Fix it Friday-11 Feb 11

I haven't done a fix it Friday in some time now, so I wanted to participate in this weeks.

If you are not sure what I am talking about, or would like to submit your edit, go to their website by clicking the button below!




For my edit, I used Photoshop CS5

ORIGINAL

 MY EDIT
 

How I edited this pic.

First I fixed the exposure by using curves and levels. No real way except I fiddled with the sliders till it looked good to me. :)

I then used Olive Juices's FREE Sharpen This action, inside the action is a clarity action, and I used that.

I then used MCP's action Bag of Tricks and used the Black Spell action in that set to select the background to make it darker.

I then slightly lightened the eyes using a levels layer mask and then sharpened them.

I then did a Black and White where I was able to tweak the colors until it looked how I liked.

I did a contrast layer and lowered the opacity to taste.

Cropped Photo

I then finished the pic using Olive Juices resize and sharped for web action.

Go stop by I heart faces for your turn!

I made it! Results are in!

I made it! It has been a fulfilling 30 days. I am thinner, stronger and I feel great! I am now excited to see the results in another 30 days!  I am on Day 9 of the Jillian Michaels Slim Down Challenge...I have been following it exactly except I switch up Level 1 with Level 3, and then do an additional Level 1 with cardio after. So anywho...here are the results this far!

So this is where I stand....

                        Day 1        Day 10      Day 20    Day 30
Weight:            139.4         139.2        137.0       134.8

Thigh Right      23.75         23              23             22
Thigh Left        23             22.75         22              22

Calf Right        14              14.25         14.5          14
Calf Left          13.5          14               14             14

Arm Right        11.5          11.5            11.25        11
Arm Left         11.5          11.5             11.5          11.25

Waist AB*        31             29                29           28
Waist BB*        36             35.5             34           33

Hips               38.5           38                37.5           37

Neck              12.85         12.85            12.5          12.25

Under Bust     31.5           31                31              30.5

*AB=Above Belly Button (smallest)
*BB=Below Belly Button (largest)

And pics!

Day 8, CP-Day 29 30DS

Today was a GOOD workout day.

On the schedule for today was Level 3-30DS, Level 1-30DS and 2 mile intermediate walk with Leslie Sansone.

I'm always surprised I work out as much as I do after the day I do No More Trouble Zones, as that workout leaves me burning and sore the next day! But my little Sproutie pants is going through a growth spurt and sleeping a lot the last two days, so I am getting some decent rest. She even slept all night and didn't wake up till 8, very much needed.

I noticed today when I was doing Level 1, those punches I mentioned a while back that would make my abs just burn? Well....it looks as if I am much stronger now as those only now burn a bit. I could tell my endurance and strength has sky rocketed and I knocked out Level 3 and Level 1 back to back with no problem. I even modified things to make it harder for me to ensure I got a great workout, and believe me, I did! I was sweating and I was feeling awesome.

I think one of the best parts of this, is when I was working out and I had my hands on my hips, they felt nice....like...not the hips I have been living with the last couple year, they were firm, harder and less pudgy, my waist feels small and tight. The muscles under this layer of fat are really shaping up to something nice. I am just waiting to see them still is all. :)

Can I say that it is nice that I can just go into my closet and pick out clothes and not worry if I have to stuff myself in them or how I can cover myself because of how squeezed I look in my clothes? I feel very accomplished and like, what I have been doing for the past month is starting to pay off and I am feeling great.

I weighed myself again today (told you, I need to go to a self help group ahaha, chronic scale stepper here) and I was 135.0! I did a freaking happy dance! I am so excited! This means that I have lost 8lbs since starting, and probably even more fat than that since I gained muscle and it weighs more. Today is a happy day.

Tomorrow is Day 30...and 10 days since I last did measure, pics and weigh in, and I am excited to see if I can tell a difference in the pics. I think I see a difference in the mirror so...I just cant wait.

I just stuck with this, and I am seeing results...makes me wonder why I took so long. I hope hubby is surprised by the new me when he gets home. He always says, "honey, you didnt look bad to begin with." But I knew I wasnt healthy and didnt eat well and I had extra fat because of all the McDonalds, pizza hut and everything else bad that went into my mouth. So I wanted to make a healthy change for me. Exercise, eat well, and naturally, weight loss goes with it.

I feel better, I have more energy, I am stronger and my body is thanking me for all the water I drink, all the lean meats, veggies and fruits I eat and how I said bye to all that stuff that was bringing me down.

So if anyone was every wondering if they should do the 30 Day Shred and wondered.."Will I see any results in 30 days?" the answer is YES. You will, but you have to stick with it, change your eating if you are not eating well, and stay motivated.

Now granted....My 30 days was not just the shred alone. I have been documenting what I have been doing, and tomorrow's post will have all my days listed out for easy reference, but it will still give you results on its own. So how is that for instant gratification? The hardest part is starting, but once you get past the first week, you'll not want to stop. Just try it, stick with it, and you'll see a nice result in 30 days. I am a normal mom of 2 little girls..nothing fancy about me and I did it. Stop back by tomorrow to see the final stats on the 30 days.

It's paying off

Today is day 6 of my new program, which consists of a schedule of 3 Jillian Michaels Workout DVDs. The 30 Day Shred, No More Trouble Zones, and Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. Today was NMTZ and I followed it up with a 2 mile intermediate walk with Leslie Sansone.

I didn't get much sleep last night, I kind of went to bed late and the kids woke early this morning. So for the workout, I dragged a little bit. Didn't really feel like doing it, wanted to be lazy and sit down, but I got up and did it anyway. I need to PUSH because I only have so many days before hubby is home. I have a week left to get the most out of my workouts.

The scale hasn't been moving, and I don't take my measurements for another 3 days, so I wasnt sure if I changed at all...but I must have! This morning after my workout and shower, I went into the closet and pulled out a pair of jeans I haven't worn in a while. I had them hung up and untouched because last time I tried them on, I had to fight to get them up, then when they were on, they were screaming because they were so tight and I bulged out all over on top. My stomach was too big, my love handles looked like a nice muffin and my back fat....I could barely breath. A shirt couldn't even cover the monstrosity that was going on in my jeans...so I took them off and hung them up.

I threw them on the bed this morning while picking out my shirts and I went to put on my jeans, fully expecting to do that crazy squat and pull move trying to get them up....but to my surprise..they slid right on! I was easily able to button them and they were even loose on me! Not loose as in baggy, but they weren't tight...they weren't stretched to the limit...they didn't make me look bigger and this is the best thing..I am NOT muffin topping these jeans! I fit nicely inside! I am so surprised....I don't even know what to think! In just 27 days, 27 little days of being diligent with working out in the morning (havent missed a day yet!) and eating right and cutting out pop, I managed to fit back into my jeans and lose some serious inches!

Like I said, pounds have barely moved...but that isnt important because I am doing strength training too and know muscle weighs more than fat, besides...proof is in the pudding right? :) I fit into my JEANS! And comfortably at that!

Very exciting. I have another week before hubby gets home, that gives me 7 more days to see more results..and I am excited!

Sunday is the day I take pics, measure and do my official weigh in, I am SO ready!

Day 5, CP

So today is Day 5 and it is the first time I have done BFBM (Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism) and can I just say that...I hate Jillian Michaels?? HOLY CRAP. 50 minutes never crept by so slowly!

This one was full on aerobic. I had plans to do another 3 miler today with Leslie Sansone but um...this was much more cardio than I thought.

I want to say that, this will be my least favorite workout...and I can't really pinpoint why exactly. I mean all the other workouts make me work, sweat, leave me out of breath...but something about this DVD I just don't care for.

I wanted to quit so bad, then I was like, let me do one more circuit and I can do the shred...but like usual when I try and talk myself out of something...I stuck with it anyway.

She always knows what to say, right when I am thinking of something...like quitting. I had to laugh because I was like CRAP after the second circuit and she was like...you are dying huh? And we aren't even half way through....It's like she read my mind...I think that single phrase made the time drag by.

Then when it was time for circuit 4, I just didn't see how I could do two more afterward....but I did. This was my mind trying to talk me out of it...but my body kept going.

It was FINALLY done, and I couldn't have been happier. But there was no way I was doing 3 more miles after that! So I did Leslie Sansone's Rock N tone...apparently, you need these shoes, but I didnt know that. It wasnt too bad, 20 minutes of more cario so that it pushed me past my 600 cals I want to burn in a day. I ended up over 700 when all was said and done. I must admit, I am VERY happy I do not have to do this DVD for another week. It is scheduled to be next Wednesday....dreading that day! But hey...Wednesday's used to be Pizza night...maybe with that insane cardio I can have it again. :) Well....I could if I knew what portion control was...*sigh*
 
Tonight I am making beef stew. Yummy and good for me. I may even add in a little bit of bread, since I have been low on the carbs today. I can smell it cooking in the crock pot...YUMO!

Anyway, 4 more days till pic, measure and weight day. It actually would have been day 30 of the 30 day shred.

Tomorrow is No More Trouble Zones again...Bring it on!

Day 4, CP

Todays workout-

30 Day Shred-Level 3
30 Day Shred-Level 1
Leslie Sansone 3 mile walk.

Yah, I worked out a TON today. I am not sure how I managed to do that because No More Trouble Zones is NO JOKE...holy crap. The backs of my arms burn, my butt burns, my thighs, my abs.....it is a workout let me tell you. It is basically Level 3 of the shred super charged! So I don't feel so bad for not doing Level 3 today because it has a lot of the same harder moves in there, and then some! I actually enjoyed this workout.

It is 6 circuits compared to the 3 in the Shred, but since I have been doubling the shred workouts, its the same.

Like usual, some of the harder exercises on the knees I had to modify, like the "surrender" My knees did not like that at all. I am going to go buy a yoga mat and see if that helps. I am exercising on a hardwood floor with a rug on top, so its not that comfy. If I have more padding I will be able to do more of the moves.

I woke to see a pretty awesome difference in the way I look. The main thing I noticed are my sides, I am losing the "love handles" and I can feel this awesome muscle under there. Makes me very excited to see the difference in the pictures. I can sure see the difference.

I can also tell I have some pretty awesome abs going on under there, but are still hidden under a nice layer of fat.....But I am trying to get rid of it....very hard!

So today I did 3 miles on top of both Levels...thought I'd give myself a boost. My endurance is growing so I feel I can do more than I have been.  I am really glad I have been sticking with this....

Tasty Tuesday's

It's Tasty Tuesday again folks and I got another post for you! If you saw my last TT post, or if you have been following along on my blog with my weight loss journey, you know that I have been on the healthy kick. Though, that doesn't mean I no longer want anything to snack on! I made these yummy cookies, very low fat, and guilt-free!
These are Low fat Pumpkin Oatmeal cookies....

 

Here is the recipe.

1/2 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. ginger
1 cup rolled oats
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
1/2 cup raisins or dates
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, blend together first five ingredients. Mix in spices, oats, and baking powder; then fold in flour, raisins or dates, and nuts. Drop cookie dough by tablespoons onto a nonstick cookie sheet, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Yields 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes

Nutritional Information: (per serving)
Calories: 67 Protein: 2 g Fiber: 1 g
Carbs: 12 g Fat Total: 2 g Saturated Fat: < 0.5 g

Now, as that is the recipe, I tweaked it a bit. 

I used Pecans instead of Walnuts. Hubby's Nanny has a pecans on her property (well, the property she used to own, the current owners still allow her to get pecans) and she sends us some every year.

I used Cranberries in place of raisins.

I used Vanilla yogurt, since that is what I had.

I added a small amount of all natural apple sauce.

I used Pumpkin pie spice instead of all the other individual spices. 

Added a touch more cinnamon than it calls for.

Yum and YUM!

So come on over and add yours today!