I feel good! Dun-na-na-na-na-na-na!

On this first day of fall, I feel nothing short of amazing!

Just to show progress in time, it has been 14 weeks (just 2 days short of 15) since I've cut out fast food, and 11 weeks since I've started working out. Here are the main things I've noticed since I've started this change:

• Better digestion
• Faster Metabolism
• Less stress
• Increased energy
• Happier sense of self
• Boosted confidence

I'd say overall I never expected all these results. I did think I might drop a little weight, and gain a little energy, but what I've experienced has helped motivate me to push harder! I love getting a great muscle pump, I love not feeling disgusting and bloated after meals, and more than anything, I love the way I look! I haven't felt this confident in a bikini in a long time, I've always worn them...but the last couple of months I feel great in one!

I can't wait to see how my body progresses further, I think it's going to be a great ride and I cannot wait to continue my progress. I have decided to make a couple of goals for myself. While I am hoping to get pregnant soon, I don't know when it will happen. So first off, I would like to get myself into shape so that when I am pregnant, it will be easier to stay in shape. And until I am pregnant, and I have to take it down on a few things (not too much), I am going for a flat flat stomach...maybe even a six pack. Whether I make it there, I'm not sure, but I figure I can aim for it and do my best!!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Just like in the tale of the tortoise and the hare, the tortoise wins because it takes it's time. Well I am the tortoise in the tale of my venture of looking and feeling healthier.

It has been nearly 10 weeks since I've cut out fast food, and it's been 6 weeks since I joined the gym. I have been fairly consistent with my 5 meals a day and I have even eaten much healthier. I won't lie, I have had cheats here and there. For example I had a deep fried Klondike Bar and a footlong corn dog at the fair a few weeks ago, I had fried wontons just last night (which were so worth eating btw), ice cream a few times, Red Robin when my hubby finished his fat loss contest, and I haven't given up alcohol. Not that I'm a heavy drinker, but I've been out to events 4 or 5 times this summer and divulged in some booze. Now that I'm listing these, I'm realizing just how many cheats I've had. Oops!

But even with all of this cheating, I'd say I'm doing pretty well. I've noticed slimming in my face, as well as other parts of my body, and my digestion has been awesome. Some of my clothes are beginning to fit loosely, which is both good and bad because I'm glad I see the change...but now I might need to shop for new clothes. Oh wait a minute, those are both good things!

A friend of mine sent me this picture earlier this week, and if you follow me on Instagram or are my friend on Facebook, you may have seen it.

As you can see, she is totally ripped. And the reason my friend sent it to me, is because he said I resembled her. Once I saw this picture, I was able to envision a look. I could imagine myself looking like her.

Now I know getting there isn't going to be a piece of cake, but the more I see it, the more I envy her! Now I'm sure that smile is probably quite forced being that she must be carb depleted, sodium depleted, and probably has only eaten chicken and broccoli for the last few months...but damn...she looks amazing.

I would like to see myself looking similar to this one day. And I know it won't been any time soon, but it would be kinda badass to look like this.

The last time I posted about my intent to get fit, I had just taken a picture. And honestly, like I said in my previous blog, it made me sad. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Surely the camera must add 10 pounds, and not just pounds, but pounds of fat. Now I know I have wonderful friends who will tell me that I looked great even before, but I didn't feel great. I want to feel nothing but confidence in a bikini. Hell, I want to feel complete confidence naked! So with just a bit of hesitation...here is a collage of the pictures I took the last time I blogged, and my updated picture.

In this photo I weighed 136.4 lbs and my BFP (Body Fat Percentage) was 22.3%

I am down to 133.6 lbs and my BFP is 20.6% 

As you can see there has not been a drastic change in numbers, but I am trying to build muscle and tone as well. I'm not showing these pictures to be a show off, or to brag. I am using this blog to keep track for myself, and to maintain accountability for myself. I am proud of what I have done so far, and I can't wait to do even more! Thanks to everyone who has helped support me in my goals, I appreciate you all!

Fit and Fabulous

About 5 months ago I blogged about my beautiful friend, Jen. http://melissajean3.blogspot.com/2012/02/living-healthier.html

Jen leads one of the healthiest lifestyles I know. She eats right, exercises daily, and looks incredible because of it all! A few months ago we started going on hikes near her home. I loved getting the extra workout, and getting to spend time chatting with her. After hanging out with her much more often, I became even more motivated.

4 weeks ago, I was going through a very stressful and emotional time. I left work with a feeling of overwhelming sadness and frustration. So on the way home, I stopped to get myself dinner at McDonald's and ordered some food I thought would make me feel happier. I'm an emotional eater, so when I feel down, I eat the worst things. That night I ordered 2 double cheeseburgers, a large coke, and a large french fry. After I ate it all I felt sick. Not only because of the food, but because I allowed myself to ingest that much junk. I've seen lots of documentaries and shows and I know how unhealthy that choice was, but I got it anyway. That night I decided I would take a few days off from eating fast food. Since I ate it nearly every day, it was kind of a big deal. The next thing I knew, it had been a week. I wondered if I could avoid fast food all summer. So I decided it wouldn't hurt to set that goal. And 4 weeks in I'm still going strong. I have gone straight home to eat dinner instead of going to a drive thru. And it feels great!

I have noticed major differences in my health. My constant digestive problems, while not gone, have definitely subsided. I have lost 5 pounds, and I can tell that I have lost some fat from my midsection. Since it had been about a month, I decided to go to the gym with my most inspiring fitness friend. We have had 3 cardio sessions together, and she makes it go by faster because we're able to chat while we sweat. It hasn't been easy...I'll admit the first day after a rigorous (for me) session, I felt a bit woozy...but I took my time and didn't let it discourage me! I have gone 4 days in a row now and I feel so great! I may not have instant results...but I can feel the difference exercise is having on my body.

I have altered my diet and I decided a few days ago that I would start a better eating program. I am going to be eating 5 small meals a day, and along with the exercise I'm partaking in, I'm looking forward to seeing even more positive results. I am going to attempt to drop not only weight, but body fat. So I'm going to measure my BFP (Body Fat Percentage) each week and track it. I also am going to have Chad take some progressive pictures of me! I want to be able to see the results I'm getting from working out!

So as of Friday, which was nearly 4 weeks into my fast food cut, I checked my stats:

Weight- 136.4 (This is 5 lbs less than I weighed a month prior)
BFP-      22.3% (I'm sure it was higher before, but I'm using this as my starter)

I am not yet brave enough to post the pictures of what I looked like last night in a bikini, because I didn't suck it in, flex, or attempt to hide my flaws. I wanted to see all of them, and wow was it sad! But now I know my exact problem areas, and I know what it is I want to see improved. I know with the motivation I get from Jen, and the incredible support I get from Chad, I'll be able to reach my goals.

So here's to really being fit and fabulous! I am on a mission to look fantastic in a bikini, without sucking it in!

Seriously...again?

I am so excited, elated, and happy for those friends around me who are expecting children. With that being said...are you fucking serious? I swear to God it seems like every time I log onto Facebook someone else is pregnant. It's the most irritating thing to see when I've been trying for so long. I've been trying really hard to be happy for everyone...but it feels like a stabbing pain whenever I get my period and realize that yet again...I'm not pregnant. Ugh...anyway...for those of you that are pregnant, congrats...I mean that, really. I'm so happy for you. But if I seem less than thrilled and kind of annoyed whenever you talk about your pregnancy and all the things that come with it, it's nothing personal. I'm just slowly hating myself for feeling jealous.

One Year

It has been one year. One year since hubby and I decided I would stop taking birth control. One year since I began considering getting pregnant. One year since the event that caused Chad's mind to think, we are ready for kids. One year since Chad and I seriously began looking into homes that would fit our new family to be. One year ago today I became officially ready to be a mother.

One year.

One year since I dealt with getting a second period after finishing one just days prior. One year I have gone with irregular and missed periods. One year of negative pregnancy tests. One year of heartache, stress, and life trials. One year of ups and downs in my family life. One year of dealing with bull shit from others who sit on their high horses.

One year.

One year of endless support from friends. One year of "I love yous" from the ones that it means the most from. One year of fortune in the housing market. One year of happiness in the marriage department. One year of close bonding with my sisters. One year of putting my foot down and sticking to my guns. One year of not caring what others thought. One year of becoming a woman in my own heart.

One year...

While one year seems like nothing, it also is a large chunk of time in which a number of things have been fit into.. I am both lucky and unlucky in life. But I'm lucky where it counts and where I need to be in order to be happy. I am so grateful for those lucky things in my life. Because of those things, this last year, which has had it's share of living hells, has been manageable.

Living healthier

My 10 year high school reunion is coming up in just 8 short months. I can't believe how quickly it's approaching! Have I really been out for that long? In recent months I've reconnected with a few high school friends which feels amazing. Among these friends, is a girl Jen. Jen and I became close friends my senior year, and we partied like no tomorrow after high school. I have lots of fond memories with her. Don't get me wrong, I have amazing fond memories with my other amazing friends from high school, i.e. Abbie, John, and even Crystal (though we haven't spoken in years.) But I bring up Jen because around the time I turned 21 Jen and I began drifting apart, no reason for it, we just went out separate ways. We have remained in touch through Myspace and now through Facebook, and I've seen her do something incredible. Jen has a son who is around 3 I believe, and after she had him, she packed on some baby weight, totally normal and acceptable. But what's crazy is she is now competing in bodybuilding competitions. Not the super gross huge ones, but in some intense ones. And I have to say I admire her for it. She's done some fitness modeling, and all around her body is amazing! She has toned arms and legs, and her 6 pack is to die for.

Since seeing her transformation through Facebook I've become more inspired by her. I look at her and think to myself, if she can do it...why can't I? And there really isn't a reason why I shouldn't be able to. The hardest part for me I think will be the diet. I am a lover of junk foods of all kinds. And giving up on it will suck royally, but if I set a goal, and reach it, then I'll be able to treat myself from time to time. So as of right now my goals are to A: make healthier food choices; B: exercise more each day; and C: Get a flat stomach by June. When I write it down it seems easy, but I'm taking baby steps for these things. I've been eating breakfast and taking a multivitamin each day for the last month. I walk Dexter every day for at least a mile (I'm going to start going for two,), and when I get home from said walk I do 2 sets of crunches and 2 sets of calf raises. I know it;s not much, but hey I gotta start somewhere!! So here's to a healthier me. I know I won't always make the best choices, and that's okay. But I think if I really focus on my goals then I'll be able to achieve them!

Thanks for inspiration Jen!!

The waiting game...

It has been exactly 283 days since I stopped taking my birth control pill. You'd think that after that long I'd be pregnant right?...WRONG! The last 9 months have been long. With each...ahem...monthly gift I get, I wish I could label it 'Return to Sender.' Or even better, take it to the stork store and exchange it for a a real gift...the gift of life! As I organize my Christmas card addresses I get just a little sting of pain. When I got off the pill I was so excited at the prospect of sending out Christmas cards with Chad and I in front of our tree, and me holding a rounded preggo tummy. While I will be holding something adorable, it won't be a future child inside of me.

I continue to play the waiting game...until then...I'll just keep on keeping on....