Skin and Our Girls

I'm frequently asked about skin . . . loose skin . . . permanently loose and sagging skin.
Yep, I have it on  my arms, thighs, neck, abdomen and back.  

I also have a daughter and I work with young women in church.  

I'm a candidate for skin removal surgery, tummy tuck and body lift.
I've contemplated surgery until I realized I would only be trading one kind of "scar" for another.  

How do I explain to my daughter and these young girls why it's okay to get my breasts lifted and filled?
 How do I show them it's okay to cut our bodies if we don't like them?  

I want my daughter and your daughters to LOVE their bodies as they are,
to love their reflection, their jiggly thighs and yes their imperfect features.  

When my daughter sees me she doesn't see my loose skin.
I don't want to teach her loose skin and jiggly thighs are something to be ashamed of.
When she's old enough to have those herself I don't want her plagued with body loathing.  

I firmly believe a girl who loves her body will make that body a healthy one.  

Loves!

Teresa

2nd Anniversary!

Two years and 145 lbs later . . . 

November 7th is as sacred as my wedding anniversary.  I made a promise to myself to find a way to be happy and healthy.  I knew the journey would be long and it was daunting . . .

but here I am!

What's the same?

I still REALLY like crap food.  Salty, processed, sugar (fake or real) and fattening.

Whoppers, doughnuts, fries, macaroni and cheese, pizza, ect.  I still eat them (GASP!)  but in serious moderation.  That word "moderation" actually fits in the "what's different" section below.

Still not a big fan of fruits and veggies . . . but I eat them anyway ;)

Still watch a lot of TV but I do it while on the elliptical or to reward myself after a workout.

I still think I'm huge.  Body issues, I know.  But there it is.

Still can't do a pull-up or a proper military style push-up.  STILL!

Me in my SUPER tight size 10's.
Wearing them because I CAN!

What's different?

Me in size 28 jeans once again!

I'm 145 lbs smaller, from a size 28 to a tight 10.

My feet went from a size 10 to 8.5 (biggest shocker EVER)

My breasts decided to leave me, not sure if they're ever coming back.

I can walk into any store and shop off any rack!

Race junkie = nerdy car

You will often hear me say "sorry I can't, I have to workout"

(except I'm not really sorry, it just seams the polite thing to say)

I get REALLY excited by new music on my MP3 player.

Guaranteed to make for a good run.

Padded bras are my friends and underwire is a must!

I set my work schedule around race dates.

Never given, always earned.

Costumes.  I can finally fit into any costume I want for the first time since I was a child.  Now I wear something to almost every race.  I know I look like an idiot but I'm having the time of my life.

I can outrun my kids.  In the the beginning walking up my basement stairs would leave me gasping for air.  Now my 10 year old asks me to WAIT!

I have loose skin.  My rolls of fat deflated into loose bits.

I have wrinkles now.  Crows feet and smile lines have appeared.

I think I look much older because of said skin issues but I'm told I look much younger.

(Back to the body issues)

I wear through shoes as fast as my growing children.  My old "tennis shoes" used to last years, now I'm lucky if I can get them past 3 months.  Also, proper running shoes are expensive, leaving less money for fabulous heels.  Just sayin'

I rarely wear makeup anymore.  Not because I don't want to, but because I workout, then chase children, then workout WHILE chasing children, then collapse into bed.  What's the point?!

Most important change:  I've found something inside of me that yearns to live, breathe, fight, feel, and discover.  It doesn't care what you think or say, because it wants what it wants.

This girl is on FIRE!

That song "Girl on Fire" is about me.  

Loves to all my losers!

Teresa

1/2 Marathon for the Beginner!

I just completed my first 1/2 Marathon and you can't imagine the learning curve that came with it!

Here's everything you need from beginning to end in one place.

Now, all you need is the courage to start.

I used Jeff Galloway's Training Schedule he created for www.RunDisney.com

They are 21 weeks long and VERY easy to follow, even for beginners

1/2 Marathon Training Schedule

Everything you need to know about carb loading properly RIGHT HERE!

Don't make the mistake by eating one large spaghetti meal the night before . . . you WILL regret it.

Loading properly will guarantee enough glycogen stores to get you to the finish line.

My favorite running MP3 playlist!

Batgirl Running Costume

(Order a full size small and leave the mask and boot covers at home)

RECOVERY:

Something you don't think about until you can't walk the next day and you've gained 10+ lbs of water weight.

First 72 hours HERE

Little more info HERE

All about Lactic Acid, DOMS, and the link to swelling HERE

You CAN do this!

Loves,

Teresa

2013 MP3 Playlist!

While prepping for my 1/2 Marathon and all the miles I've put in running the road 

I had to revamp my MP3 playlist

Here's my list of faves:

ROAR (Katy Perry)

Applause (Lady GaGa)

I Wanna Go (Britney Spears)

Stronger (Kelly Clarkson)

Drive By (Train)

Fabolous ft Jeremih

Mary the Night (Lady GaGa)

50 Ways to Say Goodbye (Train)

We Run the Night (Pitbull)

Remember When (Chris Wallace)

The Middle (Jimmy Eat World)

Catch My Breath (Kelly Clarkson)

Try (Pink)

People Like Us (Kelly Clarkson)

Kiss You (OD)

Troublemaker (Olly Mars)

Love You Like a Love Song (Selena Gomez)

Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen)

Can't Be Tamed (Miley Cyrus)

Best Song Ever (OD)

Live While We're Young (OD)

Come and Get It (Selena Gomez)

Slow Down (Selena Gomez)

I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor Swift)

Live it Up (Pitbull)

Girl On Fire (Alicia Keys)

Die Young  (Kesha)

Blow (Kesha)

One Thing (OD)

Feel This Moment (Pitbull)

We R Who We R (Kesha)

Still IntoYou (Paramore)

Treasure (Bruno Mars)

Runaway Baby (Bruno Mars)

Whataya Want From Me (Adam Lambert)

Cups (Anna Kendrick)

It's My Life (Bon Jovi)

American Girl (Bonnie McKee)

Safe and Sound (Capital Cities)

Everybody Talks (Neon Trees)

Good Feeling (FloRida)

Wild Ones (FloRida)

Some Nights (FUN)

We Are Young (FUN)

Animal (Neon Trees)

All Summer Long (Kid Rock)

Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus)

How We Do (Rita Ora)

Oldies but Goodies:

Footloose

Be My Lover (La Bouche)

Holding Out for a Hero (Bonnie Tyler)

Eye of the Tiger

I Will Survive (Gloria Gay)

Thriller (Michael Jackson)

Rhythm of the Night (Cascada)

Gonna Make You Sweat (C+C Music Factory)

Beautiful Life (Ace of Base)

Tubthumping (Chumbawamba)

I find most of them on YouTube.com and use

http://www.youtube-mp3.org/

to put them in MP3 format.

What are you favs?!

This Moment

Let me just say life has NOT been awesome lately.   I'm tired of the daily fight and struggles with my own personal demons, health issues, homeowner trials and financial woes.  Add to all of that the burden of trying to lose 190 lbs and it all seems unbearable at times.  

I've trained hard for a Triathlon that I had to pull out of for health reasons, my weight loss has stalled, and I'm training for a 1/2 Marathon and can't seem to get past that mile mark.  

So.  Tired.  Of.  Fighting.

I asked myself:  What's the point?  I didn't ask for this special bag burdens and trials.  Can't I just lay them down and walk away?  Check out of this crazy race?

I know in my gut I can't.  Sure, I could walk away and quit fighting.  I could lay this bag of burdens down on the side of the road and walk away but here's why I won't:

This moment:

 

       

Because of my babies and this man:

"Here's the thing, you try and you fail.  You try and you fail.  But you get up everyday and you try again for THIS moment.  This moment right here.  This is what you fight for.  And it doesn't happen often but when it does happen, it's magic!  

And it's worth it!"  Jillian Michaels

Stand up and keep going! I may be moving slowly and crying the whole way but I'll be right behind you ;)

Teresa

IBS Friendly Flexible Homemade Ice Cream!

The basics for the ice cream!

This can be low calorie by simply substituting for skim options and less sugar.

32 ounces "milk products"

1/2 cup "sugar product"

2 tsp flavoring of choice

2 tsp cornstarch

(pour into a small amount of the milk product and shake until fully mixed.  

Then add to the rest of the ingredients to avoid chunks)

Mix well and pour into ice cream maker and freeze by instruction manual for 30 mins.  Add "mix ins" and continue to freeze for another 5 mins.  Transfer to freezer.  Recipes without actual cow milk products will take much longer to freeze.

"Milk Products" - I prefer to use 1/2 whipping cream for my milk products and fill the rest with full fat coconut milk or vanilla almond milk.  Whipping cream has VERY low levels of lactose and my son tolerates it just fine.  Whipping cream vs almond milk/coconut milk is creamy vs sorbet texture. 

"Sugar Product" - I use brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or white sugar.  My son tolerates all of these and I use the flavoring I'm going for to dictate which one I use.

This is truly a flexible recipe and can be adjusted to what your body can tolerate.  It can also be worked to be lower calorie.  Get creative!

Our Favorite Concoctions!!!

Fudge Brownie Ice Cream!

MP:  1/2 Whipping Cream and 1/2 Chocolate Almond Milk

SP:  Brown Sugar (fully mixed in before freezing)

F: 2 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup cocoa powder (fully mixed in before freezing)

2 tsp cornstarch.

The last 5 mins I added cut up brownie pieces (nut free)

Blueberry Sorbet!

MP:  1/2 Vanilla Almond milk and 1/2 full fat coconut milk

SP:  Maple Syrup

F: 1/2 butter flavoring and 1/2 vanilla

1 Tbsp cornstarch.

Blueberry mixture (I boiled 1 lb blueberries on the stovetop with 1 cup sugar, 2 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp cornstarch for 10 mins until thickened into a pie filling consistancy.)

This took until morning to be fully frozen

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!

MP: 1/2 Whipping Cream, 1/4 coconut milk, 1/4 Vanilla Almond Milk

SP:  Brown Sugar

F: 1/2 butter flavoring, 1/2 vanilla

2 tsp cornstarch

The last 5 mins I added small chunks of egg free cookie dough I had cut up and frozen.

A Day in the Life of Teresa

I get regular messages with the same questions, so I decided to take the time and write it all out for the world to see!  HOORAY!  Hopefully this helps someone, and if you don't care than I won't be offended when you skip this post. I've provided lots of links for you, so check them out.

I also added a whole page of free weight loss tools I use regularly HERE

 My main answer to all questions is:

Move more, eat less.

What do my workouts look like in a week?

Gym days: about 3 days a week for up to 2 hours.

30 mins of high intensity cardio, AKA interval training or fartleks with a HR greater than 150.

20 mins of heavy weight lifting in supersets

45-60 mins of "fun cardio" AKA racquetball, walking, tennis.  Average HR of 120-140's.

Long Run Day: At the end of the week I do a long run, currently about 6-7 miles.  

It's not about the speed it's just about finishing.

Play Days: These are days I'm outside with my kids hiking, gardening, water park, bike rides, 

long walks, playgrounds, anything active and I do it with them.

Rest Days:  LISTEN!  These are a must!  The body needs time to recover, rest,

 hydrate and restock glycogen stores. 

 If you're dying in your workouts and can't figure out why, you made need a serious rest day.

What you do for workouts and where you do them is all based on your goals.

I am training for Triathlons, obstacle races and a 1/2 marathon so my workout schedule reflects that.  I'm also a mom of 3 children and I need to be outside playing with them and teaching them what a naturally active lifestyle looks like . . . thus, play days!

One word about going to the gym with kids.  It's not easy, sometimes it takes the whole day to get there but we do it anyway.  Get a gym with a daycare and fork over your "Sonic money" to cover the daycare fees.  It's one of those "no excuses" things.  When my kids are all sick and we're home bound for a week, I whip out my P90X or Jillian Michaels and get to work in my basement.  JUST DO IT!

Eat Less:

What do I Eat?

I eat everything under the sun!  Fast food, super healthy food, processed food, clean food, cake, Whoppers, Milky Ways, Protein Shakes, LOTS of fruits and veggies and everything in between.  

I learned a long time ago, if I want something and I tell myself I can't have it, then suddenly I would kill for it.  At the end of the day it's about moderation, portion sizes, calorie counting and how you eat 90% of the time.

I've logged a TON of recipes (<300 cals, 300+ cals) where I've done all the counting and calculating for you, all you need to do it follow it and log it. 

How much do I eat?

My calorie intake is always based on 1) my BMR and 2) my activity level.

BMR (Basel Metabolic Rate) is how many calories your body needs to survive at the current weight.

Here's a caloric need calculator for you, understand it changes with weight.

I log everything on www.Loseit.com and it automatically updates my calories for me.

Also, when I have a 2 hour intense training session or a long run and burn 1000 calories I will eat SOME of those calories back.  I can't have my body burning muscle or going into starvation mode.  You wouldn't drive a car on an empty tank of gas, you're body is no different.

How do I cook for my family?

Being a mom of small children poses it's own challenges.  

We eat super normal food but with minor adjustments.  Limited butter and cheese, lean meats, no pop, fruits and veggies with each meal, smaller portions and only occasional desserts.  

Now, when they want burgers I grill a turkey burger.  

When they want pizza, I make my pita pizzas (1, 2) OR I eat what they are having BUT with extra care in measuring my food out.  Yes, I whip out the measuring cups!  

Sometimes I need a Pizza Hut Pan Pizza . . . but I measure it out and log it and I don't go back for seconds!  Many nights they want "kid food" so I just make my own quick dinner.  

If you have more questions let me know and I'll just keep adding onto this already ridiculously long post!

Teresa