As I find myself approaching the “half century” mark next month I am also finding changes happening to my body that I’m not necessarily excited about. Where I could once just cut back for a bit and drop a few pounds they now really seem to like hanging around. I guess I’m just such a great hostess they don’t want to leave. LOL
I’m now considered officially in menopause. I’m on the young end of the spectrum for this, but I’ve gone over a year without a period. I don’t mind that part, but I can tell it’s definitely affected my metabolism and slowed it down. I’ve always been small through my midsection but could see that beginning to change and was not a fan.
I’ve been a faithful exerciser for 20 years. After having Katie I started walking a couple times a week on a treadmill and then progressed to outside pushing a stroller that probably weighed well over 100 pounds with both kids in it. Gradually I added different exercise videos/dvd workouts and changed over to a combo of cardio and weights. So for the last 10-15 years I’ll cycle back and forth between walking and doing interval type things.
I’m just going to be honest and say I’m too cheap to join a gym and thankfully I’m very self motivated to workout at home. I figure by the time I would drive to a gym and back I can stay home and get it done.
With the aging process and changes in my body I had a few pounds that had crept on and wouldn’t budge no matter what I tried. I heard about the Faster Way To Fat Loss through Cyndi Spivey’s blog and decided maybe I’d give it a try to see if it would give me a reset and kick things back into gear.
At the beginning of the summer when Katie came home she agreed to do it along side of me. I’ll tell you if you can get a buddy to do a program like this with you it it’s a whole lot more fun. We held each other accountable and would push each other when one of us just wasn’t feeling it.
The Faster Way To Fat Loss is a total program based on clean eating, carb cycling and exercises. Clean eating is “all the rage” these days. It seems I’m constantly hearing about someone who’s doing Whole 30 or some other program designed to transform your eating habits.
The whole clean eating phenomenon was scary and intimidating for me. We eat pretty well, but when you commit to eating only foods with no extra ingredients or preservatives it takes a little effort. What I did find/have found is that you can eat a lot more than you think you can on a program like this. When you are eating “whole foods” that are better for your body it takes more to fulfill the calories you need. Eating clean wasn’t as hard as I feared.
The FWTFL program guides you through 6 weeks (7 if you count the prep week) of eating and exercises. The exercises are my favorite part. That probably sounds weird, but I love having a trainer give me exercises that I can see doing something for my body. While on the program I lost over 6 inches and really gained muscle and strength. I LOVE that!
If you are looking for a way to reset your body and try something different from what you’ve been doing than this might be the program for you. There is another round of the Faster Way starting on September 10. You will be put in a private Facebook group with other women doing the same thing to cheer each other on, ask questions, swap ideas and help hold each other accountable.
I’m more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Happy Wednesday friends!
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You go, girl!
Thanks Allie!!!
I have been a faithful exerciser all my life, boy this metabolism bites! I used to be able to eat three donuts, 4 slices of pizza and not gain a pound! Now I'm lucky if I can get half slice and no donuts, LOL! That's not fun so that's why I just exercise even harder! So proud of you!
Seriously, aging just bites! I want my cupcake eating, chip and dip loving metabolism back...LOL.
Lisa, you look great! I definitely need to get my hiney moving again... I just lack the motivation. :( Some people seem to enjoy working out, and I definitely do not. But, I'm going to try!
Thanks so much Jenny!!! I'm great on the exercise side, but the eating is harder for me. I did really well this summer when Katie and I were doing it, but I've really done a back slide with my travels. I'm trying to eat more whole foods, but find it to be a bit of a challenge.
I don't consider us having a busy lifestyle. We work, go to church, etc. We attempted Whole30 in July. I say attempted because we modified it slightly. If you put in the work and find recipes, etc., you really can keep it interesting and get a lot to eat. The hardest part for me is I am a go to the grocery store one time a week person. Fresh fruit just doesn't last an entire week. BUT my husband lost 25 pounds that month and it made a huge believer out of him. We've now cut out keeping diary and breads at home. That's made a huge difference for us. Good luck on your journey!
Thanks Lisa! You are so right. I found myself at the store what seemed like everyday when we were deep in the program. (I've relaxed quite a bit lately) It's also hard not to just grab something out of the pantry when you are hungry.
I admit clean eating has definitely been intimidating to me! I try to work it in as much as possible!
I think the hardest part is the time consuming aspect of food prep. It's just so easy to grab something in a package when you're hungry and in a rush. (not to mention some of it just tastes so good?)
Hahahahaha, I'm still laughing over the "such a good hostess the pounds don't wanna leave" part! Yes! I must be guilty of that too! I am the kind of hostess that tells those pounds, hey stick around awhile, I'll feed you. That's my problem, I'm too nice. Dang!
You look terrific and I can see the difference in your muscle mass. I admire your ability to work out at home. I've been a gym rat for almost 18 years now. It definitely gets harder as we age and I notice my middle getting puffier now too. I am not a fan! While I'm ok with the fact that I'll never look like I did in my 30's I feel better knowing I am exercising regularly and making good food choices most of the time. My workout partner and I start a strict eating and workout plan going into the holidays so we can enjoy them and feel good. We are getting ready to start it as soon as this hurricane Irma business is over!
Cheers to us dear friend as we face this next decade - I think we are awesome!!!
xo,
Kellyann
We are awesome!!! Darn metabolism...why can't someone come up with an easy fix?? I'm getting worried about you with this Irma nonsense. It's crazy. Be safe sweet friend!!! XOXO
Oh lady, I'm struggling big time ! I'm 48 now and I'm already going through menopause and detest ever bit of it. My metabolism has completely slowed down, making my mid section a lot bigger than it's been a long while. You're getting me motivated !!! I've tried so many things but it seriously comes down to how badly I want it. I'm checking Faster Way !! Thanks for sharing !
Aging is such a pain. I'd love to just accept the weight and move on...maybe one day. I do love that I can tell I'm stronger and see muscle definition I didn't have before. Give it a try!!! XOXO (And HOT FLASHES ARE THE PITS!!!!!!!!)
I'm on week 3 and loving it so far! I SO want to weigh myself but I'll wait until the 6 weeks is over!
YAY!!!! Just sneak on the scale (I did?). Keep up the good work!
First of all, you're gorgeous, and I always find it so inspiring to see others working out and continuing to better themselves. When I had my boys, I found myself slipping into a spiral of comfort foods (after 22 years of competitive swimming), and I knew I had to change things. I'm so excited for you continuing to follow a fitness journey, and I hope you'll post more about it!
Melissa you are too darn sweet to me! Thank you precious girl. Our son was a competitive swimmer and what a great discipline it instilled in him. He took up running when he quit swimming. Maybe that's common with swimmers, I know you are a runner too. Thanks for the encouragement. The working out is the easy part. It's the eating that's hard for me. I LOVE FOOD!!!?
You are so inspiring, Lisa! I really want to work out consistently and eat better and I just never stick with it. Sigh. (On the plus side, we were just talking in therapy about how I tend to see things as likely failures so that I don't have to do them, haha.) The Faster Way to Fat Loss group is pretty intriguing, although I don't work out at all and so am terrified too!!!
You are so sweet, Jess!!! The working out is the easy part for me. The food...not so much. Man-o-man do I love to eat. I try to be good, but it's soooo hard? I just can't (nor do I really want to) give up sugar. If sugar is wrong, I don't wanna' be right...LOL. Start small by walking and do some sit-ups or push ups and just work your way into it. I know without a doubt you can do it. I means seriously, if I can...anyone can? This was the first time I've done any kind of guided group like this and I was pretty terrified too. Have a wonderful weekend, Jess! XOXO