Transforamtion Tuesday: -70.6 lbs and Counting

So, I am finally going to post a transformation pic! I've been off and on loosing weight for the past 2 years, and it hasn't been until this past February where I really committed. I changed my eating habits, I made working out a priority and the results have been amazing! If my self today told my self a few years ago that all I had to do was make a few easy changes, that getting healthy and loosing weight would be attainable.

With that being said, I have lost a total of 70.6 lbs from my heaviest which most girls don't want to admit their weight, but hey, I am doing this blog to inspire, so why the hell not, it was 325 lbs. I can't believe that I let myself get that heavy, and I am never ever going to see that number again, or be anywhere near it!

So, from this past Sunday, 8/25 I currently weigh 254.4 lbs. I can't remember the lat time I weighed that to be quite honest. And I am so happy to keep on chipping away at that number! So, here is a pic from when I was super heavy, and where I am currently.

The best part about this weight loss journey so far is being able to push my body to the limits. Yes, there are days when I don't want to workout or I want to give into temptation and eat something bad, but I've learned to overcome all that. The more workouts I do, to closer I am to getting the body I want. Every time I say no to temptation, those are calories I don't put into my body. 

It's not easy, but I know in the end when I reach my goals, all this will have been totally worth it. 

Results

So, I use to be one of those girls who thought oh, if I lift weights, I'm going to look bulky like a dude! Totally glad I got over that myth. Did you know that the more muscle mass you have, the easier it is to burn fat? So, for the past 6 weeks, I've been working with a trainer 3X a week for 30 mins each session, lifting 3X a week for at least and hour and a half to 2 hours, and doing cardio for 95 mins 3X a week.

The results I've seen so far? Amazing! I am starting to get some muscle definition in my arms and legs, which I am so happy about!

So, if you've hit a plateau, just doing cardio or afraid of the myth about looking like a dude from lifting weights, the only advice I can give you is, try it out. Do it for like 2 weeks and see if it makes a difference. I'm pretty sure it will. I'm definitely glad I decided to, and now, I don't think I can live without lifting. :)

Hopefully, my next post will be a transformation pic of where I use to be (at my heaviest) and where I am now. So, stay tuned! :)

Can't Make it to the gym? What now?

So, I know some people can't afford to pay for a gym membership or for a personal trainer. So, what should they do? My advice is to start walking around your neighborhood, find a nice park with a walking trail, or start looking up workouts on the Internet. It's amazing how many great workouts you can find these days.

Well, I don't have time, or weights, or etc., to get a good workout. Honestly, you don't need much. There are a lot of great body weight workouts you can find that will have you sweating your butt off after 30 mins. And 30 mins, that's all you need really if you want to start making a change to your life.

Here is a link to an awesome infographic on a 30 minute, no gym body weight workout: http://greatist.com/fitness/no-gym-bodyweight-workout-infographic

I know there are a lot of gyms that are pretty expensive these days, however, there are some great ones that charge a monthly membership of only $10. The one I go to is Planet Fitness. They are super clean, lots of machines so, you aren't waiting for stuff you want to use and the staff is pretty friendly. They also provide you with a personal trainer, which even though it's a group class (max 5 people) it's a pretty darn good deal for only $10 a month. I couldn't pass that deal up. They also have a $20 membership which includes the gym, personal trainer, unlimited tanning and use of massage chairs as well.

So, just make some time. 30 mins is not that much time out of your day to work in a little workout and start making a change to better your life. I'm now working with a personal trainer 3 days a week, working out at Planet Fitness on my own lifting and doing cardio 6 days a week and walking/jogging with a friend at a local park 2 -3 times a week. All you have to do is make the choice to change.

It will be hard at first, but trust me, the end result will be worth all your hard work. I have noticed a big difference in my life already and even though I still have a ways to go, I am not going to let anything stop me!

Paleo Pulled Pork

So I recently posted a picture of some paleo pulled pork and several people have asked me how it was made. Well, the problem is, when I cook, I do not use recipes. I am one of those people who just throw some ingredients together and usually, the turnout is pretty darn good. So, after some thought, I can only post the ingredients I used and not exact measurements. Better than nothing I suppose.

Before Smoking

So, here is the list of ingredients that were used:

• Chili Powder
• Cloves of Garlic- I actually cut slits into the meat and shoved the garlic into the meat
• Cumin
• Fresh Oregano
• Fresh Rosemary
• Smoked Paprika
• Salt
• Fresh Ground White Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper

Oh, and I used a Boston Pork Butt. It was about 8 pounds. Once you get all the ingredients on there, it's time to fire up the smoker. I used an electric one.

Preheat your smoker to 219 degrees F. You are going to cook the butt in the smoker for approximately 10 to 12 hours and you want to maintain the temperature at 210. I used hickory wood chips. 

To check if the butt is ready, use a fork. When the meat easily falls apart, it's time to take it out. Let is sit for about an hour and then you can pull the meat apart. 

Finished Product

And there you have it. I paired it with a paleo BBQ sauce made with:

• Tomato Paste
• Vinegar
• Raw Honey
• Onion
• Salt
• Pepper
• Liquid Smoke

Yes, I use my Wii

So, I weigh myself once a week. I totally do not recommend any more that that because then you'll drive yourself nuts and become obsessed with the number on that scale. I've never really been a fan of weighing myself but since I've been working out and eating healthy, I thought it was time to start doing it, so, that I'd have some way of documenting my progress.

And so, today I got on my Wii. Yes, I use my Wii. It's pretty accurate and it keeps track of my progress, so that I don't have to write it down. I have to say this week was a little up in the air for me. I didn't get to train with my trainer once this week, however I trained hard myself at the gym to make up for it. I stuck to my paleo diet but still was nervous to step onto my Wii balance board.

Even though I don't really want to put this up, I'm going to do it any way. This is why I decided to blog about my weight loss journey in the first place. So this was what the screen said:

So to my surprise and delight, I managed to loose 5.7 lbs! Yes, I still have a ways to go, but I am totally chipping away at it one week at a time. If you take becoming healthy or loosing weight one day at a time, and set short term goals, it makes your ultimate goal a lot more easier to obtain. Just keep working hard and don't let anything negative define how far you've come already!

140 minutes of Cardio.. Oh my!

Well, today was definitely a record for me. I managed to do 140 minutes of cardio. I usually only do an hour and a half of cardio but I wanted to start jogging this week so, I added in more. A friend and I will be walking/jogging at a local park 3 times a week and hopefully it'll be around 45 minutes each time.

After my workout at the park, I hit up my gym Planet Fitness and I got on the elliptical for 65 minutes averaging about 6 mph. Then I got on the treadmill and walked at a 3 on an incline at 8, 9 and 10 at 10 minutes each incline.

So, I've survived. Even though I am a bit tired, I am feeling wonderful none the less... The way I get through such a long cardio workout is great music! If you can put a great playlist together, your cardio will fly by because your jammin. :)

You can follow me on my social media channels

So, if you want to follow me on some of my social media channels, below are the links. I occasionally post some selfies, my pets, a workout meme here and there, but I mostly post the food I eat.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lil_lam

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/llam

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/ohitzlilia

30 day Paleo diet complete

About 3 months ago, I finally made a permanent change in my life to take control and become the person that I've always known and wanted to be. I've always been a been over weight and even though I was OK with that, I realized, that OK is just not how I want to live my life, so I decided to make a lifestyle change to better myself.

Since I started on the journey 3 months ago, I was working out 5 days a week and pretty much eating clean. Then I decided to up my game and started working out 6 days a week (Sunday through Friday) for 1.5 to 2 hours each day alternating lifting days and cardio days. Now, I am still working out 6 days a week (Monday - Friday) for 1.5 to 2 hours each day, but I want to start running, so I might work that into my cardio soon.

Then last month, I decided I wanted to really commit and decided to try out paleo or "the caveman diet." Today marks my first month of being on paleo, and I have to admit, it's the best choice I could have ever made. While I have tried so many diets in the past, this time, I don't feel like I'm on a diet. This time it feels different from all the other times I've tried to loose weight and I think it's a good thing. 

So I decided I should probably start documenting my journey to my healthy lifestyle. Why not right? If you are friends with me on facebook, or follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know I've done some documenting so far. From all my gym check-ins to all of my food photos, I am changing my lifestyle day by day and using social media to keep me accountable. 

So, I hope with this blog and all of my documenting, this can inspire others to make a change to live a healthier lifestyle. It can be done, because I am doing it. You just have to be willing to try!