Suck it up and Suck it In!

Happy Thursday folks! It's been a while, but man, have things changed. It's so funny to me how I have done a complete 180 since my whole workout kick began 7 weeks ago. 

First, HILARIOUS... Let me tell you, I often sit there and tell myself, SUCK IT UP ANDREA, but don't forget to suck it in. My whole ENTIRE life, I have sucked my gut in. You wouldn't believe how big I really am if I let my chub go. As I sit here writing this post, I'm letting my suck in, out, and it feels weird!!! I've just naturally sucked in for probably 20 years, that when I'm skinny enough to not have to suck in, it's going to be hilarious! Not sure why I got on this topic, but yeah... Anyways.

So, back to this whole 180 degree change thing. Before I started this whole workout/diet thing, all I ever wanted to do was go to work, come home, relax, watch TV, or hang out with friends.... now, all I want to do is GO TO THE GYM! I am pumped. The gym I go to is amazing, and the classes I take, are amazing, and even after 7 weeks, after every class, I can't move. I'm sore in places I didn't know had muscles, and its hard for me to wake up the next morning. I literally get depressed now if I don't go to the gym almost everyday. I think that's so funny. I go from party girl, Andrea, to workout girl, Andrea. As fun as it has been, it's also been a struggle. People are different towards me now, they get upset with me, they can't just be happy for me... and then there are some people, I'm not going to name names, but I'm going to vent, that mock me, tell me how great of a job I am doing, and then lie straight to my face about things.. STOP, you are so annoying. You are pissing me off. This is not a f'ing joke to me. I have NEVER been skinny, EVER, in my whole entire life, and you doing these things that you are doing, it's making me mad. It's the most annoying thing when you work so damn hard at something, and others just mock and lie. I'm not doing this to just drop a few pounds, I'm doing this so that for once in my life, when I walk in front of 300 people, I don't feel like a fat ass, I don't feel like everyone is looking at ME because I'm the fat kid in the room. I'm doing this to make sure that I'm around for a long time, when my kids are having kids, and my kids kids are having kids. So stop, don't lie to me. Stop making this a game or a joke. Because it's not for me. 

Wow, anyways, rant over... Again, Andrea... SUCK IT UP. Stop the bitching. But unfortunately, it's hard to feel good when others are making you feel angry or mad. My new gym friends are awesome. I never feel like I'm annoying them with my questions (well maybe I'm just annoying them with my facebook posts in our RtB groups, but I'm just so excited to see results and be part of this AMAZEBALLS family...), I always feel like they are pushing me to do my best, and it just makes me feel a MILLION times better. I've never been one for gyms, I always feel self conscious, I feel like the meat heads stare at the over weight chick and say, "yep, she def needs to be in here", it's just not my thing... and when I stepped out of our small group at Crank and stepped into a larger group in boot camp, I felt fine. I felt like no matter what I look like, I fit in. I even wore SLEEVELESS SHIRTS! Omg, for you that know me the closest, you know that me wearing sleeveless shirts is like UNHEARD of. hahahaha... But for real, yes, I like working out, but I think the bigger picture is that I like working out with the people I have been working out with, they make me feel good about myself, and cheer me on for trying to do what I'm doing.... I just love it... I thank them for that, they will never really truly understand how appreciative I am of all of them over there at RtB, you will be the reason that I walk down that aisle next fall looking amazing... 

So we only have 2 classes left of the 8 weeks of CRANK and I will finally find out how much I have lost over this process... Its hard to believe that 8 weeks have passed, and yeah, it might not show that I have dropped a ton but I feel amazing, and its getting me geared up for the next 8 weeks of intense bootcamp. I am happy about that. Hopefully, come December when I am trying on dresses, I will finally see all the results that I have been working so hard at trying to achieve.

OH by the way - I'm down to a L/XL top and a 14/16 bottom! Slowly but surely I am getting there.... (down from XXL and 18/20)

Alright, enough for now - but let me leave you with an awesome quote, and a recipe since I don't want you guys to listen to me bitch the whole time, I actually want you to get something out of this blog!!!!

RECIPE TIMEEEEE!!!  

I found this amazing recipe this morning on Dashing Dish - It's for Skinny, buffalo chicken bites!! I cannot WAIT to try these. 

1 cup	Chicken, cooked and shredded
1/4 cup	Hot sauce
1/2 cup	Mozzarella cheese, grated
4 oz	Fat free cream cheese, microwaved 30 seconds to soften
1/4 tsp	Garlic powder
1/4 tsp	Onion powder
24	Wonton wrappers
Optional:	Additional mozzarella cheese for topping Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet pan with foil or parchment paper (for easy clean up) and spray with cooking spray.  In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, hot sauce, mozzarella cheese, and seasoning.  Add the shredded chicken and stir until well combined. Begin filling the wonton wrappers by placing about a tablespoon of filling in the center of each wrapper. You could use a little more or less, just try not to over-fill them, or the filling will ooze out the sides when you are baking them. To seal them shut, place your finger in the water…Then trace two of the corners with the water. Fold the wrapper in half to meet the two dry corners with the two wet corners. Press to seal the two sides together. (Note: the water acts like glue to seal the corners shut!) Continue filling until all of my wonton wrappers are filled. (Note: You may be able to fill even more than 24 wrappers depending on how much filling you use in each one!) When wonton wrappers are filled, give them a light spray with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese over the top of each one if desired. Lay buffalo chicken bites on prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden brown. Enjoy with hot sauce, or light greek yogurt mixed with dry ranch seasoning!

A tad bit emotional this morning.

Do you ever wake up thinking, life would be so much better if..... Well I do... my if, is if I was skinnier. Do you know how much easier life would be? Clothes would fit better, I would feel better about myself, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable walking around in life looking the way I do... I know, I know, I preach about everyone is beautiful, of course, and I know I am, but man, do you know how much easier it would be if I was a size 10 instead of a size 18? Do you know how much better I would feel being able to go into a clothing store saying, ahhh, I will find something today, instead of, I hope this stores largest size fits me? Do you know how HARD it is to lose weight?

I get so down on myself because I see Juan, and all he has to do is only eat a sandwich a day for a month and he's lost 30lbs. I mean, A) That's not healthy, B) I love food and I get hungry even talking about food so that would never work and C) I'm jealous. I am so jealous that that's all he has to do. For me, I have to wake up at 4am, get ready for work, have a meal replacement shake, work till 3, get home at 5, have another shake, workout for 2 hours, and then get home just to come to bed. So basically, for me to lose weight, I have to not have a life. Now, I feel like I'm being a big whiner right now, maybe I am, but at the same time, I like working out now so I don't mind doing this, but when I have no friends left because I can never hang out because I'm at the gym, then I'm going to care.

This whole wedding thing has me down too - you know, you look at stylemepretty. com all day long and you never really see brides that are overweight. I don't want to be an overweight bride. My biggest fear is walking down that aisle with all the eyes on me, knowing that I've been on a strict diet and workout regiment for the past year, and then BAM, I'm still rocking my size 18 dress. It's not all about appearances, I know, it's about marrying my best friend, but at the same time, I can't help but think in the back of my head, ugh, I'm the biggest one here.

My guilty pleasure is reality TV and my guiltiest pleasure is probably all the different Real Housewives shows. On RHONJ, Lauren Manzo, has a difficult time losing weight. She's always talking about the same things I talk about, she doesn't want to be bigger and her brothers can eat anything in the world and still be skinny... well, I used to feel for her, and I was like, just work out and stick with it - you will find it will work for you... Well instead of that, I guess she got the lapband surgery. And she looks great now. I am so jealous, but at the same time pissed. Just like all these celebrities, they have the time and money to either work out with a personal trainer 9 hours a day to stay skinny or have a surgery like that. I'm jealous in that I don't have that time or money, but I'm also kind of pissed that someone I could relate to on TV just took the easy way out. You should be in the gym Lauren, you could have done it. I eat a lot and love food too.... Anyways, yeah, annoying....

Honestly, I don't know what the point of this blog today even was? TO bitch and complain about the fact that I hate that I'm overweight? And that it's taking a long time to drop it? I guess... But I can tell you one thing, I think the thing that has been getting me to get up and go to classes everyday to workout has been the people over at RTB, they really are great, they are motivating, and they really like doing what they do, and it makes me like what I do... Also, I'm strong. Under all these rolls, I actually have some big muscles under there... and going to class and feeling like I'm really kicking some ass, makes me feel good. I know I just need to keep telling myself that it will take time, and I will get there eventually, I'm impatient, and I want to be skinny tomorrow. By December, I want to be a size 12/14 so  when I'm trying on dresses, they aren't like, well, there really aren't a lot for you to try on because you are HUGE. I will be skinny. One day.

Anyways, life is what you make of it, and just be happy... you will get there.. (Yeah, I'm really talking to myself)

Half-way home.... Crank is almost done.

First of all, I never thought I would even make it past 2 weeks. If you know me, you know that my dedication to working out is slim-to-none. Actually getting into a routine and going to the gym everyday and getting on a good diet, just isn't for me. But it's been half way through our crank program at Raise the Bar in Manassas with Evie, and I'm happy to say, I am seeing some results!!! Not only am I getting stronger, building up my endurance and becoming more flexible, I've also lost 8lbs and 8 1/2 inches!!!! (let me explain the inches, that's in my waist, arms and legs for a grand total of 8 1/2) and I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but for me it is, considering I GAIN 10LBS EVERYTIME I WATCH A PIZZA HUT COMMERCIAL.... but damn THAT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR ME!

I was really surprised to actually see that. I mean honestly, I am doing the best I can. I can't just wake up one day at the beginning of this and go ok, I'm changing my WHOLE LIFE. I'm not ever going to eat any junk food, I'm not going to drink (HAHAHAHAHHAH REALLY?), and I'm going to work out 7 days a week. A shock like that to my body would probably kill me HAHA. But I am, getting dedicated. Working out 5 times a week with a day of cardio for 6 times a week, eating WAY healthier than I have in a long time, and drinking a gallon of water a day (the evidence is in the gallon jug on my desk haha). I feel so much better, I have more energy, and although I haven't lost a ton of weight yet, I am building so much muscle and I'm doing it the right way so that I don't just gain it all back.

I think another thing that is really helping me along is my isagenix shakes. I love that shit. Vanilla with the power boost makes it taste like a creamsicle and shittttttt, having that for breakfast or dinner everyday makes a HUGE difference. I can honestly say I have tried EVERY FREAKING weight loss shake, diet, program on the market, and this just tops them all because it TASTES good!!!!! I love it because I don't have to get up in the morning and think about preparing a full meal, I can just throw a shake together, drink, and I'm full till my mid-morning snack! Same for dinner.. I'm finding it's hard get home, cook dinner, and then go work out, so instead, I'm just having a shake. Isagenix is my new favorite thing. I think I'm going to do the 30 day program next, just to see how it works for me - and clearly I will let you know how it goes along the way. But I really just want to take my time, drop the weight and do it in a healthy way so that it doesn't come back!

Besides that, I really love the support my friends are giving me. They really are pushing me and talking to me about this whole diet thing and giving me advice - I honestly can say I couldn't do this without them!

But wait, here's another take away from my blog today - did you know that pandora has some kick ass workout stations???? CHECK IT OUT BITCHESSSS: I love it, and I get pumped the F up! hahahaha

http://www.pandora.com/music/workout

And plus, I didn't know this, but my whole family is doing Isagenix! hahaha - anyways... here's a few fun shake recipe's if you are doing Isagenix!!

Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

• 1 scoop IsaLean® Shake in Natural Creamy Chocolate
• 1 scoop IsaLean® Shake in Natural Creamy Vanilla
• 1 square IsaDelight Plus™ Milk or Dark Chocolate
• 1 tsp. Natural Peanut Butter
• 8 oz. of water
• Blend with ice

Submitted by Kimberly C.

Piña Colada Shake

• 2 scoops IsaLean® Shake in French Vanilla
• ¼ cup fresh or frozen pineapple
• ¼ teaspoon coconut extract
• 8 oz purified water

Blend well and serve cold.
Try it with an IsaBlender™!

Did you know you are supposed to drink this much water a day????????

happy shaking! haha

Andrea

Day??? I lost count. And I hate CRANK.

Ahhhhhh so as most of you know I started this new workout program this week with my old trainer, and pretty bad ass chick if you ask me, Evie. This is her to the left. She's mean as SHIT. But she gets the job done. Anyways.... let me tell you, I'm only 2 days in, and I feel like SHIT... SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT. Let's see how many times I can fit SHIT into the post. But the good kind of shit. The sore kind of shit. Not that, ugh I can't do this, SHIT, but the damn, I'm so out of shape SHIT. But at the same time, I love feeling sore. It makes me feel like I'm actually doing something when I'm at the gym from like 7:30-9pm everyday.... UGH.

So this crank program. It's legit. It's over at the new gym Evie works at called, Raise the Bar Strength and Conditioning. Now, I'm not going to lie, when I walked in there, I was like SHIT, I do NOT belong here... everyone was fit like no other... They had cut arms, 24 packs of abs, and here I walk in with big flabby arms and abs I haven't seen in decades! I was super intimidated, let me tell you. But then I started meeting everyone and the good thing is, I didn't feel judged. I felt like I belonged. Everyone is there for the same reason, to drop some LBS, get in shape, or just get more and more fit. I even wore a sleeveless shirt to my first class, and that's HUGE. I always wear sleeves because I hate these flabby arms! The CRANK class consists of 4 workout classes a week working on weight lifting, either upper or lower body, and then 2 30 minute cardio sessions a week, and that's IT. I thought, oh I'm taking this CRANK class I'm going to have to be in the gym like 9 times a week and I won't have a life and all that SHIT, but nope.. it's pretty simple.. well minus the work outs - dudes, yesterday we had to run suicides in the parking lot, I haven't run suicides in ummmmm I don't know 10 years since I played basketball? HAHAHA ("I do suicides on the tourrrr busssss, I do suicides on the private jet, you know what that mean, that I'm fly to death" - thanks kanye) it sucked. HAHAHAHA.

Along with the workouts, Evie put together a meal plan for us. As you can see, we get to eat every 2 hours, but this will be my diet for the next 8 weeks... andddddd pretty sure I won't be boozing it up. Oh well... no pain no gain right?!?!?! It's pretty awesome... so I guess I am complaining but also pumped about all of this.. this is the first time I've wanted to work out daily... Let's just hope this all works out because I'm sick of looking like I have a baby-on-board when I wear a maxi dress! HAHAHAH

Here is one of the recipes that Evie gave us - it's great, you should all try it esp before a workout!


Chile Chicken & Basil
Ingredients

1 lb Chicken breast
2 Serrano Chiles
1 tsp Light soy sauce
2 cups fresh basil
1 Tbsp fish sauce
3 Garlic cloves


Preparation
Chop garlic and chilies finely, add a pinch of salt, use back of spoon to scrape, make into paste. Sauté` paste in oil add chopped chicken breast. Add soy sauce, fish sauce, cook until chicken is done. Add basil until wilted, season with black pepper. Enjoy with 1 cup brown rice.

Ok, that's it for now!
Thanks for listening!!!!!!