It’s so hard to believe that I’m sitting here getting ready to share with you my 5th fitness journey post. What a long way I’ve come from pumping advil like it’s going out of style and wanting to cuss with each step I took after each workout was done, to handstand push ups and actually enjoying leg days. And let me tell you, leg days suck and they suck the life out of me, but it has certainly paid off because holy shit I lost 3 inches off my ass in the last month!! Yup from May 29 till June 29 – 3 freakin inches! Heck ya is really all I have to say about that. Oh and bikini season… Bring. It. On!!
When I began this journey, because I was forced, I figured I would test out the waters, then quit. I’m good at quitting workouts, in fact I’m great at quitting them. After 4 long months of working out, I had a long and hard conversation with a good friend of mine. I was telling her that while I feel better overall + feel stronger mentally and physically than I ever had, I needed to see more than inches disappearing. I wanted the pounds to shed too. You know what I’m talking about! We could talk all day and all night long about how you need to focus on the inches and how you clothes fit but at the end of the day we’re going to sneak into the bathroom, step on that damn scale and want to see some results.
So I made another life change.
For me it was a big change.
A hard change.
One that brought the bitchyness out of me as I went through withdrawals.
I gave up sugar + dairy. Thanks a lot Rachel!
To be honest when I said I would try it out, I didn’t mean it. But then day 1 came and I did it, and day 2, then 3. Those days sucked. Did I mention I was also planning Katelyn’s 5th birthday, getting ready to watch her graduate from preschool and we attended Kyle’s papas funeral? All which made me want to hide in my pantry with a tall glass of cold milk and binge on chocolate like my life depended on it. But I didn’t. I did however reward myself with a donut at the party for making it through the week.
What can I say, I’m complicated like that.
So on went the weeks and suddenly I’m stepping into week 4 of this new lifestyle change, this new kind of torture, and it’s getting a little bit easier.
Today I headed to workout to get measured for the 5th time. I’ve now been working out for 4 and a half months.
Say what?!
Because I love you all, I’m going to share them with you. Can I just preface by saying today renewed my love for this new lifestyle?! Not only have I lost 3-3.5 lbs, BUT, I lost SEVEN INCHES?!!!!!
SEVEN INCHES LOST, SAY WHAT?!!!!
Y’all that’s seven inches in the last 4 1/2 months.
The best part? THREE of those inches I lost off my ass in the past month!!!!!!!!!
There are not enough exclamation points in the world for how excited I am about this.
I call this, the payoff… finally!!!
Right: Me in January — Left: Me today
And just in time for swim suit season. I guess my trainer is right, leg days really do make a difference. So, I guess I owe her for switching it up everyday so I have no idea which days are leg days anymore. Speaking of… did you hear about the Yoga challenge on Instagram… #yogangsta? Well, me neither till today when one of the girls I work with posted her #firstpose. Then Cristina and I thought we’d have some fun and post our own picture, which translated means, mean posing, her taking and editing the picture for me. ahahha I’m pretty sure I butchered it because the closest I get to yoga is the plank position on my yoga mat during workouts, but it was all in good fun. 
And now you’ve seen more of me on my blog that anyone should.. and from the rear no less. I’m pretty sure I might regret posting this picture when the high of “I lost 3 inches off my butt” excitement wears off. What can I say? So if you’re reading this and there’s no picture of me attempting some crazy yoga pose it’s because I’ve regained all my marbles and deleted it. If you can see it, well, I’m still proud. ha!
Back to the journey: I’ve had many people ask me what types of foods I’m eating throughout the day when I began cutting out dairy and sugar, so I thought I’d share it with you. It’s important to know that there are some dairy products that are really good for you and so I haven’t completely eliminated them, such as Greek yogurt + I still drink my Lifeway Kefir smoothies (but I’ve cut way back on how much I drink during the day)
Breakfast: Greek yogurt, fresh berries and water
Lunch: 1/2 turkey sandwich (no cheese) with lettuce, avocado and Vegonaise or I’ll eat a salad with fresh cut veggies and protein on top
Dinner: I bbq a lot in our home, so grilled chicken, steak, pork or I’ll bake fish, salad or veggies and fruit
Overall, I feel like I might be rounding yet another corner in this journey and falling back in love with working out. Last month I shared some struggles I was going through and really hit a point where I almost gave up because I just wasn’t feeling like it was making a difference. You know that feeling when you’re driving somewhere and you know the directions but there’s that quick moment where you feel lost or like you went passed where you were supposed to turn? Then all of a sudden you recognize where you are and you’re relieved to know that you really were on the right path. It might sound crazy, nuts even, but that’s how I felt last month.
Lost…
Discouraged…
Ready to quit…
But then I realized that quitting would only be a step backwards and I would always wonder if I could’ve jumped the hurdle and started to see real change. I had to remember that my change is not the same as others change, but it doesn’t mean it’s not change. If you’re at a point where you’re struggling or feeling like you’re going through the motions, I want to encourage you to push through! Challenge yourself to keep moving forward and don’t quit. You can do this! Find some accountability partners, post your workouts on Instagram or share them with each other via text. Rejoice in each other’s great days and encourage and push each other through the hard ones. That’s the only way I make it through!
To read more of my fitness journey: Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV
How are you doing this week? Are you going through your own fitness journey?
What’s been easy? What’s been hard?
Genise says
Congratulations!! You look AMAZING!! I can relate to your journey and I know how great it feels to see your hard work pay off. *CHEERS*
Alissa Circle says
Thank you! I feel like I’m finally seeing the results. Hoping I can keep it up.
Kimmie says
You look amazing!!
Alissa Circle says
Love you! Thank you sweet friend!
Ashley says
Girl you look awesome!!! I’m starting my weight loss journey right now and I think I’ll have to refer to this post any time I want to quit. Since that is pretty often, expect to see your blog traffic increase 🙂 Seriously though, you= inspiration!
Alissa Circle says
hahaha oh my gosh stop! you are too sweet!
i’m honored that i can be an inspiration
Can’t wait to hear about your journey
Ashli says
wow this is awesome!!! thank you for the motivation!
DeidreSH says
You are such an inspiration! I’ve let myself go over the last several months after over a year or maintaining a 40lb & 38″ loss. I’m slowly getting back into it but I know its gonna take time for me to see the results. Keep up the awesome work you are doing a fantastic job!!!!
Alissa Circle says
Thank you sweet friend! I think it’s so easy to let ourselves go + it’s so hard to get back into the swing of things. The results may not be instant, but they will come so keep at it friend. I think it took me 6 weeks to see my first set of results.
Carly Anderson says
You are AMAZING! I can’t wait until I’m not pregnant and can start working out like this! I’m so inspired!
Carly
http://www.lipglossandcrayons.com
Alissa Circle says
Heck ya! Beast mode baby! hahaha
love you friend!
BakingSuit says
That’s fantastic!! Would it be too fresh to say that you look amazing, back side view included. Don’t you dare regret posting that!
Alissa Circle says
hahaha
I seriously almost took it down today!
I even lost a few Instagram followers over posting it, but I feel like I’ve worked too hard not to be proud.
I struggle with working out so if I can inspire someone else than it makes sharing my story worth it.
Julie says
This is so inspiring! I have watched your Instagram posts and you really make me feel like getting off my ass and “working on my fitness” (says Fergie). It is not an easy transition but I’m trying. Good for you Alissa!! xo JA
Alissa Circle says
I’m glad I’m motivating you, haha You should come work out with us!!
Haley says
You look great! This post is really encouraging. I’m just starting working out again after having a baby. I’ve never felt so out of shape in my life, but you’ve inspired me to keep at it.
Alissa Circle says
So proud of you for keeping at it even though it hurts and you’re body is feeling out of shape. Once you get through those first few weeks, you’ll find your breakthrough. I’m glad we can all inspire one another through our journeys.
Attic 17 says
Proud of you.
Anything worth having is worth working for and you showed it.
<3<3
Alissa Circle says
yes I couldn’t agree more!
and boy has it felt like work, haha
but as we talked about, you knew i needed to see the pounds shedding and what it meant to do that
thanks for always encouraging me.
Love you!!
Natalia says
Congrats! You’re so encouraging! I think I need to go for a run now… 🙂
Alissa Circle says
haha you got this sexy, hot mama!
Marissa says
You are so inspiring Alissa, seriously. I wish I had stayed as committed to myself as you have been. You look amazing and after having heard of this Vegonaise for the second time & the first was from my trainer, I am on my way to pick some up! Thank you for always being so vulnerable!
Alissa Circle says
Thank you so much Marissa! It’s never to late to re-begin the journey. If I can do it and stay committed, seriously anyone can! And yes, Vegonaise is amazing! I can’t even tell it’s not mayo.Can’t wait to hear what you think.
Andrea Worley says
WOW! amazing way to go girl! you’re awesome, and glad to hear that giving up the dairy/sugar is getting easier.
Alissa Circle says
Thanks friend! I definitely still have nights when I’m up late and start craving sugar, but I’m trying to push through it.
the Blah Blah Blahger says
I’m meeting up with Andrea tomorrow to talk about eating clean…I think we can plateau our workouts pretty easily and then get discouraged. I feel the need to change up my diet. Maybe if I see more results on the scale, I’ll pick up my workout dedication, too!
Alissa Circle says
I couldn’t agree more. In fact Rachel Reeves has helped me alot with eating cleaner and after seeing her results from both eating better and working out, it was hard to argue with trying it out myself. I needed to see the lbs drop! haha
Cassie @ Live.Laugh.L0ve. says
Girl, you look AMAZING!!! I wish I had your motivation and determination!! Keep doing what your doing girl! BTW I could NEVER give up sugar! You are much stronger than me! Lol.
Karly @ Three in Three says
You look wonderful! I hope I can have as much willpower to keep going as you; I just had my 4th and final kid (4 in 4.5 years) and I am sooooo ready to take back my body! I’m already within 15lbs of my pre-first-kid-weight thanks to a doctor who really helped me control my diabetes ( I was 225 when I got preggo with my last and 200 now) but I want to get closer to my USAF weight of 135, yikes.
I’m going to go look at the rest of your journey, because you are definitely inspiring me! Just a few more weeks before I can start!
Frances says
You look gorgeous! Hard work pays off. I’m on my own weight loss journey, discouragement gets the best of us! Amazing job <3