129.7

Feelin good.

Early workout today thanks to my 3 year old being up at the crack of dawn. 430 am to be exact. I couldn't go back to sleep so thought I might as well hit the gym.

I busted a friggin move people!!! I walked on an incline for 20 minutes, the time flew by as I was reading up on a little Red Book action. Then I did a circuit of back lifts, ran a mile ffffaaaast, a circuit of shoulders, ran a mile ffffaaaast, then a circuit of biceps, legs and abs. I was feeling like I should be brave like Amy Jo and had brought my swim suit so I headed into the pool and tried to swim. Well I wasn't that successful because my upper body just isn't quite ready. So I did some jogging, walking, side stepping, and butt kickers in the water. I finished with a little hot tub and sauna session and felt really good about the work that I had put in on my final workout for the week. Saturday I will be working all day, and Sunday is always my rest day with the exception of maybe a light walk.

My goal for tomorow? Make it through the freakin day without buying a dang candy or eating another treat that will wreck my progress. I already have it planned that I will be having to-die-for carrot cake Sunday for my madres birthday. So, if I am diligent I can make it to Sunday eating well, and not ruin my hard work from the week with the cake.

That's a goal. And for the record, I have done well on my previous goals. I have drank more water, I have weighed everyday, and I have drank less soda. Not quite as little as I planned but it is progress and I will take it.

Happy Weekend. Work it people! Oh ya, I felt a little famous this morning. Two different people came up to me and asked me to teach a boot camp class in the morning. They have taken my cycle classes and apparently liked me, so they were hoping I would sign on for a Mon, Wed, and Friday class. Well, life is up in the air right now so I can't, (not that the Athletic Club asked me to, but the people did so it made my heart happy) but I felt honored and appreciated that they asked. I passed on the word to the big boss cordinator at the gym though.

Work it!

success

I had the longest best post ever on success typed and when I hit publish... the stupid blogger said an error occured. Do you think it saved my long winded post?

No it did not.

I can't remember what all I wrote but it felt really important so I guess I will try to recapture all that perfectness I had summed up into one post again.

Stupid blogger.

So where did I begin? Oh yes. I wrote a blurb or a paper when I was a junior in high school with my definition of success as the topic. I felt really philisophical and wise when I wrote it. Pretty sure I got an amazing grade on it, because I usually did and that was a good piece of writing. I want to look for it and print it here and on my family blog. I was in so much of a different place almost 10 years ago that I wonder how much my definition has changed.

Anywho I felt successful today. My kids were driving me loco. I decided to take them outside in the cold for a walk. A little cold can't hurt them, I bundled up good and we headed out. Bubba my 15 month TOTAL BOY was toddling around zigzagging the sidewalks as my 3 year old princess and I waited every few steps for him. He did good for almost half the walk when he decided he needed a break and sat in the stroller. My 3 year old took this as the green light to let her talents shine through she took of running. From about 7 paces ahead of me she looked back a few times and said these things:
"Mom, see I run fast like you!"
"I am running a race mom!"
"I am so tired mom, I am sweatin a lot!"

I sighed a heavy sigh in my own new body. I took great pride in the fact that she knows I run, that she thinks I am cool that I run, and that she in fact has good running form and probably will be a way better runner than I will ever be. That same girl will eat lettuce and celery now, something a year ago she thought was a foreign object that belonged on the floor not her plate... and she would remind me each and everytime by chucking it to the side of the table on to my cleanly swepped floor.

I also giggle at the idea that she thinks I am fast. A turtle would probably beat me in a distance race, but my heart feels happy I have that girl tricked into thinking I am fast. I do say that a lot now that I think about it.
"Look, mommy runs fast. Look at my muscles--I think they are bigger than daddy's now." She always laughs at that one and says "nooooooooooo."

Another prideful moment came this week when my little friend Halle JoJo, I call her, asked her mom if she "worked out like Teri?" or if she was wearing "running shoes like Teri" (I haven't decided if she actually knows I run a lot, or if she just knows I wear sweats and tennis shoes a lot... could go either way) The best part, the pitter to my patter today came when little Miss JoJo yelled up the stairs to her mom to get off the computer so they could go to the gym. That's right she is a trainer at heart. I love that our kids keep us honest and that without even knowing it, they push us to be the best we can be. I love that girl.

I think a big part of my picture of success today looks pretty much like this. My three year old eating healthy, running a race, and thinking her mom is the fastest, biggest muscle chick ever.

Motivation

So I haven't posted in a while... obviously. I kinda think there are only two of you who ever look at this blog and I was sorta getting sick of posting. Then I realized I was noticing a pattern. Lack of blog posts, lack of motivation, lack of staying on track, lack of happy Teri, lack lack lack.

I have made a few decisions, a few things I am willing to change about my health over the next few weeks.
I will post my weight again every Friday, rain or shine
I will limit my soda intake to 1 a day if I drink out at a restaurant or Sonic, or 2 cans a day at home.
I will drink more water
I will weigh myself every day

As most of you know I am no longer on the Take Shape for Life diet. I have been off since the 31st of October. When I went off I weighed 130 lbs, during my break from the gym I somehow managed to get to 126.5. Since returning back to the gym I have maintained 130lbs. I kinda like 126.5 a little better. :o) But I think that the reason for the fluctuation is the muscle tone that is coming in deeper and stronger. I have biceps people! My legs are defined like I have never seen them. My stomach is still an issue, but I can feel the firmness coming... I still have that horrible 1 to 2 inches of fat/streched out skin over the top.

The 1 to 2 inches might be from the fact that each day last week I would say, "today I am going to do it right, make good food choices, and be healthy and strong" and then I would find myself on a 3rd cookie, or in cinnamon toast crunch for breakfast, or in a whole basket of chips at the Mexican restaurant. That isn't me. Who was that girl? What the heck was wrong with me? That isn't who I have worked so hard to become.

I am one month in to teaching boot camp at IAC, am feeling more and more confident with each class I teach. I am enjoying my healthy life. I have felt a little down lately though with the scale sticking to 130 when I feel like I am so knowledgeable about what I should and shouldn't be doing. Although when I am honest with myself I haven't been making the best of food choices most of the time. Anyway, I am still so happy with the progress I have made, and I owe a lot to Take Shape for Life for teaching me how and what to eat to fuel my body.

When I remind myself often to eat to live, not live to eat. My pants feel looser, my walk is a little lighter, and my run is a lot faster.

I am that healthy girl. I am that healthy mom. I am that healthy wife. All because I want to be. I get to choose to be healthy and exercise and eat right because it is what a healthy girl would do, not because I want to weigh a certain amount. I just do it because I should, and because I feel a whole heck of a lot better about myself inside and out... when I do.

Go me! Here is to a great, healthy, strong week. And stay tuned for Friday, let's see what that devil of a scale brings me!

2 A dayS!

Remeber back in high school at the beginning of your sports season when the DREADED 2 a days started? The practice early in the morning, then the practice late in the afternoon? And we thought we were going to die!!!

They made us run. They made us jump. They made us run again.

They watched us do it, unless they were that one coach you will always love and respect.. then they did it with us.

I had a two a day today. Taught cycling class at 530 am, teaching boot camp tonight. I love it. I am back on my A game. I got a little pep talk yesterday from Amy. She said nock it off Hoeksema, get back on yo' game. Carrie left me a little motherly message and here I am. Back in Business yo!!!

I am workin it. Can't waite to see some more muscle definition come through. Can't waite to push my body to a new limit. Can't freekin waite!!

What a lucky girl I am. I am blessed with a body that moves when I tell it to. I am rockin. You are rockin! We are rockin.

Big things for us in 2011. Big goals, big losses, big triumphs. Be big people!!

sub conscious

I had an epiphany this week as I was teaching boot camp. I looked in the mirror and saw a layer of fat over my abs, and a layer of fat over my leg muscles, and a layer of fat over my shoulder blades. I say a layer because it is no longer a large layer, it is now after all this work a rather small layer. I said to myself, that I have the power to choose who I am going to be as a coach and a instuctor. I am at that pivitol point in my health where I can push just a bit further and have those really really defined muscles that people notice, or I can sit where I am and maintain the muscle, and always look at the layer of fat that hides my sculpted muscle.

I decided I wanted to push. I mentally said, "I am going to push through and eliminate this layer of fat." Not by eating less, or by working out out more. But by eating food that fuels my body better, and by targeting these zones while I am at the gym. I am going to get rid of this fat. The fat that taunts the reflection I see in the mirror.

Then I don't know what the crap happened. I feel like I got engulfed in a bit of drama that I did not ask for, I had to work all day, my kids were noisey, I chose to stress over whether or not I get to keep teaching boot camp. And then, I found myself filling my stinkin mouth full of exactly what I had just told myself I wasn't going to eat. And even when I was obnoxiuosly full I decided to eat a little more.

I told Jared last night it was as if my subconscious was laughing in my face. I said I will do A, then instead B happened. I don't even know when or why or how it happened. But here I am today, getting ready to take family pictures feeling fat because the scale said 130 today instead of the 127 I like to see.

When the scale says 130, I think, "well I can't wear those new jeans anymore, they probably don't even fit." or "I can drink another diet soda, there is no calories in it." or "How do I have so little control that I can go from feeling clean and healthy inside because I have worked out, eaten a healthy day's worth of nourishing foods, to eating crap, crap, crap and then a little more crap?"

I beat myself up. I am my own worst critic. So are you. I know that. How do I change it? I know the power of positive thinking really works. I know that when I talk nice to myself I feel better and I exercise more self control, not to the point where I feel deprived, just to the point of feeling confident and in control. I know. I know. I know. But yet here I am on Sunday... feeling like I have to start all over on Monday.

This is one of those posts I wish I had the wisdom at the end to wrap it in a pretty package and present the answer to my readers. But I do not. I don't know how to fix it. I know people think I am insane to cry one bit of a tear over 130 lbs. I need the advice this time. I don't know how to fix it.

Dear Pizza Place

YOU SUCK!!!

Your yummy oooey goodness yesterday was not what I needed. You were good during the lunch hour... but you kept haunting me for the rest of the day. I am sorry but our love affair must end here. I can not allow myself to step foot back in that yummy, nice people who work there, delightful pizza parlor close to my friend Amy's new house. I have x-nayed you from my radar. I can not be trusted in your presence.

Good bye pizza, Ill see you when I am a little stronger, maybe.
stupid stupid stupid pizza place!

true love

It had to have been on my list of top 20 things I have done.

Bootcamp was rockin tonight. I was sorrounded by my sexy hot husband, my very own mommy, good friends, and new friends. I loved every second of that hour long workout and I can't waite to keep bringin' to IAC on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

I had a girl stop in, she said she was sad she couldn't stay for my class and she left her number for me so I could text her when I am teaching cycling next. Booyah. That was a total confidence booster right when I needed it, and 5:57 right before class started.

We worked it. I was suuuhweaty!!! And havin a blast. Everyone who came did so good. I thought I would have a lot of people that weren't in that good of shape there. I was wrong. Most of them prolly coulda kicked my butt, if I would have let them of course.. but that wasn't happenin on my watch!!!!!

Anywho. Make a goal people!! Go to a new class, give a brand new instructor a chance to rock your world. Go buy a new shirt, something to make you feel cool and confident. And, last but not least. If you are nervous, feel like you don't belong, or are scared. FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT. I always tell myself if I act like I know what I am doin wearing those skinny jeans... people will think I do know what I am doing. When I was overweight and scared to go into that strength training class 3 years ago, I was so glad one person told me... "you can totally do it." Because I could. I sucked at first, I only did half of everything she told us to do. But before I kenew it, I had pretended long enough and you know what... I did belong.

Bring it resolutioners. Show yourself what you got, what you are made of. You are worth it~!

Welcome

to the gym new resolutioners!!! Wow it was so fun to see so many new faces at Idaho Athletic Club today!! I hope everyone will stay around for a while. It takes 21 days to make a habit so keep on a comin and before you know it... IAC will be your second home too. And you will be stronger, healthier, happier, and feel better about the way you look too.

Come to boot camp tomorow night at 6. I am nervous, but I know you will help me get through it. We can do it. We can be anything we want to be, and we are worthy of the time it takes to improve ourselves to be our best.

Welcome 2011!!!

Two Words

Boot Camp!!!!!

I am officially teaching boot camp at Idaho Athletic Club in Caldwell on Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7 pm. It starts January 4th and I would love love love if you came and sweated it up with me!!!

I am a teeny tiny bit nervous. But I am just going to pretend everyone is naked and I think that will make me feel sooooo much better!! (ew sick I know that was tooo far!!!)

I saw a shirt at the Nike outlet store and I wanted it soooooo very badly. However I refrained. It said "I am your resolution!" Cute huh?! Let me help you with your new you for the new year-- if it is weight loss by Take Shape with meal replacements, or if it is by workin' you over at the gym for BoOt CaMp!! Come play with me!!!

Almost 1 year

I was just typing an email to a prospective client and in it I was retelling my weight loss story. I can't believe it will be exactly one year ago in 3 weeks that I started my journey of total health make over.

I got a new weight watchers scale for Xmas, saw a picture of me and my 2 year old then stood on that new scale and saw 165. I was fat and unhappy. Granted I had a baby a few months prior, it didn't matter I wanted the weight gone.

25 pounds later I was working my ace off, and weighing 140. 140 isn't bad if you watch what you eat, and don't work out, and then watch what you eat some more. But I wanted more. I wanted the muscle I was working 8 hours a week for in the gym to show off. And so I started my Take Shape for Life journey in August.

Almost four months later I stepped on the scale and weighed 129 lbs this morning, and I haven't seen an ounce of exercise, or Take Shape for Life food in 5 weeks. Between Jared being out of town for work, one kid sick, then the next kid sick, then I am sick... I am sad to admit I haven't seen the gym. And I weigh 129 lbs people!! Eating normal every day food, that you- and you- and you eat.

Take Shape for Life is all about the faster lane to weight loss... then transitioning off into normal speed lane of regular food, and maintaing the loss of weight, and expense of money and energy it took you to lose. Total health people.

I have learned so much about how to eat, when to eat, what to eat, and how to keep my total body healthy and strong. I am in l.o.v.e with this program I am a health coach for and I want anyone who is have tried to lose weight and failed, to get in touch with me. There is no choice more imporant than your health.

The price of being over weight is soo much higher than the price of becoming healthy. Medically, physically, and emotionally. You need to be healthy for yourself and your loved ones. Let me help you get there.

1 month Post Take Shape For LIfe

I thought you might all be interested to know....

that I have been officially transitioned off Take Shape for Life for exactly 1 month and I have stayed between 125-130lbs the entire time. Which for those of you who haven't followed my blog for a long time that has been by ultimate goal.

I feel amazing! I am so thankful for what Take Shape for Life has taught me. The way to eat!! The way to live a healthy life!!

If I can reach my ultimate goal, anyone can do it. And I want to help everyone become their best, healthiest self ever!! Call me and let's make this the year you StIcK to that resolution!

Sorround Yourself

I have always heard wise people say to sorround yourself with like minded people, that have similar values, goals, hopes, dreams, and standards.

Today I was reminded how important that is.

I realized how lucky I am to have good friends, and how lucky I am to be a good friend.

I exercised a good friend trait today. I made one of my best friends get out of bed and meet me at the gym. She didn't want to exercise today, she was discouraged and wanted to sleep the annoyance away. I manipulated her into going anyway, and I think she was happy she did.

Good friends have helped me through weight loss struggles, they have:
-met me at the track to make sure I finished my last laps.
-told me to step away from the freaking chocolate cheerios and get my butt to the gym.
-they have believed I could accomplish hard things when even I didn't.
-they have refused to bring soda to me, even when I have begged when they know I am trying not to drink it.
-they have hidden all the candy from their kids bags from me so I would not feel tempted (Even though I searched for it and found it-- it was a thoughtful gesture)
-they have been unoffended when I have returned the birthday cake they made for me, because I decided it was time to start losing weight.
-they have told me I look skinny when I feel fat.
-they have recommended and recognized my skills and talents to others.
-they have shared their tips of yummy healthy food choices, and have listened when I have made bad choices and felt guilt.

If a friend or loved one is really a true friend, they will help you on your journey and will build you up and not tear you down. They will not sabotage you and they will not razz you for doing your best.

A good friend is hard to find, if you have found one or some, count yourself lucky and work to keep them.

Happy Heart

So, this might seem like a weird post to post. But my heart is happy and full and so I am posting it anyhow.



My whole life I have struggled in the self confidence area. While other people have had bright shiny talents, something they are really good at and really love-- I have always lacked. I have always wondered if there was something I was good at, or something that I loved. I was never the fat girl, but always the heavier girl. I always worried that when a dance came around in school, I'd be the girl nobody wanted to take. (Partly because I was heavier, partly because I super SUCK at dancing) I always coveted other girls skinny frames. I would work out, but never really feel like anything was working to my advantage.



I got married. I have the hottest husband alive. Really, I think that. I always wondered why he picked me. I couldn't believe it when he would tell me I was hot or pretty or had a nice body. How could he think that? The image in the mirror did not reflect those nice things he said.



I got pregnant. Pregnancy did not treat me well. Yet another damper on the self confidence area. Pregnancy 2 was better. I decided to start this blog 10 months ago and have felt a sincere boost in the way I feel about myself and my abilities, and about the way I look. I write this blog because I think it is important for everyone to realize that I am a normal mom and wife, that stays home, and has made health a priority in my life. And with that priority I have become more confident in myself. If I can do it my friends, let me guarantee you something-- anyone can do it.

So at the end of my 530 am cycling class today, a fellow cycler paid me the compliment of telling me I should get my own class on the off days. Maybe that will happen. Maybe it wont. But the fact that she thought I was capable, and good enough to do it had me floating on cloud nine all day. She will never know how happy she made me. But it is a testimony to me of being nice, kind, and building other people up. We never know how the people are affected by the things we say. Thank you to that sweet lady, who sweated her butt off in my class today.

I will never be the best instructor, the skinniest girl in a crowd, or the best at anything maybe... but I am finding myself and finding things that I really love-- getting healthy, maintaining and pushing my fitness to a new level, and watching people around me succeed in their health, when in a lot of cases they thought they never could orwould. I finally feel like all those times I was "faking in until I made it," are starting to pay off.

Our bodies are what we make them. We can do hard things. We can set goals and achieve them... and nothing, my friends is impossible.

A well deserved prize!

SOOOO.... I finally have gotten the opportunity to sub for some cycle classes!!!!!!!!!!!

I might be a bit stoked about it still.

Well my classes (6 classes in fact) are either at 6 pm.... or 530 FREAKIN am!! Can you believe it? I got my butt up to get to the gym at 430 yesterday!

It rocked my little world. It was soooo fun. Well the early thing wasn't that great, but it was an opportunity I am so thankful for. There were 10 of us in class and that is BIG to me. It was so much fun. I was yelling and woohooing and pushing it to the max... oh ya and I was DRENCHED in sweat. And so were some of the other riders.

Anywho, the point is. If you are that person who has thrown away any excuse about not having time to work out, and has gotten your A up at 5am (or whatever is SO early to you) to burn some calories.-- you rock, my friend! I am proud of you! And if you are still telling yourself that you don't have time to work out, I promise, promise, promise you... that you do. You just have to sacrifice maybe to find that time. I read yesterday in a health magazine this quote... that I have heard time and time again and it has touched me to the core in many aspects of life "Anything that is worth having, or doing... is A LOT of work!"

It will not be easy. It is always a decision to get there, to exercise, to eat the almonds and not the candy bar or the salad and not the whole pizza... but they are choices that lead up to a VERY BRIGHT future. Total health is a journey and a amazing, fullfilling freaking ride at that!

Make the choice today to be your best self.

Another Week

Here I sit, another week come and gone. Time is flying by and I can't believe how excited I am about Take Shape for Life.

I am still working hard. I am in the gym atleast 5 days a week. Working hard to gain muscle and strength, and watching and learning from the other trainers so one day I can have a class and share my knowledge of fitness with a group. I am still eating 4 or 5 Medifast meals a day, and 1 or 2 lean and green meals. My body is responding and it is delighting in its new found glory.

My size. My size! I bought a small sweater today, first time in my entire life I have bought a small anything. I told my husband this weekend, after apologizing for buying another pair of pants, that I feel like it is now an obligation to dress cuter. (ha, he didn't buy it either) I have never in my life had the confidence that I do right now. I feel good. I look in the mirror and I am so thankful that Take Shape for Life knocked at my door. It has opened a window I never thought possible. I never in a million years thought I would get on the scale and see 130, I never thought I would walk into a clothing store and buy a size 3/4 jeans (the first pair I tried on, even), I never thought I could wear vertical stripes because it draws too much attention to my middle section. I can do all of those things, and I can do them because I made the decision to change, not tomorow, but I made the choice to change TODAY and everyday.

I feel like I have been released from straps of bondage. Like my real self is finally out of my bigger body and it is shining. I am healthy, I am strong, and I can accomplish just about anything.

Take Shape for Life has shown me that if I can do this program, anyone can do this program. Anyone who has ever looked in the mirror with sadness, has ever stepped on the scale with disappointment, has ever walked in to a gym and felt like they didn't belong. Take Shape for Life is for you! It is for everyone who really wants to change. Anyone who really wants to feel the excitement of finding their smaller self. Whether you are 150lbs or 350lbs, this program can and will work for you-- when you make the decision to stop hiding behind excuses, or limits you or your body have set for you. Do not be held back, to not be a victim of your body's desires. Be the boss, be your best self, and let me help you on your journey to total health.

takeshapewithteri@gmail.com

Womens Fitness Celebration

Woke up bright and early today, took my three year old (As of tomorow) and my mom over to the Women's Fitness Celebration. Beautiful, strong, amazing women everywhere.

It was empowering. Everyone together celebrating women, fitness and their health. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

We can be anything we want to be, we can look any way we want to look, and we can walk or run any race we want to. We can choose to be the person we want to be.

Gracie ran the last part of the race, she says she is "fast like you, mom!" And that is worth a million dollars, to share that part of my life with my growing girl.

What kind of example are we to our daughters, nieces, friends, cousins, grandkids? Who are you, what do you stand for, what do you celebrate?!

First Class!!!

I taught for an entire hour of cycling today!!!

I thought I was going to die people!

I was drenched in sweat (like literally my blue shirt was soaking wet!!) and I was LOVING it! AND there were 5 people in class. I was in heaven!! It was soooo much fun!

I get to teach next week all by myself for my last official training day, the real instructor is going to be in the audience and I am going to fly solo!!!!

I love teaching!!! It was amazing and fun and sooo cool!!!

Sooooo, come to class Thursday next week and let me work you over!!!

Cyclin it Up

I taught for the third time yesterday. Cycling. I have taught only a few songs of each hour long class, but I am L.O.V.I.N.G it! I can't believe how much faster the class goes by when I am up front instructing. I love the sweat dripping, the yelling, the bossing people around, (haha I am getting more and more truthful in this blog aren't I?) pushing people to their limits, I love the learning. I am in l.o.v.e.

I have been so lucky, getting to work with some phenomenol women, all three are almost 20 years older than me, and each can kick my friggin butt at any class any day of the week. But they are teaching me, and I am soaking it in. I am getting stronger, more endurant and better all the time. I am meeting new people, encouraging new people and falling in love with my new lifestyle.

It isn't always easy. Someone asked me the other day if I ever want to just sleep in or stay home from the gym. ummmmm YAH I do! But, I sometimes worry that if I stop I wont start again. I always worry if I am focusing on the right things, starting up a weight loss business and learning to instruct classes while me kids are young, if I am putting more stress on them than I should be carting them back and forth to the gym day care. I wonder if I am being selfish while doing this- taking too much me time.

I don't know the answers. I pray that I am doing the right thing, that I have been put in the place that I have been put for reasons I don't always understand. I hope I am influencing people for the good, that I am motivating someone- somewhere. I hope that my kids are seeing the positive results of a healthy lifestyle, I pray they will want that for themselves. I hope my husband knows that I love him and I am trying to help-- financially, emotionally, and by working on myself, trying to improve me.

I pray that anyone who ever reads this post, this blog... that you know that I am in no way shape or form perfect. I never do anything perfect. I am a normal mom, a normal wife, a normal girl. I am trying to push myself, I am seeing what I can accomplish, I suck sometimes. I fall, I fall hard and eat pizza and eat ice cream and pop, I look in the mirror and say ugly things to myself. I look at other people and I think jealous thoughts, sometimes. I go to the gym and I wish I were laying in bed or watching soap operas. I do it all. I look in the mirror sometimes and think good prideful things. I am a roller coaster. I do it all, I am goood, I am bad and I can be ugly. But the one thing I can tell you for sure, is that I am doing my best, and I am learning, every day.

The Newest Me

We are all a work in progress right?! Well, this is the most recent me... the one that is constantly working, constantly striving to be the best I can be.

Thought you might like to see my stats:
lost 7 lbs
lost 1 inch on right thigh
lost 1 inch on waist
lost 1 inch on butt
lost .5 inches on arm

The older me

This is my "Real" before picture. The picture that started my whole weight loss/get healthy regimin. Christmas Eve 2009, I wanted to cry when I saw this picture. I never wanted to see another picture of myself like that AGAIN, and I pray, pray, pray I never will!

Feelin Good

I am almost to the point of picture time again.

I feel ready. I am not perfect by any means, but I am feeling confident and happy in my results.

I had a few pictures taken this weekend with the family. It was the first time in my entire life I have seen myself in a photo and not thought I looked fat, or my arm was big, or my stomach was sticking out.

As the weight has come off, the muscle tone is improving and my confidence is gaining.

I am feeling like a new girl, and I like the way this new girl feels in my body.

Take Shape for Life, you are rocking my world!

Is there some sort of rule?!

I jumped on the scale this morning, a bit apprehensive.... to see the lovely 132.4 number.

That was the best day I have had on the scale and I am excited!!!!!

Here is it noon, my husband is gone, my friends are busy, my extended family is busy and I am a bit bored on this Saturday afternoon.... and all I can think about is FOOODDDDD!!!

No, I am not hungry. No I am not hungry, no I am not hungry.

Yes I am bored, I am bored, I am bored, I am bored.

I want to eat bad food!!!! Even though I had a great day on the scale, and I am not hungry I want to eat bad food!!! Cereal, pizza, ice cream, brownies, french fries, you name it... I've been thinking about it.

I don't want to, but I want to... ya know?! What the heck. Where is the logic in that? I am happy the scale is moving down a little bit, I am happy with my fat dissipating and my muscle coming to the surface and I DO NOT want to sabotage myself.

But, why is all I can think about food?

Stupid busy people come back and entertain me!!!!

I promise I am going to try really hard to not sabotage myself and my weight today. I am going to give a full fledged effort to be a good girl, health coach, and example. But it ain't gonna be easy!

Straight to the Thighs

hahahahahahaha

I heard this on the radio and let out a chuckle for a good 5 minutes afterward.

"Chicken and fries goes stright to the thighs!"


hahahah
then the DJ made the caller say "I'm__________, and I look good!" I duno what the point was... that's all I heard. But I think it's pretty great/hilarious.

So happy Labor Day weekend!!
I'm Teri, and I loook goooooooood!!! hahahahaha

Balance

I went on a girls' night last night to do a little shopping and watch the movie Eat, Pray Love. I didn't love the movie, but I loved parts of it. I loved the focus on finding balance in our lives. I feel like I have been a little bit "crazy" lately, figuring out how to be a health coach, a fitness instructor, a wife, mom, daughter and friend.
It hasn't all come together just yet. But the thing that I realized is that I really do L.O.V.E all these things I am, and am trying to become. They are things that are important to me, make me feel fulfilled, and make me feel like I am contributing to the world something positive.
As I was shopping and thinking I was happy with buying a pair of size 5/6 pants that fit, of course I still see my imprefections but as I looked at the big picture, the total package I am mostly happy with the reflection that I see in the mirror, and I am happy with the inner person that I am and the person I am trying to become-- the person that not everyone can clearly see.
With that, I am letting you know I have reached a weight I feel is sustainable, and suitable to my body and my lifestyle. I am bouncing between 132 and 135, and I feel like that is a good place for me to be right now. I probably still wont look as "perfect" as I might like in a 2 piece swim suit, but I feel as close to my perfect self I can be. My husband loves me, he loves my body and that is important to me, but I can truly now say I feel satisfied. I am going to enter maintenance mode of Take Shape for Life. I am a health coach, and I will continue coaching and helping as many people as I possibly can reach. I know that this program is G.R.E.A.T and can help anyone who is willing to put forth the energy and the time it takes to lose weight, and change their lifestyles to be their best, healthiest self.
For me, I feel balance right here, and right now. I hope that as you are striving to become your best self you are able to see and feel that balance in your lives as well. I hope that if I can help you in any way shape or form to become your best self, you will let me know-- and let me help you on your journey.

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!!