Products to Gain...Products to Loose...all the same ones...Crazy eh!! :)

Gains or losses....it's all about ABSORPTION!!

I wanted to give some awesome information about some products that I use ALL The time!...they are essential in my diet and aid in body function.

If you are trying to gain weight or loose weight the key is absorption. If you are not absorbing the food you are eating, your body will not gain the weight you are looking to gain. Same goes for losses, when loosing weight it's very important to absorb everything, so your body doesn't think you are starving!!

My FAVORITE Products :)

Above is a picture of me gathering all my Favorite products at Popeye's. I'll give a brief explanation about each product, what they do and why I love them!! :)

My Favorite Protein EVER!

Why do I love Magnum Quattro Protein soooo Much?!? It is Pharmaceutical grade through and through!!...what does that mean?...Super high quality Product superior Absorb-ability!! :)

Quattro offers the following: 

*2 Isolates for post training gratification 

*Pharmaceutical grade CLA, Flax Seed, Casein, Egg Protein, and Cane Sugar.

*30g of Protein per serving

*It tastes UNREAL

*Made in Canada (very important to me)

*lactose Free

Quattro is my choice of protein because it satisfies so many of my needs. Post work out...breakfast because of the combo of proteins...and bed time for the same reasons.

It's an awesome product that will aid in quality gains, and feed my muscles when it's time to lean out.

Amazing product!

Progressive HCP-70 is an awesome product for EVERYONE!!...It is sooo important to have good flora in your digestive track. Absorption happens most in the intestines, and good intestinal health is key or absorption doesn't happen...no absorption, go gains, no losses!!

Here are some of the benefits of this product!

• Supports immune function
• Increases absorption of vitamins and minerals
• Healthier skin through the reduction of acne, eczema and psoriasis
• Prevention and treatment of vaginal and urinary tract infections
• Reduced symptoms of Dysbiosis (imbalance between good and bad bacteria)
• Reduced fatigue
• Reduced Distention, bloating and flatulence
• Reduced constipation and diarrhea
• Improved digestion
• Reduced Hypoglycemia
• Reduced food allergies
• Reduced lactose intolerance
• Reduced Leaky Gut Syndrome
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  So much Energy!!
  
  Progressive Veggie Greens is one of favorite products!. I start my day with this in my morning shake!. Veggies green's does several things for the body. It has most the nutritional benefits of 5-7 servings of veggies (minus the fiber) Most important thing about this product **PH Balance** Most of us are Acidic...an Acidic body is an unhappy body. Progressive uses a unique combination of veggies that help to Alkalize the body. Again, this aids with Absorption!
  
  

  
  

  
  

  Here are some of the things this product offer!

  
  

  • Restores a healthy pH
  • Supports liver function
  • Detoxifies the body
  • Cleanses the colon
  • Increases energy and renews mental clarity
  • Stimulates and enhances brain function
  • Strengthens immune system
  • Supports cardiovascular health
  • Balances blood sugar
  • Boosts metabolism
  • Improves digestive function
  • Promotes clear, healthy skin
  • Acts as an anti-inflammatory
  • Helps to relieve allergies
  • Tastes great!

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  Progressive Fish Oil is an awesome product...my vanity product so to speak ;) Fish oils do for your insides, what they do for your outsides :) Progressive fish oils is my choice of oils because of the taste, the quality and the DHA (550mg) and EPA (1000mg) levels. fish oils help to lubricate your joints, your arteries and help keep things moving! they are the vanity products because it also helps keep your skin, hair, nails healthy and strong.

  
  

  Here are some of the benefits of this awesome product!

  
  

  • Supports cardiovascular health
  • Improves focus, concentration and mental acuity
  • Assists with healthy mood balance
  • Strengthens immune function
  • May reduce occurrence of asthma and allergies
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Promotes healthy skin and hair

That's all for this blog post...I hope you learned a little!!. Remember that if you want to loose weight...or gain weight you need to make sure your digestion and absorption are working! :) 

If you want to know if your digestion and systems are in working order, Alyssa can help you figure out what's up!!. When she did my body analysis my digestion was GOOD :)...why??...because I use high quality products that allow me to absorb what I'm eating!

If you have any questions about these products, head on into any of the local Popeye's location...we are Non Commission so anyone is happy to help you!. We have a store in Kitchener, Waterloo and a new one in Cambridge:)

When Opportunity Knocks....

Opportunity is Knocking....and I'm going to Answer it! :)

I believe that things, people and opportunities happen for a reason. I often look back and think...OHHH that's why this happened when it did.

Well I have an opportunity and I feel it's been presented to me for a reason, a lesson and a great learning experience.

Most of you know I work at Popeye's Supplements in Kitchener. I really enjoy working at Popeye's, My fellow employees and employer are awesome, it's a great environment. We are constantly encouraged to grow.

Upon arriving to work I was greeted by my boss Terry...he said...Oh Man do we have a contest for You Sheryl!...of course I was very interested to read the details of what was on the table. Here are the contest and prize details!!

As staff we all enjoy a healthy lifestyle and we are encouraged to make changes and push yourself in ways that will aid our customers. So This is a competition between 11 stores.

Popeye's is having a HUGE HUGE Competition...up for grabs is a total of almost $15 000 in Prize Money...YEAH...it's an amazing contest!! :)

Contest Starts September 5th!!

*Fist Place for Best Female Transformation in 11 Weeks $2500.00 (there are 2nd and 3rd prizes too)

*First Place for Best over all Female Physique in 11 Weeks is $1000.00 (there are 2nd and 3rd prizes too) 

**Grand total up for grabs for the First place winner of the Female category is $3500.00

Of course this contest was right up my alley...I thought....Yeah I could win over all physique, that would be great!...so I went and spoke with Craig and Alyssa :)

Both of them said...forget the $1000.00....Lets go for the $3500.00!!...I was a little confused at how they thought I could win best over all change in 11 weeks....so here is the plan, and the rationale behind the plan.

As everyone read in my last blog I have Food issues...I have major issues with the Scale and the numbers on it. I've been working with Alyssa for a good 3-4 weeks and as I mentioned I feel AMAZING...my weight is headed in a positive direction and my energy is back, I'm killing my big lifts at the gym! What all this means is  I trust in the process and have started to let go of the scale...YAY!! :)

So Craig and Alyssa are proposing that I put on some "Fluff" before the weigh in and measurements...well a good amount of Fluff. YIKES was my initial reaction-haha. They both feel this contest is an amazing opportunity for the following reasons...and after taking the weekend to think about it...I totally AGREE!!

*Doing a good, quick gain will help me realize I do NOT need to fear the scale, My weight...is totally MY control. 

*Dieting PROPERLY over 11 weeks is something I would love to know how to do...how to cut down, keep the muscle and my energy up will be an awesome much needed experience!!.

*MOST IMPORTANT POINT-Coming OFF the diet...Seeing myself shredded down is something I have wanted to do without having to get on a stage. I haven't done it for lots of reasons, #1 being the rebound post show.This is where Alyssa and Craig will be there for me the most!...They will not let me Stay in "stage shape" nor will they let me blow up!

How do I feel about this??...well I kinda feel like Craig, Alyssa and I just got on a roller coaster...I wasn't able to get my seat belt done up in time...so the only thing holding me on this ride....is Alyssa and Craig!!

This is ME :)

So that's what's next for this Girl...Alyssa has changed my diet for a quick GAIN...YIKES!...but she is so amazing and sensitive to my mental issues. She has asked me to up everything I am doing...and add in 2-3 cheats.

Example of stuff I'm upping....I now Add coconut oil to ALL my shakes, I have 2 HUGE shakes per day instead of just one...I eat way more fruit...and I have the fatty Almond milk. I'm also supposed to eat one crappy meal or snack per day...yikes!

I'm also trying to eat as often as possible...but with my body used to NOT eating it's been a real challenge for me...but I get a text now and again from my Diet coach and Trainer reminding me to eat...I've got a sick team behind me!! Craig has also made me a new program to make me..."Work out Wasted"...haha!...I love that saying...it's a steal from Alyssa...you will see me post that often! :)

Why am I posting this for the public??...After all the pressure I felt after my last change???....Simple...I received an INSANE response to my last blog post. So may people are struggling with what to do post weight loss...how to find a happy place...unsure how to deal with weight coming back on, or for those that did what I did..."live" in deprivation....for the competitors that can't find a happy place post show.

I hope this next part of my Journey is helpful to Everyone. There are people out there that can help like Craig and Alyssa....diets like IIFYM that allow you to LIVE and enjoy your amazing new health! I hope this shows that weight gain and proper diet can be amazing...that a beautiful muscular physique is just that ....BEAUTIFUL...no matter that the scale tells you!! :)

Ok....I gotta go EAT...Then Train....I have a contest to WIN!! :)

My hands are UP :)

What have I been up to??...New Goals...New Diet...New Start :)

"It's not about what you've done, it's about what you're doing"

Well it's been a long long time since I blogged...I have never been very good at this. I have some things that need to be shared...this is a VERY honest blog. I hope you get something from it.

Anyone that knows me knows my story. My weight loss and my new love of training and all things fitness. I love to train...lift heavy and see changes in my physique. But sometimes...more than sometimes I stumble. 

I struggle with the scale. I've been fighting numbers on a scale for my entire life. 

I put my journey out in the public for accountability and to hopefully inspire  others to make good changes. Doing that has accomplished both of the above, but it also put a TON of pressure on me to stay looking super lean. I have been living very lean for a good year an a half, staying on what is like a contest prep diet...but the contest never came...so the diet never ended. I apologize publicly for living a lie. I pretended to be healthy when I was really hurting myself with an ugly cycle....really a sickness. 

I started to see great lifting progress with Craig, about 5 months ago... he had me eating more and I was hitting all kinds of max's. The Max lifts felt great...but the scale started to look a little high....and I kinda freaked out-Huge! :(

I stopped eating the way Craig had asked me to eat...I started to see the scale go back down and I looked great!. He had put some muscle on my body and it really showed when I stopped eating to perform, and started eating next to nothing!... Extreme Diet is really all I knew...high protein, next to no carbs.

Finally this caught up to me, I was moody...distracted, lifting poorly. Craig would ask me what was up, why were my lifts were sucking and I would just blame lack of sleep, or the kids are keeping me busy. Craig is no fool and he could see me loosing more and more weight.

Soon Craig sat me down and made me tell him what I was eating...I felt sick as soon as the conversation started. After we calculated my daily intake of pretty much a breakfast shake...chicken and cucumbers it was clear to both of us I was hurting myself. Living on 700-800 Calories per day for about 2-3 months and training 6 day's a week was destroying my mind and body. I hit an all time low on the scale of 107lbs. That was NOT a healthy number!!

So after seeing the disappointment in his face, and knowing in my heart I needed to STOP this crazy cycle and dependence on the scale I thought long and hard about what I wanted, and I knew I wanted to change for real this time!

I was out shopping and an Usher song gave me My AAAAHAAA Moment. The lyrics were "It's not about what you've done, it's about what you're doing" That hit me like a TON of bricks!. I stopped dead in my tracks and thought.. Everyone knows you have lost weight, it's an old story...so the question is...What are you doing NOW?...The answer was living in the past and not creating the Athlete I wanted to be, I wasn't living, or growing, I was regressing!!

So I swallowed my HUGE pride and asked for help! I'm not one to trust...Anyone...EVER! To trust someone with my Diet is a HUGE leap of Faith...and I mean HUGE! 

Everyone knows who Craig is...but not to many know who Alyssa is. She is a great Friend to me and happens to be Craig's girlfriend and someone I look up to as a strong, beautiful woman. Alyssa has a degree in kinesiology, She has numerous nutrition courses under her belt and she has struggled with her diet and growth for years! She understand the battles of weight loss and gains. 

Alyssa sat down with me and asked if she could be the one to help me...I got a little nervous at the idea of letting her take over my diet. I have control issues and giving her control was VERY hard...but it really was the BEST BEST thing I've done for ME in a LONG time!! :)

Alyssa gave me what seemed to be a mountain of paperwork to fill out...this information was going to allow her to analyse my entire system. When she met with me to discuss her findings, I knew right then and there that this new Journey with her was going to Kick ASS!! I finally felt I had a livable solution!

Alyssa noticed that a few of my systems were lagging, She was able to give me food lists and suggestions to boost those systems and help me get my body working again. She then suggested I try something called "If it fits your Macro's" ...she explained it was like weight watchers points but a much more in depth version. My ears perked up...WW points?!...I rocked that system!!...I got more excited than ever!!

Alyssa calculated my exact maco needs for lean growth...she set me up with My fitness Pal for easy tracking...YES tracking!!...I do love to track!! :) It was all to good to be true.

I've been working with Alyssa and on IIFYM for 2-3 weeks, Alyssa has access to my account and she monitors my eating, makes suggestions and texts me to eat if she notices I've been lagging!. I have to say in Caps...I FEEL AMAZING! I have energy...my muscles are Full and look GREAT, I can concentrate and my mood swings have stopped. I feel like a person again!! 

I Do :)

What Alyssa has done is give me confidence in food again!, she has allowed me to grow but kept me lean, a healthy level of lean!!...I honestly haven't felt this good in a very very long time! I'm starting to grow and the scale isn't an issue for me anymore because I TRUST THE PROCESS! ***HOORAY!!!**

Alyssa, Craig and I are about to start a great journey together, I feel totally blessed to have them in my life!.**Stay TUNED for all the exciting things we are going to be cooking up :)**

If YOU are looking for something NEW, something livable, something CUSTOM designed for just you, A PERSONAL Diet Coach!... I encourage you to contact Alyssa. She truly is a life saver!!...She knows her stuff, she understands the struggle and she has all the tools to help you hit goals and stay healthy!!

I hope this blog was helpful to someone, I hope you can appreciate the good and the bad of weight loss...The constant struggle with the drug called FOOD. I've been struggling for far to long...scared for far to long. 
I'm excited for the choices I've made!!

For more information on how to start an AMAZING journey of your own...contact Alyssa Coppolino at
alyssacoppolino@gmail.com OR connect with her on Facebook :) 
https://www.facebook.com/alyssa.coppolino?fref=ts  

Hitting little goals makes you closer to your larger goals!!

I woke up this morning to the most flattering facebook inbox ever!...it inspired me to get back on the blog train. I'm not a natural blogger so I avoid doing this like the plague. When I get feedback and messages that my blogs actually effect people, it motivates me to get on it...so thank you to that special someone for my awesome morning message :)

The message this morning was from a friend that was finding it hard to get out of bed and do her work out before work. She said I popped into her head and she got up and went. That put a HUGE smile on my face!!...I was so honoured and a little sheepish about being someones morning motivation.

I've blogged before about Anchors...My black pinkies that keep me on track...they remind me that I have hit goals, and I need to keep moving my A$$ to hit new goals.

I love setting little goals for myself and I encourage you to do the same! It's hard to conquer large goals and stay focused on them... constantly thinking, man I need to loose 50lbs!...or how will I ever run 30km. Instead of looking at the big picture focus on little goals....that will aid you in hitting your main large goal. :)

For example, Pick an up coming event in your life. Like a Christmas party, Wedding, Family vacation, Girls night. It doesn't have to be an enormous event...just something to tie a small goal to and to help keep you focused and moving towards your BIG goal!

We all have events at this time of year. I also believe in the "Earn it before you eat it rule". Setting goals before events will help you to feel amazing at the event, and allow you to indulge a little more at the event as well.

In order to help you hit small goals I suggest another type of Anchor. I see so many body building athletes do this and it can and should be used by everyone!!

My black pinkies help me every day to remind me of where I have come from and what my main goals are. If you have a short term goal I encourage you to try this. Put the days left until your goal is due on your hand in marker. It will remind you that you only have that many days to hit your goal. This is a constant reminder that you have promised yourself something and a small goal will be hit.

So for example, if there is 10 days until your work Christmas party, start by putting a 10 on your hand today...tomorrow it's a 9...etc. This will help keep you focused on the current goal, and aid you in hitting all your goals!

I hope to see lots of #'s on peoples hands...and lots of people rocking out little goals!!

4 week off Training?...EEEK!

Another Challenge...


I've spoken before about the good the bad and the ugly of weight loss to many people. The good is the obvious, the bad is you often go through an "ugly ducking" stage before things get better. The ugly is the stuff you can't out train, or out diet...it's the loose skin. I was very very lucky that I held my weight fairly evenly, I had huge boobs, and I had a huge "Thass"...I call my Thass the area on the side of your thigh that can't decide what it wants to be...so it just hangs off the side...not a Thigh...not an Ass....thus it is a "Thass". I can train off my thass and fill the loose skin that it leaves behind...but unfortunately I can't build enough chest muscles to fill out my boobs.

I recently made the decision to have some plastic surgery done, I wanted to fix my ugly. I like curves, when was bigger I had curves...I now felt very pear shaped and I wasn't a super fan. I felt less feminine, and I enjoy being a girly girl!!
This decision forced me to take four weeks off from the gym...no training...no running...no anything!..Yes, I did almost go crazy!

The thought of being off for 4 weeks scared the crap out of me. I was really concerned about how I was going to manage. I worried about my recovery, my health, my weight. I really stressed about starting again, how weak would I be??...how much muscle would I loose in 4 weeks?...My brain was spinning!!

I decided to tackle this like I would any other challenge or obstacle.... PLAN...I stand by this quote...one of my most favourite!

 

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail"

 



I knew my battle would be with my diet. I always enjoy a pretty clean diet, but I knew going from active to recovery mode required a few tweaks in my diet. I had a big cook off with my friend Lori and prepared with pre made healthy food. I felt good knowing I had plenty of pre cooked meals ready for me and no excuses not to eat them.

With my diet in place I had to make sure I was held accountable to start back again.  I approached Craig and asked him if he would help me with training when I was recovered. I knew he would hold me accountable and keep me from getting injured.

So that was my planning....diet and accountability. Personally I had to think of this month off as a challenge...like a game. I believe it's as important to train your mental strength as it is to train your physical strength.

I'm happy to report that planning worked!...I came out of my month off from training 2lbs lighter than when I went into it. I just started back at True North Barbell :)... I'm testing things out with Craig's assistance. I'm totally confident that I'll be back to where I was in little time....Yippee!!

I'm super excited to see what Craig and I can create this time around!

8 Weeks to Vegas...Game On!!

So I'm a huge fan of setting little goals and challenging myself now and again. Sometimes it's with running, other times it's a new max with weights and this time it was about diet!!

My husband and I booked a group trip to Vegas. When we booked it was 9 weeks until we left. After the first week I thought, I could do a good 8 week diet until Vegas and see what happens!!...CHALLENGE!! I wanted to see what 8 weeks of really clean eating, discipline and training could do to my physique.

When I started I was sitting at 115lbs and about 14% body fat according to the Tanita scale at the gym. I wasn't unhappy with how I looked pre diet, again I like to set little goals for myself because it reminds me that I'm in total control of my body. After being so out of control or so many years, it's awesome to know that I run this body now!!...ROAR..lol.

For me a true measure of my fitness and nutrition is my abs...I admire abs so much on women because they are really hard to get!. Abs are totally made in the kitchen, you can't eat shit and have abs!! Clean eating...loads of water ...eating many times a day, and treating your diet like a full time job is how you get abs.

In order to have a good 8 week diet I decided to just eat really clean, prep all my meals...aim for 3 solid meals per day, with 2 snacks. I also upped my protein by 60g per day in order to hold onto more muscle. I limited my carbs after lunch and kept up with my regular lifting schedule. I also drank about 5-6L of water per day. Nutrition is a full time job!!...TRUTH!!

I found the diet to be ok to manage, my biggest issue with my diet day to day is remembering to eat. With this challenge it was really important for me to not loose any of the gains I had made over the last few months.  In order to hold on to gains you need to eat more regimented. I think I managed to do that well this time.

So in the end I managed to loose 5lbs and 5% body fat in 8 weeks...Whoop Whoop!...It was awesome to get those results...I felt like a million bucks in Vegas, I earned all the crap I ate and drank...lol.

Setting little goals for yourself is so rewarding!!-I encourage everyone to think of little goals you can set to remind yourself that you can do anything you set your mind to.

I wonder what my next Challenge will be?!?...SOOO exciting!





Abs before the diet.

After 8 week Diet.



 I felt THIS amazing in Vegas ;)

"Anchors"...Little things that keep you focused!!

I thought it would be a good idea to blog about what I like to call "Anchors".

Since my last blog I have been really trying to stay focused...eat clean...work out hard...and go for that summertime body ;)...I'll be honest... It's hard!

Nothing about training 5 days a week and eating clean is easy...but for me it's a lifestyle choice. I take the good with the bad. I feel good when I live this way...so even though at times it's hard...its very worth it.

In order to keep myself on track when I was loosing the majority of my weight I often used things I called Anchors.

If I was going to a party or an event I would use Anchors. ...What's an Anchor you ask?..lol. Well its something to keep me focused...to help me resist temptation. What I often used were coloured stones or beads in my pocket. I would put one for every 10lbs I had lost into my pocket to remind me how far I had come. Also...stones in your pocket do 2 things...they are uncomfortable at times...and they kinda screw up your outfit...the same things that happen when your overweight and out of shape. ;)... So it was a good reminder for me to not have that extra drink...or that cake, or another temptation that was looking me in the face.

Currently I am painting my pinkie finger nails black. I use black because when I was getting ready for the Around the Bay Race with my Friend Leanne, she suggested that we paint out nails black and be "Hard Core"...I loved the idea!...We were totally hard core..LOL. Anytime I wanted to give up during that run I looked at my nails and thought...NO WAY...you have black nail polish on...you are Hard Core...keep going! The tradition stuck and I've had black nails for every race after that.

My black pinkie nail that everyone keeps asking me about it my Anchor...it's there to remind me ...I'm Focused...Bad Ass, Hard Core...I'm an After!! ..Summer time Ice Cream has nothing on me...WHY?...Because I have black nail polish on. ;)

Get creative...find an Anchor...it's a good way to stay focused...and a great way to share your love of fitness with everyone that asks..."Hey...what is that one black nail for?"