Rest

So when is it a good time to rest? For me I would say never. Some would say more than 2-3 times a week. I don't usually rest. I push my body and push my body. The past couple days - I have not pushed my body. In fact - I have had 3 good days of rest with today being one of those 3 days. I just haven't felt like going to the gym.

What?! Really!?

Yes really.

My body is tired. My hips are killing me. I needed a break. I finished the leg and booty challenge - which I still need to update my progress. I loved it. I loved doing 3 days of legs and probably will add an extra leg day in on my cardio days when I start the second Hardcore Challenge. I loved that my legs got stronger with this last challenge.

Did I lose weight - not really. I floated between 2-3 lbs up and down. It all depended on my water intake and my hard vs soft lifting days. So I basically would gain a few pounds - lose a few pounds. It happens and I'm ready to continue the weight loss so I have decided to do one more challenge. Then once that challenge is over - I'm going to do my own challenge to finish out the year.

Why you ask?

Well basically I want to see what I can get to by 1/1/15. I want to do my yearly progress pictures on 1/13/15 and see the dramatic difference. I hated taking pictures that day. I still am not a fan of looking back at what I let myself become. But frankly I was on a lot of medication that wasn't good. I had woman problems and that sucked. I don't anymore. I'm full force kicking butt and I love it.

So right now when my body says REST. I rest. My hips say REST. I rest. Come September 2nd. There is no rest. Well maybe my week trip to Oakland but that's hearsay haha I'm still going to eat right and we walk to the stadium and breakfast so I will be good :D I just need to watch my alcohol intake haha

So if you body says rest. Listen to it. It's the best thing you can do!

Smile :D

"Always Believe!"

What to Believe

So I'm on my 5th week of the Bikini Booty Challenge that I have been doing through Hardcore Fitness. I love their challenges. In fact I love them so much I might sign up for the last one of the year and try a different program. Update: I didn't win the last challenge I did through them - but that's okay. I won by getting my butt back in shape and changing my attitude towards working out.

Not gonna lie though - this challenge has been a little harder. I have to push myself to the gym sometimes. The other challenge I was so focused and then all of a sudden it's over haha I'm like "now what?" This challenge though has definitely helped shape my legs and butt. I can see and feel a difference in them and I love it. I think that's why I want to start this next challenge too because I just want to keep going and having a challenge helps me.

So on that first challenge I lost 24 pounds and a ton of inches if you couldn't tell by my pictures. On this current challenge I have lost and gained weight and fluctuated between 1-3 pounds. I'm always like "what?!" The thing is though and here is what is hard to believe... Pants I have not been able to wear since 2012 fit me better now then when I was 20 lbs lighter (than I am now) when I bought them the summer of 2012. Weird? To me yes. Pants that fit me when I was 20 lbs lighter than I am now fit even better being 20 lbs heavier. It tells you that losing inches instead of weight means a little bit more.

I used to always STRESS about the weight on the scale. And to be honest - I still weigh myself every morning when I first wake up. It helps keep me accountable and it's the only reason I do it. If I have had too many carbs or sweets the scale will tell me. If I have been good - the scale will tell me. What it doesn't tell you is the awesomeness going on with your body.

Trust what your clothes say!

I have a friend who just hit her 50 lbs loss mark and she is a bigger girl. I couldn't be more proud of her! I love that she found a passion to start working out and I love seeing her updates. It keeps me going when I am struggling. She has been worrying about her non-weight loss in the past two weeks - but today she posted saying a shirt that didn't fit two weeks ago fits now. :D How exciting is that. You don't have to see a loss on the scale to have clothes fit. The female (and male) body is so weird. You can gain a ton of muscle and lose inches. You can lose inches and gain weight. It's crazy how that all plays out. So to my friend - keep your head up. If clothes fit better and the scale isn't moving - IT'S OKAY!!! What you are doing is working so keep it up!

Just remember the scale is scary but whipping out a tape measure to see the inches you have lost isn't scary. IT'S FREAKIN AWESOME!! I have lost almost 3 inches off my love handle area since the last challenge ended and my legs look great and my butt feels tighter. That's all I can ask. All this in 5 weeks. I am going to be pushing super hard for the next five weeks though (with or without a challenge) because we are headed to Oakland on my birthday to watch the Raiders take on Houston at home. I'm so excited! Those pants that I want to get in to for that trip - well let's just say they are motivation to keep pushing hard.

So if you are struggling because of the scale. Don't believe it. Trust your clothes!

Keep smilin and remember....

ALWAYS BELIEVE!