Silent Wednesday {photo shoot sneak peek}

Hope you have enjoyed these photo's because they will be up in my shop in just a few days! Hurray Hurray!

Weight loss Monday {tips and tricks}

It's that time of the week again! It's weight loss Monday! I will be honest in saying that I did not do good this last week as I always end up doing bad during this "time of month". Tmi Tmi, but I'm being honest. Anyway I did work out a lot more this week. I spent most my days on the elliptical and doing ab work outs and some strength training. I did go on 2 short runs but the heat made me sick both times. Last week I was asked how I did all this. How did I lose so much weight already? I decided to make today's weight loss post about tips and tricks I used to loose the weight I have lost this far.

Starting weight:228

Current weight: 156

{Starting Weight Photo}

{Current Weight Photo}

{Tips and tricks}

Make a shelf with only food you can eat in your fridge and or pantry and that is your shelf. You must ignore the tasty food on the other shelves.

Mix up your meals. I change my meal plans about every 1-2 weeks so I don't get board. Example: one week I'll have {B} oatmeal, coffee {L} Chicken wrap {S} fruit {D} Pasta and the next week I'll have {B} smoothie {L} Turkey wrap {S} crackers n cheese {D} Salad or chicken and veggies.

Do ab workouts every day or even better twice a day. It really makes a difference.

Indulge once a week or so. For the first time in 3 weeks I allowed myself to have icecream last night. I have a serious weakness for icecream so I have to be careful and only buy it like once a month or so.

Eat breakfast and make it healthy. If you eat or drink a surgery breakfast you will gravitate to sugar all day. Ear healthy you will be prone to make better decisions.

When I don't feel like working out I go online window shopping for clothes I really want to be able to buy but wont look good in yet. This motivates me a lot.

Picture yourself they way you want to look and no matter what anyone says get there. create determination. Prove everyone wrong.

Right before a work out decide how long you will go and no matter how tired you get don't stop till you finish your goal. Be strong. It never gets easier. You only get stronger. Several people told me that it would take a year and a half to lose all my weight, but it's only been 8 months and I have lost all the weight from the second pregnancy and am now working the weight I never lost from the first pregnancy...You can do it. 

Sleep when you can. I you feel tired and sluggish all day, go to bed early or take a nap if you can. Sometimes you need sleep to stop overrating and get your body ready for good exercise.

Drink ice old water whenever you feel hungry. Sometimes you are really just dehydrated.

Don't starve yourself

I drink way too much coffee. Like 2-3 cups or I'll chug a few shots of espresso. Not really a tip, but something I do.

I drink wine mostly when I do drink. I rarely drink beer and if I do I can never finish one. Sugary drinks are a no no for me, except on super rare occasions I'll have a margarita {like once every 6 months}

I don't drink non diet soda. I am purely a diet coke girl.

If I'm feeling like having food just because, I drink hot tea first and then see how I feel. If I still want food after, I eat and of I feel full then I don't.

Never go grocery shopping when you are hungry or emotional.

I look at pinterests fitness category for inspiration when I'm feeling lazy.

I take 1-2 days to rest so I don't burn out.

In my mind, if I know I need to work out that day and even if things happens and I don't get to it till like 9-10pm, I'll still work out. I never regret working out late because I've never regretted a work out.

I take pictures of my weighloss often to be able to see the changes. I usually do it about 2 times a

Month.

I weight my self first thing in the morning after I pee {Tmi sorry}

I always lose some motivation when I get close to my goal and my weightloss slows down quite a bit. Hence the last 14 pounds have taken me 3 months to lose... I am trying very hard to push myself and motivate myself and remind myself daily that "I am almost there, be strong. Don't let those cookies con you. They may taste good for like a minute, but you will have run a few miles to get them off."

Vitamins. I love my vitamins. I beleive the work very well and I am always happier, and more motivated the more I take. I take a multi-vitamin, cranberry tablets, echinacea,  fish oil, extra vitamin C + D, and usually a colon cleanse when I have them. 

Work out with a friend once a week. I usually try to hit the gym with my awesome friend Sara, every other Saturday where we do a run before Zumba class and then if we are still feeling good we will do a  TRX class. I usually skip the last class, but friend rocks it. 

I am sure there are so many other tips and tricks and if you have any you would like to share, comment below. I and I am sure other readers would love to hear more. Thanks for stopping by. 

Some Fit Motivation you must see!

It's Friday and I know we are all preparing for an exciting weekend. Whatever that may be. For us it means hitting the local {and FREE} waterpark. It means snuggling and watching cartoons. It means running errands, nudging my husband, trying to get him to complete my home fix ups lists and helping our friend move into his very first home! It also means working hard to get products made for my shop grand opening! I cant't believe that Debonair Bandit opens in 1 week!!! 

I also want to make it a main focal point this weekend to work out... HARD! I want to see muscles and tone this momma body. I need a little motivation since I have been super tired from little Carli and her sleepless nights. Here's what I found motivating...

{What I would tell my self at 15}

As a teenager I struggled. I struggled with emotional battles every day. I was not a popular child and usually hung out in a bathroom stall during lunch period. I did not have friends. I did not smile much. Life at home was rocky and most of the time I didn't want to be anywhere. I was in pain most of my preteen and teenage life and I felt like I didn't belong most of the time. I saw my beautiful sister thriving in academics, cross country and flourish with friends. I envied her. In school I mostly people watched trying to absorb what was "cool" or sketching in my sketchbook dark illustrations. I was a sad individual and what I am about to say might shock you, but I tried to commit suicide a few times before I was 15. My poor parents were hurt and scared and didn't know what to do, so they sent me to a private school that had an on call therapist. I lived there till I was 17. Living at a private school, I did end up making friends and by the end of the school year I was considered one of the most popular girls in school. I always had good grades and ended up graduating graduating with honors. Despite getting what I thought I wanted, I was still unhappy. I spend 2 years partying way to well, and going to every concert I could get tickets for. I ended up doing way too many drugs and kinda got addicted to some very bad ones. By the end of my 18th birth year, I was living on the streets and coning people to give me money. I was in a very bad place. Bad things happened to me all the time, and I did bad things too. I did not like who I was and one day I decided that enough was enough. I hitched a ride to my parents house and begged them to take me back in. Though because they were scared of how many times they had heard that before, they said no. However, my amazing aunt offered to take me in as long as I enrolled in college, got a job and stopped all drugs and partying. I agreed and 3 days later I flew over 500 miles away from home to start fresh. One month later after some detoxing, I started college. On my first day of college I met my husband. I believe it was him and my aunt who saved me from myself. I have been off drugs since December 3, 2006. Over the years I started becoming the change I had only longed to see years before. I grew as a person each and every day and I am still growing now. I am no were near perfect but I am no longer in daily pain like I was back then. I have chosen to forgive and forget those who wronged me and I only hope that those whom I have wronged have forgiven me too. 

As a teenager I was lost and wanted something but never quite knew what that was. I was unhappy and always trying to figure out why. Over these past 6 years, I have learned many life lessons and taken really good advice. Here's what I would tell myself at 15. 

"Life isn't over till its good. If its not good, It's not over."

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let bitterness steal your sweetness.  Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place."

College is freaking awesome. Hang in there

Don't forget to keep wishing on those stars, because on day you will meet your prince charming.

"This too shall pass" 

"Don't take drinks from anyone. Even friends"

"There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict. Walk away; the battle they are fighting isn't with you, it's with themselves."

"Dear God, I have a problem. It's me"

"Destroy what destroys you"

"Surround yourself with people who make you see this broken world is still beautiful. They are worth keeping around"

"Smile more. It's contagious"

"If you change nothing, nothing will change"

"Everything you are running away from is in your head."

"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"

"You are braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think and LOVED more than you know. 

Stop thinking about yourself. You are not the only one in this world. Look at what you do to others as they watch you. 

I am sure that I could find so much more to say to myself, but these are what pop out at me. Thank you for taking the time to read. If you know someone struggling too, remind them how loved they are and that even if it doesn't seem like it now, life can be wonderful. Whether you think you can or you can't, your right. change what you hate and you will become someone you've only envied. 

Silent Wednesday