Blonde Moments, Scales and Motivation

I had an extreme blonde moment earlier today.  I have to admit that I have been pretty depressed with my progress in my own personal fitness journey.  In June when I first started with Shakeology and did my first fitness challenge with my coach Jen McConn​ I was at a very low point in my life.  I weighed in for her challenge at 173.  Miraculously in a few short weeks I had gotten down to the low 160s, but there I sat.  I felt that it was WAY too soon to be reaching a plateau, especially when 160s still stood as an overweight place for my height (5'4").  I was trying so hard, being vigilant in my shakeology use, working out more, healthier choices for the most part, but I have been under a lot of life changes and a lot of stress and insane business in my personal life. 

I made it my goal to at least see that 159 on my scale by tomorrow morning.  This was 2 weeks ago and I have been going hard, but instead I was seeing my scale go not down but up!  I was seeing 167 and 168 and starting to lose motivation in my fitness plan.  Then I finally was back down to 164 again, still up from where I had started but finally getting down from being so high.  Yesterday I even weighed myself and was at 163, and thinking I could get close. 

*At this point I want to caveat that scale watching is not effective.  You must take regular body measurements, and don' get focused on the numbers because muscle DOES weigh more than fat.  But I myself succumbed to the ease of wanting to SEE results happening. 

I have been taking periodic pictures and I could see a change in my body, but couldn't figure out how that was not at all translating to weight-loss.  Today around lunch time I was cleaning a closet out and was putting something in the bathroom and absentmindedly stepped on to my scale and had to check it about 5 times.  I even made Liam stand on it because I thought something was wrong.  There before me, my scale actually said 148. 

With all of the stress I have been under and with weighing myself first thing in the morning, I was expecting to see that 160 so when I was actually seeing 150s, I automatically though I wasn't losing when in fact I just can't read.

YEP MAJOR BLONDE MOMENT.  And MAJOR HAPPY DANCE and PHONE CALL TO MY MOM!

The take aways from this are that, it is so easy to get lot in the number and forget the reason you started the journey.  My fitness challenge group right now has been the biggest motivator for me.  Running this challenge holds ME accountable to them.  When I can think of a million reasons why I don't have time or I don't want to work out, I think about all of them that are TRYING and how I can't let them down.  About a week ago, I asked them what their motivation to keep going for was when they wanted to quit.  Little did they know I was asking because I was in a very low place for myself.  I had so many responses that the fitness challenge was the motivator for them, and even though it wasn't about just me, it brought tears to my eyes.  I stood taller and the world seemed brighter!  To be able to bring a group of people together and motivate each other!  THIS is exactly the reason I decided to make this journey as a coach.  For YOU, but also for ME too.  Love you guys, thanks for reading even a third of my book long post ;)

 
Beachbody Coach Site

My Facebook Coach Page :)

A Short Background Intro

My life journey has led me to learn a lot of different things from different locations and different people.  In my 31 years of life thus far, I have definitely had my eyes opened to life on many occasions.  Growing up, I spent a lot of time moving around, and never stayed at the same school for more than a year or two.  I learned to get along with a plethora of personalities and how not to judge others for being themselves.  I also found my love of books.  Being able to immerse myself into a book was a freedom that could go with me regardless of the location.  I am happy that even now, I can still possess that ability.

I enlisted into the Air National Guard 3 days after my 18^th birthday.  After 11 and a half years of service (8 of those active duty), I found myself immersed in military intelligence and was even paid to learn Chinese.  Four and a half years ago I was blessed with my own miracle in the form of my son.  As a single mother, I feel like I learn new things each and every day, and so much life is lived between the tiny spaces as I watch another being grow before my very eyes. 

Maintaining my gypsy lifestyle of youth while serving in the military I was unable to finish my college degree.  I finally found a way to be a full-time student and commit to it a year and a half ago when I started attending the University of Advancing Technology.  Currently I am studying for a B.S. in Advancing Computer Science.  Prior to attending college, I put the wheels into motion for getting a cookbook published and am working on it in between the rare moments of "free" time.  Somewhere amidst my crazy life I also decided that becoming a health coach was a good thing, becuase I must not have had too much to do already.  I have loved it though!  I feel healthier, more energentic and more confident than ever now that I am a Beachbody Coach!  ( My Coaching Site)

Life has definitely had many ups and downs for me, but if you are new to my blog, I just want you to know that taking the time out of your crazy and busy life means the world to me.  I would love to hear from you.  

May 2015 Updates :)

Good evening my wonderful blog readers!  I have so many projects that are all coming to life before my eyes.  Working on a new and finally finishing a college degree are also time consuming with my blogging moments.  My son has been amazing in life before my eyes with Tae Kwon Do, and we do have DIY projects that just need to get posted.  They are coming I promise!  You may be wondering why you haven't seen many recipes lately, this is largely in part due to my selection process for the cookbook and wanting to figure ot a few exclusives that can only be found in the cookbook itself and not just taken from my blog.  

Now on to this evening business:  I had to write a short story for a class and I felt such connection and inspiration to it and all of the possibilities of crazy twists and turns that it could take that I am in a serious mode of working to turn it into a full-length novel.  This would be my first and I am humbly asking for advice.

If anyone is interested in knowing more to give me any suggestions, advice, opinions, etc.  Please let me know.  Thank you very much for your time and just comment here or message me on any socal networking medium to connect further on this. 

My facebook blog page is a great way to get a message to me, if you don't know of any other:
https://www.facebook.com/BrittanyLMcCann.author.chef

I am now also a BeachBody Coach (because you know I had all of this free time to use, so if anyone is interested in knowing more you can comment here or send me a message at: https://www.facebook.com/Coach.Brittany.McCann, you can also go to the main site on Beach Body (You know those crazy coaches that give you workouts like P90X, Insanity, PiYo, Hip Hop Abs, Brazilian Butt Lift, etc.)  http://www.teambeachbody.com/member/sn/KiriBear

I provide basic coaching 100% free of charge, and am here to help you.  I am a sucky salesman and just joined for the discount, I don't expect to get rich off of coaching, but I do believe in the workouts and am a new user of Shakeology, so I will be showcasing progress blogs in the near future.  Keep your eyes peeled.

A preview of a delicious cheesecake recipe coming your way

Preview of some delicious ribs

I am loving the new PIYO!

Shakeology rocks

You may have missed my kick ass 31st birthday last month

My dork cat says hi

Can't leave out my KiriBear, and namesake for many of my internet dealings

DIY projects coming soon

My little martial artist is getting awarded a green belt on Monday night! 

Insanity Plyometrics Review

This evening I finally broke down and tried out Insanity.  I decided to do the first workout DVD which was the Plyometrics cardio circuit workout.  I am not a fan of intense workouts but I wanted to give it a try.  The DVD first starts out with a pretty fast paced warm up.  I was already feeling it in my calves before the warm up portion was even over.  The disc then goes into a stretching before the circuit begins using a lot of yoga based stretches.  The circuit starts out at about a jog pace and begins to speed up immensely right away.  After each circuit (about 5 minutes to get through the circuit) and then there is aw ater break.  It is a definite good exercise, and I can admit that I didn't make it through the entire 40 minutes.  I stopped at about the 25 minute mark.  I didn't want to be unable to walk tomorrow or in too much pain to ever do the workout again.  I can definitely see that it works and is a good workout if you are serious about getting into shape and losing weight.  It gets you sweating and working out you entire body.  I will have to check out some of the other discs and let you know what my take is on it.  So far I am already sore and will be hating life in the morning.  If you are serious about getting into shape I would definitely check this out.  It usually runs for a bit more than $100 but Amazon is selling used copies starting at $44.

 Here is a preview of what you are in for :)

Here are some good reference websites to check out if you are interested

Insanity Workout Program

Beach Body Insanity Site

Insanity for Sale on Amazon