Every class there is a Boot Camper of the Class.....it's never me! Sure I want it, I give it my all but I workout with some animals real die hards! On Saturday it happened I was Boot Camper of the class everyone clapped and cheered for me......it was a great moment. Did I deserved it probably not felt like I was working out with the best of the worst....but hey it was my Mary Catherine Gallagher moment! Yes Superstar!!

or my Sally O'Malley moment :

Yes I'm 45 and I can Kick and Stretch......

My daughter was impressed.....she always is!!

My bumpy road to success....

I haven't posted on this blog in a long while...It's been a bumpy road this journey of mine. Some days I start out right and do really good and somewhere along the way I hit a bump or a detour. I feel defeated, a failure, frustrated and most of all fat! Everyday I start again and hopefully one day it will not be a challenge and I will see success and smile at how far I have come.

Today I'm in pain from head to toe. Yesterday was a tough bootcamp class, the whole idea is to shake up your body, keep it guessing! My body is pissed and in pain...hopefully it will respond and get stronger.
We did boxing in part of our class omg I loved it....I actually said to the trainer wow that was fun....I've never said those words while exercising!

Here is what our class looked like....the newest form of torture is working out with sand bags (the black duffles) oh my....it was tough.

  This picture is the best of the worst forms of torture exercise! It's part of the journey, the easy part for me...the hard part is in my kitchen and the choices I make.

I guess I want to say I'm still here, still working on it and still on the journey.

Two weeks and a foot and half..

I just returned from my weight and measurement appointment for my Bootcamp transformation contest....I was so nervous that I would have any success. I'm about a foot and half in the door on the nutrition part and good on the exercise. 

I haven't had any wine in two weeks...but I did have two beers...shhh don't tell! Plus it was Mother's day yesterday so hello enough said there. I'm trying to shake my life's to short not to enjoy_____( fill in the blank) I seem to justify anything these days! I'm trying to adopt the attitude life will be shorter if you don't get control of this weight.

So after two weeks I'm down 5 pounds and 1% of body fat. Lost half inch in hips, 1.5 inches in waist, over an inch on my thigh, half inch on arms, and 3/4 inch on chest!!

Okay I think that is success and might be enough for me to jump in with two feet and be 100% committed!! 

Off to workout and burn some calories....I hope I can ride this high and stay motivated!

Life is good!

Today is the first day of my TRANSFORMATION Contest.....coming off vacation I need this more than ever. Even though we walked our asses off....I also indulge in too much of everything. My mind set was this is it....enjoy it now cause your life is changing. 

I really want to be successful at this journey, my family is supporting me and I have the will and drive. But I also have that little voice in the back of my head that is telling me life is short enjoy! But enjoy what the muffin top I'm sporting or the heart burn, painful achey knees, short of breath and tiredness....life is short and life is good...I want to be here a long time and enjoy it to the fullest. 

I really felt my extra weight on this vacation. It was a slap in the face daily....I was in pain, tired and struggled to keep up. I hope this is the slap I need and the reminder to be successful in the next six weeks and many weeks and years after.

My bloggy friend Patricia aka PVE posted this recipe for a Detox soup....I think I'm kicking off my transformation with this recipe

Detox Green Soup Recipe with Broccoli, Spinach and Ginger

This easy detox soup can be thin or thick, depending upon the amount of water you add. It cooks up fast. We served ours with a modest scoop of hot cooked jasmine rice in the middle. Super good.

You'll need:

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 inch of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
4 cups fresh broccoli, cut up
1/2 pound of fresh spinach leaves
3 parsnips, peeled, cored, chopped
2 ribs of celery, trimmed, chopped
A handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Fresh water, as needed
Sea salt and ground pepper, to tatse
Lemon or lime juice


Using a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and stir in the garlic, onion, and ginger to season the oil. Add the broccoli, spinach, parsnips, celery and parsley, and stir a bit until the spinach wilts and collapses. Add just enough water to cover the vegetables. Remember the spinach will cook down quite a bit, so don't add too much water at first. You can always thin the soup later, if you need to.

Bring to a high simmer, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to a medium simmer. Cook for fifteen minutes or so until the veggies are softened.

Use an immersion blender to puree the soup.

Taste test. Does it need brightening? Add a squeeze of citrus.

Off to have my weight and measurements and before picture taken....yikes!

Have a wonderful Monday!

I signed up

I signed up for the Transformation Contest at my Boot Camp Class. It said it's for serious CAMPERS....not sure if I qualify as a serious camper...but I'm ready to make the next step in committing to complete Nutrition and Fitness.  I think I have the fitness down but have struggled with the nutrition.

It's only a 6 week contest....6 weeks starting after Easter....yeah one last hurrah with my Peeps! It's a pretty strict diet...no wine or coffee....yes you heard me right....no wine or coffee. So basically I'm going to be a bitch for the first two weeks and possible all six weeks without those two items in my routine.

But if I can make it I can lose 15-20 pounds and that would be a great jump start to my goal. And we all know what's around the corner....shorts and swim suit season.....ugh!!

Wish me luck, I 'm going to need it....no freaking coffee and wine people!!

Still on this journey...

It's been a while since I've posted.....I'm still on this journey! It's just taking me down some roads along the way. I love my boot camp it's a guarantee ass kicking three times a week. I think I have done pretty good on the other days. I'm so sore and tired...feeling really defeated. Not getting the endorphin high from exercising like I should. Not feeling the boost in energy from all the changes in my life. In fact the last four months I have felt worse than ever before.

I don't think it's the exercise or changes in diet. But I feel like it's something else, something not right. You know when you need to listen to your body, it's that kind of feeling. I have been losing my hair in alarming amounts. Since I've had Katelyn 17 years ago, I have been thinning but this is bad. The last four months wow theres no hiding the bald spots. My only saving grace is I don't know a lot of people here and any future friends need to be under 5'4''!

Not only the hair loss but I'm so tired. I fall asleep fine but never have good nights sleep. I have been falling asleep during the day, little short naps. I have never been a napper...not since preschool! I get up early  and exercise and complete my daily chores or whatever needs to be done but one chore at a time leaves me exhausted.

I went to an Endocrinologist last week for blood work and have to come back next week for results. He thinks my Thyroid is fine but perhaps I'm in MENOPAUSE!! What did  he say.... but I'm only 40 45! At this point I just want to feel good and see the benefits of trying to live a healthier life style.

I guess there is more to this journey than simple exercise and diet....I hope I get answers next week.

This is my horrible before picture from my first day at Boot Camp. My eyes are closed it's lovely I think I was thinking omg....please make this be over! That first day was many months ago...I thought I'd do a three month picture, I should have taken on a few weeks ago. But  I think in my mind it won't look any different and than I will be frustrated. Progress has been slow for me, I feel stronger see some toning but I want more.

Today is the first day of Lent. I'm not the most devote of Catholics, but I do participate in Lent. I'm hoping to use this time to really reflect  and live a simpler life. In turn I hope my spirit will be renewed and maybe this pepto bismo pink shirt will look better on me!

It's forty days I want to really try to stick to this .....and see if I can see the benefits and feel the benefits!
I hope to post a picture at the end of my forty....I stronger leaner more confident boot camper!

Boot Camp Buddy

On Saturday morning I brought my hubby to Boot Camp for bring a buddy day! I'm happy to report my hubby that works out all the time and is in decent shape got his butt kicked! I was so happy he came and took the class with me. Sometimes it's hard to explain to people what the class is about and how hard it is. Especially when I feel like they look at me and don't see results like on the Biggest Loser! I'm trying to keep in my mind that I didn't put this weight on over night so it's not coming off over night!

I think we are all motivated by quick success and when you don't have it, it's hard to stay motivated! I'm heading on vacation tomorrow to SLC, Utah the land of awesome Mexican Food and cupcake bakeries and basically all my favorite foods. But I'm also packing my workout clothes, my Dad has a treadmill and I plan on starting my days on that. My vacation goal is no weight gain!

When we get back I'm hitting the diet hard and stepping up the exercise....Spring Break is around the corner and I'd like to go somewhere warm and possibly put on a swim suit!

One of my Face book friends posted this yesterday. I'm not sure if they are her words or someone else's but they spoke to me.

"Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure".

In this journey of mine I'm trying to improve on my lifestyle making it a healthy one. It's a tough one....lots of steps forward and many steps backwards...some success and lots of failure. 

I'm finding for me after many years doing weight watchers, calorie counting and various other means of losing weight looking back to what worked. I think tracking is the only way to keep me in check and make sure I'm eating the right stuff, plus my Boot Camp trainer can look and pick apart my journal. With this said, the FB quote spoke to me. On Monday I thought okay back to My Fitness Pal.com and track, track,track! So I input my exercise and my water intake and tracked my meals! Woo Hoo by the looks of it I was having a successful day! Or was I? I totally had 4 cookies and only tracked 2 I know...big fat liar! But I didn't need to hear my trainer tell me cookies are a no no! Hello I freaking know that....in my mind I knew I had banked to calories and was still in check....but seriously who am I fooling! 

Being honest with yourself and others plus being real is what this journey is all about....! 

So yea Monday I thought I did good but in the back of my mind I knew 4 cookies....were in my belly! Yesterday I tracked an honest track.....no cookies! All good choices and it felt good to be honest and truthful to myself.

Yesterday....

I wore a pair of my size 14 skinny jeans.....they have been the test jean....you know the one you try on and swear like a sailor because you look horrible and how did this happen @#&! Then you throw them back in the closet, slam the door and search for chocolate!! I have been working out hard I really have...I've struggled on the food part but made lots of changes and good choices. That should totally count for something right...right ! So I have totes and totes in my basement of Size 8,10,12,14 and currently wearing a 16! I'm not happy about it or plan to stay in that size long....so I don't own a lot of pants,  maybe 5! 2 jeans, one cargo, one cord and a dress pant. Why invest a lot when I have totes and totes of sizes to pick from. The problem is I've been in a 16 for a long while now .....more than 6 months. 

So yesterday I played in the snow with Sophie soaking wet wearing my current favorite cargo.....Had 15 minutes before dinner date with Hubby.....run in closet @#&! should have done laundry nothing to wear.....So I grab the Skinny Jean hiding in the corner...put them on and zip them up .........! They zipped , I could kick, I could bend, I could stretch! It was a go......I probably should of thrown on a pair of Spanx to seal the deal but I was late! 

Did I celebrate the fact I was wearing a size lower...maybe for a minute in my mind by myself! We went to dinner made bad choices there ...in my defense I had no other choice we shared a pizza and had to have a beer....! 

I couldn't get home fast enough and take off the @#$!@#$! skinny jeans....I lasted 3.5 hours in them! Omg....! They are not ready for me yet....back in the corner they go! But this morning I thought to my size 16 self.....wow wait a minute everybody knows 2 day jeans are the best....So those babies my see the light of day very soon!

So today is another day....refocus, make good choices and love the skin I'm in!

Not me!

Lets converse....

These puppies are my all time favorite......I know it's like eating chalk but I love them! So today I went to CVS saw them and their friends Valentine Peeps and Cinnamon Hearts just calling me, I resisted. Later visited Walmart and Target....with every turn I was staring at them...feeling weak! Omg....how I miss my friends....my sweet sweet friends just look them...what's not to love! Okay the sugar, empty calories, High fructose corn syrup......! It was hard but I made it home without a package of them and their friends too.  I think this journey is going to be hard....the temptations are everywhere! I'm not sure how strong I am and if I can hold the focus long enough to make it through the rough days!
How do you hold your focus to get to goal? I feel like I made it through little hurdles and stumble a little get up try again. When will I just get up and run never looking or thinking just do?

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Holy Stairs-Rome, Italy

I've taken the steps toward a new healthier me..some baby steps, some giant leaps....mostly forward and a few steps backwards..one step at a time...I have faith I will make it to the top.

Keeping me in check

It's not that I don't know I need to exercise....my jeans let me know every time I put them on. But there is someone else in my family that puts pressure on me....not my hubby or my daughter but my dog Sophie.

You see her here waiting...

The second you put on sweats or sneakers she grabs a toy and heads for the basement door! We have a workout room in our basement equipped with just about everything you need. Here's where the pressure comes in...sometime I just wear sweats or sneakers just because they are comfortable! Sophie carries her toy around waiting to go downstairs and workout! I look at her and say I'm not working out stop pressuring me! Or not today Sophie! 

So far Sophie has gotten her workout in I'm 2 for 2 so far this week! Woot Woot! 

Do you play the numbers game?

Does it matter to you what's on the scale?

What about body fat?

BMI?

Or 

Are you able to focus on how you feel and how your clothes fit?

I seem to be stuck getting out of the numbers game and focusing on feeling.

I had my body fat and BMI checked this week..holy crap if that wasn't a kick in the gut!

I feel amazing, I'm sleeping better my clothes look better...but

I keep hopping on this guy

And I feel defeated. My trainer keeps reminding me to stay off the scale, muscle weighs more than fat!

Yada,yada yada

All I can do is yell at the scale to move already! 

How to get out of the numbers game and focus on the skinny jeans?

Today..

All I could think about was....

Cupcakes....Yup visions of Cupcakes danced in my head!! 

Image from Google

Day one

Day one of the official new healthier me! I don't know why but I feel like you should always start a diet on a Monday! Not looking at this as a diet but a healthier option, lets be real it's a diet! Last night I chugged enjoyed my last glass of wine. I think I will try no alcohol Monday - Friday and one glass on Saturday and Sunday, who knows maybe I can slowly cut out a day and finally have zero!
This was my breakfast today:

One whole egg, little FF milk, tablespoon of Salsa and small amount of mozzarella cheese on a whole wheat tortilla. I feel pretty satisfied. Eating 6 mini meals a day is going to be different. We got our new treadmill yesterday so I'm excited to get downstairs and give it a spin this morning. Hoping to do minimum 40 minutes but if Kelly and Regis is good today my make it one hour! woot woot!

Here's hoping soon my scale won't say this :

(image from Flickr)

Making it a great day with good choices and positive attitude, let the Journey begin!

Tools for success...

One of my favorite apps on my iphone is MY Fitness Pal. I also use it on my computer so updating is quick and easy. My Fitness Pal.com  keeps track of measurements, weight, calories and exercise. It's so easy to use  and they have every food imaginable online with all the nutrient values.

When I did weight watchers one of the keys to success is tracking and I have to say I was not good at it. Writing things done is painful and time consuming, I'm a more online kind of girl, plus my phone is pretty much an appendage.

The thing I like about it, is it keeps you conscious of if you are having your daily allowance of sugars, fiber etc....I was shocked, first thing I have is coffee and I love the flavored coffeemate. I would use all my sugar for the day on 2 Tbs of creamer......so my goal is to somehow enjoy soy or milk again.....gonna be harder than given up wine!!

My Journey begins

Starting January 1, 2011 I'm beginning a new journey back to a healthy new me! I want to say it's a journey back to the old me in former days before life in Germany. But I've been back living in America since July and the old me hasn't returned. Perhaps it's lost at Heathrow Airport or still on the train from Amsterdam. All I know is I have to stop waiting for it to show up, and I need to start new.

So this is my journey for 2011 to get fit, be stronger and more confident....be the best I can be.
There are many things I want to accomplish this year but the main thing is losing weight and feeling better.
I've committed to a boot camp 3 times a week and I'm hoping on the odd days to do cardio at home. I'm also taking Zumba once a week. I plan on starting a nutrition program with low,high and no carb days for the first 3 months. No alcohol and lots of water.....yikes going to be hard!

This is the first chapter of my journey of 2011 it's a blank page. One to be filled with opportunity, hope, success and little failure.