shabanimama’s BodyBlog

I’ve started working and it’s been difficult to find a balance - so I haven’t been reporting back as often as I should.  But I have been keeping track of things, and sticking to plan.  Here’s where things are now.  I’ll try to do a better job updating on a weekly basis.  My weight loss hasn’t been as fast, but that’s my own fault for not staying on top of things and having good food always prepared.  So the last couple weeks I’ve been baking my food on Sundays for the week so I always have something healthy ready to go.

Ending Weight: 177.6

Pounds Left to Lose: 13.0 of 22.0

Weight Loss Goal for Week 6: 2.2 pounds

I just did another 1000 calorie workout.  Took me 62:14.  It kicked my rear end.  I should have taken in more carb’s beforehand but didn’t cause I was in a rush to get the workout done.  When I was finished I felt like I could hardly think.  But it felt great.  Just felt better when it was done 

I did pretty good this week - although there were areas that I failed.

Bad news first - I was supposed to limit myself to 4 alcoholic drinks for the week.  That did not happen!  But I’m making a firm resolution to stick to that in the 2nd week.

Good news is I wanted to avg 25 minutes of cardio a day, and I did that.  I actually was at 26.5 minutes.  My goal for the 2nd week is avg of 30 minutes of cardio a day with at least one strength workout.

I have a new goal for the 2nd week also - I would like to drink at least 4L of water every day.  I’m pretty close to that now - I just want to make it a commitment.

SUMMARY: 

Starting Weight: 186.6

Ending Weight: 182.8

Pounds Lost: 3.8

Pounds Left to Lose: 18.2 of 22.0

Weight Loss Goal for Week 2: 1.8 pounds

These last few months have been so hectic to say the least.  I’ve been pretty much MIA.  During the holidays I took a little break from things, and these last couple months I’ve been trying to get the terms of my divorce ironed out.  So much stress - soooooo much stress.
But I’ve regrouped and now I’m back in the game.  I’m still not quite through the divorce, but hopefully in another month that will be done.  I’m back in the gym and eating clean again, and loving it.

I’m on an 11 week plan with a goal to lose 22 pounds by my 31st birthday.  Today is day 2.  My goal this week is to get an average of 25 mins of cardio a day (gotta start small!)  yesterday I did 30 mins, today was 55 mins.  I’ll probably kick out a weight routine tomorrow, and do 30 mins of cardio.

So this morning I posted that my goal was to run 3.0 miles straight.  Well after writing my post, I figured if it was just mind over matter, what was stopping me from accomplishing my goal.  So I went to the gym determined to do the 3.0 miles, and I DID IT!!!!!!  In 35:35.  Around 2.0 miles I started getting some blisters on my arch - which hurt like hell… but I figured I’d come that far and I wanted so bad to do this.  I’m so so so so so so proud of myself.  I felt like I was about to pass out when I was done though.  My face was blood red and I really did feel like I might faint - I definitely pushed myself to my own limit.  But that’s what this is all about - pushing yourself to a limit so you can push yourself that much harder the next time and keep getting better.

So I made it through the Thanksgiving holiday with minimal damage - just a few extra pounds I put back on.   But I’m back in the game today, and I’ve established myself a new goal.

So often my goals are diet related - but this time I wanted to make it a little bit different.  My goal is to be able to run 3.0 miles on the treadmill non-stop.  May not seem like much to some - but to me it’s something that I’ve never done and would be a huge accomplishment.  The most I’ve ever done is 2.0 miles, and usually I stop at 1.5.  I know a lot of it at this point is mind over matter.

I’m also make a trip out to see the former in-laws in a few weeks, and my ex will be there at some point (Hi Angel!)  He knows how hard I’ve been working, but I’d really like to bust things out these next few weeks so that my improvements are extremely noticable.  The last time I saw them was last year at Christmas, and I was around 195.  Now I’m around 176-180, and would love to get into the 160’s before Christmas day.

A while back (a couple months or so ago maybe?) I had someone message me on yahoo that had seen my profile on here.  He used to compete, and worked at a supp store, and offered up a couple recommendations for supplements.  I kind of kept it in the back of my mind, but continued doing my own thing.  Then a few weeks ago, I asked him again about the supplements and finally ordered some.  He also suggested a diet plan which is pretty standard - eat clean, lots of chicken/fish, veggies, a little bit of brown rice, and not much of anything else - haha.  I started taking the two supplements (Venom hyperdrive and Thyrotabs by Gaspari) on Saturday, and I have been absolutely blown away by the results.  This past Saturday, I had written that I would like to be in the 170’s by the end of the six weeks - I was 186 then.  This morning I was 180.2.  I’m finally able to fit back into the jeans I used to wear before I got pregnant.  Inches are literally melting off and my body fat % continues to go down.  I have 3 1/2 weeks to go before I take my next set of progress pics - and I just can’t wait.  I’m still working out 5 days a week, and I have more energy than I know what to do with.

So this last week I took off from dieting and training.  There was just too much going on.  Last weekend I worked some of the vendor stands at the nascar race.  During the week I had to catch up on cleaning and laundry that I didn’t get to on the weekend.  And to top it all off my son has a double ear infection.  So life has been pretty crazy.  I told myself I would start back today, and would start taking my supplements also.  I’m also going to follow a pretty strict eating plan.  Well I was absolutely amazed this morning to discover that I had lost another 1.2 pounds, and a little bit more bodyfat.  Go figure?!?!  So my starting point for the next 6 weeks is 186.0, with a body fat % of 31.0.  I would love to get down into the 170’s with a bf% in the 20’s by the time I finish with these next six weeks.

Today was my weigh in day.  Thirty-one days ago (the morning after I had a really bad meal - haha) I weighed in at 194.8.  This morning I was 187.2, for a loss of 7.6 pounds.  I stuck to the program for the most part, although I definitely cheated more than I wanted to and broke down several days ago and had a few drinks with the girls (I had to take advantage of my son being at my parents for this whole past week - haha).  I have worked out pretty consistently - usually about 5-6 days a week on average.  I think what’s really important is that even though I’m still a half pound away from the lowest weight I’d reached since having my son (the lowest recorded weight is 186.6) my inches have dropped a lot and my body fat % has gone down almost a whole percentage point.

What I learned about myself:  I do not have to be addicted to the scale    but one month is too long for me and I start to lose focus.  I think two week increments will be better for me.  Sugary/white carbs are my worst enemy - once I have some my body craves them and it’s hard to cut them out again - so it’s better to avoid them completely if at all possible.  And finally, the way I hold onto the treadclimber has given me traps that I can see and feel - haha.
For the next two weeks I’m going to monitor my diet like before, but try to clean it up a bit more and only have one cheat *meal* per week.  A friend of mine recommended some supplements, and I’m going to give those a shot for the next six weeks.  I’m going to weigh in every 2 weeks though.  And for "dinner" (my last meal at 7-8pm) I’ll start having a protein shake (I had cut them out for the last month).  I’ll take my progress pics now but will not be able to post them until later today or tomorrow.