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Before:
160 lbs
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After:
107 lbs
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Why I Got Started
There is a motto that I have always lived my life by:
"Don't complain about anything,
just do what you can to better the situation."
This simple sentence is what got me started. Instead of complaining to my husband about how out of shape and unattractive I had become, I decided to take a stand to better my health for myself and my family, especially my son.
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7 Months Pregnant.
It is important for me, as a mother, to instill in my son the importance of a healthy lifestyle. After all, what kind of role model would I be if my son saw his mother sitting on the sofa eating chips all day being nonproductive.
How I Did It
When I was pregnant, I knew I was eventually going to get back into shape. It was just a matter of motivating myself and doing some research. The first thing I did was subscribe to a couple of fitness magazines. I then chose Jennifer Nicole Lee as my role model and followed her story.
She replied to an email I sent her and her words alone were motivation for me. I have it taped on my computer monitor. I hung pictures of her on my walls in my home office, kind of as a blue print as to what I wanted to look like. Secondly, I went on the South Beach Diet for two months and dropped my first 20 pounds just by eating right.
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1 Month After Giving Birth, 155 lbs.I could not workout for approximately 4 weeks due to having a c-section. So I relied heavily on eating right. Once I received the okay to workout, I hit the gym for five to six days a week and still do. I dropped 53 lbs in eight months. Not too bad!!
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2 Months After Giving Birth, 145 lbs.
What Supplements I Took
When getting back on track, I decided to go natural since my goal was simply to lose weight and get toned. Because my weightlifting goals have changed some, I added EAS MyoPro Whey Protein Shake immediately following my workouts in order to repair my muscles. That is my treat.
I take 30 grams (one scoop) with some fruit to make a smoothie out of it. I love the way it taste. I will workout sometime just so that I can reward myself with a shake afterwards.
Sample Week Of My Diet
When it comes to my diet everything is measured to my body weight in order to maintain portion control. My meals are clean but fun. I am the concoction queen. I am always trying something new. I try to balance my meals with the right amount of carbs, protein, and fats which makes it very difficult at family gatherings. It is always a mental struggle not to give in too much.
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5 Months After Giving Birth, 130 lbs.
- Meal One:
Egg whites with chopped peppers and onion with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
Extra lean turkey bacon
Fruit
Coffee (of course)
- Meal Two:
Protein bar
Or a handful of nuts
- Meal Three:
Large salad with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Grill chicken
Or fish and a small fruit
- Meal Four:
Whey protein shake (immediately following my workouts)
Or on non-workout days
Tuna fish on pita, no mayo
- Meal Five:
Extra lean ground turkey or fish
Vegetables, with extra virgin olive oil
Small salad
Maybe one glass of red wine
I also drink several bottles of water a day, at least 80 oz. total.
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7 Months After Giving Birth, 109 lbs.
Sample Week Of Training
My workouts always consist of a compound movement and an isolation movement for each major muscle group. I do between 5-8 sets for large muscle groups, 2-4 sets for smaller muscle groups, and anywhere between 8-20 reps, except for abs.
I do 3 sets and a minimum of 25 reps., then I stop counting and do as many as I can, but I do not allow myself to do less than 25 reps. I change my workouts every two to three weeks; however, a typical workout consists of the following:
Day One: Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Glutes, & Calves:
