Blog-aversary: 3 Years

Here we are 3 years in. Let's do a recap:

November 2011: our journey began with 2 weeks at The Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu. You can read all about those 2 weeks by clicking here. Those 2 weeks laid down a foundation for our journey which we knew would not be easy. We were over weight, sedentary and had no idea how hard this would actually be. 

2012: was the year we would face all of this and would really need to change everything at home. Losing at home including finding support, making support, and staying focused in the reality that caused the weight in the first place. 

2013: was maintenance year. The statistics of a large weight loss over long periods is not very favorable. It is actually terrifyingly low. 2013 included changes in trainers, upping the workouts and making a HUGE conscious effort in nutrition. And we found Team Beachbody. This process relies heavily on accountability and motivation. It is very easy to eat something, because "no one will know", but it is true that what you eat in private will show in public. As we started to lose focus on training and nutrition, our Coach and Team Beachbody Challenges helped us stay accountable to what we say we were going to do. 

www.beachbodycoach.com/CaraGarcia

2014: Has been a challenge. All of those things in 2013 that we thought we had a good handle on have been on going challenges to maintain. The accountability with Team Beachbody remains and is a constant aspect of our days, but the issue that remains is CONSISTENCY.  With real life it can be hard to stay consistent. Schedules change, work expectations change, as do goals. So here we are at the end of year 3, we have made some success because we have not gained it all back, but the battle continues. Everyday is a fight to be better than the day before. Every meal needs to be a reminder to fuel our bodies not our emotions. Every person we meet is a chance to INSPIRE to be INSPIRED. Because seeing others succeed fuels the fire to be stronger, better and more consistent. 

We want to encourage as many people as possible to be healthy (not skinny) HEALTHY. So we are doing a GIVEAWAY of a few of our favorite things! 

1. FitBit ONE. This new tool allows you to track your activity and your sleep. It also is a source of accountability because we will be "friends" on the FitBit App. (this GIVEAWAY is the clip on version in BLACK)

2. FIVE DAY SHAKEOLOGY CHALLENGE Starting December 8. Shakeology is a daily dose of dense superfood nutrition, in one delicious shake that honestly tastes like a treat. Packed with micronutrients you didn't even know your body needed it is a great meal replacement that is clinically proven to help with weight loss. With this prize you will be a part of a FREE accountability group on facebook with Cara as your Coach. 

3. The 21 Day Fix home workout and nutrition plan. This has become our SOUL workout. Truly a life changing plan that incorporates simple to follow 30 minute workouts with a proven nutrition plan that uses color coded pre-portioned containers. With this you will be part of the next FIX accountability group that focuses on support and success. A great tool to kick off the New Year right. 

OK here are the ways to WIN. 

-SHARE this BLOG on your facebook page #PhatChances
-SHARE PhatChances Page on your Facebook page #PhatChances
-#PhatChances on InstaGram with a Picture of WHY you should win 
(we have to be friends on Facebook and on Insta, @that1momma @bettyandthecity)

Do all three and you will be entered 3x. 

GOOD LUCK!

Maintain Don't Gain

by Cara

NO EXCUSES
NO QUITTING
NO JUNK
NOVEMBER

I started to think about the holidays and I was instantly brought back to last year. The mistakes I made. The food I ate. The workouts I didn't do. I remember a conversation that Brianne and I had after the fact and that we would not let it happen again. Fast forward to Halloween 2014, bean dip, meatballs, bread, Tito's and chocolate miniatures (Thank God they were mini's!) I made a declaration that moment, that night after Halloween with my sick belly, that I was going to make this the Healthiest Holiday EVER! 

And what does my amazing community of Coaches at Beachbody do, they declare the same. All on the same page, so here we go. 

Here is my plan of action:

1. Meal plan for the week. Prep food for day time like chicken and eggs and already cut and washed veggies and fruit.
2. Have a dinner plan in place and COOK.
3. No CARBS with dinner.
4. Workout minimum 30 minutes EVERYDAY and if I know I will miss a day do an extra workout the day before or after.
5. Stay accountable with my online accountability group, with this blog and with MYSELF

****6. Encourage as many people as possible to JOIN ME. 

So many people (including myself) think that waiting for the New Year is the way to go. Enjoy the time with friends and family and don't worry about the indulgences. The problem is, if we wait for 2015, if we wait for that moment the GYM is packed or after the damage is done, most likely we will give up. So why not start NOW!? Why not give yourself the GIFT of health this season. And NO gyms. Do it all on your time and in your space. 

I am setting a pretty BIG GOAL and I am hoping you will be a part of it, I am looking for 25 people to commit to their health or to GIVE the gift of health to some one else. It's time to END THE TREND of holiday gaining and work on holiday health! 

Don't Wait

by Cara

210. 

Yep right now if you look at the scale I am standing on, it says 210 lbs. FREAK OUT. That is only 70 lbs away from my starting weight. ONLY 70lbs?! Cara, get your shit together. You will never be 280 lbs again or 315 lbs again. You got this. 

Ok now that the honesty is out of the way. I need to share here (my unused source of accountability) that I did allow the summer to lack routine. I allowed a little too much alcohol and way too many potato chips. But there is a difference. I allowed those things after I got my workout in, and that is the BIGGEST difference between the 210 lb. Cara and 280 lb. Cara. The old me ate like that and sat on the couch, or napped. I also am probably changing my mass, instead of fat mass I am muscle mass and YES, there is a difference in what those look like. (Read that again, NOT ass, MASS)

So here is my plan, because if you FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL. I have 12 weeks until I hit my 3 year mark. Yep, if you have been reading about our journey, we have been doing this for THREE years. OK back to my plan of action, 12 weeks and 20 lbs. That is 1.6 lbs per week. SUPER HEALTHY way to lose. I also have 2 more half marathons October 5th and November 2nd. 

OK let's recap...

12 weeks
20 lbs 
RUNNING
Meal Planning/Prep
And FOCUS

I am really lucky to have a Coach that is supporting not only my plan but also my personal development. John Hebison pushes me to be a better person not only in my own goals but in helping as many people I can with theirs. I am looking forward to these next 3 months, as I prepare to be my very BEST self for my 3 year weight loss a-versary. Because statistics say keeping weight off is harder than losing it. 

I am looking forward to helping as many people as I can because it pushes me harder than I will ever push myself on my own. I love sharing this journey with anyone willing to trust me. And if that is you, I can't wait to hear from you. 
Biggest lesson I have ever learned, DON'T WAIT. 

Coach Cara Garcia

Start on SUNDAY

by Cara

SUNDAY FUNDAY. 
NEVER MISS A MONDAY.

I have been so focused on these two things for much of my journey. I also have an amazing support system and it includes my brother-in-law Victor. He's actually my husbands best friend, but he is the kind of best friend that really is your brother. He is also Brock's Godfather, he's everyone's Godfather. Even mine! 

We check in daily about health, fitness and life. He kills his workouts DAILY. There are days he will ask if my workout is done, because he is looking for motivation to get his done. And then there is EVERYDAY that I get an alert on my phone from MapMyRun App, that tells me he biked another insane number of miles. He is doing great and inspires me every step of the way. 

This past week he checked in on me and I was honest, I had taken a week off post half marathon. I was honest that I probably had about 3-5 excuses that were really good ones, but they were still just excuses. I was also honest that I have a half marathon maintenance plan. What he told me next is what stuck with me, 

"But you always have a positive plan to get back on track...we didn't have that before" 

He's right. 

Two and a half years ago, getting off track was eating 5 slices of pizza and going to bed. Now getting off track is taking a week off after running 13.1 miles. I think there is a big difference between the two. Don't you?

So as I prepared for this week ahead, I did what I have always done START ON SUNDAY. 

Starting on Sunday has become important to me because Monday has such a negative place in the week, so I make it the second day. Don't ask me why but this has helped. I start the week on a day that I usually have off and the day that I do much of my meal prepping, like boiling eggs, making extra baked chicken and prepping veggies. I get my first workout of the week checked off my list and it makes me feel successful from the start. Do things that make you feel successful or at least set up for success because then you have planned for it to work.

I am looking forward to this week, I have about 6 women starting the 3rd week of a 3 week program and they are doing great. I have 3 people focused on PiYo who hands down are truly remarkable people to be celebrating success with. And tomorrow I get to see one of the Coaches from my Team launch her first FREE Clean Eating educational series. August is already looking GREAT!

REFRESH. REFOCUS. GROW.

by Cara

Where the heck have we been?
Still trying to save our lives, thats where.
We told you before that this journey has no end, this journey is actually our LIVES. You know as well as we do that life has ups, downs and some U-turns. It has been a summer of change, rest, and mental battles. You will see some new things here on Phat Chances. I hope you continue to read and most of all share with someone you think we can help. The Blog is getting a facelift while we lift weights! We will be coming back to sharing our lives, our tools, and most importantly our motivation.

Here is where my head has been:
I have been battling my own issues with running. This thing that got me to my goal is now a task. It is something that really takes everything in me to get done. I also realized that I love short events, 5k, 10k. But the half marathon has been daunting. I ran San Francisco Rock n Roll in April, San Diego Rock n Roll in June, and San Francisco Half Marathon just yesterday, July 27.

I have 2 months "off" so to speak, and then October San Jose Rock n Roll and November the US Half again here in SF. I don't travel to far from home, clearly. I have been trying to find just what it is that I am struggling with the most. And I honestly believe it is in my preparation. So here I am sharing with the world how I will hold myself accountable (which is why we created Phat Chances in the first place), so that I am not looking at this as a task but rather something I enjoy. I have 10 weeks, until my 33rd birthday and the RnR San Jose. My plan is to follow a set running schedule from now until then. Combined with some PiYo and weight training (as my cross training). 10 WEEKS.

It's not a sprint. It's a marathon. 

Hello. Hello. Anyone there?

By Cara

It's been awhile. Actually its been 2 months. I was thinking about blogging a lot lately. There have been so many things I have wanted to write and share about. Like the fact that I am going to run 5 half marathons this year, the first one is 8 days away. It will be my fourth half marathon on this journey to weight loss and maintenance. I don't think it will be anything special. It is here in San Francisco, and unlike other SF Marathons, this one includes almost (almost) every hill you can think of. I had so many plans to train well for it, including ankle weights in my last few days of training. This week was going to include 2 hill runs that are included on the course. That is until yesterday, March 26 at 08:30am. 

Yesterday, morning I was in a solo spin out accident, solo as in the only car gracefully spinning across 4 lanes of freeway. I was not solo in the car, my 4 year old son Sylas gracefully spun with me in silence. Taking it all in as I was frantically trying to channel my inner Lightening McQueen and clearly grasping for every guardian angel I could. We walked away. Yes, more sore today than any workout I have ever had and the car, though I was ready to get a new one, saved our lives. I will cherish that car no matter if I get it back or not. 

I started to think about WHY, why would this happen to me? I am such a positive person, I only attract what is right in this world (at least that is what I like to believe). How did we come so close to serious injury if not worse and come away without a scratch? How did we move between cars and hit a wall with the rear of the car and not the front? How the eff was part of it caught on a CHP dash cam? So many things came to mind. So many what if's and holy shits! 

But here is what I was reminded of and it all comes back to this journey. Complacency equals failure. When you become comfortable, when you think you can cheat (on your diet or on your life), when you think that you are not going to do any better than you already are, something will challenge you to rethink that. Something will break you down, and it is in that low point that you either rebuild even stronger and smarter than you were or you start a new journey. 

I don't think I am starting a new journey, I have way too many plans on this one. But clearly in need to come back stronger and smarter. So with all this pain and as I continue to add to my pinning (what else is there to do while you R.I.C.E?) I am re-building. My Beachbody Business as Coach and Mentor has a HUGE future. And my running will continue, I just need a few days off. 

A Heart of Gold and Lentil Enchiladas

{LENTIL ENCHILADAS}

My Uncle Matt, seriously the best Uncle you could ever want (well I think highly of all of my Uncles, each a little differently). Uncle Matt has a heart of gold and a smile that is contagious. And when we started this journey with Phat Chances he had just spent over a year eating a plant based diet. He and my Aunt Deb came up with some amazing recipes by taking meat dishes they loved and replacing the meat with beans, lentils, and veggies. This is one of them. 

Reconstitute 1 1/4 cup of red lentil in 2 cans of beef consume (you can use veggie broth, he used beef consume because it added flavor and NO FAT!), 1/2 diced onion, 1tsp oregano, 1tsp cumin. ***This takes about 1.5 hours and add water as needed. You want to end up with soft lentils and a little moisture.

Sauce: 1 large can of enchilada sauce, 1 can beef consume, 1 small can tomato paste, 2 cloves garlic, simmer 1/2 hour 

Filling, saute one diced onion till soft, add lentils, 1/2 package of lawreys enchilada spice and 2 small cans chopped black olives. Use a potato masher to brake up hole lentils but keep semi chunky 

Prep the dish: In a skillet, add 1/4 cup of sauce, heat and soften corn tortillas in this, add sauce as needed and fill and roll tortillas until you fill a backing pan. add enough sauce over the top to keep enchiladas moist. heat at 350 for 40 minutes. top with Precious fat free mozzarella and back in 5 minutes longer

*The only fat in this is the oil when from sautéing onions and high fiber.*