Review of 2013

Even though we are 6 days into the new year. I am looking back on my 2013 New Years Resolutions. I can see that I have failed . . . And actually it shows me that maybe I should not make so many "goals" :) With that being said, I am happy with 2013 though. The last couple months were really hard on me, but I survived and its only made me a stronger person. I know what I need to work on, and I want to do my best this year!

Reviewing 2013's Goals: 

1. Be a Better Mom - Maybe a little better! You'd have to ask my boys :) I feel like I have been calmer and tried to be more involved with them! 
2. Eat Clean / Healthy - SAY NO TO SUGAR :) I have done BETTER then the year before so that counts right??? 
3. Be in better Shape - Look good in my Bikini: I did look good in my bikini over the Summer, so YES I did complete this! Now its time to look that good or better this year! 
4. Organize my Home - YES!!! I have done much better at this! Taking things one day at a time! 
5. Learn More - I have leaned more, but I still have so much more I want to learn! 
6. Give more Hugs - Yep, I have become a hugger :) 
7. Swear Less or Not at All - Well, I have sworn less . . . I still need to work on this. 
8. Be an Even Better Wife - Again, Ask the hubby. I am trying, does that count??? 
9. Read More - NOPE. Totally failed at this one! 
10. Appreciate My Friends - YES. I have great friends and I am so grateful they are in my life! 
11. Pray More - YES! I feel like I have prayed more this year then I ever have! 
12. Be in the Moment - I think I need to work on this one a little more. Time is going so fast, I need to focus on now, and not what the future COULD offer. 
13. Take more Pictures / Video - ANOTHER FAIL! 
14. Serve Others - This is also a 2014 resolution, because I don't think that I really served a whole lot! 
15. Be Happy - I am happy. I am very blessed. I am grateful for all that I have and that makes me happy. 

So there it is. . . Welcoming the New Year! 2014 is going to be the best year yet! 

2014 Goals

So I am HORRIBLE at chalk board writing. Other people can make these look AMAZING, and I am here looking like my kids drew all over it!
Anyway, these are my 8 New years Resolutions. Its not going to be easy, but I want to change certain things about my life and this is the top 8! Maybe with a smaller list I will get these things done :)

My Chalk Board New Years Resolutions! 

Goodbye 2013

The last day of the year . . . WOW DID TIME FLY!!! All day long I keep thinking about all the things that I did this last year!

My Favorite Memories of 2013: 

# Cruise with my husband to the Caribbean 

# Family trip to Yellow Stone Nation Park 

# Having my Family all together for one last Sunday Dinner 

# Not gaining any weight :) 

# Driving in a Car Show even though we were no suppose to, we never got caught ;) 

# Running a Half Marathon 

# Family Reunion 

# Lots of Hikes to the Wind Caves 

I have had some crappy things happen as well this year, but all of those have just made me a stronger person. I have a better outlook on life and I am grateful for the things that I do have. 

I am ready for a new year. I am ready for new goals and to become a better person! Happy New Years!!!! 

Happy Holliday's!

Christmas came and went like it does every year. It comes to fast. This year I don't even want to take my Christmas decorations down yet! My family and I had a fantastic Christmas. We are truly blessed. I am so grateful for family this year. On Christmas Eve we had dinner at our house and even though it was Stressful to get ready for it, it was so much fun and I would do it all again next year. Being a parent is so much fun on Christmas. I love to see how excited my little guys got, over all the small stuff like socks and underwear!

This week Ive allowed myself to sleep in and get some much needed rest. I have still had some pretty good workouts and I am TRYING so hard to eat healthy, but I did not stick to perfect clean eating this week. And oh I can feel it today! I feel so sluggish and FAT! Good thing my husband got me a treadmill for Christmas! I am SUPER EXCITED!!! I love it so much! I have been able to burn off those added Calories from my living room and its so nice not waking up at 5 AM and head out into the freezing cold!

I will post my New Years resolutions later. This list may be long :) I hope you all had a great Christmas and you all have a Happy New Year!

December Update

Its over . . . My gallbladder is gone! Best part, I survived the surgery with no complications. After being sick for over a month, I feel like a new person. I don't know what caused me to have Gallbladder disease, I don't fit into the "normal" of people who get it, but it makes me see that I have to take care of the body I have. I don't get another chance at this. 

I am very grateful for my sweet husband who put up with me while I was sick. He is amazing and I a so grateful for him helping me! I am blessed to have such and amazing family and friends who really cared and were so supportive! 

Now that I am gallbladder free, I feel like I am on a mission to eat healthy. I don't want to ruin my other body parts just because something sounds good. I am making each day a healthier one. Its been so hard to get back into my gym routine. Waking up at 5:30 AM and walking out into snow and -9 degree weather is not my idea of a good time. But, I will only accomplish my goals if I really want to, nobody else wakes me up and tells me to go to the gym. So I go, out into the cold . . . I go! 

If you don't follow my awesome instagram, these are some pictures from the last month! 

Last Day at the gym. . . Killed it! 

Surgery Time . . . Goodbye Gallbladder! 

A Selfie, Why not??? 

The boys and I made a ginger bread house! Merry Christmas! 

My first day back to teaching! Oh, it HURT! 

NOVEMBER????

FIRST, I should say HAPPY (late) HALLOWEEN! 

Welcome NOVEMBER! How did this happen? November already! Its true the older you get the faster time goes. This last month has been a struggle for me. I have been very sick. I have been in and out of the ER and Doctors and had tests done, just to find out the my gallbladder has stopped functioning. I am just grateful that they were FINALLY able to tell me what was wrong! So out goes my gallbladder. I am not to concerned about my gallbladder being gone, I am mad that I can't exercise for 3 weeks. I think I have a gym addiction when this seems to be my biggest worry ;) 

I have been down on a very low calorie and very healthy diet, and have not lost a pound, but my body is responding VERY well to this super healthy life style. I have been able to create some new recipes, super healthy recipes! 

Also after being so sick, it makes me grateful for the days that I feel good. I took them for granted. So I guess out of every trial, something good can come out of it, we just have to look. ( I hope to keep this positive attitude ). 

I want to thank all of my awesome supporters! The nice comments that I have gotten make me feel like all of this is worth it. I never thought that I could inspire anybody, and knowing that I have helped others makes me love what I do even more! Again, THANK YOU!!! 

Some friday motivation! 

Happy Halloween from the BOYS! 

Some friday motivation! 

TGIF!!!!

YAY FOR FRIDAY!!!

Seriously, this week has been soooo long!

My sister and I are in the competition for $50.00. To see who can lower are body percentages the most. So far, she winning. She sends me these pictures of her AWESOME Abs and I think . . . I HATE YOU! Then it motivates me . . . so thank you SISTER! I can not let her have my $50. I am winning this thing.

I have set some new goals for October. These goals better help me drop pounds! Cutting is the HARDEST thing I have ever done. I love food. I love to eat. I did not see how much I love food until I started to cut. BUT . . . I have seen major changes in my body by just 1 or 2 days of eating "clean". Remember food is fuel, we don't need to be eating all the time, and eating anything we want, we need to eat enough to survive. I can train 2 hours a day in the gym and won't loose a pound, unless I eat healthier.

So my OCTOBER GOALS: (even though I am 10 days late)

• LOW CARBS 
• MORE CARDIO - Depending on the day 20-30 minutes of HIIT Cardio
• MORE REPS 
• DRINK MORE WATER - I SUCK AT THIS, who wants to be in the bathroom every 30 minutes? 
• SWEAT MORE 
• EAT LESS SUGAR ( Chocolate Mostly . . . mmmmm CHOCOLATE!) 
• HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE 

So a couple things I need to work on, I may  not see the number on the scale dropping much any more but, I am seeing my abs a little more and that is motivation enough for me! 

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND! 

MARISSA 

Welcome Back ME!

It has been waaayyyy, to long!!! I took a little break, from my blog. I did not know if I even wanted to continue it, but I missed writing and I have had 26,000 views on this blog. I can't give up now!

So quick update:
I have not really changed in measurements. I have started a higher protein, lower calorie bulk. I am trying to gain a little more muscle. I am still planning on competing in the Spring. It is my goal and I am going to work my hardest to get there! I feel stronger, but feel like I still have fat to loose and it is NOT easy! I am really trying to stick with my clean eating diet, but lets face it . . . I have not! CONFESSION TIME! My husband and I took us to Yellowstone over the weekend, and what do you do in Yellowstone? Drive around and eat.

So I am back, it is Monday and new week and I am ready to make my body feel good again! I am ready to kill it in the gym and the kitchen! I post almost everyday on Instagram, follow me! BARBIEMARISSA is my username :) Yes, I still want to look like a barbie, just with muscle!

So this week I am going to post a couple AMAZING recipes that I have come up with that are healthy and good! Ice Cream is one of them, who know you could have healthy ice cream?

Thanks for reading!!!
MARISSA


And even though, NONE of these pictures are fitness or health related, they are just a couple of the most beautiful places we saw on our adventure to Yellowstone National Park!

Another Saturday

Today, I was not able to go to the gym this morning, so it looks like a run tonight is going to be my exercise. I have not been great about training for the half marathon that is coming up in just 2 months!   ( I seriously don't like to run. ) But, I need to add more cardio into my schedule. I have got to lower my body fat.

Yesterday was a big day for me! If you follow my instagram you will see that I went to our public pool.  No this is not anything new, but what was new is that I wore a bikini to the public pool for the first time in 9 years!!!! I did not feel fat, I did not feel self conscious. I love my swim suit and I have worked hard for the body that I have. So, after trying on about 9 different swim suits I finally just decided that I don't care what others think, I am wearing the one that I like. We had a great day, and I am so glad that I got our of my comfort zone just a little!

Me and my Son just playing at the pool! 

Its been to long!

It has been 3 weeks since I posted last! WAY TO LONG! My husband and I went on a cruise. Then I was without internet for a week and finally I am back!

Our vacation was a blast! Even though I gained . . . 8 POUNDS! I honestly did not even know that was possible in a week. I cried. All my hard work was taken away in a week! But, its been 2 weeks since I came home and have lost all but 2 pounds of it. Which makes me feel way better. The first day I ate really healthy. I even got fruit for dessert. Then after the first day it all went down hill. I figure I am never going to eat like this again and I ate whatever I wanted, obviously I went a little over the top ;) I exercised 4 times on our 6 day cruise, the gym on the cruise only had a small section of weights and every time I went it was packed with guys lifting no more then 15-20 pound weights. I wanted to tell them to move over and let me really lift! But, I decided to be nice and just show them up, with heavier weights and that made me feel better!

Here are a couple pictures of our vacation. It was great to just have the time alone with my husband and forget about all our other worries. I can't wait to go again!

\

So now, its time to get back to normal life. Its not been the easiest thing for me to get back to clean eating. I also had a couple days that I did not want to go workout. I know what I want, and that is not going to happen with being lazy and junk food. So I have quickly changed those habits. I am still struggling with food, but I am motivated and I can eat healthy if I chose too! 

End of the 6 week challenge!

Well Summer is here and so that means that my challenge to be fit by Summer is over! I really tried, not going lie, I had some hard days with my eating. But, I worked out 6 days a week, sometimes 2 times a day! I know that I did my best and I can't wait to see what changes I can make by the end of Summer!
I promised a picture so here it its. My 6 week challenge "Before and After"! Not a huge difference but enough that I dropped a pant size and 4 pounds. Also I think my legs gained some muscle for the first time ever ;) Thanks to my awesome sister for workout with me she is totally my motivation and she pushes me to do more then I thought I could! I love her for that! Thanks again SISTER!

Update!

I know that its been a while since my last post and I hate that!!! I have been crazy busy trying to get ready for Summer and my kids finishing school! I have been feeling great, and besides today falling during Box Jumps, I had a great Leg workout! (and luckily, only a couple people saw it happen)

Week 5 of my 6 week challenge was not the best for working out, but it was the best for eating. My gym was closed, so I did not get my hard workouts in 2 times a day that I wanted to, but I still worked out 6 times last week. I have made huge changes in my eating this last couple weeks. I have been eating  higher amounts of protein and lower amounts of carbs and sugar. Just from that I feel so much better, and I am able to workout harder and longer without all the junk food. I will post my final pictures soon. I hope that I can see a difference, I have worked so hard for it. But, if not then I won't be mad because I know that I have worked harder these last 6 weeks then I ever have. I love this new me and no matter what I don't want to change this lifestyle. I am a better happier person and these last 6 weeks have pushed me and made me see what my body can do!

Another Great Monday!

Hello Monday!

This weekend, I ran my first 10K race. We finished and I only stopped running one time. I was proud of that! I can't wait to do another race. I loved the feeling that I get from crossing that finish line, and I won a water bottle! This is big for me, because I never win ANYTHING! ( I will post pictures of the race as soon as I can). The race was fun and I got to run with one of my best friends! I can't wait for the 15K thats coming up!

This 2 weeks I have stayed at the same weight. So I am changing things up a bit. This week, I am cutting all bread. I am going to 1200 calories a day. I have been at 1500-1800 but I am stuck and not loosing any more fat. So this week, I am changing it up! I have less then 3 weeks till Summer and I will not let myself down. I want to see a difference in my 6 week pictures! I think that this week is going to be the hardest week yet!!!

My New Goals on my Phone:

• Drink 80oz of water a day
• More Cardio
• No Bread / Sugar
• More Stretching / Yoga 
• Spend More Time with my Kids 
• More Abdominal Exercises 
• 1200 Calories a Day 

10K Race

Tomorrow morning, a friend and I are running my first 10K Race. I have ran further then 6 miles, but this is the first time I am actually racing 6 Miles. I am so excited for this! I can't wait!!! Crossing that finish line is going to be a great feeling.

I'll post pictures tomorrow!

I want this shirt! 

Yoga

So I have been to a Yoga class two times, both times I loved it. I felt calm and relaxed and had a great experience. I was asked to teach a the Tuesday Yoga class and the gym, I asked her if she was sure she was asking the right person! But, in the end I said, I would teach.

I was nervous and after the first 5 minutes of class felt like forever I started to panic that I would not know what to do the last 55 minutes! Maybe it was the calm relaxing music, and the stretching, but I just kept on going and before I knew it the class was OVER! Everyone said that I did a great job, and it felt really good to have a full hour of stretching. I actually was in the a better mood the rest of that day. I was relaxed and calm and felt like a new person!

I am now adding yoga into my regular workouts. Even just 20 minutes of stretching on my own, is better then nothing! I can't wait till it gets warmer and I can take my yoga mat out onto the lawn and stretch in the Sun.

The Mommy Workout

I have been thinking about posting this for awhile now, and I have never gotten around to it. Every time I take my kids to the park, I work out. Its a great place for exercise and without pictures its hard to show what I am talking about, so I never blog about it. My awesome sister, came with me and we quickly took pictures of different exercises to do at the park. I understand every park is different, and each park will have different equipment, thats the good thing! There are so many exercise that you can do at any park. No excuses, this is a FREE workout!!!

Leg Lifts. Holding on to a bar, lift one leg directly behind you. Do one set and switch legs. 

Works: Legs and Gluteus

 

Box Jumps. Find a stable bench or step and jump up onto it. Repeat. 

Works: Legs and Core

Butt Kickers and High Knees. No equipment needed! 

Calf Raises. Find a step, keep half your foot on the step lift your body up and down. 

Works: Legs

Cardio. Jumping Jacks. Hop on one foot over a line. Hop front and back or side to side over a line. 

Finding a high edge, lift your knees up into your chest. Release and repeat.

 Works: low abdomen and arms. 

Knee Lifts on Step: Find a step, with one leg higher then the other, lift the lower leg high and bringing it down into a squat. 

Works: Legs and Gluteus

Squats: Finding a step or both feet flat on the ground, bend your knees into a squat not letting your knees go over the toes. Lift and repeat, switching sides after each set. 

Works: Legs and Gluteus 

Finding an edge lift your body off the ground and hold. Repeat. 

Works: Arms and Core

Lunges on Step. Finding a step one leg in front, other behind and go down into a lunge. After each set Repeat. 

Works: Legs and Gluteus

Get below a bar, and lift your body up to the bar and release. Repeat. 

Works: Chest 

Plank Variations: Find a spot that you can do, Mountain Climbers, Leg Lifts, Wide Legs. Hold each position as long as you can!  

Works: Core, Gluteus, Chest 

Pull Ups: Find the Monkey Bars and Pull yourself up! 

Works: Arms and Chest 

Standing Push Up. 

Works: Arms and Chest 

Reverse Crunch. Body is in a "V" Shape, bring legs in and out. 

Works: Core 

Side Leg Lifts. Holding on to a bar, lift one leg to the side of you. Do one set and switch legs. 

Works: Legs and Gluteus

Sitting Knee Lifts. Sitting on the edge lower and lift your legs into your chest. 

Works: Core 

Toe Touches to Bar. While you are hanging, lift your toes up and touch the Bar. Repeat. 

Works: Arms and Core 

Tricep Dips. See Picture.

Works: Arms 

Walking Lunges. See Picture. 

Works: Legs 

 Wall sit. A bar or wall will work, hold position shown in picture as long as you can. 

Works: Legs