Just recently my grandma spent some time here with my family and me. Anyone who knows my grandma knows that if it’s on her mind that she is going to say it. So while I think that sometimes grandma can keep some stuff to herself, those who are near and dear to me love to point out that I am similar to my grandma, meaning that there are times when I have limited to no filter but I don’t think so…lol.

Well on her last visit as she sat across the table from me she looks me dead in the eye and says…..you better hope Dr. Oz doesn’t call you back any time soon, you’ve gained weight. I’m like WT…

I tried to explain to her yes I had put on some weight, I wasn’t always hitting those steps or amping up that cardio but I was back on it and was sure that if the show called that I would be more than a welcomed guest.

As part of Sexy by Summer I want to start by getting down to my original goal weight that I reached and boy was I cute…lol. I had reached 175 lbs and was doing well but got a little lazy with the winter months and there you have it at the beginning of Sexy by Summer and weighing in at 188.6 lbs.

Today I was preparing for a women’s social at my church (shout out to Redeemed Assembly of Jesus Christ!!!) where me of all folk would be speaking about weight loss, my journey and what it takes to maintain….I’m still working on the latter. So, I was watching the video footage from the show finale and realized that I was back to my finale weight of 181 pounds. I know that’s not a lot to be proud of but what I can say to my grandma is that if they call me back, I’m good to go! I think that I’ll call her NOW!!!

YOU Gal Toni down for the count!

Hey folks! I have been down for the count. My little one has been ill (couple days in the hospital) and has transferred her cold to me. If you are waiting on a e-mail response from me please hold tight! I’m catching up slowly.

With that said I’ve been out of pocket with little to no steps but I have been watching my food.

I do have weight loss to report:

Weight: 181.2 lbs (total down 7.4)
Waist: unsure will get measurements shortly

Food: Not much

Note: When not feeling well remember to stay hydrated!

Plan on Plans Failing!

What a week! This past week was Spring Break and I had some terrific plans in store. I was flying up to NY with one of my daughter’s to drop her off with my family for the week while I got in some great family fun and also got in some work time in the NY office. Since my cousin has also been turned onto this healthy lifestyle we were so excited to be hitting the gym together and sharing in some fun 10,000 steps and beyond challenges (she’s competitive – lol!) I made sure I packed gym clothes, sneakers and my “A” game. My cousin and I had laid out our workout schedule and planned out the meals we would be eating. Just because I was on vacation and that doesn't mean I was on vacation from health and wellness.

Saturday morning Yvalisse and I rose and anxiously got our bags together and headed to the airport. We arrived at the airport at 1pm for our 3p flight only to be told each hour that our flight was delayed due to the terrible storms that ravaged the East Coast. My daughter grew anxious and disappointed. Finally by 8p we were told our flight was canceled and the next flight would be on Monday. No worries, I tried explaining to my daughter that sometimes life throws us curve balls and we just have to deal with them the best we could. Deep down I was feeling anxious because I wasted a whole day and did not get in my 10,000 steps – I was feeling defeated.

Sunday we had a very special religious event which meant I spent all morning washing, blow drying and flat ironing two sets of hair. Then off to get everyone’s dresses on and head out the door. Another day passed and guess what!?! No 10,000 steps. I was beginning to get really anxious.

Now it’s Monday morning and we were up and out the door at 4:45a to catch our flight to NY that finally arrived! Yay!! I would finally make it to the gym and blast through these 10,000 steps – right?! WRONG! By the time I arrived I was exhausted and still had to work. The day was getting away from me, I was growing more and more tired and the gym seemed less and less appealing. Long story short - my pedometer stood in my purse from the security check line. No 10,000 steps!

Tuesday now rolls around and I am in the office plugging away anxiously waiting for my flight back home so I could get in some one on one time with my daughter and get back to the gym. After 5 hours in the airport and numerous delays the flight times out and we are told our flight is canceled! Déjà vu! This couldn't be happening again! All I could think of was getting back to my youngest daughter that awaited my return and hitting the gym with a vengeance.

Wednesday is now here and I am not surprised to find out that my fight is delayed yet again! One would think I could of made the most these extended airport delays by walking around the airport and racking up on stepping miles however, I had on heals and my luggage was checked in so all I could do was sit and wait.

Amidst all this chaos I learned a valuable lesson – sometimes we can create the best of plans but we never plan for our plans to fall through and once they do we are thrown off and thrown down. I woke up this morning realizing that I let life’s detours get the best of me. Instead of getting back up when all my plans fell through the cracks I sat and allowed myself to feel defeated which can easily resurface old bad habits. Granted I lost time and cannot get those days or steps back but today is a new day with a new plan and more importantly a new opportunity to get it right. So U-turn made, attitude adjusted and off to the treadmill to catch up and get it right!!!!

Failure should never and will never be an option for me!! Like Diddy and Mase said, "Can't nobody and nothing hold me down ... oh no, I got to keep on moving!!"

First 30 days - Slow and Steady

Here we go people! I’ve been busy so sorry that I haven’t posted in a few days. My hat is off to those of you who parent more than 1 child. I had my 9 year old sister and 5 year old god daughter over the weekend and my god daughter stayed through Tuesday and man I was tired. Dressing these girls, shuttling them around and just listening to all the giggling, stop, no, leave me alone was enough to take me over the edge, but I survived.

Last week I told you all that I was turning up the heat. I met with the trainer here in the office, took a class and I hit the elliptical all in one day. The next day I just wanted to lie in the bed. I think that I had over done it but you know what......I was back in there with the trainer this week and it felt good. I’ve amped up my cardio and I’m sweating up a storm and that feels good too.

What I’ve been reminded of is that my time is limited but if I want to get this done I’m going to have to carve some time out some way some how. Someone told me that people who work out don’t have more time it’s just how they prioritize. So while I agree with that, when I look at my life I’m either working which is required or caring for my family which is also required. I do believe that I need and must take care of myself and working out is a priority for me but it does not come above my family and my career. I think that it all has its place, it all needs to get done but for me working out is not at the top of the list.

What I have concluded is that I will take a chunk of my work day and shorten it by 45-60 minutes 2 days a week in order to get a nice intense cardio work out in before having to scoop up the little one, 2 days a week I will commit to weight and cardio training with the personal trainer and 3 days a week I will commit to gaining my 10,000 steps throughout the day. Right now this sounds like a plan that will work for me and allow me to effectively focus on all the aspects of my life.

So I missed yesterday’s weigh in but here you go!












Weight:183.9 (total down 4.7)
Waist: 32 ¼

Steps: 12120
Activity: Weight Training & Elliptical

Breakfast: Cheerios & Banana
Snack: Almonds
Lunch: Nutty Chicken Salad (Jason’s Deli)
Snack: Fruit Cup
Dinner: My version of the nutty chicken salad (Chicken, walnuts, craisins, spring mix and balsamic vinaigrette)
Snack: Dark Chocolate

This is some hard work!

Hey Everyone!

So I meet with the trainer and I really have to turn up the heat. He basically said great job on the 10,000 steps but I need to be getting them in quicker or harder. In order for me to drop more weight I need to turn up my intensity. If you read YOU Gal Stacy's last blog...it sounds the same. Well yesterday I turned it up and today I can feel it! I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, 45 minutes in Zumba then 30 minutes with the trainer. I was beat! But it's good to know that I'm on the path of getting it in

4/13/11

Steps: 9739 (i did remove the pedometer for 90 min for a social gathering)
Activity: Walking

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs
Snack: Clementine
Lunch: blackened mahi mahi, asparagus and toss salad
Snack: fresh melon
Dinner: Jerk Shrimp with green peppers and onions, brown rice & toss salad
Snack: None

4/14/11

Steps: 14151
Activity: Treadmill, Zumba and personal training

Breakfast: Cheerios and milk
Snack: 2 Clementines
Lunch: Jerk Shrimp with green peppers and onions, brown rice & toss salad
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Crab cake and plain baked sweet potato
Snack: Clementines

Can't Stop, Won't Stop!!

Alrighty, we all know what time it is! Weigh in time!! This week I cannot claim a Biggest Loser monumental weigh in however, I can say that it was not all that bad. In all honesty I was not excited at all about weighing in. Last week I was sick with the bubonic plague (a slight exaggeration)and this week water retention and bloating welcomed me. Sounds like a formula for disaster, right? The results are that I neither loss nor gained this week.

So some of you may be thinking what in the world happened, you seem to be exercising all the time! That was my first reaction then I had to realize I weight train 3 times a week, this past week just started going back to kickboxing 1 time a week and go walking daily for those 10,000 steps. So what's missing you ask? Cardio is the answer! A stroll in the park is barely considered cardio as your heart rate is not really elevated. I have been so consumed on walking with a view to just racking up steps that I overlooked the importance of the intensity in which I am stepping.

So what's my plan? I'm about to pick it up! Cardio is about to be introduced into my daily routine. This YOU Gal is about to hot step with pep and attack cardio like never before. Later today when I meet with my trainer I will talk to him about adding in some cardio to the weight lifting. I am also reviewing my schedule to see which days I can commit to doing Kickboxing and getting my mind right to wake up early and get back to these morning jogs! Like the little engine that could said, "I think I can, I think I can .. I know I can, I know I can!!! My new motto, "Can't stop, won't stop!!"

Just another day in the journey to be Sexy by Summer!

4/14

Steps: 10328
Activity: Walking, Personal training session

Food
Breakfast - 2 boiled eggs, Whole wheat toast, 4 strawberries and 1 cup OJ
Snack: Roasted Almonds sprinkled with sea salt
Lunch: Chicken breast with black beans/ brown rice/ tomatoes/ and cilantro
Snack: Grapes
Dinner: Chicken breast, green beans and corn
Snack: Hummus and ww crackers

Turning up the HEAT!

I’ve come to the close of week three of this challenge and I can’t say that I have a weight loss victory but the victory is that I don’t have any weight gain.

What this has moved me to do is to turn up the heat. I’ve just gone out and scheduled my FREE yes I said FREE personal training sessions. The fitness center here at the office where I’m a member for only $15.00 a month offers 2 free 30 minute personal training sessions a week. So I’ve only signed up for 1 a week after the Zumba class and I’m about to get it in!

Weight: 185.8
Waist: 32 1/4
Steps: 11553

4/12/11

Breakfast: Cheerios
Snack: Almonds
Lunch: Turkey Sandwich w/Provolone and mustard, Banana & Almonds
Snack: Cheerios
Dinner: Ground Turkey Spaghetti with whole wheat noodles
Snack: Clementine

YOU Gal Toni - UPDATE!

Hey all! Just like most of you, I’ve been busy especially with this nice weather that we have had off and on and those of you who know me know that I’m always taking on a new task or two. My latest obsessions are natural hair so if you haven’t already like my facebook page Is That My Hair and couponing. I’ve watched the show Extreme Couponing on TLC and I’m hooked. I don’t have it down to a science like those ladies but I saved $73.09 with manufacturers coupons and store coupons.

I guess my couponing venture can help us YOU Gals as well as I was able to get some stuff that is on plan. Here is the list:

Deer Park Water $1.00 off
Cheerios - $1.00 off 2 then a store coupon for $.55 off each box
Perdue chicken breast - $.75 off
Blue Diamond Almonds - $.60 off two
Diced Tomatoes - $1.00 off 3 cans (almost like buy 2 get one free)
Deli Turkey - $1.00 off
Cuties Clementine’s - $1.50 off
Steam Fresh Vegetables: - Buy 2 get 1 free
Crystal Light – Buy 2 get 1 free and a manufactures coupon for $1.00 off
Steam Fresh Meals – Pay full price get a steam fresh vegetable free

I got other stuff but this is what I cold think of off the top of my head outside of my $8 worth of coupons for zyrtec.

So now onto what you really want to know:

Weight and Waist: I’m working from home today so will send when I can get to the fitness center tomorrow.

Sunday - 4/10
Steps: Didn’t have on the pedometer….Wouldn’t stay on my dress
Activity: Church service (generally average about 1800 steps), Skating 1 hour, Grocery shopping 90 mins

Breakfast: Banana
Snack: None
Lunch: Small Chili and Cob Salad (Wendy’s)
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Marinated Grilled Chicken & Salad

Monday – 4/11
Steps: 13119

Breakfast: Turkey and Provolone on a whole wheat wrap & banana
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Cheerios
Snack: Turkey and Provolone Sandwich, Clementine and almonds
Dinner: Ground Turkey Spaghetti with whole wheat pasta
Snack: 3 Clementine’s (they are so small)

Spilling the Beans

Hey fellow YOU Galers! I’ve been hanging out with my hubbie on his days off so I’ve been a bit removed for a couple of days but I’m here to spill the beans! I sware that it’s hard to remember what you’ve done a few days back that’s why we encourage you to write in every day!

4/5 (Tuesday)
Steps: 11781
Activity: Walking….with my hubbie…YEAH!

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Salad w/balsamic vinaigrette
Snack: Almonds
Dinner: Grilled Chicken with stuffed portabella (Lone Star) with a salad

4/6 (Wednesday)
Steps: Couldn’t find the pedometer
Activity: Walking and playing video games (can’t get a lot of steps playing video games)

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs
Snack: Apple
Lunch: O’Charley’s Mediterranean chicken wrap
Snack: Rice Chips & grapes
Dinner: Dave & Busters: soft shell grilled chicken taco platter with black beans (no cheese no shell)
Snack: none

4/7 (Thursday)
Steps: 2625 (Had bubble guts….I think it was too much eating out…stayed in the ladies room)
Activity: Minimal walking

Breakfast: Banana
Snack: Almonds
Lunch: Ruby Tuesday’s – Turkey mini’s & salad bar
Snack: None
Dinner: soup
Snack: None


After the slow moving yesterday today I got up pumped so at 10:03 I’m at 4367 and plan to go out at lunch time to walk some more! After reading this I've confirmed what I've always told my husband. He likes to eat out. I can't hang with him even when trying to make good decisions. I'd rather eat at home but eating out can be done you just have to be specific about what you want to eat.

Gearing up for the weekend! Enjoy everyone.

Toni

Listen, Listen, Listen

Despite the mist and drizzle I was still out there in the elements walking and obsessing over these 10,000 steps. Well due to lack of better judgment it turns out I ended up with an upper respiratory infection and have been down and out for the count. One would think feeling sick would cause them to slow down and take some time to heal but this hard headed YOU Gal refused to listen and continued to go do weight training sessions, jogging, walking and pushing herself.

Why wouldn't I stop to rest you ask? First, I have come to realize that I do not like the feeling of sitting around. I have come to love working out, exercising and staying active. Secondly, it dawned on me that laying around and feeling lazy scares me. It worries me that doing so will cause me to slip into my old couch potato ways and previous bad habits. Although I took on a new healthy lifestyle and that person I used to be is a thing of the past I am still very cautious about slipping back into bad habits. After seeing the Dr I realized rest was much needed if I wanted to get better and back to my routine.

The morale of this story is listen to your body. It often sends us signals when we need to take a break and when we choose to ignore it our bodies will force us to listen by shutting down. I am glad to report that I have been resting and am on the mend. I am looking forward to getting back to the swing of things very soon.

4/4 Food Journal:

Breakfast: Egg white omelet, cheese, salsa and a WW tortilla
Snack: Cantaloupe
Lunch: Hummus, veggies and WW pita
Snack: Cantaloupe
Dinner: Baked Tilapia and mixed veggies

WCS

For me this week is full of would have, should have, could have…..

I would have finished all 10,000 of those steps every day if

I hadn’t been tired
Sky pie hadn’t been under the weather
I had more time in the day

I should have
Pushed myself to finish
Skipped that cupcake (but I loved the time with my skypie)

I could have
Reached out for help when I needed that extra push


But last week is behind me and I’m moving full speed ahead. If you have mishaps or fall by the weigh side, reach out for help if needed and pick yourself up and keep moving. What I don't want you to do is to be stuck...it gets you no where!


Weight: 185.8 (Starting weigh 186.6 down 2.8lbs)
Waist: 32 ¼ (starting waist 33 ½ down 1 ¼ inch)

4/4

Breakfast: Banana
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Vegetable lentil soup & salad
Snack: Blue Diamond Bold Carolina Barbecue Almonds (helped with my potato chip crave)
Dinner: FRIED CHICKEN (boneless skinless chicken breaks with 100% whole wheat bread crumbs, pan seared in olive oil and finished in the oven)
Snack: Rice Chips & mixed fruit

Happy Stepping!!!

Stepping into week 3!

Saturday was a great day! I had a little me time and was able to spend time with friends! Thanks to Kamala for inviting me to your line dance party and I can’t wait until the wedding so that I can put my moves into action! DNA Fitness was kind enough to host this event and Savondis who led the session. I left there and headed to whole foods and got some really good fruit!

3/2
Steps: 11300
Activity: Line Dancing

Breakfast:
Snack: Banana
Lunch: salad with grilled chicken
Snack: Rice Chips & Strawberry Cupcake (I couldn't resists)
Dinner: Ground Chicken Spaghetti & WW noodles
Snack: Mixed fresh fruit


Sunday I felt like I was floating on the lazy river but I enjoyed some time with my baby girl while my hubbie was away. We spent Sunday at church, had a little dinner and spent some girl time with my little one at the cupcake shop…yes I said cupcake she kept asking for one) and at the Barnes and Noble reading books. Since this 3 year old doesn’t move at the same speed it slowed me down. Many of you moms will know that when she napped, so did I!











3/3
Steps: 5211
Activity: Walking

Breakfast: Breakfast burrito (ww wrap, 1 slice turkey 1 egg, 1 tablespoon roasted red pepper and goat cheese sauce)
Snack: banana
Lunch: Ground Chicken Spaghetti & WW noodles
Snack: mixed fresh fruit & strawberry cupcake
Dinner: salad with deli turkey
Snack: Banana

On the Road Again

It's Saturday and this YOU Gal is up and at em! I think that I just needed some rest. Being wife, momma, administrative assistant and YOU Gal Toni can wear on you sometime. Last night I was able to share the bed with me….that’s right just me and got some much needed rest.

I’ve thought about going out and walking a bit to get it in but since I was up until 1:30 last night and it’s 8:19 and I’ve been surfing the web since 7:30….I think that I’ll go back to sleep. Got a great day planned. My new gff is having her bridal gathering today and she decided to do a line dance party. So off again to line dance for my life (said in my RuPaul voice), but that’s not until 4. I promise to get some walking done then dance into the night!

3/31
Steps: 10047 (I missed the mark on 12,000 Thursday’s but wait till next week!)
Activities: Walking
Mood: asi asi (translation – so so)

Breakfast: Fresh Fruit (melons & berries)
Snack: none (I need to go to the grocery store!)
Lunch: turkey sandwich w/banana peppers and mustard on 100% whole wheat bread & sautéed vegetable medley
Snack: Turkey sandwich (I was hungry)
Dinner: homemade chicken, vegetable and rice soup
Snack: 100% whole grain apple cinnamon muffin

4/1
Steps: 7038 (So in this case please do as I say not as I do! But we’ll be moving to more of the follow the leader status starting NOW!)
Activities: Walking
Mood: bueno (translation – ok)

Breakfast: 100% whole grain apple cinnamon muffin
Snack: None
Lunch: homemade chicken, vegetable and rice soup
Snack: None
Dinner: Turkey sandwich
Snack: homemade chicken, vegetable and rice soup

I guess in reading this I really do need to go to the store....I'll put that on my list of things to do for today as well!

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