Hey guys! I can't believe it has been a year already since I started my BeachBody journey! May 14, 2012, I started to get serious with my weight loss and got the program TurboFire. I wound up completing the program and doing an extra 2 weeks of the advanced schedule. I lost 11.6 pounds and 6 inches total. From then I was hooked! I fell in love with Chalene Johnson and started her ChaLEAN Extreme program. With that program after 90 days I lost 4 pounds and 9 inches. By this point I was leaning out, gaining muscle and really concentrating on eating well. Next up was Insanity. However, I loved CLX so much that I incorporated it about 2-3 times a week with Insanity. After 60 days I lost 4.8 pounds and 5.25 inches. Abs were starting to show and I was shocked! However, I was miserable throughout that 60 days... that program was NOT for me! After that I needed a slight break and went to an easier program that was a lot of fun! Brazil Butt Lift was up next and I LOVED it!! I purchased adjustable ankle weights to make sure I got the most out of the program. I also included some CLX with this program so I could keep up with the strength training. I did two rounds of it and after 60 days I lost 2 pounds and only about a half inch or an inch but my body definitely toned up and the booty lifted! At this point, I'm at the weight I want to be so losing weight isn't a concern for me anymore. I do still want to lose body fat and gain muscle, but I'm not obsessed with the scale anymore and that's a HUGE non-scale victory! I am currently on Day 51 of 84 of Body Beast and I am loving the program!!! Here are my comparison pictures from 1 year ago to today! {However, I'm currently in the Bulking Phase of Body Beast so there is some fluff going on ;) }
I don't have exact numbers but my weight last year May 14th was about 153 pounds and currently i'm around 134 pounds. I have lost inches and gained muscle! (and some confidence because this girl has NEVER worn a bikini!). I'm very excited to continue my progress!
So, besides my weight and body shape, A LOT has changed in a year! I have learned to stop being a slave to the scale. Now I just use my scale as a guide to gauge progress with my body fat % and skeletal muscle %. I rely more on measurements and pictures. I would get frustrated and then realize that my clothes are becoming more loose, and I was able to tighten my belt another notch and then realized, that the scale is just a number... that obviously i'm doing something right! I've donated many bags of clothes, but unfortunately cannot afford a new wardrobe lol.
I have also greatly cleaned up my eating habits. I don't consider myself to be on a diet. This truly is a lifestyle now. I have my "cheat nights"... and sometimes if I want some candy, I'll have it! I make it work into my calories and macros and I don't drive myself crazy about it. Eventually, I'd like to get to the point where I stop calorie counting and just trust my judgement and I'm getting pretty close! Right now i'm making sure I log everything because I'm concentrating on getting my macros correct each day for Body Beast.
Also, exercise has changed my body on the inside. I have more energy, I have less stress built up, my back pain has decreased dramatically, my neck pain has decreased, my memory has improved (which is huge for test-taking!), my blood pressure has decreased... i'm sure there are a ton of other things too like decreased cholesterol, but I haven't had that checked recently. Exercise has SO many benefits that it amazes me there are people who aren't doing it!! Who wouldn't want a better lifestyle so they can be healthy and live longer?! Especially for someone like me who doesn't have health insurance lol. All it takes is 20-30 minutes a day to start reaping some of these benefits!
Also within this year, I have completed my undergrad studies for pharmacy and I was accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program for this Fall! That is HUGE since that is something I have been striving for for a long time now. Going back to school was something I finally did for myself and it was the best decision I ever made!
I am also on my way to hitting 500 days of logging into MyFitnessPal! Over that time I have met SO many amazing people that I am happy to call my friends =) Having people you can turn to to vent or when you're down and need motivation is SO important! and I LOVE motivating them in return! It is really what can help you stay on track. That way you're held accountable and feel great when it comes time to show your progress!
Over this year my Facebook page, Full-Time Fit, has also grown! I am up to 286 likes! I am so thankful for the support I have received and I hope it can grow even more this year!
I have also greatly cleaned up my eating habits. I don't consider myself to be on a diet. This truly is a lifestyle now. I have my "cheat nights"... and sometimes if I want some candy, I'll have it! I make it work into my calories and macros and I don't drive myself crazy about it. Eventually, I'd like to get to the point where I stop calorie counting and just trust my judgement and I'm getting pretty close! Right now i'm making sure I log everything because I'm concentrating on getting my macros correct each day for Body Beast.
Also, exercise has changed my body on the inside. I have more energy, I have less stress built up, my back pain has decreased dramatically, my neck pain has decreased, my memory has improved (which is huge for test-taking!), my blood pressure has decreased... i'm sure there are a ton of other things too like decreased cholesterol, but I haven't had that checked recently. Exercise has SO many benefits that it amazes me there are people who aren't doing it!! Who wouldn't want a better lifestyle so they can be healthy and live longer?! Especially for someone like me who doesn't have health insurance lol. All it takes is 20-30 minutes a day to start reaping some of these benefits!
Also within this year, I have completed my undergrad studies for pharmacy and I was accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program for this Fall! That is HUGE since that is something I have been striving for for a long time now. Going back to school was something I finally did for myself and it was the best decision I ever made!
I am also on my way to hitting 500 days of logging into MyFitnessPal! Over that time I have met SO many amazing people that I am happy to call my friends =) Having people you can turn to to vent or when you're down and need motivation is SO important! and I LOVE motivating them in return! It is really what can help you stay on track. That way you're held accountable and feel great when it comes time to show your progress!
Over this year my Facebook page, Full-Time Fit, has also grown! I am up to 286 likes! I am so thankful for the support I have received and I hope it can grow even more this year!
As I started to see results, I realized to get over plateaus and start burning body fat, I really needed to clean up my diet. Some things I have incorporated over the year is FISH! I couldn't believe it because I have hated fish for most of my life and refused to cook it... but it was just because I didn't know how to do it properly! I started with tilapia and then started buying salmon. I also take Omega supplements.
I have learned to incorporate more protein into my diet (about 1g per pound of body weight, though I'm eating more during Body Beast). I make protein shakes with whey protein (Cellucor and Optimum Nutrition are my favorites!) and I use a recovery formula (2:1:1 from Optimum Nutrition). I have incorporated wayyyyy more eggs into my diet! I buy liquid egg whites for easier omelets and I love doing the baked hard-boiled eggs option for quick snacks! Other sources for me are almonds (filled with healthy fats too!), light string cheese, low-sodium tuna fish, natural peanut butter, low-fat low-sodium cottage cheese, lean organic chicken, and air-popped popcorn!
My water intake has also drastically increased!! I make sure I drink at least a gallon a day. Currently I'm obsessed with infusing my water! I'll cut up half a cucumber, a grapefruit, orange and some lemon, throw in some mint leaves and fill up the pitcher with filtered water. It's refreshing and SO good for you!
I have also stopped buying soda. I was never really crazy about drinking it but I liked having it around, especially Coke Zero! Now I realize that if I don't buy it, that removes the temptation! I'll only have it if I go out to eat or if I'm at a party... then it comes a 'treat' to me.
I still have a crazy sweet tooth but have found better choices. I buy some dark chocolate to help a sweet craving. Another option is mixing Greek yogurt with chocolate protein powder for a delicious mousse/pudding! Also I LOVE mixing my low-fat low-sodium cottage cheese with some Cellucor Cinnamon Swirl protein powder... it's delicious and a perfect treat!! Another option is slicing up an apple, sprinkling it with some cinnamon and drizzling a little light syrup or agave on top, microwave for a minute and you have a delicious warm, tasty treat! These have really helped my evening cravings! Along with some Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride or Candy Cane Lane tea and I'm set!
These are just a few of the healthier choices I've made! I'm always a work-in-progress but I'm in much better shape now than I was a year ago!
I have learned to incorporate more protein into my diet (about 1g per pound of body weight, though I'm eating more during Body Beast). I make protein shakes with whey protein (Cellucor and Optimum Nutrition are my favorites!) and I use a recovery formula (2:1:1 from Optimum Nutrition). I have incorporated wayyyyy more eggs into my diet! I buy liquid egg whites for easier omelets and I love doing the baked hard-boiled eggs option for quick snacks! Other sources for me are almonds (filled with healthy fats too!), light string cheese, low-sodium tuna fish, natural peanut butter, low-fat low-sodium cottage cheese, lean organic chicken, and air-popped popcorn!
My water intake has also drastically increased!! I make sure I drink at least a gallon a day. Currently I'm obsessed with infusing my water! I'll cut up half a cucumber, a grapefruit, orange and some lemon, throw in some mint leaves and fill up the pitcher with filtered water. It's refreshing and SO good for you!
I have also stopped buying soda. I was never really crazy about drinking it but I liked having it around, especially Coke Zero! Now I realize that if I don't buy it, that removes the temptation! I'll only have it if I go out to eat or if I'm at a party... then it comes a 'treat' to me.
I still have a crazy sweet tooth but have found better choices. I buy some dark chocolate to help a sweet craving. Another option is mixing Greek yogurt with chocolate protein powder for a delicious mousse/pudding! Also I LOVE mixing my low-fat low-sodium cottage cheese with some Cellucor Cinnamon Swirl protein powder... it's delicious and a perfect treat!! Another option is slicing up an apple, sprinkling it with some cinnamon and drizzling a little light syrup or agave on top, microwave for a minute and you have a delicious warm, tasty treat! These have really helped my evening cravings! Along with some Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride or Candy Cane Lane tea and I'm set!
These are just a few of the healthier choices I've made! I'm always a work-in-progress but I'm in much better shape now than I was a year ago!
So what's next for me? Well, at the end of next month my boyfriend and I will be moving to the town where my grad school is. By then I will be done with Body Beast and I am contemplating another round or possibly a Body Beast/Les Mills Combat hybrid (yes, I have that program too!). I'm not sure how things will work out with my grad school schedule but I'm going to make sure that I schedule time for workouts. They have become too much of a part of my life now... and they keep me sane! Oh i'm also doing May's Challenge of Squateggedon!
I hope my story is inspiring to others! I am not a BeachBody coach, I do not work for them, I'm not being paid to promote their products... I just genuinely love their programs and they work! I'm the type that needs a schedule for workouts or I'll lose motivation. I highly recommend their programs because they're easy to follow and if you stick to the nutrition, you'll get the results you're looking for!
Thank you to those that have supported me along the way and been there to help motivate and guide me!
<3 Crystal
I hope my story is inspiring to others! I am not a BeachBody coach, I do not work for them, I'm not being paid to promote their products... I just genuinely love their programs and they work! I'm the type that needs a schedule for workouts or I'll lose motivation. I highly recommend their programs because they're easy to follow and if you stick to the nutrition, you'll get the results you're looking for!
Thank you to those that have supported me along the way and been there to help motivate and guide me!
<3 Crystal