xXJennyXx 
"More muscle, less fat!"
|
| Created: | 02/02/2009 |
| Total Visits: | 260 |
| Total Blog Entries: | 28 |
| Total Comments: | 47 |
|
April 29, 2009
…and finally posted my progress pics.
Overall, I’m really happy with what I’ve done in the last 4 weeks! Up until now, I feel like all the progress has been happening beneath all that mushy stuff, and now I can finally SEE something changing.
Taking a long hard look at the pics, I am glad to see the tummy finally going down. I’d like to think it was all fat that’s disappeared, but like I mentioned before… when I started my keto diet, the water weight just WOOSHED out of me, so I think most of the difference is that. Really noticeable fat loss in my back though! It’s a lot harder for me to check my back out in the mirror every day, so that came as a nice surprise… haha. Same with my thighs getting smaller. Usually that’s one of the last things to change on me, so my leg workouts must really be working!
Here’s to the next four weeks bringing as much of a change!
Hope everyone else is as happy as I am with their progress. 
Posted in thoughts
April 27, 2009
I was waiting outside a gym today, and they had a crossfit circuit set up with some people going through it. I’ve always been sort of curious about crossfit and I just have to say that I think it is something I could definitely get into!
I think it’s something my man would enjoy too. Must research crossfit places in Oz…
That is all.
Oh, wait. Had a KICK ASS biceps/chest workout today. Not that all my workouts aren’t kick ass, but this one was particularily glorious. I don’t think I’ve ever added so many reps and so much weight in a single workout. Teehee. Tank tops here I come!
Posted in Training, thoughts
April 23, 2009
Yeah, I’m fat. Does that mean I don’t know what I’m talking about?
I spent yesterday debating on a forum thread about overweight girls, and got flamed and made fun of by people who dismissed me for being overweight.
I was fat in high school, and I started getting interested in nutrition, lost weight, and became a certified personal trainer. I spent 8 months working at a YMCA where I helped develop a program for 12-15 year old boys and girls who wanted to start strength training.
I moved to Australia, abandoned my plan of becoming a teacher, and enrolled in a nutrition degree in order to become a dietitian so I can work with teens with eating disorders (both underweight and overweight).
Halfway through my degree, I fell pregnant even though I was told by doctors I was infertile. I lost my job at a weight loss clinic (due to morning sickness), got kicked out of my uni program (because I had no money), got deported (because my student visa got cancelled), and had to move half a world away from the father of my baby.
To top that all off, because I was pregnant, I had to come off the anti-depressant medication I was on.
So I dealt with a depression most people can’t even imagine, by self-medicating with food instead of slitting my wrists.
Now I have my son, and I am happier than I have ever been in my life. I’m hitting the gym 2 hours a day so I can get my body (and career) back, and be a role model for Liam.
I’m sorry if the fact that I’m FAT offends the delicate sensibilities of guys who’s biggest difficulty in life is choosing what colour of Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirt they want their mommy to buy for them.
/rant
I know I shouldn’t care what people think, but it annoys me when people judge others without even knowing anything about them.
And I’m sorry for posting this here, but I needed to get it off my chest, and posting it on the forums would only add fuel to the fire!
Posted in thoughts
April 20, 2009
and I feel great!
Lately it seemed like for every 3 lbs I lose, I gain 2 back, so the scale moves downward every 3 weeks or so which hasn’t been bothering me, because I know I’m making TONS of improvements in both my lifting and my cardio. But now I want it to go down down down and ladies (and gents) I have found my solution!
In the first week of keto, I lost 4 lbs! 
I never thought I was one of those people who reacted badly to carbs (ok, maybe I secretly did, but was denying it… hahaha), but after a week without them, my stomach has visibly shrunk! I have always been able to "stick out my gut" and look pregnant, even when I was like 12. I always figured that’s just where I stored more of my fat, but apparently part of it was CARB BLOAT (ok, most of it is fat though).
And the best thing is, I’m not even in ketosis yet, so there could still be more to go!
It seems silly to be excited about losing bloat/water weight, but it just means I am closer to my goals than I thought I was. I can’t wait to take my progress pics (a week from tomorrow) and actually POST them for once! I know there will finally be some visible progress, woo woo!
Keto has been good so far, I snack on a few different sorts of nuts, and cheeses. Eggs, and pepperettes. Meat! fiberous veggies. Been testing out a few recipes, nothing too fancy just yet.
I started a log on the forums: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=115595271
Ok, I suck at updating my bodyblog, but I never feel like I have anything interesting to say. My life is boring, lol! I work out in my basement, and I never have any funny "gym stories".
I had to buy lifting gloves because my palms were getting callused. That’s pretty much the most interesting part of my week. They are pink. Take THAT!
Ok.. over and out.
Posted in Nutrition
April 9, 2009
And it comes in the form of salt & vinegar flavoured almonds.
…
What the heck?!
How on EARTH did I never hear of these until now? They are fantastic!!!
That is all.
Posted in Training
April 8, 2009
I’ve been very busy lately, studying for an exam but it’s finished now! wooo hooo!
My training is going good, I just started a new split on Monday, so that’s exciting. I also entered a second 12-week challenge, so I have double the motivation now. haha
I’m starting a keto diet on Monday, right now I’m in the organizing stage. Collecting ideas, recipes, tips, info.. etc. I went to Costco and Walmart today and got a bunch of things (including giant tubs of nuts… mmmm). I’d like to plan a whole week’s menu beforehand, so that I have something written down.. because I’ve tried low carb before and I’ve never lasted more than a day because I wimp out when my head starts to get fuzzy.
I think if I can have that first week outlined and really prepare everything before I start, I’ll be able to get through that initial rough patch easy enough.
Posted in Training, Nutrition
March 31, 2009
What does "progress" mean to you?
Yesterday during my workout, I was walking around between sets, and I unconsciously told myself to "stand up straighter". So I pulled my shoulders back, and to my surprise, there wasn’t much difference between my normal posture, and what my posture SHOULD be like. That might seem like a weird thing to notice, but I am Queen of Slouching. Funny, I thought to myself, those muscles have gotten stronger, and I haven’t noticed until now.
So then I started to think about progress, and what it means to me.
For most of us, the scale is the biggest marker of progress - even though, deep down, we know it shouldn’t be. I can’t count the number of times I have been upset and discouraged because the scale hasn’t gone down fast enough. Especially because I know that with my old weight loss methods (starving myself and doing WAY too much cardio), I could easily drop 3+ lbs in a single week.
Even measurements can be demoralizing sometimes. If body composition is changing (more muscle, less fat), we sometimes don’t lose inches, even though we know we are getting stronger. We can only assume that the new muscle is taking up the space that the fat used to.
I think it’s a lot more difficult for those of us who are still overweight. Those muscles that we’re spending so much time building/toning are under a layer of fat. How the heck are we supposed to see if we’re doing a good job?! It’s tempting to give up weight training altogether, and spend the extra time on the treadmill. "I’ll start doing weights when I’m skinny." - I used to tell myself that all the time.
But progress is EVERYWHERE, you just need to know where to look for it.
Progress is having more energy, sleeping better, being in a better mood. Progress is setting a good example for loved ones. Progress is being able to resist junk food that you couldn’t before. Progress is turning from a night owl into a morning person, just so you can sneak in a workout before your son wakes up (he he he).
But don’t be afraid to take a GOOD look at yourself every few days. Stand in front of the mirror naked. Seriously. Resist the urge to be critical, DON’T pay attention to what is "still" there - it will drive you crazy. Pinch, prod, flex, and jiggle. Be objective. Look for the things that AREN’T there anymore ( less to pinch, maybe?), and look for things that are NEW (collarbones making an appearance, definition where there wasn’t any before).
The bottom line is, if you’re doing things right, progress is being made. If you are eating better… If you are lifting heavier, or for more reps… if you are running further than you were last week… SOMETHING is going on beneath the pudge. Just because you can’t see it, or it’s hard to notice, doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
So for those of you who’re struggling because you don’t think you’re getting anywhere… HAVE FAITH! and maybe even more importantly, have fun.
Posted in thoughts, motivation
March 22, 2009
These are awesome, and are only 65 calories each with 7g protein!
I made them with light cherry pie filling last time, which added calories but they were worth it.
.
cheesecake:
16 oz fat-free cream cheese, softened
2 sheets (8 crackers) low-fat honey graham crackers
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
1/4 cup light vanilla soymilk
1/2 cup splenda (granular)
2 tsp coffee-mate fat-free french vanilla powdered creamer, dissolved in 1 tbsp warm water
1 3/4 tsp unflavoured gelatin (most of a 1/4oz envelope)
1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract
topping:
1/2 cup sugar-free strawberry preserves
1/4 tsp unflavoured gelatin (rest of the envelope)
1-preheat oven to 350 degrees
2-crush the graham crackers into crumbs (i used a magic bullet)
3-line a muffin pan with 12 baking cups and distribute the crackers evenly between them, shake the pan to settle the crumbs, put pan in the oven for five minutes and then remove
4-disolve 1 3/4 tsp gelatin into 1/4 cup boiling water, stir vigorously until there are no more granules/lumps, set aside
5-put the cream cheese in a mixing bowl
6-in another bowl, combine all the cheesecake ingredients, including the dissolved gelatin
7-using an electric mixer on low speed, slowly blend liquid mixture into cream cheese. raise mixer speed to med-high and blend until mixture is uniform and free of lumps
8-evenly spoon mixture into muffin pan and bake in the oven about 15 minutes (until tops begin to crack)
9-meanwhile, combine topping ingredients and stir well. once cheesecakes are done cooking, remove pan from the oven. evenly distribute topping among the centres of the tops of the cheesecakes, avoiding the edges. return pan to the oven for 5 minutes
10-allow pan to cool for 20 minutes, the refridgerate until chilled (at least 3 hours).
Posted in recipes
March 18, 2009
My family has a maple forest as a backyard, and we tap the trees every spring. We don’t have a big production or anything, just for our own use, and we give a lot away to family and friends.
I’m happy to say that this has not affected my diet! God, it’s been tough though…
My kitchen has turned into a sap-boiling factory. The whole house smells like it! And for the next month, my mom will make at least a dozen desserts featuring maple syrup.
She was busy today, and I love to bake, so I ended up whipping together some maple coconut cookies for everyone. My secret plan was to test out a recipe I’ve found, and then in the next few days, make a mini-batch that I’m going to tweak to make high-protein and diet-friendly. So now I know what they’re "supposed" to taste like… haha.
They were pretty freakin’ awesome. I managed to stop myself at just the one (75 cals by my calculations, lol). They remind me of ANZAC biscuits I had while living in Australia. Only… with a slight maple taste, ironically. Canadian twist to a traditional Aussie/Kiwi cookie? Darn straight. 
The good thing is that the rest of the family loved them, so they won’t be in the house for long!
Anyway, pretty happy with myself for resisting temptation (other than that one small cookie, and a spoonful of the first batch of syrup… still warm, too) while completely surrounded by it.
Haha, go me!
Posted in thoughts
March 9, 2009
I took my monthly measurements on Saturday, pretty pleased with the changes. Could have been more, but really not going to complain!
It seems like my weight always comes off from the outside in. I swear, the first place I lose fat is in my wrists and ankles!!! lol.Then my calves and forearms start shrinking, then thighs/arms. And then finally my tummy. So I have a ways to go, that’s for sure.
Saturday night I took one REDuction PM (first time dose), didn’t really feel any different. Woke up a bit during the night.
Yesterday was the first day of my new routine. Nothing new training wise, it was just a cardio day, but I took my stack for the first time. REDuction AM + White Flood + Green Mag pre-workout, then Purple Wraath during. Ohmigosh, the White Flood did bad things to my tummy, but not until I was done my workout thankfully. Felt good enough to do the whole session on an incline though! Felt like I could have gone on for much longer.
Had the full dose of REDuction last night, and tried to go to bed at 11pm (which because of daylight savings was technically 10pm), I could tell it made me sleepier than normal, but still did not get the best sleep, partly because of bub though, he did not have a good night.
This morning I cut the White Flood and Green Mag doses in half, and then did my first upper body routine! It was awesome! I really felt like I was kicking some serious BUTT! It was fun, and I definitely felt more focused than I have been lately. No tummy problems at all. Looking forward to tomorrow morning and legs!
My schedule for the next four weeks is as follows:
Monday: Upper Body Workout #1 + 30 min intervals on treadmill
Tuesday: Lower Body Workout #1 + 30 min steady pace on treadmill
Wednesday: ?????
Thursday: Upper Body Workout #2 + 30 min intervals on treadmill
Friday: Lower Body Workout #2 + 30 min steady pace on treadmill
Saturday: 60 min steady pace on treadmill
Sunday: Rest
I’m not sure what I to do on Wednesday. I want to do cardio but I’d really hate to not give my legs enough rest, so I was contemplating a second rest day. Either that, or I could go on the treadmill after dinner so I’d have an extra half day rest. Does anyone have an opinion on this?!
Posted in Training
|
Leave Comment