I’m going to talk about a journey I have recently begun and am still currently on. This journey has been an uphill battle, with its main component being myself. I am twenty two years young. My whole life I have been able to eat whatever I pleased and not gain a pound, I have always been somewhat lean. I became pregnant the end of 2012 and gave birth to my wonderful son in summer of 2013.
During my pregnancy I ate whatever I pleased and answered every single, crazy food craving I had. I had ice cream, burgers, and fries (which wasn’t really any different than what I had done before). As I slowly watched my weight go up over the months, I didn’t worry like most women who were pregnant, because I assumed it was normal. I never worked out, and by time I had given birth to my son, I had gained a total of 70lbs!
The craziest part was I didn’t even see how much weight I had gained. I was completely oblivious, and although I knew the number on my scale, I didn’t think I was big. As the months slowly passed, I would look at the pictures of me taken and I was disgusted at who I saw. I looked in the mirror one day, and I think it finally hit me how much weight I had really gained. I didn’t know where to begin to lose all of this extra weight, and I became depressed. I got to the point where I completely stopped eating, because I had become so sickened with myself.
During my pregnancy I ate whatever I pleased and answered every single, crazy food craving I had. I had ice cream, burgers, and fries (which wasn’t really any different than what I had done before). As I slowly watched my weight go up over the months, I didn’t worry like most women who were pregnant, because I assumed it was normal. I never worked out, and by time I had given birth to my son, I had gained a total of 70lbs!
The craziest part was I didn’t even see how much weight I had gained. I was completely oblivious, and although I knew the number on my scale, I didn’t think I was big. As the months slowly passed, I would look at the pictures of me taken and I was disgusted at who I saw. I looked in the mirror one day, and I think it finally hit me how much weight I had really gained. I didn’t know where to begin to lose all of this extra weight, and I became depressed. I got to the point where I completely stopped eating, because I had become so sickened with myself.
Alexis' Before & After Results
The first picture was a 2 weeks AFTER I had jax. It's been one year. One year and 85 lbs. People will judge you and say you aren't capable. They will make faces at you for eating out of Tupperware, they laugh at your face and behind your back. I changed my lifestyle, and I changed myself. Change is possible. Strength is possible. And believing in yourself is more than possible. Faith and hardwork got me here. I busted my butt and I have never been more proud of myself. I currently weigh less then I did in high school. If I wouldn't have believed in myself, I'd be in the same place I was. This is what I did in a year. And it has completely changed me for the better.
In January of 2014 I began Anna’s Boot Camp. I was determined to feel better about myself. I was dedicated. Here is the main key to my success, I did it for myself. I didn’t do it for my boyfriend, my family, or so that people would look at me differently. I did it so I could feel better about myself, I did it so that I could be free of this loathing feeling I had for myself. I wanted the change, I yearned for it, and I was determined. When you get to a certain point, where you realize that you are the only person who can control your happiness, it is an extremely freeing moment.
I prepped all my meals that Anna had given to me. I woke up every morning excited to work out. This was my “me” time. This was something I was doing for myself, and it was good to get out of the house. Being a stay at home mother, it was easy to fall into a routine and your whole life becomes about your kids happiness. I found that knowing I was doing something for me, felt amazing. I did all my workouts and stuck with my meal plans. I lost a total of 15lbs through Anna’s Boot Camp. I gained muscle and watched the inches melt away. I looked forward to my cheat meals, and would plan them out in advance.
As the weeks went by I slowly began craving my chicken and rice, and my protein shakes. Something bigger than just my weight had changed over this process. My desire for those yummy cheeseburgers and ice cream, had gone away. I believe this happened for a couple of reasons. One of them being that I knew what I wanted my outcome to be, so the idea of having a good cheat meal became pointless to me. I no longer craved these food, or had any desire for them at all. After going awhile eating such healthy foods that my body needed, anytime I tried to eat something that was heavy in carbs or high in fats, I became sick. Not a dying kind of sick, but bloated and an upset stomach. It was kind of amazing to watch my body deny all these unhealthy foods.
One of the best things I learned from this boot camp, was that food is a source of energy. Our body needs it and a lot of it! If you are eating the right foods, drinking lots and lots of water, your body will react in a positive way. I wasn’t tired and groggy anymore and my headaches had gone away completely.
My journey isn’t over yet. I continue to weigh my food and eat out of tupper ware. I occasionally eat something that isn’t exactly good for me, but the best thing was that I am aware. I know what kind of carbs I need and what kind I didn’t, I learned to avoid sugars, and Trans fats. Not because some crazy paranoia, but because I am proud of how far I have come, and I know I am doing what’s best for my body.
One of the most interesting things I have learned, is that most of my “cheat” meals now are actually pretty healthy for me. Since January of 2014 I have lost a total of 39lbs, with a grand total of 50 since I had my son in June!! I am only 18lbs away from goal weight. I have learned not to obsess about the number on the scale, because I know that I am actually gaining muscle. My self-confidence has been through the roof and even though I am not where I want to be, I feel comfortable in my own skin.
Anna’s Boot Camp gave me so much more then helping lose a couple pounds. She taught me how to be aware of the foods I eat, and how to push myself. This isn’t just a quick fix to a solution, this is a life changing experience that I will be forever grateful for. The lessons I learned through this boot camp, have helped me so much more than can ever be described.
In January of 2014 I began Anna’s Boot Camp. I was determined to feel better about myself. I was dedicated. Here is the main key to my success, I did it for myself. I didn’t do it for my boyfriend, my family, or so that people would look at me differently. I did it so I could feel better about myself, I did it so that I could be free of this loathing feeling I had for myself. I wanted the change, I yearned for it, and I was determined. When you get to a certain point, where you realize that you are the only person who can control your happiness, it is an extremely freeing moment.
I prepped all my meals that Anna had given to me. I woke up every morning excited to work out. This was my “me” time. This was something I was doing for myself, and it was good to get out of the house. Being a stay at home mother, it was easy to fall into a routine and your whole life becomes about your kids happiness. I found that knowing I was doing something for me, felt amazing. I did all my workouts and stuck with my meal plans. I lost a total of 15lbs through Anna’s Boot Camp. I gained muscle and watched the inches melt away. I looked forward to my cheat meals, and would plan them out in advance.
As the weeks went by I slowly began craving my chicken and rice, and my protein shakes. Something bigger than just my weight had changed over this process. My desire for those yummy cheeseburgers and ice cream, had gone away. I believe this happened for a couple of reasons. One of them being that I knew what I wanted my outcome to be, so the idea of having a good cheat meal became pointless to me. I no longer craved these food, or had any desire for them at all. After going awhile eating such healthy foods that my body needed, anytime I tried to eat something that was heavy in carbs or high in fats, I became sick. Not a dying kind of sick, but bloated and an upset stomach. It was kind of amazing to watch my body deny all these unhealthy foods.
One of the best things I learned from this boot camp, was that food is a source of energy. Our body needs it and a lot of it! If you are eating the right foods, drinking lots and lots of water, your body will react in a positive way. I wasn’t tired and groggy anymore and my headaches had gone away completely.
My journey isn’t over yet. I continue to weigh my food and eat out of tupper ware. I occasionally eat something that isn’t exactly good for me, but the best thing was that I am aware. I know what kind of carbs I need and what kind I didn’t, I learned to avoid sugars, and Trans fats. Not because some crazy paranoia, but because I am proud of how far I have come, and I know I am doing what’s best for my body.
One of the most interesting things I have learned, is that most of my “cheat” meals now are actually pretty healthy for me. Since January of 2014 I have lost a total of 39lbs, with a grand total of 50 since I had my son in June!! I am only 18lbs away from goal weight. I have learned not to obsess about the number on the scale, because I know that I am actually gaining muscle. My self-confidence has been through the roof and even though I am not where I want to be, I feel comfortable in my own skin.
Anna’s Boot Camp gave me so much more then helping lose a couple pounds. She taught me how to be aware of the foods I eat, and how to push myself. This isn’t just a quick fix to a solution, this is a life changing experience that I will be forever grateful for. The lessons I learned through this boot camp, have helped me so much more than can ever be described.
