Small Steps, Big Results

Weekly Update: By now you may be noticing a trend, I'm laying low with weight checks - I'm still taking them but I'm shifting my focus since I've pretty consistently maintained the same weight for a full year now - my focus is going to get off the scale.  I am happy about my 75 pound loss, but happier about all the things I can DO now.

Here is a photo of my family from this weekend.  We went to the Roger Williams Zoo, I remember going almost exactly 2 years ago - and the experience was VERY different. I was uncomfortable the entire day. I wore my son in the Ergo carrier - but it only fit because I had to buy an 'extension' to fit around my stomach, something I was extremely self conscious of at the time.

This time, I went - I had energy, I felt comfortable and I ENJOYED my time with out getting caught up in being hot and cumbersome.

Which brings me to this quote.    My 75 pounds loss, my confidence, my happiness - they did not happen over night.

I repeat:

They did NOT happen over night.

Each day I plug away a little at a time.   Small steps, over time, have gotten me to where I am today.

I dedicate 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week to my fitness, I drink my Shakeology daily, I dedicate one day a week to food prep, I dedicate an hour or two a day to making connections, friendships and helping others.

Each day, for 2 years I have done these things.  And each day I have gotten a little closer to my goals.

Along the way I have found small goals - benchmarks.  One of those goals was when I could teach classes again. Something I loved before having my son - but had no time to do after, and was honestly too embarassed by my size and lack of fitness to do it for a full year after my son was born.

But small steps each day have gotten me not only to a place where  I can teach, but where I can teach WITH my son and help other mothers as well.

Speaking of small steps...

Mornings.

Yep, I get up at 5:30am.  

Why?? I stay home with my son, I work my coaching business when I want to on my schedule.

So WHY do I get up so early?   

Because, it sets the tone for my day, and when I don't do it - I FEEL it all day long.   I feel less energy, I feel less mental clarity, and I'm much more irritable.

These photos are taken 30 minutes apart - I may not look it, but I'm 100% more alive in the bottom one.

I mentioned food prep - some weeks it's more than others, but I try to mentally come up with a plan whether it's full out food prep or just mental plans of easy things I can eat during the week.  This week I made one thing - butternut squash mac and cheese - I made it while my son ate breakfast, it took minimal time to prep - and it has been a life saver this week in terms of my nutrition!

Finished product!

As for easy foods - I'm all about easy!  Every morning for 2 years I have had a shakeology shake and banana on the side - and every morning I am fueled and happy.

If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/

Find me on YouTube!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzh-8_DCDzaC77CKbIAmMg 

If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki

Mommy & Me Website: http://www.fitandbalancedmom.com/

Contact: fitandbalancedmom@gmail.com

Max Out!

!Weekly Update:  This week I am feeling MUCH better about my choices.  After a couple weeks of crazy, I am feeling more confident and feeling BETTER as a result of eating better foods. I had been struggling with trying to eat up some leftovers, and realized that not prepping at least one new food a week sets me up for failure.  So this week I made sure to prep something that I hadn't had in a while to keep me excited about my healthy food choices!

I actually had some hard things come my way this week, one of which was a woman who called me 'giant' and 'huge' at the gym - I honestly think she just had no filter, but it hurt my feelings none the less.   And the fact that she wouldn't stop calling me 'so big' really made me feel down for a few days.   I took this photo as a reminder that I am NOT giant, nor huge - and even if I was who cares? I'm on a journey to be healthier each and every day both inside and out.

And on that note, I started a 'new' program this past week - but not new to me.   Although each time I do a program start to finish it has a way of feeling new, because I experience it in a different way each time.

The photo on the left is from when I did this same program for the very first time 18 months ago.  You can see the fatigue still in my eyes, and the fullness to my face.   On the right is me from this past week - even though it's 5:30 in the morning, I'm energized and alert!

And no matter how strong I get, I just push myself harder.   The sweat is proof!  I love the quote 'if it doesnt CHAlleNGE you, it doesn't CHANGE you' I couldn't agree more! I continue to push myself in different ways each day.  Whether it be emotionally, mentally physically or socially.  There is always room to make myself a better person.

And a big part of WHY is because of this - my little guy.   He watches me no matter what I do and now that he's older, he verbally reinfoces that he's watching my energy levels, my happiness, how I deal with stress - all reasons to keep pushing forward!

Food news! A favorite this week was blended fruit with a little chocolate chips - perfect for the sunny weather!

I've also been on an egg kick for breakfast and moving my Shakeology to mid day or at night - I've been treating myself to one orange freshly squeezed with all the puple for the fiber - so yummy!!!

If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/

Find me on YouTube!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzh-8_DCDzaC77CKbIAmMg 

If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki

Mommy & Me Website: http://www.fitandbalancedmom.com/

Contact: fitandbalancedmom@gmail.com

Mother's Day!

Weekly Update:   I remember my first Mother's Day two years ago - I was not comfortable at all, but I wanted a photo with my so I took it.   This year I gladly got in front of the camera many times - we had a great day and I'm so grateful to be the mom I am today!  This week my update is being PROUD of being in front of the camera!

We've been spending a lot of time with our classes this Spring - warm weather means running!!

And while I've been struggling with my nutrition I saw this photo from last week marking my 'start' of a new program and saw this glimmer of light between my legs telling me I'm not as far off base as it thought.

I've also been switching up my breakfast working on shifting my shake around a bit - I'm on a total watermelon kick! 

Here is another one from class - the older Ben gets the more he participates in class.. He even dropped down for double leg lowers today in class last week! 

If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/

Find me on YouTube!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzh-8_DCDzaC77CKbIAmMg 

If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki

Mommy & Me Website: http://www.fitandbalancedmom.com/

Contact: fitandbalancedmom@gmail.com

Running time!

Weekly Update:  This week I am choosing not to let the scale lead my week! I have decided to hold off on my weekly weigh in to focus on a few things in grateful for.  First being, the example I am setting for my son!  

This photo is from my weekly mommy & me running class.  I started this class last summer and my son came with me last year.  This year I started talking a lot running class and he immediately remembered and got all excited.  When we pulled into the parking lot he literally screamed 'Mommy!! Running class!!'  What could be better than that?!

This whole journey isn't about the 75lbs I've lost, it's abhor the life I've gained and the things I can DO as a result. 

Here he is wearing his running outfit - his words 'just like mommy' ❤️

Another key focus has been paying attention to how my body is changing.  My weight seems to have settled, but my buddy continues to change as I et stronger and stay consistent. These are one year progress photos of my arms!

I don't have a starting photo of myself trying to do crunches, nor the memory is ingrained in my head of my first attempt 2 years ago.  My stomach was much too large and as a result I literally could not curl my spine.  I'm so proud of how far I have come. 

And how many loves I've changed along the way! Here is one of my good friends who braved the early morning and met me at my house at 5:30am!

Do you see what I see?? The sun is out at 5:30am these days!!

Last one..food photo! Sometimes I like to switch up my Shakeolgy and chew it - here are some yummy Shakeology chocolates I made using coconut oil 😍

If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/

Find me on YouTube!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjzh-8_DCDzaC77CKbIAmMg 

If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki

Mommy & Me Website: http://www.fitandbalancedmom.com/

Contact: fitandbalancedmom@gmail.com