Is This Thing On? *tap* Oh HIIIIIII :)

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Well, hi SparkLoves! I have been off and on and more off since the end of last year.. and for that I would love to apologize, but I simply cannot. I have published two novels, had some bad times but even more FANTASTIC times, learned a lot, and found out what does not work (that's huge!). So, now I have decided to shake off my winter blues and find my inner sexy beast again. Let's face it, my sexy beast simply cannot escape. All it took was me OWNING that I feel sexy and BAM, she stayed ;) hehe You should do that, too. I highly recommend loving yourself. Best.advice.ever!



So, in coming back and deciding to dedicate myself to my journey, that means a challenge.. YESSSSSSS! My girls from Facebook and I decided that we needed to ease our way back in but do something kick-a$$ at the same time, so... we are taking a walk. Yeah, sounds simple and it IS! We just picked someplace that we've "always" wanted to go or that looks super delicious and BAM.. we're going there!
The challenge can be found here:
www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/team_mes
sageboard_thread.asp?board=3838x9674x5
2625883

I chose to go to Niagara Falls! The challenge is 13 weeks, if I walk 18 miles a week, I can make that 234 mile trip! Here are my inspiration photos:






I am ALSO joining in a challenge started my homegirl Victoria called "Facebook's Biggest Loser". Yeah, it will be on Facebook.. duh! haha IF you want to join that, you can go here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1481
22855355821/
That one starts April 1st and we aren't sure how long its going to go on for. She's still working out the details, but it looks like I MIGHT be a team leader, so.. *squee* haha


In the interest of being totally open and honest with you guys, I gained over winter. Yep. I got to my 100 pounds DONE milestone and immediately went on a cruise (SO FUN!). When I came back, it was all dreary and gross here in Pittsburgh. Miserable. Gag!! Yeah, that's a complete excuse as I am usually the most chipper person in the room. I told myself to keep going, I struggled, I truly tried. I kept at it with food for the most part and just got lazy. I threw myself into writing my books and just got stagnant.



The good news about that is: I learned what NOT to do, figured out the things that don't make me feel amazing, felt my body getting used to being at that weight, and listened to my body to find out when it was ready for me to do things on its time. And now I'm back on track. So see? Winning.. LOL Sometimes, and I truly believe this, our body needs a break. It needs us to just sit down and give it time to catch up with all the changes we are throwing out there. We are crazy, complex, amazing machines and so much change is confusing to our minds and to our bodies as well.



I've never GIVEN UP on myself and I'm not about to start now! These challenges, my new-found planning abilities, and my strength will keep me going! WE can DO this!! YAYYYYYY!!!!!



So, how are you? Want to join the challenges with me? Anything you want to tell me? :)

P.S. Did I mention that I freakin' MISSED you guys SO DANGED BAD!? Cause... I DID!!!

^^ Me at Christmas... lol Yes, I'm weird :p But if you didn't know that by NOW, you MUST be new ;) XOXO

You can follow me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/XPhoenixADo
neGirlInProgress

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Coach Nicole's Total Body Sculpting DVD Review!

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

OMG Everything hurtssssssss! (That's what I was saying the day after I first did this DVD.. lol). I did each section of the DVD on my first time through. That was a POWERFUL hour+ and it kicked my entire butt! (big work for sure.. hehe). I felt things I hadn't felt in a while and I work out regularly, so.. well done! This DVD is amazing and I LOVE it! Great job, SparkPeople and Coach Nicole! The combos of movements on this DVD are very unique, challenging, and fun! There is a tougher version and a modifier for almost each move as well so this is for every level of fitness!

Much of the DVD seems to be pilates/ballet inspired.. and I LOVE that!

The DVD consists of:
Warm Up ~ 4 minutes
Barre Body Blast ~ 20 minutes
Bodyweight Burn ~ 22 minutes
Sizzle Sculpt ~ 19 minutes
Cool Down ~ 4 minutes

The warm up has an awesome and very original. There's a squat knee combo that I LOVE!

My favorite section was the Sizzle Sculpt. It really worked every part of my body, was unique, and very fun. Just awesome!

There are also sample workout mixes available on the start menu that you can choose that will mix and match segments. Awesome!

The only thing I wish was different was more direction such as "we will start with the left arm in 3...2..." Sometimes she is not specific, other times she is super specific. My second time through, I didn't even notice though, so.. that isn't a true problem for me! :D

AMAZING DVD. My favorite one from Coach Nicole so far!

This DVD is available NOW at Amazon.com and will be in Target stores starting January 15th. Members will get 250 SparkPoints for buying the DVD at Target!
To get all the links as to where you can buy this awesome DVD, go here!
www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/coach_ni
cole_total_body_sculpting_DVD.asp

*side note* I received this DVD for free from SparkPeople but did not receive any form of payment for my review.

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Happy 2013! *SQUEE*

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

So... I just wanted to share two images that I made with you guys.

#1 is my Project Happy Place photo..

I'm doing this and invite you to join me. Doesn't have to be just scale victories, NSV's, etc.. it can be anything that makes you smile or you enjoyed, etc. Just jot it down and toss it in the jar (I am going to be putting dates on my papers!) and then on New Year's Eve, I'm going to open the jar and relive every awesome moment! Woot!

#2 is just my New Year's Wishes for all of us...




Both 1 & 2 images are shared on my FB page as well (if you want to see bigger versions of them!).
www.facebook.com/XPhoenixADoneGirlIn
Progress


Hoping you all have the most beautiful year EVER!

I don't have "resolutions", but I DO have goals. I REALLY want to reach my goal weight this year, I want to focus on my dreams more, cross some things off of my Life (bucket) List, and live each day to it's fullest potential. It could sound super cliche (and I dont even care), but 2013 is my year to Life, Laugh, and LOVE as much as I can. No more negativity. SO DONE with that!

Oh yeah.. and me from a few days ago... hehe


Happy New Year, loves!! XOXOXO Let's kick 2013 in the FACE...or.. whatever.. hehe!

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Reflection And Planning Ahead for 2013 :)

Sunday, December 23, 2012

THIS is my New Year's project! Starting January 1st, every awesome thing that makes me go "WooHoo" will be written down and placed into the jar, so.. NEXT New Years Eve, I can read through all of them and know each amazing thing that happened and what I have to be proud of, etc.... that's my only resolution.. to keep up with that jar! lol



This year was a complete success in so many ways, I can't complain! I lost 50 pounds this year (hitting my 100 pounds lost mark! *happy dance* Awww yeahhhhhh), had two Cancer scares (that turned out to be JUST scares! Phew.. Thank You GOD!), crossed many things off of my Life (Bucket) List, and learned so much about my new healthy lifestyle.. #WINNING! I decided to become a writer in September and by October I had something published (short stories), November published my first novel, and am currently in the process of writing for my next two projects, with a few others planned, so.. YAY!



I discovered more of my weaknesses and decided to attack them and make them into strengths. That is a process, but I am on my way! YAY again! I think every day should be a learning experience and give us something to grow from and drive us to want to achieve more and BE better.. and, well, I have found my stride in that right and I refuse to stop now! WooHoo! *another happy dance in progress*


(One of my favorite and SO fitting quotes!)

I challenged my Wicked Sassy Ninjas (Done Girl challengers) to plan ahead for the coming year. NOT to make "resolutions" because I think those are just lame and most people give up on those within the first few months, but to make a plan. Write things down NOW that you want to achieve within the next year so that you (and I) can plan ahead for my next year in all facets of life: health, family, career, sanity, etc. (Yes, I said sanity.. its part of health! lol).



Nearing the end of this year, as I was changing career goals and finding my interests moving into a different direction, I let myself slack in a few aspects of my journey. However, I still weighed and measured all of my food (even if I didn't track, I was consciously still caring what I did). I decided to stop tracking and see how I would do for a bit and it turns out that I DO still need to track (up a few pounds in the last 3 months), but it was an awesome test for myself and I'm proud that I can completely stop "writing it all down" and still be mostly on track. That was awesome to find out about myself! I am truly learning from this journey and it's "sticking" with me! Heck yeah! The good news is: I REFUSE to give up. I will never stop having this lifestyle. I will ALWAYS want to give myself better, do better for my son and my loved ones, and will try and experiment with and test out new things so that I can find out what works best for ME. No two beings are created equally and well.. I love that!



Just because I changed my methods for a bit doesn't mean I gave up. On the contrary! I think it's important to step back and reassess things from time to time. And.. I rock, so.. yeah. :D See how modest I am? LOL I think we should all be confident in our healthy journey to say "Yeah, I dont have to do what X or Y do because I know what works for me!" and if you dont know what works, best to try NOW and all the time. We are ever-growing and changing. As a great friend once said to me "Even Cancer evolves..." so let's learn, grow, and change all the time and keep our eyes on the prize. (FYI: The "prize" = the longest, greatest, most healthy and amazing, action-packed, fun-filled, love-fest of a life you can possibly have. I will not give up ever, because I am worth ALL of THAT!).



I get asked that one a LOT. "What did you DO?" I hate to say "Well, one day I just decided that my body became important to me and I no longer wanted to just lay on the couch in a chemical-induced coma of laziness where I cared for nothing or no-one, even myself." But that's truly what I did. I had enough, so I changed it. You can, too. Right now. No matter how far you have come or NOT, you can decide right now to put down the holiday cookie, fat-filled drink, or whatever else is holding you back and DO something. You can. I promise, it will be okay. You will feel better and you will thank yourself for it later. Don't thank me, thank YOU for loving yourself enough to want and need it! :D Plus, it sounds massively strange, but sweating and healthy eating feels amazing. Truly. It's addicting after a while!


True story!! :)

2012 for me has had some amazing highs and a few less-than-desirable lows, but.. the balance and end-results are what matter most to me. I have made some amazing friends and found some people that I simply cannot live without (you know who you are!!). I have also discovered that some people are simply NOT who I thought they were or they lived out their purpose in my life and, even if it hurt to let them go, I had to do what was best for me and my journey and life. I think it made me a stronger woman, to be honest. I possess more strength than I ever knew I had... what a beautiful lesson!



So for me.. 2013 will be RIDICULOUSLY huge. My plans are.. amazing and more than I can share here and now, but the most major ones are reaching my goal and finding healthy experiences whenever possible. I am going to keep on with trying new things and not being afraid to step outside of the box (nothing wrong with following my own path. I am the master of myself.. aka "you're not the boss of me, cookies!" haha! I will not settle for what is handed to me anymore and will fight for my happiness in every way that I can. I will accept help from those that offer it (if/when I need it) and not be too proud to admit when I am failing or need support. I know I can't do this alone, but I also know that I am strong and powerful enough to fight for myself whenever necessary. So... bring is on, world! I'm ready for you!


I hold the INK that forms my story.. and I will not stop re-creating, editing, and drafting my life until it is all that I want it to be... which will be... never! There will always be room to grow! YAY!!


These are my other plans for 2013! I want to embrace life and worry less for the "fluff" that fills most of our days. I want to focus on my writing and my love and my happiness. That is what is most important, yes? :D


YES! SO MUCH YES! Anything that makes you feel like a rockstar, makes your heart beat a little faster, makes you have to catch your breath.. is worth it. 100%. I have a LOT of those things in my life and I dedicate my journey to them.

The most MAJOR thing I am DONE with?... Wanna know? Excuses. I won't have those ever again. If I slip, I just slip. I have no reason to explain myself. I am human. That will happen, but...

I will do my very best. Give MYSELF my all as often as I can and be proud of that.

Do me a favor, would ya??

Don't wait until January 1, 2013 to start being proud of yourself, changing your life, or doing things to improve your health. Don't be that person. Don't use the next few days of this year to eat yourself into oblivion, gaining 10 more pounds, lazing around, and feeling sorry for yourself. Get up and DO something. Be proud of yourself NOW. You will thank yourself for it later.. I promise you that!!


I have proclaimed it....... SO MOTE IT BE!~ hehehehe


And now, a few piccies of me from the last two months ~


My son and I at Thanksgiving.. yes, we are all shiny from SWEAT because instead of laying on the couch watching football, we had a TWO hour Just Dance 4 party. "We had a "Gangnam Style" Thanksgiving," is what my son says.. haha


My son snapped a pic of me and I liked it.. o.O Who knew? :)


My bestie screen-grabbed me off of a video I made for her.. and the outcome was cute, so.. its my default on Facebook now. LOL!

And me...

with my 100 Pounds Lost tiara on! Princess for a day.. or whenever I need/want to feel awesome. One of my supporters sent me that and I just cried.. so much love from so many people will do that to a girl ;)



So... what are YOUR plans for 2013? Get to thinking.. its only a few days away! WooHoo!! XOXOXO



Want to connect with me/follow me on Facebook? YAY.. you can by going here and clicking the "like" button. Love ya for it! Mwah!
www.facebook.com/XPhoenixADoneGirlIn
Progress

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100 Pounds Lost Vlog/Story/Ramblings.. :)

Friday, October 12, 2012

So..... a few people asked me why I started and what I do and to tell them more about how I do things, so... this is what happened. LOL 25 minutes of BLAH BLAH BLAH from a non-expert, but... still.. if you are curious and have nearly half an hour to blow.. go for it :)

youtu.be/PecxUaZZBlU



I am posting this and then immediately leaving for the airport! I'm on vacation now and won't be coming back until the 22nd (super late), so.. if you have something to say to me, you can leave a comment or send a SparkMail or stalk me over on FB ( www.facebook.com/XPhoenixADoneGirlIn
Progress ... I guess its not really stalking if I invite you though.. hmmm)... hehehe.. and leave a message there.. I will get back to you guys, *pinky swear*


Thank you SO much for the awesome support! I cannot thank you guys enough for being so.freakin.awesome.

See this...? Those are my socks... 'cause.. y'all rock them! hehe

Monkeys and pink hearts.. oh yeah, definitely MY style in awesome foot-wear! :p lol Yeah, that's how I roll, what can I say? hehe

I am TRULY blessed to be involved in this community and I LOVE YOU GUYS!! XOXO

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