I can't believe I totally forgot to post this for you all to see!!! lol I started it way back in March and it must have gotten lost in the mix :(
Well better late than never!!!
Below you will find a photo of me that was taken by a dear friend of mine Vicki when we ventured off to see her all time favourite group... HANSON in Buffalo, NY (Yes I said Hanson! They're amazing in concert BTW!).
We ended up at Cheesecake Factory cause really, why wouldn't you?! lol
The funny thing about this photo is that it was taken about 2 weeks before I met Sandra "Coach" Compton. The rest you could say is history! lol
Now... Fast forward a year and a half later....
Here I am once again at the Cheesecake Factory after the Arnolds Sports weekend in Ohio!
This photo was taken by Jimmy the BeautyFit man after I showed him the above photo (which was the last time I was at CCF).
He quickly commented on how I had even shrunk in height... I attribute that to the loss of my "booster seat" LOL!!!
On the days that I feel like I still have so far to go, I stop to take a moment and try to really remember how far I've come.
There are many like me, that have overcome severe obesity and many many more that don't think it's possible for them.
I was one of those... one of the millions who had almost thrown in the towel thinking I was just destined to be fat with a nice personality. I say ALMOST cause clearly... I have lots of fight left in me ;)
It's different for everyone, the catalyst or moment you realize that being obese isn't who you are... it doesn't define you or in my case, become a really convenient reason to hide in the shadows or be less successful than I want to be.
When you get to "that" point, you'll know it and feel it... and when you've decided enough is enough, for real this time... just know that it CAN be done. Not overnight and not using a gimmick...
Til next time...
What starts with Cheesecake... ends with the treadmill ;)
Hugs... Crystal :) xo
P.S.
Here's some Hanson for you all! Dedicated to Vicki ;)
I can't believe how one day goes into another and the next thing you know... almost a month has passed since my last post :(
I'm currently in my busiest part of my year... wedding season! LOVE my job!!!
Many of my clients hire me to stay all day with them as a personal assistant, stylist and of course for touchups.
With long days comes traveling from location to location from getting the bridal party ready, to the church to photos and then the reception... whew!!! Or if I'm on a photo shoot in a studio or on location, I have to be prepared!
So what do I do en route or during down time? EAT! lol
This is my romantic meal of talapia, sweet potatoes and cucumbers (which I already ate lol)
I say "romantic" because I was on location at a vineyard eating by myself in my car! :P hahaha
I know I have written about food prep before BUT I feel that it is SO very important and it's the #1 topic I get asked about.
The worst feeling ever is when you're trying to stay focused on your eating plan and you find yourself starving... with only fast food as an option.
Do yourself a favour and be prepared!!!
You wouldn't head to the gym without your running shoes, don't leave the house without at least one food option for every three hours you plan to be out... this is how I plan and it work for me...
Example:
I have a wedding that has me starting at 8am and ending at 8pm... 12 hour day... 4 meals
(keep in mind that while it may be difficult to eat exactly every three hours, I at least have quick "grab and go" options)
I eat my breakfast as close to departure time as possible! lol If I need to leave the house at 7am then I'm eating at 6:45ish.
This helps me get into my work day without getting hungry too quickly.
I then make sure to pack things that are easy to eat on the go... *Disclaimer* Eating sweet potatoes, cucumbers, chicken etc. with your hands is perfectly acceptable as long as you're sanitary! lol (At least in my world!!!). Some of my fave things to choose from are...
* 2 rice cakes and a protein shake (isolate with water)
* hardboiled egg pre peeled and a banana or apple
* cubed chicken and sweet potatoes
* talapia and cucumbers
* sugar snap peas!!!
* 2 super clean "breakfast cookies" (recipe to follow)
And always ALWAYS have an extra scoop of protein powder incase of emergency!!! ; )
*side note* Can I just say how excited I am for the new BeautyWhey protein powders to come out!!! Mmmmmm!!!
If you check out one of my past blogs "How full is your plate" I posted a photo of my 6 pack lunchbox which holds absolutely everything I need for a full day away from the house. This includes ice packs, plastic food containers, shaker cups, water bottles and cubbies for my supplements! LOVE!!!
I have had brides comment on how big my makeup case is, only to inform them that it's actually my lunchbox!!! hahaha
I hope this has helped in giving you ideas or direction when trying to pack for your day!
And if you need a little extra inspiration... ;)
Super clean breakfast cookies!!!
No flour or sugar!
3 mashed bananas (ripe)
1/3 cup apple sauce
2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a bowl really well. Let this mixture stand for at least 5 minutes to let the oats become good and hydrated. Heap the dough by tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Store in the fridge.
That's right... I said it :( and I can tell you right now it tasted horrible coming out of my mouth!!!
"I can't" doesn't have a place in my vocabulary anymore.
So what happened, you may ask? Well... all in all it was a pretty amazing day with some fellow BeautyFit beauties helping out at our local Habitat for Humanity build site.
So our build day was insanely hot, 43*F with a humidex but so rewarding!!! We were tasked with building framing for the ROOF and nailing the ROOF sheeting.... notice the common denominator being the ROOF!!!
Little known fact... I don't like heights *insert short joke* but I figured I'd get over it. I got buckled into my harness... did my safety training... climbed up the ladder and through the framing like a monkey (which was crazy enough!!!) then got to where I needed to climb out and onto the roof. I got one leg out and attempted the other... the spins came and I said it... I can't do this... :(
Everyone there was super supportive and understanding. I took up my new assignment of building the roof frames safely on the ground and the day was awesome and super productive.
But... those words left a bitter taste in my mouth! Seriously!
Sooooo.... I have added to my "happy list" I need to get over my heights thing!
My first though goes right to skydiving... but before that....
I'm going to learn how to rock climb!!! :D
That's a bonus deal of conquering a fear AND getting in a stellar workout!!!
I'll keep you posted as to when this is all going down lol I'm sure there will be some fantastic photos to accompany that blog! :P
If you are a regular follower of my blog a) thank you, and b) you'll notice I have been M.I.A.
As the title of my blog suggests, this is a tough one to write.
The reason for my absence is unfortunately a sad one.
On Sunday May 27th my Father passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack at the age of 59.
*WHEW* this is as difficult to type as it is to say out loud.
Ok... deep breath!
My Dad... Walter John Harvey
I'm not writing this to re live the events of his passing... God knows those memories from the hospital will be forever engrained in my head.
I'm writing this for many reasons... therapy, tribute and to thank all those that have been so supportive (including my BeautyFit family).
For those who have experienced a loss, I know you "get it"... to be honest, I'm just wrapping my brain around everything. I've not had anyone really close to me pass away, both of my Dads parents are still living. Telling my Poppy (Grandpa) that his son had passed was heart wrenching to say the least.
I had no idea of the overwhelming amount of support that was to come...
Sitting at the hospital sending texts to a few close friends asking for a prayer for my Dad while we waited for information...
Texts filled with encouraging words, phone calls to come out front for a quick hug outside the hospital, and then when Dad passed... Sandra (Sam)"Coach" finding me and my family at the hospital to help any way she could... she knew I needed her.
Once word spread, messages started to flood in from all directions as they usually do. People in disbelief, offering kind words and prayers... all of these things so greatly appreciated.
Dad teaching Sidney how to play the guitar he and Mom bought her
(*Side note...Those who know me will not be surprised that in times of heartache or difficulty I turn to humour. It's my way of coping... just FYI lol).
Like all Dads, mine was big on teaching me about the regular stuff like honesty, work ethic, etc. etc.... but then there was the stuff he loved... the GOOD stuff ; ) lol For instance...
* hockey (he was a Leafs fan lol) Wendel Clark could walk on water and every year the Leafs were winning the cup! lol
I think I broke his heart a little when I decided in grade 6 to become a RedWings fan... since I'm a total Daddy's girl... he still bought me a wings jersey that Christmas!
* Janis Joplin... enough said :P
* boxing and Rocky movies! Apparently in his feisty years Dad dabbled in boxing. He had 4 fights that all resulted in knock outs... he was on the receiving end of all of them. lol
Still... Dad and I would sit on the couch together and watch Rocky movies whenever possible, his fave being Rocky 4 with "Ivan Drago" :P Immediately after, Dad would give me a lesson in self defence which included how to properly punch someone in the throat in a life or death situation!!! hahaha
I think it amused him to no end when I started Boot Camp and he saw me with my hand wraps on! He'd start jabbing at me seeing if I could actually block a punch... he was impressed that Coach taught me well!
My Dad never got to meet Sam though they were friends on Facebook lol In fact, my Dad waited til Sam added him so that he didn't look like a "dirty old man" adding such a "hottie" to his friends list! lol
Dad cringed every time Sam would comment on something (on Facebook) and call him Mr.Harvey... so she did it more! And when Sam cam into the room to pay respects to my Dad after he passed, she introduced herself and said "nice to finally meet you Mr.Harvey". True to form, she had my back.
The day after Dad passed I got a bbm form Sam... "Grab your training gear and come over when you can xoxo"
That night, with "Coach" and Momma bootcamp (Sams Mom), I ran my first 5k outside.
I broke down in the first K... my head filling with memories and eyes filling with tears.
Bent over trying to breathe I felt headphones go around my neck and Sam pulling me upright... "You've got this, leave it all on the pavement" and she (and Dad I'm sure) pushed me forward.
In the last K I ran through the sprinklers in front of McDonalds and was a dripping mess by the end... but my head was clear for at least a little while.
We all have our outlets in times of stress.... 2 years ago I would have eaten my way through this entire ordeal, no doubt in my mind.
Instead, I have a constant reminder of where I am NOW... seeing my boot camp and gym friends among the crowd at Dads visitation and funeral just solidified how much of a family we have really become and how far I've come.
Dads passing is still a very fresh wound... I don't think its really hit me that he's physically gone, I know when it does sink in it's not going to be easy.
I take comfort in the fact that I'm not alone in this and that if I need to at anytime I have training and cardio buddies that I can call on a whim. And for the days when I really miss him, I know I've always got Dad pushing me on the pavement.
So, in honour of my Dad.... here's a little Janis for you all!
For those who have seen me going to, at or after the gym... I do not prescribe to the idea of getting "dolled up" to train. Sure, if I am heading there after work or happen to have a full face of makeup on I'm not going to wash it off*
*side note: training in a full face of makeup is the best kind of research for me :P Tell me your eye primer will make shadow last 12hrs.... we'll see about THAT!!! ;)
Anyhoo! Back to fashion... like I said, I don't need to look pretty to train BUT what I have found as of late is that I really am seeing the value to proper, high quality training clothes!
You don't have to have lost 100+ lbs to see (or feel) the difference in training gear. I'm writing about how it helps me... take from it what you will :)
Coming from such a big weight loss, there are certain "things" that one can't control. One of those things for me is loose skin.
If you've been following my blogs, you'll know that this has always been one of my biggest fears.
I wasn't ready in the beginning to acknowledge that a large weight loss would result in loose skin... truthfully, it would've scared me off.
Instead my Coach had me focus on the things I could control... diet, exercise, water intake and taking care of my skin by moisturizing twice a day and using products like Beauty Bum to help break down cellulite.
To be honest with you, I truly believe that had my weight loss just come from diet alone, I would have a lot more skin to deal with.
So in dealing with the "skin issue" I have noticed that high impact training i.e.. running, jumping, etc can result in what I like to refer to as... reverb! lol It's my silly name for the little aftershocks that my body does during impact movements! (go ahead and laugh... its ok!!! lol) For women, think about running with no bra on..... picture it.... :s yep! pretty much the same feeling I get if I'm training in lack lustre gear!
HEY... my blog is ALL about honesty! lol
Sooooo... what's a girl to do?! FIND BETTER GEAR!!! ;)
On a recent sunny day road trip with Coach Compton I found myself finally investing in something I should have gotten a LONG time ago!...
Not only do they have circle mesh in all the "right" places to keep sweaty stinky-ness at bay... they are also made of their Power Luxtreme fabric which I find helps keep me compressed in to avoid bounce but still super comfy!!!
This was actually something Coach had seen and hauled me in to try it on! lol
Instant LOVE... so lightweight to wear under other tanks and tee's but holy cow!!! the amount of "suck it in ability" is AH-MAZE-ING!!! :D
I have already worn it a couple of time awhile running and am happy to report that in combination with my new Lulu crops.... I am virtually "Reverb" free! ;) hahaha
So what is the whole point here?
Just like in high fashion, the right "under garments" make the outfit... the gym is no different!
The right gear for me means less "reverb" which means less stress on my joints and to be truthful... my skin itself doesn't ache as much after training.
In the end... it's not about looking "good" at the gym (or wherever you train) it's about feeling secure in the gear you wear.... though having some style never hurt anyone ;)
I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the transition into spring! :)
It has been an interesting couple of weeks for me! The last while has been filled with routine changes, personal challenges and a TON of life lessons! lol
As we all know, life is always changing. If it didn't.. well that would be pretty boring!
I've come to look at the "ups and downs" and "changes" in life as lessons needing to be learned to help me grow.
The first big change (though only temporary) is helping out my family with their business while my sis-in-law recovers from a c-section... I have a beautiful new niece :)
Many can relate to pitching in when family needs help... this situation is no different.
The difficult thing for me is juggling a new routine, my own family, my business and... gym time!
There are some things you just can't and don't let slide... and I have the insane need to keep juggling everything without dropping the ball ever... YIKES!!! lol No PRESSURE... Really?!?! :P
Funny enough, the one thing that I hear from some is... "don't worry about the gym, you've got enough on your plate". Well the gym is the ONE thing that is FOR ME!!! And there is no one else that gets that more than my coach.
So what does my Coach (Compton) do when she sees me stressing, being unsure of myself and how I'm going to handle all these things on my plate?! She hands me this...
Well not ALL this! Lol
My "allotted" food was neatly packed in one grocery bag... (side note! WHO DOES THIS?!?! lol How many trainers go grocery shopping for their clients?! Seriously, I have the best trainer on the PLANET!!!)
Along with my little bag o' food were 2 sheets of paper. One with my new meal plan and the other with my new training schedule. No nonsense, no excuses, no BS... and these words were spoken... "You've got a full plate... and I've just added more" *insert sweet yet evil Sam smile*. What I got from that smile was.... (and excuse my language lol) SINK OR SWIM B!#@H! hahahaha
I've been doing a great job of maintaining my weight. Losing a pound here and there but mainly hovering around the 140 mark. I'm still not at my "goal" weight but I was ok with taking things slower ... again, in the words of my Coach... "let your body recover".
Well it seems my body has recovered, had its "coasting" time and now its time to get back into the game!
Why now though? Why add a new diet and training onto this new crazy schedule? Well it took me about 48hours to figure it out.....
I'm the type of person that is fully invested in what I do. I'm uber social and my business revolves around me being available, flexible and "out there"... I feel out of the loop when I can't be in the mix at all times lol.
So like I said, it took me very little time to figure out why it was so important to start this new program now... ROUTINE and ME TIME!
It is super easy to disregard anything for ourselves when life and schedules get tough. Think about it... after a long day, needing to run errands and do all the things required on a daily basis.... you know you should get to the gym and eat clean, you want to! BUT... it's easier to grab something to eat while out and skip the gym in exchange for laundry. That is exactly why it was the perfect time for my new program!!!
So this is a pic of my new 6 pack fitness lunch box :D Coolest thing EVER!!!
It has tons of compartments for food, ice packs, water, utensils, supplements etc. I pre pack everything at night and grab n' go in the morning. So no matter where I go I have everything with me....
Even when I'm stuck in traffic!!! Lol
Now as for the gym... I'm there at 5am for cardio and split up my training either on a break or later in the evening. Why? Cause it's when I can get there and I need that time to refocus and centre myself. lol
Just do what you've got to do ;)
When things get crazy its important to take even just a little time for yourself and I didn't work this hard the last 18months to let myself slide back into bad habits just because things get crazy.
Everyone has their own story and set of circumstances, it's your choice to give in or put your game face on!
Some call it a bucket list... but in my world it's a Happy List! lol And nothing feels better than checking off something on that list!
Well... that's not entirely true! Checking off TWO things in the span of 4 days feels pretty FANTASTIC!!! :D
So what did I do? Well....
First and so mind blowing-ly (is that a word?!... it is now!) unbelievable is that I got to see.... wait for it.... PITBULL IN CONCERT!!!!!!!!!!
Holy Guacamole!!! (My spanish is limited so cut me some slack! :P)
If you are unaware of my absolute LOVE for Pitbull, just rest assured that it is a HUGE love and borders on sickness! lol Seriously, I go numb from the waist down when his music comes on! (Don't judge! lol).
Here are Dani, Nancy and I waiting for the show to start... I had to scam their photos since I was too excited to remember to take some of my own! Jeeze!!! hahaha
And here he is!!! Mr.305/Mr.Worldwide himself!!! GRrrrrr! ;)
And another cause... well who needs a reason for more Pitbull?! lol
I promise to update this blog with more photos and possibly a video, once I get hold of them... cause I know they exist ;) lol
But let me assure you... I shook my money maker the whole time, couldn't stop smiling AND and giggled every time he said Dalee!!! Yep I did! *sigh* lol
Ok... on to the second thing I checked off!
Another one of my happy list "to do's" was to have my picture taken with a BIG bodybuilder man!!!
If you think this is weird, just know that I am a) 4'11" and b) have an affection for big and or tall people... can't explain it... I just do! lol
So just four short days later I found myself being introduced (by Coach Compton) to the one and only... 4x Mr.Olympia himself... Jay Cutler!!! Oh Yaaa!!! And what a total hottie he is!!! (if by any stretch of the imagination he actually reads this... I will be SOooooo embarrassed!!! :P)
And here we are! :)
hehehe.... so cute!!! Thanks Jay for helping a girl with her "Happy List" ;)
In hindsight, I am now wondering why I don't have a pic of just myself and Mr.Jimmy Mentis?! Seriously?! OK! The great thing about these lists is that you are always adding new things... at least you should be!!!
I have just decided to add the following.... have a photo taken with Jimmy in full "gun show" pose hahahaha AND to see Pitbull again... in MIAMI!!! ;)
Yep! They are formally added to the list!
I hope if you're reading this that it has inspired you to either create a list OR add to one you've already started!
I know that even as recent as two years ago, I would've been too self conscious to do half the things I'm doing now. But I am now realizing the following...
Life is worth living... in the words of good ole Abe himself...
