My Lifetime Fitness Story.

 http://vimeo.com/114391500  

Enjoy.

Rehab

Now that my intense 90 day challenge has come to an end, my trainer and I are working on rehabbing my shoulder.  Merrick has given me, what seems to be simple and easy exercises but they are not.  Fixing injuries is always difficult, especially when you are use to pushing a lot harder.  But the sooner we get this fixed the sooner I can start to build my strength again. 

Side Note 1:  I have been selected to be on the Lifetime fitness TV program.  The first interview will take place on Monday Dec 8th and then we will do another one at the club.

Side Note 2:  My national Snap fitness commercial is out.  I was just an extra but you can see me at two different times in my bright blue tank.  Here is the link.

Side note 3:  I have also been selected, along with my trainer, to be part of a motivational video for a world wide company titled "relentless"  so that should be fun and will include my MMA training as well as my violin playing. 

So many blessings and I continue to be overwhelmed and humbled.

2nd 90 day summary.

My official numbers:
Weigh in- 18.4% body fat
Weigh out- 15.4% body fat

I have to admit that my actual numbers were a bit disappointing for the amount of work I put in this time.  I worked so much harder this time than last time (and I worked my booty off last time).  I have learned that it can take a solid 6-9 months just to lay a good foundation for lean muscle building especially if you have a history of extensive cardio training.  Since I was a runner and then switched to cycling my body doesn't quite know how to build muscles yet.  But, we are getting there.  I have been re-training my body to grow and that has been so hard.  I eat.  A lot of protein and veggies.  And I lift.  Really, really heavy stuff.  I have seen a bit of progress, but nowhere close to my goals.  So, now that this 90 day challenge is over I am taking a few days rest and getting back on the wagon.  Probably not as extreme as before as I don't have a 90 day limit on my goals.  I look at this last journey more as another jumpstart to my new ambitions.  So, I will continue to update and post progress as it comes.  But thank you for your support through another challenge, I am truly grateful for the constant encouragement! 

Eric's Updated progress.

 My husband's amazing progress!! I could not be more proud. He is strong and healthy. His sleep apnea is gone and he is loving life even more.  Way to go Eric!

Final results/Essay

Health, I have learned is an all-encompassing prosperity that includes every area of your life.  I am also reminding myself that a number on a scale doesn't always reflect your sacrifices and work to attain health either.  That was my goal for this 90 day challenge; to not just make physical improvements, but to sharpen my mental, emotional, relational and spiritual standings.  I wanted to create a balance within these aspects as well as their relation to each other. 
Physically- I had previously lost a lot of body fat, so my goals this time were to build muscle and sculpt my body.  I have never been strong.  Growing up I was an endurance athlete, but 3 kids and multiple surgeries later, I had to find a different outlet.
 I took up MMA much to my intimidation.  Now, several months later I have competed in a large tournament for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and faced my biggest fear of people noticing me in a very public forum (I am extremely introverted).  What an amazing feeling of accomplishment to not only compete but WIN an actual grappling fight against an unknown opponent. 
I have also never pushed my body this hard before.  I started the 90 day challenge with a debilitating shoulder/neck injury.  It was a very discouraging way to start, but thanks to several professionals "in my corner" so- to- speak, we worked around it and with it to be able to continue attaining goals.  I have also discovered that to gain weight in the form of lean muscle mass is probably the most challenging ambition I have ever attempted.  I have been constantly sore (which was slightly remedied through nutrition and supplements).  Mentally lifting rep after rep when all I wanted to do was lower the weight or skip a set was harder than I could ever describe in words.  But I knew that with my goals, combined with the added obstacles of injuries and body type, I couldn't stop.
Mentally- My trainer has commented that I have a "do-it-anyway" mentality.  In the face of skepticism, injury, fatigue, soreness, hunger, frustration, lack of natural ability, etc. I will do it anyway.  I look at it this way- I am so blessed.  My "excuses" hardly compare with a lot of other things people are facing.  Everyday I wake up is another day to live it the best that I can; to receive as the gift it is and be a light to others around me so that they can be inspired and challenged to do the same.  As a mother, I am always being watched.  The little eyes of my 6, 4 and 2 year old see everything (especially since we homeschool) I do and don't do.  They observe me waking up tired and sore every day and still push through to achieve something bigger.  And if that is the only reason I do any of this- it's more than enough reason for me.
Relationally- My biggest concern with committing to a 2nd 90 day challenge in one year was that I didn't want it to negatively affect the relationships that are most dear to me. The 90 day challenge is a big time commitment and to do it with excellence requires so much of you physically and mentally.  My goals this time of building lean muscle mass and then cutting even more body fat after I had lost so much the first time was one thousand times more difficult than the first go-around.  My husband agreed to join in with me again this time so we could be a similar page when it came time to taking turns with the kids or making compatible meals.  Having that continued support has made the impossible seem possible and I am beyond grateful for it.  My children have also been on my side, keeping me accountable.  Each day they know our schedule (12 workouts a week!) and delight in learning more about staying healthy.  We can't expect healthy kids without healthy parents.  We are, hopefully, training them to become and achieve even greater things than we ever could and health is part of that. 
The least expected side-effect of participating in a second challenge is all of the other moms I have inspired to reach their goals.  During my first 90 day challenge I started blogging about my fitness journey, mostly to keep a record for my trainer.  Somehow, it has now reached thousands of people looking to begin their personal success stories.  It is the most humbling, unexpected position to be approached by other moms who once believed they could never accomplish a physical strength, now excited to make extraordinary their ordinary.  I am not a super athlete being paid to live like this.  I am a normal mom who loves to work hard for my goals.  And if just one person can look at my journey and think to themselves, I could do that, then I am doubly blessed. 
Spiritually-  Even the strongest of us get tired and worn out.  That is when we need a place of rest, peace and grace.  Many of the desires in us, I believe, are too great a feat to accomplish in our own strength.  If they are then we probably aren't dreaming big enough.  Our lives should create ripple effects that reach farther and longer than we will ever come to know.  I have learned during this 90 day journey to set aside times in my days, no matter how busy or tired I am, to reflect on the bigger picture.  Our days can become so "daily", they are fleeting and short and I have learned that by choosing health, in all areas, the days slow down and become intentional.  Gratitude takes time.  And in that thanksgiving we can live the lives we were meant to live and be the people we were created to be. 

Cut Week.

 So we are in the final week of this fall 90 day challenge.  I can honestly say I have never worked harder for any physical goal then I did for this 90 days.  It was grueling.  I was at about 12 workouts a week, eating copious amounts of protein and veggies and pushing through some serious injuries.  My body has never been strong and I have never tried to gain lean muscle mass before so I am way behind as far as my ultimate goals.  Here I am in my first of 2 immersion baths for this week.  It's basically just below boiling in order to push the water out of my body in an expedited manner.  And it stinks.  I cried a little.  I am tired and hungry and thirsty and just plain exhausted.  But I also see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Side note: This is my brand new, never worn, expensive swim suit I purchased after my last 90 day challenge and it's already too big! 

1 week left.

Yesterday I had my first professional, commercial photo shoot with Lifetime Fitness.  The pictures will be used in their upcoming marketing campaign for the 2015 90 day challenges (both spring and fall). I felt extremely awkward for a lot of the time but they were all very kind and patient.  I felt much more comfortable when they had my throw punches and kicks.  I am excited to see the end results/edits soon though.  This year has been such a crazy adventure, taking me places I didn't even want to go at first but now love that I'm there!  So much fun.  So, here is to finishing this last week of my fall change strong and determined.

Photo Shoot Ready!

Hi Kelli!

I just wanted to follow up today to inform you that you’ve been selected by our committee as a photo-shoot finalist!  Congratulations!  Final details are being arranged with the photographer, but the date will be next Thursday, Oct 23^rd.  We do not have times defined yet but will be approx. 3-4 hours of time in the morning or afternoon. I will narrow in on those details and get back to you with a more defined schedule as soon as possible.  Pending finalized dates, are you still able/willing to participate?  We are very excited for this opportunity!

Please let me know if you are still interested in being a part of this fun marketing opportunity within the next 1-2 days.  Once we hear from you, Erin (cc’d on this email) from our marketing team will be reaching out to you directly with further details.

Thanks again!  I look forward to hearing from you soon!  J

 

Becca Hurt, MS, RDAssistant Program Manager of Life Time WeightLoss

    

Headshots

 I was asked to take a few headshots for the upcoming photo session for Lifetime Fitness.  Here is a sneak peek of what I sent them. Fingers crossed they like them!

First BJJ Tournament

 I had my first bjj tournament at the St Croix grappling games this last weekend.  I won one match in sudden death with a suicide throw and lost 2 match (all were very close) to take 4th overall.  I had so much fun and it was such a great experience for my first tourney!

 That night we all met up at Neisen's for some more grappling and kickboxing matches.  Below are my fellow Fight Shape girls! 

Overwhelmed with blessings.

Good afternoon Kelli!

 

This is Becca, Program Manager of the 90-Day Challenge from Life Time corporate offices.  I had contacted you previously about using your success story for our Flourish e-newsletter, and today I’m writing today to let you know you have been selected as a candidate for the upcoming 90-Day Challenge photo shoot!  We’ve chosen a small handful of members from the previous challenge to come to the corporate offices to take part in the Spring 2015 90-Day Challenge campaign’s photo shoot.  The exact dates are not yet set in stone, but it most likely will be the first week in October.  Would this be something you are interested in?  Ideally we would have your final decision by end of week so that we can plan accordingly.

 

Congrats and thank you!  Hope to hear from you soon.

 

 

I am overwhelmed by all of these extra blessings that have come from this journey.  Being publically noticed was not my motivation for starting- it just seems to be a little cherry on top of how good I feel.  It is so humbling to be an inspiration to other moms/women out there that are normal, hard-working people with more in them than they realize.  I am beyond grateful for all the wonderful supporters and encouragers!  Thank you so much. 


From my trainer post email:

 
Fantastic job. You are officially a sexy model. Who doesn't want to be married to a sexy model - Eric be happy! I will get you some one on one training time to really try to push your results as far as possible. And you will win your class in the Jits tournament it's going to be an exciting month!
Merrick

Sleep.

Ever since this 90 challenge has started, I have struggled to get a good night sleep.  Plus, I have been super hungry and out of energy.  Almost a feeling of being completely burned out.  Taking all of these things into consideration Merrick altered my schedule a bit.  I am eating 4oz of meat, 1 cup of veggies every 2 hrs and before and after workouts I add in 1 piece of fruit and 1/3c of grains.  Before bed I eat 1/4 cup of oatmeal with cinnamon.  I woke up at 7:15am this morning for the first time in about 45 days!  I also made it through all of my workouts/class yesterday without feeling exhausted.  Even after all this training and nutrition coaching it still amazes me how crucial and effective eating habits are.  The fact that I have probably one of the smartest nutritionists makes a big difference as well!  So happy for energy and sleep- FINALLY!

I also have a new goal of adding 3lbs of lean muscle by the end of the month. 

Reflection.

I want to admit that this is the first time I can look in the mirror or try clothes on without one negative thought towards my body and how it looks.  It's been a couple weeks since I have thought, "Does this make me look fat?!" or " I don't feel comfortable in my own skin."  I can honestly say that I have never felt that way about myself- ever.  Even before kids I have always struggled with the lie that I didn't look good enough.  I don't doubt that becoming healthier and stronger has played huge roles in my mindset but I think it is more about what kind of eyes I am viewing myself with.  The mixed martial arts that I practice has challenged me so much and not just physically.  It has been a sort of re-building so to speak.  And like I stated before, during these challenges I try to make an all-encompassing lifestyle overhaul. 
My time with the Lord and my time in the gym with people who uplift me, challenge me, encourage me, push me and break through all of my many walls has really had a life-changing effect in my life.  I am consistently vulnerable.  I cry many tears both at home in my private time and publically.  Through frustration and obstacles I am finding out how to search for strength- not in myself- but in the One who created me.  And in those times of searching I am found, with love and open arms.  And every time I am loved through my weakness I am built up on a steady foundation. 
My body is not perfect.  I have stretch marks and scars.  I struggle to build any kind of muscle.  I am usually the last and slowest one in class still, but I am finally not placing my worth in any of those things any longer.  I am always tired but I continue to push through- whether it's out of habit and/or knowing that if I don't continue I will go back to the girl I once was before this journey began- it's probably both. 
When you are in the middle of progressing, going back is never an appealing idea.  I also know that if my health ended today my world would not come crashing down b/c my worth is not in that either.  My never-changing, always loving God will always be there with His arms open.  Fitness is just one way He has blessed my life with a way to share His beautiful image and love to this dying world.  Fitness is a witness that shows His strength in my weakness, His grace in my trials and His greatness in my failures.  I am so grateful for this life He has blessed me with.  So grateful for the beauty that surrounds me!

Flourish Article.

http://www.lifetime-weightloss.com/success-stories/2014/8/31/kelli-j-chanhassen-mn.html?fb_action_ids=10152742238347578&fb_action_types=og.comments&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B704304912977852%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.comments%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

My story was published in the Lifetime email/online success stories. 

Baby Muscles.

This is the first time, ever, that I have muscles to "flex".  They are tiny, but they are growing albeit slowly.  Come September my plans change and I will be lifting differently and eating a lot more.  Looking forward to that!  And I am hoping the extra food will help me sleep better. 
I am still trying to work on my snatch.  I had Merrick come upstairs with me and tweak my form.  He seems to think I am doing better than I realize.  I am still not convinced- but I can start snatching the 35lb bar instead of the tiny pvc pipe.  Fingers crossed I don't drop it on my head.  It's very difficult for me to get out of my head and just do it.  We are working on that as well. 
I am also hoping to see a lot more booty growth.  I am squatting and deadlifting a LOT and I am seeing some growth in my legs but not so much butt yet.  Haha!  I am all about a good butt right now.  I am sure my fellow fight-shapers are tired of me getting excited about any glute workout we have in class!
 It can be difficult to completely let go and trust the process when I am unsure and uneducated as to all of the "whys" and "hows".  But as my husband says, "Trust the Merrick." 

Survival Mode.

 Phew!  This 90 day challenge has been a mental battle.  My days are a blur of sweat pants(and no makeup) and coffee.  I actually never drank coffee before these 90 days started, but I'm drinking it now.  I haven't been sleeping very much due to waking up every hour hungry so my tank is pretty darn low.  I am getting our homeschool schedule ready for this year and that's been pretty taxing as well.  But I am starting to see progress.  Not a ton, but I am seeing some small muscles pop through.  I still have a long way to go but I am getting the work in, even if it's at 5am or 10pm. 

My email today.

Good morning Kelli!

My name is Becca and I am a Program Manager at the corporate offices for Life Time Weight Loss.  You have been selected as a candidate to highlight in an upcoming Flourish article as well as on our Life Time Weight Loss Facebook page.  Your success story and accomplishment from the Spring 2014 90-Day Challenge is a true inspiration and we’d love to feature your story.  If this is something that you would rather not participate in, we can certainly choose another candidate.  Please let me know as soon as possible so that our team can plan accordingly.

 

Thank you!

 

Becca Hurt, MS, RDAssistant Program Manager of Life Time WeightLoss

The Snatch

This snatch exercise (first 22 sec of the video) is my new nemesis!  I am struggling.  Apparently my core strength is nowhere where it needs to be.  Probably a result of three 10lb babies followed by surgery which left me bed-ridden for nearly 2 months.  But practice makes progress and I am practicing on a regualr basis with these bad boys. 

St. Croix Valley Grappling Games

October 4, 2014 -St. Croix Valley Grappling Games

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Submission Wrestling Tournament in Hudson, WI! Double Elimination. You will get a ton of matches! Gi, No Gi, and Absolute Divisions. Special medals, Gis, & Grappling Gear for Absolute Winners! Medals for all 1st - 3rd place winners in all divisions. FIRST 50 PAID/REGISTERED COMPETITORS GET FREE TOURNAMENT T-SHIRT!

Saturday October 4, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CDT

Hudson Senior High School
1501 Vine St.
Hudson, WI 54016

Thank you again for registering for our event. This email is confirmation of your successful registration. If any of the information displayed below is incorrect, please contact us as soon as possible.
If you would like to live tweet during this event, please use the hashtag #grapplinggames.

 

 

 

It's official- I have signed up and paid in full for my first BJJ tournament.  To say that I am nervous is an understatement.  But I have about a month and a half to hone my skills and hopefully I can have a great experience!

Week 1

 Week 1 and I'm struggling through some injuries.  A little while back I hurt my neck/ribs in BJJ.  The other day during some neck strengthening exercises I re-injured it and have been in and out of the chiropractor since.  I'm a bit discouraged but I am still going.  This ROCKTAPE is amazing!  It makes such a difference when I am lifting heavy.  I am very sore but not in pain now.  I will continue to get adjusted and taped up as needed.  Like I assured my trainer, what I lack in natural ability I will always make up for in hard work and effort.  I am starting at about 18.4% body fat this time around.  My goal isn't really a number but rather a look.  I am just praying that the number will be low enough in the end to win and qualify for national transformation this time.

 

1 Corinthians 9:27 Living Bible (TLB)

²⁷ Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside.

A New 90 Days.

As I am about to embark on another 90 day fitness challenge I have stopped to contemplate how our lives will adjust to the new schedule.  This time both Eric and myself are in the transformation journey and our goals are to win the national competition as a couple.  That means extra workouts (for both) and very strict eating plans.  Meal prepping, kids activities (homeschool/karate/swimming/etc), early morning/late night lifting before and after work, church, fight classes, etc. all come colliding together starting tomorrow. 
However, I like to view these 90 day challenges as more than just a fitness competition.  To me it encompasses improving all aspect of my life.  It's a great reset to become more disciplined in not just my physical health but also in my spiritual walk, and emotional/mental state.  Health is one way the soul speaks to the world but prayer is the way the Lord speaks to the soul.  I don't want to be healthy for health's sake, but for Heaven's sake.  I want my fitness to be my witness and to allow my testimony of strength to show just how weak I am without Him. 

Getting Stronger.

So, there is a new 90 day challenge coming up in August.  I was a little disappointed when I didn't make it into the national winners.  I was so close and I feel that if I work with Merrick for the entire 90 days that would be a feasible goal.  This past week I have been tossing ideas and having conversations with both Eric and Merrick about trying to win the next 90 days but with a slightly different target.  Since I have cut (and remained) in a lower body fat percentage the new goals would be to gain a lot more muscle and shred down to a more "fitness model" look.  (See above photo).  I am  in complete understanding that my last 90 days was a cake walk compared to my new goal.  Merrick made it very clear that I would be VERY sore for 90% of the challenge and that my eating was going to be even more strict than before.  I have never been very strong before and I would like to be.  I want to push myself even more and see what else I have.  I want to be strong.

1st Stripe.

Tonight I earned my first stripe on my white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class.  It was for finally getting my first official tap-out against a more experienced person(submission was an armbar).  I was completely surprised to be getting a stripe so soon.  I still feel like I am such a newbie and that I have SOOOOO much to learn but I am getting better.  And I am LOVING it!

Hard.

The past couple of weeks have been hard.  The workouts make me so sore I struggle to get out of bed in the morning.  On top of some personal things I am dealing with I am just very tired- to say the least.  I squeeze in 10-11 workouts a week right now.  And as you saw in my pervious post they are heavy!  I've come to the conclusion that losing weight can be difficult, gaining muscle is SO much harder!  Merrick thinks I am not eating enough.  I am shooting for 160g of protein a day which is also a lot harder than I realized.  I am not use to eating so much food!  Anyway, that's all I have in terms of updates. 

New Plan.

I just got this emailed to me before class this morning.  Here is my new plan to finally build some muscle.  It's going to be a beast especially since this is in addition to Fight Shape classes, BJJ and Muay Thai classes.  In addition to my workouts I've been dealing with a probable hairline fracture in my right thumb for about a week now.  I am always bumping it, which doesn't help at all.  Merrick said I can tape it up to help with the pain.  Good news is that bone overgrowth will- in the long run- make it stronger.  Side note:  Eric is entered into a grappling tournament on the 21st!  So, that's really exciting for him.

Mondays:
Lunges
5
10
Box jump
5
5
Plyo Pushups
5
5
Low squats
5
10
Slam ball high toss
5
5
Donkey calf raises
5
10
Front squats 30 sec rest
5
10
Full clean Rack
5
5


 Thur or Fri
Turkish getup KB
5
5
Swing KB
5
5
Windmill KB
5
5
Rotation KB
5
5
Goblet squat KB
5
25
Single leg deadlift KB
5
5
Row Rower
5
10
500 Meters
Dead tread Woodway off incline 10
5
30.30


 Wed &Wknd
Bag press
10
10
Bag lift and reach
10
10
Slam ball lat overs
10
10
Squat lifts with Hanging bag
10
10
Bent rows with Bag
10
10
Hamstring curls with Slam ball and bag
10
2
Hip up toe taps Bag
10
10
Total score
Add up entire time to finish

You can do it too!

Since my 90 day transformation challenge ended I have had so many people have approach me about the journey.  More times than I can count different individuals have made comments like,

 "Amazing work!  I wish I could do that." "You are so dedicated I wish I had your motivation"  "I don't think I could ever be capable of working that hard"  "I'm just too busy to work out that much" "Your husband must make a lot of money to afford that kind of training"  "I want to look like you, but I just don't think I could give up ..."  "Maybe someday...."

Let me just set the record straight.  I have not achieved an impossible goal.  I have not done anything- if someone truly wanted to- anyone else could not do. 

It all comes down to what you value most in your life.  What is truly more important?  Is it the short-term satisfaction of eating junk in that moment of desire or wanting long term health?  Staying up extra late to watch that TV show or going to bed early so you are able to get up before the sun to squeeze that extra workout in before the kids wake up?  Is it more important to buy clothes, shoes, eat dinners out, shiny new cars, etc or invest in a professional trainer to help you reach your fitness goals? 
And since we are on the subject of money, working out and eating well is NOT expensive.  You can go for walk/run outside, swim at the lake, do body weight exercises at the park, sprint up your stairs, find a free treadmill on craigslist (that's what I did) and make it work.  When Eric asks what I want for holiday gifts (birthday, Christmas, etc) I usually always tell him training sessions and workout clothes.  For our anniversary we bought each other workout clothes and made a date of shopping for them together. 

My husband and I have decided that being healthy is what we value and so we invest our time and money into that. 

Try something new.  I have a friend who meets other moms at the park and they all workout together with the kids and strollers.  I know someone else who swims laps in the lake each morning before work.  I run sprints in my yard, squat, lunge and do pushups with my kids.  They LOVE it! If I know my kids need a quiet day at home I will wake up extra early and workout before any one is out of bed.  If I miss the morning workout I will communicate with my husband that I need to go either when he gets home from work or after the kids are in asleep for the night.  He has learned that I am a much better wife and mother when I can workout.  I have more energy, patience, and motivation for the other areas of my life when my body is at it's best.  I am very grateful for that understanding on his part. 

It makes a big difference that we are a team in this lifestyle together.  It was not always like that though.  For the first 7+ years of our marriage I was the only one who valued a healthy lifestyle and it was hard on us as a couple.  Here I was working my butt off (literally) before during and after each of our kids and he was not.  This last 90 day journey has started to change all of that.  He enjoys MMA training and has really enjoyed seeing the amazing results it has produced.  For him, he had to find something that was fun.  It's different for me- I will pretty much do whatever it takes to stay fit (but that is my personal conviction)   

Another key that has helped is that I simply do NOT buy junk for our home.  I have never purchased soda, chips, cookies, cakes, pastries, etc. (unless it's for a specific/special occasion-which is rare) to keep in our home.  I don't even go down those aisles in the grocery store.  My kids get goldfish, apple juice for breakfast and other snack-y type foods.  But once they are gone for the month I don't rush out to the store right away to buy more.  They can eat apples, cheese, fruit, carrots and hummus, etc if they are truly hungry.  We make a Costco run once every 1-2 months and then I don't shop anymore b/c I always end up buying snacks we don't need.  Is it fun to snack on treats?!  Of course.  Is it worth it?!  Not to me (most of the time).  I'd rather skip the junk, feel good, look even better and have no regrets or frustrations when they aren't necessary.  It's more important to me to be healthy.  Period. 

Figure out what you truly value, make a plan, figure out if you are really willing to give up, change certain habits and go for it!  Live regret free, love others, love yourself, and inspire others to do the same:)

New Goals.

It's official, I WON the 90 day transformation challenge for my club.  I finished in the top 10 for the national finalists but only the top 5 women were eligible for votes to win the national competition.  I truly believe that if I had been with my MMA trainer the entire time I could have made top 5.  I did however win 300.00 LT bucks that will probably be put towards more training and I also get a locker with my name on it for 1 year.  The above picture shows a comparison to my goal at the beginning of the competition.  I think I came pretty darn close to that "look".  This week is a new start to new goals after this past week off.  I am excited to see what I can achieve next.  Thanks for all of the encouragement and support!

Eric's 90 day results

These were my husband's impressive results only doing MMA class 3xs a week.  His diet was tweaked, but it wasn't altered to the extent mine was.  Just simply amazing!  Way to go Eric:)

Final Weigh In.

This morning I had my final weigh in.  My final number is.....

15.8% total body fat
-17.25in lost (mostly in my hips and waist)

I am so excited!!!  That was seriously the best I could achieve in less than 6 week.  I know it was a 90 day challenge.  And I worked hard all of those days.  But it wasn't until I started training and eating like a fighter was that I started seeing any kinds results. 

First 6 weeks my body fat went from 25.1%-23.7%
The last 6 weeks (including a 10 day Easter vacation) I went from 23.7%-15.8%

Thank you to all of my supporters!!! It's been the start of a wild adventure!
My Essay and before and after photos have been turned into the judges and we will find out soon who the local winners are and then finally the national winners are.  (There will be voting for the last one so stay tuned)

Before and After.

All my life I have been extremely fit and active; involved in many sports from basketball and cross country to rock climbing and wakeboarding.  I was a youth Boot Camp instructor all the way through my first pregnancy nearly 6 years ago.  Two more babies followed closely with each pregnancy being more challenging than the one before. They were filled with many complications before, during and after, leaving my body at near breaking point.  Multiple surgeries, bed rest, infections and carrying 3 nearly 10lb babies had done a number on my body and left me in uncharted territory.  I was lost.  I had never had to work at being fit before.  It was just a lifestyle for me and nothing I was doing seemed to be working.

Now, my days were no longer my own.  Instead, I was in constant "mommy mode".  I love being a mom more than anything, but I was also struggling with postpartum depression. I needed to find a healthy way to combat it. 

I decided to turn to nutrition and exercise. I had been working out at a low intensity prior to the 90 day challenge, but the results were not there. When the 90 challenge presented itself I figured it would be the best way to be accountable to actual physical change. I needed SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) goals.  
I sat down with a trainer and made a plan. I had some blood work done and started training once a week with him. On my own time I would go to the gym and work out 6 times a week.  I was feeling great, but not seeing the kind of results I was looking for.  I was nearly 6 weeks into my transformation journey and nothing had changed in the way of measurable goals. I was crushed. All my hard work did not seem to be paying off. I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into. 

 I met with the amazing staff in the personal training department to problem solve.  We all decided that it would be best to start working with someone with nutrition training as well as a trainer who is an expert at cutting lower body fat percentages.  Merrick Morlan, the MMA trainer seemed to fit the bill perfectly.   My husband, who is also in the 90 day challenge, had been training with Merrick since the beginning and was seeing amazing results. Luckily, Merrick was willing to take me on as a client with less than 6 weeks remaining in the challenge.

 When I met him he said he was going to train me like a fighter (not intimidating at all) and that it was going to be different than anything else I had done before (no joke) and pretty difficult, especially considering our timeline.  I agreed to do whatever he told me to do.

Now, MMA fighting isn't even on my wild and crazy bucket list.  I am not by nature, an aggressive person so the idea of coming into a fight shape class with no experience and being introverted...let's just say I was in slight panic mode.   At this point though, with no current results to speak of, I didn't have much else to loose.

 Every single person in all of my classes were so nice and welcoming and Merrick was a quick teacher to catch me up.  I quickly fell in love with the idea of coming to the gym and not having to spend hours lifting or doing traditional cardio.  It was FUN! Merrick also drastically changed my eating habits. They weren't bad habits, they were just not conducive to what my body needed. I was now training and eating like a fighter which was no longer as intimidating as I once thought. 

At my first weigh-in, one week after changing my routine, I had dropped 4% body fat!    I did in my first week of fight training more than I did my first 6 weeks of traditional lifting.  I had finally found my personal equation to fitness success, which I have learned is VERY different for each person.  Moving forward it was physically a challenge, but it turned into more of an emotional and mental challenge as the 90 days ticked further down. 

 It wasn't always easy to stick to the meal plan. I found myself being hangry (angry because I was hungry for treats). It also wasn't my favorite thing to wake up at 5:00am to get an early lift session in before the kids got out of bed for homeschooling and my husband had to leave for work, but I quickly learned it was worth it.  Every.  Single.  Time. I was beginning to see all of the small victories I was making. 

Joining group classes when my introverted personality wanted to hide in the corner of the gym, WIN.  Trying new things that I wasn't very good at (basically everything in MMA/fight class), WIN. Learning to tone down my perfectionism, WIN. Staying on track while out of town for 10 days over Easter, BIG WIN! Putting my kid's goldfish crackers away without snacking on them myself, WIN! But mentally, pushing through the weeks of initial failure to find my eventual success was my biggest win!

 It's the little things that not everyone is willing to do, that makes your life exceptional.  I decided many years ago that I am not okay with a mediocre life.  We only get one chance at this and I want to do it with extraordinary determination!  I have learned from this 90 day transformation journey that the best parts of life start outside of your comfort zones.

I am grateful, more than I can express, to the wonderful team of people who have helped me along this journey. Having a strong support has made the seemingly impossible moments survivable. All of the sweat, tears, and bruises have been worth it!  I am excited to see what the future holds next because this is only the beginning for this homeschooling mom and wife.

A special shout out and thank you to Merrick for his constant patience and tolerance of my numerous emails and questions. And especially for showing me just how much more I am capable of!

Post Easter Update.

We are home after a long trek down to Texas for the holidays to see my family.  It was a bittersweet trip in that I miss my family more than words could ever say, but I also felt as though the deck was stacked against me in maintaining my very strict workout/eating plan.
 On Good Friday we loaded up at 4:30am and headed out for our extra long day of driving.  Our goal was Norman Oklahoma where we had previously booked a hotel (with a gym).  The car was packed with snacks and buckets of movies/toys for the kids to keep entertained and I was able to get some overdue reading in.  Side note:  I LOVE to read!
 At each stop the kids and I got out of the car for some squats, lunges, bench step ups, jumping jacks, etc.  It was a blast!  And it helped tremendously to get all of the wiggles out.  Never mind that we looked like a group of crazy people:)  Eating take out was especially tricky to stay within my eating plan.  For lunch I settled on a spicy chicken salad and a small chili from Wendy's.  We finally arrived to our hotel around 6:30pm (I think?!) and after getting the kids settled with a pizza dinner I headed down to the gym.  I engaged in a brisk walk on the treadmill at an intense incline for just over 30mins and then moved onto a full body workout out with free weights.  It was actually quite a well-equipped, nice and clean gym.  When I got back to the room the little people were mostly sleeping and I crawled into bed myself.  There was very little sleep that night due to the fact that we were all in one room. 
The next morning Eric took the big kids down to a full breakfast while Brielle and myself got ready and packed up.  Saturday was my warrior seeds and berries eating day so I wanted to avoid steaming piles of eggs and meats at all costs.  We finally loaded up just after 9am and made a quick stop at the grocery store to stock up on my berries.  The final dive got us to our destination right around dinner time.  That night Eric and I pulled out our gear and did a card fight for the boys to watch.  I added in some upper body.  The issues we ran into though was that they live in the middle of nowhere, the outside ground is riddled with fire ants, sharp mesquite and stinging nettle.  Their floors inside the house are all poured concrete.  So, to attempt any sort of ground work (triangle holds, shrimps, pushups, sprawls, etc) can be quite the challenge. 
Easter Sunday was a re-feed day so that I could enjoy all of the yummy foods.  I ended up eating homemade granola with raw milk for breakfast and then after church we feasted on turkey, veggies and I had a slice of tres leche cake.  Lunch was followed by extreme games of confetti eggs, chubby bunny, egg tosses, etc.  That night I walked on the treadmill for 2hrs.
Monday was another warrior eating day and we all went to a trampoline park.  It was pretty intense complete with races, mechanical bull riding and trampoline doge ball.  Dinner was plain hot dogs and raw veggies.
Tuesday was a rest day as far as activities go.  We drank iced tea and watched the chicken, fed the neighbors horses and ate simple paleo food.  That night was another long treadmill walk.
Wednesday I woke up at 4am and drove over an hour to my friend's (we went to high school together) gym in Austin.  He kicked my butt for an hour and I headed back to the homestead.  That day we went to visit another Aunt and spent the day eating delicious paleo meals of lean meats and veggies.  I also took a long nap on their couch that afternoon:)
Thursday the guys went golfing in the morning and that late  afternoon the girls headed off (sans kids) to eat my favorite restaurant La Madeline's.  French food!  I had the chicken Caesar salad, strawberries rominoff, and a small plain potato soup.  We sat and talked so long that at dinner time we headed off to eat Indian food for the first time.  I ate several items that I have no idea what they are.  But they tasted yummy!  That night was my cousin Graham's 13th birthday.  I didn't eat the chocolate cake. 
Friday morning we hit the road around 5am and made it into Kansas City.  Our hotel didn't have a gym but they had a pool with a waterslide that the kids LOVED!  I ate a warrior seed/berries diet.
Saturday We made it home around dinner time and did warrior again b/c it was so much easier than finding fast food that worked.  That night we crawled into bed at around 1030pm and I did not wake up until 4:30pm Sunday night!  The trip really wore me out. 
Now, I am back in the swing of my normal routine and feeling less stress about my food/workouts.
I weighed in on Monday and I was at 18.5% body fat.  I was so relieved all things considered.  I am sitting in 2nd place for the Chanhassen lifetime club and I am determined to get first.
Merrick is going to do body fat pinches on me tomorrow before class so we can come up with a final plan for this last week's push.  He says I am going to do a fight cut.  It's something fighters do just before they weigh in/fight.  I'm hoping to reach my goal and push into first.  I also have to write an essay about my transformation journey and submit a before and after picture by the 9th of May.  I'm nervous but I am also excited to see the end of this journey.  I already have new fitness goals for when these expire.

Pre-Easter Update

Lately, I have been so busy or so tired that anything extra has gone to the wayside.  I've been sticking to the plan that Merrick gave me (which is quite extensive/detailed) and it's been working like a charm.  It's been some of the most challenging few weeks in more ways than one.  I never expected to be this emotional or have to deal with such mental struggles. 
My last week's weigh in I was at 18.9% body fat.  Which is awesome since my goal was 17%.  Now the number is fluctuation closer to 15% for my new goal.  We will see.  My shins have been swollen and bruised to the point where I actually cried in class.  3 times.  It was really sad.  I felt like the more I tried not to the harder I cried.  I just don't like feeling weak and incapable.  It's a terrible feeling when I don't know what to do different.  Merrick has been very supportive and patient with me, so that has been helpful.  I think I have a weigh in tomorrow morning.  Actually, it's just a few hours away so I'm signing off.  I will produce a better update when it's not 2am.  I have been packing and getting everything ready for our road tri down to Texas on Friday.  Merrick gave me a revised plan while I am traveling.  I am praying I can achieve the same results I have been getting with class/gym.  Fingers crossed as we are in the final 4 weeks of our 90 day challenge. 
PS
My skinny jeans fit again!!!!

Week 1 MMA Update.

 Yeah, always wrap your hands before punching stuff....

 I think the above pictures speak for themselves.  I feel like a bruised peach, but I guess that's normal.  At least we can tell where my strikes/kicks land.  Considering I feel like an uncoordinated goof during class, I'm at least hitting the right parts of my body to the bag.  Haha! 
This past week has been such a challenge both mentally and physically.  Besides my 9:30am class Merrick is having me add additional workouts in to get completed before class.  I am making it work(think alarms set at 0'dark thirty) and if I'm not working out I'm soaking in hot showers and Epsom salt baths and rubbing muscle relaxing creams on. 

My meal plan has drastically changed.
 Most days I eat eggs and meat for breakfast, meat and salad/veggies for lunch and meat and veggies for dinner.  No snacks, nothing fermented(condiments, dressings, yogurt, etc.), dried fruit, rice cakes, protein shakes and bananas are all on the NOT-TO-EAT list. 
2xs a week I am eating what Merrick calls a Warrior Day.  It consists of mostly seeds, nuts and berries.  No strawberries (I just feed those delicious juicy things to the kids) and I drink 2 gallons of water (to help with muscle recovery) that day, followed my a LONG slowish walk on the treadmill for 2-3hrs.  I set my portable DVD player up and pick out a long movie to watch.  It still gets boring pretty quick and my legs are toast by the end.
 But I'm doing it and sticking to it!  I want to see results more than I want to eat strawberries and peanut butter by the spoonfuls on the couch.  And that's a whole lot at this point!
 Merrick assures me there is a method to this madness and I have put all my trust in his abilities.  He's a smart guy that knows crazy weird stuff and has eaten bugs in Japan(long story).  So he's legit.  And he's probably wondering why he took me on as a client.  I email him all of the time with at least 15 questions a day.  This is just such a new journey for me and I tend to struggle with perfectionism.  Yeah, he laughs at that. 
Anyway, here's to week 2 of MMA training!

PS
It's actually been a lot of fun.

Turkish Getups.

On my extra workouts I have a section that I have to complete as fast as possible.  I have a new workout in that mix called the Turkish Getup.  Let's just say, it's a lot harder than it looks.  My first 2 workouts I could not even complete 2.  I have 20 each workout.  Pathetic.  Merrick had me practice holding a string.  Not a weighted string.  Just a string.  And it couldn't leave my arm.  To say that I was struggling was an understatement.  But hey, I didn't give up and kept trying.  Good news- on Saturday's workout I completed ALL 20.  With weight.  I can't even tell you how excited I was.  I might or might not have down a fist pump in the middle of the workout floor.  Here's a video on how-to-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK-L2P56zjU

A lot is changing.

Tuesday I had my weigh in and it was probably the most discouraging day yet.  I have not budged.  I weighed in at 23.6% body fat and 146lbs.  I actually cried in front of my trainer right then and there.  I just couldn't help it.  6 days a week for 6 weeks straight, no cheating and no progress is exhausting.  I just don't get it.  We finished up our workout and I went home feeling defeated.  That afternoon I went home, cried some more and called my trainer back.  After our conversation I felt more lost than ever with no plan on what to change or what to do differently.  After several conversations with my sister and husband I decided to talk to someone else at lifetime and get a different perspective. 
Wednesday I missed my workout and made a call to the club to talk to a manager/department head.  I ended up talking to Nik and we scheduled a meeting for Thursday after Mathias' swimming lesson.
Thursday morning I headed up to the fitness floor and sat down with Nik for about an hour to brainstorm solutions.  We decided that it was up to me but he suggested I go with a program more specifically designed for shredding body fat that just "getting in shape".  Because, although I have gotten stronger, my numbers and weekly photos don't reflect progress towards my goals.  Later that afternoon, I emailed Nik back that I had decided, that even though my trainer is awesome his specialty is not necessarily to shred body fat past where I currently am- he is very good at things like TEAM weight loss. 
Friday morning, Eric had his MMA class and was approached afterwards by Merrick, his trainer, about my situation.  He had talked to Nik previously and they both agreed that his program would be a better fit to attain my goals. 
Later that morning, I went to talk with Merrick about my goals and frustrations.  His job is to get people down to fight weight/shape and he is also well educated in nutrition.  We agreed for me to join his class starting Tuesday and he will monitor my nutrition for the next 6 weeks.  He said it will be difficult, especially since our time is cut in half but he thinks we can reach my 17% body fat goal and get me nice and lean and strong. 
So, long story short, both Eric and I will be in MMA training.  Boom!

Around my kitchen.

 The above picture are two natural remedies I've been surviving off of with my torqued shoulder and consistently sore muscles.  They are awesome, especially when I want to avoid meds.  The below picture is a product I just got in the mail today.... we will see how it works.  I have my doubts.

 I have a supplement station set up on my counter right now for quick access and so I don't forget to take my vitamins.  I know some are prenatal (no I'm not prego) but they are just so good for women in general- so I take them anyway. 

 Here's a peek at the very messy top shelf of my fridge right now.  These are my only grains, shy of oatmeal, that I am eating right now, along with eggs, pumpkin seed for my salads and fizzy water since water is my only beverage right now.  Seriously, I have been in LOVE with this stuff with all of my pregnancies and it's crazy fizzy- which I love.  Other items in my fridge include lots of almond milk, even more veggies, leftovers and when I am up to it a Tupperware of fully cooked/seasoned chicken for quick meals.