Mighty Mommy Belly Burn Project: Week 6
Check out Mighty Mommy’s fat loss and fitness progress in Week 6 of the Belly Burn project.
Cheryl Butler
It’s already week 6 of the Mighty Mommy Belly Burn Project, and I’ve only fallen off the wagon once (OK, maybe twice). I began my journey to lose 30 pounds and to really shape up my “mother’s belly” once and for all on April 22. I’m excited to share that as of June 10th I’ve lost 13 pounds and 2 pant sizes.
The Whole Truth
I’m not ashamed to share numbers, so here you go: As of April my dress size was an uncomfortable 14 (I guess I might as well just say 16). I’ve never carried weight in my butt, thighs, or legs—it’s always been my belly, upper back, and even my round face.
On April 22nd, the scale read 172 pounds. That is more than I weighed when I delivered my 5th child who clocked in at nearly 11 pounds! Since I have Type 2 Diabetes, I knew it was essential for me to get that weight down. So after consulting with my physician, we developed an ideal weight for me: a comfortable 135 – 140 pounds. The goal was achieve that by October 15th. As of June 10th, the scale reads 159 pounds. Woo hoo!
See also: Can You Reverse Diabetes with Diet?
How I Did it
Thanks to the Belly Burn fitness plan designed for me by my colleague, Ben Greenfield, the amazing Get-Fit Guy, I have a practical, no-nonsense approach to healthy eating and exercising that I follow each (and almost) every day. The point was to make getting healthy easy and fuss-free for this busy mother of 8.
Though I am now plateauing and losing about ½ pound a week, I’m still on pace to reach my goal by mid October. Slow and steady wins this race, but so does making healthy choices every day. In the 6 weeks I’ve been devoted to this new Belly Burn lifestyle, here are the key steps that have really made a difference for me:
See Mighty Mommy’s 5 Ways That Selfish Parenting Can Benefit Your Family
See also: How to Burn Fat by Sleeping More
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It’s not Okay to make excuses and put my health last any longer. Yes, I’m a busy mom of a large and active family, but now that I’ve scheduled Cheryl time in each morning, the rest of my day and my family’s day goes much smoother because I have more energy and more confidence in myself.
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Green smoothies have become the backbone of my daily diet. I load my blender with almond milk, fresh baby spinach, natural peanut butter, fresh kale, protein powder, a banana, blueberries, and any other fresh fruit that I have on hand and several ice cubes. This vitamin rich, protein packed shake fills me with amazing energy and sustains me until late in the morning when I reach for a handful of almonds or a fat-free Greek yogurt to munch on. When I’m pressed for time, I make a double batch and drink one for lunch as well. Check out my colleague, Nutrition Diva’s podcast on making the perfect smoothie.
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Exercise needn’t be complicated. The Mighty Mommy Belly Burn Project is packed with a variety of exercises that keep me interested and don’t exhaust me. I used to be a power walker, but didn’t do much weight training or toning exercises. Now, I’ve incorporated interval training into my walks, I add sprints in several times a week, I keep a kettlebell and some dumbbells in my kitchen to sneak in some weight work when I’m making dinner. I’ve even taken up kick boxing twice a week. I’m not a gym rat, nor will I be with so many young kids still underfoot. Instead, I take advantage of small opportunities to work out when I walk our dogs. And I religiously park in the farthest spot in the parking lot that I can find when I go shopping or do any errands.
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Getting the proper sleep has also made a notable difference. I have always enjoyed the late night hours in our home, mainly because the house is finally quiet and I can settle in and write, read or just chill with a favorite TV show. Those days have slowly been coming to an end. While I still stay up later than anyone in the house, I have taken the steps to darken my bedroom and eliminate bright, neon lights and other distractions. I no longer fall asleep to the TV on, and I give myself a regular bedtime now to ensure I’m getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night. (My goal is to get 8 or 9 eventually.)
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At the beginning of my Belly Burn journey I set aside some money to use for a shopping spree when I do reach my goal weight. When I feel like cheating or if I do fall off the wagon, I visualize how I’m going to look wearing size 8 jeans with a t-shirt tucked in and no muffin top to hide with a baggy sweater! That gives me the drive to keep going and pass up that donut.
On Friday, June 28th Ben Greenfield and I will be hosting the final Belly Burn Webcast LIVE at 9 AM PDT/12 Noon EDT. Join us and ask all your questions about getting rid of fat, boosting your health, toning your arms, legs, butt, thighs, and more! Hope to see you there!
RESOURCES
Belly Burn Project Blueprint
Belly Burn Dietary Recommendations
Belly Burn Frequently Asked Questions
Belly Burn Webcast #1
BELLY BURN WEBCAST #2
Belly Burn Webcast #3
GET-FIT GUY’S GUIDE TO ACHIEVING YOUR IDEAL BODY