Zahira

I think the boredom is my short attention span. I'll be fine for a week or two, then lose interest. Running hold it ok, but I don't super enjoy it. And, lack of motivation is compounding it, it's,like a vicious cycle, but I WILL break it! Thanks for the encouragement.

I feel like all I do is start over. I lost 45 pounds 5 years ago. Over the past 2-3, I've gained 35 back. I'm feeling miserable again. I have no motivation to eat well or exercise. I haven't worked out in weeks. It's hard to get back on track when the holidays are coming up, but I feel like saying, "I'll start on the first" is crap. I feel like I post the same thing over and over, but I also feel like posting will maybe help me stay accountable. I was running, don't love it. Have tons of weight equipment, get bored, etc. My first small goals are to just pick a workout, any workout, and get up and do it, then maybe go more concrete. Not use the fact that the holidays are coming up as an excuse to eat whatever any other day. So, I've put it out there, and I hope it helps.

I realized the workout I've been doing is the medium day, not the light day, so I've adjusted my plan accordingly. It gets boring, but I think I need to just keep doing this one, one light day this week, none next week, to build a good base, then get into the actual program. I did take some assistance off for pull-ups today. They were definitely harder, but I did them. I will likely add it back in for the challenge, but it's good to not have it now as I build. Since fixing my push up form, I can definitely feel it, and had to do some modified today, but I'm ok with that.

I did the W1D1 ladder again. My back hurt on push-ups, so I had my husband form check me. I was leading with my chest, or as he said, trying to get there faster. He did one for me, and I know that's how they look when I seen other people do them, but I've never watched myself, but it clicked, and I got the form down, but now they're harder. Boo. I will continue on, though, and only switch to modified if necessary. My squats were all to parallel or lower, I think. I need to make sure my flutes are doing the work. I tend to feel it more in my inner thighs.

Today's a fasting day, but I ate a banana bread brownie a co worker brought in. It was delicious, and I am having no regrets. I can still be under 600 for the day, most likely, and definitely under 700.

Got in a mile this morning, walk/run, 14:39. I need to push through more while running, maybe do a slower pace and see if I can just go without walking. I'll play around with it.

And by fast I don't mean whipping through the reps, I mean with less rest, and not going super slow. Form is always key!

I meant 3-5 reps! Definitely NOT 3-5 pounds! My bad! For circuits like that I'd do a weight that challenges you to 5 reps, I think. You can keep good form, but still go fast for a cardio effect.

I'd definitely do the big lifts first, then do your circuit/accessory after. Limit that to 4-5 exercises, 3-5 pounds, depending on weight/reps. If you can do the circuit fast with lighter weight and little rest, that will help with the time crunch. If you want to do specific core work, could you do that on different days?

Today I felt good. Adding the tubes back in my assistance things made the pull ups feel easy. I'm thinking of taking one out for training, and seeing how it goes. I did the W1D1 ladder: Pull-ups/Push-ups/Squats: 1/2/3 2/4/6 3/6/9 4/8/12 3 rounds. I gave myself the full two minutes per round, resting until the two minutes was up once I was done, until the last two rounds when I started to get a bit bored and just want to be done so I could get ready for work. I know I need to be more patient and take the rest, through.

I've decided that I want to do The Murph Challenge this year. It will be on Memorial Day. My husband did it last year, and I think it will be a good challenge for me. I will be doing assisted pull-ups and not wearing the weighted vest. I've just recently been working on pull ups and had two assistance bands with three tubes each. I'm down to two tubs each, but I'm adding the assistance back in for this challenge, as I normally don't get more than 5 at a time for 3 sets. I plan on starting with regular push ups, but will switch to modified if I need to. I found this training plan, which looks good. I did Week One, Day One today. I will admit to getting a bit bored with all the rest, especially on the lighter sets, but I know it's there for a reason, and I'm sure I'll want it once I'm adding reps. Since I have 7 weeks, and it's a 3 week plan, I'm easing into it, and tweaking a bit. I typically only workout M-F, so here's the schedule I've come up with. My goal is to be able to do the whole thing on Memorial Day in under 90 minutes. Any tips, tweaks or hints from anyone who's done this would be great. 4/11-15: W1D1 two times, run a mile twice, yoga where I can 4/18-22: W1D1 two times, W1D3 once (Day 3 is the lightest day), run a mile twice, yoga where I can 4/25-29: W1D1 three times, less rest, run a mile twice, yoga where I can 5/2-6: W1, run a mile once, once 1.5 miles once, yoga where I can 5/9-13: W1, run 1.5 miles twice, yoga where I can 5/16-20: W2, run 1.5 miles once, run 2 miles once, yoga where I can 5/23-27: W3, run 2 miles twice 5/30: The Murph!

I've been popping Jelly Bellies while watching Once Upon a Tome with my girls, but I'm still under 1900 calories, and fasting tomorrow, so I'm stopping now, and calling it a good day. Two days under 2000, but over 1800, but I'm not stressing. Official counting starts tomorrow.

Keeping the baby alive counts as something! It's awesome that you have an indoor track! Keep it up!

Did not eat popcorn at the movies. Had a big lunch, some leftover tempura veggies and an egg white sandwich for dinner. (Same sandwich for breakfast.) I'm feeling pretty good, I still have room for a decent snack, if I want it, staying under 1600. I filled three bags for Goodwill from the basementl have some clothes I might be able to sell to Once Upon A Child and Clothes Mentor, and a bag of trash. A load of clothes to try to sell being washed, another to go in soon, hopefully I'll get to the stores and donation bin tomorrow. Even though I'm not technically starting until next week, I'm giving myself 2 bonus points for my basement cleaning efforts. Didn't really go through boxes, but piles and bags of clothes, but it still counts! I'm still working on putting a dent in it!

Micro meals for breakfast and lunch, so not awesome. Popcorn corn a snack. Sushi and tempura for dinner out with my family. So today will be my "splurge" day for the weekend, most likely, though, by my best estimate, I'm under 1800, maybe even 1700, so I'm good with it. I'm feeling great being back on track, and am determined to stick with it.

I've done it, and I'm great at restricting in small doses, but coming off I immediately go back to eating everything. I get a little bored, and I don't always like food prep. However, when I really concentrated, it went well. I did a lot of sweet potatoes, veggies and eggs for breakfast. (I know you're not supposed to, but I was still counting calories, just because I was afraid of eating too much and gaining.) I liked this recipe (I think this is the one, I used regular sweet potatoes.) Shepherd's Pie Zucchinni lasagna is good, too, and you can omit the cheese or make nut cheese, though Whole30 may consider that a SWYPO food. Spaghetti squash with your favorite sauce and meat. Big ass salads with protein, loads of veggies and avocado. Theres tons of Paleo recipe websites out there with good recipes. Good luck!

Hard boiled eggs String cheese Greek yogurt Celery and peanut butter Sunflower seeds Carrots Pea pods A packet/can of tuna or salmon or chicken

Some yoga this morning. Felt good after over a week off. Feeling hungry after my "fast" day yesterday, but not overwhelmingly so. Shower then food, if I have time. Coffee for sure!

Thanks, Rurik! Today has gone well. Dinner has been my only meal, salad and soup from Whole Foods. Hard to count exactly, but right around 600, I think. Pretty good for a fast day.

I agree with what's already been said. Mental image is hard to get over, but look at it as improving the goodness that is already you. And I think some consistent exercise, specifically resistance training, will help you, both mentally and physically, as you get stronger and push yourself, you'll feel great, and your body will start to change in the ways it seems you want.

Reserved

Week two. I know I haven't been checking in, but week two went well. I worked out 5 days, so 10 points. I was pretty good, food wise. I had one good fasting day, then another where I went up to about a thousand calories, but didn't let it lead to a binge. I ate out this weekend, and just let myself eat what I wanted and have a delicious beer flight. But, I did not constantly snack while sitting watching volleyball all day. I've really been feeling good about 5:2 lately, and I'm hoping to let go of calorie counting on my non fast days once I feel a bit more comfortable. I'm giving myself 9 for food. I know I went over cals Saturday, and I had fast food late that night after volleyball, but again, I made decent choices, and did not eat all the things. I am slowly letting go of the need to be perfect.

Week 1: Monday, day one, and I already need to revamp my training plan. I want to do the Murph Challenge on Memorial Day. I found a three week training plan, but, knowing my level of pull ups (not great) and after talking to me husband (who did it last year), I've decided to start training now instead. The three week plan seemed pretty intense, so I'm going to sit down and figure out what I want to do. Maybe just do 2 days this week, then go to three next week. I've been gradually taking off bands in my assistance, but I'll be adding it back for the challenge. I did 45 minutes of yoga this morning, and I'm having a fast day today, doing well so far, shrimp tacos for dinner later, tea for now. Later: Ate well, under 500 for the day, looking forward to a good breakfast tomorrow. i did bedtime yoga with my 7 year old. And by that, I mean, I tried to follow the video, she did some, moved around, chattered on, then laid on top of me with her blanket while I was in shavasana. The best way to shavasana. I'm hoping it helps my sleep tonight. That, and getting off this. Tuesday, day two: I did my first workout to prepare for The Murph. I had some candy, but came in under 1500 calories. So no points lost today! Wednesday, day three: Got in a mile. It was walking and running and very slow, 14:39, but I did it. I'm think if I set the treadmill slower, maybe I can run straight through. I'll try that next time. Food was good, 1371. Thursday, day four: did my Murph training. Ate a banana bread brownie for breakfast even though I'm on a fast day. Egg sandwich and blackberries for dinner. Came in around 637, I guessed around 400 on the banana bread. I'm only taking one point off for today, because I didn't let having the sweet in the morning going into a downward spiral of bingeing or saying "oh, well" on food choices. Friday, day five: ran a mile, one walk break, 14:15. Under 1700 for food. Weekend: Under 1700 Saturday, right around 2000, maybe a tad over, for Sunday. I'm counting that as my "splurge day". So, for week one, I get 10 points for doing all my workouts, and 9 for food for a total of 19. I'm please with that.

I love your challenge! You're doing great so far, keep crushing it!

Thanks! I'm not counting today since I started the challenge in the middle of the week, but I'm working to get back at it. I got home from vacation around 9 last night, went to bed around 10:30, so slept in, no workout today. After vacation eating, I'm doing a fast day for 5:2, and I've had coffee so far and feel pretty good, but tired.