Well, I have just over a week left to reach my June 28 deadline of being 133 lbs. It doesn't look like I'll reach my body fat target but I'm really proud of myself anyway. I am really pleased with the progress I've been making lately. For the past three weeks I've been eating cleaner than ever -- no cheats! This is the longest I've gone without one. It's been tough but the longer I go the easier it gets. Actually, it's only really hard when people around me are eating "bad" food. The staff room is a temptation every day but I have done so well at sticking to my goals and not giving in. Next week is my birthday, though, so it may be hard to shed that last pound to reach my goal -- I'm celebrating with a few drinks with friends on Saturday night and a piece of cake on Wednesday (my actual birthday). I'm gonna feel so guilty for indulging! I've gone so long without a cheat that I'm starting to get used to it! Oh well -- summer is almost here and I'm not stopping at 133 lbs, so I'm gonna try and keep going as long as possible without cheats. My ultimate goal right now is 125 -- and it's so close I can almost taste it! This morning, when I woke up, my stomach was flatter than I've ever seen it -- for once, I could barely see the little pooch I've always had in my lower abdomen. There is some great definition coming through in my arms and back and I just feel better about my body than I ever have before. I'm gonna take some new measurements and progress pictures within the next few weeks. I'm hoping to see some solid changes in my progress pictures because I know I'll be so upset if how great I'm feeling isn't reflected in the photos. Wish me luck for my birthday celebrations with family and friends this weekend and next week -- I'm gonna try not to overdo it!

Honestly, this blog has nothing to do with training or nutrition but I'm so happy right now that I want to shout from a mountain top! lol...

I'm a teacher, and a few weeks back I was "surplused" to my school. In other words, the school is experiencing declining enrollment, and because I have the least seniority of the teachers at my school, I was put on the surplus list for a forced transfer to another school. A few days ago, I had an email from the principal of a school in a town about half an hour away from mine. He told me there was going to be an opening at his school in September for a grade 4 teacher, and he expressed interest in having me transfer to their school. It felt really great that someone had obviously heard good things about me and wanted me at their school Well today was the board-wide transfer meeting and by 10:15am my principal called me and offered me the job at that school. I was shocked that the call came so early, especially because I'm a French teacher and French teachers are in high demand in my school board. One of the other teachers at my school said he must've been so interested in me that he wanted to get the deal done as soon as possible. I am just on cloud nine right now! I'm so relieved that this process is all over and I know where I'm going to be teaching next year. Not to mention the school sounds wonderful! Teaching grade 4 is going to be a big adjustment but I feel really confident that I can do a good job

Since the town my new school is in is equal commuting distance from where my boyfriend works, we have decided to move to the new town together. It's going to be so nice to have a fresh start and put the past year behind me. The nice thing is, the town is really similar to my town and only a 30 minute drive away, so I can come back and visit my friends and family lots It's closer to several cities as well, which is nice.

I'm sp nervous to be starting at a new school but also so excited. I'm really sad to have to leave my current students, especially since they've had five different French teachers in the past four years, but I have to do what's best for me. If I'd wanted to stay at that school to teach French, I would have had to do afternoons there and mornings at a different school. It would have been horrible being split between two schools like that.

Well, that is all for today. Things are really looking up for me I know my happiness and positive attitude are going to reflect in my workouts, and therefore in my results. I bought two new bikinis and I can't wait to wear them this summer when I'm even more toned up and TANNED! Counting down the days till summer <3

Happy training everyone!

Over the past several months I have weighed myself on three different scales: one at the gym, a WeightWatchers one I have at home that also takes your body fat percentage, and one at my naturopath's office. Overall, there is a pretty big discrepancy in the numbers! The scale at the gym weighs me in at 137 in the late afternoon when I'm off work. My home scale says I am 133.4 first thing in the morning. My naturopath's scale says I'm 131 in the late afternoon when I'm off work. How can there be such a discrepancy between these scales? And how do I know which one is right? lol... I had originally figured the one at the gym would be right since it isn't digital...but neither is the one at my naturopath's office and there's a 6-pound discrepancy between those scales! For tracking my weight on BodySpace, I have been using the number's I've been getting from the scale at the gym.

As for body fat percentage, I have been measuring it once a week on my home scale and every six weeks with my naturopath (there is no scale to measure BF at my gym...the joys of living in a small town!). I measure my body fat first thing in the morning on my own scale and the number has been fluctuating within a percent for months now. My naturopath's electrodes-machine-thingie, on the other hand, says my body fat has slowly been decreasing. That scale says I am at 25.3% but my home scale says 27.8%. My naturopath also says I have put on a few pounds of muscle in the last six weeks -- so I reeeeeally want to believe her reading of my BF is the right one!!! lol. I'm trying not to obsess about the numbers but it would be nice to know exactly where I am and how close to my goals I am. Either way, I am really pleased with the numbers my naturopath gave me today -- more lean muscle, lower body fat percentage And the best part is, she told me how many more calories I burn each day because of the added muscle, and it is significant!!! My basal metabolic rate hasn't gone up a ton but it has gone up enough to increase my calorie burn significantly when I work out. Close to 2000 calories! NICE. That equals a bigger calorie deficit and faster weight loss. BRING ON THE MUSCLE!!!

Lately I've been noticing there are a lot of rather piggish men on this site who seem to want to do nothing but ogle girls and make tasteless comments. I'm sorry, but isn't this site supposed to be about fitness and health? If you want to drool over half-naked women, there's another place on the internet you can go...it's called PORN SITES.

It just ticks me off because there are so many women on BodySpace who work so hard and we don't post our pictures to get attention, we post them to get feedback and to critique and admire the progress we've made. This site is supposed to be used for motivation and sharing nutrition and workout tips. Being fit is should be empowering but when I read degrading comments from men on women's profiles it makes me feel insulted and objectified. There is nothing wrong with complimenting a woman but it needs to be done in a non-sexist and respectful manner. I think people who are so focused on sexuality don't belong on this site -- it compromises the integrity of BodySpace.

That being said, THANK YOU to all the men who are supportive and respectful towards women, and who understand that we are working our tails off to get results just like they are. YOU ROCK!!!!!

Up until yesterday I was feeling pretty discouraged about the progress I have made so far. It was making me really frustrated and unmotivated and part of me wanted to give up, to tell you the truth. But yesterday I went shopping and everything changed. I haven't been shopping in several months because I'm scrimping and saving to try and get my debts from school paid off and save money for a down payment on a house. Usually, I'm a size 8, and I was looking at these dressy black shorts I really liked and thought would be nice to wear to work, but the closest size they had was a 6. I decided to try and squeeze into them. Surprisingly, it wasn't a squeeze at all! They fit like a glove. I was so happy! One of my New Years resolutions was to fit in a 6 by the end of the year and I have accomplished that in less than half the time! Yay! After the shorts, I slipped on a skirt I had grabbed in a size 8 and it was hanging off me! The saleswoman said she would grab a 6 and a 4, and I laughed and said, "if I fit into a 4, it'll be the best day of my life!" I tried on the 4 first, and it was still too loose! So she came back with a 2 and it finally fit, and looked adorable too I can't believe I walked out of there with size 6 shorts and a size 2 skirt! My shirts are all size small now too. This is the smallest I have been since elementary school! Hahaha... Mind you, the skirt was a bit of a fluke because it's a high-waisted skirt, but still...I can finally see that my hard work is paying off! Everything is finally coming together. Yes, it has seemed to me to take forever, but really, when you think about it, it's not...just a few months ago I was wearing a whole size larger than I am now. I know the last 10 pounds is going to be the hardest part of this journey, but I think I am ready for it... Now I know I just need to stay positive, committed, and most of all, be PATIENT! The results are coming and so are the rewards Pretty soon I am gonna have that strong, toned body that shows off all my hard work. I will finally look as fit as I am! Have a good week everyone!

OK so I'm feeling quite a bit better than I was since the last time I blogged. I am still trying to get my motivation back but it's been a tough week...and today was no exception.

After work I had three parents drop by to speak to me. Actually, it was less of a talk and more of an attack... and my principal had already gone home for the day so I was left to fend for myself. It was very frustrating and stressful because one of the parents in particular was extremely rude to me. I think she thought that because I'm young and inexperienced she could walk all over me. I wasn't impressed. I felt significantly better after 45 minutes of cardio but it is still bothering me a bit. I am one of those people who takes everything so personally! I need to figure out some ways besides the gym to de-stress and relax.

It's always something with my job...if my students aren't disrespecting me I'm getting criticized by parents or bitched at by colleagues. My workload is through the roof and I am in a chronic state of stress. All of it's just been weighing on me all year...I am so glad it's almost summertime so I can relax and give myself the TLC I deserve.

I recently read that being stressed can actually make you have a hard time losing weight...perhaps that is part of the reason why my results are coming so slowly? I guess teaching is not a good job if you're trying to lower your body fat percentage! Haha...

Today has been a very emotional day for me. Lately I have been feeling really frustrated and getting impatient, wondering why it's taking so long to see results. My body fat percentage has barely budged since I set my new goals in February, despite extremely clean eating and consistent workouts. Because of my frustrations, I slipped up this weekend and strayed from my clean nutrition... and ruined four weeks worth of progress. I gained two pounds and half a percentage of body fat that I worked sooooo hard to lose... I can't believe I ruined it all with just a few poor meals. My heart just sank when I saw the scale this morning. I am so upset at myself.

When I saw my trainer tonight, I told her about my frustrations and showed her my food journal. She had a look through it and said she thought I was doing everything right. Then she said, "I'm going to tell you something that you probably don't want to hear...some people just aren't meant to have a low body fat percentage." She went on to tell me that she thinks I look great and that it's obvious I work out and that I'm a super healthy person and she wished everyone ate like me and blah blah blah...but the whole time I was just screaming and crying inside. Why am I busting my ass, obsessing about my diet and exercise regimen to have such minimal results? I feel like I am destined to have a mediocre body for the rest of my life. For once, I just want to be the girl that gets the second glance...I have never been that before and I have never felt self confident about the way I look. I feel great about the way I eat and how often I exercise, but why am I stressing about it so much if I'm only gonna lose half a body fat percentage in three months and then gain it back every time I slip up? I am so frustrated and discouraged right now... I came home and just cried.

My trainer did make some good points...such as, "a watched kettle never boils"... She thinks I need to be more positive and focus on my good attributes and accept the other ones for what they are. The only problem is, I don't like any of my physical attributes. My only hope of ever feeling confident was believing that I could change them if I worked really hard...but now I feel hopeless and defeated having been told that I can't fight genetics. I know that looking good isn't everything, but FEELING good is. How am I supposed to excel at work and in my relationships if I can't even feel beautiful and confident?

Anyway, I'm sure if there's anyone reading this that they've had enough of the negativity and pity party by now...so I'm gonna end this blog and hope that I'm in a better frame of mind the next time I write one.

After posting on the forum and scrutinizing what I generally eat in the day, I think I may not be eating enough... I already feel like I'm eating a lot of food, but I still have a pretty big appetite and I just don't think the body fat is coming off as fast as it should with how active I am and the quality of food I eat. To be honest, I always have a hard time understanding how eating more can actually help you lose weight...but I've heard it said time and time again so it must be true. On an average day I am eating about 1500 calories and I am starting to think that's not enough based on my appetite and other people's input. It's going to be tough because I am so busy and have limited time throughout the day to eat, but I am going to try to find a way to squeak in an extra 200 calories, especially on the days I do weights. I will try and make sure most of it is protein. I am already spending half an hour or more packing my cooler each day so does anyone have any suggestions for a quick and delicious protein-packed meal of around 200 calories? It needs to refrigerate well since I can't make it fresh due to my job. I would really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions!

Geez... doing this whole nutrition thing by myself is tough! It's so scientific! Haha...

I have been working out 6 days a week (3 weights, 6 cardio) and my nutrition is getting better and better. But one thing I've noticed is that my appetite has been through the roof! Is this normal? Does this mean I am not eating enough, or is the increase in appetite something you just have to get used to and manage? Just to give you a sense of what I usually eat in a day, it looks like this:

MEAL 1
2/3 cup oatmeal cooked in water, mixed with 3 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce and 10 pecan halves

MEAL 2
Protein shake made with 3/4 cup milk

MEAL 3
Sandwich or wrap made with whole grain bread, 3-4 oz chicken breast, mustard, and lettuce

MEAL 4
Greek fruit-bottom yogurt sweetened with honey (pre-packaged...I know, this is probably one thing I should get rid of but it's convenient)

MEAL 5
Raw vegetables (usually carrots) and 8 almonds

MEAL 6
4 oz lean meat
1/2 a baked potato
Steamed veggies

My exercise falls between Meals 5 and 6. My first meal of the day is at 7am and my last meal of the day is around 6pm. I go to bed around 10 or 11.

Feedback would be greatly appreciated Thanks!

Now that my friendly competition with my mum is over and I have earned myself two items from Lululemon (YESSSSS!) for my efforts, I am ready to set a new goal for my fitness. I feel refreshed and re-motivated, and I have approximately 10 weeks until summer. Since I live in cottage country minutes away from gorgeous Lake Huron and have the entire summer off (WOOHOOOOOOO!!!), it is inevitable that I will be spending the majority of my summer in a bikini. I want to look great in it! It's going to require more motivation than I've ever been able to dig up before, but I know if I focus I can do it. Here is my new short-term fitness goal and my plan on how I'm going to accomplish it:

Lose 5-8 pounds (weight: 130-133 lbs) and 5% body fat (23% BF) by Monday, June 28 (10 weeks).
 
Plan of Action:

·         Minimum 3 days per week of resistance training
·         5-6 days per week of cardio, including at least one day per week of high-intensity interval training
·         One pre-planned cheat meal per week
·         Tighter nutrition throughout the week (more vegetables, more protein, fewer carbs, no refined carbs)
·         Weigh in once a week
·         Take progress photos and measurements regularly
·         Continue to keep a thorough food journal
·         Continue to track workouts
·         Positive self-talk!

Reward:  a new pair of designer sunglasses or a new designer handbag
Any feedback, tips, etc. are always welcome

Any feedback, tips, etc. are always welcome

Last night, I was putting on my bathing suit to go in the hot tub, and I saw one of the most motivating changes to my body I have ever seen: my upper abs! There is still a lot of fat on my stomach, but for the first time in my life, I could see definition in my abs -- a two-pack! It is very faint, yes, but still, such a huge deal to me! I have NEVER had so much abdominal muscle in my life! And to actually be able to SEE it? So rewarding! Although it's a small change and I still have a long way to go, I feel good. All my hard work is paying off! Slowly, yes, ever so slowly, but it IS paying off. I can't tell you how good it felt. For the first time in months, I felt like my goals were attainable, not crazy or farfetched! I can't wait to see those abs pop out even more. I am gonna be so incredibly proud when I can flaunt a sexy, muscular stomach! Seeing that two-pack in the mirror and poking that muscle is solid evidence that I am in the best shape of my life -- and there is no turning back!

Well, I'm back from Europe...and I gained a pound and a half I had a feeling this would happen but it upsets me anyway. I think of how hard I worked to lose that pound and a half and it almost makes me feel sick...

Thankfully, I had an appointment with my trainer tonight. She gave me a challenging new program that targets the areas I have problems with: my triceps, back, shoulders, and core. In general, my fat is fairly evenly proportioned, but these are the areas that bother me the most. My triceps are flabby and so is the area where my arms meet my upper back -- I hate it!!! My upper back and shoulders are coming along nicely but they still need more shape and definition. I am still carrying a lot of extra fat on my lower abs as well.

I know my diet is one thing that really needs work. But I am really confused about it. I have heard so many different conflicting things! For example, I read in Oxygen magazine that immediately before and after my workouts I should avoid fats and choose lean protein and simple carbs (like fruit and potatoes) instead. But my trainer said that healthy fats are fine before and after my workouts. She agreed with the lean protein but said that I should avoid simple carbs and eat veggies instead. How can two knowledgeable sources offer such conflicting advice about pre- and post-workout nutrition? Any feedback from whoever is reading this would be greatly appreciated.

****ght, so about 7 weeks into my "fitness craze" I am officially plateauing. BLAHHHHHHH!!! 7 weeks seems about right though. For the past two weeks I have not lost any weight or body fat. It must be time, once again, to change things up. I am going to finish out the week on my current fitness and nutrition plan, and then I will be jetting off to Europe (Brussels, Paris, and Amsterdam) for a week. While I'm there, I will be doing a lot of walking and watching what I eat, while still allowing myself small cultural indulgences (e.g. sampling Belgian chocolate -- YUM!) and taking a break from training my muscles. I'm hoping this will help break the plateau. I'm also going to set up an appointment with my trainer to start a new program when I get back from Europe.

Another reason why it's probably a good thing that I'm about to take a week's break from my training is my knee: For the past week, it's been bothering me. It has been sore but not swollen, and while I have scaled back the intensity of my workouts to compensate, it doesn't feel 100% better yet. Anyone know what this could be? Symptoms are sore knee, no swelling or bruising, becomes increasingly sore after exercise.

Well, I don't think I'll be writing another blog until I get back from Europe, so that's it for me for a few weeks. Adios! Wish me luck in my fight against overindulgence. Haha...

I weighed myself yesterday morning, only to discover that I have somehow managed to gain a pound and 0.3% body fat. What the hell?!?!?! I did nothing differently last week except that I didn't go for my usual long walk on Sunday, but I still did my 6 days of cardio, 3 days weights, and ate like I normally eat. I don't understand! Maybe I'm just overreacting out of frustration but I worked so hard for 6 weeks just to lose 4 pounds, only to gain a significant portion of it back last week. It's so discouraging. And it's so difficult to watch people accomplish in three months what has taken me over a year to do... these last 10 or 15 pounds just do not want to come off! Am I destined to have a mediocre body for the rest of my life? I stand by the fact that I can't eat any less than I'm eating or I won't get through my workouts, and I am already pretty darn strict about what I eat... Am I missing something? What am I doing wrong here?

****ght so I was gonna wait till Monday to write a new blog, after I weighed myself, but I'm bored so I'm gonna write one now!

My body fat percentage is still quite a bit higher than I'd like it to be, but I am still making progress. My upper back, in particular, is coming along very nicely. It is lean and thus I am really starting to see the muscle definition! Super rewarding! My waist is starting to taper in as well, and my curves are becoming more obvious. I like!!! Even my calf muscles are starting to develop, although they aren't curvy yet.

I am still carrying most of my fat on the lower part of my stomach and in my arms. These areas have always been so stubborn and no matter how much weight I lose, it never seems to come off my stomach or arms at all. It's very frustrating because these are the areas I most want to change. I know there is muscle in these places, but it's all covered up with fat. I've heard that the first place you put weight on is the last place you take it off, so I guess I am just going to have to be patient. If I keep eating clean and exercising every day, the fat is gonna have to come off at some point! And I can't tell you how happy I'll be when I finally have a flat, toned stomach. I am so impatient though -- I wish results would come faster!

What are your thoughts about using a fat burner? I've heard that they make you jittery, moody, and unable to sleep, as well as screwing up your metabolism once you stop taking them... but I would really like to hear other people's opinions on it. I'd love to be able to say I lost the weight all on my own, but sometimes I just get discouraged and wonder if it's even possible to do it without a fat burner because my appetite is so high and I work out so much that cutting more calories will be a bit unreasonable, I think... I don't think I'd be able to make it through my workouts if I did that. But maybe I'm not eating as well as I think and I could actually tighten up my diet a little? Here is an example of what I eat in a typical day:

Breakfast
2/3 cup rolled oats with wheat germ, oat bran and flax seeds
3 tbsp natural apple sauce
10 pecan halves

Snack
Homemade granola bar
OR
5 whole grain crackers with 1 tbsp natural peanut butter

Lunch
Sandwich made with 1 slice whole grain bread, turkey or chicken, thin spread of light mayo, lettuce, and tomato
1 apple or 2 clementines

Snack
Greek yogurt sweetened with honey
Carrots

Pre-Workout Snack
12 raw almonds
4 dried apricots

Dinner
4-6 oz protein (usually chicken)
Steamed vegetables
Baked or boiled potato

I eat my dinner at 6:00 and don't eat again after that, unless I am really, legitimately hungry. I go to bed around 10 or 11 and wake up at 6:00am (I know sometimes I am unable to get my 7 hours of sleep, but it is very hard to with my job being so demanding...)

Well, that's that. I would really appreciate your feedback! Thanks