My journey

I currently work with a trainer 2 days a week. Starting next week I will be following this schedule:

Monday - cardio, legs
Tuesday - cardio, chest
Wednesday - cardio
Thursday - cardio, back
Friday - cardio, arms & shoulders
Saturday - cardio
Sunday - off

Cardio is 45 minutes done at 5 am. Workouts are an hour long done either in the afternoon or after work.

My goals for this year are to:

- lose more bodyfat (I was 26% when checked about 6 weeks ago)
- build muscle mass
- compete in the fall or spring 2010 (still debating figure vs. bodybuilding)
- obtain NASM ptc

…..12 to go! 

for the first time in 2 - 3 years!!!!!!

I hit 6 months since I’ve started getting serious. The results (waist measurements are around my belly button - I am very high waisted):

Stat    Then    Now    Difference

Wt      177     161     -16 lbs
bf        28      16       -12%
chest   39      35.5    -3.5"
arms   13       12.5    -.5"
hips    42       38       -4"
waist   37       1.5      -5.5"
thigh   24      21.5     -2.5"
calves  15     14.5      -.5"

I took a much needed break last week from the gym.  Motivation was lacking and I hadn’t taken one in 4 months.  So, I should have been happy and relaxed.  Nope.  Felt lazy instead!  So, back into it as of yesterday and motivation is back.  Of course, the fact that I gained 5 pounds according to my scale after a 4 day weekend helps!  Pretty sure it’s water weight as I didn’t eat too far off my diet over the weekend and not at all during the week.  Need to sweat it out!

I knew it was going to be close, but I was still pleasantly surprised to measure my body fat % and discover that I had hit my goal on the nose.  I missed my weight one, but that was never my primary goal.  I have managed to drop 2 clothing sizes and see a positive change in my appearance.   So, now to set a new set of goals….

I have been stuck at the 9 1/2 pound mark for a week.  It’s been driving me crazy.  Finally, today I weighed in at 10 lbs under when I started 12 1/2 weeks ago.  FINALLY!!!!

Today was the last workout for week 12.  It definitely wasn’t a great workout - my stomach has been feeling off lately.  But, I still pushed as hard as I could.  This week I started taking NO Xplode.  I have to say, I really like it, especially since I work out at 5 am. 

Next week I will be changing up the routine a little.  I haven’t decided to what yet.  And I am buying a heart rate monitor watch so that I can ensure I am pushing hard enough while at the gym.  Currently I only track that during cardio.

I am anxious to take my measurements tomorrow as I have been STARVED all week with no change in diet.  Usually that means my body is going through big changes.

I am 1/2 a pound away from the 10 lb mark and I am really hoping that comes off as of tomorrow.  I am not going to hit my goal weight by June (which I am OK with given the inch and BF loss I’ve had), but it would be great to at least say I’ve lost 10 lbs.

Also, I have had a few people at work mention how I look thinner, in great shape, etc.  Make me glad I made it this far and motivates me to keep it going.

Last night I did the girly thing and asked my husband what he liked best about the changes.  Proving once again why I love him, he completely surprised me and did not mention a tighter butt or better overall shape.  Instead, he told me he really likes the increased energy I have.  I love how he can still surprise me!

I think I broke my record of consecutive weeks of consistently hitting the gym.  I’m actually pretty proud of myself for getting this far. And I think I am focused enough to keep going.  Workouts are feeling good, diet is going well.  Once I got into the habit of making my meals for the day ahead of time instead of always going out to eat, it got really easy.

I even went shopping yesterday as a reward since a lot of my pants are getting sloppy too big.  Now, before I started, most 10s would fit and the occasional 8.  Yesterday, all 8s fit as well as the occasional 6. So what did I buy?  The 6 of course.  When I told my husband the pants I tried on for him were a 6, he looked at me and asked "So that’s why you bought them?"  Duh, of course.  I mean, I needed pants and I had a choice between a pair that fit in a size 8 and one that fit in a size 6.  Is there even a doubt to which I would pick?  He just shook his head and walked away.

I was checking out my progress in the mirror this morning while getting ready for work when I realized something about belly fat.  At least about MY belly fat.  Now, I had assumed that belly fat would be lost evenly as I went along.  Not so much.  Turns out that I am losing from the top down (ribs to hips).  Is that good?  Bad?  I don’t know.  I do know that I have a bizarre band around my midsection that isn’t going to look good in a bathing suit (picture relatively flat abs from the bottom of the rib cage to a little below the belly button, then about a 3" band starting from there down).  Lucky for me there are still a few weeks before I will be in one and I can work on losing it.