Posts Tagged ‘Long term weight loss

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26
Oct
12

Haters Gonna Hate

By garagegym107 6 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I think too much.  Yes I do. 

Strange things happen that poke at me.  They also make me go hmmm.

Today while out on the parking deck working out with the crew someone left an anabolic steroid catalog in my desk chair.  I’m sure they were just being funny because that what’s people do when they think they will get your goat.

I’ve got my own goats, I don’t need their help with them. 

I posted that little quote “I’m not strong for my age. I’m just strong” evidently there’s a bit of truth to that.  🙂

Good for me.

Over the course of changing my life from being just a total train wreck to being a fit woman, there have been many haters along the way.

The funny thing about that is I didn’t realize that those haters could come in the form of people who I thought really mattered in my life.  So keep this in mind if your journey is just beginning.

It wasn’t until I began saying no to the buffet lunches, the weekly happy hours, the business lunches of pizza and the monthly birthday cake club did the original haters first appear.  I don’t hesitate to take my own food in to any training session now.  Once people got used to me being different, it became a non-issue.  This goes back many years and even a past job.  I am not the food police, I don’t criticize what others are doing.  That is not my place.

It took me a very long time to realize that choosing to be healthy has a tendency to make those who choose not to feel guilty.  Whether they ever admit it or not.  At first it bothered me but not any more.  Let ’em hate. 

I eat clean food, I work out 5-6 six times per week and I’m perfectly happy with it.  Not to mention that I am a much better wife, mother and employee.  Does that mean I hate on peeps who choose not to?  Absolutely not.  Remember I’m married to the Junk Food King.  He was that way when I married him, I changed.  I don’t expect him to, if he wants to he will.  He’s a grown man.

Back to the catalog left in my chair.  What most people I work with don’t realize is that I get up at 4:30am Monday thru Friday and I march myself in to the gym and I devote time to working hard on my body.  Whether it is Olympic lifting, body building or metabolic condition, I’m working HARD while most of my peers are sleeping, both male and female.

That’s a choice.  I’ve made mine and my choice is clean eating and working my butt off. Literally.

 

 

22
Oct
12

Progress Report 1 of 18

By garagegym107 1 Comment
Categories: Precision Nutrition Certification
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I started the process of obtaining my Precision Nutrition Certification about a month ago.   I received all of my study material and slowly dove in.

After completing the required tasks of the introduction and chapter one, I settled down to complete the questions in the work book. 

At my age, things tend to stand out more than they used to, perhaps because I’m a bit more open-minded about myself.  I’m definitely one who retains more information if I write it down.  And I’m much more eager to learn at this point in my life than ever before.

I realized that I had been sitting at the table for almost two hours answering the introduction and chapter 1 questions when it hit me.  TWO hours will be the time limit cutoff for taking the full exam which covers 18 chapters.

When I voiced my concern to my spousal unit his response was simply “It’s not supposed to be easy”. 

He’s right.  The more difficult this process is for me, the more I will learn. 

 

15
Oct
12

Fear

By garagegym107 1 Comment
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I had a conversation with someone yesterday and unbeknownst to her I could detect a strong vibe of fear radiating from her. Self-doubt.  As soon as the conversation started the list of health issues came tumbling out.  As if in some way that list lessened the importance of her overall goals.  She said “I just want to be healthy”.

Being healthy is a great goal.  In the beginning using the term “I just want to be healthy” is ok. 

Fear of thinking too far ahead is very natural in the beginning, especially if you have significant weight to lose.  I understand that fear.  I’m absolutely certain I emanated that fear myself 12 years ago when I started my journey.

But I learned the hard way that you shouldn’t allow yourself to stay in that zone for very long.  If so, you become reliant on your excuses.  I remember the big one… “my knees hurt”…yes, when you carry 168# of excess weight everything tends to hurt. 

At some point that vague statement of “I just want to be healthy”  must transition to a plan.  The plan must transition to action.  The actions them must provide measurable results.  If you can’t measure your success, you are subject to relapse into old behaviors, often.

See yourself as you want to be, not who are today, but as the fit and healthy person you want to be. 

 

11
Oct
12

Issues, We All Have Them

By garagegym107 6 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I was chatting with a friend who is struggling this morning.  As we chatted, I was thrown back in time to that exact point in my journey.

I don’t know where these things come from, they just seem to come from deep inside somewhere teaching me again, that I have learned some lessons over this journey of mine.

“We all have issues.  My issues are not smaller than yours.  I’ve learned not to use them as an excuse to crap on my goals” ~Garagegym107

There is so much meat in that statement, I immediately had to type it out and claim it.

For years I allowed my issues to be my excuse for chronically sabotaging my fitness efforts with poor quality food.  It took me quite some time to figure out that when I ate poorly, I in turn felt even more poorly and my issues seemed ginormous (yes, I know that’s not really a word).

It happens in the lives of most women who struggle with dealing with emotional eating.  You are not alone. 

Sooner or later, you must confront your fears in order to move past these issues.  It’s not about willpower so much as it is about willingness to change and will to let go.

Our issues can stay buried deep inside and something silly can pull one of them back to the limelight.

In example, I’ve written about the online trainer that literally told me I needed to rethink my goals regarding physique training.  In that moment that little liar in my head came screaming forward saying “see I told you so”. 

I could have let both the negative self-talking voice and the online trainer derail me completely.  The old me would have allowed just that.

The stronger, wiser and much more at peace, and confident me simply said “watch this”.  My goals are set, my countdown app on my phone is set and I’ve been busy doing.

Sure, I have issues, we all do.  Step back and think things through.  If you are reaching for food, you are still allowing those issues to rule your roost.

02
Oct
12

Never Going To Steal My Joy

By garagegym107 22 Comments
Categories: Random Thoughts
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Over the past month I have seen numerous postings of one of my best friends before and after photos.  Ironically, these photos are being taken by people attempting to claim her success as being a part of whatever fitness and training quick fix they are pushing.

What’s been interesting about the whole thing to both of us is reading all of the comments associated with her transformation.  Especially the nay-sayers.  One woman claimed to be “a trainer with 30 years experience” she didn’t believe the photos were real.

In my humble opinion, I’d run from that trainer.  If she doesn’t believe this type of transformation is possible then you sure don’t want to pay her to convince you that it is not possible.

That’s why I love my friend and I love my life.  We live our transformations every single day of our lives.  We don’t have to go around using other people’s pictures to build ourselves up.  Instead we use our own photos to build others up. 

You see, no-one can ever steal our joy, we built it, we earned it, it’s ours to share.

We can walk the walk not just talk the talk.  Let me just say this, it hasn’t been a cake walk.  It’s much easier now than it has ever been before for both of us.  But were it not for the road we’ve traveled, I would not be writing this blog.

People want change but people want change for nothing. 

For all the ladies in the house…grab a tissue because this is a good one! 

Let me introduce you to my friend Michelle T. .  She is real, she is authentic and she is my mentor. 

She has listened to me sob over realizing that a goal I set wasn’t going to happen.  She never said I wouldn’t, just said maybe now isn’t the right time.

She has stood by me and patiently watched me impatiently struggle with being too strict with food and over training myself in to the ground all the while knowing that in my own time, I would come out on the other side.

You see, here is the thing about all of that weight-loss.  Everyone is different.  With personal patience, self-awareness and a personal belief that never waivers, long-term successful weight-loss can happen.

Each one reach one…Thank you Michelle for paying it forward!

YES this picture is real! Yes I have seen her in a two piece! YES IT CAN BE DONE!

19
Sep
12

Ignorance is Bliss

By garagegym107 1 Comment
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Most people really truly don’t want to acknowledge the truth about fitness and weight loss.  If they hide behind the veil of ignorance then they don’t have to hold themselves accountable.  I did that, for a couple of years, in fact.  I managed to pack on an additional 168# in two years.  Yes, that’s correct, in only two years I went from a relatively healthy size 10 woman to a grossly unhealthy size 22.  That’s an average weight gain of 1.61 pounds PER WEEK.

Talk about a sad sack.  But ignorance was bliss.  No one really ever said anything about the weight as it progressively increased.

I could have stopped it, I could have changed the course of my life.  But instead I used every excuse I could dig up, meds were making me fat, job related stress was making me fat, my obnoxiously nasty divorce was making me fat.  But you know what? 

I was making me fat.  I was the one stopping by the fast food joints picking up a bag full of whatever daily special was going on at whichever place was super-sizing everything.

The beautiful thing in my story is that I truly believe that people can change and those changes can stick, like glue. 

I know personally many people who have successfully changed.   Taking themselves from being slightly overweight, or emotional eaters, to those like me, who were obese. 

They’ve taken responsibility for educating themselves.  They’ve put their own ego’s and pride aside to make these changes.  They’ve humbled themselves to the point of learning and humbled themselves to the point of DOING. 

The most important thing that we’ve all learned is that in this life is:  it’s not always about me. 

Reach out and do something nice for another person.  No need to tell anyone what you did, just do it.

Each one, reach one.

13
Sep
12

The Past

By garagegym107 Leave a Comment
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Every now and again I’m delightfully gifted with the opportunity to share my story and a few things I’ve learned to a live audience. 

I derive so much joy from having these opportunities.  Talking to others reminds me of various places I’ve been along my journey.  It also reminds me that I’m still on my own journey.

This past weekend I was reminded of one aspect of my journey.  The mind has a very powerful ability to replay old conversations years after the occurence.

That being said, I believe that we are in control of rewinding and re-recording over those powerful negative messages with positive new ones.

For example, I started running (well, what would be barely considered jogging to a runner) when I weighed just shy of 250#.  I remember the negative thoughts going through my mind step after step, “you’re too fat to do this, you are too slow to be running, you can quit this now”.  Over and over I would allow my negative thoughts to rule.  It took me years to clear the cobwebs enough to realize that I was, simply put, defeating my own purpose.

Once I began to understand that nothing has the power to impact me, unless I give it the power did I realize  great positive change from the inside.

I began changing my mantra to “you are strong and you are capable”, “you are strong and you are capable”.  Over and over, year after year, I’ve repeated those words many, many times. 

We truly are what we think we are so it is extremely important to make sure that we use “no negative self-talk, EVER”. 

I have that saying written in chalk in the middle of the chalk board in Garagegym 107.  My clients see it.  It’s a constant reminder of the way I live.  I see it every time I start my day.  I believe it.

Empower yourself to make changes to negative experiences from your past. 

Our past contributes to who we are, but our past doesn’t dictate who we become.

The chalk board project.  The humble beginnings of GG107.

11
Sep
12

You Can’t Out Train a Poor Diet

By garagegym107 22 Comments
Categories: Living Fit Daily
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I know this to be such a true statement.  I don’t consider what I do a diet.  I eat clean, I’ve educated myself on proper macro-nutrients and understand how to consume balanced meals.

Does that mean I always do what I know is the right thing?  Negative ghost-rider!

Why would I not do what I know is best?  Well, for me it is usually about poor planning. 

If I don’t make a conscious effort to prepare and store my protein sources I find myself scrounging around for what I should eat.

I spend a couple of hours once a week preparing protein sources, usually grilling or baking in the form of chicken.  Chicken gets boring.  Yes, I know.  I have umpteen(yes that’s a word my mom used to use) spices that I rotate so the my chicken gets a different flavor.  I have friends that simply boil their chicken to death and then eat it.  Not me I want some flavor. 

I digress terribly today.

I freeze what chicken I won’t use over the following two days and I even go so far as to cut it up in to bite sized pieces so I don’t have to fight it later.  I use the quart sized Ziploc freezer backs.  They make my life easier.

I don’t always have access to fresh veggies, but our local Kroger puts small bags of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots on sale 10/$10.00 so I always have a back up plan on my veggies and yes, I eat the whole bag at one sitting.

I hard boil an 18 pack of eggs on Sunday, then I peel them all.  Grab and go protein.

Food planning is only as hard as you make it.  Do you work 12 hour days?  Then it’s even MORE important to plan your meals.  Write down a list of what you need and go buy ONLY what is on the list.  Stay out of the inner aisles at the grocery store unless you are looking for olive or coconut oils or some other healthy oil.   Shop the produce section, the meat counter and cooler for eggs. 

Yes, it is that simple.

Veggies…don’t judge your taste of a veggie from any childhood experience.  I hated brussels sprouts until someone roasted them after tossing in olive oil and salt and pepper.  Now I love them. I enjoy and appreciate most all roasted veggies.  We are grown-ups now.  We should be open to trying every single vegetable just for sake of variety.  It’s amazing how many things I’ll eat now that I wouldn’t touch years ago. 

Eating clean is only as hard as you choose to make it.  I choose to make it as easy as possible. 

It’s not a chore, it’s a choice.

The best carb sources around!

30
Aug
12

Are Anger and Frustration a Catalyst?

By garagegym107 6 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday I had a conversation with an online trainer.  I’m not here to bash this person because there is an off-chance there may be a bit of truth in his message.

His message was that someone with my history, the history of obesity to fitness, isn’t likely a good fit for taking things to the next level of getting leaned out.

It really struck a chord with my insecurity for about an hour.   For that whole hour I had mental tapes from years past replay over in my head.  All of the moments I heard the term “you can’t” “you won’t” “it’s not possible” to lose the weight. 

He never said those exact words, but the words he said were direct enough to make me take that road trip backwards for the hour that I allowed my mind to venture. 

Then I got really miffed.  Miffed like I haven’t been in a decade.  I got miffed because I allowed another human being to create doubt in a space that is off-limits.  A space that I’ve maintained, manicured, furtilized with positivity, grown from a desolate space of nothingness into a positive field of successful DOING.

I know that people are trained in given fields.  They fill themselves with statistics and data.  They become an encyclopedia of their field of study and then they get comfortable spewing that data as one size fits all gospel.

Well, I’m here to tell you that is well and good.  But there are things that none of that data can capture. Those are human spirit, soul and determination.  The odds may be stacked in favor of the data, but there is always the off-chance that the underdog can and will prevail.

I choose to be the underdog.  I choose to be the one that will succeed.  My next level may not be the same as a superstar, but it’s mine for the taking.

I saw this the other day and yes, it came to mind by the time my head hit my pillow last night. 

“Never let anyone tell you that you can’t”

28
Aug
12

Something New

By garagegym107 10 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This past weekend I attended my first ever bodybuilding show.  The place was packed, sold out.  It was the Alabama State Championship.  It was amazing.

Watching people from one of the fattest states in the nation beat the odds.  Yes, for me, that’s what it was all about.

You see I understand the sacrifices those people make day in and day out.  Workout, eat cleaner than you ever have, repeat day in and day out for months!

I find it fascinating that they have chosen to build those works of art through time and patience and I’m sure at times utter frustration.

Body work.  Getting to know your body on such a personal level has to be amazing. Learning every little curve, bump and surprising even yourself when you create progress.

Loved it. 

 

 

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