Hello, there! Long time, no blog. I do not intentionally keep abandoning this space and I actually think about blogging often but just haven't have the energy or mindset to get back into until recently. I'm actually sharing something with you today that I've been really excited about and I'm kicking myself for not blogging about it since day one... not only for you but I think it would have been awesome for me to look back on as well. Oh well, you live and learn.  

Life has been pretty much the same old, same old. But, I do have some exciting news to share with you all. I signed up for nutritional coaching. Many of you who read know that I started my fitness journey in the spring of 2014. And you also know that since then it has been a lot of on the wagon and off the wagon. Failures and restarts. I went strong for the first year, losing almost 40 lbs only to lose my way and gain almost all of it back. Since then... I haven't been able to stick to anything consistently for more than a few days at a time. I knew I had to do something to get back on track and so that is exactly what I did.

Almost four weeks ago, I signed up for an 8 Week Macro Coaching Program with Chelsea Karabin from ChelseaLifts. For me, this was a huge deal because I'm pretty cheap and coaching programs are expensive and even when money is involved it often doesn't motivate me the way that it does most people.

My biggest pieces of advice boil down to the following: make sure you're mentally ready and do your research. Chelsea is CSCS certified (you can reach more about that here) and has a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology. She is also a powerlifter herself and owns her own powerlifting gym, Raise the Bar. She isn't just some fit girl shilling hopes and supplements. She actually knows what she is talking about. 

I got to me Chelsea in person at the Arnold Sports Festival on March 4, 2016.

I started the program at around 205.00 lbs. I'm currently sitting at 200.4 lbs as of today. Has the weight loss been extreme? Nope. But, I'm truly learning to have a better relationship with food. 

Her program follows an IIFYM approach but she encourages lean proteins and whole foods over stuffing yourself with junk. Her plans are custom to each client so she also recommends I do (3) 30 minute LISS cardio sessions and (1) 15 minutes HIIT session per week.

Here are the recaps from my first three weeks:

Week number: 1 of 8
Previous week's weight (7 day average): Unsure as I wasn't tracking regularly before starting your program. I weighed in at the doctor on the 16th at 205 lbs.
This week's weight (7 day average): 200.7 lbs

Saturday, 2/20: 203.4 lbs | Calories: 1798 P: 61 F: 71 Carbs: 223
Sunday, 2/21: 201.6 lbs | Calories: 1970 P: 105 F: 75 Carbs: 216
Monday, 2/22: 200.8 lbs | Calories: 1608 P: 88 F: 37 Carbs: 240
Tuesday, 2/23: 200 lbs | Calories: 1627 P: 80 F: 42 Carbs: 253
Wednesday, 2/24: 199.2 lbs | Calories: 1669 P: 102 F: 42 Carbs: 232
Thursday, 2/25: 199.6 lbs | Calories: 2183 P: 85 F: 128 Carbs: 200
Friday, 2/26: 200 lbs | Calories: 1894 P: 117 F: 59 Carbs: 216

Week number: 2 of 8

Previous week's weight (7 day average): 200.7 lbs
This week's weight (7 day average): 200.4 lbs

Saturday, 2/27: 200.8 lbs | Calories: 1525 P: 59 F: 37 Carbs: 242
Sunday, 2/28: 200.2 lbs | Calories: 1402 P: 58 F: 45 Carbs: 195
Monday, 2/29: 199 lbs | Calories: 1729 P: 65 F: 44 Carbs: 251
Tuesday, 3/1: 199.2 lbs | Calories: 1986 P: 82 F: 82 Carbs: 236
Wednesday, 3/2: 200.6 lbs | Calories: 1843 P: 106 F: 53 Carbs: 245
Thursday, 3/3: 200.2 lbs | Calories: 2327 P: 93 F: 84 Carbs: 301
Friday, 3/4: 202.5 lbs | Calories: 1454 P: 93 F: 38 Carbs: 179

Week number: 3 of 8

Previous week's weight (7 day average): 200.4 lbs
This week's weight (7 day average): 200.4 lbs

Saturday, 3/5: 200.6 lbs | Calories: 2328 P: 95 F: 145 Carbs: 297
Sunday, 3/6: 199.8 lbs | Calories: 1555 P: 103 F: 82 Carbs: 219
Monday, 3/7: 199 lbs | Calories: 1768 P: 122 F: 52 Carbs: 201
Tuesday, 3/8: 201 lbs | Calories: 1720 P: 117 F: 49 Carbs: 201
Wednesday, 3/9: 200.2 lbs | Calories: 1913 P: 114 F: 48 Carbs: 269
Thursday, 3/10: 200.6 lbs | Calories: 1895 P: 147 F: 48 Carbs: 205
Friday, 3/11: 201.4 lbs | Calories: 1825 P: 51 F: 89 Carbs: 230

Picture progress at the end of week 2/beginning of week 3.

We are starting week 4 at 1710 calories: 130 g of protein, 185 g of carbs, 50 g of fat.

Please stay tuned as I plan to be checking on a more regular basis going forward.

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I'm choosing to blog my experience with Chelsea's program. I am not being compensated in form. I paid for it with my own hard earned money. 

Currently - January Edition

READING: I'm currently reading Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I'm attempting to rekindle my love of reading while also branching out from the typical genres I normally enjoy by participating in the POPSUGAR 2016 Reading Challenge.

WATCHING: I just finished Season 2 of SyFy's original series Z Nation. I love it! If you like The Walking Dead, I definitely think you'd enjoy it. Oh, and it is currently streaming on Netflix. I've also been watching Making a Murderer off and on. I'm honestly not far enough into it to have formed an opinion though.

LISTENING TO: I almost exclusively listen to Spotify these days. And it is usually their Today's Top Hits. I enjoy music but don't have the same sort of connection most people seem to.

DISCOVERING: My love and need for meditation. As an anxiety suffer, I'm trying to figure out why it took me so long to try it. I've been experimenting with a variety of different apps (Calm, Sattva, Headspace) and both guided and unguided meditations. Sadly, they all require a purchase or subscription of some kind.

PLANNING: I've never been on a real vacation... ever. So this year, I will make it happen. Right now, I'm looking at Yellowstone National Park. And my bestie and I are also planning a trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park in the late spring or early summer. I've never really been a beach kinda girl. Giving me wilderness any day!

CRAVING: I've been craving pho for weeks. Sadly, it is complicated to make (authentically) and living in the middle of a cornfield means pho is an hour plus away. I was in Cincinnati a few weekends ago only to have discovered my favorite place had went out of business.

WISHING: As many perks as there are to living in a four season state, I simply cannot embrace winter, cold, or snow. We were pretty lucky the first couple of months of winter but I'm so ready for spring/summer, warmth, and greenery.

FEELING: Peaceful. Focused. I started treating my anxiety several months ago and it has been an amazing journey thus far. With it under control via medication, I have the clarity I need to work on managing it in more natural ways.

2016: The Year of Me

My word for 2016 is THRIVE.

Thrive is to prosper, flourish.

1. Achieve a healthy weight where I am happy and feel comfortable.
2. Rediscover my love for reading.
3. Balance my emotions and continue to understand my anxiety.
4. Forgive those I've harbored ill feelings towards.
5. Explore a more spiritual side of life.
6. Be the best version of me so when I find love it stands a chance.
7. Pursue more meaningful relationships.
8. Gain financial freedom.
9. Grow in my professional life.
10. Enjoy my journey!

Long Time, No Blog: Let's Begin Again

Hello, friends. Long time, no blog. I long ago abandoned this little piece of the internet. The laundry list of of reasons excuses are long. Some are more legitimate than others. Perhaps, I'll fill ya'll in but honestly, I have just have a hankering for a new beginning in all aspects of life: professionally, emotionally. mentally, and physically. Twenty-fifteen hasn't exactly been my year thus far but it is never too late to start again, right?

This space will be a little bit of everything but mainly focused on my health and fitness journey.

For today, I'll leave you with my fitness mission statement that I wrote just this past January:

Striving daily to strengthen my mind, body, and soul through physical activity and balanced nutrition. To inspire others through example and with encouragement that being happier and healthier is possible without extremism. Balance and moderation is the key to achieving my fitness goals and being able to maintain them.