My fitness story from January 2011

I wrote this back when I first got involved in Beachbody, but I thought I would put it on my blog. Since writing this, I am down 18 lbs, but for me that is good. I still have more to go, but I continue to work on getting back to where I was before going back to college to finish my degree.

Here’s my Fitness story:

On July 31, 2001, I quit smoking and joined Weight Watchers. I really had a great leader and enjoyed the meetings. I lost about 45 lbs and kept it off. I started running and ran 2 marathons, about half a dozen half marathons, and more 5 and 10K's than I can count.

In 2005, I had my son, Nathan. I returned to Weight Watchers, lost the weight, and continued to exercise.

In 2006, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Although it could be a grim diagnosis, I maintained a positive attitude, followed the doctor’s orders, and continued to exercise. At this point, I really consider it more of blessing then a curse. It really helps me keep my health and well-being at the top of my list. If I get too stressed or off track on my exercise path, I am reminded of how important it is to my health to keep it all in balance.

Towards the end of 2008, my employer asked me to pursue my Bachelors Degree. I received my Associates in 1991, so I had been out of the school scene for quite a few years. So with a high paced full time job as a lab manager and a young son, I went back to school on-line. Thanks to my husband and a whole lot of time in front of the computer, I completed my degree in August 2010. I even graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude).

In March 2010, my employer let me know that I needed to transfer from Texas to Ohio. I was about to start my last semester, which I was enrolled in 3 classes in effort to finish that summer. Luckily my house in Texas sold quickly, and we were able to find a house quickly. This left a whole lot of things on my To-DO list in addition to a full-time class load: the move, the, organizing a busy lab that was about to go in to the process of a remodeling and restructuring, getting my son registered somewhere for kindergarten, and hoping my husband would find a job in the new state quickly.

.... All of this left very little time for exercise. Unfortunately the scale crept back up to where I was before Weight Watchers. I tried to go back, but the meetings just didn't click with my busy schedule. The meetings here reminded me of a fat camp for retired people (and I really don’t mean that in a bad way just trying to describe the scene at these particular meetings). This atmosphere may work for some people, but I need support and motivation to pursue a healthy lifestyle. When we walked in to the meetings here in the new state, people were sitting at tables eating chips, and it just didn’t have the same energy I had experienced previously at other WW meetings.

I knew I needed something else. In Texas, we had belonged to the Fort Worth Runner’s Club, and all the great people and regular group runs kept us motivated to exercise. When I searched for a runner’s club, the closest I could find was one in Columbus (yes, I know that far from Grove City). Unfortunately the weather here isn’t as pleasant as Texas, which makes winters runs not quite as pleasant.

My neighbor, Takako knowing that I was trying to get back in shape suggested I try Shakeology. I was a little skeptical at first, but I was quite familiar with some of Beachbody’s other products such as P90X, Turbo Jam, and Hip Hop Abs. After contemplating and reviewing the information, I decided to give it a try. Thanks Takako for the jump start I needed to get back in to working out!! I appreciate the gentle push more than I can express.

I had bought Turbo Jam years ago, and really enjoyed the music and the combination of dance moves, kicks, and punches. Because of this, I decided to try Turbo Fire. I really love the music and how fun the workouts are.

I have met some of the other Beachbody coaches on Facebook and have picked up some great tips and ideas. To track my diet and exercise, I started using the free website: www.myfitnesspal.com

I have met a lot of nice people, since becoming involved in my journey towards getting back in shape. Kassie, Aaron, Jodi: What you guys accomplished so far on your weight loss and fitness journey is amazing! Thank you to everyone who continues to motivate and inspire me to Keep Pushing Play!!!


P.S. I am approaching my 10 years of quitting smoking and I can honestly say, "I haven't killed anyone yet!" LOL- Just kidding!!

DAY 17 ChaLEAN Extreme/Turbo Fire Hybrid

Day 17 was a rest day on the schedule, but I decided to play tennis with my 6 yr. old!! It was fun and still got in some exercise. Been following the Beachbody meal plan. Although not perfectly, but I still feel good that I have been able to stick with it and not be hungry. Our power went out at work, and the girls decided to go get treats for everybody. They forgot their boss is trying to eat healthy, but I must say I didn't even take a bite!! I went to my lunchbox in my fridge and grabbed the snack I planned for! GO ME!!

Tomorrow is Burn Circuit 2 and Turbo Fire Stretch 10. I am starting to notice that my arms are getting thinner and slightly more muscular, so pretty happy about that. Rome wasn't built in a day, so I keep at it :)

I was looking at the post about the website www.FOODFACTS.com where you could put in foods and see where they rank on how healthy they are (100 being the best). For fun, I went to the site and checked out different foods. Shakeology scored 97, whereas not suprisingly a Big Mac scored a 0! I think the Whopper with Cheese scored a little higher than the Big Mac!! Pretty neat website.

DAY 13

Ok today was Chalene Extreme Burn Intervals!

Lets just say I was skeptical when she mentioned only using 5 lb weights in this one after she had me up to 15-25 lbs in the others. I realize that is was more reps, but still I thought... Ok I will do 10 lbs. Well after the first few intervals with 10 lbs, I conceded and switched to 5 lbs. I loved the plyometric drills in between the weight training or muscular endurance training as she called it.


Aside from the Chalene workout, I tried again to do a few pullups without the chair as support. Still not there yet!! I can do ONE, but seriously I am cheating by jumping a little. I have got the pushups down without being on my knees, but the tricep pushups I still struggle with.

2 weeks Chalene Extreme/Turbo Fire Hybrid

Ok, so I am two weeks in to the CH Ex/TF workouts. Must say, I actually enjoy these workouts if there is such a thing, LOL!! Me, so not the morning person, has been getting up to fit these in to get them done in the morning instead of hoping to fit them into a hectic day later.

I actually have been following the meal plan this week and dropped 0.6 lbs. Still have about 20 or so to get me back to where I was before the college and the hectic cross country move. The important thing is that I am moving and the M.S. is doing well!! Getting back to a consistent exercise routine has done wonders for the stress levels.

A few people who only known me for a short period, "You lost a lot of weight" whereas a lady from work, who hadn't seen me since the college craze said, "I hope you don't take this bad, but you gained a lot of weight." Luckily I am smart enough that I didn't need someone to tell me that, so it didn't bother me. It actually gives me more incentive to "Keep Pushing Play".........

rest day on Chalene Extreme/ Turbo Fire Hybrid

It's the rest day of Chalene Extreme/Turbo Fire Hybrid.

I am almost getting so used to the activity that it feels wierd to take the scheduled and much needed rest day.

I have been trying to follow the Beachbody meal plan this week. I do extremely well during the day and some nights. It's the night time or dinner meal that is usually my problem. Take last night for example, we had dentist appt at 5, son's baseball practice at 6, and Fit Club at 7. Husband asks, what are we going to do about dinner? well I had the meal all cooked previously, but we weren't home to eat it. My plan of eating later when we got home really wasn't a good plan. Unfortunately, McD's ended being dinner. That is rare that it happens, but when I am trying to follow a meal plan strictly to break a plateau.... Well, you know how that goes. Anyway much calmer today with work, after work activities, and day off from workout, so looking forward to cooking.

Ok, Lunch time is over, back to work...

Meal Plan

Ok, so I decided to bite the bullet and try the Beachbody Club membership to get the Meal Plan. I have been monitoring my diet, but I needed the extra little help. It's only $2.99 a week. (www.beachbodycoach.com/lthom784). I used to spend that on a pack a cigarettes a day when I used to smoke 10 years ago.

It was actually pretty cool when I signed up and started playing around with it. We needed to go grocery shopping anyway, so I printed off the shopping list for this week's menus. I made all three meals for today. Nate and Rich even liked them. Since tomorrow is going to be busy, I went ahead and did all the meals for tomorrow. My biggest problem is by the time I get home from work, I don't always feel like cooking.... That's when we end up going out to eat.

Today was Day 7 of the Turbo Fire/Chalene Extreme Hybrid. I may even try to get up early tomorrow before work to knock the workout out of the way before the day gets in the way.

Chalene Extreme /Turbo Fire Hybrid

Ok so on Day 6 of Chalene Extreme/Turbo Fire Hybrid. I am actually enjoying this one. Like that some of the workouts are a little shorter in time, but still really a good workout. And Chalene? She is such an awesome motivator to help you keep pushing yourself.

Still working on cleaning up the diet, but for the most part I am on track.

Rich and I have been drinking Shakeology for breakfast for about 7 months. He got his cholestrol retested and it dropped 90 points. The doctor cut his medicine in half.

If you want to know more about shakeology:

www.beachbodycoach.com/lthom784
Or

www.shakeology.com/lthom784