Weigh-in Update - Staying Positive

I haven't been on here for a couple weeks, and I apologize. I intended to post my weigh-in update from last Sunday, but time got away from me. Mainly because it was a HORRIBLE weigh-in, and I wanted to make sure I posted it so I could stress the importance of how lack of sleep and stress can effect your weight loss goals. So, I'll briefly explain, and then will talk about the importance of staying positive.

The two weeks prior to my last weigh-in, I had allowed the stress from work and in my personal life, just control me and it didn't turn out well at all for me. Last week was the worst, with getting only about 7 hours of sleep all week. I was stressing about work and personal issues, and I was in a bad mood even going into my workouts. And it's one thing to be in a bad mood during my private sessions, Michael will get over it, but when it involves a group session I really try to go in and be positive and motivating but it was very difficult for me to do that the past couple weeks. So, that last week as I mentioned was the worst, and even though I didn't veer from the meal plan I still gained almost 9 pounds when I weighed in this past Sunday. And all because I stressed and didn't sleep well. It was very frustrating, but as Michael said, it is what it is!

So, as Michael had mentioned to me last week, life happens and I've got to learn to let go of the things I can't control. And that's the thing, the majority of the things I was stressing about, were things that were out of my control. So, this week I decided to focus on what I could control and let go of what I can't control. One of the things that I had done the past couple weeks, I really just put my walls up and didn't open up to anyone. Well, this week, I have been feeling more positive and more hopeful, and I do believe that's because I allowed the positive people who truly support me in everything I do surround me. I had the opportunity to meet with various friends this week, including meeting the new pastor from the church where I used to attend, and all these people want nothing but positive things for me. When I met with Michael, I was telling him how this week has been so much better, and he asked me what is different about this week from the past couple weeks when I wasn't being positive and in a bad mood. And really, nothing is different as far as my situations. All the same struggles were there this week, but it was how I handled them. I focused on only the things I could control, just accepted the things I couldn't control, and I have been happier and even more encouraging and motivating for some of my FT family (which always makes me happy)! :)

I'll weigh-in again this Sunday, and I'm hoping because I have been sleeping better and not stressing about things that I will have a good loss. I'll make sure to post the update sooner this time! But, long story short, I can't tell you how important it is to surround yourself with positive people who will support you in all your efforts. Focus on what you can control; and anything that you can't control, just do the best you can and stay positive!

***THE SEPTEMBER MONTHLY CHALLENGE, WHICH WILL BE ABS/CORE, WILL BE POSTED THIS WEEKEND AS WELL, SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT!***

Weigh-in Update - Just Face It

This week I had so much going on and became overwhelmed with a lot of stress. The problem is I allowed it to effect me and bring me down too many times this week. No matter how hard I tried, I had moments I just couldn't control the frustration I was feeling, and I allowed it to effect me and I had a negative attitude quite a bit this week. I missed a lunch workout due to work, and Saturday I chose not to go to the morning group workout. I was so exhausted mentally and physically, and I'm guessing it was just all the stress got to me. But, I am happy to be able to say I lost 1.4 this week! Which means, as usual, trusting Michael and the process really does work! I do feel like had I not allowed the stress to control me like I did, that I might have even done a little better. But, I'm definitely not going to complain, down is down! And, it also means, in the past three weeks since making these new changes I've lost 9 pounds! I can't be anything but happy about that!

Now, I can't go into details on my blog about exactly some of the things that have happened this week, but do want to mention something that I feel is important. Typically when I'm talking about struggling in a "weigh-in update" post, it's because I'm not seeing the results I want on the scale. But, this time I'm talking about facing the every day struggles we each have in our own personal lives. When I saw this quote, it made me think about some of the things I faced this week. And what was even more ironic, is just minutes before I started looking for a quote for this post, I had just sent a message to Michael about my weigh in and was telling him about one of the things I'm struggling with. I told him I realized when I start to struggle it's just easier to not face it. By not talking about it, or facing it, then I don't have to deal with it. But, just like anything else that is important, we have to find time for it. We all have our own struggles, and regardless of what they are, just like health/fitness we can't give up when it becomes difficult. So, whatever your personal struggles are, don't give up! Make sure to face the struggles, work through them, and in the end you'll feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Weigh-in Update

If you haven't already hit this part of your health and fitness journey, we all eventually get to a point where the scale just doesn't go down the way we would like for it to. I had struggled for a couple months and then Michael revamped my meal plan completely and last week I lost 7.2 pounds. This week I continued on the same path and only lost .4, so not quite a half a pound. As I mentioned to Michael, I was hoping for more, but won't get upset because the important thing is the scale still went down. And because I'm such an analytical minded person, that this really did help me put it into perspective. Even losing an average of 1/2 pound a week, that's still 26 pounds in a year, and that's still amazing! I'm moving forward with the same revamped meal plan, and see what happens this week. I've got a lot going on in my personal and work life, and the important thing is I continue to keep things balanced and not let stress from one part of my life carry over to another part of my life. If I stay focused, positive, and determined I'll meet all my goals, and I can also still say I've lost 138 pounds! If you're struggling, whatever you do, don't give up! Reach out to those who are always supporting and encouraging you, and it might take time, but just keep moving forward and things will fall into place!

Weigh-in Update - Overcome Your Obstacles

If you've read some of the most recent weigh-in updates you'll know the past couple months I've been struggling a bit, and Michael has been helping me out a lot making sure I stay focused and not get discouraged. We would modify my low/high carb days, or even do an all high carb week to re-boost, but it just seemed nothing was working this time. So, the week prior, he made some changes and I did exactly what he said and for some reason I still gained a little over a pound last week. I had a mini breakdown from being so frustrated because I really just didn't know what I needed to do to move forward. I was doing exactly everything he said to do on my meals, and was showing up and busting my butt in my sessions. So, this past week, Michael sent me a new plan to follow that was very specific making sure I was taking in the right amount of protein, carbs, and fat. I wasn't sure what to expect, but knew no matter what I had to continue to trust him and the process. And I'm excited to say, all the hard work and determination paid off this week! I lost 7.2 pounds this week!

There were many times that had this been the old me, I would have quit several weeks ago. But, even though I was extremely upset, I wiped away the tears and instead of giving up on myself, I used the frustration to be even more determined to be successful. I followed the meal plan exactly as Michael wrote it, pushed myself even harder in my sessions, and conquered what seemed like an obstacle I would never get through. So, if and when you reach a point in your own health and fitness journey where you think you're doing everything you can and it's just not working, whatever you do don't quit! Don't stop doing what you have to do to meet your goals, it might take a few weeks or even a couple months, but in the end all the hard work and determination will pay off and you will start seeing results again!

What's Your "Why"?

Besides for ourselves, we all have other reasons why we want to become healthier, and one of those reasons is we want to be around for our loved ones. I wanted to share a friend's post that really is inspiring. She's not only a friend, but one of my FT sisters and co-workers. She definitely has figured out her "why"!

I had a revelation at the gym this morning. After an already grueling workout, wishing I was done for the day, Taylor announced we'd do some ab work. Down on the mat for planks, side planks, spiderman planks, rainbow planks,  and plank jumps. The first rep was done and I was exhausted. I was on my knees and elbows, sweat pouring off me and dripping on to the mat, and I knew I was done. Just lie down the little voice said. You're older, heavier, less fit than the other ladies, the little voice said. Nobody will care if you stop now.

As I laid my forehead on the mat, ready to just flatten out and stop working, I noticed my necklace swinging off my chest. It's the Mother & Child charm that Justin gave me for Mother's Day this year. Suddenly I pictured him and Anthony laughing together and I choked up, remembering why I was there. My grown son isn't ready to be without a mother. My little grandson needs Nana to teach him all sorts of things. My partner Sandy would try to live on pizza for the rest of her days. And, I guess most importantly, I needed to be there, in shape, healthy, and strong, for ME. This all came in a flash.

So I propped myself back up and did the last set of plank maneuvers. They weren't pretty, and I wasn't happy about doing them, but I finished them. And I'm better for it. - Simone

 We all struggle from time to time, and we even have moments like I have had recently where we just kind of feel like there's nothing else we can do. But, as long as we know our "why", we can always depend on that to keep us from giving up on ourselves. Besides being the healthiest and best version of YOU, what's your "why"?

August 2014 Challange - Lunges

Time has been getting away from me these past few weeks, mainly because I've been struggling and really trying to stay focused and next thing I know it's August 1st and I realized I didn't get the challenge posted. But, it's okay, if you don't get day one done tonight, just do days 1 and 2 together and you'll be good! :) On the lunges, the number of reps is PER LEG! You choose if they are reverse or forward lunges. Whatever feels more comfortable and safe for you. And as always, feel free to shoot me a message on Facebook or an e-mail at sherrie_bullock@ymail.com if you have any questions! Have fun!

AUGUST 2014 LUNGE CHALLENGE
DAY	# OF REPS PER LEG	DAY	# OF REPS PER LEG
1	30	17	62
2	32	18	66
3	36	19	70
4	40	20	REST
5	REST	21	70
6	40	22	72
7	42	23	76
8	46	24	80
9	50	25	REST
10	REST	26	80
11	50	27	82
12	52	28	86
13	56	29	90
14	60	30	REST
15	REST	31	100
16	60