What this teacher was taught by Mamavation

May 23, 2013 By 2 Comments

 

 

I can’t believe that my time as a Mamavation Mom is coming to a close it is shocking how quick the time has gone by and how much I have learned from this experience.  I was asked to come up with my top ten list of things that I have learned from Mamavation and I can honestly say it was hard to keep it to ten things because I have learned a life time of lessons in just these few short weeks.  So here we go

 

10.  I am finally ready to make a lifestyle change and get healhty.  There have been a 1000 times that I have started down this path but I am in the right place, at the right time, and Mamavation has helped make this a lifestyle change for me

9.  Eating food with fat in it won ‘t kill me, in fact it will help me loose weight and feel full

8.  When I was eating carbs, and which ones was impacting my ability to loose weight.  I now eat my carbs early in the day and only eat healthy “good” carbs which has helped me loose weight

7.  Making a lifestyle change was not nearly as hard, and expensive, as I thought it would be.  For me this wasn’t a diet but how I was going to change my families life and move to a healthier more eco-friendly lifestyle.

6.  My family will support me no matter what even when I start to change their diet and put me first

5.  The scale is not the only measure of weight loss success-Even when the scale doesn’t move your measurements can go down a lot and show you that you are loosing, just not on the scale.

4.  I am so f-ing proud of myself and I see that in the confidence in which I now have.

Look at me rocking my new dress!

Look at me rocking my new dress!

3.  I am so much stronger both physically and emotionally than I ever thought I was

2. In the past I have talked myself out of doing so many things and I have missed out on too much because I said I can’t.  This campaign has taught me that I CAN

1.  100% of this is Mental and I can do it!

 

So thank you Mamavation for all the support and confidence you have given me over these last few weeks.  Now I will leave you with my standard weigh in picture.  It was a really great week for me in terms of weight loss.

Date Weight Weekly Loss Total Loss Waist Chest Thigh Hips Arm Inches

Lost
Application 227 -   40 44 30 51 15  
2-Week

Challenge

 229 _ +2.0 38.5 43.5 30 51 15 -2
Start of Campaign 227.4 -1.6 +.04 38 43 29.5 50 14.5 -5
April 19th 224.6 -2.8 -2.4            
April 26th 223.00 -1.6 -4          

 

  
May 5th 222.8 -.02 -4.2 35.25 41.5 28.25 50 14.5 10.5
May 12th 222.4 .04 -4.6            
May 19th 220.4 -2.0 -6.6            

 

Hard to read I know but it is 220.4

Hard to read I know but it is 220.4

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , ,

Believe you can and you’re halfway there.

May 8, 2013 By 9 Comments


The title of this post is a great quote from Theodore Roosevelt. When I see it I think it fits nicely with where I am right now in this journey. Half the battle is trying. Half the battle is choosing to fight. So right now, we are halfway through this boot camp, and because I chose to apply and believe there was some slight sliver of a chance I might be chosen, I told myself I could do this. And look, I am doing it!!
This past week was my third week as a Mamavation Mom. I will tell you this week was hard. It was hard for a few reasons. I was sad to hear my friend and Mamavation Sista Lindsay had injured her back and was unable to continue the boot camp. Of course, I wish her well and I know she will continue to have success in her weight loss journey. The other reason this week was hard had more to do with my mental state. After a couple of weeks of pushing my body further and further into an uncomfortable territory it was ready to give up. I was exhausted. Each day I would get up and psych myself up to do my workout. I found that focusing solely on getting through that one workout was what allowed me to break past the exhaustion and the desire to give up. And as soon as the workout was done, I was good to go again. The other wonderful thing I was able to do to get past these moments of frustration was to talk with the other Mamavation Moms, past and present, about how I was feeling and what I was struggling with each day. Having someone as an accoutability partner when you are developing a new routine is a great way to set yourself up for success!
I have always heard that a habit is formed after repeating something for three weeks. I think that this is where I am right now. I am forming these new habits. I get up and do something right away. I might work out, I might run; but in any case I am burning calories before the sun is shining. Well maybe shortly thereafter! I am not skipping meals. I am thinking about what I am putting in my mouth. And please don’t let that statement fool you. When I say thinking about what I am putting in my mouth, I don’t mean obsessing over calories and that kind of thing. I mean being thoughtful about what my meal is composed of, and eating as closely to nature as I can. All of these things have been simple changes to make, little things. But put together, it has made a very large impact. I feel amazing and I am losing weight!
Speaking of loosing weight, I lost another pound this week. Bringing my total weight loss to 7 lbs since applying to be a Mamavation mom. I am just about halfway to my goal weight now. I was also very excited to note that since I got my scale after joining Mamavation in January I have lost 20.2 lbs!
photo(3)
And while this weight loss was thrilling, it was not my only victory this week. We had some non-scale victories as well. Starting right here:

Start Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Total Change
Weight 158.6 153.8 152.6 151.6
Bust 36 35
Waist 31 30
Hips 39 38
Arms R-11.75 L-12 R-11.0 L-11.0
Thigh R-20.5 L-19.5 R- 19 L- 17.75

So in 3 weeks I have lost 7 lbs and 7 inches!! I am pretty pleased with my results thus far and cannot wait to see how much further I can push my body in the coming weeks! Where would you like to be in three weeks? “Believe you can and you are halfway there.”

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms, weight loss Tagged With: , , ,

Eating More to Weigh Less-For Real!

May 2, 2013 By 12 Comments

 

 

Hello -it has been another exciting week around here at Mamavation. Although personally this week has been a bit rough now that I am back in the full swing of things at work and keeping up with all my resposnibilities of being a Mamavation Mom. Yet, despite the crazy feeling I am really loving that although the program is tough (it isn’t called boot camp for nothing) it is managable in real life.

Shockingly one of the most manageable pieces has been the food. Alyssa (find her on Twitter and Facebook) started out by giving us exchanges-Each food we eat equals a carb, protien, fat etc. We were assigned a certain amount of each at each meal and snack. Then this week to help us out she gave us a few meal plans to work with. This has helped emensly because I am always looking for new food options. The craziest thing about the whole food plan is how much good I eat and all of it-wait for this-is full fat. Like I am eating real peanut and almond butter, avocados, and healthy oils. Shocking right! Well there is a whole lot of scientific mumbo jumbo about why this works Let me tell, who cares. I am eating good food that I know is good for me and my body is loosing weight. Yeah! So before I get to the down and dirty of my totals for this week I thought I would include a sample menu for you to take a peak at-I have including a few food porn pictures for those of you into that stuff!

Breakfast: 6oz of Almond yogurt, 1/2 cup granola, 2 TB unsweetened coconut, and 1 cup strawberries

Breakfast

Lunch: 3oz Chicken breast, salad greens, four TB of Avocado, 1/2 cup black beans, and 1/2 tortilla with and apple not pictured

Lunch

Snack (not pictured because I am eating this as I type) 8 almonds with 10 baby carrots

Dinner-3oz pork loin chop, roasted fresh golden and regular beets, and grilled pineapple

Dinner

Night Snack-Small banana and 1TB of almond butter

Sounds and looks yummy right-Seriously I ate food like this all week and lost 1.4 pounds for a total of 4 since starting. I also apologize my phone was being cranky so I had to call up my weight post WI-hence no toes in this photo

 scale week two

Date Weight Weekly Loss Total Loss Waist Chest Thigh Hips Arm
Application 227 - 40 44 30 51 15
2-WeekChallenge 229 _ +2.0 38.5 43.5 30 51 15
Start of Campaign 227.4 -1.6 +.04 38 43 29.5 50 14.5
April 19th 224.6 -2.8 -2.4
April 26th 223.00 -1.6 -4

Hope you all have an amazing week and I am hoping my hard work pays off in another nice loss

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , , ,

REAL good food is REAL easy!

April 30, 2013 By 11 Comments

IMG_0673Before becoming a Mamavation Mom, I ate a lot of processed boxed foods, but I am happy to say that 98% of what I buy now can be found in the produce, dairy and meat departments of the store! Very rarely will I go in the middle isles of the store, in fact the only thing I buy there are my almonds, hot sauce, bread, and some things for the kids.  I used to think how the heck do people just shop the perimeter of the store and make meals out of it?  I won’t lie and say everything I eat is REAL food, but I am transitioning and I eat more REAL food than not, which is progress. Which is good! As Leah says,”It’s all about progress, NOT perfection.”  Good thing, because I don’t know anyone that is perfect, do you?

Are you curious about the types of foods I eat as a Mamavation Mom?  I will share a few here for you, but you could head over to the Mamavation forum where I journal EVERYTHING: sleep, water intake, workouts, steps, and food as well as my emotions!

So here is a typical day for me!

Breakfast:

IMG_0564

1 Fruit: 1/2 banana

1 Fat-Free Milk: 1c. I put it in my coffee

1 Starch: 1 Slice of cinnamon raisin toast

1 Lean meat: 2 egg whites

1 fat: 1 tbs cream cheese

Lunch:

IMG_0566

1 Vegetable: 1/2 yellow bell pepper and 1/2 c mushrooms

1 Fruit: 3/4 c Blackberries

1 Fat-Free Milk: 1 c milk

1 Beans/Lentils: 1/2 c black beans

3 Lean Meat: 3 oz chicken breast

Afternoon Snack:

IMG_0571

1 fruit: gala apple

2 fat: 12 almonds

(all packed and ready for the park)

Dinner: 

IMG_0547

2 Vegis: Mixed vegi’s

1 Fruit: 1/2 pear, grilled (OMG SOOO good!)

1 Fat-Free milk: 1 c milk

3 Lean meat: 3 oz Tilapia fillet

2 Fat: 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil (used to saute the vegis)

Evening snack:

IMG_0636

1 Vegi: Sugar snap peas

2 fat: 3 tsp natural peanut butter, water, worcestershire sauce, cumin, onion powder

You know what the best thing is about all of these meals? They took a half hour or less to make!! That’s right, you can eat REAL food and not be in the kitchen cooking for hours!  Being a busy mom with 3 really little ones at my feet, I just cannot be cooking all day, so this is a major plus for me!

IMG_0644

Weight chart

A HUGE thank you to Alysa for putting my meal plan together and teaching me that eating healthy doesn’t mean that I have to eat bland, that it can be done and can be easy! You can find some pretty amazing recipes on her blog, Inspired RD! You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter!

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

I’m A Mom-A Mamavation Mom

April 19, 2013 By 13 Comments

Profile picHello everyone-My name is Erica (aka Mommahunt16) and I am so excited to have been chosen one of the three moms for campaign 16!  It sure has been a wild ride to get here and I couldn’t be more proud and scared that I have been chosen.  Yet, before we get to the proud and scared, lets start at the beginning shall we.

Why did I do this….there are two reasons.  The first is this….

Yikes-Mama needs a Pedi

Yikes-Mama needs a Pedi

 

This BLEEP, BLEEP, BLEEPING number.  I have always hated it.  I hate it now, I hated it ten years ago, I hated it when I was 12.  I have always had weight issues and I have always had a stigma about this number.  I know now one really cares about that number but me, but it haunts me.  So shortly after my daughter J was born I realized I needed to get my act together.  I didn’t want her to hate that number and herself because of the number on a scale.  I spent a long time in therapy dealing with my self esteem issues and my eating issues.  Yet, despite all the mental work that number didn’t move.  So I decided it was time to make a change and so something.  So I joined Mamavation and shortly after decicded to apply to be a Mom-I needed the help and the support that comes with this process.

 

My other reason for trying out to be a mom…….These guys!

Mom and Miss J

Mom and Miss J

Mom and Master D

Mom and Master D

I mean how cute are they!  They are my world and I want to be the best mom for them and I know that means being happy and healthy.  The reason I was so drawn to Mamavation was because it was a group of other moms who knew that being a mom is great motivation to get healthy, but is also often your greatest challenge because of all the demands being a mom means.

Ok now back to what I said at the start of the post…I am so excited to be picked.  I know that this community will support me in my journey and be my cheerleaders.  Both Amy and Lindsay are amazing ladies who I know would not mind that I already consider them friends.  Yet, I am also scared.  I have never been so good at loosing weight (hence the number on the scale).  I am scared that I will let you down, the Mamavation Team down, and myself.  I did promise myself thought that I would get my big girl panties on and give this my all for the next seven weeks.  I just want to say thank you again to the Mamavation Team for believing in me enough to be one of the Moms and I hope to make you all proud!

Before I go…..here are my stats and my before pics (please feel to divert your eyes here folks this is not for the faint of heart)

Front

Seriously is that a baby bump

Seriously is that a baby bump

Date Weight Total Loss Waist Chest Thigh Hips Arm
Application 227 - 40 44 30 51 15
2-WeekChallenge 229 _ 38.5 43.5 30 51 15
Start of Campaign 227.4 - 38 43 29.5 50 14.5

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , ,

7 Weeks of Gratitude & Change

March 7, 2013 By 17 Comments

THIS IS IT! Week 7. WHAT???!!!??? Where on earth has the time gone?

Get Pumped!

Get Pumped!

I have been engulfed by a whirlwind of activities, and I seriously had no idea that we were ending. It is much better this way — I can focus on how truly amazing Campaign 15 has been rather than dreading any measure of “good-bye.” Never you fear – - I am NOT going anywhere; I am here to cheer on the next batch of recruits and applicants! The love continues. :)
How can I describe all that I have learned and acquired from being a Mamavation Mom? There simply are not enough words in the English language to convey how grateful I am to Leah (@Bookieboo) and Mark (@MrBookieboo) for the existence of Mamavation! I found this organization just when I needed it the most, and the leadership gave me what I needed most – MY LIFE. The Mamavation Moms were basically granted All Access passes into the lives of Leah and Mark, and gained priceless mentoring and knowledge.
IMG_4176[1]
I learned from Alysa (@InspiredRD) how to plan, prepare, and pair the perfect foods for my dietary needs.  I never starved during this Campaign! In fact, I originally thought that she was nuts for expecting me to eat so much food. Little by little, my body adjusted, and started doing what it needed to do – - consume enough fuel to operate and burn, and use the protein to help repair and build muscle. I was the number 1 skeptic at first, but now I understand and appreciate all that Alysa and Leah sought to teach me. I not only shop and cook smarter, but I am prepping my own backyard for a garden again. Me? Really? Yes, really.
IMG_4171[1]
Stephanie (@fitmomtraining) got the party started with Hazing, and Mark took over with the actual Campaign workouts.  All of the exercises were designed to tone and strengthen, although they often felt as though they would cause permanent damage ;)  I worked out 6 days per week, and saw myself grow stronger as the Campaign progressed.

Shannon (@ShannonMSander) & Shelley (Momma_Oz) kept me on track, organized, and supported throughout the application, hazing, finalist and Campaign stages. All girls need great girl talks, and funny stories to help us bond. Believe me – - the stories have been HILARIOUS, and yes, oh yes, we have bonded. We are stuck like crazy glue! Speaking of crazy – - it simply defies logic that anyone can find such amazingly deep connections in such a short amount of time, but that is precisely what happened. My sisters for life, Rebecca and Joanna, captured my heart.

I learned that I could push myself harder than ever, and even if the pain increased, I would not break. I learned that life could throw some pretty devastating curve balls, but I could persevere, and I would not shrivel up and give up. I pressed forward. I didn’t look back. I didn’t dwell on any of the challenges or setbacks of the past. I just kept going. My commitment to change my life meant that some situations and relationships had to be left behind.  I didn’t just shed weight; I cleared my life and thoughts of the old way of doing things. I lost 43.8 pounds, but I gained a new life.
IMG_4169[1]

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Change
Chest 40 38 37 36.5 36 35 34 -6
Waist 35 36 35 34 32 32.5 32 -3
Hips 44 43 42 42 40.5 39.5 39 -5
Thighs 25 24 24 22 23 23 22 -3
Arms 12 13 12 13 13.5 12 12 ——–

My Mamavation Mom journey would not exist had Rachel (@rachhabs) not bravely shared her story. She was my inspiration, and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone to complete the application video. So, THANK YOU, Rachel!!! I made that video, and never looked back.  I hope to pay it forward by encouraging all those who think of applying. You CAN do this! Take a leap of faith, and you  may very well find yourself on a 7 week express train to a new life. I look forward to cheering you on!

Until next time,

XOXOXOXOXO

 

Filed Under: Featured, InspiredRD, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Change Is A Good Thing

March 6, 2013 By 14 Comments

HOLLA , my fellow Mamavation Sista’s and to everyone else reading this.  I for one can not believe that we are already at the end of Campaign 15. This has been the fastest 7 weeks of my life and I really thought they were going to be loooooooong. I have learned so much about myself and what I can really do. I have met great people who really want the best for me. I have figured out that my body wants to sweat it wants to move.

Leah ( @bookieboo ) has brought out the Lioness in me the woman who can raise a family, break a serious sweat and still look cute. Mark ( @MrBookieboo ) has introduced me to my new friends , burpees, push ups, foot fires and criss cross jumps. Not to mention new muscles that I now have. Alyssa ( @InspiredRD) gave me personalized food choices and ideas that aren’t a diet but a lifestyle. Shelley ( @momma_oz ) & Shannon ( @ShannonMSander ) have been my lifeline if I had a question or problem they had the answer. Then there are the Sistas of Mamavation who I could not list because there are so many you know who you are who anytime I asked they answered. That is what Sistahood and Mamavation is all about. I now know there is no excuse not to workout. I have started a mad love affair with running I thought we would never mesh but we did. Mark made lifting weights fun with Pyramids that at first I did wrong but now LOVE them and have the callouses to prove it. I now have a waistline, defined thighs and mini FLOTUS arms. I see a difference in my face I have a chin again before I had a couple of them. This is not only my journey but my families because now we are going to be fit and fabulous together. Like Taylor Swift would say ” We are never ever ever getting back together ” that is my song to fat. I would so recommend Mamavation to everyone out there who doesn’t think they can do it. But be warned you have to want it. You have to be the one to do it. Most importantly you have to be committed to doing it. Real life happens people get sick, die, feelings hurt and there is no time for excuses or whining. So a strong mind is a must have. Last but never least are my 2 Soul Sisters, my Ride or Die Chicks, My Destiny’s Child, My Supreme’s , My Bangles, Joanna (@way2gomom ) & Jeanae (@jeanae) who took this 7 week journey with me and who I can say are the most genuine real women around THANK YOU. Thank You for allowing me to go on this ride with you ladies I look forward to a long , fit and fine friendship for years to come.

 

 

005

 

  Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7   Total
Weight 200.1 202.8 198 190 187 183.6 178.8 -25lbs
Arm 14 14 13 13 13 13 13 -1
Chest 40 40 38 35 34 34 34 -6
Waist 38 38 35 34 34 34 34 -4
Hips 49 49 45 45 45 44 44 -5
Thighs 27 27 25 24 24 24 24 -3
Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Best Things in Life

March 5, 2013 By 16 Comments

healthy breakfast Family. Friends. Health. Sound about right? I am BEYOND thankful right now because I have received the greatest gift I didn’t even think was possible. Through the past 7 weeks, I have watched in awe as the Mamavation Mom Bootcamp tools, which on the surface look pretty straightforward – specifically the eating plan and workouts, have transformed not only my weight, but also my health, my family, and given me the gift of my girls, Rebecca and Jeanae. Thank you Leah, Mark, Alysa, Shelley, and Shannon – I will never be able to thank you enough for letting me hand myself over to you for this bootcamp.

To recap Campaign 15, I will say this – absolutely amazing. With the help of Jeanae and Rebecca, we laughed and cried our way through the bootcamp. We were sleep-deprived, sweaty, gross, and still laughing our butts off. It was awesome. I would definitely, definitely recommend this program to others. I would caution you though, make sure you are ready before you apply. Make sure you are ready to learn how to balance your life completely differently, to really take on all of the requirements of the campaign before you sign on the dotted line, and to really give your life over to the campaign. If you do, you won’t have regrets, you won’t have to step down, you won’t have to watch from the sidelines. But if any part of you is not ready, it will be a struggle. I wasn’t ready the first time I applied, and I know that if I had been chosen back then, I wouldn’t have done well. But now, combined the three of us have lost over 100 pounds. If that’s not amazing, I don’t know what is…

There will definitely be some aspects of the campaign that will stick with me. For instance, the food. I do not have a single question about what I’m going to eat anymore, which is awesome. And my family is now eating the same with me – I started the campaign making separate meals, and now we are all eating the same things. Even my baby loves to eat salads now! It’s awesome. I am so, so thrilled to be setting such a strong foundation in the health of my children. It’s amazing. In fact, the food is part of the reason my husband has been dropping pounds too. Not only have I lost weight during this campaign, but my husband has as well. He’s down nearly 30 pounds also! Crazy, isn’t it? So yeah, this is definitely sticking. And then, of course, there’s Rebecca and Jeanae. They already know they can’t escape me.

BIG PUFFY HEARTS ALL AROUND. I love you guys, and not in the drunk-off-your-ass way that college students say it. But in the honest-to-goodness, mean it from the bottom of my shoes to the top of my ponytail way. <3

way2gomom's week 7 weigh in

way2gomom's measurements for week 7

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Knowing the Truth…

February 28, 2013 By 7 Comments

gym2.23.13

Mamavation 5K

Mamavation 5K

Knowing, and applying, the truth will always make you free.

I always knew that proper food choices could yield amazing results, but I didn’t know all of the correct choices for my body. I knew that exercise could supercharge my weight loss, but I had no idea that I could be this strong. I knew that changing my life would be hard work, but I did not know that I could grow this much in such a short amount of time.

Nice socks, eh?

Nice socks, eh?

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
Chest 40 38 37 36.5 36 35
Waist 35 36 35 34 32 32.5
Hips 44 43 42 42 40.5 39.5
Thighs 25 24 24 22 23 23
Arms 12 13 12 13 13.5 12

Here I am, after 6 weeks of Campaign 15, 35 pounds lighter. How did it happen? How did 6 weeks fly by so quickly? How did I manage  to eat so much food, but still SHED POUNDS? One word: surrender. Unless it applied to someone else, I always considered surrender to be a not so nice word. Okay, I’ll just say it: I thought it meant you were weak.  Only the weak surrender, right? Wrong. I didn’t know what I was talking about. I finally faced myself and realized that I did not have the knowledge or tools to turn my health and fitness around. Every single attempt to do so eventually failed. Perhaps it was time to trust, to let go, to…okay, I’ll say it – - surrender. I completely threw away what I thought I knew about fitness, food, and even friendship, and I gained more than I could ever imagine.

The Mamavation Mom Machine: Leah (@bookieboo) and Mark (@MrBookieboo) really know their stuff. Leah has been in the shoes of a wife and mom who desperately wants their weight under control.  She studied it. She tried it. She mastered it. Mark is the KING of pain. Don’t let the smile and soft voice fool you; he knows exactly how to bring the hurt. He is tough on your fat cells, but approachable and understanding.  I learned so much about what I could do, and then I did it. Alysa (@InspiredRD) provided insight into the types of food that I needed to eat, and was readily accessible for questions and tweaking. Shannon (@ShannonMSander) & Shelley (@Momma_Oz) are the glue that kept all of us organized and together.

When I applied for this Campaign, I was finally ready to tackle my weight. I signed into a community, and was greeted by a family. I became acquainted with fellow applicants, and survived the Campaign with 2 amazing sisters. The greatest gift of my Mamavation Mom journey was neither found in the awesome swag we received, nor even in the pounds lost. I am elated, baffled, and humbled to have 2 amazing women whom I can call my sisters.

My success on the scale, and my victories in the gym did not manifest from my own power or knowledge.  When I let go, and allowed myself to completely surrender to the process, I gained a new Jeanae. I am not just someone who reads labels or shops in the organic section of the market, but I am now the woman who researches heirloom seeds to plant in my own garden.  I am not the wife who just wishes she had time to work out.  I am now the woman who takes charge of the schedule, and makes the time to care for myself.  I am not someone who just reminisces about my last 10K, but I am someone who is pounding the pavement, and kicking butt like a professional.  I am a new Jeanae, and I know the truth about myself: I am strong. I am important to my family, and myself; therefore, I must make the time to take care of myself. I am fierce. Burpees do not scare me!  I can control the quality of the food that enters my kitchen. I can be a positive role model of health and fitness to my family and community. I am not alone. I know all of this to be true. This truth has set me free. I am free to be this Jeanae, and I like her a lot!

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

It’s a Family Affair!

February 21, 2013 By 7 Comments

We made it to Week 5! WOW! This Campaign is flying by, and we are still going strong.

This week, we are discussing our families, and how being Mamavation Mom impacts them. My family has adjusted well to the demands of the Campaign, and I am continuously amazed by how even the smallest changes I make can affect my household.  For example, one of my favorite excuses for not working out daily was my office schedule, and the stress it induced. I realize that many moms do not have the option to work from home, and yet many of them still manage to get to the gym. I somehow could not.  Seriously,  I couldn’t.  Some emergency or deadline ALWAYS came up. Now that I am no longer on lockdown in the cubicle jungle, I not only celebrate my freedom to make my own work schedule, but I also have no excuses for not maintaining workouts during the week. I have a set schedule for my individual exercises, and I also make time to get active with my child.  This can range from taking a jog through our subdivision, walking our beast of a dog, playing tag, to breaking out our best moves with our Kinect games. We have great bonding time just by getting up, and moving together.

Best Friends 2


In addition to making time to exercise, I also concentrate on preparing fresh, rather than boxed or packaged meals.  This takes considerably more time, and some would argue more money, but the long-term benefits far outweigh any arguments to take short cuts. I recently heard someone say that buying fresh, organic produce may cost a little more, but it will always be less expensive than medical bills from poor health.  Thankfully, I have been able to find several recipes that work for the multiple allergies of the household, as well as make the taste buds happy :) .  There is nothing worse than hearing someone emphasize how healthy a dish is, and it ends up tasting like dirty socks! I don’t know about you, but I have encountered several dishes of the sort, and I vowed to NEVER introduce them into the meal plans for my family.  My husband and son have very distinct food preferences, and we have been able to find the healthiest versions of everything that they desire.

eat your colors!

eat your colors!

fun with fruit

fun with fruit

Real life didn’t pause just because I became one of the Mamavation Moms. When challenges arose, I had my biological family, as well as my Campaign family, rally around me. I am grateful for their support, as it is not only vital to maintain enthusiasm and commitment for this lifestyle change, but to also be able to accomplish all that is required in the face of adversity.  My heart was broken last week due to the death of a loved one, but the love and support of my Campaign Sistas and Mamavation leadership helped pull me through the darkest moments.  Previous encounters with trials and tragedies typically led me to abandon exercise plans, and eat whatever brought comfort for the moment. Thanks to all that I have learned, as well as my Sistas Rebecca and Joanna, I didn’t have a desire to undermind my progress. I am eternally grateful for this Campaign because it has given me the opportunity to not only change my life, but to influence the healthy choices of my family.

And now, it is time for the real reason you read these updates. Here are the numbers:

Week 5 Weigh In

Week 5 Weigh In

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
Chest 40 38 37 36.5 36
Waist 35 36 35 34 32
Hips 44 43 42 42 40.5
Thighs 25 24 24 22 23
Arms 12 13 12 13 13.5

Total weight loss since applying: -34lbs.

I hope that you will find fun and simple ways to get moving with your family.

 

Until next week,

XOXOXOXO

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