My Runniversary

Another Healthy Lifestyle and Runniversary!

In honor of my journey.. I like to look back and see the consistency and dedication to making myself a priority in the craziness of life.

In May of 2012 I decided that enough was enough, but it took me a month to get in the right mind frame for a complete lifestyle overhaul. I consider the Tuesday after Memorial Day to be my anniversary of a healthy life!

May 29 2012

• Weight.. over 170 maybe 180... 
• Clothing Size: 14/16 pants, large/xlarge shirt
• 1.96 miles at a 14:17 pace.

May 27 2013

• Weight:  145
• Clothing Size: 6/8 pants, medium shirt
• 4.69 miles at 11:06 pace.

May 24 2014

• Weight: 143
• Clothing Size: 6 pants, medium shirt 
• 4.3 miles at 10:46.

May 25 2015

• Weight: 140
• Clothing Size: 6 pants, medium shirt
• 4.5 miles at a 9:50 pace. 

May 28-31 2016

• Weight: 137
• Clothing Size: 4-6 pants, small shirt
• Saturday: 9 miles at an 11:05 easy pace
• Sunday:  11 miles on the bike and 30 minutes of heavy weight training
• Tuesday: 3.14 miles at a 10:07 pace

I have to remind myself is that the difference between last year's pace and this year's pace is negligible due to the humidity and that I am stronger and leaner than I have ever been. Even when I was "skinnier" (in high school and college) I was starving myself and had little muscle tone.

My goals for this year? I'd like to lose another 10 pounds and I'd like to run a 25 minute 5k. I guess the question is, do I want it bad enough?

A Successful Lifestyle for Busy People

I've come a long way. We've established that. 

While I wish I had tried Isagenix a couple of years ago when I first started considering it and I first started losing weight, I don't begrudge my journey. I have learned so much about health and wellness.

And it's a journey that I will continue tomorrow and into the future.

Why? Because I feel better. And specifically, I feel better using Isagenix products than when I don't. I have more energy, stamina and less aches and pains.

I haven't made a big deal about Isagenix to my friends because I feel like I haven't been committed enough to be a good role model.

But I realized today while talking to one of my friends, that it is my real crazy busy life story that allows others to consider the possibility that they could have a successful weight loss journey.

Cause here is the deal. Since January, I have changed my eating habits a little, but I still have fast food and donuts a couple of times a week. I haven't changed my workout schedule and I haven't given up my nightly glass of wine.

But here is what I have done.

I have a glass of Ionix Supreme first thing in the morning. (It's kind of like green tea..) I take my Natural Accelerator pill. (I don't know what this pill does, but it doesn't make me shaky or feel like I'm on caffeine.)

Those things I do every morning.

Then about 4 mornings a weeks a week I have a shake. I make my shake with a scoop of IsaGreens, a banana and sometimes a teaspoon of peanut butter. I drink this on the way to school and during my first period class. I also take my vitamins during this time.

Then I eat a healthy lunch (well 3 out of 5 days and a couple of times a week I remember to take my 2nd Natural Accelerator pill).  

I eat a pretty healthy dinner as Doug is a great cook and we eat at home most of the time due to his and Maddie's food restrictions. Then I have my evening glass of wine and a 100 calorie dessert.  I top it all off with my nightly dose of IsaFlush and a glass of water.

And that is why I haven't made a big deal about what I am doing, cause I don't feel like I am working hard enough at it to brag.

But here are my results so far.

Since I started Isagenix on January 11th I have lost 11.5 pounds and 28 inches with 3-4 inches off each thigh, my abdomen and my hips! I have even lost .5 off my neck. Crazy huh.

Did you read that? 11.5 pounds lost and -28 inches off my 5'3" frame. Wow.

So yes, I love Isagenix and would love to share my journey with you.  

You can go to my website and check it out for yourself. They have a money back guarantee. Credit Cards work great. :)

It was hard to "bite the bullet" and sign up as an "associate with auto-ship." Really hard. But looking back just these few weeks, I am so thankful that I did it. I think you would be to. 

And just in case you need a reminder.. both of these are me.

Edited to add that I do rock the Cleanse. I haven't done one every week, but I have done one most weeks and one two day. I feel like this is my strong point!

Another Isagenix Milestone

I hit another Isagenix milestone this week.

I'm rather pumped about it.

I completed my first 2 day cleanse and with it am feeling stronger and leaner than I have since longer than I can remember.

In fact, to be honest.. when I was starving myself at age 16 and wearing a GIRLS size 12/14, I might have weighed less, but I wasn't confident and I wasn't strong. I was weak and broken and hiding.

Today, I am proud of who I am and where I am going!

This was me on Wednesday of this week. I had just taken 2 minutes off my 1/2 mile swim time!

That night I was a vendor at Tarleton's Kinesiology expo for a thousand students. I didn't go prepared. I really wasn't sure what to take or what to do. But what I found out about myself through this is that I am really proud of my progress and who I have become. I didn't sell anything at the fair. ( I didn't have product to sell! I only had the product Doug and I use everyday!) But I was able to inspire a few others and give hope to others. 

Lifelong fitness is a journey for EVERYONE! 

Thursday morning I got up and ran 4 miles with friends. After a 2 day nutritional cleanse.  I realize it's hard to even fathom. I can't explain how it works either... I just follow the guidelines and I don't feel crazy or even all that hungry for that matter.  

Then I took measurements... and smiled. 

Over the 2 days I lost 4.5 pounds and 13.75 inches! While I LOVE the pounds lost.. I am more excited about the inches. With the scale victory I am now pretty much the same size as when I got pregnant with Maddie.. and she turns 16 in a few weeks!

With the inches lost, my BMI goes down and my lean muscle mass goes up. How exciting.

And so here I am.

Dreaming of the future.

I stepped on the scale with WET HAIR. What was I thinking?

I stepped on the scale with WET HAIR!!

Anyone who has obsessed over their weight knows that WET HAIR increases the scale by at least a 1/2 pound (especially if you have lots of thick hair like I do!). 

And that 1/2 pound can be the difference in a good day and a bad day.

But I stepped on the scale with wet hair after a swim workout.. which meant no sweat pounds lost (another no-no for scale crazed peeps) and I had LOST a 1/2 pound. 

And  that's when it hit me. I've changed. Yes, I've lost a lot of weight over the last few years. But my mind and my metabolism have finally changed.

Every single day, I feel stronger and better than I have ever felt. Okay, maybe not ever felt, but at least have felt in the last 25 years.

Why? Because I am eating.

I am eating real food. Often.

When I feel hunger, I eat. Which means, I'm not hangry.

I'm taking a ton of vitamins and am eating superfoods.

I feel great and I'm still losing inches and pounds.

Yeah. I'm still shaking my head.

It's hard to break a cycle that was created in early teen years. As a sophomore in high school, I would make a slimfast shake and make it last for two meals by drinking 1/2 for breakfast and freezing the rest and eating it super slow for lunch. Then I would do a two hour workout after school and then be lightheaded and dizzy for dinner. No wonder.

I had major body image problems.

This food deprivation killed my metabolism and wrecked my psyche.  This cycle of deprivation and binge eating went on for years and years. 

But today, I feel like I am finally finding out who I am meant to be and just how strong and fit I can be as well.

I think part of this transformation of my mind comes in the form of peanut butter. :) 

Really. 

Cause for the first time in my adult life, peanut butter isn't taboo. 

My go to morning breakfast after a workout is a Isagenix Creamy Dutch Chocolate Shake with a scoop of Isagenix Greens (powdered superfood), a banana and a scoop of peanut butter. It's amazing.

Here is a picture of the ingredients, along with my morning vitamin pack and my morning drink of Ionix Supreme.

Look at this. That is one thick and rich this shake!

And there isn't any reason to make this last all day. I drink it first thing and then even have a mid-morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack! 

Yep, that's crazy talk. Eating regularly scheduled meals without guilt.

I also really love that Isagenix makes chocolate candy! Let's be honest, I'm going to eat candy anyway. And candy is becoming less of a crave because it's not off limits anymore.

And even when I eat candy from the convenience store, donuts for breakfast or any number of non-healthy choices, I'm not beating myself up about it anymore.

I feel a freedom and peace of mind that I don't remember ever having with or about food.

And that is priceless.

I so desperately want my friends to experience this freedom. But it's not cheap. And their journey is not my journey.

So, I'm just going to say this.

I'm here. I'd love to answer your questions.

The products are guaranteed. There is no commitment. 

If you are interested, check out my website.  

http://emilymclemore.isagenix.com/ 

If you aren't interested, I promise to not become that person you avoid in person or block on facebook.

Isagenix products have taken over my kitchen counter, have become a regular part of my lifestyle and I wouldn't have it any other way!

My 30 day Isagenix report.. a successful start!

In the midst of the chaos of January/February, I decided to finally try Isagenix. I blogged about my decision to make the commitment to myself a few weeks ago.

Anyway. In the last 30 days, here are a few of the tidbits I have learned.

1. Cellular cleansing: I am way more self controlled and diligent on cleanse days.  How can I have more energy and feel awesome only drinking Cleanse for Life and water and eating a few wafers? I don't know. But I do. I can feel the toxins leaving my body. it. is. crazy.  I do this once a week and I don't need to cheat or add extras to my plan. I even work out on these days. I am still shocked each week when it works.

2. The products work: The success of the plan is not dependent on my ability to be hard core. I know. That doesn't make sense either, but I have yet to make it on a "shake day" without eating something that is not plan friendly. Like my glass of wine. Or a bite size chocolate. Or lets be honest.... over the last 30 days, I have had a number of fast food meals and donuts.

3. I feel too good to stop. I'm so going to do another 30 day challenge. Maybe this month I can be a little more focused.. there is no telling what I can do if I am diligent!

So all that to say, how did I do?

Well... see below!

Here I am this morning in my classroom. 

You know, I'm starting to like the way I look in pictures. And that is huge. My waist is noticeably trimmer, my clothes are comfortable or even loose and I feel good.

Interested?

Send me a message at emilymclemore@yahoo.com or check out my website at http://emilymclemore.isagenix.com/ and then send me a message. There is a lot to take in and I'd love to tell you about it.

These products work.

Eat to Live, My 6 week recap and the OFFICIAL RESULTS

My 6 week Eat to Live trial run is complete. It should have been complete last Monday, but since I basically took the week of Maddie's birthday off, I added a week to the complete the full six week challenge.

And here are the official results.

I lost 10.5 pounds 

(based on today's weigh-in... which is 1.5 pounds up from Wednesday.. Wednesdays are my light days.. so really, we could say that I lost 12 pounds.)

But the eye-popping changes are:

• Waist -4 inches
• Hips -3 inches
• Chest - 2 inches
• Right Thigh -6.25 inches
• Left Thigh -6 inches
• Right Bicep -1.25 inches
• Left Bicep -1.25 inches
• Shoulder -.75 inch
• Right Calf -1.5 inches
• Left Calf -2 inches

That's a total of 28 inches GoNe since April 6th.

AMAZING!!

Did you read that? 

I LOST TWENTY-EIGHT INCHES in 6 weeks.

Even better, I feel great and am committed to this lifestyle! 

Want to learn more about Eat to Live? Check out Dr. Furhman's website.

What? These pants are tooo big!!

When I started this journey, I knew that I wanted to feel better, but I really wasn't expecting to LOOK different, or to lose enough weight and inches that my clothes would be too big.

But here I am..

Here is my week 5 midweek report.

I am 4 pounds from weighing what I weighed when I went to the doctor for my first OB visit with Maddie, SIXTEEN YEARS AGO! 

Yeah. 

And, my size 6 pants are HUGE on me. 

I never imagined that I would need a smaller size than 6, so over the last year I have restocked my wardrobe a few pieces at a time.  All of my pants are too big now.  Time to buy size 4. 

WHAT? 

That is CRAZY talk.

Anyone want to go shopping? :)

I'm not even dreading swimsuit season this year!

Eat to Live. Day 17 Update... you are not going to believe it

I sound like an infomercial. 

Too bad I'm not being paid for my results!!

Day 17 of Eat to Live.

Here I am this morning.

(Sidenote: I'd like to go on record for saying that I don't have toothpaste on my chin. 

That's a weird spot in the picture? No clue, but I don't really have two white spots on my face... just sayin.)

Okay for the results....so far!

Day 17: 

Pounds lost: 9!!!!! 

Yes, that is NINE pounds in 17 days!! 

Inches lost: 10.5!!!

Yes, that is 10.5 inches from my thighs, waist and hips..

I'm not even keeping up with the inches from other areas right now!

And my size 6 pants are too big. 

Oh my gravy. I am pumped.

I'm telling you, this veggie, fruit and bean lifestyle works. It is easier and easier to pass up the breads, dairy and fried foods. And I'm not even giving up everything.. I have my coffee (with non-dairy peppermint mocha creamer) every morning and a glass of white wine most evenings.

I truly can't get over how my body has responded to cutting out all of the junk. I eat fresh fruits and veggies for meals (raw and cooked). I eat a little meat, some fish, at least one good serving of any variety of bean every day and occasionally I have a cookie or something like that. 

In fact, we ate at Cotton Patch the other night. I had the Heart Healthy Salmon and Veggies. I ate one piece of cornbread with dinner and it was like eating a donut it was so sweet! Oh how my taste buds have changed.

Don't know how this will continue to play out, but right now, I AM ON FIRE! :)

Another 3 pounds GONE! Eat to Live ROCKS!

I have to share. 

Yes, I have become that crazy nut job that talks about eating brussel sprouts.

I went in to this vegetable eating, no dairy, no sugar, no fats and very little meat with skepticism. I was just really leery of being able to maintain this type of diet for more than 2 days at a time. That my normal limit. I'm good for two days, then I need a day of bad.. where I undo all the good that I did.

But I've been SHOCKED. I would have never thought that I would WANT to eat vegetables.

See... look at this pan of roasted brussel sprouts.

And  on Friday night.. take a look at this. My family ate comfort food. Velveeta shells and cheese with ground meat and black-eyed peas, crescent rolls and fruit.

And what did I eat? I ate roasted vegetables, bell pepper, squash, zucchini, onion, smashed up black beans, a little pico de gallo, and avocado.  For dessert I had pineapple and strawberries. And I CHOSE to eat this way. And it was YUMMY!

Now, the crescent roll was a temptation. It smelled soo good. But I didn't eat any of the bad stuff.

And why? Because I feel GOOD.

My stomach and thighs are SHRINKING! It's crazy stuff. 

And I've had a few bad meals.. and even a couple of Starbucks non-fat no-whip white mochas! I don't feel deprived, because I am eating more food than I normally would, it's just uber healthy! And when I remind myself to not stress and enjoy it, it's easy. My goal is to make good choices 90% of the time and allow myself the white mocha or the bag of chips in the 10% meals. It is a complete paradigm shift.

And it works.

Here is my Day 15 report...

I have lost 7 pounds.
I am sleeping (except for last night... stress got me.  a good reminder of where I have come)
My pants are loose. I have a couple of pair that fit great two weeks ago. I can take them off without unzipping them now. CRAZY!

Did you get that?

7 pounds and 6 inches in 14 days.

I'm a believer.

Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Furhman works.

Soccer, Painting and Weight Loss

Kylie's first soccer game was Saturday. In typical Texas weather, it was 90+ degrees and it had to be 100% humidity. The little girls did awesome in their very first 5 and under soccer game, but man were they tired! 

Here she is before the game. She was READY!

And here are some stills from the game...

  

 

 

 

The games aren't really that long, four 10 minute quarters, with a number of breaks, but it was sooo hot! Not sure who won, they don't keep score, but thankfully our team made enough goals that it could have been us. (probably not)

Anyway.

We are ready for fall!

Next up... My newest painting. 

I love seeing my paintings ready for prints! It is fun!!

I haven't had much time to paint lately, but I need it. It keeps my stress in check! Lately we are so busy and stressed that I can feel it taking a toll on my body. not good.

And last, I'm back trying to lose these pesky last 12 pounds.  Well, to be honest, as of September 1st, it was 17 pounds, but I've already shed the five that I had put on those last weeks of summer. So now I'd like to get to my goal. 

In fact, if I can do it, I'll be smaller than I was when I was in college. I haven't decided if it's realistic yet. I currently wear a size 6 and am the size I was when I met Doug many moons ago. 

So why do I feel the need to lose more weight? It's that I am solid muscle from running long distance and training hard... UNDER a LOT of fat! This fat is that fat gained from eating fast food... for the last 15+ years. 

I want it gone.

I've even stopped eating donuts.

and I'm eating quinoa for lunch.

I mean business and tracking it all through My Fitness Pal (free app!)

More than all of that, I desperately want to run a under 2 hour half marathon. My best time is 2 hours and 13ish minutes. If I can get my eating under control and lose the top layer of fat, I think I could do it!

My times are improving and I feel ready.

Not sure when it will happen. Life is so busy right now that I'm not even competing in this weekend's triathlon that is happening in my town! ouch. 

But we have colorguard, ballet, volleyball and soccer .. oh and yeah, we work full time jobs. Needlesstosay, my desire to compete on Saturdays has to take a back seat to my children's Saturday games. Especially when I am the volleyball coach. (Go Crush!)

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on the goals. Hope to report next week that Kylie has made a goal and that I've lost more weight!

Let the measurements do the talking!

So long scale, you are a finicky friend. You are wishy washy and high maintenance. Some mornings you are my best friend and give me all kinds of love. But the next morning you spew hatred at me.

 

So see ya. I'll still check in with you occasionally, but our relationship is not healthy. I'm going to have to move on.  My new friend is a tape measure. It doesn't need me to call it every morning and every night. Infact, our friendship is best if I only check in once a month or so!

 

 

Yes, my bloggy friends, I am finally forcing myself to move beyond the scale.

Why? Becuase the 2-4 pound swing drives me CRAZY.  Perfect example was yesterday. I was at the gym at 4:30am. I biked for 5 miles, I ran for 3 miles and then lifted weights for 30 minutes. I ate healthy food, worked, and then swam 600 meters. I ate a healthy (smaller portion) dinner and got a good amount of sleep.

I weighed another 1/2 pound heavier this morning. GRR!

However, I remembered that a while back I took some measurements because I was frustrated with the weight loss, but I knew I was doing better physically.

I pulled up my measurement note from January 13, 2014 and retook my measurements!

So while the scale has gone up and down, my overall size has gone down.

Thigh: -1 inch
Hips: - 1.5 inch
Waist: -2 inches
Bust: -1 inch

That is progress!! I'm so glad I did the measurements! I needed that pick me up!

Scale Woes

In case you didn't know this about me yet, I have a love/hate relationship with the scale. I should toss it out and get relief, but I can't. I'm addicted to weighing myself almost daily.

It is frustrating and self-defeating, but I'm being real here and telling you that it is a life-long battle.

What is absolutely nuts about this is that I am in the best shape of my life. I am eating the most healthy foods consistently that I have ever eaten. I feel leaner and stronger than I have ever felt. My clothes fit great.

But the scale this morning was another 2 pounds HEAVIER.

NO!! I wanted to stomp on the scale.

And no, muscle does not weigh more than fat. a pound is a pound. A pound of muscle takes up less space than fat, but it isn't "heavier.."

So what do I do besides throw away the scale?

I don't know. I'm determined to live fully and healthy. That determination is far stronger than just seeing the numbers decrease on the scale. I've done the self-destructive diets in the past and the only prize is the number on the scale. The damage to my metabolism and body isn't worth it.

On Monday I'm starting a Spring Cleaning Eating and Exercises program. One of my facebook friends, a wellness and nutrition guru, is leading the group. I'm excited. I'm hoping with the accountability and meal plans and all that I can retool some more and focus on the STRONGER and LEANER me!

7 Day Slim Down Challenge

A facebook friend of mine who is a fitness guru offered a 7 Day Slim Down Challenge. I, along with a group of others, signed up. I have been lacking motivation lately and figured this was just what I needed!

 

And boy is it! Wowsers. :) The workouts so far are not bad. I must say, I rather enjoy full body workouts. They aren't boring. The hard part is fitting it in with my running. But it is good for me!

 

The eating is harder. Shanna provided a meal plan and its pretty easy to follow. 3 meals and 2 snacks. The problem for me is that I don't do smoothies. at. all. So I'm having to change up some of the meals, but she provided alternative choices too. So, NO EXCUSES!!

 

Today is Day 3. (But I really started on March 1st as I had already made that commitment to myself to reboot my hard drive.)

 

So far, I've lost 3 pounds. Wow! Love it. And for all of you who might think I'm starving myself for the pounds lost... I'm tracking the points in Weight Watchers and I'm hitting my points each day.

 

If any of you need a challange, you should  contact her for the meals and more information!

 

So what did I do this morning? Well...

 

300 jumping jacks

300 crunches

300 squats

75 pushups

2 sets of  plank for 30 seconds

Then finished off with 45 seconds each of burpees, bicycle crunches, jump squats, ski jumps, and mountain climbers.

 

Then I stretched a bit.

 

And was in the shower by 6am.

 

Can't wait to see what tomorrow's workout will bring!

Girl Scout Cookies and Weight Watchers, a tough combination!

I don't know if it's good timing or not... but I'm the cookie mom for Lexi's Girl Scout troop, and I'm back on Weight Watchers.

OUCH!

Here is what my house looked like Monday afternoon.

That's 117 cases of cookies.

That 1404 boxes of deliciousness.

And let's see... Girl Scout cookies vary from about a point a piece for the most basic cookie to two points a piece for the ones I really want on WW.

So lets see.  33 cases of Samoas at 2 points a piece for each cookie

times 12 boxes per case times 14 cookies makes...

11,088 points.

I get 26 points a day.

So I could eat Samoa cookies for my full allotment of points every day for the next 426+ days. 

And then I could start on the Tagalongs.

Wow.

Thanks goodness we have 11 very excited girls that are selling cookies.

Or I might be in trouble.

I am happy to report however, that even with the cookies living in my house for the last week, I still lost 2 pounds!

Whew. And I totally blew it on Saturday.

Starting the day with 3 Tagalongs for breakfast will do that to you.

February 21st can't get here soon enough!