I cheated!

I did it, even though I knew it was a bad idea.  I knew I would regret it and kick myself for it, but I did it anyway.  I cheated on my diet.  It was my sweet baby's first birthday, and I knew I wasn't going to be able to resist his birthday cake.  So I made a day of it.  Five months of clean eating out the window for one day of gleefully eating anything I could get my hands on. And guess what?  It sucked... so, so bad!  

Below is a log of what I ate that day.  My friend, training partner, and neighbor told me this was a pathetic cheat day, but it messed my world (and stomach) up.

Breakfast - 1 banana, 2 pieces of sausage, 2 eggs, 1 corn tortilla, and water. I obviously eased my way into the day and ate a pretty normal breakfast.

Snack - 1 grande, decaf, soy peppermint mocha with no whip cream. DELICIOUS!  I could drink these daily, and I probably used to.

Lunch - an 8-inch club on a sub from Firehouse Subs, a diet caffeine free coke, and 7 Cheetos.  I used to be absolutely in love with Cheetos.  I could only stomach 7 of them before I almost tossed my mocha.  GROSS!  I will never eat Cheetos again as long as I live.  That being said, the diet caffeine free coke was divine, as was the sandwich.

Snack - 1 medium sweet tea, 2 bites of chocolate chip cookie dough, 1 freshly baked chocolate chip cookie, and several bites of my baby boy's birthday cake.  After this nutritious snack, I thought my teeth might rot right out of my head.  My teeth actually hurt, as did my stomach, and my head for that matter.

  

Dinner - 1 bacon cheeseburger from Five Guys, water, and 1 chocolate chip cookie.  I baked the chocolate chip cookies as a Christmas present to my neighbors.  As I was putting them into bags to take  across the street, one broke in half.  I couldn't bring myself to put a broken cookie into a gift bag, so I ate it.  At that moment I decided that I would have rather taken a butt kicking.  I could barely eat the darn cookie.  It was actually painful to finish it.

Shortly after I finished the above-mentioned cookie, I crawled into bed.  I was trying to escape the mental fog that was starting to envelop me.  I felt so incredibly ill that I wanted to go to sleep as quickly as possible.  I wanted to wake up and feel better, but I didn't.  I felt like I had the worst hangover of my life.  I had a headache for THREE days.  My stomach is only starting to get back to normal and it has been over a week.

Will I ever cheat on my diet again and risk feeling terrible?  Probably, but hopefully not until my 365 day challenge is over.  What I can say is that I will never eat as many "cheat" things in one day again, and that's a promise!  

Physical Training Log

I was so excited about posting my five month results last week that I forgot to post my physical training log.  So, here's a twofer; two weeks worth of PT!  Try not to get too excited.

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Run the neighborhood loop + a bit more
= 21:12

* This loop is approximately 1.5 miles.  I added a bit more distance this week.  According to mapmyrun.com, I ran about 2.12 miles.  My goal is to eventually, run this loop twice!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Row x 500 meters
-then-
Power snatch (30 pounds) x 5
Ball slams (25 pounds) x 7
Complete 5 rounds
-then-
Row x 500 meters
= 10:44

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Run to the end of my street and back
-then-
Deadlift (65 pounds) x 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Push press (20 pound dumbbells) x 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
= 12:32

* According to mapmyrun.com, the run portion of this workout was approximately 0.33 miles.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Run the neighborhood loop + quite a bit more
= 28:39

* This loop is approximately 1.5 miles.  I added quite a bit more distance this week.  According to mapmyrun.com, I ran about 2.8 miles.  Last week, I only ran 2.12 miles.  Yay me!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Run to the neighborhood sign and back
-then-
Back squat (30 pounds) x 10
Pushups (knee) x 10
Burpees x 5
Complete 5 rounds
= 13:13

* According to mapmyrun.com, the run portion of this workout was approximately 0.47 miles.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Run to the neighbor's mailbox and back
Jump squats x 10
Sit-ups x 10
Complete 5 rounds
= 12:45

* According to mapmyrun.com, the run portion of this workout was approximately 0.85 miles.

Have a great weekend!!

It's been 5 MONTHS!

Can you believe it has been five months since I began this insane journey? I never thought I'd actually make it one month, let alone five.  But, here I am, almost half-way through!  It is shocking to me that I have eaten clean for this long.  For five months, I have resisted the things that I thought I couldn't live without.  I have been to parties, gone out to dinner, I've made it through Thanksgiving, and I've made homemade cookies three times, all without slipping off the program!  I have to say, the results of my hard work are great!  Sorry to toot my own horn, but I think they're pretty impressive.  In five months, I have lost 14 pounds.  That is an average of 2.8 pounds per month.  Honestly, I really wasn't expecting this!    

The results are somewhat astounding if you look at where I was a year ago. One year ago TODAY, I gave birth to my sweet, wonderful baby boy.  I weighed 195 pounds.  In one year, I have lost 49 pounds.  Yes, some of that weight can be attributed to my son and pregnancy, but not all of it.  The parts not attributed to him can be directly connected to the over-consumption of macaroni and cheese and iced sugar cookies.  

My sweet boy the day after he was born.

My little boy is growing up too fast!

I will say that my weight loss has me unhappy for one reason... muscle loss. It's been about two months since I've lifted heavy weights.  I know muscle loss accounts for some of my current weight loss.  Don't be surprised if my weight loss stalls or my numbers go back up when I start to lift again come January.  I certainly won't be surprised.  Muscle does weigh more than fat.

I've decided to allow myself a one-day diet "cheat" pass.  I will complete a food log and blog post detailing what I've consumed during this 24-hour period.  I was originally going to give myself a five-day pass, but I don't trust myself for that long.  I am afraid five days of bad eating will push me back into old habits.  I wouldn't be surprised if my "cheat" day is pathetic. The only things I want are Starbucks and a club sandwich.  I am sure I'll think of a few things between now and then.

Stay tuned in January for posts about alcohol and keeping New Year's Resolutions.  I am going to do a better job of posting educational blog posts more often.

Cheers!

Physical Training Log

This week's physical training log is... BLANK!  Due to life circumstances, I didn't get to work out a single day this week.  Boo!  Classes, sickness, errands, and life got in the way.  There's been a chill in the air each morning, and I can hardly wait to breath it in when I run this weekend. I'll be back in the gym next week, so watch for a new physical training log. Also, stay tuned for my FIVE month progress update!  Have a super weekend!

Reprieve

So.... I am considering giving myself a Flab to Fab reprieve for five days.  I would begin on my sweet baby's FIRST birthday (December 21) and go through Christmas day.  I don't want to go nutty with bad food consumption.  I just want to be able to eat one or two naughty things each day.  I was originally considering giving myself a one day pass on Christmas day.  However, I fear that if I only give myself one day, I will eat so much junk that I'll make myself sick.  If I do allow myself to do this, I will complete a food log for those five days.  This will allow you to see what kind of trouble I've gotten myself into.  I guarantee I will end up in some type of sugar induced coma.

If I start on December 21, I will have eaten according to my Flab to Fab rules for F-I-V-E months.  That's a long time to be a good girl.  I realize Santa is watching me, but I am not worried about Santa thinking I am naughty.  I believe his cookie consumption is quite high this time of year. But, I am curious about what you think?  Please comment below!

I will likely be stuffing my face (just like this) for five days!

Physical Training Log

Happy Friday!  It is almost the weekend!  Hooray!  Here are the workouts I reluctantly completed this week.  We had family in town, and I always try to use that as an excuse not to workout.  Luckily for me, I got off my hiney and hit the gym.

As always, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Run the neighborhood loop + a bit more

= 20:33

* This loop is approximately 1.5 miles.  I added a bit more distance this week.  According to mapmyrun.com, I ran about 2.05 miles.  This run was hard, but my brother ran with me, so that was fun!  Remember, my goal is to run the loop twice. 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Run to my neighbor's mailbox and back

Complete as many burpees as you can until your training partner returns from their run
Complete 4 rounds
= 14:59

* I did 17 burpees each round for a total of 68 burpees.  YUCK!  My awesome training partner did a total of 86 burpees!  She's a rock star!

* According to mapmyrun.com, the distance to my neighbors mailbox and back is approximately 0.13 miles.  So my total distance running was about 0.52 miles.

Thursday, December 7, 2012

Row x 250 meters
Snatch balance (24 pounds) x 10
Knees to elbows x 5
Complete 5 rounds
= 13:50

* I only did snatch balances for 3 rounds.  I switched to back squat for the remaining 2 rounds because my wrists felt like they were going to explode.  No bueno!

* Here is a video demonstrating the snatch balance.  http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/cfj-nov-05/snatch-balance.wmv

Physical Training Log

Hello everyone!  After having a week off from physical training, I reluctantly got back to it this week.  It actually felt pretty good to work out, and it served as a nice stress reliever for me.

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Run the neighborhood loop + a bit more
= 19:01

* This loop is approximately 1.5 miles.  I added a bit more distance this week.  According to mapmyrun.com, I ran about 1.93 miles.  Sweet!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Snatch to overhead squat (24 pounds) x 5
Pushups (knee) x 10
Run to my neighbors mailbox and back
Complete 5 rounds
= 13:49

* The distance to my neighbors mailbox and back (according to mapmyrun.com) is approximately 0.13 miles.  So my total distance running was about 0.65 miles.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Row x 1000 meters
-then-
Thrusters (24 pounds) x 10
Sit-ups x 10
Complete 5 rounds
= 10:37

*The row was a buy-in to complete the workout, so I only rowed one time for 1000 meters.

Have a super weekend!!

Thanksgiving highs and lows

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I can reflect on how things went.  We traveled to Tennessee to spend the holiday with my in-laws.  I always love going there, and getting to spend time with a great group of people. Here are some highs and lows from the trip:

Highs

• I did not eat one morsel of food that was not on my flab to fab plan!  This is the biggest high for me!  I said "no" to coconut cake, my mother-in-law's famous chocolate cake, stuffing muffins, sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes.  It was very difficult to do, especially because I eat when I am stressed.  You will see why I was so stressed in the lows below.  If you are curious what I ate, here is a small list: ham, turkey, baked sweet potato, beans, green beans, carrots, and paleo stuffing (delicious!).  I am sure I am missing something, but the point is, I did not starve! 
• We got to see the majority of my husband's family.  As I have previously gushed, they are a wonderful group of people who have welcomed me into their family with open arms.  Plus, they just adore our son.  
• We stay with my mother and father-in-law while we are in town.  They live in the beautiful Tennessee countryside.  The air smells so fresh and natural, the way it is supposed to smell.  I can't describe it, but I just love it there.  
• The drive to and from Tennessee with our 11-month old wasn't bad.  It took longer than normal, but it was pretty easy and stress-free.  

This photo was taken about an hour before we left town.  It is my favorite from our time in Tennessee!  This is our son and his Meemaw.

Lows

• The day before we left for Tennessee, I woke up and could barely swallow water.  I promptly went to the doctor since we were about to leave town.  Thank goodness I did, because I had strep.  The entire time we were in Tennessee I was exhausted and I felt awful.  This is no way to spend the holiday!   
• The lowest of lows for me was our normally outgoing, friendly baby became shy and terrified of everyone, especially men with facial hair.  On Thanksgiving day, he cried almost non-stop.  If you know him, he rarely cries... ever!  This was not the first time we'd been to Tennessee, and he's met all of our family before. He's not normally afraid of strangers, let alone his own grandparents.  I swear I don't keep him locked up in his room all day.  I swear I take him out of the house to interact with other humans.  At the end of the day, I was exhausted, sad, and angry with myself for somehow being a deficient parent.  I left Tennessee feeling like a terrible mother.  I guess it's a good thing we're staying home for Christmas, my fragile ego can't handle another episode like that.               

Four months down...

Can you believe it has been FOUR months since I started this challenge?!  I can’t either.  Time is seriously flying by.  Before I know it, my 12-month challenge will be over and I will have to report my final results.  It only scares me slightly to have to put my body weight and body fat percentage on the Internet again!  But, since I don’t have to do that for another eight months, I am going to put it out of my mind. 

On to happier things!  Results: I am now five pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight!  Can I get a woot-woot?!  More importantly than weight loss, my pre-pregnancy clothes fit better than ever.  I use this as my litmus test, because it can be a good indicator of body fat loss and body fat loss is the cat’s meow.  I don't think I am going to see huge changes in weight loss in the coming months, but I do hope to keep the body fat loss rolling!

My workouts are now getting a bit better.  If you have been following my physical training blog posts, you will know that I've decided not to lift heavy weights again until 2013.  I am using this time to let my lower back heal.  I have been enjoying my running and metabolic conditioning workouts (as much as you can enjoy those).  It is actually a nice change of pace for me.  Although, the fact that I am getting weaker is making me crazy.  It's a vicious cycle, I guess.

This is me doing an overhead squat.  Please excuse my albino legs.  It is November, although my legs would probably be the same color in July.

FYI, I may let my food log go by the wayside.  Have you ever tried to write down every single piece of food that goes into your mouth?  Try it!  It is a full time job.  Being that I already have one of those, I think I may stop keeping track of my food intake.  That is, unless my throngs of loyal fans oppose (all eight of you).  I will, of course, disclose if I "cheat" on my diet at any time.    

Speaking of food, as of right now I have not “cheated” on my diet.  That is four months of clean eating!  I am pretty proud of myself, as I doubted my ability at the beginning of this challenge.  I will admit that I am pretty glad I get to post about this before Thanksgiving.  I think Thanksgiving will be the biggest test of willpower I've had thus far.  You see, while I am not the best cook in the world, I have family members who are.  Cakes, pies, cookies, macaroni and cheese, homemade biscuits, cornbread dressing, and the like are going to be staring me in the face in a few short days.  Can I say no?  Can I walk away and not go cry in the corner?  I’ve spent the past four months eating according to my “rules”.  I don’t really want to fail now, with only eight months left.  But, boy oh boy is it going to be a challenge!  I guess only time will tell.  No matter what happens on Thanksgiving, I only have eight months to go!  I can’t wait to see where I am then!

Physical Training Log

Another week down!  The workout I did on Tuesday destroyed my hamstrings.  I am still paying for it! I think I am ready for a week off, so as a Thanksgiving present to myself, I will be taking next week off.  Aren't I nice?!

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Run my neighborhood loop + a bit more

= 16:33

* This loop is approximately 1.5 miles.  I added a bit more distance this week.  I think I probably ran about 1.65 miles.  I am trying to increase my distance each week.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Deadlift (65 pounds) x 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Burpees x 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
= 10:42

* During this workout, you deadlift 10 reps, do 1 burpee -- deadlift 9 reps, do 2 burpees -- deadlift 8 reps, do 3 burpees -- and so on.  Make sense?  Good!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Sled drag forward and backward (45 pounds) x 2
Row x 250 meters
Run to the neighbor's mailbox and back
Complete 3 rounds
= 15:54

* The distance to the neighbor's mailbox and back is approximately half a lap on the track.  I was a little slow in completing this workout, as my hamstrings were sore from the previous one.    

Thankful

During the month of November, many Facebook users list what they are thankful for each day.  Instead of participating via Facebook, I thought I would express what I am thankful for on my blog.  I actually stole this idea from my sister-in-law (thanks Martha)! This year, I find myself more thankful than ever. 

First and foremost, I am thankful for my husband.  Without him life would be boring, quiet, and far less humorous.  He loves me for who I am and vice versa.  I don’t have to worry about him judging me or trying to change me.  Our relationship may not be perfect, but it works perfectly for us.  

I am thankful for my baby boy.  God blessed us with the most wonderful, sweet, loving baby boy.  For that I am eternally grateful.  His laugh, big mouth smile, and sweet smooches make every day worthwhile.  I cannot imagine life without him!

I am thankful for the ability to be a stay-at-home mom.  It is not a glamorous job, but it is the best job for me.  You may not agree with it or understand why I gave up my career, but that doesn’t matter to me.  What matters is spending as much time as I can with my sweet boy while I can.  One day, he won’t want to snuggle or spend time with me, so I am going to take full advantage of it now.  Plus, who wants to wear work clothes anyway.  

I am thankful for my real friends.  Not the ones who just want something from me and give nothing in return.  I am thankful for the ones that know everything about me and love me anyway.  The ones I can call at 2:00 am for anything.  You know who you are, and I hope you know I am blessed to call you a friend.  

I am thankful for my family.  We are flawed, crazy, and strange.  But, we are family.  Some of my best memories involve my family.  I may not see them as much as I would like, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t at the forefront of my mind daily. 

I am thankful for my in-laws.  I pretty much struck the in-law lottery.  I have the kindest, friendliest, most wonderful in-laws a person could ask for.  They didn’t seem to bat an eye when their son/brother brought home a strange girl from the west coast.  Instead, they welcomed me into their family and here I’ve been for nine years. 

I am thankful for our home.  Our home is my safe haven, and I cannot imagine being anywhere else.  We’ve only been here a short time, but we’ve already made so many memories here. 

Physical Training Log

It's a new week of PT and I am feeling pretty good!  I still have back pain on occasion, but it is no where near as often as I had it previously.  I am happy with my new program -- for now -- and am excited to see where it takes me.  

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Run my neighborhood loop

= 15:15

* This loop is approximately 1.5 miles.  Last week, I only ran a mile of this loop!  I eventually want to be able to run this loop twice, so hopefully you will see incrementally longer distances each week.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Snatch balance (18 pounds) x 10

Row x 250 meters 

3 rounds 

= 7:15

* Here is a video demonstration of the snatch balance.  http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/cfj-nov-05/snatch-balance.wmv

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Push Press (15 pound dumbbells) x 25

Sit-ups x 25

Run to the entrance of the neighborhood and back
2 rounds
= 16:40

* The total distance I ran was approximately 1 mile.  

Physical Training Log

Let me begin by saying my heart goes out to everyone sifting though their water soaked lives in New York and New Jersey.  In 2005, Terry and I lost most of our belongings to a flood.  I know what it feels like to sift through your worldly possessions, hoping to find one dry treasure.  The only piece of advice I have is to hold on to your loved ones, they are irreplaceable.  All of the "stuff" can be replaced and fixed.

On to the PT!  I decided to try my hand at lifting this week.  I've had a few weeks off, and I decided to see what happened.  My workout went fine.  I found one repetition maxes on the overhead press and back squat.  I was excited, as I had improved from the last time I found my one repetitions maxes.  Then it happened... I was standing at the sink brushing my teeth and my back seized up.  I thought I was going to fall to the floor.  At that moment, I decided I am not lifting heavy weights for the rest of the year. So much for being able to hulk smash people.  I am going to concentrate on running and metabolic conditioning workouts (metcons).  I will put the deadlift, back squat, and overhead press into my metcons, but I am not doing them separately.  It is causing my back too many issues, and for goodness sake, I love carrying around my 20 pound boy!

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Run/walk my neighborhood loop
= 18:45

* This loop is approximately 1.5 miles.  I probably ran a little over 1 mile and walked the rest as a warm-up and cool down.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Press (find a 1 rep max) – 45, 55, 65, 70, 80

* On 05/17/12, my 1 rep max was 75 pounds

Back Squat (find 1 rep max) – 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 115

* On 05/14/12, my 1 rep max was 105

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Run to the entrance of the neighborhood and back
Overhead squats (18 pounds) x 10
Run to the stop sign and back
Overhead squats (18 pounds) x 15
Run to the farther than normal mailbox and back
Overhead squats (18 pounds) x 20
= 15:54

* The total distance I ran was approximately 1 mile.

The Liebster Award

I've been nominated for the Liebster Award!  This award is for bloggers who have less than 200 followers but should have more. Thanks Liz for the nomination!

Here are the Rules:

- Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.

- They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them.

- They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.

- They must then choose 11 bloggers to tag with less than 200 followers.

- These lucky bloggers must be told.

- There are NO TAG BACKS.

11 things about me:

1. I am a mom to a sweet, wonderful baby boy!

2. I am a wife to sweet, wonderful man!

3. I am a stay at home mama to the above-mentioned baby boy.

4. Sometimes I miss working outside the home.

5. I am an insane worrier.  

6. Sometimes I wish we had family that lived closer. 

7. I can't stand people who lie to me.  

8. I am in a love/hate relationship with exercise.   

9. I love my family.  

10. I like to tell myself I don't care what other people think, but unfortunately, I do. 

11. I cannot wait for the election to be over. 

11 Questions from Liz:

1. What was your favorite Christmas present?  The engagement ring my husband gave me in 2003.

2. What is your favorite season?  Fall - the real northeast fall that we don't get in Georgia.

3. Dream vacation?  Australia 

4. Biggest pet peeve?  People who are late.  I cannot stand it. 

5. Greatest lesson learned?  The past is in the rearview, leave it that way.

6. Who is your hero?  My husband.  He saved my life in so many ways.  

7. If you could have lunch with any living person, who would it be and why?  My mom and/or dad, because I don't get to see them very often.   

8. Same as above, except for anyone who is no longer with us.  Elvis, because that would be so cool! 

9. Favorite morning drink.  Peppermint mochas!  Not that I can drink them anymore, but they are YUMMY!

10. What would your last meal include?  Lots and lots of macaroni and cheese!

11. Favorite TV show?  MASH - I can't help but love it!  

Bloggers I'm tagging:  (I am supposed to tag 11, but I only have three. Kinda makes me feel LAME!) 

1. Our Beginnings

2. Crafty Jennifer

3. Wire Harmony

Questions for the people I've tagged:

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?  

2. Do you believe in ghosts? 

3. What is your favorite holiday?

4. What is your favorite form of exercise? 

5. If you didn't have to work anymore, what would you do to fill your time?

6. Dream car?

7. Biggest pet peeve?

8. Favorite memory as a child?

9. Favorite book?

10. How old were you when you had your first drink?

11. Dream vacation?  

Physical Training Log

This is the first full week that I've been doing my remixed physical training.  So far, it's been pretty good.  While I miss doing heavy lifts, I do not miss having a constantly sore back.  Taking it slow is a little difficult for me, but I am doing my best.  I was only able to manage two workouts this week. My little one is sick and my sister is in town.  Those are my excuses and I am sticking to 'em!

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Dumbbell snatch (20 pound dumbbell) x 10 

Low to high plank x 7

Run to a farther than normal mailbox and back

Complete 3 rounds
= 10:34

* I completed 5 snatches with each arm for a total of 10.
* The distance to the mailbox and back is approximately 1 lap on the track.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Row until my workout buddy finished her run = 300 meters
Run to the mailbox and back = 1:29
Row until my workout buddy finished her run = 479 meters
Run to a farther than normal mailbox and back = 2:07
Row until my workout buddy finished her run = 680 meters
Run to the stop sign and back = 3:03

* While I ran, my workout buddy rowed.  There was limited rest between sets.
* The distance to the first mailbox and back is approximately 1/2 a lap on the track.
* The distance to the second mailbox and back is approximately 1 lap on the track.
* The distance to the stop sign and back is approximately 1.5 laps on the track.
* This was actually quite fun!

Three months down...

It has been three months since I started my blog and my fitness and nutrition programs.  I actually can’t believe I’ve made it three months without falling off the wagon.  Generally, it is pretty easy for me to jump off the wagon and let it run me over.  For some reason, I have decided to actually stick with this program.  This journey has really been more about mental toughness for me.  It’s been about saying “no” when my taste buds scream “yes.”  It’s been about making difficult food choices, when making easy ones would be so much, well… easier.

Let’s jump into what everyone is dying to know.  I have seen a zero pound weight loss this month.  I was a bit frustrated about this initially.  Then, I decided to try on a pair of pants that had been pretty snug before I got pregnant.  Much to my surprise (more like shock), they fit!  I proudly wore them to lunch with a friend, to the park with my family, and to dinner that night.  I probably would have slept in them if I’d thought about it.  This, once again, is a reminder that the number on the scale really means nothing.  I am obviously losing body fat, and that’s what I’ve wanted to do all along.  Also, I have noticed that my baby belly is slowly disappearing.  It’s not disappearing fast enough for me, but I am satisfied that it is actually going away.  My husband reinforces these observations, which is both sweet and motivating at the same time. 

As far as my physical training is concerned, I have hit a wall.  If you have seen any of my physical training logs, you will know that I have switched things up for the time being.  My back has acted up since I began this journey.  I attribute this to my weak abdominal wall.  I think my back’s been overcompensating for the fact that I had major abdominal surgery 10 months ago.  Although, I am not sure how much longer I will get away with blaming my c-section.  No matter the cause, I had to do something about it.  I have temporarily stopped lifting heavy weights and am solely focusing on metabolic conditioning workouts.  Again, this is only temporary.  Look to future physical training logs for updates in my training.    

I think the biggest thing to take away from my third month of flab to fab is that mental toughness is just as important as physical toughness.  I will go out on a limb and say it is more important.  So, if you want to complete a marathon, a triathlon, a 5K, or if you just want to be able to say no to cupcakes, believing you can do it is just as important as doing it.  

Three months down, nine to go!

Physical Training Log... Remixed!

I started this week off with my normal heavy lifts.  I figured I would stick with my same routine.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?  Wrong!  After deadlifting and bench pressing on the same day, I realized "it" was broke. And by "it", I mean my back.  So I went to my trainer aka husband and begged for mercy.  He's been telling me for weeks that my volume is too high, and I need to dial my training back a notch.  After a bit of groveling and the painful admission that he was right, he reworked my training.

I am going to lay off the heavy lifting for a few weeks and concentrate solely on light, easy, body weight metabolic conditioning workouts.  I am going to walk, run, row, and throw in some light weights from time to time. I am going to complete each workout slowly and methodically.  I am not going to worry about blazing through them.  I just want to keep my body moving while allowing it to heal.  We are going to reevaluate my program in a couple of weeks and remix it again, if necessary.

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Deadlift (5 repetitions of each) – 65, 70, 85, 90, 105, 125

Bench Press (5 repetitions of each) – pushups, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Run to the neighbor's mailbox and back
Snatch x 5
Overhead squat x 5
Snatch balance x 5
Complete 3 rounds
= 8:21

* The distance to the mailbox and back is approximately 1/2 a lap on the track.
* I did each of the calisthenics with no weight.  I used a plastic PVC pipe instead.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Row x 500 meters
Weighted squats (25 pounds) x 5
30 second plank x 1
Complete 3 rounds
= 11:31

Eating on the road...

A couple weekends ago, I made a quick trip from Georgia to Oregon to visit my grandma.  She just moved into an assisted living facility and I had to check it out for myself.  I needed to know she was in a good place.  The trip was short, but great.  I got to spend time with my mom, grandma, uncles, cousins, etc.  While it was great to see everyone, I desperately missed my husband and baby boy.  I hadn’t been away from home since before our little one was born, so it felt strange to travel without my boys. 

I knew that eating healthfully on the road would be difficult.  What I didn’t realize is that I come from a family of food pushers, people who seemed intent on getting me to veer off course.  I doubt they were doing it on purpose, but boy oh boy was I tested.  The good news is I passed the test.  The bad news is I missed out on eating some darn good food.  I decided to chronicle a day of eating on the road.  Below are photos of the food I ate, and the food the above-mentioned food pushers paraded in front of me.  Enjoy!

Breakfast was pretty easy. We were staying at a hotel with a free hot breakfast.  I went with a scoop of scrambled eggs, one hardboiled egg, a few pieces of breakfast sausage, and a banana with peanut butter.  I drank water and decaf coffee.  This breakfast was nothing special, but it filled the void. 

I ate a chiliburger for lunch (no cheese, no bun).  There is a hamburger under all of that chili (first photo).  I should have just ordered a bowl of chili, because it was so delicious.  Yes, I ate French fries.  I also drank an iced tea.  My other lunch companions ate bowls of clam chowder, grilled cheese sandwiches, French fries, and macaroni and cheese.  I tried not to look at their food while I ate mine.  I was green with envy.  If you don’t know, macaroni and cheese is my absolute favorite food in the world, followed second by grilled cheese sandwiches.  No fair!

I didn’t eat a snack, as I was so full from lunch.  My companions, on the other hand, ran gleefully into a candy store.  There they filled bags full of wonderful salt-water taffy, coconut haystacks, and other delectable treats.  The candy store also had ice cream.  I left empty handed with a tear in my eye. 

Dinner was awesome.  I ate a filet mignon, baked potato with butter, and mixed vegetables.  I also drank an iced tea.  I am not sure I have ever eaten such a wonderful steak.  My dinner companion ate the same thing, so I didn’t have to sit through dinner with a jealous scowl on my face.  

The important thing is not that I missed out on great food, but that I stuck to my program.  Yes, I would have loved to eat everything my family members ate.  But, I would have been sorely disappointed in myself.  I've come this far, and for that I am proud.   

Physical Training Log and Oregon

My physical training log for this week is blank because I took the week off. Partially because I was out of town, and partially because I didn't want to train.  To be honest, I am getting tired of my routine.  My husband and I are trying to figure out if there is a way to switch it up that will still allow me to meet my training goals.  Don't be surprised if you see something completely different next week.  Or it might be exactly the same.  I am fickle that way.  

On a positive note, I made it to Oregon and back while still maintaining my nutrition program.  It took quite a bit of willpower and ingenuity.  An upcoming post will address this trip.  I also survived without my baby boy and husband.  It was the first time I had ever spent the night away from my little one.  I almost ran out of the Brunswick airport, but I managed to talk myself into staying and I only cried once.  My amazing husband did the best job caring for him that I am not sure he even knew I was gone. My little boy's always been a big fan of his dada, and I don't blame him one bit! As you can see below, they are quite fond of each other.

    

Physical Training Log

My back is beginning to feel like it's normal self this week!  I didn't want to push it though, so I did all of my lifts and only two metabolic conditioning workouts.  Enjoy!

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed this week.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Deadlift (5 repetitions of each) – 65, 70, 80, 100, 110, 125

Modified hollow rocks x 10

Run to the neighbor's mailbox and back 

Complete 4 rounds as quickly as possible, while maintaining good technique
= 8:37

Monday, October 1, 2012

Press (3 repetitions of each) – 30, 45, 50, 60, 70, 75

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Back Squat (3 repetitions of each) – 45, 55, 65, 85, 95, 105

Row x 10 calories
Knee raises x 10
Complete 5 rounds as quickly as possible, while maintaining good technique
= 9:18

* Here is a demonstration video for a hollow rock.
http://gymnasticswod.com/content/hollow-body-progression-pt2

* The distance to the mailbox and back is approximately 1/2 a lap on the track.

* Here is a demonstration video for knee raises.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqOgtFcqWbE

The big and bulky myth... BUSTED!

There is a huge misconception out there that women who lift heavy weights are going to get big and bulky.  I attribute this to some waif celebrity being interviewed by a “fitness” magazine, telling them that she does lunges with two-pound dumbbells to keep her legs from getting bulky.  Come on, really?  Just because you lift heavy weights, doesn’t mean that you are going to look like this. 

While this woman is beautiful in her own way, I certainly don’t strive to have her physique.  Also, orange isn’t really my color.  I think it should be reserved for Oompa Loompas and Halloween.

Seriously, do you know how difficult it is for women to put on body mass?  I didn’t think so.  Hormones are the key.  Why do men get big and muscular as a result of heavy weight training?  Testosterone.  Women produce a fraction of the testosterone that men produce.  In fact, men have 20 times or more the amount of testosterone in their bodies that women have (1).  According to JC Deen of JCD Fitness, “Since testosterone is the main determinant of the ability to grow in size and strength, it only makes sense that someone with much lower levels (women) will never achieve the same size as someone with much more of it (men) (2).”  Women who do look like men have taken some drastic steps in that direction that have little to do with lifting heavy weights (3).

Ladies, what does this mean for you?  Unless you are injecting synthetic testosterone on a regular basis or you have naturally high testosterone levels, you are NEVER going to get big and bulky as a result of heavy weight training.  Just an FYI, the number of women who have naturally high testosterone levels are few and far between.  In fact, I know women who’s testosterone levels are so low that their doctor’s have prescribed them testosterone to make their bodies function normally.  

Here’s another piece to the puzzle.  Since testosterone is the main determinant of the ability to grow in size and strength, why aren’t all men big and muscley?   Um… because it is HARD to get big and muscley, even as a man with loads of testosterone.  Not only is it hard, but it takes time i.e. years and years.  It also takes a perfectly clean diet full of dense protein, great genetics, more than eight hours of sleep a night in a completely dark room, and a repetition scheme of 8-12 for 10 sets with a maximum rest period of one minute between sets.  Sounds like a fun Saturday night to me!  You have to be willing to work past the point of discomfort (physical and mental) to achieve a super muscular build, and most people are unwilling to get off the couch. 

Let me ask you this, what in the world is wrong with women looking muscular?  I again attribute this to society.  Not all women want to look like skinny Hollywood actresses.  I certainly don’t.  I like muscle definition, strive for it, and want to look like these women. 

I am hoping to look half as fit as these ladies at the end of my journey.  If you think they are big and bulky, then I guess I’ll be big, bulky, and so proud of it!

(1) – http://www.livestrong.com/article/370071-do-women-get-big-when-lifting-weights/

(2) – http://www.jcdfitness.com/2011/06/i-dont-want-to-get-big-and-bulky-fitness-marketing-and-its-effect-on-women/

(3) – http://crossfitfocus.com/img/womentrainingmyths.pdf