So it's been eight weeks since the new year. Eight little weeks of hard work and a super fun, new workout routine. Y'all. I have to say.... I'm HERE FOR IT:
I've lost a total of TEN INCHES since January 1st and I am not EVEN MAD ABOUT IT!!!! The scale said 155lbs this morning and I'm grinning from ear to ear. The scale really is just a number... but I haven't seen this number since my teens.
Those who say you can't have your pre-baby body back? WRONG.
Those who say you can't have curves and confidence? WRONG.
Those who say you don't have enough time in the day to workout with kids? WRONG.
Those who say you don't have the money to join a gym? YouTube is free. Jogging is free.
Those who say you can't be a Mom AND have a sexy bod? WRONG.
Hard work pays off. I am more confident than I've ever been. I am stronger than I've ever been. I am more content than I've ever been. I am more joyful than I've ever been. I am healthier and happier than I've ever been IN MY LIFE. Change is difficult. Hard. It hurts. It takes fierce determination. Grit. But the payoff is tremendous.
A month ago I did a thing I've been wanting to do a LONG time.
I joined Humble First Baptist's "Fit for Christ"- women's bible study and workout group. It's basically like a big group gym workout and then we break into smaller groups to work through the bible study lessons. I was suuuuuper nervous walking into something that felt so new and unknown to me.
There are roughly 80 women in this class. I was so nervous on the first day! The class is led by a local trainer that owns a women's boot camp. I had no idea what to expect of the workout, nor the bible-study. It felt totally outside of my comfort zone!! New place. New people. I pushed through, and went. And, y'all. I am having so much fun!!! I SO totally look forward to my Tuesday's now!!!!!
We're working through an entire amazing bible study (16 weeks!). The workout is from 9-10, and then we break into small-groups for the bible study until noon. Each small-group takes turn providing a healthy brunch for everyone. Isn't that so fun?! I am totally loving digging into the bible study, meeting new Momma's, and learning new healthy recipes (energy bites!!!). Tuesday is MY DAY. At the beginning of the year I made a point to make my fitness goals a priority and love being able to have this chunk of time to focus on myself. The church also offers free childcare for the class and it's absolutely wonderful- Sutton gets to play with kids her age.
The uncomfortableness I felt on day one was totally worth it. I am so glad I stepped outside of my normal. Feeling uncertain, walking into the unknown and often scary- that place where we take risks- I find that the payoff is SO GOOD. Real growth and change happen in those uncomfortable places. It's scary AND wonderful!
I encourage you to step outside of what you know and try something new you've been wanting to try! What do you have to lose? A couple hours of time? What if the outcome is amazing?!
So, here's to the new. The stronger version of Lindsay. The fitter. The healthier. The better.
I already LOVE HER!
Back in January of 2018 I began a 30-day walking contest. I wanted to make some healthy changes in my life- creating great habits- and getting back to working out was my #1 priority. I gained 50lbs while pregnant with Sutton and needed to get the remaining weight off. The walking competition totally worked to my advantage and I began walking and eventually started jogging miles and miles each week. I ended up with over 100 miles in a 30 day period and am super proud of myself for sticking with it! From February of 2017 (when I had Sutton) to December 31st of 2018- I've lost 65 POUNDS, y'all!
About a month into the walking challenge last year I decided I needed to add something to my workouts. It rains a lot in January/February/March and I didn't want to be outside walking in the rain every day. Plus.... Sutton also takes a SUPER long mid-day nap (I'm talking 3-4 hours every single day), so totally randomly one day I googled "dumbbell workout" and a YouTube video popped up-
This BodyFit by Amy "Full Body Dumbbell Workout" was the exact video I did in our living room. YOU GUYS. My core was SO weak back then I had to stop. Pause the video. Take a break, and had to modify EVERY single core exercise. I was literally sore for a week after the first time I did it!
I stuck with it and began to rotate an additional video into my weekly workouts. I started with once a week, then twice, and then worked my way up to three times per week. I rotated the first video with this one, and then added the HIIT video as I got stronger...
Slowly I began to notice a change in the shape of my body. Everything was tightening up, getting more toned. More firm! My arms started to lose the jiggle!! It was such a great feeling to see it happening!! And, a few months in- friends started noticing the changes as well!
I continued to do these videos January thru October and then hit a slump. The holidays hit, and I kept jogging- so I maintained my weight loss, but I totally let the strength training go. I got lazy over the holidays and I could totally tell. I kicked it up a notch in December and began doing the BodyFit videos again, and from January 1st until now I've lost an additional 5". This go-around I'm stepping off the scale and only doing my weekly measurements. Its absolutely CRAZY to see the changes in measurements simply by eating clean and working out!!
In regards to food- I'm not following any specific diet. I try to cook healthy meals for my family each week, and of course I splurge for something I feel that's worth it. There aren't many treats worth it to me these days. Over the course of the last year my mindset has gone from having each meal feel like an "experience" and something amazing- to basic sustenance. Food is simply fuel for my body!
If you're looking for a workout to do at home- to strengthen and tone up, I highly recommend Amy's workout videos on YouTube!!! I've added her Abs and Booty video into my routine (ouch!) these days as well as some of her Kettlebell videos and they're all really great- and FREE!
I certainly do. In 2018 I really focused and made a determined effort to kick the baby weight I had hanging around to the curb- and I did it! At the beginning of the year a group of friends and I created a text thread for those of us who consistently workout and are working towards specific, individual, fitness goals. We are three weeks in and what an amazing feeling it is to have an army of cheerleaders in your corner cheering you on when you hit a goal, face a slump day or need a kick in the butt to move! We are all doing our own thing- and meet for breakfast on Saturday mornings. It is LIFE-giving to me!! I love everything about empowering and supporting my friends with their own goals!!
I began taking my measurements on January 1, 2019 and plan to take them weekly, checking in and posting in our group (One of my friends kept her weekly measurements last year, and her results are stunning!! She recommended this and it is so telling as compared to the scale!). I wanted to share my progress here on the blog so I can keep a record of my progress, struggles and goals throughout 2019. So, without further ado, here are my weekly measurements thus far:
In three weeks- with focused cardio, strength training and healthy eating I am down 5 inches!!
The scale has actually gone up four pounds, but WHO even CARES about that when you've lost 5 inches?????!?!?! I know this an initial loss and I may plateau soon but I am CELEBRATING NOW!!! It feels great to see the progress and results of my hard work. And yes, it IS hard work to stay focused and determined with making healthy food choices and working out, but once you make up your mind- it's totally possible! And, it feels amazing, y'all!
Right now I am still doing my at-home video workouts (3x per week) and jogging 2x per week for a total of 5 workouts per week, in conjunction with eating healthy! (I'll share more about the workouts in another post I'm composing- so check back for that soon!)
