Well it's here, June 28th. It's been one whole year since I started doing Turbo Jam and getting fit. I can't believe I'm going to share everything that I am, but if it can help to inspire others to get healthy then I will. I will be posting my before and after pictures and measurements. Ack!
the beach 2009
the beach 2010
So one year ago I was fat. I had just had my second baby and I weighed more than I had ever in my life. It wasn't an overnight weight gain, it happened slowly one pound at a time over a period of 10 years. I would rarely look in the mirror. Even when brushing my hair in the morning I would just give a glance and try not to register who that woman who was looking back at me was. I certainly didn't recognize her and I was trying my best to stay in denial of who I had become. I hated my body and had no energy. I especially hated my belly. I looked pregnant even when I wasn't and being apple shaped and carrying your weight around your tummy is the most unhealthy kind of obesity. And yes, I was obese. I thought I was just fat but a calculation of my BMI put me in the obese category. It was a shocking wake up call for me.
These aren't my official before pictures but here are a few shots of me at my heaviest:
While I was pregnant with my son I would be up in the middle of the night with my daughter and saw the Turbo Jam infomercial on TV. Nothing else was on so I watched it. It actually looked fun! And the results they showed of other moms who had lost weight and looked great really hit home. I knew I wanted to get it, but since I was pregnant and couldn't exactly start an exercise regimen and wanted to be able to take advantage of the 30 day money back guarantee in case I didn't like it I had to wait. I kept thinking about this program and few weeks after the birth of my son I ordered it so that once I got the ok at my 6 week doctor appointment I could start. I LOVED it and the rest is history! As you can see from the pictures I'm about to post Turbo Jam WORKS. And it's a whole year later and I still love it. Chalene Johnson is really motivating and even though I know she's just on a DVD and not in my house her sincerity shows through and I really feel like she's there with me cheering me on, pushing me to work harder and complimenting me on a job well done. I am so grateful for her. And while I'm at it I'm also grateful for my BeachBody Coach, Hillary Kelly. After Christmas when I was falling back into depression I ended up not exercising and after a motivating phone call from her and some tips on getting my workout in with young kids in the house I was back on track and have stayed on track since. Thank you so much Hillary and Chalene for being a part of my fitness journey!
Anyways, here is the part you've been waiting for - my measurements and before and after pictures. Ahhhh! Here we go.... be brave Julia, you can do it!
June28/09 June28/10
Weight: 240 lbs 165 lbs
Waist: 47 inches 34 inches
Hips: 45 inches 37 inches
Chest: 46 inches 36.5 inches
Left Arm: 13.5 inches 10.5 inches
Right Arm: 13.5 inches 10.5 inches
Left Thigh: 27 inches 21.5 inches
Right Thigh: 27 inches 21.5 inches
For a total of 75 lbs and 47.5 inches (13 from my waist alone!) lost in one year.
Before and After picture from the front:
Before and After picture from the side:
Before ChaLean Extreme and after - 60 days of ChaLean Extreme :)
The way I've achieved these results is by doing Turbo Jam (I have three different sets of DVDs. Maximum Results which is a good starting point for getting into Turbo, Fat Burning Elite and Turbo Jam Live). Turbo Jam is a dancey kickboxing type workout. Great music and lots of fun moves and combos. I also have been doing ChaLean Extreme Deluxe with the B-Lines resistance bands. This has given me muscles (I love my toned arms!) and muscle burns fat! It's less fun and more work than Turbo Jam but the results are amazing. I have also been using the uber-healthy meal replacement called Shakeology for lunch every day for the past couple of months. I use the fibre boost as well. It fills you up and is delicious. A great way to get tons of nutritious ingredients in one yummy shake and to cut those calories.
I have energy again. I still am not a fan of the loose skin on my belly, but when you look like this when you're pregnant (39 weeks in this picture) you don't really have much choice in the matter, lol! It is slowly getting better as my skin goes back. It just takes a while when you've gone from being this massively pregnant and then losing weight on top of it.
58 inch baby belly! Whoa!
I have soooo much more self esteem. I feel healthy and I know I'm setting a good example for my kids so that they will have an easier time avoiding the path that I took. I have changed my life and I am sticking with it. I love it!
This isn't a diet. This is a lifestyle change. It all started with a change in attitude. If you want to lose weight and get healthy you have to decide and commit to making healthy choices every day. You can still eat fun things, just as a treat and then decide how much you are going to eat and stick to it. Then work extra hard at your exercise and eat extra clean to make up for it. If I could never eat cheese and cake (and cheesecake!) again this wouldn't work. It's really actually quite simple. Use more calories than you eat and you will lose weight. Everybody knows this. I knew it for a long time. It just took time for me to change my mindset and DO it. I guess I was addicted to food and in order for the addict to get help I had to WANT to change. It's still a struggle every day to battle the cravings and eat healthy and I don't always want to get off my butt and work out but I do it. Think of it as something you have to do, like brushing your teeth. You have to brush your teeth every day and you have to exercise every day! Find something you love to do. Turbo Jam really works and is FUN. You will see results and once you see results it makes the rest of it so much easier. Resist that cookie cos you don't want to stall your weight loss!
The next step in this journey is adding Chalene's brand new program, Turbo Fire, into the mix. I'm looking forward to seeing what this new program will do for my body. I'm also beginning to consider whether sharing my love of Turbo though becoming an instructor would be a possible option. I'm not sure about how I feel about doing Turbo in front of people and becoming a leader in this way so I'm considering it carefully and praying about it before making the commitment and paying to become certified. I know that whatever path I choose I can succeed. A product of my fitness journey has also been greater confidence.
I'm also training to run 5 kilometers in the CIBC Run for the Cure. I'm running for my Mom. If you would like to sponsor me and support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation you can donate here.
If I can do this, anyone can. And if I can help you get motivated or if you want to know more about Turbo Jam or ChaLean Extreme just ask me and I'd be happy to help in any way that I can!
