PorscheTaylor.com

#consistency #dedication #hardwork #success

Starting Weight: 252
Friday Weight: 235
Total Weight Loss: 54 lbs

Happy Friday Fam! It’s been about 5 months since I last updated, and I figured that I owed it to folks who visit porschetaylor.com to check in. Blogging is a lot of work and I’ve been busy lately… Since my last update, I’ve lost 17 lbs. Not the 40 I was hoping for, but I’ll take it. That’s about 3 lbs a month. I hit a plateau, got discouraged, wasn’t as diligent as I should have been with the food, and my progress slowed. But, I stayed consistent with the workouts and even increased them. So, the moral is, it’s all about the food. These last two weeks, I’ve tried to be real consistent about eating clean M-F and now, I’m seeing the results. I lost 3 lbs this week. Not bad. So, I think I’m back on track. I also wasn’t burning as many calories, because I was trying new things with a trainer. The moral to that story is, I need to burn at least 1000 a day, 5 days a week. The 6th workout day can be a little light. If I do this and eat 1600 – 2000 calories a day, I lose lbs.

I also lost a lot of body fat. I lost 13% body fat since Dec. So, I guess muscle can weigh more than fat. In any case, I’m proud of my accomplishments. I’m running now! I ran 30 mins straight today for 2.29 miles at 4.7 speed on the treadmill. The grind continues. I will lose 100 lbs by Sept 15.

Now for the pics:

Dec. 23rd

This Week

PT

Starting Weight: 260
Friday Weight: 252
Total Weight Loss: 37 lbs

This Week’s Video

Sorry I’m so late with this update! The holidays had me in a twist, but I put in the time I needed to still lose. I did double cardio days almost everyday last week and with an 8 lb weight loss, it paid off big time! My goal was to get a 4lb loss, just doubling my weekly average. My guess is, mixing up the routine threw my body into fat burning mode, resulting in weight loss. Worked out for 1 hour on Saturday, which is a lot less than my usual Sat workout. No worries, I’m definitely back on my grind next weekend.

On the food side, I stuck with the plan. I ate a lot of salad, soup and fish this week. I kept everything in check until Friday. Went to Maggiano’s and had the lasagna and crab cakes. Didn’t know one serving of lasagna was 2000 calories. That scared the mess out of me. I kept my calories low on Sat, because I was hoping to have Gumbo at my Bro’s Christmas Party, but that didn’t happen. So, I went to bed hungry. And then I ate Horribly on Christmas Day. Through it all, I managed no weight gain over the weekend.

So far, the week is off to a good start. I couldn’t wait to get to the gym this morning. I did a double cardio day, and burned over 1700 calories. I ate ok today, stayed under my calorie goal, but need to eat more fiber, salad and veggies. This is my period week, so I’m expecting weight gain with bloating and powerful cravings for salty and sweet snacks. Gonna take it one day at a time. Its a marathon, not a sprint.

Now for the pics:

Last Week

This Week

PT

Starting Weight: 262
Friday Weight: 260
Total Weight Loss: 29 lbs

This Week’s Video

This week marks the 3 month anniversary of my workout program. I am so very proud of myself for my continued commitment and dedication to working out 6 days a week. My goal at the end of 3 months was to lose 30 lbs. I’m 1 lb short, but I’m still proud of my accomplishment. This week I did 2 double cardio days and 3 strength training days. Next week, I’ll switch that up and do 3 double cardio and 2 strength training days. I didn’t swim because my class is out for winter break, but I will swim tomorrow at the gym. I’m averaging over 1000 calories on the treadmill each day, and trying to increase that number each day. It’s become like a video game, and I keep trying to beat my score. Some days I can, and some I can’t, but at least I put in the work. My extra credit workout is tomorrow and I’m ready!

On the food side, for the most part, I’ve stuck to the plan. Plenty of salad, chicken, fish, turkey, a couple of snacks. I also had a holiday party that cost me an extra 1000 calories this week. But, I kept the food in check. I got a new cook book this week, so I’m ready to go with recipes! (Thanks Kim!) I’ve also been making an effort to increase my water intake to 12 glasses a day.

I’ve had a lot of Angels come by and encourage me this week, and for that I am continually grateful. The gym crew has been super encouraging! And I’ve got a few really great gifts this week from my friends that will make my program a lot easier. I have the best friends EVER! At the end of 3 months, I can truly say that if I give this my all, EVERYDAY, I will achieve my goal. If I want to lose weight faster, I need to step up the cardio. But hey, I’m not in a hurry. My goal has always been 2 – 3 lbs per week. That’s 100 lbs in a year. If I can pull that off, I won. And, I’m 30% of the way there! It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Everyday, I’m faced with choices that will help or hinder me. As long as I keep the finish line on my mind and stay laser focused, I’ll be fine.

Now for the pics:

Last Week

This Week:

I’ve still got a long way to go, but I continue to be happy about my progress. I’ll take my victories where I can get them.

PT

Starting Weight: 266
Friday Weight: 262
Total Weight Loss: 27 lbs

This Week’s Video

I started out this week worried because I had only lost 1 lb last week. So, I decided to tweak my workout just a bit to see if I could lose more. I increased my cardio 3 days this week and did my strength conditioning on the other two days. This, along with my swimming class on Wednesday helped me to lose 4 lbs this week. OUTSTANDING! I continue to be proud of myself for consistently getting up at Dark Thirty every morning to go work out. I got up late 2 days this week and it affected me mentally. I began to wonder if I was taking too long and wanted to cut my workouts short. But, I decided to stick it out. It’s important for me to put in as much time as I can until I reach my goals.

On the food side, I’ve been eating some junk this week. But, instead of giving up, I counted the calories and put in the extra time on the treadmill. This helped with the additional weight loss overall. The entire process is a simple formula; burn more calories than you eat. But, I also acknowledge that I need to be more disciplined when it comes to my eating. I need to be proactive in finding recipes that are quick, easy and tasty. Otherwise, I’ll be back to eating garbage because its the easier option. So, that’s my goal for next week. If you have any recipes to share, please send them my way and I’ll do the same!

I’m eternally grateful for the increasing amount of support I’ve been getting from my friends and family. Most of my friends and family are on Facebook. Every time I see one of them in person, they give me an amazing amount of encouragement. This is a tremendous help in the mental side of this journey. Often, it’s not my body that gets tired, its my mind. And when I think of all of the love and support, it gives me that extra push I need to make it through. In the end though, I think about how far I’ve come. 27 lbs in 3.5 months is remarkable, considering the malaise I used to feel everyday. The workouts continue to help me rediscover how strong I am, and how much I’m capable of. I haven’t believed in myself physically in a long time, and now that’s changing.

Now for the pics:

Last Week

This Week:

From the pictures, I don’t see much of a change. But, here’s what I do notice:
- My bust size is smaller.
- Belly #1 doesn’t stick out as much as my breasts anymore.
- The fat around my knees is disappearing slowly.
- My facial structure is more defined.
- My shoulders are more defined.
- My arms are smaller.
- the new belt I bought a month ago is almost too big. I’ve got 1 notch left.
- My clothes are getting really baggy. It’s almost time to go shopping.
- This winter riding jacket I bought 2 years ago for $30, but was too small – now it fits!

I’ve still got a long way to go, but I continue to be happy about my progress. I’ll take my victories where I can get them.

PT

Starting Weight: 267
Friday Weight: 266
Total Weight Loss: 23 lbs

This Week’s Video

This week was a tough one… It was that time of the month, so I was craving salty foods, sweet snacks and I gave in a couple of times. I did not do well with food this week. I’d make it through most of the day, but then in the evenings, I’d cave in. I could feel myself slipping into self doubt and depression a couple of times, and I had to mentally power through. I’m not seeing the change and loss as rapidly as I would like and its started to get into my head. I would remember what my dad said. You didn’t gain it all in a day or even a year, so it’s not going to come off that quickly. I also saw a picture that someone put in one of the fitness groups I belong to. It said, “There is no magic wand.” That’s real. The only way to get where I’m going is through hard work and dedication. So, when I began to doubt my progress, I’d remember where I was 23 lbs ago and get re-dedicated. Consistency in my workouts often helped my mood swings. I would go in to the gym feeling horrible and come out on cloud nine.

I went to Solo’s Funeral yesterday, where I saw all of my biker fam. It was a beautiful service, and a reminder that tomorrow isn’t promised. I hadn’t seen my folks in a while, so my weight loss was noticed. Everyone was very encouraging and that felt really good. I honestly had no idea how many folks were keeping up with me. That’s a huge motivating factor. I feel like, I’m not just doing this for me, I’m doing it for us. For all of us that don’t think we can make the change, or for those that feel like weight loss is a huge mountain we have to climb. I’m 23% of the way up the mountain. And if I can do this, anyone can.

Now for the pics:

Last Week

This Week:

Starting Weight: 269
Friday Weight: 267
Total Weight Loss: 22 lbs

This Week’s Video

Let’s keep the party going… another 2 lbs down through thanksgiving week… I’ll take it! This week, I came out to the Desert to hang with my parents for the holidays. Of course with it being Thanksgiving, that’s a great reason to eat everything in the world. And, truthfully, I did indulge quite a bit. I have to say thanks to my mom for making sure I had the healthy options I needed to stay on track for most of the week. I also want to say thanks for the Cherry Cream Cheese Pie. It’s 450 calories a slice and worth every bite. And, keep in mind, I paid my dues every day on the treadmill. I’ve been averaging 1000 calories on the treadmill everyday. I’m learning that if you do the work, you can eat what you want in moderation. Nervous about all the rich foods I would eat this week, I definitely didn’t want to undo my progress. So, I began operation #occupythegym. They have a great 24 Hour Fitness here, so I didn’t miss a beat. Mommy joined me for my workouts each day! I’M SO PROUD OF HER! She even joined the gym and has been logging her diary on the “my fitness pal” app. She’s becoming as addicted to this app as I am.

Got me a new pair of running shoes too… yeah, I stuck with the 3 stripes. I couldn’t beat the comfort or the price. I guess in spite of everything, there’s still a bit of brand allegiance. We started a new facebook group named “Show Up and Sweat”. Let me know if you want in…

Now for the pics:

Last Week

This Week:

Starting Weight: 271
Friday Weight: 269
Total Weight Loss: 20 lbs

This Week’s Video

Happy Friday! This was an awesome week for me. I got a new free app, “My Fitness Pal”, which helps me keep track of my food intake, my calories, and even has a community for me to keep tabs on my friends. I wanted the bodybugg, but this app is working really well. My goal is to stay at 1810 calories per day in order to burn fat. I did really well this week, coming in under 1810 each day.

Every time I would stop and think about how hard this process is, an Angel would tell me how great a job I was doing and to not give up. Friends I haven’t heard from would call me, I’d get FB posts on my wall, or some random stranger would talk to me at the gym. I also hit two milestones this week. For the first time ever, I did a week of 1000 calorie cardio days on the treadmill. The treadmill settings were 12 Incline, 2.8 Speed for 1 hour, with a 5 minute cool down. And I finally hit my 20 lbs weight loss. That’s a major moment for me. I’m going to enjoy these accomplishments. I fought hard for them! *Happy Dance*

But, I’ve still got a long way to go. So, with that in mind, I keep it movin…

Now for the pics:

Last Week

Today:

Last Week’s Video:

This week was a tough one. We lost one of the pioneers of Hip Hop, Heavy D. The first time I met Heavy D was at my girl Gabby’s birthday party about 5 or 6 years ago. He looked GREAT. I remember sitting and talking with him for a while about his weight loss. He was very open and willing to answer my questions. He was very inspirational. Every time I’d run into him, he remembered me and always greeted me with a smile. He really was one of the most down to earth celebs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I thought a lot about him these last few days while I was working out. He’s a reminder that tomorrow’s not promised. So, I’ve resolved to make every opportunity to better myself at the gym count.

Well, I think this is week 8 or 9 of my training and I’m down 18 lbs. I completed 5 days this week, 2 – 2.5 hrs of working out every morning. I’m very proud of myself for the consistency. I’m averaging 2 -3 lbs a week in weight loss. The scale is moving up and down, but the inches I’ve lost really give me an idea of how I’m doing. My clothes are fitting REALLY baggy these days. My old belt was too big, so I bought a new one. My mommy asked me to post pics, so, I posted a couple of pictures of where I started and where I am now. You can’t visually see much of a difference. I do have shoulders again though. LOL. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them. And, people say they notice. I’m focused on how much work I still have to do. I’ve gained 120 lbs since high school. that’s an average of 7 – 8 lbs per year. It took me 18 years to gain it, so I know I won’t lose it overnight. I’m proud of my results, but I’ve got to stay focused.

I’m actually starting to look forward to my daily workouts. The gym has become a time of focus for me. I’ve got a long way to go to reach my goal. I just want to stay consistent in my workouts and take it one day at a time. Learning how to eat better and not depend on fast food spots for meals has helped tremendously. I’m saving both my waistline and my wallet. I do indulge on the weekends, but I’m so conscious of screwing up my progress that even then I don’t pig out. I’ve been paying attention to what I’m eating, so all of the workouts aren’t for nothing. I also noticed that my stomach has gotten smaller. I get full a lot quicker than I used to.

I’ve decided to rock a ‘fro while I go through my transition. It’s easy to maintain. I really don’t want any excuses about why I can’t work out. Thank you to all of you who have shown me lots of love and encouragement. It definitely helps motivate me on the days when I’d rather roll over and catch another hour of sleep. I couldn’t do it without you.

Oct 14, 2011:

Nov 11, 2011: