Bring on the beast!

I decided to order a DVD pack that was on sale through BeachBody, Body Beast. 

I love lifting. Not just light weight. No I love heavy lifting. The complaint I often hear from women is the concern that they will get bulky. We can build muscle but we will never bulk up like guys as we lack the testerone to make that happen. 

This program is what I have been missing! Just a good heavy lifting session! The reps are doable as you choose your own weight and as always there are modifiers. I even watched as one guy in the video had to put down the weights to finish his reps. Totally made me feel better.  

If you want a good deal check it out. The DVDs are marked down to $39.90 and the challenge pack with shakeology is $160. It's a good deal to get lean and build muscle. 

http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/gacgirl13. 

It's a good thing I can do dvd's

I learned to run 2 years ago. I say learned as it was a process. I have always has allergies but the past few years they have really gotten bad, to the point I now get allergy shots.

Yesterday brought something new to the table. Asthma from my allergies while running. This actually made me miss winter for running in the cold. I never thought I would miss winter again adlfter this last horrible winter.   

I think until the allergies get to a low point again I will stick to my weights and DVDs. I really don't feel like using an inhaler. 

I did go out and run a race today and it went ok. Not my best time but it was fun running with about 20 other twin and triplet moms. One mom ever took 3rd out. Of 2,500 runners! Now that is a superpower mom. 

 

Health is more than eating and exercise

It is also about making sure you get the routine check ups necessary.  My heart is just racing a little as I made my mammogram appointment.  I usually have to convince doctors as my mom was just over the age cutoff for me to start early screening.

That being said I know of way to many ladies my age who have been diagnosed or passed away in the last year from stage 2-3 breast cancer (my cousin passed away from breast cancer at 43).  It is a small thing and I will always do it.

So next Tuesday I will be nervous for the results, but either way I will have them. I will be able to move forward for another year.

Medifast, the consequences and how it led me to Beachbody

The backstory to the start of this post is that my dad had his first heart attack at 32 and passed away at 53.  After that I vowed I would lead a better life and not follow in his footsteps. It worked. I ate better and worked out more, but I know now that I was really not eating that good.

Fast forward in life and I had kids.  Kids take a toll on you and we love them dearly but find me a mom who doesn’t want to shed the pregnancy pounds.  When the kids were a year old I started weight training but couldn’t drop the pounds.  I decided to try and move it along with Medifast.  I had no idea how bad this would be for me.

I went to Medifast, paid the fees and I followed it.  I did drop all of that pesky weight and was super fit.  However, looking back now I know that a 900-calorie a diet is NEVER sustainable, healthy, or should be an option for anyone! In addition to so few calories I was training for half marathons so I was burning all 900 plus some more calories.  I did eat extra protein but I know now it was never enough by what they told me.

Fast-forward again a year later. I had maintained my weight loss but was still eating some of their products every day.  I did feel that they really did not teach me portion control or healthy eating. I was just a number to make them money. An odd thing happened. I started gaining weight, FAST! In a matter of 6 months I put on 30lbs. I was working out the same if not more, and had switched to eating more whole foods.  This led me through quite a few tests, doctor appointments, and so many blood draws. 

Here is what I learned. I was severely vitamin D deficient (this is MN so a 9 is still really low), I had adrenal fatigue, and no one should ever eat the quantities of Soy Protein that is found in Medifast as it is linked to adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues.  Insert a shocked face here! This is an endocrinologist who told me this.  He told me if I didn’t change everything, I might need a weight loss drug to reset my metabolism as it was now so messed up from Medifast.

Adrenal fatigue releases cortisol into your body and it just don’t stop. It keeps you in the flight mode and explains a lot of the issues I had been having for about a year and a half. I could not sleep between 11-3 am (second wind), I could hardly get up in the morning no matter how much sleep I got, I was so dead tired in the afternoon I would always try and sleep or supplement with more coffee. 

This led me to Beachbody.  I was told I had to stop running to let me body heal and I needed to eat whole.  I had been eating whole foods, but when I found the 21-Day Fix I realized I had still been overeating!  I made the choice to change. I cut out all caffeine, I began doing work out dvd’s instead of running (T25, 21 Day Fix, p90x3, and Piyo are my favorites), I began to look at what was in supplements, I took supplements that were whole, I began to drink Shakeology, and I sleep again. The best part I realized is that with the 21-Day fix nothing is off limits for food.  With Medifast everything was off limits. 

I am glad I found my cure, Beachbody (specifically Autumn Calabrese and the 21-Dayfix)! In the last 4 months I have dropped 15lbs, kept it off, and my family eats whole now. If I can learn to eat whole, make 2- 4 year olds eat better and still find 30 minutes a day to work out I think this is a no brainer! Everyone  who struggles should look at the 21-Day Fix.  It is truly the only program I have ever seen teach people about real portion control vs. perceived sizes. 

I have run into many people who have done Medifast and have adrenal fatigue issues or thyroid problems. I now tell people to avoid Medifast and eat whole real foods. 

This picture is some of my favorite whole foods.

3 day refresh

I am trying something new. I am not very good at cleanses as I like to eat. I finally found something through beachbody that is a cleanse but I can eat!!

The 3 day refresh has you use shakeology and whole food eating. My body is used to both of those things. I just need to cut the meat as the supplements have tons of protein! I can wait to see my results. I will keep everyone in the loop. 

A fun 4th and a Fresh Start

The 4th of July is always a huge holiday for our family.  There are 5 July birthday and we all celebrate on the 4th.  I mean, who doesn't want fireworks to celebrate!

That being said, there may have been salty brats, veggies WITH dip, and a birthday cupcake.  Can I say ugh.

I start my challenge group on Monday and cannot wait. I will also be kickstarting it with the 3 day refresh.  The refresh is a great way to reset your body but not do a crazy cleanse. I actually get to eat on it.  Yes please! If anyone wants more information please email me.

A long overdue start

I started a new journey in March. I had been running for quite come time but due  to nagging injuries, adrenal fatigue, and stress I ended up gaining weight. 

I decided to try a new program. All of my favorite trainers had left the gym and I needed to try things on my own again. Time had become a commodity! 

I ventured to Beachbody when I saw someone post about the 21 day fix.  

I had been eating whole, but I learned you can still overeat even on whole foods. 

When the containers arrived I fully expected to starve. That never happened. Instead I lost 11 lbs, 7 inches, broke my caffeine addiction and learned so much. 

I have since journeyed into becoming a beachbody coach. I still enjoy my runs, but I have learned to listen to my body and not risk the injury and push so hard.