Money Back

Sending out checks for $30 today to all but two people. Congrats everyone on a job well done and even my two who didn't lose--they only barely gained. The average American gains 10 lbs during the holidays and baby--
YOU DEFIED THOSE ODDS!!!
Be proud. Real Proud.
Good work and I hope to work with you all in the future, Happy New Year!

Competitors-

Ok friends, here is the list I have so far of people joining the challenge. Remember to weigh in and text (if you need my number send me an email or facebook me fitchickmom@hotmail.com) me a picture of your weight TUESDAY morning before NOON!!

Every weigh in after will be Saturday before NOON!! Do not forget! Before noon or it is a missed weigh in, I will have all weights posted for you to view by 10 pm Saturday nights. If you don't want your name written on the blog like it is (example : TERI) please specify that and what you want me to use instead--inititals, a nickname whatever.

No crazy lose weight fast tricks--I will know if you try, I have been a weight loser and weight loss facilitator for three years now and I know how the scale works so don't try to trick me, yourself, or your body--it wont work long term.

I think it would be SUPER DUPER cool if you all wanted to give me a little summary of who you are and why you are getting rid of extra pounds this year--and how you are going to ensure this is the last year you make this resolution!! I'd love to post it for motivation and so our cheer leaders can see how amazing we are!

Matt 273.6
Karen 186.4
Brecca 186
Eranda 163.4
Joey 200
Shannon 146
April 162.6
Callie
Amanda 181.2
Laura 150.6 By 217.6 Nicole Andrea 178.5
9 people, so that is a total 360$ for our pot... tell your friends and family and lets add some people if we want to make that pot bigger!!!

Fitchickmom@hotmail.com
Find me on facebook
Let's get goin!!

Quinoa Fried Rice Type Thing

I promise you this lunch was so much better than it looks here. Don't ask my 5 year old though, she is still mad at me since I make her take 3 whole bites of it, and wouldn't make her a separate lunch since she didn't like it--which she said before she tried it. AND I loved it, hubby loved it and Bubba the 3 year old downed two bowls....so she's outvoted and gonna be mighty hungry come dinner time.

I made almost a whole cup of quinoa with 2 cups water and 1 chicken bouillon cube. While that was cooking I put in a skillet a bit of all natural pork sausage and cooked. Added an egg and scrambled it, threw in some bell peppers and chicken breast I had pre cooked from the refrigerator  I added all this together and let it simmer for about 5 minutes and put half an avocado on the bottom of my bowl, add my portion and ATE IT UP!!

I sent my hubby this picture at work, he hadn't been answering my phone calls so I text him and said, "lunch is awesome, better hurry home!" He was so cute and called me right away, couldn't come home but asked for me to save him some...so I did what any good wife would do, I added it to Tupperware and took it to my lil love muffin.

With a call half hour later telling me how delicious it was.

Cheap, quick, nutritious--doesn't get much faster food than that--I guarantee I would've waited longer in line at Mickey D's for lunch than making this.

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ready, set, commit!

I have three people it looks like commited to start our challenge in January. I would like to get organized and set up so please let me know if you are joining in--the rules are posted two posts down.

IF you are debating--tell me what is holding you back? Fear? Nerves? A big event coming up?

There are no valid excuses anyone can change their whole world, their whole life, their whole body if they CHOOSE TO DO IT.

When are you going to make the choice to be your best you? If this is your year you are ready to make lifestyle changes--let me help you and let our group be an accountability group for you!

Christmas Eve Workout

I was put on a time limit this morning for my gym jam session since my little guy is just getting over being sick and couldn't go to daycare. The boys (Hubby and bro in law) gave me 90 minutes from the time I left home til the time I needed to be back home (20 minutes drive time probably total)
I'm one of those type A people who trains the same body part each day each week, I have a plan typically every time I get into the gym and I like the flow of that. I have been known to track my weights and reps as well.
Today, I needed to get obliques, chest and shoulders in and of course I wanted to do a bit of cardio to help minimize any damage that may come from treats today and tomorrow (READ: A BIT OF CARDIO=15 minutes...not 30 not 45 not 60.) Stay off the cardio equipment.

Here is my workout I want to share, I haven't circuit trained in a long time so this was a nice change of pace and I wont lie--it kicked my butt!

50 cross mtn climbers very slowly to hit my obliques
30 sec plank left
30 sec plank right
Repeated 3 times

pushups, 3 sets to failure (12, 10,10 on toes)

Chest fly (15#/15 reps) superset clean and press (50#/10 reps) Rest and repeated 3 times

chest cable fly (35/15) triple set seated shoulder press (20/10) standing shoulder press (15/10) rest/repeat 3 times

straight arm side raise double contraction (12/12) triple set flat bench press (45/12) 10 tuck jumps rest/repeat 3x

bent arm side raise (15/15) tripple set inch worm pushups (on toes for 6 then 5 then 6) 15 mtn climbers each leg rest/repeat 3x

15 minutes on treadmill incline 15%. walk at 2.0 90 seconds, jog at 5.0 for 60 seconds.

Fast and furious...and TOUGH!!!

Comment below with your workout today or if you are going to give this one a try!

Biggest Loser Style

biggest loser style

Ok its time to unveil my biggest loser competition that will begin January 1 and run through February 28.

I want serious competitors only- people wanting guidance and motivation to improve their overall health and make permanent lifestyle changes.

Weigh in day will be January 1 and then every Saturday morning before noon. Participants must text or email a picture of their scale by noon on weigh in day-past noon or not weighing in is a MISSED workout which there are TWO allowed during the entire competition-no exceptions will be made. I will post everyones weights by 10 pm saturday nights weekly. Commitment is mandatory.

No shortcuts are allowed. No hcg no cleanses no laxatives no nothing that if  you asked me i might say no.

$60 entrance fee. 40$ goes to the pot and will be divided between 1 st and 2 nd place. 1st place will receive 75% of total pot and 2nd place will receive 25%. Your remaining 20$ is payment to me for the two months of facilitating and assisting you on your journey. I realize this seems like a lot-but I'm not interested in the amusement side of this. These competitions take me a lot of time and energy to keep up with and  in the past I have had people one foot in and one foot out. I'm hoping to eliminate the people who aren't really commited to the challenge by increasing the duration of time and money commitment.

I will help you anyway i can.. anyone can join....winner is based off total percentage of pounds lost to ensure fairness to all participants 

Questions- text facebook or email me

Lets make it a heck of a new year together friends!

biggest loser style

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Weigh ins

Are weigh in's are half way over! Wow, only 16 more days til I start divying up some moolah?!!? Who is gonna share this with me??

Teri
143, 141.3
Krista
141.4, 142.2
Teresa
161, 154.5
Laura
153, 148
Sandi
183.2, 181
Steve
219.7, 219.7

A piece by Kristen Armstrong

By Kristin Armstrong 

A few months ago on a school morning, as I attempted to etch a straight midline part on the back of my wiggling daughter's soon-to-be-ponytailed blond head, I reminded her that it was chilly outside and she needed to grab a sweater.

"No, mama."
"Excuse me?"
"No, I don't want to wear that sweater, it makes me look fat."

"What?!" My comb clattered to the bathroom floor. "Fat?! What do you know about fat? You're 5 years old! You are definitely not fat. God made you just right. Now get your sweater."

She scampered off, and I wearily leaned against the counter and let out a long, sad sigh. It has begun. I thought I had a few more years before my twin daughters picked up the modern day f-word. I have admittedly had my own seasons of unwarranted, psychotic Slim-Fasting and have looked erroneously to the scale to give me a measurement of myself. But these departures from my character were in my 20s, before the balancing hand of motherhood met the grounding grip of running. Once I learned what it meant to push myself, I lost all taste for depriving myself. I want to grow into more of a woman, not find ways to whittle myself down to less.

The way I see it, the only way to run counter to our toxic image-centric society is to literally run by example. I can't tell my daughters that beauty is an incidental side effect of living your passion rather than an adherence to socially prescribed standards. I can't tell my son how to recognize and appreciate this kind of beauty in a woman. I have to show them, over and over again, mile after mile, until they feel the power of their own legs beneath them and catch the rhythm of their own strides.

Which is why my parents wake my kids early on race-day mornings. It matters to me that my children see me out there, slogging through difficult miles. I want my girls to grow up recognizing the beauty of strength, the exuberance of endurance, and the core confidence residing in a well-tended body and spirit. I want them to be more interested in what they are doing than how they look doing it. I want them to enjoy food that is delicious, feed their bodies with wisdom and intent, and give themselves the freedom to indulge. I want them to compete in healthy ways that honor the cultivation of skill, the expenditure of effort, and the courage of the attempt.

Grace and Bella, will you have any idea how lovely you are when you try? 

Recently we ran the Chuy's Hot to Trot Kids K together as a family in Austin, and I ran the 5-K immediately afterward. Post-race, my kids asked me where my medal was. I explained that not everyone gets a medal, so they must have run really well (all kids got a medal, shhh!). As I picked up Grace, she said, "You are so sweaty Mommy, all wet." Luke smiled and said, "Mommy's sweaty 'cause she's fast. And she looks pretty. All clean." 

My PRs will never garner attention or generate awards. But when I run, I am 100 percent me--my strengths and weaknesses play out like a cracked-open diary, my emotions often as raw as the chafing from my jog bra. In my ultimate moments of vulnerability, I am twice the woman I was when I thought I was meant to look pretty on the sidelines. Sweaty and smiling, breathless and beautiful: Running helps us all shine. A lesson worth passing along.

Wonderfully Made

I am so sick of my white skin, why can't it be tan?

I hate brown hair! Why wasn't I born blonde?

My hands are so short, I just want longer fingers!

My eyes are too big, I am going to do everything I can to make them smaller.

My feet are so small, why can't they be bigger like hers?

Ugh! These pants are so long on me, if only my legs were longer.


How ridiculous do these statements above sound? Pretty freaking dumb huh?

How about these-
My stomach is so big, I am going to work my butt off until I have a six pack.
My shoulders will not build up, I am going to train harder than ever before so I can have big shoulder caps.
My butt is so big, I am going to work it out all dang day until it shrinks.
I just wish my arms were smaller!
When I lose more of my body fat I will look like all the fitness models in the magazines.
My face is so fat, I am going to avoid all carbohydrates so I lose some weight.
Ugh, my thighs rub together, I will run til they stop

Those ones don't sound so dumb do they? They sound normal, they are probably things you have thought, they are definitely things I have written, said, and thought. Only in my thoughts the wording has been much more harsh.

A friend I truly love, and who meant well, sent this to my via text the other day and I have been pi$$ed ever sense about this stupid picture.




I want to take that freakin rhino off that treadmill and scream with it's face up really close to mine-- "YOU WILL NEVER BE A DANG UNICORN!!! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FRIGGIN UNICORN  YOU BEAUTIFUL HIPPO. LOOKING LIKE SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT IS NOT A GOOD DREAM TO HAVE!!"

Get over it hippo. You were born to be a hippo, you were born to have a curvaceous body that is capable of many strong things--but you dear hippo, will never look like a unicorn--and that's PERFECTLY OK!
Just be you little hippo--there is only one you, and that's truer than true! Be the best dang hippo you can be. Run fast, eat healthy food, meditate, do good to those around you and look into the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself because you are the best freaking you there ever will be.

It has been on my mind a lot lately how focused we can get on becoming perfect. Everyone wants to know the answer--how long until I lose this weight? How long until I can run that far? How long until I will be ready? There is no time table friends. Fitness and health are life long endeavors that never, ever end. You will never "arrive" at this physique or at this weight or at this body fat and stay there. It is a constant journey that you will never be able to hop off, which is why I wish everyone would take this advice--

Make small changes, a little here and a little there. Exercise a little and add a little after a few weeks. Love yourself for who you are TODAY and for who you can become, but stop trying to become a perfect model in a magazine. Those pictures aren't real! Those models do not look like that! They have been photoshopped up the ying yang and they are perpetuating the LIES that you keep telling yourself-- that you aren't good enough, lean enough, small enough, pretty enough.

It's crap!

I truly believe it is so great to have DREAMS and GOALS--to run a race, to bench press a little heavier, to complete a triathlon, compete in a show, cycle faster, win a ball game or whatever your thing might be-- but setting these goals in terms of a scale number,or a body fat percentage, or for when you look like a unicorn--is setting yourself up for failure. You can work hard, you can improve your skills, you can train your body and your mind to become a champion, but you can not train yourself to become someone you are not. You will never look like THAT model, sure you can look like a model and become a successful one if that is what you choose--but don't think for a second that when you arrive on that magazine cover, or in that article that the self doubt goes away. There will always be someone bigger and better, faster, prettier, smarter--there will always be! Stop punishing yourself for that and be the best dang YOU that you can be.

A friend said this to me once, that her father or grandfather and said to her--I think he was a pastor and it really meant something to me and I hope it will to you too.
"There is no perfect. Strive but honor the body you have been given for you were fearfully and wonderfully made."

Tell yourself this. Everyday. You are beautiful, because of who you are and who you are striving to be, because of Who made you, and because you are the only YOU there will ever be. Honor that.

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jump

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Ladies, LISTEN UP!!

Hello friends! This week I have gotten not one, not two, but three separate emails from women asking me essentially the same question. HOW DO I VENTURE OVER TO THE FREE WEIGHTS AREA with all those men who make loud noises, and those 4 girls who know everything about the gym. (Cuz most the chicks are on the treadmill or the elliptical right? Tell me which girls you see and want to look like, really--please comment!)

This needs to be addressed in a BIG way. You all know I am a LOVER of lifting things heavy. I feel powerful when I lift heavy crap up and put it back down, and I love showing women how they TOO can feel this sense of power. If you are one of those girls spending any longer that 30 minutes on a piece of cardio equipment STOP AND BACK AWAY FROM THE DANG TREADMILL so nobody gets hurt!!!

#1 Every single person in the free weight area started somewhere, and when they started--they didn't know what they were doing either.
#2 Anyone who is working in the free weight area that knows what they are doing today, and is hardcore enough for you to care about what they are doing--is not paying attention to you. They are there trying to relieve stress and build a better body, just like you are--and they do not even notice you unless you take the dumb bells they were just using and put down for their rest.
#3 Most of the men in the free weight area, do not know what they are doing. (Sorry guys, the truth hurts doesn't it--how many of you said you hate my skinny jeans! ha, gotcha back!) They are really good at pretending they do, making loud grunting noises, throwing plates around, and walking with their chests out--so you THINK they know what they are doing. From working with clients and spending a lot of hours in the gym, a great majority of the time, the first time female clients have much better natural form and technique than first time men. Embrace it girls, you rock.
#4 Fake it til you make it sista, take a lesson from the boys
#5 You easily can become injured exercising if you do not have proper form and technique on exercises--do yourself a favor and hire a trainer for a month or two until you feel more comfortable out there on your own.

You will not build a better body by doing cardio. You will build a better, smaller, tighter body by lifting heavy a$$ weights and putting them back down on the ground. Exercise does not have to be boring, long...and boring. It can be fun, and the only way you are going to be able to stick with it is if you find what IS fun for you. Keep doing an hour of cardio a day, the scale will drop--but I hate to break it to you, your body looks the same and your insides are screaming that they are friggin exhausted. Trust me here girls.

When I first started out I was scared to go over to "that area" too. But I learned, I read, I got advice and help from trainers--and now I pretty much feel like a beast in the free weight area, and you can too. Don't let the others intimidate you, or if they do intimidate you--tell yourself they don't, pretend they don't and walk your booty over there are start lifting. Put your ipod in and focus dangit. Lift like a girl! Lift heavy and hard and watch your body change before your eyes.

Remember, I'm here. Let me help if you need anything-- sharing my secret is one of my favorite things in the world. You just have to make a decision, put in the work, and watch the results roll in.

Saturday Seal Workout

Tracy and I ended up being the only two who did our Navy Seal workout on Saturday. It turned out super awesome and was a hard 50 minute workout. Tracy killed those pushups doing all 50 on her toes and in only two sets, while I took longer--and did some on my knees. We kicked butt on the run and the sprint. I kept thinking how uncomfortable I was while I was running (because I haven't run for 10 minutes, except once in 2 years.) and then again on the sprints when I got to 10.0, 10.5, 10.6- but I was actually comfortable being that uncomfortable. It felt good, almost like I was sacrificing and pushing hard because Pat couldn't or because Pat's family would give anything to see him about throw up on a treadmill on a Saturday morning.
It was a spiritual workout for me, and one I am proud I took on. I hope if anyone joined us in this you will send me a picture, or a quote or something you felt while you did it. I am sure Pat looked down smiling at our sweat and the camaraderie that exists among all of us in the fitness world, no matter where we are in our journey.

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Honoring a Fallen Seal

In honor of a friend's (Hey Misty!) friend, who was killed in action and layed to rest this past week a couple girlfriends and I are going to do his favorite workout tomorrow at 9 am.
When Misty posted about this my heart immediately went to her as she spoke of her sadness and the loss she was feeling of losing this fellow service man. My husband is not military, but he is in the line of work where every day when he leaves out my door, He and I both fully understand he may not come home that evening. He puts himself on the line every single day protecting the rights of others. Because of him and my brother in law who is an Army officer and some of my closest friends whose spouses are military--a special place in my heart has been carved out for them and for their families. Day in and day out dark til dark they are in some way ensuring that you and I have the freedoms that we do and that is a debt we wont ever be able to repay, nor would they want us to--I know because most of them have military or service in their blood and it is who they are as a person. That being said it is my job to honor them and the sacrifices they and their families-- who have been left behind during training's  deployments, and in some cases when they're service person has returned to the Lord-- have made.
It is with great honor that I will perform this workout tomorrow -yes, it's just a Saturday workout for me. But for this fallen soldier, it was his favorite and one that his peers affiliated with him. I invite everyone who has pride and gratitude in their hearts for this country and the men and women who sacrifice for us every day to join with me tomorrow in sweating it out--for those that can not do it anymore whether they are injured or have been layed to rest.
I will never forget.

100 jumping jacks
90 lunges
80 butt kicks
70 front kicks (walking)
60 squats
50 jabs
40 cross jabs
30 upper cuts
20 burpees push up jumps
19 knee jab punch
10 minute run
10 100 meter sprints
50 pushups

Comment here or on facebook and let me know if you are going to join us--even better, snap a picture and put it on my facebook page so I can post a blog on it.


Rest in Peace, Pat.

Anger Management

I started and finished my Christmas shopping last night, with the exception of maybe 4 things. I am so happy. I was reading a friends blog (Kami I just love you!) about how her mom was the most amazing woman ever and always brought such a fun sweet Christmas spirit to their home and I realized I wanted to be able to do that too. So I wanted to get my shopping DONE and out of the way so that that stress was gone, and I could focus on fun family home evenings, treats for friends and neighbors, holiday movies, Christmas lights and other magical things for my 5 and 3 year old. And husband, but he cares less than they do :) Or so he says.
I got a few things to make some treat plates for a few family friends and I am so excited to take the time (I have never done this!) to make some special things and have the kids help.
Besides the point I was at like 10 stores last night and this is what happened to really, seriously, almost ruin my Christmas cheer and royally Pi$$ me off. (Sorry but fo-real friends)!

I was at Costco and I notice a lady, a nice looking lady and her two high school age daughters. They are have quite a full cart and look happy and to be enjoying their time out together. That's all, I noticed them, noticed they were happy-that made me happy. Then I ran into them again back by the food section and I see that this nice looking mother is holding on to the cart and would probably be 5'6 if she were standing up straight, but instead she looks about 4'6. Why you are wondering? Well, something was physically wrong with her legs and each step she took each of her knees would almost touch the floor almost as if she were walking toe, knee toe knee. Does that make sense? My heart hurt. I thought, I have got to write a blog about this amazing mountain of a woman. She must hurt. She must have an extreme amount of pain, she must yearn to be able to go for a 2 mile walk, she must wish so bad she could do a squat, she must wonder why she ended up with a body that doesn't work like most everyone else's. The interesting part, as I mentioned above, was she didn't LOOK like she wondered those things. She look perfectly content, happy, and kind. I am only thinking that she wishes for those things because I would. I immediatly thought of all of us who take advantage of our perfectly healthy properly functioning bodies. People who can walk and choose not to, people who can run and choose not to. People who can maintain a healthy weight by eating healthy food and exercising regularly that don't.

What a waste, what a slap in the face to the Lord that we don't use our bodies and take advantage of them the way he intended. That woman really inspired me. She made me want to continue making my body healthy on the outside and continue working hard on the inside too, so I can look that beautiful, kind and content like she did.

A hour or so later I was at Target and I noticed a lady asking for a drivable cart-- she was an overweight person by about 75 pounds I would say with two little girls my kids age. Then her husband waddled (I do not say that to make fun at all!) over and needed the cart. The man was probably 200 lbs over weight. He was huge. Can you imagine the pain that his joints must feel? I do not know anything about this family other than what I saw at that exact time but I will be completely honest, my anger flared inside of me. He could possibly have a disease that makes him over weight, but I would venture to guess the cause is overeating, under exercising, and a sad inside that makes him feel like he deserves to be that big. From the looks of it--his whole body worked properly. He could walk if he wanted to, but I am sure that it hurts his feet, ankles, knees and hips to do it. He'd rather drive a cart. How humiliating for him, I imagine. WHY oh WHY wouldn't he take advantage of a working body and become an example to his two young girls? Why does he ride on a cart when the lady who can barely actually walk because of an obvious disability, walks clear through Costco?

My point is not to judge. There is a lot of mental and spiritual issues that go into a person that is that far overweight and I have no clue this man's circumstance. My point is to say to everyone, everywhere-- you can choose to be who ever you want to be. You can choose to put time into whatever you want, and you can choose to have overweight obese children or healthy children. You have so many choices--choices that not everyone else has. If you are someone that is taking advantage of your health--please hear my plea to make a small change here and a small change there--things you can live with forever. The best gift you can give YOURSELF and your family for Christmas is a healthier version of you..

Weighty Matters

What up friends?!
It looks like I had a total of 7 people interested in our challenge--so the possibility of 140 bucks in the pot! Yay! If you need to know where to send your check, text, email or message me on facebook.

Teri 143.1
Krista 141.4
Teresa 161
Laura 153
Sandi 183.2
Steve 219.7
Jimmy 159.8

In all my other competitions I have clearly stated that there is absolutely no cleanses, hcg, or other dramatic weight loss (Short term solutions) and I feel it would be weird, at Christmas time to remind you of that because who wants to be pooping their brains out for Christmas?! Not me, but in case anyone likes that sorta thing--
PLEASE NOTHING besides healthy eating and exercise to maintain or lose weight this month!!
Thanks!
So, how about a challenge this week? I am thinking something nutrition wise and something exercise wise--

OK OK you win, I'll do it.

Here is your mission should you choose to accept it--anyone can join in, anyone can cheer us on so bring on the love people!

Challenge #1 every day for breakfast this week eat a complex carb AND a protein. A couple good examples could be this:
1/2 c old fashioned oats 4 egg whites and 1 egg
1 whole wheat tortilla with 4 egg whites and 1 egg
Slice of whole wheat toast (I LOVE DAVE'S KILLER BREAD!!!) and the same eggs
1/2 c old fashioned oats with 1 cup plain non fat greek yogurt sweetened with stevia or truvia
3 of those pumpkin pancakes from a few posts down, with a dab of peanut butter on each and the eggs or the greek yogurt or 1 cup cottage cheese

Challenge #2
each day in addition to any exercise you may do on your own, do this combination 4 times
30 sec jumping jacks
30 sec scissor kick jacks
30 sec high knees (running in place)
30 sec butt kickers.
Rest and repeat 4 times total!
It'll only take you 10 minutes tops!!

Let me hear how it goes! Good luck this week, kick some a$$!!

Same Day-- New and improved, bigger back baby

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December Competition!!

I know, you know, we all know that if someone is thinking about losing weight right now, they are going to make in through December and start January 1.
I am a big believer in New Years resolutions- (In fact I wrote this last year addressing my annoyance towards people bad mouthing resolutioners--but read that if you are interested because that is not what this post is about) whether you make your resolution on a Wednesday in February, or like me- on your birthday, or January 1. I am a believer that ANYONE can change whenever they make the CHOICE to change.
I have done several weight loss competitions in the past and I have had several people have really good luck with them, including myself clear back in 2010. But for this month, the month of sugar cookies, Holiday parties with wine or other adult beverages, and chocolate galore-- I had an idea that I thought people might be interested in-- a weight maintenance competition.
It would work like this, you will pay me $30, email or text me your weight Saturday December 1, and then again every Saturday morning of December and finally on December 31st. If you MAINTAIN your weight you get $20 back (I am paying myself 10$ here to help yall and myself out! I will give exercise tips, nutrition tips and any other advice I might be able to help with), if you gain weight I put your money in an envelope that says GAINER, if you LOSE weight-- I will divy up that GAINER envelope and split between the WEIGHT LOSERS.
So basically, if you weigh the same exact weight, you get almost all your money back. If you lose weight, you have potential to earn some extra spending money (for a pedicure or smaller workout pants, or a personal training session with me!) and if you gain weight, well you will have to work harder in January than you would otherwise.
I think this will be fun! I am in and I am even gonna put money into the pot. I bet I can get my hubby too and maybe some guys from his work and the gym. Soooo!!! The more the merrier! Share this post with absolutely anyone and let's get some money in that envelope!!
Questions--let me know quick, text or call me or email me at fitchickmom@hotmail.com

Gym Jam Date

A girlfriend and I met up this morning for a butt and leg workout and I have to say-- we pretty much killed it in an hour. I read yesterday from Pauline Nordin--founder of fighter diet, that if you can workout longer than an hour, you aren't going hard enough.
Well we got our money worth out of that hour.
We started with abs for warm up
4x15 single leg deadlift (40#)
4x8 hamstring curls (90#)
4x15 lying down leg press (35#)
5x6-8 stiff legged deadlift (95# three sets, 115 two sets)
3x12 donkey kicks
3x15 leg extension (70#)
3x30 donkey calf machine (40#)
3x1 minute wall sit

Then we called it a day. I had to laugh and maybe even lift a little harder because an older lady looked at me and said "what are you a professional, or do you just love it-- are you really going to lift that."
Really sweet of her, I told her I was training for life!! She made my day and made me thankful for people who are willing to build others up--that's exactly what she did for me today. Made me feel like a million bucks.
What's your favorite body part to train?
How often do you workout?

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i look different

Happy week after Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you had a great holiday! I did! It was one of my favorites in a long time. I was on vacation for 5 days and came back only 3 lbs heavier! Woohoo!! I am getting better and better at this healthy lifestyle thing friends.
So my mother in law and I shopped a bit of black Friday and I had killer luck!! It always seems that if I have money to spend on myself I can find NOTHING, and if I have no money to spend on myself I find EVERYTHING! Well this Black Friday was different. You need to know this about me though first--
1. I have one pair of skinny jeans (until this week) and I have probably only worn them 6 times total. I am very nervous in them and feel like I don't look right in them.
2. I usually am always in gym clothes
3. I do not have a lot of style
I On our shopping adventure I found this little outfit that the sales lady sorta helped me put together. This shirt is my favorite color and I love Silver brand jeans and these are a pair of their skinnys. So I tried them on and guess what?! I felt cute in this outfit. I was so excited and I had gift certificates to spend from my birthday so I bought it. The next day I came out of my room there and my mother in law was like "you look so cute!" I was checking myself in the mirror and getting sweaty and anxious, I wasn't too sure if I felt confident in these tight jeans and top. (Head talk: I might look fat, maybe this shirt makes me look bigger, I am not even stylish I can't pull this off.) I told her I was going to take it off and think about it for a while because I wasn't sure if I felt confident in it yet. She said something that really clicked and must've been exactly what I needed to hear because ever since, I swear, I have lost 10 lbs whenever I look in the mirror. My skin is clearer, I stand taller and I FEEL different.
"In ten years you are going to look back and say, I wish I had worn this or that, I looked so good. I wish I looked like that now"
You know what? She was right. I have talked about this with other ladies and Jon even said to me while I was training for the show and doubting myself every step of the way-- "enjoy your body now for what it is and how good it looks." I look back at the pictures before I ever started training for the figure shows and I wish I looked like THAT again.
Crazy human nature and crazy body image issues. Please raise your hand if you relate.
Sometimes you read something, or someone says just the perfect thing for you and things click together and it feels SO>DANG>GOOD!
This is what my mother in law did for me. I feel awesome.
I had a hardcore leg workout last night and a hard core back training session today and I felt so strong, so in shape, so capable and I felt like I looked good. That thought is usually pretty far from my mind because I am always concentrating on the areas I want to improve rather than the parts I love.
I got a glimpse of my back and I felt proud-- so I snapped a photo, even though people were in the locker room and prolly thought I was crazy. I worked hard. I lifted heavy, I killed my abs too. I did something to better my body and my mind and for once in a long time coming-- I feel content with where I am and excited for the journey ahead.

Don't be so hard on yourself friends. I know you are, because I am-- and I know I am not the exception to the rule. Talk to yourself the way you would to me, or your best friend. Your body can hear you.

How was your thanksgiving? 

Do you wear skinny jeans or regular jeans-- where do you buy your favorite ones?

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Funny Fit Moments

I think everyone has funny moments in their daily lives and lately I have had several I want to remember and I wonder if other people relate to.
I came speeding down the road home on Saturday morning to bust my booty in order to be ready for family pictures in 1 hr and 15 minutes. (Had to get my back and biceps and some HIIT done first, of course.) I yelled up the stairs at my hubby who was working out on his total gym to please come get ready cuz Ill need help with the kids. My 5 year old yells down the stairs--
"Justaminute mom. I gotta finish a little more of my workout ok?!"

This morning Bubba didn't want to wear his new cowboy boots, he wanted to wear his "gym shoes like mommy duz he wuns weally fast in dese ones mom!"

At Walmart I almost had a coronary attack when a mom behind me in line was feeding her baby, who could not have been more than 6 months Bug Juice. Do you know what Bug Juice is? Sugar water. Yes, I have boughten them for my kids on lots of different occasions, but they are 3 and 5. This baby was 6 months!!! Are you kidding me? I wanted to scream at her.

This morning I did reps of 100 on my shoulders and my chest. My first exercise was clean and press with only a 40# barbell, because I had so many to do. Thank gosh it was a light bar because on about rep 85, I smacked the bottom side of my nose on the way up to my press. Nice. I totally had a red nose like rudolph for my whole workout.

This happened a while ago but I was doing hip thrusts. No biggie I do em all the time to get a good burn on my glutes. So I had maybe like 85 lbs on my lap. When I got through with my reps, I realized-- oh my heck I can't get this bar off my legs. I had to take my ipod off and ask one of the guys to come get the bar from me. Now, that was awesome. Asking for help in a situation like that is waaaay cooler when you ask BEFORE you get stuck with weight on your lap.

What are yours? Anything funny or cute happen at your house this week?

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best kept secret

I seriously wish I was exaggerating when I said these are the best freaking pancake you will ever have in your life. My cousin had been telling me about them for like a year, but I never actually tried them until a month ago.
Best.decision.I.ever.made.
These are not my kids favorite, but I have skipped lunches out, (remember my inner fat girl... I DO love to eat out!!) I have waited an extra hour to eat my lunch, I have had no problem turning down ANYTHING else, but these. These are my new lunch carb. I get 3 because there are a little less than 60 calories and 10 carbs per pancake. Protein is not an issue because I eat chicken or eggs or turkey burger for lunch so these are ONLY my carb source, and my healthy fat source because I put a bit of peanut butter on each and layer them. HOLY CRAP they are so good.
Seriously, make these. When I make them I get 14 or 15 pancakes instead of the 12 it says I should, so I figure mine have a little less than the macros that are listed.
Click on the link below, ENJOY and thank me later!
MOST AMAZING PUMKIN PANCAKES EVER!!!!

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sweet 27

My birthday was today! It started off great with my family making me a delicious and totally NOT nutritious breakfast of crepes, a cinnamon roll and sausage. It was delicious and just the thing to have me at the gym an hour later workin it. Jon wrote me a birthday workout and he delivered a good sweat session as always. I did 4 x 50 back squats- 4x50 weighted walking lunges 4x50 leg press 4x50 back squat 4x50 leg extension 4 x50 hamstring curls 100 squat jumps and 50 kick backs on each leg. It took me 2 hrs and 15 minutes, I was even late to pick up my kids from daycare not realizing it. It was a great workout and one of my favorite body parts to work so I enjoyed it. I will probably be ridiculously sore tomorrow.
I came home and refueled with my favorite post workout shake. 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 scoop whey, 1 tbsp pb2, 1 banana, a few ice cubes and 2 handfulls of spinach and then topped with birthday sprinkles today-- ya know, cuz it's my birthday!
The kids and I came home and finished transforming our bonus room into their new toy room. It was a long project that we started last weekend and worked a bit on each day-- today we busted it out and finished in like 3 hours. It was a workout in its self but I love organization and things to look pretty and neat so this was a fun way for me to spend my day. I had a little chicken and spaggetti squash so I would be all healthy before my birthday dinner at Texas Roadhouse.
My dad and step mom took us to Texas Roadhouse (my choice) because I really wanted to try one of those loaded sweet potatoes I had heard everyone talk about. I had steak, shrimp a salad and that. It was so good. I could only eat like 1/3 of it because it was so sweet but I really liked it. I love shrimp and my steak was ok.
We did a little shopping afterwards to do some returns I needed to get done and then headed home where I finished the night shellacing my nails so they will look pretty for our family pictures tomorrow.
I had a great day, and just yesterday was feeling a little sad about getting older. But today, I had a kick booty workout and spent time with the people I love. I realize how lucky I am to be in such great shape at 27 years old and that I am capable of lifting such heavy crap off the ground. I love it and I am thankful that I have found this passion. My family loves me and we are healthy-- what more could a 27 year old want in life?

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down 25 lbs baby!!

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baby got back

When life is hard or sad or stressful... 
Hit da gym baaaaby!!!

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rant rant rant

You were forewarned with the title and my snipit on facebook so if you don't want to hear me up on my soap box, you might want to discontinue reading like... now!

Meet munchkin two (left, we call him Bubba) and munchkin one (right, we call her Bug)! Aren't my kids adorable? They look like their dad-- especially the little monkey boy. A spitting image. Anyway-- this post is in reference to an absolutly crazy day the monkeys and I had one day last week (Actually, Nov 1 to be exact) So bare with me-- I'll get there.

November 1 Bug's teacher called me as I was leaving the gym and said she had red spots, I needed to come get her. (You know you are a fitness freak when you say a prayer of thanks the red spots didn't come til AFTER your gym jam session) As I picked her up I thought it looked like it could be what I heard ring worm looked like, so we stopped by the nurse. She thought ring worm. So in a rush I call the dr that is 25 minutes from our house and am so so grateful to get her an apt in 30 minutes. Seriously, like I thanked the Lord right then and there they got us in right away. The thought of  ring worm is ew gross, I know. I kept thinking that people were going to think I don't clean my house or my dog is dirty nasty or whatever (fyi.. I am sorta a germ phob and as soon as someone said ring worm I started itching uncontrollably!) We wait at the office for 40 minutes (read:this is nap time, no one has eaten lunch...I am getting slightly annoyed after 20 minutes. I ask the office lady if we got skipped? She won the customer service award for the day and got us right back after I politely checked in again... NOT! She was a biotch but whatever people got stuff goin on in their lives right?
After 90 minutes (this is like 3:00 at this point) a different dr came in because our poor dr had apparently gotten stuck in a room with a patient that ENTIRE time! Dr is in our room for 3 minutes, ring worm for sure... oh wait she has it all over her arms? Legs? belly?
Hives.
THANK THE HEAVENS ABOVE MY HOUSE IS CLEAN ENOUGH.

So we get the hell out of therein the car and start driving through school and road construction traffic to stop at a Fast Eddy's (my most favoritest gas station ever!) to get me a diet dr pepper (oh yah, I didn't stay off it forever!) and the kids a snack. What, oh what can I find that is semi healthy to eat at a gas station? Nuts, banana, or crap.
They don't want banana or nuts, obviously. It's friggin 300 they're tired and hungry and they want candy dangit. AH HA! Fast Eddy's is the bomb! They have mickey mouse luncheable type things with apples, grapes and cheese in them for 3.00. Of course they have some sort of stuff sprayed on the food to keep it fresh looking, longer but this is about as good as it gets out and about. I think this is a genius idea! So were all set, I got my nuts (I didn't have any food with me and I wasns't about to eat a meal of crap processed food I didn't even want because I was starving..yay me!) and my diet dr pepper (boo I know it isn't healthy! Do as I say not as I do right?! Kinda)
Then we hit Walgreens after getting turned around in traffic and all we really want is to be home with a red box and some zyrtec. Every where I look there are candy isle after candy isles and display after display of....

Christmas CandY!!!
Are you kidding me? Halloween was literally yesterday! I only let my kids go around the block and we literally have probably 2 lbs of candy. I mean it is a huge bowl. But that isn't enough is it America!?
No wonder we are obese.
So some people from facebook were a bit annoyed by my maybe shall we call it "judgemental" attitude towards the candy.
It isn't THIS candy. It isn't THIS store. It isn't the fact that the cashier asked me for a donation for diabetes prevention two feet past this display (OK OK MAYBE THAT WAS WHAT GOT ME!)
Holidays are good and fun and a reason to celebrate and reflect on our blessings in life. But they have also become an excuse to BUY CRAP WE DON'T NEED, EAT CRAP WE SHOULD'NT EAT, and SPEND MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
Diabetes prevention? Seriously? Ill give you prevention... give us two weeks between halloween candy and Christmas candy!
What people don't understand is this is literally killing people! Food is as much of an addiction if not MORE so than (yep I went there) alcohol and drugs. It is widely accepted that if you are having a bad day-- chocolate will fix it. Have a good day, food should celebrate it.

   Life is about the moments we have, with the people we love. Holidays should be spent surrounded by love and laughter and I believe some food and treats should and can be apart of those celebrations in a healthy and moderate way.  I don't think they need to be the dang CENTER of them.

What do you think? How do you celebrate? Does candy isle after candy isle annoy you too?

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every once in a blue moon

I forgot to tell y'all something serious... 

I sometimes get dressed and do my hair and do my makeup. It doesnt happen that often since im in the gym a lot of the time but i thought i should document it for you.

People at my daughters school didn't recognize me!!! Hahaha

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muscle boy

My son has bigger muscles than yours..  hahahahah cute lil army dude eh?!happy Halloween fitness friends!!

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family gym jam time

Shoulders and chest done today!!! Time to stock up at the grocery store with some healthy eats, but not until after i refuel with a power shake!
1 banana
8 oz unsweetened original almond milk
1 scoop chocolate whey protein
1 tbsp pb2
2 cups spinach
Blended up for a piece of amazingness!!! Even my boys wanted one- look at that lil face on bubba!!

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family gym jam time

Working it with the fam dam today...shoulders chest and triceps coming up baaaaaby!!!

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new shirt

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problem

With blogging from your phone is i think i post to my family blog but i actually post to my fitness blog- and visa versa as well  ;)
I can not wait to hit the gym for some heavy a$$ legs tomorrow.  Guess why? 
I got the cutest new workout tank on sale yesterday at old navy!!! Cant wait to wear it. Yep ill post a pic cuz i know ya'll are dying to see how cute it is!
Kick some booty this week eh?! Go big baby!

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bubbas getting close to 3

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glitter pumpkins

We finally decorated with glitter and last week the kids painted with daddy while i was at work!!! We love fall!

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Medication Review-- Listen to Your Body!

This post is a preface to my product review that is coming of the Zevia, the soda sweetened with stevia. Bare with me it will take me a minute to get it all out here because I have been missing in action for a while of my updates on my life and training.
June 2012 I was sick and tired of having this crappy acne that is cystic in some places on my face. I had been dealing with it for months and so I went to the dermatologist and was prescribed spironolactone for hormonal acne. I had previously(January) been prescribed that same medicine by my ob-gyn for acne and some unwanted dark hair growth that I have suffered with since I was a kid (although I stopped taking it after a few weeks because I was prepping for the show, didn't see immediate improvement, and was too tired to remember to take it all the time). I close to this time (June) also had seen my regular practitioner to have blood work and an annual physical performed and he, the third dr, also recommended this medicine.
So I started taking it, a low dosage and wasn't seeing improvement. After two months I went back to the dermatologist to see what else we could try. He thought my two options were increasing that medication or going back on accutane, which I took when my oldest (5 year old) was an infant for the acne that went nutso while pregnant and breastfeeding. I chose to increase the dosage because accutane is a big pain in the butt, having to see the dr each month, have blood drawn and tested each month, and of course using two forms of birth control everytime I have sex. Have you seen my husband? That's a lot of condoms. (Sorry TMI!!! I know you are so glad I am back!!!)
I increased the dosage for two weeks when I had stepped on the scale (I have gone back to weighing daily because with each month that was passing the scale was continuously going up about 3 lbs). I was getting on the scale and almost died, yes over 3 lbs again. I know 3 pounds is such a small deal, but I assure you that it is actually closer to 10, because I was ok with the first two months going up (could be more muscle, could be more water retention... a million factors weigh in). The week before I went into the dermatologist to increase the dosage I had Shawna check my body fat and it was 19%. Not the leanest, but I still was still defined up through the shoulders, running fast, and feeling good about myself. In a matter of two weeks I was freaking out feeling rounder and softer and heavier., especially in the belly area. Of course that is my trouble area but it was as if all of a sudden my stomach was much softer. You know how you just :"feel" heavier when you hit that certain mark?
I busted out the ol sure thing... talked to Jon. Told him the medicines I am on, what I am eating, how I am training.
I wish I had talked to him prior to starting the medication because guess what the purpose of the spironolactane is? It is to decrease the testosterone in your face, (Therefore increasing estrogen in the body) in order to regulate the hormones and therefore decrease acne. Welp, it didn't work super well on my face and it definitly had increased my estrogen and was making me pack on a few pounds.
What did I do?
Stopped the medicine.
At about the same time I had something show up in my newsfeed on facebook about a girl who had cut artificial sweetners and her cystic acne had improved in two weeks.
SHIZ MOTHER TRUCKER!!!
Mama loves her diet dr pepper. I am gonna be real with you right now, go ahead judge me. I deserve it. I was drinking atleast 44 oz of fountain diet dr pepper a day and had been for quite a long time. (Good thing I don't drink alcohol right?!) (Recovering from judgement a bit here, I also drink atleast 128 oz of water every day!)
I told the dr (actually 2 of them) that I was considering quitting the soda and wondered their opinion. They thought the "one a day" I told them I was drinking was fine and probably not having any effect on me until I of course, the girl who sucks at lying revealed just how big my one a day is.
Let's just put it nicely and say they were unimpressed and ordered me to one a day.
Remember me? Go big or go home? If I can only have a friggin can a day I don't want it. If I can't have a big gulp I might as well forget it. (Why is that anyway? I wish I were a more moderate person).
So it has been two weeks between the first and second set of pictures and I have had 3 total sodas (I will never forget Dr Bradford's eyes when I told her I have a 44 oz cup, I will never fill a 44 oz cup again) and they have been the medium size. Interestingly enough though, I really think my face looks a bit better.
I am hopeful that it will continue to improve in the next three weeks and I may not actually need the accutane. That would be fantastic, as I am pretty much sick and tired of putting medication into my body to supposedly heal one thing, yet having the side effects of so many other things on top of it.

Circling back to the weight loss blog thing here though (I told you it would take me a bit, and this is the condensed version! Sorry!) is that at times it can seem ridiculous to people that I weigh every day. It seems ridiculous to some that I stick to a similar training regimen each week, and it seems odd to some that I eat a similar menu of foods each week-- but you know what? I am extremely thankful and happy that those things are a part of me and who I am and the lifestyle I lead. If not, if I didn't have my weight on the calander atleast at the beginning of each month, or if I had taken two weeks off the gym or a few days here and there, or if I had just guessed around with the food that I fuel my body with-- there would have been no way or no grounds for me to honestly look the dermatologist in the eye and say "I can't take this anymore, it is making me gain weight." And if it weren't for those things, when he told me I was the only person he had EVER heard this from, I would have thought I was crazy and continued the medicine. (By the way, spent some time searching the internet and I am definitley NOT the only person who experienced this).
But I am proactive about my health and I am proactive about my weight (maybe too proactive at times haha) and that makes me feel good about myself and strong. I know that medicine was not working for my body, and now I am searching for other ways (yay if the no soda thing really works out) to treat this problem with out causing a plethora of other problems for my body.
Remember, listen to your body-- and listen to the inner voice that sometimes prompts you that something isn't right. Dr's treat patients everyday and most all of them are ready to write a prescription to help you with the symptom that you have. At the end of the day though, YOU know YOUR body best!

Do you have any advice? Any experience with acne or medications that made you gain or lose weight?

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