What is your secret?

So I know I have been slacking on my blogging lately and was reminded recently by Miss Sarah O to get on writing a new post!  So here it goes:

"What's your secret?" This seems to be the most commonly asked question lately. How exactly did I manage to lose 54 pounds? Well my answer is...I have no secret! I can only tell you what I've done and what has seemed to work for me to get me where I'm at today.  Before we get started lets take a little visual journey at what an extra 54 pounds looked like on me:

Me in the Summer of 2010

25 Lbs away from my goal May 2012

Before I get started I wanted to state that if I did have to say there was a "secret" it would be that for the first time in my life I was finally ready and motivated to lose the weight and to become a healthier person! There have been countless failed "diets" and gym memberships that went unused and so called new years resolutions that never happened. So I encourage you to take the time to do a little self reflection, soul searching, meditation...whatever you want to call it and figure out how you got to the weight/current health you are in and why you want to become a more healthier you. I hit my health rock bottom in the summer of 2010 when I looked thru some photos on my computer and realized what I really looked like! I was appalled when I started looking back at photos from a few years ago and saw how much larger I had become. Apparently I was just ignoring mirrors and cropping photos!

I'm not trying to profess that I'm the poster child of health or fitness...especially right now, but I've been through my struggles and hardships and I've overcome them. It's been one heck of a journey up the mountain but the point is I'm doing the work to climb my way up and I'm excited to reach the top and yell..."Hellz yeah I did it!"

I won't lie, I am currently a member at an amazing and very large gym, Lifetime Fitness, where I have all I need at my grasp in order to be successful in my journey. I am currently enrolled in some nutrition sessions to better understand how to make my diet more suitable for weight loss and optimal health. (Note that I do have food allergies and struggle with meal choices due to my severe allergies!) I have also worked in the past with personal trainers. But this was not always the case. I didn't used to have the financial means or large gym facilities or support system (knowledgeable Nutritionist, awesome Trainers, and inspiring Yoga Instructors) that I now have access to.

I started off at a small local gym that was $30/month when I lived in FL. A lot of people will say, "well, I can't afford a gym membership,"...believe me you probably can...look at your bank account withdrawls...did you really need some of the stuff you purchased? Are some of those things contributing to the reasons you are unhealthy? MAKE A CHANGE!

Before I ever stepped into a yoga class I had been doing "Bob Harpers The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga" DVD. Taking long walks on the beach (I lived in FL at the time). And swimming laps in my community pool. Along with those first few things the weight started to come off. I also cut out all alcohol, fried foods, and soda for a solid 3 months.  I started to see the changes in my body and how I felt.

I have some favorite things that have also helped me through my journey thus far and wanted to share them:
1) Nike + Sneakers & Nike + GPS app for iPod/iPhone...This has been a fun tool that helps me track my walk/jog/runs, Tracks distance and pace and I can jam to my favorite music at the same time.  I also love the website where I can see my overall miles tracked and set goals, run with a group of friends and get other Nike + swag!
2) SuggBuds Ear Buds These are the best ear buds I've ever used during a workout, most others just don't seem to stay in place once your working up a good sweat.
3) Vitalsox Compression socks...These socks are amazing! I have old sports injuries to my ankle and since I've been wearing them to run, I don't have pain in my ankle or calves and recovery from long runs is much better (per my brother; he wears them to run half marathons)
4) Good music! I am constantly rotating my workout playlist to keep me motivated. Ask you friends what they listen to or search workout play lists online...My suggestions for iPod/iPhone FREE apps are FIT Radio and Pandora Radio.
5) My most recent loves are my New Balance Minimus Zero Running shoes and my LuLuLemon No Limits Tank.  I am new to minimalist running shoes and suggest you get fitted for a proper running shoe that is right for you.  And yes I know LuluLemon isn't exactly a cheap store to purchase workout gear from but I'm so in love with this tank...It is comfy to run in or do yoga and the color is amazing in person and I actually just feel happier while wearing it : )

I gave some advise to a friend recently...I told her that she needs to figure out what works for her!  Everyone is different in the way their bodies function and react to foods and exercise.  Some people need to completely cut out certain foods during a weight loss time and others can get away with eating them in moderation.  As far a working out goes, find something that is a fun activity or sport and helps you to burn calories at the same time...I fell in love with yoga of all kinds from the first few classes I ever took...some people love Zumba classes or cycleing...I could care less about either and have no desire to try them!  But in an alternative I would go dancing with friends or ride a bicycle on the W&OD trail any day...To each their own!  Have fun with your exercises and set realistic goals!

Accomplishments & Goals

This afternoon I had a Fit Point Assessment at my gym.  My last assessment was March 14, 2011...since then I have lost 40 pounds (52 pounds since the start of my journey, as previously stated), I lowered my body fat by 5% and increased my Cardiovascular health.  This is all great but clearly I'm still not in optimal health.  So what now?

Basically I have accomplished some of my goals I previously set and now I've set some new ones.  My goal weight for this summer is 130 pounds.  And to comfortably fit into a "little purple bikini".  I plan on running the 5K the last week of the challenge and also run the MD Warrior Dash on May 20th.  If you've never heard of this race check out:  MD Warrior Dash 2012

Lately I've been asked by several people..."How much do you want to weigh?" or "What size do you want to be?"  I find these questions to be a bit complicated.  There's always the medical fields stats of if you're this tall.... and this age... and this frame size... you should weigh.....  My answer for these questions  is that I want to be a more healthy me!  I want to feel comfortable in my clothes; bikini included.    I want to be able to do physical activities and sports and know that I have the strength and endurance to participate and not get tired and quit!  

*Next blog will be about "My Secret to Weight Loss" and some of my favorite things for working out and weight loss.

And the journey begins...well continues.

Finally...my first blog!  I've been wanting to write a blog for a long time and now I have a reason to do it. SO here's my story...In the summer of 2010 I hit low point in my life in more ways then one.  My weight had sky rocketed to 208 pounds, a size 18 (barely) and an XL/XXL top (yes I will be truthful on this blog, no sugarcoating)!  I was tired of feeling awful about my body, especially since I lived in FL where women walk around in little bikini's and short shorts.  I was also so tired of cropping photos of myself because I wanted to hide my "fat arm or  tummy roll"!  And Food...oh yummy food...My diet was out of control, just eating whatever I wanted cause it tasted good.

In July 2010 I joined a local gym and started doing yoga and walking on the treadmill.  This was not an easy task at first but over time it got a little better.  ***Thank you big brother for buying me awesome Nike + shoes and teaching me about Nike +...that was one of the first ways I tracked my progress and set some goals.  SO, the weight slowly started melting off and then so did the inches.  I was doing yoga 3-4 times a week and nothing kept me from getting to my classes.  So after 2 month I only lost about 8-10 pounds...it was frustrating I had some results but still couldn't manage to RUN for more than 1-2 minutes without feeling like a was a pack a day smoker.

Then the unthinkable hit my family.  My grandmother suffered a heart attack then suddenly passed away from heart disease.  This left my life in a bit of a downward spiral for a while but for the most part gave me a giant KICK IN THE BUTT.  Heart Disease is NO JOKE!  After the numbness of my grief started to wear off and I got back to work I also dragged my behind back to the gym and started my yoga again...OH MY did I love yoga!  It truely did help to heal my heart as well as help me get back into my workout routines.  And a word of advice to anyone who thinks they can't do yoga or thinks it won't work...give it a try...and find a yoga teacher you connect with.  I have been twice blessed with amazing yoga teachers who I consider to have been placed in my life at a much needed time.

Ok fast forward a bit cause I talk too much...So I cut out all soda, fried foods, etc from my diet....Oh did I mention I have Food Allergies!!! So I already have food restrictions...this helps my diet cause I literally CANNOT eat things some people love and have a weakness for!  Finally some more progress made and I was down about 20 pounds! Ohhh Yeah!  Hello old jeans in the back of my closet.

Fast forward to early 2011, I moved to VA and now live with my brother...Mr. Healthy and Mr. I Run Half Marathons!  So, I joined the largest most amazing gym ever...Lifetime Fitness.  I have 2 giant indoor pools, spas, steam rooms, every fitness machine known to man and amazing trainers and group fitness classes everyday all day!

I also now eat organic and natural foods.  If it didn't come from the dirt or have a mother I don't eat it! (No processed foods) Only fresh or frozen fresh foods, all natural/organic.  There is NO DAIRY in my life as I am allergic and in case you didn't know Dairy is not good for your digestive system after you are a child!

Okay so Fast Forward to present day...WHY AM I HERE (can't believe your still reading)...
So currently I have lost 51 pounds since I began this journey about a year and a half ago.  And I've been stuck at the same weight now for a few months with little change SO...I signed up for a 90 Day Challenge at my gym Lifetime Fitness. It begins Sunday February 5th at 12:30pm for me as I step on the scale to officially weigh in and get a fitness assessment, my first one since July 2011.  I am excited to see how far I've come since then but also anxious to see how much work I need to do to get healthier.  But overall I am just EXCITED!  Excited to finally reach my goal weight by the summer time...AND FIT INTO A LITTLE PURPLE BIKINI!

So stay tuned as I blog about various things through out my journey : )

**A special thanks to Sarah O for helping me out with the blog ideas and for being my "Cardio Princess" inspiration and making a goal to take on the Warrior Dash in May with me!  Check out her blog at: http://cardioprincess.com/