weight loss — Mamavation

Begin at the Beginning

April 18, 2013 By LaundryDayBlues 16 Comments

Hi! My name is Amy. I am a wife and mother of five. I spent exactly 193 weeks of my life being pregnant, in a span of 7 years. During that same time frame I spent 27 months breastfeeding, which I liked to call “eat whatever you want dieting”. And then I resigned myself to being overweight simply because I’d had 5 kids. Just like so many of you here on Mamavation I am unhappy with my weight. For too long I have allowed my own excuses and bad choices to control my weight loss. No more excuses! I want more than anything to take back my body, to take back control and be the best me I can be. I want to set an example of how to live in a healthy way, and I feel my body should reflect that. The Mamavation community has given me such a fabulous start on my weight loss journey and I really hope to reach my goal by the end of this campaign. I would be so honored to have you support me during these next 7 weeks!

When I started my journey with Mamavation back in January I was 172 lbs.This picture was taken at Christmas. My first reaction was, “Wow, what an unflattering picture!” Then a couple weeks later, I bought a scale and was shocked by the number staring back at me. I really thought I was about 150 lbs, and somehow I was off by 22 lbs. No wonder I couldn’t fit into any of my clothes!

That was such a hard number to wrap my head around. When I was gave birth to both my 4th and 5th children I weighed 180 lbs. Both boys were OVER 9 lbs at birth! I couldn’t believe I had let so much weight creep up on me. I was determined to do something about it. I struggle most with my diet. I think that is probably pretty normal, but in my case I was definitely eating far too many carbs and not enough proteins. And not enough calories in general as well. When I applied to for this campaign my weight was 158.6 lbs. On Sunday, I was pleased to weigh in and see the number below (Please ignore the cat, and the lack of nail polish on my toes!). Yay for losing 3.6 lbs thus far!!

I am wicked excited about having been chosen as one of the Mamavation Moms. I plan to do everything in my power to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity and shed these excess pounds! And now I will share with you a picture of my adorable little loves because they are far cuter than my feet and you need to un-see that right now!

Are they not the most gorgeous little creatures ever?

My Before Pictures

Please ignore the lovely face I was making, I hate having my picture taken! Apparently so much so, that I scowl! Lovely!!

And of course here are my beginning measurements:

Waist: 31 inches

Hips: 39 inches

L thigh: 19.5 inches

R thigh: 20.5 inches

L Arm: 12 inches

R Arm: 11.75 inches

Chest: 36 inches

To Leah, Mark, Shelley, Shannon, and Alysa: Thank you again for this amazing opportunity! I hope to amaze you all with my results! And to the wonderful mentors, thank you for your support and guidance!

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms, Uncategorized Tagged With: fitness, health, mamavation, mamavation mom, weight loss

A new beginning

April 17, 2013 By LindsaysFamily 26 Comments

Hello! My name is Lindsay. I am a 32 year old mother to four pretty cool kids, ages 14, 4, 3, and 14 months, and wife to an super smart amazing husband. We are a multicultural family and are pretty dang proud of it. When I met my husband I was 135 lbs. We started trying to get pregnant immediately after we married and was quite successful. I found out I was pregnant in December of 2007 and not soon after was put on bed rest, where I stayed for 30+ weeks. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in my early 20′s and the surgery that was required to remove it caused me to have an incompetent cervix. As soon as my cervix started to thin and dilate my doctor placed a stitch there to keep my baby in, but this meant bed rest. I seriously only got up to shower and use the bathroom. It was totally worth it though because this is what I got out of it all:

Fast forward 5 months when I realize my period is late. I take a pregnancy test and sure enough, I’m PREGNANT. I cried! Shhhh don’t that tell my little man. Again I was placed on bed rest and got this reward:

Needless to say that was ALOT of laying around for 2 years. I gained weight. A LOT of weight. I couldn’t even tell you how much weight. I was just starting to make progress with loosing some of it when I found out I was pregnant with my youngest (whom will always be my youngest! HA) I of course had the same issues and was again placed on bed rest and diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes to boot. I had a really though time keeping him in, even with cerclage (stitch in cervix) and he was born at 35 weeks. He was in the hospital for a few days longer than me but was healthy.

I am now done having babies and am ready to take my body back. I want to be around a VERY long time for these precious little blessings. I want to be able to run around and play with them in the back yard and not be out of breathe. I want to set a good example of what health is and gain back the confidence that I once had. I am so excited to have been given this amazing opportunity! I promise I won’t disappoint!

My before pics:

Starting Weight:

Okay so this pic was taken this evening. I swear this morning it said 205 :/

Starting Measurements:

Waist: 39.5″

Hips: 46″

L Thigh: 25″

R Thigh: 25″

L Arm: 14″

R Arm: 14″

Chest: 42″

A special thank you to Leah, Mark, Shelley, Shannon, and Alysa for giving me this amazing opportunity and to the graduates of campaign 15, my mentors, I love you and look forward to your encouragement!

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: fitness, health, mamavation, mamavation mom, weight loss

7 Weeks of Gratitude & Change

March 7, 2013 By Jeanae 17 Comments

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

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.

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.

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.

	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: alysa bajenaru RD, family, fitness, healthy living, Long Term, mamavation mom, vlog, weight loss

Change Is A Good Thing

March 6, 2013 By RUtheMOMof 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: alysa bajenaru RD, family, fitness, healthy living, Long Term, mamavation mom, vlog, weight loss

The Best Things in Life

March 5, 2013 By Way2goMom 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: alysa bajenaru RD, family, fitness, healthy living, Long Term, mamavation mom, vlog, weight loss

Knowing the Truth…

February 28, 2013 By Jeanae 7 Comments

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?

	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: fitness, healthy living, Inspired RD, Lifestyle change, Mamavation Moms, videos, vlogs, weight loss

You Think You Know

February 27, 2013 By RUtheMOMof 9 Comments

But you really have no idea. Hey Mamavation another week has come and gone. I don’t know where the time has gone. We are already on week 6 of Campaign 15 which means we have one more to go. I know you are thinking oh no I will never see Jeanae (@jeanae) , Joanna (@way2gomom) again or me @RUtheMOMof again. Don’t you worry your pretty little heads we aren’t going anywhere.

This week it is all about what we have learned and what we thought we already knew. I have read so many books & magazines and watched so many shows that I thought I knew everything there is to know about working out and eating healthy. SURPRISE !!! I didn’t know squat and what I knew was all wrong. I always thought that you should eat less calories and limit your fruit intake because of the sugar. You should workout for a long period of time and exercise wasn’t made to be fun it was work. This campaign with the help of Alysa (@inspiredRD) , Mark (@MrBookieboo) & Leah (@bookieboo) showed me that I was dead wrong. Alysa gave us a book on what to eat on a Low Glycemic diet and it opened my eyes to all the great food choices we have. Also, how less isn’t always more when it comes to eating right.

Food should have colors

anywhere anytime no EXCUSE

Mark gave us customized workout plans that if done right didn’t take hours to do but at the end of them had you sweating bucket loads. Leah well she should as that even though we are Moms and we all know what that means real life problems there is NO EXCUSE not to workout and take care of ourselves.

Real life happens whether you want it to or not. The thing that surprised me the most is me being able to give up control of myself to complete strangers and believe that they knew what they were talking about. Once this happened and I saw the results it just showed me that it doesn’t mean you are weak or can’t do it. But be real if we all knew how to do this on our own we would all be in shape & healthy. I also learned that family isn’t just who you are born into but who has your back. In the process of losing weight I have gained 2 very special Sistas that has made this journey that much easier and better. All the Mamavation family because we have to include Mark is what makes this thing called Mamavation the best thing since apple pie a healthy version of course . Here is the results of believing , listening and doing.

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: alysa bajenaru RD, featured, lifestyle, Long Term, Mamavation Moms, vlog, weight loss

Lessons Learned as a Mamavation Mom

February 26, 2013 By Way2goMom 9 Comments

Wow, it’s week 6 of the campaign already! Where did the time go?! I’m so not ready for this to end, but I have definitely learned quite a bit as a Mamavation Mom! Check out my brief roundup here:

So my favorite things that I’ve learned so far (in no particular order), are the low glycemic diet, that I CAN do awesome levels of exercise (including running), and that I have some totally amazing Sistas from other Mistas! Here’s the low down – I have been wanting to learn about the low glycemic index before, but it seemed like a total mystifying thing to me. Thanks to Alysa (@inspiredrd), I think I actually kind of get it now! I’ve had some awesome weight loss, but the best part wasn’t the workouts (although those are awesome). To me, having Alysa to call when I get stuck, give me ideas when I need them, and to explain the exchange stuff was totally priceless. For me, that knowledge far outweighs any swag!

I applied to the campaign back in December, and the last week of the month was when I started the Couch 2 5k running program. I had started it before then, but without much success. This time, I totally rocked it. Until I had a breakthrough one day when I was able to run even farther and SMASH the wall in front of me. It was amazing. Ever since I’ve been totally a fan of running. Which is not something I ever expected to happen in my life! The endorphin rush is just amazing. Running isn’t for everyone, but it totally is for me! And, of course, being able to say that I can do 55 pushups (on toes) in a row with no break, well that kind of makes me feel like a badass!

Last, but certainly not least, I learned more about the awesome support of my Sistas from other Mistas. Rebecca and Jeanae have been there with me from the start. We dealt with confusion, frustration, and everything in between together. We laughed, we cried, we became FAMILY. Can you imagine anything better? And, they totally don’t mind my weirdo sense of humor, which always helps! So yeah, mad props for this campaign and for Mamavation because I LOVE what I’ve received from the campaign, and the swag I didn’t even realize we were going to get was awesome, the other perks were why I really wanted to be in the campaign.

On to the details! This week I lost… 2.6 pounds! That brings me to a total loss of 28.4 pounds! HOLY CRAP!

way2gomom week 6 weigh in

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: alysa bajenaru RD, featured, lifestyle, Long Term, Mamavation Moms, vlog, weight loss

It’s a Family Affair!

February 21, 2013 By Jeanae 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.

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!

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 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

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: alysa bajenaru RD, family, fitness, healthy living, lifestyle, mamavation mom, vlog, weight loss

Who Runs The World

February 20, 2013 By RUtheMOMof 14 Comments

We know the rest of that song “Girls” but I am going to say “Moms” because lets be real most of the time we are the CEO of our families. That being said I can’t believe we are now in week 5 of the Mamavation Campaign. Time flies when you are having fun and I am having a blast. I have added 2 new Sistas to my family with Joanna (@way2gomom ) and Jeanae (@Jeanae ). A blast because not only am I bringing it but my family has joined in on the fun .

We have always been a very competitive family since I was little I wanted to beat the big boys. I am the oldest grandchild, cousin and oldest of 5 brothers & sisters. To this day when we have a party it always ends up with us outside trying to see who is the fastest, who can do the most push ups, or who can beat in arm wrestling. My kids have gotten this gene from me. When they saw Mommy waking up and hitting the gym they wanted to join in. That is a plus but the negative is when they do I have to stop every 10 minutes to do something for them. When I started making more salads they asked why didn’t they get one also. 5 weeks ago when this started I would make 2 separate meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I felt it wasn’t fair for the kids to have to eat like me. Well little did I know that they wanted to. Before starting the campaign I didn’t buy junk food a lot. But we did have chips , white bread, potatoes and a lot of juice. Now the kids are eating sweet potatoes, wheat bread and water or fancy water which just has lemon, orange & cucumber slices in it. As soon as the kids wake up the first thing they say is ” Did you work out already” and my 9 yr old daughter grabs a PM Yoga DVD every night to do with me. We are lucky that we live less than 1/4 mile from the beach & a beautiful state park that has a lot of trails for walking and riding. So instead of being in the house all day we can be found outside. Another great thing about Miami is we never get snowed in or it is never too cold.

004 044

Oh, did I mention I home school my 3 youngest kids so we have all day to break a sweat. We also have 4 dogs who love being walked and going to the dog park. It isn’t just the family in my house but my extended family who are getting more physical. I LOVE that this isn’t just about me getting healthy and fit but that I can be a positive role model to my kids so they see that if Mommy can do so can they.

Of course all this wouldn’t matter if there wasn’t weight loss to report so as of today I have lost 3 more lbs which brings the total to 16 lbs of fat and must say that I am sure I gained a few in muscles because I have less giggle in my wiggle. If you know what I mean. Next week I will post my inches because those things matter no matter what anyone says.

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