Brittany's Shape Up Showdown

Wow! The past six months

Wow! The past six months has flown by for me and it has been a
great learning experience. 

Starting this journey in
January was scary for me. I had this fear in the back of my mind that I
wouldn't be able to lose weight. As I weighed each month and saw results I
realized I could do this.

I’m not going to say it was easy, because it wasn’t. There were many ups and downs and days I was
sore and tired but I fought through it. 
In the end it was worth every drop of sweat I left behind on the gym
floor. 

The program may have come to the end but it is certainly not the
end for me. I still have a few goals I
want to accomplish and I now have the knowledge it takes to reach them.

I want to say thanks to WAFB, BREC, and OLOL for this wonderful
opportunity. Thanks to my family and
friends for all of their support and encouragement. Also, I want to say thanks to my trainer Donald
who had the tough job of helping me sweat those pounds off. 

My total weight loss throughout the past six months was 46
pounds. I couldn’t be any happier.

Brittany :)Before After

Small Bump in the Road

So this was the week I planned on jogging a complete mile on the track, but it seems I will be delayed on accomplishing this goal for a few weeks.

June was going well and I had worked my way up to jogging a 5/7ths of a mile.

Unfortunately last Monday, I had a sudden attack from my gall bladder and was told it would have to come out. I had my surgery on Friday and am making good progress towards recovery every day.

This reminded me that you never know what is going to happen and there will always be bumps in the road. I feel working out has made me stronger and will hopefully help my recovery be a little easier.

While I may not be jogging my mile quite yet, I now know I have the capability to do it and I will as soon as I am able to. This little hurdle will only make my one mile accomplishment mean even more to me.

I’m sure I will be bouncing back into the gym and Boot Camp before I know it. Hope all is well with everyone else and I look forward to seeing the other participants on Friday.

Brittany :)

June Weigh-in

Today was our June check-up and I have lost another 7lbs!  That makes a total of 38lbs since January which is 17% of my body weight.  Having started my journey about two years ago, I am down 60lbs from my highest weight and I couldn’t be happier.  :D 

I have had such success with this program and I have learned so much from nutrition to exercising.  I think one of the most important things I have gained from this experience is self confidence.  It didn’t take long for me to figure out the key to my success would be to believe in myself.  I have to tell myself repeatedly that I can accomplish workouts that challenge me, but that is what gets me through it.

Looking back from where I started my workouts in January, I am doing things I never thought I could do.  I remember having to jog the curves of the track and power walk the straights.  After one lap I remember thinking, “How am I ever going to do this?”  Today I jogged 4 complete laps in a row!  That just showed me I am capable of doing more than I ever thought.  Pretty soon, whether I think I am ready or not, I was told I will be jogging all 7 laps without any walking to complete a mile...

I would also like to add that at the doctor today I saw Bobby, Nicole, and Jerome.  All I can say is Wow!  Ya’ll look amazing!  Keep it up guys!  I hope everyone else is doing great as well.

Until next time,

Brittany

5-24-11

   On Saturday evening I decided I needed a little break from my daily routines.  I gathered up a few family members and Sunday morning we headed off for a “daycation” to Gulf Shores. 

   In the past, we would probably stop along the way and get something to eat that wasn’t really healthy and we would bring junk food to snack on.  Not this time though!  I was in charge of packing the ice chest and it was probably the healthiest one in our area.  We brought cucumber, carrots, apples, water, Powerade Zero, diet green tea, and low calorie sandwiches.  For anyone taking a trip to the beach soon, this is not expensive to bring along and it is a healthy way to snack while soaking up some rays.

   I will say with the heat indexes and temperatures climbing, it is important to put on plenty of sunscreen.  I should have known better than to use just one coat of the 50 SPF sunscreen, because I now look like a lobster and working out with sun burnt skin is no fun!  It should be an interesting week but I’m a tough cookie so I’m sure I will do just great.

   This morning I was working on my cardio and I was supposed to do three machines so I started with the Elliptical and moved on to the treadmill.  The treadmill I was using was right across from my next enemy, the Stairmaster, and it got the evil eye!  As I was fighting the Stairmaster, sweating buckets, I swear I could hear Donald’s voice in my head saying “Come on!” and I finished my work out! Haha.  :)

Now to see what the rest of the week holds for me!

Brittany

Recap of the month of May so far...

I realize I have not updated since the first of May but the last few weeks have been very hectic! 

The first week of May I was preparing and reviewing for final exams at school.  During that same week I was filmed training with Donald.  That means you will see me sweating on WAFB very soon and it will give you a SMALL insight of the workouts Donald has for me. 

The most important part of that week for me was the weigh in!  I have lost another 8 pounds and three inches which makes a total of 31 pounds and 10.5 inches since January!  I am VERY happy with that!  Weigh in days really make me appreciate those few exercises that I don’t like to do but I don’t really have a choice.  Those are the exercises that typically warrant the fake smile and there is a good possibility you may see it in the new clip!

The second week of May, last week, was even busier for me than the first because it was final exam week at school.  My school schedule was very different and I got to see some former classmates I haven’t see in about six months.  I found it very humorous that neither of them recognized me until I walked up and spoke to them.   Other than that, it was a very stressful week studying every day but my workouts helped keep me sane and get me through it.  I didn’t weigh at all because I know stress usually makes me gain weight or maintain it.  It was well worth the stress though because I finished the semester with great grades and I am sure I will be seeing positive results on the scale again shortly. 

Last week I also got the chance to volunteer answering calls during the WAFB morning show for the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital’s “Drive the future” campaign.  I really enjoyed it because it was something I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do a year ago but I do now. 

This week’s workouts have gone well so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the week.

More to come soon!

Brittany

5-1-11

  Throughout the Shape Up Showdown I have had a couple people tell me I am their inspiration and that really means a lot to me.  Everyone asks me what I am doing and how I’m losing weight so quickly.  Well my weight isn’t just falling off of me.  It takes a lot of hard work, determination, and support from my family and friends.  There are days where I question myself and I feel exhausted but then someone says something that keeps me going.

  For those who have asked, I am on a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet.  I work out 5 days a week for about an hour each day.  I use the website www.myfitnesspal.com to keep a daily log of my food because they have an app for iPhone users. 

  I have had a few people ask me if I thought I would have lost weight like this on my own without a trainer.  As I said before, I lost 22 pounds about a year prior to the Shape Up Showdown but I questioned my ability to lose any more weight.  Since beginning to work out with Donald I have seen great results.  I am losing weight along with inches.  Having a trainer holds me accountable and I look forward to going to the gym to workout with him.  I have completed workouts I never would have done on my own.  During our workouts when I am drenched in sweat, tired, and feel like I want to stop, he doesn’t let me give up.

  Last Thursday, I was back jogging and power walking the track again.  Donald is timing me to see how long it takes me to complete a mile.  It took me about 12 minutes!  I intend to get faster each week and I am sure before I know it he will have me jogging the whole mile. 

  This week I am looking forward to our doctor’s appointment on Thursday.  Can’t wait to see how I have done since our April appointment! 

Stay posted… I will be writing again soon!

Brittany

4-18-11

Last week’s workout was very challenging.  I found out the hard way that changes in sleep and diet really does affect your body.  I spent April 8-11 in Orlando with my family and since it was a short trip we slept maybe 15 hours in three nights.  I ate food that wasn’t exactly within my calorie range but was able to get back on track last Monday.

I was exhausted when we got back but still was determined to conquer Boot Camp on Monday…. But let’s just say it conquered me.  Not sleeping, having jet lag, and eating not so great left me with no energy.  Leaving Boot Camp, I was a little disappointed in myself because I knew I wasn’t pushing myself as much as I should have, but I went home, got plenty of rest, and was determined to do better on Tuesday.

It didn’t take long after arriving to the gym on Tuesday for me to figure out Donald stepped up my work out!  I warmed up on the Elliptical and then was summons to follow him… That’s when I knew it was about to be on like Donkey Kong.  After jump roping and running suicides several times each, I then had to jog the track and stop a few times to do 25 jumping jacks.   Then he surprised me with 15 minutes on the Stairmaster.  (Needless to say Donald got what he refers to as one of my “crazy looks”)  After all was said and done though I was happy and felt like I bounced back nicely from Monday.

The rest of the week went well and I felt much better eating normal healthy food again.  I am looking forward to this week and seeing what new tricks Donald will pull out of his sleeve for me. 

Brittany

4-8-11

 Yesterday was weigh-in!  I am very excited to say I have lost 10 pounds and one inch since our March weigh-in.  I guess Donald has really been sweating it out of me!  Since January I am down a total of 23 pounds. 

 Wednesday was my 21^st Birthday!  I decided I have been eating like a saint since the first week of January and could celebrate my birthday with a small piece of cake.  You only turn 21 once right?!  I figured if I ate the cake three hours before boot camp I would be fine.   Not so much…. Let’s just say when you have not eaten sweets in months and you eat it before you work out you get very nauseous. 

 Other than that, things have been going well.  I have been attending boot camp and doing high intensity cardio.  We all met last Thursday with the nutritionists and talked about our different motivations.  I have been really motivated by taken pictures of myself each month and comparing them to previous months.  It is hard for me to see the changes in myself by looking in the mirror because I see myself every day. 

 I still have plenty of pounds to lose but I am sure Donald has some tricks up his sleeve to keep melting weight off of me.  :)

 Congratulations to all of the other participants.  Keep on working hard and pushing through it!

Brittany

3-18-11

 This has been a great week for me.  I set a goal for myself to fall below 200 pounds before my twenty-first birthday.  On Tuesday I was extremely excited not only to find out I accomplished that goal but I reached it three weeks early.  I am very proud of myself because according to my scale I have lost almost twenty pounds since starting the Shape Up Showdown in January and having lost weight beforehand I am down a total of forty pounds!

 Starting out on my own about a year or two ago I never thought I would get on the scale and weigh less 200 pounds, because I haven’t since I was a Freshman in high school.  This was a huge motivation for me to keep on going and give it all I have.

 Donald has informed me the next two months will be high impact and I am really looking forward to stepping it up and burning off more calories. 

 I am so thankful I have been given this opportunity and thankful for Donald pushing me in the gym even when he tells me to do something and I just look at him with my fake smile.  I am thankful for all the people who are supporting, encouraging, and motivating me.  You guys are awesome and have really made a difference. 

 For anyone who is reading this and is also battling their weight, keep on fighting!  If you believe in yourself you may achieve goals you never thought you would.

 Well, I’m heading to Donald’s Boot Camp tonight for today’s workout!  In the words of Donald, “Work hard or don’t work at all.”

Until Next Time!

Brittany

3-14-11

 Last week was tough for me because as much as I did not want to admit it, I was defeated by an awful cold.  I went to the doctor Monday and got medicine but of course it took a few days to start getting well.  I kept debating on going to the gym or not and I was a little mad at myself because I decided not to go.  I figured I needed to rest and try to get well so the cold did not get “angry” and become worse.

 I was excited Donald was back on Thursday and I was able to train with him again.  I missed training more than I thought.  I have got into such a routine of going to the gym and working out that I’m not a happy camper when I do not go.

 Friday I attended my first boot camp class with Donald.  I thought I would be able to sneak in and out of the class without anyone noticing I was someone new… but nope!  Donald introduced me over his microphone haha…  I should have known.  :)  I was a little nervous about going because I was questioning whether or not I could do the workout.  Once the class started I realized I was going to be just fine because there were people of different ages with their own challenges.

 Saturday I jogged and walked the track for two miles and Sunday I mowed my grandmother’s yard.  I can tell I am getting stronger because working in her yard is not near as challenging as it has been for me in the past. 

 I am looking forward to training again this week.  Today and Tuesday I will be working out with Donald!  Another week means stepping things up another notch!  Can’t wait to see what my new challenge will be this week.

I am sure I will have more to post very soon!

Brittany