Hello my friends! It’s been a while. I’ve been MIA! With the hustle and bustle of the holidays and shopping, I’ve really managed to put my blogging on the back burner. But, after much needed time away with the family, and a bit of time put into relaxing and adjusting to the huge alterations in my life, I finally feel its time to come back and commit to a little blogging.
I’ve missed it!
So, what’s new in my world? Well, most importantly, I’ve managed to stay committed to taking good care of my physical and mental wellbeing!! Diet and exercise, Baby! I’ve been creating and motivating myself with vision boards. Check it out! Here is the fitness one I’m working on!
I’m no longer going to a trainer 3 times a week, but those 2 months really had a huge impact on my life. Even though I hadn’t managed to lose any pounds while I was there, I had lost several inches around my waist; but most importantly, I developed a healthy relationship and love for working out! Since the training I’ve joined Franco’s, my local fitness and spa resort, (look it up if you hadn’t heard of it, its insane!! It was actually on the Discovery channel as one o the Top 10 Fitness resorts in the Us a few years back! Yowza!) and have kept to a flexible regimen of attending strength, cardio, and flexibility classes regularly. Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Attack, Zumba, CxWorx, Cycling, Yoga, Thai Chi, Pilates, Boxing, Circuit Training, etc. You name it, they have it! I love it! I’m pretty addicted really… But in the best way possible!
Yoga is my passion right now!
Anyway, besides all the love for physical training, I’ve recently committed to a 40 day Detox. I read, and then re-read and took notes, and then implemented! If you’re interested the book is called Detox for Women by Natalia Rose (Click the title and it’ll bring you to the book on Amazon). It’s really a great book and a great program. The idea behind the detox is to flush out all of the bacteria and yeast in our bodies (ew, I know! But we are all maxed out on the amount we actually carry in our systems! Yucky!) and get our bodies back to excellent health! The reason I really like this particular program is because the rules are simple and easy to follow, and there is room for flexibility and fun. In this particular 4 week program, you cut out grains, fruit, cow’s milk, and most meats, but you are allowed, goat’s cheese, fish, dark chocolate (68% or higher), and wine! All of which make this program super easy to follow and stick with, in my opinion. You also focus on incorporating vegetable juices each morning, a practice I already follow and love, and also eating salads (loaded with avocado, might I add) for lunch. It’s a do-able program, and so far I haven’t had an ounce of trouble following it and I actually enjoy it very much. I don’t feel deprived in the slightest.
Check this out, I even came up with an easy snack solution so I can munch while I blog!
I came up with an easy alternative to my craving for chips and salsa. I thought about why I really liked the combo and it was really all bout the flavor of the salsa, the crunchiness of the chip, and the fun and convenience of the dipping and finger foods. So, after digging through the fridge, carrots seemed like the perfect solution! And I’m really enjoying it just as much!
Buttons really seems to enjoy it too! Yum! Carrots!
Well, my original idea for this post was to share some personal hurdles and feats with you to help keep my progress on track and also to motivate me to keep going and keep posting. My friend Marissa has being blogging about her progress on her own private blog and it has really inspired me to record and share my goals and accomplishments. I wanted to share with you my progress so far… and even though I tossed the idea back in forth in my head on whether or not to share this, I decided its really what I needed to do, for me, and for you, if it helps with motivation at all.
(*By the way, pretend I’m wearing a bathing suit if it helps with the shock factor of me in my skivvies!) 
I took these before pictures a little over a year ago. I posted them all over my house (on my fridge, in the bathroom, in my purse) to help keep me focused on the goal. After about a month, each of the photos went missing (or rather they were hidden, one by one over time, to avoid unexpected guests from seeing) and were forgotten. Well, I found them today, and decided I needed an update! At the time of these photos I was about 141-144lbs.
(Sorry! These photos are a little embarrassing! I have them posted on the password protected version!)
And today, at the time of these new photos, I’m 134!! Go me! I still have a ways to go, but I ‘m really proud of myself. Its only been about 3 months of semi-focusing (I say semi because I wasn’t really focused on keeping my food on track as much as I should have), 2 of which were with the trainer, gaining muscle, 2 weeks working out on my own at Franco’s, 2 weeks hiatus with the holidays (can we say Pumpkin Pie?! Gah! My weakness!), and then 15 days or so of re-focusing and getting back on track. I’ve managed to drop more inches and (finally!) some pounds without even focusing on the weight loss part. It was more of just really going to the gym because its fun and I love to do it. (I removed the undies pix! Those are on the password protected version! Sorry guys!)
Can you see the difference?! (If you can’t, its cool, just keep it to yourself and don’t pop my balloon, ok? hehe! Thanks!) My favorite part, is my arms and shoulders!! Look!!! They have shape and definition to them!!! Just what I had always wanted! 
I can’t wait to see what they will look like a month from now! Or 2 months from now! WooHoo! And check it out, my butt!! Its got a little more shape and a little less junk in the trunk! LOL!!! I know its not a HUGE difference! But its enough to keep me going full speed ahead! And just the inches in my waist alone are enough to be happy about!
I plan on using this blog to help keep me on track, and to also motivate me to keep it up! I’ll keep posting pics as time and results continue, and I’ll also post goals and everything else I need to keep me on track. Like check these out! I cut them out from all of my Yoga Journal magazines.
THIS IS MY GOAL!! One day, I WILL look this good doing yoga (NAKED!)!
This is Kathryn Budig! Her body and yoga skills are amazing. She’s my current inspiration!
Well, anyway, Thanks for reading, and as always, thanks for the love. I’m glad to be back. Hopefully I can inspire a few people with my posts.
Hugs and snuggles!! (And muscle flexes!!)
Rachel
