A look back at how I went from being burned out/at a plateau in my weight loss/fitness to working out 6 days a week/Eating clean.

I've been doing a lot of thinking. I've been trying to remember how I felt when I gained weight previously and how my mindset made the SWITCH. (So I can help others go through the process.) I've been trying to go back to where I was & remember the EXACT steps I took right after, & how I changed my attitude. Then I came across an old blog post I wrote in January of 2012 (from my previous blog) where I discussed how I went from being burnt out and letting the weight stack up to choosing to CHANGE IT. It's literally a step by step process on how I got BACK into my GOOD habits. Pretty exciting if you ask me!!! If you want to know the SECRET tips to my success, read on.

Here's word for word what I went through (from my previous blog.):

I knew I needed to get back into it. I wanted it BAD. My tipping point was when I saw this quote...it said "you need to make BIG changes to SEE BIG changes."

 I was READY to START OVER and get BACK to where I was (before I got burnt out) and was WILLING to do WHATEVER it took to get there.

So! I started to re-do all my goals, and I made a "to do list" and STUCK TO IT! I started adding in some self.com workouts (a lot of them were weights because I knew I needed more weight type workouts. I wanted to try something DIFFERENT, so I could "change it up"- I started using kettle bells!)

After it wasn't challenging anymore, I started to find NEW workouts and did those, and then eventually (in APRIL) started to get back into my OLD weight lifting routine (one that I used back when I first started losing weight 5 years ago!)  Did that 2 days a week and the other days I did power 90 for my cardio!

 I then started to get bored with my routine (mid way through) and thought to myself, I need something where it takes the guess work out. Something where I didn't have to come up with NEW routines anymore, and I was shown how to do FORM. So I decided to pop in one of my dad's p90x dvds to see if i could do one of his weight lifting routines instead. I decided to not do the WHOLE video-just added parts to my routine. Eased myself in. I started REALLY liking the NEW,FRESH routines from p90x...so much so I decided...I wanted to change my routine COMPLETELY and TRY p90x FULL FORCE! Was I scared?? YES! I was very scared. BUT NOT SCARED ENOUGH to where I wasn't willing to TRY.

 I desperately needed CHANGE. My workout routine got OLD...I needed to RAMP IT UP. And boy oh boy..this program gave me a FRESH NEW start..and I was LOVING it! AND it gave me the CHALLENGE I needed.

Of course when I first started..I modified..and OMGOSH the weight lifting ones were NO JOKE (when I did the WHOLE routine)..I cried a lot because I felt defeated-too hard, couldn't lift that heavy (started at 5 lbs!) and it was LONG and PAINFUL. BUT, I didn't give up because it was challenging, I KEPT GOING.

 I remember when I first popped in the AB RIPPER X..OMGOSH SO HARD. I could barely do ANY of the moves and I had to take SO MANY breaks!! It was very defeating. And when I tried kenpo x and YOGA X, OMGOSH! RIDICULOUS! SO hard!

 But I was determined to GET RESULTS...so YEA the next day after I felt like I got ran over by a bus physically..but MENTALLY I was on CLOUD 9. I felt SO PROUD of myself for doing this!!!

And one of the reasons I was able to keep going..was posting on my facebook every time I reached a milestone. I remember day 30 I didn't see much progress, but I then I got to day 60 and BAM progress! The program wasn't getting any easier though-especially phase 3.

Phase 3 I decided to DEDICATE myself even more-I wanted to see results-so I upped my nutrition and GAVE UP REFINED SUGAR FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH! (I allowed myself only natural sugar.) The first 2 weeks were hard but after that..you stop craving it!

AND WOW sugar is in EVERRRYTHING. Salad dressings, BREAD..things I never thought of! I had to check EVERY box, EVERY nutrition fact. I remember always checking and then putting stuff back and not having it because it had sugar in it. I had to be REALLLLY extra strict and it was NOT easy.

 
Lets just say I wouldn't recommend giving up ALL sugar, unless your willing to give up salad dressings and bread...its super hard and limits what you can eat!

SO day 90 finally came and I had lost 12 lbs!!! And 3 inches on my waist! I went from a size 8 to a size 4!!!! ALL by using p90x day after day!! P90x works people!!!

The next day I left for a cruise! I ate everything in sight. I basically binged like crazy and only worked out 3 times. I remember doing boring workouts at the gym on the boat-and WISHING I had my precious p90x with me.

When I came home I took another week off of p90x (I did 3 days of it but not 6) and felt lousy, my anxiety was up from feeling like I might gain everything I lost back. And when you go from working out all the time (6 days a week with p90x) to only 3 days..its depressing! You feel lazier..its hard to explain.

I decided I wanted to start back up p90x, the sooner the better so I can say I finished another round...faster. SO I restarted and thought "what in the world did I put myself up to"..its HARD, it HURTS, but I pushed through. Got to day 30-saw results immediately this time. Then day 60, and BAM it came faster than I thought..day 90. I was FINALLY able to see abs come through..FINALLY!

I was done was ROUND 2..and couldn't believe it! I didn't even know i could finish ROUND 1, let alone ROUND 2! Let just say I wasn't done yet...I decided to make a new goal-to do p90x IN A YEAR. I still had 2 more rounds to go!! So I  got plugged in with a fb accountability group (which SUPPORT IS KEY TO RESULTS..without it its HARD to stay FOCUSED) and decided to GO AT IT AGAIN..started round 3!

In these first 2 months it was HARD to stick to my strict diet-Especially on holidays such as Thanksgiving AND Christmas! What's crazy is I'd come home, EXHAUSTED (literally almost fell asleep at the wheel) got up, put on my work out clohes, and pulled out p90x. And worked out through it!

 I actually LOST weight FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER during the holidays!

I am so proud to say I went after my goal and am NOW in the BEST SHAPE EVER!! All because I started p90x and fell in LOVE with it! YES its still challenging, but its soooo worth it. ;) Love love love it!!! NEW LIFE, NEW ME!

Yes, this was a LONG post. BUT, I felt it was helpful/it will inspire others so I decided to go ahead and post it anyway! If you've read this far, just know-nothing is impossible-if you put your MIND in it. Start small, challenge yourself (get UNCOMFORTABLE), and BELIEVE! You CAN do it, I'm just a normal girl, who was overweight and decided to CHANGE. YOU CAN TOO!

For more tips/advice/motivation, follow me on facebook! Make sure to message me telling me who you are and how you found me so I can reach out to you!

Wishing you all the best on your fitness journey,

-Melissa