Progress...

...not quite perfection. 

Results and results. 

And as long as I keep eating well and staying active, I know I will hit my goals! 

Before: Feb 3 2016

Current: April 28, 2016 

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Goal: 145-150, TONED. 

Transformation by spin

I've been losing weight on and off for years. I've restricted my calories, I've taken prescription pills, I've taken walks, I have done Boot Camp, i've tried to pure barre, i've done yoga... And the list goes on and on. 

Now, the thing about being in an unhealthy mindset is the fact that getting healthy is very hard. Workouts for me have never been enjoyable, even though I have done then because it is the right thing to do to take care of my body. But working out, no matter how you do it, especially when you're overweight, tired, and unhealthy, is HARD. 

But recently, I have found my HAPPY-HARD. That one workout that completely changes your life. A work out that fits your style, personality, schedule, and ability--

The kind of work out that is hard and pushes you to your limits. 

The kind of workout that leaves your entire body, head to toe, soaking wet from sweat.

The kind of workout that is hard, but that makes you strive for more.

The kind of workout that leaves you in tears (of joy) because you pushed so hard- harder than you thought you could.

The kind of workout that encourages you, through seeing results, to keep coming back.

For me, that workout is SPIN. 

I took my very first spin class last month, and immediately fell in love. It is challenging, fun, invigorating, sweaty, and everything that a workout should be.

I don't dread going.

I don't try to get out of it by making up excuses or by saying oh well I can just go tomorrow…

I don't even mind going alone.

And when it's over, I feel like a completely new, different, strong, and incredible person that is truly changing my body! 

So, speaking of that change, I figured I would show you my pre-spin body compared to my current body. 

 So here it is…

I still have a lot of work to do. I still have cellulite, and a large percentage of fat on my body...

The point is that I can see changes. Visible ones. My stomach and my thighs and my arms and my chest (wimp wompppp) are all shrinking. 

I feel strong. My legs feel strong. My arms feel strong.

 

Let me say that again... 

I feel strong.

And dedicated. 

It's about FREAKING TIME! 😜 

And for me, the thing about feeling strong and challenged, makes this a workout that I enjoy so much. One that I can actually stick with it...

And hopefully... 

No... 

DEFINITELY, I will keep those changes coming.

💜🚴🏼

Ps. If you're in/near Tulsa and ever want to join me, let me know! Your first class is FREE! 

Jeans

GUYSSSSSSSS! 😳😳😳

These jeans! Old Navy size 10!!

I started in a tight 13/14 from maurices in January! BOOOOM!!

(We all know ON runs a little larger, but I'm good with size 10ish... Or even size 11/12! 

Feeling good! Moving towards my goals! Not there yet but progress is so awesome in keeping me motivated! 

Which watch is right for me??

Y'all! I've had 5 fitness watches in the last 3 months. 😒😒 Buy, try, return, repeat. 

(Polar FT40, polar f4, Apple watch, garmin vivoactive, polar m400, polar a360) 

I haven't found one I'm truly happy with.... Until now! 

I'm obsessed with my new polar A360 and HRM strap! Finally I found something I love and that does everything I MUST HAVE:

- Daily activity (calories and steps/distance - approximation is ok, nothing is super accurate...yet!)

- Waterproof (like for real, why is this not a thing in most everyday fitness watches?!) 

- Wrist optical HRM is constant, but works with polar h7 chest strap for workouts

...Which gives me.... 

- ACCURATE caloric burn count while working out (unlike Fitbit who is in a couple lawsuits right now because of its inaccuracy) 

- Ability to display notifications from my phone (optional feature you can turn on/off) 

- Vibrates to remind me to "get moving" (keeps me motivated and reminds me to walk around when I've. Been sitting too long!)

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BONUSES

1) tracks sleep (Also, nothing is super accurate, but it's neat to analyze from day to day!) 

2) an AMAZING, user-friendly app that is easy to sync with (unlike garmin) - I seriously love the polar flow app!! 

3) ability to change strap - the watch center is removable so you can switch band! Hey, I'm ok with optional variety! 

4) modern looking watch design :) 

-----

All in all, right now I'm in love 😍😍

Tomorrow I take spin class with my trusty (and old) polar FT40 HRM watch/strap. And yes, I will wear both watches  😂

We will see how it compares on calorie count. 

If it does as it says, I WILL MARRY THIS WATCH. 😍😍😘😘 

Just thought y'all might wanna know - since I've been seeing posts about HRMs and I've done a ton of research and read thousands of reviews and tried out 5 or 6! :) 

Spin Class

I've heard a lot of things about spin class - 91% of those things being horror stories where people swear that they will never go back, worst workout ever, etc.

I've been needing to get into a cardio heavy routine lately to ramp-up my weight loss and I remembered I had purchased a 2 week cycling class at a Panhellenic auction almost a year ago. I dug around some old papers and BOOM! There it was. A shiny new "2 weeks of spin classes" certificate that was set to expire in 2.5 weeks. 

So.... Why not start now, right!? 

And that's what I did. 

I was nervous. I didn't know what to do, how to act, or even what to wear. I asked a few people for basic info, but just felt like I was diving head first into this fitnes genre that I knew nothing about. 

I showed up on Wednesday, March 23 after work (5:30pm) to Physiques by Monique - the spin studio in Brookside here in Tulsa. Class started at 5:45.

The room was beautiful, inviting, and not at all scary - but for some reason my stomach was filled with nerves! 

I expressed my "newness" - how I was totally clueless, and that I wanted to sit in the back and do my own thing -- cause come on..,  if I couldn't hack it no one would notice, right!? 

Only 5 people were registered for the class - so that made it better. I picked a bike and then the assistant helped me get my seat and handlebars set up, gave me a towel and a gel seat cushion, and gave me a crash course on hand positions, "in/out of the saddle", and showed me the brake. 😐 

My first class was "hip/hop spin" and it was different than I expected. I guess I don't know what I expected actually - but the music was fun, it was fast-paced, and I could do basically everything the teacher was instructing us to do. 

I did sit "in the saddle" (on the seat) for one song where they were up.. But I blame that due to a squeaky and embarrassing bike. 😉

The spin class itself didn't bother me much. I'm used to high-cardio activities. However, around the 25 minute mark I was feeling anxious for the class to be over. 

45 minutes of good music, cycling legs, and good cardio I was finished. 

I was hot. I was sweaty. I had tomato-face. And I was proud - that I actually did the entire workout, with limited modification! 

You know how it goes... 

You don't want to show up to workout but you do it anyways. 

Then you want to back out and leave but the workout starts.

Then you get in the zone until 1/2 or 3/4 of the way trough you look at the clock (big mistake lol) and then long for it to be over.......

........And then it is. 

And you feel great!! 

45 minutes, 800+ calories, and one big smile later, I had completed my first spin class. 

The cool down was some yoga stretches which I enjoyed. But I noticed when I got off of my bike I was dizzy. Probably just from "new workout" anxiety and then serious cardio. Who knows. 

I centered myself, stretched, and then finished up by wiping my bike off with a Clorox wipe. 

I didn't feel any pain or soreness after. I got home, felt good, had a bit to eat, relaxed, and then went to bed. 

The next morning I woke up feeling good and still proud of my first spin workout. 

I did, however, have a semi-sore bum form the bike seat. They say it goes away though. I hope. Talk about pain 😂😂 the  seat pain was worse than the workout! LOL 

At about 3pm the next day I realized my thighs, which had previously felt nothing, started screaming with soreness. It's a good hurt, but pain nonetheless. But hey - at least my problem area thighs got a good workout! 

I went back for day two - this time hip hop with more "out of the saddle" and more riding to the fast-beat of the songs. 

Again I was nervous but went for it - and it went well! It was hard the second day to adjust to riding with a sore butt, but it was manageable. I also suffered through the thigh soreness (which is way worse now) but still managed to do more work than yesterday. Along with the regular cycling and resistance, we added hand weights to this workout - so my whole body got a good dose of what a spin class should be! I even burned over 100 more calories than I did at spin yesterday!

All in all, I would say spin has been an interesting - but good - experience. I love that it's a new way for my body to workout and  break bad habits that I have. 

If you ever wanna try out the class, just let me know. You get your first class for free! 

And so it continues..

Month 2 - 2016 is officially over, and so is my first month of the TRANSFORMER dietbet. 

I'm not as impressed with the second month results (as I was with the first before/after photos), but I am down to 175 (from 179) and I'm hoping to keep that number decreasing. 

I did notice some subtle changes in my stomach and face - which is good - but I'm ready to really kill it this month for the second transformer! Brin on the results!

Left: 181lbs, February 6th

Right: 175lbs, March 8th 

I'm basically our of a size 14 again and snug into a 12! Hoping to feel very comfortable in a size 12 by the end of this transformer bet (first week in April) 

Wish me luck! 💪🏼

THIS DRESS 💃🏼

When a dress that was skin tight this past fall now has a good two inches of room.......... You know you're doing something right! 😍😍 

I still have a long ways to go but feeling good today for hitting my first transformer goal after the dietbet and realizing this dress fits perfectly again (but not for long!)