Is it all downhill from here?

  In the past few weeks, I have lost 10lbs from my new lifestyle change. It hasn't gotten easier, it is not more fun, and it is not something I really look forward to. I do it because I want to be healthier, I want to be able to get out in the yard with the dogs and my child and play. That is what makes it worth while for me. I am having a great amount of difficulty with the whole Beachbody business. I can't seem to get people interested. I know that it has a great deal to do with the fact that I am not the kind of coach people imagine working with because I am still at the beginning of this journey and my body certainly does not match my ambition.  But surely, someone wants to hear what I have to say and learn from me right? Isn't it suppose to get easier? People always say that it's all downhill from here, but is that reality?
   I am still enthralled with my You are a Badass book. I am learning so much about myself from the passages I read each day. I am taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself further than I have before, yet no one still seems to notice the effort that I put in. I feel like I am inspiring NO ONE to be better, to want more for themselves. I know that it takes time, but I feel like I am never going to find my stride and all of this will be for nothing. I want to help people. Hell, that is why I became a nurse. Still, all people see when they look at me is a fatty struggling to make it. It is hard. I never thought that I cared what others thought of me, but the truth is, I do. All of us do, really. I mean, if you are really honest with yourself, you know that other people's opinions of you affect your choices. I know that eventually it will get easier. People will start to see the difference I am making in myself, but for now, it is all uphill, carrying pockets full of rocks and a ruck sack on my back. I just have to remember that I need to be the best me that I can be and eventually, it will inspire someone...I hope.

Nutrition is Key!

    When you start any kind of nutritional program, you have to know your body for it to work. You have to know what foods your body can tolerate and what foods that your body needs to function. I am not a nutritionist. I had a semester of Nutrition in nursing school, but that does not make me an expert. What I do know, and what has been drilled in to every single one of us for as long as we can remember, is proper portion control. All of our bodies are different; different shapes, different sizes, different genes. We have to know how to eat for our own specific body type, yes, but portion control is used for everyone. I will be starting the 21 Day Summer Slimdown challenge in May. It is all about proper nutrition and portion control. That is the basis for every Beachbody program that I have participated in. This is not about dieting and deprivation. If you do that, your body is going to continue to crave those nutrients that you are not giving it and you will never be satisfied no matter what you eat. You can have your sweet and salty snacks, in moderation. I know it is hard to let go of those bad habits (like eating a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's in one sitting) but being able to overcome those type of obstacles will help you achieve your goal. I really do think that the 21 Day Fix program from Beachbody is the best program to begin with. It gives you what you need in order to teach you portion control. It does not just give you a list of menu items and say "here, only eat this forever". You get your portion control containers, you get a caloric range (not just 1500/day but a range of 1500-1799) according to your body's needs, and you get a list of food that each container corresponds to. The program teaches about complex and simple carbs, proteins, veggies that can be carbs, etc. It is an educational program. You learn how to be healthy. Then, once you get the hang of it, it just becomes habit! I am so excited for this challenge to start! If anyone else in interested in joining me on this journey, just let me know. I think any one wanting to learn about nutrition will enjoy this program. You always have to remember, it is not about dieting; it is about changing your lifestyle and making better, healthier choices. It starts small and grows into a change. There is nothing worse than a grumpy person who is always dieting yet always hungry. I am not here to sell you a diet program, I am here telling you about a program that can lead to a change for the better. It's not about pills; it is about good, old fashioned nutrition and exercise. Anyone can do it. Just remember, be the best you that you can be and you will always inspire someone!

Am I a Badass??

     So, I have recently started reading this book suggested to me by a (vegan/cf) friend. It is called You are a Badass, and basically it is a personal development book that encourages the reader to be the best you that you can be. We all know that this is my motto here. I am trying to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be. I just want to say, I love this book! The author doesn't sugar-coat anything, and we seem to be in the same mind set when it comes to accomplishing things. Nothing is ever going to just fall in your lap. If you really  want something, you have to really  work for it. One of my favorite quotes from the book so far is "You're gonna have to push past your fears, fail over and over again and make a habit of doing things you're not so comfy doing". That really hit home for me. I have so much fear of failure that I steer away from most situations because I know that I will be uncomfortable being myself (especially social situations). And it is not about my weight (mostly); it is about being afraid of people looking at me and saying "how could YOU ever be an inspiration, look at yourself". It has always been hard for me to think of myself as any more than I already am. I do not feel that I am really good at anything, although people tell me all the time that I am. I am not saying this for sympathy or the "oh you are good at so many things". I am saying this because I believe it to be true. We all have measured ourselves up against the world for so long that our own sense of self has just vanished. We have been told over and over again that, because of our size, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, that we can't do or be what ever it is that we truly want to be. There is so much I wanted to do with my life that I felt would never be possible because the world has held me back by selling me the idea that, because I am a plus size woman, no one will ever take me seriously. I could never inspire anyone to choose a healthy lifestyle. Who would look at me and say, "she definitely knows what she is talking about when it comes to health"? But I have come to the realization that my attitude toward myself should have nothing to do with what the world is telling me. This book has made me realize "Most people are living in an illusion based on someone else's beliefs" and THAT is what holds us back. Who cares what the world says I should be or do as a plus size woman?!?!? There is so much out there to do and learn; the fact that I am plus size should not factor into that equation at all. Last week, I was having such a hard time with sticking to my routine because I just knew that it didn't matter what I did, I was still going to fail just like I always do. I want to tell you, that is not true. The only reason you will ever fail at anything is because you have convinced yourself that you will. We are responsible for our own outcomes. Hard work will be involved and you may not feel like you can do it everyday, but one step at a time is all it takes to start a change. You just need 21 days to start a habit. 3 weeks of your life to change your life. It's not about pills or magic shakes, it is about changing from the inside out. There may be emotional issues that you struggle with. Before you can start to change the outside, you have to deal with what is going on inside. I am no expert, but I can be there for any of you. If you need that support, reach out to me. I can offer you an ear. The moment that you decide to make a change, that is the moment that YOU ARE A BADASS! It is always about just one thing: being the best you that you can be, So do that for yourself and only for yourself! Then, go inspire someone!

**I really do recommend this book. You can purchase it here**

Bibliography
   Sincero, Jen. You Are a Bad Ass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. Print.

Fat and Happy??

This week there was a "news" story about Fitness Trainer Michelle Bridges saying that she had "yet to have met someone who is morbidly obese and happy." Could this be true??? Are all fat people sad lumps who sit on the couch and eat their feelings?? It has to be because Michelle Bridges is an expert in behavioral psychology, right?? (she definitely is not BTW). NOPE! She is a fitness trainer, she makes her money putting the idea into people's heads that the only way to be happy is to be thin. That is just not true. I am fat. I am happy with my life, I am happy with my family, I am happy with my job, I am happy with myself. Could I be in better health? Well, yes, of course I could, but the size of my thighs does not determine my happiness. Now for some people, there are body dysmorphic issues. That is a psychological issue that stems from something more than just body image. And Michelle Bridges is NOT qualified to comment on those sorts of things. Being fat does not mean you are depressed or sad all the time. There could be someone who is just as unhappy with an optimal BMI of 21.5!! Why is everything always so focused on how BIG or small someone is? Why can't it be about health. Most people already know that the BMI chart is not very realistic. You could be classified as obese by the chart just for having an athletic body type, because the BMI does not take into consideration other things. In fact, according to the CDC and other qualified individuals, BMI doesn’t take body composition into consideration. This means that 200-pound six-foot tall athlete who is mostly muscle shares the same BMI with a 200-pound six-foot tall couch potato who has a high body fat percentage. Although it can be helpful when it comes to non-athletes, it’s easy to see how that can break down. “BMI is flawed because it’s not an actual measure of health,” says Jeff Hunger, from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “It’s a pretty poor proxy for actual clinical indicators of health.” (Rex, The problem with BMI, 2016). The CDC also recognizes the flaws in BMI calculations. They have published this statement on the CDC website: “Athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness. In general, a person who has a high BMI is likely to have body fatness and would be considered to be overweight or obese, but this may not apply to athletes.” So who is more qualified to make statements on obesity?? Maybe Michelle Bridges should get out more, get educated, and, maybe, eat a sandwich. She is probably being so snarky because she is hungry! There is much more to life than focusing on how you look in a bathing suit. Why not focus on those things. And even if you are unhappy with your body, you can workout, change your eating habits, and drink more water. The weight will take care of itself if you put in the work to make a lifestyle change. But do it for you, not because some over exalted celebrity trainer says you can't be happy because you are fat! Take it from me, I have been on both sides of the weight battle. I was no happier skinny than I am now. The only difference now is that I want to be healthy for me. It is not about making everyone else around me want to desire me, it's about being healthy enough to play with my kid. Michelle Bridges, you, ma'am are a BULLY! Just remember, be the best you that you can be, and then you WILL inspire some one!

It's a Struggle

I have been struggling HARD this week with my workout routine. I have still had ZERO motivation, and doing the workout half-heartedly does not give me what I want, so why do it at all?!? I am still struggling with this cold/sinus/allergy stuffiness which makes me want to workout even less. I just cannot find the get up and go. My nutrition has been on point but what good is that without the workout to go with it? I just can't shake this doubt and fear of failing, yet again, to achieve this goal I have set for myself. I am trying so hard to find the strength and will to want to do it but nothing comes.  I guess that this is the part where you either persevere or give up. I am NOT a quitter. I have set goals for myself and I intend to follow through with them.

On another note, posted below you will find a shot of my new work out gear from Gem Fitness Wear! I have been loving the shirts that I purchased from this company! They breath, they are stylish, they have attitude, they move with you, and they are all so cute! If you are a plus size woman and are tired of not being able to find fitness wear that suits you, I suggest that you try Gem Fitness Wear! This is not a sponsored post, I just really do love the quality and comfort of this gear.  Please, check them out HERE!

All in all, I would say that, even though I have been struggling lately, I am doing well with this new lifestyle. I will be hosting a new 21 Day Challenge Group starting May 2. If anyone wants to start a journey or even continue a journey with me, then just let me know and I will help you as much as I can. I am here to show every one that, no matter what your size, you can accomplish great things if you work your hardest. A journey always has a beginning, and if you are at your's, please join me for encouragement, accountability, and just a shoulder to lean on during the struggles (because there will be many struggles!). That's why I am here. Remember, be the best you that you can                                                          be and go inspire someone!!

Mondays....

  It sure felt like Monday today. I COULD NOT get motivated at all. Sister and I went for a short little walk around her 3-acre property and then we did about 13 minutes of our 30 minute workout before we just gave up. It has just been that kind of day today. I just had a case of ennui (Gilmore Girl's reference there). I did push through the rest of the day and I have just finished with my weekly meal prep that I didn't get done over the weekend. That is why this blog is being posted at the very end of the day.  At least I got that much accomplished today.

   On a better note, I did receive my package from Gem Fitness Wear. As promised, I will be posting a FULL review of the products after I workout in them a few more times. I did wear one shirt today and it seemed to be pretty good, but I will give a better review when more vigorous workouts have been done in them. I also received my portion control containers for 21 day fix which is what I used to do meal prep tonight! All in all, a good mail day!

   I am hoping that tomorrow will be a better day. I still have a touch of this sinus/allergy stuff giving me a tough time, but I am hoping to power through to get things done. I have so many goals that I want to achieve so I know that I have to keep going. I am, by no means, trying to be skinny. I just want to be healthy and happy with myself, for myself. Plus size people are always being told how we should be trying to get healthy but very few people actually encourage us along the way. There is always plenty of ridicule and snide comments about our appearance, eating habits, and if course weight (because we have no idea that we are fat, right?) but no one really ever says "how can I help you in accomplishing thus goal?" The one thing that I have learned about being a Beach body coach is that there is ALWAYS someone there to do just that. I have been encouraged and praised for accomplishment. It makes me want to keep going! Being plus size does not mean that we always need to be reminded about our health, but we (at least I) like to be reminded of my accomplishment of reaching a short term goal. Maybe more people should try that instead of trying to shame others into self loathing.

    Today may definitely have felt like a Monday, but someday, I'll be Saturday night (Bon Jovi knows)! As always, keep pushing, be the best you that you can be, and go inspire someone!

Plus Size Fitness Wear??

     So, I was contacted by a plus size fitness wear (very small) company about their line of workout shirts. Now, I have never been contacted by a brand (be it indie or name brand) EVER, so I was excited. I have checked it out and I may be purchasing from that brand to try it out during my workouts. I asked her how she had found my page. She stated that she just searched and my page came up and she decided to like it. If I do decide to purchase from this brand, I will of course post pictures on this blog of what I get and give you an honest review of how the shirts wear during my workouts. This line is geared toward plus size women! I am so excited at the possibility of this brand. Look for my reviews in the future. I am not naming this company just yet, but please, even if I do give a review for the brand, remember that it is only my opinion and you have your own tastes and styles. It is up to YOU to figure out if this is something you may want to purchase. AS always, be the best you that you can be and GO INSPIRE SOMEONE!!

From start.....

     Ok, I am going to do something here that I was NOT planning to do until much later in my journey, but I want all of you to SEE where I am starting this journey. Be inspired, know that it does not matter what size you are right now, all that matters is that you have that spark, that moment of clarity that says "I need to do this for me". I never thought that I could do a fitness program at my size! I was currently at my heaviest weight when I started this journey on April 4, 2016. I have only lost about seven pounds to date, but the point is not the numbers on the scale; the point is that I had that one moment where I said that I could do this and that no one was going to stop me. I spoke to my husband about what I wanted to do and he encouraged me to follow through; heck, he even wanted to join me in my journey. This is going to be a slow process, I know, but I also know that it is not impossible as long as I keep working toward my goal. I have so many reasons to get healthy. I want to be around for my family, I want to grow my family, and I want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I don't care what others say about me. All I care about is being able to practice softball with my kid without having to take a breather (which are fewer and far between now ( :  ) and I want to be able to actually find clothes in my size without looking like a busted can of biscuits ( I know you all can feel me on that)! So...here it goes...This is me at my worst, my heaviest at 388.4 lbs

      Say your worst about it, I don't care because I know that I will be better, do better and no one's words can tell me how I feel about myself or what I already know....I AM FAAAAT! But, again, this is a plus size fitness blog; so why are you here? 

   
     I am continuing my Cize and Shakeology program along with my clean eating meal prepping and we will see where I end up. This journey has no deadline because this is a LIFE change not a DIET. I am putting in the work, sweating my ass off (literally) and making myself the best me that I can be for myself, because if I can't do this for myself then I have no business trying to inspire all of you to make a change. Even one small change can make a difference, think The Butterfly Effect (sans Kutcher). One small change can affect everything there after. SO opt to make a small change. All those small changes become BIG changes which becomes a HABIT! So quit smoking, do 30 minutes of walking a day, or just eat more vegetables! It all adds up in the end AND you never know who you will inspire along the way! 

Plus-Size Fitness??

     Is there really such a thing? OF COURSE! We have been programmed to believe that being plus size is unhealthy, unattractive, and unfit. That is just not the case! According to the fashion industry, anyone over a size 8 is considered PLUS SIZE! How can that be? No wonder everyone has body image issues and is always riding the current fad diet. THAT is what is unhealthy, not being a size 10! Fad diets NEVER work for TOO LONG! Once you stop following them, all the weight comes back, plus some. I recently joined the Team Beachbody family. I know what some of you are thinking, "Oh this is just another pushy person trying to get us to BUY BUY BUY" but the truth is, I am not one of those people. I am not saying that they don't exist, I am just saying that, for me, this business is about changing lives, including my own. I want ALL of you to follow along on my journey, This journey is hard, personal, embarrassing but I want all of you to be there with me. I want the accountability and I want to prove to all of you that these programs work because they are about changing you lifestyle, not popping diet pills, binging on "supplements" and making "magic" happen like some of these other companies out there.  You have to work your ASS of to make it happen.
   As a plus size woman working this business, it may be difficulty for people to take me seriously as I start out on this journey. However, I am confident that, once results are seen in me, people will start to take ME and the business seriously. Seeing that these programs work, if you put in the work, will make people see that "plus size" fitness can be done and goals can be reached. I am looking forward to everyone taking this journey with me. If you want to join me on this journey, just join my team for free HERE. I will never PUSH a product on you, but feel free to look around at the shop and check out the programs. I will be doing Cize with Shaun T. Let me know if you want to join me or if you want to check out a different fitness program! No matter what your size, you CAN be fit, healthy, and happy!!