1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! WE DID IT!! ONE YEAR BABY!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I AM ON 2 CLOUDS RIGHT NOW!!!

I was planning a big long reflective post today, but I decided to do it after - kind of like a "My Year in Review" type of post. I will do that next week, after I've had time to soak up all this AWESOMENESS!!! :)

I stepped on the scale this morning and it read, 171!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!! That's 2 more pounds down!!! WOOT!!! WOOT!!!!

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS IN 1 YEAR: 87 POUNDS and counting!!! I WEIGH 171 lbs!!!

My Measurements:

BODY PART |DEC 2008 | DEC 2009

WEIGHT| 258 | 171

Neck |16.0 |14

Chest | 48.5 | 40.5

Right Arm | 15.5| 13.5

Left Arm |16.5 | 14.0

Waist |44.5 |37

Hips |50.0| 45.0

Thighs |30.0 |25.0

Shoe Size | 10 | 8.5 - 9

Bra Size |44DD | 38D


10 Things I've Noticed:

1. I've got some excess skin going on...tummy, booty, arms and thighs - I will be working very hard to tone up in 2010!! :)
2. Gravity is NOT my friend...things are sagging downwards ..the "girls" are not as "quick to say hi" anymore - there more like, "yeah, whatever!" :)
3. My skin is so much more clear...nothing like taking the toxic chemicals out of your system!
4. My hair is growing so nicely - thick and healthy!! Well, before I cut it all off, that is!! :) It's still very healthy.
5. It's kind of funny that I no longer have "bad knees"!! Those who've known me for years know that I always complained about knee pain. I guess taking 87 pounds off did the trick! :)
6. I have SO MUCH more energy!!! It really isn't a cliché.
7. I am happier.
8. It's hard to get going, but once you get to that start line, it's all good!!
9. Preparation is the key!
10. The journey NEVER ends! :)
    

OKAY, OKAY, THE PIX...I'm nervous..

Below you will see current pictures of me in the same outfit that I first took my "starting" pics back on Dec 10, 2008!!!!!!!!!! I have also posted some other "before" pics in which I've attempted to replicate the look to really show the changes and threw in a few "AFTER" shots. My husband and I had a bit of fun with the pix!! I can't wait for your comments!!!

BEFORE & AFTER: NO WORDS, JUST PICTURES.....
















Just For Fun!

Well that's it y'all!!!!! I know that I still have a lot of work to do but I AM UP FOR IT!! 2010 will be the year of completion and fine tuning!! What do you think? WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!! ! 1 YEAR BABY!! I DID IT!! ! HEY ROB, I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Joania (2KMINE!!)

Channelling my inner "Bruce Lee"

Well I made it official, before I left on my business trip, I signed up and paid for Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing classes at Therien Martial Arts in Ottawa. This will form the cardio portion of my training. I got the okay from my trainer so it's a go. I am very excited to see my progress and to learn all those Jiu-jitsu and kickboxing moves. I have already learned some fabulous self-defense moves!! Who knows, if I get good enough, I may even compete one day (that's dreaming big, I tell you - but why not?)

The great thing about it, is that I will have company. I won't be doing this alone. YEAH!!! Three of my work colleauges signed up as well and we will all attend the classes together during our lunch hour, so it should be fun. We've made a pact to stay with it....there will be no quitting!! I'm really looking forward to it. I will be away all next week on another business trip, but will start full swing upon my return.

I attend a couple of kickboxing classes this past week and my goodness, what an awesome workout! My arms are a little sore from all the punching. I really think I'm going to enjoy it! I will definitely keep you posted on the progress and will take a few pix of me in my Gi (Komono)...

On another note, I've also signed up my 3 year old for the "Little Dragons" martial arts program at the same gym (dojo, as it's properly called in martial arts talk). He is so cute in that little outfit (Gi). I will hopefully post some pix soon. More important than how cute he is, I think this program will be great for him and it will introduce fitness in his life at an early age, where it's fun and enjoyable and can hopefully be a permanent part of his life. This is also something that we can hopefully do together!! I'm excited.

Anyway, that's it for now. Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Progress Report.

Hi guys,

I had a great day today!!! I ate very well!! Eggs for breakfast....lunch was steamed mushrooms and brussel sprouts with roasted chicken breast and for dinner, I had blackened salmon fillet(cajun style) with steamed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, red peppers and onions). I drank about 2.5 liters of water and I am currently drinking about 500 mls..so that should be about 3 litres for the day.

I didn't workout this morning, but I am about to right after entering this post!! I'm feeling great....I think part of this new motivation has to do with the great news I received yesterday..it's awesome! :) Thank you to all for your wonderful comments. Kimmy, you're so right..it's funny how this news came right when I needed the boost!! Way to go universe!! :)

Anyway, just a quick post to let you know that it likes like I'm back on track...off to pump some iron :DDD

Until next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

PICTURES!!! Finally!!!!

Hi guys...so my husband and I finally got a chance to take some pix...it was a gorgeous day today so we went out and had some family fun with our 2-year old! We just got home about an hour ago and took the following pics.

A few things...

You will notice that I've changed my outfit...I wanted something different and new and SMALLER :))...I will use the original outfit in my final pics which I will take in December. But for now, I've changed it and who knows, I may get a new outfit with each new pic...we'll see. Anyway, this outfit is SIZE L for Large y'All!!! Not, 3x or 2x or even XL...it's L - LARGE. I love it...I kept it similar to the colours of the other outfit. Here's a couple of pictures showing the size I am now wearing.

Top - L/G...Large/Grand (en framçais) YEAH!!

Pants - L/G...Large/Grand

A pair of size 'L' pants fit over my butt!! Incredible!

I noticed a few things with these pics and with me overall. First of all, those "Lagana Lunges & Squats" have really started to shape my butt. Now I know that we black women have been "blessed" with having a little extra junk in the trunk, but for some reason, it skipped me - if you look at my 'before' pic from December (Back Shot), you'll notice the bootie wasn't as "shapely" as it now is. I'm not sure that I want everyone staring at my bootie but take a look at the pic below of me from the back....LOOK AT MY BUTT!!! LOOK AT IT!! All I have to say is "Lagana Lunges and Squats!!!"

Now for the pics....

Front: Me NOW...201lbs..June 28/09

In my new outfit, I might add

Me THEN: 258lbs, Dec 2008

Back: Me NOW - 201lbs June 28/09

LAGANA LUNGES & SQUATS!! LOL!!!

Me THEN: 258lbs Dec, 2009

SIDE: NOW 201lbs June 28/09

THEN - 258lbs Dec, 2008

This is my "Just for Fun - I think I'm Kinda Hot Shot" lol!!













THAT's IT!! Let me know what you think!

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Saturday Weigh-In...Week 28

Starting Weight: 258 lbs (Dec 10/08)
Last Weigh In: 202 lbs (June 20/09)
Current Weight: 201 lbs

This Week's Loss: 1lb!!!

Total pounds lossed to date: 57

Slowly but surely, I'm getting close to breaking that 200 pound mark!! I thought I would have done it this week, but either way I WILL GET THERE!!

I'm happy with the loss...A LOSS IS A LOSS and WAY BETTER THAN A GAIN or NOTHING AT ALL...so I am happy with it. One pound away from next reward level...almost there. This month's total loss was about 5 pounds which is a bit low compared to other months,but I realize that I won't have a huge loss everytime and I did have a lot of changes in my schedule this past few weeks. I'm still happy quite with it! :)

Where the heck are the PORGRESS PIX, Joania?????

I've been so busy and out of town so often the past couple of months and my poor husband (my photographer), he has been so busy with his work and taking care of our son while I'm away, that we haven't had a chance to take some pix. He worked today....by the time I opened my eyes this morning, he was already out the door. He's off tomorrow so we will have a big photo shoot in the morning. I apologize for taking so long to post these pics....there is a recent picture of me from the last Citizen newspaper article....it was from a couple of weeks ago..but it's not the same as my full body, front, back and side shots...tomorrow for sure!!

Believe it or not, I received a couple of emails from people who thought the reason I haven't posted my progress pics is because I'm gaining weight and I don't want to share that, basically calling me a liar...which is nothing short of BULLSHIT and it ticked me off at first but I just shrugged it off - not even worth my time. Pix will be posted tomorrow and the proof will show. Some people...I will not waste my time on it!!

ANYWAY... I've got myself a new outfit which I will be posing in and I may even show some skin this time...I actually have curves in my waist and I may just show it off (still deciding!) :)

Until tomorrow...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Saturday Weigh-in ~ Week 27

Starting Weight: 258 lbs (Dec 10/08)
Last Weigh In: 204 lbs (June 13/09)
Current Weight: 202 lbs
This Week's Loss: 2lbs!!!

Total pounds lossed to date: 56

OH YES!!! 2 WHOLE POUNDS!!! I'm sooooo happy with that. I think my 5K training is giving me an extra boost. This is awesome. I weigh 202 lbs, I am 3 pounds away from ONEderland!!! I can't wait!!! I am also 2 more pounds away from my next reward!!! I still haven't done my full spa day (which was my last reward for losing 48 pounds) - I've just been too busy, BUT I WILL MAKE THE TIME!!!

I looked at my ticker on the bottom of the page, and it says 45 pounds to go!! 45 Pounds!! I'm passed the halfway mark of my overall goal of losing 101 pounds!! I remember when I first set this up and how daunting it was to see "101 POUNDS to GO!!" And now, here I stand with ONLY 45 pounds left to go. I know I shouldn't say only, but coming from 101 pounds, I'm really psyched and truly believe 45 pounds is possible!! I'm on a total high!!!

This is awesome...my body is weird right now...very loose, almost saggy skin in the stomach, leg and arm areas, but you can also see the muscle underneath - I'm hoping with my strength training that those muscles will soon takeover ..lol!! I know it's just one of the many phases that my body will go through. Progress pictures will be up in the next post.

With the change in weather - it finally looks like it will be warm - I've gone through my closet, pulling out my summer clothes, well, NOTHING FITS!!!! It's awesome. All shorts/capris are falling off, it's a wonderful feeling...not good news for my wallet but great news overall!!

It looks like my weigh-in will be on Saturdays now...since I've been out of town the past two Wednesdays, I've had to weigh-in on Saturdays. It may make more sense to keep the weigh-ins on Saturdays; just more convenient.

Anyway, that's it for now...feeling great with this weeks loss!! Yeah!!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

My Workout Plan

Hey guys,

First off, thank you all so very much for the wonderful feedback/comments on my recently posted anniversary pics!! THANK YOU GUYS!! IT MEANS A LOT!!!!! I always look forward to your comments.

After looking at those 4-month pics and noting all the changes/progress from Day 1 to now, I'm motivated like crazy to just keep pushing through!! I don't want to lose momentum. I am so very excited for what's to come. I've been feeling good, really good actually.

The next few weeks I plan to really give it a 110 percent with each workout and with my eating as well. I want to stay true and clean to both the meal and exercise plans!! Optimal results!!! I feel like I'm in a zone and I just want to stay there!!! Fitting into those size 16 jeans may have a lot to do with this attitude!!:))

Working It Out

I am currently working out 6 days a week...rest on Sunday....Rob (trainer) now has me doing Cardio 5 times a week instead of 3 days a week and my strength routine 3 times a week. Here's the breakdown:

Monday - Strength Routine (1 hour) and 30 minutes of Cardio
Tuesday - Spinning Class (45 mins to 1 hr)
Wednesday - Strength Routine (1 hour) and 30 minutes of Cardio
Thursday - Spinning Class (45 mins to 1hr)
Friday - Strength Routine (1 hour) and 30 minutes of Cardio

Saturday - My own day of exercise fun - either I go for a walk/jog outdoors, do yoga, swim or any new fitness thing that I want to try - SAMPLE SATURDAY!! This is something I wanted to do, my program calls for me working out 5 days a week. I think it's important in regards to maintaining this new lifestyle for me to try new things; for example in the summer time, I think it will be just as simple as putting my son his stroller and taking a long walk - we'd then end up at one of the many parks in the area where we'd play (you'd be surprised at the workout you can get running around and climbing up and down those play structures!!!) Healthy FUN!!

I've always wanted to take tennis lessons, so this may be something I will try in the very near future!! Maybe I'll join a recreational sports team (like soccer, or football)...who knows???The options are endless!!
Sunday - I'M OFF BABY!!! Rest, Worship, Family and REST some more!!!!!

Then continue strong on Monday!!!

So this is my plan for the next few weeks. I look forward to the weigh-ins on Wednesdays to see what happens next!!

Until then...

Joania(2KMINE!!!)

A New Level of HURT ...and More!!

Hi guys,

Well my trainer tried to warn me. He sent me a message last week telling me that he was working on my new program and that I would be in for a "new level of hurt"!! Boy was he right!! I must admit that when he first told me that, my first thought was, "BRING IT ON, Lagana!!" Well, he brought it and he brought it hard.

I am already SORE and I just worked out this morning. My body was screaming, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, IT'S 7:30 on a SATURDAY MORNING??" I met him at 7:30 am and got started right away...he had a special grin on his face and at the time, I did not know why. At the end of my workout I knew why that grin was there! This program is the ultimate "Plateau Buster"and that's the perfect name because I really can't see how I could plateau on this program. Every time I've felt that I've got a hang of the program and that it's "almost" easy (not easy-easy, just almost easy), it's usually time for a new program. Rob (trainer) knows exactly what he's doing.

For example, in my last routine, one of the exercises he gave me was to do 10 push ups on an exercise ball...I thought, "there is no f'ing way I'm going to be able to do that!!" Well just last week I was doing all 10 on that ball and feeling pretty darn pleased with myself. Well today, he made one of his "slight adjustments" to my push-up exercise - literally as small as lifting one leg while I did the exercise - and I was done for!! I could barely get through doing 3 in a row!! But it's all good!! As Rob likes to remind me, this program is progressive and I can totally see the improvements in strength thusfar!! So I have a new goal and I WILL DO IT!! I can't wait.

I've increased the amount of weight I'm lifting and will also be increasing the number of times per week that I do cardio training as well. I will be doing cardio 5 days now instead of 3!! I CANNOT believe how strong I am getting. It's incredible. My body was in shock after this morning....my legs were shaking like you could not believe..IT WAS AWESOME!!!

With each new routine and new exercise, I felt myself challenging my body like never before!! I was hurting but no pain no gain, right?

So thanks Rob for today and this is my official "you were right, you kicked my ass today, I felt more than a new level of hurt" statement!!:) I hope I made you proud today with my progress. I know I left your studio feeling like I WAS THE SHIT TODAY!!! Totally a great way to start one's day!!:)

So that's it for now. I'm looking forward to this week starting my new routine, spinning and more cardio!!!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)