FitJulie’s Journey to FigurePro

Today’s Workout: Sets x Rep x Weight
Deadlifts  5 x 15 x 95lbs

Air Squats 5 x 30 x Bodyweight

Lunge to Balance 5 x 20 x 20

Alternating Lunge to Squat Thrust 3 sets of 10

Lying Leg Raises w/ 45lb plate overhead 4 sets of 15

Assisted Pull-ups 3 x 5 w/ hanging (for grip) and hanging leg raises to failure

Lunge around the track once (140 lunges 6:30 time)
30 min elliptical

Thurs Workout:

Alt Lunge to Squat Thrust 3 x 5

Upright BB Row 3 x 12 x 45lbs

Plank Rows 3 x 5 x 25lbs

DB Swings 3 x 15 x 25lbs

Push-ups 3 x 10
Box Jumps 3 x 15

Worked on Hand-stand push-ups (10 with band assist) 5 on Smith

Worked on Hanging Upside down

Lose Weight with Hypnosis: My Story

By Julie Comer

Sounds gimmicky, doesn’t it?  Can it really help you lose weight?  I decided to find out.  See, all my life I have been addicted to sugar.   I grew up on sugary cereals, macaroni and cheese, Little Debbie snacks, and diet soda.  I managed to drop 40lbs of fat four years ago due to my love for exercise, but I could never break my dependency on sugar.  Whenever I reduced or eliminated my sugar intake, I still relied on artificial sweeteners which I know just kept me addicted that “sweet” taste.

I was at my wits end.  I have been living a more fit and healthy lifestyle for 4 years now, but sugar has stayed both my enemy and my best friend.  That awful habit of eating sweets and binge eating on comfort foods has kept an extra 10-20 pounds on me for years.  I felt like a fraud as a personal trainer who just couldn’t kick her habit.  How was I supposed to help other people get off sweets if I couldn’t do it myself? 

I made an appointment with Jim Wilson, a licensed Psychologist who uses hypnotherapy to help his patients.  I figured it just might be worth a shot since I knew a few people who quit smoking with hypnosis.  It wasn’t cheap, but if it worked, it would be worth 100 times the cost to me.  It was also going to be cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist, which was another option I had considered.  I was apprehensive but hopeful.  I prayed before the session for God to use this man to help me overcome my demons.  In the session, Jim interviewed me first to find out everything I wanted to change and why.  He was very professional and I could tell that he really wanted to help me.

Jim explained exactly what hypnosis is and how it works.  Most people think when you are hypnotized you are unconscious or you don’t remember anything.  Not true.  You are simply in a relaxed state and have a heightened sensitivity to suggestions.  I felt relaxed but felt awake enough to wonder if the “hypnosis” would really work. 

After an hour, we were finished.  I felt good and hopeful, but still wondered if this would be enough to end my addiction.  Jim also emailed me an audio copy of our session in case I ever need it.  The day after our session, I had no cravings for sugar or sweeteners whatsoever.  The thought of eating sugar almost made me sick.  I drank only water all day and it was enough to satisfy me.  IT WORKED!  On day two I had a few cravings but they were nothing compared to cravings in the past.  A few times I thought of grabbing a diet soda, but realized it was only out of habit and had water instead.

So far I have gone 9 days without and sugar or artificial sweeteners.  I had to stop drinking coffee since I don’t like it black, but I don’t even miss it.  I have had a few moments when I feel hungry and think some chocolate would be good, but I remember how hooked I was and know that it’s just not worth it for a few minutes of pleasure which would be followed by guilt.  I am losing about a pound per week and my clothes are fitting better every day.  I am also sleeping better and I am generally in a much happier mood.  I have thought about having a piece of pie on Thanksgiving but I just don’t think I need it that bad.  I don’t think I will ever go back to sugar.  I can’t believe how much better I feel and how much happier I am! 

Julie Comer is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness in Aurora, Indiana.  (juliec@anytimefitness.com)

10 Sets of 10

Deadlifts

10 x 115

OH BB Press

10 x 40

Cardio: 35 min elliptical

AM Cardio: 20 min

NEW PRs!!!

Deadlifts

95 x 10, 115 x 10, 135 x 8, 135 x 8

OH BB Press

45 x 10, 55 x 10, 60 x 8, 60 x 8

Chin-ups

4 sets of 3

DB Swings

4 sets of 25lbs x 15 reps
PM Cardio: 30 min

WORKOUT 10-16-08 (full body)

Mixed Grip Deadlifts (8 sets)
45 x 15,65 x 15,95 x 15,105 x 12,125 x 8 x 2 sets,105 x 12,95 x 15
BB OH Press (8 sets)

45 x 15, 50 x 15, 50 x 10, 50 x 10, 50 x 10, 40 x 15, 40 x 15, 45 x 10

40 min cardio

WORKOUT 10-15-08 LEGS

RUBBER BAND HACK SQUATS SUCK!  4 SETS OF 20

SMITH MACHINE SQUATS 25LB PLATES 4 SETS OF 12

SLDL 65 LBS 4 SETS OF 20

WALKING LUNGES 4 SETS OF 20

60 MIN CARDIO

Workout 10-13-08

AM Cardio: P90X DVD

PM Workout:

Deadlift Power Clean to Push Press 45lbs x 10 x 5 sets

Sumo Deadlifts 65lbs x 15 x 5 sets

30 min cardio

Workout 10-14-08

Rubber Band Wide Grip Pull-ups 20,16,16,16, 16
Incline DB CHest Press 30lbs x 10, 35 x 10, 40 x 10, 45 x 6, 40 x 10
Lat Pulldown (Close Grip) 90lbs x 10 reps x 4 sets

Incline BB Bench  70 lbs x 10 reps x 4 sets

Cardio 50 min

Today’s Workout:

6 Rounds:

OH BB Press 45lbs x 10 reps

BB Alt Lunges 20lbs x 10 each leg

10 Push-ups

3 Chin-ups

3 ROUNDS

18 inch box jumps x 15

Air Squats x 15

Lying Leg Raises w/ 40 lbs overhead x 15

ok so I have 51 days until I go to Los Angeles!  Time to get lean!  I will post my workouts on here & here is a link to my food journal:

http://www.fitday.com/fitness/PublicJournals.html?Owner=comerjc

Tuesday 9-2-08 (Chest/Back)

lbs x reps

Flat Bench 45lbs x 20, 65lbs x 12, 75lbs x 12, 85 x 10, 85 x 10, 75 x 10
Lat Pulldown 70 x 15, 80 x 10, 100 x 10, 100 x 10, 90 x 10
Push-ups 2 x 7 (hands on bench), 3 x 10 regular, one-arm modified, staggered arms
Jumping Pull-ups 5 sets x 10 reps
Incline Bench Press 45 x 20, 65 x 10, 65 x 10, 65 x 10
Seated Row 80 x 12, 90 x 12, 100 x 10, 100 x 8

Well really it started for me on Monday so I have been at it for 5 days.  I am following a no starch plan except for a carb up meal on Mon/Thurs evenings with NO CHEATS.

So far I have lost 6 lbs and currently weigh 158.8lbs at 25.5% Bodyfat.

(My goal is to at least get to 15% and 140-145.)

I will be doing this challenge much longer than 3 weeks though as I am now 15 weeks out from my comp in November in Louisville.  I have made it through 1 carb up day and so far so good.  Although last night was my carb up and today I have been really really hungry!  Probably due to having carbs last night.  I ate sweet potato, banana, peanut butter, and brown rice.  I have to stay away from oats because they trigger cravings.  Heck, I think any starches trigger cravings for me.  So tonight I ate 1.5 large red peppers, 1 can of tuna, & a tbsp FF Ital Dressing.  The peppers took up the whole bowl so it was a lot of crunching & made me full.
Pulled my hammy Monday warming up for legs (I have no idea how!) but did legs today and cardio too.  Felt okay but still wearing my brace.

I have gone 5 days eating clean now which I have to say I can’t remember the last time I did that.  Been a long time.  But I am already seeing results!  WHoohoo!

I am exhausted though as I’m working long hours at the gym and then training at night so I will try to post every few days if not more.  Good Luck everyone!  You can do it!  Take it from a girl who never thought she could stick to a pre-contest diet again!  Thank goodness for Beverly supps.  They are keeping me sane right now!  The C&C UMP really helps when I am craving something sweet!  & Thank you Joe Daniels!