Week 6 More on PiYo and Unintended Consequences [Aug 25-Sept 1]

To start at the beginning of my journey, click here.

I finished my first Beachbody challenge group this week. For those who don't know, a challenge group is typically an online support group that is created on Facebook for a small period of time, like 4 weeks. There can be different types, but the one that I just finished was a general challenge group that allowed the participants to use whatever Beachbody workout they want. This was a 4-week challenge. In the group, everyday the coach running the group posts some type of prompt. For example, it may be to post a picture of yourself after working out, or post a picture of your favorite water bottle, or just to rate how hard you pushed yourself in your workout. Sometimes the prompts contain tips and bits of nutrition information. Outside of the workout, it takes a few minutes to read and comment. Of course, you also want to read the other comments, too, but that's not required (haha). I'm also happy to say that I have worked out every single day that was scheduled. (The workout I've been doing, PiYo, is 6 days a week.) 

I have mentioned before that the PiYo workout is a combination of yoga and Pilates moves. They are done in a way that is more fluid or dynamic than traditional yoga, where you hold the pose/stretch for several seconds. This is more going from one pose to another, making it low impact cardio. It also starts off simpler the first couple of weeks, so that you get familiar with the moves and have the right alignment. It targets your upper and lower body separately, then some of your core. By weeks 3 and 4, you're doing more to target your core, your buns, and just getting a good overall workout. And looking ahead, it's even more of that. The workouts range in time from 20 minutes to 45 minutes, which is long. But I always feel invigorated when I'm done. 

I am working out when I first wake up. For this workout, I don't need to eat anything before I work out. After I shower, I eat some eggs with vegetables for my breakfast. Then about an hour later, right before I leave for work, I make my meal replacement shake. I briefly mentioned before that it's very healthy. Here is a little bit about what it includes/does. It includes protein and amino acids to help build lean muscles, improve skin and hair, improve mood, and reduce cravings. The antioxidants and super-fruits help reduce damage from free radicals, promote heart health, and support joint health. The phytonutrients and super-greens help promote detoxification of the liver, kidneys, and blood. The herbs help protect the body from stress, support the immune system, and balance the endocrine system. There are prebiotics and probiotics that help improve digestion. And there are digestive enzymes that help the body break down foods and increase absorption of nutrients. So here is something that I didn't expect...I am not really into my coffee anymore. I'm finding that I don't need it. So I've recently stopped making it. I haven't had it in a few days. No headaches and I have plenty of energy. Not that I made my coffee all that strong anyway, but I know it's still probably better not to drink it than to drink it. Am I saying that I'll never drink coffee again? I doubt that. Just not everyday thing. (Plus, I was still using sugar, so I can benefit from that lack of calories.)

So here is my update for this week. One more pound lost. It's not all about the pounds, of course.  I also took my measurements for the progress since I finished the first challenge group. I lost about an inch in my waist and 2 in my hips! I saw this picture and thought that it was a great thing to remember. I've had a lot of these "non-scale victories."

Week 5 Update [Aug 18-25] and Food Prep

To start at the beginning of my journey, click here.

I've been working on my fitness for 5 weeks now. I'm still going strong, too. My PiYo workouts are definitely becoming more intense, and I'm seeing more results. I'm excited about my progress.

A lot of my friends have seen that I'm getting up early to work out (typically 5 AM), and seem to be slightly impressed. It's really not all that impressive, it's just what I need to do in order to succeed at this. But one thing that makes it easier is my food prep. We typically do our grocery shopping on Saturdays, so I've been taking the time to prep my food for the week on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In order to get all of my veggies in, I'm eating a salad at lunch. Since we're buying our veggies at the farmer's market, there's a little more prep required, like snapping the ends off of my snow peas or chopping my romaine lettuce. But in order to save space in my refrigerator, I decided to use Ziploc bags to keep them in. I eat the same salad each day, but I do change it up a little bit each week. But I have recently read that healthy/fit people eat the same meals over and over. So, since I've found something I like and that works, I'll stick with it. In addition to my salads, I also have baggies for the veggies I cook in my scrambled eggs for breakfast. And baggies for the fruit that I freeze and put in my shakes.

I also prep my water for my workout the night before, as well as set out my workout clothes. That way, as soon as my alarm goes off at 5, all I have to do is get up, change clothes really quickly, grab my water and phone and go work out.

All of this prepping definitely helps to cut the stress down. Here's a pic of me smiling on the way to work (it helps that my work hours are a bit later this school year, too). 

And the best part...I lost 3 pounds this week!! I'm now at 9 pounds lost since July 19. Not too shabby, right?

Week 2 of Clean(er) Eating [July 28-Aug 4]

Read about the beginning of my journey.

 I didn't walk as much this week, mostly due to not waking up as early, and boy is it hot! If I didn't get out the door to walk before 8:30 then it got way too hot. I would have liked to, but I also knew that I'd be starting my daily workout soon.

I was better on the nutrition end than I had been the week before, though. We decided to go to a local farmer's market since we were going to get so many veggies and fruits. It sounds cliche, but it really does pay off to plan and prep your food beforehand. You are much more likely to make better choices throughout the week. I'm eating a lot of sweet potatoes, asparagus, zucchini, and chicken.

 I knew I was going to start my PiYo workout on August 4, so I originally planned to start Shakeology then, too. Shakeology is Beachbody's meal replacement shake. They call it the healthiest meal of the day. And it is really good, especially the chocolate. I make it with bananas and peanut butter. The ingredients are a bunch of "superfoods" so it's like getting a whole bunch of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy stuff at once.

On our team, a tradition got started where we have to take a picture of us drinking the shake while wearing a crazy hat and shirt. So here is mine, courtesy of my husband.

I only lost 1 more pound this week, which, even though I expected it, still disappointed me a bit. But that's alright. I've been reading/hearing a lot about being consistent, even with the simple things, and eventually the results will come. 

Clean Eating and Week 1 (Pre-PiYo Workout) Update [July 21-28]

If you missed my first post about my fitness journey, see it here.

While working out is important, it also matters what you put in your body. That's why I am really trying to stick to healthy eating and not add a lot of empty calories with sweets and unhealthy fats. In the past I've seen it this way: you eat in order to fuel your body. I think that will be key for seeing the results that I want to see.

For my first week of trying to get fit, I decided to phase in better eating, but I still allowed myself some cheats, sort of as a last hurrah before I went full-force on my new eating plan. Since I am basically starting at zero activity, I also decided to walk a bit. I was able to walk about 2 to 2.5 miles three times during the week, which made me feel pretty good. I didn't really count my calories, but when I stepped on the scale Monday morning, I was pleased to see that I had lost 3 pounds. Yay!

32 pounds to go! I know I'm just starting out, but I'm pretty psyched. I just need to stay consistent, even when things start to slow down, which they will. (I watched The Biggest Loser, I know how it works.) But that's the beauty of being a part of Team Beachbody and participating in the challenge groups. I can already see how encouraging and supportive everyone is. It really is exciting.

The Journey Begins

I am taking the plunge.

When I was younger, I generally did not have a problem with my weight. I was not particularly athletic, although I did do cheerleading (in a small, private school, and not with all of the gymnastics there is today). I ate relatively healthily at that time. Basically, I had great metabolism because I was young.

During my mid-20s to early 30s, I did gain some weight here and there. Not a lot, and it was pretty easy to get back down with some working out and better eating. Even since I've been married, I can lose weight or tone up some with a little exercise and counting calories.

The only trouble is, each time I've gained, I've gained a little more weight. And when I've lost, I haven't quite reached my goal weight before I go back to my old habits.

And now I'm 41. It really is true, your metabolism slows down. I know that I need to really focus on being healthy because I'm not getting any younger. While I like healthy foods, I am easily swayed by the more tempting foods like doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate. It's just been easier to make unhealthy choices lately.

So that's why I felt a little nervous (and skeptical) when my husband and I recently decided to sign up with Beachbody as coaches. You've probably heard of them, or at least their P90X exercise program. We actually did that back in 2008. We didn't complete the 90 days, unfortunately (due to job schedule changes and things), but we definitely saw results in the time we did do it. We saw the opportunity to get healthy, with accountability, and see some real results. As I've learned more about Beachbody, I've found that this is exactly what they want you to do...start where you are and share your journey with others.

So that's what I intend to do.

I have mixed emotions. I'm nervous because I actually have never finished an exercise program that I set out to do. I've started the Couch to 5K workouts multiple times (I did get pregnant in the middle of my first attempt, though). I'm excited, because I'm going to be beginning my first challenge soon, and I'm determined to finish. I am excited about the eating plan, because I really think that it is something that I will be able to do, and stick to. (I'll also be trying out the Shakeology meal replacement shakes that I keep hearing so much about.)

Beginning August 4, I will start PiYo, one of Beachbody's newest workout programs. It's a low-impact program that combines moves from Pilates and yoga, which I've always enjoyed doing. This is also the same week that I will be returning to my job in the school system, after having been off for summer break, so I'll be right back in full swing right away. But I think that will be good for me.

I invite you to follow along with my journey. I am posting a "before" picture, which is me right now. I plan to post progress pictures along the way, as well as my thoughts and feelings about this program. My ultimate goal is to lose 35 pounds. That would put me about where I was when I got married 8 years ago. The second picture is one of me from my honeymoon. It's funny, because back then, I would have liked to have been a few pounds lighter, but now I would love to be at that weight.

I will be. Just wait and see.