I've got news!

These past few weeks have been crazy with midterms, studying for my comprehensive exam, regular work, working on the new blog, kitchen renovations.... oh, and trying to get fit. On Tuesday, I hopped on the scale to see if I had gained any weight from the sudden increase in take out food that I have been ordering, and to my surprise! I am down again! 167.8! My husband said that morning that I am really "coming down" since during our first set of engagement pictures, I was looking like someone blew up my face. Lovely, I know.

 

So the news, I can feel myself procrastinating already... I have decided to no longer blog here at WIOG while I am planning to launch the new blog. It has become so hard to do both & I have such HUGE dreams for my new blog and I really want to be able to devote myself 100%. Everyone keeps telling me that it is a bad idea to stop blogging here, but I know that I need to really devote more time towards my new venture & to my school work.

 

What does this mean for WIOG?

 

• Everything will stay up here until I launch the new blog on June 1st, 2013.
• You can still look through old posts & contact me if you need anything!
• Starting June 1st, when you type in WIOG into the web, you will automatically be re-directed to my new site.
• I will be re-working some of the top posts from WIOG to make them even better for the new site.
• What about Amber?
• If you have been following WIOG since the beginning, you'll notice that Amber hasn't posted regularly in awhile. We are still best friends for life (DUH!), but blogging just isn't her passion. All of her posts will still be here and you will probably see some pictures of us on the new site as well....since we are still together everyday. There are no hard feelings, just love.

 

So, are you going to tell us what the "new site" is?



OMG! I am so nervous, because actually sharing it makes it real, right?

 

 

Go ahead, click the button and watch the magic happen.

 

Manifest Yourself is my new blog where I am looking to build a community where I can grow into a better blogger, share information, receive information and just have fun. I'm so excited to finally share it with you! Check out the new about page so you can learn a little about me, and a little more about what I will be writing about. A little new, mixed with a little old.

 

In 2 short months, the new site will be fully up and running with a regularly scheduled editorial calendar. (Yes, it's getting serious, ya'll.) AND in 2 months, who knows what I will have accomplished when it comes to my fitness goals! By that time, I will have 27 short days until Fitbloggin! ( Sidebar: If you haven't voted yet for the Ignite Sparks, please do so HERE! AND make sure you give the "How I Became a “Certified” Fitness Blogger" a few extra votes" *wink*wink*)

 

Before this becomes the longest blog post ever, I just want to say thank you. I have grown to love blogging from starting this blog. That's why I want to work to make it better by launching Manifest Yourself. I hope that you will support me over there too! This definitely isn't a goodbye... it's literally an "I'll see you in 60 days".

 

And I will obviously still be active via social media & I am looking for new features, guest posts, ect so don't be afraid to leave a comment here or email me at manifestyourselftoday {at} gmail {dot} com. (I updated the links above & my name on Twitter is now @manifesturself!

 

Love you!

 

Kimberly

Friday's Letters Link Up

If you haven't noticed lately, I have cut down on posting here on WIOG. Not because I am going to stop blogging or I don't know what to say, but because I am working on a new project! So, I decided to start doing Friday's Letters again so I can share more of what is going on... plus, who doesn't love a good blog link up from time to time.

Dear Readers: I have decided to launch a brand new blog on June 1st, with a focus on mental, physical, emotional, and career wellness. Basically, it is all about how to make your life better as I search for ways to make my own life better. I am so excited but so so so so nervous. Will you love the new space? Will you stop reading? Will you think I am crazy/big headed/(insert another negative adjective) for trying to make my blog into a place to share information, be open & personal, and offer business services? I don't know, but it will be happening soon!

Dear James (my personal trainer): Oh-how-I-appreciate-thee! You encourage and support me each week while I try to reach my fitness goals. Knowing I have you on my side to tell me when I am crazy, call me out on my bs when I know I am wrong, guide me through intense but fun workouts AND just be an amazing resource for information.... makes me feel like I can be successful.

Dear Self: These past few weeks, you have not been yourself at all. You  have had to go through some loss in your life (via death & friendships ending), some stress with school, some stress at home with renovations, and some stress that you impose upon yourself. You can do anything that you put your mind to. Pray about it. Believe it. Just do it. You can be who you dream about being if you work hard enough at it. AND I know that the level of success you want to achieve if possible.

#50in52 Week 25: What does it feel like to reach your weight loss goal?

For so long, I have dreamed about what it would feel like to weigh in at 169.0lbs.

 

And it happened on Saturday!

I wish I could say that the picture above was from Saturday, but it was from earlier in the week. I was too excited to remember to take a picture at the gym after my workout.

I feel like I have finally accomplished something in this weight loss journey. I am down 16lbs from my highest weight in April 2011. Yes, that is nearly 2 years of trial and errors, but I finally got to my first real goal of hitting 169lbs. When I saw that number on the scale, I almost lost my mind. I checked 4 times to make sure that it was real!

This week I kicked my own butt in every single workout. I worked out 5 times and met my increased polar goals for the first time! The only one I missed was the amount of time in zone 1 BUT I was at 92%, so I will be happy with that. If you follow me on instagram, you will probably see a photo of the trophy sometime this week.

Now,  I am on to the next goal. For some reason, it feels much more doable now. So... let's see how long it takes me to get to 159lbs. I may even be able to get to my total goal by the end of this #50in52 Challenge!

Oh, and sidebar: I didn't reward myself with food for the first time EVER. I don't want to ever see 17? on the scale again unless I am preggos. :)

TWO $100 Giveaways

So lately I know I have been walking around WIOG with a big ol frown on my face. I don't know what's going on lately...I'm in a funk and I sincerely apologize for the lack luster, my-life-is-over posts. To make it up to you, I have a fabulous CASH giveaway. YES, I did say cash.

(Check me out! I'm in the forth row!)

KimberlyLuxe // Maybe Baby // A Lovely Day BR // GG Renee

Mackensie G // Femmes With Benefits // Love, Darbie // Elle To Elle

RC // The Urban Umbrella // Aphrodite Kinks // Call Her Courtnee

Never Jaded // Work It Out Gurl // Fendi Bag & A Bad Attitude // Carmen Vogue

ThinkFeminist // Memoirs Of The Chic // Mylah
I joined a group giveaway with some pretty lovely ladies! And 2 Lucky Girls will win $100 each! This giveaway requires one simple mandatory task: [1] comment below with what you'd do with the money, [2] then enter the rafflecopter using your facebook login or your email address to submit your entry! And if you have a few extra minutes to spare, you can submit multiple entries by completing some super simple tasks! And you're not limited to one entry, you can submit up to 27 entries! The giveaway closes on the 1st of April and the two winners will be announced and contacted on the 7th! Who knows, in two weeks you may just be $100 richer. You have nothing to lose, and $100 to gain!

1 Mandatory Easy Submission | Simply comment on this post with what you'd do with the money & then enter into RaffleCopter!

Quick Way To Follow Blogs | Log into blogger > Go to your blogger dashboard (blogger home page) > Click "ADD" under "Reading List" > Paste link to blog you wish to follow > Click Follow!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#50in52 Week 24: I have committment issues....still

 

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Kimberly Anne on Pinterest

Weight loss is hard. Like, really hard. I feel like I am literally just repeating myself every week when I check in, but hey, blogs are about the journey. Every word I type on my #50in52 posts is part of my journey so I will share it.

I am FINALLY beginning to feel like I am making some progress. No where near as much progress as I would really like to see, but I know deep down what I need to do. I need to completely revamp my eating. I have been having some digestive issues, which I won't elaborate on since it's kind of gross, and I know I can fix them with diet... I just have to do it.  Every time I hear about a new plan, regime, workout, you-could-have-been-skinny-yesterday fix, I pause and ask myself if I really need it. Just today I messaged a NPC Bikini Competitor, whose body is CRAY, to check her rates for online personal training and meal plans...and she was out of my range. The old me would have jumped on the bag wagon, credit card in tow, and paid her anyways. KNOWING that I would probably adapt the plan to fit what I normally do.

 

I make soooo much sense, right?

 

The powers that be say that the definition of insanity is doing the same mess over and over again, expecting different results. Well, that's me! Except I sell myself on that I am really doing something different....since I did purchase it, hear about it, was recommended it by someone new. But I change it to be something old. 

Yes...I sound cray. I just came to this realization when I was speaking with Amber about wanting to by the online plan. Like the quote says above...I am on a plateau. But for me, I believe it is mental first...and then manifests itself physically.

I think deep down I am afraid to fully do everything in my power to lose weight. If I lose the weight, then what? I've been the girl trying to lose weight "seriously" for about 2 years now. 2 YEARS!!! When will I be ready to be the girl who LOST a substantial amount of weight?

Have you ever felt like this before?

Workout Motivation

All week I have had the same thought on my mind too, so I wanted to share it with you.

When I sit and think about the way I am right now versus where I would like to be, the only person I can blame is myself, I am angry because I am essentially not doing all the things I could do to feel better. And in my mind, that sounds ridiculous.

The past 2 weeks have been going really well for me. I think this is also because I let go of the scale too. I've been working out hard and eating (moderately) well. I went back home for a celebration last week and ate out for almost every meal....so....you know how that goes. But I am back on track. It's Saturday and I have started my food prep too. Starting on Friday, my husband and I are renovating our kitchen so we could potentially not have a kitchen for 2-3weeks.... I have no idea how that will go, but I will try my best!

 

How are you doing with your eating lately?

 

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#50in52 Week 23: Staying consistent

 

I don't know what it is about being on a weight loss journey that makes you appreciate the power of words. Those phrases are all from just scrolling through Instagram (@KandidlyKim is my name if you want to follow me #shamelessplug). Everyday I go through and look for motivational quotes that will help get me out of a funk and/or motivate me to keep trucking along. Sometimes weight loss feels more like a test of mental fortitude vs a physical test.

Since banishing my scale from daily view, I do feel much better. I notice subtle changes in my body (like my leggings no longer staying up and my skin tight jeggings having a gap at the waist). I even swore that I saw the beginnings of an ab. Yes, I said an ab. I am trying to stay positive and realistic about my goals.

By this time in my journey I know that consistency is my biggest problem. Whether it is continuously not checking the scale, eating right or exercising... Consistently is key for my mental and physical sanity. I'm not perfect at this (obviously, since I would have been "skinny" years ago if I was!). But I am learning.

Above is a picture of myself that I took via Instagram on Saturday morning when I squeezed in a workout before heading to visit family. I had chores, laundry, homework, and sleep that I should have been catching up on, and I still went to the gym. I put my gym clothes on and felt good. I felt like I was improving.

I am improving. I just need to stay consistent to keep seeing change and feel good.

What helps you stay consistent?

 

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Guest Post: Friday FITspiration Week 4/4

This is the last post we have with Stephanie from Infinite Life Fitness  to give us some tips & tricks to help us achieve our fitness goals. This chick is fabulous and the more I read her blog, the more motivated I get. We will also announce the GIVEAWAY winner today too!

Hello my fellow fitness enthusiast.  Sad to say this, but this is my LAST Friday FITspiration on this blog! But don’t be sad! You can find more Friday FITspiration every Friday on my health and fitness blog infinitelifefitness.com!

Today I would like to share some tips on creating the other important component to reaching your health and fitness goals.  YOUR WORKOUT!  Eating right and your fitness routine are the two key things that you have to be consistent with in order to reach your health and fitness goals in a desired time frame.  

As I have stated in every post previous to this, before you embark on a new fitness routine please make sure you are cleared by your doctor first!  Also, if you work out and start to feel extreme pain STOP!  It is ok if you feel a slight discomfort, but if it is an extreme pain that means you may be doing something wrong or you hurt yourself!

When creating your own workouts you have to be aware of your resources.  Will you have a gym that you can use?  Will you have to work out at home or outside? Does your job offer some kind of incentive for working out? Do you have any other spaces/facilities you can use to complete a workout?

If your job offers incentives for working out you would be a fool not to participate!! At my company they offer a discounted health package, we get a FREE membership to a local gym, we get free evaluations every 4 months, plus a whole list of other opportunities to allow people the chance to participate in a healthy lifestyle.  If you are unsure, it would be best to go to your Human Resources adviser and see if they have anything like that.

If you have a gym to use, the best thing to do is ask the manager (or if they have onsite training) if they can show you around the gym and how to use the machines.  If you are using the machines incorrectly you could potentially hurt yourself or worse not get the true benefit of working out that day.  Working out in the gym allows you the chance to use the cardio machines as well as lift weights.  The key to losing weight and sculpting the body you want is a mix of cardio AND strength training.  Now ladies, I promise you will not get big and bulky like a body builder if you lift weights!! Lifting weights will allow you the chance to strengthen and tighten your muscles so when you start to lose those unwanted pounds your body will look firm and fit (not saggy and droopy).  You want to not lift heavy the first few sessions you have until you know how much you can lift and what exercises you can do.  My rule I tell my clients is if you can lift it 10 times without extreme muscle fatigue than you are doing good and gradually build up the weight every 4-6 weeks.  I would suggest doing 3-5 sets with 8-15 reps in each set.  This is where you get to create your own workout plan and decide which exercises you want to do!

With cardio, the key is to get your heart rate up and maintain it for about 30 minutes.  I always suggest a 10 minute warm up and then go right into your more intense cardio session.  This can be done on the treadmill, elliptical, bike, stairmaster, or any other machine they may have for you to use.  Again, start off slower and then start to build up your speed and resistance.

For those who do not have a gym to attend there are SO many resources you can use in your home or outside.  I know the weather may be bad in some areas so you may be forced to stay inside for your workout.  There are dozens of circuit training videos you can find online to use in your home.  You can also do things like jumping rope, jumping jacks, lunges, and sit ups in the comfort of your home!  I usually tell clients that they can do these things WHILE THEY WATCH THEIR FAVORITE TV SHOW AT NIGHT! It is a great trade off because you kill two birds with one stone.  You get your workout done and you get to see your favorite weekly show.

There are so many other routines you can do in your home, at your local park, around your neighborhood, or maybe even at your kid’s school.  You just have to be aware of your resources and use them!  For more fitness exercises you can do for your workout or healthy food ideas please feel free to visit my blog!

And as with any other extreme activities that you would like to do, please consult with your physician first before you embark on any kind of physical activity, meal plans, or any other activities that may be harmful to you or your health needs.  

I hope the tips I shared with you will help you guys start planning out your NEW and HEALTY fitness lifestyle!  For other daily health and fitness tips please feel free to check out my blog at infinitelifefitness.com. Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Latest Obsession: Brown Rice & Quinoa

Before the #NYNR challenge, brown rice was as close as I was getting to exploring other grains. Then I found a blend of brown rice, quinoa and garlic prepackaged at Costco. It was very flavorful and not "weird tasting". It also didn't have ANY preservatives so it was #NYNR approved!

A month later when I was browsing/spending money for no reason in Trader Joes, I found some tri-color quinoa on sale so I picked it up. I actually didn't try to cook it until last week though. Immediately when I opened the package I noted that I smelled very nutty. Since I loved the prepackaged quinoa and brown rice, I decided to make my own. I made the brown rice and the quinoa separately according to the package directions and then mixed them together.

It was delicious. And I didn't miss the garlic. (In the photo above, I also had a turkey burger and sautéed red onions.) I've been storing the rice and quinoa in separate containers and just mixing some together when I make my meals, so I am not sure what would happen if I mixed both batches together.... I doubt anything would happen except the nutty smell of the quinoa would probably overpower the rice.

My goal is to try to see if I can use less and less rice and eat more quinoa. I'm such a chicken that I didn't even try the quinoa solo yet. I didn't want to mess up a good thing, ya know?

Have you ever tried quinoa?

 

 

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Magazine Inspiration

Friday night after work, I decided that it was time to upgrade my iPad 1 to the mini, so I walked right into my nearest Apple store and picked one up. Did you know that they process EVERYTHING right from their iPhones? I barely walked into the store and my whole transaction, receipt included, was conducted at the nearest display table. On a phone. I know I am young, but technology really surprises me still. Anywho, as I was installing all of my apps, I started to configure my iPad magazine subscriptions. I am really feeling down these days since I am only subscribing to 3 instead of my usual 5-7.... But that's a whole other story.

The latest cover of Shape with Jennifer Love Hewitt had me floored. I've always been a Jennifer fan because of her body shape. She has an amazing hourglass shape that looks realistic! And she is proud of it even after that whole story of her "letting herself go" that was all over magazine stands and the Internet a few years ago. On the iPad edition, sometimes magazines include video snippets of the cover story interview and this issue had one with Jennifer! In her interview she talked about her perception on staying healthy.

 

I haven't watched her recent series, but from what the interview says, she is in lingerie a lot so fitness is a priority. After that terrible story about letting herself go, she says that she learned that she just needs to take care of herself more. NOT that she was embarrassed or ashamed of herself, but that she knew she could do better. So she eats healthy and exercises AND THREW AWAY THE SCALE. She says that she doesn't even know how much she weighs. And that she doesn't even care! It's all about how she feels, looks, and how her clothes fit.

Now I know you are probably reading this thinking "So what? That's not something that I have never heard before." But for some reason, I guess because Jennifer just seems like a REAL person to me, it hit home....and I put my scale in a place that will take too much effort for me to fish it out AND I recommitted myself to living a gluten and dairy free lifestyle for the time being (not because it will make me lose more weight but because the #NYNR challenge made me FEEL good).

I interpreted her throwing the scale away as being symbolic of her allowing herself to live a healthy lifestyle without the shackles on her ankles tying her to a number and/or specific diet plan. Eating healthy and exercising 5 days a week is her thing. I feel free already knowing that I don't have the scale on my mind. Although I said I would not be reporting my weight here anymore, I would still hop on the scale "just to see". My weight was actually going down too, but I have so much anxiety about that darn number. And I get anxiety about tracking calories too! But somehow when I am gluten and dairy free, I just ate better and didn't need too.

Finding a balance is what I am really striving for... This is honestly what being a #fitfluential ambassador is about in my mind.

What motivates you to find balance?

 

 

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