You don’t have to be rich to be fit.

Prince’s song “Kiss” popped in my head when I typed the title for this post.

If you follow me, you know I run fitness challenges through the website I co-founded, Tampa Bay Moms Group.  Recently, someone told me I should become a Beachbody coach and advertise in my challenges.  I’ve thought about it because I have bought a few workout programs from BB but it goes against what I’m trying to teach my moms.  I used to sell Visalus, too, and almost hit the button to rejoin.  But, again, I just couldn’t go against what I believe in.

I was just reading a post in a Facebook group I’m in about “rich girl fitness.”  You know what I’m talking about.  The girls who look perfect in their perfectly matched Lulu Lemon workout clothes and Asics tennis shoes.  They have the time to make perfect healthy snacks and meals, oh, and the money to buy the organic ingredients.  But that’s not real life for many of us on our fitness journey.

I’m a work-for-free-at-home mom of 4 on one income with 3 of us in college not using student loans, a son who plays golf and a daughter who is a competitive dancer. I don’t have time or the money for this perfect shit.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  “Real fit mom” means I’m a REAL mom trying to get fit.  My Reebok weight set was a birthday gift from my aunt.  My exercise ball and yoga ring were a birthday gift from my biological mom.  P90x was copied by a friend (shhhh).  P90x 3 and Brazil Butt Lift were bought for me by my husband with promises that I’d complete the programs (shhhhh).  My Asics were a birthday gift from my biological step-dad (long story).

If you have time to make dinner, you have time to workout.  Do squats while waiting for the water to boil, step in place while rinsing off dishes, do lunges up and down the hall while the pancakes are pancaking (what do pancakes do??).  You do laundry, right?  Use the detergent bottle or box as a weight.  Got a baby or a toddler?  There’s your gym.  If you have Internet, you have workouts galore at your fingertips- all free.  Bikini Body Mommy, Body Rock, thousands of videos on Youtube.  It’s all FREE!

Most of my workout clothes are hand-me-downs or from Marshall’s/TJ Maxx/Ross.  Or I wear shorts, sweatpants or pj pants.  I don’t have a gym membership (accidentally typed membershit).  I’ve tried but I’m just not a gym person.  It took me 2 years to lose 25 lbs (started at 153 after a car accident) because I’m lazy.  I don’t buy organic, I food prep once every 4-5 months, I don’t buy fad shakes or foods.  My protein powder is the cheapest I could find at Walmart.

I workout at home.  I cut out fast food, pizza, alcohol and junk food (saved a bunch of money, too).  I go on walks- those are free.  If I’m having a bad day, you’ll read about it on here.  If I drank a 32 oz Screwdriver, ate chips and salsa, Runts, a root beer, Capn’ Crunch with whole milk, I’ll be honest about it (yup, that’s what I had yesterday).

I have self esteem issues so I usually don’t take pictures of myself.  When I do take selfies, my hair and make up is usually done.  I’m trying to get over that- which you saw in my post about my fitness moms buying me a Fitbit.  I’m not trying to look perfect or fit into “rich girl fitness” I’m just afraid to put myself out there most times.

There ARE real people getting fit out there.  You just have to find them.  If you happen to have found me, yay!  My goal was to just inspire one person.  I did that but it’s an addiction and I want to inspire more.  If you like my blog, share it.  If it’s not for you, move along!  Whatever you do, don’t fall for the schemes and scams and, as my 9 year old says, “Do you, be you.” #maggerinaballerina #doyoubeyou

Stay off the scale!!!

Not getting on the scale every day, or even every week, was the first lesson I was taught during my first weight challenge.  I tossed mine in the garbage and relied on my measuring tape.  So many women step on this evil tool daily and often get very discouraged if they gained a pound or two from the day before or even during the day.  This can lead to frustration and giving up or eating a bag of cookies and ditching the gym.  I see it all over Facebook almost daily and it makes me sad.  I try to explain to them to be patient, stay off of the scale for a while, don’t give up!

A friend of mine and I have not owned a scale for several years.  She relies on how her clothes fit and I rely on that and measurements.  Someone left a scale at her house so she decided to get on it various times of the day and record the results.  I was curious, too, so I bought my own.

We were very surprised at how much weight can vary throughout the day, before and after eating, before and after working out, after eating/drinking certain foods/drinks and during that oh so wonderful time of the year (you can gain as much as 5-10 pounds!).  Cutting out beer, for her, has also shown a big difference.  Below are some of the pictures from just one day.  We were shocked!

  This was first thing in the morning.

  Mid-day

 

  Evening

 

On this day she weighed as little as 111 lb and as much as 116 lb!  During this week the least she weighed was 111 and the most was 118!  There were a couple of days where she gained two pounds AFTER working out.  For me, I found out the first scale I bought- cheapest one Target had- was a piece of crap.  My weight was all over the place including dropping about six pounds in a week…which suddenly all came back on Day 8.  I exchanged it for a Weight Watchers scale which I like a lot better.  My weight would vary from one to four pounds during the day which was very irritating.  I’m going to document mine next week.

You’ve heard me say “muscle weighs more than fat” because that is what I was told from other trainers and have read in fitness articles and on blogs.  However, it’s a common misconception and I was glad when someone showed me this article One Pound of Fat Versus One Pound of Muscle.

The truth is that when placed on a scale, one pound of fat is going to weigh the same as one pound of muscle – just like one pound of bricks is going to weigh the same as one pound of feathers. Where the confusion comes in is that muscle and fat differ in density (muscle is about 18% more dense than fat) and one pound of muscle occupies less space (volume) than one pound of fat.

The truth is that when placed on a scale, one pound of fat is going to weigh the same as one pound of muscle – just like one pound of bricks is going to weigh the same as one pound of feathers. Where the confusion comes in is that muscle and fat differ in density (muscle is about 18% more dense than fat) and one pound of muscle occupies less space (volume) than one pound of fat.

I really hope this shows why we need to stop obsessing about the scale and just let our clothes and measuring tape be our guide.  Honestly, if you are feeling better, that should mean more than numbers on a scale.

Let your clothes be the judge on how you are doing. Soon your friends will start noticing and telling you how great you look- no scale is going to say that to you!

Society vs Media- Be the change

While reading the news and seeing posts on Facebook I see a lot about “society allows this to happen” “society makes us feel…..” “the media says we should…”

We know who the media is- news stations, magazines, newspapers, bloggers, etc.

But who exactly is ‘society’?

Think about it.

Think hard.

Do you get it?

Think harder.

WE ARE SOCIETY!!!!!

society– n,

people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values

: the people of a particular country, area, time, etc., thought of especially as an organized community

That’s US people!!!  All we need to do is start speaking up which some in the blogging society are doing.  What got me started on this was seeing a news story about a ‘plus size’ model doing a photo shoot with no make up and unedited.  Over 2,000 people commented about her NOT being plus size.  Ninety-nine percent of the people didn’t give a crap that she wore no make up and had an unedited picture.

Society and the media were blamed saying people and pictures like this are what cause the youth of today (and adults) to have body image issues and eating disorders.  People were ticked off that this size “10” model had the audacity to call herself ‘plus size.’  And the news station thought it was great!  Bull poopy.

The next day I saw a post written by, Bridgette, which was  titled “Exposed by my children for what I really look like.”  One of her kids used her phone to take a picture of her on the beach.  She found it while going through her photos and was mortified.

Where she saw fat, her children saw beauty.  Once they told her that they thought she looked “so beautiful” and that the picture “could be a postcard” she shifted her thinking a little.  “My default mode is to see and focus on the flaws and imperfections. I’m starting to see a bit more.”  She still picked out each flaw she spotted but in between she added the beauty she could see within and around her.  She made the change.

The day after that another body image post popped up that was written by the girl who runs the front desk at the dance studio.  She has become one of my favorite bloggers with her raw honesty and passion.  In her post “I woke up like this” Danielle talks about the pressures of having and keeping perfect dance bodies and what some girls do to achieve them.  This is a big issue in the dance world, especially ballet.  Like she said, “there aren’t heavy ballerinas.”  In some other areas of dance I’m seeing a change.  There are amazing contemporary, hip hop and tap dancers who aren’t starving ballerinas.  They are showing that you can be talented and still eat.  They are making the change.  It was difficult for me to find one favorite part of Danielle’s post because she makes a number of excellent points.  But this one hit home for me with my weight struggles- “It isn’t about being tall, short, fat, skinny, curvy, slim, whatever. It’s about being healthy and happy. It’s about looking the way YOU want. Not the way everyone else wants you to look. You shouldn’t ever try to look a certain way for anyone other than yourself. Because at the end of the day, you’re the one who has to live with it.”

That’s something that I’ve struggled with.  I put a strain on my marriage obsessing over what I looked like and bugged Hubby about helping me remember to work out and eat healthy.  He doesn’t care.  Even though I’m forty-five pounds over the 103 I was when we got married he still finds me attractive.  The problem is mine.

But, I’m an adult and am unaffected by what “society” thinks is attractive.  I don’t give a shit about what celebrities look like.  I know what I want to look like- the thinner, healthier me.  My rock bottom moment was sitting in a neurologists office, in tears, after the nurse put me on the scale and she had to add the 50 weight.  I sat there crying, texting my best friend telling her I weighed 153 pounds.  Aside from when I was pregnant I’ve NEVER been that much.  She told me I needed to redirect my energy on getting HEALTHY instead of looking skinny.  One hundred and fifty-three pounds isn’t a healthy weight for me (yes, I know there are women who would love to weigh that much but that’s where you have to find what is healthy and realistic for YOU).  I’ll be healthier at 125-130.  I’ll be happier at 115-120.  This points in this post is why I renamed ‘Skinny Bitch’ ‘Fit Bitch.’  I’m making the change.  Although she should probably be named ‘Healthy Bitch.’

I’m a member of a fitness Facebook page full of women who the media would consider attractive, which really isn’t motivating for me.  They have beautiful, fit bodies that they love to share pictures of.  Blah, blah, blah.  My friends like Heather, co-author of Mamas in Pajamas and my friends Sabrina, Geralyn and Kristi are my motivators.  Bikini Body Mommy is my motivator.  They are moms who aren’t afraid to show the world that they are starting their own movement to get fit and HEALTHY.  They post their progression pictures proudly which I absolutely love because it causes me to get off my butt and work on my own HEALTH.  They are making the change.

Stop blaming “society” (which is really only blaming yourself) and make the change.  Be proud to post pictures of yourself.  Hashtag #iamsociety or #changingsociety or #screwthemedia or whatever other hashtags you can think of.  We have to power to create our own society and show the media what we truly think is beautiful, sexy and healthy.

DIE BBL DIE!!!!!

Yes, I’m at it again.  I did Day 1- yay me!

In typical RFM Brazil Butt Lift fashion I skipped Day 2 because Day 3 is Rest and I always seem to switch them.  That means I have to get off of my lazy, hungover ass and do Day 2 today.  Note to self- do not start drinking early…..or show Hubby your cup is empty.

I’ve come to despise BBL and already have a fellow fitness chick who is dying to get her hands on it.  It’s a REALLY good program!!!!!  I’m just bored with it because I’ve been trying to get through it for 3 years.  I could do the routine without the DVD- in my sleep.

I’m sucking it up (not in) and doing bathing suit pictures today (of course I wait until a day where it’s 54 degrees in Florida) but am not posting them until I finish BBL.  I know, you’re extremely disappointed you don’t get to see my flab hanging out of a super cute bikini.  I’ll warn you before I post them so you can make sure you’re not eating.  I know, I know, they won’t be THAT bad but like I told loseitbig, it’s bad for me.  I used to have a cute little figure that proudly walked down the boardwalk.  Then kids and life happened and I cover up with a moo moo now.  Crap, I can’t blame the kids or life.  It’s my fault.  I just got lazy- and really like to eat.

The last time I was in two weight loss challenges I actually got the weight off.  With the two I’m in now I’m hoping to pass the goal I had before and NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT put the weight back on this time!!!!  NOT.

NOT.

Slacker Fattie can go to hell.  Currently, she’s sitting her butt on the computer in aforementioned moo moo because it’s comfy.  Fit Bitch is about to shove a spatula under her ass and toss her up outta the chair though.

Time to get real and get fit!!

 

Exercising with ADD

I’m in ADD mode this morning for some reason.  I think I’m at that irritated point again where all the “oh look!  Squirrel!” jokes have caught up to me.  People think that because I make fun of myself and my ADD moments that it’s ok for them to make fun of me, too.  If I had anorexia would you make jokes?  What about OCD?  Or Development Disorders?  Didn’t think so.

I love this picture that I found on the ADDitude Facebook page- pretty much sums up what a lot of us go through:

I scrolled through a few more things and found this-

Ooh, good question. Flora asks: “Anyone know of any fun exercise regimens for people with ADHD/ADD? I’d rather not pay for a gym membership, but if I have to, I will.” How are you adult ADHDers making exercise work for you?

Yay!  I’m not the only person with this issue!  Whew!  I had to laugh though because in true ADD fashion the next 30 responses were Dance!  Swimming!  Walking!  Wii and XBox dance games!  Zumba!

But what about the second question?

Then one lone person actually answered that second question (she probably remembered to take her Adderall).

I might have misunderstood this, but it seems you are asking how to make it WORK. I know I personally will get into a regimen really strong for a while, then I slowly start forgetting or making excuses and eventually I stop. I WANT to work out in such a big way. I want to become “ADD-icted” to exercise, but inevitably I drop. So far, my best way of making it work for me is having a workout partner who (1) understands my weaknesses [quitting] and doesn’t let me do it and (2) understands that most of the time we are just together for companionship of presence and I need to escape into my music.
If my friend allows me to make excuses and doesn’t push me, then once again, I’ll be doomed to fail. But her commitment is strong. I think we should try to get more friends because the more people depending on me, the more likely I will be there.
Maybe finding someone to be there would be your beat help.

BINGO!!!  I suddenly understand my relationship with exercising.  How many times have I said on this blog “I WANT to work out!”?  Now I know why it’s so hard for me.  But now comes the problem solving part.  I’ve asked friends to hold me accountable but they eventually forget.  Even Josh quit because I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain.  But what I need is someone to stick with me through my quit times.  Grapes, Gripes and Gratitude has helped a LOT- so much that I’m afraid to give her my phone number because she understands me so well that I know she’ll blow up my phone every day until I send her a video of me working out holding up a newspaper with today’s date in front of CNN with the current time.

All this time I thought I was just a failure.  But here’s another thing- I hate blaming everything on ADD.  I know it’s some medical issue where brain functions, waves, cells, whatever don’t meet up with some big long medical term I’ll never understand or whatever the boring term stuff, blah blah blah.  I just want to be normal.  Ugh, stupid statement.  I need to embrace my ADD even though I don’t wanna!!!!  I will keep trying new things until I find something that works.  I will keep yo yo-ing until I find someone committed to my commitment.  I will now go back to bed and wallow in my misery. Ummm, I mean go paint my son’s room then workout while it dries.  I have so many projects started and I decided two days ago it’s time to get them finished.  With the oldest off to college the other 3 are moving around which is taking way longer than I thought but we’ll save that for another post.

At any rate, today I start over again.  Slacker Fattie might have finally met her match with Fit Bitch- especially since Fit Bitch has figured out why Slacker Fattie has been so bad with working out.  On the plus side, I’m blogging more!!!  🙂

NOT GIVING UP!!!!!

I just can’t seem to quit.  I tried, I really did.  I totally failed at my challenge to get through Brazil Butt Lift- I don’t even think I lasted two days- but here I am, once again with a new challenge.

I’m determined to keep up with this one not only because I’m tired of how I feel and look but because I will have several (hopefully more) mommies counting on me to help them.  I started a second Fitness Challenge for Tampa Bay Moms Group because I really want to help our mommies get healthy and live longer so they can be there to embarrass their kids when they’re grown.

Yesterday I was in Wal Mart with my 15 year old daughter who needed a new bathing suit and when I commented on how cheap the bikinis were she offered to buy me one.  I tried to refuse her offer until she looked at me and said, “Consider it motivation.”  I love it when my kids have these moments.  We spent 10 minutes looking for a matching top and bottom and finally gave up- I wound up with cute green/pink/black camo bottoms and a plain black top (I crossed my fingers the large top would fit).

Later that evening was in Dillard’s trying on clothes with my 18 year old daughter and started to send Hubby a kinky dressing room picture when I stopped myself.  Why would he want to see my chunky thighs, muffin top and back fat?  I stood in the mirror once again unhappy with how I looked.

On the way home we stopped in a different Wal Mart to see if they had the top in XL (the girls need extra coverage).  Kai spotted one in the same pattern as the bottoms I’d gotten earlier.  I tried it on when I got home and bravely entered her room so seek her opinion- this is my brutally honest kid.  I was pleasantly surprised when she said, “It doesn’t look that bad” as I added “picture 20 pounds less.”

Yesterday was a revelation for getting back on the exercise horse and a great mommy/daughter day.  I got a new bikini to help me get off my butt and exercise and a compliment from Miss Honesty when I was feeling really low- oh, and I should mention she treated me to a pedicure before we went shopping. 😉  I only ate one of the Snickerdoodle cookies she bought, too!!  She got a cute top out of the deal, as well, thanks to my birthday gift card.

Ugh, just re-read this for errors and realized how much my ADD shows sometimes in my writing.  Laugh it off, RFM, laugh it off.  ❤

Ok, Slacker Fattie, time for Skinny Bitch to smack you down…..again.

Breakfast Scramble

Olive oil spray

4 slices extra lean turkey bacon, chopped

1 cup finely chopped sweet onion

2 tsp freshly minced garlic

16 large white egg whites (or egg white substitute)

3 cups loosely packed spinach leaves, stems removed

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Place a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Lightly mist the pan with the olive oil spray.  Add the bacon, onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently for 3-5 minutes or until the onion is tender and the bacon is golden brown.  Meanwhile, mist a large shallow microwave safe bowl with the spray.  Scramble the egg whites.  Add scrambled egg whites and spinach to the bacon mixture and stir well to wild spinach slightly and incorporate the egg whites.  Season with salt and pepper.  Divide the scramble among 4 plates and serve.

Apple Oat Bran Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups oat bran

2 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1  12 oz can apple juice concentrate (thawed)

1 cup water

Directions:

Heat oven to 325 F.  Lightly oil muffin pan.  Peel and core apples; chop them coarsely.  Set aside.  In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, oat bran, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Add thawed apple juice concentrate, chopped apples, and enough water to make a light batter- enough to moisten all ingredients.  Divide batter among the muffin cups and bake till lightly browned, 25-30 minutes.  Remove muffins from cups while hot and enjoy with a side of fresh fruit and a glass of almond milk.

Ack! I’ve kept you all in suspense!

I just realized I never posted my “after” pictures for my 3 month long weight loss challenge with Erica (which ended 3 months ago- whoopsie!).  I posted them on my Facebook and thought I’d put them here, too, but when I went to look for them……they weren’t there!

I’m so sorry!

Ok, so here is my before and middle picture (Slacker Fattie’s not looking so hot):

The one on the left was taken on 9/25/11 and the one on the right was taken on 10/10/11.  Pretty good, huh?

Here’s my after picture taken on 11/23/11:

The return of Skinny Bitch! Muahahahahaha!  I was very proud of myself! 🙂

Unfortunately I’ve gained some of the weight back (which is typical for most normal women) but I’m gearing up for the Tough Mudder in December and my 20th high school reunion in June so have a lot of work to do.  I’ve been sick the past two weeks and am looking forward to setting some new goals as soon as I’m back to feeling 100%.

I’m not completely shallow, my main focus is to feel and be healthier more so than looking hot (although the looking hot part will be a nice bonus LOL).  I know this next journey will be filled with all the regular ups and downs that go along with me and my lovely goals but I will continue this fight as long as I’m alive- and I’ll do it with great joy and passion!  Yes, I know that sounded incredibly corny but it’s true.   Here we go again!

Kill Mode Training videos

I finally got my videos to upload.  These are just some of the fun workouts you can do when you train with Kill Mode.

Pay no attention to me, just check out the guy behind me!!!  LOL

Flipping the tire was waaaaaay harder than I thought it would be.  I struggled getting back up and kept getting corrected for using my back.  Bad RFM!!!

Killer oblique workout!

For more Kill Mode pictures and videos please visit these posts:

Catching up  (my first Kill Mode session)

Session 2- TRX time! (Includes my very first blog video featuring me!)

Fun with Kill Mode Training

You’ll see me use the word “fun” a lot when talking about training with Kill Mode.  Why?  Because every session has honestly been fun!  If you’ve followed me for a year or are just joining you’ll know that I don’t sugar coat things and always give it to you straight.   One of the reasons I decided to start including pictures of me was to show you how real it is.  To take it a step further I even added the videos so you could see the struggle, the sweat and hear the laughter.  This could be you!