Kat_investor’s BodyBlog

Now that it’s done, I’m finally sharing this news!  What fun.  Yes, I’ve lost a lot of weight.  I’ve gained a lot of muscle.  I’ve made nutrition & clean eating a priority & it made all the difference.  I consulted with Jennifer Nicole Lee & then hired Kim Oddo for contest prep back in April.  I will compete again in less than 3 weeks.  I can’t believe how my body looks - the best shape of my life at age 45!

I’m still going to the gym 2x/day.  Usually.  For example, Weds  started with 1 hour cardio class.  Then home / work.  Went back to the gym for 1 hour "power hour" class with exercise balls, weights, lunges etc.  That exercise ball gave my abs an amazing workout.  Afterwards we chilled for 30 minutes at the cafe and then in the sauna.  Then spinning class, followed by Yoga class.  I know I need to do more heavy lifting, but the classes are so much fun and I sweat so hard.  That said, Tues & Thurs night we took off for social activities, so the weight has pretty much stayed the same all week.  It’s ok though - every day I’m in better shape.

I can’t believe the way the fat is melting off!  It’s like my body just metabolized everything.  Ok - so I live at the gym - I know.  I go in the morning & do cardio  - a full hour class unless it’s canceled like today - then I go back at night and do another class, generally spinning.  A few times a week I’ll do weights before the classes.  2 days ago did heavy with legs and I’m so sore.  So spinning 6x/week, plus aerobics or step 6x/week and wow - the weight is getting down there.  Feels really good.  Finally getting dressed is getting easier and even fun. I’m just about the lowest I’ve been in 10 years or so.  Okay, maybe another pound or 2 - then I can say that for sure.  But I’m just having so much fun with this!!!

OK, so I did make my goal of 163 lbs exactly on 5/28 (1 day early) and won my bet!!  Then there was some cheating and celebrating but it’s all good.  I’m now at 161.6 - I’ve lot even more weight!  What happened was I was whining about how the weight wasn’t coming off as fast or easy as when I was young - even though many days I go to the gym twice a day & my husband said when I was younger, I was working out with more intensity.  Not just the 20-25 min of eliptical or bike to get the min cardio in, but heavy 1-1.5 hour classes that were serious workouts, beyond cardio.  And he was right.  I switched the moderate fat burning zone 20 minutes of eliptical machines for 1 hour high intensity cardio in class (where I can’t cheat or slow the pace) either step, or low impact aerobics in AM, along with spinning at night (not every night, about 3x week at night & every morning).  Then my body started to really transform.  Even with a lot of eating/cheating. My delts are starting to really pop.  I don’t have a 6 pack but I do have a 2 pack.  For the first time in a long time I a really proud when looking in the mirror at the gym.  It’s a good feeling!!

I’ve got 6 days to go for my goal of 163 lbs.  And I’m 1.8 lbs away!  So I’m getting real close.  Went out to dinner last night and kept a close handle on the food and drink.  Ate slow, ordered fish & veggies, kept 1/2 for later, just exercised discipline and was happy to see the results in the scale this morning.  Clothes are fitting better, I’m feeling better - it’s going well.  The goal is so close now…

OK, so I had some computer trouble & haven’t posted enough but I see that last year when I posted constantly - it made an honest woman out of me.  I’ve lost over 5 lbs and have been going to gym basically everyday at least 1x, sometimes 2.  I love my morning cardio.  Not sure why.  But I’m really annoyed if I can’t do it for some scheduling reason & usually manage to fit it in later.  Last week was busy but normally 1st thing in AM, I’m at the gym.  Just a quick 20-25 minutes while I read the paper on the climber or elliptical.   It’s a very pretty view of the marina, beach, ducks etc and it’s always such a pleasure to walk there & back that I look forward to my "routine" immensely.  Wish I like the weights as much.  I do them but don’t look forward to it the same way as the cardio.  Been eating really clean - cut the alcohol down to very special occasions and not keeping it in the house - or any  evil foods either.

Started really checking on my food intake, reading labels carefully etc.  Asked about Starbucks green tea frap and found it had over 300 calories!  Switched to skinny caramel latte frap instead for less than 1/2 that.  It pays to question.

So progress is good!

Well I’m updated my stats and it’s pretty embarrassing.  But if I don’t admit where I am now, then I won’t be able to track my progress going forward.  So I needed to do it.  I’ve been going to the gym everyday.  I wake up and can’t wait to get there.  It’s part of my routine to get my cardio in first thing & I’m loving that.  The weight lifting I do in the evening and don’t go everyday.  Some days are harder than others to motivate.  But I am keeping a workout log & pushing the weight up each time.  I’m going to update my goals as well.  I want to be in the 160’s by end of this month (easy) and 150’s by my birthday at end of April.  By end of May, I want to be under 150.  Once I’m in the 140 range, I think I’ll just work on sculpting and no longer need to lose anymore weight.  I’ll see when I’m there.  But right now I’m heavily focused on loosing some serious extra pounds.

I took off for the holidays.  Really long holidays.  Lost focus sometime in Oct and then just downhill from there.  Finally about 2 weeks ago I really took inventory.  I joined a new gym last wee - one I can walk to!  I now work out w/some cardio 1st thing in the am.  Then often head back in the evenings for weights and more cardio.  Dropped about 5 lbs from my Christmas weight gain up to 178.  I’m now 172.8.  Still 10 lbs to get back to where I was last summer. That’s hard to admit.  But my morning workouts are glorious as I look out over the water & pump my heart rate up.  I enjoy the walk there & back as well as a warm up/cool down time.

I find that what I read has big impact on my behavior. Last summer I was given a few Ironman mags at the competition I attended and reading them while they lay around the house over the following month or so really impacted my habits.  A few days ago I subscribed to Oxygen so I will get motivated as I see the competitors and read the articles.  I will also attend competitions which is so inspirational.

Anyway, it’s humbling - but I am back.

Just dropped in for a minute.  My weight is down to 161.6 now.  Nothing drastic, just slow-l-y getting lighter.  I’ve been logging my workouts & diets everyday on my IntraXCell log:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?p=64901563#post64901563

Slowly getting there !!