Rikki & Ronni = Twins!

I had a built in best friend my whole life.  Her name is Rikki. We have pretty much done eveything together since birth. Ok, so not EVERYTHING, but you know what I mean.

She and I are a lot alike being that we look similar.  Obviously the hair, complection, our eyes, lips.  You get it.  But she and I are very different.  I suppose that's the way it always is with sisters.  She is quiet, I'm pretty outgoing.  Growing up, I would speak for her.  Someone would ask "what's y'alls names?"  I would answer "Ronni and Rikki".  Although Rikki can answer her name now, the same is still true.  We are Texan's born and raised.  We also have lots of family across the Red River (Oklahoma).  Rikki loves the Longhorns, and I love the Sooners.  Drives her crazy...maybe that's why I root for them ;)

Our boys are just a few months apart.  It was fun being pregnant together, and of course, our boys are best friend-cousins too.  Mine is in the OU jersey and Rikki's boy has his tongue out.  CUTE!  We have girls as well, but they weren't born together.  And neither of us had twins.  What's up with that????!!!

Being glad I have her in an understatement.  Even when she drags me to events just because she knows that I'm crazy and will help her to break the ice and get to talk to people like this weekend.  She took me to a birthday party for a blogger.  I didn't know who these ladies were at first, but I will admit we had a great time.  And Rikki and I looked Fab.  (well we did..HA!)

Okay, so here is the way my gym ”career” started. Like I said, you have to find your motivation somewhere, right? My baby was a little over a year old and I could no longer call my fat baby-weight. One day, at work, I saw this super handsome man about 6 years younger than me. Muscle bound, young and had a five year plan. He was a volunteer fireman and was getting ready to join the marine corps.  He came up and talked to me and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I have always people watched and would look at couples and wonder why is that guy with that girl and visa versa. I made a promise to myself I would not be the fat girl with a hottie making people stare and wonder.   I started hitting the gym most days at 5:30am 3 days a week. Weight was dropping off slowly at first. Well, me and Mr. hottie barely dated 2 months.  I wondered if I even should continue going to the gym but then I remembered the not quite as handsome more mature man that was always on the elliptical in front of me. I decided I would definitely continue going. I never imagined I would hit my weight loss goals. Short term, my goals were to meet him.  I then upped my gym days to 5 days a week wondering if he was there all those days and he was .  Every morning I would do an hour on the elliptical and rotate through all the weight machines. I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. 3 sets of 12 on each machine, whatever weight I could do. On the elliptical, I always did the program for the butt and thighs. (duh) I hated seeing myself in the mirror after getting off the elliptical because my face was so red a splotchy and me and gym guy would be going for paper towels to wipe down the machine at the same time. I grew confidence  however, in the weeks to come. One day, going out to the car behind gym guy, he turned and introduced himself to me. He also told me that was his last day, he was moving to a different gym. Little does he know, I owe my initial 40 pound weight loss and determination to stay in the gym to him. By that time, I had a whole new motivator to stay in the gym. Gym guy or not. I was smaller, and I was starting to see my first muscles………calf muscles. It was a start, anyway. I will tell you this a lot. Find a time you can do, and find something that you like. (Even if it is some eye candy to pass the time on the elliptical in front of you)



Me after my initial 40 lb loss.  This was about 5 months after I started working out.  I'm in the red :)

When I started working out, I was a real newbie.  I knew changes needed to happen, but I wasn't quite sure what to do.  I started the Slim Fast diet.  Shake in the morning and afternoon, a couple of healthy snacks and a sensible dinner.  The elliptical and I had a date every.single.morning.  I didn't get off until the calorie burn on it read 1000.  I was addicted to cardio.  The weight really started melting off of me.  I was seeing changes and it was awesome.  I then joined a fitness challenge at the gym I worked out at and went to my first boot camp.  I LOVED it.  That is where I really saw my body, not just changing (getting smaller), but muscle was forming and I was becoming toned.
 I don't do the Slim Fast thing anymore.  Later I will do a "what I eat" post.  My advice in weight loss and working out is finding something you love.  If that's weigh lifting (my fav) do that and work in a little cardio.  If it's running, do that (but don't forget the weights).  If it's swimming, that's awesome too.  Make working out fun and you are more likely to stick with it.  Change it up and keep it fresh.  I love finding new work outs and new routines.  What I love at my boot camp classes is it's basically play time.  It's hard, but we as adults have forgotten how to get out there and move.  Skipping, jumping rope, bear crawls, burpees, running; it all reminds me of being a kid.  You won't be great at it at first, but you have to start somewhere.  Get out there and get moving.

Tell me your favorite work outs!

 See....FUN!  **disclaimer, I in no way reccommend flying off of bounce 

houses upside down.  It was a lot of fun though!                                                          

Before and after pics.  To be quite honest it is embarrassing posting pictures of myself in the "before" stage.  My goal here is to inspire and help and show you that it is possible, that hard work and discipline can and will work.  That it is so important to commit to you so that you can be everything in life that you need to be.  

side by side

Your fear of change can either motivate you, or paralyze you.  I chose to get off my rear and make it happen!

Tough is a choice.......The beginning :)

Tough is a choice. It is a choice to stay in old habits, or to create new ones. It is a choice to accept life as it is, or to go a different direction. It is a choice to ignore the alarm or get out of bed and pump some iron. Healthy isn't easy, it is intentional. It is always easier to hit a drive through than cook a healthy meal. It is hard to believe that 5 years ago, I was over 245 lbs, new baby, and unhappy with my circumstances I made a choice to make a change. When I decided I couldn't live fat anymore, I started thinking, "what am i going to do?" I considered the gym, but didn't think I would have the time. I worked in the day and would feel guilty leaving my 2 kids in the evening for exercise. Then I thought about that tricky insane time of 5 am where the only thing me and my kiddos are doing is sleeping. I figured I would give it a try. The thought of leaving the house at 4:45 seemed insane, but it was the only way. So, I did it. Now, everyone finds different motivators. Never in a million years did I actually think I could do it, but set a goal. You need to find your motivation. A journey starts one day at a time. You may lose a battle here and there with a bad meal, but you are still winning the war. Don't give up when you have a minor set back. I am 80 pounds down and loving life. I am starting this blog to inspire, motivate and train a stronger, tougher America.....men and women. If you have questions about my journey or want help with yours, feel free to email me at truewarrior32@gmail.com.