Who's that girl??

WHO IS THAT GIRL IN THE PURPLE BRA?!?! Oh wait...it was me!

That girl in the purple bra was 3 months post partum. I was feeling overwhelmed and feeling frustrated that the baby weight was NOT coming off as quick as it had with baby #1. I was nursing and struggling with low milk supply, so cutting calories was NOT an option to me (I needed them to make milk!).

I had spent the past 3 months allowing my body to heal, but I was ready to get moving again and feel the benefits of exercising.

ENTER ALISON (MY coach!).

I had followed her fitness page for some time, basically just being a creeper! I was always interested in what she was posting, found it motivating, and felt like I could relate because she was a REAL person.

So, 3 months post partum, the girl in the purple bra joined a 5-day challenge and started drinking Shakeology. I ate real food, didn't starve, did realistic exercises for my post-partum body, fell in love with Shakeology.... and lost 5 pounds!!! Problem was, my milk supply began to drop. GRRR!!!!

Since January, it has been a struggle to find the delicate balance of allowing weight to SLOOOOOOOWLY come off, while keeping the milk supply I need to feed Nora. I have plateaued at the same weight for about the past 5-6 months, because my body seems to like it here for now. If I drop even 2-3 pounds less, my milk supply tanks. So until I'm done nursing, I'm enjoying the extra calories ;)

I continue to drink Shakeology daily and aim to exercise 5-6 days a week.

Seeing these pictures side by side was pretty eye opening for me! I feel like I haven't made that much progress because I'm still 15 pounds up from where my body feels most comfortable, and even though my weight has stalled....my body has changed!

The girl in the teal bra feels much more confident. She has more energy. She's 13 pounds lighter and doing the best she can while making food for another human!! ;)

Imagine what YOU could do in 10 months time!!!

Why work out with your partner???

#tryittuesday

Have you ever tried getting sweaty with your significant other (MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER, dirty birds!)??

Here's a few reasons why working out with your partner gets a thumbs up from me:👍🏼

-Working out produces endorphins, and endorphins give you that "exercise high." When you exercise together and both produce these endorphins, you end up associating those positive feelings with your partner.

-Having fitness as a common pursuit will not only get you both exercising, it will lead to better diet, higher self-esteem and more energy to do and share other things. 

-Having a workout buddy makes you more accountable and pushes you to do better (friendly sense of competition!) 

-It can boost your sex life! (Yeah, I went there! We're all adults here!)  When the researchers asked people how it upgraded their relationship, 52 percent cited that they both felt healthier and happier, while 46 percent mentioned higher sex drives.

-It'll save money! If you are spending time together working out, that's less time spent doing other more spends activities, such as dining out. Plus, who wants to undo all that cardio with a pile of greasy fries?? (Well, most of the time, the answer is no! 😉)

DO YOU LIKE WORKING OUT WITH YOUR PARTNER? What do you like to do together??

Lime Kale Slaw

Seriously. This kale is SOOOO good!

**record screeches and music stops**

"Wait a second!! Did you just say kale and good in the same sentence?" You may be asking....

Yes I did! I  not a big kale fan either. I find it tough and bitter. Not anymore!!

I want to devour bowl after bowl of this tasty KALE!!

Jalapeño-Lime Kale Slaw

By Nourishing Meals

Yield: 2 servings

Salad:

• 5 to 6 cups thinly sliced lacinato kale
• 1/2 cup (or more) diced red bell pepper

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup packed cilantro
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded
• 1 clove garlic
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt 

1. Place kale and diced red pepper in a large bowl; set aside.

2. Place all ingredients for dressing into a blender and blend on medium until combined. I actually place all ingredients into a wide mouth jar and use my immersion blender. This way I don’t dirty the whole blender!

3. Pour dressing over salad and toss together. Taste and add more salt if needed.

4. Let dressing mingle with the kale for 2 to 24 hours. The kale with tenderize and become softer the longer it sits.

5. Enjoy!

Are you going to try this??

Stitch Fix #3

Well y'all, here it is. More uber dopey selfies of me pretending to be a model in my bathroom!! 

Ok, clearly I'm not modeling, as I am cheesin' in all of the pics and not sucking my cheeks in lookin all serious-like!

 I am keeping one thing and debating on a second---what do you think the pieces are???

Sailboat dress 

Cut-out shoulder/open back blouse with chubby little bird print

(Wrinkly) linen crochet detail top

Spear necklace

Embroidered racer-back tank (my own cardi)

(Sorry, too lazy to change bras!)

3 month transformation

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!! You guys, this is a HUGE HUGE HUGE step out of my comfort zone. I have ALWAYS been extremely self-conscious of my belly. No matter how thin I've been, it's always got extra fluff and is just not my favorite feature. Be kind! ;)

These pictures are of my 3- month transformation since I started eating clean and doing my at-home workouts. I have been struggling this whole time with balancing trying to cut calories and maintain my milk supply for my nursing baby. It has been very challenging to find the balance and the weight has been coming off very sllooooooww! But, in actuality, "safe" weight loss is 1# per week, so I am pretty much on par!!! I know y'all feel me though...when you're trying so hard day in and day out, you expect to see a new pant size every week! ;)

Even though I'm terrified of sharing these pictures, I wanted to challenge myself and put myself out there for YOU. If me putting myself out there can motivate even ONE person that YOU CAN DO IT, then that's what I will do! I have felt an outpouring of support from you guys (THANK YOU!) and I feel like my journey is not just for me....it's for you too! If me putting myself out there motivates you in any way, shape, or form to create your own change....then I will stand on a dang pillar in the middle of Times Square to get you there! 

I will tell you this again. I know what it feels like to be unhappy in your own skin every day. I also know what it feels like to feel pretty happy with your body. I WANT THAT FEELING FOR YOU!! No good comes from feeling bad about yourself. Feeling discouraged every time you catch a glimpse in the mirror. Tugging at your shirt so it's not clinging to your belly. Making sure your bra is positioned just right to minimize back-fat rolls. STOP! Time to make the change!

Seriously you guys, people always say this, but if I can do it...YOU can do it! I mean it. I want this for you so bad!!!

I'm not at my goal yet, but I wanted to show my progress so far! 

Are you ready to create your own progress pictures????

Ok, I've even sitting here for 25 Minutes not pushing "publish"....aaaah, here goes nothing!!!

Meatless bacon bits?

Jigga what? Yeah, I went there. meatless bacon bits! Sort of seems sinful to label something to be glorious bacon when it totally isn't! I thought this was one of the most interesting recipes I've tried, though!

"Bacon bits" 

-3 cups unsweetened flakes coconut

•     2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
•     2 Tbsp Molasses
•     2 Tbsp Liquid Smoke
•     1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
•     1 Tbsp Cider Vinegar

Directions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, a silicon pad or spray with pan spray.
Step 2
Whisk together soy sauce, molasses, liquid smoke, olive oil and vinegar. Add Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flakes and mix well. Let sit for 10 minutes so the coconut absorbs all the liquid.
Step 3
Spread coconut in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 4
Bake at 325°F until deeply toasted, about 15 – 20 minutes. Stir often! (About every 3 – 5 minutes.)
Step 5
Let “bacon” bits cool completely then store in an airtight container. They can easily be re-crisped in a low oven for 5 minutes.
Great for salads, baked potatoes, mixed with popcorn or put into snack mixes!

That girl

Have you ever been "that girl?" 

You know, the one who is constantly sucking in her stomach when around people? Things can look okay, except, of course, when you have to sit down, and your stomach billows over the top of your pants like a busted can of biscuits.

You always want to get a booth at a restaurant, because it feels like you can hide your body better. Clearly, a chair is way too exposing! And at that restaurant, you're conscious of what you order. You really want a cheeseburger and fries, but you're sure that the waitress would be saying in her head, "oh honey--you should just get a side salad."

 But maybe you DO order a side salad. When you place that order, you're convinced the waitress is saying, "who is she kidding with a side salad?" You convince yourself that everyone in the restaurant is picking apart what you are or are not eating just because you're overweight. If you give in and order what you really want to, they're judging you. If you try to "be good" and order a healthy option, they're judging you, figuring that you've probably got a tube of Pringles and a Snickers bar in your purse. And definitely, even if you are super hungry, do NOT finish all of your food. That would be piggish. Always ask for a to-go box.

When you're in public, you're constantly adjusting and pulling at your shirt. You're pulling down at the back of your bra to try your best to minimize the back fat rolls that bulge out. Maybe you even try a 38B, even though you're a 36B...just to see if the band cuts in less.

So, have you been "that girl?" Does any of this sound familiar to you? I didn't get this from a collection of women's insecurities I pulled from somewhere. This is me. I'm "that girl." I've been her for as long as I can remember. Even a little over a year ago, when I was at my smallest, I still did some of these things. 

Many of these thoughts are gone but I still have to fight them from time to time.

Am I telling you this so you think I'm a huge flake? Absolutely not.  Am I telling this to get attention? Absolutely not. So, WHY am I telling you this?.... I'm sharing this because I want YOU to know that if you can relate to any of this, you don't have to. It can change! You CAN feel more confidence, give less care to what others are thinking of you and order whatever the hell you want at a restaurant (80/20 rule!)! Going from a girl that always thought people were looking at me thinking how fat I was, to a girl that feels pretty okay in her skin is so uplifting. I have good days and bad days, though. I'm still working to get back to where I want to be after my second baby, but I know what it feels like on the other end and I WANT YOU TO ALSO!! And also to know that I GET IT. I can relate. I feel ya!

Are you ready to make the change??

Contact me on my Facebook page, Fit 4 You or Kate Brown. I'm here for ya!! ❤️

So....why Beachbody??

Since I jumped on this crazy ride of coaching, I've had a few people ask me "Why Beachbody?" I thought I would give a little insight as to why I chose to work with this company versus all the other "health" lines out there. No....it's not because I have a "beach-body," not because I have dreams of moving to California and getting a blonde wig and sporting an endless summer tan. It is not all about vanity and trying to look like a Barbie. This is about taking control of my health and well-being and having the blessing of helping others do the same. Truthfully, I actually used to hate the name Beachbody and in my past life didn't like the company even though I knew nothing about them! I just thought they were promoting everyone need to look like a Victoria's Secret model doing a beach shoot with her "beachbody." SO untrue! Health and vanity are not the same thing.




Let me start by re-touching a little bit on my past. After I gained 50+ pounds in college, I began my cycle of yo-yo dieting. I've run the gamete of exercise and calorie counting, diet pills, paleo, cleanses, and commercial weight loss programs. I have A LOT of experience trying to lose weight. I have dabbled in many products from the other popular companies under the Health and Wellness umbrella. I was an expert yo-yo dieter desperate to find anything "quick" that would work. Some things temporarily did and some things didn't. Even though I've gone up and down on the scale and spent countless amounts of money on weight loss attempts, it wasn't all for naught.  This has all given me so much knowledge of what works, what doesn't, nutrition, exercise, etc. My dad also passed away at a very young age from a heart attack, so maintaining my own health is always something in the forefront of my thoughts! So after experimenting with many other programs and attempts to be healthy, why Beachbody?......




1. Beachbody is NOT a quick fix. Let's be honest, it'd be great if there were just a magic pill you could take to lose weight, get that 6 pack and be the picture of health. But, there isn't. I've tried. Yes, initially, I did lose weight taking some crazy stuff, but it NEVER stayed, I felt awful and I was damaging my body. THERE IS NO QUICK FIX. I repeat, THERE IS NO QUICK FIX. Okay, ya hear me on that yet? :) You're crazy if you think you are going to find it and maintain it without sacrificing your health in some way. So, you need to put the work in and eat healthy and EXERCISE. Which leads me to....




2. The exercise programs are LEGIT! Some people see the "before and after" photos and call B.S., but these programs have been tested and proven to be effective if they're followed. There's a ton of money put into ensuring they work. You put the time in, you get results. Simple as that. Many of the other popular companies that are "competitors" to Beachbody do not have this to offer. It seems to elementary to me that if you are going to be a company under the health umbrella, exercise would be a part of it! It needs to be. I honestly used to HATE exercising. I'd go ramble around the gym, aimlessly doing some reps on different machines, hopping on the dreadmill for awhile and was frustrated I wasn't seeing results. The whole time I was there, I was also self-conscious, assuming everyone was looking at me thinking, "yeah, chubby, good thing you're here---you need it." It took until after my dad passed from a heart attack for me to really buckle down and realize I NEEDED to exercise. And if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you do too!




3. There is a team aspect. Yes, this is a multi-level marketing company like many others, but it is SO different and stands apart from the others, in my opinion. I NEVER, EVER envisioned myself doing this. In fact, I will fully admit, I occasionally still squirm when I mention it to certain people (because I'm afraid they'll associate it with all of the marketing companies out there that just want to take your money), but I believe in the products and mission of this company SO much, that I'm willing to squirm. I'll get over it! With Team Beachbody, work together and support each other. It's not just about the person on top doing well from all of the people under them. We are in teams, so we are connected to other people who help us succeed. Because of this, there is a TON of support and camaraderie within your group! And the CEO of this company is the most down-to-earth person you'd care to meet. He is honest, real and genuinely cares about ending the trend to obesity.




4. The coaching. This company isn't just about buying and using a product. It's not about pushing sales. You get a FREE coach to guide you, answer questions, support, motivate and keep you accountable. Where else can you find that for FREE???  People's level of success is so much greater from having the support of their coach and like-minded individuals.




5. Shakeology. 'Nuff said. I am a freak about ingredients. Yes, I do occasionally eat stuff I know is bad for me, but the point is, I know it's bad for me. I have that knowledge base to know what is good and what is bad, and Shakeology is like the nectar of the Gods. It's like oxygen. The ingredients in this nutrient-dense superfood shake are second to none. I have tried shakes from many other companies and never felt totally great drinking them because of the ingredient list, but like I said, I was looking for that "quick" fix and at the time, being thin was more important to me than being healthy. Oh, the young, vain person I was! Even after I had my son and tried a few different shakes, I NEVER felt okay giving him any, even though he'd always ask for a little sip. It got me thinking, "if I wouldn't give this to my son, why am I drinking it?" Thank goodness I got introduced to Shakeology! Jonah, my son, gets 1/2 a shake every once in awhile and I feel 100% okay about it!! No fake ingredients!




Those are my 5 main reasons for "why Beachbody." In NO way am I intending to bash any other company or product, which is why I didn't list any specific names! I'm also not trying to "convince" anyone to use Beachbody products or services.  These are just some of my reasons as to why I chose to company with Beachbody to #endthetrend of obesity, get myself healthy, and hopefully inspire and help others along the way!!!! Bottom line, I decided to improve my health and become the person I want to be, and Beachbody is the tool I use to achieve that!




As always, let me know if you have any questions!!! :)

Another Fix!

Okay, y'all said you would help me choose on my latest Stitch Fix! It was a busy weekend and I wasn't able to get this post up before I had to return the things I wasn't keeping. But, I promised you a fashion show, so here you go!!

What would you have kept? (Hint:I only returned 1 item!)

Here's an upside down pic of everything from the box:

Can't really tell, but this has gold

Buttons down the back:

My Fix!

So, have you guys ever heard of Stitch Fix?? This is not a pitch on them, as I am not paid to say anything, but this company ROCKS my world!!! Like, for real. I don't mind shopping, but don't love it. I also have no free time to just go hit the mall, so this box coming to my doorstep is usually accompanied by choirs of angels singing (or maybe that part is just in my head?!)

For those who haven't heard of it, in a nutshell, you fill out a style profile, tell them your sizing, and set up to receive a Fix! You can get tops, bottoms, jewelry, outerwear, purses, etc! You will never really know what is coming in your box though, it's like a personal shopper who ships a neatly packaged box of 5 items right to your door! They will link to Instagram or your Pinterest if you wish to get an idea of your style, or just go by your style profile you fill out. They will even challenge you to step out of your comfort zone with clothing and send you some things that may not be totally typical for you. It's pretty damn rad, if you ask me!

You can set up to receive these Fixes on a regular basis, or just as you wish. I had stopped mine while I was pregnant, but have an occasion coming up, no time to shop, and am SO out of the loop on what's trendy, so Stitch Fix to the rescue!!!

So here are the 5 items that came in my latest box....

Here it is all in it's pretty mint and white packaging.....

Everything that came in my little delivery...

1st top...

A floral keyhole blouse. I love, love, love the pattern and colors!

Paired with one of my own cardigans...

Top#2--sheer blouse with lace print

It's supposed to fit sort of loose, but was much too big and blousy :(

Top #3-- a SUPER soft coral heathered cardigan

Top #4--a SUPER comfortable asymmetrical cardigan. Not a huge fan of it zipped...

Same cardigan unzipped. It's a beautiful cobalt color and has some pizazz with the zipper and the asymmetricalness (whoa, check that word, Webster's!)...

Item #5--gold "feathered" earrings

So, those are the 5 items in my Stitch Fix box this time!

What do you think I kept??????

Fat a**!!

Let me tell you a little story.....


About 6-7 years ago, my husband and I went to a MN Twins game with another couple. After the game was over, we began the 7 block trek back to our respective cars. We were standing at the street corner, waiting for the little "walk" signal to pop up so we could cross the busy street. When the little walk signal finally popped up, we started across, when some jerk yelled out of his car window, "Hurry up, fat ass!" Sadly, I instantly knew that he meant me. Nobody else in our group of 4 was overweight...except me. The other girl we were with sweetly yelled back, "Oh yeah? Fat ass?" trying to make it seem like they meant her. They didn't, though. She knew it and I knew it.
We all were kind of quiet for the rest of the walk back and pretended like that hadn't happened. It was too uncomfortable to talk about. I was holding back the tears and could feel my cheeks throbbing from embarrassment. My husband and I rode home and didn't say anything about it ever again.


My point of sharing this story is to say, first of all, if you've ever experienced one of those moments where you can no longer deny you're overweight and it's thrown in your face like that....I get it. I understand. I had my own personal "a-ha!" moments of realizing I needed to change, but having a stranger call you out on it is on a whole different level.


I also share this for myself. Even though it may sound like kind of a dumb thing, I will likely never forget that moment. It broke my heart at the time, but was WAY too embarrassing to talk about with anyone...even my husband. So, now that I am no longer unhealthy and greatly overweight, sharing this story out loud feels like a little release for me and I can let it go and imagine myself giving that jerk a piece of my mind! People can be awful sometimes. If that guy knew how much he hurt me, well actually, I doubt he'd care. Someone who would say that out loud to a stranger doesn't have much of a soul! So, even though this is horribly embarrassing to share, I'm glad to release this from my "baggage!" Thanks for listening! :)

My dad and me

I will never, ever forget the moment. The worst moment of my life, to date. My husband and I had been married only a week. We'd just sat down at a local bar/restaurant, ordered, and were going to watch a MN Twins game on TV. I'd been ignoring a bunch of calls from my brother, Kurt, just figuring I'd call him back later. Plus, he wasn't leaving any messages. Then I ignored a call from my mom/step-dad, only my step-dad left a message to call ASAP. Then, I got the flip-flop in my stomach and knew something was wrong. Just as I was stepping outside to call them back, my brother rang in again. This time I answered it. He was being all awkward when I asked "What's up?" He was mumbling and said, "I don't know how to say this." I felt my stomach drop. I instantly thought something awful had happened to our youngest brother, Kevin, as the 2 of them live in Montana together and Kevin had just driven back. What Kurt plainly said instead was, "Dad died."

WHAT??? Dad died?? What the hell are you talking about??? I remember my body starting to tremble and my voice got really high-pitched. Kurt went on to tell me that he'd received a call from the sheriff claiming that our father had passed away in his home. This couldn't be true!!! My dad was 51. FIFTY-ONE! That is far too young to just...die. No, this couldn't be right. After some tumultuous years following my parent's divorce, my dad and I were just heading down the road to getting a really great relationship back! He was getting to know my husband! He had JUST been down a week prior celebrating our wedding, joyful, proud and having a wonderful time! It couldn't be true.

Only, it was. Long story short, my dad suddenly passed away from a heart-attack at age 51 while coming out of the shower. Just like that.

At this time in my life, I was weighing in around 170# on my 5'3" frame. I was obese. In my yo-yo dieting, I'd ended up being an overweight bride and didn't even know it. The weight just creeps back. Just a day prior to learning my dad passed, I'd seen a "sneak peek" of some of our wedding photos. I cried. I had no idea that I'd gotten so overweight again!! So, seeing those photos combined with my dad suddenly passing from a heart attack threw me for a huge loop.

I take after my dad's side of the family. My dad was overweight. He died at age 51. I was overweight. It scared the hell out of me! I couldn't not let myself continue to be overweight and unhealthy and keep yo-yo/crash dieting to lose weight!! I couldn't damage my body with more diet pills either.

This is when my husband and I signed up for one of those EXPENSIVE commercial weight-loss programs. We paid a hefty chunk of change to each drop about 30-35#. It was so expensive, some of the snacks they required were highly processed and they had us taking a bunch of "supplements", but we did get back to a healthy weight.

Since then, I've been pregnant. After my first child, I lost weight quickly from breastfeeding and then began counting calories and running and got down to the slimmest I'd been since probably junior high. I am now after my second pregnancy working on losing the baby weight once again, this time it's not coming off as easily, but it will.

Because of my dad, keeping myself healthy is NEVER far out of my mind. I research and am constantly learning new health tips. I now have 2 children and a husband that need me. My dad and I were re-kindling a relationship that for years had been strained, and I greatly mourn him being gone. We didn't get totally back to that "great place" with our relationship, he didn't get to know and love my husband like I do (and I know he would have) and the saddest part to me is that he will never know my children and the joy they bring. He would have absolutely adored them. But even though he's gone, I thank him daily for giving me the jump-start to get my butt in gear, and get healthy. Obviously I wish I could have learned this lesson any different way and that he could still be here, but I have had to accept that that was not God's plan. So, I try to put a positive spin on it and thank my dad daily for giving me the motivation to get healthy, be a role model for my children, and hopefully inspire others to know they CAN do it too.

Have you had "the moment??"

Have you?? Have you had that moment where you suddenly realize you've let things spiral out of control? It hurts, but once you finally snap out of denial-ville, your life can change for the better!

For me, my "moment" was seeing a picture of myself while I was in college. All of the sudden, I wanted to crawl into a hole. I was humiliated, scared and wanted to cry. I stared at this picture in horror realizing that I wasn't just Kate that was "pleasantly plump", I was Kate, the size 16/XL, morbidly obese girl who needed to take some action STAT. It's funny (well not really!) that it didn't even hit me when I had to buy those size 16 pants or that XL coat I was wearing in the picture. I remember going to Old Navy (the only place I could find big enough "juniors" style pants), trying on the size 12 and realizing that they were way too small. I upped it to a 14 and they were still too tight. I grabbed a 16, the biggest size I'd ever had on my body and squeezed into them. I was so deep in denial that I just chalked it up to the fact that pants fit different at all places, not that I'd gained a little weight. And by a little, I mean like 50#! Denial is crazy. 

I've been conscious of my weight basically my whole teenage/adult life but it took the moment of seeing that picture to kick my butt into gear. As I mentioned in my first entry, I've tried everything to lose weight...the good, bad and the ugly.

And the battle all started by seeing that one picture. That was my "moment."

If you are in the camp of trying to lose some weight, as is the majority of the world, what was your "moment?"

Reaching out...

Wow! When I initially decided to do this, the idea of putting my struggles with weight loss out there was TERRIFYING. Truthfully, it still is. I don't know why, but it's hard to admit that it's a struggle for me to be thin. I genuinely have to work my a** off to get there and maintain it.
Thanks so SO many of you, I know I'm not alone. I have felt so much love in opening myself up like this and random people I haven't heard from in forever have reached out to share their story, give me a little pat on the back, and tell me I'm doing a good thing. I'm 100% not doing this for any accolades from anyone, but I said before I opened myself up, that if I could even reach ONE person, it would make it worth it. And it already has.

So for those of you who struggle in secret or are frustrated with yourself, your health, your food choices, your lack of exercise...know you aren't alone. But also know that you CAN change it if you want to. Am I saying it's easy? Hell no! The furthest thing from easy. What I am saying is that you CAN makes changes. Rome wasn't built in a day and it takes work. It takes support. It takes encouragement. And it takes discipline.

So anyone who is looking to make a change, start small and take the first step! Starting this FB page and blog was my first step to getting myself back to a place where I'm comfortable with myself. Am I perfect? Not even close. But, I'd love to walk with you if you want support! That's why I am doing this!!👍

Cheese-fest 2015 over!!💃

Check out my Facebook page, Fit 4 You (Kate Brown). I'm starting a 5-day resolution kickstart group starting February 2nd and will be having a 30-day challenge group coming up mid February!

Take that first step!!!!!👊

My story...

This is my health and fitness story...

After my “Freshman 15” turned into the “Freshman 50”, my struggles with weight-loss began. I was the classic yo-yo dieter. Initially, I tried my own way to lose weight, with working out and diet modification in college. I remember eating a ton of veggie burgers and steamed corn (because corn was about the extent of my wandering into the veggie world!). I arbitrarily used the weight machines at the gym and jogged on the treadmill, following no specific regimen. I didn’t understand that eating a ton of Fat-Free chips was different from eating a ton of fat-free vegetables. Yet, I was discouraged when a summer of following this plan only yielded a 10# weight loss. I felt like I was working my butt off! Because of my short stature, people did notice I'd dropped a few lbs. It felt good and fueled me to lose more. I was extremely uneducated in how to do so, and being in grad school, I didn’t think I had the time to work out (nor was I very motivated to do so). So, da da dum....I did what anyone looking for a quick fix would do--turned to the market of “miracle” diet pills! I lost some weight but felt awful! I would have these episodes after taking them where my skin would turn bright red, hot and itchy. My hair was breaking off and the top of my head looked like a porcupine, and I would get these waves of dizziness/nausea. Still, taking those combined with hardly eating resulted in shedding some pounds, so I convinced myself it was okay. I think now of the damage I caused my body just to be thin! YUCK!

 Here I am near my biggest (close to 200#)....

This is me after taking "miracle" diet pills. What you can't

see in this photo is my broken strands of hair, the constant 

dizzy feeling and red itchy skin! I liked this haircut though ;)

Here is after gaining about 30# back.... (yo-yo'ing at it's finest!)

Shockingly (or not at all!), I gained the weight back over the years and ended up back around 170# the day I married my husband. I had no idea I’d gotten so large again until I saw the wedding pictures. I was devastated! That was NOT how I’d wanted to look on my wedding day! A week after our wedding, my dad suddenly passed away from a heart attack. That, combined with seeing our wedding photos, gave me motivation to seek drastic measures. My husband and I both signed up for one of those popular weight loss programs. It cost a FORTUNE (thousands!), but we diligently went to the center weekly, followed the program consisting of some real food, and some of their extremely processed snacks. We did lose weight. I hardly exercised, though, because every time I tried, I felt like I was going to faint from all the "supplement" pills they had us taking. So again, I was back to being thin but unhealthy. And there was no way to maintain that unless I continued eating their snacks and taking their supplements that would "block" carbohydrates (aka: rip me off!!).

Shortly thereafter, I became pregnant with our first child. Because I was "eating for 2", I actually didn't binge on 5 tubs of Ben and Jerry's slathered with mustard and pickles and a sprinkling of skittles each night (what? Does that sound gross??) Instead, I realized how important it was to put good food into my body. I didn’t want my child receiving chemicals and artificial ingredients from my poor food choices! So, I ate tons of fresh fruits and veggies, walked daily, and managed to gain a mere 20# with that pregnancy. Still, I was unhappy with myself after he was born. I actually thought I'd go home and put on my pre-preggo jeans. HA HA HA!!! ;) I now knew what it felt like to be thin and I desperately wanted that feeling of confidence back! I refused to do anything stupid like diet pills, fake foods, or spending our life savings to drop 20#. So, after I was done nursing, I began to track my calories religiously (I become slightly competitive with myself, so it became just part of my daily routine every day), exercise in group fitness classes and train for a ½ marathon with my husband and some friends…something I NEVER thought I’d do (I always loathed running!)! Over the course of 8 months, I was down to the smallest I’d been since junior high…except this time I was healthy! 

Fast forward to now. Here I am after my 2^nd child, looking to get back into shape. I was lucky to join a 5-day challenge group put on by a friend. Since delivering my baby girl, I hadn't lost any weight until the challenge. It really got me back into clean eating, being conscious of what I put in my mouth and start exercising again.

I am a work in progress and nowhere near perfect. I have run the gamete in the weight-loss world and finally know that healthy eating and exercise is indeed what works, what gets results and what is healthy! I love the idea of being able to help and motivate others to achieve the best version of themselves!

LET'S DO IT!!!!

Here are a few pics after I lost weight the healthy way. Now, after baby #2, I'm looking to find this girl again!!