My Story of Weight GAIN and Weight LOSS...**

HEY BLOG!


Weather Report via Karmella: It was cold and I thought summer was over, but today....I have been basking in the sun all day with my big pink tongue hanging out.


Exchange Rate: 1 Euro = $1.41


My latest adventure: ADVOCARE 24 Day CHALLENGE!


FITNESS STATUS:


I got all my supplies for the cleanse at the grocery store, I am feeling excited, determined, and stoked to start...but....first....I enjoyed my cup of coffee, and my cheese, and my wine.....

Let me recap my journey to better fitness for you.


Genetically, I am blessed with a very skinny mother and a not so trim father.  This works out brilliantly when you are a teenager/early 20's female because you are skinny, but you have SOME curves.  


Everything was great (except the love handles- always had them) until I was diagnosed with ASTHMA.  It completely shut me down.  I was not an active person, but I was blessed with a VERY skinny out of shape body.  I remember I could hardly walk down the street without getting winded...this happened while I was a junior in High School.


I didn't properly manage my ASTHMA UNTIL I was 21 years old.  And even then the idea of running anywhere was ridiculous.  I remember it really used to bother LEGS....he used to say things to me suggesting I exercise, What a kind man, he never made me feel fat or ugly, he always said I would feel better if I was more active.


Here is the real kicker- I also quit smoking when I was 21.  Yes.  I had ASTHMA and smoked.  Turns out your not too bright when your young....


Up until this point my dietary choices were deplorable.....the ONLY reason I was skinny is because I smoked and didn't eat much.  The not eating part happens when you are romantically involved with a RECON Marine at the START of a NEW WAR.


At 22 I got a job that required a physical fitness test, it was a guard at the Fort Richardson Gate.  I had to run a mile 13 minutes, 12 Push Ups, and about 20-30 sit ups.  


I BARELY passed these standards.  And.....it was HUMILIATING......I decided with the support of another friend- I would NEVER embarrass myself like that again.  I started small- I would go to the gym 3 days a week and exercise.


I remember burning 100 calories on the Eliptical was a HUGE achievement.  Then I started lifting weights.....but I was doing it wrong.  


Around this time I was diagnosed with a Auto Immune Disease called Hashimoto's or Hypothyroidism.  I was really, really, really sick.  One of the side affects of this disease is rapid and severe weight gain.  At the peak of my illness I weighed 164 lbs.  (Side Note: I always weighed around 125 lbs.)


I dug through my fat pictures and tried to find the worst ones.....but....I know for a fact I wasn't in many pictures because it also makes you depressed, mean, and psycho crazy.


Here is what I got:

While I held the weight pretty well....I didn't feel good, or self confident or attractive....and I was tired all the time- in part because of the disease, but also because I was living my life wrong.  Looking through those pictures last night, I have a drink in my hand more often than not, and I remember scarfing down whole pizza's, pizza rolls, mac and chese and lots of other heavy fatty meals....


Then I started thinking....I carry a gun for my job.  I grew up with 3 younger sisters, I have never been socked in the face.  If somebody wanted to take my gun and shoot me with it- they damn well could.  


So.....I walked into a boxing gym.  AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.


The first thing my Korean Coach did to me was grab the fat on my stomach and tell me 'Boxing NOT EASY.'  I spent the better part of three years getting my a** handed to me by EVERYBODY....but I would get stronger and stronger every day.  I kept with it.  I loved it. I felt empowered and strong.  And I fell madly in love with a violent and tough sport.  I was completely committed.


I practiced EVERY SINGLE DAY.  And by the end of three years, I was good- I mean really good.  I left Alaska on a high note in the boxing world.  I weighed 145 pounds.


When I moved to Alabama to be with LEGS....I met up with an OLYMPIC COACH.  


Up until this point- I wasn't too concerned with my weight as long as I was strong and working out- I rationalized my eating habits.  


But then I started competing and EVERYTHING was ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT.  Boxing is a weight managed sport, so you make weight or you don't fight.  


The OLYMPIC COACH FORCED ME! To be accountable for what I put in my mouth.  What I was eating and how much I weighed was imperative to competition.  


Then it became REAL.  I was working so hard and I could screw it all up if I showed up to the scales OVER weight.  


I remember one weekend, I over ate, after I did it I knew it was a mistake and I was SO AFRAID of Monday's practice.  Sure enough- I was doing calisthenics to work off all the food I SHOULD NOT have eaten.


My diet for that six months was fruits and veggies, lean protein and whole grains.....I will admit I also limited my water intake and replaced it with candy....during weigh in deadlines.....


The eating part of it was not the happiest part of my life.  


But.....I went from 145 to 130 lbs.  I did it with a healthy diet and RIGOROUS EXERCISE.

I won the 2010 National Golden Gloves (NOVICE) AND I ranked #7 a the US Nationals.  


Even still, I can't believe I did it.  And now....I have bragging rights for life.

What I learned in this time is that you have to use EXTREME discipline IF you want what you want- which is what we all want- a beautiful body.


Vanity is a real b*tch isn't it?


Eating healthy, especially when you have poor eating habits and have for YEARS is really hard to do.  I think it took me about three months to really embrace it.  I was totally addicted to sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and carbs that are hard for your body to use.  And the drinking....drinking was really tough for me to give up- my whole family LOVES to have a few drinks, when I left ALASKA I was drinking every night......in Alabama I would have A DRINK here and there during boxing.  


In addition, my time in the boxing world and weigh ins gave me the inside knowledge that weight is a tricky thing.  A ounce of water can put you over weight.  So many people don't realize that sometimes its not your weight its the inches...or even how you feel and the way you look.  I can't stand it when people say- I haven't lost any weight and I have been doing X, Y and Z......Trust me WIEGHT IS BIZARRE!


During our transition from the United States to GERMANY we were nomadic for several months......during this time- we ate OUT....A LOT. And DRANK A LOT  I weighed in on my birthday March 1st 2010, at 154 lbs.


I wanted to throw myself off a cliff......all that hard work had been completely lost!  


But...at least I knew what to do.  Plain old diet and exercise.  I started running, eating healthy and I got back down to 145lbs (February to June.)  


Then I got my Road Bike.  I realize I am a lucky girl, I live in Europe and have the opportunity over here to cycle anywhere I want to- and its relatively safe over here because of how prominent bicycles are as a mode of transportation.  Cycling has become my new passion, its as challenging as boxing mentally, and.....its easier on my body, and....it burns calories LIKE NO OTHER!


Now I am weighing in at 142 and I look pretty damn good.  


I have a friend that has been trying to get me to try ADVOCARE for awhile now.  I didn't have the time or the funds to do it until I got settled over here in NEVER NEVER LAND.  And she has been so adamant....(you know when somebody tells you something and they are really excited about it....and they just keep telling you how great it is?) I had to check this out for myself- surely nothing could be as awesome as she was claiming!?!


I ordered the 24 Day TRIM CHALLENGE.  

I weighed myself, measured, and took before pictures:

Day 1 of the ADVOCARE CLEANSE: I NEVER drink this much water....we are going cycling this morning....and  I know I am going to be hopping off my bike and bounding into the woods....to PEE!


Sure enough....there I was;


Getting naked, to pee......


While- you know.......LEGS' company commander rolled by....

Day 2 of the ADVOCARE CLEANSE:  


LEGS has been eating all kinds of yummy stuff next to me on the couch, but to battle this temptation I have brought out three bowls of fruit to choose from.


Day 3 of the ADVOCARE CLEANSE:


I am craving sugar, I miss cheese and fatty salad dressing.  I spent the better part of the day out in the garden (after my SPARK), cutting the grass, weeding and edging the side walk.  While I was out there (side note I live in a very small village in Germany, many of my neighbors are geriatric) an elderly neighbors dog got stuck behind a wood stack.  They are too old and frail to be getting down on their knees, climbing up anything or even walking on uneven ground.  In order for me to rescue the dog I had to climb on a roof, down into the stack to left the dog out.  By the time I rescued the dog three more neighbors came to watch.  They were over run with emotion! So this is what it feels like to be a SUPER HERO!?!


Day 3 of ADVOCARE CLEANSE CLOSE:  I accomplished ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I set out to accomplish today (which is ALWAYS a TALL ORDER), I did the P90x Shoulders/Arms/Ab Ripper workout since I pounded my legs into oblivion on the bike yesterday, mowed the LARGE yard, did some gardening, edged the sidewalk, did my German lessons, practiced Sewing, made dinner and now knitting- ALL because I feel FABULOUS!!! .*D


FOR REAL: The coolest thing about this ADVOCARE cleanse is SPARK- SPARK is a energy drink with Vitamins and Amino Acids- NO SUGAR and ONLY 45 Calories- not only does it give me a boost but it helps me really grind during my workouts and mentally focus on the task at hand- I WILL NEVER USE ANOTHER PRODUCT BECAUSE THIS IS SIMPLY THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED!!! ( OH and I am not profiting from saying this)


Here are some examples of meals I have eaten the last few days:

Salad with salmon on top; Sun Dried Tomato Dressing with Olive Oil

Small salad with half sweet potato; on the sweet potato I put olive oil, salt and pepper.

Snack: Rice Cake with Natural Peanut Butter,  Fresh Peach Slices.

Small Salad, squash and small piece of chicken....believe it or not I was stuffed!


So here is the TALLS and SMALLS of it:


Obviously I have some things working against me.  My asthma and my thyroid disease.  I have accomplished the IMPOSSIBLE.  So from here on out- I won't be giving anybody anymore excuses.  This blog has made me realize and quantify everything I have done to be a slimmer, fitter, healthier me, and ABSOLUTELY NONE OF IT HAS BEEN EASY.


If you want to get healthy, you will make the decision to do so.  ADVOCARE has been a great experience so far, and has really helped me focus on what I want for myself.  Its a little expensive....but seriously...so is eating nasty and sitting on your Beyonce' all day.  


FINAL MOTIVATION:


It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself a worthy cause, who at the worst, if he fails, at least he knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt


We all stumble.  So if you do, get back on again. Never give up.


Also, what this really boils down to and what everybody seems to forget, is that losing weight and getting fitter is a battle against your own self.  You can't blame it on anybody, or anything, you are responsible, accountable and have the ultimate power to change your life.


Just another day in the life of an unlikely military wife.....**