Passing On Stuff I've Learned

I plan to not just share my success or the prefect moments.  I hope to share the hard moments and plain ugly ones.  I want to pass on what others have taught me as well. 
I have a friend that I really look up to.  Not just because she is that girl that always looks pretty, has a smile on her face and positive attitude.    Ok, maybe that's why....in addition to several other things.  Truly, I'm surrounded by amazing women who are my friends.  She writes as well.  I love her blog.  So much of what she writes, I relate to and believe.  I've learned a lot and want to pass it on.  Check out her blog.

A Good Read

A friend of mine has started a blog.  Let me just say, I love it!  And her. She really is as beautiful as she looks.  Top it off with the fact that she's nice and genuine, not to mention smart and driven.  The type of girl you want to hate but can't because underneath how pretty she is, is an amazing person and the kind of woman you can't help but look up to. And....she cracks me up!

She has been a big support in my health goals and very helpful. I love that she is always willing to teach me and share what she knows.

http://beastlifewithbeauty.tumblr.com/

The Swim Suit

I decided it was time to go buy a new swimsuit. I've spent the summer pulling my swimsuit up, down, left and right. I've been on constant guard to make sure I didn't end up flashing anyone. The only problem I have not had is it creeping up on me.  No complaints on that last one.

I LOVED my last swimsuit.  Loved it.  I found it at Target a couple of years ago.  The brand is, love your ASSETS by Sara Blakely,Spanx.  I loved the suit so much because it was a cute swimsuit that fit.  When you are in a XXL or bigger, finding a swimsuit that fits and is cute is like going to Walmart and not only finding rock star parking (a spot upfront by the door) but also walking in to find they've moved milk to the front of the store AND created a checkout stand for "milk purchases" ONLY. Therefore eliminating the need for you to maneuver through the store for about 3/4 of a mile and around about one thousand people to get a gallon (or two) of milk, to then turn around and repeat the trek to the front of the store.  By that time you can't feel your fingers and only three of the thirty check stands are open.  Did I mention that all three have ridiculously long lines? 

It's that hard.  Promise.  An added perk of the suit is the Spanx.  It sucks you in but not too much.  Smooths you out a little and stays put.  So I went back to Target with the hope that they still carried them.  They do!  I bought my new swimsuit and to my surprise, the size I needed was Large.  I haven't worn that size, in a swimsuit, in about 7 years.  My hard work is paying off!

Side note:  Due to the suit being Spanx, the effort required to wiggle in, is quite a bit.  Worse than tights/pantyhose or tight jeans.  This is one "show" my husband does not witness. I don't recommend changing in a bathroom stall.  You need more room. 

Disclaimer

Just a quick disclaimer to new readers:

This blog started in 2008 and at that time, the focus was on my story/experience in coming out my first marriage that involved domestic violence.  The blog has changed over the years and I've even just left it alone for quite some time.  I haven't had time to change or update the right column with the 'reads', 'blogs I follow', etc.  I will update it, at some point.  When I have time.  HA!

My Secret

For several months I have considered writing in my blog again.  I had stopped writing for many reasons. Catching everyone up has seemed overwhelming.   I figure I will just start today and gradually catch you up as I write. 

At the end of January I started a part time job working at a gym during which time they were beginning a 90-day weight loss challenge for it's members. I happened to mention to one of their personal trainers that I wished I could join in on the challenge but that the days/times they were meeting didn't work with my crazy schedule.  That conversation resulted in me agreeing to work with the trainer.  I was both excited and terrified.  Having been in good shape most of my life (up until my mid-twenties), I thought I knew what I was agreeing to and how hard the work would be.  As it turns out, I had no clue what I had actually agreed to and truly had no idea how hard it was going to be!!  My 20-year-old body is LONG gone and I now have to deal with my relationship with food and understand why I eat what I eat.  Its been a very different experience from being young with no real life experience, enjoying good metabolism, and having the time to be in the gym, as active as I wanted.  DUH.

Four months later I'm  frequently asked the question, “What are you doing to get such good results???”  

Ready for my secret????  Diet and Exercise.

Yup.  You read it right.  I meet with my trainer Jake three times a week for 30 minutes each session.  I workout on my own the other days.  No, I do not workout 7 days a week.  I don’t workout 6 days a week.  I'm with Jake the 3 days then I do my best to get back to the gym additional days as my schedule allows to do cardio.  No, I don’t spend hours working out.  When working out on my own, I do cardio for about 30 minutes occasionally some strength training.

During the first session with Jake he took my body measurements, figured out my body fat percentage and weighed me.  He calculated how many calories I needed to consume each day to function appropriately, fuel my body, and lose weight.  He also talked to me about my diet and what needed to change. The goal was set to lose 1-2 pounds a week. 

Plain and the simply I eat between 1,800 and 2,000 calories a day.  Not more and definitely not less (I have learned the hard way how much not eating enough calories can derail your progress).  I eat “clean”.  I basically cook at home as much as possible.  I don’t eat processed foods or full of sugars/preservatives.  I avoid drive-thrus and drinking my favorite soda (Coke).  In addition to our sessions, Jake continues to teach me about my diet.

There have been days where my calories have come from drive-thrus or old favorites and most of the time I have still been able to lose weight, not as much though.  When I don’t eat clean I feel like crap.  I bloat, ache, and working out is harder. I get tired and feel just plain icky.  When I eat the right foods I not only lose more weight  but I also have much more energy and feel really good (That is one of the best parts)!  I also sleep better at night, unless our dog Charlie wakes me to go out.  For the first time since age 22, I sleep without a sleep aid (prescription or over-the-counter drug).  Even when I was taking something to help me sleep back then, I could not sleep through the night.  Now I do.  I wake up in the morning easier and more energized.  My skin looks better.  I feel better.  Inside and out.  And my pants are baggy!!

Yesterday Jake took my four-month measurements…Check out my progress.  Who knew that diet and exercise would give such amazing results, inside and out?!?!?

Love Notes

I went to my first Time Out For Women Conference a couple of weeks ago. Time Out For Women, is a conference for women (obviously), where we go to recharge while listening to great musical guests and speakers all based off of LDS principles. I was blown away at how great this was! The presenters were amazing and we got to hear Michael McLean and Mercy River perform....two of my favorite artists!!

Edna, a missionary we serve with, bought some tickets and a bunch of girls got together and went. Three of us had a pajama party at Edna's Friday night and then headed over Saturday morning to meet up with everyone else. When leaving on Friday, Luke was pretty sad and asked why I had to go and if he could ride with Dad to drop me off. He went in to the store with me to get some treats and he picked out some pringles potato chips. When I saw him on Saturday, he asked me if I had got his note. A little confused, I went to my bag....in my bag was the safety seal of his pringles, with a little note on it for me. This made my weekend. I love Luke. He is such a thoughtful boy and brings so much joy into my life!!

Pretty Darn Funny

At Time Out For Women, they had a booth from Pretty Darn Funny. They wanted us to share our funny stories...Brandon and I had a recent funny moment. Watch the video below, if you think it's funny please go to www.prettydarnfunny.com and enter Jill Sandall in the search bar on the left. On my video there is a "# likes" and an orange thumbs up sign, click on that to vote for me. I could win a cruise!!! I'm pretty excited to just be famous now. If you would like an autograph, let me know. :)