Today is Day 30 of my summer challenge. I'm 1/3 of the way done and making some good progress! I have lost a total of 5% bodyfat while keeping the muscle mass and only losing fat!! I have lost 10 lbs and 3.75" around my middle. Woo-hoo! I don't feel like I have done very well, but fortunately the measurements show better than I feel. I did this same challenge last summer and this year it seems like it is less challenging. Probably because I'm learning what to do and what not to do with more practice. I don't plan on doing this again in 2014 so I need to learn and keep practicing good eating/exercising habits!! Once I lose the bodyfat I need to, maintaining will be easier than losing. Right???
One of my goals was not to cheat on my diet especially on the 4th. I didn't cheat on my diet on the 4th, but I did have a "planned" cheat meal last Saturday. Does it make a difference that it was planned? I don't think so. The bad thing was that when it came time to eat my cheat meal, I didn't really want to but I did it anyway because it was planned. I guess I know to not do that next time. I did work it in to my calories so it wasn't as bad as it could have been, but I felt sluggish afterwards. Another one of my goals was to eat more protein and less carbs.... Well, I have made an effort to make a protein shake/smoothie in the mornings so to up my protein. My smoothie is made with 2 scoops of strawberry protein powder, frozen strawberries and peaches, orange/mango juice (100%juice), and Advocare Mass Impact (creatine/glutamine), and water. Very good! The rest of my meals need some work. I have been going too long in between meals so I need to work on that.
My workouts have been very intense this week. I did my own high intensity workout on Saturday Treadmill (12:17 mile warm up, 2 circuits each of: 18" box jumps x 15,Bosu squats w/18 kb x 25, Mtn climbers x 25, Sumo squats w/26 kb x 25, Lunges w/#24 bar overhead across floor/back, 12" Box jumps from side x 25, SL deadlift 26kb x 25, Ab circuit for 2x25 ea exercise: Ball Knee ups from push up position, Ab roller, Windshield wipers w/ 10 med ball, Ab ball crunches, cool down on Rec bike 20 min), Bootcamp on Monday, group Training workout on Tuesday (Tabata style - 6 stations, 2 exercises each station, 20 sec of exercise, 10 sec of rest for 5 minutes, then switch to next station - total of 30 minutes), Wed was small group training, Friday (today) was bootcamp. Wow! That sounds like alot when I write it down. No wonder I'm sore and tired! Tomorrow I'm supposed to do the same group training I did on Tuesday. I'll see how sore I am. Right now I'm feeling like I need 2 days of rest. I'll probably do it though!
At the beginning of each month we do a fit test in bootcamp to see how we have improved since the previous month. There is a variety of exercises we do and today was the test. I improved on all of them! Even with sore legs!!!
Goals for next week....continue to add more protein, don't cheat on my diet, and be more consistent on my meals!
It has been awhile since I have added anything. Since the end of last year's contest, I am sorry to report that I reverted to old habits. I didn't watch what I ate or how much, I didn't exercise like I should have and what was the outcome?? You guessed it! I put back on all the weight I had taken 9 months to lose. Yes, I said ALL the weight! I am ashamed of myself! So what happened you may ask? A few things. I didn't have the accountability of a challenge/contest, my trainer moved away, I gave into temptation, and it was winter. Are any of these good reasons? NO!!! But it happened and I can't blame anyone but myself.
I was going to start another Body Challenge at the gym this past January, in fact I started it, but I wasn't committed so I didn't finish. Again, I am ashamed of myself because I am not a quitter or a loser. So, what has changed? A newly, regained sense of commitment for being healthy. I want to be healthy! I want my kids to be healthy! I want to live a long time, being able to play with my kids. Those reasons why I returned to old habits are still there, but I'm not allowing them to dictate how I'm going to live.
Last Thursday I started a Summer Challenge thru Tom Venuto's website www.burnthefatinnercircle.com and although it is tough seeing the before pictures and measurements, it is necessary. Not only for the contest rules, but for a reality check! Seeing those pictures disgusts me and I can't believe I walk around like this. Not for long though! Today is Day 8/Week 2 and I have lost 6 lbs and 1.8% body fat (pretty much all fat - no muscle)!! I have also lost inches EVERYWHERE! Woo-hoo!! I feel so much better this week. I'm eating clean, drinking tons of water, exercising more intense, and NOT EATING OUT! As my husband says, "When mommy is on a diet, EVERYONE is on a diet!" That's a good thing too. My kids are eating healthier and learning healthy habits. My husband has lost weight also.
What am I doing to improve myself? I set my calories at 1500 calories with a 40% Protein, 40% Carb, 20% Fat. It is working pretty good! I haven't felt deprived, except from the sugar cravings. I just changed my plan to 1400 calories a day with same percentages, so we'll see how I feel this week. I am using the program, www.myfitnesspal.com as well as www.fitbit.com to keep me on track throughout the day. I log all my food, water, and exercise into www.myfitnesspal.com. It also syncs with my fitbit (a pedometer, but better) www.fitbit.com so my steps are incorporated too.
I will be continuing to post updates to how I am doing on this challenge with my struggles as well as my accomplishments. I write this blog not to brag about how well I'm doing, but to make myself accountable to all of you who read this and to let you know that you can accomplish your goals too, whatever they may be!! Just don't give up! If you have a set-back, that's ok. Re-adjust and keep going!
