Sweat in Style!

It's no surprise, I'll use any excuse I can find to shop! I needed a workout wardrobe wake up; so off to get new shoes and clothes I went! I'm loving the colors this season and everything just feels great!

Lululemon was having a great sale...of course, I didn't pass it up! I got some cute skirts and tops! Love the spring colors (even if I do look like an Easter Egg running down the road!)



My other purchase, that I just cannot rave enough about, are my new gym shoes! It took some convincing from the guy at Charm City Run, but he finally talked me into slipping a pair of Sauconys on my feet....AHHHHHHHH The Angels Sing! These things are like heaven! Where have they been my whole life!?!? They are amazing! I love the colors, the weight, the feel! I'm thinking I may be sold on this shoe!

Thai Chicken-Broccoli Wraps

OMG! I just made the BEST lunch! Since today is a very low carb day for me, I omitted the tortillas and used romaine lettuce as the wrap instead! I also don't buy packaged broccoli slaw, so I made my own using broccoli stems, red onion, celery, carrots and then subbed Mrs. Dash Garlic Seasoning instead of Garlic Salt. YUMMY!!!!!

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/quick-recipes/dinner/7-fat-fighting-dinners/?page=6

Cherry Pit 10-miler

Today I ran a ten mile race with two of my dear friends, Kelly and Kathy. I was a silly lady and didn't do much training for the race; I haven't been doing any distance running lately as I'm trying to develop some muscle mass! I have however been doing some speed work, running at a 7.5 min mile or 8 min mile for 2-3 miles every few days. It paid off!!! I got a Personal Record today, coming in at under 1:40! That was a shock to me and brought me to tears as I crossed that finish line! I couldn't have done it without these lovely ladies, especially Kathy, who really pushed me those last two miles. She encouraged me, reminded me that I'm strong, that my mind was giving up before my legs had even considered it! Also, we kept repeating "JUST TEN MILES" as we carried our good friend Lara in our hearts as she was just finishing up her 100 mile endurance race at about the same time. Yeah, you read that right, 100 miles in 27 hours! If she could do 100, I could push to finish my 10!

Another huge success from today was watching Michelle, from my challenge, complete her first 10 mile race! We embraced at the finish line, cried, and my heart felt it could burst to be there as she reached the milestone in her life! What an amazing accomplishment! A year ago, she was 113lbs heavier, didn't exercise much, let alone run 10 miles and look how far she's come!

Time for You

 

 

This was the picture I posted today for my challengers.  Most nights I peruse the internet trying to find motivational pictures, quotes, jokes, etc that really hit home for me and that I hope reach out to them to keep their fire going and help them stay on track throughout the challenge.  I've had a few challengers that have really tugged on my heart this past year.  Jennifer, Renee, Aileen, LeeAn, to name a few.  I see these women constantly put others before themselves and they truly suffer from it.  They don't seem make the time for themselves.  They put everyone else's needs before their own and I can see the toll it takes on them.  I've been there!  I'm a people pleaser too, and I know how easy it is to push your own needs aside and focus on others.  Usually it has to do with not wanting to let others down; however, sometimes it's easier to focus on others' needs than your own because you feel overwhelmed by your own needs.  It's a terrible vicious cycle!

I remember years ago at a cookout, a woman who was recently divorced and I started chatting.  I don't know what came over me that compelled me to ask her what she think happened that led her to divorce.  Her answer shook me to the core..."I forgot to be a woman."  That sounds like such an odd comment, but let me tell you, it hit me hard!  I knew EXACTLY what she meant.  I was a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an employer, the list went on and on.  But who was AliceAnne?  What did I do for MYSELF? 

 

I wish I could say that the very next day I took charge of ME, but I didn't.  It wasn't until I was looking at my own marriage, my own friendships and work and life and not understanding why if I was doing so much for others, why was I so miserable...Why so resentful?  Why so tired?  The lightbulb went off and I was reminded what she said to me!  When I started my fitness journey, yes, I felt selfish.  People would ask me how I could devote so much time to working out.  I would hear, "I can't workout, I have kids; there aren't enough hours in the day; who has time for that?"  I would get looks and judgements about why I was putting so much time into myself...well, guess what?  My husband was happier, I was happier, I was more patient with my kids, I was more energized, I was organized...it all started coming together.  In taking care of myself, I was able to better take care of everything and everyone else.  If you're run down, unhappy and unhealthy, how much use are you to anyone else? 

So I'm saying it...TAKE CARE OF YOU.  No one else will.  Make yourself and your happiness and health a priority.  You get one life, one body, one chance.  Make it count!  

Out on the town!

Last night I attended a fundraising event for the Junior League of Annapolis, Inc.  It was Monte Carlo themed and it was a lot of fun to dress up and see everyone!  It was wonderful to see some some of my challengers too!  Our husbands could not attend, so Ann and I decided to go as each other's date!  So fun!  Ann has lost a lot of weight since she's started the challenges with me (I think this is her 3rd challenge now!) and we're both wearing dresses we haven't worn in over a decade!  That's right,   We're wearing dresses PRE-MARRIAGE, PRE-KIDS, and POST-WEIGHT LOSS!  WHOOP WHOOP!  I actually had to take mine in 4 inches right before leaving the house!  Talk about a weight loss victory!  Ann looked amazing and you could tell she FELT amazing!  She strode through the room with confidence and grace!  Such an amazing night!

 

I truly enjoyed getting to mix and mingle with "Celebrity Bill" and his beautiful wife, Susan!  LOL, he's such an inspiration and has met such success with his health and fitness goals!  I love chatting with him and learning how he tracked and calculated his weight and learned what specific foods helped him with his weight loss.  It was completely facinating and I think he's really on to something that could help SO many people finally see the results they need!  Bill and Susan were adorable and you could see the love and pride they have for each other.  I'm so fortunate to have witnessed that and to be part of this chapter of their life!  They are setting a terrific example for their children and for so many other families who struggle with obesity! 

I think what I love most about the challenges is getting to see people out in REAL life!  I've developed some pretty awesome friendships with people I would never have had the chance to really get to know!  Not only are we moving towards a healthy lifestyle, we're enriching our lives with lifelong friends...you can't beat that! 

Reconnecting

Last night I had dinner with two dear friends that I have reconnected with recently.  It's not that we were ever truly "disconnected" but our relationships had come to crossroad and we were learning how to adapt to the new dynamics.  Long story, short...relationships change; whether you make it to the other side really depends on how strong it was in the first place. 

How does this relate to this blog???  Well, these two friends participated in my most recent weight loss challenge.  I was so nervous to bring them into this facet of my life; even though they were both very present and very involved in the stages of my transformation during the training for the Figure Competition.  Why nervous?  I'm not sure.  I guess I was afraid that they wouldn't enjoy the challenge, that they would be put off by it, maybe not appreciate my "tough love" approach, or maybe I felt vulnerable in that I was putting myself out there and afraid they would not like who they saw...  Who knows? 

So they participated in the challenge, one did exceptionally well and I'm THRILLED with the progress she's made and honored that I was able to be part of that.  Both of them have signed up for the next challenge as well, so I think they liked it!  Through the challenge, I saw their strengths, I saw their drive to improve themselves and I think they saw a glimpse of what my life has become through my own personal journey of health and fitness.  I say it time and time again; this wasn't 100% about a physical change for me, if anything it has been 80% mental/emotional growth and the 20% physical change was just the side effect. 

Showing up to dinner, was hard.  I was so anxious, worried we wouldn't have anything to talk about, or worse worried that old issues would creep into conversation; worried that we'd have nothing in common or worried that it was a wasted effort.  I could not have been more wrong.  These two ladies were my first friends in an early marriage and starting a family.  I've known them almost 10 years...there is a lot of love and a lot of memories built into that friendship and after 5 minutes of casual "hello" it turned into a couple hours of catching up and making plans moving forward.  I even got to chat into the night with one of them later and we just talked about how much we've missed each other and it felt really good for her to acknowledge the change in me.  These are women that I truly love.  I love their wits, their humor, their hearts...  I felt like a part of me opened back up.  I think that's how you know friendships are real.  Your heart just knows where to pick back up. 

What a great feeling waking up this morning and knowing that something you feared was gone...wasn't gone at all, it was just changing and I think moving forward, it will be stronger than ever!

Weightloss Challenge Hits Record High!

I've been doing these challenges several years now and this is a first for me!  I have 100 Challengers!  Unbelievable!  It is so exciting and scary at the same time!  I can't believe how much these challenges have grown and I am truly touched and grateful that these individuals believe in my program enough to try it out and some have been with me from the very first challenge too...they are "lifers"! 

I have to admit, there have been some amazing success stories (see the posts below!) but getting to witness it day in and day out; talk to people, help them through their struggles...well, it has changed my life! 

The Spring Challenge starts tomorrow, and I'm thrilled to say that we have a lot of new challengers and several returning.  I'm looking forward to seeing the transformations over the next three months and I can't wait to share it on here as well!

Off to get my pre-challenge pedicure!  If I'm going to be weighing in every Friday, it's best to have pretty toes to start it all off! 

Stronger Every Day

Here is Angie, she has been in the challenges for a year as well. She's lost 70lbs total and not once has she given up! Through all the challenges, she's stayed positive, never gained an ounce back and has continued to work steadily towards her goals! I'm incredibly proud of her!

Over 100lbs Lost!

Michelle is one of greatest success stories! She's been at this for almost a year, and now down 113lbs total! I am so proud of her and truly inspired by her hard work and dedication!

 

Beautiful message from Michelle:

 

Happy Easter! As this day begins, I am reminded of how truly blessed my life is and of the greatness of God. Our Lord has a plan for each and every one of us and His plan for me became very clear this past year! Almost exactly one year ago today God put a new plan into motion for me when I walked into my hairdressers at a whopping 255 lbs.. I was obese, unhealthy, and miserable. I was wearing a very tight size 20 (because I refused to buy 22's that were actually the size I was) and I looked and felt terrible. That is when divine intervention occurred - I heard the name AliceAnne Loftus ! My hair dresser told me about AA and her challenges. She told me she would give AA my e-mail so I would get more information about the challenges - I honestly thought she would never follow through and I would never hear anything so I was safe! However, 2 days later, I got an e-mail from AA! I was surprised and felt a little pressure but I figured, what the heck! It's only $25! Why not see what its all about? I had no idea what to expect but I signed up anyway and I will be forever grateful that I did! The food, the exercise, the choices, and the attitude have all been up to me but the the support, the guidance, the encouragement, the inspiration and the tough love all came from being a part of this group. Watching others succeed (especially Angie) gave me the hope that I too could succeed. Hearing about other challengers reaching their fitness goals gave me the courage to start running and to try harder, more challenging things - they too gave me hope that I could get fit! But, I truly do believe that God gave me my own personal Angel that day at the hair dressers when I heard the name Alice Anne Loftus. When I didn't believe it was possible to do this, she believed it for me until I could believe it for myself. When I needed encouragement, she was right there with it. When I needed a swift kick in the ass, it was her foot that was there! There were times when I didn't like what she had to say (suck it up buttercup!) but she was always right! She taught me that there were absolutely no excuses if you want to do this and those are the words that I have lived by through these challenges. God knew I needed help and he sent it to me - everything happens for a reason and it was no accident that AA came into my life. It was up to me to embrace the opportunity but it was my AA Angel that made me want to! 1 year later I have lost 113.5 lbs, I am now a size 6, and I am signed up to run my first half marathon in June. Most importantly, I am healthy! 1 year ago, I never would have believed anyone who told me any of this was possible. It was divine intervention and this amazing knack that AA has for always throwing out challenges or comments at exactly the right time that I need them! So, on this beautiful day I thank God, not only for sacrificing his only son for me but also for sending me (and all of us) a beautiful, intelligent, selfless angel named AliceAnne Loftus! Thank you AA for believing in me until I was able to believe in myself! You are a true gift from God! I love you!


Megan

Megan lost 30 lbs in 12 weeks!

Success Stories

With the winter weight loss challenge over, I just needed to share some amazing people and their successes!

Here's Bill, who lost 45lbs in 12 weeks! Way to go!!!