My Inner Voice Sucks Right Now

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't struggling.

You see, last year I had lost about 30 pounds and was at the healthiest I had ever been. Notice, I did not say the skinniest, but I was the healthiest. I exercised almost every day,  I was toned and flexible, I was eating a healthy and well balanced diet, and I was proud of the way I looked. I had earned that body!

Then I got pregnant. I was bound and determined to be the healthiest I could be for those 9 months. But at 8 weeks I had to stop doing my high impact workout because I was so nauseous I couldn't eat, and if you can't eat then you don't have fuel to burn. I'd get lightheaded when I would bend down for Touch the Floors. So I'd walk some days, other days not just because it was so hot. It was a few months before I was able to eat right again. And by then I was halfway done with my pregnancy. I would try to workout those last few months, but that's when the sciatic nerve pain kicked in, my hips started popping like a 90 year old and it hurt like someone was breaking bones, and touching my toes was a thing of the past. It was hard to convince myself to get up and do a workout every day. And then I was chasing a 2 year old around the house, although that probably counted for some exercise! I will say I managed to do push-ups and weights a few times a week consistently.

It's not an excuse, it's just what happened. When I got pregnant, I had it in my head that I would be fit that entire pregnancy. The only thing I have going for me is that I gained the exact amount of weight I was supposed to. Yay, I guess?

So now, five months to the day after I had Baby Boy, I look in the mirror. For some reason my mind expects to see me where I was in May 2012. I had ab definition for the first time EVER. My shoulders and back were tone. My middle wasn't lumpy, I had curves where curves were supposed to be. And my stretch marks had finally faded. INSTEAD, I see a body I still don't recognize. My belly has this horrible roll that won't go away. It's gotten smaller, but it's still there. And there is this loose skin that I am afraid will never tone up this time. I'm finally seeing some tone in my biceps, but not what was there before. And I can't sit in a wall squat for a minute or more right now like I could in the past. I still remember keeping up with Tania "The Machine" in Insanity those last couple of months, but right now I can barely keep up with the people in the back who take breaks more frequently.

Food is another struggle. I had a really healthy diet last year when I lost that weight. I would stick to my plan and eat healthy 6 days a week and then enjoy my cheat day. Right now though, I'm breastfeeding an infant. I sometimes forget to eat enough, believe it or not. Then we get to 9pm when the kids are both in bed and I realize I am starving. So what are my choices? Not eat and risk my milk supply going down, or eat an hour or two before bed knowing that my body won't burn those calories so well. Of course I'm going to eat. And then there are days where the Terrible 2's attack the house, and Baby Boy is teething or just having a rough day, so dinner isn't as healthy as it should be because I just threw something in the oven or called my husband and said "hey I'm calling in some Chinese, can you pick it up on your way home?" Yeah I know, I need to get better at the crock pot. Working on it!

So my inner voice looks at the reflection and says "Well that's not right. Apparently I'm not eating well enough. Maybe I have my calorie intake too high. I must not be working hard enough. I should look better than this by now. Remember that chick on the pinterest board who posted that she was super fit six months after baby? Why am I not like that? Maybe if I do Insanity and then use that training app on my phone for 30 minutes, I'll get better progress" (trust me, that's not panning out so well. I just end up overtired the next day and don't want to do any exercise at all). Notice, my Inner Voice is kind of a Witch.

I'm working on improving. It's a constant struggle. It's a struggle against the mirror, the kids, and the food. But most surprisingly, it's a struggle against myself, and not like it was before. It's not the struggle to get up and pop in the DVD and start the workout. It's the struggle to realize that progress takes time. It's realizing that while some women lose all of their baby weight and get back in shape three months after their baby arrives, that's not the way I'm built and I'm going to have to work twice as hard and maybe twice as long. I have to remember that I grew a healthy baby for 9 months, and I'm nourishing him with this same body until he is a year old. I have to get enough to eat if I'm going to feed him, too. I will just say now that I AM going to get back to where I was before, and then I'm going to get even better. It's just going to take time. And while I can say that and I know it, I have to just keep reminding myself of why I don't look like the way I want right now. Part of my struggle is telling Inner Voice to shut it and eat her chocolate bar and leave me alone (to me she's forever eating a chocolate bar while she's criticizing me, don't ask).

So I guess what I am saying to you this time is to remember, progress can be slow. It doesn't mean you should give up. It doesn't mean you are doing something wrong. It just means that everyone is different, and for every stage of your life your body changes. It's not fun and it's not easy, but that's what happens. I'm not going to give up. Notice I didn't say that I'm going to try. I WILL nurse my baby for a full year.and I WILL get my body back.  If nursing him means it takes longer to get back in to the best shape of my life, then that is perfectly fine! He's worth it.

Ripping off a Beachbody Coach is not cool....

I'm posting this because I'm annoyed and frankly, fed up.

I can spend hours talking to someone about programs. I love the Beachbody programs and they work so well that I want to share that knowledge. And if people are interested and have questions, I am here to answer them!

But what really gets under my skin is when someone has wasted my time asking questions and then mysteriously procured a copy of a program. Quite often they have a "friend" who burned a copy for them. Yay you!! You got a free copy of an expensive workout program! NOT!

Not only did you waste my time asking me questions about routines, meals and meal planning, and when we would possibly have a sale on the program you were inquiring about, you took money from a small business owner. Now sure, we've seen the ads in the movie theater saying that "piracy is illegal" with the guy who works a camera (if I recall it correctly) talking about how he earns his profit from the sale of the movies you are ripping, and if you are like me you didn't really think about it. But trust me, when you are the person doing a service and you aren't getting commission, it really sucks. And I'm sick of sitting there smiling and saying offhanded remarks like it doesn't bother me. Because it does.

I really am a small business owner. I make no money just being a coach, I make commission on products sold. I am here to help answer questions and lead you to a good routine for you, but people ripping programs have almost killed my desire to work in this wonderful business.

Now you might say "Well, I'm sorry but the programs are just too expensive."

They might be expensive out of pocket outright, but when you figure that for a program like P90X, you get TWELVE DVDs for $120, I mean come on! That's a load of baloney. That breaks down to $10 a video. And you get your moneys worth. Look at the pictures people post of their results. In 90 DAYS folks.

And what about Turbo Fire, that has a regular price of $79 now? (By the way, it's on sale for even less than that at the moment). That's not too expensive.

If you want to rip someone off, find someone else. Don't waste my time. I have two little kids and a husband that can use my attention if you're going to take money from me and get an illegal version of what I sell instead. You're taking money from me, from my upline coach, and from his upline coach. A great majority of the money you spend on a program actually goes to real people, trying to either make their living or bring in a little income on the side.

But hey, I know chances are you won't feel the least bit guilty. You'll close out this browser and not feel the least bit bothered that you essentially stole my time. Don't tell me about it. And just remember, what you do is illegal.

And just to add a little humor since this entire post has been so serious....

Turbo Fire Test Offer

Just in time for the holidays, there is another great deal on Turbo Fire. Here are the details from Beachbody:

What is the test price?

• $79.90 for customers
• $71.90 for Team Beachbody Club Members
• $59.93 for Coaches

When will the TurboFire deal be available?
You will begin to see the new offer in the Team Beachbody Shop starting tomorrow. By Friday, December 14th, all updates should be live. 

Where can I find it?

You can find the offers in the Team Beachbody "Shop" under TurboFire

What is included in this TurboFire configuration?

• 12 Smokin' Hot Classes on 5 DVDs
• Fire Starter
• Low HIITs: Low HIIT 20 & Low HIIT 25
• Fire HIITs: Fire 30, Fire 40, Fire 45, Fire 55
• Extreme HIITs: HIIT 15, HIIT 20, HIIT 25
• Abs 10
• Stretch 10
• Quick Start Guide
• Fuel the Nutrition Guide
• Class Schedule
• Instant Online Access to the first workout
• 24/7 Online Support

Is there anything different?
The workouts included in this offer do NOT require any equipment--all you need is a good workout space, quality shoes, a towel and water. 

How can I connect with the offer?

Same as always! Visit my coach website here

This is once again a great price on a wonderful, fun program. If you plan on making a New Years Resolution to get fit, TurboFire can help. As always, if you have any questions, just contact me through this site or at ogmommy10@gmail.com.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

At 9:00AM EST, Beachbody is offering you special Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on select programs and products! The offers are available while supplies last. The sale officially will end Tuesday at 12:00 AM EST.

Below is a list of the programs that will be on sale. There are huge discounts on some great programs!

You will want to participate in these great deals! Best part? No lines and crazy crowds to fight to get the savings. Sit in the comfort of your own home and click here or follow this link to get the specials prices!

http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/holidayoffer?referringRepId=130211


Give yourself and your family a great gift this holiday season: a healthy YOU!

And remember, contact me if you need more information or help finding the right product to reach your fitness goals.

Turbo Fire Sale!

Turbo Fire is $53 for today only while supplies last. There are a total of 5,000 copies for sale, so grab yours FAST!

This has been an update from your friendly Beachbody Coach! Go to beachbodycoach.com/angelicam88 to order yours now!

Shakeology vs Body by Vi

Don't shoot the messenger if you are a Visalus fan! I am just stating facts. This is all based on research and input from people who are far more knowledgeable than I. What I do know for 100% certain: Shakeology WORKS. And I'm about to share with you why it is an awesome choice. And remember, you can try Shakeology for an ENTIRE MONTH and get a 100% refund if you don't love it. You will love it anyway, but you have nothing to lose this way. Our bottom of the bag guarantee is a one-of-a-kind and a killer offer.

I also highly recommend checking out the "Food for Thought" at the bottom of this post. It has great information to consider on top of the comparison.

Shakeology VS Body by Vi

Cost

Body by Vi- $49.00-$249.99 per month, depending on which “level” of program you buy.

 

 Shakeology- $89.95-119.95 per month

 

Servings

Body by Vi-They recommend taking 2 shakes per day plus their brand of snacks (not included in price)

 

 Shakeology-One shake per day. We want you to eat real food.

This is not a “diet” but a lifestyle change.... “Real” food is important.

 

Cost per serving

Body by Vi-$1.50 each. $3.00 for two shakes daily. Up to $8.30 per day if you buy their higher end package. Remember-snacks cost extra.

 

Shakeology-$3.50-4.10 per day

 

Supplements

Body by Vi-20 supplements worth

 

Shakeology-38 supplements worth

 

Guarantee?

Body by Vi-30 day money back

 

Shakeology-30 day money back

 

Diabetic friendly?

Body by Vi-Yes but no evidence of low glycemic index mentioned

 

 

Shakeology - Yes. In addition to being lower in sugar, we are low in the glycemic index.

 

 

 

Artificial sweeteners? Refined sugars?

Body by Vi-Yes-sucralose. Google sucralose and the arsenic connection for more information about how bad this stuff is for you.

 

 

Shakeology - Not a one!

 

Multiple flavors?

Body by Vi- No, only their sweet cream flavor

 

 

Shakeology- Yes,Chocolate (my favorite!), Tropical and Greenberry

 

What can you add to it?

Body by Vi-Their brand of mix flavors plus milk, fruit

 

 

Shakeology-Whatever you want! Peanut butter, fruit, milk, almond milk. Soy milk, water, coffee, peppermint flavor, vanilla flavor, sugar free jello pudding flavors-the possibilities are endless!

 

What about digestive health?

Body by Vi- Prebiotics included. 100% dietary fiber included. (Just be aware that if you eat something later that is high in fiber, you may end up gassy with diarrhea as too much fiber can cause this, in addition to cramping.)

 

 

Shakeology- Prebiotics/probiotics included. 12% of dietary fiber included. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to get your 100% daily fiber intake or if you have difficulty, you can add fiber to the shake.

 

 

Nitty gritty nutrition

Body by Vi- Fat in grams 1g

Sugar-

Carbs- 7 grams*

Calories-90 calories*

Sodium-75mg

Protein-12g

 

 

 

Shakeology- Fat in grams

Sugar-11 grams*

Carbs-19 grams*

Calories-140 calories*

Sodium-95mg

Protein-15g

 

Calories

Body by Vi-90 calories plus what you add

 

 

Shakeology-140 calories plus what you add

 

Caffeine free?

Body by Vi-Not sure sure as it depends on which level program you use/buy. The simple shale mix alone does bit include caffeine but if you are consuming/using everything in their $249.99/month package required to be an active BBV rep, you drink neuro formula which does have caffeine in addition to using other pills with caffeine that goes by the natural ingredient names.

 

 

Shakeology- Chocolate=18mg (found in the cocoa)/ Greenberry=None/ Tropical Strawberry= Gluten Free

 

Proteins

Body by Vi-“High quality” “Tri-sorb” protein

(This is a term that they invented. Whey protein is whey protein point blank. When you start changing molecules, you can no longer call it a protein. This is a marketing gimmick.)

 

 

Shakeology-High quality whey protein

 

Ingredients

Body by Vi-“not as many, sometimes less is more”

**The above quotes are from link #2 below.

Contains Milk and Soy

Lactose and Gluten free

23 vitamins/minerals

Vitamin A Vitamin C Calcium Iron Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K thiamin Riboflavin Niacin Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Biotin pantothenic acid Phosphorus Iodine Magnesium Zinc

Selenium Copper Manganese Chromium Molybdenum, FibersolTM, AminogenTM, Soy Protein Isolate, Digestive Resistant Maltodextrin (from FibersolTM),Whey Protein Hydrolysate,Whey Protein Concentrate, DiCalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Maltodextrin, Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Caseinate, DiMagnesium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Soy Lecithin, Mono and Diglycerides, Patented Protease (from AminogenTM), DiPotassium Phosphate, Sucralose, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Acetate, Chromium Amino Acid Chelate, Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Biotin, Vitamin A Palimate, Niacinamide, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Pantothenate, Cyanocobalamin, Manganese Sulfate, Cholecalciferol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Phytomenadione and Folic Acid.

 

 

Shakeology-70+ high quality ingredients

 

 

23 vitamins/minerals

Various fruit extracts (acerola, camu-camu, pomegranate, bilberry, blueberry, acai, Goji, Cordyceps, Rose Hips, Maitake, Reishi, Citrus bioflavonoids, Gingko), Whey protein, Chromium, Hydrilla, Apple pectin, Flax seed meal, Chia seed meal, Blue green algae, Spinach powder,oatgrass, wheatgrass, Barley grass, Grape seed extract, cinnamon, natural vanilla flavor, chocolate powder, cocoa powder, xanthum gum, ,guar gum, pea fiber. Also contains an enzyme blend to assist digestion (amylase, papain, cellulose, lactase, lipase, protease, and bromelain)

(Greenberry)

Vitamin A (as beta-carotene) 5000 IU 100%

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 180 mg 300%

Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 200 IU 50%

Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) 15 IU 50%

Vitamin K1 (as phytonadione) 40 mcg 50%

Vitamin B1 (as thiamin HCL) 1.5 mg 100%

Vitamin B2 (as ribofl avin) 1.3 mg 77%

Vitamin B3 (as niacin) 5 mg 25%

Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCL) 2 mg 100%

Folic acid 200 mcg 50%

Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 6 mcg 100%

Biotin 90 mcg 30%

Pantothenic acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 5 mg 50%

Calcium (as dicalcium phosphate) 500 mg 50%

Iron (as ferrous fumarate) 4.5 mg 25%

Phosphorous (as dicalcium phosphate) 250 mg 25%

Iodine (as kelp) 52 mcg 35%

Magnesium (as oxide) 80 mg 20%

Zinc (as zinc oxide) 6 mg 40%

Copper (as copper oxide) 0.8 mg 40%

Manganese (as manganese amino acid chelate) 2 mg 100%

Chromium (as chromium amino acid chelate) 60 mcg 50%

Molybdenum (as sodium molybdate) 30 mcg 40%

Whey protein (isolate) 15 g †

PROPRIETARY SUPER-FRUIT BLEND: 2075 mg †

Acerola powder (fruit), Camu-Camu powder (fruit), Pomegranate

powder (fruit), Bilberry powder (fruit), Blueberry powder (fruit),

Lycium (Goji) powder (berry), Açai powder (berry), Cordyceps,

Maitake powder, Reishi powder, Citrus biofl avonoids, Rose Hips

powder (fruit), Schisandra powder (berry), Suma powder (root),

Gingko powder (leaf).

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value**

PROPRIETARY FRUIT POWDER BLEND: 1500 mg †

Banana powder, Carrot powder, Orange powder,

Pineapple powder, Raspberry powder, Strawberry powder.

Maca powder (root) 1000 mg †

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) meal 1000 mg †

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) powder 1000 mg †

Flax (seed) meal 700 mg †

Chia (seed) meal 500 mg †

Chlorella 350 mg †

Spirulina 350 mg †

Hydrilla 300 mg †

Apple fi ber powder 250 mg †

Astragalus powder (root) 200 mg †

Blue green algae 200 mg †

Spinach powder 200 mg †

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) 150 mg †

Pea fi ber 150 mg †

Quinoa (sprouted) 150 mg †

PROPRIETARY NONDAIRY 150 mg †

PROBIOTIC BLEND:

Bifodobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus

acidophilus DDS-1, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei,

Streptococcus thermophilus.

PROPRIETARY ENZYME BLEND: 130 mg †

Amylase, Papain, Cellulase, Lactase, Lipase, Protease, Bromelain.

Ashwagandha powder (root) 100 mg †

Barley grass 100 mg †

Kamut grass 100 mg †

Oat grass 100 mg †

Wheat grass 100 mg †

Stevia 75 mg †

Amaranth (sprouted) (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 50 mg †

Grape seed extract (seed, 95% proanthocyanins) 50 mg †

Green tea decaffeinated extract 50 mg †

(leaf, 50% polyphenols)

Holy basil powder (leaf) 50 mg †

** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

† Daily Value not established

OTHER INGREDIENTS: Fructose, xantham gum, natural strawberry and raspberry fl avors, guar gum, natural vanilla fl avor, and cinnamon powder.

Shakeology is gluten free and caffeine free.

 

 

 

 

Links to check out:

 

 

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071226172658AAlRm88

 

 

http://my-body-by-vi.com/weight-loss-product-comparisons-to-the-body-by-vi-challenge/weight-loss-protein-shakes-challenge-beachbody-shakeology-vs-visalus-body-by-vi-shape-nutritional-shake/

 

The first link brings about some great points, whereas the second link is full of opinions of that person who also happens to sell Body by Vi.

 

 

**Food for Thought:

FACT: The RDA for calories is 2000kcal/day. We all know that in order to lose weight you need to burn more than you take in. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU GO EXTREMELY LOW IN YOUR CALORIC INTAKE! When you go below 1200-1300 calories per day, you put your body into starvation mode, thus shifting your metabolism to SLOW DOWN and burn calories more slowly. If you were to take in just two “Body by Vi” shakes (without additives) daily plus a regular meal (let’s assume that meal is around 350 calories), plus two 100 calorie snacks, you’ll only be taking in 550 calories. Why is it so low in calories? They simply aren’t offering you the fuel you need to get through the day. By skimping on glucose (essential for your brain to function) and other carbohydrates (4 calories per carb), they can offer you lower calories. Offering a 90 calorie shake sounds good on paper, but in practice this simply does not make sense. By reducing your carbohydrate intake, you will essentially cause your body to begin burning proteins instead of carbohydrates like it is supposed to. Why is this bad? The main source of protein that your body will have will not be an adequate amount of protein found in a BBV shake. Instead your body will begin to degrade the proteins in your muscle. Because your body is not supposed to use its own proteins for fuel, large waste protein byproducts are made which must then be flushed out of your body. These waste protein byproducts are known as “ketones” and require a great amount of water to be flushed out. Because of this fact, you will start to urinate a lot, excreting a great amount of water weight. If you do not properly hydrate, then you will easily become dehydrated. After a few days, you’ll be fatigued and cranky. This is because: 1. Your body won’t be getting the energy it needs to run properly. 2. You’ll be dehydrated. (Fatigue is a symptom of dehydration.) 3. You’re in starvation mode.

What I like about the shakeology is the design of the program. It’s easy. You drink one shake a day and make healthy choices. You can make the shake how YOU like it. You get to eat REAL FOOD-not a processed snack made by a company to sell. Fruits and vegetables are encouraged. It’s up to YOU. You are encouraged to exercise while on shakeology. THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL OR POWDER THAT CAN TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF! It comes off with hard work, behavior modification, and patience. Any program that promises you instant results may cause you to initially lose a few pounds, but as time goes on you’ll gain the weight back and only end up losing money.

 

 

Again the choice is up to you. If you do not wish to use Shakeology in your plans to lose weight, then that’s ok. Beachbody coaches are not here to “push” products. We inform you of what we have available which has helped us and may help you. You make the choice that best suits your lifestyle and goals. Please contact me for more information! I look forward to hearing from you. 

Update on My Routine

Just came back from our apartment complex gym! With the weird weather I didn't want to do my usual walk in the park. So after Hubby came home and while Little Bit was sleeping, I went to walk

I feel great! My usual walking track isn't that strenuous so I pushed up the incline today and really felt the burn in my upper thighs. I did since light arms after my walk to end my workout. Just because I can't do Insanity or P90X doesn't mean I'm not going to try to stay on track and motivated to be healthy!

Sorry about the jiggly camera I was still waking when I took the picture!

COMBAT! Pre-Order

I must admit, even though my favorite program is Insanity and I am looking forward to getting back in to that routine post-baby, I would love to try the new program that is coming out from Beachbody. Les Mills COMBAT is now available for Pre-Order! 

So first of all, what is COMBAT?

-This is the ultimate mixed martial arts-inspired workout program! Get ready to punch, kick, block, and strike your way to an outrageously shredded body with 7 calorie-blasting and muscle-defining workouts. 

How will it help your body?

-COMBAT combines calorie burning moves and sequences from six different martial arts disciplines with High-Intensity Interval training. It will help give you a lean chiseled look but not a bodybuilder physique. (I don't know about you, ladies, but I don't exactly want to look like a body-builder. 

How long is the program?

-LES MILLS COMBAT is a 60-day program that like P90X can be followed with three different calendars. There is the Introductory Combat Warrior Calendar, the Intense Supreme Warrior Calendar, or the Ultimate Warrior Calendar. There are seven different workouts, each lasting approximately 30-60 minutes. 

Find out even more here and on Facebook from this link. 

If you are interested in trying the program, I definitely recommend pre-ordering it via my Beachbody site. If you pre-order by December 3, 2012, you receive FREE shipping! You also receive free gifts when you order through me. You receive a free bonus workout--LES MILLS COMBAT 30: LIVE. If you pre-order, you will not be charged until shipment. If you order by December 13, 2012, you will receive your order on Christmas Eve, just in time to put it under the tree!

Remember, coaches receive all products for 25% less! And Active Duty Military can become a coach absolutely FREE! Contact me for more info on becoming a coach.

Give it a shot! Email me today!

What's Your Excuse?

This is going to be a short post, but mostly just to give you some food for thought! I am pretty sure I have said some of this before. There are so many reasons to become healthier and improve your quality of life. But why wouldn't you?

I have a whole list of reasons I could decide not to work out right now:

• Pregnant
• Deployed Husband
• Two science classes
• Toddler
• Tired
• Have housework
• Still feel sick some days

I'm sure if I sat here longer, I'd have more excuses as to why I could skip working out. For a while I did take a break. But now I am back on the wagon! Most days I park as far away from my class building as possible. I have started minor weights again. On sunny days, I am going to start taking my daughter to the park in her jogging stroller and walking a few miles each day.

Instead of focusing on the excuses to not exercise, I choose to focus on the reasons that I should! 

• Prevent certain ailments later in life, like heart disease
• Stay at a healthy weight, even during pregnancy
• Boost endorphins. As the chick on "Legally Blonde" said, "endorphins make you happy! And happy people don't kill people!" 
• Keep metabolism going strong
• Have a healthier pregnancy, and hopefully a quicker recovery after delivery

So really, what is your excuse to not work out? Instead of choosing your excuse for the day, chose to be healthy in spite of your reasoning! If you can say " I had a busy, tiring day, but I still found time to workout and do something for me!" then the feeling of accomplishment will be almost as uplifting as the exercise itself was!

So go ahead, get out of your chair and go pick a workout. Remember to send me a message if you need a suggestion for a program to start. 

Shakeology Recipes

One of the wonderful things about drinking Shakeology every morning was that it never had to be the same twice. It comes in powder form, so you can put it in a variety of liquids and ad a lot of different ingredients to make it interesting! After just a few weeks, I had favorite "formulas" I had tried. I could make it like a milkshake, a dessert, or even a fruity combination with chocolate.

Now mind you, most of my experience is with the Chocolate Shakeology. I didn't get to try Strawberry for long before I was pregnant, and Greenberry is not my favorite (it is all a matter of preference, of course. Some people love Greenberry).

My personal favorite was simple, and it is what I tell everyone to start with. I get about 12 ounces of milk (for me, it is Lactose Free Skim Milk), some crushed ice, and a scoop of Shakeology. I mix it all in a blender and to me it tastes like a milkshake. Simple, easy, and delicious. You can also try adding some Sugar Free, Fat Free Vanilla Pudding mix in with your shake. It makes it extra creamy and smooth.

Another favorite of mine has to be with bananas and peanut butter. I would cut up a banana and freeze it in a Ziploc bag when they were nice and ripe--not like getting black kind of ripe, but the nice pretty yellow color that means they are just right. In the morning for my shake, I would break out half of a banana, and throw in a tablespoon of all natural peanut butter. Don't use Peter Pan or Jif, please! Those have a lot of sugar and additives. I mean get the stuff that you have to refrigerate after opening and use before a certain date. I added those to the milk and Shakeology scoop. It was definitely thicker, but it was like a sort of banana split.  You can totally do banana split, by the way.

I loved adding Strawberries to my shakes when they were in season. You can freeze them if you want. I would forget to freeze my strawberries. Go figure! I remembered to cut up and freeze bananas but never the strawberries. Maybe because the bananas sit on the counter to ripen and I put strawberries in the fridge. Anyway, I digress. The strawberries and chocolate shake were perfect together.

There are so many things you can try. Some people add honey in to their shakes. For a seasonal drink, try adding pumpkin. There are a lot of different recipes on my Shakeology Site. You are getting nutritional value, a healthy start to your day, losing weight, and drinking something enjoyable. 

Take the New Beachbody Challenge!

Before today, you might have heard of the Beachbody Challenge. If you haven't, you have a chance to submit a before and after picture on the Team Beachbody site for a chance to win $500 in a monthly prize. Well now Beachbody has announced that they are saying goodbye to the old program, and ushering in a new contest!

Instead of a weekly challenge, you now have the chance to win in a Daily Beachbody Challenge Contest. Here are the details:

What 's the difference?

No more random winners. With the new contest, our expert panel of Beachbody Challenge judges will select an "inspirational story of the day" to win the $500. Real people. Real results. Real winners. How awesome is that?

What does it mean for you?

The new contest gives you more incentive to submit your results. It also means you'll have a new success story to share on Facebook, Twitter, and beyond every single day. You'll never run out of inspiration (or chances to win).

What are the benefits and opportunities?

You can win $500, be recognized on a major Web site, and inspire thousands of others just for reaching your own goals. It will also help you stay motivated and on track!

Want to see the winners from July? Click here to be inspired!

I hope to see some of you on there in the future! Contact me for Shakeology, Workout Programs, or a Challenge Pack to get started. (I highly recommend a Challenge Pack if you are just starting out, by the way!)

And sorry about the odd formatting folks! Blogger doesn't seem to like it when I copy and paste from the Beachbody Coach page. It tends to do funny things to my text.

Shakeology Change

If you have tried Shakeology before (or even if you haven't) there is some news! The company wants you to stay informed of these changes, so below I will have copy and pasted the release from Beachbody regarding the changes. Since my current doctor told me to not drink it during pregnancy, I haven't tried the new formula yet. But rest assured, if I have the opportunity to try it once I get a new doctor, I will update you on what I think of the new formula. OR you can try it yourself, there is always the "Bottom of the Bag Guarantee"--In short, if you don't like it, even after you have consumed the entire bag, you can still get all of your money refunded to you.

So without further ado, here is the information:

Why did they change the formula?

We decided to upgrade the formula with 4 new superfoods and a whole host of other improvements. The original chocolate launched 3 years ago and development started 2 years before that. In the past 5 years there have been a lot of discoveries of new superfoods and improvements made in sourcing key ingredients. We wanted you to have the very latest, healthiest shake possible. We’re in the business of making health shakes not liquid candy.

What exactly did they change in the new formula?

• LESS FRUCTOSE-Yes, fructose is natural, but bottom line: it’s sugar.  We reduced the fructose and added the sweet Superfoods Coconut Flower Nectar and Luo Han Guo. 
• MORE FIBER-Fiber increased from 3g to 6g due to the addition of pea protein
• More fiber is good news:  will help you feel full even longer, better for digestion and can also help with cholesterol
•  4 NEW SUPERFOODS-
• Moringa is rich in Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin A, Protein, Potassium and Iron. Moringa has antiPinflammatory and anti bacterial properties and is known to promote energy, vitality, athletic performance, and weight loss while boosting the immune system, and protecting against disease.
• Coconut,Flower,Nectar and Luo,Han,Guo are superfoods that are naturally sweet and lend natural sweetness to Shakeology.
• Coconut Flower Nectar is high in potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron and contains 17 amino acids plus is a natural source of B vitamins.
• Luo Han Guo has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than a millennium due to its antioxidant properties and immunePsupporting benefits.
• Himalayan,salt is a healthy salt, containing more than 70 trace minerals
• Plus we incorporated the improvements we made from Tropical:
• More concentrated grasses. We’re using grass juice powders. The grasses are first pressed  into juices—which allows us to concentrate the nutrients more—then the juice is dried down to a powder.
• Better strain of probiotics
• No suma root or blue-green algae

Why is there brown rice protein and pea protein?

It adds fiber and helps ease digestion of protein.

The new formula has less sugar. Will it still prevent my junk food cravings?

Yes, it’s not just the sugar that kills your craving it’s feeding your body with all the right nutrients.

Why is there more sodium? What is Himalayan Salt? Why was it added into the new Chocolate Shakelogy formula?

Salt and sodium are necessary in our diets. Unfortunately, common table salt has been stripped of its natural minerals and only iodine has been added back in. Himalayan salt is completely natural, relatively  untouched, and as a result, still contains over 70 trace minerals. All these natural minerals found in Himalayan salt actually make this salt healthy for you. Keep in mind that the RDA is 2400 mg. People who follow a low sodium diet generally restrict sodium to as low as 1500mg/day. So at 150mg, Chocolate Shakeology only represents 10% of the recommended daily intake.

Is the new chocolate superfood formula gluten-free?

Just like the original formula, the new Shakeology chocolate superfood formula does not contain any Gluten-based ingredients and we make every effort to prevent any ingredients with gluten from coming into direct or indirect contact with our products.  However, because of our high standards we do not feel it is appropriate to make a gluten-free claim since Shakeology is produced in facilities that also handle gluten-based ingredients.  If you have a concern about gluten it is best to consult your doctor before making any dietary changes

Confession Time!

Well the first thing I need to do is tell some wonderful news. You probably already know this news if you know me. I am 12 weeks pregnant with our second baby! Yay for R&R babies!

So my idea during this pregnancy was to stay fit. I received the all-clear from my doctor to continue Insanity as long as I was able to do so. And for the first six weeks, it was pretty easy. I wanted to be one of those pregnant women who could say "I was active my entire pregnancy." or at least her legs and arms still looked toned! I worked so hard to get here, and while I am not in denial and know that I am going to gain about 25 pounds (if not more) while pregnant, I wanted to do it the healthy way. The doctor told me that I had to give up my Shakeology (boo!) but hey, at least I could work out and hopefully eat decently.

Well after six weeks, I started getting dizzy if I did the quick bending down motions of Insanity. So I switched to P90X--still intense, but not as much and nothing like suicide drills. Then morning sickness began to rear its ugly head. At first it was just in the day time. By evening I could eat dinner, so I at least tried to continue with my weight routines from P90X. The fatigue that occurs with the first trimester was slowly starting to hit me as well, and that did not help me to keep up like I wanted to.

Finally, two weeks ago, my nausea started lasting all day long. No sea bands, ginger gum, or lemonade could make it subside enough to eat a decent meal. My morning sickness would ebb at 9PM, meaning that is when I would finally be able to eat. Other than that, there was just no fuel in my tank to get started in a workout at any point in the day.

So here I am, twelve weeks pregnant, and my workouts have temporarily stopped. I say temporarily because once this period of extreme morning sickness finally leaves me, I am going to start exercising again. I can't get back into P90X and Insanity is definitely not going to happen for the next 28 weeks, but I do want to doing a workout routine again soon. The muscle tone in my arms and legs has greatly diminished the past couple of weeks. I have lost more weight, but only because the morning sickness has been so terrible that I have lost weight unwillingly due to my inability to eat anymore. (Not a great way to ever lose weight!)

I would be lying if I said I didn't feel like a failure at the moment. I had become so healthy, lost so much weight, and had become involved in a great routine and a wonderful program. I know that when you are pregnant, your body doesn't always cooperate with your desires. But I am so disappointed that I couldn't live up to my own expectations on this round.

So wish me luck. Hopefully the morning sickness has only gotten temporarily worse and will subside in the next couple of weeks. I am hoping to at least start Tai Cheng and walking to start getting back in to a routine. If anything else, I know that once I have this baby, I am capable of getting back in shape. I have done it once before, and I can do it again. I won't let myself reach the point I had before, where I was overweight and in desperate need of a lifestyle change, so at least I can be thankful for that. 

Beachbody Challenge Trial

So admittedly, the programs and the products with Beachbody can be a little pricey. To me, it is worth it for the results that I have seen. But to someone who is hesitant about trying it because other products have failed them in the past, the price is a good reason to hold off on trying it. And if you want to try Shakeology and P90X at the same time, well the price can be a bit daunting

But for the rest of the month of July, you can try Brazil Butt Lift, P90X, or Turbo Fire in a challenge pack for just $14.95. In a Challenge pack, a month of the Shakeology flavor of your choice is included in the shipment. You also get 30 Days VIP membership to the Beachbody site. After 30 days, you can return it if you don't like your results (which I can guarantee you will).

You have THIRTY days to try it for a low price. If you want to return it, then you have spent less than a gym membership on a month's worth of Shakeology and the ability to use a program for a month.

There is pretty much nothing left to lose. In fact, you have so much to gain. You can take back your body and improve your health.

Contact me to find out more. You can either click one of my handy links, send me a message, or comment below on this thread. I will get in touch with you ASAP.

What is Shakeology?

So if you are my friend on facebook, you have seen my statuses about Shakeology. I also have a shirt I wear that advertises it as "The Healthiest Meal of the Day." Both of these conversation starters lead to one main question: What is Shakeology?

Basically, Shakeology is a meal replacement shake loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. You drink it in place of a meal and workout three times a week at least with a healthy and balanced diet. Shakeology eliminates toxins that are in your body and at the same time helps your body to more effectively absorb needed nutrients.

Basic Nutrition

• Protein and Essential Amino Acids
• Build and Repair muscles
• Reduce hunger and cravings
• Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes
• Aids digestion
• Increase absorption of nutrients
• Antioxidants
• Boost immune system
• 23 Vitamins and Minerals
• 100% of your daily intake of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for our immune systems, vision, and cell growth. It also makes an individual more energized, one of the many benefits of drinking Shakeology.  
• 300% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C! Don't worry, Vitamin C is water soluble, so any extra your body does not need it will get rid of easily. 
• 50% of your daily requirement for Calcium. Let's prevent that osteoporosis ladies!

Personal Experience

So now I can tell you what other people say about Shakeology, or even what Doctors have said about it. But you can find all of that just by looking at my Shakeology link on the top of this page. Instead, maybe I should tell you what Shakeology has done for me personally.

Before January, I was losing weight. I was doing P90x four or five times a week and losing weight. But I still felt bloated most of the time. I wasn't eating like I should have been as often as I needed to. In January, my Beachbody coach Kari got me to try Shakeology for a month. (After all, there is a bottom of the bag guarantee, so what do I have to lose?) In just one month, I noticed a huge difference.

I lost a lot of the bloated feeling that I had before. Ladies: That pooch in your tummy that just feels like it won't go away no matter how hard you try? Mine became smaller.

I was more energized. It is hard to get up and workout when you don't feel like you have the energy. Yes, exercising itself helps to give you some energy. But I just felt like it gave me the extra push I needed to work out.

I ate breakfast! Okay, I am going to confess that I hate breakfast, usually. I wake up and I just don't want to eat. Eggs make me feel nauseous. And how many breakfast foods are loaded with sugar and bad carbohydrates? So first thing in the morning, after I have gotten my daughter's breakfast ready and fed the cat, I put 12 ounces of milk, crushed ice, and the shakeology in a blender and mix it all together.  It tastes like a chocolate shake. And it's light. I think that is my biggest problem with breakfast food. I wake up and I do not want a heavy meal first thing in the morning. 

I lost a lot of my cravings. Somehow, I don't want an unhealthy snack the rest of the day. It's like somehow, the cravings for things like chocolate and snack cakes was just gone.

I lost weight more efficiently.  Maybe it was the increased energy that let me work out as often as I should have. Maybe it was the reduced cravings. But somehow, I was steadily losing weight. And people noticed! It was amazing how well it worked for me. I didn't need the bottom of the bag guarantee: I wanted to keep using it. Even though I had lost 12 pounds already, I lost about 15 more from January to May.

Every morning, I know what I am having for breakfast. I might not always make it the same way. Sometimes I throw in some strawberries and banana. Other times I can put in some Fat Free and Sugar Free pudding mix to make it extra creamy. There are so many recipes that if you want, you can have it a different way every day.

If you want to order it, visit my Shakeology site and put in an order. There is also a lot more information on the site that I cannot even begin to explain to you. It really does work and is worth every penny. If all else fails, there is the bottom of the bag guarantee. That means if you have it and drink it for the full month and do not get good results, you can contact Beachbody and let them know, and the will refund your money.

So what do you have to lose? Try it! I'm down to a size six for the first time in five years.

For People on the Go

I mentioned in a previous post that a big obstacle to people desiring to start a workout routine is finding the time. Finding an hour to fit in a workout is not always possible if you have kids, a job, and a house to take care of as well.

So what do you do if you don't have much time to exercise?

There are programs out there that can fit into as little as ten minutes of your day. Yes, Beachbody is known for its programs like Insanity and P90x. But there are a lot of other options that I would like to show you:

• 10 Minute Trainer This one is the shortest workout program available through Beachbody. Ten minutes! No matter how busy you are, you can fit in a ten minute routine.  The workout has cardio, body-sculpting, and abs all in a ten minute span. And of course, there is a specialized meal plan that you can follow to get the best results 

• Slim Series Express Some of you may have heard of the Slim in 6 series with Debbie Siebers. A great routine, but those exercises last 60 minutes or more. In the Slim Series Express, you can great slimming results, but in less than 35 minutes. Siebers combines cardio and resistance in her routines. 

• Yoga Booty Ballet Master Series  So what if you love Yoga instead of cardio or resistence? Then Gillian Marloth and Teigh McDonough have a great 20-35 minute routine for you. With a combination of Yoga and Pilates, they will target your abs and butt. 

• Turbo Jam LIVE! Chalene Johnson is most known for Turbo Jam and TurboFire! Each are great programs, but can be 45 minutes. If you only have 30 to workout, try Turbo Jam Live! Johnson uses a dance party atmosphere to make a fun workout experience. 

• Power Half Hour Tony Horton targets abs, arms, buns and thighs in this 30 minute exercise routine with cardio and body sculpting. 

• Great Body Guaranteed! In under ten minutes, Tony Horton and Debbie Siebers target abs, arms, buns and thighs. Another great routine if you have a very limited time to fit in your workout.
  

So even if you have just a few minutes to spend exercising, you can find a routine to fit your busy schedule. And the Team Beachbody site has great nutrition plans to aid you with your weight loss. How do you get started? Visit my site at http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/ANGELICAM88 and pick out your program. All it takes is making the commitment. You no longer have the excuse that they don't have the time, so what is stopping you?

My Healthy Eating

I actually love exercising. Once I get in to a routine, it's fun and I feel so accomplished after I work out. Even with my hardest programs that I have done, I love doing them. I look forward to it. I get antsy and a little grumpy when I don't make my work out for the day.


But the hard part, at least for me, is eating right. I love food. And I mean I have an inner chubster. Cake, chocolate, nacho cheese, alfredo sauce--Oh dear I'm making myself hungry. Point is, the more unhealthy it is the more likely I was to like it. I've gotten better.


The simple fact is, you can out-eat any good exercise routine. You'll still be building muscle, of course, but you won't lose the fat. And that was something I had to learn the hard way. I was doing P90x religiously, at least 5 times a week, but I was not eating right. I would still sneak out and get something or make any of the numerous unhealthy meals that you can think of. Cooking cream? Oh yes, very tasty, makes cooking easy, but trust me when I say it does not make a healthy meal (110 calories a serving for just the cream is a lot)! Food was my enemy.


When I had almost finished P90X and yet quit losing weight (hello plateau) I realized that my eating habits needed a change if I was going to succeed.  I became a coach in January, along with starting Insanity, and noticed something I had never really paid attention to before--the meal plan. Whoa, every Beachbody program comes with a meal plan! Okay so I had seen the books before, but I never really tried to follow it before. Now was the time to start, though!

The Insanity book had a great selection of recipes for the five meals a day. And yes, I said five. Instead of eating three larger meals a day, something that I noticed consistently with the P90x and Insanity meal plans was five meals of about 300 calories each: Breakfast, Snack, Lunch, Snack and Dinner. So I decided to follow the suggested meal plans as closely as possible this time. I also had the meal planner on the Team Beachbody site to follow.

I could say making the change was difficult and make a bunch of excuses for why I had failed in the past, but honestly it was so easy to start making the right choices. There are plenty of foods out there that are healthy and yet delicious and filling. My breakfast mostly consists of Shakeology (most of the time with milk and crushed ice, sometimes I throw a banana or strawberries in there). I had totally avoided breakfast in the past--definitely a no-no when you are trying to eat right. I always said that breakfast was too heavy or that I hated breakfast foods like eggs. And honestly how many easy and fast breakfast foods are healthy? The Shakeology was easy and light, so I never felt full after I had finished it.

My first snack was often times yogurt or cottage cheese (if I woke up in time to eat a snack between breakfast and lunch!) Something still small and not filling, but in my handy little book. 


Lunch had a variety of choices for me! A turkey BLT?? Yes, you can have a Turkey BLT. To me it tastes just as wonderful as a regular BLT. Two slices of whole wheat bread, 3 slices of turkey bacon, tomato, and lettuce. Or maybe I had a deli sandwich on half of a whole wheat bagel with sliced turkey breast, swiss cheese and dijon mustard. 

My second snack would be something else simple like a hard boiled egg. Or whole grain crackers with a slice of tomato.

Dinner is admittedly a little more difficult. I live in a house with other people who are picky and might not be as willing to commit to a healthier lifestyle. I've made Chicken Stir-fry with vegetables, Steak with a side of broccoli, and Dilled Salmon among other delicious meals. None of these meals took very long to prepare, and they were filling and tasty. 
                                                 

I can still love food, I have just learned to be smarter about how much I love it. Of course, I still have cheat days. After all, who can go to Easter dinner at their grandmother's house and resist the dessert table?

Part of my being a Beachbody coach is that I can help other people discover what I found out--that eating healthy is essential to good, steady weight loss. No crash diets, no giving things up completely, just balancing out what you eat and how much you eat. 

My Stats!

One of the great things about the Beachbody site is that I can go on there and keep track of my measurements.

I must say, I wasn't feeling too great about my progress these past few days. It's like I have hit a wall I am very slowly trying to climb over, and occasionally I get slapped off of it. But looking back at my progress even since February, I must say I am impressed.

   
 
Sometimes it really pays to record your measurements and watch what is happening when you make an effort to be healthier. And I'm not talking watching your weight. Weighing yourself can drive you nuts, especially if you do it every day! (Seriously, don't do it every day). The scale might say you have gained if you are retaining water; ladies you know what I am talking about. How about the first week or so after you start a new work out program? The scale is not going to be your friend. And when you have reached the point that you are really building muscle, you might not see the scale move for a while.

But how about breaking out that tape measure? Or even the body fat tester. I personally stick with the tape. I haven't jumped on the scale in a couple of weeks, but I do break out the tape and measure the target areas of my body. You might not know it, but I am actually about the same weight right now that I was on March 25! I've lost inches, but not pounds.

Honestly, I don't care about the pounds so much anymore. I focus more on how my clothes fit. I spoke of that the other day. I am now smaller than I was before I got married. I think ignoring the scale can be a great thing when you are making your best efforts.

So to sum it up: Don't let the scale rule your life! You can be making great progress and the scale will beat you down. It has done that to me before. I felt amazing, was on an exercise high, and brought the scale out to find that the number had either not changed or gone up.

I encourage you to go to Team Beachbody and register. Put me as your coach! (If you send me an inbox message I will tell you my Coach ID number to list me). It is a great resource for keeping track of your numbers and also has many great features.

And Happy Birthday Beachbody!! 13 years old today!

My Ultimate Reset

Okay so this post is mainly my shameless advertising.

Beachbody has a new reset out and it is called The Ultimate Reset.

What is the Ultimate Reset, you ask?

Imagine that your body can be reset like a computer to "factory settings." You can detox and flush out all of the bad things that are lingering in your body to make way for healthier nutrients. It can help you lose weight, have more energy, and improve your digestion.

The way it works is in three phases:

• Reclaim
• Release
• Restore

Do you want to know more? Click the link above and my site can explain it much better than I can hope. You won't have to starve yourself on this Reset, and you won't be depriving yourself of nutrients essential to your health.

Just think, in 21 days you can have a noticeable difference in the way your body looks and works.

If you have any questions, contact me!

My Clothing

About seven months ago, I abhorred clothing shopping. I say abhorred because it is a much stronger word than hated. We use "hate" so much in our vocabulary today I feel it has lost its effectiveness. So to effectively demonstrate how I really felt about going shopping for clothing, I shall use words like abhor, detest, loathe, and the like.

Seven months ago I was wearing my maternity clothes most of the time. I was struggling to get my size 10 jeans on and I refused to buy size 12 unless I had the absolute need. And yes, I am sharing my sizes with you. I am an open book here. Ask me anything about my numbers and I'll tell you! (Well, almost anything). A shopping trip to purchase new clothes almost always resulted in kicking myself for gaining so much and buying either no clothes and insisting I would lose weight, or just buying one necessary pair of pants. I loathed buying a pair of pants when I had convinced myself I would lose the weight--I just hadn't committed to exercise and eating right yet.  My shirts were larges and rarely had much shape.

In December, after having been on P90X for about two months, I finally was in a solid size 10, which was pretty awesome. No more muffin top! (As a side note, remember, wearing clothes that fit you is much better than wearing clothes too small. No one will know what size you are wearing, as long as you get clothes at fit you properly. So if you fit well into a 10, don't squeeze into those size eight jeans until you are ready.) My large shirts were a little looser, but I was not yet ready to downsize until I lost a little more.

As Spring started approaching, I knew that my summer clothes from last year would not fit anymore. I went clothing shopping in March once again. By that point I was well on my way with Insanity and has lost over 20 pounds. I was down to an 8 in jean size! And I finally bought shirts in Medium. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. From being a large to a fairly average, healthy size was absolutely amazing. Trying on clothes in the dressing room didn't make me want to cry. As every woman knows, some brands make clothes of the same size that fit differently, so not every size eight jean was a perfect fit, but I could easily slip in to most of them. I remember last summer when I couldn't get a size 8 halfway up to my waist.

So today I went back. My medium shirts weren't fitting so well anymore and I only had three that I kept washing and wearing over and over again (yeah, I tend to buy a couple things at a time because I'm a penny pincer. I will own up to that label), and my size eight shorts kept trying to slide off of my waist. For kicks and giggles, I grabbed a few small shirts and a size 6 shorts and squeezed myself and the jogging stroller into a dressing room.

I am so proud to say that seven months after starting to be faithful to my exercising, I can wear small shirts! And I don't mean that I squeeze in to it. I FIT! I had to give my 18 month old a high five since she was the only person I had with me, but needless to say I felt so accomplished. The size six jeans were a "Squeeze in to," but I'm not far away. I bought a size 8 short that fit better than my others. (Remember, different brands, different fits!) As for what the number on the scale is, I don't know. And frankly, I don't care. The number on the scale doesn't matter as much as the size of the clothes I wear and how I fit in to them.