26 weeks and not giving up

I have made it to 26 weeks finally, and just thankful that I am able to still get outside and moving. Today was our weekly group roll/run/walk with Team RWB and even though I'm tired I feel GREAT. This journey hasn't been easy to stay active and try to remain healthy so that I don't gain a lot of weight this time around. As of my last dr appointment I am still down 8 lbs from where I started at 7 weeks pregnant since I have remained active and eating healthy.

What a truly amazing feeling to finish 4 miles knowing that you never gave up, but an even better feeling is having friends by your side as you cross the finish line. The best this about these weekly group fitness activities is that it something that I actually look forward to because I know that I am not alone.

This week we will see where I stand weight wise as I have another dr appointment which means another weigh-in to see where I stand on being healthy.

Staying healthy while pregnant

Recovering from a car wreck and being pregnant are an interesting combination to deal with at once. The thing about it is that it would be easy to throw a healthy, active life out the window just to take the easy road to overcome it all. The thing is that I fall more in love what Team RWB stands for and what they work to achieve by not just focusing on our veterans and those who are currently serving, but also their families.

The concern and worry for my mom have a times made me want to take the easy road by eating whatever I could find. Although I have discovered that there are so many healthy options to eat and help me from gaining the weight that is so easy to put on while pregnant. Last week I was given a new tool to help me stay moving and healthy through the rest of my pregnancy. 

On week 2 of getting together I completed another 4 miles which helps me keep moving and feeling great. Although I was exhausted when we finished I have a lot of energy the next day which helps me keep going. At 23 weeks pregnant I am proud of myself for staying strong instead of giving into temptation.

Each week I may not get out there and run like I did before I got pregnant or lift weights like I used to, but walking is just as good to keeping me moving until my newest addition arrives. I couldn't ask for anything more from such a supportive group who helps keep me going and never allows me to give up.

A blessing created halt for my training

Training had been going well for my first half marathon to take place in January. Who would have known that I would get such shocking news that would put all of it on hold for a while? Well after a car wreck on 25Oct I got the news in the ER that I am pregnant and due Jun2014. After trying for over 4 years I thought that it would never happen, but after being told "you're pregnant" I remembered the words my OB told me that if I didn't lose the weight I had gained that it would be almost impossible to become pregnant again.

The journey to get healthy started because I wanted to have more energy for my 5 year old, but it has now taken a whole NEW direction on being healthy and prepared for our new expected addition. For me the truth is that it had never really sank in that my weight was stopping me from giving my husband the child he wanted until my weight loss allowed us to finally have the chance. Honestly I am not where I would like to be starting out for this pregnancy, but I know that eating healthy and stay moving we will both be happy and healthy in June when we welcome our new baby into our family.

This new addition will only delay my first half marathon. It will in NO WAY keep me from reaching that goal of being able to run farther than I EVER have before.

Training for my Half Marathon

A nice morning run before heading with my mom to the dr to meet her Oncologist. What a great way to start my day to feel good and get my body moving :) I am so EXCITED for the Half in January. This journey has led me to discover that even just a little bit of added moving for the right reason can make you feel great. I figure if my mom can give her all to beat cancer then I can give my all to finish the Half Marathon in my best time possible. Just gotta keep going and keep smiling because the journey has just begun.

A new personal discovery…

The past few years I have been on the search to find something that really helps me in giving back to my community. From participating in Relay For Life with the American Cancer Society to Lone Star workshops with F7 Group, I have given my time but not felt like I had found the right place where I best felt my capabilities were used to the point where I personally felt refueled every time I attended an event. These organizations are all amazing, but personally I felt like I was lacking something within and I still am involved with them both.
Out of the blue last year an e-mail was sent to me for a training camp through an organization I had never heard of before. Although I wanted to attend the event in the end I decided not to, but it was just the beginning of a surprising new chapter for me and my family. That e-mail opened a door that day, but we did not walk through it until a few months later.
In January we were made aware from an e-mail that the organization needed volunteers to help out with their Aid Station during the Houston Marathon. We decided to help out and it was an AMAZING feeling to help those athletes stay refueled and hydrated with 9 miles still to go until the end. That event was just the first that we would do with this amazing organization. Since we have become involved with Team Red, White, & Blue I feel like what I do impacts more than just a small group because we interact with Veterans and our community at large. Since becoming involved in January I have learned that I am capable of doing SO MUCH more than I could have EVER imagined.
Next year I will not be on the sideline volunteering I will actually be RUNNING the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. The thing is that a year ago I NEVER could have imagined that it was possible to do something like that, but SO MANY athletes that I have seen at the events I have volunteered at have inspired me to reach for new goals. It is AMAZING to discover that it is possible to run and to actually feel good running. Discovering that there is SO MUCH more in me than I EVER could have imagine has helped to boost my self-confidence and to set goals of things I had never imagined before.
Team RWB has a mission of Enriching the Lives of Veterans, but in my case being a part of them has enriched my life as well in just a few short 6 months. See you at the Finish Line of the Half Marathon and I will have my flag right there with me while wearing my Eagle with PRIDE!!!! God has truly blessed me with Team RWB this year.

What is Team RWB?

Our mission is to enrich the lives of veterans by connecting them to their community through social and physical activity. So what we do is “connect veterans to their community” and how we do it is “through social and physical activity”. And I can tell you that we are the best organization to help veterans make the transition from military to civilian life, bar-none. There is no other organization that allows for everyone- civilians, veterans- literally anyone- to have an immediate impact in the lives of veterans WITHIN their community- it’s better than wearing a yellow ribbon, better than a “thank you” and better than cutting a check. Why “social and physical activities”? Remember- we want to “enrich the lives of veterans”, right? So one of the key findings of positive psychology is that true happiness and life satisfaction comes from relationships. So when we formed Team RWB we kept asking- “how can we create relationships?” Especially for veterans in their communities- a large percentage of whom do not return home when exiting the military. Then, of course the physical benefits of keeping fit are well documented- but it’s really important for veterans because while there are many different ways to treat the invisible wounds of war there is no answer, no one-size-fits-all template. Except physical fitness. In fact, studies show that exercise can be as effective as pills and counseling. And what’s even better is that when you conduct exercise in groups there is a multiplier effect to that effectiveness. So what we found is that if we can create relationships and if we can create group fitness programs then veterans’ lives will be greatly improved. So that’s what we do- we create consistent, local social and fitness programs all over the country to properly connect veterans to their community in a way that promotes building and forming natural relationships (networks). The results are pretty incredible, my life is a testament to that fact. Check out our website for more info and some success stories. www.teamRWB.org ~Written By: Chris Widell, Director of Team RWB Houston Chapter

Rejuvenation for getting healthy

Over time I have had my good moments and bad moments while on my journey to healthy. I have had so many moments where I felt like I could just keep moving and nothing could stop me, but then I would have no energy and all I wanted to do was just give up. I am still amazed thay I could go 6 miles without giving up, yet lately I some how had lost my drive to get moving. The best thing that EVER could have happened for me was being introduced to Team RWB.
The chance to become a part of an organization who is about fitness and social interaction for Veterans and the communities that they live in. Since I found out about the organization I have volunteered with them at events, but soon my interaction with them would take me to a whole new level of finding out more about me.
This week for the first time a group of Team RWB women here where I live have committed to getting together twice a week in order to support each other and further our fitness capabilities. It was an amazing feeling for someone else to be right beside me and encourage me to not give up even if I didn't have the fastest pace in the world. Another great feeling for me was as my running partner stayed with me and our other two running mates came back because "you never leave a friend behind".
I never knew that an organization for veterans and our service members could in the end be the tool that I needed too. My new found love for putting my feet to the pavement will be just what I have needed to stay on my path to getting healthy. I cannot wait for the day when I can finally get out there moving and not be out of breath less than a minute into it. Team RWB is the blessing and avenue that I have needed for a long time to FINALLY get to the point that I can keep going and not give up. This time I have just gotten started and I WILL NOT QUIT!

New Challenge

As most know who have seen me throughout my journey I have moments where I do really good and then lose focus. The only reason I continue to lose focus is because I no longer have something to reach for, to achieve as a short term goal that will hold me accountable. SO I have decided to take on the Mamavation Virtual 5K on March 9th. The great thing about this 5K is that ANY ONE can participate no matter if you can run or just walk it, the goal is to Complete it. I am starting my countdown which as of right now is T-10 days and that means I need to get my act in gear if I want to complete it all without giving up. I would love to have my friends join me just to be able to say "I completed a 5K!"

Mamavation Virtual 5K

In order to be able to complete it I am committing to go for a jog every other day, but to take my dogs for a walk every night just to keep my body moving without being constantly hard on it. I am sticking to my #NoExcuses which means I CANNOT back down on this one. Will you join me and help hold me accountable? Want to learn more about the Mamavation Virtual 5K? Visit http://www.mamavation.com/2013/02/mamavation-virtual-5k-march-9th.html and I hope to see you there :)

New Motivation for my Journey

Lately I have really struggled with staying on track for my workouts, eating healthy and remaining accountable to my health goals. You would think after getting rid of 40 lbs already and starting to feel better about myself I would have a reason to keep going, but instead of gaining confidence I started to lose what I already had. That was though until I met Dolvett from Biggest Loser and EVERYTHING changed for me. His kindness and willingness to talk to me for a few minutes was the boost I needed to know that I am still at the beginning, so that I don't get discouraged.
Who would have thought that someone who is SO well known would take a few minutes to give me advice and treat me like just another person. After living SO long at over 300 pounds I still have moments where I cannot believe that I am REALLY doing this and there is actually a noticeable difference in the weight that I have lost.

The picture on the left was taken Summer 2011 when I was weighing in at my highest of 332 pounds. Well the GREAT thing is that the picture on the right was taken January 2013 after already getting rid of 40 pounds FOREVER!!!!!! To actually look at both of these pictures now is motivation, but also it makes me cry to really see just how much I had let myself go. My goal now is to get healthy, fit and reconditioned to be a firefighter again some day. If I can do this after all that I have been through then you can do it to, just don't give up and keep going!

So I have slipped

I know lately I have slipped on blogging about my journey. Things at home have been hard on me and very stressful, but I can say that I have not gained any weight back. The last two weeks I did the #mamavation #bobharperlive challenge and I'm starting to feel good about myself. For me a hard part will be the holidays coming up because I LOVE ham & mashed potatoes which we have for Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. If any one is looking for a twitter workout buddy you can find me @AllNewHealth Have a blessed end to your week.

Trying hard to stay one fire

This journey has been a challenge for me. A journey that is full of ups and downs, reaching goals along with moments of failure. For once I decided to do this for me, but in the last week I have lost some of my fire that keeps me going. Some of my fall back moments were: McDonalds (more than once), Whataburger, Taco Bell (more than once) and Sonic. The most frustrating part right now is that I had done good to stay away from Soda and in the past week I have had it 4 times plus the crack food that I have been working hard to avoid.
So tomorrow will be a new weekend to push away my mistakes of the past week and focus on getting back on track and kicking butt. There is still 3 months until my birthday to lose 30lbs. I know if I recommit to eating cleaning and training hard I will reach my goal. I just have to remember that once I commit to the changes I will be able to get my family to stay on track with me and we can ALL get healthy together.

A weekend of blessing

The past few weeks have been really stressful for me here at home. For me the biggest struggle had been with me working out and losing weight yet my husband had no motivation to get his work outs in. We knew his APFT was coming up this month at drill and I had been stressing that his lack of consistency would show during it which would result in him not passing. Well thankfully we were blessed by my husband finding that little bit of extra "Umph" in him and he was able to pass the test. They say that when you finally give it over and quit focusing on the negative, that the positive is soon to come. This weekend was a perfect example of that.
On a personal note I did slack on my eating and I am frustrated at myself for that, but I know that tomorrow is a new day to refocus and get back on track. Several great things have happened the past few days and I know that if I keep my head up that I can continue to be successful on this journey. My moto is #NoExcuses and I really need to commit to my gym time and not give in to over sleeping or cowering away from my daily workout.

Starting a new challenge

I have committed to the 90 day-Body By Vi challenge. After a lot of research I thought that I would use this as a tool to get past the plateau I have reached on my weight loss journey. During this challenge I will still eat healthy and workout, this not an excuse to do whatever I want. My hope is to lose 30 lbs just in time for my 26th birthday that is coming up in January.
My starting measurements are as follows:
Chest: 48"
Waist: 60"
Hips: 54"
Weight: 304lbs
These pictures represent me at the start of this 90 days.

Reaching my first big goal

During this journey, the past 4 months, I have reached the point more than once where I just wanted to give up. I had come to the conclusion or so I thought, that I would never lose the weight or get to where I felt like I was making progress. Thankfully though I found the willpower to give up and just keep at it. Four months after I started this I have FINALLY overcome the stalling point of 300 pounds and weighed in at 299.6 this past week. It has been a big sigh of relief for me to know that my dedication is paying off even if it does take time to get there. I am so thankful that I have a great group of friends who are my cheerleaders and support me on this journey. If you want to follow my daily struggles and triumphs check out at http://www.twitter.com/allnewhealth
I am here to help others who want to achieve weight loss or live a healthy lifestyle. Feel free to join me.

Losing weight and Feeling great

The past 4 months have been a hard journey for me. Between personal up & down moments, trying to continue to eat healthy and get my work outs in, I was afraid that I would give in and then I would be back where I started 4 months ago. Now I knew this journey would be a determining factor to see if I could REALLY commit to taking care of myself and I have discovered that I can.
Throughout the first part of this journey I have made MANY lifestyle changes that I plan to keep in place. If these changes can help me drop 32lbs in 4 months on my own then it means I am doing something good. Healthy food options, drinking more water and keeping my body moving has made me feel great. This morning when I saw the scale say 299.6 I knew that I had FINALLY found my groove for progress and success.
Back in May I NEVER thought I would feel this good when I finally made it under 300, but it has been AMAZING. For those who say "I don't have time to work out" or "I can't do it because of the people in my family" well I am here to tell you that there are NO EXCUSES! If I can do this in my situation then ANY one can do it if they want it bad enough.

Back in the Groove after a Move

I haven't been able to post lately due to no internet and the chaos of trying to get moved from our old house into our new apartment. The move was not easy because I was trying to pack and get everything set-up in less than 2 weeks which meant no time for the gym. However I will admit that I did continue to eat healthy, so although I did not get rid of any weight I also did not gain any either. The one thing that I love about our new place is that it is close to my gym, but there is also a fitness center onsite. Having a fitness center here means that I can walk there and work out any time without being able to use any excuses as to why I can't make it to the gym.
Moving is never easy and on this journey it makes it even harder for me to try and stay committed to being healthy. Meals lately have included salad which is easy to make even when I am running short on time and coconut water to stay hydrated and my body balanced. Although I have not had a serious workout I have been doing squats and counter push-ups every day to keep my body going. I promise to update this more often as I continue to work on getting rid of the last 125lbs before I reach my goal weight.

Squat September Challenge

For the month of September I am challenging myself to do squats EVERY DAY. Each day though I will add 5 squats to the amount that I did the day before. Although all of the squats do not have to be done all at one time you can spread them throughout the day as long as you reach your goal before you go to bed. I am super curious to see if squats really are good for butt shaping and leg toning. Good luck if you decide to join me.

Sept 1~10 Done
Sept 2~15 Done
Sept 3~20 Done
Sept 4~25 Done
Sept 5~30
Sept 6~35
Sept 7~40
Sept 8~45
Sept 9~50
Sept 10~55
Sept 11~60
Sept 12~65
Sept 13~70
Sept 14~75
Sept 15~80
Sept 16~85
Sept 17~90
Sept 18~95
Sept 19~100
Sept 20~105
Sept 21~110
Sept 22~115
Sept 23~120
Sept 24~125
Sept 25~130
Sept 26~135
Sept 27~140
Sept 28~145
Sept 29~150
Sept 30~155

BeachWeek day 2

Well day 2 started off a little rocky with over sleeping due to only 4 hours of sleep. I was not able to get a workout in because I did not want hubby to be late to work. This mornings breakfast was 1 serving of cheerios with a little bit of 2% milk, scrambled eggs, and water. Lunch was a little better with a nice salad, easy dressing, the other half of my fruit shake from yesterday and an orange. Tonight for dinner though I crashed and gave in to my bad feelings of myself by eating 8 tacos from Jack In The Box. I had been really proud of myself, but after how my husband had talked to me and talked about other girls I was really feeling disgusted about myself. Although to try and get his words out of my mind I went to the gym and did upper body weights which caused me to feel REALLY SICK due to all the grease from the tacos. As of now I am OFFICIALLY committing to NEVER having another taco from Jack In The Box EVER again, no matter what.

BeachWeek Day 1

Well day 1 of ToneItUp.com BeachWeek went pretty good with a yummy breakfast, a morning workout, healthy snacks, good tasty lunch that ended with dinner and a great evening workout. Breakfast was good with scrambled eggs, very thin whole wheat bread topped with Nutella and green tea. Lunch was great with baked fish, Avacado, and a yummy side salad. Dinner was a salad that was filling and delicious. My after workout recovery was a smoothie that consisted of Strawberry, Blueberry, Mango, and Pineapple with Greek Yogurt and Almond milk. With day 1 I also became willing to try Coconut water and Almond Milk which both taste extremely good. The one thing I don't want to forget either is that I made sure to drink plenty of water with my total coming in at 185oz for the day which is just shy of my 200oz daily goal.

A trying week

Well my weekend went good and Monday was starting off right, or so I thought. Soon what was a good week tail spinned quickly and I had lost complete control over everything, all of the hard work I had been putting myself through no longer mattered because no one else was worried about any one other than what they consider their priorities. Monday and Tuesday I was unable to make it to the gym which means today I am exhausted, sluggish and all around feeling really down. Last night in the midst of chaos and frustration I broke down and had 7 tacos from Jack in the Box which is probably the biggest reason I feel so :( but I started myself back on track this morning. For breakfast I had scrambled eggs and half a piece of toast and lunch was homemade healthy "chicken salad" which was yummy too. I am a little disappointed that I gave in yesterday, but I will hold myself accountable and get back on track.