Thankful - Part 2

Day 6: I am thankful for My Ava Nikole’. This 8 lb beauty at birth gave me a run for my money when having her and almost killed both of us but I would do it all over again to have her! She is an amazing, beautiful, talented, smart, the list goes on and on little girl! I am blessed to be this little girls Mommy. She constantly tells me how much she loves me. She like her daddy is very emotional (most people don’t know that about him).  She hates anything to do with running or getting all sweaty except for gymnastics! That is her one true love at this moment. She is very shy (like me) but once she gets to know you, she will love you with every ounce of her being and will be attached to you like no one’s business. She has a HUGE heart and would do anything for anyone, yes even at the age of 6. J

Day 7: My Aidyn Parker….Mommy had such a hard time getting you into this world. You are my little miracle, born 7 weeks early and so sick but you are a fighter and came out of the hospital ready to take on the world. You like your sister and have a HUGE heart! You are very feisty and most of the time you like it to be your way or no way but Mommy and Daddy always win. You love your trains, airplanes & motorcycles. You melt my heart when you walk up and say “I wuv you Mommy!” You do things in your own timing and cannot be rushed but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You rushed into this world but are now slow as molasses. J I’m so very thankful for you my boy!

Day 8: I am thankful for my mother and father-in-law who welcomed me with open arms 11 years ago when I started dating their son. They have always made me feel like part of the family and for that I am very grateful. They would do anything to help us out! I know they love me for me and would not change a thing.

Day 9: I am very thankful to have known Betty Van (Forrest’s grandmother) who always treated me like her own granddaughter. She was a wonderful woman and I was blessed to have been a small part of her life!

Day 10: I am thankful for Charlotte & Duke! They have always been there for Forrest & I when we need them and have always treated me as part of the family. Duke with his corny jokes and Char with her awesome sense of humor. They are wonderful people, an amazing couple, so caring and generous! Ava and Aidyn are definitely blessed to have them as their Aunt and Uncle. I can’t forget my nephew Case, who I have watched grow from a tiny boy around Ava’s age into a young man. Sometimes I don’t know what I would do at family gatherings or birthday parties without him there to entertain my kiddos! He is definitely one of a kind, Char and Duke have done an amazing job raising him and I know they are very proud of him as am I! 

I think this is all the Thankfulness for today! :) Lots more to come! 

Thankful - Part 1

Everyone is doing Thankful posts on Facebook by the day but I decided I wanted to do mine in parts. So this is Part 1, I am going to try and do 5 days at a time. I am hoping I don’t leave anything out because I am so very thankful for EVERYTHING!

Day 1: First and foremost I am so thankful to God today and everyday for blessing me each day with something I don’t deserve and that would be the breath I breathe.  I thank God for waking me up each and everyday to take on and conquer another day that he has put before me.  He has given me a great life!

Day 2: I would like to say how thankful I am for the Godly grandparents that he placed in my life. I know for a fact that all 4 of them prayed or pray for me on a daily basis. They poured love and Godly knowledge into my life and were so very proud of me. I know because they told or tell me all the time! I am so blessed to still have both of my Grandfathers who still pray for me daily. I miss both of my Grandmothers everyday terribly but I know they are my guardian angels and watch over myself and my precious family daily.

Day 3: I am thankful for my amazing parents who gave me an amazing childhood, taught me how to love and worship God with all of my heart, be a loyal friend and wife and a good mother. God blessed me with the best!! My dad is the best advice giver ever and has a heart of gold. My mom is always helpful and a great support when it comes to helping me with the kids, house cleaning or even doing laundry to help me get caught up! I love them both with all of my heart!

Day 4: I am thankful for my amazing sister! The lord knew what he was doing when he gave her to my parents to be my little sister! Not only is she my sister but also my best friend. I can talk to her about anything and know that it will never go farther than us. I trust her with my whole being! She has always supported me in anything I did whether she agreed with it or not she was always there. She is the perfect Aunt for Ava and Aidyn and they love her so much! She is one of a kind!

Day 5: I am thankful for my wonderful Husband….who tells me daily how much he loves me and how beautiful I am. Sends me encouraging text messages throughout the day of what a wonderful mother I am to our beautiful babies and how he couldn’t ask for a better wife! He is a hard worker and would do anything to provide for our family and to make sure we are taken care of. We have definitely had our ups & downs but God has carried us through and our marriage is the best it has ever been. God knew what he was doing when he put us together and I will be forever grateful to Him for placing him in my life. 

Check back for lots more thankfulness! ;)

ME

Day 63 - I GRADUATED INSANITY!

Well.....I did it! I graduated Insanity, something I never ever thought I could do or would do. I am one happy, proud and confident girl. This program totally changed my life and I could not be happier.

I hope I don't disappoint anyone for making them wait so long for me to update and then barely seeing any changes from my last picture to now. HA! Honestly I don't see much of a difference in my last picture than in the pics I took last night. Mostly I think because I had just eaten and it was right before I went to bed so my stomach was a little bigger than normal. Not an excuse, just explaining. :) I still have more work to do to get my body where I want it but it is definitely better than the very first picture I took 63 days ago. I pray to God I never go back to that and shame on my family and friends for telling me that I looked great then! :) 

Unfortunately I did not measure my body fat so I don't have those numbers handy (I will edit the blog tomorrow with it). Weight has consistently been between 110 & 112, today I weighed in at 111.7. I have to say I am very pleased with the results that I have seen but like I said before there is still more work to be done and I am not stopping here. I will be doing a mix of my own workouts, Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and Hip Hop Abs. I just can't stay away from that darn Shaun T! 

Soooooo here are my pics - 

I always have to end with a thank you to my Husband, my kids, my family and friends helping me through this whole 2 months. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the love, support and motivation you all put into me! I truly have an amazing support system and I am very grateful for it! I will continue to update my progress as I continue with the other programs and workouts. I really hope this inspires and motivates more people to get on the healthy band wagon! I am absolutely no expert and do not claim to be but if you have any questions for me or I can help with anything or just be a motivator for you, let me know! I would love to help. :) 

I just have to leave with one photo that I believe everyone has seen on Facebook but this totally made my day yesterday when I got home from work....my Insanity Diploma - made by Forrest, Ava & Aidyn

My favorite part is the little note to the side that says "We're SO proud of you!" - Forrest, Ava & Aidyn

Curiosity killed the cat......

For all of you who keep asking me when I will be updating my blog again......I will be updating it Monday after I finish my 63 days on Sunday! The pictures seemed to be running together so I figured I would wait and post my last pic when I finish and hopefully there will be BIG results! :) My weight is still fluctuating but I can see big differences in toning and losing body fat. It's great!! 

Also, alot of people have been asking what I will be doing to keep up what I accomplished with Insanity and right now I believe I am going to start Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred once I am done with Insanity but I am not going to do it straight through like I did with Insanity. I may do it every other day and throw in some running (which I despise). 

I just wanted to keep everyone in the loop who keeps asking. I PROMISE to update on Monday my final results! :) 

It's so crazy, I have been told that people in Illinois (not family) have started reading my blog and keeping up with my progress. It's great to know that I am inspiring people from all over not just my immediate circle of friends and family. :) Thanks everyone for your encouraging and motivating words! 

Day 50 - Fit Test

Today I will only be updating my blog with my Fit Test Results! I will be taking pictures tonight but I don't think there is much of a difference, so I won't be posting those unless there is a HUGE difference. Yesterday I killed my fit test, I don't know that I can improve anymore than I have, so my last fit test may not be too exciting. I also did Max Cardio Conditioning yesterday since I had to miss last Monday due to my migraine. Wow am I sore today!! 

Only 2 weeks remain and I can officially say I have graduated INSANITY! Crazy how fast it has gone by and I can't believe I am almost done. I am trying so hard to psych myself up to go really hard these last 2 weeks to get some even better results. I pushed myself really hard yesterday and I'm definitely feeling it today which means I haven't been pushing myself hard enough the last few weeks! Anyway, enough talk.....here are my fit test results. Again, if you have never seen the fit test or done the fit test you will have no idea what I'm talking about. :) The 2nd Fit Test my ankle was very swollen and painful so that is why my results are so bad. 

Fit Test 1                           Fit Test 2        Fit Test 3      Fit Test 4
Switch Kicks - 65                54                    70                 83
Power Jacks - 45                48                    65                 77
Power Knees - 80                94                   110                115
Power Jumps - 25               25                    30                 40  
Globe Jumps - 10                 7                    11                 11
Suicide Jumps - 11               9                    15                 17
Push - up Jacks - 15             18                   27                 30
Low Plank Oblique - 30        48                   60                 63

                                     
                                         

Insanity - Day 42

Well here I am again. I wasn't going to update my blog again until the end of the journey but the pics I took last night, I am way to proud to not share until the end. :)

Also, Hubs and I realized last week that we have been measuring my body fat wrong, I was very disappointed about this! :( The real percentage I started at was %32.50 and I am now at %26. However I am happy that the number has changed quite a bit still. I was really liking that %11 number better though! :)

Here are my stats -

112.5 - my weight keeps fluctuating daily pretty much between 110 & as high as 114 some days. I honestly                    am not worried about the weight aspect of it. I am more concerned with my body fat and being toned so this is just a number to me.

BMI (now correct) - %26

Now for pics!

My biggest difference yet I believe and I am so proud!! I know you guys are probably getting sick of seeing my first day pic but it's all I have to compare. :)

Thanks again to everyone for your constant encouragement and motivation! You all keep me going!!! :)

Insanity - End of First Month

Here I am again! Just doing an update on how my training is going. :) Not much to say other than I am feeling great and ready to tackle this next month!


Here are my fit test results for the first month - Unless you've done the fit test or seen it, this won't mean anything to you. :)


Fit Test 1 (Day 1)                                 Fit Test 2 (Day 15)                                   Fit Test 3 (Day 35)
                                                            This week I had severe
                                                            pain in my right ankle so results
                                                            are pretty bad.


Switch Kicks - 65                                Switch Kicks - 54                                     Switch Kicks - 70
Power Jacks - 45                                 Power Jacks - 48                                     Power Jack - 65
Power Knees - 80                                Power Knees - 94                                   Power Knees- 110
Power Jumps - 25                                Power Jumps - 25                                   Power Jumps - 30
Globe Jumps - 10                                Globe Jumps - 7                                       Globe Jumps - 11
Suicide Jumps - 11                              Suicide Jumps - 9                                     Suicide Jumps - 15
Push-up Jacks - 15                              Push-up Jacks - 18                                  Push-up Jacks - 27
Low Plank Oblique - 30                      Low Plank Oblique - 48                           Low Plank Oblique - 60




Now my stats (which haven't changed any this week)


Weight -110.4
BMI - %11




Now for pics! I really want to do a full progression but blogger will not let me arrange them that way! UGH
And again on the last one it wouldn't let me do side by side so the new one is underneath the first one. STUPID BLOGGER!

What a difference 6 months can make!

This is going to be kind of an apology and thank you letter to friends and family! :) Please bare with me as I may ramble a little bit. Also, I will not be answering questions or going into details so don't ask. I just feel like this is something I need to get off my chest. 


So about 6 months into my pregnancy with Aidyn I started becoming a very different person and someone I didn't recognize at all, someone I didn't like at all. I was slipping into a very dark period in my life. I had a lot of things going on in my life. A job I hated, never getting to be with my family, stressed to the max & had people hurting me that didn't care that they were. I slipped into a very bad depression, I tried to put on a smile and live life but I wasn't living life, I was just living and trying to make it through each day. All of this went on for about 2 1/2 - 3 years. I honestly didn't even recognize myself anymore. I was always negative about everything, never had a positive thing to say. I started becoming very mean to my friends and family but it was my way of trying to find help (no one understood that). I ended up having Aidyn 7 weeks early due to all of this nonsense and today that hurts me so bad that I let things and myself get so bad that I put myself and Aidyn's life in danger. I lost friendships that were near and dear to me and I also pushed people away that wanted to be in my life but that was because I felt like no one wanted to be my friend, wanted to be around me or wanted to love me. Now I realize that no one wanted to be a part of my life because of ME. Not because of them but because of how negative I was about everything. 


With that being said, I want to apologize to those who I pushed away and to those of you whose friendships I lost because of my own self. I always blamed everything on everyone else and I didn't take any blame for myself and my actions. I hope you all can forgive me! 


To all of you who were there for me through all of it I have no words other than THANK YOU. Those words are not even adequate but I can't come up with anything else, I will never be able to repay you. I found out who my true friends were through the whole process and I am truly grateful for each and everyone of you. You all know who you are!


About 6 months ago I started working on myself and I think I have finally become full circle! I am the happiest I have ever been in every part of my life. I hope everyone can see the changes I have made. I have met so many wonderful people in the last 6 months - a year and they have all had a profound impact on my life. One thing that I have learned is that no one wants to be around a Negative Nancy all the time! :) Since I am happy and positive I have more friendships that I could have ever imagined, people want to spend time with me, they want to be around me and one thing is I know they love me. I finally feel worthy of love! Life could not be better for me right in this moment. 


Life is good & I am a happy girl! 

Day 29 - Day 1 of Week 5

It's me again! Back with another update on my Insanity workout. I have to say I am feeling GREAT!! One of the biggest things for me through this whole workout has been not having migraines. As most of you know I suffer with debilitating migraines and they use to be DAILY. I am on a medication that I take at the start of a migraine and I use to have to take one EVERYDAY for my migraines, the pharmacy would only fill 18 pills at a time, well it doesn't take rocket science that there are 30 or 31 days in a month so with me having a migraine everyday I would run out of the pills pretty quickly and they wouldn't refill my prescription until a month had passed so most of the time I was out of pills for about 2 weeks before I could refill them. Since starting the Insanity program and eating healthier I have had MAYBE 4 headaches in 5 weeks! That is a miracle in itself and I still have over half of my pills left (at this time normally I would be begging to get my script refilled). That is a great feeling!! Another great thing is that I have people telling me everyday that I am inspiring them. That is an amazing feeling for someone to tell me they are inspired by me. I do not have the best self confidence so to hear someone tell me that it helps a lot! I pray that I can continue to inspire and motivate people. Anyway enough blabbing here are my stats and pics. Again not too much a seen difference this week but my numbers have changed and I am totally stoked about that!


Stats from Day 1/Week 1 just to compare to where I am now.


Weight - 113
BMI - %25


Stats from Day 29/Week 5


Weight - 110.4
BMI - %11


and now the pics

Sorry the pics aren't side by side. Blogger is not my friend today and was giving me a fit so this is the only way it would let me add the pics! Hopefully you can still see the difference. :)

Again thank you everyone for all your support and encouragement!! It means the world to me. 

Training Insane

Well it has been a week since my last post. There isn't must of a difference this week since it has only been a week but I thought I would post anyway if not for anyone but myself. :) I am still so happy and excited that I have started this workout and the progress that I am making.

Stats & pics from Day 1/Week 1, just so you have something to compare to.

Weight - 113
BMI - %25


Stats from Day 21/Week 4. Again no changes in my numbers but I still see a slight change in my body.

Weight - 111
BMI - %15

 And just for giggles.....Ava likes to workout with us every night and she wanted to show everyone her new muscles from doing Insanity -

Again, thank you all for all your wonderful compliments on my last post. I have not been happy with myself for a very long time and I am finally making the change so that I can be happy again and it feels so good that my friends and family are joining me in the process! Thank you all for your support, encouragement and motivation. It means the world to me!!

"Insane" weightloss journey!

On June 25th I started a journey that I never thought I would ever be able to stick with. Getting fit and healthy doing the "Insanity" workout. I was motivated by my wonderful Husband to start it and he has truly been the one holding me together while doing this. He completed his 60 days about a week and a half ago and he lost 45 lbs doing so and is in amazing shape now. He restarted his 60 days when I started my first round and man is he a beast. LOL

Here are my stats & pics from from Day 1/Week 1 - Please do not laugh or judge, I had no idea Forrest was getting my face in the first picture! :)

Weight - 113
BMI - %25

Here are my stats and pics at Day 15 - beginning week 3

Weight - 111
BMI - %15

This is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life (I've never been able to stick with anything that had to do with working out) but seeing the progress I am making already, I WILL complete the 60 days if it kills me! I will be updating my blog from time to time with my progress so be on the lookout. :)

P.S. I would encourage anyone who is wanting to get in shape to do INSANITY! It is hard but all worth it!

Is anyone reading......

or should I just delete my blog? :)

Just wondering if anyone really reads this because I am really wanting to start writing in it again! Please let me know. 

I'm a little curious as to whom actually does read it because apparently my last post in September of last year 32 people read it. haha