Acts of love

How I view things is a game changer. If I see the dishes, the cleaning, the cooking as an act of love then it dramatically changes my attitude towards it. I'm fighting to do this in all things. It's incredibly hard and I don't always win out against the negative thoughts, but I'm getting better and better at it.

I had a thought this morning, I see my workouts as an act of love. People often ask me how I lost and continue to keep off about 100 pounds... it's hard to answer. There's a lot of information that I want to give everyone. One of the main aspects is this: MOTIVATION WILL FAIL YOU AT SOME POINT. It will. The vows you made will diminish as you talk yourself into skipping that workout, you will find reasons to overindulge and before you know it, you're back to feeling hopeless. There is a decision to be made that can not depend on how you "feel", it's a commitment. It's an agreement that isn't negotiable.

I do the workouts, I do them when I don't want to. Much like I do the dishes and laundry, because it has to be done. And because I love when it is finished. I love a clean house and I love the fantastic feeling of completing a workout. As with many things done in love, there is sacrifice at times. I can assure you that those sacrifices are worthy of the benefits you will see.

It's a huge help to find workouts that you enjoy, the kind that leave you feeling accomplished! I've recently started boxing and I can't even tell you how much I love it! My friend, Ashley got me started and the community is like a family. It's incredibly helpful to have people in your life that will cheer you on, challenge you, and sometimes be there to kick you in the rear.

Staying healthy is an act of love; for myself, for my husband, for my children. 

I have written about weight loss a few times in this blog, here's one of them: 

http://wannabsupermom.blogspot.com/2011/04/sharing-my-weight-loss-journey.html

In the last year I have changed the way I eat, I read a book called, Trim Healthy Mama and it granted me a freedom that I was lacking. If you've never heard of the book, give it a look!!
http://www.trimhealthymama.com/
I can't say enough about how much I love it. (and in case you're wondering, no I don't sell anything or have any ties to the company, I just share what I love.)

I thank God for the experience of being overweight. It has given me an appreciation of what my body can do. It's given me a heart for those trying to make their way through the journey of finding health. I remember feeling like most of the advice I received was from people who have always been in good shape, they had never tried to go for a jog while carrying 100 extra pounds or fought food issues that had become stronger than I was. Everyone has their unique journey. This can be done. YOU can do this. It's hard, I know that-but, friend, WE CAN DO HARD THINGS. 

Sharing my Weight Loss journey.

I made some new friends recently and when they found me on facebook, they found my weight loss pics. (I went from about 230lbs to about 130 before my third child) I'm always asked "HOW?!?!"

My heart aches for those who's shoes I have been in. Overweight, unhappy, uncomfortable in their own skin. (I know not everyone feels that terrible at a heavier weight, but so many do.)

I used to feel really embarrassed and just trapped. Like I was stuck in this body that was weighing me down! (no pun intended)

So, here's the truth. You are loved. Your Heavenly Father created you and ADORES you. He did not intend for you to live an unhealthy life. It is something you CAN change.... must change. Don't waste time, DON'T.

It was eye-opening to me that I got a call from a producer of The Biggest Loser. He had seen my audition tape and wanted me to come to a final audition! I was over the moon excited!... and Horrified that I was big enough to be chosen. The kicker here is that I had just found out that I was pregnant with my first child so I could not participate. Let's fast forward, two kids and a lot of funfetti cupcakes later, I was miserable about my appearance. I had a talk with my dad and he said some things that really "clicked" for me. Here's one of them, "You've got to look at your food intake as a fuel. Your body NEEDS a certain amount of calories, too much and you've flooded the system (or packed on fat), too little and you can not function properly." So simple. I was "flooding my engine" all day every day. No wonder I felt like poo.

I read one day about how terrible pop is for you (we've all heard it a hundred times). Regular pop is full of calories and so much other crap! Diet is horrible for you! Artificial everything, tries to fool your body, it's just bad. B-A-D!! So, stop drinking it. NOW. This was the first change I made. This was my bottom line, I would not drink pop. None. No matter what else I failed on, this was my one "NO WAY". And you know what, it does something to you. You think more about your choices knowing that you're making one great choice.

So, at over 200lbs I began to get serious. I bought a heart monitor (BEST MONEY I HAVE EVER SPENT). I did the math! Calories in, vs Calories out! Do the math people! You will be stunned by the calories you're intaking. I was one of those people who SWORE that I did not sit around eating junk all day! We have fooled ourselves. We're consuming too much of the WRONG food. Portions are not optional, you have to figure them out. (which is not hard, just kind of annoying)

I went on a 1200 calorie diet and went to the gym everyday for awhile. It's so important to establish a HABIT. You don't have to kill yourself at the gym (or doing a workout at home). I said to myself, "Self, you WILL burn 500 calories before you leave this gym!" And I did. In less than an hour. (I got even more efficient and burned about 600 calories in an hour)

Don't waste your gym time, kick some booty. Get in, worked it hard and get out.

I know I have so much more information to give, but I did want to tell you all that it IS possible, It IS necessary. Don't waste any more time. And please let me just say that motivation is so so so over-rated! It's commitment. You go. Don't feel motivated? Too bad, go anyway. That's how this works.

My Best Friend and I, we've been a good support and enco

uragement for each other!

One of my least favorite pics of all time! LOL....

Wanna be SUPER

mom!

A pic from today (April 10th, 2011)

sliding down a dirt hill with my baby girl,

Talking to a cupcake

If you know me, you know that I have struggled with weight. I have been well over 200lbs and down to about 128lbs. Currently I'm about 135. The big issue isn't the scale though, it's the battle with the food. It's the wanting to eat anything and everything till I'm stuffed to the brim!

I love cupcakes. I had a conversation with a cupcake right before I began my journey to lose 75lbs, it went something like this...

"I have a problem. I am too attached to you, cupcake. I can't eat just one of you, I have to eat 6. That is unhealthy and wrong. You're going to have to find someone else to pick on because I'm done. Don't even try to smell good or look tasty. It's over. I know you're made of funfetti goodness, but I deserve better."

This was me that day... enjoying one last cupcake binge. yuck.

I really want to encourage you if you're struggling. Make a change. NOW. Don't wait till a monday or the first of a new month, don't wait for anything. I'm talking to myself right now too. I've gotten really relaxed about things lately and it's time to get a hold of myself! Come along with me peeps!