Charlotte's Awesome Transformation

Charlotte Schroeder's Goal To Become Fit

I came across my friend Charlotte's most recent Facebook picture and I had to share the motivation!! Her husband deployed to Afghanistan in May 2011, she was the heaviest she had ever been, and was really unhappy. Her goal was to lose as much weight as she could before her husband's return home.

In order to meet her new goal she did a bit of walking and tried to drink more water, but wasn't fully committed to losing the weight. Finally, in October she went to Energy Sports and Fitness just to have a look around and consider joining, but still wasn't 100% serious about it. Fortunately, she walked out that day with a membership and it's been amazing! 

She now works out 5-6 days a week and has dramatically changed her diet, cutting out a lot of white breads, pasta, rice, and sugar. Sugars have been difficult for her to stay away from, but she knows it was what took her to her heaviest weight. 

At this very moment she is working on Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, trying to shred the last of her weight before her husband comes home next month. So far she's lost close to 30 lbs and would like to lose close to 20-30 more. Most of all she tries not to focus too much on the scale, but on how she feels and looks. 

I love a good inspirational story and Charlotte has done an amazing job reaching her goal! I think the picture speaks for itself. Nothing can stop her now! :)

Healthy Wife...Healthy Life...

In my journey to become super fit the past few months I've mastered eating healthy, and have came up with a fitness routine that I think works well for me. I can finally look in the mirror and say I'm happy where I am and I'm happy in the direction I'm going...

...But in my process of finding the new "healthy" wife and mother to my family, I have realized I have neglected to share my well-eating knowledge with my husband and kids. While I'm seeing a change in my husband who has expressed his interest in being more physically fit (yeah!) I find myself still feeding my kids JUNK. I am by far not an expert on the matter, so I'm wondering what you "health freaks" feed your kiddos?? There's no way mine are going to eat Salmon, Tilapia, or Tuna with me. I don't want this to be an excuse to why I'm feeding them Vienna's (I know, I know!) or pickled bologna (Okay, so slap me!), this is all stuff I grew up eating because I didn't know any better. Now I do, and I want to stop it with my 2 little ones. Any healthy alternatives or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

It's 5am Somewhere...

I've always wanted to be one of those people that rise before the sun does and heads off to the gym to start their day. After 26 years of getting to know myself I have came to the conclusion that this will never happen for me...

According to www.sleepfoundation.org adults need 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night. According to the way I feel in the morning after waking up at 6 to take my son to school, I need 10 or 11 hours (sometimes 12 even feels great) of sleep! According to experts I have the sleeping schedule of a 3 - 5 year old. So I thought about this, as I do most things that have no real significance. After researching (who doesn't love Google?) I have came to the conclusion that I am always tired because I suffer from Parenting Fatigue. There, the secret is out. Parenting is exhausting, who knew right?

Apparently, when you have babies and small children in your home, you find yourself constantly sleepy because you are not resting at night. Parental protectiveness will not allow your body to relax enough to fall into a deep sleep. Great, not only is my little monster screaming in the background as I write this, but even while he's sleeping he is unconsciously pestering me. The remedy...time and birth control!

So you see, while I may not be at the gym at 5am because of this newly developed illness I have discovered, you are more likely to see me out running at noon, or utilizing the gym daycare while exceeding my 30 minute weight session just to get a break. I, however, will not let Parenting Fatigue keep me from working out at some point in time during my day. Does anyone else have any excuses you would like me to analyze for you? ;)