Resolution Time!!

It is almost 2011...yay!!! That means it's time for those resolutions...have you chosen yours yet? I was doing some looking and here are the Top 10 New Year Resolutions that I found:

1.) Spend more time with family and friends.
2.) Spend more time on Fitness (yay!!)
3.) Lose the Buldge-watching that diet (yay!!)
4.) Quit Smoking.
5.) Enjoying Life More
6.) Quit Drinking
7.) Get out of debt
8.) Learn Something New
9.) Help Others
10.) Get Organized

Some others are:
* Get a better education
* Get a better job
* Manage Stress
* Take a vacation

Whatever your resolution may be this year...do not give up on it...make it last!!
Happy 2011!!!

Let's Talk Zumba

So for those of you who have never heard of Zumba Fitness before (where have you been??) here's some info on this exciting and amazing workout! Zumba was created by Beto Perez in the late 90's...in his native Cali, Columbia when he accidentally left his aerobics music at home on the way to teach his class...oops! He then popped in a mix tape of his favorite music Latin Salsa & Merengue. The class instantly fell in love with this new workout! Beto then came to the United States in 1999, met up with some entrepreneurs and the rest is history! As of October 2010, Zumba is being taught in over 90,000 locations, in 110 countries, with over 10 Million participants taking Zumba classes every week! Amazing!!!!

Zumba is an interval training, with a mix of fast and slow rythyms-Dance & Fitness-to work the heart rate, targeting weight loss. It is a complete body workout...however, it is so much fun, you can't even tell you're working out! Zumba Fitness' Goal is: They want you to want to work out, to love working out, and to get hooked!

For more info on Zumba Fitness...check out- www.zumba.com
(thanks zumba.com for the info above :) )

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY: DEERFIELD, OHIO

COME & CELEBRATE 1 YEAR OF ZUMBA FITNESS @ DEERFIELD!
WHERE: Deerfield Friends Church: 1261 Ohio 14 Deerfield, Ohio 44411
WHEN: Thursday January 6th, 2011 - 7:15-8:15pm

Cost: $1.00 + 2 Nonperishable food items to be donated to a local food bank

We would love to have you PARTY with us!!!!

****Picture taken before Party In Pink in Pittsburgh, PA with some of my awesome ladies!!****

Upset vs. Depression vs. Anger

Ok..so I am not an angry person to any degree lol...it's hard for some to even think that I do get angry every once in a while (it really does take a lot of energy to be mad!) But during a conversation with a friend, we brought up the topic of weight loss and motivations for doing so. She had asked what made me want to lose the weight....When I stopped to think about it...at first I thought I was depressed about the situation but then it hit me-I told her that I got ANGRY...not just upset, not depressed, but ANGRY (think the Hulk...well, I guess She-Hulk in this case : ) ) What was I angry at? Myself...the way that I had become so lazy that I had completely let my body and my health get out of shape.

Let's say that you were just upset about your weight gain. Just being upset is not going to make you want to get up and move. You will continue on your path being aware of the mistakes you are making in your health. You will be upset that you missed your time at the gym, but you always tell yourself, "I'll go tomorrow" or "I'll start my diet tomorrow". But does "tomorrow" ever come when you are upset? Nope. ...what does=Being Depressed!

So now you're depressed about your weight gain and the way your body looks. Is depression going to motivate you to do something about it? Once again...nope, you will continue to wallow in self-pity and once again will be thrown into negative eating patterns and usually when you are depressed you do not have any energy, so there goes your workout. The difference between being upset and depressed is that when you're upset you sort of have a drive to lose the weight-you have ideas maybe some goals, when you are depressed, all drive is gone and it's going to take some serious motivation to even get started changing the smallest of habits.

Now getting angry...that is when you get stuff done. I don't know about you, but when I get angry I like to clean and be active...it's sort of the same idea. You just have a feeling in your gut (and no, it's not your tummy rumbling...it's the "motor")that you just have to do something. No joke...this feeling is very difficult to explain. But it's the moment of making it or breaking it=Gut check time...do you have what it takes to change your life or not? It's when you dig in deep and decide that your life is worth it!!! Write some goals down and place them somewhere you can see them...carry them with you. When you feel tempted to slip, check out those goals and see if that slip is worth it...more than likely it won't be. I became so dedicated and disciplined in my eating patterns and workout routines that if I slipped it was not a good day lol. Now being obsessed with working out and eating right is not a good thing (there is such a thing as exercise addiction), but being firm in a healthy routine is a good thing! So dig deep...just don't let your situation bother you, get angry about it and act on it!!!

Three Smart Exchanges & A Few Get-Slim Choices!

Alrighty, lets take a time out and look at our diets shall we?

I ran across an interesting article about fat and I would like to share the recommendations with you!!


3 Smart Exchanges:

Switch From...


Regular Bacon/Sausage to Turkey Bacon/Sausage or Canadian Bacon...why? Pork bacon is loaded with Saturated Fat...the other two are leaner choices.

My opinion: If cooked the right way, turkey bacon does have a chance (however, I have yet to master the timing on this lol...my sister-in-law though has gotten it down!) Now, I love turkey sausage...yes I am going to say it again, I LOVE TURKEY SAUSAGE!! lol! It still has tons of flavor just like its super fatty foe and it has its health advantages without the grease! Canadian Bacon-excellent choice as well, easy to make...recommend!



Switch From...


Stick Margarine to Tub-or Better go to Butter...why? Stick Margarine can have three times the trans fats the tub version does. Butter has no trans fats!

My opinion: I don't like to cook with margarine or butter. I use a light oil cooking spray or olive oil. Now if a recipe just has to have butter/margarine, I stick to the no-salt butter.



Switch From...Premium Ice Cream to Low-Fat...why?

Two scoops of the premiuim kind can have 11 grams of saturated fat-that's about half the amount you should eat for the entire day! Low-fat ice cream can have less than 1 gram.

My opinion: I love ice cream and this really is not a secret to those who know me lol. If you are opting for a low-fat ice cream watch out for sugar content...remember when taking fat out of a food, processors will add "other ingredients" to make it taste better. Just because it says it's low-fat doesn't mean it is better for you...as I said before-Read your labels & be wise!! I stick to premium ice cream but have it in moderation...it is my treat!



Here are a couple get-slim choices! If you are trying to lose weight...try to add a small amount of fat (healthy fat) to your diet, such as...


Almonds- 1oz(23 nuts)
163 Calories
14g Fat

Walnuts- 1/4 Cup
193 Calories
18g Fat

Avocado- 1/4
57 Calories
5g Fat

Olive Oil- 1 Tablespoon
119 Calories
14g Fat

Peanut Butter-1 Tablespoon
94 Calories
8g Fat

Olives- 8 Jumbo
54 Calories
5g Fat

Sunflower Seeds- 1/4 Cup
186 Calories
16g Fat


Just as a small tip-Add some protein to your breakfast to start the day off right! I am in the habit of cooking scrambled eggs mixed with fresh wilted spinach...as a side I pass on the toast and grab 1/8 C Almonds mixed with 3 Dried Apricots and a small amount of dried cranberries....YUM!! That's right, I eat eggs!! Eggs have been frowned upon lately, but allow me to reassure you that eggs are not your enemies! If prepared correctly(No butter, milk, or salt added) there are many health advantages to consuming eggs! If you live an active lifestyle (lifting, light toning, cardio, etc) then your muscles will truely love you for the extra protein! : )

PIP Girls!

Some of my Deerfield ladies and myself after workin' it at our Party In Pink!!!!

"Yea, we used to sit there and make fun of your thighs."

(Note: Sorry for the long delay...don't you love it when "life" happens : ) )

That is an interesting title isn't it? But it is true, someone did say that to me before. I can sit back and laugh about it now, but at the time my spirit was crushed! I have always had self esteem issues, so little phrases like the title really made my confidence take a nose dive. It was hard enough when beginning my weight loss journey still looking into the mirror and seeing a 190lb woman. The power of the mind really does play tricks on you.



When this "friend" said this to me, I was at the peak of being in shape and healthy. I had gone from wearing a size 14 dress to a size 3/5...my jeans went from a size 16 to a size 2. I had made drastic improvements on my body and the way I was taking care of myself. But that comment hurt my feelings and my confidence went away. When I went places I was afraid of what people thought about me...were my thighs still huge, is there anyone snickering at me? At that time my occupation was being a Youth Pastor so I was constantly in front of people-speaking, preaching, and presenting. I tried not to wear form fitting clothes because I still felt like I was still 190lbs. My childhood memories came back of being teased and put down, making me feel like nothing.




Finally the day came when my husband put his foot down. One day for church I busted out this XL sweater that I apparently just swam in...after the service he said "It's gotta go!". He made me get rid of all of my baggy XL clothes. When we were going through the clothes, I would look at him and ask "But what if I get big again, what if my weight comes back, I won't have any clothes to wear!?" He just looked at me and asked, "Are you planning on putting the weight back on? Do you really want to wear these again?" And that sealed it for me. I had made my decision to never be out of control with my weight again. I did not want to put the weight back on...so with that, bye bye big clothes! Well I did somehow manage to keep a favorite pair of Mount Union sweatpants : ) Thanks Sweetie!



Through time I have learned to look into the mirror and see my real image and have gained confidence. So, do I still talk with the woman who made the comment? Uh, no lol. I believe a key in maintaining happiness is to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people who will encourage you during times of trials and celebrate with you during times of success.



Do not let anyone stop you from reaching your goals! And when you begin or are continuing your weight loss journey never second guess yourself...get rid of that old you...get rid of those clothes and make it a personal goal to never ever let that weight come back! You need to ask yourself that same question my husband asked me "Are you planning on putting the weight back on?" And make that answer: "Nope...I don't ever want to see it again!" Do this for you...you deserve it : )

PARTY IN PINK INFO

Ok it is official!!!

PARTY IN PINK

When? October 10th, 2010

Location? G-Plex -Garresttville,Ohio
10340 INDUSTRIAL DR. GARRETTSVILLE, OH 44231

Time? 2-4pm
(2 hours of Zumba...what a better way to spend your Sunday afternoon!! Plus prizes and give-a-ways!)

Cost? $10: PreRegister
$15: At Door

Come and join three of the hottest Zumba instructors in the area help in the fight against Breast Cancer! Proceeds will go towards the Susan G. Komen Fund. Toss me an email if you are interested!!

Back to the Grind!

So we've covered alot about food! But what about exercise??

Remember: Exercise is just as important as eating right! Sure eating healthy foods will give the proper nutrients your body needs, but we also need to be active-whether it is walking, swimming, taking fitness classes, Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates...ANYTHING that gets your body up and working your cardiovascular system is a good thing : )


When I made the choice to lose my weight, I jumped online and started researching gyms in my area. I came across a community center nearby that offered so many options, I couldn't turn it down. So the membership was established! I began looking at the classes they offered, and one in particular instantly peaked my interest: ZUMBA! I have always loved to dance, and there is nothing more contagious than a Latin beat!


When the following Monday rolled around, instead of sleeping in with the kitty when my husband went off to work, I got out of bed. Monday of all days to begin a workout program...yikes! But I was energized and ready to go...I took the 15 min commute to the community center and signed up for the 8am class. The class was not very big, I think about 3 students and 1 instructor, so if I looked goofy doing Zumba, there would only be 3 witnesses!

The music played and I instantly fell in love! The moves were simple and basic. The instructor explained to me later that she took out a lot of the actual "Zumba moves" because it drew too much attention from onlookers...lol. The moves she chose were a little hokey, not gonna lie, but it did get me up and moving and I did return to that class every week! The class stayed small while it was in existence at this location. So my Mondays were filled with 60 mins of Zumba and then I would go out to the lifting area and re-familiarized myself with weight training equiptment. Lifting brought back memories of training for high school and especially college athletics, and I quickly found my groove again. On the other days I didn't have Zumba, I would do 30 mins on the elliptical (low resistance, high speed) and weight trained (low weight, high reps).

I was really into this Zumba thing and absolutely loved the instructor who taught it, she was fun and filled with high energy! I remember one time she was absent and someone attempted to sub for her, she had a cute Zumba shirt on, but yet brought in a dvd and tv to instruct the class. The dvd wasn't even Zumba, the class was a flop! I was deeply offended that this woman tried to pass that class off as Zumba lol. It turns out, sure this woman's specialty was not Zumba, but man she could kick your butt in other ways!


One day I decided that I wanted to add something else into my routine, so I checked out the community center's class list again and found Yoga. I thought maybe some of my weight gain was due to the current stresses of my life and I have heard that Yoga could relax and reenergize you. Hrmm...let's just say Yoga is not my thing lol. Sure I could hold the positions, but relaxing? ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Being contorted into different lovely pretzel shapes is not my idea of relaxing. I know there are some people that Yoga really works wonders for (and kudos to you!), but it was and still is soooo not my thing! Taking the one Yoga class did reenergize and motivate me....to find something else to try! : )


When taking the tour of the facility, we were shown "the spinning room". Inside were these interesting little bikes you had to put together and adjust to your body. Spinning...it sounded like I could get into it, just never had the guts or confidence to try it out. I looked at the class schedule because they offered numerous types of Spinning Classes. I decided to take it light the first time 30 mins Spin 30 mins Abs. Guess who the instructor was?? Yup the pseudo Zumba lady lol. Oh man, I was in trouble! She was a drill instructor in that Spinning Class, pushing me to limits I had stored away in the "I was severly abused during my high school basketball season by running for two hours straight" memory bank. As we like to say, "It hurt so good". In Spinning there is interval training where you go from Heavy Resistance, Slow Speed (Hills), Light Resistance, High Speed (Downhill), to things called Jumps. Her encouraging phrase was always, "You can do anything for 30 seconds"...and she was absolutely right. I survived the Spinning portion of the morning...and then it was time for abs. Ok...while walking to the ab portion a woman asked me if I had ever done abs with this particular instructor yet...I said "Nope"...the woman looked at me, smiled, and said "Let me just say this, she used to be a health specialist for the Army" HA!!!! What did I get myself into? This instructor worked us!! I had never done abs like that before, but I never gave up and put everything I had into it! I mean we didn't get a break until the class was over...our resting state was doing Regular Crunch Postions abs for 1 min.

So the cycle began...Zumba, Elliptical, Spinning, Weight Training, and Eating Right...I was determined to lose my weight!

I had taken the Zumba class into December, but when January came around, it was a very sad month....the community center decided to cancel their Zumba program due to lack of interest! I was devastated...this program is what got my booty up and moving again and now it was going to be taken away! At the time I was not aware of the Zumba Network and how I could have researched for more classes in our area, so I had to move on. From October-January I went from 190lbs down to about 140lbs. I had reached the weight I was in high school and was back into a size 8 jean size! However, I was not confident whatsoever in my "new" body. Whenever I looked in the mirror I still saw the size 16 woman : / I still didn't feel comfortable being around a bunch of people, because I still saw those over weight pictures in my mind, and thought people looked down upon me or made fun of me. So I did not let my weight loss stop there...my goal was 125lbs before my birthday in April of that year.

Up Next: "Yea, we used to sit there and make fun of your thighs."

Keep Track of EVERYTHING!

As I said before, one must make sure their output is more than their input, as far as losing weight based on calories. However does this mean to starve yourself? Absolutely not!!! You see, if you don't put enough food into your system, sure you might lose weight, but it's not the correct weight loss you are looking for!
When your body is in starvation mode the body will actually start to burn your muscle! Once the calories and nutrients you placed into your body are used up, your body is still looking to burn and it will turn to your muscle supply! You do not want this to happen! So please keep a good eye on what you are eating!

When I heard about food journaling, I thought "Ok, I tried to keep a journal several times throughout my younger years...never really worked. I just wanted to doodle. Is this for me?" To my surprise, it wasn't as bad as I thought. It was sort of a challenge to myself, another motivational tool to assist in my weight loss.

Here's what I did: I took one day and just ate my regular diet, making sure I wrote EVERYTHING down. My human side made me think "It's okay if I don't log that piece of cake...or those few pretzels...or that glass of milk" But in the end everything counts, so log it! And I did! Jeepers!, after one regular day of eating I consumed way more calories than what my body needed!!

Here is an interesting tool online...

http://nutrition.about.com/od/changeyourdiet/a/calguide.htm
Copy and paste into your search bar! This site is awesome to figure out how many calories you need to maintain or loose weight. It also breaks it down by specific nutrient needs your body has! Use this as a base of intake! Make that daily number your goal! So now plan those meals accordingly...take the time out of your day to plan, YOU DESERVE TO DO THIS FOR YOURSELF!

How do you know how many calories are in the foods you eat? Several ways!

1. Look at the package : ) It says it in the Nutritional Info!

2. If you are going out to eat...check out the restraunts website for their nutritional values before going there!...but be warned: CONTENTS WILL SHOCK YOU!!!!!!!

3. http://www.thecaloriecounter.com/ or http://www.calorieking.com/
Check these sites out to look up calories that may not be listed on foods!

4. A good friend just informed me that her cell phone has a calorie counter on it...how awesome!! If you got it...use it!

I know it may seem like a pain in the booty to do this...but trust me, if you are dedicated to that Calorie goal...go for it! Carry that little journal with you! Some advice: As soon as you eat it, log it! If you log as you go, you are able to see how many calories you have left for the day and can adjust accordingly!

So I said to log EVERYTHING...and this is so true. We covered logging our food...but have you ever considered logging your activities/calorie loss as well? Yup Yup! This is the next step!
This by far was the coolest thing I found online! At the time of my weight loss adventure, I was working from home. This meant I had time to do house work too! You better believe I was logging every little activity I did from showering to dishes to sweeping to playing with the cat; from driving to the gym to activities I did at the gym to sleeping. EVERYTHING! I wanted to know how many calories I was actually burning throughout the day.

Here are a couple I found useful:

http://primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/calculat.htm
This site is kind of confusing-you put your weight and duration of activity, it will then pop up a HUGE list of activities done for that duration and how many calories it burns.

http://www.soft4everyone.com/tools_activity_calorie_counter.php
This site is good to use because it calculates all of your activities together...saves you from doing the math : )

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/
Another option! I like this because it supports LIVESTRONG.COM!

There are so many ones out there! Don't like any of these...there are plenty more out there to choose from!!! : )

So your ultimate goal: More Out Than In...but get those nutrients your body needs!!!

Where do I begin?

Ok, so reality has set in about the weight gain...so what did I do about it? Everything that I could!

I mean the issue weighed very heavily on me, no pun intended...every picture I looked at I couldn't believe how I had missed it before (including wedding pictures!), I couldn't believe the food I had in the fridge, and the habits that had formed.




So I went to the one place that seems to have some answers these days...the internet. I started researching weight loss tips, products, exercise programs, etc.




The #1 weight loss tip that somehow opened my eyes was: "Make sure your output is more than your input". Making sure that the calories I was consuming was less than what I was burning through exercise. It suprised me, once I got started, how few people knew this one small trick to losing weight!




The #2 weight loss tip that kind of goes hand-in-hand with #1 was "Keep a food journal" Everything you eat is going to have an effect on your body, whether in a positive or negative way. At the beginning I was logging every little thing that entered my stomach...and wow, that really is the best way to make you stop and realize what is actually in the food you are eating AND that it is going into your body!!





You really can learn a lot about food by doing this. Some people just focus on the calories, but trust me there are other things you need to look out for too. How often do you look at a food's nutrition label? If you haven't in a while, I suggest you do it immediately the next time you shop!

My husband and I enjoy doing this...especially looking at sodium content...let me just say "YIKES!!!" The world of food seems to have turned into a salt factory! Let's begin by looking at what may seem as everyone's worst enemy...but alas there is hope for it yet: Fat.

-Low-Fat/Non-Fat: Yes, this sounds wonderful...and it sounds like an easy way out. "Well if it's low-fat or non-fat, it must be pretty darn good and the fat won't even be there in the first place. Hey I may not have to exercise after all!" Correction: Where there is low-fat/no-fat: there is usually high-carb which in turn may mean more sugar and there may also be a high Sodium content! That's right, to make up for the lack of taste in low-fat/non-fat foods, manufacturers will load up the sugar and salt. If you consume a lot of sugar/salt and just let it sit...guess what, it will form into fat. So what I suggest is to be smart when you are buying food & drinks, READ YOUR LABELS and COMPARE the low-fat/non-fat foods with the "norm" of the same product. EXAMPLE: YOGURT. I was on a huge yogurt kick, but noticed I was not losing weight and sometimes gained here or there. Well after looking at the back of my low-fat yogurt, sure I was only consuming 80 calories, but I also noticed that I was consuming over 42 grams of sugar from a 6oz cup...this is not good, I might as well have been eating ice cream for breakfast! So please be careful...read your labels!




Also, I believe people get hung up on the word "fat". When one hears the word "fat" one can just imagine the mental image of lard and tubs of shortening. But here's the thing...not all fat is bad, there is healthy fat...and trust me, your body NEEDS healthy fat! Now, don't start running for the cookies just yet...let's first take a look at Our Fat Family:

*Saturated Fats: Ok people, when you hear the word saturated, what do you think of? I think of something being soaked...and this is exactly what you need to remember Saturated=BAD. Saturated Fat is our bad guy here. Consume too much of this bad boy and this is where your high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes steps in. Where do we find saturated fat? Animal fats (food from animals), dairy fat (butter, cream, milk, cheese made from 2% or higher), shortening. These products should be kept to a minimum.




*Trans-Fat: This Fat is pretty much Saturated Fats even more evil sibling. Ever read the word hydrogenate on the back of your foods? When you see this word, put the food down and walk away!! Hydrogenate is the process of taking out oragnic (nutritional) compounds from food or liquids in order to achieve a longer shelf life. Through this process, trans-fatty acids are created and will be found in your food...especially commercially packaged foods: French fries from some fast food places, vegetable shortening, stick margarine, microwaved popcorn, peanut butter, low-fat/non-fat ice cream, bread, crackers, protein bars. Trans-Fat is a man-made fat and when it is consumed it may raise the LDL levels in your blood which may lead to deadly diseases.




*Unsaturated: *Sigh*, doesn't the word "unsaturated" just make you feel better!! And it should. This guy is one of our fat heros! Polyunsaturated fats include: Seafood like salmon and fish oil, as well as oils made from corn, sunflower, and soy, nuts, leafy greens, whole grain wheat, bananas, etc. These super foods contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids (which our body has difficulty creating on its own!). These acids help ward off heart disease and is thought to help improve our memory...think of it as "brain food"! So be smart...swap some of that red meat for fish...eat a handful of almonds...use virgin and nut based oil dressings for your salads...use liquid vegetable oils made from corn, sunflower, olive, canola, or soybean when cooking!
Look for polyunsaturated and monounsaturated...but stay away from trans-unsaturated! It's for the same reason stated above...factories will take out the nutrition and organic substance from these foods to provide a longer shelf life

Please keep in mind that just because I'm saying there are good fats, does not mean we should binge on them : ) Like I said be smart, and just add some into your lifestyle!

So what did we learn from today's long winded blog?

*First and foremost, realize and admit there is something to be done about our weight gain. Admit a lack of self control, admit the bad habits, admit your downward spiral!!

*IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO TAKE ACTION TOWARDS A HEALTHY LIFE!! You deserve to be healthy & happy!! We all do, so don't short change your life...get up and get motivated.

*Find that motivation...find a mantra/phrase to repeat to yourself when your feeling down (we'll get into that later!), get a role model...and I don't mean one of those super skinny peeps in the magazines that look as though they are looking for care packages from Korea...Find a real woman who is healthy (there is a difference between skinny and healthy)!

*Start looking at your input/output ratio!!

*Begin a food journal!!!

*Be smart about fats...Fat can be your friend...just choose your friends wisely!!

NEXT: Keep track of EVERYTHING!!!!!

OMG!! THAT'S ME!!!!!

Have you ever had one of those days that shakes you to the core...when something happens that just opens your eyes to reality? The day that I "discovered" my weight gain was not a pretty day...it was kind of frightening!!!

Halloween 2006: My husband and I just love carving pumpkins for this spooky holiday! AND we loooove taking pictures and goofy videos of our silly creations. Well I was sitting there in a pink tank top and yellow capri sweats (I can still see the outfit in my mind) and my hubby took a pic. We were really enjoying the evening...until I saw the picture he took. My thighs were HUGE, my arms were HUGE, my face was HUGE, and my tummy was HUGE....I WAS HUGE! I was like "OMG Is that ME??" After seeing that picture I threw open our picture albums and started looking at pictures of myself during the past 2 years, and I was so shocked and upset. Whether it was stress weight or happy weight, the weight was there and finally the numbers on the scale clicked into connection with these pictures and it blew my mind. "How did I let myself get to this point?" "What am I going to do?" "Do I have to give up my love of food?" "Where do I begin?"

That really is the question...where do we begin with this struggle to lose weight?

Quickie from Ali

If you want to achieve something, you don't give up!

I just want to say that I am so proud of my Zumba gals, who push their bodies to the limit each and every week! Keep kickin' it!

If you haven't been to a Zumba class lately, just know that we miss you and can't wait for you to come back!

$6.00 Pizzas and Peanut Butter Shakes...Bring 'em on!!

Just how did I gained my weight? Where did I go wrong? Let's take a look!

Ah...my college days!

My Sophomore year is when I met the love of my life, my husband! I fell instantly for him...it wasn't too hard with those piercing blue eyes! I fell in love with everything about him! After spending some time together we, like all couples do, started to see the things we have in common and loved to do together. Sports, movies, traveling, laughing, and a big one EATING! Oh my we loved, and still do, love food! At Mount, we ate until our heart's were happy and tummies overly full!

Good ol' Papa John's didn't fail us college kids with their $6.00 large pizzas. When the hubby and I got one (which averaged out to almost 2x's a week) we actually ate the whole thing ourselves in one night, usually after we already ate dinner...4 pieces each which equals out to 1320 calories each! For just one meal!!!! Of course at the time I didn't care because I was having fun! My eating pattern had turned into my hubbies eating pattern and servings! I was eating like a Mount Union Offensive Lineman!!!!!!!!!!!

And it did not stop at Papa John's. Our cafeteria was buffet style, we had everything on hand! Plus there was this cool little cafe called Raider's Cove which our favorite items were Large Peanut Butter Shakes and a Pocket Pizza (Now don't get confused "Pocket Pizza" was not the size of a Hot Pocket...it was a regular sized pizza with a crust on the bottom...filling..and then another crust on top) And yes we would eat the whole thing in one sitting!

There is a place in Alliance, called Doug's Diner...the home of the King Kong Burger...yup just the name itself is enough to get your arteries clogged! Yup, ate those too! And I have to give props to Taco Bell, the grande meal was also perfect for a college student, and when they came out with the crunch wrap supreme, it was perfect for this college student!

I was not very educated in nutrition and calorie intake and the toll too much can have on your body! I thought I was fine because I still played sports and exercised...apparently my appetite outlived my metabolism in college. And allow me to clarify one thing...it is not my husband's fault I gained my weight...in no way do I blame him. It was my own self-control issues!

This eating pattern continued through my Senior year, at college and at home! At the end of my Junior year, I attained a p/t job and I sat for 8-sometimes 16 hr shifts. No exercise + Being an Eating Fiend=Weight Gain.

But here is the funny part, I didn't know I was gaining weight...sure my clothes sizes went up, but for some reason, I was not concerned, I just had fun shopping for clothes. I went from being a size 8 to a size 10 to a size 12 to a size 14 and, yes, I went up to size 16. DOUBLED MY SIZE!!! But my waist line was not the only thing that suffered...I had breakouts, extreme back and shoulder pain, had no energy or motivation. I went in to college at around 145lbs, but the end of my Senior year I was up to 175lbs.

My husband proposed to me on our Graduation Day. During that summer I began shopping for a dress. This is when my weight-gain kind of hit me. I was at a store and I found "the perfect dress" and it was a size 8. My mom asked what size I wore and I told her an 8...she just gave me a look. So I grabbed the dress went to the dressing room, not thinking anything of it. I went to put it on and it wouldn't fit around my thighs, let alone even try to zip the thing up. I walked out almost in tears saying "But my Prom dresses were size 6 and 8...what's going on?"

I ended up squeezing my upper body into a size 10 dress that poofed at the bottom to hide my thighs. I remember jean shopping with my future hubby and trying different sizes on. I tried to fit into a 14 without success, and so settled with a 16...settled. That was one of the first times I was embarrassed. I went and got a gym membership...but was too ashamed to go, so I continued to gain.

I continued to getting ready for the wedding...attending bridal showers, planning and organizing. In my photo album are the pics at one of my bridal showers...these are some of the pics that opened my eyes to my weight gain and unhealthy lifestyle...I received these pics after our wedding.

Up Next: OMG! That's Me?

The Downward Spiral Pt. 2

After graduating high school, I had decided to attend Mount Union College for a degree in Athletic Training (which was soon switched to Religious Studies). While at MUC I planned on playing softball and volleyball for the Purple Raiders. I was so afraid of the "Freshman 15" when I began college. But as soon as I started the workouts for these sports I didn't think I would have a problem maintaining my 145lb start weight.

My weeks filled with workouts, practice, games, time devoted for studying, and weekends filled with dancing and carrying on...looking back I didn't have trouble keeping the "F-15" at bay!

During my Freshman year, my knowledge of weight training increased and I soon swapped some of my body fat or muscle-I did have some pretty sweet triceps! : ) I was happy and healthy! My self-esteem increased and my college social life was awesome. No longer was I the girl who was emotionally beaten, but was becoming a strong, confident, and independant young adult!

Then came Sophmore year.

I met the love of my life...but I also developed my unawareness to succombing to binge habits...for the next 4 years!



Next: $6.00 Pizzas and Peanut Butter Shakes...Bring 'em on!

The Downward Spiral Pt. 1

Growing up, I was the typical youngest child. I had to be first in everything and had to have the last of everything. And of course, when it came to food, I just had to have the biggest slice of pizza, slice of cake, piece of meat, etc. Was I greedy? Nah, you see I have an older brother, and well to put it honestly competition courses through my veins pretty much in everything I did and still do : ) Every little thing was a competition and I never liked to lose.

My eating habits growing up were interesting. I had the metabolism like a champ lol. I must have because I don't know then how I kept off the goodies we always ate: cookies, brownies, etc. I mean every night we had either ice cream, or cake, or sometimes both! By the end of high school my father and I used to call our evenings "Birthday Party" time.

Anyways, I was a relatively active child; loved the outdoors, sports, riding my bike. As most children do, I went through the awkward body type stage in 4th Grade (I was a little overweight!) It was around this time I began attending a weightlifting program my father started for flag football, as well as participating in community basketball and softball leagues. My height shot up and my weight went down. I had finally grown into my body! My father also put my brother and I through plyometrics, calisthenics, and stretching 3 nights a week through my middle school and junior high years.

It was also during my middle school years that I became somewhat depressed (this plays a key factor into what happens to me later!) My self-esteem and self worth were bashed by my peers. I will never know why, but I was severely emotionally abused at school. Due to the reputations of those involved, no punishment was ever given, so it continued through High School. At home, it was just as bad. My own mother emotionally abused me due to what was occurring at school.

Sports were my outlet-Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Weight Training, Cheerleading, Band, Daceline-anything to keep my mind busy. I dove into my school work and didn't really care much for "social" activity. I had a few friends and that was enough for me! Of course my bullies were involved in sports as well, but I kept my head down and trudged through, the competitive side of me would not let me quit.

So looking back at my adolescent years, we can say I ate poorly, was athletic, and had very, very low self-esteem.

As we know, our childhood and adolescence will effect who we are in adulthood.

Do you remember specific eating habits-such as being rewarded or calmed down with sweets instead of words of affirmation. In high school, did you binge eat or binge drink/party?

How about your self-esteem-were you teased or placed in a situation that, in your eyes, lowered your self worth?

How about physical activity-were you outdoorsy, active, play sports, enjoy working out or did you like to stay inside, watch tv, play video games, take naps?

Take a look back, do you see any habits in eating or physical activity that still exist today?

Next: The Downward Spiral Pt. 2

The Hype

Weight loss. Google those two words and you will have over 94 Million hits, 62 Million websites are geared towards women alone! Clearly weight loss is something we fret over. We, women, look for the latest diet that will melt those pounds right off. We search for the perfect workout plan that seems to work for everyone else, so why not us too! We will buy books on these matters as well. And we cannot leave out those "magical" weight loss pills that we swoon over as the easy solution to weight loss. And maybe we will go as far as getting a gym membership or purchasing some equiptment for our home.

However, the average life span of each "solution" is about two weeks to a month. You start that diet and are super pumped about eating grapefruit, or all protein, or how about the all liquid diet. After two weeks, you won't even want to look at another grapefruit again, about ready to physically harm someone for a piece of bread, or about to get physically sick from drinking too much liquid to look like a "Hollywood Star". Did you know about the Cabbage Soup Diet? ICK!!
After you have tried these diets and decided to stop them, you will more than likely binge eat to make up for lost calories your body craves and any weight you may have lost will come back with a few added buddies! Now I don't mean to offend anyone who has tried these diets and were maybe successful, but there can only be a small percentage of people who can train their bodies to these fad diets and actually enjoy it. Think of why they call them "fad diets"!

Weight loss pills I believe can fall into the same description...they may work for a short while, but can you really take a pill everyday of your life to keep the weight off? Just like fad diets, if the pills worked, then you stop taking them, it is more than likely the weight will come back. I do not believe weight loss pills to be a healthy solution.

The gym! To some, the gym is a haven, a place to go and cardio away the stress. These are the people who are actually smiling on their machines. OK, maybe not all are smiling, but they enjoy working out. Then there are those who dread the gym. They look at the eliptical as though they were mortal enemies of will-power. Some people are just plain timid of the gym because their self-esteem is low and they've landed themselves in a membership gym for Ken's & Barbie's. And honestly how many of you purchased a treadmill or an eliptical with good intentions, but there it sits as a very expensive clothes hanger? These situations are out there! Most people will get excited about adding fitness to their lifestyles, but it is sad to see that excitement which begins in January fade early to mid February.

Weight loss, weight loss, weight loss! It is everywhere...not only the pressure to be healthy and fit, but to be slim, skinny, a supermodel. It's not fair! Not everyone's body type and bone structure are the same, therefore, our methods of weight loss are not going to be the same either!! You need to find what is right for YOU and YOUR body's needs, not everyone else's.

So, how can you find the right balance of food, exercise, self-esteem, and encouragement to get you to lose your unwanted weight? It's a tough journey, but you have to start somewhere right?
In Zumba4Health I will first share with you my story, my struggle, with weight loss in segments. You will see how my eyes were opened to the world of fitness, healthy eating, and becoming a motivator!

Next: The Downward Spiral

Under Construction!

Welcome to my blog! Included in Zumba4Health will be my personal story of my struggle with weight loss and a whole host of Fitness and Eating Tips that you will not want to miss out on!! : )
See how Zumba can change a life!
Check back soon for more!!