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Name: Debi Straley
Before: September 2, 2007
After: March 2, 2008
I have lifted weights for 24 years and have always been in shape, but Summer is always trying with the kids home from school. During the Summer of 2007, I got out of my routine & let myself go.
  Click Image To Enlarge.Debi Straley's Weight Progress. I got into the habit of drinking Smirnoff Ice every night and I was eating whatever I wanted. By September, I couldn't fit into any of my shorts or jeans! I couldn't believe how quickly I lost control of my body.
I got mad! Mad at myself and I just made up my mind that I was going to get into the best shape of my life. I read Tosca Reno's "The Eat-Clean Diet" for the second time and followed her principles.
 Click Image To Enlarge.I Was Going To Get Into The Best Shape Of My Life. I started lifting weights 5 days a week again and I met a Holistic Doctor at my gym who looked at my diet and taught me what I needed to do to get the body that I wanted.
I began to eat small portions of lean protein and vegetables every 3 hours and drank nothing but water. Once I started to see results, I was hooked! I wanted to snack at night, so I searched the internet looking for fitness sites to motivate me and basically keep me occupied so that I would stay away from the Doritos!
 Click Image To Enlarge.Once I Started To See Results, I Was Hooked. I stumbled on Bodybuilding.com completely by accident and it was just what I needed. I am very thankful for the amazing friends that I have made through this site and the incredible support and encouragement I have gotten from them.
 Click Image To Enlarge.Debi Straley.
Meal 2: Meal 3: Meal 4: Meal 5: Meal 5: Snacks would be things like hot tea with soy creamer, fat free yogurt or Kashi Go Lean Cereal.
My training philosophy is simple. I believe in consistency and intensity. I think any exercise, if done properly, will get results. There aren't any magic exercises that the super-fit keep in a secret journal - as long as it is done properly and it is targeting your muscle, it will get results. Obviously there are basic exercises and more advanced ones, but I think intensity and breathing have a lot to do with how well they work. I work every muscle once a week & hit legs twice a week. I pick two body parts and superset the exercises. I do an abdominal exercise in between every superset.
I personally do not do cardio, I tried running for a while, but it just wasn't something I enjoyed. I truly love lifting weights and I never tire of it. It gives me confidence and makes me feel good. You have to be dedicated to succeed. I typically wake up at 4:15 AM to get my workout in before getting the kids off to school.
 Click Image To Enlarge.You Have To Be Dedicated To Succeed. Sometimes, I have to go at 9:00 AM after I drop my daughter off. You need to make sacrifices and be able to adjust, because it's not easy, but it's worth it!
I found that writing down everything that I ate really helped me to stick to my clean foods. I also had a mantra, "just walk away", that I said over and over because I was on a strict diet all throughout the holidays. I would bring my own vegetable dishes to the holiday gatherings. I ate plain turkey and a scoop of vegetables and "just walked away". It worked. I can't "hang out" by the food because I will pick at it. I know this, so I don't. If I look at the desserts, I'll want them. So I don't look. When I wanted something sweet, I made some hot tea and put Splenda in it with a little soy creamer.
It satisfied me, and I was proud of myself for staying on track. The satisfaction that I got looking in the mirror at my lean physique meant so much more to me than the little bit of pleasure I could have gotten from eating something sinful. I reached my goal within 6 months. Taking pictures of myself kept me motivated and my confidence was at an all time high. I got support through my friends at my gym and here on BodySpace, but family sometimes doesn't understand why you won't have a glass of wine or a brownie. It's okay. You have to do it for yourself and no one else.
 Click Image To Enlarge.You Have To Do It For Yourself And No One Else. One day my 9 year old daughter wrote on my dry erase board "Way to go Mom" with a big smiley face - that really meant a lot to me! My kids watch how I eat and I know that they are learning valuable lessons about nutrition that they will carry with them throughout their lives. I proved to myself that I could do what I set out to do. It wasn't easy, but it certainly wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be. You will find that as you go through your journey, you will set a good example for others to follow.
 Click Image To Enlarge.I Proved To Myself That I Could Do What I Set Out To Do. It's a great feeling to have someone tell you that you have motivated them to live a healthier life. We are all here to help each other and I am proud to be a part of this great fitness community.
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