On Sunday evening May 20th, 2012 I found myself giddy with anticipation for the biggest loser 2012 group weigh in.  For the past 83 days I have had the privilege of sharing in 21 transformations.  There were 30 that started and 21 that finished the 12 weeks.  The national average is about 30% of people who start a diet and exercise routine finish the program or meet their goals.  In our group that number was 67%.  I have spoke a lot about transparency and accountability, in past blogs, and this is just another example of what an impact it can play on success.  Of the 21 that finished we had 19 that had a weight loss goal.  Total goal in pounds was 296 lbs and actual total weight loss came in at 305 or 103% of goal.

Below you will see some excerpts from emails that I have been sent in the last few days.  You may notice that they are not much different than some you may find here on bodybuilding.com.  What is glaring to me is that each and every one of them mentions the relationships made and what a big role these relationships played in keeping them motivated and challenged.  Sure I gave them the tools to be successful and laid a foundation that encouraged accountability with food and fitness but nothing I did was as impactful as they were on each other.  I would have a good argument that the importance of transparency and support of a group, community or team is more crucial to success than a plan.  Meaning while a plan is important the power in the accountability and transparency will help evolve an average plan into a great one in order to ensure success.  Just a theory

emails...

"The new habits I have incorporated into my life are innumerable.  
Firstly, I have always been "active" but not in any organized or goal oriented way.  In this program, I have gained strength, endurance, energy and confidence.
I have incorporated weight lifting into cardio workouts that I love.  Before this program I had never walked up the stairs into the weight room...now I own it(haha).
Secondly, I have begun to eat a lot and eat well.  I need to eat every 2-4 hours and now choose and crave healthy foods,  I am drinking about 3 liters of water a day and never leave home without my H2O bottle.  I understand the importance of combining protein with good carbs.  I have lost the extra belly fat that I have been carrying around for 20 years. 

Finally, I have made friendships with people that I admire and respect.  I feel these friendship will continue to grow and enrich my life.
I am so grateful.
With heartfelt thanks
Sue"

"This program has reminded me how important it is to take time for myself!  By working out I am maybe not putting myself first, but giving myself the attention that I deserve.  It feels great to know that I can keep up with girls that are 20+ years younger than me!  I feel better, my attitude is better and I know that I need to keep this up to continue to feel better about myself.  While I may have not followed the diet completely, it has changed my eating habits.  I know that I need to keep healthy food in my house so I'm not inclined to just grab anything just to eat.  I look at this as a complete lifestyle change and it's not a difficult one, but it's the one I have to move forward with if I want to be healthy and in shape.
Thank you again so much for doing this program!  I know you have made a huge difference in the lives of so many of us! - Mindy"

"I can eat a lot of chicken.
Mustard is a poor substitute for mayonnaise.
Lite beer can be tolerated and tastes a lot like water. I'll never give up micro brews.
The stair stepper always wins.
Roasted broccoli is sweeter, and a lot better for you than candy.
Lunges do make your legs stronger.
I feel breathless whenever I look at a set of stairs.
Beaverton 24 is way better than Murray Hill 24.

Good friends make you sweat
Personal trainers shouldn't be greedy.
I can eat a lot of chicken." - Eric

 "I’m down 10.3 lbs., finally!  And still going.  I incorporated running into my work out and think that has helped.  Also watching the wheat/carbs.
 I have really enjoyed this whole experience and will continue.  Focusing on meals has helped a lot.  Your tips on foods and exercise has been very helpful.  Thank you!!!
I really enjoyed the workout with a team.  Everyone was very kind and supportive.  Everyone had different goals and although I did not meet mine entirely I feel that I met a different goal.
Feeling good about myself in losing weight and gaining strength.  Having support from my hubby has been awesome!  He has made me feel wonderful and has kept me going.  I enjoyed the different workouts, it made me feel comfortable
About working out in the gym especially in the weight room.  Overall I feel I accomplished one big goal and that is feeling good about myself!!

Thanks Laura!   Loved your help and support.  You are a good person, friend and trainer!

Xxxooo
Hot Tamale aka Maggie"

"... honestly this has been a lifesaver. People can tell you you will feel better when you exercise and loose weight but you have to have the experience  to truly understand all the benefits..
The lesson I will take with me is that now I actually KNOW  how to work out. I am not intimidated by the weight room and all the testosterone.
I am not so depressed and better able to manage what life throws at me.
I have more energy and much stronger.
My clothes fit again, some are even too big haha.
More conscious of the food I eat  and how much I eat.
I can actually run again that has not happened in 20 plus years.
At 65 I think I look pretty darn good.

What an amazing group of motivating people.  They kept me excited to come back and work hard.
Thank,s for the best gift ever baby girl!
Love you
Mom"

"I think it's so motivating to do something like this with a bunch of like-minded people who push you, keep you coming every day and get you to try new things.  I've been to the gym more in the last 12 weeks than I ever have in my life and once you start, you just want to keep going and be more active every day which makes you feel better.  So I'm so thankful you did this for us all and brought us together to help each other.  Although I initially wanted to drop a few more pounds, I'm pretty darn happy with where I am and the muscle I've gained, the stamina and the new routines.  I'm hoping to find new ways to keep my kids active and make sure they have healthy lifestyles while they're with me and when they go off on their own some day.  THANK YOU LAURA!!!! - Heather"

If you are going to help others in a transformation then there is one other thing I would try to always remember...

People never remember what you say,

Rarely remember what you do,

But always remember how you make them feel! 

Anyhow, day 84, of their transformation challenge, was much like day one... very exciting and emotional, but instead of pain and despair there was joy and enthusiasm and yes some tears as well.  

My day was topped off with notification, from Danielle about winning the challenge.  I was sitting at the breakfast bar at my parents house and everyone in the family were there.  We were just hanging out and eating dinner.  Mom had made me parsnips and carrots, a favorite treat from when I was a kid, and as usual I could not wait for her to serve it up and was eating out of the bowl.  It had been a long day and honestly I had not thought about my own transformation all day.  I grabbed my iPad out of my bag to check email and as I scrolled down I saw an email form bodybuilding.com.  As you know between marketing and bodyspace we get lots of emails so it was not alarming in any way.  As I opened the email and began to read it was like I was watching myself.  I said, "Oh my gosh I won."  The room went quiet for about 1/2 a second until my Mom quickly said "What?" while gasping and screeching at the same time.  I said again, "I won", and sat in shock staring at the screen.  The next 30 minutes were surreal as I sat quietly as everyone was screaming and yelling around me.  The kids were sooooo excited and kept hugging and kissing me and saying, "Mom, mom you did it."  Mom quickly got to dialing the phone calling my two brothers, her sisters and best friends.  Still I sat in shock and reread the email 2 or 3 more times.  I felt so blessed and humbled.  So many amazing transformations...

I am not sure it has actually become 100% real to me yet although sitting down today to respond to bodyspace users did help.  I can not wait for June.  I can only imagine the positive energy in a room with such exceptional athletes.  It's gonna be awesome!

See you at the gym,

Laura

Week 12 of the St. Cecilia Biggest loser is 1/2 way over and the group is on fire.  It's hard for me to put to words how incredible this transformation group has been.  They are so selfless and honest.  No one is trying to impress anyone and they have all benefitted from each other in some way.  I posted a quick snack recipe that was shared with me from a 60 year old nurse in the group.  She made it from the diet plan that I got out of the Body by Design book (yes I know Greek yogurt is not on there but she loves it and really???? It's not ice cream!).  Susan has lost 10 pounds and now weights 119 lbs.  Last weekend she took off during a 40 mile bike ride with her husband and he could not catch her.  When she started the transformation Susan said one of her goals is to be able to keep up with her husband on bike rides.  She said she wanted it to be her birthday present to him.  Guess she blew that goal out of the water!

We had a husband and wife team plow through the 30lb mark last weigh in and I am guessing they will reach around 35 pounds each by next week, and these are not obese people with 100 lbs to lose.  Tony is probably around 12% BF right now.   His cholesterol dropped 70 points in the first 9 weeks and his wife's hypertension has completely gone away.  These two are a joy and what's best is that they are both my biggest cheerleaders in the group.  They never stop till the group is done and always push themselves and the group to do their best.  When I divide the group into teams everyone want Tony on their team.  What a compliment to him!

Tony and Laura are so appreciative and humble, and they are not the only ones.  Everyone is so gracious and thankful for the knowledge they have gained.  I have no doubt they will also pay it forward.  While each member of the group now walk with their heads a little higher and a bounce in their step they have never lost site of who they are.  You will still see them at church on Sunday, at school pick up, and helping in the classroom but now with a little bigger glow around them.  While working out has become part of who they are it has not taken over their lives and I know each of them would bend over backwards to help each other, their families their communities and even a stranger.  That's just who they are!

I got the best text on Saturday from Rebekah (late 30's mother of 2 girls - librarian).  It said, "Holy f--k... I'm a size four."  I actually LOL'd  How awesome is that from my sweet librarian.  I talked to her Friday during workout and asked what she had planned for the weekend.  She was so excited as for mother's day she was going shopping because all of her clothes were to big!  She said that instead of dreading jean shopping she was excited.  More warm fuzzies for me!!!  Nice work Rebekah!

I bought my Mom a dress for mother's day.  She is 65 and has lost 13 pounds so far.  For the first time since she has had kids she is in the 130's.  Working out has been so much more than losing weight for her.  My father an ex professional football (soccer in America) player has sports related traumatic brain injury.  My Mom is his full time caregiver.  It's exhausting and she never has any time to dedicate to herself.  We arranged to have someone come watch Dad so she could join the group, and watching her spirits transform has been amazing.  Some times you just have to sweat it out I tell her.

Each and every member of the group has a story I could tell.  I just wanted to give them a shout out as they slide into home.... I am so very proud!

Part of my plan was consistent supplementation. It played a HUGE role in my transformation. 

I had never been very consistent with supplements and I knew that with as much as I planned 

to challenge my body I would need help with recovery and muscle retention.   I added the Jamie

Eason women's Optimum Nutrition Combo, http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/combos/jamies-12-week-stack.html

great products at an awesome price. Additionally as the challenge progressed I added Optimum 

Nutrition Creatine, http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/crea.html, 

Digest All http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/mrm/digest.html and CLA towards the end 

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/cla.html.  I generally felt pretty good 

considering the calorie deficit and recovery was faster than ever allowing me to hit the 

weights hard say after day.



Clean eating is great and practical. Most importantly it stabilizes my blood sugar and gets rid of those 

horrible sugar cravings.  It was funny to me how many people would tell me different ways to make things.  

I never asked but people just assumed I was looking for new ways of cooking sweet potatoes chicken and 

broc!  Nope not me.... when I am on a mission, which clearly I was, the simpler the better.  I do not need 

variety as I think giving to much of my time and energy to food can end to lead to "food anxiety". 

So there is my big  exciting diet...nothing out of the norm... but yes I stuck to it without cheating.

I must say I do love Jamie's turkey muffins ... aka meatloaf made in a cupcake container 

(http://videos.bodybuilding.com/watch/66252/video-article-jamie-easons-turkey-meatloaf-muffins). 

I looked at her food plan almost every day but did not follow it to exactly (I'll tell you why in a bit).



My workouts did follow Jamie's 12 week plan http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html,

The LiveFit weight training was more consistent and harder hitting than I had ever experience.  I most definitely 

put on some more muscle mass and am without a doubt the strongest I have ever been.

I suffered plenty. The diet was simple but regimented, the workouts were harder than I have ever 

done before, and daily doubles happened more often than not towards the end. If you want results you 

have to work for it... but it’s not just about hard work. The rest of this blog will tell you why this time I reached 

my goals and why so many times in the past I fell short… 

Drum roll please - It's so simple why do we have to make it so darn difficult!

With all the different workouts and information available to the consumer I know first hand

how things can be overwhelming. So, when I ventured out to find my guideline for the 12 week 

Optimum Nutrition $100,000.00 Body Transformation Challenge at Bodybuilding.com I kept these 3 

things in mind. I needed a plan that was simple and clear, proven effective, and structured. 

With very minimal tweaks the LiveFit Trainer plan met all three of my criteria and with Jamie at the 

helm how could things go awry?

Without going into to much detail, as you can check out the awesome detailed plan online at

 http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html, I will share my experience. 

The LiveFit Trainer plan is well thought out, and scientifically derived from the newest most 

effective theories on exercise, nutrition,  and supplementation. It sets you up with all of the mechanics 

to be successful and really what else can you ask for? I got weekly pep talks and emails from 

Jamie that were just for me, daily workouts and a very detailed food plan. On top of that she 

gave some general  rules to follow...like no carbs after 7. 

I love stuff like that as I tend to see things very black and white. 

At about at week in I received my second Optimum supplement order and inside the box was a 

book called Body by Design by Kris Gethin http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/body-by-design.htm. 

Now, I know I did not order the book, as I really do not read to much outside of magazines 

and the internet, and besides I was already following LiveFit program and things were trucking right along.  

I put my Optimum Nutritional supplements away and set the book on the kitchen counter as 

I thought to myself, “that’s pretty cool of bodybuilding.com”. One afternoon a couple days later, 

I picked the Body By Design book up and started 

to thumb through it. It has some great life stories… that

made me appreciate my circumstances just a little bit more.

As I read on Kris started to describe his 4 pillars of success.  #1 – social inventory – 

I was pretty good there. My friends always say they know

exactly where they stand with me, and I have ended a couple relationships in the past with 

friends that were toxic.  #2- keep a log – yep was all over that – had my www.bodybuilding.com transformation 12

week log with me all the times. #4– consistency (yes I know I skipped 3 we will come back to it). 

Yep, I agree with Kris here too. Get it done and don’t be too easy on

yourself. Forgive yourself quickly but not to often. Meaning, so you make a mistake and don’t plan

your day well. and at the end of the day you look back and never got your workout in. Well, every 

once in a while things will happen and that is life. You learn form it plan better 

next time, and try not to let it happen again. Whatever you do don’t dwell on it. Don’t forget it, as 

we have to be honest with ourselves, but forgive your self and move on. So a week goes by and it 

happens again. What now? Now it’s time to buck up and drag your booty down to the gym for a

late night workout, and if you are a late night person and miss it set that alarm for 5 am the next day. 

Just get it done! It’s called holding your self accountable. Yep, I had a few of those over the last few 

weeks. Do you know how I felt after the late night workouts? Awesome! Walking into the gym at

midnight made me feel committed and empowered. I was telling myself I had a goal and no matter 

what I was going to reach it!

So here it is – this is what made the difference for me Pillar #3

Transparency – I’m just going to pull an exert from the text rather than rewrite what Kris wrote as it 

was these exact words that changed my life forever.

The most powerful method to bind internal goals to external actions is to tell everyone

about your goals: in other words, to make your private commitments public.

Studies have shown that turning a private goal into a public one can propel it

from a passive to an active state; like the flip of a switch, sharing your

goals with others shines a light on your commitments and ensures that you stick

to them. It may seem as though a simple concept couldn't possibly have such a

significant impact, but research has repeatedly provide that telling others

about your plans can make all the difference. 

What happens when you make a visible commitment is that you put your reputation on the line.

If you share a goal with someone and then act inconsistently with fulfilling it, you are seen as

lacking integrity and trustworthiness. So, put your reputation on the line. 

I stopped after this section and put the book down. It was like Kris had just smacked me on the 

back of the head and told me, “wake up stupid”. I live my life in a way that is rather private. 

I don’t feel the need to inflict my beliefs on others trying to change their minds, or tell anyone how 

great I am. I had always felt a fear of letting others know if I failed. I did not want to be seen as weak or untrustworthy.

I had always said that people need to talk less and do more. DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE 

GOING TO DO. Yet, this fear of failure is what had been my biggest failure of all.  

I started with my kids. I told them about the contest and how it had a 25K prize. How it was really 

important to Momma that she gets to workout every day and eat really healthy. You know what 

there response was… “We can help. We can do our homework at the gym after school”.  They 

were excited and through the whole challenge they would ask me questions and tell me good job. 

Being cognitive of this new approach the analytical side of me watched the affect it was having on

myself and the kids. There was no down side. They were eating healthier and making better choices 

to be more like Momma. They were happy and we were all sharing this experience together. 

As the weeks went by I slowly made the , “circle of trust" bigger. Telling friends and family and 

starting to write a few blogs here and there. I could see how my accountability, to those that 

matter most in my life, held such high esteem that doing anything to diminish my trustworthiness

or reputation was unfathomable. 

 
O.K. this is where it gets really good… I decided that I was going to 

put this theory to the ultimate test and at the same time pay my new learning’s forward.  At about 

6 weeks into the transformation I headed the “St Cecilia Biggest Loser’ contest. It was 

amazing how fast the 30 available spots filled with members of my community wanting to make a change. 

Everyone paid $100.00 dollars for the program which I donated to the school. We had people

ranging in age from 22-65. Men, women, mothers, daughters, husbands and wives, 

grandparents, and lots of Moms. I set the entire program up, got everyone on board , and was

prepared on Day one at 24 Hour Fitness (who so generously donated memberships for anyone in 

the challenge that was not a member) to have all the participants come in and get their starting weight. 

This day was life changing for me. These people I saw everyday, waved to in carpool line, sat 

beside in spin class, and prayed with on Sundays were sitting in front of me setting

goals and baring their souls. There was so much pain in many of their eyes. A feeling of 

hopelessness was expressed over and over again. I had women tell me they no longer felt sexy, 

men say they felt week, a Grandma say it hurt to move. They were excited and scared and were

all looking to for someone to listen, believe in them, and help them. That day was supposed to take about an 

hour at the gym.  It quickly turned into 8 hours of listening. By the end of the day I was emotionally exhausted, had not 

gotten any sort of workout in, on the run, and trying to play catch up with my list of things to do, but

most of all I was honored and inspired.  Inspired to continue on my path and lead by example and honored to
have the opportunity to help others do the same.

The group is doing amazing and is in week 7(phase 2) of their transformation. We workout together 

on Monday and Friday mornings after we drop the kids at school. They email each other or post on

their facebook page if they are headed to the gym and want a workout partner. I probably put in 30 

hours a week the first 4 weeks. It’s amazing how passion finds time. I got them each set up on 

programs in the weight room and tweaked diet plans as needed. Think of all the

adaptation that was needed for 30 individuals… it was crazy but there was a solution for every 

challenge that came our way. It gave them hope to know that just because they were unable

to do something it didn’t mean they couldn’t get the same result a different way. Luckily I was able 

to tap into another resource who was kind enough to do a lot of the weight room time for me. 

Thanks Melinda! You were my calm in the storm! Mondays are the best days. Everyone weighs in and is so

excited. We have 3 participants that busted the 20 lb. mark last Monday. They are all amazing and they make 

the gym electric. Every day I have several members at 24 hour ask me about the program. 

You can hear the group working our all over the gym as they do their intervals in unison counting

down from 10. They share recipes on facebook and high fives as they lunge past each other.

During the first week, after I had gathered my thoughts and notes form the first day, we had a 

meeting. I went through the program with them in detail. I handed out their diet which was actually 

the Body By Design diet rather than the LiveFit plan. They are both great but I think tat the Body By

Design diet is a little more simple and can be adapted to anyone’s needs easier. I had made the 

switch myself weeks prior. I sent them all the exert form the Body By Design book written

above. Then I told them about my $100,000.00 Optimum Nutrition Body Transformation Challenge 

and how I was 6 weeks into the program. I told them my goal was to win and that I believed in the 

program they were just starting and the results they could all achieve. Wow! Talk about the ultimate 

accountability. Here I was ½ way through a program they were just starting. I knew every 

workout and every meal counted and there was no room for bad choices because now my choices 

affected the whole group. I was a walking example of what they could do if they worked hard and 

followed their diet. It was this transparency that kept me focused, consistent, and hard hitting the 

entire 12 weeks and look what happened! For the first time I not only reached my goal but I continue to feel

better than ever as I lead the Biggest Loser St. Cecilia through their last 5 weeks of this transformation.

Who could of ever imagined? Daily their comments, commitments, dedication, and genuine 

support of each other inspire me to do more, be better, and push harder.  

As the last day of the challenge approaches I start to contemplate my last blog entry or "The final essay".  What I think I am most astonished by is this whole world of fellow members and how supportive everyone is of each other.  I know that I have found a new community.  I was welcomed by you all and since day one have been encouraged to keep "hitting it hard" no matter what I looked like.  Thanks to all of you for celebrating with each other and having nothing but kind words as we all strive to meet new goals.... ahhhhh speaking of.... I guess I'd better think about that!

As I spend some time at the gym talking to others I often find myself listening to people and their self absorbed outlook of their current situation.  How soon we forget the struggles we have all had in life.  Many have the misconceived idea that if they can do it so can everyone else or that it was just as hard for them as it would be for someone else to get into shape.  Well we don't know that about each other.  I don't doubt that there are times you don't want to go to the gym or you really want to cheat on your clean eating but don't, and you should be proud of yourself for sticking to your own personal goals and commitments, but your reality is shared with you and you alone. 

People will rarely remember what you do or say but they will always remember how you make them feel.  Don't make them feel worse than they already do by talking about your own successes.  If you want to help then listen, really actively listen to what they are saying.  You may find out they are not looking for anything than just that.... to be listened to.  I know as people we want to help others around us, but that want is often driven from our own personal needs not theirs.  If someone would like you to help them they will ask, or you could always say, "Hey if there is anything I can do for you be sure to let me know."  Until you have walked down their path of life you will never completely understand what is holding them back and they could never be successful in something you want them to do.  Use your own experiences in life, from whatever you find challenging, to help you be a more compassionate and understanding person.  If you make others feel heard and important you will be the first person they turn to when they are ready to "make a change".

Wow that was a hard workout!  It never ended.  Good job Jaime  Phase 3 if it does not kill you should lean you way down.  Lots of super sets and intervals.  Awesome body changing stuff.

When I started this transformation I really had no idea how impactful
it would be on my life.  I knew that during the holidays I had put on
about 8 pounds from traveling and parties.  Something I never really
do... I mean usually it's 2-3 pounds at most.  I also knew that for the
most part I looked pretty good for having 3 kids and being 40 and people
would tell me wow you look great but I know what they meant.  I looked
great considering the kids and my age.  That was not good enough
anymore.  I wanted to look and feel great without any consideration to
any circumstances of my past.  

 I was definitely on a roll the first 6 weeks and at week 4 my
house sold (been on the market almost a year).  While I was thankful we
were given 30 days to move and I had no plan.  At hte same time I had
decided that I wanted to give something back to my kids school and my
community and had started to organize a Transformation challenge for a
fundraiser.  That's a totally different post!  Stay tuned!  Anyhow, last
Monday the challenged started and that previous weekend packing got
into full motion.  I was going in every direction with kids, moving and
the Challenge... oh and also trying to keep diet and workout program on
track.

 I dropped the kids off at school Monday and headed straight to the
gym to weight the contestants.  Before I know it was 2:30 and I was
late to get the little ones and had not eaten anything all day.  NOt
sure which of the two of those things is worse  Also, my voice was not
gone and I was straining to whisper and naturally everyone I talked to
could not hear me so kept saying, "what?".   Ugh....

Tuesday - spin as always but something was just not right.  Got a
good sweat on but did not have any giddy up left in my get up. Day was
hectic answering 50+ emails to people in the challenge and organizing
storage facilities and the movers.

 Wednesday - Nasty cough, still no voice but managed to get some cardio in and stretch and hit shoulders.

Thursday - uncle.... no voice while I did not feel horrible I
figured I had 4 repair men coming to the house and it's a good day to
take off.  I cancelled my workout with my challenge group - did not want
them to get sick.  I think I got 6 emails back saying they were also
sick.

 Friday - I took my daughter to the pediatrician as her ears had
been ringing a few days and she never complains.  Well 2 ear infections
and a sinus infection.  While I was there he said, "Have you been to the
doctor yet?".  Huh... did I look that horrible?  Nope I am good my body
always works things out.  By that afternoon I am on the phone with my
doctor, a good friend.  He calls in an antibiotic that is very wide
spectrum.

Saturday was horrible.  I have not felt this bad since the last
time I was really sick in the 5th grade.  Yep, that was the last time I
was knocked completely down.  Now it's been 3 days since I have been in
the gym.  Feel a bit better today and am going to go do some cardio.  I
still believe I need to sweat this stuff out.

 Diet has been pretty good really.  Thank goodness we just got that
video from Jaime about calorie counting and eating less on non workout
days.  Perfect timing.  So I have stuck around 1200 since 120 is my goal
weight and have also stayed on my supplement regimen.  I did add some wheat grass and super seed shakes with blueberries to help fight this bug.

I have lost some days but now is when I test my own words.  I will
not let this get into my head.  My body needed a rest and now I come
back ready for stage 3.  Time to lean down!

Headed to yet another gym.  Starting to miss mine.  Legs and intervals today.  Jaime's leg workout is a killer and I love to toss in some stair intervals at the end to finish me off.  I need the cardio for mental satisfaction.  I have seem some articles that would say I do to much cardio but I am not doing it for the calorie burn I want that clarity that comes after the high.  My Dad id suffering from sports related traumatic brain injury.  He was a professional soccer player.  That's a whole post of it's own on another date.  I know watching his disease progress motivates me.... maybe in a scared way but nevertheless.

 Anyhow... so glad I drank water at the bar last night.  The gang here is hurting this morning for sure.  Great time with good friends

So I had a friend stay for a week last week.  Before she came I sent her an email asking what I could get in to eat.  I told her I was eating really clean and was stoked to hear she was as well.  She showed up with all sorts of vegies and fruits and a whole bag of wheat grass.  The first morning I had a neon green shake handed to me.  It was so nasty tasting it was awesome.  Actually, it did not taste that bad and I felt great all day.  I had just ordered super seed from BB.com and tossed that in there too.  As the week went on and I observed my girlfriend and her eating habits I noticed that she would eat a few french fries here and there, white rice at dinner, and a handful of this and that throughout the week.  What caught me most by surprise was that when she talked about food her perception is that she eats really clean. I think we all need to be ****ght with how we see ourselves on a daily basis but on the same note we need to be honest.  Honest with ourselves and others.  Yes, it is not rocket science but if we do not see things how they are then we can never make real changes. 

Being a woman is so much more than being in good shape.  My girlfriend is confident, successful and beautiful.  She is probably 50 pounds over weight and In the past I would of felt sorry for her.  In reality weight is one of the easiest things to change about ourselves and one of the only things that can actually save you money in the short and long term.  Think if she was mentally damaged?  Thank could takes years of therapy, a bundle of cash and may never work but weight loss that's more of a guarantee and something you have control to do by yourself and for yourself.  Do the work and eat right and the weight will come off.  You don't have to rely on anyone else or make an appointment to do it. 

I told myself I would do 3 sets of progress pictures.  4...8... and 12 weeks.  That sounded like a great idea being when I had it it was 4 weeks away.  Now it is just a week away and it does not sound as fun as I thought it would.  Yet, I am going to do it.  I always say, "Do what you say you are going to do." 

 How do people deal with skin not being tight when they nose the weight?  Gonna have to research that.

 Still on schedule.  Jamie is kicking my butt in the weight room.  That girl ain't messing around!.... I guess not as her figure speaks for itself.  I love that!  I can not stand people with lip service telling you how great they are or how hard they work at the gym.  You don't see a an Olympic athlete over weight because it makes no sense.  Then again they don't walk around telling you how great they are or what they are "going" to do to get into shape.  Nope, they just do it and so do the people who you look at and say, "wow they look great."  Either in the gym or at home or outside they work hard.  I was talking to a gal on the stairs yesterday and she noticed I had leaned down a bit.  She asked how I am doing it and I said, "The same way you could do it.  Make your calories in count and make them less than your calories out.  Work hard while you are here and do not over think things.  Go on with your everyday life... don't obsess.  Find a program on bb.com.  I am using the Jamie Eason one but there are plenty to pick from."  Really there are no secrets.  It's not rocket science unless you make it rocket science.

I went to bed last night with a strong plan, in my head, on how my day would go today.  That was my first mistake!  Today my daughters hamster died, my Mom got sick, my Dad, who is suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, wondered off and the police found him, and an offer came in on my house which has been on the market for 8 months.  Luckily I got my cardio in in the morning before any of this went down but the weights never happened.  In the past when I was trying to lose weight I would panic and stress about getting to the gym but not today!  I feel so good about this process that I just looked at the schedule and planned today's weights on a different day. I don't skip the day as I think I still need to be accountable for my commitment.   If i were asked, how does one become successful in a training program and a lifestyle change, I would say, "pick the top 5 things you are passionate about and and give them all of you when you are with them or doing them." Yes, I am loving the structure of my new gym routine (thanks Jamie Eason!)  but I am not obsessing over it.  Now, I focus on being 100% present at where I am and what I am doing.  Meaning... when I am at the gym I am hitting it hard, when I am with my family I am giving them 100% of my attention and when I am working I am focused there.  This time my mind will not get consumed with this process.  I am confident that if I follow the program I will lose weight and gain muscle.  Right?  Yep, it's not rocket science. I can be a great Mom, business owner, friend, daughter and have the best body of my life.  You wait and see!

Finally think the body is getting ready for back to back hard workouts.  Supplements have been a life savor and Getting all the bad stuff out of the system is allowing for better us of my food and supplements.  SO looking forward to Chest and tri's.... 70 puch-ups.... bring it on.  

So today ended week one.  it was a little rough at times.  It was
hard to keep up the gym energy and motivation while detoxing the simple
carbs out.  I could feel the body change especially the first 3 days.  I
am down 4 pounds but most of that I attribute to the deflation from the
lack of carb.  My diet was good with regards to staying to the Jaime
Eason diet.  She keeps it simple and when I get the "DS" (detox
syndrome) that is a big help.

 I made it through all the weight days although the body has hurt
to the touch all week.  Such a wake up call!  I really have not had a
focused weight program in years.  Again so awesome that I just pull up
the program on my iphone snap a screen shot and get it done.  Day one
there were 60+ push-ups .... I could barely brush my teeth the next
morning.  It was awesome!  Yes, I still have back fat... total shocker
when saw that picture.... but not for long!

 Recovery.... as I have gotten more mature, ****ght older, recovery
has been my nemesis.  I find myself never being able to hit it hard
because I never get back to 100 %.  I would need 4 days off to not feel
sore.  I got Jaime Eason's supplement package in the mail a few days ago
and feel a boost in energy already.  I am back on my Gold Standard,
spinach and blueberry shakes and start the day with amino energy.  I
think over the next few weeks I will see a big difference in recovery
which will result in some great gains.

Day one.... detox is not fun at all.  Eating clean has left me with a headache and a craving for sugar all day.  I'm a little cranky and energy was low at the gym  It's ****ght as I know that in 72 hours I will feel so much better. Yes, this too will pass. Just finishing glass number 6 of water and heading to bed.  Food was right on and while I do wish I had more energy at the gym I did get my plan done.