Week 7 [Sept 1-8] Consistency is Key

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

In addition to working on my fitness, I've been working on my own mental attitude and development, by reading a little bit more. One of the things that I've been learning is that it is the simple things that we do (or don't) everyday that will add up and make a huge difference in the direction our life takes. So I'm trying to apply that to my fitness. Continuing to be consistent will pay off big time.

This is where things start to get tough. I'm starting to see a difference in my body, the numbers on the scale are going down, and I start to relax a little bit. But no, I can't! I'm not where I want to be yet, so I can't stop. Yet at the same time, I still see myself in the mirror sometimes and wish my progress would be faster. I know the nonscale victories are more important. I know how I look isn't as important as how I feel, and I really do feel better than I used to. So I just have to keep reminding myself that.

Everyday when that alarm goes off, I just need to get up, push play, push myself, and trust that my ultimate goal will be met eventually. During the day I need to continue to eat my healthier choices, look at those 250 calorie apple bran muffins sitting on the table at my meeting and decide it's not worth the calories, and not eat after 7 (even if I feel slightly hungry).

It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. I just have to stay consistent.

And this week, I did lose 2 more pounds. So really, it's already paying off.

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 4 Resisting Temptation [August 11-18]

If you haven't read about the beginning of my journey, click here first.

Ever notice that when you're eating healthier, you just don't really WANT the unhealthy stuff? I mean, there are definitely exceptions, but I have been much better able to keep myself from reaching for that cookie sitting on the plate in front of me while I'm in a meeting, or that piece of Dove dark chocolate that a colleague is offering. In the past, I've been at that place before. But more recently, prior to this journey, I had gotten to where I had NO willpower for resistance. I would grab several peanut M&M's, grab a Friday doughnut that the school principal had brought in, eat a piece of chocolate cake that my friend had grabbed for me when she bought her school lunch, etc. All in the same day. No wonder I had ballooned up! Now, I'm not saying that I'll never have any of that stuff again. That's not realistic. And really, cheat meals/days are pretty much endorsed in most weight loss methods. But it's limited to one day or meal. Not all of them.

This week I cheated a little bit at an anniversary party for my grandparents (65 years!). I did notice that I was full pretty quickly, though, in comparison to what I normally could eat. And when I had a piece of cake, which was good, I didn't even want to eat the whole thing. I was satisfied with about half a piece, so I stopped. It's all about moderation and good choices.

Although this is the fourth week of my journey to be fit, it's only the second week of my PiYo workout. At the beginning of this week, I noticed that I didn't feel the sore muscles as much as I had last week, so I knew I needed to step up my game a bit and push harder during my workout. It's helping that the routines are getting more familiar, so I'm able to work harder and not have to spend time looking up trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. But the actual schedule keeps changing, and I'm thinking as I progress further, the program will become a bit more difficult. But I've made steady progress, still, so I guess that is good. Even though I know people would not really notice much difference in me, I feel it. And I feel the increased flexibility. Overall, I just feel good. And that's reason enough for me to keep going.

PiYo Starts! Week 3 [August 4-11]

To read from the beginning of my journey, click here.

After 2 weeks of cleaner eating and a few days of drinking my Shakeology meal replacement shake, I was ready to start the PiYo workout and participate in my first Beachbody challenge. The challenge group is a Facebook group. The host posts a few things the week before (known as preseason) to get everyone ready, and then it starts. You do your workouts and check in each day. There is a prompt post, and usually some way for you to respond. That part has been fun, and really not very time consuming. It's very supportive and provides a great method of accountability.

As for the PiYo workouts, so far they have been pretty good. I'm definitely feeling it in my muscles (although not as much as I remember from when we did P90X!). More than anything, I've just felt good and rejuvenated. I have been waking up early to go outside in our garage, where we have our "gym" set up. This was the best time for me to fit in working out. You know, you hear this all the time...if you want to do something, you'll make time for it...you have to schedule it like any other appointment...but it's really true. I never thought that I would like working out in the morning, but it actually wakes me up pretty well. AND, I lost another pound this week! Yay!

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.