How to lose 100lbs... Pt.1

SURPRISE! lol

While many of you who know me or follow me on facebook already know, as of Dec 31 I hit my 100lb weight loss! What a great way to end 2011!!! :D

So as the saying goes... the proof is in the pudding (or oatmeal in my case)...

I cannot even describe to you how I felt seeing this number on the scale. :)
Lets just say there were tears... lots of tears.

I have spent easily 95% of my entire life being overweight, this is the lightest I have been since about grade 7... yes, you read that right. There was a very brief period in grade 9 where I battled with an eating disorder and went down to 105lbs... that accounts for that other 5% of my life.
So when I talk to women (and men) about the struggles of being overweight, I am talking from experience... I HAVE been there and experienced it all. The name calling, low self esteem, rude looks, low self esteem... oh right I said that all ready.
In the end, it was my self esteem that took the beating as much as my body. The feeling of absolute hopelessness... like I was a less valuable person because of my weight. (This was never true but that's how I felt).

To give you an idea of how I felt in my body at 241lbs, I'm going to share a great visual from one of my favourite movies... Wall E!
See how the little people keep getting fatter and their bones more padded? Well the last one one the right is exactly how I felt!!! Extreme? Not to me. Honestly... that's how I felt.

(I apologize for the quality of the screen shot but you get the idea! :P)

I distinctly remember the day I found my calf muscle.... I thought I had a tumor in my leg!!! lol Nope! It's called a muscle... and now I have lots of them!
To be able to feel the definition of my bone structure, muscles etc. underneath my skin still amuses me!!!


So, here is an updated photo for you all...

And now to tackle the "big" questions that I get asked.....

Am I done losing weight now? The answer is no :)

While I am over the moon happy with what I have acheived so far, remember... I am 4' 11". While I know that I look "normal" and even "thin" to those who are used to seeing me, I still have a little bit of weight to drop.

More improtantly... I have toning, strengthening and compacting to do. I have an hour glass shape, I am "curvy" period. I love the look of a feminine shape... (like the curvy ladies in Pitbull videos!!! lol).

The next question... "So you don't have to watch what you eat ALL the time now, right?"
I'm going to answer that by showing you a photo of my breakfast...

Egg whites with salsa, oatmeal with blueberries. lol Were you expectiong chocolate chip pancakes? :P

Seriously though, I am completely happy eating a clean and balanced diet. If I eat something that's "off diet" I make up for it in the gym!


Last question.... "How do I lose (whatever weight)?

Well... first ask yourself if that's what you really want? Sounds silly? Who wouldn't want to lose weight?!
I tried losing weight so many times... too many to count.
It wasn't until I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, that it all started making sense to me. I had to hit absolute physical rock bottom... I was a mess.

So lets stop here for right now... you know how I began and where I currently am.
Consider this homework ;)
Take this time to evaluate how you feel about changing because believe me, it's not easy.
It's a ton of work, it will test all your limits and most of all... it's completely worth it!
Once you've decided... the next step will present itself :)

Til next time...

100lbs lighter (but still big) hugs... Crystal :) xo

Cheers... Here's to YOU!!!

Hi Everyone!

I hope your holiday season has been filled with friends, family and wonderful memories made!

Incase you missed it... here's the link to Sandras blog about our BeautyFit beauties team making soup for local charities with the Soup Sisters organization!
http://beautyfit.com/blog4/2011/12/21/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-at-christmas/

Such a great time for an amazing community based project! What a way to feel the true spirit of the holidays!

There are many articles, blogs etc. devoted to the issue of how to stay on track with your diet during the Christmas/holidays. This is not one of those blogs lol.

In the words of my BeautyFit mentors (Sandra and Jimmy) "You know what NOT to eat" :P Does that mean I refrained from all Christmas goodies? HECK NO! I enjoyed a great dinner with family (2 dinners actually) complete with a couple of sweet treats! What I didn't do is completely go nuts and gorge... I felt bloated enough with the little extra I did have! Ugh... thank goodness for peppermint tea!!!
When you look at things, like the holidays, with a realistic view... it's so much easier to deal with and get through.
As a matter of fact... the glass of wine pictured below was a prescription direct from Sandra (Sam). Two days out from Christmas I hadn't reached the goal I had in my head. I was stressing and not looking forward to the idea of Christmas meals. Sams response... "chill, enjoy a glass of wine and relax! You'll get there... just don't go nuts."
Well, I always follow Sams orders lol. I did indeed have that glass of wine (which was funny enough since I'm not a big drinker :P) and also enjoyed my family dinners. More importantly, I felt empowered knowing that I was in control of what I ate and I knew my limitations!

Like I've said before in the past... when I do eat something that's "off" my regular diet plan, I know that I need to ramp it up at the gym to get back on track. That's what this week has been about. Refocusing, re evaluating and setting new goals for the new year! With that being said...

You may be wondering about that goal I was stressing about... well I'm working on that for my next blog post! lol So you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for the next one!!! ;)

In the meantime... take this time to evaluate whats important to YOU! What do you want? and what are you willing to do to achieve those goals? I promise it's worth the effort!

Til next time!

Happy New Year Hugs... Crystal :) xo

Feel the fear... and do it anyway!!!

Hi Everyone!

Many of you may know that besides being a blogger for BeautyFit Inc. my full time profession is as a makeup artist.

In my industry I work in so many different realms with all types of people from brides to actors, models to fitness competitors. But no matter the client or job, one thing is always the same... I'm BEHIND the scenes! lol

So when the opportunity arises for me to be in front of the camera or a large group of people, my first reaction is to avoid and shy away from the experience!
This was especially true when I was at my heaviest... oh the chances and experiences I missed out on because I was so worried about how I looked and what others may think of me.

I am still very apprehensive of being in front of the camera lol (the fact that 2 of my closest friends are photographers makes this especially difficult!!!)
So you can imagine my thought process when confronted with the reality of going onstage to present awards at the OPA London Championships... as one of their major sponsors... YIKES!!!

BUT... as the title says and I'm learning very quickly about SO many things... it's OK to be afraid!!! Feel the fear, embrace it, and DO IT ANYWAY!!!
I know, for me, I'm done passing up opportunities because of fear!

Here we are with the Overall Figure winner!

And here is the presentation to the Overall Bikini winner (oohhhh... recognize BeautyFit Inc' s very own Sandra Compton ;)

And here we are... having a photo op at the booth!

(from left...)

Nancy Barbosa Alaimo, Lauren Fazio, Katie Lesperance, Sandra Compton and Me :)

What did I learn from all this? Well, I went up onstage and didn't get laughed off! lol I didn't feel out of place AND I had FUN!!! Who knew?!?! lol

Til next time... 

Feeling free Hugs... Crystal :) xo

 

Failing and quitting... there's a difference!

Hi All!

Here's a great quote to get us started...

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually, it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever" ~ Lance Armstrong

The "universe" works in amazing ways... I love it when I come across exactly the right motivation when I'm most needing it. 

With all victory, there comes defeat and with all success, there is some level of failure.

It is what you do with the defeats and failures that ultimately determine whether you reach your goals.

I remember vividly my first attempt at a military push up... hahaha It was BAD! I could barely hold myself up, let alone go through the full range of motion! I thought to myself, is this EVER going to be possible for me? 

Well, after attempting one... and face planting lol, I figured it couldn't be that bad again :P Even if I did one push up and wiped out on the second... at least I did ONE! lol 

Eventually, one turned into 10 and then to 30. The point is, after the face plant I could've said f#*k it and not ever tried again. What would be the point in that though?!

 So here I am... doing military push ups! Wow, that's a bad angle!!! hahaha Oh well! Point IS that I'm doing them! :D

I know I've thought about quitting, the days when I'm sore or tired or when I have guilt over all the time I'm putting into making ME better. In the end its what you can and can't live with. I choose not to stop where others would be comfortable. That's my choice.

Its not just about being "not fat" anymore, its about being the best Me I can be. Exactly the way I see myself in my head, but was always afraid to hope to become.

For me, once I got a taste of a healthier body and mind, having anything less is now unacceptable.

I don't want to be stick thin. I am, and will always be curvy. I love the look of hips and booty... and boobs lol

I do however, want to reach the goals I've set for myself. Regardless of how many people tell me that I look "good" now and I don't need to continue. I'm not "there" yet. ;)

So here I am with Sam on back/shoulders day, that was a push to failure workout! lol

Each day we all have the choice to either push til our body fails OR to try a little and then quit before we ever see our full potential OR not even try at all... which do you choose today?

Remember, no matter how slow your pace... you're still out running the people on the couch! (I take no credit for that quote but I love it! lol).

Til next time...

"You can do it" Hugs... Crystal :) xo

I am Beauty Strong!

Hi Everyone!

If you all haven't heard the news... BeautyStrong is now available in Canada!!! 

What is Beauty Strong?! Well it's a pre workout drink that helps me dig deep, zone in and maximize my workouts with no jitters!!! 

The first time I used BeautyStrong, I felt the difference. My training was more intense because I could push myself beyond what I was doing normally!

As I always say, if you want to know all the scientific info about the product... head to www.beautyfit.com!

 I love that BeautyStrong is pre measured and it comes in Fruit Punch and Grape!!! Mmmmm!!!

At this point in my weight loss, the loss of pounds is slower than it was in the beginning. This I know is normal, I am in the "home stretch" of my weight loss goal.
Every day at the gym or cross training outside means one step closer to where I need to be. So why not maximize my potential and time there?!?!
Having said that, I am setting new goals and thinking about the "fine tuning" of how I want my body to look and what is important to me.
I want a strong, toned body. Not just a shell that is 100lbs lighter.
With this goal comes a whole new set of challenges, changes and, I'm sure... struggles! lol

I know what I'm gearing up for.... actually I'm looking forward to it! Why?!
Cause I'm BeautySTRONG!!! ; )

Til next time...
BeautyStrong Hugs... Crystal : ) xo

Common sense is apparently not so common!

Hi Everyone! :)

I am going to apologize in advance to any that I may offend... lol

The one question that I'm asked most often about my weight loss is.... you guessed it, "How did you do it?".
Well since you read my blog, you already know the answer! For those who ask, my new standard answer has become... "the two things no one wants to hear... diet and exercise!".
Sad but true. When I'm asked how achieved a 90+ lbs weight loss, people literally glaze over as soon as I mention the words diet and exercise.

Don't misunderstand, I was one of those people for the majority of my life. There must be an easier way, some soup, bar or shake that will make me thin and therefore make me happy! Yaaaaa.... NOPE! lol

You really can't blame people though, the result of millions of marketing dollars are all around us! Drink this and be thin, eat only watermelon and cabbage and have a killer body... (if thats all I ate there would be a whole lot of dead bodies around me, I'd be a raving b#*ch) hahaha.
I'm quite sure that if I drank the majority of my meals, ate only one type of food or just plain didn't eat at all, I would lose weight...probably lots of weight.... until I stopped. Then, what do you think happens? It comes back plus extra!
Worse still is the notion that companies promoting a healthy weight/lifestyle actually frown upon exercise or tell you its not needed?!?! Really?!

This is where the idea of common sense and balance comes into play. My entire weightloss has been geared around making sustainable lifestyle changes. Clean eating (its called clean eating cause I get to actually chew my meals, not drink them all) exercise (including cardio and weight training) and high quality supplements (supplements enhance results, they don't do the work for you) are the foundation of my success.
I was also blessed to find a trainer and coach that didn't buy into BS and truly believes anything worth having is worth working damn hard for!!!

Here I go... I went and said it lol HARD WORK.... it is NOT easy!!! If it was, there would be a whole lot of marketing people out of work lol.

So, if all of this is such hard work... why do it?!?! Because it's so friggin worth it!!!
The first time I made it through a full hour training, the first time I did a military pushup, the first time I did sprints on the treadmill, chest pressed 25's, did 15 reps on the captains chair, ran 5k.... the list is much longer... every sweaty day was well worth the knowledge that I can... and I did!

It really is not complicated... we just make it that way. Get up, move, eat well, repeat.... you'll be floored by the results ;)

Common sense hugs... Crystal :) xo

Baby got... BACK!!! ; )

Hi Everyone!

So once again, time has gotten the best of me! lol

Even though I haven't been blogging weekly, that doesn't mean I haven't been in the gym doing what I need to do.

I realized that I haven't updated my weight for you all so...... here it is!
As of this past Saturday, I broke the 150lb mark and am sitting at 149.7 (hey I didn't say I broke it by much! lol) still, I'll take it!!! YAY Me!

I thought it would be nice to give you all another peek into what my training looks like... this time (as the title says) I'm training BACK!!! lol (and you all thought this was going to be a post all about BOOTY!).


Lucky for me I had a partner in crime to take photos for me :P Thanks Nancy!

So first off on "back day" is the assisted pull up machine (3sets of 12reps).
Can I just say that this thing scared the crap outta me the first time I saw it... it"s one of my faves now!

Next are seated rows (4sets of 15reps) this exercise really makes me focus on my "muscle/mind" connection (I can hear Sams' voice every time I say that lol). I really have to concentrate on the muscle group I'm working to make sure I'm doing this right! I also like that the majority of the exercises I do involve primary and secondary muscle groups. This means, basically, that I'm killing lots of birds with one stone! lol

Alternating dumbell rows (3sets of 15reps) and Lat pull downs (3sets of 15reps) are next... the pics were too blurry! lol I'd like to think it's cause I'm such a ninja when I train :P ... ya lets go with that! :)

Last in my back work out are back extensions (3sets of 20reps). As you can tell in this photo... I'm working VERY hard to hold this position as to ensure a clear photo! lol Btw... that's a 25lb plate I'm hanging onto for dear life!!!
I have always liked back extensions, I have always been "large" chested and have always had lower back pain. This exercise really helps to strengthen muscles that would otherwise be ignored.

Why train your back? It may not sound as sexy as training glutes, abs or legs but without a strong back what's going to help hold the "girls" up?!?! lol Nothing is worse than bad posture!



In weight training, as in life, it's all about balance!

Until next time...

Sexy back hugs... Crystal :) xo