Shark Week 101

Let me start by making a statement that MAYBE everyone wasn't aware of:

I'm a girl

Shocker, I know. I looked like a boy until I was roughly 15 years old, but yes, I am a girl. Which inevitably means that mother nature hates me and each month one week out of every four is shark week(and I don't mean discovery channel shark week from last week). During shark week you can expect to see the women in your life to partake in some or all of the following acts:

*Lay on the floor and cry
*Talk about how fat she feels
*Show you her fat
*Say that nothing in her closet looks good (This happens anyways but it's worse during this week)
*Cry at nothing
*Absolutely sob at emotional movies
*Scream at you, 10 seconds after she was laughing with you
*Think you hate her if you say the word 'no'
*Complain about how much she does in life, and how you do nothing (even if you do a lot)
*Throw things
*Think every person in life is out to get her
*Have headaches
*And let's go ahead and add cry a little more

And IF, you're one of the lucky, lucky men in the world, the woman in your life is not only on an emotional roller coaster one week out of every four but the week BEFORE shark week is just as bad, if not worse.

Now to add some TMI to this blog, I would like to tell you that Ross gets to be one of the lucky 2 out of 4 weeks guy, because I am an emotional wreck during the week before and the week of. To cut it short and get to the point, last week was my week before. The post that I made was in the state of all of the emotions listed above.

Growing up, I know my parents did not EVER body shame me. The worst thing that ever happened to me was that my dad asked me if I wanted to order a large t-shirt for soccer when I really wore a medium... Gosh dad. The body shaming didn't begin until 6th grade. Girls are MEAN. I mean they will say anything to make them feel the power surging. Especially middle school and high school girls. If someone was mad at you they took the lowest blow possible. For me, the low blow was my weight.

Have you ever heard that you are most like the 7 people you spend the most time around? Even though it wasn't what I wanted to be like, I began body shaming myself because others were body shaming me. For some reason it makes you feel better when you're body shaming yourself along with them.

Watching some of my favorite little girls grow into young teens has made me realize that this was terrible. I never want them to have to go to school and get body shamed or made fun of for things that I think they are perfect for. As girls it's like we are trained to be vicious animals and weight is our #1 thing to target people for. Middle school to high school, high school to college, and college to the big girl world. All girls do it, all girls are guilty, even me.

Even if you don't do it to others, you probably do it to yourself. Do you look in the mirror every morning and tell yourself how perfect you are? Or do you look straight at your perceived flaws? Find your flaws is body shaming, and instead of finding our flaws, we should learn to love our flaws. Believe it or not our flaws are what makes us unique. It's what makes me look nothing like you, and vice versa. We should all appreciate those flaws.

A year into my journey and I have lost a total of 30 pounds and 10 inches off of my waist. I used to wear a size 16-18 and I am now getting closer to swimming in a size 11-12. My body fat percentage in the beginning was 58.4% and as of this morning it is 32.4%. I forget to stop and think about how amazing that is. I get told daily how great I look and I need to tell myself that daily. I have changed myself for the better and even if I am not at my goals I need to learn to appreciate the places that I have been and where I am now.

Remember to take the time to stop and appreciate you for you. Even on shark week try to remind yourself that everything is going to be okay.

A weight loss journey doesn't happen in 2 months. It truly is a life change. When they say life it means you are willing to change everything you do and make it your habits for the rest of your life. Don't give up when you don't see results. And don't be like me and freak out when you gain some weight back. Everyone has told me that maintaining can be WAY harder than actually losing. So keep your head up and picture the future. Set long term goals, and short term goals. Then go out and destroy them!

XOXO,
Audrey

The Status of Kels

Back in August I talked Kelsey, my sister, up off the couch and to the gym with me. She moaned and groaned through every minute of the workout constantly asking, "How much longer?" We joked after this workout that this was her 'annual workout'. Today I would like to update you on the status of Kels.

August 31, 2014 - Get fit 24 gym

Kels has never been the type to head to the gym just because she can. She doesn't go on runs to release anger, she doesn't eat healthy foods. Kelsey was blessed with the fast metabolism and amazing skin that we all dream of. She can drink alcohol and eat chips, pizza, etc.. and still never gain weight.

 

Tiana was blessed with a slightly sped up metabolism but not as much as Kels. And then there was me....I was blessed with the slowest metabolism known to man until I started lifting weights.

 

After this visit to the gym Kelsey changed a few things around December, by accepting one of my clean eating challenges.

 

In the challenges the menu is made for you for 5 days. 3 large meals and 2 snacks, and they ask that you workout for 30 minutes a day. (want in one of these challenges? Message me today and let's get your journey started!!) I talked kelsey and my mom into being my trial subjects and it sparked a whole new world for Kelsey. That week I think she lost around 4-5 pounds and felt like a millon bucks.

 

Since this challenge Kelsey is a frequent flyer at the gym. I'm telling you this so you don't fall down of a heart attack if you walk past the Lenox gym and see her there. She likes to run and lift and sweat her butt off. Kelsey decided to attend our Bedford Bootcamp Tuesday and Thursday night this last week to find out what all the hype was.

 

June 16, 2015 Les Mills Combat 30

The amount of sweat was
unreal! Nike Dryfit shorts
are the real deal ;)

 On Tuesday we did a Beachbody program called "Les Mills - Combat" (only on sale for limited time and then it is GONE forever! 40% off right now. Click the link for more details!) this is a program very similar to kick boxing, but without a bag in front of you. Tiana got the pleasure of wearing the gloves. In this workout you don't even begin with a stretch, you jump right in and start punching and kicking from the very beginning. To give you an insight on how much sweat there really was, I will tell you that every time I kicked, there was sweat flying off of my legs. Oh, and not to mention the entire surface of my body being covered in sweat in the end. Holy hot!

 



June 18, 2015 - Cardio Fix

On Thursday we decided to go for a 21 day fix workout. These workouts may not seem like they can be incredibly tough because they are only 30 minutes long but believe me.... Autumn Calabrese does NOT take it easy on you at all. If you're only going to workout for 30 minutes a day, she makes sure you know you did it. Thursday before Devon's baseball game we did Cardio Fix, with two spectators (Ross & Kyle) there to watch the show. Not only was the workout hard, but the studio was probably near 90 degrees, not even factoring in the humidity. We survived and felt good about our accomplishments for the night!

 

Having people to workout with makes you push yourself that extra mile. Especially when it is your sisters. Knowing that you are all making a change for the better, and doing it together, gives you a special bond. Before every home game we will be doing these workouts and we invite the public in as well. Something you have to remind yourself is that it is summer and it is okay to go places with some sweat dripping down. Perfection is impossible during the summer heat so you might as well go looking like you worked out hard and earned the sweat. As for the smell, I would stay at least 5 feet from anyone you speak to after working out. ;)

Shakeology, C4 Performance Enhancer, and Herbalife Herbal
Tea Concentrate.

Something I have Tiana doing now, but not Kelsey, is drinking Shakeology. Many people are scared by the price of this....sit down and think of the money that you spend on yourself each month anyways. Think about how many times you would go to the ice cream shop and spend $4. If you mix Shakeology the right way, you can have the best "milk shake" that you've ever had from the comfort of your own home, and with a thousand ingredients that will change your life forever. Spend the money on Shakeology, not because I told you to, but because it's something YOU want to do for YOURSELF. I love Beachbody and I am a firm believe in it but my energy sources come from every where. When you wake up at 4:45 every day to workout, work a 9 hour shift, and go to workout more, energy is key. I use a performance enhancer that tastes like heaven, which can now be found at Walmart for $19. This stuff gives you the extra kick in the butt when you need it for a workout. Then in the mornings I drink my Herbalife peach herbal tea. This stuff is my saving grace and it's my low calorie coffee instead of indulging in 6 pumps of creamer. Second thing I do every morning is drink my Shakeology. It gives me all the nutrients I need and keeps me going all day long. Don't be the person who falls asleep on the couch every night like I used to be! Find what works for you!

If you have any questions about these things, or about fitness in general please feel free to contact me! I love to help all people. <3

XOXO,
Audrey