My one year transformation thus far

Alrighty folks- I am going to post my one year transformation pictures-

I will tell you, I still have more work to do- for MYSELF!   I did not do this to get skinny, I did this to get healthy!  I want to make that clear, I want to be a fit mom, not a skinny one.  For me, I did need to lose weight to become fit- I have continued to lose inches while my weight has stayed the same.  I have cried, laughed, and enjoyed every second of it!

I will also tell you, most of the stretch marks are not from my pregnancies- I am not ashamed of them, I see them as reminders to keep working hard, and to remind me to stay healthy and fit!  

 I still have a ways to go- but I felt like at one year I could share the progress I have made so far!

Starting weight: 169 lbs Current weight: 128
Starting pant size: 15  Current pant size 3/4
Starting shirt size: XL Current shirt size: Small

 

Yo-Yo's

When I started thinking about this post, I wasn't sure what way it would go- I have debated quite a bit about sharing this, but I feel like I should for myself!

I have always struggled with my weight, I started gaining weight when I was about 7.  (To put this into perspective:, I have tried on my baptism dress-that I wore when I was 8- and besides the fact that it is a shirt...I can fit into it) I was involved in sports, I was on swim team and played competitive soccer, but I continued to gain weight until I was in Jr. High.

"fat Annie"

 

I was a Freshman when I finally decided that my weight was a problem (finally for myself, my parents had tried everything to try and help me).  I was in a new PE program at our Jr. High where the school was given a weights gym and they were to track the students weight and progress throughout the semester and report back to the company who donated the gym equipment.  I was worried to get on the scale.  The summer before my Freshman year I remember getting on the scale and it was 175 lbs (I was just hitting 5 feet mind you).  Luckily for me, my teacher was fantastic and did all weigh-ins in private for this weights program.  At first I hated it.  But by about the third week, I was HOOKED!  I was even able to do our "fun run's" straight through without walking- SIDE NOTE: why in the hell are these called "fun run's"?  In no way are these fun, running with 35 other girls in the worst fitting school branded gym clothing praying you don't run into the boys PE class as they are playing football outside! these should be called shame run's!  Anyway, back on subject-  In my Jr High PE was only half a year- however I had done so well in this class (I believe I dropped about 20 lbs just from this class in six months) that I didn't want to stop, I asked the PE teacher if I could join her the next semester as her TA and workout with her class.  She gladly accepted. This may sound fantastic, and it was..to an extent.  I was able to start to love the way I felt!  

Freshman Year

May of 8th Grade

The summer between my Freshman and Sophomore year of High School I was training to try out for the High School Soccer Team.  I was going to weight training in the morning, coming home, going running, coming home, and then going to soccer camps.  I was exercising AT LEAST 8 hours a day.  At the time, if I ate anything before I worked out I would get sick.  So I wouldn't eat.  I was working out 8 hours a day with no food.  You better believe I was dropping LBS, INCHES, and CLOTHING SIZES like they were last years season. I LOVED the attention I was getting for "getting so skinny" and wanted to do whatever I had to keep getting this attention.  However, it was coming at a HUGE expense.  I was a complete and total B*&CH.  I wasn't loosing weight the right way.  Yes, I was exercising, yes I felt "great".  But, I wasn't giving my body the time to recover, or the nutrition it needed to try and keep the weight off.   By the start of my Sophomore year, I was down from a size 14-16 the year before to a 2.  I dropped 70 lbs- I weighed 105.  While I was trying out for the soccer team, my mom pointed out what I was doing to myself, and how I wasn't being me, I was mean, irritable, and just downright bitchy. I took a step back and I realized I really didn't like soccer anymore.  I loved the attention I was getting, but I wasn't enjoying the sport anymore.  I completed the tryouts and I kicked butt.  And the biggest blessing happened.  I didn't make the team!  

Sophomore Year

September Sophomore Year

Most people would have been devastated with all the work that they put into making the team and not making it.  But I wasn't.  I was relieved!  I knew I had a problem (with my lack of eating and over exercising).  I knew that I needed to change something in my life or things would continue to spiral  out of control.  I quit soccer!  I kept the weight off for a couple of months- but because I didn't loose the weight the right way, I started to gain in back.  I was still running in the mornings or going for a bike ride, but I wasn't working out 8 PLUS hours a day, and I started eating so weight came back, and it came back with a vengeance.  

I continued to struggle with my weight after my Sophomore year of High School. But I didn't want to go back into my spiral of addiction to working out and anti-eating.  So I was in a constant battle with myself.  In high school I never got back up to 175 lbs, but I did gain quite a bit of weight back.  When I moved away to school after my senior year my dad got me my first gym pass.  I had to put myself on a STRICT exercise routine.  As in the MOST I was allowed to work out was an hour and a half in a day.  I followed this for quite a while, and I never got back down to 105.  I continued to get into shape.   

Eventually I started making excuses to not go to the gym.  I moved, my gym pass didn't work down in Vegas.  I started gaining more weight. I met the man of my dreams, we dated, we ATE, we cooked, we devoured cookies, we laughed, we got engaged, we got married.  We got pregnant within a few months, and I was super unhealthy.  I was working full time, and working out was the last thing on my mind.  I gained 24 lbs in my pregnancy with Zoe, and right before I delivered her I weighed 218 lbs.  I was on a high risk pregnancy, I had MAJOR complications through the whole thing.  I didn't know how out of control my weight had gotten for about two years after I had Zoe.  I hadn't taken much weight off, I was about 180 lbs when Zoe was 18 months old.  

August 2009

2011

2011

July 2013

Again, my dad was amazing, and got Derrick and I both gym passes.  I started going to spin classes 4 days a week, weight started to come off, and I was loving doing the spin classes.  Derrick started going to the gym, as well.  I got pregnant with Tye, I weighed 168 lbs.  I had to stop going to spin classes during my pregnancy due to contractions.  Derrick was working out and changed his eating his habits.  During my pregnancy, I gained 12 lbs.  When I left the hospital I was at my pre-pregnancy weight.  At 5 weeks post-pregnancy, I was able to start working out again.  I took advantage of this, I had already changed MOST of my eating habits because of Derrick, so that was an easy transition for me.  I have loved getting in shape this time, and doing it the RIGHT way.  I have made it part of my lifestyle.  I don't let it completely consume me, I have two amazing girls, a fantastic husband, a part time job, and guess what?!  You can loose weight if you eat right!  I am done Yo-Yo'ing and I am getting healthy and happy the RIGHT WAY!  I am not starving myself anymore, and I am not doing this alone.  This is the new me!  

Hazelnut Tart! (Nutella Tart)

Alrighty,

I health-ified another dessert!

Nutella Tart was originally seen on:  http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2013/04/nutella-strawberry-tart/

However, I made some healthier substitutions for it!

Pre-Heat Oven to 350 degrees

In food processor  (for the tart):  

3/4 cup vanilla protein powder (I used Jarrow Whey Protein)

1/2 cup coconut flour 

1/4 cup whole wheat flour (Bob's Old Mill)

1/4 cup sugar (yes, I used regular sugar this time, I had run out of my truvia) 

Pulse for a couple seconds, then add

1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt (plain)

Pulse until combined and turns into a blob (yup, that is a really great cooking term) 

Add a dash and I mean a SMALL dash of white vinegar

WALAAAA- your tart dough, I put it in my spring form pan for cheesecake, next time I think I will put it into a pie pan.

press into your pan and push it out until it fills the bottom of the pan (it is a VERY sticky dough so beware!)

BAKE: 350 for 20 mins, my oven cooks hot, next time I'd check it at 15 mins!

For the filling:

2 tbsp cornstarch, 1/4 cup skim milk (mix these together in a small cup and set aside)

Take 1 3/4 cup skim milk

3/4 cup hazelnut spread (or Nutella, but I used the generic)

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

and whisk together on medium heat until hazelnut is melted, pump up the heat to medium/high and add in cornstarch milk, keep stirring with a spatula until it starts to boil, it will start thickening and keep it boiling for about 2 mins.

Pour homemade nutella pudding into tart, (if you can refrain from eating it!)

Put into the fridge until it is well set (at least an hour)

Right before serving, slice up strawberries and top the tart with it!

Stats:  (per serving, 8 servings for my pan) 215 Calories, 31 grams carbs, 6 grams fat, 11 grams protein, 57 mg sodium, 19 mg sugar

EAT UP!

You have to eat to lose weight- AND A BONUS OF WHAT MY MAGIC WEIGHTLOSS PILL IS!

I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with this saying: You have to eat to lose weight!  I understand the point of this, but some people just don't get it.  I of all people understand that you must eat while working out, I understand how hard it is to consume calories right after a workout (to feed my muscle children), I understand how eating something quick and easy seems like the only way.  But if you want to know the hard truth- you aren't going to get anywhere with those excuses.  

I am going to share what my "magic pill" is! Are you all ready for this?!  It is being educated and tracking what I eat! Yup, that is it! It is really that simple! I read articles on different eating styles, and through trial and error have found what works for me and my body type!  I have become educated on if I have to eat out- where I can eat out and keep with my clean eating habits.  I have become smarter in my eating habits.  I now know that ordering a salad at a restaurant, usually is the most unhealthy item on the menu. For example: a Cafe Rio Pork Salad is 990 Calories, An Oriental Salad from Applebee's is 1390 Calories. (this is over my daily allotted calorie intake)  I am sorry but if I am going to be eating all of my calories in one meal...I am going to make it worth it- and it isn't going to be on a salad! Yes, I understand eating 1000 calories in skittles isn't the same as eating 1000 calories of broccoli!  

I use the term "calorie" as a wide term for nutritional value of an item.  I look at the protein count, grams of sugar/sodium, the fiber, the carbs, I do a quick overview of the item, however, using the term "calorie" is something people seem to understand a little bit more.  Yes, I read nutrition labels.  I am fascinated by them!  I love the marketing tactics that are on food "healthy" "all natural" "ONLY 10 Calories" just to name a few- look at serving sizes, look at fat content (yes, some fat is good for you! its knowing the right kind of fats to eat!) be a smart healthy eater (in other words don't trust the marketing on the packages- they lie).

I track my eating habits with the free app MyFitnessPal, my husband has also used this app throughout his whole transformation and it has helped BOTH of us become more educated on what we are putting into our bodies.  I love this app because if I cook a meal, I can enter my meals/recipies into it and it will save them for later! It lets you scan the barcode of what you are eating to put into your daily log.  I honestly credit a lot of my success to this app.  Tracking what you eat, gives yourself a little bit of accountability and responsibility to yourself.  On the app you put in your stats, and how much you want to lose, or gain.  And it gives you an allotted calorie intake to achieve these goals.  I would recommend at least twice a month updating your weight, and every 10 pounds lost it re-calculates your calorie intake.  

Now, this app is just a GUIDELINE!  Currently, I am still trying to lose 2 pounds a week, so my calorie intake is set at 1200 a day.  However, with my workouts, I was only netting (food minus my exercising= my net calories) between 400-500 Calories.  This caused me to plateau in my weight loss.  This is where I love the saying you have to eat to lose weight.  I have had to up my calorie intake to netting between 700-800 Calories, which means I am eating more.  But I am not eating fast food, I am drinking an extra protein shake, or having more COMPLEX carbs, I am eating healthy fats for my snacks (almonds, pistachios, cashews, low fat string cheese), I monitor what I eat everyday, I calculate my cheat meals into my week- I have learned with my cheat meals the things I once craved for my cheat meals- now make me sicker than a dog.  And the cheat meals I crave are easier to keep within the parameters of my daily allotted calorie intake

Another thing I like about this app is it tells you what percentage of your daily intake is protein, fats, and carbs.  I try to keep my protein between 40-50% of my day, fats around 10% and the rest my carbs.  And when I am talking carbs I'm not talking breads and noodles.  This is my sweet potatoes, squash, my whole wheat bread thins, my oatmeal, and bananas (ect.).  I am not a big meat eater, in fact I was vegetarian for about 6 years.  I will eat chicken and turkey burger without any problems.  But, other meats kinda gross me out.  I am getting better with lean pork, but red meats have to be cooked ALL THE WAY THROUGH NO PINK whatsoever...so pretty much jerky!  I get my protein with other foods, nuts, Greek yogurt, and protein shakes (yes, there are good ones out there!)  We also put/substitute protein into our recipes.  

Now onto why I hate the saying you have to eat to lose weight.  People take this and run with it- "I went to the gym so now I can eat whatever I want."  "It doesn't matter if I eat this big mac, I'm going to run it off anyway." Or the opposite extreme.  I can only eat a sliver of an orange with a teaspoon of flaxseed.  Be realistic people! Be educated, you have to eat the RIGHT things in order to lose weight!  Start small, your body will eventually crave the good stuff, but it has to filter out all of the crap that's in there to start.  I still crave cupcakes (yup, I still make sweets and cupcakes for my family, and yes I will still eat one once in a while- the difference is now I'm not eating 3 or 4, or sometimes 8 or 9...I will eat one, if I have to sample something to find the taste, thats what it is a taste, it isn't a spoonful!)  I like a different saying, You have to eat SMART to lose weight!

S- Start Small

M- Make the change for you

A- Ask questions (questions labels)

R- Record what you eat 

T- Tell someone your plan

Have fun trying new foods, season your food (don't salt it!), educate yourself with what you are eating!  

*I got my calorie facts from MyFitnessPal 

confessions of a new mommy-formula vs. breastfeeding

I know my baby is ten months old now, but this is something that has been on my mind for quite a few months.  Why I as a mother decided to formula feed my daughters.  Yes, I know the health benefits of breastfeeding.  I see the judgemental looks at church when I pull out the bottle to feed my child, I see the scoffs at the store when I have formula in my cart, and guess what?!  I don't care what you think or feel about MY judgement call. 

With my first baby, I was unable to breastfeed.  I had surgery when she was five days old, I was told to "pump and dump" for twelve hours after, so right from the get-go I was encouraged at the hospital just to formula feed, I wasn't given much of a choice, but where I was so sick I was more concerned about getting better, I tried the pumping thing, but when I ended up having to "pump and dump" for over 24 hours (due to having to have a second surgery), and my milk hadn't come in all the way, I was kinda shot!  I tried everything to get my milk to come in, and no avail! So, Zoe was formula fed right from the start.  Yes, I feel like I was sort of cheated with no help from the nursing staff when I asked about nursing my daughter.  But I got over this roadblock, I found that I could still be an amazing mom even with a bottle!  Zoe has had no issues developmentally with formula, she has been ahead of the curve all three years! We did have roadblocks finding the right formula for her, she had bad reflux.  Through trial and error we finally found a formula that worked for her, and she was a healthy baby!

With my second, I tried the breastfeeding.  Right after she was born, she had VERY low blood sugar, I was encouraged to breastfeed, I tried, she didn't latch very well.  But her blood sugar did rise, when she was getting bathed, it dropped again, the nurses asked if it would be ok, in her best interest to give her a little formula to raise it.  We both agreed this was the best choice for our tiny baby!  I had a SPECTACULAR nurse this time around, who helped me nurse, she gave me tricks and whatever she could to help me be successful this time around.  When we got home from the hospital, Tye still wouldn't latch, she got very distracted, and it was a battle, but I was determined to be successful this time around.  

At Tye's two week check-up she still wasn't back up to her birth weight. My pediatrician asked if I was supplementing with formula, I was a tiny bit as a trick to try and get her to latch.  She was handling the formula but getting frustrated every time she ate.  I had to do a weight check two days after her two week appointment to make sure she was gaining weight appropriately.  I had to give her formula between feedings, and I was pumping at least every two hours.  My milk wasn't coming in very well.  I had a hard time eating enough food, getting enough sleep, and drinking enough water (yes these are excuses! But when you are responsible for getting your child nutrient's, and they aren't developing "on track" and you are exhausted food and water are the last thing on your mind, SLEEP is the only thing you really want!) She had gained .2 lbs at her "weight-check" so she was out of the danger zone, and I was told to keep doing what I was.  

When Derrick was home, I was able to dedicate my energy to breastfeeding, but if he had to run to the store, or go to work, or sleep, well I was on my own, I was forced to put Zoe in a highchair while I tried to feed Tye.  Tye couldn't have any distractions while trying to feed.  And Zoe being a curious 2 year old (at the time) would get into anything she could while I was tied down to the couch.  So, I had to either put her in a highchair, or lock her into her room.  I felt like the worst parent in the world.  I was neglecting my oldest so I could fight with my newborn to try and breastfeed.  At 8 weeks I made the BEST decision I have made as a mother.  I went completely to formula, I finally was able to see the joy in motherhood again.  I loved both of my girls, and I was able to enjoy having a crazy 2 1/2 yr old Zoe and a sweet newborn.   

Tye had no issues whatsoever with formula, we didn't have any trial or error with her, she adapted to whatever formula she was given.  She gained weight, she has had no health issues, and had been developmentally on track as well!  I feel no guilt or remorse for giving either of my daughters formula, I attempted, I hated EVERY second of it.  I was becoming depressed, and felt like a failure.  By choosing to formula feed, I was given the confidence I needed to be a great mom.  This small sacrifice of choosing NOT to breastfeed helped me connect with my daughter more than breastfeeding ever did.  It allowed me to see my self-worth and gave me the joy of motherhood back.  

The choice I made to formula feed was the best choice I made for me and my family.  I am able to brush off those nasty looks because I know what I was sacrificing when I attempted to breastfeed.  I am so proud of those women who are able to successfully breastfeed.  The sacrifice they make of their own sleep, and energy for their children.  It was not for me, or my girls.  And I will never judge anyone for making the choice one way or the other.  As long as you love and adore your children and have their health as your top priority you won't go wrong in the choice YOU make!  Don't let anyone make you feel bad or guilty for making the CHOICE one way or the other, if you choose to sacrifice your time and energy to breastfeed, or if you choose to formula feed, it is a choice only you can make for you and your children!

Brownies

*Note...this should be consumed with low fat frozen vanilla yogurt!
** add other ingredients to change it up, like chocolate chips, or coconut, or walnuts...you pick!

Brownie:

3 egg whites

1/3 cup vanilla low fat Greek yogurt

(blend these together for about 10 seconds in blender or in my case Ninja)

add:

1 can garbanzo beans

3 tbsp almond milk

1/2 cup 100% cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup honey

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 scoop Cellucor Chocolate Moulton whey protein 

Blend together until there are no chunks- completely liquid

Bake at 350 for 25 mins

this serves 18,
45 calories, 6 grams carbs, 1 gram fat, 4 grams protein, 2 mg sugar, 136 mg sodium

Phase 3-

I haven't written on here in a while, like everyone else, I've gotten busy.  I currently am a mom of two very active, amazing, funny girls.  I am a wife to a husband who works 40+ hours a week (12 hour shifts) (on top of being a full time student).  I also work 3 days a week.  I see my husband a couple of hours a day, due to our very busy lives.  

Through all the hustle and bustle of life, I am trying to get healthy.  I am taking at least one hour a day all to myself, and being selfish.  This hour a day is my time to think, to watch whatever I want to, and to listen to whatever cheesy dance music I can.  The only thing is...I am doing all of this while trying to burn as many calories as possible at the gym.  The gym is MY TIME!  I am sacrificing an hour of sleep every morning to maintain my sanity.  I am running out all of my frustrations from mean customers at work, or with whining kids from the previous day, and  getting myself ready for the day to come.  I am taking this time to become the best me I know how to.  I have my downfalls, and my set backs on a regular basis.  

Even though I am working out 5 days a week, I started to plateau in my weight loss.  I got frustrated, at this point in my husbands healthy lifestyle change he was about 5 pounds away from his goal, and I am still 15 pounds away.  I have lost 40 so far, but hadn't lost any in a few weeks.  I shared my annoyance with Derrick.  So he adjusted my workout routine yet again.  And I was put on a strict clean eating "cleanse". 

Phase 3:

50 mins of HARD cardio, this can be whatever cardio I want, but I have to do 50 mins of it- Through trial and error, I have found that I need to do at least a mile of the treadmill to "warm-up" this gets my heart rate above 170.  I have always had a VERY high resting heart rate, but low blood pressure.  So in order for me to burn the most calories I have to keep my heart rate above 166 through my cardio routine.   I use my heart rate monitor to keep this in check.  As long as I run first, I am able to maintain my optimal heart rate for calories burned.  Every other day, I run a mile, then I do the stair climber for the rest of the time.  The opposite days, I run a 5K on the treadmill, then I go to the elliptical and complete the time, or I speed walk on the treadmill, at a high incline (4.2 mph, with an incline of 8) I rotate between these so I don't get burned out on any of these, and so that I trick my body into not getting lazy.  (If you do the same routine every day, it takes about 6 times in a row for your body to figure out the laziest way to complete the task at hand, so switch it up so that your body is "tricked")

20 mins of weights- this is a low-impact, fast-paced, higher-reps. Weight training.  What has been called the "cave-man" workout! I rotate between core, arms, legs, and back. (I pick two a day to focus on and rotate between them)

As far as my eating habits, I struggled through the holidays.  I snacked more than I should have, I started to get a major sweet tooth.  I became addicted to graham crackers and pretty much any carb sweet treat.  It had become an issue.  So my new cleanse, I couldn't snack on any carbs. (I could still eat my almond-butter and jelly sandwich)  Any treat that I ate, I had to be able to name all of the ingredients in it.  (So my treats switched from graham crackers, to fruits).  I could have one carb treat a week, but even with that I had to be able to name all of the ingredients- so natural treats that we baked I could have.  This is for a whole month, and then we will re-evaluate my eating habits.  I am eating lots of lean-proteins, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats.  

Another thing I have had to do, increase my water intake.  I carry a water bottle with me, and I need to drink at least 72 oz of water a day, I am increasing my intake daily, and want to get to up to the gallon challenge (drink at least a gallon of water a day) but I am far from this! But just another goal I get to reach for and then crush! 

By doing this, I have re-triggered my weight loss, and have gotten back on pace.  I have my struggles, but I learn from them.   I have learned that I lose weight differently than Derrick did.  I also know that I have different areas that I needed to tone/lose more weight because well, having two kids will do that to you! It has been a challenge for Derrick as well, as he is trying to coach me through this, because my body type has reacted differently than his did to different activities.  Something I have to remember: some activity is better than NO activity, switching an unhealthy habit for a healthy one, has NEVER hurt anyone.  Also, I won't regret what I did today a month from now, but I will regret not doing anything!  

I have found a love for this healthy stuff!  I thank my stubbornness, and my husband for this!