Fit Friday: Mission Accomplished

Happy Fit Friday Luvs!

It’s been a couple of months since my last Fit Friday post so, I wanted to come share the progress I’ve made. 

If you remember my goals were;

1. Workout at least 5 days a week
2. Eat clean at least 6 days a week
3. Focus on Inches and not Weight 

• Waist – 26 I’m currently a 26 and started at 31 
• Hips – 40 I’m currently a 38 and started at 36

With my much needed vacation being a week away. Over the last 3 weeks I actually managed to stick to all goals (even with a heavy travel schedule over the last month) so I’m proud of myself. Especially, since this is what I’m looking like...

When I tell you that after having Baby O, and realizing what my C-section did to my body. I never thought in a million years I’d see abs again, I mean it. So pardon me as a gloat lol. My waist is now a 26 which was my goal J.

However, my hips are still the same which I’m totally fine with. I knew going into this that building muscles are something that takes time and this is a lifestyle change so I’m in no rush.

That’s all for me but I truly hope you are sticking to your plans.

Fit Friday:Nice & Quick

Happy Friday and cheers to this being a long weekend :)

Since my journey to get my pre-baby body back I’ve found a ton quick workouts that get your blood flowing and can be done virtually anywhere.  On days where I don’t want to do much but need to get my ten minutes in doing any of these totally helps to motivate me so of course I’m sharing...

Enjoy! I just LOVE how the workouts above are short and to the point yet totally get your heart rate up.

Fit Friday: Goals Update & Meal Plan

Happy Fit Friday Luvs!

It’s been over a month since my last Fit Friday post so, in the spirit of checking in this week I wanted to create a post to see how is everyone doing with the goals you’ve set for yourself?

As for me I’m practicing consistency and actually seeing results. If you remember my goals were;

• Workout at least 5 days a week
• Eat clean at least 6 days a week
• Focus on Inches and not Weight 

1.                   Waist – 26 I’m currently a 28.5 and started at 31

2.                   Hips – 40 I’m currently a 38 and started at 36

Over the last month I’ve actually managed to stick to all goals except the food...still working on my clean eating habits but it gets better each week so I’m proud. And, as a result of my consistency I’m happy to report progress in my waist measurements. My waist is now a 27 which is down an inch and half from the day I shared these goals with you all. My hips are still the same which I’m totally fine with. I knew going into this that building muscles are something that takes time and this is a lifestyle change so I’m in no rush.

Any way that’s enough about me and my goals. Today I wanted to take a few minutes to share a meal plan that the hubs and I tried last month to jumpstart our whole fitness journey. Typically we aren’t the people that try diet/meal plans but ,I found a really good deal on Personal Trainer Foods in the beginning of last month and ran it past him. While he mulled it over I read the reviews and checked out the site to see what they were really offering. The food looked really good and it was actually the same items I’d purchase for us any way so we collectively decided to try it.

We received our food about a week after I placed the order and much to my surprise it looked and smelled really good

After seeing it we were eager to give it a try so that weekend we did and it was actually VERY tasty. Here’s my first plate

Not bad right? And the price was unbeatable. We got 28 lunches and 28 dinners for $199 much cheaper than a month worth of food at the grocery store and the food was already ready prepared for us. All we had to do each day was microwave it for a few minutes so for the most part it worked out fairly well.  Throughout the work week our food needs were pretty much covered and, we ate most of the food before we were completely over it lol. So, I thought I’d share it with you all in case any of you are looking for something similar not to mention Groupon has the deal available again.

Fit Friday: My Goals

Happy Fit Friday Luvs!

I started this post with the image up top because hat’s exactly what I’ve decided to do. After posting my mom body sorrows with you all I got to WORK and I love the results in how I feel.  I don’t quiet have a workout routine in place but I have set my goals.

• Workout at least 5 days a week
• Eat clean at least 6 days a week
• Focus on Inches and not Weight I’m pretty happy with my size just would like to be shaped differently so my inch goals are;

1. Waist – 26 I’m currently a 28.5 and started at 31
2. Hips – 40 I’m currently a 38 and started at 36

My plan is nice and simple I didn’t want to over complicate things but wanted to make sure my goals weren’t too easy yet obtainable. I’m working and will be sure to post progress pictures when I can see my results. Of course, since I’m already small this will take time but I’m encouraged :). 

For those of you still on the fence about getting started you a more fit you here’s a little fitspiration for you...

Fit Friday: Tomato Basil Chicken

Happy Fit Friday luvs.

As I promised I’ve totally been working towards becoming a healthier me.  I’ve set a few goals for myself (I’ll share soon) and have been working out at least 4 times per week...I’m already seeing resultsJ.

The other day I revisited a recipe from Menu Musings of a Modern American Mom the other day and added my own little twist too it. It turned out delicious and was super healthy so I had to share it with you all.

Ingredients: (4 servings)

• 2 chicken breasts 
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes 
• 2 tsp minced fresh garlic
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
• ¼ cup white wine
• 3 Zucchini
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil

Step-by-step:

Season chicken breasts as you wish. 

Add a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to your skillet.  This may seem like quite a bit, but it will form the base for the sauce.

While waiting for the oil to heat up, go ahead and Shred your Zucchini. When the oil is HOT, add the chicken breasts. 

After about 4-5 minutes, the chicken breasts should be ready to turn. 

After the second side has been cooking for about 4 minutes, go ahead and add in the fresh tomatoes that you have chopped up and fresh basil.

Next, add in the white wine andminced garlic.

Give it all a good stir.  

When your chicken is "done," turn the sauce down on the lowest setting to keep it all warm.

While your chicken sits on low, Sautee your zucchini shred in the coconut oil.

Once your zucchini is done turn your chicken off. 

Place some zucchini on a plate and top it off with chick mixture.

Fit Friday: My Fitness Truth

By: Shenise

What started out as a few “good” pounds (you know the ones that go to your derriere and your Olive Oil legs) turned into 65 pounds of WTFF (Why The Fat Face). Next comes the subliminal you are fat comments, “wow, look at you,” “you’ve changed so much,” “I remember you was soooooooooooo Small,” and my all-time favorite “didn’t you use to model?” After that you begin to tell yourself all of these lies to cover up the hurt “girl, you don’t want to be the same size you were in high school,” “I’m thick,” “I’m still cute tho’! “I’m still cute tho’,” “I’m still cute tho?” “Am I cute?” Finally, depression because you don’t know how to deal with this body, you don’t know how to dress this body, you feel you’ve lost your self in this body and now I will just eat because apparently there isn’t anything I can do about this body. 

Then you become pregnant and you see the light at the end of the tunnel, you tell yourself “I can hide all this extra fat with the pregnancy and then work your ass off once you give birth because they say breastfeeding kills calories faster than anything else!” I welcomed a beautiful gift from God almost 3 years ago and that cotdamn (yup it’s cotdamn because God aint got nothing to do with this) stubborn fat is still here, can you believe it?!? I can because my mindset NEVER changed I just used circumstances and mind tricks to delay what I really needed to do, which was WORK! I became lazy and then I used my pregnancy to continue to be lazy and then I used “I just had a baby” to win the lazy award and now lazy can kick buckets! 

In order for me to be successful I know I need two things; (that’s it?), for me yes.

1) Consistency, if I say I am going to work out before work I need to stick to that. 
2) Stop drinking those 44ounces of Icee aka Slurpee aka as nothing but Sugar (the red and blue mix is so good tho). I know what you are thinking 

I believe family's important, being a wife is important, being a mother is important but let me tell you being a mothers has no chill button, no sick days, no paid time off or vacations for that matter. In order for me to be the best ME and mom, wife, daughter, niece, cousin, friend that I can be I must physically be here and if we are standing in our truth if I continue the way that I have been I will not be here! My journey will be different from everyone else’s but my truth has to be my truth and my advice to you would be find your own truth, write it down and hold yourself accountable. It isn’t a walk in the park, it isn’t easy and sometimes you may think it isn’t worth it but you know the TRUTH! Moms Mount Up, 

We Got This!

Fello HeartBEATs

WOW!!! I can't imagine the type of courage it took for Shenise to share this but, I pray that some of you going through your own fitness struggles will be inclined to share as well. So that together we can motivate and encourage one another.  I look forward to sharing updates on Shenise progress.

Fit Friday: Mango Chutney Shrimp Salad

Hey Luvs!

As I mentioned during my rant on Tuesday I would like to incorporate some fitness post onto the site. And, last night’s dinner reminded me of that thought. This is why I just had to share this quick and delicious recipe with you amongst other things.

The Recipe (This is a little something my coworker and I created as I walked out of the office yesterday with a craving for shrimp.)

Ingredients 

• 2 bags of Bumble Bee Super Fresh Lemon Shrimp with Garlic & Herbs
• 1 jar of Stonewall Mango Chutney
• 1 bag of Fresh Spinach

Instructions

1. Prepare shrimp according to instructions on the bag

2. Reduce heat and slowly add the entire jar of Stonewall Mango Chutney.

3. Stir shrimp and chutney together. Be sure to mix the two very well.

4. Remove shrimp from stove and serve over fresh bed of spinach. 
Like this....

My Fitness Story

By no means am I the typical person most would want to receive weight loss advice from. I've spent my whole life as a skinny girl who always ate what I wanted whenever I wanted. A collegiate athlete that really didn’t take my fitness and nutrition serious because, my God given talent had my back. Let’s not even talk about how I dropped my baby weight like a bad habit, and for the most part look like I never had a child. All that being said, my fitness story is more about feeling fit rather than looking it. I totally get that from the outside looking in I'm fit. Truth be told I've actually struggled with my mom body, I'm literally not used to the skin I'm in. How do I tell people this as a skinny girl? I don’t. Because, when I do most people dismiss the thought saying things like; I don’t know what you are talking about you look great. Girl you’re tripping. Ummm I’m going to need you to get over it. Or they’d simply rather discuss how they wish they had my body. As flattering as that may be it doesn’t change how I feel or the fact that since I was always the skinny girl I’ve never really had to deal with body related issues.

While pregnant I decided that I truly wanted to enjoy the experience. This for me entailed a few things like eating what I wanted (I ate something sweet daily), not exercising, and enjoying as much rest and relaxation as I could. In turn I gained almost 50lbs (most people couldn't tell but my doctors and I knew it was there lol) not realizing the consequences of my actions. Naturally, I figured I could drop the weight with no problem. However, I had no clue that dropping the pounds didn't mean it wouldn’t stick to me in all the wrong places (mom pouch). I had no clue my skin wouldn’t just fall back into place and I’d develop a skin related smut (small gut), and because of it I'd look at the physcial me differently. This is when I quickly learned it wasn't just a weight thing it was also a self-confidence thing. I'd heard about all this but couldn't really relate until now....I TOTALLY GET IT. Now, I spend my days trying to find my athletic spirit within my mom body, and it's a daily struggle. Most of the time I'm too exhausted to work out, and would rather eat something unhealthy. But, I’ve decided it’s time to go all in on operation fit momma. I just really needed to get creative so that I can put my words into action. That's why I'm hoping that by posting my fitness goals, progress photos, meals, workouts, and other tips and tricks I find here. As a community you all can keep me accountable for reaching my fitness goals.

Fellow Heartbeats...

You all are welcome to join me on this fitness journey by sharing your story and goals here as well.  And hopefully we can all uplift and motivate one another. If you are willing join me email me (externalheartbeats@gmail.com) the details on your story and I'll be happy to post it.