How I lost 40lbs

The worst part about PCOS is the whole "trouble losing weight" symptom.

Is that really a symptom?

But anyway, it sucks.

I see people who have lost inches and pounds in a mere matter of months, and I've struggled to lose 40lbs in the last two years. It's really kind of crazy.

I have to remember that I can't beat myself up though. I have hormonal imbalances that make it tricky to lose weight. And my doctor was actually impressed with my weight loss, which made me super proud.

So how did I do it?

Hard work. Resisting temptation. Saying no to sweets. 

I lost the first 20lbs doing TurboFire, at home, however, I often found myself yo-yo-ing in my weight due to no having a great meal plan. I always knew about the eating guides that come with the program, but there was never an "easy" way to get it done.

In February of this year, when I finally hit a breaking point that something had to change, especially being in the midst of infertility and if I wanted to have fighting chance at conceiving on my own, I needed to change.

You mindset is half the battle. Your mind needs to be in the right place if you want to make a change. You have to know why you want to change. For me, it was because we want to start a family and have been having a hard time. It just wasn't happening. 

In February, a friend invited me to do the 21 Day Fix. I had heard about it, but never really looked into it. I finally did, purchased the program and well, I was hooked. Who knew that little containers could make all the difference in the world. They are so simple and yet so effective.

This was the missing piece that I needed. My issues have always been portion control. My eyes are typically bad at measuring. With the 21 Day Fix containers, it eliminates the need to count calories or to weigh food. You just put the food in the container (if the food is approved) and if it fits, you're good to eat it.

After finishing three rounds of the 21 Day Fix, I did one round of the 21 Day Fix Extreme, and then my husband and I did Focus: T25. 

I hit the 40lb weight loss mark about Week 9 of T25.

I'm still not at my goal weight. I still struggle with food (I love it...especially carbs!). But with every step forward, every step in the right direction, I know I will get to my goal!

21 Day Fix: Round 4

This week I started my 4th round of the 21 Day Fix with my current group of Summer Survival Challengers.

Okay, let's just say that it's been a while since I've done the 21 Day Fix and I kind of forgot how good the workouts are! They totally kicked my butt. I guess I assumed that because I completed T25 that the 21 Day Fix workouts would be no sweat.

Well....they are totally sweat inducing!

Since I was still out of town on Monday, I did the workout from my aunt and uncle's office in Massachusetts thanks to Beachbody on Demand and about 15 square feet of space. You don't need a whole lot of room to get things done! I got my sweat on while on vacation!

Then, since I was traveling on Tuesday, I didn't get my workout in. However, I made up for it on Wednesday by doing both the Upper Fix and the Lower Fix. Whooooo-weeee my arms and legs could feel it! Haha. 

I really did forget how effective and killer the workouts are.

Probably the best thing about this program is that it is just 21 days. So it's completely doable and easy to follow. The workouts everyday are a challenge, and so is following the eating plan faithfully, but if you put the work in, you WILL see results!

Cize is now available!

I've never had aspirations of being a professional dancer. I knew that was not in the cards for me.

In college, I was part of the Filipino student organization, that put on a cultural celebration every year. I always longed to be a part of the "modern" routine (code for hip hop), but was never placed on the roster. I get it...that kind of rhythm doesn't run through my veins.

Fast forward several years and here comes Cize...the end of exercize.

It's a dance workout by the creator of Insanity, T25, and Hip Hop Abs. Shaun T has gone back to his roots of dance.

I tried out the sample workout on Beachbody on Demand (actually the very first time I just watched), and it was super fun. The steps are broken down and repeated and put together so that it's approachable and if you can follow along on the TV, you can do this workout!

I'm excited about this program release because people who "don't like to exercise" will now have a program that they can do and not feel like they are working out. The time just passes and suddenly you're doing a dance routine and you're done. It's pretty awesome.

I'm starting a test group in August just for Cize! Would you like to be a part of the group? We'll do the program together (well, from home) and have accountability through an online group. 

Ready to get started? Fill out the form here:

Focus T25: Week 10 Recap // Review

We finished!!

We finished 50 days of Focus: T25!

This is the first time that we've finished a complete program together...let alone one that was longer than 3 weeks. This one was 10 weeks!

I must say that I am not a morning person, but I definitely preferred to workout first thing in the morning with Focus: T25. It was kind of nice just to roll out of bed, get the workout done -- 25 minutes! -- and go about our day. There was one day where my hubby had work to do late at night the day before, so the next morning he was not feeling up to the workout at 6:30am. He was working from home that day so we did the workout around lunchtime. I found that I had much better energy first thing in the morning (even though I hadn't eaten yet).

Okay, so results! Well, for me, I lost a total of 8lbs and about 14 inches over all. I'm not sure what my husband's numerical results are, but he definitely got more definition in his arms and abs. 

I believe that I would have gotten more "dramatic" results (if I wanted them) if I had followed either the Focus: T25 meal plan or a 21 Day Fix meal plan. However, we did not have a strict meal plan. I followed a loose version of the 21 Day Fix, still using containers, but not managing it quite as closely. I still drank my Shakeology every day, and considering that I deal with PCOS which makes it difficult to lose weight anyway, I'm super pleased with 8 pounds.

I'm now within just a couple pounds of my first goal weight. I know that I can make it. It feels so close...and yet also SOOOO far.

I can't lost the momentum though. 

Honestly, I'm at my lowest weight since college. And I don't want to go back up on the scale.

Focus: T25 is a great workout. It's short, at just 25 minutes, so there's really no excuse not to get it in. It's mostly cardio based and if you need to modify, there is a modifier to follow. I would say that it is more intense than the 21 Day Fix, but a little less intense than the 21 Day Fix Extreme.

If you're looking for an awesome & intense workout, but you're short on time, I would highly recommend looking into Focus: T25. You can purchase a copy here.

Fixate is now available!

So excited! Autumn Calabrese's new cookbook that pairs perfectly with the 21 Day Fix is now available!

I'm super excited to get my copy - each recipe has the container breakdown.

I struggle most with what to make for dinner, something that satisfies both me and my husband. I think this cookbook will give me some great ideas!

You can order your copy here:

Fixate Cookbook

or

with containers:

Fixate Cookbook and Containers

No More Double Chins!

Same shirt. 6 months difference.

One of the biggest pieces of proof (to myself) that change was actually happening was my chin...and the loss of the extra ones. 😂

For the longest time I had a double chin whether I liked it or not. It would be the thing that would bother me the most about photos of myself....and as a photographer a pet peeve that no one told me I should adjust my head. Anyway, I'm excited that photos no longer have a default double chin.

And then my sister and husband both remarked that I look like I have bigger eyes. I suppose there's less face to push and make my eyes smaller. 😂

What have I done in the last 6 months? 3 rounds of the 21 Day Fix - (those dang portion control containers are life changing!) - 21 Day Fix Extreme, and coming almost to the end of 10 weeks of Focus T25. Getting better everyday. 😁

After we finish T25 I think I'm going to do another round of 21 Day Fix. Want to join me? Let me know! 😉

Focus T25: Week 9 Recap

We made it!

Made it through another week of Focus: T25 Beta Cycle.

I'm so glad that we decided to do this program together. It's kept up on track, accountable, and focused over the last nine weeks. I don't think that I could have done this alone...at least not with this kind of consistency!