Month 3 Check In and Core de Force Diary

Hey guys!

Competition Prep Update - MONTH 3!
As you know, I am back on track with my competition prep and the middle of this month marked month 3. I am down two pounds from last month, although my body fat percentage went up 1%. I can see in my own progress pictures that I am bloated despite being smaller. Here are the progress sets, side by side - even though I am not pleased.

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

I personally feel like I looked much better at the end of September than I do now, and I know that is my own fault. I have been indulging, off of my keto nutrition plan, drinking alcohol, and eating fast food and candy. I have not been eating over maintenance calories - still in a deficit, but it is plain to see that the quality of your calories ABSOLUTELY makes a difference. 

You guys might also notice that my month 3 pics are marked Core de Force and that is because I have started a new program! 

Core de Force Diary - Day 3!

I am 3 days into the new MMA style workout program called Core de Force. I did MMA Speed on Monday, Dynamic Strength yesterday, and today I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck. I am so incredibly sore - more so than with any other fitness program I have done. I feel like my back is completely shredded and my arms hurt even to pull up my pants or put on deodorant. It has been an interesting morning here, trying to get dressed! ;)

I did a quick video of the knee section from MMA Speed yesterday and while I really hate video'ing myself - it is absolutely helping me with my form. I am learning where and how to place my feet for hits and kicks and learning to focus on form rather than speed. 

I am so excited to do MMA Speed again today, even though I am soooooo sore. I think that's a good sign! I am confident I will finish and I am pushing for big goals this round. I would like to see 165 lbs on the scale, which is a number I have not seen since just a few weeks before my wedding day over 6 years ago. I am also focusing on fat loss and making sure that my nutrition aligns with my goals so that I get that body fat percentage down while maintaining my lean muscle. 

Lastly, I started my coach only test group as well as a private group for my own clients - and everyone is kicking butt!! I can only hope to keep up with these amazing men and women! They are already seeing results with just a few days (or weeks for those who started early) into the program. If anyone is looking for something that makes you feel powerful and badass, and you want to do it at home? Message me, we can talk about it and get you connected to my group. I can not wait to show you all what I will look like at my 30 day photos - right around my birthday!!

Stay tuned!!

Two steps forward, one step back.

Hello all of my beasty followers. It has been a few weeks again, and I really should get my act together, but sometimes the whole concept of blogging overwhelms me. Since the last time that I actually sat down and wrote something about my journey, a lot has happened.

Last month, I saw my endocrinologist. I had been given 10 weeks to make a change to my triglycerides or face the very possible reality of being put on yet another lifelong medication (already on meds for Hashimoto's, Vitamin D deficiency, and low HDL). I ended up briefly hospitalized for tachycardia and had to have my medication changed because stress was causing my heart to accelerate without reason. I committed to sticking to my nutrition plan and working out 6 days a week for 30 days and almost as if it was a miracle, my triglycerides responded and went down by almost 400 points. The news at my doctor's appointment nearly knocked me out of my chair. I am now able to resume my old medication regimen, stress is better managed, triglycerides are lower, and heart attack risk is reduced as well. I was certain I would be getting bad news, despite my hard work - because sometimes you just get in a negative space in your head about stuff, right?

I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing, loving, positive "fit fam" who always believe in me, push me, and motivate me to stick to my goals and fight for my health. After finding out the amazingly good news, I immediately started to send out messages to my teammates and fitness family at large. I shared this video on social media, for folks who follow me, because so many people think that eating right and working out doesn't work - but the trick is consistency and being PASSIONATE about it.

I am relieved, however, I am learning that just because I don't have a test coming up any time soon (April 2017), that does not mean that I slack on my nutrition and fitness - because my body will suffer! I got lazy for a few weeks and gained a few pounds back, and am feeling the effects of poor nutrition. That being said, I have decided to commit to another perfect 30 days of nutrition and fitness by jumping into a health and fitness challenge group - actually a test group for coaches only (but I am also running my own for my clients) with this amazing new program called Core de Force. It is going to be so badass and I am so excited for the MMA style workouts.

I plan on sharing my experience extensively and in addition to video diaries and posts here, I will also be sharing on my Facebook page and Instagram. I anticipate that I will be sharing workout videos fairly regularly, even though that makes me so uncomfortable with my extra skin flapping around. LOL!

Stay tuned because I am only getting started! I am so excited to finish this year STRONG in every sense of the word, and I would love you to come along with me! Let's do this!!!!