This mama wants to get strong, fit and lose 42.5lb 💪🏼

[Bluegreen]

So I’ve neglected my health and fitness more or less since falling pregnant with my eldest 7 years ago. Annoyingly I was pretty healthy before then!

 

I’ve recently rejoined a CrossFit style gym

I used to go to years ago and two weeks ago had a major lightbulb moment about my health when I weighed myself for the first time in over a year - I’d put on over double what I’d estimated I had 😳

 

Some numbers:

 

Age: 33

Weight at start of challenge (2w ago): 12st 3.5lb/171.5lb (BMI 33.5)

Top of healthy BMI weight range: 9st 1lb/127

Total weight to lose: 3st/42.5lb

 

Biggest barriers to success:

 

1. I’m a foodie, I loooooooove to cook and bake. One positive is healthy cooking from scratch isn’t a scary prospect for me (we don’t really eat out or get takeaway much), but the downside is I’m more likely to get bored in the kitchen and want to deviate from plan… I normally bake bread, cakes, cookies etc a couple of times a week and love to do this with my kids. Luckily I’m still able to get them to help me bake lower-sugar muffins and flapjacks for my son’s school snacks (I freeze them in individual portions for the kids) and I’ve managed to steer clear of doing the really tempting things like cakes and brownies for a couple of weeks.

 

2. I’m a bit more restricted to times I can go to the gym because of parenting responsibilities. But it’s not insurmountable. My gym does have slightly limited opening times but I’m also working out from home when I can’t get in.

 

3. My kids are fussy and we eat as a family. So we do tend to eat pasta, burritos, hot dogs and pizza quite a bit. I’m pretty vigilant that they get enough fruit and veg and protein (they will both eat fruit, raw veg sticks, soup and homemade pasta sauces, plus hummus/peanut butter/chicken/baked beans/meatballs/sausages). But it’s tough going working on them accepting variety and new things. We’re working on it, and my husband and I have agreed that my health goals are a priority for now so maybe that means we do a separate meal from the kids occasionally (I mean, we can still eat together, but not always the same thing). 
 

In the last two weeks, I’ve been pretty strict:

 

▪️not had any alcohol when socialising

▪️avoided sweet snacks/desserts

▪️most meals have been based on protein and lots of veggies and healthy fats

▪️I’ve been having 1-2 snacks a day (usually 1 but if I feel I need 2 I go for it), either a piece of fruit, a weighed portion of nuts, or Greek yoghurt mixed with some protein powder

▪️I have a carb meal after workouts (moderate portion of the carbs)

▪️and I’ve been working out 5-6x a week (sometimes at the gym and sometimes doing HIIT workouts at home)

 

Honestly, I feel amazing for this. I have a real sweet tooth, and since my youngest was born I’ve gotten into the habit of using sugar every time I’m tired or stressed or overwhelmed. Normally wheh I snack I’m starving again shortly after, feel a bit faint, end up eating the whole bag of chocolate or half the cake(!). Since I cut it all out two weeks ago I’ve been really astonished that I don’t feel like that at all, I feel much more level and energised. Even when I do feel hungry before a meal, I don’t feel faint and shaky, just hungry. 
 

Of course, I won’t cut out all sugary stuff forever, but I’m really keen to take a few weeks off to retrain my tastebuds. When I was much younger, I barely cared for sweets - yes I enjoyed them if I had them, but I had long stretches without - whereas the last few years it’s felt like my day somehow isn’t complete without a bar of chocolate somewhere in it. That sounds really pathetic, but it’s accurate. It feels empowering to take control of my health again.

 

EDIT - forgot to say I’ve lost 4lb the last two weeks, so 4/42.5lb down 👍

[Bluegreen]

Today’s log:

 

B - two scrambled eggs & 1/2 pack smoked salmon, broccoli

 

W - went to gym, quite a hard cardio WOD (hard for me!) - rowing, box jumps and burpees - followed by a team effort on the rower

 

L - post-workout carb refuel meal = griddled spiced chicken in a wrap (chilli type spices), with lots of salad, a little cream cheese and hot sauce 

 

S - 100g Greek yoghurt with chocolate protein powder mixed in

 

D - tomato & lentil soup with a dollop of Greek yoghurt on top. My husband made home baked focaccia for him and the kids (traitor!) but I resisted!

 

 

[Bluegreen]

Today’s log:

 

W - 25 min HIIT

 

B - post-workout chocolate protein porridge

 

L - smoked salmon, scrambled egg, broccoli and peas

 

S - an apple

D - chicken cooked with tomato, spinach, mozzarella & pine nuts, with green beans on the side 

Today’s weight - 11st 13

Seven day average - 11st 13.5

 

Also took the kids out to a lovely country park for an hour and a half, so got all my steps in.
 

I’m doing the 1,000 Hours Outdoor challenge this year. It’s aimed at getting your kids outdoors, but for simplicity I track my own outdoor time - they get outdoors more than I do, so I know that if I get anyway near target they’ll have too. Anyway I got about 3 hours today as we also spent time in the garden 🙂

[Bluegreen]

Monday’s log:

 

B - protein smoothie

L - lentil & veg soup 

S - an apple

D - chicken & veg stir fry

W - rest day

 

Tuesday:

 

B - protein smoothie 

L - Thai steak salad

S - nuts

D - turkey meatball pasta (not nice!)

W - CrossFit style gym class 

 

Today:

 

B - Greek yoghurt, berries, nuts, seeds, a bit of maple syrup

L - chicken & veg jalfrezi 

S - small banana & strawberry milkshake 

W - CrossFit style gym class

D - fried rice with lots of chicken & veg (not too much rice!)

 

Weighed myself today and down to 11st 12.5lb which is 5lb less than when I started 2.5 weeks ago 🙂

[foxinthenorth]

Your food sounds delicious.

[Bluegreen]

Thanks @foxinthenorth!

 

Now at 6lb down, yay.

 

Yesterday’s log:

 

W - CrossFit style gym class

B - chocolate protein porridge

L - leftover chicken tikka from the night before, with a big salad and hot sauce 

S - a small handful of salted peanuts & cashews at an afternoon party - this was ALL I ate from the party food, despite being surrounded by pizza and various nibbles 

D - butter chicken, I didn’t have the rice but had a big portion of green veg on the side.

 

Work is seriously stressful at the minute and I’ve been very tempted to comfort eat chocolate the last few days but gave desisted and observed how the craving does disappear if you don’t give in to it… obvious really, but not something I’d paid much awareness to before.

[foxinthenorth]

How's it going, @Bluegreen?