Oh hey there to whoever is reading! Dawn here..time for updates!!
I recently completed an item on my bucket list!! a 5k! It was something I had wanted to do for a while, but never had the ambition to train for. With the help of a friend and her daughter, I ran through the finish line of the Moustache Dache. For the week leading up to the 5k, I was filled with all sorts of emotions and goals. On the day of, I just wanted to get to the starting line, and more importantly the finish line. Overall, I ended up slowly jogging about 2 of the 3 miles and walked the rest. When I was able to see Jamie waiting at the finish line, I somehow 'sprinted' the short distance just to make it into her arms. With tears in her eyes, we hugged and I lost control of my emotions. I sobbed in her arms, realizing what I had just accomplished and realizing how many more goals I have yet to complete. I realized I am unstoppable and can do whatever I set my mind to!
With Thanksgiving in the past, I can now say how excited I am to get 'back on track' with Fit2Fat2Fit program. We went off plan to indulge in the delicious holiday foods, but man oh man am I ready for my spinach shakes and chicken! On Thanksgiving morning I went to a 2 hour boxing class with a great friend/motivator Ginger. She had thanked me for inviting her to class with me and then said how I motivate her..Unbelievable...I motivate MY motivator?? How does that even work?!! Needless to say, that comment made my day and I strive to motivate more people.
Non related update..I got a new job!! On Dec 11 I will start my position as a Clinical Therapist in a halfway house/jail. It is one of my dream jobs and I am excited to be part of such a great team. The only thing I will miss of my current job is the flexibility...but I can squeeze in my boxing and crossfit at other times.
Speaking of crossfit, we have changed gyms and start the new place tomorrow! If you watch Extreme Weight Loss, this is the gym that Chris Powell goes to with the contestants. I would die if I saw him working out with us (we did hear from members that he goes to the 5am class during filming). This gym also allows us to use the equipment from 5am to midnight even if a class isn't going on. Exciting...not that I would attempt any dangerous WODS while a trainer is not there, but it is great to know I can go and use the rower, free weights, rings, etc if I have a late night at work! If you want to check them out, the gym is called Bladium!
I think that's about it. Ever since grad school, I have no longer enjoyed writing a lot :) stay happy and healthy!!
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Breaking up, breaking down, breaking in, and breaking out...
Okay, so first things first.... HOLY CRAP!!! Dawn completed her first 5k! A-MAZING! Which leads to the first thing: breaking in. This means a lot of things right now... breaking into this new way of life, breaking in those running shoes (for Dawn of course, NOT me! haha), breaking in these "new" bodies that are still changing every day, etc. Also, I officially registered for a Spartan race! AHH!!! Kinda freaking out about it, but really cannot wait! More about that later...
On to the next... breaking out. UGH! Like teenage acne status over here... we strayed a bit from the meal plan this week, and boy does it show! We had a few indiscretions this week, and for me it involved A LOT of dairy! Our cheat meal on Friday night was pizza at a friends house, which was delicious and painful! Me and dairy are not friends... I try so hard, but it just wants to fight me! I was never lactose intolerant before, but over the many diet programs we have been through I have taken dairy out many times and really only add it back in the form of cheese, but don't seem to know my limits. So, now that my body isn't having it all the time it resists when I do... with this comes severe stomach cramps, increased bathroom time, throat mucus and nasal congestion, and of course... break outs! NOT a fan, but it proves a quote I saw today "What you eat in private, you wear in public". You can't hide from your dietary choices! Because of these so called treat meals, we have so much food left in the freezer, I didn't even need to batch cook this week! While that is great for the budget, it shows how far off we were this week.
So back to this 5k... Saturday morning was the Mustache Dache 5k in City park. The weather was perfect, Dawn was excited and nervous, and I couldn't have been more proud! She had on her newly made bucket list t-shirt, her tutu, and the cutest little braided pigtails. As she went and lined up on the starting line, I found myself getting a little teary. Never before would I have imagined this is where we would be. One night over dinner with friends (a marathon runner and her ironman husband) Dawn decided this was a goal she wanted to accomplish, and she signed up for it and started training. The truth of the matter is that the training took a backseat to many other things (crossfit, boxing, stomach bug, head cold, etc) and she ended up not preparing AT ALL after the first running accomplishment. Despite all that, she finished in under an hour and jogged the majority of it! As I saw her turn the corner toward the finish line, I began to well up with tears, and had the biggest smile on my face as she gave her last push and ran it in. I walked over to where she was and gave her a big hug and then... we both broke down. We sobbed and cried and smiled and celebrated. THIS is what we have been working for. THIS is what will keep us going.
And finally... breaking up. This is a tough one. So, after much discussion and weeks of weighing pros and cons, we have broken up with our gym. There were many reasons for this decision, and it was DEFINITELY not easy, but we feel that in the long run it will be a good decision. I have nothing bad to say about the place we were at, and wish them nothing but the best. It really came down to short term goals, equipment, and scheduling. With that said, we will be starting at a new place after Thanksgiving and will post more about that later.
It was a crazy week with a lot going on emotionally, physically, and psychologically. With all of that, I am a bit relieved to not have to batch cook, but it feels weird! Like I am forgetting something. I'm looking forward to the challenges of a holiday week though and to see how new behaviors react with old habits and my favorite holiday of the year!
-Jamie
By the way... I didn't forget, we owe you measurements! Stay tuned....
On to the next... breaking out. UGH! Like teenage acne status over here... we strayed a bit from the meal plan this week, and boy does it show! We had a few indiscretions this week, and for me it involved A LOT of dairy! Our cheat meal on Friday night was pizza at a friends house, which was delicious and painful! Me and dairy are not friends... I try so hard, but it just wants to fight me! I was never lactose intolerant before, but over the many diet programs we have been through I have taken dairy out many times and really only add it back in the form of cheese, but don't seem to know my limits. So, now that my body isn't having it all the time it resists when I do... with this comes severe stomach cramps, increased bathroom time, throat mucus and nasal congestion, and of course... break outs! NOT a fan, but it proves a quote I saw today "What you eat in private, you wear in public". You can't hide from your dietary choices! Because of these so called treat meals, we have so much food left in the freezer, I didn't even need to batch cook this week! While that is great for the budget, it shows how far off we were this week.
So back to this 5k... Saturday morning was the Mustache Dache 5k in City park. The weather was perfect, Dawn was excited and nervous, and I couldn't have been more proud! She had on her newly made bucket list t-shirt, her tutu, and the cutest little braided pigtails. As she went and lined up on the starting line, I found myself getting a little teary. Never before would I have imagined this is where we would be. One night over dinner with friends (a marathon runner and her ironman husband) Dawn decided this was a goal she wanted to accomplish, and she signed up for it and started training. The truth of the matter is that the training took a backseat to many other things (crossfit, boxing, stomach bug, head cold, etc) and she ended up not preparing AT ALL after the first running accomplishment. Despite all that, she finished in under an hour and jogged the majority of it! As I saw her turn the corner toward the finish line, I began to well up with tears, and had the biggest smile on my face as she gave her last push and ran it in. I walked over to where she was and gave her a big hug and then... we both broke down. We sobbed and cried and smiled and celebrated. THIS is what we have been working for. THIS is what will keep us going.
And finally... breaking up. This is a tough one. So, after much discussion and weeks of weighing pros and cons, we have broken up with our gym. There were many reasons for this decision, and it was DEFINITELY not easy, but we feel that in the long run it will be a good decision. I have nothing bad to say about the place we were at, and wish them nothing but the best. It really came down to short term goals, equipment, and scheduling. With that said, we will be starting at a new place after Thanksgiving and will post more about that later.
It was a crazy week with a lot going on emotionally, physically, and psychologically. With all of that, I am a bit relieved to not have to batch cook, but it feels weird! Like I am forgetting something. I'm looking forward to the challenges of a holiday week though and to see how new behaviors react with old habits and my favorite holiday of the year!
-Jamie
By the way... I didn't forget, we owe you measurements! Stay tuned....
Sunday, November 16, 2014
I really kinda like how I look... and batch cooking.
Oh heeyyyyy! Long time no type! So this is something interesting for me to be writing about, but I feel like it needs to be "said out loud" (typed right here) to make some sense. I got a haircut the other day, which is nothing new as it happens every 2-3weeks, but something about it this time... I found myself checking me out in the reflection of my car, the bathroom mirror, wherever I could. I spent some time really looking at myself two days ago which is something I have avoided for a very long time. For the first time in a very long time I liked what I saw. I liked my hair, I liked my smile, I liked the shape of my face, it was all so strange because I kinda didn't recognize the person I saw. I examined the newly developing muscles in my shoulders and the definition in my neckline... I can get used to this. I don't think I've changed my facebook picture or posted as many "selfies" ever before! Weird! Funny, new, exciting, encouraging.
In other news... it's Sunday! And that only means one thing for me... BATCH COOKING!!! As Dawn mentioned in her last post, we are back on the fit2fat2fit meal plan and entering week 2 of it. Super simple with recipes and specifics on their website for free, which is unheard of in the world of meal plans these days! No products being pedaled, no brand loyalties, and gimmicks. Just real and attainable foods. So here's a couple pictures of what's going on this week for us.
-Jamie
In other news... it's Sunday! And that only means one thing for me... BATCH COOKING!!! As Dawn mentioned in her last post, we are back on the fit2fat2fit meal plan and entering week 2 of it. Super simple with recipes and specifics on their website for free, which is unheard of in the world of meal plans these days! No products being pedaled, no brand loyalties, and gimmicks. Just real and attainable foods. So here's a couple pictures of what's going on this week for us.
Three different flavors of marinated baked chicken (teriyaki, Caribbean jerk, sesame ginger) and some seasoned roasted zucchini (original flavor Mrs. Dash). These will become 13 meals (4 will get broccoli though)
Sauteed peppers and onions with Southwest chipotle flavor Mrs. Dash (love that stuff- variety of flavors and all salt free)
Deli turkey, jalapenos, green bell peppers, onions, cilantro... This will be the filling for omelets 2 days this week and will be topped with salsa
Homemade jerky! I've been doing this for a couple weeks now (finally dusted off the dehydrator),and it's SUPER easy! I pick a flavor- last week was original jerky, this week was teriyaki; buy a 2lb London broil and slice it pretty thin on a bias (angle cut) and marinate overnight. I lay a single layer on each rack of the dehydrator and let it go on160 degrees for about 6 hours. This made 8 servings of 4 slices each! Also some hard boiled eggs for extra protein snacks since we get stupid hungry on lift days!!!
We also have the most amazing spinach shake for breakfast every day. It's simple, delicious, and last time we did this program I ended up craving it when we changed to something else. To make 2 servings, we use 2 large handfuls of baby spinach, 1 1/3 cup almond milk, 2 scoops chocolate protein powder, 1 banana, 1/4 cup natural peanut butter and fill the rest of the blender with ice. AND... it's a really pretty color of green! LOL
Last time we did this program we saw a lot of results and were very content with how it went, so we figured why try something new if we know what works. Next weekend we are going to redo our measurements from when we first started getting serious, will be 2 months at that point. Maybe we will include pics too, but we will definitely post our progress results here, so standby! -Jamie
Monday, November 10, 2014
Updates and new plan.....
Hello!
Its been 2 weeks since the last update. Nothing exciting that we missed, although we did have some guests in from out of town. Unfortunately, that entailed eating out a bit and not making the best choices for snack foods. Although the food choices were not the best, we still went to xfit (and boxing) and walked A lot! After realizing that while the results of all our hard work are visible, the scale does not want to move. Jamie and I have both been stuck for a few weeks now so we decided we need a kick start! I have briefly talked about the program that helped us the most in previous posts, but now I would like to talk more in depth, and why I feel that it works. The program is Fit2Fat2Fit written by Drew Manning and his wife Lynn. Those who are on my facebook page may have noticed I received a Happy Birthday message from them last week which makes me like them even more. Yes, I have a man crush on Drew, yes my wife knows, but hey, whatever works right??!
So what is this plan you ask? Drew is a personal trainer who never really 'understood' what obese people went through. He believed the stereotypical claim that fat people are lazy, unmotivated, and choosing this lifestyle. He took it upon himself to go on a 6 month journey of gaining weight through food challenges, overeating, not exercising, and not 'caring' in order to see what it is like. During that time, he would journal how he felt, videoed what he ate, and wrote a book! Once the 6 months was complete, and he gained almost 75 pounds, he took another 6 months to lose it all. Why do I like this plan so much? Because Drew knew what it was like. He felt how fat people felt, if only for a short time. He experienced the fatigue, muscle aches, emotional journey, and the relationship issues that happen when one is obese. He chose to do this to understand so many people. And the plan to get back into shape was the easiest plan we have done to date. Yes, it is boring and repetitive, but we saw results (mostly Paleo). The first round I lost 40 lbs and I believe Jamie lost 35. And that was just a matter a a few months.
Did I drink Drew's koolaid? You bet I did. I also drank the best spinach shake I have had in my life. It is delicious, filling, super easy to make, and very convenient. We will right about our success with Fit2Fat2Fit and include some of the yummy recipes that go along with it. In the meantime, check out his webpage, www.fit2fat2fit.com. He is currently doing a Fit2Fat2Fit Gluten Free challenge to show how going 'gluten free' if you are not celiac, may not be the best option. We all are different in our short/long term goals, we all have different versions of health, and what works for me may not work for you. Nothing is wrong. Do what makes YOU feel great.
On that note, stay healthy, stay happy and ask questions along the way. We are no experts, but we love to share our knowledge!
Its been 2 weeks since the last update. Nothing exciting that we missed, although we did have some guests in from out of town. Unfortunately, that entailed eating out a bit and not making the best choices for snack foods. Although the food choices were not the best, we still went to xfit (and boxing) and walked A lot! After realizing that while the results of all our hard work are visible, the scale does not want to move. Jamie and I have both been stuck for a few weeks now so we decided we need a kick start! I have briefly talked about the program that helped us the most in previous posts, but now I would like to talk more in depth, and why I feel that it works. The program is Fit2Fat2Fit written by Drew Manning and his wife Lynn. Those who are on my facebook page may have noticed I received a Happy Birthday message from them last week which makes me like them even more. Yes, I have a man crush on Drew, yes my wife knows, but hey, whatever works right??!
So what is this plan you ask? Drew is a personal trainer who never really 'understood' what obese people went through. He believed the stereotypical claim that fat people are lazy, unmotivated, and choosing this lifestyle. He took it upon himself to go on a 6 month journey of gaining weight through food challenges, overeating, not exercising, and not 'caring' in order to see what it is like. During that time, he would journal how he felt, videoed what he ate, and wrote a book! Once the 6 months was complete, and he gained almost 75 pounds, he took another 6 months to lose it all. Why do I like this plan so much? Because Drew knew what it was like. He felt how fat people felt, if only for a short time. He experienced the fatigue, muscle aches, emotional journey, and the relationship issues that happen when one is obese. He chose to do this to understand so many people. And the plan to get back into shape was the easiest plan we have done to date. Yes, it is boring and repetitive, but we saw results (mostly Paleo). The first round I lost 40 lbs and I believe Jamie lost 35. And that was just a matter a a few months.
Did I drink Drew's koolaid? You bet I did. I also drank the best spinach shake I have had in my life. It is delicious, filling, super easy to make, and very convenient. We will right about our success with Fit2Fat2Fit and include some of the yummy recipes that go along with it. In the meantime, check out his webpage, www.fit2fat2fit.com. He is currently doing a Fit2Fat2Fit Gluten Free challenge to show how going 'gluten free' if you are not celiac, may not be the best option. We all are different in our short/long term goals, we all have different versions of health, and what works for me may not work for you. Nothing is wrong. Do what makes YOU feel great.
On that note, stay healthy, stay happy and ask questions along the way. We are no experts, but we love to share our knowledge!
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