Hi crew! Way to go Kim on getting in those WO! You are going to finish this thing!!! Hooray!!

Had a great workout this morning, definitely stronger.  Last night I finally made the broccoli slaw "pasta" - loved it! Having the leftovers today.  You take 1 12oz pkg of the dry broccoli slaw (in refrigerated section of groc store), put in a large skillet, add 1/4c water.  Cook over med high heat for about 5-8 minutes (til it softens a bit). Then add in your fave sauce, or just chopped tomatoes and spices...however you like it, cook for another 2-3 minutes til it heats through, add some grated Parm if you like and ENJOY :)

Also, another interesting thing I learned recently about women's bodies from the trainer I've been working with....many women tend to be quad dominant (me included, always have tight quads and hip flexors!!)  Focusing on glutes and hams is a good way to help balance out the legs, and especially when you're doing lunges and squats, really concentrate on firing those muscles.  It has made a big difference for me in shaping my lower body and just how I move generally.  Kinda cool. I've found her blog to be interesting, informative, smart, and not full of marketing/magic bullet hype...I'm posting it in case you find it interesting!! www.refinemethod.com/blog/

Hope you all have a great day!

Hey everyone! I'm still truckin along here... Had a good LBWO Monday then a light jog for lunch hit the elliptical bright and early this morning.. so far so good nutrition wise too.. Jessica, the reduced salt deal sounds like something i want to give a go that will take some major planning for sure and alot of label reading but sounds like it works awesome.. I think Im going to try it for my final 2 weeks.. keep it under 1500mg a day.. BRIDE you I gotta give you props lady!! You are religious with keeping us posted on your progress thank you I like reading about all of it!! Take care crew.. :-)

Hi all! Island, glad my updates keep you entertained!  Yeah, I am kinda religious about it because it keeps me accountable :) Had a great workout this morning, nutrition is on track...o all rolling along.  Am headed to Key West for a weekend with my best friend; it will be fun but really want to watch the alcohol, which will be tough for sure, not to mention the sodium!!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Your weekend sounds fun Bride! It's hard to stay away from the alcohol. I haven't had any for almost 4 weeks. We're going on a motorcycle trip next weekend for 5 days. Some of our friends are pretty big drinkers, but one gal doesn't drink much at all. I'm hoping to avoid it. I'll be 5 weeks into a 14 week challenge on another site and I want to see progress. It's tough with no refrigerator and maybe 2 meals per day. There will be lots of protein bars and beef jerky for protein. I have to get some ideas together.

Island, you're being very consistent, way to go! Good luck with the salt issue. I'm glad I've never been one to salt my food. I have plenty of other issues to work on, like sugar! That's gotten way better these past few weeks.

Got ST and cardio done yesterday. Cardio scheduled for later today.

Kim

Good morning, all!

Been super busy, which unfortunately means we've been off a bit on nutrition and WO's.  Missed yesterday morning and this morning, but we're going tonight instead and doing a combo of HIIT and either UB or LBWO.  Despite the being about a 6 on nutrition and activity, I finally hit 230 (230.2 to be exact), and I think I'll be able to break 230 by the time we go to a long-time friends wedding next weekend.  I've been dreading this wedding as the last time I saw the majority of these people, I was 80 pounds lighter.  A co-worker just reminded me though that I'm still the same person, something that I think Iose sight of at times.  I might be fat, but I'm still me.  

Next weekend will be tough nutrition wise - but thankfully the wedding is falling on our "free day", but that doesn't mean I'm going to go all out.  Will try to balance the diet with lots of water and veggies during cocktail hour!

Even though this challenge has been spotty, we've seen results - a reduction in weight and body fat, new muscles, dropping a size... so I'm really looking forward to starting the next challenge with some changes.  If we can see results when not pushing 100%, imagine what's going to happen when we do!

Bride, Hawk - I'm very jealous of your upcoming weekends!  What I wouldn't do to go to the Keys or on a bike trip!

I hope everyone else is doing well... keep up the hard work and I'm looking forward to starting a new challenge with you soon =)

Kris

Hey everyone!! checking in, couple days away from finishing week 10 I plan on kicking it up for my final 2 weeks...I know you all have 1 left.. home stretch finish line in sight!!

Hi everyone!! Good to hear from the crew :) KW, your friend is right...the value of a human soul can never be measured by a scale :)

Well, Murphy got me today.  Crazy day so missed my workout and my eating has ot been great.  Fell back into some emotional eating, but will pull myself out of it!! On the plan early tomorrow, and yes, it will be fun :). When I get back I am doing an 8 week "sprint" to my dress fitting finish line!!!

Island - as I said in the last challenge, the final 2 weeks are when everyone goes out and whitens the teeth and sprays on the tan (not an issue in your case, I'm guessing, living in HI).  It is also a great time to lean out the diet, so low sodium, low fat is sustainable for 14 days.  Shoudl do wonders to define the muscles.

I'm checking in and working on cardio/weight training combo for 4-6 times a week.  Might be another stretch goal, but I really want to start building more muscle than I have now.  Looks like everyone else is rallying and finishing strong.

Good Job everyone!

Cheers,

Frick

Hey Gang!   Wow, it was great catching up with everyone this morning!  Glad to hear everyone's summer is full of trips and fun!!  It's been busy for me too.  

Kris - You need to keep focused on how awesome you are doing, and don't look back and beat yourself up!  That negative talk is NOT good!  You should be proud of yourself, you are going to look great!

Bride - How is the low sodium going?  It's hard, isn't it?  I'm still going strong, haven't picked up a shaker yet!!  

I've been maintaining my WO's and kicked up LB.  I need to build out more in the glutes and hamstrings which is now the new goal.  I've maintained my weight at 110 this week, and truly this is the new goal, to stay here.  I'm also thinking maybe another couple lbs will come off for my muffin top, it's goin but not gone yet.  I did post pix in my profile, my husband took them so beware they are not great quality (and don't look at the hair) so I need to retake them this week.  My UB appears thin while the middle and bottom need more work.  I really hope the weight stops coming off my UB.  So now I'm officially down 20 lbs since Jan 7th and the amazing thing is that my nutrition and cravings have completely changed and I'm so thankful.  

I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone's progress, I hope you'll share.  

Have a great Father's Day!

Jessica, just checked out your pics and you look fantastic! There are huge changes from week 5. I can't wait for my legs to look like that.

I got very thin and had some nice muscle on top the last time I lost a bunch of weight. My bottom half hadn't come along nearly as far as yours has. That's the tough part, not getting too thin on top and making progress on the bottom.

I ate way too much yesterday. We celebrated Father's Day because hubby had to leave today to go help with flooding. I've been so busy doing other stuff that I've missed a couple days of workouts. Back to ST this morning. I have to move a ton of stuff from my old class to my new classroom today (kids will be at their dads so why not). I'm guessing there will be about 50 trips up and down the halls plus lifting and carrying. There's my cardio!

Hi team! Checking in from steamy Key West!!! Jessica, WOW!!!!!!!!! What amazing results - you look fantastic!!!! Congrats to you!!! Kim, sounds like a busy day, hope it goes smoothly!!

I have had a fun time, but I am ready to go home tomorrow and get back on track:) Too much alcohol and salty food! But I'm viewing it as my 3 days of "active rest" before my 8 week sprint to the dress fitting :). Jessica, the low sodium thing IS hard, but it is so worth it.  My diet has not been low sodium the last few days and I DO NOT like how it makes my body feel....ick! On top of it, for some odd reason I get elephant feet every time we come to KW! I don't know what it is, but my ankles and feet get so swollen they feel almost numb!! It's happened for years, combo of the heat and humidity....it's not the flying, doesn't happen elsewhere.  

So, I will post some results after I get back and after I've had a chance to drop some of the water retention, but I am rolling right into the next 8 weeks :) I do know that so far at my lowest recorded scale weight I dropped 20 lbs since Feb 14.  Of that, I lost 8 lbs prior to the start of this challenge, the rest has been during.  I have learned so much, and thanks to all of you for your participation, sharing and support!!! You have all been an inspiration and are the reason this challenge has beenso much more effective than any of the others I've started (and never finished!). So THANK YOU and let's all keep up the great work!!!

And Happy Dad's Day!!!

Sorry that it is long time since I posted, although I've enjoyed reading your posts. I've been wavering the past few weeks - still exercising but not so careful with the diet. I haven't lost but then I haven't gained so this is good. Today I am more in control - I don't work in the summer so I'm finally able to workout in the morning. I'm off to the gym now and I plan to really eat well these last two weeks. Well done to those of you who have truly followed the program.

Hey crew.. start of week 10 UBWO done Great workout.. I felt different and even thought i looked a bit different staring at myself in the mirror :-) @FRICK you are right my friend the teeth whitening and the tanning.. I gotta get over the "not taking off my shirt in the sun while at the beach" phobia if not my final pics will I will be sporting the tank top tan haha.. I intend on cutting the carbs at the end of the day and also watching the salt intake as jessica and Bride are doing.. THAT IN ITSELF WILL BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE!  Im not one to grab the salt shaker but I really gotta pay attention to the salt content of the things that I do consume.. especially on the free day. I think for the last 2 weeks it's gonna be free meal.. Glad to see the regulars are still going strong.. I will finish strong Keep it up all ... much ALOHA!

OK, I've been busting my hump and watching the BFI percentage inch down on the scale from ~27% to 23%. Met some friends at the beach yesterday.  My buddy the EMT said I looked closer to 12% body fat.  Can it be that that scale has been lying the whole time?  Anyone else have an opinion on the body fat scales? Do I need to buy some decent calipers and go from there?

Yesterday my diet went to hell in a handbasket.  Beach = Beer and Pizza.  Back on the straight and narrow today, but heading up to Virginia tomorrow.  My parents have a German restaurant up there, so it will be tough to stay low carb while staring at the big tubs of potato salad and spaetzle.  Wish me luck.

Bride, glad you made it back from the Keys in one piece.  The Duval crawl is a killer, but as long as you kept the salt off of your rim, you were probably doing ok.

Let's crank out these next few days and be strong.

Cheers, Y'all

Hi all,

Frick, I would say the bf scales do show you much higher than you really are. Try some calipers or get a trainer at your gym to measure you. I'll bet you're lower than you think.

Everyone else, keep going strong!

Kim