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 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!

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.