Recipe For A Beautiful Life

Here I was updating you all nearly weekly with my BodyBugg/healthy lifestyle progress and then bam, I left you hanging. Bad blogger, but better to have been more committed to my fitness in real life than on the blog!

This will be my last BodyBugg themed post {but don’t worry, not my last fitness/weight loss/healthy living post}. Why? Well for a few reasons…I reached and exceeded my goal, I’m in a maintenance mindset now, and I don’t use the BodyBugg on a regular basis anymore. Wondering WTF a BodyBugg is? Read here.

Unlike the movie 28 Weeks Later, this story is not a scary one. It’s a happy one. A positive one. One where I realize just what I am actually capable of. A few months ago I felt I had reached a place where I did not need to wear the BB everyday. I knew what I needed to eat {and not eat} and I knew what my daily activity needed to be. That’s the great thing about making fitness, and healthy eating, a lifestyle; it just becomes, well, your life.

It’s been just under seven months since I survived my first {very hungry} day tracking my calories and wearing the BodyBugg. As hard as the adjustment was at the beginning I never thought of it as a diet…this was a makeover. I completely changed the way I eat and the way I work out…and now it’s just how I do things….every darn day.

Of course, exceeding my goal doesn’t mean the work is over. It’s  actually really only half the story. I know that my new lifestyle will be a constant work in progress. Not a day goes by that I am not conscious about what I am putting into my body and what I am doing to be active.

Lost 3o+ pounds {the scale stopped going down about 8 weeks ago, but I continued to lose inches}

Went from a size 10/12 to a size 2

Less than 15% body fat

In the best shape of my life…

…but you know what they say…a picture’s worth a 1,000 words…

My Top Tips {aka Brie’s Rules}:

Calories In

• Drink TONS of water {I shoot for 100oz/day}
• Make easy, healthier, calorie-saving substitutions {think feta instead of cheddar, salsa instead of fatty dips, vodka and diet soda instead of beer or wine}
• Don’t drink your calories {stay away from juices, soda, certain coffee drinks. Most don’t add much/anything in the way of nutrition. Save your calories for actual food}
• Clean eating is key {you’re calories will go farther with fruits, veggies, and unprocessed foods!}
• Greens, greens, greens {leafy green veggies are your best friend. Think Spinach, Arugula, and different kinds of lettuces}
• Measure out your ingredients and food {it’s really easy to over-indulge when you don’t realize how many calories you just consumed}
• At first you WILL feel hungry while your body adjusts and that’s OK {stay strong!}
• Really look at how many calories are in some of your favorite treats/snacks/indulgences {it may be just enough to scare you off of them}
• Keep a food log {be completely honest and open with yourself about what you eat}

Calories Out

• Ditch long, slow cardio for interval training {Switching up speed and intensity throughout your workout is much more effective than sitting on the elliptical for an hour at the same level}
• Run, run, and run some more {The BodyBugg showed that no workout burned more calories per minute than a good old fashioned run}
• Circuit train {this is CRUCIAL! Circuit training helps build key calorie-burning lean muscles, keeps you from getting bored with the same old thing, and provides a heart-pumping cardio workout}
• Strength train {this goes hand in hand with the above. You need to build muscle.}

Mentality

• Let go of all your pre-conceived notions about what you are, or are not, capable of {most of that is just bullshit we hold onto as an excuse for why we can’t achieve something….really it’s because we are not fully prepared to do the work it takes}
• Take it day by day, week by week and month by month {don’t think about how far off the finish line to your goal seems. Just go step by step. Suddenly you will realize you’ve made it a day, then a week, then a month…soon you are half way there}
• Make fitness and healthy eating a priority {don’t have time for the gym? Really? I know it can be tough with work, social life, kids, housework etc, BUT…how much of that is an excuse? Couldn’t you watch one less TV show, sacrifice 30 minutes of sleep, plan/prepare health meals ahead of time, spread out your chores better…?? Bottom line is MAKE THE TIME}
• Take pride in getting in your workouts and eating right {that good feeling you get will be stronger than any craving or fatigue}

Need to catch up on the whole story?

Week 1 (including a full explanation of the BodyBugg)

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4 & 5

Week 6 & 7

Week 12

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and stuck with me as I chronicled this journey! Your encouragement has meant so much!