CONTEST 2!!!!

I started contest 2 of Body For Life yesterday. Have eaten clean and exercised hard. Having a little bit of sugar withdrawls and want a piece of that zucchini bread I made for my family tonight. But not having it. No siree...I want to be a size 6 more.

I will be posting stats soon. I gained just like I suspected over my 2 week binge. Back on the horse and riding fast!!!! I will be there June 28th!!!

I found this quote....

on a blog of a man that does BFL. I love the quote!!! I am putting it where I can see it daily.

"I am not a quitter, regardless of how many times I stumble." - Bonwitty

I'm back!

I had an injury to my back that left me out of the gym for 2 weeks. Then I exercised and tried to eat right but I fell off the wagon.

I am jumping back on this Sunday the 3rd. FULL FORCE. I have 3 goals that I will reach by the end of June.

1. I will go to the gym 6 days a week and will work my HARDEST.
2. I will eat clean the BFL way 6 days a week for 12 weeks.
3. I will be leaner and stronger and smaller in 12 weeks. Goal is 2 sizes smaller.

Feeling better

My back is still sore but I am doing my normal daily activities. I am going to try the elliptical machine today for cardio since it is non-jarring and shouldn't put much pressure on my discs. I am afraid to try lifting but will tomorrow and see how it goes.

I have reaffirmed my commitment to losing weight and have changed up my diet starting yesterday. I am determined to lose 20 lbs in the next 3 months.

And after vacation...

I have herniated my disc again in my back. Grr.

I worked out on vacation so that I would not lose a week of muscle and endurance. The FIRST day back at the gym I did a seated oblique machine and twisted, and pulled my disc. Damn it.

I haven't exercised since Tuesday. I was flat on my back all day Wednesday and wore my back brace yesterday but was at least walking around. Today I feel a little worse than yesterday so I will try and not strain too hard.

Damn it.

Went on vacation....

Mexico was fabulous!!! Warm weather, relaxation, good exercise OUTSIDE and at their gym. Played in the water and spent time with my husband and children. It was MUCH needed. Loved it.

Fine Line

I have been completely submerged into the BFL program for a while now. It is on my mind ALL THE TIME. Wanting to lose the extra pounds is a constant thought.

I guess I vocalize those thoughts too often. My little 5 year old girl has begun to comment on how she needs to exercise more and asked if she is fat. All my girls are very thin except her. She is a built a little bigger than the rest but is by no means fat. Her face is very round with cute squishy cheeks and it makes her appear larger than she is. It breaks my heart to have her question her self image. She has been asking if things have too much sugar in them and commenting that she should have an apple instead of this or that. We eat very healthy 90% of the time. I allow my children sugary snacks sometimes.

I think I need to keep my thoughts to myself and not talk about it. The reasons for doing this is #1: To be healthy, live long and feel good and #2: To be a healthy example to my girls. Yes I am trying to live healthier but vocalizing it so much is not healthy for my girls. REALITY CHECK.

Road Block

I haven't been missing my workouts and put a lot of effort into them.

My eating however is not 100% clean. I know this is why I am not dropping the pounds and seeing fabulous transformation changes. People sometimes wonder why they aren't losing..it is because we are not putting into our mouth the nourishment we need and putting into our mouth the nourishment we don't need.

I have hit a roadblock. I am leaving for vacation this weekend and for some mental reason I have allowed myself to veer off the path of complete clean eating. I know it will be difficult to eat the BFL on vacation. I know when I get back I will be able to stick to the plan. I don't get why I am weak in this area, but I am.

Week 7 Stats

1/2/11..................................2/19/11
Weight: 168.8...........................Weight: 158.8 (+0.4 for week, - 10.0 total)
BodyFat %: 37.42........................Body Fat %: 32.06
BMI: 29.0 overweight....................BMI: 27.1 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4............................Neck: 12 6/16
Bust: 38 1/4............................Bust: 37
Waist: 32 3/4...........................Waist: 31
Stomach: 41 1/2.........................Stomach: 38 3/4
Lower Hips: 43..........................Lower Hips: 41
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16..............R U Thigh: 24
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/4...............R L Thigh: 18 1/4
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16...............L U Thigh: 24
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/4................L L Thigh: 18 1/4
Right Bicep: 12 1/16....................R Bicep: 12
Left Bicep: 12 1/16.....................L Bicep: 12
Right Calve: 15 3/4.....................R Calve: 15 1/4
Left Calve: 15 3/4......................L Calve: 15 1/4

I gained a little this week. Damn it. I did lose 1/2 inch in my hips! Some off my calves a little off the neck. The hips loss makes me happy. I did harder cardio this week than I ever have but I know I didn't eat as clean as I should have. It sure shows on the scale when you eat more sugar or carbs than I should.

Zumba

Last night I tried Zumba! It was a great cardio workout and a lot fun! My booty doesn't quite move the way the instructors did but I definately have enough of it that it should!!

Best HIIT yet!

This morning I feel INVIGORATED! I did my 20 min HIIT and hit highs. I feel myself becoming stronger and healthier.

After my HIIT I did 7 sets of sprints. 7.0 for 1 min each with 45 sec rests in between. I returned home and my husband commented that I must have worked hard because the back of my shirt was all wet.

I feel fabulous. I love this feeling again.

Week 6 Stats

1/2/11..................................2/12/11
Weight: 168.8...........................Weight: 158.4 (-1.4 for week, - 10.4 total)
BodyFat %: 37.42........................Body Fat %: 32.06
BMI: 29.0 overweight....................BMI: 27.1 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4............................Neck: 12 1/2
Bust: 38 1/4............................Bust: 37
Waist: 32 3/4...........................Waist: 31
Stomach: 41 1/2.........................Stomach: 38 3/4
Lower Hips: 43..........................Lower Hips: 41 1/2
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16..............R U Thigh: 24
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/4...............R L Thigh: 18 1/4
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16...............L U Thigh: 24 2/16
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/4................L L Thigh: 18 1/4
Right Bicep: 12 1/16....................R Bicep: 12
Left Bicep: 12 1/16.....................L Bicep: 12
Right Calve: 15 3/4.....................R Calve: 15 1/2
Left Calve: 15 3/4......................L Calve: 15 1/2

At least I lost some this week. I really am noticing a difference in my abs, back and thighs. It doesn't show much in the photos, but I can feel it working on the inside. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I will see a noticable difference. I am a little scared because the starting of week 8 when you are supposed to really start to change is when I will be on vacation. I will have to work extra hard at watching what I eat and exercise while I am there. I can't imagine I won't want to work out though! I crave it!

Stress

Yep it is official. I am a stress eater. Stress with my teenage daughter and trying to manage 5 children and a husband and a house and bills and...ya we all know the daily stuff. I ended up thinking about my problems a lot yesterday and ended up eating a small Kit Kat and a Diet Dr. Pepper. I feel guilty.

This morning I did 15 mins on the elliptical and then my HIIT 20 mins on the treadmill. I ran faster than normal and it felt really good to let go of some of that stress. It felt A LOT better than eating that chocolate and soda. Why do I turn to food? I was pretty upset with myself and when I got home after work, I had to unwind so I watched my recored show "The Office", which by the way is damn funny, and thought of diving into the Doritos in the closet. But I didn't. I wasn't hungry and I knew I was just trying to mask stress. I'm glad I didn't do it and recognized it. Too bad I had eaten the chocolate but that is part of life. Making mistakes and moving forward.

I will get to my goal. Someday.

Drenched in happiness

Today I did 20 mins on the elliptical and couldn't quite reach a "10". I felt the burn and my heart was racing but not that ten feeling.

SOOOO...I got on the treadmill and did HIIT for 20 mins. I hit 10's and felt so empowered! I ran faster than normal and with more ease. I was drenched when I was finished from both machines and I felt amazing. I felt happy. I feel happy.

I love Body For Life.

Feeling down

I have reached a point where I have teetered between 157 and 165 for so long now that I feel like I haven't made any progress and will forever be at the size I am. All the extra early morning workouts are very difficult and eating different than my large family is mentally hard. I want to throw in the towel and just say, "I am this weight, I might as well enjoy life instead of stressing." I hope I don't and will move forward but with all that us on my daily plate of taking care of 5 children and nurturing a marriage takes almost all my energy.

I'm tired. If I don't see changes soon, I'm afraid I will give up.

Week 5 Stats

1/2/11..................................2/5/11
Weight: 168.8...........................Weight: 159.8 (-2.0 for week, - 9.0 total)
BodyFat %: 37.42........................Body Fat %: 32.67
BMI: 29.0 overweight....................BMI: 27.3 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4............................Neck: 12 1/2
Bust: 38 1/4............................Bust: 37
Waist: 32 3/4...........................Waist: 31
Stomach: 41 1/2.........................Stomach: 38 3/4
Lower Hips: 43..........................Lower Hips: 41 3/4
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16..............R U Thigh: 24 1/4
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/4...............R L Thigh: 18 1/4
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16...............L U Thigh: 24 6/16
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/4................L L Thigh: 18 1/4
Right Bicep: 12 1/16....................R Bicep: 12
Left Bicep: 12 1/16.....................L Bicep: 12
Right Calve: 15 3/4.....................R Calve: 15 10/16
Left Calve: 15 3/4......................L Calve: 15 1/2

I almost lost all that I gained the week before. It has really made me realize that all the VERY hard work it takes to lose I certainly don't want to have setbacks and gains. It is too hard to work it back off. On a high note, I have lost 7.95 inches and 9 lbs! I do want to celebrate that I have made changes even if they are not exactly what I hoped they would be by now.

Week 5 going strong

So far this week my workouts have been pretty intense. I am feeling stronger and have bumped up my speed on my HIIT and the weight on my lifting.

I have been good on my diet and plan to continue doing my best. I am hoping I can drop the weight that I gained last week. I wish I hadn't let myself not give 100%. It sets you back and is simply not worth it!!

Week 4 Stats

1/2/11..................................1/29/11
Weight: 168.8...........................Weight: 162.0 (+2.6 for week, - 6.8 total)
BodyFat %: 37.42........................Body Fat %: 32.67
BMI: 29.0 overweight....................BMI: 27.8 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4............................Neck: 12 1/2
Bust: 38 1/4............................Bust: 37 1/2
Waist: 32 3/4...........................Waist: 31 1/2
Stomach: 41 1/2.........................Stomach: 38 3/4
Lower Hips: 43..........................Lower Hips: 42
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16..............R U Thigh: 24 1/4
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/4...............R L Thigh: 18 1/4
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16...............L U Thigh: 24 1/4
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/4................L L Thigh: 18 1/2
Right Bicep: 12 1/16....................R Bicep: 12
Left Bicep: 12 1/16.....................L Bicep: 12
Right Calve: 15 3/4.....................R Calve: 15 3/4
Left Calve: 15 3/4......................L Calve: 15 3/4

Pretty mad at myself. I exercised but not as hard as I should have. I ate less than I have been but I gained. I think I messed up my metabolism. I am ready to get back on the program 100%!!! I want to see myself get under 154 by the end of February. I haven't been below that mark since before I had my last 3 girls. It has been 6 1/2 years!!!

A reason I love to run.

Being a Mom is so stressful. You worry about everything. Whether your children will grow up to be happy, productive people. Whether or not you are helping them be good people or if you are destroying them on a daily basis.

My kids are all good kids who sometimes don't make great choices. I think I know where they get that from.

I can't wait to run today. I am going to run for an hour and hopefully feel better at the end and can take on tonight and tomorrow.

"sigh".

Week 3 Stats

1/2/11..................................1/22/11
Weight: 168.8...........................Weight: 159.4 (-2.0 for week, -9.4 total)
BodyFat %: 37.42........................Body Fat %: 32.30 (-5.12%!!!!!)
BMI: 29.0 overweight....................BMI: 27.3 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4............................Neck: 12 10/16
Bust: 38 1/4............................Bust: 37 1/2
Waist: 32 3/4...........................Waist: 31 1/2
Stomach: 41 1/2.........................Stomach: 38 3/4
Lower Hips: 43..........................Lower Hips: 42 1/4
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16..............R U Thigh: 25
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/4...............R L Thigh: 18 1/2
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16...............L U Thigh: 24
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/4................L L Thigh: 18 1/2
Right Bicep: 12 1/16....................R Bicep: 12
Left Bicep: 12 1/16.....................L Bicep: 12
Right Calve: 15 3/4.....................R Calve: 15 3/4
Left Calve: 15 3/4......................L Calve: 15 3/4

I have lost 9.4 pounds in 3 weeks! I am extremely excited! The loss of 5% body fat is really making me happy too!!! Woo Hoo!!!

My pants are getting looser, my belly is getting smaller. My butt and legs feel stronger and leaner. My bust doesn't feel as full and I like it. I don't feel as suffocated by them! LOL

Bad news though, I have injured my left shoulder and it hurts really bad. I was up 3 times in the night because of it. My brother in law who is an orthopaedic surgeon things it may be a torn rotator cuff. I will probably have to go to the Dr. this week. I hope this won't slow my progress. Today I did a lot of squats and stair lunges, calve raises and sit ups and crunches. I didn't want to use weight on my upper body because I don't want to injure myself more.

Week 3 photos: AUGH!
Week 1
Week 3
Week 1
Week 3
Week 1
Week 3

Sabbotage

I think I hate myself or something. Everytime I am on a roll, doing everything I need to be I eat crappy. I get up at 4:45 and hit the gym HARD 6 days a week. I am literally sore from head to toe all the time because I really push myself. I eat clean most of the time and then I have a SABBOTAGE moment and eat terrible. Yesterday I had a Chicken Baja Burrito from Rubios and it was 660 calories! Then for dinner..tada..3 pancakes with sugar free syrup. As if the sugar free part will spare me from all the carbs I ate!

I tracked my calories in Sparkpeople yesterday ate a grand total of 2160! UGH!

I promise myself to be kinder the rest of the week to my body. Eat healthy and try and lose 1 lb.

Week 2 Stats

1/2/11..................................1/15/11
Weight: 168.8...........................Weight: 161.4 (.2 for week, 7.4 total)
BodyFat %: 37.42........................Body Fat %: 34.07 (-3.35%!!!!!)
BMI: 29.0 overweight....................BMI: 27.6 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4............................Neck: 12 10/16
Bust: 38 1/4............................Bust: 38
Waist: 32 3/4...........................Waist: 31 1/2
Stomach: 41 1/2.........................Stomach: 40
Lower Hips: 43..........................Lower Hips: 42 3/4
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16..............R U Thigh: 25
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/4...............R L Thigh: 18 1/2
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16...............L U Thigh: 25
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/4................L L Thigh: 18 1/2
Right Bicep: 12 1/16....................R Bicep: 12
Left Bicep: 12 1/16.....................L Bicep: 12
Right Calve: 15 3/4.....................R Calve: 15 3/4
Left Calve: 15 3/4......................L Calve: 15 3/4

In a nutshell:
-.2 lbs....boo, I hate to not see that number drop
-3.35% body fat...makes me feel terrific!
-0.00 BMI (due to no weight loss)
-5.10 inches!

I can definately feel a difference in my waist and stomach area. My legs are feeling a lot stronger and more muscle underneath the skin. I am feeling more confident mentally and love going to the gym. If this is only week 2, just guess what the next 10 are going to make me feel like!

The Damn Scale

So I weighed this morning. I know I shouldn't have and now I really know it was the wrong thing to do. It makes me want to just eat tortilla chips and salsa because with all the hard work I have done, it doesn't reflect in my weight. Pisses me off.

I have been to the gym every morning this week at 5am and PUSHED myself and I am sore from my hair folicles to my toenails. I have eaten clean all week. I even had veggies and fruit instead of pie and ice cream at my husbands birthday party. I skipped all refreshments at the bridal shower last night that I attended. I have drank copius amounts of water. The only mess up I had was a diet Dr. Pepper one day. I HAVE STILL GAINED 1/2 A POUND SINCE MONDAY!!!! I am livid!

I know, I know, I might be gaining muscle, it might be that I am on my period and retaining water. I DON'T CARE. I STILL GAINED 1/2 A POUND!

I am not quitting though. And I am hiding the damn scale until Saturday morning.

Gasping for breath!

Having not been consistant over the holidays at the gym has left me gasping on the treadmill! I do not like this feeling!!! So glad I am back at it.

BTW..the gym is way overcrowded. Must be all the New Years Resolutioners. Part of me wants it to clear out because I HATE crowds but part of me likes to see people trying to be healthy.

Week 1

Pretty happy about the scale weight which is obviously water and weaning off the soda. I only lost. .75 inch. Hey it is week one and I am feeling good about starting again and working hard! Look at my BMI though. Big change. Feels good!

Weight: 161.6 (lost 7.2 lbs!)
BodyFat %: 37.42
BMI: 27.6 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4
Bust: 38 1/4
Waist: 32 3/4
Stomach: 41 1/2
Lower Hips: 43
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/4
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/4
Right Bicep: 12 1/16
Left Bicep: 12 1/16
Right Calve: 15 3/4
Left Calve: 15 3/4

Ate at a Mexican restaurant for dinner for my cheat meal and it was wonderful. But I was full before I finished it and had to drink a ton of water afterward. I feel ready for the next week!

Sore, sore, sore!!!

My chest, shoulders and back hurt so bad today! Yesterday I must have pushed myself harder than I thought which is great! I had to soak this morning after my HIIT because my whole body is in pain. Thankfully tomorrow is my rest day (and cheat day!) and hopefully I will be ready for more on Sunday. Well, whether I am ready or not I am going to do it!

Finally I can see a light again. I go back and forth with motivation but today I can see a future where I feel healthy and fit again.

I will be posting my stats again tomorrow for week 1! Excited to see the results!

My NEW 12 Week Beginning Stats

I will be posting before photos soon.

Jan. 2nd 2011

Beginning Weight: 168.8 (yep I have gained over 10 lbs)
Body Fat %: 37.42
BMI: 29.0 overweight
Neck: 12 3/4
Bust: 38 1/4
Waist: 32 3/4
Stomach: 41 3/4
Lower Hips: 43
Right Bicep: 12 1/16
Left Bicep: 12 1/16
Right Upper Thigh: 25 2/16
Right Lower Thigh: 18 1/2
Left Upper Thigh: 25 1/16
Left Lower Thigh: 18 1/2
Right Calve: 15 3/4
Left Calve: 15 3/4