How am I doing it?

Well thankfully I'm sticking with the weight loss plan better than I am with the blogging!  LOL.  Sorry about that!

I'm on the verge of 50 lbs lost, 47.5 to be exact.  It cracks me up because some people I've known for years don't recognize me now.  Seriously??  A lady came up to the Smile FM table and said to me, "I heard Jenn was going to be here tonight."  I said, "I am Jenn!"  She said somewhat startled, "Wow, you look a lot bigger on the radio!?!?"  Hahaha., good thing I have a sense of humor!

Since we're in a world where most of us are carrying around a few extra pounds, I get asked a lot, "HOW ARE YOU DOING IT?"

So here's the post to answer that question!

I have a Weight Loss Coach and I do what he tells me to do!  For the most part anyway.  I'm far from perfect on following the plan, but I'm doing the best I can given my crazy schedule and I'm seeing great results...and most importantly, I can live this way! 

Bryan Beaune, my weight loss coach, specializes in customized meal plans for his clients all over the country.  On my plan I get 5 to 6 mini-meals a day.  Each meal consists of a lean protein (eggs, chicken, turkey, pork, beef), a veggie and a carb such as potato, brown rice or corn tortilla. Just as important as what I'm eating is what I'm NOT eating!  That would include processed foods, extra fats such as oil or butter and anything that my body would easily turn into SUGAR.  I had no idea how much of what we eat that our bodies think is sugar!  Fruit, bread, flour, pastries, white rice, french fries, pretzels juice, diary, popcorn, chocolate...all processed the same as sugar. 

I'm on my fourth plan right now.  There is the initial "Get the junk out of your system detox plan" and then he moved me along to slightly different plans depending on how my body was responding.  Each time my weight loss would slow down or when I would whine that I needed more of a certain type of food, he'd adjust my plan to restart my weight loss.   Oh and the best part of my meal plan.....THE CHEAT MEAL.  Yes, one meal a week, I can have anything I want.  Not in unlimited quantity, but one meal of whatever I've been craving.  Trust me, I make a list during the week and save this meal for a special occasion or just for the weekend!

Bryan Beaune - Building Your Temple

My diet has done a complete 180!  We used to eat out a lot and they knew my order at the local pizza place!  I'm a pretty good cook too.  While the stuff I was making was probably healthier than eating out, not by much.  Now I'm working on making some yummy recipes with the foods on my meal plan.

I had asked Bryan what was more important to losing weight, diet or exercise?  He said he thinks its 70% what you eat and 30% exercise.  So yes, I am working out too!  But honestly, I put much more effort into making sure I follow the meal plan.  I work out with Bryan twice a week and on my own another two to three times a week.

I have gone from a BMI of 43.6 which is MORBIDLY OBESE  to a BMI of 36.6 which is still Obese, but JUST Obese.   I've lost 47.5 lbs in 17 weeks.   Trust me I won't be there for long, OVERWEIGHT and then HEALTHY WEIGHT, watch out, I'm coming for you!

So what are you waiting for??  Your turn to get healthier!  How are you going to do it??

Change How??

We were at the Big Ticket Festival and the Stand Strength Team was there.  Bryan Beaune, a part of the Stand team reminded me  that Ken from Anytime Fitness in Imlay City about putting together a package for our staff at Smile FM.  Bryan offered to work with me on a fitness and eating plan. 

Gyms have always intimidated me.  So many machines and except for the bike and treadmill, I have no idea what to do with them.  I've taken some classes in the past, which I've really enjoyed, but regular gym workouts, definitely something new to me.

After Big Ticket I set up a time to meet with Bryan and he explained his plan.  I was hoping it just involved working out and he wasn't going to mess with my precious pizza.  Yeah, I was wrong!  He said that he felt losing weight was 70% of eating right and 30% exercising right.  Rats!

"Oh great," I thought, "here comes some ridiculous eating plan with shakes and pre-packaged diet food!"  I was looking for any reason possible to write his idea off as another fad diet that wouldn't work for me.

Wrong again!  He laid out his plan, which he customizes for each client.  Real food, regular food, just the good stuff.  Ok, I can give this a try.

The best way to describe his eating plan is that it's 6 mini-meals a day that each have a serving of lean protein, healthy carb and vegetable. It's taken me a few days to get into the program, but I'm really loving the food.  It definitely takes some planning and pre-cooking.

 Oh and this is Bryan, my trainer.  Yes ladies he is available .... available to put together a eating and exercise plan for you too :-)  He creates a customized plan for each client based on their goals and needs.  He has clients with special dietary needs, those wanting to lose weight and even some wanting to gain weight (I know, what in the world!)  He also runs some intense boot camps and circuit training classes, which I guess I'm not ready for yet!  But I'll be there soon! 

Why Change?

"People change when they hurt enough that they have to, learn enough that they want to, or receive enough that they are able to" says one of my favorite authors John Maxwell.

Being overweight hurts, your body, your joints, your muscles and often your feelings.

I've read practically every diet book on the market, I've attended meetings, I've talked to others who have lost weight.  I understand how the concept works, eat less + move more = weight lost.  

"Receive enough that they're able to."  Meaning enough love, encouragement, information, inspiration.  I think I've got it.  Great family, amazing and supportive husband.  I know you ultimately have to be ready to lose weight for yourself and I do want that for myself, but honestly I want it so I can be a positive and healthy example for my kids...and so I can keep up with them. Having kids a little later in life means needing this body to last and function a little longer.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you....So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20   I'm ready to rely on HIS strength to make this happen. 

 I'm ready to work, I'm ready to sacrifice, I'm ready to change.  How about you?

So who's tired of being Fat??

Ohhh, pick me, pick me!  I'm tired of being fat.

Really and I've tried everything, the twinkie diet, the ice cream diet, the snickerdoodle diet...oh wait, I think I see a problem here.  Seriously, I have tried a lot of different healthy eating plans and some of them have worked for a while, but then I get bored and go back to my old eating habits and my old size. 

Meet Me....size 24 me.

 I'm a Radio DJ and while most of the time I can hide my size 24 behind the microphone in my studio and let my charming personality shine through, quite often I have to make public appearances and then crazy fans take pictures of me and tag me on facebook.  Thanks friends, don't feel bad, it's inspiring me to make a change and change I will!

 I'm pretty active for a chubby girl, here's me hanging out at the trampoline place.  I do Zumba once in a while and love yoga once in a while.

I like this picture, Ronald has wider hips than I do :-)  Now, it's not that I blame the man....RONALD, but they do know me by name at the McD's Drive Thru in my town.  That's gonna to have to change.