The Journey CONTINUES........I'm still counting down to my September 9th doctor appointment. As of right now I'm scared I'm not going to make my goal. Just being honest after all the McNuggets, one trip to Golden Corral, and a trip to Cold Stone, if I fail it's my fault. I have faith that I can still make it to 200lbs by the set date so I'm focusing on that. Although I got some good meals in I did stay on track with my eating 85% of the time. It's easy for me to stay on track during the week, the weekends are the challenge for me.

My exercise regimen has been on point! I've been hitting the gym twice on Mondays and Fridays and at least 3 other times during the week. I attended two hour zumba this month as well (my favorite workout) and won one of the raffles! My girl Jocelyn and I needed a change from the mundane of the gym. So we decided to take our run/walk to the STREETS! We ran in downtown Jacksonville across the Acosta and Main Street bridges. The routes range from 2 miles to 3.25 miles. When I run alone I run the trail by my house and it's a total of 4 miles. I also started the ab challenge, but I must say I HATED IT! I hate ab workouts with a passion but I did my best........My best just wasn't enough. I only made it halfway through the challenge and I quit :(  

Last month's challenge was more than fitness, it also included financial fitness. I've finished the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University classes and I honestly feel so much more peace. I've changed my habits and I have a solid plan on how to become financially FREE! I'm not just talking about it - I'm doing it!  

Remember your testimony - your journey is not for you it's to help and encourage someone else. I met two nice women this month: April (pictured) I met in Planet Fitness and she was complaining to her friend about not losing the weight and working so hard. She reminded me of myself so I pulled her to the side and told her my testimony of how I never gave up no matter how bad it seemed. She agree to go hard for the month of August with me - WHOO! Then I met a nutritionist named Staci she was so moved by my testimony of how God is blessing me along this journey. I shared the love and support I've gotten from my friends and family and how my faith in this journey has inspired others to step it up. She wants me to come share my testimony with the young girls group at her church. God is so good!

My September goals are:
- Focus on my September 9th goal of losing 16 more pounds.......as close to 200lbs as possible!
- Participate in the BWLW Food Journal Challenge "Write What You Bite"
- Be very mindful of my food choices
- Run 2-4 miles 5 days a week "Time to pound the pavement". Finding different routes to explore and pushing past my limits to get the most out of my workouts this month
- Circuit training 3 times a week
- Attend two-hour zumba one saturday this month

REMEMBER.................

Ya girl Foxxy HERE ready to share my August challenges - YES Plural LOL! Writing a fitness plan for myself each month really helps me to visualize what I want to accomplish or better yet CONQUER for the month. Just to update you on last month I did pretty good with all my challenges:
- Run/walk 3 miles 5 days a week - YES 95% of the month
- Refrain from eating carbs - I did great during the week but on the weekends not so much. I had some cookies, bread, cakes, and donuts LOL.....NOT really funny :(
- 3x a week Crossfit workout - YES me and my homegirl Jocelyn got it in!
- I completed the 30 day squat challenge - 3225 squats in one month - SERIOUSLY!
- I didn't make it to zumba :(
- I started training with the free trainer at Planet Fitness. He is awesome and he knows his stuff.

August Workout Plan (Time to GO HARD)
- Weight loss goal this month - extended to Sept 9th (Followup dr appt) is 21lbs - Current weight 221
- 7-8 hours of sleep nightly - bed by 11pm
- Workout 5 days per week (off day thursday)
- Circuit training with Sean of Planet Fitness - Monday & Friday mornings and Tuesday & Wednesday evenings.
- Run/Walk 3 miles 4 days per week *1 day out the week take it outside to the downtown bridges of Jacksonville*
- 24 day Abs Challenge - Begins August 5th
- Attend 2 hr Zumba August 17th

August Food Plan
- Limited sugar -berries to add to salads and greek yogurt
- No bread or pasta
- Focus on clean eating (eating tons of veggies= kale, spinach are my favs)
 - Meats - Mostly chicken and turkey and fish to aid in raising my Vitamin D levels
- 80oz of water daily (64oz by 5pm and 16oz by 10pm)
- Eat dinner by 7:30pm nightly 
- Reference website Clean & Delicious by Dani (cleananddelicious.com) - Great source for clean eating recipes and a place to save them for later use.

This month is more than a fitness challenge but a finance challenge as well. In July I enrolled in the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University being held at my church. I'm loving the class and I'm learning so much to help me on my path to financial freedom "God's way". Using the tools I learned in July,, in August I'm embarking on a new "Foxxy" who is more structured financially. Learning to accept that my wants might have to wait, but in due time I can have it all. My goal this month is to make myself aware of my habits and learn how to better manage my funds when it comes spending on clothing and food. Using Dave's envelope system I will stop using credit and debits cards, focusing on cash and how using cash will aid to change my habits.

Foxxy's up for the challenge......Are you? Share any fitness and financial success you have this month. We are in this adventure together :)

Foxxy

WE GO HARD!!!! Can't you tell? All that sweat just glistening on our faces LOL! But seriously I ended my  birthday challenge with a bang - I even got my brother to join me:) BUT it's time to step it up and get back on track with my eating. For the month of June I ate what I wanted, but I could only do that because I ran/walk 4 miles a day. So I was able to maintain my weight.....maintaining is not my goal. LOSE, LOSE, LOSE is what Foxxy is all about!

So my July Challenge is:
- Run/Walk 3 miles 5 days a week.
- Refrain from eating carbs (bread, pasta, rice) and sugar.
- 3 times a week (M,W,F) go to gym twice completing the cross fit workout at lunch and run/walk after work.

- On Tuesday the focus will be arms and Thursday the focus will be on legs. 
- Complete the 30 day squat challenge (started 6/26/13).
- Also hoping to make it to zumba at least twice this month. 

Don't just watch, JOIN ME.....We all can be Foxxy!

Sooooo Foxxy .... me, her, yeah I mean Tommie kinda failed on my initial birthday challenge. I haven't been horrible but the no sugar and no carbs was a no-go on the weekends. So instead of being a failure I came up with another challenge. My birthday is June 19th so I just want to challenge myself and push past limits. Starting June 10th through June 20th I have made a commitment to run/walk 4 miles daily. I've never done 4 miles in one day, the closest I've gotten was completing the 5k in April which is 3.25 miles. Since I've been there done that with the 3 miles, I had to take it up a notch!

Transforming Foxxy is in full effect but with my birthday fast approaching I'm just being honest with myself that some NOT SO healthy eating is in my future hahaha! June 24th my next challenge will begin - still thinking of the details but I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor in September and I would love to be at my goal weight by then. 

Dreaming of my new body, 
Foxxy 

A few weeks ago I purchased a Groupon for 10 classes  of Bikram Yoga (Hot Yoga). I thought it would be a great way to try something new to benefit my weight loss journey. I've heard so much about Bikram Yoga that I've been wanting to try it and today was my first day. I attended a class at Radiance of San Marco for Bikram Yoga in Jacksonville, FL.

Bikram style Hatha Yoga, ideal for the beginner as well as the seasoned
practitioner, is a demanding, dynamic, and exhilarating routine of 26 strengthening and toning postures (asanas) practiced in the detoxifying calm of a heated studio.  This allows you to work deep into muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and organs of every cell of the body, to change from the inside out. Bikram Yoga is a process that can reduce the symptoms of many injuries and chronic diseases, as well as being an excellent preventative activity.  In time, you learn to focus your mind and control your breath, leading you to work harder, deeper, and yet calmer. Bikram Yoga increases flexibility, improves circulation, and reduces stress, to provide an infinite number of benefits. The more you put into your class, the more you will get out of it.

As for my first class, I must say that I was a bit challenged. Many of the exercises I could do or at least try, but there were some that had me looking like "HOW DID THEY DO THAT?" The instructor informed me at the beginning of class that if I needed to take a break that was fine. The goal was to try if possible, watch others for help, and listen to my body. The room was 105 degrees, so walking in I instantly started sweating. It's best to be well hydrated and I wasn't.  All day I was afraid that I might vomit in class so I kind of limited my food and drink intake all day......next time I know better. 

The class was 90 minutes long and we worked the ENTIRE time! Yeah we had a few water breaks, but they were only 30 seconds each. I was doing okay with the heat until the last 30 minutes. Those last 30 minutes felt like they were the LONGEST 30 mins of my life!!!!! I literally felt like my body was on FIRE! Within that time the instructor was nice enough to open the door to let some air in for a minute - WHAT A RELIEF! After the class was done, I didn't want to move LOL! I was exhausted; barely enough energy to drive home. I made it though......FOXXY made it through her first Bikram Yoga class and it's not the last!

Overall I really enjoyed the class and I'll be headed back next sunday. I'll be better prepared next week with at least 2 liters of water intake before class and I'll be wearing shorts instead of leggings! 

Hot Yoga for Hot Foxxy,
Foxxy

Icy Hot? Yep your eyes are not deceiving you. Icy Hot is one of God's greatest creations (MY opinion)after a hard workout. When my body is yelling for relief I look to my trusty Icy Hot tube :)

If you're not familiar with Icy Hot, it is a pain-relieving cream that begins to work on contact to bring fast relief. The cream is non-greasy.

Uses
Temporarily relieves minor pain associated with: arthritis, simple backache, muscle strains, sprains, bruises, and cramps.


How do I apply Icy Hot? Honestly if I'm really aching and need some deep relief, I apply the product right out of the shower. I instantly feel the sensation! Initially my skin feels as if its on fire...........I'm going to make you not want to try it LMBO! The sensation is very intense but it starts to feel like someone is giving me a deep tissue massage!

This idea is not for the sensitive! You have to be able to take some HEAT and some pressure but I promise that after one use you will feel so relaxed. My muscles always thank me afterwards.......I think yours will do the same.

Relief Through Heat,
Foxxy

I love a challenge! This time in my fitness journey I'm determined to make it fun, whatever it takes. I refuse to give up this time so I am always looking for a different fitness event to attend. Last saturday I found a "2 hour Zumba Jam!" workout at Studio Jear here in Jacksonville Florida. I've been to zumba classes here before so I knew I was in for a challenging treat! Two of girlfriends came along for a saturday morning of fun.

Studio Jear has two locations; I attended class
at the southside location. The owners/instructor s Arlene & Jerome are a husband and wife fitness team in Jacksonville, Florida. Zumbajear! was born in August of 2008 and has been growing strong  ever since!  They  also provide  on site babysitting services.

I pushed myself through the entire two hours. I love to dance so I decided before I got there that I would push myself and sweat hard during the workout. I was dancing like I was in a music video LOL! I got my money worth and I won a crock-pot in one of the many raffles. This is something that I want to incorporate monthly for a change of pace and to add a little more fun to this journey!

This girl's got moves......Foxxy

Watching the news last night, they featured a story about how to workout while you work. My ears perked up and I wanted to hear more. I've worked a desk job since I was 21 years old. The work becomes monotonous and sitting in the same spot for hours is definitely not healthy. I was shocked when they showed the Treadmill Desk Combination by Lifespan Fitness. Not only was I interested, I wish I could request one through my job to use for 2013. I would really be on the way to my weight loss goal :)

Lifespan describes the Treadmill Desk Combination as:
2013 Model - The TR800-DT5 Treadmill Desk workstation comes complete with a desk and treadmill. It has a sturdy work surface measuring 46.5" wide and 31" deep with ample room for all of your common office desktop devices like your laptop, printer, and computer. The treadmill console is conveniently located in the front of the desk so it doesn't take space away from the working surface. For comfort and convenience, the TR800-DT5 includes padded arm rests to ensure lasting comfort, and clean cable management with a cable tray tucked under the desk to store your cables.

If you're interested in taking your work life to the next level and don't mind the $1299 price tag, the Treadmill Desk Combination could be all yours! WAIT.....I almost forgot they offer free shipping (They want to butter you up!) For more information visit Lifespan Fitness website HERE

Fitness by any means necessary,
Foxxy