Whoa Weekend.

Well, this weekend was a blast, my best friend came to town from Nashville...I fell off the wagon...hard...then it ran me over...twice.
I ate awful (and drank a lot)...my favorite restaurants Village Wines, Shades, Roosters, Kingy's Pizza, Taco Bell and my Mom's....Oh and let us not forget the 35 Bud Lite bottles (sarcasm). Going along with celebrating I also was stress eating. Does anyone else do that? I have my entire adult life. I am making lots of life changes within the next few weeks and apparently I think that tacos will aid in those decisions...WRONG!!
For the first time in my life, I actually feel guilty about the entire weekend. I am having like eating remorse. Normally I would have just kept off the wagon, but instead on Sunday I kept with my weekly meal prepping and then continued with my workouts. I am pretty sure my sweat smelled like cinnamon (Fireball), but hey a workout is a workout.
It's crazy because I could tell I hadn't worked out in 3 days, my back is achy and my knee is sore. What is happening to me?! Oh yeah, I am actually making positive life changes. Say Whaaaaaaat?!


What's on my meal plan this week?
I wanted to emphasize color!!
Lots of chicken, gluten free pasta, pesto, veggies, gluten free wraps, turkey, yogurt, blueberries and raspberries!! Gotta love Aldi!!

Sweat yo ass off...

I mentioned previously that I am a firm believer of switching up your workouts. Yesterday I switched it alllll the way up. My friend/trainer is implementing a "hot yoga" class to the gym. "Hot yoga" just sounds cool to me but I have never attempted one. I never attempted because honestly I never thought I would be able to complete the class, aka I would die in the process. I have taken yoga classes before but mastered "happy baby" and then gave up.
Yesterday, I put my game face on.
"Hot yoga" uses the same poses as regular yoga, but it is just that...hot as balls. During class I literally sweated out I would estimate 4lbs....and FELT F*CKING AWESOME!
I DID IT. I did almost all the poses, give or take a few. (I cannot stick my leg out to a 90 degree angle). I DID IT and didn't die.
Baby steps....taking yoga and not dying...check!!!
I would highly recommend that if a hot yoga class is offered in your area...do it...you will feel like a new person and 5lbs lighter....I promise.

I ain't nothing but a "Goal" Digger...

I have recently been asked two questions...
#1 "What is your motivation?"
#2 "What is your (fitness) goal?"

I don't know why those two short sentences are so hard for me to answer. For many people their husband/wife, kids, career would be their motivations. But, let's be honest I have none of those. So, I have pondered the word motivation. By definition it is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. Ok, why the hell am I doing this?

I started with, what am I not able to do? Being very overweight there are small things that I was(am) not able to do that many people take for granted. I cannot wear high heels. I cannot participate in fun outdoor activities like 5Ks, hiking, canoeing, biking or simply walking long distances. I cannot cross my legs like a lady. These are all things that I WANT to do and the only way I am going to be able to achieve the laundry list of "cants" is busting my ass and changing "cants" to "cans".
My motivation is the "I cants".

Moving on to, "What is your (fitness)goal?".
Of course my first response would be some crazy out of this world goal like wear a bikini or run a marathon but I know I should to take baby steps.
I want to preface this with I rarely get on a scale. I measure weight loss by how my clothing fits.
My first goal is size 14 jeans. Why size 14? Because I was a 24. You do that math.
And my second goal, to wear high heels in my best friends wedding and not look like a baby giraffe learning to walk.
Those may seem like vain goals, but they are my goals and I will use my "cants" to get there.

High-quality H2O (Waterboy Voice)

The struggle is real when it comes to Wags and water. I don't like it. It bores me. Now, a cold Coke...YAAAAS!!

But, I know that water does wonders and I have found lots of options to help me literally choke down a gallon a day.

#1: Get a sweet ass water bottle. I like ones from TJ Maxx. Get one that is a bright color and even better with something motivated written on it. I have a bright orange one that says. "TRAIN INSANE OR REMAIN THE SAME!". Pretty much about sums it up.
#2: Jazz it up. I add lemon and honey majority of the time because it's so easy for me, but throw in some strawberries, mint, cucumber. Get wild with it, but the more colorful the better.
#3: Set a goal. "I have to drink this many of these damn water bottles to get a gallon by noon."
#4: Just DO it. (No I am no sponsored by Nike)

Watch. What. Happens.

Not only will you pee every 10 minutes, but you will find you have tons of energy! Your skin will become clearer, your hair will feel less brittle, and you will start to notice the difference on the scale (don't freak out when you gain a little water weight at first).

And lets be honest....It helps with a hangover too.

DRINK UP BUTTERCUP.

BANG BANG

My mother is a Saint.

She is by far the most important person in my life (followed by Daddy Wags). She has been there from day one of this journey. Not just my fitness journey, but my entire journey. She is my rock. My person. My heart.

Moving right along...

Mom and I have started a Sunday evening tradition. We cook for the entire week. This has helped me in numerous aspects.
#1-She has taught me to actually cook
#2-It has kept me accountable
#3-We find fun recipes for each other
#4-It forces me to eat clean
#5-It has proven that if you start the week in a positive light, the rest of the week follows suite.

This week we had a definite Pinterest WIN!

Bang Bang cauliflower! If you have ever has bang bang shrimp its the same, minus the calories. This may put it into perspective for you....Bang bang shrimp on Weight Watchers is 27 points...Yes, I Said 27...Sooo good yet so bad.
So, I found a healthy alternative!

Take a big old head of cauliflower
Cut into pretty big chunks
Dunk in a bath of eggs
Roll in Panko bread crumbs
Set the oven to 400 degrees
Cook 20(ish) minutes--or until golden brown

THE BANG BANG sauce aka...the most important part
1/2C light or fat free mayo
2 big dollops of Chili Sauce
1 big spoon full of honey
and hot sauce to make it as spicy as you want
I used Sriracha and Franks
Mix that up

Drizzle over your cauliflower...

It was so good that even my brother gave me props, and that never happens.

If you try it...Let me know!!

Pinterest Fail

Like I said before...I screw up more recipes than I get right. Today/this morning was no different. I have seen lots of Pins for these "overnight oaks". Well doesn't that just sounds awesome?!
Ok, the recipe called for almond milk and vanilla. Yeahhhhh I didn't have those items so I subbed water and honey...WRONG!!!

STICK TO THE RECIPE!!!

Take a Mason jar
Fill up about an inch with oats
Cover the oats with the Almond milk
Toss in the Greek Yogurt
Add some almonds
Add some coconut
Whatever else ya got...
Dash of vanilla
A little honey
and my fav chia seeds!!!
Put the lid on tight and let them hang over night and they are really ready for the morning...
I honestly couldn't even eat it all because I was so full!! BOOM!!

I love beer

Many of you know...I am a lover of beer...not that fancy beer...Bud Light bottles...I love them...what doesn't love beer is my waist.

While walking on the fitness journey I learned that I have to set boundaries. LOTS of boundaries.

Boundary #1: I only drink on Saturday's
Boundary #2: Cheat meal is Sunday (my Mom always cooks Sunday supper, I cannot say no to her cooking)
Boundary #3: NO POP! NO JUICE! NOTHING but black coffee and water...If it's hot and I need caffeine I will also drink iced tea with no sugar.
Boundary #4: Breakfast should be the most bad ass meal of the day...then lunch...then a little dinner.
I switch my breakfasts up too...but EGGS are my best friend. I make them all different ways and add lots of veggies to them. Don't forget the hot sauce too.
Boundary #5: White condiments are soooo good yet soooo bad....I love ranch and sour cream almost as much as I love Bud Light bottles. I try to avoid foods that I know I would want those white condiments on...ie: Tacos and some salads. If I HAVE too I use Greek yogurt on my tacos...but I would rather just skip the tacos all together rather than ruin them with stupid Greek Yogurt. #truth #greekyogurtisgross
Boundary #6: Don't eat the bun. If I get anything with a bun I take it off or simply ask the waitress to not serve it with the bun. (coming from a former server, it's not a big deal at all).
Boundary #7: Drink a big ass glass of water before you eat. Your tummy will feel extra full.
Boundary #8: I hit the gym hard 4 days a week but always do something fun on my 5th workout day...like walking with my nephew at the park, running bleachers at the stadium or yoga....Switch it up a little so you don't get bored.
Boundary #9: If it goes in my mouth, I write it down...It really helps me keep track of calories.

LAST, after I do all that crap above...I reward myself! Pedicures are my favorite reward...Set a goal, if you lose 5 lbs. in a week get your toes done! After all I worked my ass off for this and it ain't easy!

Wags

Let's go back a year...

Last year at this time I joined a gym, the same gym that I now work, but at the time had no idea it would be my future place of employment.

I was over-weight, my whole body would hurt when I got into bed at night and when I woke up in the morning I would still hurt. I had no energy, I preferred to sleep all day until I had to work at the bar and then supplement Red Bull for energy to get me threw my shift. My dinner would include any and everything that was quick, easy and I could use my discount on at the bar. Pizza, chicken fingers, motz sticks and as much ranch as the eye could see.

What's crazy is that if you met me you would think I had all the confidence in the world, tho so over weight and unhealthy. Shopping is my ally. I always thought that if I covered myself in designer clothes and $200 shoes then no one would notice my weight. I also lived by "tan fat looks better than pale fat", I wish I kept all the money I have spent on tanning beds, I would be a rich bitch.

So, I think the difference in my journey is that I already had the confidence, I just needed the body and lifestyle to back it up. There was no denying that my health was declining and I couldn't ignore it anymore. I am not getting any younger and losing weight and getting healthy is only going to get harder and harder. Hell, it's hard as hell now.

So, the first thing that came to my mind to do was, JOIN A GYM. I mean duh?! Well, turns out joining the gym is the easy part. Actually going to the gym is the shitty part. Even though I have been an athlete all my life and knew my way around a weight room and a gym I still has absolutely no idea what I was doing. I would walk around aimlessly in my cute workout clothes and then end up doing the elliptical and calling it a day. YES, that's a great start but I obviously need to step this up...

I just want to for warn everyone that I am not what you call a "religious" person but, some sort of angel was sent to me one day...and her name was Colleene.

Colleene actually owns the gym that I joined. But, she has been apart of my life for years. She, in the nicest words, told me I needed to get my shit together and she would help me. Help is an understatement of what she has done...she saved me. (You will hear me talk a lot about her).

I started training with her...For an hour, two days a week...I am not going to lie, in the beginning, it was awful. I was sore. My knees hurt so bad (I would blame old basketball injuries, but let's be honest I was too heavy). But progressively, it got somewhat easier (it is never going to be easy). I found myself wanting to actually go to the gym even without having a training session. I started taking other classes like Barre and Yoga and Spin. Who would have thought?!

Over the next year, I learned so much. Not only about myself personally but I learned about weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. I used Pinterest for recipe ideas and "My Fitness Pal" to understand what was in the food I am eating. I learned that working out is one thing but actually eating right and limiting what is going into my mouth was the hard part. I still drink beer but limit myself to one day a week. I learned that my true friends are actually disguised as my biggest cheerleaders. And I also learned that I am not alone in this journey.

Here is March 2015 and March 2016...slowly but surely my outside is starting to match my inside. but not without a little help from my friends.

fairy tale to fucking hilarious...

The covenant first post...

This has to be a good one, right?

This is a lot of pressure...

For years, there have been numerous people in and out of my life whom have followed my daily activities and have said "Lauren, you could write a book!".
Given, that it's 2016 a book really isn't feasible but, I thought hmmm one of those blog thingys that I have heard about may work. why not?!

Let us begin....

Let's start with "Wags", why does everyone call me Wags? Well, it started when I played basketball in High School. I think it was a lot easier for coach to scream "WAGS!!" than the two-syllabled "LAUREN!!!" So, it stuck. I use the hashtag #wagsfitnessjourney on social media often. Now, you know why. Not an incredible story but I like it.

Moving on...

If you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be where I am now, I would have laughed, then slapped you in the face. Literally punched you in the mouth. I had a much different plan.

Twenty-Year old Lauren: "In ten years, I will have married the love of my life. Our wedding would have taken place in downtown Columbus on NYE during a candlelit ceremony. I will have had one child, one year following my epic NYE celebration. Her name 'Stella'. I will have pursued my passion in fashion and worked for a high end retailer. My husband will take care of the cooking and cleaning, while I am whisked off to NY, LA and Paris. And we will have a dog, cat, a Range Rover blah, blah, blah..."

That. Shit. Never, Happened.

This, the year of my thirtieth birthday.
I am single. Though completely in love with someone, and he has no idea.
I am about 75lbs over-weight.
I have a cat. That my father takes care of because, well, I work too much to give him the love he deserves.
I was just fired from my bar job that I loved because, to be honest, I opened my mouth when I should have kept it shut. I can only take idiots for so long.

And because of the mediocre list above...my life have progressively gone from fairy-tale to fucking hilarious...

But, I have recently found light at the end of a hot mess tunnel. I began working at a local gym, at first, for extra money, but I have fallen in love with the gym, eating right, working out, motivating others and obtained an overall kick ass mindset.

My blog will highlight some of the best stories, escapades, fiestas, challenges and downright bullshit that I endure on literally, a daily basis. I will show some work-outs that I learn from my incredible trainer that has gone from drill-sergeant to one of my closest friends and cheerleaders, I will talk about recipes that 8 times out of 10 I screw up, but I will talk about them non-the-less. I will talk about fun times and horrible times.

I will sometimes include pictures. I enjoy a good #selfie. So, deal with them. A good filter brings me joy. Sue me. I will cuss, because again that brings me joy, and frankly makes the statement that much better.

Thanks for joining me on #wagsfitnessjourney.
God Bless (sarcasm).