Phase 1 Review

I completed Phase 1 of the Livefit Trainer that I told you guys about here and I loved it!

Nutrition-The biggest key to success is preparation and I cant say this enough. If I would not have had all of my foods readily available it would have been really hard. I generally take a few hours on Sunday afternoon and get everything cooked and portioned out for the week. I keep clean food in the fridge at work and home to keep me on track. When we went on vacation, I packed 4 days worth of food that I had pre-made for myself. On the few occasions we went out to eat, I requested my food to be grilled dry and me veggies steamed. I drank LOTS of water and green tea daily. I also took my vitamins & supplements daily. I would say my eating was 98% clean and what wasn't was sugar free products. This has made me so much more aware of what is going in my body as well as how much CRAP is in our food. I am constantly amazed when I read the packages now days and I have tried really hard to make the switch for my family where I can as well.

Fitness-I am now a beast, ok not really but I can pretend. I am lifting 15-30lbs more than I was at the beginning. I was able to bust out 3 sets of 10 assisted pull ups yesterday for Phase 2 day 1 and let me tell you that has NEVER happened. I couldn't even do those in high school. I feel so comfortable back in the free weight section now and the guys don't really bother me. They kind of work around me actually. I have had a few ladies approach and ask what plan I am following and ask for advice on how to do certain machines. I actually have a little bump in my biceps and my butt has lifted. My thighs are more solid now than ever and my calves, well they rock. I think they look like man calves but Jon & Sarah keep telling me they are great and will be a great asset when I lean down. Well see about that though.

With all of that said my overall loss for Phase 1 is as follows:

-17.1 inches, -1.6lbs & -3% body fat

This was with 4 weeks of heavy lifting, clean eating and NO CARDIO!

On to Phase 2 now and I am adding back in cardio so the fat should be melting away now.

Jamie

Package Pen Pal Reveal & June PPP

Before we talk about next months PPP let me share with you what I received from my awesome PPP Terri in May!

This is the coolest water bottle ever and I can always use more Bath & Body!
The snacks were the bomb diggity!! The Planters nuts were my favorite and I think I could eat my weight in them. :)   The card was my favorite part overall though and it even made me cry.

Thanks a million Terri, you are such an encouragement to me and give me strength even when you don't know it.


Ok, so for those of you that are interested in taking part of PPP for the month of June this is for you!

Its time to start thinking about the June Package Pen Pals-PPP. If you are interested in joining please email me at faithmomma.jp@gmail.com with the information requested below. If you are new and wondering what the heck I am talking about you can read about how PPP got started here. I have connected with many of you through my facebook page and it has been great. I would love for more of us to get connected and help each other out. Please let me know by June 4th if you would like to participate so that I can get every ones information together and pair everyone up. 

When I get all the info back, you will receive your PPP pairing via email. I will send you some info that I have gathered from your PPP but you are welcome to contact your PPP for any additional info you may want or need.

You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. No later than the last day of the month, you will need to post about the goodies you received from your PPP and be sure to add a link back to your PPP (blog or facebook).

The boxes should be filled with a variety of items ($15 limit). Such as fun healthy items(snacks, dressings, spreads, desserts, oats, chips, what ever you come up) that you have found and enjoyed,  local food items, bath products, books, candles, trinkets, homemade items, etc. This should be something that will encourage your PPP to continue on her healthy lifestyle and to also be a treat for her. I am sure I am not the only one that wants things to be just for me on occasion. It would be great if you could also have a handwritten note, card, scripture or recipe included in the package. Be creative with this and have fun with it!

Each PPP is responsible for shipping the items in the best possible way. Flat rate boxes may be a great way to go depending on what you are sending.

This is the information that I would like to get from each of you to share with your PPP and give them an idea of your likes and interests.

Full name & mailing address

Email address

Your blog or facebook name/address

What plan are you following in your healthy lifestyle?

Favorite type of food

Allergies or food limitations

Favorite store

Favorite item to collect

Tea or Coffee-flavor or no flavor

Favorite book

Favorite author

Favorite scripture verse

"God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Jamie

Getting Directions for the Journey

Its 9:30, workout, dinner and baths are done so I am now sitting down to some quiet time with my blog. I have so many things that I feel like God is working on for and with me. Some of them I am ready to share and others I am keeping to myself for now. So here goes.
I know God has a plan for me and he is preparing me every day for that plan. For me it is hard to be patient because I want to know now what He wants for me. I have an idea of what He wants for me its just the getting there that kills me. I may be totally wrong in my thoughts for where he is leading me because it has happened before. But I know that looking back over the last 2 years I have been through some really hard situations and struggles but He has brought me through all of them and I am able to look back and say "I can see what you were doing all along". Does that make sense? I have said several times on my blog that I know I would not be exactly where I am today if one of the stones in my path would have been missing or different.

I have been on this journey to a healthy me for a little over 5 months now and these are the kinds of things I have been hearing a lot lately.

How are you able to do that? How can you stay so disciplined? Dont you want to eat real food? Are you going to be able to keep up with this diet as a lifestyle? Doesnt it get boring? I have never seen someone as dedicated as you. What keeps you motivated? How did you find the courage to post on your blog and start a facebook page? I dont know how you can workout every day like you do.

At first I was kind of embarassed by these questions and statements until I realized if I am changing and people are noticing then maybe thats a good thing. I have always been the kind of person to want to help others and fix there problems for them. I want you to be the best possible and if I am able to help with that then I am 100% committed. Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew with this character trait but it is so rewarding in the end. I say all of that to say this, what if God wants me to help others live a healthy lifestyle? Im not talking about being a personal trainer or nutrionalist but more of a coach or a partner. It seems kind of like a long shot but the more I keep praying about it and asking God to reveal to me what it is He has for me I keep coming back to this in some form or fashion.

I was your typical american wife, mother, daughter, employee and friend with all the same responsibilites as most women. I had gotten to a point in my life where I was so unhappy the only thing that I craved and turned to was food. Which is what most Americans do and why the obesity rate is so high. I just wanted to be happy and food did that. No matter where or with who I could be happy with food. I know how hard it is to make good choices. I know how tempting parties, fellowship meetings, dinners out with friends or family can be. Its an addiction. I 100% believe this and I 100% believe that no matter what you think you are capable of over coming, God is capable of giving you what you need most to conquer ANY addiction. If you dont believe me, feel free to message me and I will give you story after story about how God has freed me from the bondage of so many things in my life.

To answer the questions and statements that I have been getting so much of lately, its God, its always God. 6 months ago I would have laughed in your face if you would have told me that I would have self control, discipline, drive or the desire to be healthy like I have today. I am constantly getting reminders of why I made the decision to become a healthy me and I love the affirmation that shows. I dont know exactly what He wants from me but I know that I am willing and so does He so he is using me.

I may not fit into your box. I may not be ministering to others the way you would, but I am ministering to others in the way God has shown me. God uses all kinds of things to get our attention and make us listen. I dont really know what it was for me besides looking in the mirror and realizing I wasnt who God asked me to be.

For now, I will keep doing what I am doing and see where it leads me. It may be in a totally opposite direction from where I think but at least I may be able to help others out along the way.

I have a few other things in my life that we are really praying about and asking God for wisdom and direction on, so if you will pray that we are open to His answers.

"I may not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future."

Jamie

3 Weeks In

I am on Day 16 of the LiveFit trainer and I am loving it. It has given me such an empowering feeling overall. I look at myself in the mirror on occasion when I am lifting and I tell that girl "you can do this, you are doing this for a greater cause". I know this may seem silly but it is what gets me through those last few reps when I just know that my arms or legs are ready to give up on me. Before I started this program I had originally planned on doing it when I got closer to my goal weight. Because I mean a 'big girl" doesnt need to lift weights to tone, she needs to do cardio to burn fat. Boy was I wrong! It is amazing the difference you feel in your body when lifting. If I could encourage you to do it for even 30 days I know you would love it just as much.

The nutrition part of this plan is simple. Its basiclly clean eating with lots of protein, veggies and starch. This means no processed, fried, fast, or packaged food. I know that sounds hard but its really not. I am able to prep all of my meals on Sunday and they are ready for me to eat anytime I am hungry so I never get hungry.I eat 6x a day and I as get further in the trainer my body is letting me know really quick when and if I need to eat more.

3 weeks in and I am loving it. Well see how much I love it by the end of week 12.

It has been alot of trial and error and asking questions from others that have finished or are doing the trainer now. I have been apart of an awesome facebook group that has been amazing for support and information. If you are interested in finding out more about the trainer feel free to let me know and if I dont know the answer I will find out for you.

Jamie

Day 2...

OOOPSY. This never got published on 5/2/12.....Today was actually pretty easy. I was able to balance my meals out a little better and the workout tonight was almost 100% doable. I had to raise the post on the cable curls because I was so weak from all the other sets. Hopefully will be stronger by the next round.
It's late. I'm tired and I still have to get us all packed tomorrow after work for our little trip. I'm just hoping I can squeeze by the gym for my day 3 w/o before we head out tomorrow night.

Night yall!

Jamie

Scattered Thoughts

I have really been thinking, praying and just listening to what God has to say about things. I want to share them with you guys but I really want to sit down and do some note taking to get it all together in a readable form. I have put my faith in God when it mattered the most in the past and the outcomes were exactly what I needed. I am patiently waiting for all the doors to open and take me where He wants me.

I am still progressing nicely with the LiveFit trainer, today is day 15 and I am really enjoying this program and the challenge that is presents to me. I have realized I have huge calves and I really hope they tone down some but I have very little upper body strength. However, it is getting a little stronger each week.

Without giving away details (b/c next week is week 4 and I plan on doing measurements then) I can tell you that I feel thinner, less bloated and have more energy. People are starting to notice my changes and its really nice. I would never judge someone for their size and I hope that others aren't judging me negatively for the changes that I have made. I just want to be healthy and if I can influence others to do the same then I am gonna keep on doing what I am doing.

Last week just flew by in the blink of an eye. I was so busy that I barely realized it and by the end of the day and after my workout I was falling into bed. This week may not be much better because we have a Kindergartner graduating and field day with her class on Friday. Lots of mommy duties to fulfill this week and a wedding to coordinate this weekend.

Please be praying for me in regards to some changes I am praying about in my life as well as the direction God is taking me and the doors to open for them to happen.

Until I can think straight long enough to do a real blog again!

Jamie 

Just a little bit stronger

I've been a bad Blogger girl this week. Well not horrible but not great, I haven't gotten to post daily and I am so behind on reading I could spend hours just catching up with all of you. I feel like I know you all and can relate to you when I get into your blogs. That's on my agenda though so don't worry!

Today is day 10!!! Can you believe it?? I feel good about my progress and I am finally getting to where I am hungry more so the eating is getting easier except for meal 5. I never seem to be hungry when I get dinner done for everyone and then end up with a protein shake of some sort. I have found a new recipe for pancakes and I am loving them. I am trying a new version tomorrow and I will post the recipes tomorrow if I get time.

Today was legs and I am so excited that I pushed myself and added 15lbs to each workout except squats and I was dying when they rolled around because I had to do them out of order.

The best thing is the guys are not staring at me like I am lost anymore but actually make room for me. Girls-1 Boys-0 (hehe) I am loving the new strength that I am feeling. I am a little bloaty feeling towards the end of the day but I think that will pass.

I'm gonna try and post a picture tomorrow but since Photobucket took off the collage option I haven't been able to find a collage maker that works for me. :(

Hope yall had an awesome day and made your fat cry!!

Jamie

Look at me go!!

My arms hurt to lower myself in the bath tonight, my arms hurt when I shaved my legs, my arms hurt holding my phone to type this...yes I am working hard!
I almost feel like I am not doing enough while I'm there and I want to push myself harder and jump ahead BUT I can't do that because I know this is the right way and I want to be succesful and accomplish what I set out to do.
My food was good today except I over did it on my fruit this morning. I don't know what I was thinking but the rest of the day went well and I finally caught my second wind after lunch and my 20 minute power nap. Looking forward to another successful day tomorrow.
See you in the big girl section of the gym!
Jamie

Ouchie!!

I'm exhausted from our 8 hour drive in today, the trip to Walmart when we got home and the little bit of food prep I did tonight. However, I still made myself go to the gym and get my day 4 workout in so I can start week 2 tomorrow.

It was shoulder/abs day today, my triceps and delts are killing me and I only did 5lb db! :(  I swear I must be the weakest 190lb woman ever! Whatever though, I gotta start some where, right? Oh yeah and my abs are gonna be burning something fierce tomorrow.

I will give you guys an overview of my whole week tomorrow but tonight, I'm going to bed!

Nighty night, don't let the bed bugs bite.

Jamie

Sorry Yall...

Were on a little vacation to see family this week so I haven't posted. I worked out legs on Wednesday night before we left and it was awesome!! I love doing legs!

There isn't a gym within 45 mins of where we are so I am going to do my 4th workout on Sunday night when we get home. I have stayed on track with my food the whole time we've been here! I even got a coffee today from Starbucks with soy milk. We went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant and I had an omlette with tomatoes, guacamole, black beans and 2 corn tortillas. Not perfect but I was super happy with my choice considering the alternative.

Well return to our regularly scheduled posting after vacation! ;)

Jamie