Mountains.....

So on Monday of this week I was driving to work and my first thought was today would be a great day to be on top of Crowder's Mountain....I just don't have time today... but if I could just get there without having to climb it? Can that just happen? Can you put me at the top so I can enjoy the view? Those were the thoughts that came to my mind. 

Since that day the rest of my week has been AWFUL! Well tonight I started thinking about being on the top of Crowder's Mountain again. I started thinking about how it is a lot of work to get to the top but man the view once you get there is AMAZING!!! If you have ever been there you know what I am talking about. Well you wonder what this has to do with my fitness journey? It is the exact same. 

This week I have had some major obstacles and mental obstacles as well..... I almost wanted to give up my fight.....I felt to tired to fight for anything or anyone. I felt like Lemony Snickets with the whole series of unfortunate events. Well I decided that I am a born fighter....my whole life I have been fighting.... fighting to be strong, fighting to be a success in life, against all the odds so far I have made it to the top of several of the mountains that have been placed in my life. Every time I make it to the top I do see the wonderful beauty in the struggle it took to get there. 

What I am saying to you tonight is no matter what happens in your life, struggles make you stronger! So anytime you feel like giving up or throwing in the towel, you pick that towel up, wipe the sweat off and keep pushing until reach the top! Once you get there you will look back and say man I never thought I would make it this far!    

No matter how long it takes you, each step forward is a step in the right direction! 

What it means to me....

Today I was ask the question: What does Fit to Fight mean to you? 

Well I answered it with a brief answer but since walking away it is all I can think about. Fit to Fight is the name of the program that Ryan and Jeff co-founded. Those are 2 of the most amazing people in my life. They not only help me, guide me, answer my crazy questions, put up with my non-stop talking. One of the things they do that influences my life everyday is they lead by example! 

Fit to fight to me is a way of Life! Not a gym, not a diet, not a fad but a way of my everyday life. It started out with baby steps and ended up changing my life. My life now is unbelievably better! I have lost weight, no longer have Type 2 diabetes, learned how to protect myself and along the way have had fun and met some of the most AMAZING people and formed life long friendships! Even my work life has excelled.  

Just yesterday I called one of my RHEK friends and they didn't answer.... when they called back it wasn't hey how are you.... It was " Hey is everything okay? You need something?" You know why because we all have each others back through think and thin! In one way or another we are all each others inspiration. We are not all fighting the same battles, but one thing for sure, WE ARE ALL FIGHTING THE BATTLES TOGETHER!  

This blog wasn't really about my eating but because of FIT TO FIGHT I have made it this far! 

In a Galaxy Far....Far Away!

In a Galaxy Far Far away my dream would be that no one would EVER have sugar. Man if you never had it in the first place you wouldn't crave it! 

I have been doing pretty good. I had pizza on my cheat day while watching the Superbowl and it didn't taste nearly as good as I remember it tasting, and I kept thinking about how many calories each bite contained....

Other than that it feels so good waking up and looking at all the changes my body is going through. As far as weight loss, I am still at a stand still but my body is changing so much. I do a lot of weight training and it is working wonders for my arms and I can see the changes in my whole body. 

My most challenging thing currently is trying to get my son to like just one fruit or vegetable! He likes NONE! Talk about a struggle, when he was a toddler he would eat everything and then at age 5 nothing! So for now I will keep leading my example and praying that he will find just one that he likes! Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement! 

TMI....

Today the title is TMI because I am going to reveal some person information.

In the beginning it doesn't sound like it has anything to do with my quest to find the inner skinny girl in me, but I feel like it is all connected. So here goes. I was born into a family of addicts. Mostly my mom's side of the family. We have no joke....more than 5 crackheads in her line, we have alcoholics, and prescription drug addicts as well. When I say this I am being 100% for real. These aren't distant relatives most are really close. Never in my life had I ever done drugs. My mom herself had so many issues I would have to stay here all night telling you her issues. She passed away in 2010. Honestly I never understood the CHOICES she made. Tonight though as I drove home from a very stressful 11.5 hour work day.... The voice in my head tried to get me to stop at cookout for an oreo milkshake (my mouth is watering as I type that)....then it tried to get me to go to waffle house. 

I am very proud to report that I made it home....the whole 23 min drive without giving in. I had a handful of peanuts and a banana as my midnight snack! 

My whole reason for telling you about the addicts is for once I felt sorrow for my mom, I felt like for once I understood the mental stress she must have been dealing with on a daily basis. She was a good woman but made a lot of BAD CHOICES.... and that is exactly what we do,  we choose.... 

My fabulous trainer....that is also my #1 support person told me today that the reason we do anything it is because we want to.... if YOU want to lose weight, YOU  will eat right and exercise, if YOU  want to do drugs, YOU  will do drugs. So needless to say although it is a daily struggle... I will choose to do GOOD not bad! Thanks for all of your support! And if the voice in your head tells you that you can't do something..... CALL IT A LIAR! YOU  can do anything....anything that YOU  choose to do!  

Hard work....

So this year has been fantastic so far! I have been busting my tail at gym and watching my food almost perfectly. But no one is perfect! Several great things have happened in the last week.

The most awesome thing well i guess they are all awesome! 1. My trainer told me today that one of his clients....a fighter...who trains like a beast everyday said he was impressed with how hard i was working out! You can't imagine just how much that meant to me! 

2. While getting dressed on Wednesday i looked in the mirror and finally saw something different! My body is finally showing some of my hard work! My trainer also told me that the changes in your body take place like a flower....you notice changes on the outside first....like arms, legs and then your stomach. 

3. Yesterday during my fighting class i noticed that my ability to keep up with the guys in class is getting so much better! 

II think 2013 is going to be an amazing year!! 

New Year....Small Steps...

These pictures above were March of 2010 and March 2012. I won the same award 2 yrs apart. Some days when I look in the mirror I still see the 264lb girl on the left. 

1-1-13 This shirt is to small but soon it will fit.....

So It is Tuesday 1-1-2013.... I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep and all I could do was think about all the changes that each year brings with it. 2000, 2003, 2010 & 2012 were the most life changing years I have had so far in my 33 year life. 

2000 was the death of my older sister. She was more like a mother than my own mom.

2003 was the birth of my miracle child that I never thought I would have....doctors told me when I was 16,  I wouldn't ever be able to have children...WRONG! 

2010.... well I don't even know where to start.... March 2010 I was in the top 12 in my company of 530 General Mangers... May of 2010 my mother died....it is still very hard for me to deal with on a daily basis....I  joined RHEK October of 2010....I finally ended a 10 year terrible relationship in November 2010. 

2012, I was down 60lbs, and healthier than ever before....mentally and psychically.... I was #2 in my company of 530 General Managers!

I don't make new years resolutions because let's be honest by March you give up or get slack. This year I decided to set a goal.... by 1-1-2014 the clothes in the picture above will be to big, and by putting this pic on here I feel like I have to prove I can keep moving forward to myself as well as everyone reading. FYI that shirt is a medium.... I used to have an XL but I left it in a hotel....one of my trainers used to LOVE making fun of me when I was wearing my old shirt...."It's not easy being green is it Chrisie?" ~ RH

Funny Story when I look at the picture from today on my computer I think to myself.. WOW you don't look  bad....you have came a long long way... but in all honesty while taking that picture in person I was like OMG I am still so far from where I want to be, but small steps forward....

Thankful for "Family"

So it has been a while because I have been stuck....stuck at a level of BLAH.....and for those of you wondering that is a level and I hate it! I haven't given up but I just am not happy with my current plan or goals...I feel like somewhere along the way I went off track. I stopped going to the Y because it was expensive and I HATED being there alone. I am so tired of feeling like I am going in a circle around and around so @ 6am Saturday I am meeting with one of my AMAZING trainers....we are going to figure out a new plan....in his words to learn how to SMASH the barriers that are keeping me from liking the girl I see in the mirror....

So today I am VERY THANKFUL for my handful of true friends and few family members that have been here for me through the good, the bad and the ugly! I am also VERY THANKFUL for my trainers.... that I still don't understand why the care about me....and I am also VERY THANKFUL for my supportive RHEK family! I want each person in these categories to know that you are my family and I don't know who or where I would be if you guys weren't here for me!