No Wonder We're Fat!!!

I went into maverick today to fill up my soda and as I was waiting in the LONG line, I looked around. I noticed the people a little bit, but mostly I noticed the crazy amount of HORRIBLE food all around me. 500 different candy bars, doughuts, fried food and tobacco. That's it. I bet there wasn't more than 5 healthy choices of food in that entire gas station and all I could think was "look at all this high fructose corn syrup!"
I am reading The Secret is Out, the book that comes free with your Medifast order and have been so interested about the information I am picking up. I will share some tid bits from the book as I get further in to it, but for today-- I just can't wonder why America is obese anymore. I know exactly why. Because we are sorrounded by unhealthy, quick choices and we as humans react to our sorroundings so quickly we don't even blink. We don't give a second thought to the yucky stuff we put in our bodies, yet we complain when the scale goes up, or our pants get tighter or even rip. We are sad when we can't chase after our little ones with the same exuberence that we once did, we are disappointed when we can't run that race, or even walk up the stairs with out gasping for breath.
We have choices every day of our lives and the only person that can choose to make you the healthiest person, the one that smiles instead of frowns when you look in the mirror is YOU!
What's your choice today!? Who are you going to be? Are you willing to take the time and energy it takes to take care of yourself, or are you going to continue being a slave to your body, letting it set limits for you on what you can and can't do?
Who are you!? Who do you want to be?! How are you going to get there?1

A little break

I am having a rough couple of days. I feel a little overwhelmed with life, a little under appreciated, and a lot exhausted.
I gave in today, I have cheated a couple of times before but today was big. I ate pizza, and more than one piece.
I wanted it so bad, and all I could think of was the guilt. I knew I shouldn't have it, I feel like I am not being a good example to my clients and to those who know I am a health coach. I feel like I am not living up to the standard that I should be, in order to call myself a coach.
I don't know if people will think I am a hypocrite, or just human. I am hoping they think I am human and understand that I am always trying to be the best that I can be, but sometimes I just need a break. Today was that day.
I feel better. It tasted really good! And I think I can hop right back on track safely and follow my plan like I should.
I have told my clients from the beginning that I don't expect perfection out of them, that there will be times they fall off the path for a little bit, but the important thing is to get back on the wagon and go foward from where you left off.
Have you cheated? Have you given in to temptation, or have you been 100% the whole time?

Woohoo!

Last nights tasting was great!!

I had 5 girls show up and we had a great time together sampling food and visting about the Take Shape for Life program.

I signed up my 6th client this week!!! I am so excited to share my knowledge and help people get in shape, and to their ideal weight. I mean really, I can hardly sleep at night I am so excited to check in with my clients to know how they are doing.

I am going to post our weekly losses to the right. I can't waite to show you the success my clients are having with the Take Shape for Life program.

And by the way, I am feeling GREAT! Energized, healthy, strong and happy. It doesn't get much better than that!

Calling All Tasters!!

Are your cothes too tight?
Are you tired of trying everything and seeing little, slow, or no results?
Are you ready to lose your unwanted pounds and Take Shape for Life?!

Come to a tiny tasting at my house to sample for yourself the Medifast food. Low cals, low carbs, low fat! Come see what Take Shape for Life is all about! 6:30 pm Thursday August 26thRsvp by email or comment here!! See you soon!!

6 hours in a Car!

Wow, that wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I struggled to stay on my 5 & 1 plan yesterday with each mile we drove. It was a battle of the good and the bad angel on my shoulder the entire trip.

I think I made it through the entire 7.5 hour trip with maybe 5 bites of something that did not qualify as my plan food. That totally took me out of fat burning zone, I just know it!

My in laws are really healthy eaters, and they buy the best of the best food. I mean they are STOCKED with yummy stuff to the brim. Wow, this is going to be such a test of MY will power.

134 on the scale looks good to me. My clothes feel good, my body feels tighter, my energy feels higher, and I mentally feel stronger. I do not want to sabotage myself and start all over when I get home!

Wish me luck!

Fair Week!

I am off to the Western Idaho Fair to flaunt my new Take Shape for Life self!! I will be in the expo building with two other health coaches trying to share our program with ANYONE and EVERYONE who could benefit from living a healthier, stronger, happier life!!

Come see us! Talk to us about your struggles, successes, worries and questions. We have answers!!

Let's Take Shape for Life people!!

Once a Week

So I was talking to my health coach today about how I dropped .2 lbs from yesterday. She was like "stop weighing yourself everyday!!!"

Take Shape for Life recommends weighing one day a week, same time, same clothes (before you get in the shower first thing in the morning is best). So, even though you all know I am a crazy scale lady, I am going to limit myself to 3x a week, and only post 1x each week. That will give everyone a good idea of my progress and I will be following the guidelines that my company recommends.

I did a little biking and a short walk at the gym today. Felt good and strong. Much better than yesterday. Take Shape for Life recommends that if you exercise vigorously before starting the program that you should cut your exercise in half for the first three weeks. If you are not exercising at all... you can keep going with that for the first three weeks, and then it is time to start adding light activity into your routine. As we all know, you can not maintain a healthy weight with one or the other (exercise or nutrition) but need them both as partners to achieve your best, healthiest results.

134ish

I can't remember what the scale said this morning exactly but I know the first 3 numbers were 134!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeeeehaaaaw!! I feel it already, I feel the loss on my belly already!
I am suprised the weight is coming off that fast. I am so excited though! I feel like my body was preparing for this big loss over the past month of no sugar, it was like "you are pushing me, but not hard enough... what else you got lady?" Well, bam bam body!! You are losing the battle to me!!
I went to Costco today to pick up formula for my little monster baby. I saw rows and rows of food, and the food court where I would normally get a frozen yogurt (giant size is the only size of course) but wasn't even the slightest bit tempted.
When I put my mind to something I do it. Do it right or don't do it. Go big or go home. Those are just a couple of my mottos. I did not cheat, and honestly there was not one single thing in that entire store that would have satisfied me as much as the feeling of the loss. N.O.T.H.I.N.G
I thought I would be having cravings but I am not. My body feels satisfied and happy. Just plain ol happy!

WoW!

135.8

Need I say more?! I am crazy with energy! I am so excited I have never, ever, ever seen 135 on the scale. I have run and run and run, I have secured 8-9 hours in the gym each week for EIGHT MONTHS, but I have never seen 135.8 on the scale.

This isn't going to be 2.5 lbs of weight loss every day, I know. I wont be suprised if I don't lose any at all tomorow in fact. I know that there will be really good loss days and then flatter plateau days. That's ok. As long as it dwindles off, I am following my eating program, and continuing to exercise I am going to be one happy girl.

For the record, my S'more crunch bar tasted like a million dollars yesterday. I felt satisfied each time I ate, never hungry or bloaded or stuffed (like I normally do). My energy level was up, I had a little diet dr pepper. I was a happy girl.

And for the Two Piece Pictures!

Official starting weight 138.4

I'm not going to lie. I kinda wish I would have worn something else... like maybe a leotard. But the belly is what is driving me nuts, and I guess those upper thighs too, so the belly must be shown.

Mind you, this is 25 lbs lighter than I was in January. This is the body of a half marathon runner, lady who spends atleast 8 hours a week in the gym. That is disappointing to me to say that. I feel like for as much time as I put in at the gym I should flaunt muscle definition.

That is why this Take Shape for Life program works (I know it does, I have seen it on the other health coaches) because it takes what you are puting in at the gym and combines it with the amazing, healthy food choices they offer and it puts the total package all together. You can not have one with out the other. I have learned and am convinced that our bodies are deleloped and changed by probably 30% exercise, and 70% the fuel we put into our mouths. That is painful for an athletic, workout loving lady to say.

It does not matter how much you exercise, if you do not combine it with the healthiest food choices, you will not lose weight, or I should say you will not lose a significant amount of weight.

So, today is Day 1 of my Take Shape For Life program. I am feeling good. Staying hydrated. I had a strawberry shake (it reminds me more of a smoothie consistency) for breakfast, chicken noodle soup for lunch and am about ready for a s'more snack bar. It hasn't been bad at all. The first couple drinks of my shake I thought "hmm... this isn't great", but the rest was fine and it satisfied me. What a difference I have felt today. I ate what they recommended, and I felt satisfied. Not stuffed, not bloated, not guilty that I had 3 pancakes and bacon. I am supposed to eat between 2.5 and 3 hours. We will have baked chicken breast and salad for dinner, and honestly I know I am not supposed to be in fat burning zone for 3 days, but I am still anxious to see what the scale says tomorow. (I am even allowed to have 1 non caloric beverage a day... woot woot... diet dr pepper I have missed you!) and I also found out with further research today I can have sugar free gelatin too. Kinda excited bout that as well!

takeshapewithteri

My heart is pounding, I have butterflies, "I'm so excited, I just can't hide it!"

I have been learning, reading, and researching for the past couple of weeks. I have been knee deep in a program I have just learned about called Take Shape for Life! I went to a meeting today, and after attending I am fired up and ready.

You all know me. You know I am SO AGAINST fad diets. I want to puke at the word HcG diet, because I know it doesn't work long term, and it isn't healthy for your body. I want to smack people upside the head with their stupid get skinny quick methods.

I am on to something new, and fairly quick, and here's the kicker-- HEALTHY!! It is endorsed by dr's all around, in fact go ahead and call your dr now and ask him what he thinks about Take Shape for Life and the Medifast food. He will tell you it's great, almost guaranteed.

Take Shape for Life is a partner company with the popular Medifast food, that is a portion controlled, nutritionally balanced, low-fat food that has been proven to help people lose weight faster. It is a program that is designed to create a calorie deficit that allows you to burn fat for energy. The real kicker on this program for me, is that it BURNS YOUR BELLY FAT, because that is where the majority of our fat is stored.

So, I can go on and on about all the great things I have learned. Bottom line is, you buy the Medifast food from my website, you eat 5 Medifast meals, and 1 lean and green meal each day (lean and green is your own 5-7 oz of protein and 3 servings of vegetables). You STILL exercise each day, (30 minutes recommended). The average female should lose 3-5 lbs a week!!! The average male 7-10!!

This is not a get skinny quick method. This is going to take some time and some self control to get your weight off, once you reach your goal you go into a transition mode where you gradually add more (still healthy at home) food into your diet, then to maintenance mode where you maintain your loss... because YOU HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES, you have detoxed your body from all the processed high fructose corn syrup, and you have worked super hard to lose your weight so you KEEP IT OFF!! Another super great point of this company is that with buying your food, you get for free... ME!! A health coach, that helps you order your food, get the best deals on the food, helps motivate you, helps keep you on the bandwagon, and knows where you are with your program, and knows how to get you to the end, to be your best, healthiest self.

There are a ton of success stories and testimonials on the site, and the biggest, best one for me has been Sabra. She is who I am training under at the gym to be a group fitness instructor. She was like me, at a healthy weight, but felt like she had a few more unwanted pounds to go... so she started the program, is still on the program and lost 15 pounds in a month and a half and has kept it off since January.

I feel fully confident in thatI have done almost everything I can possibly do to get the rest of my weight off. I know how amazing I have felt to get this 25 pounds off by myself... but the reality is, not everyone can do that. And I can't get the next 5 off for the life of me, even with cutting out all sugar and soda. This is so lame. A month of no sugar and I have gone down 1.5 pounds. So not cool. If I am going to continue busting my butt, I want results!!!

So Monday is Day 1! And I am so excited! I can't waite for you to see where this plan takes me in the next 4-6 weeks. I am so brave, I am going to take a picture tomorow night, before I start this program of me in a 2 piece swim suit!! YIKES!! I am so brave, did I already say that? And then I will be taking another one in 4 weeks. If this program is even half as great as I think it is, I am going to feel good wearing that 2 piece, (Even though, for the record I will still be sporting a tankini at any and all times out in public, fyi) and you are going to see the great results this program is giving.

SOOOOO, keep checking in on me. Keep checking the blog to see my progress and for the love of everything, comment, email me, or call me.... let me know if you want to hear more about my new program!!

My new email is takeshapewithteri@gmail.com and my official website will be up and running hopefully Monday night.

If you are as tired as I think you are, and as tired as I am, of trying everything, of working hard and seeing slow or little results-- get in touch with me, and we can help you TAKE SHAPE FOR LIFE!!

137.9

HALLELUJAH!!!

137.9--- booyah!!

I have never ever ever seen 137(point) anything on the scale since I have been weighing myself and caring about how much I weigh. There was one day it said 137.7 but that was right after a morning like 10 mile run or something so it didn't count.

Today was a solid 137.9. I have been saying for months to people, I just can't get below 138 for the life of me.

Not any more!! I can totally get below 138, in fact I think I can get to 135 in less than 3 weeks. If I get to 135 by then end of my experiment, it will sooooo be worth all the lack of sugar and artificial sweetner aka diet dr pepper work.

Cuz it is work!! I still think about diet dr pepper all the time. Especially when I go run errands and have the burning desire to run in Maverick and get a fountain drink to accompany me, especially when I have a head ache, especially when the kids are extra whiney, or just plain naughty, especially when my husband has been home all week, especially when I have any amount of stress, especially when I see someone eating ice cream or candy, especially when I see someone drinking pop.

See, look how dependant my mood is on that dang drink!! I get into a better mood just thinking about drinking one. I think that says a lot about my emotional health. I am not very emotionally healthy if I need a damn diet dr pepper to ease tension and stress in my life. If I were a drinker of alcohol, or smoker of ciggarettes.... I would guess I would be a total alcoholic/chain smoker.

Moderation is not my middle name. Maybe one day it will be, but until then... if I am going to drop a few more pounds.... NO SUGAR NO SODA will have to be my middle and last name.

Happy weekend!

8 pounds

I went to step class today and informed Sabra I had yes lost a bit more weight, attributing it to no soda. A girl, Becky in class was like
"ya I lost 8 pounds in 2 months when I stopped." Becky is a twig for the record and I have no idea what made her want to try to lose 8 pounds... but she did and she looks great still.
Anyway, thought that was interesting food for thought for all of us.
8 pounds?!!?!!? Wow she rocks!

half a pound

REALLY?!
the scale went down half a pound today.
I was happy. My husband was sleeping when I saw the good news, pretty sure if he wouldn't have killed me I would have screamed in rejoice.
I hope hope hope it keeps going down.
I will totally think it is worth it to give up soda if my weight makes it to 135. I think my ultimate end all goal would be 135 at night when I go to bed, so 133ish when I wake up in the morning.
Can I do it?!
I reallly really really hope so. I want to see what it looks like, 133 on me.

Thanks for the comments readers!! I love love love comments!! I love to know that you are reading and getting something from my babbling. And for the sweet lady Rachel who says she is so far behind me... you aren't!! You are doing so good and we can all only do our very best. I have seen what you are capable of during our competition and I know that you can be your best self. We are all a work in progress every day-- I hope you are still remembering to celebrate all the great things you are choosing to do every day! You Go Girl!!

Socializatoin

I left the gym this morning to go run a few errands and was a little sad with out stopping to get a diet dr pepper to accompany me.

Then I was a little sad later in the day when I went to my friends to get my hair done. I wanted to bring a treat... but my options were no sugar, no soda... and of course I didn't want to sabotage us and bring fries. So I brought nothing.

It is crazy how much of my eating and drinking (haha that sounds like I am an alcoholic, but I don't even drink. But I am sure the same principle applies to those who do.) are so much of a social thing. My entire life I have spent eating dessert, or french fries, or soda in the company of my family on a car ride, in my circle of girl friends for a night out, in a group of families for a picnic, or on a date with boyfriends (in the past,) or now my husband. I have socialized over food my entire existance.

With this experiment I had the hopes i would be able to retrain my brain that I can still have fun and enjoy life with out indulging in everything in sight. That I can choose things I love and not feel a bit of sadness to turn down anything and everything I do not love. I have heard before you have to teach yourself that if you truly do want to be thin and in shape, you have to teach yourself to not want that "bad" food, and teach yourself that you do love to exercise. I can trick myself just like the rest of the world.

I am a work in progress every day. I feel optimistic that I made it through the day with still no sugar, and no soda either. I do not have a raging head ache, just a little hurt in my heart that I didn't get to enjoy the drink that I really do like, or maybe even love. I also feel a little exhausted and I don't know if that is from life in general, or the lack of caffiene. We will see what the rest of the week brings.

addict

I didn't have a soda until 430 this afternoon and by time I got to that can I had a RaGiNg head ache.
I can't believe how quickly I got addicted to it again, I only started drinking it again after my race July 10. How fast my body returned to craving it... it is insane!!
I will pump some advil in my body first thing tomorow morning and remind myself probably atleast fifteen times that I no longer am able to drink the soda. I thought it, I said it, I wrote it-- that's it... It is gone.
I am anxious to see what my weight does with out it. There was a time when I would have said I didn't think it affected my scale number... but as I have experimented and remembered back to after my daughter was born almost 3 years ago (When I was a dedicated diet coke drinker), I have realized that I think it plays more of a role in the weight loss than I thought. Whether it is actually pounds, or whether it is just water retention I am not sure... but I do believe I will be more able to drop 5 pounds with out the soda.
My friends sister is working with a trainer from Utah State... and in her words the soda is like "poisen" to our bodies.
I believe it. And I am quitting it, for good this time, atleast I think it's for good this time. For sure I am quitting it for the next 2 weeks.

Thankful

I was really starting to get a little crazy there for a couple of days. I can not begin to tell you the amount of stress that was lifted when I saw 139.7 today on the scale.

I know I might sound like a lunatic. In fact even saying it out loud I feel like one. But I have been so proud of my progress fitness and weight wise that the thought of that slowly slipping away has been a tremendous amount of stress on me. I have started out each of the days this past week already feeling a little down from my weight, and then trials have come our way in other aspects of our lives, and it has left me feeling a little gloomy. It is so frusterating to feel like I am are giving life 100%, and not seeing the postive results from doing that. While I understand the reason I was put here in this body on this earth was to go through life and face trails and tribulations-- it is sometimes not enough to know that, to keep me from feeling overwhelmed!

I feel a little skip in my step today. I know that regardless of my weight, I am still a good person who is trying my best every day. Some days will be better than others in different ways. I know how blessed I am to have my health and my strength and when I feel gloomy it is important to remind myself of that, not everyone is so lucky. Today is going to be a great day!

In the words of one of my favorite workouts songs (I dont know the singer or the title... jsut these words I sing several times through out the day), hope my weight, and the struggles of life keep going down, down, down. (Sorry you can't hear the tune but it is really peppy!)