Week 8 – Day 55 of 84

Today was weigh-in day. I was down another pound this week!! Thrilled. (Total of 5 pounds for this 12 week challenge.)

I’m pretty big on tracking scale weight (which is not something I’m proud of, or recommend), so today I was pleasantly surprised when the pants I wore were loose enough to almost pull off without unbuttoning.  Means more to me than any number on the scale!  I’ve been putting off buying much for “britches” since I want to lose considerably in this area.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1315 (-20)

Ratio = 29% protein/42% carbs/29% fat

I tried a new food today and LOVED it! Hummus.  Have y’all tried it?  I bought two flavors (Roasted Garlic and Roasted Red Pepper) and ate it with baby carrots.

Jodi and I bought some more Joseph’s pitas.  You can’t get them at our (local) Walmart.  We have to drive about 18 miles to the next Walmart to get them.  We’re now buying in bulk and freezing them – we love them that much!  So far, we’ve stuffed them (like you normally do pita bread) as well as used them as mini-thin pizza crust.  For a light snack, we’re going to try cutting them in wedges and toasting them in the toaster oven and eat them with salsa (or a concoction of salsa, fat free sour cream, and guacamole).  Speaking of guacamole, Dave made me an awesome omelet this morning and I topped it with 2 teaspoons of guacamole.  THAT is yummy!!

Today’s Workout: Cardio

I stayed home again today (instead of going to the gym) and did BFL intervals on my home treadmill.  I have been so lazy about Saturday workouts in the past year or so that it is a major milestone for me to get it done. So, I was patting myself on the back for making it two weeks in a row.

Tomorrow is Free Day… then on to Week 9 (rest/recovery).

Week 8 – Day 54 of 84

We went out with Gary and Jodi tonight.  Our plan was to eat at Chili’s and order from the Guiltless menu, BUT, the restaurant was FULL and the wait was forever, so we ended up at the Pizza Hut.  We opted for a thin crust pizza, with Canadian bacon and mushrooms and a salad (water to drink).

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1511 (+176)

Ratio = 25% protein/46% carbs/29% fat

Today’s Workout: B2

Tomorrow is the last of Week 8.  Week 9 will be a rest/recovery week.  Weeks 10-12 we’ll be switching workouts again. 

Can I just say how HAPPY I am to have this B2 workout over with?!  Those Get-ups are just the pits!!

Week 8 – Day 53 of 84

It’s hard to believe we’re 53 days in.  It seems to be flying now.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1323 (-12)

Ratio = 33% protein/39% carbs/28% fat

Today’s Workout: Cardio (Intervals)

I got a book in the mail today regarding women and their hormones and how that works into effective health and weight loss.  I’m SO excited to read it.  I’ve come to believe that hormones are VERY powerful in a woman’s life.

Week 8 – Day 52 of 84

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1288 (-47)

Ratio = 27% protein/47% carbs/27% fat

Today’s Workout: B1

Week 8 – Day 51 of 84

I’m pretty happy with my eats today!!

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1315 (-15)

Ratio = 36% protein/41% carbs/23% fat

Today’s Workout: Cardio (Intervals)

Here’s what the menu looked like today:

B = RTD shake, medium banana

MM = Soup

L = Chicken breast, Salad (romaine lettuce with broccoli, tomatoes, 1/2 serving of Caesar Vinaigrette dressing)

MM = Protein bar

S = Salad (romaine lettuce with tomatoes, 1/2 serving of CV dressing) and a pita pizza made with a (YUMMY) Joseph’s pita, pizza sauce, 2% cottage cheese, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, pineapple tidbits, and 2% mozzarella cheese

MM = Protein pudding with a dollop of cool whip

Week 8 – Day 50 of 84

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1383 (+48)

Ratio = 29% protein/44% carbs/27% fat

Today’s Workout: B2

Week 7 – Day 49 of 84

My motivation for week 8…

This is Cheryl Muhr.  Cheryl took her body from the photo on the left to the photo on the right in ONE 12 week challenge!! That’s motivation, people!

Bring on week 8.

Week 7 – Day 48 of 84

Today was weigh-in day.  I also took measurements, which I hadn’t done in 4 weeks.  I was pleasantly surprised.

My weight was down 1 pound for the week (a total of 4 pounds in this seven week period).  Not stellar, but it is a downward trend.  My measurements had moved a bit, though.  So far in 7 weeks, I have had the following changes in measurement:

• Scale weight – down 4 pounds
• Chest – down 1/4”
• Waist – down 1/4”
• Abdomen (at naval) – down 1/2”
• Hips (at hip bone) – down 1 1/4” (Yipee!)
• Hips (at fullest part) – down 1/2”
• Thigh – down 1/4”
• Calf – down 1/4”
• Ankle – down 1/4”
• Bicep – down 1/2”
• Forearm – down 1/4”

That goes to show you that pounds on the scale are not THE best gauge for measuring your fitness success.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1339 (+4)

Ratio = 30% protein/50% carbs/19% fat

Today’s Workout: Cardio

I stayed home (instead of going to the gym) and did BFL intervals on my home treadmill.  Felt good to follow through on a Saturday workout.

Tomorrow is FREE day… and my favorite Mexican restaurant!  Then, on to week 8 of 12!

Week 7 – Day 47 of 84

I was at the hospital with a church member this morning (and had a bit of an upset stomach), so I got started slowly on my eating today.  But, I ended up getting in all my calories.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1338 (+3)

Ratio = 29% protein/53% carbs/18% fat

Today’s Workout: B1

Supersets (3x12):

1. Step Ups with Rear lunges

2. Dumbbell pullover with Swiss rear delt flyes

3. T-ups with Swiss ball crunches

Only one week left of these workouts.  I won’t miss B2, but I really enjoy the B1 workout.

Week 7 – Day 46 of 84

I was pretty happy with my eating today…

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1324 (-11)

Ratio = 32% protein/45% carbs/23% fat

Today’s Workout: Cardio (Intervals)

My motivation is still high.  Lovin’ that!

Week 7 – Day 45 of 84

My eating was on target again today.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1335 (+0)

Ratio = 32% protein/45% carbs/23% fat

Today’s Workout: B2

It was the dreaded “Get-ups” again today.  Have I mentioned how tough those are?? We’ve had a few people at the gym remark on our workouts lately.  I think it’s all the moaning and groaning.

Tomorrow is cardio.  After today’s B2 workout, I’m thankful that Friday’s B1 workout is halfway enjoyable!!

Week 7 – Day 44 of 84

Eating was good today.  It doesn’t take long to add up to 1335 calories, though.  Counting, counting, counting!

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1351 (+16)

Ratio = 32% protein/45% carbs/24% fat

Today’s Workout: Cardio (Intervals)

I’m feeling a little more motivated this week to stick to the eating plan and keep plugging along. I will admit, that it gets especially hard to stay motivated when you’re doing all the right things, but the weight just won’t come off. 

But, here’s what motivates me…

I LOVE LOVE LOVE abs and arms!!

 

And these women are around my age… Dara Torres (41), and my fitness idol, Tosca Reno is almost 50!

    

 

Week 6 – Day 42 of 84

End of week 6.  We’re at the half-way mark in this 12-week challenge.  I was down a half a pound for the week.  A total of 3 pounds so far.  I’m not impressed.  Workouts are going great… but, I was up a bit on calories Friday (Pizza Hut), Saturday (we went to Little Rock for a boat show and we ate out two meals), and today was Free Day.

Tomorrow is a fast day.  I’m so getting tired of counting every morsel going in to my mouth.  My mind is thinking about typical “Body for Life” eating again.  There’s no counting, just a lean protein and a good carb at every meal and veggies at at least two meals per day (for a total of 5-6 small meals a day).  I want to finish this 12 weeks as planned, so I’ll try to hang in there with the calorie counting for a while longer… but don’t be shocked if I switch over sooner than later.

On to week 7…

Week 6 – Day 40 of 84

I started off the day eating really well, but then I went to Pizza Hut for supper.  I will say that Pizza Hut must be feeling the recession based on our order.  See my post from tonight for more on that.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1561 (+226)

Ratio = 18% protein/50% carbs/32% fat

Today’s Workout: B2

Supersets (3x12):

Wide leg dead lifts with DB overhead squats (don’t care for these!)

Close grip push ups with dumbbell lateral raises (I love both of these even though they’re hard… they feel productive)

Dumbbell Get ups (Can’t tell you how HARD these are!!) with Swiss ball jack knifes

By the end of this – we are DEAD. Done.

Week 6 – Day 39 of 84

I did pretty good on my eating today.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1330 (-5)

Ratio = 31% protein/47% carbs/22% fat

Today’s Workout: Cardio (Intervals)

We do 35 minutes of intervals.  Five minute warm-up, five minute cool-down, and 25 minutes of intervals in between:

5 minute warm-up

3 minutes at 75% MHR

3 minutes at 55% MHR

4 minutes at 75% MHR

3 minutes at 55% MHR

4 minutes at 75% MHR

3 minutes at 55% MHR

5 minutes at 75% MHR

5 minutes cool-down

Week 6 – Day 38 of 84

I was on target today with my eating.  A bit high on carbs, but right on with calorie count.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1336 (+1)

Ratio = 28% protein/52% carbs/20% fat

Today’s Workout: B1

Supersets (3x12):

1. Step Ups with Rear lunges

2. Dumbbell pullover with Swiss rear delt flyes

3. T-ups with Swiss ball crunches

I love this workout!

Week 6 – Day 37 of 84

I was back to calorie counting again today.  It’s not my favorite thing to do, but it’s necessary at the moment.

Today’s Eats:

Goal = 1335 calories

Actual = 1281 (-54)

Ratio = 22% protein/49% carbs/28% fat

Today’s Workout: Cardio (Intervals)

Week 5 – Day 35 of 84

End of week 5.  Okay, I haven’t done so hot the last nearly two weeks.  With the power being out, my eating was less than desired.  We did get back to working out this week and with the new (tough) weight workouts - we were SO sore!!  Our weight workouts are supersets (3 sets of 12), while our cardio has now moved to 35 minute sessions of interval type training three times a week.

I ended up back up 1.5 pounds this week (a trade-off from last week – UGH!).  Today is CD1, so that may account for part of the weight fluctuation.  It seems every month is a struggle with that.

Tomorrow is a fast day, and then I’ll be back on track with my eating.  The goals for this three week period are a 30% deficit (1330 calories) and I’m shooting for a macronutrient ratio of 35% protein/40% carbs/25% fat.  That’s pretty doable.

How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolution to lose weight?? It’s February, and lots of folks start giving up around this time.  Are you hanging in there??

Week 4 – Day 28 of 84

This has been a long, wild week.  On Tuesday (midday), we lost our power due to a massive ice storm.  Today is Sunday, and we’re still without power … although I’m posting this via our new generator.  We are being frugal with the generator… so I will not be able to post often.

We didn’t do the stretching workouts like we were supposed to this week, since we’ve been digging out from the mess.  David and I worked in our yard hauling out branches and stacking the wood we got from all the tree destruction all day yesterday.  We have lots left to get done. But, this old gal is not so used to all that manual labor!

Anyway, the first part of the week I ate pretty well considering our food was on our back porch and there wasn’t much to pick from or fix with no power.  But, I was down 3 pounds earlier in the week.  On Friday, we just got tired and decided we’d go with Jodi and Gary to our local Breadeaux Pizza place (YUM!) and, let’s just say we ate more carbs than we should have.  So, for the week, I’m down 1.5 pounds.  A total of 4 pounds for this 12 week challenge so far.  Six pounds from goal and we’re starting week 5 tomorrow.  I’m not sure if our gym even has power, so we’ll have to see how that goes.

Please pray for all the people here in Arkansas without power. Some don’t even have heat (my son being one).  We are blessed with wood heat backup and natural gas cooking, etc.  Hopefully, things will be back to normal soon.

Have a great week!