Operation Snap Back™: Pushing Past the Plateau

When the MTV V(Bey)MAs aired the other night the internet went crazy after Kanye West premiered  his new video for Fade featuring Teyana Taylor. If you haven't seen the video just go on instagram and search the hashtag #TeyanaTaylor.

There is where you will find your life. And some fitness motivation.

Why was there so much buzz about Miss Teyana? Well, because she just had a baby. Not gonna lie her body blew my mind and then my mind came back with perspective.

First of all she's a dancer. Second of all she's twenty something. And third of all I'm pretty sure she's working with resources that this stay at home Mom can't afford. What I do have in common with Teyana is that we have the same 24 hours everyday and we both have nine month old babies.

So, after watching her dance in that video I decided that I needed to push past my current mental and physical plateau.

Here's how I found new motivation:

-I started alternating my workouts between 21 Day Fix Extreme and Cize. If your workouts are starting to bore you try something new!

-I'm using heavier weights for 21 Day Fix Extreme to make it more challenging. If your workout isn't challenging your body then it's probably not working. (I should have done this after my first round to be honest. Being cheap and too lazy to go to the store gets you no where.)

-I set long term goals to keep me working towards something other than seeing inches disappear. I want to look good at some upcoming events so I must continue to eat right and workout.

- If I got these kind of results in 42 days where would I be by the end of the year if I just stick with it?

I have so loved learning about my body through this process. I now know that I shouldn't be eating much dairy with the exception of eggs. I have also learned that I need to avoid a diet that is high in sodium. Carbs are okay in moderation and drinking the appropriate amount of water really makes the difference between me surviving a workout or dying midway through it.

A couple other things I've learned about my body... My metabolism is encouraged during cardio. I notice that my metabolism works much "better" on the days that I do cardio. My final take away is that your flat tummy is definitely made in the kitchen. It doesn't matter how many ab workouts you do if you're still eating all the sodium and drinking all the wine.

Sad facts.

My strategy for eating is to find things that you love to eat and always have them on hand. I literally eat the same thing for weeks at a time. When I start to feel sick of it I find something new and eat that into the ground. I have found that it is so much easier to eat what you love over and over  again instead of trying to be a Top Chef whipping up all these different things everyday. Do what works for you but my little "meal phases" have been a huge help to me.

Before I leave for the day to head to Costco and the Post Office I just want to share some exciting news. 

I wasn't sure when I would share this but today seems like the right time so here we go...

I have registered to become a certified Cize Live instructor. My workshop is in a couple weeks. Once I'm certified I'll be able to teach Cize in a group fitness setting! I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes. Wish me luck!

Operation Snap Back™: 21 Day Fix Extreme FINAL Results

Yesterday was the last day of my 21 Day Fix Extreme challenge. For 21 days I worked out, ate clean and ran 25 miles with the girls from Operation Snap Back™. I completed all of my challenges and I'm still alive.

Not gonna lie, this past week was hard. I was tired. Mikey caught a cold. Moses started crawling. The laundry piles got higher and higher but we all made it. 

To say that I am amazed at my results would be an understatement. I honestly can not believe I went from not even being able to suck in my stomach to not having to suck in my stomach at all. What a difference 21 days can make.

I'm even mentally in a better place as far as food is concerned. I still crave all my favorite things but moving forward my goal is to enjoy them in moderation. Let me be clear - I still plan to eat all the things I love. But from here on out I'll be eating clean more and indulging myself less.

I'm going to practice some restraint and keep moving toward my goal of maybe one day having an ab or two.

BEFORE PHOTO - JULY 11, 2016

AFTER PHOTO - JULY 31, 2016

Here are the most important lessons I learned during the past 21 days:

- Giving myself 30 minutes a day to workout isn't going to make this family fall apart.

- I will never like burpees.

-A life without french fries is not worth living.

- Eating clean is much easier than I thought it would be.

- I may need to give up certain dairy products for good.

- Waking up early to workout is worth it.

My next 21 day challenge starts today. This time around I will be alternating my workouts between 21 Day Fix Extreme and Cize. I will be keeping my same meal plan. My goal is to eat clean for another 21 days and on the 21st day I will eat whatever I want for dinner. I like to celebrate with a treat meal.

Here are my measurements from start to finish:

July 11, 2016               July 18, 2016                    July 24, 2016                July 31, 2016

Chest - 33.5                  Chest - 33                        Chest - 32.5                 Chest - 32

Left Arm - 12               Left Arm - 12                  Left Arm - 12              Left Arm - 11.5

Right Arm - 12            Right Arm - 11         Right Arm - 11.5 (muscle?) Right Arm - 11.5

Waist - 32                    Waist - 30                        Waist - 29                     Waist - 28

Hips - 40                      Hips - 39                          Hips - 39                      Hips - 38.5

Left Thigh -24             Left Thigh - 22.5             Left Thigh - 22.5          Left Thigh - 22.5

Right Thigh - 23.5      Right Thigh - 22.5           Right Thigh - 22.5        Right Thigh - 22

I lost a total of 11 inches. During August my goal is to continue to tone up. I really don't want to lose any more inches. If you have any questions about what I'm doing feel free to ask. Visit the Operation Snap Back™ Facebook page to join the next fitness challenge and be motivated through your own journey. 

21 Day Fix Extreme Results Week Two

Just like that, week two is over! I can not believe that I have been able to eat clean for this long. I honestly can't believe that I haven't had wine in two weeks.

Can I just tell you that I am amazed with these results? I'm not sure how fast I thought the program would work or if it would work at all but I they have made a believer out of me.

I feel so much better. All I wanted was to get rid of my belly and I have gotten so much more than that. Getting up at 5:30 to workout hasn't been bad at all either. This program has created new habits for me that I plan to weave into my lifestyle.

I think about food differently now. I see myself differently too.

14 days ago I was riding that wave to Lostdom. The place where Moms go to lose themselves. I'm so glad I pulled over for a pit stop.

Do you feel that you've lost yourself or that you're on your way to losing yourself? Well, it's never too late to make a good decision and make some changes. (My husband always says that)

MEASUREMENTS

July 11, 2016               July 18, 2016                    July 24, 2016

Chest - 33.5                  Chest - 33                        Chest - 32.5

Left Arm - 12               Left Arm - 12                  Left Arm - 12

                    Right Arm - 12            Right Arm - 11         Right Arm - 11.5 (muscle?)

Waist - 32                    Waist - 30                        Waist - 29

Hips - 40                      Hips - 39                          Hips - 39

Left Thigh -24             Left Thigh - 22.5             Left Thigh - 22.5 

Right Thigh - 23.5      Right Thigh - 22.5           Right Thigh - 22.5

As I enter the last week of my challenge I want to encourage and motivate you to be be your best self. Whatever that means to you. For me, being fit is one of the components I need to live my best life. I need to feel good from the inside out.

So many people have reached out to me about the program. Please continue to send your questions. All of the equipment and the programs  I use are now loaded in my amazon store. Feel free to check them out!

What's something that helps you feel your best?

21 Day Fix Week One Results : Pros, Cons & Tips

I survived the first week of 21 Day Fix Extreme. The first day or two was rough. I was hungry. Some of the workouts were very hard. I would even go so far as to say they were indeed extreme.

The skeptical side of me didn't know if I would see any results this early into the challenge but around day three something happened...



It's like Autumn Calabrese hooked me up to a machine and sucked a great bit of my bloat out. That was very encouraging. Seeing that small bit of change made me want to stick with the meal plan and get those workouts in.



Now that I'm a week in I'd like to offer some pros, cons and tips for anyone thinking about doing this program. First, let me say that I am not a Beachboy coach and my reviews about this program are not sponsored. No one is paying me. I purchased everything myself.

Now that we've gotten that little disclaimer out of the way...



What I love about 21 Day Fix:

- The workouts are only 30 minutes.
- The exercises are broken up into 30-60 second increments. "You can do anything for 60 seconds", she says.
-The meal plan is simple enough to follow.
- If you do it right, you will feel or see the results almost instantly.
-The Beachbody website has tons of info and a community to help you succeed.

Things I don't love so much: 
(And I'm being totally picky here)

- I don't like that she doesn't do the workout with you the entire time. She kind of walks around and talks about form, which is important, but I kinda want to see her do it from start to finish with me.
- I wish the kit itself came with more recipes and meal ideas. I have been using Autumn's website and Pinterest but I think it would be great if a true cookbook came with the kit.




So how do I measure up from when I started? Here are my inches... (the level of bravery here should be revered)

July 11, 2016                            July 18, 2016

Chest - 33.5                             Chest- 33
Right Arm - 12                        Right Arm- 11            
Left Arm -12                           Left Arm - 12
Waist- 32                                 Waist - 30
Hips - 40                                  Hips- 39
Right Thigh - 23.5                  Right Thigh - 22.5
Left Thigh - 24                       Left Thigh - 22.5

Since July 11th I have lost about 7 inches. Not too shabby.

I had Savannah take a pic of me this morning because I could notice a difference in my tummy. It looks like a bit more progress has been made since yesterday when I took the pics above. Here I am this morning after my workout.

My tips to make it through the first week would be get up early before anyone in your family and get your workout in. Drink plenty of water. PLAN YOUR MEALS and do not cheat the meal plan. 

So I'm hanging in there. I'm ready for week two! If you would like to see what I'm eating everyday and how I feel after my morning workouts be sure to follow me on snapchat (TheChicSAHM). 

How is everyone doing on their own fitness journey? What do you think of my results so far? I'm cheering for you all. We can be Moms and be in incredible shape, let's do it together!

Zucchini Pasta Two Ways

I am in the fifth day of the 21 Day Fix Extreme challenge. It has been a great experience so far and I'll share more of my experience, tips, updated photo and measurements on Sunday or Monday. For now I want to concentrate on this delicious zucchini pasta I made last night.

I have eaten this salad twice in two different ways within the past 24 hours. That's how good it is. It was also easy to make.

Since yesterday was National Hot Dog Day (whose making up these days?) I wanted to give myself a break from cooking like a Top Chef let the kids have hot dogs. I love a good hot dog. I like them topped with chili and cheese. Tomatoes and Onion. A squirt of mustard, jalapeños and plain potato chips.

I'm a Carolina girl. Messy foods make me happy. If grease isn't running down my hands while I'm eating a burger or dog someone didn't do something right. And that's why I'm doing the 21 Day Fix.

Fix it Jesus.

I wanted to have a hot dog too so I ventured out on a beautiful day with my three little ones and searched for the healthiest hot dog I could find. After looking in three different stores I found a meatless veggie dog. 

You may or may not believe me but this hot dog was just as good as an all beef dog. That may have had something to do with my toppings. I had to switch up my topping game to something that was 21 Day Fix approved and this is what I came up with...

Feast your eyes upon my healthy veggie dog topper. This is all you need to make this at home...

1 Zucchini

1 Red Bell Pepper

1/4 of a white onion

2 Teaspoons of finely chopped jalapeño (You can use fresh or jarred)

A dash of sea salt

A sprinkle of pepper

Spiralize your zucchini. Thinly slice the bell pepper and onion. Add all ingredients to a bowl and toss.

I added some to my veggie dog and it was amazing.

Now I know what you're thinking... you're thinking, "Is that bread allowed in the meal plan?" The answer to that is yes and no. Technically, I only had enough yellow (carb) servings left for one bun. I had enough protein servings left for two dogs - so...... I ate the other bun.  I felt guilty about it at first. Then I reminded myself that this is a lifestyle change and I have to be able to eat things like hot dogs.

I have to.

This was a much healthier version than I would normally eat so I'm giving myself credit for that. Kudos to me because it could've been a lot messier around here yesterday.

Since I had so much zucchini salad/pasta left over I decided to have the rest for lunch today. I chopped up some leftover rotisserie chicken from earlier this week. Warmed it in the microwave and voila....

Lunch was served. So easy. Healthy. And delicious. Give this spicy little number a try. Thank me later.

Fitness Goals Like Whoa

Over the weekend I did a lot of thinking about how I wanted to go about tackling my new fitness goals.  I would love to lose 10 to 15 pounds and tone up. After I had Mikey I got into great shape and my goal is to get back there.

Back then I was really into barre classes. Maybe I'll try them again. There's a studio fairly close to us.

A friend of mine became a Beachbody coach. She invited me to join her 21 Day Fix Extreme challenge and after looking into the program I accepted the invitation. I think it's going to be an intense 21 days but I'm looking forward to it. The challenge starts July 11th.

I have started the Operation Snap Back™July run challenge. When this month ends I would have logged 25 miles of run time. I have already ran 5.5 miles - I'm well on my way!

I don't know why my eyes are closed but it was the best shot of the front of my body. All the other pics had kids in them. 

So here I am.

The truth is that I actually don't mind this body. I really like the curves that come with this shape but these curves can't fit into all my jeans so I hope to modify them ever so slightly. 

Wish me luck! I'll be documenting what I'm eating and how I feel about the workouts on snapchat.

Share your fitness goals and plans with me in the comments. Let's motivate each other!

Operation Snap Back™: Starting Over Again

Ugh. I hate that I am even writing this. I have fallen off the wagon so badly. Like, it's bad. I knew that our  my eating habits would be all over the place while we were in transition but gah-lee I turned on the bad food faucet and started drinking from it like crazy.

To add appetizer to entreé I was consuming all this food without even driving by a gym. The amount of weight that I have gained is unknown because I don't currently own a scale. What I do know is that  all of my jeans are fitting much tighter than they should and I can't afford to out grow my wardrobe sooooo.....

I'm going to start working out again. I have been living in leggings (have you noticed?) because I literally can not comfortably fit in my jeans. Popeye's is so good while you're eating it but not so great when it shows up in your thighs, the struggle....

A girl apparently can't have her cake and eat it too - multiple days in a row. So, starting July 5th, I am going to start making healthy food choices again. I'm also joining a fitness challenge that a friend of mine is starting July 11th.

Fatima from Off the Potomac and the creator of Operation Snap Back™ and I will be encouraging each other to whip ourselves back in shape too. Stop by her blog to see where she is on her journey.

Stay tuned for info about a running challenge. I need the accountability. Can't keep using the move or these kids as an excuse. At this point, it's my choices.

It's best that I break up with Popeye's before things get too serious. I'll do another update with before pics before all of my fitness challenges start. Wish me luck!

Operation Snap Back™: Color Vibe 5K Run

A couple weeks ago I participated in the Color Vibe Run 5K that came thru San Antonio. I ran with a group of friends on a team. It was a busy full day for us all but we took the first few hours to ourselves and I'm so glad we did.

Leading up to the race I had visions of being able to train and really run my best race. About a week out from the race I realized that those visions weren't going to happen so I laced up my shoes and gave it my best shot. It was my first real run since having the baby. I figured if I was able to run half of it I'd consider that a win.

There were a couple things that I didn't know about the Color Vibe Run before running it. Here are a couple things that I wish I had known before running...

- You have to pick up your registration the day before the race.

- During registration there will be lots of opportunities to buy things. I didn't buy any of the things and I still had a great time. 

- You may have to pay to park. During the online registration they said it would be a charge for parking but when we arrived at the race parking was free. Double check with your location to confirm if you'll need cash for parking. (I had completely forgotten about the parking fee but luckily my friends had cash if we needed it.)

- If you run with a group have a meeting before the race to plan out logistics. Who are your fast runners? Who plans to walk? Is everyone staying together? Are you splitting up and meeting at the finish line?

- There is a party before the race. You can get fully covered in color before you run if you'd like.

- It's not liquid paint, it's powder and it washes out very easily.

- The colored powder is thrown on you by volunteers. I thought we'd be running thru arches of colored mist, but no. People were throwing the powder on you. I wish there had been arches.

- Wear something that you don't mind getting messy. Everything washed out fine but I'm still glad I wore my husband's tank top. 

- Bring a towel or a change of clothes. You will be messy afterwards. My friends and I had to go straight from the race to a soccer game. We sat on our towels in the car to keep the mess from spreading. 

I hope my tips help you if you ever decide to run this 5K. It was a lot of fun. I would run it again. 

Running this race also checks off one of my 32 things to do before 33!

Have you ever done the Color Vibe 5K?

Operation Snap Back™ Link Up: The No Sugar Challenge

Last week on the Facebook page I shared that I was doing a meats, veggies and fruits only challenge with a friend. At the beginning of the week I was skeptical about the results I would see but towards the end of the week I definitely noticed a change.

First of all I was less bloated. Way less bloated. The puffiness in my face, arms and tummy went down quite a bit. This reminded me that my body responds (good or bad) to what I'm eating. I'm not one of those people that can eat whatever I want as long as I'm working out. I have to eat right too and this challenge reminded me of that.

The next thing that I noticed was that my metabolism shot up. Brace yourself for TMI - but I was very regular. More than I've ever been since having Moses. It's been great. Pooping makes me feel like toxins are being released so I'm normally pretty bummed if I miss a day of pooping. Aren't you glad you know that about me now?

One of my favorite benefits from the challenge was the fact that my skin seemed to respond really well. My skin seemed brighter and clearer. I actually have a glow that I didn't buy from MAC - that's been nice too, not gonna lie.

So I'll be doing the challenge again - as soon as I finish eating this Chinese we're having for dinner. I plan to start again this coming Monday. I'm running a 5K in May and my training for that will start April first.

Before this post is over I also want to share that my husband participated in a fitness show this past weekend. It was such an eye opening experience to the sport. We learned a lot. Mainly - that you are literally what you eat. He did great and he plans to do another show soon!

Do you have a fitness related post or story to share? Fatima and I would love to hear your story! Use the hashtag, #OperationSnapback on Instagram or drop your link here to share your blog post. 

Operation Snap Back™ Link Up: My Workout Playlist & Progress Report

Next week my #grandfinalebaby will be four months old. Can't believe it. Time is flying.

I finally feel ready to start getting serious about getting back in shape. Getting to the gym and getting any type of exercise in has been a challenge but I have been eating well to compensate for it. Since eating well is half the battle I'm giving myself credit for that.

My water intake has been pretty good. I drink at least 70 ounces a day. I'd like to get closer to 100 ounces but I'll take that 70 for now. I limit myself to one soda a day first thing in the morning.

Nothing wakes me up better than an ice cold Dr. Pepper.

For the first week of the Operation Snap Back™I thought I'd start by sharing my playlist for workouts. Music is such a big part of my life and when I'm working out I have to have my music blasting. Here's what's in my Operation Snap Back Playlist at the moment...

Beautiful - Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell

Blessings - Big Sean feat. Drake

Blow - Beyoncé

Drunk in Love - Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z

Feeling Myself - Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé

***Flawless - Beyoncé feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Girls, Girls, Girls - Jay-Z

Girls, Girls Girls, Pt.2 - Jay - Z

The Glamorous Life - Sheila E

Hola Hovito - Jay-Z

How's It Goin Down - DMX

I Don't F**k With You - Big Sean feat. E-40

I Luh God - Erica Campbell feat. Big Shizz

Mercy - Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz)

Ni**as in Paris - Kanye West & Jay-Z

Partition - Beyoncé

Post To Be - Omarion feat. Chris Brown, Jhene Aiko

Renegade - Jay-Z feat. Eminem

Same Damn Time (Remix) - Future feat. Diddy, Ludacris

Still Not a Player - Big Pun feat. Joe

Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

Motivation - T.I.

U Don't Know Me - T.I.

ASAP - T.I.

Bring Em Out - T.I.

Stay Fly - Three 6 Mafia

Upgrade You - Beyoncé

Lollipop - Lil Wayne

Got Money - Lil Wayne

Stuntin' Like My Daddy - Birman & Lil Wayne

Cash Money Millionaire - Lil Wayne

What Up Gangsta - 50 Cent

Many Men (Wish Death) - 50 Cent

In Da Club - 50 Cent

Wanksta - 50 Cent

P.I.M.P. - 50 Cent

Drop It Like It's Hot - Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Williams

All I Do Is Win - DJ Khaled feat. T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross

Stronger - Kanye West

Good Life - Kanye West feat. T-Pain

Flashing Lights - Kanye West

Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West

Jesus Walks - Kanye West

Otis - Jay-Z & Kanye West feat. Otis Redding

Power - Kanye West

All Falls Down - Kanye West

Clique - Kanye West,  Jay-Z & Big Sean

The New Workout Plan - Kanye West

Good Morning - Kanye West

Champion - Kanye West

H A M - Kanye West & Jay-Z

Swagger Like Us - Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & T.I.

Make Me Better - Fabolous feat. Ne-Yo

Breathe - Fabolous

Can't Deny It - Fabolous feat. Nate Dogg

Look at Me Now - Chris Brown feat Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes

Kiss Kiss - Chris Brown feat T-Pain

Run It! - Chris Brown feat Juelz Santana

I Can Transform Ya - Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne, Swizz Beatz

Loyal - Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne, Tyga

Fine China - Chris Brown

Aston Martin Music - Rick Ross feat. Drake, Chrisette Michele

The Boss - Rick Ross feat T-Pain

Stay Schemin - Rick Ross feat. Drake, French Montana

Push It - Rick Ross

So Sophisticated - Rick Ross feat. Meek Mill

Hustlin' (Remix) - Rick Ross feat. Jay-Z, Young Jeezy

The Devil is a Lie - Rick Ross feat. Jay-Z

Magnificent - Rick Ross

I'm Not a Star - Rick Ross

House Party - Meek Mill feat Young Chris

Bag of Money - Wale & Meek Mill feat Rick Ross, T-Pain

Maybach Music III - Rick Ross feat Jadakiss, Erykah Badu

Free Mason - Rick Ross feat Jay-Z

MC Hammer - Rick Ross feat. Gucci Mane

Live Fast, Die Young - Rick Ross feat. Kanye West

Started From the Bottom - Drake

Hotline Bling - Drake

Finna Get Loose - Puff Daddy & The Family feat Pharrell Williams

Top Back - T.I.

Still Fly - Big Tymers

Get Your Roll On - Big Tymers

7/11 - Beyoncé

Formation - Beyoncé

Down in the DM - Yo Gotti

My fitness goals are to tone up. I don't have a goal weight in mind I just want to comfortably fit in all my clothes. We don't have a scale in our house. I don't want to be obsessed with a number so I base everything off of how I feel and look. If I feel I look good then I consider that success.

Here I am today...

Now head over to Off the Potomac and see Fatima's Operation Snap Back™progress. She's the creator of the online community that motivates women to strive to meet their fitness goals. If you're new here join the Facebook page and share your sweaty selfie with us on Instagram using #OperationSnapback.

Got a fitness post of your own you want to share with us? Leave your link below and we'll swing by and show you some love!

An InLinkz Link-up

Healthy Snack: Zucchini Chips

While I'm waiting on my gym motivation to strike I have been making sure that I'm eating right. One way that I avoid eating junk food during the day is by having healthy snack options readily available. My favorite snack of the moment is zucchini chips. They are tasty, easy to make and inexpensive.

These chips are addictive. You will not be able to eat just one. Whenever I make them I find myself getting full on them before the rest of my meal is even ready. These chips are a great alternative to fries and potato chips. 

The key here is to not over cook them. I cook my zucchini chips on low for about 5-10 minutes. The firmness is what makes them like chips. Of course you could cook them more but a softer chip won't pair with sandwiches that well.

Place your chips into a frying pan, drizzle them with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with creole seasoning. Toss them frequently and continue seasoning them to taste. I like mine spicy so I tend to lay on the seasoning.

On Saturday I made pulled pork sandwiches for dinner with coleslaw. The kids and my husband had fries and I had these. (with a few stolen fries, not gonna lie) They are so good. 

I could literally eat these all day. My fitness goal for this week is to wake up before my family and head to the gym. I really want that to happen. There is a running challenge starting soon on Operation Snap Back™ that I'm participating in. That should kick start my love for working out again. 

All it takes is a couple of trips to the gym and I'm normally hooked. These zucchini chips with a tuna sandwich or chicken wrap make a great post workout meal. 

Will you be trying these zucchini chips? Pin this idea to try later!