Pictures..

Here are some before pictures ranging from 2010-2011 as well as some I took today.

2010

2011

2011

Taken 12-11

Taken today 1-30-12

Taken today 1-30-12

Taken today 1-30-12

2 weeks left

So this is our second to last week for this session of boot camp. It has been hard it has been challenging it has been worth it. Today I have lost a total of 9.6 pounds! I have never had such success at losing weight ever! I think part of it is the workout and part of it is the eating... I have cut out so much (not what they wanted me to) but I was having such a hard time with "their" diet I decided to do what works for me and my family. I have not had a FULL soda in almost 6 weeks.. ( I had some or a drink of 7-up the other day). I have not had any red meat in just as long. I cut out a ton of sugar and a TON of white processed foods. Have I cut it all out NO! We have switched to brown rice pasta (super good and healthy. It tastes just like reg pasta). We have started eating more veggies at lunch and at dinner. Does my mind still want the other junk YES! We went to the movies (after eating) and on the way there all my brain kept saying "get a coke, get some nachos, get some buttery popcorn".. over and over and over. I am happy to report we had water and buttered popcorn (for those of you who know my hubby know we can't NOT get popcorn).
So over all I am happy where I am with my weight-loss. Do I wish is was more at this point SURE but I am glad to report it's almost 10 pounds and I hope by Feb 11 (last day of class as well as my bday) that it is well over 10 pounds.
I had some blood drawn the other day and was very happy and surprised with the results! I will share them with you. Not because I am proud of the first tests but to show you what eating right and exercising can do.

			Name Standard Range 2/7/2011 1/23/2012 Cholesterol,Tot 100-199 mg/dL 256 165 Triglycerides 0-149 mg/dL 132 97 HDL >=40 mg/dL 39 35 LDL <100 mg/dL 191 111
			So you can see that the HDL and LDL are not where they need to be BUT are getting close. My doctor has taken me off my blood pressure meds and so far so good. My BP has remained in the good zone. Working out and eating right is hard.. but the end results are worth it.

Bed-0 Jennifer-3

Today no this whole week I have not wanted to go to class AT ALL! I wanted to stay in bed and sleep. Maybe it's because I haven't really slept all that well this whole week. So today I get up earlier than normal so at 4am I am up getting ready and my mind kept saying go back to bed.. go back to bed... then the other part of me was like no go to class you will enjoy it and come back and if you want go back to bed. Then the lazy part of my brain kicked in and said... sometimes your body is telling you that you need to sleep so go back to bed. I told my lazy part of my brain to shut it and went to class.
It was a good work out. This whole week has been an ass kicker for sure. Yesterday (Tuesday) was probably the hardest class I have EVER taken. Today we all talked about how we all agreed yesterday was hard! I was glad to see I wasn't the only one who thought it was tough. It is nice to see yet a new number on the scale I am almost ready to post pictures ( I should have taken then at start of class) but I didn't so I will find some older pics and then take one now... and then at the end of this class. Which I have to say ends on my bday Feb 11. Then the next class starts Feb 13! No rest for the wicked I guess. I am sore my back, shoulders, arms and legs.. my pants are falling off and I fit into a swim suit I haven't fit into in AGES! 
So take that LAZY brain! the SKINNY brain is fighting to come out!

To Run or not to Run

So Saturday's are our run days. This Saturday happened to have lots of WIND, SNOW and RAIN. I asked if we were going to be running in this weather and the answer was "YES, We are Kaia Girls!" there is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing! Well as bad ass as I am I will NOT run in weather that could get me sick or hurt. Some of the girls that were driving to the run got into an accident they skidded on some ice and slammed into a fire hydrant. Really? why not make the decision to cancel the run at least till the weather got better. Today the skies are blue no wind... perfect day to do a run. I know that ultimately it is our decision to go or not. I just hate that they didn't make the decision to cancel for the sake of being safe.
My scale has once again shown me a number I have not seen in a very long time! I know when I look into the mirror I don't see a change. I do know that my MIL saw me on skype the other day and was like wow! you look great I can really tell you have lost weight. The lady at the DMV saw my picture on my old license and was like oh I can tell you have lost weight! Do you want to take new picture? I was like HELL YES! lol
So even tough I am not following the meal plan of the boot camp (it cause me to much stress) I am happy I am still losing weight!
Looking forward to seeing the numbers on the scale get even lower!

All scales are not created equal

Today was our mid session weigh in and measurements. I weighed myself before I left and was pleased with the number. I weighed again at class and it was slightly higher than when I was here DANG IT! but on a good note I lost 2+ inches from my waist, thighs and boobs!! No wonder my pants are falling off of me. I won't be going to get new stuff to wear yet. I am going to wait until my birthday in 3 week.. hopefully by then I will be at least 2 inches smaller and in a much smaller pant size. I still despise getting up at 4:20 am! I really really hate it! But seeing the scale and the inches come down is making it worth it.

3rd week of boot camp

So today I woke up very groggy and NOT wanting to go to class. So when I saw that it had snowed (all be it a medium dusting) I used that as my excuse to get back into bed and go to sleep. First had it not snowed I would have went but the way I go is a curvy road and I am not very good at driving in the snow to begin with it was like 10 outside so I could only imagine how slick and icy the road was. That is my excuse and I am sticking with it.
My diet suffered terribly last week. I just fell back into my usual "I hate having to eat this and not that". So with Josh not feeling well and me trying to cook him anything as long as he would eat. We didn't eat as healthy as we could have.  While I didn't eat like super terrible it wasn't as good as week one.
I went running or walk jogging on Saturday even though it was FREEZING! They make us do like 30 minutes of warm up which consisted of running.. or something called "last man up". It was really hard especially for someone who is not in shape and NOT a runner. No one listed to directions so it was really hard. I hate that they make us do 30 min of running warm up cause when it's time to actually run I am really not feeling it. I would rather do some stretching and then go running. I think my time would be better if I wasn't already tired from the stupid warming up.
I am still happy that I am around the same weight as last week so even though I didn't do my best I am still not to bad.
This is a new week and I have recommitted myself to eating right and going to ALL my classes.
Losing weight has to be one of the hardest things I have had to do. My mind likes to keep reminding me that I want everything that I can't have right now. It's always the same when I can't have something is when I want it the most.
On a positive note my jeans are falling off of me! I will wait till my bday to do shopping because I want to be in a size that I haven't seen in YEARS!

New number on the scale

I checked my weight today even though I told myself I was not going to. I really want to only check it once a week. I picked Monday's for my weigh in days but of course I can't stay away from the scale. So anyway I am still not wanting to broadcast my weight but lets just say this is the first time it has been this number in a LONG time!
Since starting my weight-loss journey January of 2011 I have lost 16.4 pounds. But I am only taking into account what I have lost since starting boot-camp.
This was a rough week at my house. My husband had shoulder surgery and it has thrown us all out of whack. His pain meds haven't worked, his stomach has been upset, he hasn't slept. So needless to say we haven't been eating as healthy as the week before. I missed one day of class (the day of his surgery) and the other two days I barely wanted to go I was so tired. I pushed through and made it through each one. Today is a day off then tomorrow is the dreaded run. It is getting really cold so I am going to probably freeze my butt off tomorrow while running.

CAN'T BREATH!

So last night we went out to eat (oh the horror!) anyway half way thru the meal I start sneezing and my allergies are kicking up! I was like what the hell! I know it wasn't any of the food I ate. So any how I came home and it went away all was good.
Cut to this mornings work out. Who ever thought that doing 30 seconds worth of exercise is easy is full of crap! we did 30 seconds on 30 seconds off. Well half way I noticed I wasn't able to like really catch my breath.. I wasn't able to take a deep breath. If felt as if someone was sitting on my chest. Well I am sure it was part of an asthma issue do to my allergy attack last night. One of the coaches took me aside we did some cool down stuff and then I was able to get back and finish class. Still this afternoon my chest feels tight. Not much else to report... day 1 of week 2 done.

Running is supposed to be fun right?

So for the first time in like 20 years I went running. Part of this boot camp thing is on Saturday's we go running or as I like to call it runwalking. So anyway bright and early on Saturday I get up get ready dress warm and head out to the lake to do my first run in many years. I don't even want to go. I am dreading going. I am hating every second that I am driving to the lake to run. I get there and its COLD! I think to myself what the HELL am I doing here so early to RUN! Well we warm up and some of the warm up includes jogging around the parking lot! REALLY?? you want me to jog as a warm up then run a mile? So of course I am trying to be a trooper so I jog er..walk then jog and walk my way around the parking lot twice. Then starts our timed run. I am thinking one mile is going to take me AT least 30 minutes I mean really for a non over weight runner I am hoping it ONLY takes me 30 minutes and not more. So start running (if you can call it that) its more of a labored jog. I do that for as long as I can then I walk then I jog/run until I am around the lake and see the finish line. I run by and my time is 16:41! I was shocked! I mean not to bad Jennifer! really not bad at all! then they want us to go around again walk 2 min run 2 min walk 2 min.... but I don't have a watch so that means I have to hold my phone and run and well I would have probably fell flat on my face. So I just ran and walked and jogged and walked and well you get my point. We stretched and went home.
While walking I noticed I have no clue on how to actually run. I mean you would think heck its running just do it. I felt like a buffalo running clomping on the pavement. While I noticed other people gliding like water fairies over the pavement. I hope to one day get that good at running. When I was on my way to the run I was hating life. When I was on my way home I was thinking... "maybe I should go running on Sunday". WHAT! I must have been having some out of body experience.
Eating has still be the biggest struggle. I have taken out a ton of things from my diet. Dairy, white foods (potatoes, bread, white rice, chips etc) soda, caffeine. This by far has been the hardest part of this program. I really want Taco Bell, pizza, hamburgers... I have struggled with finding healthy things to cook at night that fall with in the foods we have cut out of our diet.
I have been having  a salad every day for lunch for 5 days. I couldn't stomach another salad yesterday so I just had a ViSalus shake with some almond milk and rootbeer concentrate. It was like a rootbeer float so it was yummy.
I have lost weight since the weigh-in but I won't post the loss until tomorrow which is my official weigh-in days at home. Perhaps at the end of this 6 weeks I will post my starting weight and my end right now I am not comfortable letting everyone know my starting weight.
Well that is it for now.... class starts up again bright and early tomorrow.

Eating better sucks

O.k O.k I mean I know it's better for you to eat healthy and cutting out bad for you foods SUCKS. I mean if I could just never leave the house and only have healthy food delivered that would totally rock! However, I know that is not even a remote chance of that happening SO I just have to keep my shopping card pointed in the right direction.

Can you die from being to sore?

Well my legs feel like jelly! It is pure torture to just walk from point A to point B. I won't even go into walking up or down the stairs. I know that in due time it will get better and I won't be "AS" sore but for now I am wondering why I even signed up for this torture. Oh yeah... to get healthy. Today is one day that I was wishing I could quit! I was super tired this morning and wanted to give up half way through class. I didn't I stayed and finished. I know at the end of class I will be stronger and leaner...and by this time next year I should be half of what I am now. I can't think that far off though cause it seems like a LONG way away. For now I am happy that I get up and out to class everyday. I have to keep my eye on the short term goals and for me that is finishing this 6 week class with a bang.

Day 2 = No Puking!

So day 2 is done and over with. I woke up barely being able to walk. I did so many squats yesterday my legs were protesting today. I thought to myself  how in the world am I going to be able to exercise. To my shock halfway through the class I was moving with minimal pain. I didn't puke and actually had fun at class. We were able to jump on a trampoline! I mean so much fun and what a workout! We also jumped rope! I mean come one now jump rope! while good for cardio.... it's harder to do when you haven't picked up a jump rope in about 20 years! So in between attempting to jump I am smacking my arms with the plastic rope!
It takes me about 5 minutes to get to the gym from my house. So after the workout I got into the car drove home and when I got home my legs were in full protest! I may need a wheelchair for the rest of the week. We have some stairs in the house... how fast can hey install one of those chair things like from the Gremlins?

Eating healthy

Why is it when your trying to eat healthy and cut certain foods out all you want are those foods. When I "could" have them I never wanted them now that I am trying to not eat them that is all I want. We went and go tons of produce and chicken for some upcoming meals.
No one said this was going to be easy.... so far I have a huge headache and an upcoming nutrition class tonight.... I am also tired... I know that I should be getting the workout energy soon... well at least I hope soon.

Day one = puking.

I had a horrible night of sleep brought to me by my husband. So I tossed and turned and tossed and turned. I had a dream that I got up for class but then for some reason was like 3 hours late! I looked at the time and was like "WTH" how did that happen. So I got up at around 4am and got ready for my first class of the new year.
It started out just like the other classes it wasn't any harder then the others BUT about 30 min or so into it my stomach got upset and of course I puked. I think I may have drank way to much water to soon into the workout.
So anyway I came home and Josh and I took a long nap! He got up early today too and did a workout of some sort.
Well the first day is done and over with and I am looking forward to the next one tomorrow and the next and the next.

Night Before Brik Bootcamp

I am gearing up to take a ride that is long time coming. Starting tomorrow at 5am I will be attending my first bootcamp class. I have recently completed a 4 week class that gave me a window into what will be going on these next 6 weeks. The biggest change is going to be the nutrition plan they want us to follow (Its VEGAN). I know in my gut that I can't follow a vegan diet. So I am going to try my best to follow as much of the meal plan that I can. I am going to cut out sugar and white products. So no BREAD, PASTA or rice for 6 weeks. I am also going to cut out caffeine which means no ice tea or soda. For the first time ever I am actually excited to start this new journey.
Josh is also starting this journey with me. He is giving up BEER! Those of you who know him know he LOVES beer! We will be taking our measurements and weight tomorrow and see where we are in 6 weeks!
The end of my bootcamp is actually Feb 10 which is the day before my birthday! What a birthday it will be if I can go shopping and get some smaller size jeans and shirts! I don't plan on stopping after this 6 weeks is over HELL NO I plan on making this a life style change! During this 6 weeks we are also going to be running! RUNNING!! um I think I will be doing walking cause I doubt I can run even a 1/2 a mile. Our first run is this coming Saturday.
I plan on posting at least every other day. They may not be super positive posts they may even be full of self doubt and why did I do this and I hate this... but I will keep this up for 6 week.. I mean you can do anything for 6 weeks right...