LizzyB

Hi Kailer! Congrats on losing 30 pounds! Wanted to stop by and see how your challenge went, it looks like you did great!

Last day!! Woo hoo--I made it. OK, so here is the run down. First, I managed to drop amost a full dress size. (did not measure, but can wear previously too-tight jeans) I am up to 2 and a half sets of BBWW 3 times a week, sprinting dropped off for me a bit. I was so focused on a chin up that sprinting became a warm up, and I didn't take it as seriously the last two weeks. And now for the big news.....I did not meet my chin up goal. But, I am very close. I strained my neck muscles a few days ago and it set me back. I ended up skipping a couple of work outs, but I still feel better than I did six weeks ago. This was a great learning experience for me. I learned that I can make time to work out even with grown up responsibilities, but I need to be more realistic about my goals. I am wanting to make sustainable change and that has to happen in baby steps. This was a great experience. I kind of wish my first challenge had not hit at the busy end of school season, I would have liked more time to explore the message boards as I went along. For my next challenge I want to find something that will level up what I started with the BBWW and so I am off to the boards to see what I can find!

Thank you for the offer! Yes, I would love the recipes, thank you. My kids/hubby do paleo a bit, but they refuse to give up breads/starches. I have noticed a big change in my energy/mood when I slip up and have some gluten too, so I can relate. I have used bell pepper slices in place of bread/bun for sandwiches and it is good, but very expensive until they come into season. I may need to try a gluten free product.

Hey y'all! Week 5 was pretty good, not stellar though. I am starting to enjoy working out and miss it when I don't, but the diet thing is tough. My family is supportive, but they are not willing to go as far with the paleo as I'd like. Small children love their starches! Week 5 was definitely a reality check for me. I needed to acknowledge my own tendencies to be too enthusiastic and then run out of steam as the finish line approaches. I spent some time reflecting on this yo-yo pattern and how to go long term. The accountability of posting my progress and getting encouragement/advice has made a big difference! I will finish strong this week! I have not yet thought much about my next challenge or joining a guild, but I am going to start! The summer is just getting started and I will need another challenge to keep me motivated.

Hi Kailer! It's been a rough one. My nephew had his convocation this week so family in town and wanting to eat out daily. But on a positive note, I have been able to squeeze in workouts and have managed a half chin up, if that's a thing. Lol! I got my forehead to the bar.

Hey Cowardlylion! How are things going? It looks like you are staying on track and fitting in exercise regularly--great job!

Welcome! I am new as well and have found a lot of encouragement here in the community. Some days are just hard. I am also a working mother and life has a way of interfering with my goals too. On those days, I tell myself just a "little exercise" and I might do only some stretching and squats, or make one positive choice per meal--water instead of latte or fruit instead of pastry. I did not find any success until I let go of trying to do everything perfectly. Do one thing every day and log in a small victory. The small things add up, just be patient. You didn't get out of shape in one day and one day will not fix it. On a personal note, the moment in which my motivation was solidified was when my daughters pulled out the exercise mat and said they wanted to exercise like mommy. Talk about tears! That was the moment I realized how important this was for my babies to develop healthy habits. A few little hints: write down specific, achievable goals. Give yourself a reasonable time table and have someone you can message or chat with who is positive but will also hold you accountable (lovingly). I wish you all the best and if there is anything I can help with (newbie that I am) please let me know! Happy Mother's Day.

Glad to hear it! I have a friend who is doing the C25K as well. She loves it, says it is very simple to follow.

Thank you Hazard! I am going to be more dedicated to doing negatives and hopefully I will have that chin up before the challenge is over. We have a pull up bar so it is convenient, I just need to be more diligent about it.

Yes, it's going well, thank you. I think sprinting is a good complement to my routine. How are things going with you?

Thank you for the advice and encouragement, it was a great help. I will try your suggestion of doing a negative several times a day and let you know how it goes!

I have two oldies but goodies: "just don't eat any fat" and the perrennial "girls really shouldn't do free weights or you'll get too big." Sad thing is, there was a time I believed these things. So glad common sense finally prevailed!

Thank you for posting this! I read it and will have to re-read, there is a lot to process. I have just started my first challenge and am doing the BBWW and seeing results but I realize I will have to level up to continue to progress. This gave me a great resource with some clear explanations of what works and why. You have given me a solid place to start, thanks again!

Just a quick update: things are going well the last couple of days. Managed to stay almost on track with paleo and worked out on schedule. Having a tough time with chin ups and would love any advice. I've read Kamb's article on the subject and am trying to follow his suggestions. I've even taken to just hanging from the bar! lol! My dh (a natural ranger elf type) finds it hilarious to walk by and literally see me hanging around. He is supportive and has been motivated to increase his exercise and make some changes as well. Life goal update: instituted three highly unpopular and tyrannical rules for household. 1. no dishes left in sink 2. toys and other items not put away each evening are subject to sale or disposal and 3. no homeless laundry or shoes left out. So far, no mutiny.

Hi Claire! My dh is supportive most of the time, but he will not go 100% paleo with me and pulls the "c'mon, you've got to live a little" line from time to time. So does my mother. If I tell her I've dropped a few pounds I can guarantee she will bear cookies and candy at her next visit claiming I have earned a treat. I haven't found an easy way to deal with this. Luckily dh loves most of the paleo recipes I have made and is happy to eat them with few adjustments, such as rice with stir fry or tortillas with fajitas. I have also found that discussing my diet and exercise with others leads them to feel bad or insecure about themselves. Somehow they take it as a judgement. Luckily I prefer to exercise on my own so that is not an issue.

OK, sooo it's been a while. Good news is I hit the 10 lbs lost mark. Yay! (Includes weight lost before challenge) I can also get two full sets of BBWW in and am running 8.4 mph on my sprints. Overall in the exercise dept things are chugging along. Had another difficult week with diet, but hope springs eternal. I did manage to eat paleo for 2 out of 3 daily meals. The fact that the scale was down and I definitely look better in my clothes is what is keeping me from giving up. That, and the fact I am accountable here. Easter candy eaten: four pieces today and four yesterday. Tomorrow's goal: run sprints, no candy

Hi Stellaga! I also am trying to lose baby weight and finding time is so hard with a job and two little ones-- I am in that same boat. I also want to be a healthy mama and be fit to enjoy life, my family, and friends. Two things I really liked about your post: 1 keeping a food journal, and 2 how you didn't let one indulgence set you back. Keep moving forward and good luck!

Hi Kailer! Thank you for stopping by. I've been doing great with the workouts--I love how I can feel a difference already. Diet has been a little harder this past week with out of town guests, a minor fender bender, and two sick ones in the house. It's been survival mode, but I still managed to eat two paleo meals a day and only a couple pieces of candy. Thanks for sending the links. I have been visiting the different guilds and finding great information. Glad to meet someone with similar goals. I have never thought of myself as a runner, but I like sprinting. Good luck to you and I will keep in touch!

Greetings and thank you for the encouragement!

I catch mild forms of this at work. There is one in particular who eye rolls when I turn down cake (there is ALWAYS cake) and then there are a few that are very supportive. I sometimes get it from close family too. They bring cookies and donuts and such as a gift and tell me I need to live a little. What they don't get (even after I've explained it all), is that it's not really about thin. It's about healthy and when I eat a lot of wheat flour, dairy, or sugar I get sick. My body does not tolerate it well and my acne flares up and basically I feel gross after eating junk. My family members have these same symptoms and they prefer to complain about it and go see a bazillion doctors instead of changing their lifestyle. I have not been on this journey long, so I am definitely not the picture of fitness, but I am better than I was when I began. Haters gonna hate, because they do not like their little world of excuses challenged. That goes for all choices that are not part of the mainstream. The surest way to be ostracized from a group is to think for yourself, especially if that thinking leads to leveling up in life. I choose to tune out the negativity but stay open in case they have a change of heart and end up needing some support. Don't worry about what others think because you are making the best choices for you. Keep moving forward toward your goals!

Had a bit of a reality interfere with my plans for a couple of days but back in the saddle today! I did manage to workout every day except Friday but have not been good on my eating. Hooray for the weekend and an opportunity to slow down and regroup. Good start to the morning with 2 sets of the BBWW and a great breakfast of egg and bacon sandwiched between slices of bell pepper, an orange, and black coffee. Noticed that skipping my workout yesterday made me feel restless and stressed so I think my body has come to expect it. Although I have only been on NF for about a week, I have been trying to make changes since January. I did really well for a couple months, and then got off course with spring break. A good support group is a must for me, just reading about all the successes and struggles fellow nerds have posted is a needed boost. Plan for today: yummy lunch of zucchini noodles and marinated salmon and for dinner, going to try coconut crusted chicken tenders with steamed broccoli and bell peppers.

It's been a couple of days since I've checked in due to life happening (as it does). This has meant it's been difficult to stick with paleo at every meal, but I have stuck with my workouts. I was able to increase BBWW to 2 sets and have increased my sprint speed to 8.2 mph. So yay! I also tried negative chin ups, but find myself almost falling instead of lowering down. I do feel myself getting stronger and it motivates me to keep going and to say no to the Easter candy that has invaded my home like tiny delicious ninjas. I mean, horrible tasting, nasty stuff that makes me gag.

Sorry it took me a while to reply--I wanted to actually have something to share first. I have been following the NF plan on pull-ups/chin-ups and am at two sets of rows with minimal soreness next day. I think next work out I will increase to three sets as recommended. I've tried doing some negatives, but still end up almost falling.

Good luck! Sounds like you have some good goals!

Today's Data: breakast: chicken sausage + cucumber slices lunch: spinach & tomato salad with turkey dinner: beef fajitas, lettuce instead of tortilla snack: granny smith apple fail: ate cake at baby shower. Not happy about it, but got to keep moving forward. Workout: 15 minutes on treadmill including 3 sprints. Personal Best today!!! Ran sprints at a full 8 mph.