HOW I LOST 20LBS DURING COVID

I know, I know, many of you are going to say but Andrea you did not need to lose any weight? I hide it well but I did! And I must admit, the picture in the white T-shirt was one of my worst poses and I probably look heavier than what I was But....Here’s the deal: in August 2019, after Daisy passed I lost 10 pounds and I felt great but over the next six months or so I put it back on. As I was planning a trip to see my dear Kellyann in Florida in March of this year, I decided to start shedding some pounds in February. I upped my exercise game and cut out a lot of carbs and snacking. Unfortunately, Covid put a wrench into my trip south but I had gotten off about seven or 8 pounds and felt great! Enter Covid, while many people slowed down and snacking increased, I was just the opposite! With the initiation of my Instagram walk and talks, I was walking even more than usual. Kellyann and I would also Marco Polo with what we were eating and share recipes and motivation. She too shed the pound she wanted, looks amazing and we were very proud of each other.

February 2020 vs. May 2020

Down about 12 Pounds at this point

I started drinking the Premier Protein Shakes once every other day and put my snacking at bay! By June, I had lost 15 pounds and figured I was OK just stay there. But in addition to my walks and all my exercising in our pool, five more pounds came off and that’s what I’m fluctuating with now and I feel great! My legs are as skinny as they were in high school, LOL! 

SUMMER 1987 (16)

vs. SUMMER 2020 (49)

I know being in perimenopause, that menopause will be in full force just around the corner and I often hear people gain weight so I’m happy to have some leeway to work with in case I do and then I might not feel so bad.

 

And something very important I want you to remember and something that will stick in my mind forever. Never ever call somebody heavy or the “fat one” or the “big girl”, etc. I have only been called heavy a couple times in my life, but I will never ever ever forget it! Especially because I’ve never really been what you would consider heavy but regardless that doesn’t matter, it’s the persons feelings that matter! The most prominent was one time when I was getting my nails done & during that year I did gain excess weight from a medication and my nail girl said her and a client were talking about me and the lady referenced me as, “oh is she the heavy one?” WTH lady! Those kinds of comments hurt any human being to the core!

On Instagram many of you have asked me how I did it and I know that’s what you’re thinking and let me tell you, it’s really the basics! Back in 2002, I was on some medication that made me gain some weight and I was not happy with that at all since I was not used to getting a ton of weight unless it was to have a baby so I did the South Beach diet and lost 36 pounds. Now, this time I was nowhere near that weight and I didn’t want anything gimmicky, just healthy eating and increased movement!

I also have been doing intermittent fasting where I only eat from 10:30am to 6:30 pm, which occasional cheat times on weekend for about 2 years now. I swear by this!

 

I really truly want to stress that you have to be in the right frame of mind! You have to be dedicated and disciplined or it won’t happen. So, here is a list of what it took me to drop the weight, I know everyone is different but here it is:

-Increased Exercise from 4 miles a day 6 days a week to 5-6 miles 7 days a week

-Cut out snacks except occasional healthy ones like nuts, fruit, low carb candy like those from the Adkins line, and recipes like Cookie Dough Bombs

-Cut out most white flour and white sugar, used Stevia sugar replacement as needed 

-Only ate between 10:30 and 6:30 am (Intermittent Fasting)

-Ate lots of low-calorie salads with high protein added like chicken, bacon, nuts, etc. and used low-cal dressings or vinaigrettes

-Replaced one meal every other day with my Premier protein shakes

-Just stayed more active in general. Added in lots of pool exercises which I will miss this Winter but will continue to do stretching or some yoga

  

I swear by these, they are the YUMMIEST!!

BUY PREMIER PROTEIN HERE,  

HERE & HERE

SUMMER 2019 vs SUMMER 2020

Down 20 lbs

To be honest, it’s probably more like 15 pounds lost now considering all the Pumpkin Treats I’ve been indulging in, LOL!

YOU can do anything you put 

your mind too and ALWAYS BE KIND!!

LINKING-UP with Metamorphosis Monday// // Love your Creativity // Hello Monday 

xoxo

HELLO SEPTEMBER...BRING ON MORE AMAZON

Can you Believe it's September tomorrow? Time for Tanya's Amazon Link-Up week too and boy, do I have some good ones for YOU! 

1. Tunic Sweater

This is a good one friends! Covers my butt, it’s nicely made and comes in several colors! The perfect throw on with leggings sweater! 

BUY TUNIC SWEATER HERE

2. Visors, Visors, Visors

Yes, y’all know my love for visors but recently I was able to get three for under six dollars each and the colors are crazy plentiful!

BUY VISORS HERE

3. Book....I've waited 12 years For

MIDNIGHT SUN
Well, it’s only been 12 years in the making but I am so overjoyed to read this Twilight series book from Edward’s point of view! The Twilight series was one of my favorites ever!

BUY BOOK HERE

4. Bookmarks

I recently bought a couple of these as gifts and the recipients loved them! They are so darling and are only 2.95 apiece. Perfect stocking stuffer, hint hint.

BUY BOOKMARKS HERE

5. Back to the Gypsy Tee

When I’m wearing this T-shirt, I’m singing all the Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks songs! It’s so darling and soft!

BUY TEE HERE

6. Steamer
The Bizond company reached out to me to try their travel steamer and it was perfect timing because I took it with me to Kansas. It is so easy to use, so small and portable and it got out wrinkles perfectly! I plan on using it at home in my closet as well!

BUY STEAMER HERE

7. Giraffe Bottle Stopper

My aunt just loves giraffes and so I was so excited to send her this bottle stopper for her birthday! Plus they have like nine different animals and they are all so intricately beautiful! She loved it! It comes packaged so sweetly as well! Great gift idea!

BUY HERE

8. Leopard Jammies Set
Believe it or not, I like this leopard set even better than the tie-dye one! It just fits better; I love the V-neck and the print is so so darling!

BUY PJ SET HERE
Similar Pink Slippers HERE & HERE

9. Premier Protein Drinks...MY FAV!

Hands down, my favorite protein drink. I lost 15 pounds drinking this 3-4 times a week during the first dew months of Covid in addition to low carb healthier eating and my walk & talks! Mixing my two favs..the Café Latte and the Pumpkin Spice is a game changer…..Instant PSL baby!!

BUY CAFE LATTE HERE
PUMPKIN SPICE HERE

Happy Shopping Babes!!

xoxo

LINKING-UP with Metamorphosis Monday// // Love your Creativity // Hello Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday