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I’m not going to cry or complain about it, this is just matter of fact truth speaking here. Don’t tell me I look good, don’t tell me you’re sorry, don’t give me pity. I take full responsibility for my own actions and decisions, and the plain and simple truth is that when we moved back to Florida in July, I quit following my PCOS diet, again, I started eating ice cream like I was the quality control tester for Blue Bell, and I wasn’t working out. Point blank, I have not been working out . At the bottom of this post is a workout for you to begin using today – no excuses – and the model is me, in all my fluffy glory. Why? Because I want you to know it’s OK to have to start over, and there is no shame in being WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE, as long as you own your choices. This is me owning my choices.
As someone who grew up an athlete from the ripe young age of three, being athletic is like breathing. When I’m not consistently working out, my body completely falls apart, and my mind follows suit. Working out and eating right are synonymous for me, if I’m not eating right, I don’t work out and if I don’t work out, I am not eating right. I don’t think this is necessarily a good or bad thing, it’s just a thing that I know about myself. This is one of the very reasons it’s important to know yourself. I know I can’t slack off in either area, because my entire well being suffers as a result.
I’m still the same, confident woman I was before, I just have a whole lot more pounds to cart around and I’m constantly uncomfortable. I don’t like being uncomfortable. I’m built to be curvy, not fat. Curvy and fat aren’t the same thing , by the way, and being fat makes me really pissed off with myself. I’m an athlete! I’m muscular and strong! I have stamina! The chubby person sitting in the chair writing this article is not meant to be fat! She’s meant to be solid with curves for days! Uncomfortable. SO uncomfortable.
Every time we move to a new location, I get knocked off of the wagon. When we moved to Raleigh, it took me until 5 weeks before we moved to hop back on the eating right wagon, that’s two years, you guys! It took me two years to get my butt back into gear. I can’t let that happen again this time. It has officially been six months since we moved, and I’m determined to stick with the Dr. Fox diet this time, because that is what is healthy for my body – see? Another good reason to know yourself. My healthy might not look like your healthy, and that’s OK, but you have to know what works for you, because your health is what matters.
I’ve been back on the PCOS/Primal diet train for 2 weeks now and I’m back down a pant size, which is good, but I’m still uncomfortable, and eating healthy has been difficult because I haven’t been active. My body craves activity , so when my friend, Beth text me this morning and asked if I wanted to go to the park to work out while the kids played, I was all about it.
I was getting ready to go and I noticed my thought process was off. I was steady coming up with a stream of excuses to spill to Beth as soon as we met up. “Sorry I look a mess, my hair is awful!” “Sorry about the camel toe, these pants just don’t fit quite right.” “Ready to see my jiggle?” “I promise you I used to look better than this in spandex. I wasn’t always this fat.”
*BUZZER SOUND!*WRONG!*
I had to change my thought process at that very moment. NO more excuses. I’m fat. I have jiggle. I HAVE BACK FAT – the HORROR! I’m slower than slugs swimming through primordial goo. But I am an athlete. I am strong, and I’ve started from ground zero before, I CAN and WILL do it again. Instead of the negative thoughts, I puffed myself up and just told myself I was my own competition. I didn’t need to make excuses to my friend, I needed to be rejoicing the fact that she invited me to work out, because it was exactly what I wanted to do today, and exactly the push I needed. I may have made a joke or two about the size of my butt, but what’s a day without a butt joke? I love my butt, I’m allowed to poke fun at it.
I heard you telling me to get to the point and I apologize. If you’ve been here a while, you know how long winded I am. It matches my long bottom, what can I say?
What am I doing about the fat and unhealthiness?
Well, I’m back on the Dr. Fox diet otherwise known as the PCOS Diet . I am limiting my carbohydrates to 60 per day while eating whole fat dairy, meat, vegetables, and limited amounts of fruit. This works for me. It works for my body, my mind, and my physiology. I don’t know why I ever stop. I’ve fallen in love with infused, flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils for healthy, natural flavoring for my food. I’m meal planning again, and as of today, I’m working out. I’m also running a series AS OF TODAY that will track my progress, with all of you watching. I can’t, I won’t fail if I have people to hold me accountable.
My word for this year is “Fearless”.
I will no longer let fear rule my direction, stop me from trying, or dictate the way I do things. Might I fall off the wagon again? Perhaps. But the fear of falling off will not keep me from starting. This time around, I have a partner and someone who wants to get fit too. Having someone to do things with you helps with success in health and fitness goals. On the days you want to stay at home and eat a bag of OREOs, your friend will help get you out of the house and motivate you to get moving, or at least they should, and you should do the same for them.
I’ve purchased some aids to help me stay on track too.
All too often we become complacent when we work out or exercise and eventually, if we don’t keep track of what we’re doing, our bodies can plateau, which can lead to failure. I think setting yourself up for success is incredibly important, which is why I’m Fusing Fitness with Technology for a smarter workout. I took my Christmas money to Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy some new sports bras and compression sleeves for running. When I was standing in line to check out, I was captivated by the headphones in the glass case. I felt like a kid at Christmas. Wait, yeah. Anyway, I asked to take a look at a box of SMS Audio BioSport ear buds. They boasted a heart rate monitor which is incredible to have when you’re trying to lose fat, and clear sound. They also promised to be sweat and water resistant , which is absolutely necessary for me because I sweat like, you know, a red light special girl in church on Sunday. You could ring my clothes out when I’m done working out and use the water to hydrate a small army. Water resistant headphones are necessary. These headphones are also compatible with lots of fitness apps, including RunKeeper, which is my new go-to app for running. The thing that sold me though, is the fact that the ear buds came with three different sized ear gels. I have quite possibly the world’s smallest ear holes and headphones either hurt like the dickens, or fall out of my ears because they’re just too darned big. They totally won me over and I walked out $149.99 poorer, but a with a surprisingly healthy and excited outlook on the new year.
Your goals don’t have to be my goals, but it is important to set some goals at the beginning of the year. You don’t have to call them New Year’s Resolutions, just call them goals and strive to obtain them with every breath. Surround yourself with people who are working toward goals of their own that are synonymous with your own. And go pick up this One-Device Workout Accessory for Ultimate Comfort RIGHT NOW.
BioSport™ Heartrate monitor currently works on the following devices: Apple iPhone 4S, Apple iPhone 5, Apple iPhone 5S, Apple iPhone 5C, Apple iPhone 6, Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy Grand II Duos, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5, LG Nexus 5, Motorola Moto X.
Don’t let fear, your budget, time, or your location hold you back from being healthy. Those are excuses that you need to cut out right now. They’re the same excuses I’ve been using for the past six months and they’re just lies from the pit of The Donut Hole. These ear buds, a good pair of athletic shoes, workout gear, a support system, and your own muscles are all you need to be successful and get started on the yellow brick road back to health. All of my gear cost less than a year’s membership at the gym, especially once you factor child care and gas in, and I can do these exercises from the comfort of my own home, or at one of the many parks in my area. Get dirty! You’re going to sweat regardless, so might as well get nasty while doing it!
This mini workout doesn’t take long and is the perfect place to get started. You can increase the number of reps once this is no longer challenging, but don’t decrease them. You can and will surprise yourself with your own strength. Mad props to Beth of Roberts Creative Marketing & Design for this great workout.
Don’t forget to take before pictures! They will help you see how far you’ve come!
2015’s Fearless Mini-Workout
1. Warm up by walking for 5 minutes
2. Run the length of a soccer field and back one time
3. Do 10 Squats
4. Do 10 push-ups – however you can do them!
5. Do 10 full sit-ups, chest to knees.
6. Repeat steps 2 – 5 four more times for a total of 5 sets.
7. Cool down by walking 5 minutes.
8. Gently stretch any muscles you can feel burning.
9. Eat something high in protein to rebuild muscles within 30 minutes of working out.
10. Revel in the changes your body feels immediately after working out each time.
NO EXCUSES! What are you doing to get healthy this year?
Follow SMS Audio on the following social channels for more inspiration and product information:
SMS Audio on Twitter * Intel on Twitter * SMS Audio on Facebook * SMS Audio on Instagram * SMS Audio BioSport
Kristin Wheeler (@MamaLuvsBooks) says
You can do it Summer! I am the biggest I’ve been in years!!! Back to the gym for me!
Summer says
Thanks, Kristin! Luckily I didn’t get back to my biggest weight, but I’m pretty sure I’m close. It feels AWFUL. We can do this!
Kenda says
I’m right there with you. Drop the pounds and I get lazy and watch them all come crawling back again. I’m getting my motivation back now and starting a new exercise program…aka deathwish… Monday. I won’t even tell anyone what it is because I’m so scared it will be a royal fail. lol But I won’t know unless I try!
Summer says
Yep. For me it was just the move and eating badly on the 2 day trip down then while we were unpacking. It just snowballed from there, and then my loving, enabling husband brought home ice cream every time I asked him to, so I was eating like a pint a night. It was awesome. NOT. I can’t wait to see how HOT you are after your new exercise program starts working. 🙂
Saidah Washington says
Getting back to clean eating and going a little heavier on my weight lifting. I want a six pack this year. Almost had it last year.
Summer says
I’ve never been able to get a six pack, even at my most fit, but I did have some killer obliques and a fantastic summer. I know you can do it, girl! I can’t wait to see that six pack!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
I love your honesty in this post!
The amount of emails in your inbox would give me a panic attack.
Summer says
HAHAHA! I have three mailboxes included in that number and one of them is pretty much just spam and deals. I don’t even see it anymore.
Stephanie says
great post -very inspirational!! I am so guilty of being afraid to get healthier…like I know I should go running and actually want to, but let my fears stop me! *sigh* 🙂
Summer says
Don’t let your fears get you anymore! I know for certain I feel better when I’m working out. Let’s do it together! (from really far away) 🙂
Joy says
I super love your post! Thank you for keeping it real and offering some awesome tips!
Summer says
Thanks Joy! Are you loving these ear buds as much as I am?
Andrea Kruse says
I love your honesty, and post title! I am in the same big butt bracket, but I am working it currently to loose some. Starting over is fine… you just have to start, right? When fit, I had super strong legs. Now I may have to get a pair of these headphones to motivate me back to that happy place. Love your tips and inspiration! #client
Summer says
Big booty girls UNITE! I had super strong legs when I was fit too. I’ll never be skinny and I”m OK with that, I build bulky muscles instead of lean ones and I love them now. I just need to shed some fat and work on my fitness and muscles again. I feel so yucky!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
LOVED reading this!! You are such an inspiration to me, you know that already though! It’s nice to see that I’m not the only one that kind of falls off the band wagon every once in a while! I was on such a roll and then don’t know why I kinda fizzled out. Luckily I didn’t fall too far off and haven’t gained weight back, but I have so much I need to loose. Love the workout! Thanks for all your encouragement and this amazing post 🙂
Tracie Merwitzer says
Hey Summer!
You were with me on the previous weight loss journey.. and what a great trip that was!!! Unfortunately, like you, I moved to Florida and put it all back on. Between the move, a change from working a home based business to an 8:30 to 5:30 and an ankle surgery, I sat and ate myself right out of all the new clothes my dad bought me for losing the weight. I’m with you on the journey back into the fit chicks we were before leaving Wake Forest. I am starting with a Master Cleanse (or some version of it) and forcing yoga and Zumba back into my schedule. Here is to our incredible shrinking, curvy and toned butts.
Christie says
great read! I too got fatter again. 2015 is about getting real for me. Sounds like you set the same goal! Changing jobs and I think I’m emotionally eating. Talenti gelato and lightly salted Kay’s snuck back into the house this past October. No more! Getting real and taking control. Thanks for your post.