Muscle Building Phase 1 Results

Before we talk about my Phase 1 Results from Muscle Building... can we talk about how stinking adorable my boys are?! I mean look at them!!! These jammies were Caleb's first "big boy" jammies and now Dax can wear them. MELT MY HEART!!!!

One more thing before the results and I share this with you to let you know I am human, I am NOT perfect and my weight loss journey isn't either. I have my melt downs, I overeat, I cry about my weight and I send horrible text messages to my husband about myself and then when he comes to tell me that I am beautiful and that he loves me, I snap at him and tell him to leave me the hell alone. Do I wish that I wouldn't do this, hell yes I do... but like I said, I am human and I am flawed. If I could make the mental side of weight loss easier, I would have done it many years ago. I hate the mental side of it and I am currently struggling with it and since I am working on #ProjectJordan I decided I needed to open up about it instead of holding it all in and feeling alone... so here I am, my name is Jordan and I am struggling hardcore!!!

I think one of the reasons I am struggling is because for the past 8 months I have lost 10-12 pounds every month. Now I am getting closer to my goal and I am not losing as quickly... which I get but still doesn't help with the emotional rollercoaster. Plus I have been doing a bulking phase to put on muscle and so I knew I probably wouldn't lose and maybe even gain this past month.... still didn't help when I stepped on the scale this morning and saw I weighed the EXACT same weight as I did when I started this phase 4 weeks ago!!!

Then I did my measurements... Yes, I lost 10.5 total body inches!!! Did I want more, you better believe your sweet ass I wanted more. I am human, we always want more. UGH! I am happy with my inches lost, I truly am. I just want to fast forward time and get out of this bulking stage so I can lean out and see the real transformation of all my hard work...

Here are my photos... We moved a couch in front of the gray wall in my craft room so now my "selfie wall" in my bathroom is my new background from now on...

 

 

 

I leave for Georgia today and I plan on having a good time, enjoying myself and trying to stay on track as much as I can. I do have workout clothes packed and hope to squeeze in a few workouts while I am there... and then Tuesday when I get back home, I will start Phase 2!!!

To become a Jessie's Girl and purchase the plan I am on click HERE

Ollie Marie!!

When I find a good store that I fall madly in love with, I have to share it with all of you guys and gals so y'all can be in love too... Let's take a minute and talk about Ollie Marie Boutique (aka OMB)!!!

This store was started by one of my favorite fitness people, Skinny Meg, out of her house and it is all online. I am usually not a online shopping kind of girl when it comes to clothes because I need to try things on and I have like ZERO patience for shipping. However, my experience with OMB has been above extraordinary and the shipping is SUPER fast. I thought maybe it was just me since I don't live to far away from her but I see other women on Instagram saying the same thing. And did I mention... the shipping is FREE!!! Please tell me I am not the only one who will put $100 in my cart only to cancel the order because shipping is too much money. Well with OMB we don't have to worry about that!!!

(I am in love with these pants and had to wait for her to re-stock them before I was able to snag me a pair)

I think one of the things I love most about OMB is that Megan really listens to what the ladies who shop at her store really want. She will periscope and ask for feed back, ask us to help name her new items and she shares how she visions each item to be worn. She is real, open and honest and I think that is what makes her store amazing and successful. 

 

(I haven't actually worn this dress yet, I bought it back in Nov/Dec and I planned on wearing it for Vegas but I forgot to pack it.. bummer! So, I am now planning on wearing it to dinner in Georgia this weekend!)

Another thing I LOVE about OMB, the fan base!!! Seriously some of my favorite Instagram girls have become my friends because we both have a love for OMB. Megan (and her other lovely ladies who work for her) will post fan/client photos on their page, it is awesome to see other women wearing the same clothing as you. It gives you ideas on how to wear it and what to pair it with. Plus if you are like me and instantly like that person's page, it will give you another friend that you can compare notes with!! That is how I became friends with Melissa (runthisweigh) on Instagram!! I have seen things on OMB page that I thought wouldn't look good on me, then I see it on one of the other followers and it changes my mind!

 

(This is my 2nd favorite piece I have bought so far from OMB. I mean it has flowers on it and I am Mrs. Flowers... so... Casey talked me into wearing it as a dress in Vegas but when I am back home, I like to pair it with tights, shorts or jeans)

OMB has real sizing! When you order a large, you get a large. You don't get a medium that is labeled a large. If the sizing is off at all, Megan will post it on the page to let you know to size up or size down. Like I said earlier, I don't really like shopping for clothes online because I don't know how they will fit me. I think with Megan running this store and being someone who has dealt with being overweight and losing the weight, she has tried to stay true to sizing. She isn't a stick thin Barbie doll (no offense to anyone who is) but she is a real woman with real curves and muscle (love the muscle) so she tries to pick pieces that she know will look good on other real women.

 

(This is my FAVORITE piece I ever ever ever bought in my entire life!!! I have big plans for this skirt in August when it is my thirty FIRST birthday... hint hint on the FIRST part)

Speaking of sizing, did I mention that she has PLUS SIZES?! Seriously, the girl has it all. After having Dax I was lost on clothes but I still wanted to be cute but I felt like a whale. OMB was my one stop shop. I was tight on a budget but I was able to purchase a few pieces that made me feel sexy again even when I was close to 300 pounds. Clothes shopping sucks and especially after just having a baby, I was so glad I had OMB to turn to.

 

(this dress made me feel so pretty, like a pretty I had never felt before. I hated the way I looked and I hated that I had gained so much weight from my miscarriage and pregnancy with Dax, but when I slipped into this dress I felt fierce and sassy. I swear it was magical. I also loved that being 5'10, it still touched the floor. I swear it had magical powers Megan forgot to tell us about)

When you purchase from OMB you will receive a pink package (like the one Caleb is holding at the top of this blog) and your clothes will be wrapped in adorable white tissue paper with gold stars. I have to say, it is almost as good as opening a birthday present. Every time I get a pink package in the mail, I get so giddy and the boys wait to see what I bought and they instantly make me try it on and show them. Funniest thing... one day Caleb checked the mail and said "you got a pink package from that Skinny Peg person!" I about lost it laughing so hard. Oh I love my boys... and I love OMBs wrapping job on my clothes!!!

(This shirt was a HIT every time I wore it. Sadly, it is too big for me now but maybe next fall I can pair with some tights OR pass it down to one of my girlfriends... I am just not ready to get rid of it yet)

I did just notice that OMB now has a loyalty rewards program!!! Say what?! Yep, for every dollar you spend, you earn 1 point. When you collect 100 points (spend $100) you will receive 10% off you order. She also has savings codes for some of her friends on Instagram (becomingbethany and getfitkatie are IG pages that I follow that I notice codes on) that will save you 20% on your orders!

Also, if she is out of stock on items she is planning to restock, there is a side tab that will pop up and allow you to put your email address and phone number in requesting a certain size. When that size comes in, you will be notified and you can purchase then. It has come in handy for me a few times!

(I fell in LOVE with this dress when it was posted online. I was nervous about it being short and it was very short but I was able to pair it with some jeans and still rock it at work. I haven't tried it on in a long time and I know I have lost a lot of weight since I posted this picture above, so maybe next time I try it on it might fall longer on my legs?! We shall see. This is another piece I am just not ready to give up yet... its too cute!)

This blog is 110% my thoughts and my idea, Megan didn't ask me to write it... actually I asked her if it was okay. I just love being able to find something I love and be able to share it with my followers. If you haven't heard of OMB yet, make sure to check her out and if you have already heard about it... well, she posted new arrivals yesterday!!!

www.olliemarie.com

I am over here waiting for Friday... come on pay day, I have some shopping I would like to do!

M-A-C-R-O-S!

The number one question I get asked almost daily is about macros. What are they? How do I calculate them? What do I eat? How did I teach myself about them?

And the list can go on and on...

I have typed up a little blurp about macros from my view with links to websites I found helpful. This is what I send to everyone who ask about macros and I figured I would post it on my blog as well. Remember, this is MY view of macros, this is MY research, this is what I found helpful for ME... This is not 100% Gold and it doesn't mean that you cant find another way to be successful at Macros. Everyone is different and everybody is different, you have to find what works best for you!

Macros

Okay so the best way I can explain them I that your body needs a set amount of grams of protein, fats, and carbs. No matter if you're trying to gain, maintain or lose. The amount you provide your body will determine if you gain, maintain or lose the weight. When you start working out, you can allow extra grams of each to give you fuel to have energy to workout. The more hardcore your workouts are the more you get to eat. The less active you are the less you want to eat. You want to log everything and weigh everything so you are making sure you aren't getting too much or too less of one thing. 

When I first found out about macros, I did a lot of research and played around with numbers until I found a set of numbers that I felt comfortable with and I started to lose weight. It was trial and error and it wasn't perfect at all. I would google everything I could think of that was related to macros and just play around with it.

Here is a blog that I suggest reading up about macros! It was one of the most helpful ones I came across while doing all of my research.

http://www.katiesfitscript.com/macros-for-newbies

Then, back in January I paid this girl Paige $35 to figure up my macros (what to eat and how much) and she gave me TONS of information! She is worth all $35... iifymcoachingbypaige@gmail.com. She will NOT give you a day to day meal plan, you have to create that for yourself, but once you have your numbers it really isn't that hard.

Just shoot her an email and you go from there! And here is her page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flexcoachingbypaige

You can also figure up your own macros here: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/macronutrients_calculator.htm

The macros I am doing now are from a calculation I received when I bought the Jessie's Girls workout, you can find it here: https://jessiefitness.com/jessiesgirls the workouts come with TONS of nutritional information that goes over Macros more in depth.

Any more questions you have, I will help you as much as I can. I am not a pro at this and I am not a nutritionist, trainer or a doctor. This is just a passion of mine and I have had a lot of success using macros. I was a clean eater for years and making the switch to macros was a little bit of a jump but it was well worth it for sure!

Letting the cat out of the bag...

This morning on the way to work I was listening to "Lose Yourself" by Eminem because it always gets me so pumped up. It made me think, I need to let the cat out of the bag on my big secret I have been carrying around. The song says it perfectly: Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment would you capture it, or just let it slip?

I am a go getter, I like to set the bar high and accomplish those goals. Basically, you can call me a goal digger!

Last August when I started the Kelsey Byers Challenge, she asked what our goals were for the 12 week challenge. I always try to make a lot of small goals and one overall HUGE goal. That way when I hit small goals, I feel like I have achieved something awesome and I don't feel defeated because I still have a long time to go before I hit my HUGE goal.

Example of Small Goals I have set since August 2015:

* To feel sexy again

* To lose 5 pounds

* To wear a certain outfit

* To lift a little bit heavier or more reps

* Log my food daily

& the list could go on and on

Y'all ready to hear my HUGE goal this time around?!

In Spring of 2017... I, Jordan Flowers, WILL step on stage and compete in a Bikini Fitness Competition!!!

My goal isn't to get huge muscular but to have muscle definition and have the confidence to wear that little bikini and heels. I have zero intentions on placing (maybe that will change as I start to train more for it) but I am focused more on doing it for myself and being able to share my story of being close to 300 pounds and then working my ass off to get on stage!!

My goal is to look like these lovely ladies... maybe just less boob because lets be honest, what I have now is all Victoria Secret!

I will say that Casey is totally on board with this and cant wait to show off pictures to his friends.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Want to know my biggest fear of this goal? Walking on stage in those heels, my knee giving out (like it does from time to time), falling and my lady parts being exposed to the judges because that little bikini doesn't cover much. HAHAHA! Could you imagine?! I would probably just lay there and not move hoping no one saw me!!!!

I tell you my goal now because it is one year away, I am really focusing on it now and really trying to build up my muscles and I am not so worried about my weight right now. When I get done with this 12 weeks of muscle building, I am going to start cutting and leaning out and see where I am. Later this summer, I plan on meeting with a coach and seeing what I need to do from there, obviously it will still be too far out to train but I will get a better grasp on what needs to be done because honestly I am going into all of this blindly.

I tell you my goal so you can hold me accountable and help motivate me to keep going. This next year isn't going to be easy but then again if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

I told my Jessie's Girls group my goal first to see their reaction and they were SO supportive and told me to go on with my bad self! One even offered to sponsor me with a suit... how awesome is that? I told them that I was nervous to tell other people because of how they would react and they all told me to not care what anyone else says, if it is something I want to do, do it!!!

So with that being said... if you have any negative comments towards this goal of mine, please keep them to yourself!

You guys I am so excited to really see my body transform this next year and I get even more excited when I think about stepping on that stage and seeing my friends and family out there cheering me on!!! EEK!!!

Happy Friday and I hope you all have a great weekend!!!

#ProjectJordan

Have you ever felt like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and if you don't keep going forward, everything will just fall apart and crumble into millions of little pieces (that you will probably have to eventually clean up because there is no one else to do it)?

If you have ever had this feeling, welcome to my every day life!!

Yesterday, my sweet friend Kelsey, posted this on her fitness page and I felt very convicted by it.

She ask the question... are you guilty of giving your ALL to everyone else and you come last? I am SO guilty of doing just that.

Monday night Casey stayed home from work with me because of everything I was dealing with medically and I just needed a break from life. It had gotten so bad that I felt like I was drowning screaming for help but everyone around me saw my life so put together and so "perfect" that no one could see I was really begging for someone to save me from myself... not even my own husband!

That night before bed, I asked him to talk. I poured my heart out to him and told him everything on my mind. I let him know that I wasn't meaning to make him feel bad in anyway at all but that I needed him to step up and help me more. I need him to focus more on what I have on my plate and when he thinks my plate is getting full, help remove some stuff without me having to ask.

I am stubborn and hardheaded and I don't ask for help. I told him that when I do ask for help to make it a priority because by the time I do eventually break down and ask for someone to help me, it is my last resort and something that I feel needs to be done right then. He is the type that will take my request and put it on the back burner and will "do later"... That is telling me, why even bother asking for help when I know it will be put off and I will just have to do it anyways.

I just want you to WANT to do the dishes!!! Its not about you loving the ballet... its about the person you love loving the ballet!

Please tell me this isn't just a "fight" we have... heck I don't only have this "fight" with my husband but also with friends and family.

Long story short and lets get back on track... I have decided to start #ProjectJordan!

What is #ProjectJordan?

It is where I focus more on me. Where I focus more on what I want and finding peace in the areas that I get frustrated with (insert really anyone's name here) not wanting to want to do the "dishes." It is where I stop trying to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders and hand some of the responsibilities off to other people. It is where I stop giving my ALL to everyone else and save some for me. It is where I allow myself to be selfish from time to time so I am not burned out and have crying fest because I don't feel like I can go on anymore. It is where I stop taking on projects for other people and stop offering up the time I am supposed to be focusing on myself to help them out. It is where I learn to just LET IT BE!!!!

Does this mean I am going to stop being helpful? Not one bit. It means that I need to set aside time for myself and once it is set aside, nothing else interferes with it. Not my husband, not my kids, not my friends, family, not my fitness followers, not social media, nothing! 

I am wearing myself so thin that if I don't get a grasp on it sooner than later, there will be nothing left to give. Today I am taking control and I am going to focus on giving back to myself. Today is my day!

Tomorrow... it might be a struggle, who knows. Each day is a new day and I am willing to take this day by day and hopefully one day I will look back and realize that I have a great grasp on this and that the stress I have been carrying around isn't as much as it is now. That is my hope anyways!

#ProjectJordan

The Marble

For the past few weeks I have mentioned on here and on my fitness page that I have been having headaches that won’t go away. Yesterday I mentioned that I have been going through some stuff that I would blog about later… well, the time is here and I feel comfortable enough to open up about it now.
 

When I was 9 years old, my mom was diagnosed with Lymphoma. I remember the exact moment she told us kids, it was dinner time and we were eating bratwurst. To this day, anytime I see a bratwurst  I instantly think of that horrible day filled with so many sad and scared moments. My mom beat it and is still alive today (annoying me more than ever, haha just kidding mom). Why do I tell you this??

The past 3 weeks I have been having chronic headaches. They switch back and forth from my left to right temple. I feel so run down and so just blah. I have been through depression before and I know I am not mentally depressed but I feel like my body is physically depressed… if that even makes sense. I am happy go lucky on the inside but my body doesn’t match that. A huge red flag is my napping, I never nap and lately that is all I want to do. Yes, I am eating well and yes, I am working out the right amount and not overdoing it any. I just feel blah!!

Last Thursday I was rubbing my neck and found a lump on the side of my neck. I decided to give myself a full body scan and make sure I didn’t have any other lumps anywhere else… I didn’t. I had my mother in law feel it to make sure it wasn’t just in my head, she confirmed that it was in fact there and suggested I go and see a doctor. The lump is very hard and feels like I have a marble suck under my skin. First thing Friday morning I made a doctor’s appointment to have it checked out, luckily they were able to squeeze me in that morning. All I could think about was that horrible day when my mom told us about her lymphoma.
 

Casey had just left for Utah the day before and he was where he had no cell service. I started freaking out and feeling all alone. I am overly emotional and Casey is the calm collective one. I needed to hear his voice and have him tell me everything was going to be okay. I called and called and called all morning long, but nothing.

When I got to the doctor’s office I was seen right away and she seemed very concerned. There was no  pain when she pushed on my “marble” and I told her how I had been feeling and she questioned my lifestyle and family history. She sent me for lab work (4 things of blood later) and they squeezed me in for an ultrasound on my neck. Being that it was Friday afternoon already, she let me know I wouldn’t know anything  until Monday around lunch time but that she was going to rush it and hope to get the results back quicker. Ugh!

The ultrasound was rushed and they actually called me back Friday afternoon. The doctor said that she was really hoping it was just a swollen gland but that it was in fact a lymph node but she would have to wait until my blood work came back to tell if it was cancerous or not and that my blood work wouldn’t come back until Monday, that they weren’t able to rush it. She said it was a 50/50 chance it could be cancerous or something viral/bacterial. She said in case it is viral/bacterial, she wanted to go ahead and start me on some medication over the weekend. If it ended up being viral/bacterial, this medicine would help clear it up in no time. I started the medication Friday and hoped for the best all weekend long.

I finally was able to talk to Casey and he helped calm me down… but like I said in yesterday’s blog, I was home alone with Dax all weekend and he was being a wild child. I had a headache that lasted from Friday until yesterday and all I wanted to do was lay in bed, but Dax wouldn’t let me. I contemplated skipping the gym and just binge eating all weekend long, but I needed to take my mind off things so I got up and worked out Friday and Saturday. I didn’t binge eat because to be honest, I didn’t have much of an appetite at all. Actually, I didn’t meet my macros at all this weekend. I tried but I just couldn’t.

Yesterday was the day for my results and it felt like forever but they finally came back and everything looks good. Casey was able to call off work to be with me because I really didn’t want to be alone when the call came in. After playing phone tag with the doctor’s office, I finally was able to talk to the nurse and my lump (aka my “marble”) is NOT cancerous!!! The only down side to it all is that they really don’t know what it is and they don’t know what to do for it. They told me to continue to take my medication and watch the size and hardness and to follow up later this week. If the size and hardness have no change, I will go back in to the office and we will go from there (most likely a biopsy). So far, no change. The medication she prescribed was to clear up any infections I might have and she said when the infection is cleared up (if that is what it is) my headaches should become fewer and fewer. So far, no change in my headaches either.

I did notice yesterday that the stress of this all has me grinding and clenching my jaw. Maybe that is causing my headaches?! I am really trying to be more aware of it today and hoping that the headaches wont present themselves.

I am SO thrilled to know that it is not cancer, I was so scared!!! I am just ready to get to the root of the problem and fix it. But until then, I will be over here trucking along because these are the days that champions train and I want to be a champion!

Oh Poop!

Man last week got away from me! I kept meaning to blog and every time I had a free second I would get busy again... at work and at home. It was hectic for sure. Then Wednesday night Casey left for a guys fishing trip and didn't return until early evening on Sunday (his flight was delayed by 4 hours, yuck). Caleb went to his Dad's house and I had Dax at home. I thought it would be okay but man Dax is a pill for sure. He is such a great baby but he is my wild child that keeps me on the edge of my seat. Plus on top of it all, I have had this constant headache for about 3 weeks now (yes, I have seen my doctor and we are trying to figure out what is going on) so adding in a baby who misses his brother and daddy and was getting into everything and fighting sleep... it wasn't a pretty weekend!

(Dax is a Daddy's boy and the minute Case got home he was glued to his side. Every time I went over by Case, Dax would shoot me a evil look and push me away. Dax was sitting on the ground and so I went and sat in Casey's lap. The minute I sat down Dax crawled over and pulled himself up on Case and started slapping me in the face until I stood up. When I did he started smiling and snuggled up against Case. He wasn't about to share his Daddy with anyone, not even Momma)

BUT I do have a blog in mind and it is something I have talked about before but wanted to bring up again... Poop!

(Yeah, I scored in the highest range)

We all do it, some more than others but it is a normal thing in life and something I think we need to talk about more. Are you going enough? Are you eating enough fiber? What does your poop say about you? Are you making sure your children have healthy bowels?

I have problems going to the bathroom. I always have since I was little. Actually when I was about 9-10 years old I stayed the night at a hospital because I was in so much pain and come to find out it was because I was so backed up. My step dad likes to say I was full of shit. Ha!

I have been on and off medication for this problem for as long as I can remember. I can go days without going!! It got so bad in my pregnancy with Dax that I actually thought I was going into early labor at 20 weeks. It ended up being what my brother-in-law likes to call a "con-crap-tion"... The doctor told me to do weekly enemas. It wasn't a pretty sight but they worked and I was thankful.

(my view from the potty, always getting into something this kid)

Every doctor I see about this problem ask me how my diet is and if I am active. Umm yes, I am very on top of my diet, I eat my fiber and I drink tons of water and yes I am active. I just have sucky bowels!!! Casey on the other hand goes after every meal almost. I get so jealous sometimes. Haha! One doctor told me they are doing bowel replacements on rats in Europe... interesting, not sure I am ready for that right now but very good to know, Doc!

The one thing I have noticed since starting Macros... I have been going to the bathroom a lot more frequently. I don't know if it is a fluke thing that happened after giving birth or if it is actually keeping track of my macros down to the gram, but whatever it is I love it. There have even been days that I have gone to the bathroom more than once, that is like seeing a unicorn... SO RARE!!!!

A friend of mine told me to start using a stool when I go to the restroom and it has been helping a lot. I also found a thing called a Squatty Potty on Amazon, I think I might buy one so the boys can have their stool back finally. Anyone else use a stool?

(One day I will use the restroom in peace again... one day)

Saturday, I went to the gym and while I was there I had the urge to go to the bathroom like REALLY badly. I don't fight the urge, since I hardly ever have urges. I stopped what I was doing, in the middle of working out my back, and went to the bathroom. I spent about 20 minutes in there (Casey said it could count as my cardio, haha) and then finished my workout where I left off. I decided to ask the girls in my Jessie's Girls group what they would do if they were in my shoes and they all said "Go or be sorry later" Haha!

Well, oh poop... that is all I have for today! Seriously, I know this topic can be gross and who likes to talk about their bowels if you aren't a 12 year old boy... but this is a part of being healthy and I really suggest that if you struggle in this area (like I do) 1. you are NOT alone and 2. please call your doctor and see if they can help get you some much needed relief.

Yall have a great Monday and I promise I will try and blog more this week!

Sunday Blog!!!

First weekend on the new program and I am pretty proud of myself. I wasn't tempted to eat out and I made it to the gym on a Saturday for the first time in a long time. It was also my first time to ever decrease my macros based on a non-training day. I usually keep my macros the same no matter what but with this program, Jessie suggest to lower your carbs by 25% on rest days and since Sunday is my rest day... I did just that. 

Yes, I ate perfectly this weekend BUT I didn't drink perfectly. I am really good at drinking diet coke on the weekends and forgetting to drink my water. The first step to overcoming a problem is to admit you have a problem, right? Well, Hi my name is Jordan and I love diet coke (from Sonic). 

I also LOVE food. But now that I have found macros, my life has been changing. Below are a couple meals I would have never really thought I could eat when I was losing weight... I mean, cake for breakfast?! I would have laughed in your face if you told me I could eat cake for breakfast and build muscle and lose inches. But here I am eating cake and doing just that. 

First thing first... go HERE and buy some samples!!!! They are inexpensive and arrive very quickly. I have noticed the prices for the full months worth of protein is a bit cheaper on Amazon but they don't have all the flavors... YET! 

This is probably the best cake I have made yet! The yogurt I bought was Salted Caramel and was one of those that had stuff you flip in and mix to eat. I used that stuff as the toppings along with some fat free cool whip. 

46 grams egg whites, 40 grams milk, 26 grams Kodiak pancake mix, 1 serving of protein (I used Snickerdoodle here) and 70 grams of yogurt. Mix together in a glass cup.jar and microwave for 2 minutes. 

This is the same as above BUT it is Peanut Butter Cup protein, banana yogurt and topped with chocolate chip Buff Bake spread. 

Really the possibilities are endless!!! Casey made a strawberry shortcake one today but he HATES when I make him wait to eat his food so I can snap a photo... haha! 

Dinner Saturday night was 4 poached eggs in spaghetti sauce on a bed of brown rice and 4 oz of chicken (I needed more protein) topped with a serving of parmesan cheese. 

Another fave I figured out since being a Jessie's Girl is that you can use rice cakes as pizza crust!!! Heat oven to 400 and bake for 10 minutes. I topped mine with no salt added pizza sauce, 2 servings of mozzarella cheese and 4.5 oz of chicken.

Since I am not weighing until the end of the month, I decided to take weekly photos to help keep me on track. A few things about my start photos. They were taken on last Sunday NIGHT after a weekend of off track eating (read more HERE). I was very bloated and actually disgusted by them when I first saw them. I wanted to cry. But I didn't. That is where I was starting and no matter how much I hated seeing it, its the truth and that is what I am about. If you binge eat all weekend long you will be more bloated and feel gross... plain and simple as that! If you are a person who can binge eat and look just as small as you did before you binge ate, you are a unicorn in my book!! I look at food and get bloated. Haha! 

This is one week of progress. I am really excited to see where I will be at the end of June when I finish this program!!  

I plan on taking weekly Sunday photos and comparing them to the 1st week. I will try and stay on top of posting them for you guys... and for myself. 

Lets end this blog with something that really pissed me off but I decided to just laugh it off instead. I received a letter from The YMCA since I switched gyms. It was nice and friendly then one line really struck me wrong... next time you set out to lose weight, feel better or relieve stress.... Like I gave up on myself and on losing weight. Just because I am no longer at your gym doesn't mean I am not losing weight, feeling better, or relieving stress. 

I am chalking up to a simple mis-write and trying to not think anymore about it. But geez louise... between this and the other thing (read more HERE), they need to teach their employees how to write and talk to people!!! 

Happy Sunday Night Y'all!!! I cant wait to start the next week of the program tomorrow morning... LEG DAY!!!! 

Week 1 - Recap

Tomorrow I will finish my last workout for the 1st week of the Muscle Building program from Jessie!

Random thoughts on the program:

* 4 sets of 15 is KILLER and so much different than doing 3 sets of 10!!!

* Eating this much food really hasn't been that bad so far. I do feel a little bit fluffier in my mid section but I also feel stronger when I am lifting at the gym.

* Phase 2 I will drop my carbs some... thank goodness 

* Speaking of fluffy. My jeans were kind of tight this morning but it is okay... I trust Jessie.

* I haven't weighed since Sunday!!! That's a new record for me I think... I don't plan on weighing until Friday the 29th when I finish the 1st phase.

* Some of the workouts I have had to google because I have never heard of them before.

* The workouts I had to google, OUCH!! They are working new parts of my body I don't think I have ever worked before.

* I am freaking SORE and I LOVE it.

* Caleb likes to tell his friends that his mom is a Jessie's Girl (haha too cute)

* Next week I will start upping my weights so this week I went kind of light.

*Wednesday I went to bed at 7pm because I have been so worn out.

* Week 1 on the program is to ease yourself into working out and macros. Since I have already been doing both, I decided to start on week 2 instead... so really this is the end of week 2 but I have only been doing it one week so, yeah it can get confusing.

* I am excited that next week we get to change it from 4 sets of 15 to 4 sets of 12

* The HIIT cardio isn't too bad, 20 minutes goes by really quickly!

* Next week I am adding in Birthday Cake Protein Blondies to my meal plan... I will post that this weekend or on Monday!

* The group of girls I have access to now that I am a Jessie's Girl is AMAZING!!! They are all so motivating and super sweet.

* I plan on taking weekly progress photos every Sunday, since I wont be on the scale this month

* I plan on not cheating this phase 1, I leave for Georgia Friday the 29th in the afternoon so I will be having a couple of cheat meals here and there April 30th and May 1st. But going to try and keep them to a minimum.

* My end date of this program will be on June 26th!!!

* Casey loves to sing "Jessie's Girl" randomly throughout the house!!!

Bring on week 2... or actually week 3, but whatever!!