Nancy’s Weight loss Journey 5 Yrs & Counting

*DISCLAIMER* As always, what I write about is not professional opinion…just my opinion base on my experience.  I promised my girl Dagny a blog about why I don’t do crunches or full sit-ups.

You want flat abs as many of our buddyslimmers here desire.   Despite the facts, many people still think they can get flat abs if they just keep doing enough ab exercises. We think we can’t reach this goal because we’re doing doing something wrong. The reality, getting six-pack abs is hard and, if you haven’t seen yours yet, maybe it’s not what you’re doing that is preventing you from getting them.

The truth is, flat abs are difficult to get.  I will never have flat abs but I’m ok with that.  I want to look lean all around.

Wanna know what you really need for flat abs?

Despite what you think, ab exercises are NOT the number one thing you need to do for flat abs. In fact, getting flat abs requires hard work, commitment and something else you have no control over: genes.

The only way to get flat abs is to lose body fat and you already know what that requires:

1.  Regular cardio exercises

2.  Strength conditioning overall 2 to 3 times a week

3.  Healthy eating

Why I am not a fan of crunches and sit-ups

1000 sit ups and crunches a day and still no abs! “1000+ reps of ab work four days a week is an amazing feat of endurance, but that’s not how you get abs! You probably have outstanding development in your abdominal muscles. Unfortunately, if your abs are covered up with a layer of fat, you won’t be able to see them no matter how many crunches or sit ups you do. You “get abs” from reducing your body fat and you reduce body fat mostly through diet and cardio.” From a body building article.

So, what should you do?  What would I suggest?  My suggestion, strive for a strong core.  Your core is your powerhouse.  Weak core, not as much strength to carry through intensive workout.  Strong core…..you will kiss some nice a$$.  It doesn’t matter if you kickbox, swim,bike, run,walk, lift weights, practice yoga, pilates, climb mountains, run a marathon, swim a triathlon, you need a strong center.

What’s makes up your core?

From an article. Strengthening your ‘core muscles’ on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do. These muscles include everything from your chest to your pelvis, with the abdominal muscles and lower-back muscles being the most important. Good ‘core strength’ is vitally important for complete fitness!

I am so not a fan of crunches either.  Only do them when I have to as warm-up mainly if anything.  Other then that I recommend yoga, pilates and push-ups to gain core strength.  A consistant yoga and Pilates practice will help you strength your core thus give you a lean look, the one we all strive for.  Push-ups because it’s my favorite single body conditioning regimen.  I hope to add my 400 puhs-ups into my routine real real soon.

Mat-based Pilates – the most popular form of Pilates.  This is a series of exercises performed on the floor using gravity and your own body weight to provide the resistance.  The central aim is to condition the deeper, supporting muscles of the body to improve posture, balance and coordination.

Just remember to learn the different breath for yoga and Pilates.  Never ever hold your breath.  You instructor, well I can tell because you will look stiff.  Breath, do your exercise and get those sexy abs.

ONE MORE THING - WHY SEXY BACK???  If you want to have nice abs - you must work on having a strong back!!!! Don’t forget, everything ties into together.

I missed last night’s class because I was tired and Rod wants me home.

I just got back from a kickboxing class and it was the bomb!!!!!!!!!! I am so pumped!

Can’t wait for weights and yoga tomorrow.  Weights is my own interval routine.

On the food front - I think I hit 2000 calories no problem probably 1700-2000!!!  Darn darn people!!! Why did they bring chocolate into the house!!!!!!!!!!!!   I know I set a goal to eat that much but I am mad I did.  Makes no sense but it’s done.  And I didn’t enjoy the chocolate. AUNT FLOW is so on her way to my house.

I ate sooooo well all day, but I snapped just a bit and ate more then I intended tonight.   It’s all good, first high cal day due to chocolate but good food all day long.  Night done…looking forward to tomorrow.

Talk about not knowing your portions.

OK, if you work for a coffee company such as Starbucks and it’s copy cats, don’t you think the FIRST THING you do is edumucate your workers on portion size - ESPECIALLY OZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liquid measurement - If I 1st grader and Nancy can do it, why can’t u all????

What the hell!!!!!**&*()*(&*(& This morning I was in line in rainy Southern CA - first shower in a while, behind like 300 people waiting for a cup of ok coffee. Looked at the China cups and thought hmmmmmmmmmm I should get one of their small ones so I don’t drink a lot of coffee. I can’t tell how many oz it holds because it’s covered at the bottom with a label. I guess 12 oz because I know what an 8 oz look like but the shape of the cup threw me off.

I get to the front of the line FINALLY, late for work by now and my diet tribe…..asked 3 READ THAT 3 EMPLOYEES what the oz measurement on this cup was???? They all said 8….I’m like nahhhhhh it’s more then that. I got it anywayz.

They made it all purdy because the tissue paper and paperbag is more expensive then the cup itself……hehehe!

Got it to work - GUESS WHO’S RIGHT????????????????????? Not those 3 SP peoples!!!!!! I am!!!!!

SO I gave this to my Vice President who is also my boss as a gift.

I won’t have them measuring out my food anytime soon.

BTW, I only drink brewed coffee, cream and no sugar now. It tastes a lot better without the sugar masking the coffee.

This is an update on my nail biting fiasco.  Back in December I merely mentioned I was a biter.  Found out there are fellow biters and fellow buddies who had good suggestions to stop biting.  Of course, as I love my buddyslim friends, I committ to no biting and a 2 weeks later my nails grew in nicely.

WELLLLL IT’S MONTH #2 and I’m still at it!!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for helping me breaky this gross habit.  No visits to a nail salon, just my trusty filer and a couple coats of clear nail polish and I’m purdy again.

Shan, I still can’t believe I almost fell for your 350 cal per bit joke.  U bad! 

I was bored at the gym (waiting for kickboxing) as I took these pics.  I told a fellow member that she shouldn’t mind my crazy butt.  I just wanted to update my friends on how I’m no longer a biter.  GUESS WHAT!!!! She’s a biter like me!!! hehehehee Like your girl, she’s been biting for years and years!!!!

I hope I can keep this going.  I know it has to do with all the changes made in the recent months, good food and WATER WATER WATER!!!!! See, that’s why we drink water….it does every body part good. :) 

I still bite but not my nails.  We’ll leave it to your imagination.  *SNICKERS*

I’ve increased my calorie but did not get past 1800.  I’ll try harder today.

To my blog title - CARPOOLING SUCKS!!! Especially when I have things to do and my other half needs the car and being a big weenie about it. We worked it out. I grabbed my bikini, got to the gym 1.5 early. I can’t do weights because I did it on Tuesday already. So I went and enjoyed the Jacuzzi!!! Ahhhhhhhh it was so nice. An hour of nothing. When it got too hot I pulled myself out and sat on the stairs. Ahmmmm very uncomfortable for my butt. WoW that’s new. I always have enough cushion back there that I never felt it before. Not sure what to make of it because I like my butt and not trying to lose it.

Today is my Athletics Training day. Lots of football, basketball and other drills, boxing moves…..everything thrown into an hour of fun and body hurting exercises. I love it!

My math sucks but bear with me now right?  LOL

$5 for a bag of 3 lbs of apples, organic apples  = 720 calories  about 6 or 7  apples

$5 at Mickey’s house Big Mac, med fries, med regular cola = 1050 calories

For real, which one would you buy?

Progress comes with making hard decisions.  The real me wants Mickey’s food.  Satisfaction guaranteed.  Pleasure last for a few hours.  But the fat, the simple sugar, the lethargic feeling from eating that food plus the calorie counts makes it easy to say let me have the apples please.

I believe people make too many excuses to  not eat the right stuff - nutritious food yet complain when they are not losing weight.  We say, oh, it’s much cheaper to buy fast food…No, not in the long run.  Unless you want to live a shorter life, then be my guest.  It’s faster and I’m tired from doing this or that.  So, you can’t take five minutes to go to the grocery store, pick up a bag of fruits, take it home cut it up and enjoy?  Not good enough for me.

Personally I’m tired of excuses.  Too many excuses too many because of this or that for me.  It’s either you want to eat right or not.  See, gotta talk myself into not eating a fast food meal.

Fruits and veggies may be a bit expensive, but really, you will stay full a lot longer I assure you.  Lord knows I want to throw the vegetables out the window because it is so boring, but I’ve learn to dress it up and make it tasty.

Shan - I owe you one for the fish sauce and peanuts, good stuff and something I’ve been eating since I was a baby.   It’s like a vinaigrette but with Asian fish sauce and home toasted peanuts crushed and sprinkled on top…..you’ve had Thai peanut sauce before right?

With that said, I have not had a full fast food meal to myself in over a year.  I don’t crave it like I used too.

In fact, I crave my apples…….weirdo yes.

So my answer to my own blog I want the apples….. 3 lbs last me about 3 days.  Big Mac Meal - 3 hours.

Let me know! I hope to inspire you to not get in the drive thru lane and go on to make better choices.

I HAD AN AWESOME TIME WEDNESDAY NIGHT!! WHOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

DID BOTH  kickboxing and Pilates classes.  I am loving my 2 hour blocks!!!!!  Doing the bootie bounce for some fun! :) 

ADD ON!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVING FRIENDS WHO WON’T RUN THEIR HUSBANDS OVER = $$$$$$$ PRICELESS GO ANJ!!!

I really really want my quarter for today.  As such I won’t eat his donuts……I won’t eat his donuts.

Ever since I hit 70+ days with my battle against night time grazing it’s been going downhill. So out of the last 12 days I ate past 9pm 5 times - which makes it about 42% failure rate (I hope my math isn’t wrong here hehe). I’m not eating a lot. It’s just one night a bite of this and the next night a few bites of that. I notice the increase in night time eating came along with the return to exercise. The more I exercise the more issues I have with food. Like I wrote on one of my friend’s blog today, I ate last night after 9pm. There it was all wrapped up and purty - calling my name was two chcolate covered Wafers - the Little Debbie ones..it said come eat me and boy, I didn’t hesitate one second. Zoooooooooom opened up and took a small piece. It certainly satisfied the need to eat….but I have to nip this in the bud again. How am I going to get to day 100 if I don’t stop this?

My plan of attack - Have to increase my calories to 2000 for a few days again. It worked last time. I know I’m not eating enough and my body is rebelling. Poor body - you don’t like mama right now do you? Don’t worry I feed you…….

I’m not sure how I will get in 2000 calories of fruit, veggies and protein but I will have to. Today I worked up to about 1000 calories so far. I have another 200 before I head to the gym at 6 pm. Decided to not take the Set class but do my own routine for 1 1/2 hrs then yoga at 7:30pm.

So eat more during the day…eat as much as I can by 9 so I’ don’t eat afterwards. Oh, almost forgot - ate sunflower seeds tooo!!! BAD NANCY!!!!!!!

This blog is dedicated to a wonderful man.  He has a heart of gold and my best friend.  I wouldn’t be who I am without my baby.  Tyson, you may be fine and all, but my honey is the real deal.  I can touch him, feel him and hug  him.  He is humble, he is my heart.  Oh, he’s as sexy if not sexier.  :)  *I smiles*

A little about this man called Dr. Rod, Rod, honey, sweetie and the love of my life.  He’s 34 years old young and still get carded (makes me sick sometimes) Black man straight from Kenya.  If someone asked me where my dream man would come from I would never have guess Africa.  He is an amazing person.  I have the total package in this one.  Sexy outside but the sweetest man on the inside.  Chivalry - I thought that was dead.  Get this, he still opens  door and pull out my chair.  From the very first time we talked on the phone to our first date that last all night talking at Denny’s to our first sunrise and Newport Beach, he captured my heart and I am still SPRUNG.  We have been separate for less then 3 days in the year or so we’ve been together.  His heritage, his African culture makes him different, unique and makes him stands out from many of the men that came into my life.

Wherever I am weak he is strong.  He sews, cooks, cleans and doing this all the while be cute and sexy.  I keep a messy room - he cleans it up.  I cry, he wipes my tears away.  When I need a hug he’s there to hold me all night long.  Before him I never had someone to do laundry with.  My baby and I make it a fun trip.  We do it all 50-50.  He is my foundation, he is my everything.  Without him I would not be the strong woman I am today.  Behind this woman is a loving man just like behind every strong man is a strong woman.

I don’t think there has been a day that passes by that he doesn’t tell me he loves me…not for the outside Nancy, but for who I am on the inside.  I will forever be grateful for his support.  He is my everything.  :)  I LOVE YOU HONEY!

So Tyson, he’s mine and he can give you a run for your money!!!!

I had a great workout session however there was one major problem.  I was so busy working, emailing and being on here during my work day that I did not eat my food as planned.  I was wayyyyy under in calories.  With a 3 hour back to back day planned I knew I needed to get in enough carbs and protein to give me energy to last from start to finish.  I ended up eating lunch of chicken and veggies at 3pm.  This late lunch made it impossible for me to get in any carb,which was an apple, before I started class at 4:30.  So I got to the gym, bought an energy bar that had 200 calories, and put 25 calories of my honey’s Gatorade in my 1.5 liter of water.  I got through the first class then ate the EB and drank 1/2 the water.  I had energy.  But I was losing it fast.  By the time yoga came I age the rest of the EB and drank my water.  I was exhausted.

The lesson learned, I have to have to get my carb in before class. It is essential to give it the proper fuel.  I will never make this mistake again.  I can’t get caught up in the day and not eat the right food at the right time.  I paid for it in the end.

Don’t get me wrong, I had fun in all the classes.  It’s just I didn’t have my normal energy level.  Lesson learned.  I will do it right next Monday.  Have to get in about 1200 calories by 3pm with the last food being a fruit of some sort.

So Tuesday it’s a very easy day.  It’s just my set class - weights and cardio and yoga to finish off the night.  Nothing big, nothing to get excited about.

PRESIDENT OBAMA!  I have cried bucket of tears this morning.  What a great day in history.

You know how I’m not afraid to say what’s on my mind right?  What the hell is it with me and GAS??????? I am straight serious.  It’s like the healthier I eat the worse it stinks.  Is there that much bowel movement going on?  It’s becoming a major problem.  My poor honey is so understanding.  Whenever I feel the need he says oh just let it rip in bed.  Now I wake him up from deep sleep!!!!!!  WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  Tears guys -and no right now it’s not because I’m doing the do…..just don’t ask Rod because he will tell you I’m bad and pass on the air freshener.   :(  hehe   He dubbed me “Poison Ivy and dream catcher”.  It’s bad enough he tells me I can peel paint off the wall.  :(   But to wake him out of deep sleep too?  Wahhhhhhhhhh

BTW - you can laugh out loud if you want too.

He doesn’t make me feel bad about it.  It’s just that I feel horrible and completely embarrassed.   It’s becoming a daily issue.  I am so tired of having to get up in the middle of the night to do the do so I don’t stink up our bedroom.  His gas doesn’t smell as bad as mine!  :( 

Not only the gas but my bowel movements smells worse then before.  I have healthy bowel movements but boy, need to spray like it’s the men’s locker room.

I’m not ashame to admit this problem.  I just want suggestions on how I can deal with it.  Thoughts guys?  You know I love your input and always put it to use.  I tried those over the counter pills, no help not at all.

With that said I have to tell you I was so proud of myself this weekend.  As weekends are bad in terms of eating, I did much better on this one.

Yesterday we went to TGIF before going to see “Grand Torino” (I cried at the end of the movie) and it was so much fun.  I ordered the mahi mahi dish w/ all veggies no rice.  Because my calorie count was low, I ate some of my baby’s fries.  We shared the Margarita - my first alcholic drink in a long time.  As I told Anj, I snuck two apples into the theater and ate some of my honey’s ice cream.

Deb, I didn’t get my quarter last night.  I realized I didn’t eat enough calories so I had a few nuts.  Then Rod brought fast food at 2am.  Ate two bites from his burgers and a few fries.  Night grazing is kicking me in the rear right now.

I plan on eating very clean at work this week.  Oatmeal, apples,coffee, blueberries, chicken,  lettuce and cucumber is my main staple for workday eating.  Dinner always TBD.  I steamed chicken for the whole week.  I’m planning on making Asian chicken wraps - consisting of lettuce, cucumber and the chicken dipped in fish sauce w/ peanut.  Very healthy, low cal and low carb.  I chose not to buy any pita pocket or bread.  I can do without it.  Nicole, will go get cottage cheese - promise.

Today is another favorite day.  I’m leaving work a bit early so I can make it to Step, kickboxing and yoga with Nygel.  It’s going to be fun fun fun.  Can’t wait!

Ok,new week is here - ready to do it?  You can!!! New year new you!!!

I’ve been up since 5am to eat my pre-workout breakfast and get a liter of water in.  Got to the gym and did my own weights routine.  IT FEELS SO GOOD!!! I’ve lost a bit of muscle mass from not working out when I was sick.  I can tell.  But the strength is still there.  Then I did my kickboxing class.  I loved every second of it.  I feel so alive and so me again.  I’m not going to let anyone or anything take this moment away from me.  Once I start tabulating my push-ups then I’m up 150%.  I miss my push-ups.  I’ll gain it back.

Which takes me to my main thoughts for today.

Diane and a number of people have asked me where I get the motivation to do what I do.   How is it that I’m so focused and driven to lead this lifestyle.

My answer: My body humbled me.

In January 2005 I started my quest to lose weight.  I was miserable. Dealt many years with a man who never loved me; thus I never loved myself.  I ate my body to 220+ as there are years I didn’t weigh once.  I had enough and made a change.  I dropped 40 in 8 months from simply walking and doing my own version of the Atikins.  Then I joined a gym, added weights, kickboxing and yoga.  13 months total I lost 70 lbs  That was 2006.  I maintained that loss but I was extreme.  I worked out about 15 to 18 hrs a week - 3 hours a day almost with one rest day.

You know what happens to a body when you overexert yourself?  Yep it gives up on you.  I had some injuries.  Doc said no exercise and bed rest for two weeks and more.  No exercise thereafter for about 1 to 2 months.  Guess what your girl did?  No bed rest and started back to kickboxing in 1 month.  I kept injuring myself for a few months.  I scaled back to 12 hrs but still pushing myself.  Well the injury wouldn’t heal properly.

So I gave up everything.  The thought of not working out depressed me to no end.  The exercise was gone yet I still ate like I was working out.  Actually I had a few friends who likes to eat out alot.  That combined with no exercise, return to bad habits lead to 9 months of losing every thing I worked for and 30 lb gain.

I dropped the no good ex-husband, found Rod and still wouldn’t go to the gym.  I was in self pity mode.

In April 2008, I decided I can do this.  Since then, 36 lbs later I am who I am now.

This experience with the injury completely humbled my attitude.  Before, I thought yah got the weight off it would never come back.  WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!

Never lose sight of this journey.  It is harsh.  You lose focus, start eating bad again and boom - gain is 100% guaranteed.

What’s different now?  I respect my body.  I have to be good to her so she can do what I want her to do.

I scaled back my workout to about 11 good hours a week.  I do 2 maybe 3 strength conditioning a week, Yoga down to 3 not 6 times a week (will pick it back up to 5 though), Pilates 1 a week, cardio 5 to 6 hours.  I mix it up.  It’s important to  mix it up.

The greatest and most significant change.  My relationship with food.  It took me 4 years to finally start craving fruits and vegatables.  I’ve cut out so much salt and sugar from my diet.  This used to be a Splenda girl but no more.  Now I can say I like buying fruits.  I look forward to my fruit shopping trips.

I drink green tea, coffee w/ cream only and water.

I still eat fries and chips but the portion is less then a handful.  I try to enjoy it.

Food now is fuel.  I know when to eat and what to eat.  I know what combination works for me and I know what makes me feel good.

So, if you are just starting out…take it one day at a time.  Be patient and respect that body.  It will do what you want.  Don’t rush this process.  Rushing leads to frustration and eventually back to bad habits.

I’m not a personal trainer, nutritionist or a health professional for that matter.  This is my experience.  I am sharing what works for me.  Doesn’t mean it will work for the next person…but just know, strive for a permanent change.  Exercise, eat well and you will be a winner for many years to come.

Afternoon guys!  Well I feel so much better!  Thank you thank you thank you for being such great friends.

Rod and I had a huge argument last night.  But we eventually worked it out.  HE APOLOGIZED FIRST!!!!  Go figure?  That never ever happened before! :)  I need him to be  a good partner.  I need him to be mindful of our finances.  I need him to take care of his part because I’m taking care of business too.  I asked him what happened to being a team?  Being partners?  Where’s the communication?  Why do I run my mouth if he doesn’t listen?

I have to say he came back, apologized and realized I was right.  WE ARE A TEAM!  We have to work together and forge ahead.

Anyhow, PMS played a role in the bitchiness but it’s over, we spooned and slept all night.  Which was important as I’ve been sleeping only 5 to 6 hrs a night.

Well, I got up and ate the best combo for my 7 and 8am class.   I was up at 5am had 2 egg with tomatoe and onion omelet, 1/2 a fuji apple and 1 nectarine.

It did the trick.  I never ran out of energy once.  Went from Kickboxing to Step with ease.  When I was setting up for Step I felt a lot of “Stares” on my back.  This class was huge.  Some gave me a fake smile, others were setting up so close to me, as if I didn’t exist.  I realized halfway through class, or the instructor told me that most of these people have been coming to THIS class for the last 10 years.  I told her I’ve only done step a few times in the last couple of months.  That explains the hating.  I guess I inadvertantly took someone’s spot.  Ooooppsie my bad.  It’s their problem they didn’t come to kickboxing or else they would have saved their spot.

The instructor loved me.  IT was my first time in her class.  She asked for my name during kickboxing and asked me to stay for step.  I already planned on in.  She said she loved my energy and the fact that I wasn’t afraid to yell.  Yelling helps!  It gives me energy.

I have a yoga session to do later today to round out my day.

Tomorrow - favorite Sunday kickboxing.  I plan on getting there at 6 am so I can do weights then start class at 8am.

No matter how bad my life gets or how bleak the future looks, give me a few hours in the gym and I’m back and in charge of me!

LOVE YOU!

First and foremost, thank you SOOOOOOOO MUCHHHH for your love and support.  I have to admit today has been a hard day.  I couldn’t do it without the love and support of this beautiful community.  Do you know what it’s like to open up my account and see 50+ wonderful comments.   I think I cried a liter of salty water today.  My heart swelled up with much love because you chose to take a  minute out of your day to talk to me.  I tried to send as many booster notes as I can.  Forgive me if I missed you.  I am also trying to catch up on blogs.  It’s important to me that I get to read about your day as well. 

Today was tough but my wonderful group of friends who held my hand via email has made it bearable.  We laughed, joked and cried together.   My bf’s mom called and asked if I have a support group.  I said yes - YOU! :)  Can’t do this without my buddyslim!

I can’t talk about what I’m going through with anyone here at the moment.  I always cry.  I’m trying to toughen up, grow a few coat of thick skin, take care of some issues then maybe then I can discuss these issues with my family. 

It doesn’t help that I’m bloated.  More so then any other time in the past year.  My tummy is the size of a pregnant woman.  It’ll pass but for now no salt and I decreased my water just for a couple of days.  Will only do 100 oz.

My sis came over to visit.  She’s realizing that as she puts on a few lbs and I slim down, we are almost the same size.   Guess what she’s doing?  Clothese shopping in my closet.  I love it though.  We were always polar opposite.  Me wearing size 18+ while she wore a O.  So now things have change.  She puts on a green dress that I thought would be too big and it wasn’t.  I told her uh oh, whatcha gonna do?  We’re almost the same size.  She said good!!!  Great!  I don’t have to shop for clothes.

Tonight I am going to a Zumba class.  2nd try, see if I can stick with it.  We didn’t have date night.  I want to workout and Rod understands. 

Then tomorrow I have a kickboxing and yoga class to attend.  Have a great Friday guys!