Transformation Challenge Results

My results are innnnn! Ok they've been in almost a week now but I want to share them at this moment since I'm truly satisfied & happy with my results. Drumroll please....  In four weeks I lost 6lbs (which is a lot for me) & some inches.. Not sure how many inches because I didn't measure myself but I've included before and after pictures below so that you can see for yourself! Some of you might have to stare at the pics a while before you see the difference (like a few people in my family) lol but all that matters is I see & feel the difference!! 

I had the pink dress pictured below in my closet since my birthday (back in July) hung up pretty because I could not fit it!  That dress became my goal dress for the end of the challenge!  Every Saturday I would try it on to see if it fit appropriately enough for me to wear to church lol!  I didn't think I was going to achieve the goal because it was sill really fitted the Saturday before the end of the challenge!  I was so happy that I was able to wear it to church the Sunday after the challenge ended!!  It was still a little tight but I just rocked it with a blazer:)!

My goal dress!

So let me give you a background on this transformation challenge.  This was a four week challenge with my gym, Trinity Fitness where we strictly ate whole foods (lean meat, veggies, fruit, nuts & seeds; no sugar, grains, dairy, legumes, or alcohol).  It was similar to the whole30 challenge however we had a little grace for a slip-up(s)s where we only lost a point(s) for the day.  We were put on teams of four (go #WhollyChics:) and given a trainer to help us with this challenge.

At the beginning of the challenge we journaled our 'why', the reason we decided to participate in the challenge.  I've shared with you all my challenge with consistently eating healthy.  So that was my main why!  I needed a push because my fitness journey had been going in the opposite direction of my vision!  The scale was showing more pounds and my clothes (specifically my blazers and long sleeve shirts) were getting tight.  I knew this 'bulking' up was due to my inconsistent eating and because I wasn't running as often as I used to run.  During the challenge we received extra points for extra workouts so I used that as motivation to start running again!

First day of the challenge Oct 4th!

We started and ended the challenge with the above baseline test.  The first day I completed the psycho battle in 24mins (full disclosure: I started off doing the regular workout instead of the psycho plan but when I finished I was told to do the psyco:)!  For the retest I completed the psycho battle in 19 minutes & 11 seconds (my goal was 20 minutes)!  So I shaved 5 minutes off of my baseline test time!  I also lost 6lbs which is a lot for me!!

Of all of my results, I am the most happiest with my stomach and my arms!!  My arms were getting so big that i could not fit most of my blazers.  My arms have been the butt of many of my sons jokes as well!!  Thankfully they are slimming down along with my belly!!  I now have renewed hope and confidence that I can achieve a flat belly lol!!  Eating healthy has a huge impact on that which is why I'm continuing to eat whole foods most of the time.

My arms are leaner now:)

The challenge ended but my commitment to this has not!  It was indeed a transformation challenge because it has transformed my thoughts about food!  I thought I was doing pretty well before this challenge but I have learned so much more.  It's funny that I was really upset about not having my oatmeal (something I used to eat almost every morning) & now I don't even crave it!  I thought I would 'have to have it' by the end of the challenge but I don't!  There is so much we can live without if we just give it a try.  Our bodies need the right fuel and that's the fuel that God created, not this man made processed crap we're addicted to.

You want to be healthy?  Well you have to live healthy & that includes eating healthy.  You can DO it!  #letsgetit

Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia

You Are What You Eat

Put down the cake, pick up the weights!

Food, food, food!!  Most of you probably already know that consistently eating healthy is my struggle!  As you can see from the before picture above I was enjoying sugar filled, processed foods!!  Even since my healthy lifestyle change I have had quite a few secret love affairs with food (remember this one) because I'm a recovering emotional eater.

I've told you before that eating healthy is so important to me because I truly believe what we eat can cause or fight off illnesses.  We had no documented history of breast cancer, yet my mom was diagnosed with it twice.  The one year anniversary of her passing is coming up and I'm so happy that I'm participating in a Whole 30 transformation challenge because that is going to help me to not go on an emotional eating binge.

I asked you all a few weeks ago if you were ready to lose your excuses (here) and I'm hoping you answered with a confident YES!  A huge part of living a healthy lifestyle is your eating habits.  You can change your unhealthy eating habits if you're willing to try!  I'm a living witness to this... I had no intentions of changing my eating habits when I started my healthy lifestyle journey because I thought eating healthy was restrictive, boring, too expensive and I thought I would be hungry all of the time!  I was so wrong and I'm happy that I gave it a try because otherwise I'm sure I would not have had the same weight loss results!

Let's look at a few of the excuses I used before I started eating healthy.

Too Restrictive/Boring/Hungry All of the Time

For some reason people equate eating heathy with only eating salads or hardly eating at all.  There are so many options and an array of food you can eat but you have to make sure you have those options in your refrigerator and pantry!  Of course you're going to feel deprived or restricted if the only options you have are unhealthy options.  I have had people say to me, 'I've tried to eat healthy but I'm hungry all of the time'. To which I ask 'what are you eating?'.  In most cases they are not eating enough.  Just like your car cannot run without fuel, your body cannot run without food.  

When it comes to eating healthy keep it simple.  It's so easy to over think it and make it complicated.  Keep healthy food and snacks around, drink water throughout the day and make sure you drink water before each meal.  A good rule of thumb is to eat every 2-3 hours but you know your body (don't be a robot).  Also, make sure you eat breakfast!!  But what is most important is to do what works for you!

 

What are some foods that you really like to eat?  If they are unhealthy, remix it and make it healthy.  For example, I love shrimp.  You see two pictures above with shrimp.  I probably eat shrimp at least one time a week (yea I've heard they are dirty blah, blah:).  I'm not a fan of chicken breast but I eat it because it's a good lean protein.  I just don't eat it as often because I don't want to have that dreadful feeling when I eat!!  When I do eat it I make sure the flavor is great so that I can enjoy it.  Also, try new foods!  I never ate brussels sprouts before but I tried them and I love them!

Stop eating CRAP (Carbonated drinks, Refined sugar, Artificial food, Processed food)

"Yes, unhealthy foods is often cheaper to buy, but more costly to your health"

Too Expensive

Eating healthy has saved my family a lot of money (which is needed right now lol).  We used to eat out all of the time but now I am all about cooking our meals.  It can be more convenient to pick up something to eat and usually it is cheaper (fast foods) however you can make healthy foods convenient by preparing them ahead of time.   

This example shows how eating healthy can be less expensive than eating unhealthy.

How many times have we heard 'You Are What You Eat'?  I would guess too many times to remember!  But it is true.  What we consume is vital to our health.  There is too much to cover on this topic for just one post  but for now let's lift more weights thank cakes :)!  Food is fuel for our bodies so let's fuel our bodies to be lean, healthy machines!!

Lift more weights than cakes:)

Eat wisely, eat to live!

Do you struggle with eating healthy or are you successful with consistently eating healthy?  Share your thoughts!

Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia