Margi Faze sounds like she could be one of my girlfriends.  Her story is oh-so-similar.  Overweight, exhausted mom who one day looks in the mirror and hardly recognizes the reflection staring back at her.

Been there?  I thought so.  But that is where her story’s similarity ends.

Margi made a decision to change her life and her circumstances.  She enrolled herself in the Body-For-Life Challenge.  (Unfamiliar? Body-For-Life was introduced in 1997 by EAS.  It essentially challenges people to a 12-week lifestyle overhaul then compares results with other “competitors” for a grand prize.)

In just 12 weeks, she  dropped an amazing 28 lbs and 13% body fat to reign supreme as the 2007 Body-for-LIFE Grand Master Champion.  Can you even imagine? Margi successfully morphed from overweight and frazzled mother to that of spokes model, author, motivational speaker and fitness competitor.  She has had the opportunity to meet and inspire hundreds of people on their own fitness journey.

I interviewed Margi recently about her accomplishments:

Q. Okay, as a mother of two children myself, I am dying to know how you did it! What is your typical workout day like?

On a typical day at the gym I will do circuit training for 30 minutes and do 30 minutes of cardio whether that is running several miles on the track or getting on the stairmaster, arc trainer and treadmill for ten minutes each. Then I take approximately 15 minutes to stretch and relax.

Q. Well, that doesn’t sound too hard.  So I assume then that you don’t EAT, then?

Actually, I eat five to six small meals a day.

Q. Well there goes THAT argument. Best advice you can give to those of us struggling with our weight?

I would say to remain positive regardless of what the scale tells you. You didn’t gain weight overnight! Getting fit takes time. Keep your self-talk positive, stay the course and you will succeed.

Hey, I did it and so can you!  What it takes is determination and perseverance. Make your health a priority in your life. Between diaper changes, homework, extra-curricular activities, dinners, housekeeping and more, we never find the time for ourselves. You have to make that time and stop making excuses.

Start slow and give yourself time. If you rush into harder workouts you can burn out easy and even hurt yourself. We’ve all heard the saying “slow and steady wins the race.”  Be sure to set yourself some goals, too. If you can’t make it to the gym for whatever reason, go for a brisk walk. Do jump squats and run in place at home. Make a commitment to get at least 15 to 30 minutes of cardio a day and do it. The energy that comes with exercise will help you get everything else in your list done quicker and better.

Feeling inspired yet?  I know that I certainly am! So with a little help from Margi and her new “Transformation Journal” I plan to make some changes.  I’m going to use her journal to map out my own healthy lifestyle.  I invite you to follow along with me and change your own reflection in the mirror! More information on Margi or her new project can be found here.

DON’T FORGET: I’m hosting a $250 cash sponsorship to Blogher2010 from SEED!  Find out more here!

This Fitness Friday I have asked my friend Lori Rypka to do a guest post.  Lori has lost an amazing amount of weight (70 pounds and counting…)on her fitness journey and inspires me every day to make the right choices.  She is living proof that determination will get you the results you want every time!

Dieting sucks, so why do it?

Now that you’ve gasped and spit out your morning danish, hear me out.
It’s true, dieting sucks. Coming from a serial dieter, I can’t say I have looked back on a single program and thought, “Wow, this is the
life. I’ve got it made on this program. Next stop: The cover of Oxygen magazine.”

Deprivation, starvation, contemplation of confection. Shun them all. I have seen the light and am giving you a glimpse of my world.

The Girl Scout Cookie Diet.

OK, I’m obviously kidding. So let’s drill down to what we hear the most. Forget Aktins. Forget South Beath. Forget The Cookie Diet. Doctors have
been saying it for time and eternity. Eat a well balanced diet with fruits, veggies, lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats. I mean,
they built a whole Food Pyramid on these principles.

Yeah, yeah, heard that before. Guess what … it actually works. Whoa!

Call the media! This is HUGE news!

A friend told me about the Eat Clean Diet by Tosca Rosa. I thought about it, researched it, bought the book … and a light went on in an already
lit room. She’s got some great information there, the actual food she recommends is on the Food Pyramid. No food groups are eliminated.
Certain food groups are limited. She recommends food as close to how God made them as possible, and in the healthiest varieties (read: no white
flour/sugar/rice). I’ve heard it all before, but this time it clicked. I was also weighed down with the whole “Do I really want to set my kids up
for health issues in the future?” guilt.

Was it easy? Yes and no. Yes, because I made up my mind that this is a lifestyle change and not a diet, and that it ultimately is the best
thing I could do for my family. No, because I have too cook and shop a lot more (sort of wish I could find all the ingredients in one store).

I’m about three weeks into it, and I do feel better, have dropped some weight and feel good for what I’m doing for my kids. It’s also been fun
to be approached for advice from friends who have also been thinking about this. It’s worth the extra mileage hunting down ingredients as
well as the extra time in the kitchen. After all, a diet is temporary. A lifestyle is for life.

Lastly, it was also about deciding that I’m worth it. And I am.

I am THE WORST when it comes to drinking water. I just HATE it with a fiery passion. (The one thing I have in common with Oprah, besides reading.)

And now, one of the number one things this W.W. diet has me doing is GUZZLIN’ H2O.

I spend all of my time in the bathroom these days. Productivity?  Out the window, man.

Bodily functions aside, you can’t deny that getting your recommended water intake IS beneficial.

Not convinced about its importance?  A little cynical? Fine then. Let me share with you some of the things I have learned about good ‘ole H2O:

HEALTHY BRAIN
Wanna fight “Momnesia?” Drinking water keeps your brain functioning properly. Not drinking enough water can be a key element in the cause of headaches, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.  Basically this means that I should have been chugging Evian instead of mountains of chocolate to feed my depression.  Alrighty, then.

HELPS RAISE YOUR METABOLISM
You should know by now that your metabolism is important. Duh. (I’ve been fighting my metabolism for years!) Your metabolism is the means by which the food you consume is turned into energy. The process begins with your digestion where the nutrients in the food is prepared to be absorbed by the body and thereby transformed into energy. Appropriate water intake is crucial to maintaining good digestion, which in turn keeps your metabolism firing. The consumption of water creates better utilization of the nutrients you consume which TADA! results in more energy. And hello, drinking water helps you reduce hunger.  It is just a fact.

RIDS YOUR BODY OF TOXINS
Goodbye junk! Our poor kidneys, we just forget they are there don’t we? The sole purpose of our kidneys is to remove “waste” from our bodies. They flush out all of those disgusting toxins and purify our bloodstream.  Left in our system, toxins make us feel sluggish and unwell and can also put a harmful burden on the other systems in our body. Drinking water regularly lessens the burden on your kidneys and keeps us “pollution free.”

LOOSING WEIGHT
We all know that drinking water is important if you’re trying to lose weight. I mean, every single diet program agrees on that. Come to think of it, it is probably the ONLY THING they all agree on.  Why? Studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. If there is even a slight dehydration, your  thirst mechanism may be mistaken for hunger causing you to eat when all that your body is actually craving is fluid. Not only that, but since food contains water, if you don’t drink enough you may be subconsciously propelled to eat MORE to consume the necessary water supply. The obvious problem here is that you are given the undesired effects of increased calorie consumption. Water is calorie-free, my friends. So obviously, drinking more water can help you prevent overeating and achieve weight loss.

REVIVES AND FRESHENS YOUR SKIN
Here’s a biggie for all of us out there who are seeing wrinkles creep up on us… If your skin is not properly hydrated, if will look dull and lifeless. Period. Basically, you’ll look like crap. When skin is hydrated it is healthy and plump and more radiant. A fact: Water stimulates the circulation of blood, fluids, and the necessary elements inside our body. It also controls and regulates the skin’s natural balance. It has the power to hydrate, revitalize, detoxify, and oxygenate the skin.  Simply put, deprive yourself of water and you’ll see the difference in the mirror. Ewwwww….

So get over it and drink your water already!

I’ve been called out.

Taken to task.

Challenged, even.

I have this terrific friend, well, we’ll just call her Lori.  Oh heck. Her name IS Lori. (I’m so not protecting her identity!) So anyway, this terrific friend is an inspiration.  She is in the process of successfully taking her life back.  She has lost a ton of weight. She recently rocked a major community challenge competition and every time I talk to her she seems to be either going TO or returning FROM some sort of horrifying sounding fitness class at the gym.

She has become my mentor… AND my nemesis.

Now she is my partner.

She totally challenged me (in a manner of speaking) to start taking back some control in my life, in regards to my health.  You see, my habits have been poor lately.  As my job gets more and more stressful, I have been taking less and less care of myself.  Junk food, late nights, self-destructive habits.  Too much sugar, too much caffeine, to much fast food. Every cliche in the book.  The perfect picture of a take care of everybody but yourself mother.  Anyone else been there?

So we’ve join forces and committed to beginning a weight loss program. (Weight Watchers) So serious am I that I even told Lori MY REAL WEIGHT.  I know, right?  Now THAT is trust.

So why am I telling you this?  Because, no doubt, it will affect my blog.  As I re-learn about nutrition and apply these principals to my hectic life, I will be sharing them with you.  And hopefully you will benefit from MY stupidity.  Hehe!

ONE LAST THING: In an effort to curb my most ridiculous cravings – sweets – I am giving them up COMPLETELY for the next couple of weeks.  Yeah, I know… Halloween.  But sometimes you just have to give it up cold turkey to make a difference.  Sugar is definitely my biggest addiction.

Woo hoo! It is Friday!  And you know what that means, don’t you?  We are back to finding our missing mojo…

Although I realize that “looking for your mojo” can be a complex thing and it probably means something different to everyone,  I think there IS one thing that we can all agree we need some help on… FITNESS.

And that would be why I’m resurrecting FITNESS FRIDAYS again.  This time I will have some professional help.

You didn’t think I would put myself in charge did you?

Oh no!  I am bringing in my very own Evil Jillian. Except she is not evil. And, um, her name is Rachel. Well, sometimes she can be evil now that I am thinking about it.  Especially when she is running up a three mile hill, wearing a headlamp, through a strange town in the middle of the night.  But I digress….

I put the word out on Twitter the other day asking for fitness questions to kick this sucker off and I got some great feedback!  My pal @ADLawrence had a terrific question that caught my eye immediately(because I can totally relate):  “What is the best exercise to start with after a break from the gym?”

RACHEL SAYS: The best exercise to start with after a break from the gym is WALKING. Start with 20-30 minutes three days a week at an easy to moderate pace. Gradually increase your time each week by about five minutes. After a few weeks of consistent walking, add one or two more days a week. Once you feel comfortable walking, replace one or two days a week with a new form of cardiovascular exercise such as running, biking, swimming, jump rope, dancing, or the elliptical. Just be sure it’s an activity you enjoy, as you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Continually challenge yourself so as not to become bored or hit a plateau.

Eventually, you’ll also need to begin strength training. Performing 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions for each major muscle group is a good start.  This should be done a MINIMUM of two days per week.

I also recommend visiting your physician prior to beginning any exercise program.

ABOUT RACHEL: Rachel Swartz-Hartje is an NASM certified personal trainer and is currently completing her degree in community health promotion.  She enjoys running, bodybuilding and torturing her clients (and friends) into submission.  She is definitely a bad-ass.  Don’t let her nice profile picture fool you. Her mantra? “Discipline is the Bridge Between Goals and Accomplishments.” Oh yeah, she also used to be in the Navy.  Don’t. Mess. With. Her.

I AM IN PANIC MODE.

I just saw a picture that someone took of me when I wasn’t “posing” or “sucking in” or “standing up tall” and all I have to say is:  HOW DID I GET TO THIS PLACE? I didn’t even recognize that woman.  She looked tired and stressed and heavy. She looks… (gulp) middle aged.

Ever have a moment like this?  Can you even relate?

Last summer I was in a BIKINI. (True.) Thanks to eating clean and following the Body For Life principals I lost tons of weight and was in a bikini for the first time since I was 16.  My brother actually told me that he was worrying that I was loosing too much weight.  Let me repeat that: LOOSING TOO MUCH WEIGHT. I had to laugh. In all my life no one ever said that to me. Ha!

And now.  Well, now I am working full time plus freelancing plus suffering from a running injury while raising two little men and taking care of a house, a husband, one dog, four fish and one bearded dragon.  Not to mention writing a blog, dealing with social schedules, sports leagues and trying desperately to keep in touch with my friends.

Talk about loosing your mojo.  Now, granted, I have been working slowly but surely towards regaining my “hip factor.”  (As my girlfriend calls it.) I’ve been focusing on expanding my horizons and experiencing new places and taking mini-adventures.  I’ve also been running again, albeit sporadically.

I guess I just needed something to spur me into action. WELL NO LONGER.

Look out people.

I look at that picture and only one thought comes to mind, “Oh, HELL no!”

Not to go all Austin Powers on you but, I’ve lost my MOJO, baby.  And I think you might have too.

Not judging. Just sayin’…

If you look it up in the Urban Dictionary you will find the following definitions: That quality, often elusive, that sets a person apart from everyone else. OR Self-confidence, self-assuredness. As in the basis for belief in one’s self in a situation. OR Your cool/style essence.

MOJO Baby, Yeah!

Most people that I talk with around my age  having spent the last precious years of their life with children sucking the life out of them feel exactly the same way -  uninspired and a little well, lost.

We are not exactly living that exciting life of purpose and passion are we?  (I mean, WE are, of course… but those OTHER people reading my blog definitely need some help!) And not to go all “YMCA” on you (however I did work at a Y for a trillion years) but getting your mojo back is a spirit, mind and body sort of thing.  Don’t you agree?

Yes, we should focus on our physical well-being. Yes, we should focus on our mental ability and attitudes. Yes, we should focus on our spirituality.  It is all-encompassing.

So, since I have been dubbed (by my mother and mother knows everything, doesn’t she?) the QUEEN of self-help, I will be focusing some of my bloggety-blog efforts into helping myself and others get their game back.  Let’s set some goals together!  Let’s become better friends, parents and citizens.  Let’s transition from our sleepy state of acceptance to one with purpose, passion and intention!

Some fun resources to get you inspired:

• Launch Your Personal Comeback – Good ole’ Oprah.  Even though I think she is a bit of a wack-a-doodle at times, Oprah is still dead-on with some of her advice.
• Body For Life - This challenge can change your life. Literally.  BFL is one of my favorite lifestyle changing tools.  What better than a fitness competition to inspire you to get off your you-know-what?
• Mamavation – Help Maria, the Mamavation Mom, change her life.  In turn, it is bound to motivate you to change yours!
• Improve Your Vocabulary – Take a gander at this article with some interesting suggestions on how you can improve your vocabulary and broaden your horizons.

Well don’t just sit there… get on with it!  Your mojo isn’t going to knock on your front door.  What EXACTLY are you waiting for?