Operation Sexy Bod

written by Jess

Blaire and I have completely neglected our blog for the last few months, we have several reasons for that, or excuses, but we are back and hopefully for a while.

After months of not living in the same city, injuries, engagements, moves, and settling into new jobs we have finally decided that enough is enough and we want to feel excited about fitness and nutrition again.

I went through a bit of body depression after moving to a new city. I felt so confident and sexy all summer and then all of a sudden I started to feel insecure, unhappy with what I saw in the mirror, and overall just weak and soft. I started to think today “this is it, I’m done with feeling sorry for myself”. Life gets hard and things change, all we can do is roll with the punches and conquer the next obstacle. So, as summer gets closer and I think about all the short shorts I bought myself last summer I feel more motivated than ever to drop the excuses and start focusing on myself and my health.

So anyways… the point of this all is to welcome you all back to Operation Sexy Bod. We want the blog to focus on our ongoing journey of keeping fit, eating health, planning TWO weddings, and just living life to the fullest every second of the day.

I hope you can all tune in and go on this journey with us and keep checking back!

written by Blaire

So there has been a minor change of plans for this fitness show. I have decided not to participate in this one since my back has been so messed up. Since I am unable to train as hard as I want to (and need to) for this show, I am going to focus on getting my back 100% better, then I will start training for the next show.

Basically, I keep re-injuring my back since I haven’t been letting it heal properly from the first time I hurt it 6 months ago. Lame.

For now, I am taking it easy and going to physio. But, this whole “taking it easy” thing is NOT easy. It’s hard and annoying and frustrating to NOT be able to do the things that I want to do.

Oh well….I’m working on it!

I’m not going to lie… I have been wanting to blog for quite some time, but have been struggling with what to discuss.

It dawned on me this morning, when I received a text message at 6:17am from my best friend, fellow fitness-show-goal-setter/OSB blogger, and my go-to person for accountability, Jess, saying “Gym - check”. My response: “Gym - getting ready!”

I’m not going to lie, it was a lot easier when we lived in the same town. It was motivation for us to get up and work out because we knew that the other person was counting on us to be there as a workout buddy and spotter. Now that we live apart, we have opted to text each other every morning to let the other know that we are sticking to our fitness plan.

Accountability doesn’t have to be someone holding your hand while you do everything. Yes, it is easier. But to a certain extent, you have to be accountable to yourself. Don’t let yourself down. Don’t do things for other people. Do it for you, and if you can have someone encourage you through it, more power to you.

I don’t know about you, but i look forward to getting my 6am text messages every morning, encouraging me to get my butt out of bed. 

Week 1 of going into training mode and me and Blaire are both sick.. figures right?

Well as I am sitting at home curled up on the couch and watching a million episodes of Degrassi Junior High (yeah that’s right) I’ve been browsing blogs and sites for inspiration and tips. 

Blaire showed me a video of a group of women called Girls Gone Strong when I first decided to compete in the show, here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCiCgTYax58

When I watched this the first time I was blown away. I thought to myself how amazing it would be to this strong and to be able to do the things these women are able to accomplish.

Since beginning this journey I often hear women say that they don’t want to lift heavy weights because they are scared of becoming “bulky” or “manly” looking. So they stick to there 5 pound weights and cardio machines and eat as little as possible.

And to be honest, I used to think the same thing. Before starting at TTi I would stick to the cardio machines and a few of the weight machines. Nothing major, I hardly ever felt sore. But at least I could tell myself I was going to the gym and “trying”.

When I really started challenging my body and noticing the changes I realized that women can be strong without looking “bulky” or “manly” and we should be able to look in the mirror and feel confident about the way we look and feel. 

These women are truly inspiring and holy crap, are they ever strong!

Check out the GGS facebook page for more information about the girls and what they do:

https://www.facebook.com/GirlsGoneStrong

Alright, it’s time…

Time to go super hard core with our training!! I don’t know about you, but I’m super stoked! If you notice Jess and I are MIA for the next few months, it’s because we are working out morning and night, prepping our food, and sleeping…a lot.

Goodbye social life! We’re getting sexy.

Hi everyone, remember me?
So a few months back my entire life changed. I got engaged to the most amazing man, got the best job I could ask for, moved to new city (that I finally don’t get lost in) and started my new life. Everything was going smoothly, until I realized that I allowed myself to fall back with my fitness and nutrition. No, I didn’t give up completely and balloon out. But I did start using excuses for missing the gym and justifying treats here and there. The biggest thing that I noticed was my lack of confidence. I started to feel gross, complained to my very tolerant fiancé about my body and really lacking the motivation I used to have.
I think I have a bit of (undiagnosed) social anxiety and I have these irrational fears surrounding the new box gym I go to (just to use the equipment). Im not sure what I am afraid of or why the whole situation makes me feel nauseous, but it does. And that’s something I have to work at.
Taylor gave me a good pep talk on the weekend and after some reflecting I realized that I am my own worst enemy, I am terrified of failure and I look for other people to motivate me. I need to learn to believe in myself and realize I can’t be perfect but I just need to try my hardest (cheesy, right?)
You might be wondering why in the world I am telling you all this, I just thought I would throw it out there. I could use every excuse not to do this and pretend that I am too busy or have too much going on but I have decided to give that up. This is going to be a HUGE challenge for us, but I think we are both ready to take it to the next level and prove to ourselves that we can do this.

Sooooo, the game plan for me over the next week is:
1. Figure out my meal plan
2. Find all of the equipment I need for my new program at the gym

Wish me luck and I’ll be reporting back.

Well, it has happened. In true “Blaire” fashion, I have managed to injure myself…This isn’t anything new. Every couple of months, I seem to hurt myself somehow. But this one is a doozy…

About 8 weeks ago, I did something to my back (who knows what). It was pretty painful, but the pain seemed to come and go. On Thursday, the pain came full force.  On a pain scale, it is about a 6.5-7 out of 10 at its best…and about a 9 out of 10 at its worst.  Brutal.

Yesterday, while cleaning my kitten’s litter box, I was picking up the box of fresh litter and my back seized up. I fell and couldn’t get up, Steve Urkle style. Needless to say, I was home alone other than my cats, but they were of no assistance. My solution: to cry…Then muster enough strength to crawl to the couch. sigh.

Now onto my dilemma. Some of you might know that I am a Christmas enthusiast. Yes, my tree has been up for one month. And you better believe that I have been blaring Christmas music and spreading Christmas cheer for one month. To me, Halloween is Put-Up-Your-Christmas-Decorations Eve!

Tomorrow is December 1st. I should be getting an advent calendar filled with delicious chocolate. But, alas, I am not. I love the countdown to Christmas and I love opening the little advent window and eating my chocolate every morning. But, alas, I won’t.  The Christmas Enthusiast Blaire is saying “Just do it!”, but the Fitness Show Blaire is saying “Don’t”.

Sorry, Christmas Blaire…I think the 6-pack is going to win this one.

This blog has officially been hijacked by me, Blaire.

Don’t worry, Jess is still alive and kicking. She has gotten engaged, moved up to Whitby and started an amazing job in her field. But, alas, she isn’t taking this journey, so with her permission, I am taking over Operation Sexy Bod!

For those of you who don’t know, I have decided to join the ranks with 4 other people at Taylored Training, and train to be in a fitness show in April.

You may not know what a fitness show is…To be honest, I’m still learning…But how I have been explaining it to people is this: I get in awesome shape, get a spray tan, strut my stuff on a stage with other Snookie-inspired tans, flex a little, pose a little. And that’s that. Oh, and I will be wearing the tiniest bikini known to man. Sweet.

Some might call me crazy…some think it’s awesome. I hear a lot of “why would you want to do that to your body?” “do you really want to go through that?” blah blah blah… My answer is, why would I want to do what to my body? Get in tip top shape? Look and feel amazing? Work hard and accomplish a goal that most people wouldn’t and won’t do? I am doing this for me. I want to see how far I can push my body without giving up. I won’t give up.

I won’t be starving myself. I won’t be pumping the roids.

This is all being done the right way….Hard work, dedication, some drive and support…and a lot of badass hardcore-nes.

Let’s see where this takes me!

Mission number one:  - Get my diet in check

                             - build some mad muscle

Here we go!

written by Jess

So tonight as I was making dinner I had one of those moments where something just clicked in my head and I realized how much I have changed since being on this journey.

I think it was that I was making my favourite homemade hamburgers and was super excited about eating them when I remembered that only months ago I wasn’t eating red meat at all (for the last 8 years) and had no desire to. Now I am practically drooling at the thought of any cooked cow or pig.

Another change is that I actually LOVE eating now. I don’t just eat because I need to but I actually love taking the time to cook from scratch, try new things and actually wait patiently for food to cook rather than just throwing some breaded chicken in the over or having pasta every night.

And lastly I never really had a desire to work out. I knew it was something that I should do, but I never really wanted to. It was a pain in my butt to get up and go and when I did go I had no clue what I was doing. Now, I actually miss the gym on off days and couldn’t imagine living a lifestyle that didn’t include exercise. 

I think I can vouch for both of us when I say that talking (and blogging) about health, nutrition and fitness is now a passion for both me and Blaire. We often sit and talk about the questions we get asked or the people who complain to us about their lack of motivation or common sense and get excited when we get asked questions or when people use us as motivation.

I think what I am trying to get at is that we haven’t always been fitness gurus or “health nuts.” It was a choice we made and a goal we stuck too. We decided that we were unhappy with the way we felt and looked and decided that instead of sitting there and sulking we were going to do something about it and change our lives.

You could do it too, if you really wanted to. Just sayin’….

“You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.”
                                                            -Author Unknown

Written by Blaire

I’ll admit it.

I have a crush.

Yep, a crush…. On none other than Chris Powell, trainer and Transformation Specialist on Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition.

I’m not going to lie - I love that show. What I find so great about it is that these morbidly obese people (think 450lbs) get to the point in their lives where they are ready for change; they are ready to take the plunge, make the sacrifices and get their lives and their health in order.

For 3 months, Chris (who was made famous for helping a 630lb man lose 411lbs in 26 months with good ole diet and exercise….no surgery needed) actually lives with the individual to get them on the right track with their intense diet and exercise transformation. The results are always huge in the first 3 months…I’m talking over 100lb weight loss.

After the first 3 months, their lives start to get back to normal and Chris moves out (More happens…it’s actually a 365 day journey…Too much to write for one blog! Annnyyywayyyy….). But these people still have to work super hard to reach their weight loss goals. Some do. Some don’t. Some keep trying. Some give up.

I’ll admit, I always get so disappointed if they don’t reach their goal. And they always have excuses as to why they didn’t.

What’s your excuse? What’s holding you back from your fitness goals? Do you have a fitness goal? If you don’t, you should really consider making one.

My first real fitness goal was to complete the Physique Challenge (which was why this blog started). After that was done, people assumed my life would be “normal” again. For me, my life is normal now. Fitness, health and nutrition are all such a huge, important part of my life. I constantly have new fitness goals and I will meet them all because I am dedicated, driven, and have the support of my friends, family and trainer, Taylor (shout out!!).

No, I wouldn’t complain if Chris Powell came and lived with me for 3 months (because I have a huge crush on him and he would be an awesome workout buddy), but that’s not going to happen to me…It’s not going to happen to you. Don’t wait for a Transformation Specialist to get you going.  

Get off your butt and choose your path. Get healthy. Get fit. Live happy.

Take the first step toward your lifestyle change.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. -Mark Twain

Sooo we just finished week 4 of the Kettlebell program and it hasn’t got any easier. After every workout we can hardly breathe and we are drenched in sweat, but the pain and exhaustion has definitely been worth it.
We both tend to get bored easily and love a good ole’ challenge, so we decided that we are going to start the Nutrition Challenge Monday! What’s the nutrition challenge you may ask? It involves sticking to a specific meal plan designed for you and tracking everything extremely carefully. At the end if we complete the challenge we get awesome badges to show off!
Coming from a behavioural background, I love me some incentives!
Soo starting Monday you will hear all about our new trials and tribulations involved with this 8 week challenge, that will no doubt involve needing to explain ourselves to others and resist temptation.
Happy Thursday everyone and stay tuned!