Down 20 lbs. and 8 inches

The day has come when I feel it is time to share my results photos from working out with T25 and drinking Shakeology. I don't necessarily want to. It is something that is a little bit hard for me because I am putting myself out there and it makes me very vulnerable by doing so. Please be kind.

But I'm doing it. I'm doing it because I want to show what real results are. 

Sure there are a slew of before and after photos that Beachbody uses for their marketing, but how many of us actually know who those people are? AND those photos are professionally taken. Let's face it-- photos always look better when they are taken professionally. 

My husband was my photographer, my daughter was his helper and my iPhone was the camera. That's as professional as these "photo shoots" got.

So without further ado.....

Real, non-professional, iPhone photography of my personal results after 10 weeks of using the T25 workout program and drinking Shakeology every day.

(Notice that part of my transformation included a new hair-do?! I chopped my hair so that I could donate it !)

I am pleased with my results-- I lost 20 lbs. and about 8 inches. There is also some muscle definition (most noticeably in my biceps). 

But I'm not done. I still have more work that I want to do. I will be doing P90X3 to build some lean muscle. The number on the scale will most likely go back up when that happens, but the inches will continue to come off and the clothes will continue to fit better (that's why the scale is only part of the story!).

The best part..... how I FEEL. There is no measurable number that is used to describe the feeling of health and energy. It's called a non-scale victory because the scale can't tell me that and my body fat percentage won't tell me that-- that non-scale victory is worth A LOT to me.

Thank you so much to everyone for the support. I love that while I am on my own health journey that I get to help other people on theirs and see so many lives be changed by just taking a few small steps.

Cheers to health and happiness.

What? Why?

This post is long overdue. I actually have a post that is in my drafts that never got published. I may or may not decide to publish it. We will see.

Anyway. Why am I here? What am I doing?

Well. After the birth of my second baby I found myself completely exhausted, overwhelmed, and not sleeping (who does with a newborn?).  And all of that was on top of post partum hormones (which was new territory for me since I didn't notice my hormones with my first child), AND insecurities about my physical appearance (another piece of new territory since my baby weight came off quickly and easily with my first).

I knew that changes needed to be made. I knew that wishing and hoping wouldn't solve this problem. It was something I was going to have to work for. Proper nutrition and exercise were the only factors I had control over that would dictate my physical shape. My whole undergraduate degree revolved around this notion.

I had done P90X prior to my pregnancy and saw phenomenal results. I wanted to get back on with it, but as I stated earlier, I was overhwelmed. I was trying to figure out a daily schedule and routine and I just didn't have the time that P90X requires to dedicate to working out.

About this time, my friend Erica introduced me to the newest Beachbody workout program-- T25. The time requirement is 25 minutes each day (5 days a week). Totally doable. She also introduced me to Shakeology-- the nutrient dense protein shake.

So I jumped on board. And I fell in love.

T25: 25 minutes of intense working out is my kind of working out. I don't have to feel selfish or "mom guilt" for dedicating 25 minutes to me. I am getting full body workouts and the amount of sweat that drips from my face in that short 25 minutes is not very flattering, but I am seeing results in my physical body. And more importantly, I am FEELING results!

Shakeology: I have never been a super health food freak. But I'm not a junk foodie either. My motto has always been moderation. Moderation is still very much my motto, but my nutritional value intake needed a boost.  Since I am breast feeding I need to make sure that I am getting enough nutrients to sustain both my baby and myself. If all I eat is junk food then any sort of nutritional value I receive from that food will go straight to my breast milk to sustain my baby's growing needs. My body needs nutrients too.

Shakeology is literally a superfood. The definition of a superfood is food that is high in nutrients and low in calories. It's ingredients are comprised of REAL food-- not something synthesized in a lab. Foods like quinoa, chia, flax, goji berry (just to name a few). It provides our bodies with the nutrients we need to function at optimal health. When our bodies are given these nutrients they will function to help us lose excess weight and have more energy. And the best part? It's super convenient (convenience was something I really needed)! Convenience sometimes came in the form of a drive up window. But it doesn't have to anymore.

Moral of the story: no matter what point you are at in your life, life is busy. But I believe everybody can find 25 minutes a day for exercise. With T25 as my workout program and Shakeology as my go-to "fast food" meal I have dropped my baby weight and I am beginning to get my muscle tone back.

It helped me and it can help YOU. AND.... I can help you too. 

I can help you. That's why I am now a Beachbody coach. Whatever your fitness and health goals are, I can help you find the right fit and balance. And my services as a coach are free to you. You can message me to solicit my services and support.

I'm finally putting my college degree to use again!