{looking back: part 2- yvonne}

I have always struggled with my weight, but not to the extreme I do now. When I was a teenager I definitely had to watch what I ate, but I wasn't overweight. Over the last few years, and {two pregnancies}, I have been up and down quite a bit with my weight and never was quite able to lose weight from my first pregnancy. This year, and another baby later, I made a commitment to myself to start a {healthy lifestyle} change. I am aware that life can get in the way of great intentions, so I'm trying to be so had on myself by "dieting," but just making overall better choices and incorporate exercise into my life. I want to be healthy and set {good examples} for my family! And let's be honest, I would love to look good in a swimsuit this summer! Two pregnancies or not, I don't want to be the chubby girl in my group of friends anymore. I look forward to seeing my {progress} this year and shopping for clothes I actually like and want to wear! Good luck to all of you out there doing the same!
<3
Yvonne

{fifth weigh-in}

(February 9, 2012)

We've made it just over a month and although it's been a bumpy start, we are all starting to settle into our new routine of living healthy.

So let's get straight to it!

{Karen} is down 2.8 lbs this week!

"This shows that just getting up and moving will get you results, can you imagine what I could have done if I had eaten right too?"

{Yvonne} lost 1.8 lbs this week!

"I'm actually shocked at my loss this week because I have not been on my best behavior with food last week. I'm going to count my blessings and refocus this week!"

{Megan} is down 1 lb this week!

"I'm really struggling with losing as much as I'd like since the beginning of this process, but I'm confident that I will find my way, just like I did in 2011."


All of us are focusing on {healthier} food choices this week! Karen and Megan are kicking it into high gear with the Couch to 5k (and 10k) programs! We will be doing a post on {running} soon. In the meantime, stay tuned for part two and three of our "looking back" blog to see what Yvonne and Megan have to say about motivation and progress. Find part one where Karen shares her story by clicking here.

You can also follow our daily progress on our twitter account: www.twitter.com/thefitnesssis or on facebook: www.facebook.com/thefitnesssisters <3 And as {always} feel free to leave us a message below or send us an email: thefitnesssisters@gmail.com

<3,
T.F.S
   {the fitness sisters}

{looking back: part one - karen}

 
 (February 8, 2013)

What happened to the motivation I had in 2011? I started that year out with so much motivation that I was able to lose 40 pounds in one year. Then 2012 came, and all was lost. So what happened? When I started my weight loss journey in 2011, I was at the heaviest weight I had ever been at: 187 pounds! I was ready to just be healthy again! I stuck to my plan and came really close to achieving my goal that year. However, in 2012 things changed when I started having some health (gi-tract) issues, then the holidays came around, and I didn't have the same drive anymore because I was at my lowest weight of 147 and I had become comfortable with my weight. Throughout 2012 I fluctuated between 147 and 157, unable to lose any more weight than I already had from the year before. My goal weight is 135 pounds, which is healthy for my height of 5'4. I'm not going to let another year pass in 2013 without progress! It's time to get my motivation back! This year I need to work on losing my last 15-20 pounds and toning my arms and tummy. Another thing I realized is that it's really important to make yourself look good in order to feel like getting out and doing things. I'm going to make an effort to do my hair and makeup, and get out more and feel more inspired to look my best!

Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

<3,

Karen

{new beginnings}

(February 6, 2013)

In 2011, we were highly motivated to get healthy. Seriously get healthy with lifestyle changes! Megan began her journey at the beginning of 2011 and Karen joined her shortly after. They lost 100 lbs and 40 lbs respectively during the course of the year. And then the year ended.

For all three of us 2012 was a really rough year health-wise. Not only did we not meet our fitness goals, but we also had some genuine health issues which delayed our progress.

Karen battled some serious GI issues as well as a car accident injury.

Both Megan & Yvonne had their gallbladders removed in late 2011 & early 2012.

Megan battled food-related OCD as well as ongoing PCOS and a large ovarian cyst unrelated to the latter.

Yvonne became pregnant (which is not a health issue! But definitely delays weight loss!) -- she has two beautiful children now <3

After a year of on and off road blocks in the realm of health and fitness, we all fell off the band wagon. We all gained weight over the holidays. We tried to hit reset a couple of times but, we seemed to have lost our motivation. In the next few blogs we are each going to take the time to talk to you a little about our inspiration in the past, our lack of motivation in 2012, and our future goals. Because it's {{TIME!}} We hope you read our stories and share yours.


<3
T.F.S.
{the fitness sisters}

{january vlog}

(February 6, 2013)

Hello friends <3

Last month was a little rough for me (Meg) and Karen, but Yvonne did amazing and lost a total of 7.5 lbs using Weight Watchers, and we are so proud of her! Hopefully this month we all will see great results!

After hours of editing videos, our weight loss vlog, "Losing It," is {{finally}} up on YouTube! But I'm going to put it here for all of you. If you want to subscribe to our YouTube account you can do so by clicking this heart <3. All of the videos are organized by playlist (we have two previous seasons!) Or you can click on the "vlog" tab above for easy access.

Enjoy!

Please leave us a comment, subscribe, and share if you desire to do so! <3 We {{always}} love to hear from you beautiful people!

<3,

Meg

{fourth weigh-in}

We've officially made it to our one month weigh-in! Honestly, some of us have not had the progress that we hoped to have for our first month, so for February we need to reevaluate what's going on and try again. There will always be ups and downs in this process and that's part of changing your lifestyle. This isn't about a fad, it's about a real change and we will persevere even through the rough spots.

Because we are at our one month, we will be sharing measurements as well.

{Karen} gained this week but has maintained her weight for the month. She did however lose a total of {2 inches} from her waist, bust and thigh and bicep.

 Measurements- 

Waist 37 in, {Hips 42 in}, 

Bust 38 in, {Chest 34  in}, 

Thigh 24 1/2 in, {Calf 14 1/2 in}, Bicep 13 in

"I'm glad I only gained a couple of pounds this week because I had a really bad week and I took it out on food. In February I'm going to work really hard to get on track."

{Yvonne} lost 3.2 lbs this week, putting her at a total loss of 7.5 lbs for the month, yay! She lost a total of {4 inches} this month!

Measurements- 

Waist 43 in, {Hips 45 in}, 

Bust 48, {Chest 36}, 

Thigh 25 1/2 in, {Calf 16 1/2 in}, Bicep 13 1/2in.

{Megan} lost two pounds this week and maintained her weight for the month. She lost {1.5 inches}.

Measurements- 

Waist 43, {Hips 48.5 in}, 

Bust 44, {Chest 39.5}, 

Thigh 30 in, {Calf 18 3/4 in}, Bicep 15 in.

"I am disappointed with my results this month, but I am not going to beat myself up over it. I plan on making the most of February and exercising regularly to see if that changes my results."

As always, feel free to {comment} below or send us an email! We would love to hear your thoughts and stories. We are a community, a sisterhood, a support system! <3

{super bowl- make it a choice}

(February 2, 2013)

Photography by Meg (Paris, France)

I wish I could say I came up with all kinds of healthy alternatives to the typical Super Bowl party food (and I know they're out there), but the truth is I haven't even tried. I am going to have a house full of people including a bunch of hungry beer-drinking men! So I have stocked up on all the "bad" foods: chicken wings, potato skins, chips & dips, hot dogs and everything else you think of as typical football party food.

I was starting to feel very stressed about how I am going to handle Sunday, but that's when I decided to make a "CHOICE" day. I'll repeat, that's {{choice}} not cheat! I have lost over 10 lbs since I started my new healthy eating plan. I do {not} plan to overeat or stuff myself, but I have decided to make the {choice} to enjoy my house party without thinking about counting calories or points.

The {key} is that I have made a promise to myself that all the leftovers the next day are {{off limits!}} I am fine with giving myself a day to indulge once in awhile, but that cannot turn into a whole weekend or longer of eating poorly. It is {so} easy to slip back into bad habits.

Well, good luck to all of you this weekend whether you are sticking to your plan or giving yourself a one day brea! Just remember, the scale will still be there next week to keep us accountable! So if you choose to let loose a bit, make sure to get back on track! No need to feel guilty about a choice day. Cheating has a negative connotation, so make sure you're making it a choice! Enjoy!

<3,
Yvonne