starting weight: 8/4/21 – 157.2
ending weight: 9/3/21 – 150.8
Hi friends! It feels good (and kinda weird!) to be sitting down and writing a blog post. It’s something that I love doing and really need to take the time to do more of. I was so overwhelmed with love and support last week when I shared my 30 day transformation photo on Instagram. Making changes is hard – I love sweets and love “living life.” When I gained almost 10 pounds over the last year just simply living life- I knew I needed to make a change (& commit to myself!), if I wanted to feel good again.
Here are some random thoughts I’ve had if you’re wanting to lose weight, get stronger, or just make healthy changes:
-Regardless of the plan or workout you’re doing – are you being HONEST with yourself?
Little things add up easily if you’re not paying attention. At the end of the day, honesty with YOURSELF is essential – because only you truly know what you’re doing (or not doing!).
-Do not buy or keep your weaknesses in your house!
This is the easiest tip I can give – if it’s not there – how can you eat it at 10pm when you’re bored, tired, or just craving something bad? For me, it’s blueberry muffins. I can’t keep them in the house because I can’t NOT eat them. For Drew, it’s Oreos. Whatever that food is or foods are for you – just don’t buy them! Treat yourself if you’re out and enjoy the 1 you do have. 🙂
-STOP making excuses.
I don’t have time, it’s too expensive, I can’t because ABCDEFG….. If you want to see changes you have to make changes. Thus doesn’t just apply to weight loss or seeing results in the gym – this applies to life sister. For me, time is always an issue/the problem. Plan your meals on the weekends, after the kids go to bed, and get up early. Whatever it takes! I think meal planning is easiest for me on the weekends, so I can have our groceries ordered and ready for the week. Also eat the same meals frequently! I hate always having to think of something “new” to make. Find a few meals/lunches/breakfasts/smoothies you love and just eat the same thing. I’m a creature of habit and that routine become easy for me to stick to.
-Find easy meals that work for you and your lifestyle.
Just like finding a good workout you love, it’s so important to eat foods and make meals that you enjoy + that are feasible for you to make any given day. If you hate what you’re eating or dread salads – don’t eat them! I found 2-3 different smoothie recipes and I literally drink 1 of them every day and that’s my breakfast. I’ve made them so frequently now that I can make them in less than 5 mins and it doesn’t get easier than that. No need to over-complicate anything.
What I’ve been doing the last 30+ days – food
I have always hated tracking calories. But, I’ve never really known any other way to lose weight. I started following a girl named Megan on Instagram a few months ago. She’s a registered dietician and I was drawn to her account because she preaches not tracking calories. If you’re like me, you’re like okay, but how do you lose weight if you can’t track? This is why I signed up for her program – metabolism makeover. Instead of being a new “diet” you do for 4, 6, 8 weeks or whatever, this retrains your brain and your metabolism to actually burn fat and to stop storing it. And it actually works. The first 2 weeks were really hard just learning and making changes, but now, it’s so easy. I have so much freedom and flexibility with my food and with my life- that my life no longer revolves around food. She makes it so simple to think about the choices you make attach meal, gives real life tips, vacation tips, etc. I went on a bachelorette weekend fo 4 days and ate and drank pretty much whatever I wanted and I STILL LOST WEIGHT! AND even better, I didn’t feel guilty after the trip AND I didn’t gain wait from the trip at all. Pretty cool.
This program is so straightforward and you learn a lot. Every week you have modules to complete to learn the “why” behind all of the changes you’re about to start implementing. She does weekly live zoom calls and there’s a Facebook group where other ladies share recipes, tips, ask questions, and anything else – it’s a great community for starting out. The program comes with a full meal plan planned out day by day If that’s easiest for you to follow. I picked a few meals/smoothies I loved, and ate those frequently for my meals. I like easy, quick and simple. You’re not limited to her meal plan – I ate a lot of things I enjoy or eat regularly that fit the plan requirements.
I highly recommend checking out her program. She’s only doing one more round this year and it starts the first week of October. Here’s the link to check it out and to sign up. Use code MAKEOVER for $100 off – I paid for it myself and it was worth every penny to change my relationship with food. When you click the link it will take you to the “waitlist” page – put your info in and she will email you when the sign up opens (I believe it opens next week)! 🙂
what I’ve been doing last 30 days – workouts
I’ve been doing the Alive app by Whitney Simmons – it’s SO good. I’m doing the “Alive At-Home Advances” program and it’s SO. good. I’m sore after every workout and have seen so many noticeable changes in my body being leaner and stronger. It’s an 8 week program and I’m a little over halfway through with it. It’s mostly strength training with a little cardio mixed in. Megan actually recommended it on her recommended workout programs from Metabolism Makeover and I’m SO glad I tried it. They have all sorts of programs and you can do all of them at home with minimal equipment. It also comes with a free trial on the app store – you can try all programs for free for 7 days to see if you’ll like it before signing up. 🙂 It kicks my butt and I get a great workout in every time. She does rest day on Wednesday and Sunday, so workout 5 days a week. I always try my best to get all 5 in, but sometimes I get on 3-4 depending on what I have going on. The app shows all the moves and has a timer – it’s wonderful if you’re not well versed in workout moves and like someone showing you what to do. I need that and I love it. Plus, she’s super inspirational and I just really like her as a person. Y’all should follow her on Insta if you don’t already! 🙂
30 day before + after measurements
Drew did the program with me too, so I thought it would be helpful to include his before/after measurements too! It’s always easier doing it with someone. 🙂
Morgan Before/After
Waist belly @ button – before: 35″ after: 32″
Smallest part of waist – before: 31 after: 30.25″
Hips biggest part – before: 42″ after: 42″ (#bootygains)
Chest under boob – before: 32.55″ after: 32.75″
Chest over nipple – before: 37″ after: 36.5″
Left bicep – @ biggest part before: 11.75″ after: 11.25″
Right bicep – before: 11.75″ after: 11.5″
Left thigh @ middle – before: 23.25″ after: 22.5″
Right thigh – before: 23.25″ after: 22.5″
Drew Before/After
Waist – before: 35.25” after: 33.25″
Below BB – before: 37.25” after: 35.5”
Hips – before: 40.5” after: 40.75”
Chest – before: 45.75” after: 44.25”
Right/L Arm – before: 14.5”/14.25” after: 14.25”/14”
R/L arm flexed – before: 16.25”/15.875” after: 16”/15.75”
R/L thigh – before: 25.5”/26” after: 24.25”/25”
