UPDATED 7/26/15: Transformation Story

My Transformation Story
Reaching For Fit....

I came to know about the Beach Body programs after I had my 2^nd child. She was almost a year old and I met up with an old fitness friend Karri Charpentier Legault! My now amazing coach. I was almost 225lbs I knew I needed to do something so, I started out with a 10 day Shakeology Challenge and fell in love with it, who wouldn’t with the energy it gives you while trying to run around after 2 little kids. So I continued with it and signed up as a coach while trying to do Insanity. Well needless to say after several attempts I couldn’t get through the program, I couldn’t get my mind in the right place to be successful in getting myself healthy.

Then T25 came out in June 2013 and I thought this is the answer I will do this its only 25 mins a day. I stuck with it for a couple weeks, lost some weight and then again my mind wasn’t where it was supposed to be I couldn’t get the eating thing under control and I couldn’t get motivated enough to workout every day I was supposed to and the weight I lost came right back on plus some. Then there was a sale on Turbo Fire and I bought that…. Same thing happened even though I loved Chalene’s energy and way the program worked…I lost motivation after a couple weeks, it was the cycle I kept going through. I learned a lot about myself in that year though I learned that I had more than just I wanted to lose weight and be healthy issues I learned that I was holding a lot of resentment and a lot of anger inside me that I believe was  holding me back. I used to be a working women who ended up staying saying home with my kids. At times I was super jealous of my husband who went to work everyday. I felt like he didn’t support me or my goals, and I didn’t feel like I “wanted” to support him. Well, through lots of prayer, God was telling me to talk to my husband. We did just that. We opened up and just spoke to each other. He was supporting me more than I thought and he was jealous of me as well being able to stay home with the kids everyday. Just by clearing the air and speaking I felt like that was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and an excuse thrown out the window! I was always an emotional eater and I was using all those things to keep me away from my goals.

Then February 17^th, 2014 I got a call from my doctor telling me I had my yearly physical in 2 days and I needed to confirm the appointment. Well I couldn’t….there was no way I could go back into that doctors office and weigh the same as last year. There you have it…My kick in the BUTT. I rescheduled my appointment to April 1^st and I was determined to be below 200lbs. That was 18lbs I needed to lose in just 6 weeks. I knew I could do it. I had to clean up my diet, faithfully drink my Shakeology and stick to the workout program. I got Turbo Fire and went to town! By April 1^st I lost 20lbs and was down 18” I was so excited. My doctor was excited too and said I can’t wait to see how much you do the next time I see you, next month in May. Man another push for me to see how well I could do. BOOM down another 10” total of 28” in just 11 weeks and down 34lbs. I lost almost 15lbs since the last time I saw her. My blood work was amazing and I had just 3 weeks left of my Turbo Fire Journey. I am so excited that I found my Sole Workout Program and Trainer, Chalene! She is truly amazing and motivating throughout the program; you just can’t slow down!

  

Without the AMAZING support of my coach Karri and our awesome team, Fit and Fierce, and all of our awesome Challenge Groups, I never could have done this! Every day I have sent my food journal to Karri and every day she commented back on it. She didn’t have to look at each day but she did. She held me accountable for what I ate and that is awesome. I couldn’t lie about 4 goldfish here or a handful of Pirates Booty there and then the handful a cheese-its either. I knew she would be checking. So everything went down! Everyday I would take pictures or videos of me doing my workouts and share them with my friend/family and most of all the Challenge Groups. I used them as accountability! I did the videos for accountability plus form checking to make sure I was doing things right and finally MOTIVATION…I didn’t have people next to me pushing me or people to challenge me. I had myself and I found that when I watched myself in the videos (while doing the workout) I was competing against myself and that was the MOST IMPORTANT thing to me…I was only trying to be a better me and that I was my own Competition! 

I have finished Turbo Fire and now I can't wait to get MY SHIRT!!!! I love it, I am going to continue on with Turbo Fire until PIYO comes out at the end of JUNE!!!!!

I have to be honest I am crying writing this blog because it has been such a crazy ride but I am so glad I am on it! I have such an awesome support system in these last 2 years but especially the last 15 weeks aside from our groups like I said above, my parents, sister, husband, in-laws and of course my little cheerleaders and MY WHY's (Vitto and Ava), I couldn't have done this without EVERYONE being by my side!

As I was talking to my coach this morning I just wanted to bawl. I am excited to see where the next step is going to take me and I can't wait to have all of you with it!

Started - 223lbs 2 years Ago
Focus and ready to conquer the world- 218.8 lbs as Feb 17th, 2014
Currently – 176.7 lbs as of June 2, 2014
Ending -TBD

Total Numbers- lost 34.75" and lost 42.1 lbs in 15 WEEKS!!!!!!
2 years in the making pictures 47.1lbs lost

Monthly Pictures

 

 February

 March

April

 May

 

 June

Side by Side pictures

 2 years in the making June '12- June '14

 February 17, 2014 - June 2, 2014

 Measurements From Feb - June 2014

Is this my final story? Nope, TO BE CONTINUED........

If you would like to continue to follow my journal head over to my Facebook page and "like" it www.facebook.com/CarrieReachforfit


UPDATED PART OF MY STORY:

Let’s fast forward to almost a year later….LIFE happened and I did what I tell all my challengers NOT TO DO…I let life get in the way, I let the excuses get in the way. We lost our dog to cancer in September and then in November was husband lost his job! ARE YOU KIDDING ME , now my routine is completely changed…he is home now when I want to work out, he is home when I want to do my housework AAAHHHHHH LIFE JUST GOT FLIPPED OUT OF CONTROL IN MY MIND……

So of course the emotional eating past I had doesn’t just go away it is still a part of me but for some reason I was unable to control it like I had during my BIG transformation. I started spiraling out of control again with emotional eating and then getting upset and angry with myself. THESE two things do not make a good combination! Everyday day I plugged into my challenge groups and every day I tried to find some positive even on the days that I didn’t want to. I started to get angry again, and grumpy and I knew something needed to change again!

Fast forward now to July of 2015 (yes just a week ago) THE LIGHT WENT OFF….I realized by seeing all these amazing people and hearing all of their amazing stories that I am MORE than an emotional eater, I AM stronger than that…I AM stronger than my excuses. I will not hurt myself anymore with negative self-talk and I will not make myself feel so LITTLE…..

SO here I am plugging away, back to focusing on clean eating and following a fantastic hybrid calendar I found of my two favorite programs PIYO and Turbo Fire. I am Real and I want people to know that I AM real…I have flaws but I am not giving up! I am not giving in I am going to succeed and be consistent with my journey! I am plugging into PD that is helping me with the emotional part of eating and focusing on the triggers that cause these things and taking steps to avoid this from the out of control Spiral that occurs!

Life is a journey of windy wiggle roads…if it was a straight line NO ONE would ever learn how to succeed in the hard times, no one would dream and Dream BIG….
I always say too….This is the book of life…we have so many chapters in our life so let’s work on each chapter one at a time. Don’t look back unless it’s to see how far you come. If you dwell on the past it’s only going to hold you back!

 

Chicken Soup with Quinoa

Today I have just been feeling crumby and really have been trying to eat clean....so instead of going out and buying soup (or making my husband buy me some hehe) I decided to make my own with what I had in the house...

Now this is not the first time I have tried to make a chicken soup before, the first time came out horrible I actually poured the whole thing down the garbage disposal!! This time it came out fantastic!

Here it is:
Chicken Soup with Quinoa

  I have no idea how much water I put in the pot but it was quite a bit (filled my pot up 1/2 full)
2 chicken breast
(Boil the crud out of them)
When chicken starts to boil add:
4 bouillon cubes, 2 heaping scoops minced garlic, cracked pepper...

 Then when chicken is cooked take out and shred it then add back to water and
Add:
2 small or 1 large sweet onion chopped
3 stalks celery chopped
12 baby carrots chopped
1/2 cup frozen green beans
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach

After 5 mins boiling add 1/2 cup quinoa!
I had two of these bowls I don't know if that's too much but darn it was good and I haven't eaten much today!

Favorite Things Week - Wednesday

Two more days to talk about my favorite things.... Today let's talk about my favorite health and fitness things. What do I love to use to get me be the best me I can be.

1.) Shakeology



I start my day with this almost everyday, if I don't start my day I have it for lunch. I call this my savior of my weightless and mo my hood journey! Seriously this amazing nitrous shake gives me the energy I need to get through my day. I know that I am getting at least 1 good meal a day in everyday that has 70+ nutrients in it that is aiding my body correctly. Since I have been drinking it I have not only lost weight BUT my hair is super thick and healthy, my nails grow like weeds, I am sick less often, my kids LOVE IT, and my energy like I said is up way up! I love the fun recipes I can make and feel like I'm totally "cheating" hehe. I am so thankful that this was brought to my attention.

2.) Polar F4 Heart Rate Monitor



I was working out without a heart rate monitor for a while and I found I was just not pushing myself enough. With the heart rate monitor I am constantly pushing and trying to burn just 10 more calories each time I look. It's a great way to see what you are burning and how hard you are working. This one is super simple to use and does just what I want.

3.) Aasics Running Shoes



A good pair of shoes is KEY KEY KEY with me I need to change my shoes out every 6-8 myths do to tendinitis in both the top and bottoms of my feet :-) yup its fun ..... So I make sure I get the right shoe for me andi always know when it slime to get new ones from the achy feet! I am hoping Santa is going to bring the ones in that picture right there this year :-)

4.) T25, Turbo Fire and walking

            

 

Finding the right workout for you is a major key, you need to like what you are doing and between these three things I have found it. I have very bad feet and I can't do a lot of jumping or running anymore because of them. Both of these programs have modifiers that I can follow when the jumping gets to much. Turbo Fire is so fun and upbeat my energy level goes through the roof when I workout with Chalene Johnson!!! Oh and the calorie burn and sweat yea that's crazy too!!!! T25 is perfect for me when I workout with the kids 25 mins and done. Shaun T is a super motivator and he knows what he is doing man I feel so strong. As for walking well I just enjoy getting out in the fresh air and getting a nice stroll in. I don't try to win any races just enjoy the fresh air!

5.) C9 workout clothes from Target



I find these workout clothes super comfy and who doesn't like comfy clothes when they workout. They stay in place don't fall down or ride up. For me they are they perfect fit.

Favorite Things Week -Tuesday

Let's move on to Tuesday.... I am not a big time reader not because I don't like to read its because I read slow. I always say getting me a book for a present would be a great gift, because it will take me at least 6mths to a year to read it :-)
So today's post is: My Favorite Books....

The Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury

I just finished this series and it was amazing. Clean reading and a wonderful story line that follows each family member throughout each book.

The Shack by WM Paul Young 

This book was handed out to our entire church by our Pastor and he had us read it together as a church. It was amazing and a huge eye opener. It was funny to see how everyone pictured God after reading this book. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Redeeming Love - Francine Rivers

This was the first book I was given by a friend when I decided I wanted to read for fun. My first Christian based book and let me tell you, for someone who doesn't like to read I could not put this book down. Francine Rivers has an amazing way of writing. This book is set back in time and is about a young women who has struggles but who finds her way with Gods guidance. Great read.

P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern

Great book, I was not a fan of the movie after reading this book first but again another book I couldn't put down

Forever Faithful Series -Karen Kingsbury

Yup another Karen Kingsbury book she is my all time favorite author and this series was the first of her books for me and well it was awesome. Again she follows characters throughout each book and really depicts each one of them wonderfully. Great first read of her books. I have noticed so far though that with every book of hers I'm constantly crying or laughing or both at the same time!

Hope you enjoyed today's .... My Favorite things post.... What are your favorite books?

My favorite Things...Monday

 

 

So in honor of the upcoming Live "The Sound Of Music" I am going to post about my favorite things until Thursday night! If you don't already know The Sound Of Music is my all time favorite movie. I can't wait to see how they have done with this version. Its exciting and new and has my favorite singer as the lead....Carrie Underwood. This should be great.

So let's start with my 3 favorite things in my kitchen!!!

First up....My Keurig :-)

I love to wake up to a nice warm cup of coffee or tea every morning, this is perfect for me because I am the only one who drinks coffee in the house so a single cup coffee maker = PERFECTION!

 

Second Favorite thing.... My Blender :-)

I love my Magic Bullet it is perfect for making my Shakeology every day. It's fast and easy cleanup...I don't even need to dirty another cup to drink from.
It is also great for making smoothies and other yummy recipes too.

 

 

Third Favorite things .... My iPad
My iPad has everything on it for me...my recipes, my music and well it keeps me going. I am in the kitchen a lot and I love to have music going constantly it helps me get through the cooking, cleaning and doing the dishes in a much happier form! Music makes me happy I don't know about anyone else. How about being able to just pull up a recipe from the ipad vs a paper card or printing paper...so much easier!

 

Well there you have it...those are my favorite things that are in my kitchen! What are some of your favorite things in your kitchen?

Oh the Places I'm going

Wow it has been SO long since I have done a blog post. Well that's because I have kind of been in my own little world for a while. Not sure what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it or even where I wanted to go. I have had everything right in front of me to get to where I wanted to be, I just never put the 100% effort in to achieve the success I know I want.

I'm not saying I want to go anywhere at all...what I want to say is it's time to take my life to a whole new level. A level of pure health and fitness. I know I have said that before but it is amazing how sometimes it takes so long for things to click. Well they have,  are things in my house changing...Nope not right now. I am a stay at home mom...I have 2 kids that don't really nap (1 especially) and I have all the things I love to eat (purely sabotaging me) in my home not going anywhere. So if that isn't going to change then I need to. I need to fully commit, ignore the sabotage and enjoy every part of what my life is and make me a better person with what is around me!

So what am I going to do? How am I going to accomplish all my goals? MENTAL TOUGHNESS! That's right I have to just do this, I have done it once before and I WILL do it again.  I just need to DO IT! That's it...you won't accomplish anything if you don't do anything!

Here are some of my goals just to share with you:

Short Term Goal (weekly/monthly)

~ workout 5-6x a week

~food prep every Sunday for the week

~stretch daily and roll out my feet

~drink 110 oz of water each day

 

Long Term Goals (5mths):

~Complete Insanity

~Lose 30lbs by October

~Family Pictures with a FAB new outfit

~Ruby BeachBody Coach

 

Longest Term Goals (January 1st)

~Lose 65lbs or fit in a size 10

~Have my family on the same page as me (healthy home)

~Be a diamond beachbody coach

If you want to follow my journey you can follow me on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CarrieReachingforFit and I will be blogging more often, sharing videos and photos. Just wait in months I WILL be a completely different person.

Christmas Time Favorites

I haven't blogged in a while and things have been crazy around here getting ready for the holidays and trying to keep up with the kids and my family! 
But it is the holidays and I just love Christmas and Christmas Traditions so why not chat about that!  Some traditions I have carried over from my growing up and some we have created as a new family together. Do you have traditions you have continued to do with your family and your kids? 

My favorite is getting a new ornament every year. I still love looking at the ornaments I got when I was my kids age up until I moved out on my own. Each one has a special memory that I know of when I hang it up on the tree and I can't wait for that to happen for my kids as well. Of the many traditions I am keeping up and I am especially proud to say that we as a family have started a new one and that is making a birthday cake for Jesus...after all he is the reason for the season right!!! Let's not forget that. When I was talking about Christmas with Vitto he was so excited that Santa was coming we make sure to remind him that it is Jesus' Birthday, well he said he is very important, we need to make him a birthday cake...so there you have it....a new tradition in our house!!!

I also love to watch all the Christmas movies on Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, ABC's 25 days of Christmas and the Gospel Movie Channel as well...they are so uplifting and honestly just so peaceful to watch, they just make me so happy!  I have been watching a lot of shows with the kids too Vitto is all about Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas and we finally got to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Frosty this year! He actually stayed awake for the whole thing.

What are some of your favorite Christmas Movies and Favorite Movies for the Kids during the holidays?

Well that is all for now...I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

New blog series to come in January...you can follow me as I conquer my goals and my journey doing Body Combat starting January1st!!!!

 

Until Next Time!

Carrie