Back to the Basics

Happy Tuesday you guys! I am in a fabulous mood this morning. It's so chilly this morning & I am seriously considering listening to my Pandora Christmas channel this morning at my desk. I keep seeing all of these Christmas commercials (I even heard that Kay jewelers is already starting to run their holiday ads!)and I heard Jewels Christmas album playing next to the candles in Walmart the other day!

So let's discuss something that was the original reason for my blog creation in the first place: health and weight loss. On the way to work today I heard on the radio that a professor at some college proved his point that no matter what you eat, it's all about the calories. He lived on a diet of convient food store sorta food like nutter butters, Doritos, Twinkies and kit kats, etc. He lost about 30lb's in 2 months just counting the calories on the junk he ate. He went on to say that the other nutritional information doesn't play a part in your weight loss. Okay, so I lost about 35lbs counting calories using sparkpeople.com and think calorie counting is absolutely hands down the #1 reason why I lost my weight, so kudos to this guy for proving that point. I think when you write down your calories and your food for the day, you actually SEE what your eating & you become aware that yes, that "little snack" of a slice of a pizza, really isn't equal to a snack in calorie terms, but a meal. With that being said, let's talk health benefits. I guarantee you this guy had pretty much zero protein, had more than enough carbohydrates, and more than enough fat grams to last him for a long time. Not only that, but there are tons and tons of grams of sugar (and other processed junk) in the food he was consuming can not only lead to weakness and fatigue, but it can also lead to diabetes.
Obviously I know this guy was just doing an experiment and trying to prove his little point in regards to calorie counting, BUT I think there are some people out there who actually take this stuff to heart and think "so I CAN eat all the crap I want as long as it's not over 1200 calories". WRONG!! Your body NEEDS certain foods to keep it healthy and strong. I heard on Jillian Michaels podcast one day that "Abs are made in the kitchen". So true! People seem to think that if they just eat 1200 calories of cake and cookies that they will get that figure they want. WRONG. Your body needs certain nutrients, such as protein, that is going to fuel it better than any king size kit kat can, and keep your organs running in their proper functioning manner. Do I think if your trying to lose weight, you can't have that kit kat every once in a while? NO! This is your life and if your wanting a kit kat, have one. Just make sure you work it into your day by balancing the rest of your foods and allotting yourself some extra calories. Before pregnancy, I know I couldn't live without my dessert every night and I worked it into my calories for the day. It's a very practical way to lose weight. Eating 1200 calories in Twinkies? Not so much

Okay ladies and gents

* WARNING - THIS POST IS A BIT OF A VENT FOR MOI*


So this must be said and it's been on my mind the last few days .... I really need to kick it into high gear. It's almost my time of the month, so I know it has to do with how I've been feeling, but I honestly feel like the biggest blimp in the world. I am shocked that Weight Watchers hasn't asked me to be their new spokeswoman (Jennifer Hudson looks GORGEOUS btw). You can read an article about how she's doin her thing for WW, here.


Anyways, I can't say I've fallen off the wagon, because I've been walking every day for 3 miles during my lunch with the girls from my work, and Nick and I went to the gym yesterday and I did 3 miles on Tread, and my eating hasn't been thaaaaaaaaaaaat bad. Just kinda bad. Not bad stuff, just too much of the good stuff (and sour skittles). I think this is why the 10K on Sunday is freaking me out. Because the last time I ran a high mileage, was on Saturday. Another thing I think that is adding to my "Karli, your so fat" mentality is how my much my workouts have cut down. I used to go 5 times a week! Last week, I did horribly and did 3 times and even then I could only do 35 minutes at the gym (barely enough time for me to get in a decent workout). I know I'm being super hard on myself, but it's because I know that I can do better, so I give myself a hard time.

Another thing - I'm losing my tan & this California girl is not happy about it.what.so.ever! Yeah I've been using the self tanning lotion, but I miss the tanning bed! It gave me such an even tan. I was reminded of this when I got out of the shower tonight and gave myself a quick glance in the mirror, when HELLO! MY BACK HAS BEEN IGNORED IN THE COLOR DEPARTMENT. Yup - I have been neglecting that area (I can't reach it and I don't wanna ask Nick) when I put on my lotion stuff. I actually talked to Nick about this the other night and since we have "allowances" now for ourselves each month, I have decided I am going to buy some tans. Not a unlimited package, just some tans that fit into my budget. I won't go everyday, probably 2-3 times a week and then in the summer I don't plan on using the beds since my apartment has a really nice pool area with plenty of sun chairs, and my parents have a pool. The weekends during the summer, I plan on parking it out by either one of those places with a stack of magazines and a nice big bottle of h20 and my shades. The lotion is a great product though, and I will continue to use it until I buy some tans (probably next weekend).


So yes - that is my downer post, but I really need to kick my butt into high gear. Since my workouts have cut down (due to my job and me wanting to spend more time with Nick since we only see each other after work and in the AM's for 10 minutes), I had decided to only go Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with him. BUT - for my own sanity, I HAVE to include Monday. Yes, I will miss Nick for that 1.5 hours, but I have to sweat more than 3 days a week. So, on top of mine and his workouts together, I will either choose the treadmill or X Bike. To be honest, it'll probably be both due to the state of whale I am in (mentally- I know, Im not a whale). I get off at work at 4:00. Mondays my plan will be: come home, change IMMEDIATELY!, grab a snack (bread with 1 tblspn almond butter), be at the gym by no later than 5:00, do treadmill for 1 hour *or split time between treadmill and abs/back strength training*, then elliptical for some other workout until 6:30. When 6:30 hits- XBIKE! I hate it from the time I walk in, until 2 minutes before the instructor says its time to cool down. It's a killer workout, that gives amazing results! And THAT will be my Monday. It's all about the sweat baby...if you don't sweat, you ain't workin it!

Oh and let's not forget the motivation - if I expect myself to be tanning by the pools (and I'm sure at some point this summer a trip to So. Cal will be in order), I will be running around in this: *Different color tho*

Inspirations

Lets talk inspirational people, shall we? The Biggest Loser starts this Tuesday!! I cannot wait!! Repeat: Cannot wait! I LOVE The Biggest Loser and if anything, it keeps my butt in gear all winter long. Just for reference, let me share with you my own biggest loser transformation

Before (Me in High School)


And After (about 1.5 months ago)




I can't believe I just shared my before picture with the whole world, but I want to keep my blog honest so I had to do it. I lost 30 pounds (most of it in 2009), by submerging myself in the world of fitness and nutrition. I am obsessed with it. I counted calories thanks to sparkpeople and had a wonderful support system on it (as well as N and my family and friends-everyone was always very supportive). I lived in the gym and became one of "those" people you look at with disgust because they are dripping every pound on that treadmill and pushing myself so hard on the weight machines.

I heart Biggest Loser SO much that I enlisted myself into the Jillian and Bob boot camp that takes place in my living room or temporary hotel room (see previous posts in July). I am a big believer in the 30 day shred and it will be my go to quick 30 minute DVD when I don't want to make it to the gym. Plus just looking at Jillian is enough motivation to keep my butt moving

Although mostly on the Biggest Loser (and in my mind when I'm running on the treadmill), I see her like this



And lets not forget the wonderful gay deliciousness that is Bob Harper


Now in my living room, I have access to both of these trainers, BUT if I were to go on The Biggest Loser, I'd want Jillian. Bottom Line, Jill wins. All of her contestants have won the money and lost the most weight at the finale of the show. PLUS, I would feel like I could get away with more if I had softy Bob. Bob that gay guy you have over for sleep overs and laugh all night and wake up and he leads you through a killer yoga session followed by a pedicure at the salon. Non the less, these 2 trainers KNOW fitness and what it takes to get YOU in shape. N was MAYJA inspired by the transformations, and he's a tough cookie! I'll let these pics marinate in your mind tonight before you reach for that bowl of ice cream or that last piece of holiday pie

Biggest Loser Eric


Biggest Loser Michelle


Biggest Loser Ali

K, I take that back

So I know I said I wouldn't blog until tomorrow, but I before I log off for the rest of the day, I am watching True Life on MTV (Very Christmasy, right?) and it got me thinking. I have lost 30lbs (thank you sparkpeople!!!) from exercising and tracking my calories to a 'T'. The heaviest I ever was in my life was at least 185. Beyond that, I never weighed myself. I am watching the True Life about wanting to lose weight and for some reason it just gets me super motivated. True, I have lost 30 lbs. I am a personal trainer and I have educated myself in fitness as well as nutrition, but I for some reason want to push myself (the competitive side in me). So since N and I will be starting a family in the next coming months, I am determined to get in the best shape possible. I am healthy now, but I want to get super toned. N loves me to pieces no matter what size and to quote him "I look smokin hot" and "bangin", but I want to get to the best shape possible so after I have kids, its easier to get in the best shape possible. I will never forget a quote from Heidi Klum when a reporter asked her, " Stay at home mom's all over America would love to know, how they can get the body you have after 4 kids". Her answer? "Well it depends what sort of shape you were in before. If you were 30lbs overweight before you got pregnant, you can't expect to be where I am" It wasn't word for word that, but pretty darn close. So Heidi, I am taking your advice and I can only get on my knees and pray to Jesus that I look like you after kids. N and I move into our new place January 9th, so I will be able to have super fast Internet again which will in turn let me track my calories accurately on sparkpeople again. So lovely readers of my blog- that's my resolution. More details to come, but that's the basis of it.

O and PS- since being back in the Cali-for-ni-A, I have gotten to my original goal weight baby! Snaps for Karli!

Merry Christmas!!