The Weight Loss Chronicles: Making changes...

After a six year hiatus, last month I finally joined a gym and signed up for a personal trainer. Even though it can be a bit expensive, it is important to me to be healthy...so I am investing in myself. 

The first couple of weeks, my trainer focused on body weight exercises. Even though I wasn't using any weight, I never left the gym feeling like I could've done more. Today I finally got to see my hard work pay off. We took measurements for the first time in about a month and here are the results:

Bust: 1.5"

Arms: .5"

Waist: 1.5"

Calf: .5"

Overall I am down 4" from where I started. Even though it may not seem like much it's nice to see progress. As a goal oriented person, I like to be able to see where I am improving along the way. It's helpful because some days I feel like I'm not making any progress. So seeing results on paper helps me realize that I'm beginning to accomplish something I've been saying I would do for almost two years now. 

For those of you reading this thinking "I wish I knew what to do or where to start!" Let me help you out a little bit. Below are the first couple of workouts my trainer had me doing. I try to workout 3-4 times a week. I usually start with 10-15 mins of cardio to get my heart going. From there I do about 5-7 different exercises per workout. I rotate between upper and lower body and every workout includes abs. Now for the part you have all been waiting for (if you made it this far haha)...the workouts.

Lower Body & Abs

Body weight squats (3 sets of 10)

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Jump Lunge (2 sets of 20 or 10 per leg)

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Squat Jump (3 sets of 10)

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Hip Lift (3 sets of 10)

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Stability Ball Pass (2 sets of 10)

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Upper Body & Abs

Chest Flys on Stability Ball (3 sets of 10...start out with 5-7lbs if you can)

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Shoulder Press on Stablility Ball (3 sets of 10)

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Dumbbell Chest Press on Stability Ball (3 sets of 10)

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Push Ups (modified if needed) (2 sets of 12)

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Up/Down Plank (2 sets of 12)

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To build my various workouts, I use an app called Fleetly. It's free and pretty user friendly. It has pre-built workouts and you can create your own custom workouts. You can also add new exercises to the constantly growing library. It gives you points and medals for working out. You can even join the various challenges that they have and compete with other users. So if you have a smart phone, iPod, or tablet you NEED to get this app! Also if you add me as a friend, you can keep up with what I am doing and even see some of the workouts I create.

That is all for now. I hope that if you are still reading this I've inspired you to get up an get moving. Being healthy is important, even if you just start by walking for 30 mins a day...at least you are making small changes! I challenge you all to make an effort to be more active with your families, friends, or even co-workers. Get up and MOVE!

Question for the readers: What are some of your favorite exercises that make you feel the burn?!

xoxo,

Megs

Thankful Thursday...

I've been meaning to post this for a while now but haven't had the time to sit down and write it. Lately I've been thinking about all the things I have been blessed with and how lucky I am to be where I am in my life today. I have A LOT of things to be thankful for but most of the time I dwell on all the things that seem to go wrong.

Today a few of the things I am thankful for:

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My job!...I recently switched positions at work (with high hopes it is a permanent position by December) and love the team I am a part of.

Embree...she may be a pill some most of the time! But I could never EVER give her up. She challenges me daily but makes up for it with all her cuddles at night.

My husband...I don't think I could ever tell him enough how much he means to me! I am so grateful that I found a person who understands me and loves me just the way I am, flaws and all!

My friends...they are the family I got to pick!! I don't know where I would be with out them. These girls have been through thick and thin with me and after 6+ years I couldn't have asked for better women to be examples for me! I love them all more than I could ever express and I can't wait to see some of them in June!

My ability to learn and ambition to succeed...I am grateful that I was able to finally graduate and move on to a career. I am grateful that I am a quick learner and have an amazing memory.

My family...my parents and siblings have always been a strong support system for me (even if they don't know it). I thankful for the good examples they are to me.

My bonus family...I couldn't have asked for a better family to marry in to! Being far from my family and friends is VERY hard at times but knowing I have people who love and support me as if I were their own means a lot to me!

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My health...even though I am not my ideal weight, I am grateful that I don't have any medical conditions.

xoxo,
Megs

The Weight Loss Chronicles: Mama knows best...

I always knew my mother was a smart lady. In a recent conversation with her she said something that made me think differently this time around when it comes to weight loss/being healthy. She said something along the lines of "you have to want to do it for you." She has struggled with her weight ever since I can remember but she has finally decided to be healthier because she WANTS to, not because anyone else told her to do it.

In the past I've always had excuses about why I wasn't exercising or being active....my ankle surgery, too busy with school, too tired, not enough time, etc. Well I finally realized that I needed to MAKE the time to focus on my health. I've always been afraid of becoming so overweight that I wouldn't be able to do things that I enjoy. I want to be healthy when we decide to start a family. I want to fit into my clothes without changing 5 times because I don't like the way my outfit looks on my body. I want to feel comfortable in a swimsuit again. I want to be able to run a marathon one day.

I'm not the type of person that can walk into a gym and know what combination of machines to use in order to get results. Previously, I had a personal trainer who made up my work out schedule. It was EASY! I went to the gym, grabbed my paper, did the workout, and went home. I met with my trainer once a month and we took measurements and weight so I could see the progress. In about 6 months, I had lost around 30-40lbs, gained muscle, toned my body, and went from a size 15 to a size 5-7. That is CRAZY when I think about it! That is where I want to be at the end of all this....and it is where I should be. 

I finally decided to use a Groupon that I had purchased and am SO glad I did. My workouts are organized, target the full body, and include cardio. So far I have gone everyday this week...well except for today because they are not open but I did take Embree for a 2.45 mile walk/run. I am finally remembering what it feels like to WANT to workout. I love the feeling it gives me afterwards. I even love being sore because it shows me that I am ACTUALLY doing something right! I'm hopeful that after my two month period ends that I will have started to see results. A women who also workouts where I am going said, overall, she lost 18 inches in the first month. It is motivating to see and speak with people who are getting results and I can only hope I will see the same. 

xoxo,

Megs

Lend a Helping Hand...

As some of you know (or maybe not) Matthew recently got invited to join two guys on their LIVE podcast every Friday. 

One of the founders of the network is married and his wife is currently plagued by an unknown health issue. After almost three years of testing and various doctors appointments they still don't know what is wrong. If you have time, check out their fundraising page they set up. If you can contribute please do...lets help this family out during this very tough time.

xoxo,

Megs

Life Lately...

Wow...it's been a minute of two since I have updated the old blog! 2013 started off kind of rocky for us, but I am happy to report that everything took a turn for AMAZING after a few days into the new year. As most of you know, I graduated with my BS in Communication (yeah that is right....I went to college to learn how to communicate...haha) and was left jobless at the beginning of the year. On top of that, we had to decide if we wanted to rent our apartment for another year or if we wanted to look for a house to rent. Being jobless, it was hard to make a decision and we had very limited time. Fortunately, I was offered a job in my second week of unemployment. It's close to home and everyday is a new challenge  which if any of you know me, I LOVE to be busy and challenged! 

With the job offer, we made the decision that we wanted to rent a house for a couple of years before we go down the road of home ownership! We want to know what we are getting ourselves into before actually buying. After searching and hoping nothing would be rented by the time we were able to make a move, we finally found a house that we are putting in applications tonight! Cross your fingers! I really, REALLY, hope we get it! :) 

On another note, since I am finally finished pursing my degree, it is time for Matthew to pursue some of his dreams. He FINALLY started his own podcast....so everyone should go check it out....like right NOW! haha! I am so proud of him for finally starting something that he has been wanting to do for a while now. Hopefully he will be able to finish his degree sometime in the near future and get a job doing broadcasting. 

Other than the few hiccups at the beginning of the year, life has been treating us quite swell. We are enjoying the nice weather that is also known as Arizona winters and we have been spending a lot of time with his family, which is always nice! That is all for now!

xoxo,

Megs

Graduation

I did it! I FINALLY graduated! Although I don't feel any different, it was one of the best feelings ever to know that I had accomplished something so big! Walking across that stage and hearing my name called was amazing! I'm so thankful for the support of my family, friends, and the best husband anyone could ask for. There is no way I would've been able to do it without any of them by my side.

{Class of 2012}

{Getting my diploma}

{I did it}

{Matthew and I}

{Luke & Lisa came to support}

{My parents}

{ASU 2012}

{Sarah-Jane and I}

I'm excited to start the next chapter in life....I'm just not sure what that is yet! haha! For now, I am finally enjoying some time to relax and reflect on the goals that I have accomplished. 

xoxo,

Megs

*All personal photographs*

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Utah. My WHOLE family was able to make the trip and it was a lot of fun to see everyone. Since we are all spread out (California, Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma), we don't really get to see each other at the same time. It usually happens about every two years...we all decide we are going to meet up and have a mini-reunion type of thing. 

It was a lot of fun to see all my nieces and nephews at once, even though it was only for a couple of days. As usual, Matthew and I were the last to arrive and the first to leave. We left Arizona on tuesday and drove to Page, AZ (about 6 hours). We stayed in a hotel room and left early the next morning. We made pretty good time and it was nice to take a scenic route through Utah. Around 2 pm on Wednesday, we arrived at my sister's house. The kids were so involved in the iPads and iPhones they were playing on that they didn't even bat an eye when Matthew and I walked in the door. 

Page, AZ

After my family at lunch, we decided that we should head to the park and get some outdoor playing time in. Everyone decided to go, except for my parents. We headed to the park and let the kids run around for a couple of hours. They had fun playing on the slides, swings, playing in leaves, and riding bikes down a hill. 

{Chris, Gavin, & Sara}

{Mr. Renfro}

{Aston}

{Gavin & Sara}

{Keira & Aeris}

{Playing in the leaves}

{Phoenix riding down the hill}

{Matthew learning a new skateboarding technique}

{Andrea & Jeremy}

{Aston running to give Drea a hug}

{The whole group...and Gavin rolling down the hill haha}

{Gavin}

Once we were done at the park, we headed back to my sister's house and ate some dinner. My parents showed us the "special" t-shirts they bought for the whole family. After putting the kids to bed, all the grown ups stayed up to play board games and chat. We went to bed fairly early because we were all getting up bright and early to run a 5k.

Prior to us all arriving, my sister had sent an email about a 5k on Thanksgiving. About half of us decided to run/walk/jog it. My parents got us all matching shirts that we ended up wearing. Matthew ran/jogged the whole 5k in about 45 minutes. My mom and I walked the whole thing in about an hour. It was fun to walk and talk with my mom since I don't get to see her that often.

After the 5k, we went back to my sister's house and all the women started to slave away in the kitchen ;) haha! We made pies, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and all the other Thanksgiving fixings. We ate dinner around 3, but most of us weren't that hungry because we had been snacking all day long. Because we were all going to be at my sister's house, we decided to have Christmas too. After dinner, we pulled out the Christmas tree and started decorating. We had all the kids take turns putting ornaments on the tree...which didn't work out as well as I thought. 

Once the tree was all decorated, we had them close their eyes and then we put ALL of their presents under the tree.

{Waiting for presents}

They all were SO excited when they opened their eyes! There were so many presents that it was overflowing. They all got some pretty cool things. After presents were done, it was time for them to head off to bed. Us adults stayed up and played board games, as usual. 

The next morning, we got up nice and early to take family pictures. I thought it would be a nice thing to do for my parents Christmas gift because they don't have a picture with all the family. Luckily, my sister's father in law is a photographer and we were able to schedule a sitting. The pictures turned out great and I can't wait to get the ones that we ordered in the mail.

Once we were done with pictures, we decided to head up to the zoo. Matthew loves animals and I love the fact that the zoo has a polar bear so we rounded up everyone that wanted to go and headed towards Salt Lake City. 

{Elephant trying to eat}

{Andrea, Blaze, Aeris, Keira, Phoenix}

{Gavin}

{Some of the kids seeing how they measure up to gorillas}

{Waiting for the gorilla}

{Blaze}

{Gavin}

{Seal}

{Polar Bear}

{Snoozing Tiger}

The next day, Matthew and I headed down south to meet up with almost all of my best friends! I was really excited to see them since it had been almost a year. We all got together at Stephanie's house and made dinner. It's always fun to see them and I wish we all lived closer so I could see them more often. In the morning, Matthew and I got up to make the long trek back to Arizona. It was a fun weekend with family and friends that I wish it didn't go so fast. 

xoxo,

Megs

*All personal photographs*