T, I am with you. This week did not start well for me, I missed two workouts and cheated due to circumstances beyond my control (it was literally eat fast food or don't eat at all). UGH. Today I missed HIIT cardio and decided to go do upper body after work since technically it would be an upper body day anyway. After a couple days of being depressed due to missed workouts + life stresses, I feel awesome again. Amazing how doing one good thing for yourself can turn it around.
So I'm back on track too, after basically being off it since Saturday. Figure I will skip my free day this week, just keep on truckin' til next weekend and then I am definitely going to have Mexican food and a giant margarita for Cinco de Mayo.
On the plus side I weighed in at the gym and despite my lapse, I am down another 2 pounds to 154! I also felt like I did better on upper body today than last week and am seeing a lot more definition in my biceps and shoulders.
I'm trying to work myself into the cleaner eating. Think breads might be a gradual thing; it's just too easy to have a sandwich when you're on the go, or a piece of toast with eggs. But it's getting there. I am in LOVE with quinoa: I cook it fluffy then add lemon juice, lemon zest and olive oil. Delicious. I'm making another batch tonight with some lemongrass chicken breast and grilled Asian long beans. I stopped at the international market and got a whole week's worth of produce plus some delicious baked bean curd for $16! I also finally made it to the bulk store in town and bought quinoa, bulghur, brown rice and some other things. Definitely better prices there than at regular stores, and a lot less waste.
Oh my gosh only 3 1/2 weeks left (1 1/2 for you Tonja)! Crazy how time flies!
Good afternoon,
Up again this morning doing LBWO at 5am. I think it is catching up with me - we had a free lunch at work today and I got a grilled chicken mini sandwiches on hawian bread & salad. I ate all of it - BAD BAD, but normally I would just split it & skip the bread. I will be back on track by dinner.
Scheduled my lasts fitness assesment May 8th....excited! I haven't lost any scale weight, but the whole body looks better.
Keep up the good work my friends - time flies doesn't it!
WAY to go MW for losing & getting back on track. I think you need to sell a cookbooks with your healthy ideas. Let me know how much one costs?!
Tonja
MW- I am so glad I'm not the only one. Misery loves company, ya know. At least you're back on track. Can't say the same for myself. I swear, once you're on that eating bad roller coaster, it's hard to get off. My vacation from work continued on Monday and Tuesday after my cousin went home, and I was just sitting around the house bored. When I'm bored, I crave bad stuff, like doughnut holes and cookies, oh and add in tater tots. Anyways, I'm back at work today and doing better with my eating. I really need to get back on track. I think this all started when I looked at a picture of myself that my cousin and I took and while she's standing there tall and lean, I looked the same as I did 8 weeks ago. All this hard work and I look the same. I was slightly depressed and binged. It was also that time of the month and I had severe water weight gain. I'm definitely not taking a free day this week. I've already had several of them. LOL
T
MW & T,
Get back on the wagon which I know you two will - probably, already have! I think this was the same week that I had trouble with too. I am 10 days out!!!!!!!!! It has all of a sudden just flew by. I am not weighing, measuring until the end! I know the scale hasn't moved in a few weeks, but.... I look better in the mirror. I might have to do a pant check or something too. I didn't notice much in my pictures either, but I didn't think about the different perspective - it is hard to be in the exact place everytime.
T, I noticed that you are more confident than when you started too. For goodness sake, you took a picture of you guns & posted them!
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I had to skip my early am this morning - I was getting crabby with kids & started reaching for bad food to get my energy up late last night. Sleep=happy mom and Sleep=healthy food options. I didn't know it was a trigger until last night. So, my goal was 4 days this week, but I was hoping for 5!
Have a good one guys,
Tonja, I hear you on some days just not being able to get to the gym first thing. It happens, and sleep is definitely important! I have had issues with that lately but thankfully I am back to working just one job (on my own time) and can get back to going to the gym every morning. I can't wait!
T, are you back with the workouts? I'm definitely back on the wagon... still sore from UBWO on Tuesday! My back and shoulders are killing me. Did pretty well with HIIT cardio on Wednesday and have LBWO this afternoon with my husband. Also, today I fished out the last pair of jeans from the back of my closet. Before the Challenge I couldn't get them over my thighs. Today, they slipped right on without protest! I can't wait to see what Day 84 is going to bring.
The only thing I am eating right now that I'm not happy with is bread, but when I'm on the run a sandwich is just too easy. It still fits with the eating so I am not going to beat myself up over it, just focus on the progress and making some changes. I did get a couple of small cold sores this week, which my husband thinks are due to my slight changes in grains and other stuff because apparently changing up your amino acid intake can do that. I'm glad I have someone in my life who can explain these bizarre mysteries. :)
Oh and Tonja, I don't think I'll have a cookbook out any time soon but I would heavily recommend you check out Epicurious and America's Test Kitchen. Both have been paramount in my meal planning.
Sounds like everyone is doing good! Where is catty?
Did someone call my name lol....! I'm still here just been busy on getting my new side business going (Melaleuca) and assorted various and sundry items. Not letting up one iota on the workouts! Though I was pretty p.o.'ed when the lunkheads at the gym didn't bother yesterday, or even most days, to put back the free weights and I couldn't find what I wanted (there were 20's but no 25's or 30's dumbbells). So rude! If you take a weight put it back. It doesn't even have to be in order (though that would be nice). Instead of doing free weights I hit the machines which I don't like as much, but then I threw in a couple different things (adductor and abductor for thighs/hips) which is supposed to be helpful to runners. I ran 3 miles today so that was good. I broke down and bought a SmartPhone a couple weeks ago and found an app which keeps track of calories so it's good seeing it in black and white. Hey did you guys hear of the Paleo diet, i.e. eat like the cavemen did. Apparently since they didn't eat a lot of grains back then, the diet focuses on meats, fish, fruit and vegetables. But to me it's not good b/c it discounts lentils, chickpeas and other good stuff. How could those possibly be bad???
haven't stepped on the scale recently but guess I'm waiting until the very last day! Even if I don't end up reaching my goal, I have shown that I can be largely consistent with eating and working out, when I have to answer to someone. I've been thinking about doing the 5-25 thing after, but taking a week off b/f starting something new. We have really worked hard and we should take a small break b/f beginning the next big thing!
I can't wait to see MW's pics! Please post after you get them, I'm very proud of you. And proud of all of you, we have come so far and learned a lot. And made some good friends along the way.
Oh I will definitely be posting pics. I'm shelling out $100 for the photo shoot, the photographer I'm using is awesome, and want to get my money's worth in showing them off! :)
What calorie counting phone app are you using? I've got MyFitnessPal coordinated on my Samsung Galaxy and it is great for when I'm on the run. I also use MapMyRun for when I run outside so I can see my route, average speed, time etc. I also just downloaded a couple of HIIT interval timer apps to try out this week so I can better keep track of my HIIT runs. Can't wait to give those a try.
Also, if you are into the current zombie culture, there is a running app called Zombies! Run! that actually has you go on audio missions and has fictional zombies chase you. I am still waiting for the Android app to come out, it's only available for Apple devices right now. Curses!
My boss is Paleo, or at least 80% Paleo. I am fascinated with the idea but don't feel like it totally accounts for things like evolution. I think Robb Wolf's site (www.robbwolf.com) has the best information regarding Paleo for bodybuilders and athletes. The diet focuses mainly on meats and greens, fruit is often considered residual. The objective is that your body better maintains sugars and stays at a consistent metabolic rate when your body isn't being manipulated by grains, dairy and starches. I don't know if I totally buy into it and it would take some time for your body to detox from the carb decrease (I had this problem when I tried a cleanse diet once), but I do know some people swear by and it and it probably is a sight better to maintain a high your protein and vitamin intake vs carbohydrates.
Catty I am definitely going to do the 5/25 thing, maybe 2x a week and then a distance run or hard hike another day. I am happy with this Challenge but can't wait to worry a bit less about food and get back on the trails.
Ok, please tell me about this 5/25 thing?
T, here is a B4L thread about it with feedback and links to the info on Bill's new Transformations website:
bodyforlife.com/.../4955.aspx
GEEZ so much for being back on the wagon. I missed lower body last night. I have learned to just stop trusting my husband when he says "Yeah, let's got to the gym together" because then by the time he's ready, the gym closes in 30 minutes. Uggggghhhh. So I did LBWO this morning, cardio tomorrow, UBWO Sunday. That kind of puts me back on track regardless, and I did keep the calories low yesterday (around 1400).
Now that we're in the home stretch I am reading the chapters covering Weeks 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the B4L Champions book. I want to see what people did to get that extra push over the cliff. I'm working hard to cut fat, sodium and sugar. It's been not too bad. I wish I was one of those people who could eat the same thing all the time and just eat chicken, broccoli and brown rice every dinner for the next 3 weeks... sigh.
So the plan now is to take 3 weeks of active rest after the Challenge, then get started with 5-25 but only 5 days per week (3x weights, 2x cardio). I am going to hike a lot this summer (and I mean 4 - 10 mile hikes with significant elevation gain, not trails that just meander through trees for a mile or two) and this will replace the other day of cardio. I love the low time commitment; it looks ideal for summer, and I have always wanted to try circuit weight training. I am also looking at Gyrotonic Health thanks to Tonja sending me a link. There is actually a gyrotonic studio 2 miles from my house that offers group classes and one-on-one session. Sounds good to me!
MW - you are doing GREAT! Put the rest behind you and what a good idea about going back & reading the champions book on the last weeks. I will do the same this weekend.
I am skipping the rest part and just going to go right into the next one, but I am not going to push myself like I am right now until the 3rd week. I am scared that I will get out of my schedule & not get back on it. I am going to to do the 5-25 too for dew weeks & back to B4L workout maybe switch every 2-4 weeks.
4th DAY of early morning workouts - weird...people are starting to come up & talking to me now. I didn't chew there heads off. I guess I am getting use to it!
Have a good Friday & weekend,
Ok, so the 5/25 is circuit training basically, like Jillian's DVD's. Love it already!!!
mw- forgot to answer your question. Nope, still haven't fully been back. Not with my workouts anyway. Eating hasn't been great either. Between my cousing being here last week and my boyfriends and his two daughters birthdays this week, I'm just starting fresh on Monday. :-(
Tonja, I found the same thing when going to the gym early too! It seems like the late morning/mid-day/evening people are a little more solitary but I'm okay with just putting on my music and zoning out.
T, I am actually with you this week. My husband and I just went to a cantina in town, the owner is an acquaintance of ours and the place does small street-style tacos on white corn tortillas. It started fine, I ordered salt-roasted jalapenos, cucumber and jicama, a chicken and poblano toastada (they bake their corn tortillas, not fry them), and a sirloin taco with sweet potato and gouda mash and caramelized onion. It was all amazing! Then... then they said they had cinnamon ice cream. I love cinnamon ice cream more than I love bacon, which is saying, well, everything.
It seems like, from reading the forums and the Champions book, that a lot of people do have a "burnout week" where they cheat horribly, miss workouts, etc. Either from general tiredness or because of circumstances. It's not like we can just shut off our lives for 12 weeks straight. It sounds like you are seeing the situation for what it is and ready to move forward when the week begins anew, which I think is a great way to view the journey.
I am trying to work out a LOT harder now. I did more weight for LBWO than I have ever done, and I actually made it through! And didn't hit my 10s with calves so I know I have more room to push myself. I'm going to strive for a really hard run tomorrow with HIIT cardio, try to break through 2.5 miles if I can. We'll see what happens!
catty- I have heard of Paleo also. I rented from the library awhile back but it was too restrictive for me. I love carbs!
mw- I laughed out loud when I read your message. You and your husband love some Mexican food! And you make everything sound soooo delicious. I've never tried cinnamon ice cream. I'll have to jot that down for my next free day (if I ever have another one. LOL).
I did a UBWO and ran for 30 min. after. Felt good. I'm adding more cardio so I can shed some of this fat. I ran for 30 min. at 6.0 and it felt like I could run forever. I love those kind of cardio days, you know, the ones you actually enjoy doing.
Hope everyone has a great weekend. I am enjoying the sun this weekend. I know I am forgetting to reply to someone's message on this forum, but there are so many it's hard to keep up. :-)
T, I've thought about amping up the cardio too. I have a lot more time in my day and want to start sculpting and toning my thighs which are shrinking, but not fast enough for my liking. Same with hips and wearing waist. Less fatty parts of me (lower arms, calves) are SUPER toned now so I'm sure the rest of me is like that and just hiding under all this fat. I've been pinching every couple days, just because I can't help myself, and I think the accelerated process is starting to happen (down to 18.5mm; was at 19.5mm last week). The trails are thawed so I'm thinking of adding some hard hikes to my regimen. I know some trails that gain over 1,000 feet per mile which is basically a 70-story stair climb.
I am also trying hard to get my husband in the gym with me in the mornings. He is struggling now... he couldn't come close to doing the same weights for shoulders as I could today, and that is saying a lot. He used to be MUCH stronger than I was, but he had a bicycle accident last summer, got a concussion, and things kind of went downhill after that because he never, ever exercised and his recovery was very slow as a result. That was a major contributor to my Decisive Moment this spring. He feels better after working out regularly but isn't very disciplined with it, and has sometimes derailed my own routine by claiming he'll go with me, then he'll drag stuff out past the time when we can make it to the gym before they close. Now I'm telling him "OK, I'm going to the gym at 6:30 tomorrow morning, are you coming or not?" He has always been a sort of different kind of person, almost completely impervious to outside influence so getting him motivated is not that easy to figure out.
There is a girl at my gym who I am totally in awe of. In general the women who come to my gym seem to be there to watch TV and walk, not to work hard. There is a girl there about my age, probably mid 20s to early 30s, who just KILLS IT. I saw the readout on her treadmill the other day... 3.67 miles in 28 minutes! She doesn't have a "gym bod" either, she looks totally average but was just cooking it and didn't look nearly as exhausted as I was after doing 1.96 miles in 19 minutes on my HIIT. Which I know is nothing to sneeze at but... dang.
Speaking of, cardio tomorrow! Starting this upcoming week I am adding .2 mph to each level, each week. So I'll be starting at 3.5mph (this is staying the same), then 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, 8.2. Shooting for 9.7 on my Level 10. Then another .2 added next week. And again the week after that. Hopefully this will be a gradual enough increase that I can get to 2.25 miles by Minute 19 of my HIIT by Week 12 and not feel like I am killing myself.
Tonja, can you believe you're on Week 12?! Amazing! I commend you for sticking with it and I am sure the numbers you get by the end will be astonishing!
3 weeks left. WOW.