, you got me. Any way,  Your body and brain are used to you connecting the bad day with the reliever (sweets or beer) and it thinks, that is how to heal a bad day. Addictions are nasty things, and the hardest part about breaking one is breaking the bad habit.

I still have bad days, but I’ve learned not to beat myself up over it. I honestly think that the guilt is the heaviest part. Call me crazy, but my guilt is what gives me those extra pounds. I used to think “Oh no I screwed up, Oh well, I might as well indulge now.” That’s dangerous. But I’m getting off track. My point is this, I have to have a motivator.  Now I have many. Which is good, or at least I think. I have visual motivators, and mental. My visual motivators are some of the following; the size smaller swimsuit that is hanging on my closet door ( I see it everyday, and it reminds me that I have only that one suit), the pinterest board of fit women, and the AWESOME women at the gym, with those rock hard arms, or those toned legs. This may sound weird, but the other day I was watching one of my friends do shoulder presses and as I saw her rippling shoulder muscles, I may have drooled at little. No, not like that, but at the thought that I could be like that too. Each type of motivation helps to keep me in line. When I want an extra cookie, I’ll go to my room and look at that suit. Each person has their own way to overcome an obstacle. I have a  friend (one of those gym rats I was telling you about) that says she posts a picture of a woman with a physique that she aspires to have, on her fridge. This is great thinking! I still have this addiction, but I’m learning to control it. I’m learning my triggers, and how to avoid them, and when I can’t avoid them, how to substitute for something healthier. SO, enough talking, I’m going to show you.

So here are a few of the many motivational posts on my pinterest board.

                                 

                         

                       

Go out, and find something that motivates you. It will help you a great deal in breaking your addiction and staying focused on your goals. Good luck, you can do it. Now press onward!

At a glance

I've hit a mental block right? I'm not sure why, but I am struggling. I've had multiple pep talks from my trainers and friends. I continue with my exercising and eating well, I also try reading motivational quotes or stories.  My mind isn't in it or I guess out of it. I'm the kind of person that has to turn my mind off when I hit the gym. If I don't, my mind is full of self doubt and complaining. It's quite annoying actually. You know those girls in the gym, "it's too hot", "this is too hard", "I hate squats", "my knee hurts", " I hate sweating," yeah that's what is in my head. I prefer to turn it off, and count reps, or concentrate on my breathing. Lately though, it has been, "Why are you even trying? You aren't getting the results you want. Just stop already, your hubby would understand." But there are a few things that keep me going, one is I'm a mother of two hard headed children; a six year old that is trying to learn the limits and a ten month old that knows how to push all the wrong buttons, and I need to relieve my stress one way or another. Second, I'm a HUGE cheapskate, and if I know my money is coming out of my account, you better believe if it's $5 or $130 I'm going to be getting my moneys worth. Lastly, I have motivated people. I feel like the little bit that I have done is so small compared to my awesome gym rat friends, but to those that are sitting where I was almost a year ago, I am inspiring to them! Yesterday, I had someone that I admire greatly (she is tiny and has a huge love of food also) tell me that she wishes she could get going, and get fit like me. In my mind I was all "PSSSH, please! I wish I was your size!" But later I realized that, it's the determination that she admired. Maybe my muscles too ;-) Which leads me to this, I have accomplished so much. I look in the mirror and some days I still see what I think is the same old same old, but when I compare my pictures I see a huge difference. I mean who wants a double chin for the rest of their life? NOT THIS GIRL! My trainer was kind enough to share my before and after picture with me today, this may have given me that UMPH I have been needing. This picture is from November 29, 2012 (4 months postpartum) to March 29, 2013 (8 months postpartum). It takes time, but as long as you are losing something, or even gaining something (confidence, muscle, energy) it is worth it.

                                                            IT IS WORTH IT!

So..... it's come to this......

       WELCOME! First off, I feel the need to clear up a few things. First, I am not a grammar teacher and I have horrible grammar. I apologize immensely for my very obvious need for an English class. But, if you will bear with me and ignore the horrible sentence structure or atrocious grammar, I think we will have a great deal of fun! Second, although I may or may not be pursuing a nutrition degree, it has no emphasis on my knowledge of fitness or nutrition, so please remember I AM NEW AT THIS, and I don't have all the answers, this is just what has worked for me. Last but not least, be NICE! Any comments in a negative manor will be deleted. I'm just here to share my experience not to teach anything and negativity will not be tolerated.

      Okay, so now that I got that off my chest, the fun can begin! Hi, I'm Rachelle and I am a food addict. HAHA, aren't we all? Let me tell you a little bit about what brought me to this point that I am at today.  I had just turned 21 or maybe it was 22 (I can't even remember how old I am), and my baby was six months old. I was tipping the scale at 220 pounds, and I was miserable. I had the all clear to exercise again, but I lacked the desire. I felt gross, and I thought that anyone that was looking at me thought the same thing. My once amazing self confidence had been smashed to pieces and I hated myself.

        I tried so many different things, like weight watchers, metabolic research, counting calories, south beach, the fat smash diet, and even some unhealthy ways, like diet pills. YUCK! Each would work for a little while and when I stopped or transitioned back, all the weight came back and maybe even more. I felt defeated every single time.

         Fast forward 5 years, here is where I hit rock bottom. You have to hit rock bottom almost every time before you make a change. I had been trying to get pregnant with our second baby and miscarriage after miscarriage, or failed attempt things would get worse and my hope was shrinking. Doctors told me it wasn't going to happen and to give up. But I knew differently, so I found another doctor, she gave me hope and advised me to count calories and make an appointment with a fertility doctor as soon as possible. I did just this, and found out from the fertility doctor that I had an intolerance to carbs. I was put on a diabetes medicine to help control this, and I was sick! All the time, and I was losing weight very fast. Then we got pregnant! Between the fertility drugs, and the diabetes medicine I couldn't keep anything down. I lost 30 pounds that first trimester. I never felt good again the entire pregnancy.
     
         My son had turned six, and went to the doctor for his well check. He was six years old and weighed 85 pounds, yes he is tall, but even still 85 pounds put him in the obese category. Blood work was required now :-( and the results broke my heart. He had prediabetes and high cholesterol. "That's it!" I cried, "I'm killing my own son!" ROCK BOTTOM!

         I had watched Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, and decided that since I couldn't keep anything down, I would start juicing my fruits and veggies. This worked! I was able to keep these juices down. I then started to remove processed juices from my son's diet. If he wanted juice, he was getting the good stuff. The research began and processed foods or POISON as I call them, slowly started to leave our home.

        Fast forward yet again, and I'm in my 8th month of  Stafford Bootcamp. I'm down 45lbs from where I began. I juice two meals a day and eat 90% vegetarian meals. I still have cheat meals, and I guarantee that they almost always have BACON! I was a food addict after all, so it's to be expected that I'd have my bacon still :-)  I fit in my wedding dress again, I've gone from a size 18 to a size ten. I get my butt to the gym every day, and I push until I'm shaking from exhaustion. So that's my story, but why am I blogging about this? Well, I have hit a wall. Not physically, but mentally. I still go to the gym everyday, and I still train  for my 5k every other day. My head just isn't in it. I want to care, I really do, but I just don't, but I really do want to. It's a back and forth kind of thing. I'm hoping that by getting my thoughts out of my head that I can knock down the wall and have a bright outlook again. So here is my question to you. When you hit a wall, how do you tackle it? What works for you ?