How's this for motivation?! ;)

Hi All :)

While there are many reasons to choose a healthy lifestyle, lose weight and get in shape... I thought I'd share with you some new reasons that you may not have thought of! :)

First, as an short obese person, I always had to use those HUGE bath towels after my shower... and there was not a bunch of extra left over either! Now I can easily wrap up in a regular towel! Seems like a small victory? Well $20 vs. $6 for each towel adds up to a new pair of shoes pretty darn quick!!! ;)

Next.... PANTIES!!!! Holy Moly thin people!!! You have been buying your skivvies for ridiculous deals like 10 for $25 WTHeck?!?! lol I'm gonna have gitch coming out my wazoo at prices like these!

And while I'm on the subject of clothing... REALLY?! Sales are everywhere! Tanktops 5 for $20, $15 jeans... no wonder all my friends have such huge wardrobes! lol

Groceries... while many will argue that buying fresh produce and veggies is expensive, I would counter with... try cutting out all prepackaged convenience food. It's difficult at first but like all difficult things, it's totally worth the effort. Your waistline, wallet and sodium levels will thank you! :)

Now on a bittersweet note ;) An unexpected side effect to losing weight for me is that most of my heels are too big.... meaning..... NEW SHOES!!!! lol

Hopefully this little list gives you some low cal food for thought ;) I'm sure I'll be adding more as the epiphanies come to me! lol

Cheap undies and little towel hugs... Crystal :) xo

Family Trip to Whole Foods :)

Hi All! :)

This past Sunday Ian (hubby), Sidney (kidlet) and I headed to Whole Foods Market in Oakville.
I was first introduced to Whole Foods by Sam when she brought me there in the spring as part of my "50lbs lost" Lulu Lemon reward road trip! (Still adore my scuba hoodie that I got that day... thought lately it's been a little warm for it ).

I was so excited to be heading there with my family because I knew they'd love it there too...



The first thing you notice when you walk in is how bright and colourful it is! Everything is so neatly stacked and arranged beautifully... it really is like edible art! :)
With all of these pre prepped foods, it's difficult to make an excuse about not being able to eat healthier, Whole Foods isn't the only place that makes healthy options like these readily available...:)



I'm a sucker for herbs and spices lol and they even have edible flowers which Sidney thought was pretty cool!



I couldn't resist taking this picture... the colours were so awesome and peppers are one of my faves!!!



This is the bath and body section, I knew Sidney would love this isle! She is obsessed with hand made soaps and scrubs lol She makes them for me all the time and is always looking for new inspiration! :)



Now on to the "main event" lol. I raved about the cafe area of the market and Ian and Sidney were both eager to check it out and get some lunch... oops I chopped Ian in half lol
The thing to remember about all this wonderful variety of food is that a)moderation is key AND b)they charge by the pound lmao Ian will never forget that now ;)



This is Sidney and her carb laden lunch! Btw... there's rice under her salad hahaha
I didn't even look at what Ian had in his container... it was just better that way! :P



This is my delicious, well balanced and portion controlled lunch ;) Mmmmmmmm.....



And finally, Sidney and I... I had to get in at least one pic ;) lol
I absolutely recommend a trip to Whole Foods market with the family... it's a great eye opener to the variety and possibilities that are out there. A healthier lifestyle doesn't have to be bland, boring and tasteless... Life is what YOU make it!!! :)




Until next time... check out the Whole Foods website www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Whole Foods Hugs... Crystal :)xo

Cha cha changes! ;)

Hi Everyone!

I've been doing a lot of thinking the last couple of days about how I've changed in just the last 6 weeks ( I can't believe I'm halfway through the challenge!).

I'm sure there are many changes I still don't see or maybe understand yet BUT, here is a list of things (mental and physical) that have definitely changed for the better...

1. I wear tank tops in public!!! :D

This is a pretty liberating one! I cannot remember a time in recent history that I wore a tank top for anything other than sleeping in. That includes the hottest of summer days, I would normally just suffer. Not this year!!! My arms are bare for all the world to see AND I'll even strike a bodybuilder pose if you ask! lol ;)

2. I paid actual money for spandex capris! lol

I love them! You will find me most days in my awesome gym pants (and tank top ;) usually because I'm heading to, or have just been to the gym. The other reason is because clothing is lasting me an average of 2 weeks before things are getting too big! I'm excited to say that I will be adding a pair of lulu's to my closet once I hit my next goal :)

3. I'm getting some pretty sweet muscles!

Oh ya I said it!!! ;D I can actually see definition in my shoulders and biceps (and I'd freakin better after all the work Sam and Lisa have me doing! hahaha) not to mention my calves! Holy moly... totally impressive lol

4. Energy!!!

Wow what a difference! Don't get me wrong, I am still beat at the end of the day, but I have such a different pace now. It take so much more to exhaust me!

Getting up at 6am is not a chore, I enjoy my quiet mornings to myself before the craziness of my day begins.

When the end of the day gets closer, I'm tired because I've worked, trained and done house and family stuff. I am no longer exhausted from just carrying my body weight around.

These changes may not seem like much but for me, they are HUGE!!!

These "little" changes are all adding up to a very big difference in my overall lifestyle. I have always been an optimist but for the first time in a very long time I'm optimistic and excited about Me!

Bare armed Hugs... Crystal :) xo

Push, pull, TRX and "leaning" on Friends!

Hi All :)

Wow...What a week!!! :P

This past 7 days has been the most challenging yet... though I'm very sure I'll be saying that many more times before the end of my 12 weeks!

My favourite weight training ninja Lisa introduced "push" and "pull" days which apparently is going to be the theme for the next couple of weeks.

On these days, as you can guess, my weight training revolves around either pushing weights away from my body OR pulling weight towards my body.

For instance, on push day I do hack squats... they may sound funny but you won't catch ME laughing... YIKES! I love to hate hack squats. They are hard as hack (haha I made a funny!) and make me walk funny for at least a day BUT they get me one step closer to the "pitbull video girl" booty I hope to have at some point! LOL

Now, on pull day... it's aductors :0... if you're not familiar with these, then just imagine sitting in something like an ObGyn chair (I am not even making this up!!!) lol and squeezing your thighs together with like 80lbs attached!!! I know! My first reaction was WTH?! lol Is that possible?! Turns out that it IS possible...even with 3 sets of 12! Holy Moly it's amazing when you do something you had no idea you were capable of. And note to my hubby to be for warned about my impressive inner thigh strength! hahaha

That's just a couple of examples of what I do on those days BUT training is a full hour and Lisa is creative ;) By the end of an hour I am side stepping down the stairs and thinking about Alieve and a hot bath but, I do love the feeling!

So, now that you've got an idea of what a killer workout I get on push/pull days... imagine my face when I walk into BeautyFit boot camp to see bizarre straps hanging from the ceiling?! Oh Jeebus!

Turns out that these straps are known as a TRX system... they are designed for you to use your body weight as resistance while doing various awkward looking exercises (Sam makes it look easy, however I manage to look like a cat stuck in a tree :P).

I would urge any of you that have never seen a TRX workout to do a youtube search and check it out. Then imagine a room full of women at various fitness levels learning the basics.... GOOD TIMES!!! hahaha

It was an absolute testament to the amount of trust we all have in Sam, to hook our feet in and just go for it!!!

Now while I'm on the subject of trust... it's one thing for me to be going through this transformation by exercising, eating clean etc. All of these things require me to "carry my own weight" so to speak. While my weight is no secret during this process, knowing the number 178lbs and actually feeling the weight of it are two vastly different things.

This gave me big time anxiety when, in boot camp, we paired up and had to do the most frightening push ups ever! I say frightening for 2 reasons, first... I am not yet very good at military push ups and second... and most importantly... I had to do said push ups while my partner Beth (who is tall, thin and unbelievably kind) was in a high plank position and my feet were on her butt!!! I KNOW!!!!! I admit to almost crying at the thought of burdening Beth with my weight and also to apologizing profusely before and after... but she is a trooper!

I can honestly say that this entire week has been a challenge in every way (more to come about my past weeks food challenges)...

'til next time...

Hanging upside down hugs... Crystal :) xo

Week 4 Results!

Hi all! :)

Sooooo.... I had my week 4 follow up with the awesome Rebecca (WGK) today and....

*drumroll*........ here they are... My week 4 weight and measurements!

Aaahhhh!!! Lol Just kidding :P

Weight 178.4lbs (-2.6lbs)

Body fat 37.1% (-3.5%)

Chest 43" (-1")

Waist 35" (-2")

Hips 42.25" (-2.75")

Mid Thigh 25.5 (-.5")

Mid Calf 16.75" (-.25")

Bicep 13.5 (-.5")

So what does this all mean? lol

To date (day 23) I have lost 7.6lbs, 3.5% body fat and 7" ... not too shabby! :)

I'm not going to lie, understanding the science behind weight loss is very new to me. In a world where we are used to seeing drastic weekly pound loss on TV, it's difficult at first to understand why I'm not dropping 5lbs each and every week. Thank goodness I have amazing professionals in my corner to explain the finer points of my body's workings! lol

One of my greatest fears with this whole weight loss thing is the idea of loose and hanging skin :( I am completely happy with doing this the right way (diet, exercise and hard freaking work!!!) it may take a little longer but as far as I'm concerned, I could really use that time to "enjoy every minute of the journey" (direct quote from Jimmy).

I have some amazing and inspirational people guiding me through this (more about these awesome peeps later) and I figure the more I embrace each step taken in the right direction, the better the lessons are going to stick!

So... until next time!

7 inches less to hug... Crystal :) xo

Week 1 in review AND Weigh In!!!

Week 1 of the BeautyFit 12 week Transformation is DONE!

WOWZA... This has been an intense week!!!

Want to know what my training was like this week?!
Here it goes:

Monday - First weight training session with my fabulous trainer Lisa of World Gym Kitchener! She put me through an overall training assessment which I'm sure will be the easiest thing she EVER gets me to do! I adore her already :)

Tuesday - BeautyFit Boot Camp w/ Sandra Compton!
I've described this boot camp as "the hardest you'll ever work without delivering a baby at the end" and that coming from someone who has experienced natural child birth! Why? You may ask... Cause it is the absolute BEST feeling to make it to the end of that class! I prove something new to myself EVERY time, like the wicked long plank I held this week!!! Planks are WAY harder when your "front bum" is too small to help you stay up! :P

Wednesday - Weight training with Lisa! This was no "assessment" lol wall squats, walking lunges and a complete body workout! I love it when Lisa counts down and I hear "just 2 more"!!! BTW... Lisa's a runner! FOR FUN!!! Cause she LIKES IT?!?! For real! This may rub off on me... I'm scared! Lol Finished up with a 500cal burn on the elliptical in 49:01min.

Thursday - BeautyFit Boot Camp w/ Sammi!
This was a special sort of a$$ kicking that I cannot fully describe as my mind has repressed much of it! Lmao I vaguely remember a never ending training circuit, burpies and vomiting in my mouth! Ewwwww! Lol BUT... I was standing long enough to do 15min of extra cardio at the end! Our boot camp team is fantastic... That's right, we're a TEAM!!! We struggle and succeed TOGETHER!

Friday - Nutritional consult #2 and WEIGH IN!!! With Rebecca!
Rebecca (from World Gym Kitchener) is awesome! I couldn't even look at the scale... I waited for her to tell me how I did! *DRUMROLL*...... -5lbs!!! Woooohooooo! I wasn't sure if this was good enough but Rebecca was smiling so I considered that a good sign! Lol I know that this probably won't be a typical weekly loss, but its a great jump start!!!
We went over my food journal (I'll write more about that later) and my new "poker chip" method for counting my servings! I still need to work on getting my water in, this has always been a struggle for me! On the bright side, if I'm going to be spending that much time in the bathroom, its going to be redecorated!!! ;) Did 30 min (300cal) on the elliptical, I was starving and needed a shake! :P

Saturday - Burn 600cal on the Elliptical!
Why 600? Well, cause I was there with Sammi and decided to do a full hour! Lol it definitely helps when you have a cardio partner!!!

Tomorrow is my "day off" from training ONLY! My eating will stay clean and on track! :)

181 lb Hugs... Crystal xo

Small Victory #1

Hi All!

Not going to keep you long with this post... Just wanted to share with you all my "mini" victory this week! I've decided to number these "small victories" as I hope to have many more along the way!!!

For those who know me, Sushi is one of my FAVORITE foods... I'm seriously salivating at the mere thought of a well executed Spicy crispy salmon roll! Mmmmmmm....

Anyhoo... I'm very proud to announce that I turned down an invitation to go for sushi! YAY Me!!!
Was it hard, yes! Was it worth not going... Absolutely!!! I'm not strong enough to be near a salmon roll without becoming all gluttonous! :P

Thanks for stopping by!

Sushi free Hugs... Crystal xo

Inches and pounds and fat... OH MY!!!

Hi everyone!

I can't believe what an amazing response I've had from you all about my 12 week challenge! Thank you all for your words of encouragement!!! :D

Since I introduced myself in my first blog and posted a pic of my 239lb self Lol... I thought I should post an updated pic for you! :)





Part of any weight journey entails the dreaded....... MEASUREMENTS!!!
AHhhhhhhhh!!! Thank goodness for the beautiful Rebecca from World Gym Kitchener, she made me feel so very comfortable with zero judgment!!!

So, before I chicken out... Here are all my stats! Lol

Chest - 44in (yep they're big, let's hope they don't turn into empty tube socks!)

Waist - 37in (no comment)

Hips - 45in (oh lord!!! :( mind you my "front bum" as I so lovingly refer to it has gotten smaller! My hips did measure 61" at my 239 weight!!! Just FYI... I'm 60" tall!!! YIKES :s)

Mid Thigh - 26in

Mid Calf - 17in

Bicep - 14in

And again, starting weight 186lbs
Body Fat 40.6% (see, I'm full of fat not s@*#!!!) Hahaha just kidding!
Seriously, I just need to laugh at this body fat thing cause otherwise I'll just cry at the thought of it!

So now you're all up to date with where I've started my challenge!

Let's do this!!!

Hugs (front bum and all)... Crystal xo