Summer Challenge Results

This past weekend ended the 14 week summer challenge. It was very challenging, especially when the first half was spent going in the wrong direction. I am happy to say that the changes I made at the halfway point really paid off. I lost a total of 21 inches! The breakdown was: just under an inch off my neck, 2 inches from my chest, 4 off my waist, 3 from the hips, 5 from each thigh and 1 from each arm. I lost 2% body fat and added 7 lbs lean mass. I do realize that all lean mass is more than muscle. I was  happy with these changes. I did gain a total of 11 lbs, but I know that number will go down in time. 

I did a lot of planning for the next stage of my fitness journey. I plan to lift weights 4 days a week, focusing on different body parts for 3 days then doing a total body weight workout on the fourth day. I have been walking with a weighted vest and I just added walking poles today. The poles intensify the workout and incorporate the upper body more. They also reduce impact on the lower body. I will alternate between walking, HIIT and other workout DVD's for my cardio.  I am excited to change things up once again. I will be careful not to over exercise!

My nutrition has improved over all. I am going to continue to focus on meal planning using healthier meal choices. At this time I am going to use the portion method, and not track calories or macro nutrients. My brain needs a break from all the numbers.

I will keep taking my measurements to track progress. I have learned how my body responds to change. That has been one of the biggest lessons of the summer. I have also learned to be flexible. If I am short on time I can always change the planned workout of the day. The fitness police won't show up at my house to arrest me! Being flexible keeps my frustration level down and helps to maintain a balance with the rest of my life. It is important not to become so completely consumed with my fitness journey that I neglect other aspects of my life.

Results!

I am Very Happy that I am seeing the results that I was hoping for with the latest changes. I feel great and I have more over all energy. I am losing fat! Yay!! I really love to lift weights so more lifting and less cardio is perfect for me. I combined a few philosophies and then went through my extensive Workout DVD collection to find workouts to fit what I wanted to do. At this time I am Lifting 3 times a week with a break down of 1 upper body 1 lower body and 1 total body weighted workout. Then on in between days I have been doing my HIIT workouts. I have also done a lot of walking. It is relaxing and my kiddo can walk with me. We haven't had the bikes out the last couple of weeks due to being busy  with other things. Playing with the kiddo on the Kinect and at the park burns up a lot of calories an energy as well. We have been enjoying life and having a lot of fun with it.  Since my focus is on shorter workouts, it has been a nicer fit with Sheyenne on summer break and easier to squeeze in with all of out activities. That eliminates my frustration, stress and guilt over not getting in a longer workout. Seeing the results just hammers home the point that it was past time for a change.

I thank those who have given me feedback that led to these major changes! I also appreciate the comments. They are food for thought, and I really do think about what is said.

Sharon

More changes

After reading a couple of comments left on my last post I did some soul searching. I realized that I was frustrated because I wasn't getting in the workouts that I wanted to get done. I was adding pressure to myself to do more because of the fitness challenge I am in, yet I felt like I was slacking because I wasn't doing things the way I wanted to do them. I have come to the conclusion that I was just needlessly stressing myself out. Last summer I dialed the frequency of my workouts down due to spending time with my daughter, and I felt great. So, I am going to do the same for the rest of this summer. I will put my P90X on hold. I am instead going to experiment with a couple different programs that are similar to one another. There is the 4 week Turbulence Training and also the Body for Life programs. These both use minimal cardio and weight training to burn fat. It will be a change of pace and I can always add in my yoga . My bike rides and walk with Shy (my daughter) will count as my workouts as well and I won't feel guilty for not getting to my planned program.

I also have been looking into some more mental training. That is really half the battle. It will help with my motivation as well. I feel a lot more at peace with these changes.

My Journey to Get Fit: Tweaks

My Journey to Get Fit: Tweaks: "So I am a month into the Summer Challenge. I have mixed feelings about my results so far. I haven't had the stellar results I was hoping for..."

Tweaks

So I am a month into the Summer Challenge. I have mixed feelings about my results so far. I haven't had the stellar results I was hoping for, in fact my body fat % , measurements and weight has zigged zagged in a way I didn't know was possible. Granted I was sick for 2 weeks, but in denial of that fact for the first week. I was pushing through very intense workouts when my body was screaming for rest. I finally listened and rested last week. That was the best results I have had since I started the challenge, go figure! This week I have eased myself back into my routine with the focus on cardio. I will bump up the workouts starting tomorrow.

I have also done a lot of soul searching and from what I have read in the Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle book, I really think I need to make some further tweaks on my nutrition program. I reworked my calculations. I plan to cycle calories but maintain a 40/40/20 split of carbs/protein/fats. I purchased a Nook Color, so I can have all my ecookbooks in a smaller , easier to use in the kitchen format. I am pleased with the strides I have made in meal planning. 

I also want to tweak my workouts. I want to get more bike rides and/or walking into my routine. I am switching from the Classic to the Lean program of P90X for Phase 2. I am going to finish this rotation of TurboFire , then I may throw in some Insanity for additional cardio plus whatever else I have in my extensive library for fun. I am determined to burn off this excess body fat!!

Sharon

Seeing Results

 I know I am just a week into my new workout and nutrition plan. So far I feel great. I have good energy, and I am rocking my workouts. I continue to read Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle. I am really learning a lot about by body .

Today I put on a pair of shorts that has been in my closet since Sheyenne was an infant. I never have been able to pull them up all the way. Today I actually wore them with no problem!! Yes I was doing the happy dance. Ironically it is Sheyenne's 9th birthday!. Yesterday I walked past my nephew and he told his mom that "Auntie Sharon has lost some weight." That tells me I am not the only one noticing changes! There is nothing more motivating than seeing results!

Sharon

Summer Challenge

I am so excited to have started the Summer Challenge that Tom Venuto puts on his Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle Inner Circle. I started that officially this past Sunday. I have already made a lot of fitness minded people on the Inner Circle message boards. I am super excited that my sister Teresa is also participating in the challenge.

This is very similar to the challenge that I did over the holidays, just longer. This challenge is for 98 days. I decided to truly commit to the process that Tom has outlined in his book Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. In the book, Tom recommends starting with his baseline nutrition plan which is actually a high carb, low fat plan. I realized that it is similar to the plan that Bill Phillips uses on his Transformation site. I decided that it wasn't going to hurt to try it. I officially implemented the plan on Tuesday of this week. I am utterly amazed at the energy that I have had this week. The plan also calls to eat 5 -6 small meals a day. I have noticed a difference using this method as well. I feel like I am eating "normally." There is no deprivation. I don't want junk. Eating frequently keeps the cravings down and the energy up.
I have been using some meal planning tools to plan my meals ahead of time. I have even started to make some new, healthy recipes. It feels great when it is meal time  not to feel lost in my own kitchen.

In conjunction with improved nutrition I also changed up my workouts. I started P90X this week. So far so good! I am still using TurboFire as well. I didn't know it was possible to sweat as much as I have this week! The funny thing is my daughter Sheyenne sees me working out, then she wants me to workout with her. When it is nice outside we get on our bikes. We actually went and walked at the River Walk this past week. We ended up walking for a good 2 1/2 miles. It is good to spend true quality time with her. I have a feeling we will be out there a lot this summer. Today it was rainy, so we played some Zumba and a few other games on the Kinect.
It feels like this process is really coming together.
Sharon