There is no CAN'T in the gym!

I just wanted to post a quick little Saturday blog. I was at the gym yesterday and decided to take this little video snippet to show that there really is no CAN'T in the gym! Part of my DAMY Health workout this month has been chin ups. Now, I knew I couldn't do just a plain chin up. But it doesn't mean I CAN'T do a chin up somehow! I CAN and eventually I WILL do a plain chin up.

CAN'T is a mentality, it's not a reality. It's only a reality if you LET it be. I knew that I could work on my chin ups and get better at them.

Source: Uploaded by user via Alyssa on Pinterest

I wanted to post this to show others how I improved my chin ups. When I started doing them, I could only do a few in a row. I would have to break and then continue to do more. Last night, I did 10 assisted chin ups in a row without a break! Unfortunately, this video doesn't show my 10 in a row because this was my second set and I had done 21s in between. I did 5 in a row in this video. When I initially started this month, I wouldn't have been able to do even 5 in a row on my second set. In a month's time though, I've gotten all the way up to 10!  Anything CAN be done but you need an "I CAN" mentality.

If you want to get better at chin ups and be able to say, "I can!" this is a good way to get there.

I put a bench under the pull up bar. Use a resistance band (there are varying resistances, use what you need). Put the handles through the ends of the pull up bar. I put a pad on the band otherwise it dug into my leg and hurt. Stand on the bench and put one knee into the band.

You may also use the wider resistance bands that are loops. For those, you don't have to use a pad. You would just pull it over the bar in the middle and stick one end of the loop through the other and tighten it so it's attached. This is shown HERE. They don't have those types of bands at my gym so I had to get creative.

With a CAN DO attitude, you really CAN DO anything!

Clean eating in just 7 days...

I had gotten off of my clean eating for a while. The results were not good. I felt flabby, sloth-like, unable to do my workouts as efficiently and worst of all, I felt out of control. I was addicted to sugars again. I realized what I hated most wasn't that I was flabby but the feeling of not being in control of my own habits. Suddenly the foods had "the say" again. I found myself going back and forth to the sweets at work. There was the realization that when I was eating, I wasn't even enjoying the food rather it seemed like an involuntary action of excessive consumption of sweets. I had lost it. 

On the other hand, I knew that all it takes is a couple of days of dedication and I could be back on track, cleansed of the processed and refined foods that lead to my sugary demise. With this knowledge and the awareness of my love for a challenge, I decided that I would commit myself to a 7 day challenge of clean eating. This wasn't just going to be a "getting on track" challenge. I wanted to demonstrate for once what I have talked about a few times before. That you can visually see a DRASTIC change in your body with clean eating. Here are my results in 7 days!

Just to be sure it is clear. I did not do anything different during these 7 days other than eating clean. I had been doing the same workouts all along. The only change that I made was that I ate clean and eliminated the processed and refined foods. My water intake was the same, my workouts were the same, everything virtually the same. This difference in physique is ALL due to eating the right foods for your body!

Will everyone have the same results after 7 days of clean eating? No. I am well aware that as I have been dedicated to clean eating via the DAMY Health program for a year (and yes, I have had small time periods where I have fallen off track) that I am able to see a quick return of muscle tone. This is because I'm dedicated to working out 6 days a week and have the base of all of this weight training and clean eating behind me. However, I think this does demonstrate how a person who is dedicated to working out and is looking to lose those last 10 pounds or so can get great results from clean eating. You will see a great difference in your muscle definition - just in 7 days!!! Even though that's what THIS post demonstrates, don't forget that others with more weight to lose can see just as good of results as I did with the DAMY Health program. Want to see? Look at THIS POST.

I can only recommend that everyone give DAMY Health's program a try! It will change your life and your relationship with food. Yes, I am not perfect and sometimes my old habits take over. On the other hand, I am able to now recognize these and take back control quick. When I do, I love the results that I SEE and how I FEEL! Back on clean eating and in control! I feel great!

How Many Calories Are In That?

Ah, yes. "How many calories are in that?" A question that, it seems lately, I have been getting a lot. I don't know why this question is being brought up so much as of recent, however, I do know that my response will continue to be the same. "I don't know," as I continue cramming my mouth full of food.

This question is posed to me by people in the gym, sometimes friends and probably whoever happens to see me shoveling food into my face throughout the day. And the truth is, I really don't know. Quite honestly, I really don't care.

Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the whole mathematical equation. Calories in - Calories out (burned) = Weight Gain or Loss (dependent upon the outcome of that equation). However, the beauty of my current lifestyle and my dedication to the DAMY Health program is that I don't have to count calories, points, fat, carbs...thank the Lord! Because I don't want to!

UGH!!!!

Source: loseweight-safe.com via ElidiaArevalo on Pinterest

The other evening at the gym, I hopped on an elliptical machine next to an acquaintance at the gym. She said that she had noticed me with my DAMY Health printouts and asked where I got them, what I do, etc. We continued to have a long discussion about health and diet and she would bring up calories and this and that. I tried to tell her that I don't worry about that but amazingly enough for me (if you knew me, you would know this is pretty amazing) I could hardly get a word in!!

All this recent questioning about the matter of calories lately has given me the opportunity to reflect about the situation of diet in our country (and I'm sure many countries around the world). It really is difficult and frustrating for me to see people who spend so much more time counting the contents of calories, carbs, fat and so on in their food, rather than just enjoying really good and healthy food. I feel like the act of calorie counting itself can be come quite an unhealthy obsession.

Obsession? Not at all! Hmmm.

Source: fit-to-be-thin.tumblr.com via Anya on Pinterest

I don't make these comments as any type of judgement towards any people that may count calories or points, but I say this based on personal past experience. I was once a calorie and point counter. I had tried so many different methods to control my weight growing up. I felt like the counting did become an obsession. It seemed to make eating a painful experience rather than a pleasurable and healthy one. I thought about points all the time and mostly, I thought about eating all the time. I was one hungry point counter! Not only that, but I would go as far as to say that at different periods of my life I was exercise anorexic. Eating very minimal amounts of food and exercising myself like crazy to lose large quantities of weight in short periods of time. It never lasted, I would inevitably gain it all back and more. How can you really spend that long doing that to your body, before your body really demands what it wants?

Perhaps some of you are reading this and thinking that I am a hypocrite, because I have to be measuring what I eat to some degree to maintain a fit physique. To some extent, you are right. Just as everyone else, I do have to watch portions. You can't go eat a whole cake and expect to be fit and trim. I do have to watch the types of food that I am putting in my body at certain times of the day as well. However, I can eye up the size my meat should be by my palm. I can make a pretty accurate estimate of the amount of carb needed on my plate and of course, I will happily load up on heaps of veggies and some fruits. Of course these things need to be quantified, however I don't feel obsessed over them. I don't feel deprived. Eating can be enjoyable and I can constantly feed my body the right food - all day long - and remain fit.

Source: loseweight-safe.com via mialti on Pinterest

What I really wanted to say with this post is that I find it frustrating and saddening that people feel they have to be trapped by food counting - as I once did. Even worse, that our media puts these types of diets on display and aids in making them fads. I also write to say this: If you are trapped in food counting and you loathe it, I challenge you to try DAMY Health. If you are calorie counting and at a plateau or realize that the food counting isn't getting you the results you want or your always hungry and tired of being obsessed with counting, try DAMY Health. Yes, it will feel backwards. But you will see that you CAN eat a lot of food and get the fitness results you want. I am living proof! See??

Please, if you are ready to treat your body the way it deserves to be treated, give DAMY a whirl. Your body, in turn, will thank you.

Re-Dedication.

RE-dedication. That is my theme for this week. Not only with what I'm going to continue to write about, but also with my business and moving forward with that. I have to be honest with you all and with myself. Recently, my clean diet has been slipping. Small unclean foods have been working their way into the everyday diet. A little here, a little there, no problem, right? Wrong.

Over the short time that these foods have been inching their way back in, I notice small changes. Less muscle tone, a little tighter pants and definitely an overall icky feeling. I've decided that this week, it's time to RE-dedicate myself. No more unclean foods slipping into the diet during the week. Letting a treat be an actual TREAT! You can't have a REAL treat if other treats are happening throughout the week after all.

Source: mth2011.tumblr.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

 

I am only human and these things happen. It doesn't mean that I have to dwell on these negative events and can't turn it around. In fact, I can choose to do that at any moment, any day. I choose now and I've been sticking to it! I armed myself with an aresenal of clean treats, spending my Sunday afternoon cooking away.

Source: mth2011.tumblr.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

I was also thinking what caused these events. Of course, part of the answer is that it's lack of willpower and MY own personal choices. I made these bad food choices and that is something that I accept. The other thing that I think has taken part of it is that I feel like I am bored. I feel like I have been eating the same foods over and over, the same flavors, etc. I've researched some new recipes this week so that I can try them out and keep myself interested! New meals should spice things up a bit! I even had a tofu smoothie this morning!!! Wait for it on my Wednesday post!

I am making a conscious decision to turn it around this week. No excuses, no moments of weakness. Mind is stronger than the tummy! RE-dedication, begin!

When you are not achieving the success you would like to achieve in one area of your life, how have you revamped your situation to make sure you stay on a continued successful path?

Best. Body. Ever. Challenge. With. DAMY Health.

Remember that "Best Body Ever Challenge" with DAMY Health that I told you guys about not too long ago and I was working on a six pack? Well, it's finished! :) Unfortunately, I did not score my six pack...just yet! BUT I did learn a lot of lessons and I had some other amazing results that weren't a six pack! You'll have to see the video below to find out what! 

I did not WIN the challenge, but you know what? I know that I am a WINNER! I definitely feel like I've won for myself! Another part of my goal was to maintain where I was at with weight and I have done so and that makes me really happy! I had a few bad weeks during this program where there was a lot of stress and also I had a pretty bad cold for a couple of weeks and I sometimes lost sight of my goal. However, I kept it together for the most part and was dedicated to my workouts! I know I can continue doing better on my own and get that six pack someday soon!

I created a video for the competition. It is a bit long, but it documents my progress throughout the challenge as well as my lifelong struggle with weight loss. I also talk a lot about DAMY and their wonderful programs! I sure hope that you all check them out and perhaps you even purchase one?! No better time to reach for a new goal than TODAY! 

These are the pictures from very beginning, to after the Bikini Body Program to after the BBEC. 

Before DAMY Health programs

After the Bikini Body Program

After BBEC (now)

After BBEC (now)

And now for the video...

I hope that you all had wonderful success with your goals in 2011! 

If you are looking towards a goal of weight loss and health, I highly recommend DAMY Health! 

Pre-Christmas. Detox.

I might have mentioned that I have not been doing so well with my diet. Stress had really built up at work and I became weak with my one vice: sugar! However...I'm back on track! Today was a detox day before the holidays! Yep...BEFORE Christmas!!! I plan on having some Christmas treats as my cheat day and then right back to clean after Christmas day! It's better for me to get a head start today! You can make a new start ANY time you like!!! I know that DAMY Health would agree. There is never a good day - like January 1st - or a perfect Monday - or a perfect time to start something. The perfect time is NOW! Why wait till January 1st when you can clean up your act today? I knew it was time for me to get my act together and I started anew! I completely understand when people say it's hard. It is hard at first! Just like everything that is good in life is hard at first and yes, it gets easier with practice. I feel it too. The late night craving for sugars or starches. Those cravings that hit you real hard and you want to give in! You know what though? I'm stronger than those sugars and starches! My brain has power over my tummy and I can tell it that what it REALLY needs is good vegetables and proteins. I know that tomorrow will be 10 times easier then too!  So that is what I'm doing today! Making my brain my body muscle! :) If anyone hasn't made their brain their body muscle and needs a little extra help, check out DAMY Health! They are a real support and can change your life! No better time than the present!

As far as Christmas goodies, I have made some...and NOT for me! :) I made some DAMY treats for friends this Christmas! It felt good to give them a treat that was healthy for them and they didn't even know it! I'm so sneaky! :) Here are the holiday treats I made for some coworkers and friends!

Who wouldn't want a gift like this at Christmas? A box full of DAMY Health Skinny Chocolate Candy Cane Bark and  Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls (I call them HoliBallz! lol)

Hope you all are treating yourselves well in this holiday season and seizing each moment of the day for change. Start change now because later may never come! :)

10. Great. Things. That. DAMY. Gave. Me.

A list of 10 Great Things that DAMY Health gave me!

1. Boosted self-confidence. The ability to look at myself and my own actions and be proud of them, every day!
2. Freedom of choice. I get to CHOOSE every day if I want to live a healthy DAMY life that leaves me feeling great or would I prefer to go back to my old ways and be captive to my own addictions. I enjoy feeling great!
3. The ability to stop hiding. Not hiding under clothes, goofy faces (but I still love making them) or amongst a crowd. Confident and happy to step out as me - sans hiding.
4. Growth. Wow... I never thought I could do some of those workouts! Look at some of the old ones and how now it would be nothing! 15 jump squats? No problem!
5. A cheering section. I get positive reinforcement every step of the way! If I slip up? It's okay, don't dwell on it, move forward and always give your best!
6. A 7% body fat percent drop, 20lbs lost and down to a size 6 from a 10 - yet stronger than ever! Hello there high school me! I could beat you up! :)
7. Being within reach of visibly having a six pack! Yea!
8. Physically feeling when I'm not fueling my body appropriately. Overload of processed foods? Oh my! The worst tummy ache of my life!
9. Knowledge - what to eat, when to eat, how to eat. No starving, no calorie counting, just clean eating! :) 
10. The joy of living in a healthy way that fuels me, gives me energy and makes me feel great to be me!

                              Before DAMY                                            After DAMY (3 months)

THANKS DAMY!

I. Am. Fit. NOT. "Teeny".

I normally don't like to make posts ranting or complaining about life; it just isn't my style. However, I have been hearing a lot of one word lately and I thought I would make a few comments about this so as to make more people aware.

As you have all followed me and cheered me on during my weight loss journey and my mission to get more muscle, you realize that yes, I of course have become smaller in size. This of course, is due to gaining more muscle and losing fat. As most people are well aware, muscle is much more compact than fat. It takes up much less space...see?

These replicas both weight 5 lbs. It's just that 5 lbs of muscle is much more compact.

Over this last week, the words, "you are teeny" or "teeny like you" has been uttered to me a number of times. I cringe at the word, "teeny". To me, "teeny" signifies many things, but it does not signify a fit and healthy person. Teeny, for me, signifies weak and feeble, malnourished and unhealthily skinny...neither of which I am. I am a size 6, 5'7.5", 139 lb, 19% body fat woman who just so happens to be in the best shape of her life.

Some people might say, "Why are you complaining that someone calls you "teeny"? It's better than being called "fat!"" I'm sure many people are aware though, that "teeny" people or very naturally thin people with high metabolisms, despise this word too! I know many women who are naturally very slender, and they are TRYING to gain weight! They try and eat a lot of food to put weight on and they simply cannot do it! It's frustrating for them to be called, "teeny" because they are working so hard to put weight on and this word is simply a discouragement to all of their hard work. This is just as bad as being called "fat."

Just like those high-metabolism slender ladies, I do not like to be called "teeny" either. Why? Because I feel like it fails to acknowledge all of the hard work that I put into my body each and every day.

I work hard to fuel my body and give it what it wants - nutrient rich foods all day long. I eat every 2-3 hours, after all!

I put in a lot of time, sweat and sometimes almost tears at the gym to put on muscle. It's hard work to get motivated to go to the gym somedays - just like it is for everyone. But I am there, doing the work. "Teeny" discredits all of the hard work that I put into building the muscle that in fact does make me smaller and more compact, but I am STRONG! 

Some of the strongest women in the nation may look "teeny" but if you ever see them at work, you will know they are powerhouses! They are fit, in shape, finely tuned machines! They work hard and their size is a reflection of this hard work and they therefore have results. 

I wanted to put this out there to remind people of how powerful words really are, for yourself as well as everyone else. If you are going to call me anything, call me fit, a buff mama, in shape, anything reflecting my hard work...but "teeny" does not describe me. I realize perfect strangers may not know this about me when they don't know me as a person and my activities, but as I mentioned earlier, there are also plenty of women out there who are naturally slender and trying to put on weight, and I know some of them despise the word just as much. So let's all try to be conscientious of the words we use to describe people - whether they are larger or smaller. We all come in different varieties and that's what makes us beautiful. 

What words do you think best describe women's bodies, all shapes and sizes?

I. Need. A. Six. Pack.

And I'm not talkin' beers! ;) It's been one month since I completed the Bikini Body Program with DAMY Health! I'm still plugging away at it though! I joined the DAMY Lifestyle program and also enrolled in the DAMY Best Body Ever Challenge! I have to set a goal and try and accomplish it by January 1st! That means that I have till the first of the year to get my six pack!!

Today I weighed in again and have maintained my 139 lbs! Yea! I measured myself and my measurements are pretty much the same. My hips were about 36 3/4", waist about 26 3/4" and bust was still about 33 3/4".

Even though I am about the same measurements, I have started noticing nice changes in my body! I notice that I can now FEEL when I use certain muscles. Even when I'm walking, I can differentiate between which muscles I am actually using. I can feel using an outer glute muscle versus an inner! It's amazing!

I've also been noticing that my legs have been getting much more toned and in shape!

Also, I have indents where I never had them before!

The other thing. You know those small skin folds that models have when they are bent over? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about, "skin folds" and not "skin rolls". I'm starting to get those. I didn't even think that that was something that real humans had - you know, "skin folds" on your tummy. Yep, I am basically saying that I considered models part of the non-human society.  It turns out though...that they are! AND you can just have skin folds and not rolls. Who woulda thunk?

Hey look! I have knee indents! :)

Despite all my great progress, I did have some slip ups recently. I had a horrid day of candy eating the other week! And guess what? I paid for it in a major way! Now that I haven't been eating that food, when I do go back to it and have it in excessive amounts, I get really sick! I felt SO sick after all of that! That night during my workout, I thought I was going to be ill all over the treadmill! That could have been interesting! ;)  It's amazing to me that now my body is rejecting those foods and doesn't want them! I can also FEEL a complete difference as to how I FEEL when I go back to those foods. Can't believe that was my "normal" feeling before! Yuck! I'm staying strong though and sticking to eating clean!

Keep strong in your will with the goals you want to accomplish!

What are you working towards now where you need to stay strong?

First. VLOG. And. Video. Of. Accomplished. Goal.

Hey Everyone! My very first VLOG for you! Enjoy!

And here is the video that I first saw this in!

Here is my video!

A. Bikini. Body.

I FINISHED my Bikini Body Program with DAMY Health. I can't believe it! The 12 weeks flew by! I'm also LOVING the new me! I wanted to share with you all my final stats and before and after pictures! 

                  This was me 12 weeks ago.                                   This is me now.

An improvement? I'd say so! 

Just to stick with the idea of the program - it is called Bikini Body Program after all. Here you all have it!

Me in my new bikini!

Full body! Bikini from Victoria's Secret.

Wow! I wouldn't have been caught dead in one of these before! Much less on the internet!

I didn't start the DAMY Health program to be skinny, wear a size 6 pant or anything of that nature. I had set a goal a while back to firstly, lose the 15 lbs that I put on doing the job that I really disliked. I also wanted to make more muscle and lower my body fat percent. For a long time, I've wanted to be able to get my body fat percent in the "Fitness Zone". I did much more than that! I want to share with you all my TOTAL body transformation

This girl here weighed 159 lbs. She was a size 10 and had 26.5% body fat. She was athletic and loved biking, running, strength training and all activities that involved a physical challenge. She just didn't feel that her BODY represented what it could actually do! She had no problem getting out to exercise, she loved it! Her diet however, consisted of too much sugar and TOO much processed foods. She needed a change!

Bust: 36"

Hips: 42.5"

Waist: 29"

Weight: 159 lbs

Body fat percent: 26.5%

Pant size: 10

THIS girl weighs 139 lbs. She wears a size 6 and has 19.7% body fat. She is the same as the girl above. She has the same interests, does the same activities, and still loves challenging herself. This girl, however, feels like her outer self really represents her inner self. She is content with who she is and confident about her abilities. She feels HEALTHY, she is proud and happy of what she puts into her body and the way her body rewards her for treating it well. Some more about this girl:

Bust: 33 3/4"

Hips: 37:

Waist: 26.5"

Weight: 139 lbs

Body fat percent: 19.7%

Pant size: 6

What did I lose? 

5 1/2" in my hips

2 1/2" in my waist

2 1/4" in my bust

20 lbs

6.8% body fat

4 pant sizes

Total: 10 1/4"

What did I gain?

EVERYTHING!

I'm a new girl. I'm a happy woman who feels like her outer self now represents the inner confident self that I've always been! This has been a complete change in my life that makes me so proud. Not only has the DAMY Health program changed MY appearance, it's changed my abilities. Physically, I am so much more capable of things I never thought I COULD do. I think back to my first DAMY Health workouts and how I struggled through many of them...but I did them! Now, I feel like I could hammer those workouts out with no problem! I've seen changes not only in my appearance but my abilities as an athlete. I can bike harder, run faster, endure more! Also, my body fat percent? That 19.7% beats the Fitness category. I'm into the ATHLETE category!

I've been asking myself a lot lately...now what?! Clearly, this isn't just a 12 week program for me. This is a lifestyle change. I was talking to some friends about my clothing and how none of it fits anymore. 

My skinny jeans: NOW on top, BEFORE on the bottom. Size 10 to a size 6.

Some of the people I spoke with suggested hanging onto my old clothes, "just in case I gained weight again." However, I THINK, why set yourself up for failure? Why GIVE YOURSELF the option to go back to before? I don't want to go back, I want to go forward. I want to improve more. Yesterday, I went out and bought a new wardrobe at an Old Navy sale. I bought size 6 pants, size SMALL skirts, size SMALL and EXTRA SMALL sweaters. Why would I want to go back? It felt SO good to say, "Do you have this in a size 6?" Amazing! Something I didn't think I would EVER be saying. Thoughts and words are powerful. Why CHOOSE to think that I MAY grow into my old pants Why give myself the option? I choose my health. I have CHOSEN what I want. As I said, this is a new lifestyle. It wasn't a temporary experiment. I CHOOSE to not give myself the option to fail! My old clothes? They are being sold on Ebay and in thrift stores. My new clothes? Here to stay!

In continuing with my LIFESTYLE change, I've made a decision for today. I'm putting ME first. I'm putting my health and wellbeing first. Today, I will be purchasing a year membership to the DAMY Lifestyle program. I will continue workouts and continue clean eating. I will continue forward! I feel some six pack abs are just a short bit away! :)

What about you? What will YOU choose today? Will you choose to go forward? Will you choose the you that YOU want to be? If the person you want to be involves a healthier you, than I recommend DAMY Health. As you can see, I've experienced firsthand the way that the DAMY Health program and all of their support changes lives! Don't wait! Choose you TODAY!

I. Have. Butt. Muscles...Do. You?

Hey Everyone! I have had the following post saved in my posts since Saturday! I was waiting to get this picture off of an old CD that for some reason, my computer wouldn't read! I got the picture finally today! I hope you enjoy the post! I will be doing a Wednesday Ware and Fare tomorrow and then a GREAT post from a Featured Goal Getter Gurl after that! I can't wait!!! Enjoy!

Another check-in for me this week with my DAMY Health program! I always check-in with DAMY Health every Saturday, but I see it fitting to check in with you guys as well!

I discovered something new this week that I don't believe I ever knew: I have BUTT muscles!!! Yes, I do!!! I was stumbling around my apartment this week, trying to get ready and changing. I happened across my reflection in the mirror when I was looking to get some pants! I saw something I don't think I've EVER seen before in my LIFE! I have butt muscles!!! Yes, I actually saw, on the side of my hips/upper thigh and actual indentation to where my glutes start! Holy cow! What a shock! I was really pleased and realized that it really paid off this week being honest with myself! Honest about what I was really taking in and my sugar addiction. Cutting out many fruits and sweet snacks and increasing my veggies has really paid off! I have one more week to go with the DAMY Health Bikini Body Program. Just one more!! Wow, time has flown!

Ok, so kinda graphic but this is the upper part of my hip. You can slightly see the indentation in this pic!

                             Last Week                                                    This Week

                            Weight: 142                                                  Weight: 139

I really got to thinking after seeing my shots here today and thinking about my progress. I was thinking of looking at some before and after shots. I began looking through them and this is what I found!

                           Then                                                              Now

Firstly of course, my total body transformation. Who was THAT girl on the left?! 

These are the same shorts that I've been wearing in all of my weekend pics. I bought these in 2004. I was about the same weight here in 2004 and I HATED the way I looked in that picture. What is so amazing is that I'm the same weight now that I was there, but this time I'm MUSCLE! I can tell my legs are much more toned now. It's amazing how much smaller muscle versus fat really is! Another amazing thing? I took these shorts off today without unbuttoning them!

                                   My arm before...                 My arm on DAMY Health!

Grrrr! Have built me some arm muscles! I love it!

Finally, just for fun..and I have no before pic but...

BAM! I've slightly got abs! Yea! 

I can't believe how in just a few months I have changed so much! I think I am in the best physical shape I've ever been! All thanks to following DAMY Health's guidance and advice! It's time to consider getting a DAMY Lifestyle Program membership! If you are pondering a program too, don't hesitate! If you sign up now, you can be entered to win a FREE year membership and $500!  $500 to get into the best physical shape of your life AND discover a new found bliss! Why wouldn't you?!

Do you go back and look at former things that you created, pictures you have taken, goal lists you have made to determine how you've progressed? What have you discovered?

Cleaning. Up. My. Clean.

Yesterday I mentioned that I wouldn't be having any of my Healthy Nutella for a bit. Why? Because I need to clean up my clean! With the DAMY Health clean eating program, as I mentioned in the past, you try and knock out processed foods and refined sugars. Basically, if you don't understand what the ingredients are in your food, you probably shouldn't be eating it! I've mentioned before that I was a sugar addict! You all saw my unhealthy habits before on my monthly spending posts. This clean eating has been a GREAT change! DAMY Health thus far has taken me from a size 10 to about a size 7-8! I just bought some size 8 pants the other weekend and they are already getting baggy on me! Argh! Good thing I didn't spend much! At present, they are the only pants I own that I can actually wear! Oh, besides my HUE jeggings, of course!

Mr. Clean...he knows what it's all about!

In my last weight update post, I said that I felt that I wasn't getting some of the results I wanted. I had to sit back and think about that and consider my effort. Previously, I wasn't following the EXACT portion sizes recommended by DAMY Health for where I am at in the program. This was because I was much more active in a different position at work and I was moving around, carrying, lifting and pulling heavy items all day long. Since then, I have gone back to my desk position and I am not as active. Of course, my body noticed! I spoke with DAMY Health and they thought it would be good for me to go back to the recommended portions...and I agree!

All about the portions! Eat foods in quantities they are meant to be eaten!

Not only did I have to acknowledge the change in my activity level at work, but I also had to be honest with myself; I was falling back into old sugar addict patterns. Was it refined sugar? No. It was natural sugar from fruits, agave syrups and clean snacks. Let's face it though, sugar is SUGAR! Fruit has basically become my new candy! DAMY has this wonderful Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard (clean version) that I swear I became addicted to...and not in a healthy way! So this is me, fessing up to my weaknesses and shortcomings. I'm okay with that because I am ONLY human! However, that doesn't mean that it is okay to continue those patterns. This week, I've cleaned up my act. Less fruits/snacks, MORE vegetables! I already notice the difference and once again, crave those sugars much less! I know that I was CERTAINLY a sugar addict before starting the clean eating program. When I started the first few days of the DAMY Health program, I had a headache for about 2-3 days! I'm certain I was going through a withdrawl of sugars and processed foods in my system. Many other bloggers agree! See this sugar addiction blog I found and their post on it here!

 

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Now that I'm back on track, I'm feeling much better! It feels good to discuss my shortcomings and have a clean conscience! Human I am, relenting, I am not! I'll keep doing my best and putting forth all my effort!

Have you cleaned out your conscience lately with any bad habits? How did you fix your habits?

Rome. Wasn't. Built. In. A. Day.

I missed you guys yesterday on my check in with my DAMY Health clean eating program! To tell you the truth, I was feeling a bit frustrated yesterday! Yes...I actually do get frustrated. Even though I'm a huge optimist, I still have days/fleeting moments where I get frustrated about something or a bit down. I did my weigh in yesterday and I'm up to 142. I was debating whether or not this was muscle gained or simple fluctuation of my weight (I did bike to the gym after all). Especially because I've been putting in a lot of time at the gym. I did my weekly check-in with DAMY Health (every week I get to check-in with DAMY and I get lovely replies and guidance back! Not to mention that I can email with questions at any point.). I was feeling a bit frustrated yesterday and was feeling that I hadn't made progress and was actually going backwards.While at the gym, I decided to check in with my body fat percent again. Down from 23.6% to 21.9%! I couldn't believe it! Then I came home and started looking back at pics. I realized that I am making HUGE progress and I just need to give it some time and be patient - which is not my strength. I took a glance at these progress pictures though and realized I've come a long way and there is no reason to get down. I can continue following the plan for my last 2 weeks and I know I'll continue to see progress!

                   Starting                                      6 Weeks                           Today - 10 Weeks

I also did some updated measurements. My waist and bust are holding steady at 27" and 34". My hips were up to 37.5". I'm hopeful that I built some booty muscle! :) After all, I've been doing huge amounts of leg and booty workouts! From these pictures though, I see really how far my trouble spots have come! My legs look completely different!

Another piece of my world frustrating me yesterday was my business. I know that Rome wasn't built in a day and it takes a bit for the word to get out, but I had no tours this weekend. It was really frustrating. I continue to be hopeful. I have an article coming out about my business on Tuesday and tomorrow I have an interview with another newspaper! Fingers crossed! I also had some good marketing opportunities and potential clients yesterday. This girl does not give in easy!

Which brings me to this: what is the one thing in my life that when I'm feeling a little blue or out of sorts, snaps me back into a good mood? 

BIKING!

Hardcore biker chicks do it in skirts!!!

To help get me back into a better mood and since I had no tours yesterday, I participated in Babes In Bikeland. An all female alley cat race throughout Minneapolis. I've done several alley cat races in Minneapolis and I've always been disqualified because I never get to the finish line on time! I usually get lost in parts of Minneapolis and probably wasn't the fastest either. 

Yesterday I was determined to finish in time and not ONLY did I finish in time, but I also finished in the top 50! 

After a long but rapid race!

Of course...Minneapolis By Bike was there representin'!

I am quite certain that my DAMY Health workout program has had a lot to do with my increase in endurance and speed! Even with my running I've noticed that I have come leaps and bounds when it comes to speed! Part of one of the stops yesterday was to do push-ups down a hill. I whipped that out like no other! I'm a buff mama due to strength training and interval workouts! Woohoo!

That was me - #218!

Wore it proudly on a buff arm!

Dirty biking girl legs! I hit my chain a bit too much carrying my bike!

One thing I learned when I finished in about 1 hr and 45 mins was that the people that come in the top 50 get a poster! I didn't even know such things happened! I guess it pays to be in the top 50! Here I am with my poster in the tube! I don't want to take it out because I want to get it framed!

Me and my poster! I'm also wearing my Babes In Bikeland racerback shirt! Yea!

Despite feeling a little blue yesterday about things that aren't even in my control, it ended up being quite a brilliant day. Was so pleased with my finish at the race! I also realized looking at my pictures, that I in fact, HAVE come a long way with my body/diet changes. I'll keep plugging away and I know I'll continue to see results!

What tactics do you have when it comes to patience? How do you keep yourself motivated and on the path to fulfilling your passions when things just don't seem to be going "your way"?