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

The Real Secret to Weight-loss!

How I Really Lost Weight...

I'm asked all of the time about how I lost my weight. People are like, 'what's the secret' or 'is exercise more important or is eating healthy more important'.  Sometimes I'm asked 'How did you really lose your weight'?  Most of the time I immediately respond with what I did as far as exercising and changing my eating habits.

But the real secret to my weight-loss is that I made up in my mind that I was fed up with my current state and I was going to do whatever it takes to lose weight.  Think on R. Kelly's lyrics 'when a woman's fed up, there is nothing you can do about it..'!  This is true for anything in our lives.  I was fed up with being tired all of the time, not fitting into my size 14s, and just not feeling great about myself.  I made up my mind that I was going to do something about it and nothing or no one (including myself) was going to stop me!

A changed & made up mind is really the only secret.  I've tried herbal life and it didn't work however, it has worked for a lot of people.  I've tried HCG and it didn't work, however, that has also worked for a lot of people.  I can go on and on but the point is it didn't work because I did not have a made up mind!  I was not fed up.  I was looking for a temporary quick fix.

When we change our minds, we change our lives.  Now of course you have to do something however, the start to doing something is a result of changing your mind.  As the quote says 'Your fitness is 100% mental; your body won't go where your mind doesn't push it'!

Once you train your mind (& continue to train it daily) start right away!  Get active, drink more water, eat healthier foods and log what you eat.  Make sure you begin with the end in mind.  Is your goal to lose weight?  Is it to live a healthier lifestyle?  Is it to have more energy?  Is it to fit into a particular size?  Whatever it is write that goal(s) down and get to moving!

With weight-loss don't just rely on the scale.  Pay attention to how your clothes fit.  In the picture below I bought that particular dress knowing I could not wear it at the time but when I saw it I thought to myself 'that's the type of dressed I'd like to be able to wear' so I got it!  When I met my first goal of weighing less than 200lbs I tried it on (that's the first pic).  At that point I said I wanted to be able to wear it by my birthday.  I was able to wear it a week before my birthday (the second pic) and now it's very loose (third pic)!  Also pay attention to how you feel.  If you notice that you're not as winded when you walk up stairs or walk to your car, you are making progress!!

I really wish I could give you a top secret way that required little to no effort to lose the weight!  You simply have to make up your mind.  I say simply because it really is as simple as that however we tend to complicate it.  Anything we want to do, achieve, or succeed at requires us to make up our mind that we can and no matter what, we will do what it takes to do it!  

Now make up your mind.

Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia

A Healthier We™

I have been so fired up about sharing what I've learned during my weight-loss journey with others.  This excitement sparked me to post a 90 day challenge on my FB page on March 23rd.  It was exactly 90 days until the first day of summer so in my mind it was perfect!  With no further planning or forethought I posted the Body Movement Workout (a High Intensity Interval Training program).  It wasn't until I went to complete a video of the workouts to share with the ladies who signed up that I said 'self'; self said 'huh'; self responded 'what were you thinking?'! *sighs*  

I felt overwhelmed and defeated because I thought I jumped the gun and set an unrealistic expectation for the ladies who agreed to participate in the challenge.  I knew I needed help because truly two is better than one!  I immediately thought about my friend and fit-sister Christina so I reached out to her.  It was so funny because she said 'Girl I saw that post, I thought you were tying to kill people' lol!  I am known to be the fitness sergeant but I definitely was not trying to go there!

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. - Ecl. 4:9 (NLT)

Christina and I make a great team!  She is the outgoing, say what she thinks, just do it type of lady and I am more of the reserved, think before I speak, plan and plan some more before I do it type of lady!  What makes us connect is that we both care deeply for people (she may disagree at first) and we're always looking to help others!  Before our office closed, she and I managed projects together and worked side by side for quite some time!  Over the last 10+ years we've both lost and gained weight together and now we are successfully maintaining a healthy lifestyle!!  We have a combined weight-loss of almost 200lbs (you will read more about her amazing journey on one of my Women Winning Wednesday post)!  While we are both passionate about total health, Christina excels in the food area and I excel in the fitness area.  As Christina and I discussed our journey and how we can combine our strengths to help others, A Healthier We was birthed!  

Us pictured with our former boss! 2011 vs 2013!

Introducing A Healthier We! 

"Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit" - 3 John 1:2 (NLT)

That is our desire!  We want to see people live a healthy lifestyle!  We envision individuals who are of any background, age group, income level, and fitness level across the nation living a healthy lifestyle!  

We did and we know YOU can too!

We plan to inspire others to live a healthy lifestyle not only by sharing our story and the story of others but to also provide practical tools and tips for people desiring to become healthy.  Stay tuned to our fight against obesity and for now, go like our page:  https://www.facebook.com/HealthierWe

Seasoned with Grace,

QueenZadia