Challenge Accepted... and COMPLETED!

Sixty days ago I started a challenge. It was a simple invite by a friend to join a challenge group. I really had no idea what I was getting into, but I said yes. I said Yes, because I trusted that she wouldn't steer me wrong. I trusted when she said she had gotten results and she loved the products. I trusted her because I have known her for many years, and she is one of the most sincere and vulnerable people I know. So I said sure! What did I have to lose right? Ok, so I have about 30 lbs to lose, but who's keeping track?

Besides for trusting her, she also happen to catch me at the right time. I was feeling large, sluggish, and downright bleh! We had recently moved into our  new home, and I wasn't taking care of myself. I needed to get back into shape. By the looks of me you would never have guessed that I had completed a half-marathon in Sept 2013. I wanted needed something, someone, that would hold me accountable to daily goals and activities. Never mind the fact that I had watched Shaun T's Focus T25 informercial for the 4th time, and was really contemplating buying it. I already owned Slim in 6, Insanity and P90X- all great BeachBody programs. Many years back when I purchased Slim in 6, it helped me get in shape- but that was YEARS ago. 

Focus T25 really appealed to me for 1 main reason: it was done in 25 minutes. No hour long workouts that seemed to go on forever. Shaun T was promising me that I could be done in the time it takes to watch most sitcoms. So yeah, I purchased T25 in a Challenge Pack which came with this Shakeology shake powder stuff. 

What I never could've have predicted was the change the Challenge Group, T25 and Shakeology would have on my life. 

What's a Challenge Group?

The Challenge Group was a private Facebook group where all the participants could share their concerns and needs during the challenge. Everyday the group leaders would post a different daily activity. These activities would range from examining your daily eating habits to learning the power of positive speak. Everyday you were required to do your BeachBody workout, mine was Focus T25, which I LOVE! You were also required to have Shakeology on HomeDirect, which essentially is having Shakeology delivered monthly. 

I can't tell you how the Challenge Group truly helped me evaluate my fitness and nutrition. I helped me to understand how I focused on comparing MY journey to everyone else's, which ultimately always derailed my success. 

I learned how to appreciate my small victories and turn them into daily affirmations of how to continue along with my journey. 

I learned to eat clean, and drink enough water daily to sink a ship. Ok, so I'm not really sinking a ship, but some days I pee enough that it feels like I could drown a ship. 

I also learned that there are many people like me trying to get fit, struggling with the ups and downs of life, and learning to forgive themselves for slipping. 

That, my friends, is priceless!

Twenty-Five Minutes a Day is So Doable

The most often used excuse for not exercising is TIME. Well BeachBody and Mr. Ripped In Shape Shaun T have created a program that helps you lose the weight and get in shape in about 29 minutes a day. The program is called Focus T25, and the actual workout is 25 minutes long, and then you add about 2.5-3.5 minutes of cool and BAM! YOU ARE DONE! 

Don't get me wrong, the workout is NO JOKE! You will sweat your butt off, and you will feel like you are going to die that first week. Shaun T LOVES him some lunges and squats, which does wonders for the look of your legs and buttocks...but let me tell you, you're gonna be sore as heck! Just stick with it! 

Shaun T breaks it down into two phases, Alpha and Beta. Both phases have a trainer demonstrating modified low-impact versions of his exercises. You never feel like you CAN'T do it because there is ALWAYS a low-impact option. It was great because as I started getting stronger I could modify the modified exercise and do something closer to what Shaun T was doing, if not exactly what he was doing. It gave me something to progress towards, which is always feels good and gives you motivation. 

If you have struggled with motivation and time, Focus T25 is the best thing out there. Just when you think you have nothing left in the tank, you've got like 5 minutes left and let's be honest, you can do anything for 5 minutes. 

Plus it must be said that Shaun T is quite a looker and there are certain workouts where he is shirtless, and that my friends is worth looking at for 25 minutes- even if I'm sweaty, smelly, and huffing n' puffing like I'm climbing Everest. It's all good! 

Shake Up Your Nutrition

Before this challenge I had no clue what Shakeology was about, actually I had never even heard of it. So imagine my surprise when I received this bag of powder and I was supposed to drink it once a day.  Really? An expensive meal replacement shake was doing to do the trick?  Umm as a matter of fact... YES! 

What Shakeology did for me was simple. It helped me cut, actually I would go out on a limb and say eliminate, my carb cravings. Let's face it, I'm Puerto Rican and we like rice and beans, and bread and heavy starchy foods. I haven't had rice in 60 days. I don't crave pasta anymore. I still like my occasional bread, but who doesn't like Italian bread in dippy olive oil? Moderation right?

Shakeology is just amazing! I've seen complaints about the taste and truthfully, I loved it. But I'm a chocoholic so getting a rich thick chocolate shake in the morning suits me just fine. It's easy to blend, doesn't stay clumpy of powdery and they even send you recipe ideas to add different tastes to it. I use water or almond milk, but there are ideas for other blends. They even have the super vegan blend for those looking for no animal products. I can't say enough great things about Shakeology! Find me here if you want more info or just want to hear me rant and rave about Shakeology! 

Results? Nah, let's call them Successes!

This is the part most people care about- it's the determining factor if the products worked, right? Let me start by saying that I'm eating cleaner and healthier than I have since I was on formula, and who knows how good that crap was in the 70s. I've cut out processed foods. I've cut out sodas and simple sugars. I've cut out all white flour and bleached flours. I've been watching sodium and GMO content. I eat veggies and protein like it's my job. I just feel better about my relationship with food. So that is a HUGE SUCCESS!

Another huge success was actually getting smaller! Who knew? Yes I did lose inches and weight. I lost 12 pounds to be exact since I started this journey. It hasn't always been easy, but I did it. I still have a ways to go, and by no means is my journey over.  I will continue with Shakeology and I'm starting a new program called PiYo (Pilates and Yoga combo). I can't finish my T25 due to this ankle injury, but I will attempt the low-impact of PiYo, so I'm excited about that!              

I also completed another 5k run in May, and my first Mud Run last Saturday (which caused the jacked up ankle).  So I would venture to say that I'm more physically fit than I was 60 days ago, no doubt. 

No matter what the combination of the FB support group, the daily activities in the Challenge Group, the physical workouts and the Shakeology all came together in a PERFECT recipe for success. I'm so grateful for that invite from my friend. I'm so inspired by my journey that I want to help other Moms who think they can't do or think they don't have time, that they can make small changes that will yield large results.  I promise! I believe in it so much that I became a BeachBody Coach. I want to help other Moms entering their 40s to understand that fitness is possible at any age, and that we don't have enter our 40s the same way we left our 30s. It can be better... WAAAAY BETTER!

Keeping my days straight

It's Day 5 and it's been a great week! I can't say it's been easy, it rarely is when making such changes, but I feel accomplished going into the last "strict" day. Actually I have been challenged this week by those closest to me. From the grandmother wanting Dairy Queen Grill, to having to stop and get her Wendy's before her flight home, this week has been a challenge and test of willpower. 

Oh did I mention I passed with flying colors? I did!!!!

I have worked out every day, and the one day I couldn't Wednesday, I double stacked my workouts on Thursday. I feel great! My only problem has been the absence of caffeine. I don't drink black coffee, so I went two days without coffee, realized I needed it, and then broke down and had a Skinny Caffe Mocha. The bright side is that it is only 110 calories. 

My body is sore as shit. I ache everywhere and yet, I can't wait to see how my transformation takes place. And if you are wondering how hard the exercise has been- it's been grueling! The food/meal plan has been great though! 

In an effort to help me monitor my activity level, steps and caloric burn, I went out and bought a Fitbit Flex. Love it! It helps monitor my steps, it estimates my caloric burn (I'm not sure how accurate this is, but oh well), it monitors my sleep patterns, and over activity minutes. The best thing that I like is that it has an app that works with my iPhone and the FitBit syncs with my other awesome app, My Fitness Pal. My Fitness Pal (MFP) helps to track your meals and calories over the day. So the two of them talking and syncing is great! The only draw back from FitBit is that it doesn't track your heart rate so there is no real way to know how you burn during a workout. So to fix this I went out and purchased WahooFitness Heart Rate Monitor which syncs with my iPhone and it syncs with my running app and MFP. Hopefully with all these new gadgets I can monitor my progress and really see what's changing and how to make improvements. I really think that will be a huge motivator!

 Overall I'm doing great and going strong! I feel good and I think this next week will be a kick in the ass with the workouts but I can do it. Hell the workouts are only 25 minutes. I can do anything for 25 minutes, right?

Here is to Day 5, and a great weekend!

For the record, I have not been paid or received ANY compensation for my commentary on FitBit, MyFitnessPal and WahooFitness monitor. I'm just relaying my experiences with these health gadgets. :)

Vote here, please! 

Starting from 1

All journeys start at the same point: Day 1. Yesterday was the first day in the journey to changing my eating habits and changing my life. 

It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! I had 5 meals during the course of the day, and really never felt that hungry. The only time I felt a bit hungry was in the latter part of the evening after dinner. I kinda felt like dinner wasn't enough and was munchy. I really can't tell you if I was still hungry or just needed something to munch on, so I drank more water to try to fill up my stomach. 

Believe it or not... it worked! :) Overall the food wasn't bad and I was pleasantly surprised with the combinations of foods. The only thing I missed was coffee! I didn't have any coffee and I felt it by way of a headache. Hopefully that will subside over time, considering I can't have coffee the way I like it. My options are black coffee or no coffee. I'm obviously choosing no coffee, that could change in the very near future. 

As for the exercise, that was an asskicker. T25's day one was a cardio kick in the rear. I could barely keep up with the exercises, so about 90% of the workout was completed following the modifications chick! Yea, that was the best I could do, but it was a start for Day 1. 

Overall, it was a good day! I would give it a 5 out 5 stars! Onward and upward to Day 2.

Tomorrow it starts!!

Monday, April 28th will be the first day of the next part of my life. I'm making a lifestyle change. I am giving myself 60 days to make it a habit and make it part of my routine. I am giving myself the summer to make sure this is a permanent fixture of my life. 

I can't give up and I won't let myself fail this time. I don't have it in me to fail, and I don't have it in me to continue to be this unhealthy and this bleh! Truthfully I feel fat as hell and I can't handle that anymore. So... it's time. 

I will be taking my pictures tonight and my measurements tomorrow morning. From there I will not obsess over the scale. I will allow the inches lost to be the measurement of my success. I will not obsess about falling off the wagon if I do. I will get back on track on the next meal. I will exercise once a day, and if time permits, I will walk in the evenings. I will post on my support pages and get help when I need it. 

I will succeed. 

I will not fail. 

Click above to cast your vote!

60 Day Challenge

So of course, you know I am obsessed with losing weight. Ok so obsession is a bit harsh, but it does seem like an obsession because I can't let go of the idea that I'm not the best me that I can be. Anyways, I have posted quite a few time that I'm starting over and trying again. Usually it's January and it's some stupid resolution. Blah blah blah. I also start and never finish. We seem to have a pattern here, huh?

Well now I am starting again, in April, right before summer break, and I am hoping that this will work. After arriving here stateside, I have effectively gained 15 lbs. Ouch! I know, I know. Totally self-inflicted. I get it!

I was recently asked by an old friend to join this 60-day weight loss, life-style altering challenge. She claimed the program she was using actually worked for her. Now mind you, she is slender and really probably could have lost 5 lbs calibrating her scale, I mean that is how small she is, but oh well. As it was, I was already looking into purchasing the Shaun-T T25 program, which is part of the Beachbody line, so it seemed like a win win for me! I joined the challenge, purchased the DVDs and joined the FB page.

This week starts the prep week of the 60-day challenge.  The group and coaches are getting everyone in the mindset, helping us in understanding the programs, and offering helpful hints to keep everyone on track. It really seems like it will be a supportive group. I created my first YouTube video in order to introduce myself and well I'm not working, have time, and have minimal excuses. It's now or never folks. 

At any rate, I plan on posting my daily food, exercise journal here. Let's see how that goes. I'm trying to stay accountable to the group and myself. I even have my best friend in PA joining in on the exercise with me! It should be exactly what I need! 

I'll keep you posted! Here is to post #1 on the road to the Challenge.