Whats your excuse?

I absolutely love this entry that Sham wrote a couple of months back, everytime I need motivation, I come back to this and it inspires me to get where I need to be, check it out =)





I am starting tomorrow...This week for sure...Starting next month fresh start...The beginning of the year...

How many of you know those words all too well?? We say them with great intention and mean it most of the time but when that time comes how many of you have actually followed through. Well all of you New Years people its been nearly 4 months how are those goals looking? Monthly, weekly, daily people did we get off the ground or keep up our fitness promises? If yes, then congrats keep up the good work!

But for many people it is very hard. If you look back at the stats only 5% of people who lose 10lbs or more are successful at keeping it off. 2 out of 3 people are overweight, 1 out of 3 are obese, there is a Mcdonalds or Starbucks within at 3 mile radius of nearly everywhere we go. Stats are against us...

So how can we be successful? I think there are 3 things that help
1. Education
2. Motivation
3. Consistency

One is having the proper knowledge to achieve our goals. There is so much garbage out there that we try to follow, its nearly impossible for one without the background to shift through all of the advertising and marketing trash.

Once one can find a reliable source for knowledge (check out www.inspiredwellness.net soon for trusted information on achieving your goal) then they need to make sure they are ready and motivated to make a change.

Motivation comes from various factors both intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation usually fails, that is for more superficial type rewards, such as money, fame, and vanity. We need to find motivation from within. Actually doing things you enjoy. You need to be motivated by the fact that you are doing something you like doing and want to keep it up. Finding foods you enjoy eating that are good for you, finding an exercise routine that is fun and keeps you moving. Going outside and playing with your kids an hour a day, rollerblading, playing sports, or trying a new hybrid style of training. That is the ticket that people neglect.

Most people go on calorie restricted diets, eating nothing but veggies or foods they hate. Or doing extreme exercises or the same boring ones over and over again and to no avail. They get burnt out then they fail.

So we need to make sure we find the right avenue which motivates us, we then need to find the proper tools to educate us on how to properly achieve our goals then the last one which is most important consistency. IF you have been following my blog you know this is a big one. Everything we do in life if we want to achieve, maintain or inspire we need to keep up the good habits on a consistent basis and override the bad ones we have been using for the last few years.

It takes time but before you can achieve a goal, reach that end line and finish...before you get to the end you need to start and you should start right now!

-Sham Sanghera

THIS IS ALL A DREAM!!

WOW! What a great week !! Tuesday I weighed in and I've lost a total of EIGHT, yes EIGHT lbs in 3 weeks!!I'm so happy to see the evidence of the changes I've been feeling--the strength of my thighs, including the newly articulated muscles I'm starting to see. But it wasn't until I met with Sham today and he brought out the tape measure that I felt real pride. I didn't believe him when he told me I lost over EIGHT inches "Impossible," I thought , and he even re-measured to double check. I looked down at my arms--not to check out my biceps, but because the hair on my arms was standing straight up; I had goose bumps, I thought, Is this really happening for me? Could I, Priscilla Corona, who once thought she was destined to occupy more space in the world than she ever cared to, really be shrinking? It still doesn't seem real, and while I'm learning it's actually difficult to accept the thing I've always wanted, I am more motivated than ever to keep on keepin' on! Do you guys agree that seeing progress is the biggest motivation to keep reaching toward your goals?

I think I've gained weight...

Uh-oh. Since attempting to reach my mini goal of losing 5 pounds by May 1st, I must admit seeing results so fast I've celebrated a bit. Gotten kinda lax with staying away from the evil fatty foods. Had an extra small dessert, or two. Skipped my workout Sunday and this morning because I was bone-tired(not to mention I had a sugar coma from Sunday).



I feel puffy. I feel afraid to get on the scale tonight. I feel...like I've gained weight. Then again, it could just be in my head.


Time to get back on track, tonight the truth will be revealed when Sham measures and weighs me eeeeeeeek!

Do you keep a food log?

When I first started training with Sham I wrote down every single thing I put into my body. Like, if I ate a crumb from a cupcake at my office , I'd record it. And I didn't just write "almonds"--I wrote exactly how many, exactly what time of day, and if I happened to be surrendering to my emotional eating habits (munching because I was feeling anxious--not hungry!), I'd note those feelings, too. I can't tell you how much writing it all down made me accountable and aware of what and why I was eating. And it made me face the hard truth: Those cupcake crumbs add up! It also helped me make adjustments to get more of the types of food my diet was missing and also cut back on less of the sugary, late-night snacks I had a tendency to binge on.


I have to admit, in the past couple of weeks(maybe longer eeek), I've been a slacker about keeping a food log (my workout partner Michelle is a Food Log Guru LOL). I've been doing my best to keep a mental tally, and so far I think I'm doing okay, but I'd like to start writing things down again so I don't fall off track.

How 'bout you guys---do you keep a food journal religiously? Has it made all the difference with your weight-loss goals?

What's inspiring you?

So I'm becoming a super tight fitting t-shirt junkie lately! My latest splurge? NOTHING! LOL! I'm waiting to weigh in to buy myself a special "prize".


And I'm totally obsessed with this quote that I saw while browsing online...




Do you guys have any favorite inspirational quotes that help you stay on track with your fitness goals?

Delete the word D-I-E-T from your vocabulary!

People assume, just because I'm "training," that I'm on a diet; they often ask me what "diet" I'm on and wait for me to tell them I'm "on" Atkins or South Beach,Weight Watchers,Jenny Craig or riding some other crazy-fad diet train. So most are surprised when I tell them that I'm not on any diet and, in fact, that I don't like that word at all.

See, I think the real start of the success I've had so far with weight loss was really understanding that I had to permanently change the way I eat. By definition, a diet lasts for a certain time period: You're either on one or you're not. And knowing they're finite makes their terms more restrictive--and actually impossible to stick to for a lifetime. So instead,Sham taught me how to take baby steps (I'm a big believer in those!) to change my bad eating habits (I used to have stock in Sweets; weekly/daily trips to Jamba Juice; ordered my healthy versions of restuarant foods and wondered why I wasn't losing any weight).

Once Sham helped me pinpoint those fat traps, I started to make changes I could live with. The best thing about eating healthfully and being really disciplined about my food choices is that I don't feel deprived. And let's be real: What's the likelihood of sticking to any wellness plan if we feel like we're serving jail time?

What's your take on the whole "diet" thing? Does it help you stick to more disciplined ways of eating when you know you can relax a little once you reach your goals? Or are you trying to make lifetime lifestyle changes too?

Non-scale ways to track your weight loss

Before I started training with Sham a couple of months ago when I would shower I'd bring my beach towel sized towel with me. The regular sized towels hardly fit around my body


Now, the regular towels are fitting around my waist and body perfectly!With the exception of a small gap around my thighs. I decided a while ago that the towel would be one way I'd gauge my progress. Rather than obsessing over what the numbers on the scale will be, I find that keeping other measures, like my towel method, is less punishing and keeps me feeling like I'm successful in my shape-up goals even if it's not quantifiable in pounds.

What non-scale ways do you use to measure your progress?

Foods I Indulged in This Weekend--Should I Feel Guilty?

Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? You know, if you eat right 80 percent of the time, you should be OK to treat yourself the other 20 percent of the time? I don’t know how I feel about this rule... I mean, in theory, it should work. But personally, I’m a little suspicious. When it comes to food, I tend to behave in extremes--either really good, or really bad. I’m afraid if I abide by something like that, I’ll end up justifying my penchant for cookies or ice cream every afternoon and every night…

My trainer Sham Sanghera always reminds me that its ok to have interruptions or treats as LONG AS I EARN IT.The weird thing is that normally, when I earn it, I tend to not want it afterall. Unfortunately my "great thinking"this weekend has left me with serious bloating problems. Not to mention the spot right under my ribs is really hard when I press on it, and feels really uncomfortable.

Aside from investing in a personal trainer I've also come to find out that aside from being phenomenal my trainer could almost be a holistic Dr. (well in my eyes lol ). Sham helped diagnose me with a condition called Candida, if you're not too familiar with it. I encourage you to do some research on it. In a nutshell I've come to find out that I have serious hidden food allergies,I've been putting my body through so much pain and causing my intestines to flare causing HORRIBLE back pain.



OK,OK... Back to this weekend (I sometimes think I have A.D.D lol)

I was feeling the absolute need to be able just get crazy with foods I really shouldn't be eating. . I’m trying to be really deliberate about the indulgences I do pick and to enjoy them fully.

But after this weekend, the pain I experienced the morning after has really woke me up. My body is SCREAMING at me for putting this junk in my body. i feel sick, my stomach wont stop being so upset, and my back pain again has gotten the best of me..

Heres the foods that I basically sold my soul to yesterday:



1.4 tacos with the works, 2 sides of spanish rice,2 sides of beans, 2 sides of potato salad YUMMMMY... Will I be having it again any time soon? Nope! But the memory will linger...



2. A HUGE piece of champagne birthday cake! (I know , I know I cant believe I went back to this relationship, even if it was for only 10 minutes)

3. A kid’s-sized serving of chocolate chip ice cream (yum!)

Not ideal, but I haven't fallen off completely and I dont plan on doing that either! When you indulge in something, do you feel guilty? Does it completely throw off your healthy eating habits for the whole day, or the week? And how do you handle interruptions to your normal eating schedule?

I havent weighed 145 since high school!!

...and I still don't. (Heh heh--gotcha didn't I?) But I want to by the end of summer.

One thing I've learned through this whole healthy-not-crazy weight loss process is that little short term goals really motivate me. I love how my trainer is creating new benchmarks for myself and my workout buddy by ALWAYS changing our workouts up (whether that's by implementing a heavier medicine ball,more squats, doing more advanced core work, you get the picture ) I'm the type of person that gets bored and results will slow. I'm so happy I've found Sham! I havent been bored yet!

So, it's time for another mini goal-setting session! I want to lose at least 5lbs by my next weigh in (first week of May). What do you want to do?

(When I step on the scale..I'll tell you what happens--)

I'm ending my relationship... My breakup letter...

“Dear Sugar:
I'm writing to tell you it's over. This time I'm serious...I thought I loved you. And you know what? Maybe, once, I did. But I'm on to your games—I know that just because you're "organic" that doesn't mean you're healthy. I know that I can't eat just one thing of you. I know it's easy to give into you late at night, or see you after lunch and dinner, and think nothing of it. Every time I turned around you were there. It just seemed like you and I were a natural fit. But not anymore! I don't want to see you again. If I run into you at work or at the grocery store, I'm not going to look at you. You're not invited to my house anymore. My heart—and my thighs—can't take it. You and I are over. OVER! And you know what? I will still see our mutual friend—organic milk-even without you. And you can't do anything about it. Get out, Sugar. I can't see you anymore. I will think of you always. -P”

Yesterday...

I had this fabulous idea to meet up earlier (at 4pm instead of 5pm)with my trainer Sham being that I had an appointment at 6pm. Well,that "fabulous idea" sure did backfire on me. I arrived at the fitness room super tired yet excited. I hopped on the treadmill and starting chatting away with my fitness bud Michelle.

In came "him"..you know, my trainer.. the one that is responsible for me walking like a baby dear this morning. He instructed us to hop off the treadmill and follow him outside.

"What? Why???" I asked

"We're going to be training outside today" said Sham

I thought to myself, this is NOT what I signed up for. My diva side was totally coming out lol. Ugh, no skin moisturizer on my face, its cold,whyyyyy do we have to do this, WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY!?!?!

We crossed the street, and there we stood waiting for instruction from Sham. He started us on a "warmup" that consisted of high knee skipping,an exercise that involved our knees up then ending with a kick (i felt super silly doing this btw), and the 3rd was a side skip and we were to remain low the whole time. Wooo what a warm up!!

NOW... time for the workout... Ladies and Gentelmen I believe at this moment Sham should've presented me with THIS...





HAHA! I started doing pushups while Michelle RAN up this steeping sidewalk and had to come back to me then we switched off. I believe we did 2 sets of on/off switching which included situps, and squats AH...!

The total workout took us 19minutes.. and I about DIED, no I'm not over exaggerating. I never felt so much out of shape. Time to get back on track!! No more excuses!! =)

I'm a baby

No Really I am!

I complained way too much today(I believe even before I started)

As I walked into Shams room of torture (haha) I walked in to see my fitness partner Michelle melting away on the treadmill while Iiiiiii struggled on the eliptical. 

"Gosh, she sure is getting smaller" I thought " It's amazing what ONLY 2 WEEKS will do"

Lets just say I have ALOT of catching up to do.

I havent been doing any core work due to hurting my back (not exercise related). But now that I'm back, I have something up my sleeve bwaahahaha.. you little weaklings get ready. This is something my Trainer NOR Michelle knows about..

This blog is SUPER short, but its better then nothing.. I have a pounding headache from being obese and running haha! I'll blog more tomorrow.

P.S. Michelle, its on like Donkey Kong!!

When Things Go Wrong, Do You Turn To Food?

I do. I realize in the great scheme of things, my “really bad day” is TODAY! My back pain has gotten so bad, my day started with me sitting in my car crying.


I am not PMSing, but I feel bloated and gross from my week of bad eating, and all I wanted to do today after work was train with Sham and my workout buddy Michelle. I got up this morning struggling to walk, my back pain has gotten the best of me. Clearly this was not a personal grievance the Exercise Lords had against Priscilla, but my vulnerable emotional state made it feel that way.

I feel a little bit rejected and really annoyed that I cant workout today. I finally got out of my car and walked into an office full of panera bagels, with an array of cream cheese crap—you know, the kind with the sugar I’m not supposed to be eating.I decided to have half a bagel, but it wasn’t enough (it never is)I was too embarrassed to walk back to the counter and grab another half. No amount of bagels is going to make me feel better; I'm not looking for food, I'm looking to get my way in to still workout, I'm looking for my back pain to GO AWAY, to feel better about my body. Wouldn’t life be easy if we could get all that coated in rainbow sprinkles?


This morning keeps pricking me with little thorns in my side—I am trying hard not to blame myself for my recent acts of compulsive eating, because I really, truly believe this addiction is an illness like any other—drugs, alcohol, gambling, whatever. Lack of willpower isn’t what makes alcoholics turn to a bottle to sate the disappointments of their everyday lives, and I know that lack of willpower alone isn’t what makes me turn to food, either. I think accepting that I am not a weak person or that I need not to be “punished” for turning to food (only when I EARN it) in these situations will give me the freedom to move forward.

It is my hope that what will eventually free me from this compulsion—and yes, eventually allow me to have the body and the life I strive for—is constantly admitting to myself (and to you) the honest reality of my struggle.

So, in the spirit of that honesty and self-acceptance: When was the last time you turned to food to deal with an “everyday annoyance” or disappointment (trust me, nothing will sound too silly to me!)?

My "Fat"astistic voyage... grrrrr...

I havent updated this blog in so long, I've decided today to make this part of my daily routine. Why? Many reasons, but the most important one...I have fallen off the bandwagon BAD, and I feel this is the only way to hold me accountable. 3 weeks ago, when I was being persistent and diligent with what Sham was asking I was seeing GREAT results, now I'm starting to slowly gain everything back that I've worked so hard for. Is it my awesome trainers fault? Absolutely not! All fingers point back to me..


Whats my weakness? Well, obviously food... just all the wrong kind. What am I doing to earn the food I love?? Nothing!!! Thats right, let me sit back and have 3-4 cookies,2 slices of pizza, kick back and relax... let all that food absorb into my body and settle in REALLY nicely into pure fat! Why do the good choices I need to make seem so far out of reach for me? Am I THAT lazy? Surely, its been hard to incorporate my core exercises and 30 minutes of cardio into a daily routine (I havent been in the best of health lately) but my eating habits are NO excuse.


I'm starting to slowly poison myself with all the food I know I should be staying away from. Processed, high sodium, loaded with sugar foods. I'd be lying if I said I didnt feel good while eating them, because I do... its how I feel after that gets me. Guilty, no..no... disgusted, my choices are slowly creeping up on me taking away that "GEEZ I LOOK GOOD" feeling. One thing I HAVE been keeping consistant with is my water intake, I cant live without my 96 oz =).

You might’ve noticed that I haven’t posted any photos of myself in my blog. I’m feeling like a stuffed sausage in my clothes, so let’s just say I haven’t exactly been in the mood to say, “Hey, take a photo of me for my blog!” to anyone.

My friend Kelly just sent around pictures from her birthday party over the weekend. When I saw this photo, I cringed. I just "untagged" the photo on Facebook and almost crawled under my desk to hide—no way in heck was I going to post it on here for all of you to see.

But then, I figured, it’s time to face it. This photo is my reality check, and I decided to post it because

A.) it’s me, and I cannot hide who I am, ever... and..

B.) it reinforces what I’ve felt all week: my eagerness to get back to all the healthy habits I’ve developed over the past few weeks so that a little relapse doesn’t turn into a titanic regression.

So here it is—puffy face, puffy waist:

Goodbye belly roll..

I hate Sham Sanghera. OK, no I don't. But he IS the reason I was hobbling up my work stairs Tuesday morning saying, "Ow. Ow. OK, ow. Unprintable word...OW." Sham, as you may know, is my trainer he's pretty much a genius . On the plus side, being sore like this instantly makes me feel more fit, and a little hardcore. It's like a constant reminder all day long that, yeah--I work out, baby! (Wanna arm wrestle? Hooah!)

My clothes are starting to fit me super loose, my shirts are already a half a size too small, and my waistline is trimming down ever so fast… this is amazing! You know what I'm the most excited about? My Taste buds! Yes that's right! The AWARENESS that I have learned in this short time, I can sense that my body is immensely grateful for what I've changed.  Saturday was a super busy day, after my daughters basketball game we decided to hit up the good ol smorgasbord Hometown buffet, boy was I excited! FINALLY! Food I LOVE!

I planted a huge glob of chili beans,baked chicken, fish and a salad loaded with calories. "Mmmm this is going to be AMAZING," I thought… boy was I in for a surprise, I felt like I had consumed 10 tablespoons of salt, what was happening to me? The back of my tongue felt like it had 1 tablespoon of salt just planted on the back of my tongue, and no matter how much water I drank nothing was making that feeling go away. A part of me was sad for not being able to avoid the food I love, but another part of me rejoiced because my body is making me AWARE of what it needs, what it loves, what I don't need. All in all, the knowledge Shams training has instilled in me in just a few weeks, is making me push harder and look forward to what lays ahead.If I've already made these amazing changes in just a few weeks, imagine what I'm in for! My goal is only that of what my mind,and body will allow me to achieve… finally the two are starting to balance together in harmony, I'm excited!

Hello, my name is Priscilla and I'm a food addict...

Yes, the holidays were a difficult time to stay on track, but now that they're over...I know for sure that what's happening with me is more than a case of too many chocolates,cheesecake,pumpkin pie,carrot cake and home cooking. Since I'm finally able to say it out loud—food and sugar is an addiction, and it's certainly mine—I know there is no cure for it the way there is no cure for alcoholism. 

Addictions aren't cured; they're managed one day at a time. Last year (and I can't pinpoint the exact month, but I could feel it happening especially sometime over the last couple of months) I lost the mindfulness it takes to manage my addiction, and since then, things have been spiraling out of control. I'm finding that I binge because I'm bored… I don't know this place; I've never been here before.

The good news: I have an amazing trainer/life coach that WILL help me achieve my goals and help me with my "addiciton".For the first time in my life, I can say with certainty that I know be in the best shape of my life (and maintain  the weight I want to lose) because I've honestly hit rock bottom, and I'm ready to commit to a lifestyle change. I can do it ! I need emotional support and I need a plan—a food plan, an exercise plan, and support. 

For the past week I've woken up every day determined to start over, to "do better," and every day I have not been able to—I cave to something (like chocolate or a pastry) and then it all goes downhill all over again. But why wouldn't it take a few attempts before I am able to stick to something that demands I give up my biggest comfort: food? Maybe with a little forgiveness for all my failed attempts, self-love will replace self-medicating (with food) the way it started years ago, when I was in the best shape of my life.

One thing I know I need to do soon (as in TODAY! No procrastinating, Priscilla!) is be persistent with my food log, and blog religiously. I will do that, and I will share it with all of you.The other thing I need to do is remind myself that I am more than my body, and I don't need to hide out or feel ashamed because my physical body isn't as "beautiful" as I know it can be. This separation of "I" from "my body" is one of the hardest things for me, since for all my life the mirror has always been the biggest reflection of my self-worth. I read the following "happiness tip" by Eckhart Tolle online this morning, and I swear he wrote this for me

"Equating the physical body with "I," the body that is destined to grow old, wither, and die, always leads to suffering. To refrain from identifying with the body doesn't mean that you no longer care for it. If it is strong, beautiful, or vigorous, you can appreciate those attributes—while they last. You can also improve the body's condition through nutrition and exercise. If you don't equate the body with who you are, when beauty fades, vigor diminishes, or the body becomes incapacitated, this will not affect your sense of worth or identity in any way. In fact, as the body begins to weaken, the light of consciousness can shine more easily."

I TOTALLY needed the reminder: Yes, I can and will work on being stronger, fitter and healthier through nutrition and exercise, but I, Priscilla, am so much more than my physical body. I am worthy of the happiest life ever through a complete lifestyle change (AND SO ARE ALL OF YOU!).

No Turning Back!!

Hi, guys! WHERE DO I BEGIN? It's impossible to fill you in on my 27-year-history with food and weight all in one post, but luckily I don't have to! I'll dive in now and by the end of this journey. I promise you'll know a lot more about me. Here are the basics: I'm a single mother of an 8 year old, and well, a lot's changed in a year. I've gained about 40lbs, and have encountered some major health issues.  I have developed the first stage of cervical cancer the good news is I can reverse it with exercise and nutrition! So instead of tackling this battle privately-and unsuccessfully-like I have for the past year, I've decided its time to open up about it. No more hiding!
So you're probably wondering: How much do I weigh? When I tell you I've gained 40lbs in a year, hopefully you'll understand why I'm not quite ready to reveal that s-c-a-r-y number. Is that terrible? The thing is, my weight issues are double-dipped in the year of self humiliation and I'm still working on coming to grips with the whole "Its just a number" thing. When did I gain the weight? So long ago honestly don't remember not being overweight. By the time 2008 approached, I flat-out hated my body. Since then, I've hated myself for hating my body, eaten to relieve some of that hatred, then hated myself more. How's that for a fat trap?
As for my commitment to finally get a grip: My health is what has brought me here;
So this isn't just a resolution to trade in my size 14 skirts in for size-6 jeans (although, yes, that is part of what I'm hoping for!); its a decision to trade self-loathing in for self-loving. I think I'm beautiful :), however, I want to be HEALTHY. 
While I haven't decided my exact goal weight, I know one thing for sure: I want to walk a little taller, feel a little stronger and love my body a lot more! I know I'll need all of your support, and I hope that I can inspire you guys a little but, too!