Starting the T25 workout

It is almost 2014, I'm going back to work soon, and it has been 4 months since I have birth. I am more ready now than ever to finally lose this baby weight!

It's been a struggle being active because I am home with both the kids by myself during the weekdays and it's so hard to get out of the house with two babies in tow. By the time Anthony gets home, I am exhausted and it is freezing. Until one quiet night, I saw the informercial for Shaun T.'s new workout, Focus T25. Since I loved insanity and saw amazing results from it, I was sold.

It is a 10 week program. 25 minutes a day. 5 days a week. I can totally handle it, right? Well, I'm starting today. And I'm going to follow it to the T, with some modifications to my diet of course to accommodate for my breastfeeding. I'm going to blog my progress every week to hold myself accountable. 

My starting weight is 136. My goal at the end of the program is 125 and to get back to a size 6. I currently have to wear a size 10.

As soon as I am done, I will post progress pictures.

Wish me luck!

Making March Count

I felt so motivated in January to get back on track towards a healthier lifestyle, and when I finally started shedding some pounds I cut myself a little more slack in February which was not good. I weighed in this morning at 122 pounds. Only 2.5 pounds lighter than I was at the end of January. I didn't reach my goal of weighing 120 by March and for that, I'm putting myself into overdrive mode.

For the next couple months, I'm going to live and dine by these 5 golden rules (courtesy of Precision Nutrition):

1) Eat Less Calories
2) Increase Protein
3) Decrease Crabs
4) Increase vegetable intake
5) Replace bad fats with good ones

I am definitely proud of myself for making the scale go down instead of up. And I am happy to say that I've stuck to my exercising at least 4 times a week goal. But can I get more serious about losing fat? YES! We just bought a weight set to add to our fitness tools so time to throw some extra strength training into my routine.

Here are a few motivating quotes that have helped me:

• Strive for progress, not perfection.
• Energy and persistance conquer all things -Benjamin Franklin
• The first wealth is health. - Emerson
• Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it. – Unknown
• The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win. – Roger Bannister
• Mental attitude is more important than mental capacity. – Walter Dill Scott

If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. – Bruce Lee

Time to restock my fridge and exercise myself to a lighter, leaner me.

Here we go!

Progress!

It's been almost a month since I last wrote about how motivated I am to lose weight. It's been a bit of a challenge to stick to my diet and exercise plans, especially with all the birthday celebrations that usually happen around this time of the year, but luckily, I am seeing some progress.

 

I've been surfing the web and talking to many of my health conscious friends and realized that a lot of my past choices were hindering my weight loss efforts instead of helping them (i.e. lean cuisines, oatmeal packets, energy bars). One of my excuses for not losing weight is that I am always on the go, and my food choices are made based off of convenience and unfortunately, these choices haven't had much nutritional value. So, for the past month, I've really focused on making fresher, more natural food choices and I've really started to notice a difference.

 

 

For example, I've traded my oatmeal packets for real steel cut oats with no sugar added. I've also upped my fruit and vegetable intake by sneaking them into my meals to add flavor (like blueberries for my oatmeal). I've also cut down on carbs (no more white rice) and have completely eliminated fried foods. I still treat myself to a good hamburger maybe once a week, but sub the fries out for a salad or soup instead.

 

With a combination of those restrictions and an added 5 days of exercise a week, I've lost 4 pounds so far. My first weight in I was about 128.6 pounds. This morning I was 124.2 pounds. I've also lost about an inch off of my waistline and butt. My arms and thighs have lost almost half an inch. My clothes definitely feel loose, but not enough to go out and by myself smaller sizes!

I started this plan off doing Insanity, but I found myself being really exhausted and hating life. I don't think my body was quite ready for that kind of intensity yet, so I switched Insanity out for Zumba and I love it. I feel like it's just the right amount of cardio for me and it really works out my core which is my main problem area. Probably after another few weeks of this and jogging, I will try my luck with Insanity again to help myself tone up.

 

There are also a bunch of supplements and extra vitamins that I feel have sped up my weight loss ever since I started taking them but since this post is getting kind of long, you can contact me if you're interested in knowing more about that.

 

I am 9 pounds away from my goal and I know that those will be the hardest to lose. I just HAVE to keep going so I can say I did it and finally be happy with myself! I have exactly 100 days until my May 5 deadline....

 

WISH ME LUCK!

Time to revamp!!

I've spent a good amount of time talking about how much I want to lose this baby weight. Well, it's been one year now and here I am, still 10 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. I've been in a workout and diet rut ever since my birthday back on Oct. 28 and it's been so hard to really get focused on losing weight and getting healthy again.

As more and more time goes by and I spend more time being stuck in a chair and not watching what I eat, the pounds continue to pack on. I have been so disgusted with myself lately and I've digressed so much from where I want to be. It's been really hard lately to not beat myself up about how I look. It's starting to annoy me (and my husband haha) how much time I spend in front of the mirror scrutinzing myself.

New years is always a great reminder that you only have so much time to keep telling yourself that you're going to lose weight before actually doing it. Because before you know it, it'll be 2013 and you'll have the same ol' goal of losing weight and the discontentment just never goes away.

So, as of yesterday, I've gotten back on the weight loss path and I am SO determined to stay on it. I am currently 128 lbs and my goal is to reach at least 115 by May 5th. Here's my plan: 6 out of 7 days of the week, I am going to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity and not eat more than 1300 GOOD calories a day. I'll probably get back into doing the Insanity workout, jogging, and doing my mom's Zumba videos. I know it's going to be hard, but I've really got to keep my eyes on the weight loss prize. I'll blog about it every now and then and hopefully we'll all be able to see some progress.

Here are some before and after pictures that have helped motivate me, so for all you wishful weight losers, I hope it motivates you too.

Snooki

Raven Simone

Hilary Duff

Jennifer Hudson

Jerry Ferrara

Kendra Wilkinson

Jonah Hill

Nicole Richie

Something I never knew...But had to share!

Did you know that the maximum daily recommended sodium intake is 2,400 grams? You probably don't realize it, but just one sitting at a restaurant can push your sodium to the limit. Since I've been trying to lose weight again and start living a healthier style, I've subscribed to all these health newsletters that deliver me interesting tidbits of information on food and exercise, etc etc. Well, this article in particular caught my eye because if you're like me, you really only look at the calorie and fat columns on the nutritional menu. Titled "30 Saltiest Foods in America" by Men's Health Magazine, this article has opened my eyes to the damage that sodium can really do to your body: high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis, and exercise-induced asthma. Experts say that it's even ADDICTIVE and that you can overeat yourself into obesity because of your cravings for salt. Crazy, right? So, because I care, read this list and avoid these foods and foods similar to them.

30) Burger King Cheeseburger with French Fries (small)

1,360 milligrams sodium
680 calories
33 g fat (10.5 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)

29) Auntie Anne’s Sesame Pretzel with Hot Salsa Cheese <---Damn that was a good one.

1,440 milligrams sodium
510 calories
18 g fat (7 g saturated)

28) Pizza Hut Supreme Pan Pizza (2 slices)

1,780 milligrams sodium
800 calories
40 g fat (16 g saturated)

27) Panera Bread Half Sierra Turkey with Half Greek Salad You Pick Two Combo

1,870 milligrams sodium
810 calories
59 g fat (12 g saturated)

26) Boston Market Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich

1,900 milligrams sodium
800 calories
41 g fat (7 g saturated, 5 g trans)

25) Arby’s Large Mozzarella Sticks

2,047 milligrams sodium
637 calories
42 g fat (19 g saturated)

24) Quizno’s Large Tuna Melt

2,120 milligrams sodium
1,760 calories
133 g fat (25 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)

23) Taco Bell Grilled Stuft Beef Burrito <---But oh-so-delicious

2,120 milligrams sodium
680 calories
30 g fat (10 g saturated)

22) Bob Evans Stacks & Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Hotcakes

2,259 milligrams sodium
1,543 calories
77 g fat (26 g saturated, 9 g trans)
109 g sugars

21) Subway Footlong Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki

2,290 milligrams sodium
770 calories
9 g fat (2.5 g saturated)
34 g sugars

20) McDonald’s Deluxe Breakfast with Margarine and Syrup

2,335 milligrams sodium
1,370 calories
64.5 g fat (21.5 g saturated)
161 g carbohydrates

19)  Uno Chicago Grill Classic Deep Dish Individual Pizza (1/2 pie)

2,460 mg sodium
1,155 calories
82 g fat (27 g saturated)

18) Dairy Queen Chili Cheese Fries

2,550 milligrams sodium
1,240 calories
71 g fat (28 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)

17)  Panera Bread Full Chipotle Chicken on Artisan French

2,570 mg sodium
1,070 calories
55 g fat (15 g saturated, 1 g trans)

16) On the Border Grande Taco Salad with Taco Beef and Chipotle Honey Mustard

2,620 milligrams sodium
1,700 calories
124 g fat (37.5 g saturated)

15) Uno Chicago Grill Kid’s Kombo with French Fries

2,850 milligrams sodium
1,250 calories
79 g fat (11.5 g saturated)

14) Denny’s Buffalo Chicken Strips

2,940 milligrams sodium
730 calories
32 g fat (0 g saturated)

13) Dunkin Donuts Salt Bagel <--- Ew Really?

3,420 mg sodium
320 calories
2.5 g fat (.5 g saturated fat)

12) Olive Garden Grilled Shrimp Caprese

3,490 milligrams sodium
900 calories
41 g fat (17 g saturated)

11)  Blimpie Special Vegetarian Sub (12”)

3,532 milligrams sodium
1,186 calories
60 g fat (19 g saturated)
131 g carbohydrates

10) Ruby Tuesday Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta

3,933 mg sodium
1,086 calories
63 g fat

9) On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos

4,060 milligrams sodium
2,350 calories
152 g fat (31 g saturated)

8) Chili’s Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

4,201 milligrams sodium
1,901 calories
138 g fat (47 g saturated)

7) IHOP Thick-Cut Bone-In Ham & Eggs

4,310 mg sodium
1,170 calories
61 g fat (19 g saturated)

6) Arby’s Sausage Gravy Biscuit

4,699 mg sodium
1,040 calories
60 g fat (22 g saturated, 2 g trans)

5) Applebee's Weight Watchers Chipotle Lime Chicken <---Even Weight Watchers will let you down!

4,990 mg sodium
490 calories
12 g fat (2 g saturated)

4) P.F. Chang’s Hot and Sour Soup Bowl <---Nooo! This can't be so. One of my favorite soups..

5,000 milligrams sodium
400 calories
15 g fat (5 g saturated)

3) Chili’s Fajita Quesadillas Beef With Rice and Beans, 4 flour tortillas, and condiments <---Have ordered this several times.

6,390 milligrams sodium
2,240 calories
92 g fat (43.5 g saturated)
253 g carbohydrates

2) Applebee's Appetizer Sampler <---The article says any app sampler is usually bad.

6,830 mg sodium
2,590 calories
173 g fat (54 g saturated)

1)   P.F. Chang’s Double Pan-Fried Noodles with Pork

2)   7,900 milligrams sodium
1,652 calories
84 g fat (12 g saturated)

Sad to say, but I have been a victim of many of the foods on this list. They actually got this information from the "Eat this, Not That!" book. I think I'll go buy one today.

Read the full article here.

A New Reflection: Body After Baby

So it begins. My postpartum weight loss journey.

A woman's biggest secret is her postpartum body. EVERY girl has to wonder how a new mother's body has changed. I know I did. If I could, I would ask every new mom to bare her "battle scars" so we could share and compare and mope about it together.
When your body is youthful and beautiful, you hate to imagine the aftermath of what a baby can do to your once flawless image. This is what I had feared the most. Looking in the mirror after I had a baby and being afraid of what I'd see.


Let me break it down for you.
Weight at first prenatal appointment June 18, 2010: 120 lbs
Weight on December 31, 2010 (38 weeks pregnant): 151 lbs
Current Weight: 132 lbs

I, myself, was surprised to lose 20 pounds following the birth of Rosalie, and I am happy to report that I feel almost fully recovered. And, in case you were wondering, I managed to get away without any stretch marks, although I have a few faint ones in areas that will probably remain unseen (lol).
My stomach isn't as tight as it once was due to my abdominal muscles "loosening" to make room for baby, but for the most part, it has shrank back to it's almost normal size despite a little extra fat around the edges. I can tell that the extra weight remains in areas below the waist and in my face. These are my target areas that I'd like to work on.

My goal weight is 115 pounds and I'd like to reach this by the time I return to work in April. I have no plan of action yet since the doctor advises that I keep my exercise moderate for the first two months since I am exclusively breastfeeding and my supply could be negatively affected if I do not give my body adequate time to recover.

As much as I'd like to start popping in those workout videos, I know that it is important for me to feel 100% back to normal before I do so. Breastfeeding is not as easy as people make it look! It was a struggle for me at first, and I was psyching myself out by thinking that I would not be able to do it. The first week was grueling. Rosalie latched on like a champ but my milk had not come in yet and it was painful..VERY painful. I seriously wanted to cry every time she clamored around for food. Luckily, Kaiser is a great resource for breastfeeding support and I absolutely loved the lactation consultant there. I went in to see her at least 3 times, and she encouraged me to keep trying and eventually, my milk would come in and things would get easier. As much as I wanted to throw in the towel and give Rosalie a bottle, I kept at it, and after about 5 days, my milk supply kicked in an mealtime was no longer doomsday for me. Hallelujah!

Although exclusively breastfeeding has many perks, it's been tough on me because my husband can't help with the feedings. So that means I am up every 2-3 hours day or night, feeding the baby. The sleep deprivation takes it toll, but I just have to keep telling myself that she won't be in this newborn stage forever and the time between feedings WILL get longer. Leaving the house is an issue because I have to time it around her eating schedule, but hey, welcome to the life of being a mom. Hopefully working out will find a way into my schedule in the next few weeks. On the plus side, breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories a day!

I hope I'm not being naive about my weight loss goals especially with a new baby in tow, but hopefully making my progress public is enough motivation to get me off my butt!

So, here's to re-prioritizing my life and putting my own health and image back on the list. Healthy Happy Mom = Healthy Happy baby. Skinny, active, mom = One Happy Me.

Making the decison to lose weight

February 2009 - Before the weight Loss

One of the things that I am constantly asked is how I lost weight before my wedding and how I've managed to stay in shape throughout pregnancy. First of all, I am FAR from being a textbook "fit mommy". In fact, I'm eating a bag of Cheetoes right now as I type! But before we get to talking about me in present day, let's talk about me 1 1/2 years ago when I first got engaged in April of 2009.

I was not overweight, but after graduating from college and having a very poor diet limited to fast food and all you can eat buffets, it was probably the heaviest I've ever been. I normally have an average frame that is not too skinny but not on the heavyset side either but at that time I was 5'1" at 126 lbs and wearing a size 8. Not only that, but I was extremely out of shape! After Anthony popped the question, I made it my personal goal to get back to my pre-college weight of 115 and I had 13 months to do it. 11 pounds may not seem like a lot, but it is definitely not easy coming to the realization that you can't just eat whatever you want anymore and stay skinny.

One of the things that I learned throughout the process is that weight loss is a progression through better food choices and a more active lifestyle. Some of the first decisions that I made were to incorporate at least 30 minutes of daily exercise into my life and to start consuming less than 1,800 calories a day. One of the things that helped me with my calorie goals is the Lose It! App on iPhone. You can't expect to stay under your limits if you don't keep track of what you eat so if you don't have access to something like this, I highly recommend to keep some kind of a food journal. For foods that I didn't necessarily know the calories for, I'd would just estimate but always on the higher side to be safe (this goes especially for Filipino food!) I also bought myself a "Calorie King" Book that listed the calories for popular restaurants. I was shocked to find that some of my favorite dishes were over 2,000 calories!! Needless to say, those were some of the sacrifices I had to make.

I can say that reducing my calorie intake during meals made me quite hungry all the time so I began to snack on fruits, yogurt, and nuts at least every 3 hours. It definitely helped with my metabolism and I have continued this routine til this day throughout pregnancy. Another key thing was drinking A LOT of water! I tried to consume about 3-4 16 oz bottles a day on top of cutting out all other beverages from my diet. By doing just this alone I lost about 3 lbs in the first month. Alcohol is definitely a setback for any diet so try to avoid it if possible.

As for exercise, I was extremely out of shape so I had to work myself up to a good place. It's really discouraging to try and do something that you know your body can't handle so it's always a good idea to start somewhere (anywhere!) and condition your body as time goes on. I started taking my dog on a walk everyday. I'd do it right when I got home so I didn't have time to plop down on the couch and get stuck there (which I know happens to many of us!). I'd walk at my own pace for about 30 minutes and call it a day. It worked out to be at least one mile a day.Soon enough, my walking turned into jogging and before I knew it, we were jogging about 2 miles a day. I was not losing weight drastically yet at this point, so after 2 months of walking and jogging, I started to work new things into my exercise routine.

If you hate the gym like me, try home exercise DVD's. It's easy to just get home, change, pop in the dvd and get moving. And, you don't have to embarrass yourself if you're not comfortable driving to the gym and working out with a bunch of people who are more fit than you. I started with Hip Hop Abs because my mother in law lent to to me so I figured, why not give it a try. It turned out to be a really good core workout that was fun to do! It was definitely a good place for me to start. When that started getting easy and I wasn't sore anymore, I started to do Tae Bo videos that were a little more strenuous, but still good for beginners. Pretty soon, working out everyday was a must in my life. My day would feel incomplete without it because I just loved the feeling that I'd get after I finished a video. If I wasn't feeling up to doing a video one day, I'd just casually walk my dog to get my exercise for the day in. By summer of 2009, I had lost about 6 lbs. The weight didn't come off right away, it took months to get where I was. I had to just be patient and continue eating healthy and staying active. Weight loss doesn't happen overnight but I was VERY determined to lose the weight..To really push myself, I even ordered my wedding dress in a size 4 even though I wasn't quite there yet.

Finally, I started doing the Insanity workout routine probably by August of 2009. This is definitely for more advanced exercisers but after 1 month of doing it, I really started dropping the weight. I think by Christmas I was actually below my goal weight of 115 and was now tipping the scale in at 112 lbs and fitting back into a size 4. With the wedding still 5 months away, the important thing was just to maintain my new figure and not to go back to my old eating habits just because I had finally reached my goals.

April 2010 - After Weight Loss

Eventually, with the holidays and all the stresses of the wedding planning and our busy schedule, I did get a bit off track with the exercise routine and diet routine in those last few months, but still tried to fit in an Insanity video or a jog at least 4 times a week. By the wedding, I was a healthy 115 lbs and was able to fit perfectly into my size 4 dress!

The importance of being healthy has never left my mind. Now that I'm pregnant, I am once again determined to stay fit and healthy. With all my cravings, it's been impossible to stay away from sweets and some french fries, but I've managed to continue staying active. It's been a little harder now that I'm in my third trimester and my lower back is not cooperating with me, but I'm proud to say that up until now, I've managed to continue doing workout videos and walking my dog at least 3 times a week. I am currently at 138 lbs (I was 120 during my first prenatal appointment in July 2010) and feeling great! I have not seen any signs of stretchmarks yet or noticed a major drop in energy...But I'll save all THAT stuff for a later time.