Wednesdays Work-Out Recap

Mondays I tend to recap my weekend and talk about what is coming up this week. Well like a lot of women on a fitness journey the weekends seem to be the toughest and we cheat.

I did big time this weekend...even when I was planning on making smart decisions I still made bad ones when we got out.

On Sunday evening I felt terrible about my decisions. I ate bad Thursday night, Saturday night, and all day on Sunday. I'm not normally that uncontrolled and honestly I don't know what got into me.

Oh well tomorrow is a new day and I WILL get back on track.

Instead of beating myself up over these bad decisions I want to concentrate on what I DID last week.

On wednesdays I will write down my workouts for the previous week. This will hold me accountable throughout the week knowing I have to share every little workout with ya'll! 

I don't want to downplay nutrition because a HUGE part of weightloss is the food you put into your body but so often we get "side-tracked" by how bad we ate and we forget how much strength we showed last week or how we pushed a little bit harder than we thought we could.

It's time to remind myself what I am made of and hopefully my journey will inspire someone else to go one step further on theirs!

Last Week April 29-May 5th

Monday- Jamie Eason Live Fit Day 50 (arms, abs& cardio except I didn't do cardio)

DAY 10 Squat Challenge 105reg Squats & 85 Plié Squats

Tuesday- Jamie Eason Day 51 (Legs)

4.0 mile run 43:23

DAY 11 Squat Challenge 110reg Squats & 90 Plié Squats

Wednesday- Jamie Eason Day 52 (Chest, Abs & cardio)

Day 1 AB Challenge phase 1

DAY 12 Squat Challenge-REST

Thursday- Jamie Eason Day 53 (Shoulders)

1.09 mile run 12:41

Day 2 AB Challenge phase 1

DAY 13 Squat Challenge 130reg Squats & 95 Plié Squats

Friday-Jamie Eason Day 54 (Legs)

1.02 mile run 10:31

Day 3 AB Challenge phase 1

DAY 14 Squat Challenge 135reg Squats & 100 Plié Squats

Saturday- Jamie Eason Day 55 (Back & Delts) I didn't give this my all because I was wore out from the week and the morning run!

6.2mile run 1:06:31

Day 4 AB Challenge-REST

DAY 15 Squat Challenge 140reg Squats and 105 Plié Squats

Sunday-Jamie Eason- Rest

Day 5 AB Challenge phase 1

DAY 16Squat Challenge-REST

So do I feel bad about what I ate? Yes.

Does this make me feel 100x better though because I worked my tail off? Heck Yes!

Don't bet yourself up when you make a few bad food choices, ESP if you are giving it your all during your workouts!

We are human and we fall but we gotta support one another and be encouragers not discouragers (are those even words?)!

I encourage you to write down your workout recap & be proud of yourself for what you accomplished! You can even leave it in the comments here to encourage someone else!

Don't forget to go check out SkinnyMeg's Link-Up Today as well! She is giving you an "AT HOME" Workout!! Perfect for those mommies like me who just don't have the time to hit up the gym everyday! She also gives you a list of the 'at-home' workout essentials. :) SkinnyMeg Rocks like that! 

What matters most is that you ARE working out, no matter where you are at! 

The Beauty of It All

Good Monday Morning Ya'll!!

Saturday morning was the perfect morning for a run. The kiddos let us sleep until 7:45 (that is unheard of) plus Lanie slept all night. <She's been very hit or miss on her sleeping lately, I think it's lack of physical activity in the evening...so wheres the blasted warm weather>

The weather was cloudy and in the upper 50's. I have found that I am am a much better runner in the cold. The heat just drains me in no time and honestly 3miles in 70degree weather is harder than 6miles in upper 50s.

I drove to a church right down the road, put my key in my bra (hoping to have a solution to that little problem here very very soon), and took off. At first I wasn't paying much attention to anything besides the pavement but then the more I looked around me the more beauty I took in.

Truth is, I live in a beautiful area. I am surrounded by the Smokey Mountains and even with all the tourons you can't miss the beauty of it all.

I began to thank God for all this beauty. 

When we actually take the time to look and take it all in we see the true beauty that God sees. He made the Earth, he made the trees on the earth, he made the mountains, He made the valleys. I was going through all these things he has made which led me here.

He Made Me...

Oh wow, I knew it but did I really "Get It"?

He made me, after His own image and when he looks at me...He Sees Beauty.

He doesn't see the messed up hair that needs cut.

He doesn't see that my nail and toes haven't been done in MONTHS or how desperately I need a tan...

He doesn't see the extra skin I have from carrying 2 babies, or from the fact that I am a bit bloated because I ate 2 peices of pizza last night.

To Him I am beautiful just as I am...just as He made me.

I long to please him, to have Him guide and direct my life.

Realizing this doesn't make me want to let myself go but only work harder to make my body a strong temple for Him. 

I want to bring him glory and honor. 

I want to be his hands and feet.

I want to be able to answer his call and if he says "Go run this to bring me glory" I want to be able to do it.

YOU are BEAUTIFUL

YOU were CREATED in GOD's image

OUR BEAUTY comes from within Him

Just because someone on the outside might not see the beauty doesn't mean it's not there.

There is beauty in all things, we just have to STOP & LOOK for it!

Let me just say that I have not found a "Non-Beautiful" friend through this journey yet. Each one of you have been put in my life for a reason. Whether it's a word of encourage at the right time or someone to hold me accountable without judgement or condemnation when I fall.

There is so much beauty out there that we take for granted every day!

Love when I can actually run the hill! 

Awww The Smokey Mountains! Beautiful! 

Join me on Wednesday for an all new Link-Up Party as a way to remind ourselves of all the great fitness we have done over the past week! Use your fitness story to encourage someone else!

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YOU ALL ARE BEAUTIFUL!

SUMMER AB CHALLENGE

TODAY is the day Ladies!!

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Link up with me (and add your link to the list below) because it's May, bikini season is here and we are all counting down the days til vacation time! 

Every year we go to the beach with my parents. The hubs and I have a GREAT relationship with my parents and we tolerate each other very very well during vacations! My children are the only grandchildren they have for right now and we live about 4hrs away from them so when we go on vaca together, the hubs and I also get small vaca's throughout the week when my parents take the kiddos for something fun! 

It's a WIN WIN for everyone! And we all get along so it really is the perfect set up!

We will leave for the beach on June 28th and return on July 7th. That is 8 weeks for me. 

I have accomplished a lot in the past 8 weeks so I know if I put my mind to it I can make great strides toward being satisfied in a bikini by then. 

I need accountability and a steady program though!

So today starts my SUMMER AB CHALLENGE

It is 6 weeks

3 Phases

Designed by a boot camp instructor

Kick your BUTT kinda workout! 

WHO's WITH ME?? 

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

We will rest every 4th day but we transition after 14days so the rest day will get a bit mixed up but never fear, I wrote the "dates" that you Rest on the picture!! 

For the first week you will do the 100Crunch Set twice

The second week do it 3 times.

Then we move on!

I'm also going to be linking up with SkinnyMeg's Workout Wednesday so you can find some helpful advice, tips and tricks over there on her awesomendo blog too! 

****YOU CAN'T OUT TRAIN A BAD DIET****

I have to keep this in mind and really be cautious of what I eat over the next 6 weeks. I really want to see some definition in my abs and get my baby tummy toned!!

Here are my "BEFORE" AB CHALLENGE Pics

Let me say I L.O.V.E my new bathing suit from Venus. The bottoms have the perfect coverage for my ghetto booty and the ruched sides are much more flattering than a string on me! (plus I got this baby for under $80) :)

I lowered the band a bit so you can see my trouble area...the BLASTED  never disappearing crease! See it? Right there? 

I'm on Day 12 with the Squat Challenge and well ladies...it is working!! I can't wait to see it in 18 more days!

Now for a little comparison on how far I have come! 

Left is end of Feb- Right was Sunday
I just didn't realize the difference until this picture!
SUPER PROUD MOMENT! 

OK so take you pictures and lets BLOW THIS CHALLENGE UP LADIES!! 

Any questions, progress reports or just basic support please comment below, email me @ sweetsouthernmel@gmail.com or hit me up on Instagram!! And don't forget to #SSMelsSummerAbs with your progress!! 

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GRAB MY BUTTON & LINK UP WITH ME HERE IF YOU WILL BE JOINING US!

PEACE & KINI's,

~Mel

PALE-Oh Here I Go

Well she finally did it. She has been slowly chizling away at me for a few months now...even when she didn't realize she was.

This weekend I broke, I am tired of feeling tired.

I'm tired of feeling fat.

I went on vacation and took with me my summer clothes from last year...they didn't fit.

Yep I got on the ship and the only pants I could wear were the jean capris(that were big last yeat but now fit a little too snug) and my cotton gouchos. Every single pair of shorts I took I couldn't even get buttoned.

I was mad, furious that I had let myself do this yet again. I complain about gaining weight to my husband and he was so sweet but let's face it. I couldn't get the dang shorts buttoned, I had gained, I'm right back to where I was before. There is no denying that.

Counting calories doesn't work for me.

Counting fat or carbs doesn't work.

Eating what I want but cutting portions doesn't work.

Am I ever going to find something that works? I hope so.

So on friday I broke and I let her bring me lunch...with total intent of hating it but wth, I'll give it a try!

My lunch consisted of Dark Chocolate Almond Milk. Sweet Potato, Spaghetti Squash, ground Venison, garlic salt, avacodo and tomatoes.

It was delectible!

I was still unsure about this whole Paleo thing though...cutting out all dairy? I'm a huge milk and yogurt LOVER How was I going to do this?

I sat down started going through recipes picked out a few that sounded good an that I had most of the ingredients already and this weekend I Paleo'd it up at my house.

Now I am not no where near 100% seeing as how I ate two small yeast rolls sat and sunday but I am slowly getting there. As of now I have cut out all dairy...I even had fresh local honey and almond milk in my coffee this morning...This crap is getting real up in here when I change up my coffee!

Now onto the scary part. I want to share with you all myself. I'm not perfect nor have I ever claimed to be. I am an extremely critical person of myself. Not so much with others but oh horrible with myself but I also love my bikinis and so in saying that I even wore a whole piece almost the entire vacation because of my insecurities.

This blog has been a great place for me to really just be myself and grow as a christian while sharing my struggles and praises with you all. I have received some judgement from it but I guess when you put yourself out there you should expect it at some point.

This next part though is very difficult for me. It is opening myself up to a whole new line of judgement.

Honestly it scares the life out of me just thinking about it but I need to do it. For myself and for you. To hold myself accountable and to show you that I struggle just the same as some of you.

I do ask though that you would keep all negative comments to yourself and if you are going to come to this sight to be judgmental please do not return. This is me being vunerable...don't make me regret it please.


My measurements for the beginning of my Paleo Journey is: (these might get altered bc I forgot my paper)
Arms- 18 3/4
Belly- 35
Hips- 42
Thigh- 24


BEFORE

So there you have it. It is me...def not at my best but hoping to overcome and make my body into a temple to be used to serve God's purpose. He gave me this gift of life so who am I to trash it with terrible food and lack of exercise?

I will start posting some of the recipes I am trying out as well and let you know what I think about them! You can also follow me on Instagram @sweetsouthernmel where I will be picturing most of my food!

Happy Monday!

~Mel