Perfect Pushup/Pull Up/ Ab Review

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The Perfect Pushup is quite the workout. When given the chance to try the Perfect Pushup Combination System I jumped at the chance. Honestly I was really excited about the Ab Straps. If you haven't heard of the Perfect Pushup, here is a YouTube infomercial so you can see what the hype is all about.



The Perfect Pushup System is something I think every gym should have (Thank you Jacklyn!) They new Mobile Unit design is one I tested. The easy fold down feature is great and they slip into a light carry case making it easy to take them anywhere. I have been building my strength in doing pushups with every workout. For most women this can take a while as we don't tend to be naturally stronger in this area. By adding the Perfect Pushup to your workout routine, you get a deeper range of motion and you can really get into your chest muscles. For me, personally, I don't twist them quite as much as seen in the commercial. The Perfect Pushup instructional workout DVD shows you how to twist them for a different type of workout. But for standard pushups, I keep them at a slight angle that is comfortable for me.


I also had the pleasure of trying the Perfect Pullup. When I do pullups, I have the slight help of a chair beneath my feet. This helps me mentally push through the last few reps and know that I am not going to fall. The Perfect Pullup comes with comfortable handles which also rotate much like the Perfect Pushup and really give you a great workout. The pushup bar has many great features as well. It's really easy to install, only took a few minutes, and with great instructions. (I give kudos to my husband for the install. According to him, it was a piece of cake - low fat and sugar free of course). You can take the bar off, leaving just the brackets, so it's out of your way when needed. It also goes into a lower position for more movements.

My favorites are the Perfect Ab Straps. These I have admired in magazines for a long time. It seems like all the fitness gurus use them. Getting into them is a little tough as I am on the shorter side (5'3") so I had to use my chair to get my arms in comfortably. What fun. Once you get going and move faster, you tend to swing. Which is fun too. I can tell you, you will feel this in your abs, arms, legs, and back. So it's an all around great workout.

I highly recommend these products to you. I don't feel at all that they are an "As Seen On TV" gimmick. If used properly, this equipment is a great addition to any home gym.

So check out the Perfect Pushup website and order your new Perfect Combination system. If you already have this product, let me know what you think and share with my readers your personal experience.

My Body Beats

This is a workout I thought was quite interesting and something I wanted to share with you. Through continuous searches in looking for new and exciting workouts, I ran across My Body Beats.com.

My Body Beats website is set up much like an iTunes, with downloadable routines for your iPod or mp3 player. Each workout is backed with great upbeat music and instruction from a professional fitness trainer or fitness superstar. One of my favorites, of course, is Jenny Hendershott and her workout the Full Body All Out Workout. I was given the opportunity to download this and give it a try.

I first suggest you start out by visiting My Body Beats and click on My Workouts. This will set you up with a free account. Now you can store your wish list, purchase your workouts, keep track of them, and communicate with the trainers through blogs. You will also receive email updates on new workouts as they become available. Once you have purchased your workout you can then access it at anytime, download them to your iTunes and import to your iPod. Now your workout is good to go with you anywhere. The Jenny Hendershott workout you see here is only $14.99.

I only suggest these workouts to someone who has a good imagination and can follow instruction easily. The only down fall is you can't physically see what the trainer is doing like a DVD workout. But the plus is, they are right in your in-ears instructing you what to do. My experience with Jenny Hendershott was good as she was extremely helpful at explaining the routine and movements. Since I received only the Jenny Hendershott workouts, I can not say how the other trainers have done with their movement explanations.

I also was able to download Jenny Hendershott's other workout called Bustin Butt and Legs which is something this woman is famous for! Who doesn't want to look like Jen? Seriously. This is another great purchase.

Downloading the workouts was a simple. Once you purchase the one you want, you download them to your computer (I put it on my desktop and dropped it into my iTunes) and your set to go. If you don't have an mp3 player, My Body Beats will be releasing wireless headsets very soon. (This I just got to see). They have thought of everything to get this great product not only in your hands but in your ears.

If you want to know more in depth about My Body Beats check out the About Us section of their website. I highly recommend these workouts for something different and to keep you motivated. Each trainer in My Body Beats gives not only workout instruction but other health tips as well. I will have a continuous link on Your Happy Hearts.com so you can access My Body Beats at anytime. Also, for those of you more interested in the video workouts, they will be available in approximately six weeks, including new workouts with Jenny Hendershott.

Let me know what you think of this great concept. Your feedback is always welcome.

Weight Loss Hurdles

With every hurdle, there’s another…..

Have you watched an Olympic runner jump hurdles in a race? It’s not just one they have to jump but several in a row. It seems the more they run in the race the closer together the hurdles become. The runner pushes harder and they pick up speed. When the athlete finishes the race, they have a great feeling of accomplishment. What do they do then? Run it again and again and again.

I sometimes feel this way with my workouts and fitness goals. I get on a roll, have a hurdle and overcome it. My strength, weight and standards change in order to reach the next hurdle I have set in my way. I jump another one this time as a stronger person and realize I CAN do this. Then I set yet another goal for myself.

At some point the hurdles seem to get closer together. As each pound is lost you begin to realize it’s not just five pounds you wanted to lose... but 10, then 20, then 50. Maybe even build some muscle. You start looking and feeling great and you set a goal for abs and great quads and calves. Before you know it, you ran the entire race and jumped all those hurdles you thought impossible. Now what? You are ready to do it again, with each race and set of hurdles being a little different.

But before you start a race, you must train. And this time I don’t mean your body. You have to train your mind and make a plan. The best way to do this is write out your goals. (Journal people journal I can’t say it enough). Start to read everything you can get your hands on dealing with food plans and what you should be eating and what you shouldn’t. (I am reviewing some great books right now and will have interviews soon posted with the authors.)

You can’t change your diet if you don’t have the facts. This is your first hurdle: Start to plan your meals. Cook your foods on the weekends. Freeze lunches for work and always have a protein bar or energy bar in your purse or duffel bag. This way when plans change your diet doesn’t have to. I have personally gone back to a bigger purse to make sure I always have almonds, water, and protein bars on me at all times. I also carry an assortment of vitamins in case I forget them in the morning. Once you have a goal and diet plan on paper, you are ready to get behind the starting line of that race track. Set a date in which your life is going to change (preferably tomorrow) and pull the trigger on the gun and take off.

Your second hurdle is your workout program. Find what you like to do. Are you going to workout at home or in a gym? Get yourself set up right now (don't wait anymore, no excuses) or buy that gym membership and do your workout.

Now the next few hurdles are not to quit. With working out and eating healthy you may trip over a few hurdles till you get a hang of it, but keep going. Once you keep going and your in a groove, whatever comes in your path, (like a work birthday party or happy hour), you know how to jump over those hurdle successfully.

When changes start to happen the old hurdles seem so easy and trivial. Making food choices isn’t even a thought or a problem anymore. You know your worth it. So are you going to still have hurdles? Yes because now your standards have changed and you have new goals.

I know you can do it and I am always here to help. But remember, I am running too and jumping hurdles of my own, I am far from fitness perfection. I very much enjoy encouraging you on your hurdles. Think of us running together in this race for fitness (some of you behind and some of you in front, kicking my butt and that’s great!) Don’t think of me being in a race to beat you. Instead I am reaching behind and handing you that baton and encouraging you to keep going. We are all on the same team. A team to beat out obesity and bad health choices. Let’s run this race together over and over again.

Let me know what hurdles you are facing or have jumped. I love to hear from you. If it’s a personal hurdle you need help with you can always contact me at findyourfit@charter.net

Be blessed!

Journaling Make Everything Better

I could not be more thrilled to bring you this review. Not only to remind you to keep on journaling but to introduce you to some of the most beautiful journals I have ever seen.

Journaling is such an important part of your health and fitness journey. I have said it time and time again, and will continue to say it, you MUST be journaling. Each one of us are creatures of habit and have certain patterns we follow in life. One that keeps coming to my attention, and makes me laugh when doing it, is toweling off after my shower. I do it the same way every day. I think I probably have for years. So what other simple things are we doing in life that is either a good habit or bad?

When trying to make healthy food choices we all mess up now and again. But if you had to write down all those mess-ups and admit to yourself every time you had that donut, would you still eat it? When looking back, you can see what caused you to go on a bad food binge or not exercise that day. Was it depression, stress, anger, or simple boredom? Did you have a great workout or not so much and why? All these things contribute to your weight loss and goals.

If your like me, I don't enjoy just writing it down on a spiral note pad with a boring pen. I love to have just the right journal. So if you love journals, and want the BEST, where do you go to get it? I have found just the place. Rogue Journals.com

I can't say I have ever seen anything quite like these. Each journal is handcrafted from fine leather. They are filled with 200 pages of the paper of your choice. These journals can be a little on the pricey side but it goes without saying, "you get what you pay for."

I received my journals and the smell of wonderful leather was overwhelming as I dug in to see how they really looked. Were they as great as the pictures shown on the web store? Yes, and even more delightful when in my hands. Although Rogue Journals.com does a great job with their site and showing you fantastic photos there is nothing like opening up the bubble wrap to see it for real.

One of the first journals that I chose to review was this Compact Pocket Journal. in chocolate. I believe you should always have a journal on your person. You never know when a great thought or idea may present itself. I carry it with me to track my food intake and workout for the day. This journal is available in three colors: Black, Chocolate, and Tan. As one of the most affordable journals to purchase, I suggest you all order one today. You won't be sorry. For only $19.95 this great journal can travel with you anywhere.

Rogue Journals offers several different papers to choose from. My Compact Journal is filled with pure sketch paper. This paper is thick and wonderful to write on. I love a good heavy pen, not a fan of the fine point. When writing in this journal it's almost like writing on a napkin. Your pen just sinks in and leaves a good impression. As did this journal on me. I love the wrap around tie as well. It's a great added feature to give it a fantastic rugged look.

The next journal I received was the Prayer Journal. (retails for $69.50) I love this one as well. It's more streamlined and has a look of being that favorite journal you have carried with you for years. A one inch leather cross medallion is first embossed, died, and then stitched into the journal. A pen holder keeps your journal closed, so you will never be without a pen during a really important sermon. This journal was filled with Violet Tamarind Leaf Paper. The inside of each journal is raw leather (suede) and feels incredible. The snaps holding the strap in place are securely set and sure to hold for years to come. While journaling thoughts are important I believe journaling prayer time and your favorite bible verses are very important as well.

My personal favorite is an ever so delicately handmade journal named the Patchwork Journal (retails for $99.50). Although my personal Patchwork Journal does not look exactly like the one shown here, I think that's why I like it so much. I know this journal was hand made just for me. My journal has a patch of red, tan, brown, suede blue, chocolate brown, and is unique in it's design and stitching. I will be using this for my personal feelings, life in general, and what is ever on my mind. Yet again, another paper graces the inside of this fabulous creation, the Parchment. It's unique on it's own as each page has a different look.

For those of us concerned about the environment, you will be surprised to hear how this paper was made. Rogue Journals selects this exclusively handmade Saa paper not only for it's texture and organic character, but also because no trees are harmed in the making. Known as mulberry bark paper, the bark is peeled from the tree and has no lasting effects. The fast growing tree will quickly re-grow the lost bark in one season and be ready to harvest again. Why don't they make all paper this way?

Each journal can also be embossed with your initials or that of someone you are purchasing the journal for as a gift. What a great added feature.

I encourage you to check out Rogue Journals and leave a comment here for Nick Rogue so he can see what you think. I am sure he would love the feedback. Thanks to Nick, I have lots to journal.

Are You Big In A Small World or Small In A Big World?

People take vacations to get away from it all. But do we get away from our eating habits and our workouts too? And what kind of vacation can someone really have when their overweight. These are a few things I have been thinking about this last week.

My husband and I visited Michigan’s Upper Peninsular for a small vacation. I ate things I probably would not have if I just stayed home and on my workout schedule. Phat Camp is always in the back of my mind as it feels like its right around the corner. I get a little nervous being out of my routine and just relaxing for a week. I want to be in the best shape of my life and taking a week off has made me feel fat in my mind. I have to get back at it and stronger than ever!

My food choices failed on more than one occasion, even though we made sure to pack a healthy cooler. We took fresh cut veggies and humus, trail mix, items for sandwiches, eggs and Kashi cereal, and lots of bottled water. For the reunion cookout everyone was asked to bring meat for their families dinner and a dish to pass. While several people piled on hamburger and hotdogs to the grill, only a few brought a better option. My husband and I chose salmon fillets. We attempted to eat only small portions of the sides like potato salad and grape “salad” (not really a salad by the way. It’s loaded with creme cheese and a sugar crumbled crust, but I do agree its good). I even brought organic coffee and a grinder for the next morning. I wanted the family to experience good coffee as they are used to chemical laden grounds.

We didn’t hit a gym or lift any weights but we did try to be as active as possible. The first morning we headed out for a walk and jog. I opted to walk at a fast pace while my husband jogged ahead, turning back now and again and lapping me. (Don’t do a heavy leg workout the night before a road trip. Boy did I cramp.) It felt great to be moving and also to be in a beautiful environment. Remember working out while on vacation gives you a new atmosphere and/or approach to your routines.

We went out on our own and set up camp at a gorgeous location right on the water. Then it was off to experience the cruise around Lake Superior to see Pictured Rocks. We snagged seats on the top deck of the little ship and watched as others boarded below. Several people had to have the crew shuttle them out to the end of the dock on a golf cart. An older, overweight woman, who had obvious leg or knee issues, had to stop several times to make it to the boat. What a struggle she had. Please, I mean no disrespect to the elderly, and realize I too will get older, but I DON’T have to get older like that! You do have control of your body’s aging cycle and don’t let ANYONE tell you otherwise. Keep yourself fit and healthy and your body will work better for longer.

We later walked wooded trail to a waterfall and passed several individuals who were taking it slower as they had extra weight to carry. This started a conversation with my husband about life in general when you’re overweight. (Picture right: Indian Head, Pictured Rock Tour)

Here are the questions we started asking each other: Is a 10 hour car ride for a vacation even comfortable? Does your car feel really small? Can you even sleep in a small two man tent? How easy is it to get in and out of your tent? Do you do all the tourist attractions or pass because it’s too hard to walk? Do you quit walking around the great gift shops because you’re just too tired? Those fold out camping chairs, can you use those or do you have to find extra large ones? Are you missing out on the top level of a great boat ride because of a few steep stairs? Simply put, when you’re bigger, does your world get smaller?

I find this truly sad. I don’t want this type of life for anyone. Your weight should not be an issue when going on vacation or with any aspect of your life. Make your world BIGGER by making yourself SMALLER. You will be amazed at the things you have been missing. You may miss that candy bar the first few weeks or that pop. I will promise you this, by missing those you will not miss out on the awesome things that this life has to offer us. Get fit and in shape and really go out and live life!

Jump Snap Workout

I am always looking for something, that you my readers, can try at home and keep up on those great workouts. JumpSnap was sent to me to give it a try. I have had the equipment for about a month now and have used it several times. It's not what I thought it was going to be quite honestly. I took it out of the package and laughed at how silly I thought this was going to be. A jump rope without a rope? My husband said, "Why not just get a real jump rope?" I put in the DVD which comes with the JumpSnap. The DVD has different levels of workouts. Ranging from a 10 min. beginner workout, up to a combination of all the workouts, for approximately one hour.

I began the DVD and was thinking it was just another "As seen on TV" gimmick, but I really got in a good workout. I surprisingly jumped over 2,000 times. If you give it your all, which is the key, you can get your heart rate up and kicking.

Let's start with negatives, as I continue to be honest with my readers: I am all about rhythm and following a DVD to perfection. With these routines, you jump with the beat of the music not necessarily how you would be jumping if this were a real rope. So you may do a jump, then a squat, then a jump, but your hands are still rotating to the music. You would have tripped on your rope if it were real. So just get it in your head your hands move with the beat and not with the jump. The electronics, in my opinion, could have been a bit easier to program. You have to sit down with the instructions and carefully go through it to program. It would have been helpful if the voice activation walked you through. I did get it programmed, so it wasn't so difficult that it couldn't be done. But I would have liked to see this made a little easier.

The positives to this were: If you are someone that can't really jump rope to begin with, you don't have to worry about ever tripping. You can do all kinds of tricks you would not be able to with a normal rope. Use it inside without the worry of hitting the ceiling or worse yet, taking a valuable vase off your coffee table. I also love how you can insert weighted metal bars to give your a biceps an extra workout. I highly recommend you do this right away. Without the weights the resistance of the workout is not as intense. The handles also come packaged very nice and you receive a carry bag. This makes it super easy to take on a vacation or to carry to a gym. It also comes with an Eat Smart Guide. Just working out alone is never enough. You have to watch your calorie intake. With this guide are the do's and don'ts of weight loss and menu options.

After doing the workouts with Jump Snap, I do recommend this. It's great if someone is looking for something different to do. I don't recommend it as your only source of losing weight. It is not the magic pill, but something to mix up your routines. This will help as not to get bored with the everyday stuff. Go to the Jump Snap Store to purchase yours today. I received mine in just a few days and it was packaged well with everything you needed to get started right away.

For my girly girls, they do have a Jump Snap just for you in pink. It's a smaller package and a little more affordable. With the DVD, instructions and carry case, you will still get a great workout. This is something I recommend to the younger generation as well. If you have a teenager that is battling weight loss, this is something you can easily do together as it does not take up a lot of room in your workout area. It's something fun, entertaining, and gets the blood flowing.

I give the Jump Snap 9 out of 10 for at home workouts to add to your gym. Have fun. Leave me a comment if you have one and what you thought or if you are going to purchase one.

As always leave me comments and or questions any time.

Nurture My Body - Body Wash Giveaway

I not only want to give you great workout encouragement and exercise product knowledge but sometimes just something for fun. Something to make yourself feel that much better about your weight loss journey. I am continuously searching for fun products to share with you my reader.

We all workout hard in the gym and that can be rough on your skin. I wear weightlifting gloves to protect my hands from callouses. After a workout and a relaxing shower, I love smothering my skin in lotion. Because we are all so health conscious, we need to be that as well with our product choices. Make sure your products are not loaded with chemicals which can hinder your weight loss. Seriously you ask? Yes they can slow the process. Everything is absorbed into your skin and can change the chemical makeup of your hormone balance. Thus making it harder to lose weight.

I stumbled on a company named Nurture My Body. They are an organic skin care company that has a lot to offer. I was sent a few samples and I am really enjoying them. I am a huge ginger fan and the products I received are just that. They smell really good. For me the biggest test of a great lotion is applying to my tattoos. As your tattoo is about five layers into your skin, the dry skin on top is like a foggy window. Once you clean the glass and put a good lotion on your skin, you can see through those layers and your tattoo looks amazing. So if a lotion can absorb down into those layers and make the tattoo pop, I know it's doing more than surface work.

Shown here is the Ginger Body Lotion. Here is what NMB has to say about their lotion: Our Organic Ginger Hand and Body Lotion blend contains essential oils of cinnamon leaf for its warming and stimulating qualities, sweet orange to tone the skin and energize the mind, and ginger CO2 to soothe your achy muscles and uplift your mind.

I also received a sample of the Ginger Body Wash: The body washes are premium quality washes that use a rich formula of natural botanicals and vitamins to clean and condition your body in one easy step. They respect your skin's natural balance thanks to their SLS-free cleansing base enriched with moisturizers that make your skin silkier, healthier and more beautiful. The body wash was very refreshing in a hot shower. The aroma is exquisite and really helps you relax and unwind from a long day.

While checking out Nurture My Body's home page, just under the photographs, there is an entry form to win a $50 gift box. Enter your email for a chance to win. In addition to the gift box, Nurture My Body has offered to ship a full size bottle of the Ginger Body Wash to one of my subscribers just for taking the time to check out their site. So thank you to Rich for this great giveaway.

Here's how to enter:

#1 - Be a subscriber or subscribe today. Leave me a comment: "I subscribe" or "I just subscribed."

#2- Be a follower for a second chance to win. Leave me a comment: "I follow" or "New follower."

#3- Check out the Nurture My Body online store and let me know what you like about their site or products of interest, for a third entry to win. (Some winners have been chosen based on comment alone. So make it a good one!

#4- Follow Nurture My Body on Twitter. http://twitter.com/Rich_Arnold

*A winner will be chosen on a combination of the above.

Contest will end July 2nd at midnight. A winner will be chosen on the 3rd and contacted per email. If no response is received within four days, another winner may be chosen in your place.

Good Luck!

Getting To Know Phat Camp - Article #1 in series.

With an outpouring response on the Skinny Fat article, I realize there are so many of you out there. You are hiding in skinny clothes and are very unhappy with the current physical you. I have not only received a few comments on the site, from the brave, but personal emails as well. And yes even phone calls from those close to me. You are coming out of the woodwork saying "Yes, I am skinny fat and very unhappy." You agree the world views you as skinny. You don't feel skinny and it's almost more than some can bare. You put a smile on your face when someone tells you how good you look. Then, we you get home, you look in the mirror without the frills of the clothing and think "who were they looking at? I have a muffin top, squishy arms, and flab on my backside."

Living skinny fat for the past few years has brought me to this point in my life. The decision not only to actually be skinny but to go out and do something about it. I am going to Phat Camp!

I want to first share a YouTube video which explains a bit more about Phat Camp. This will give you a first-hand look inside camp. I encourage you to take this journey for yourself. I would love all of you to be able to meet Jenny and train with her. What an experience it's going to be. (My close friends - your going with me! Set a goal and make it happen. I love you and want you to ride this ride with me. You know who you are.... my Girls Gone Gym Class!)

Hint: If you are watching this on the YHH home page, scroll down to the bottom and pause music so you can hear Jen!

I will be working out at Phat Camp this September. Nothing will hold me back now. This is the carrot which hangs in front of me when I workout. My husband and trainer, will watch me start to waiver on a lift or an exercise and says "Do this one for Jen. Pretend you're working out with her. You wouldn't quit if she was watching, would you?" This is the "pressure" I need to push me while working out and finally become what I've wanted to be for so long.

Being trapped in a "skinny fat" body has controlled me long enough! I know you feel the same or you would not be subscribing to YHH. Most of the people around me on a day to day basis don't understand my new found goals. But that's OK. They don't have to. It's all about me at this point. And you should feel the same. Do what makes you feel great! Only you know what your goals are and do what it takes to reach them. We all make goals for ourselves or have dreams for our future. These are only what we can understand.

If Phat Camp sounds like something you would like to do please check out Jen's site and register for a class near you.

Please feel free to respond via email at anytime with questions or concerns. Maybe even a story of success or two will make it into an article. We need to learn to support each other. I have received emails here and there with concerns about weight loss and I love to help. If I don't know the answer, I will find it!

It's not easy being Skinny Fat.

My heart hurts when it comes to the subject of skinny fat. I used to be skinny fat and can finally say I have now come out of this category. With lots of hard work and sweat I have transformed myself and you can too. I am continuing this journey every day, as I am not at my goal quite yet. Through my continued progress in photos, I hope I can encourage all skinny fat people out there. To let you know you are not alone and you can achieve your goals.
So what is skinny fat? It's the world's view of someone skinny. As they may be on the slimmer side and still wearing all the updated clothing, only they know what they look like in front of a mirror. Little sag here, little pooch there, flabby arms, the dreaded muffin top, etc. They are nowhere near being "perfect" physically as the world thinks they are. We are not just being critical but honest with the body we see everyday. Others think if skinny people are not content with themselves there must be something wrong. Is this you? Are you skinny fat?

You have learned to layer clothing so no one sees the belly now rolling over the top of your jeans. You no longer wear short sleeve shirts because of the flab on the back of your arms. Pants continue to get tighter, and you being stubborn, are not willing to buy the next size. Thus causing yourself horrible frustration everyday and wondering how it got to be this way. 10, 15, 20 pounds just rolled on you and you hiding it from everyone and they wonder why your so hard on yourself. They won't say anything to you unless you happen to complain. Then the common reaction is "Oh my gosh are you serious? Your sooooo skinny. I can't believe you think your fat."

I honestly can't stand this. Someone will walk right up to you and tell you that you can eat that cake for breakfast because your so skinny and it doesn't matter. Everyone has an opinion on how you should feel about yourself. They have no problem telling you that you're being hard on yourself and you should just enjoy life and relax a bit with your eating habits. At what point do they stop passing judgment? When you are 50 pounds overweight? Then does that same person tell you "Maybe you shouldn't be eating that cake for breakfast"? Of course not.

Skinny fat people need to have confidence in their goals of weight loss regardless of what someone else says. Only you know how you should feel in your own skin. Only you know if there is an extra 15 pounds to lose. I lost that and maybe more. I stopped getting on the scale after a while. Everyone always told me I looked good, but my new found gut was not making me feel healthy mentally. At what point does everyone else want you to make a weight loss decision? When you have 50 or 100 pounds to lose and it's going to take that much longer to change your life around? It's OK for you to set new goals of weight loss and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise!

Here are some tips I have learned along the way. I have wanted to say many things that would be hurtful to the other person (as 90% of the time it's someone with a weight issue themselves passing judgment on you) but realize that doesn't help the situation get any better.

When someone at your work or at a family picnic wants you to have that cake and won't take no for an answer, nicely say: "I am really sorry but I have been making healthier choices for a few weeks now and my stomach just can't handle sugar anymore." Or "Thanks so much for offering but for personal reasons I am not eating sweets right now." Hopefully the word PERSONAL will get you out of it. Don't go into a long explanation of what you are doing. Just say no as many times as you need to and then change the subject. Don't worry if the person who made the sweet is upset or hurt. Remember it's still your body and your choice to what you put in it.

Try not to tell others about your weight loss goals unless they ask and seem extremely interested. This is the only way you will know they are going to be supportive.

Once you find that supportive group, surround yourself with them. You want people to encourage you and tell you NOT to stop a the restaurant with the big M on the way home from work. If someone doesn't have the same interests as you in fitness and eating, their lifestyle will be a distraction to you.

I hope this has helped at least one person understand it's OK if the world thinks your thin and you do not. You don't owe them an explanation. You can workout hard and not justify it to anyone but yourself. You body is in your hands and yours alone. Just keep doing what your doing and jump for joy in all that you have achieved. Know that you are worth it!