Shell- I think you are feeling exactly the way you should with your free day. The first time I did the challenge, I actually shopped for my free day - Ice cream, brownie mix, cookie dough. I did that for a few weeks, and felt horrible the evening of my free day and the next day. Within a few weeks, I found myself eating BFL meals most of the free day and going out to dinner. So it basically turned in to a free meal per week, instead of a free day. I didn't stress about eating well on my free day, so sometimes I would eat a little more than just one free meal, but for the most part, it just came naturally to eat better on that day. I do still struggle with cravings during the week, but they are starting to get a little better. I feel so great knowing i had a clean day, I almost feel better about myself than when I have a great workout.
jenn
Hi Jenn, thanks for the advice - it makes so much sense. Tomorrow is my free day, so I will see how it goes...
I feel like I'm shrinking too. I remember with my first challenge one morning I woke up, went to my son's soccer game and realized that I didn't have a stomach anymore!!! It felt wonderful to sit down and not be conscious of the blub hanging over....well- I can feel that I'm getting to that point again. Sunday morning is my weigh in and measurement day and I can't wait!!! I had an awesome UBW today. I haven't been doing any chest exercises because to be totally honest I don't want my breasts to get any smaller!!!! I know, I know....too much information....but then I realized that I might be neglecting certain parts of my arms and my back so I did chest press and holy !!!! I really feel it since I haven't been working that section of my body. Can't believe we area at the end of our third week!!!!
Hi Everyone....this is the beginning of our fourth weeK!!! WOO HOO! I took my measurements and weight yesterday before commencing my "free" day and in THREE weeks I am down 1.5 lbs + 2 inches gone off my waist AND decreased my fat percentage 2%. I expected more but at the same time I am really happy with progress....I feel good, I'm more active and I just have to keep challenging myself.... how about everyone else? Who is still with me?
Is every one still here? Joe are we doing?
Yep, I'm still here. Had a great upper body W/O this morning - have gone up on dumbell size for all muscle groups, so that feels like progress. Also becoming more organised (= less proscrastination). Hang in there, everyone.
Deb
Great job deb! I am going to bump up today as well. Have to get my workout in after work
Had a great UBW tonight but my willpower is totally being challenged! My lazy self keeps trying to talk me into eating what I shouldn't and reminds me how tired I am while I'm doing my workouts. But I'm not listening! Its hard going from FREE day right into a weight workout....I have to do a little cardio just to get into the mindset of exercise. Since I weighed and measured on Sunday and saw a little progress I'm motivated to get to the point where I was when I finished my first challenge...I feel like all I'm doing now is playing catch up....I've been here before.....but when I get to where I left off- then it will all be new and exciting again. Just have to stay motivated and get there!! Please post ....you help motivate me :)
Hi everyone!
NAME Nancy Davis
AGE 41
LOCATION Charlottesville, VA
OCCUPATION Homemaker
GOAL 25 pounds
WHY Multiple reasons: To enjoy and keep up with my small kids, to be able to wear my wedding ring again (almost there! another 10 lbs. I bet!), to go to the pool without being ashamed, to wear shorts in the summer instead of pants, to not feel so dragged down by my weight, for more energy
I have went from a size 18/maternity XL clothes to a size 12! I feel great! I still have a long way to go but I didn't get this way overnight, it won't come off overnight. People are really starting to notice a change. I can go to the mall now and not think negative thoughts to myself such as, "Wow, I am the biggest person here, or, if I looked like that person I would be happy".
I have 4 bins of clothes in a size 8 that I have held onto since before my 6yo was born. It is my determination to get rid of the extra weight and get back into them. Although, the styles might be totally outdated for all I know. :)
One thing that my last challenge group did is most of them put their scales away shortly after starting. Everyone was kind of getting on a yo-yo depression after their free day and then working so hard to get back to the way they were towards the end of the week. We were all kind of glum at the beginning of every week even though we were consistently losing weight and gaining muscle week to week. A few people not only put up their scales but bought pants a size smaller than they had and would try them on every week. I did that too and it was actually really fun.
Has anyone ever used one of those fitness bug things that you put on your arm and it tells you your calories out, sleeping and activity? If so, any recommendations?
Hang in there!
"It's my choice what I eat today. It's my choice if I work out today, or how hard I work out today. Nobody else can make that choice for me. How important are my goals to me? My actions answer that question. "
Diane33 - Hang in there! You are doing great. I'm trying to get over the lack of willpower hump myself. I personally think week 4 and 5 are the hardest. The initial excitement of change has worn off, and the big changes haven't started happening yet. But we can do it! Week 8 is the big change week, and we're just a few short weeks away!
Keep going everybody! And thank you for your posts. They definitely keep me going.
Sorry for the two posts in a row, but I realized I haven't done my bio post yet.
NAME Kelsie
AGE 22
LOCATION Salt Lake City, Ut
OCCUPATION Project Clerk for a Construction Company (but getting my masters in school counseling)
GOAL 20 pounds
WHY I used to dance almost every day, and as a result I was thin and had a ton of muscle. Ever since I quit about 6 yeras ago, it's all gone downhill. I haven't been overly confident since then, and I want to get back to a place where I am happy with my body. I also am extremely uncomfortable letting others (specifically guys, to be perfectly honest) get close to me because I don't feel attractive enough. So my hope to is to get to a place where I am comfortable with myself, and hopefully other aspects of my life will fall into place.
Anyway, I'm happy we are all in this together! Thanks again!
another week almost gone, keep up the good work everyone!! Have a great mothers day and weekend! :)
Happy Mother's Day everyone.....enjoy your free day! How is everyone doing? Things are moving slowly for me....as far as weight loss goes but I feel better and my belly is definitely shrinking. I'm eating a lot healthier....but have to focus more on planning ahead. The exercise is going well....I've increased weights in the LBW and a few in the UBW. Right now I'm going kayaking with my daughter - trying to be more active on my Free Day, because it's so hard to start up on Monday!
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies!!!
Dianne33 - small boobs?? Me too - like really small! BUT the chest exercises will actually help your pectorals become stronger and even stick out a little, so what little boobs we do have, will stick out on top of that muscle! And chest is a big muscle group, so don't skip it. It really doesn't bother me that my boobs are small, but I know for others it can be an issue. I do have a few wkout tops with padding, that helps to make me feel more womanly, but again like I said, I honestly don't care as much as I do about getting lean!
1/3 of the way! It sounds like we are all wanting more progress but we are also making progress regardless. I have definitely gained strength and see some really nice definition in my arms, shoulders etc., saw my legs one day and they looked okay (this is my problem area) and my abs were starting to poke through (I was trying to show my husband my "six pack" - it is under there somewhere - by flexing my stomach muscles but I peed a little -it was pretty funny - sorry if tmi). But I have also had a few setbacks where I didn't give it my all on a workout or overate at times, and I know if those things didn't happen, I would have more visible progress, BUT I HAVE made progress despite those setbacks AND it has helped me to learn about how we work. I overate because my meals weren't available and I was hungry, or I was tired. So from this I learn and have regained some motivation. Last week was a bad one for motivation and felt like reverting to old habits, but having these small setbacks has taught me to keep going and has made me remember why I am doing this. I want to feel great and I know I can with this program. I felt awesome at the end of almost every week, then miserable after the free day., sometimes for a few day, but I am taking it week by week, with the goal of feeling great by Saturday, and then to not go overboard on my free day. This weekend I didn't go overboard but then also had a day or two during the week that I had unauthorized food, nothing crazy, but just not part of the plan, so I think that is why I held back a little this Saturday. I plan to go by the book this week so that I can really enjoy my free day, yet still not go too crazy. Getting stronger by the day though - loving it!
Good luck to all and hang in there - eating this way and working out intensely can only be a positive thing, so keep going, and please don't let the setbacks ruin you - everyone has them - we are only human - and we learn from them!
Happy week 4!!!!
Hi everyone.....
I've been active this week but got thrown off track a little. A few moms on my son's soccer team invited me to join them during our kids practice to jog with them....this was Monday....I should have been in the gym doing UBW...but I didn't want to be a party pooper and I thought about this plan being a life-style change and to me that means flexibility. It wasn't like I just stayed at home and watched the Bachelorette! So Tuesday I went to the gym and did cardio and today UBW. I changed up ALL of my UB exercises and I really feel it. I think it's true when they say that your body gets used to the same exercise. Eventhough I'm working the same muscle group.....the different exercises stimulated a different part of the muscle or something!!!! Anyway I hope all of you are working hard and hanging in there. I'm going to switch my workouts to the morning from now on....which I kind of dread because the guy working the AM shift at my YMCA is a little creepy and I've been avoiding him. But I'll be sure to have time to get all of my workout in and it will be better for my family. I'm really needed around here in the evening! I'll just stick my headphones in and ignore him! I'll let you know how it goes.........