Day 10: Wednesday, April 29th, 2015 Speed 1.0

Well today I was certainly feeling the pain!  I am so glad I started this program from scratch because I am definitely working muscles and areas that I did not know I even had.  Before I started T25 over I was still working out 2-3 times a week but I was stuck in a rut and doing the same workouts over and over.  Basically I just stuck to the ones that I liked (the ones that I thought were easier lol).  If that's what you are doing or if you are just sticking with the same routine because it is comfortable and familiar, I am urging you to leave your comfort zone immediately if not sooner!  One of my favorite quotes is from Chalene Johnson in PiYo where she is trying to motivate you and she says "This ain't recess".  What a great way to get the point across!  Let's face it, if you aren't giving 110% then why are you even bothering to work out?  So you can post on Facebook that you worked out?  If that's the case just post that you worked out any way because if you aren't pushing yourself and really trying to get some results it doesn't matter if you work out or not.  The next time you work out I want you to check yourself.  Are you working as hard as you can?  If the answer is no then I want you to either quit and go do something else that is actually productive or push yourself harder and keep going (the latter is my preference but it is your choice not mine).  When Shaun T (or whoever you are working out with) says tighten your core, tighten your damn core!  Don't just go through the motions. let the motions go through you (that quote is from Ms. Bling herself).

I would love for you to comment on this post after your next work out!  Hearing from you helps me just as much if not more than writing these posts.  Knowing that I am motivating you keeps me motivated to motivate :)

Thank you for checking out this post and have a great day.

P.S.  Feel free to share this blog if you know anyone who might benefit from following a recovering fat old lady.  If I can do it, they can do it and so can you!

Day 9: Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 Total Body Circuit

Good afternoon!  This morning I overslept (I didn't get up until 5;45 am) so although I did get my workout in I did not have time to post this morning. I had to pack my son's lunch and have him at the school at 6:30 am for plyos for football.  As soon as I got home I got a text asking me to bring his running shoes to the school because he had forgotten to take them so I went back to the school.  By the time I got home I had just enough time to workout, pack my healthy food for work and then shower and get ready for work.  Right now I am on my lunch at work so I thought I would just post now so I don't forget later (getting old is a b*%#h).  The reason I might forget or not have time later today is that I have to take my son to wrestling club as soon as I get home from work and then run home and work on my kitchen cabinet project for an hour and a half before I am off to go back to the school and pick him up.  I have been slowly redoing my kitchen and this past weekend I started on my kitchen cabinets.  When I started I had no idea how large of a project it was going to end up being for just one person,  Needless to say it is taking some time because I am having to work on them around everything else going on in my life on a daily basis, which brings me to what I would like to talk about today. Some times in our lives we have a regular schedule and every day is like Groundhog Day.  On those days it is easy to do what we normally do at the same time we normally do what we normally do.  Just reflecting on April alone I can say that this month there was nothing too normal or routine going on in my life.  Not only was I working on my kitchen, toting my son around to all of his sports activities, but my grandfather was very sick and passed away so I did lots of travelling.  Needless to say I have been a busy lady.  Here is where I could lie and act like I ate super healthy the whole month and worked out just like I used to when I did my first round of Focus T25 but I want you to know the truth,  At the beginning of April I had every intention in the world of starting T25 from the beginning and running a challenge group to help keep me accountable.  About 6 days into the month is when my grandfather took a turn for the worse and my focus switched to him and my family.  Could I have found 25 minutes a day to work out?  Most definitely.  Could I have packed healthy snacks and food instead of eating out?  Absolutely.  Did I work out and eat right?  Absolutely not!  Instead of doing what was right for myself I let the insecure, scared, lonely fat girl come out and I ate what I wanted when I wanted and unless you call driving exercise I did not exercise at all.

Fast forward to the Sunday after my grandfather's funeral which was April 19th.  I got home and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I was completely disgusted with myself.  I have worked WAY too hard to go back to how I used to be.  So I decided right then and there to pull my head out of my ass (which was not a pretty sight lol) and get back on track.  Instead of announcing my resurgence on Facebook (which I usually do), I quietly pulled out my Focus T25 DVDs, set my alarm for 4:15 am, got my thick self out of bed on Monday morning by 4:30, took some before photos for reference, got my workout on and did the one thing that has helped me more than anything else that I have done which is write on this blog.  In time I may share some of this on Facebook again but for now I am only writing for myself and anyone who has been kind enough to follow my blog.  By no stretch of the imagination am I a fabulous writer or storyteller but I do have a story and I do have a voice.  This is my way of sharing my thoughts and feelings with not only myself but with whoever else would like to hear my story.  I am not perfect nor do I profess to be.  What I do profess is that I am trying to do the best that I can do on a daily basis and that even though life happens occasionally, I still control my choices and my destiny.  Today I can choose to be healthy and fit or I can choose to be a slacker.  I have to own my choices which is what I am doing here!  Are you owning your choices or are your choices owning you?

Create a TOOLBOX FOR SUCCESS and BE PREPARED!

Create a TOOLBOX FOR SUCCESS and BE PREPARED!

A very big part of having success when you are trying to reach a goal is being prepared.  In order to be successful in this challenge you need to be prepared.  When you filled out the questionnaire you each told me your goals for this challenge and I want to make sure that you reach your goals. You need to have a toolbox that is full of tools that are going to help you when you start to fail.  You need to personalize the contents of your toolbox so that you have a quick, safe place to find help for your specific struggles.  Your toolbox is where you will go when you need help or are having the urge to make a choice that you know is going to be keeping you from reaching your goal instead of making a better choice which will help you get closer to that goal.  Choosing the items in your toolbox is crucial to your success so don't take this lightly.  Give your toolbox as much thought as it needs. 

One thing everyone definitely needs is a scale.  This is crucial.  You also need a measuring tape.  Tracking your progress in pounds and inches is crucial.  When you are putting in lots of hard work you want to be able to see the dividends of your work.  On Sunday night or Monday morning I want everyone to take their measurements and weigh themselves.  You need to send me this information.  I WOULD NEVER SHARE THIS WITH THE GROUP!!!   But I have to have this information in order for you to be eligible for the prizes :)  I prefer the weight to come to my cell phone via picture message (my cell number is 614-572-7190) or you can send it via Messenger.  

The second thing you need is groceries and a meal plan.  You do not have to have a specific plan but it is a really great idea to think about what you will be eating next week by Sunday.  I like to do my grocery shopping on Sunday so that I know my cabinets are stocked with healthy choices.  The worst thing in the world is when you are getting low on your stock of healthy choices and end up eating junk because that is all you have around.  In an ideal world there would be no junkie food in anyone's kitchen but unless you live alone that might not be a possibility.  So by Sunday you should stock up on healthy choices.  Have a plan for your meals.  By this I don't necessarily mean that you have to have meal plans for every single meal every single day (great if you can but not everyone has that kind of time).  I just mean if you know you eat lunch at work every day then make sure you have healthy stuff in your house to pack a nice healthy lunch instead of grabbing lunch at a fast food place.  Packing your own lunch will save calories and cash.  This same concept also applies to breakfast and dinner.  Also I eat 2 healthy snacks a day.  One snack between breakfast and lunch and one between lunch and dinner.  My snack is usually a fruit or vegetable but it is always something that I like so I won't dread eating that snack and be tempted to make a poor choice.  This is a crucial part of your toolbox!!!

Third you need a way to track your calorie intake.  There are a lot of different apps out there but I like www.fatsecret.com.  THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO DO!  If you aren't tracking what you are putting into your mouth (get your mind out of the gutter) then you will not succeed.  Your body is like a chemistry lab and you need to eat not only the right amount of calories but you also need eat the right combination of calories.  For example, I need to eat 1800 calories and 40% should come from carbs, 30% from fat, and 30% from protein.  I followed this plan to a tee during the last challenge that I participated in and I lost 9 pounds in 6 weeks.  If you need help with how many calories you need and what percentage should be from carbs, fat and protein please just send me a message and I will be glad to help you.  I have two different formulas that I combine to get the right numbers on this and I have had a lot of success with a lot of different people who I have helped.  I don't even use the numbers that the fatsecret.com site says I should use because it is not as accurate as the formula that I use.  

Next you need a fitness plan.  Before you decide on a plan you need to ask yourself a few questions so that you will find something you enjoy.  If you do not enjoy your workouts you will not stick with them and so you will eventually stop doing them because they feel like work and you will then feel like a failure again.  So you need to find your soul mate workout so that you never again fail.  Ask yourself the following questions in order to find this workout:

1.  What type of workout do you enjoy (zumba, kickboxing, piyo, weights, cardio, boot camp)?  

2.  How long do you have to dedicate to your workout each day (including drive time to gym and waiting on equipment).

3.  What is your budget for getting fit? 

If you need help with this step please let me know but once you have answered these questions you should be able to narrow down your soul mate workout.  

Now you need to add some things to your tool box to help you with your daily struggles.  I will give you an example using one of my struggles.  I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day and I struggle with stress eating.  Part of my job is dealing with angry people which can be very stressful.  In order to deal with the stress I used to eat.  Now I try to choose a healthier way to deal with my stress but just in case there are times when I cannot control the urge to eat to help with my stress level I simply go to my HEALTHY SNACK TOOLBOX behind my desk!!  I have Fiber One brownies, 94% fat free popcorn, apples, grapes, and celery sticks in my toolbox of healthy snacks.  Now when I can't resist the urge to snack I just reach into that toolbox and I know I will find a better choice!! Another thing that I struggle with is self-esteem.  Sometimes I feel like I have told myself 200 times in one day that I AM GOOD ENOUGH but if that is the magic number then I will do it!  I am good enough and I do deserve nothing but great things in my life!  I listen to motivational snippets to make sure that I do not miss anything.  My motivational CDs help me get though the day every day!  

These are just a few of the things that I recommend for your TOOLBOX FOR SUCCESS. You should always personalize any message to fit your needs.  I want you to succeed so if there is anything at all that I can do PLEASE LET ME KNOW and I will be there!!!  

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE!!!!

Day Eight: Monday, April 27, 2015 CARDIO

I had a very busy weekend (I had to work on Saturday and the rest of the weekend I worked on painting my kitchen cabinets) so I did not have a chance to write a post but I did not let the busy weekend stop me from working out.

This morning I got up and did Cardio.  I have to say I love it!  That workout is such a great workout and I feel so good after getting it done and out of the way first thing in the morning.  Now the important I have to remember is to watch what I am eating.  If you fuel your body properly you will lose the cravings and desire to eat crap because your body will be satisfied.  Shakeology is the best way to make sure you get in your daily dose of dense nutrition.  Honestly if you drink a shake for breakfast you will be satisfied nutrition wise and will not crave junk food.  Those cravings only happen because your body is trying to get nourished properly so why not just fuel it properly and be done with it.  If only it were that easy!

Today I plan on drinking plenty of water, drinking my Shakeology for breakfast, and sticking to the healthy snacks and lunch that I pre-packaged yesterday.  What are you going to do today to stay on track?  If I can do it you can do it too!

Thanks for following me and have a great day!!

Day Four: Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

This morning I got up and did Ab Intervals.  I must admit that when I first decided to start T25 over again from scratch that I was not 100% sold on the idea but I am so glad that I started over.  When I first started the program a little over a year ago I had to modify A LOT!  Now I do modify some of the jumping but not because I can't do it but because I am old and my knees are not what they used to be.  Being able to do the workouts with modifying and being able to actually feel my core as I am tightening it during the moves is a great reminder for me of how far I have come in the past year.  I am also reminded how awful I used to feel and know that I never want to be like that old person I was ever again.  For anyone who is reading this who feels like they just don't know where to start or thinks they can't do it, take it from me YOU CAN DO IT!  You have to start somewhere and you have to go at a pace that is manageable for you.  If you try to go to fast you will get burnt out and end up quitting.  On the flip side of that if you go to slow and don't see any results you will also end up quitting.  It has been over a year since I started and I did not have that far to go but I have not given up and I am determined to hit my goal weight.  Most importantly, while I may have put on a few pounds I did keep working out (just not as much) and I did not give up and quit.  I am back on track and more determined than ever.  The old me from a year ago is gone.  I started and stopped and went right back to the overweight, low self-esteem, depressed, shell of a person way too many times.  That will never happen again!

I hope that I can inspire even just one person that they are worth it and they can do it because we are all worth it and we all deserve to be our best.  Thanks again for supporting and following me and have a great day!  Remember, you don't have to come out of the gate with all guns blazing but you do have to start somewhere or you will never be any different than you are right now.

Day Three: April 22, 2015 Total Body Circuit

Good Morning Sunshine!

It is 7:00 am and I am done with my workout for the day!  Let me tell you it feels so much better to get up and work out than it does to make excuses as to why I can't work out in the morning.  Excuses are just lies you tell yourself to justify your behavior.  I know I can do this if I just remain focused and lose the excuses!

I realized yesterday after I finished my blog post that I forgot to clarify my "why" or my goals for myself.  I did mention yesterday that I almost had a six pack around Christmas last year and then I fell off the wagon so to speak.  I was so close to being where I wanted to be and I just started going backwards so my goal is to get a six pack and to win the Beachbody daily challenge!  I know I can do it if I just stay focused.  By putting my goals out there I know that I am going to have to work hard to make sure I don't disappoint myself and so I can inspire others because if I can do it anyone can do it!

Tomorrow I will talk about tips on how to get started.  Thanks for following my blog and go out and have a great day and make great choices.

Day One and Two: 4.20.15 and 4.21.15 GETTING BACK ON TRACK

The past few months have been tumultuous for me and I have gotten off track with my fitness and health.  Right before Christmas of 2014 I almost had a 6 pack and my size 6 pants were practically falling off of me.  This morning my size 6 dress pants are fitting just right and maybe even a wee bit snug.  Let's just say that there isn't too much wiggle room and if I don't get control of myself now it won't be long before I have to move up in sizes.  I have worked too hard over the past year to let that happen so I have finally got myself ready to get back on track.

I know I have said for the past month or so that I was going to start Focus T25 from the beginning but each time that I would start something would come up and I would use that as an excuse to stop again.  Don't get me wrong I was still working out maybe twice a week but that was just little enough to not make a difference.  And let's face it, no amount of working out (especially only two times per week) can be effective if you are putting just crap in your mouth all day long.  I have decided that the only way for me to get back on track and to stay there is to mimic the behavior that I had success with which is blogging.  This blog, although not read by many, is my therapy.  Why I ever got away from blogging is beyond me but this time I am going to try to keep up with it and not let anything distract me... in other words FOCUS!

For those of you that may be reading this now and followed my journey before I am sorry if I have let you down.  Sometimes life can be draining and low self-esteem and bad habits can creep up on you and before you know it you are right back to where you started from.  Luckily for me I was able to get my head out of my ass before it was too late.  I can't tell you how good it feels to get up before the roosters and get my work out in so I am done for the day.  Not only is 25 minutes completely doable but it also gets my day started off right and I tend to make much better choices about my eating and drinking habits for the day.

Anyway,  I started Focus T25 from scratch yesterday and I have to say I forgot how much I love the workouts and how much I love Shaun T.  This time around I am definitely able to follow along without modifying which feels great.  Yesterday was day one and I did Cardio and today, day two, I did Speed 1.0.  Below are pics from my "before" for this round.  I also put the "before" pics from round 1 which I started in February of 2014.  I can't wait to see where I am 10 weeks from now!

If you want to join me on my journey just follow my blog or comment below.  I would love for you to let me know on my daily posts what you are doing to stay on track each day.  If you need any help or advice please just leave a comment, send me an email (tibelling@aol.com) or find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tinaballingerfitness).

Thanks for checking out my blog/post and have a great day!  More to come tomorrow :)