An Unsure Start to Challenge 4

[Anamal]

Honesty Time:

 

I'm tired of how I look, how much I weigh, and how little progress I've made this year. This challenge will focus on ONE goal, instead of dividing my attention between four. Besides, since the start of my year, I've really only wanted to accomplish one thing:

 

Lose weight, get smaller.

 

 

GOAL: Lose 10lbs

 

Starting Weight: 165.1

 

Measurements:

Chest: 33.5

Waist: 30.5

Hips: 41

Thighs: 24(L), 25®

Arms: 12.5

Calves: 16

 

Means for accomplishing this goal:

 

EXERCISE:

- Weight Training 3x a week (combine power lifting and body weight)

- Endurance Cardio 5-6x a week

- Soccer 2-3x a week

 

EAT WELL:

- Follow Chris Powells Carb Cycling Program (2 low carb, 1 high carb)

- Minimize sugar

- Minimize Alcohol and no alcohol is to be kept in the house

- No wheat/gluten

- No Rice or grains, on high carb days eat more sweet potato and fruit

 

 

I enjoy exercise, and now I need to really crack down on diet.

 

 

[Kairiel]

You will do it! smash your goals in magnificent style. *cheering from sidelines*

[Anamal]

You will do it! smash your goals in magnificent style. *cheering from sidelines*

Thanks lovely! I'm focusing on one day at a time, instead of freaking out about the whole challege/month/year all at once. Hopefully this will help keep things consistent if all I have to manage is today.

 

Yesterday was a good start to the challenge. I went to the gym and did back and shoulders, and then did 42mins of intervals on the bike, at the end of which I was dripping sweat. I ate really on point that day too (except for a little dark chocolate at night). But after dinner I threw away the remaining beer in my apartment, as well as the rest of the chocolate bar, and even tossed the honey up on a high shelf so I won't be tempted to sweeten coffee or tea with it.

 

I also want to work on celebrating the little victories this challenge, such as being proud that I had a good day nutritionally yesterday, after all, one good day is better than zero.

 

I took today off work since I'll be traveling the rest of the week so I'm sitting around drinking coffee after breakfast and I'll head out on a run shortly. Then soccer tonight!

[Ba'sini'on]

Hey girl! Glad to see you haven't given up!

[Kairiel]

one day at a time is a great attitude, apparently its useful for study as well. 

I want to take a second to give you special notice on the strength it takes to toss out non-health food. Well done!

[Anamal]

Hey girl! Glad to see you haven't given up!

Thanks dear! I think I'm still trying to figure out what works for me, but at least I'm learning what doesn't work!

 

one day at a time is a great attitude, apparently its useful for study as well. 

I want to take a second to give you special notice on the strength it takes to toss out non-health food. Well done!

Yeah, I've learned from myself that if bad food is in the house, I will eat it. Restraint is not something I've mastered yet.

 

Also, sorry I've been MIA this week, I want to be better at updating my progress and being accountable.

 

Ok, this first week totally transgressed from awesome to awful, and its nobodies fault but my own.

 

I let the stress and environment of travel side track me from my good eating and work out habits, and then the lack of sleep and poor fuel that my body was running on made it hard to recover from work outs, and then I felt lazier and ate worse all weekend. Its basically just a mess.

 

I'm realizing that when I eat non-paleo, and aren't strict with myself I end up feeling sick, tired, and super sensitive to everything. The way my clothes fit is annoying, the fact that its too hot is annoying, littlerally every little thing is bugging me today. Its an unpleasant way to learn that this lifestyle is just that, something for the rest of my life, and something that makes me feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

 

Anyway, I'm going to go home after work today, climb into bed, and watch a movie. Tomorrow I'm going to start a Whole 30 cycle and get my body back on track. I need to practice saying "no" to the things that aren't going to help me be where I want to be. Furthermore, I need to focus on each healthy meal and avoided temptation as a small victory.

 

Focus on the now, not the target.

 

Its simple, but its hard.

 

100 days left in 2013.

[Anamal]

TODAY! ITS TODAY!

 

Living one day at a time

 

Today I slept in instead of doing morning cardio (also because I'm playing soccer tonight), I got to work early (still at work actually), I'm eating well (high carb day) and starting the Whole30 program today (30 days of super strict paleo).

 

Focus on one positive action at a time.

[Anamal]

Right, so today is the start of my third day of on track eating. It a high carb day and so I'm enjoying things like apples and sweet potato. I like to remind myself and mentally reward myself for eating healthy. Its always been the hardest part of fitness for me. so when I look in the mirror and don't like what I see, I can say "hey, you ate really healthy today, and that's a step in the right direction"

 

Today I wasn't super motivated to hit the gym, which is something I've been struggling with lately. Then I was reminded of something my mom used to say:
"You don't have to want to, you just have to do it"

[Anamal]

Today will be a low carb day and I even packed my lunch and meals after soccer last night so that I could get a little more sleep this morning.

 

I was feeling kinda out of it, and not really on my game last night at soccer, so I left early and canceled my cardio for this morning in favor of having fresh legs for my league game tomorrow. This morning I did upper body weights.

 

I think tonight I'll try and be in bed early (I love sleep) and after work just chill and do laundry.

 

My life is so exciting sometimes.

[Pallas Athena]

Sounds like you've mostly bounced back from the blues--glad to hear!

 

I'm interested in the rationale for the carb sequence you're following. Any links you'd recommend for more information?

[Anamal]

Sounds like you've mostly bounced back from the blues--glad to hear!

 

I'm interested in the rationale for the carb sequence you're following. Any links you'd recommend for more information?

The logic behind carb cycling is that it confuses your body so that it stays at a high level of calorie burning, another large part of the equation is eating 5 small meals a day. I read Chris Powells book "Choose to Lose" which you can buy on Amazon for kindle for like $9.

 

Also, I had a small cheat meal yesterday, which consisted of a banana, a Quest bar, and some sugar free ice cream. AND, most of all, I didn't even eat it all. I think I should focus my energy more on permitting healthy cheats that don't turn into three day long binge-fests and eating really healthy 90% of the time.

 

I actually feel really good today.

[Anamal]

Also, I'm going to sign up for the NF Academy. What is $100 when compared to your health? Plus, I'm getting paid today, so I might as well spend the money on getting healthier.

[Anamal]

I signed up for the Academy Master Class today! I'm unbelievably excited!

 

I've probably had too much coffee today!

 

Soccer tonight!

 

Weeeeee high carb days!

[Anamal]

New deadlift best! 185lbs for 5 reps! I think I'll need to start switching up my grip soon since that was more perilous than my strength when it came to the actual lift.

 

I'm glad I got my workout in (although it only ended up being deadlifts, bridges, and lunges) because my brain is out of wack due to Aunt Flow coming today. Gross, I know, but deal with it.

 

Tomorrow is evening soccer, so instead of doing a run or bike in the morning, I'll sleep in (mmmmm, sleeeeep).

[Pallas Athena]

Wow! Congrats on the new deadlift record! Nice!

[Ba'sini'on]

Hey AA!

 

OMG that's so awesome that you signed up for the Academy Master Class! What do you think of it so far? I wanted to sign up but I'm to poor I can afford it once I'm in the Marines.

 

Congrats on the new deadlift best! Especially since you had to fight against Aunt Flow!

[Anamal]

Hey AA!

 

OMG that's so awesome that you signed up for the Academy Master Class! What do you think of it so far? I wanted to sign up but I'm to poor I can afford it once I'm in the Marines.

 

Congrats on the new deadlift best! Especially since you had to fight against Aunt Flow!

 

Wow! Congrats on the new deadlift record! Nice!

Thanks, I was pretty excited. I just did 175 for 3 sets of 5 reps, so now I need to work up both weight and reps, but I'll just keep following the plan.

 

The Academy Master Class is pretty cool! I'm excited for the meal plans specifically, and I like having a new workout plan to follow. Also, after spending $100 I'm going to be hard on myself if I drift off track. I'm realizing now that I won't hit my goal set for 2013, but I can make some significant progress.

 

Lastly, I'm bailing on the carb cycling thing, it just wasn't working for me after about 6 weeks, and eating 5 meals a day, and all the prep that was involved was really stressful. Now I'm aiming to eat really good paleo food, and keep my carb intake low, and get enough sleep.

 

In other news, I'm still affraid to step on the scale, and I haven't for at least a few weeks.

[Ba'sini'on]

Then don't step on the scale, only take that risk when you feel comfortable to do so.

 

Awesome! Once I get enough money to do so I'll try out the Master Class to! I love having everything already laid out for me, workouts and meals. Makes it less chance for me to get overwhelmed with what I should prepare for the whole week.

[Anamal]

So yesterday I ended up cheating, and having some gluten and sugar filled treats and some wine with dinner. I'm a little annoyed that I let myself fall into this, but what's done is done and I have some things that I learned from it that will help me move forward.

 

1) All is not lost, I ate healthy the rest of my meals, I did my morning workout, and I got plenty of sleep last night.

 

2) I didn't eat enough food at lunch, so by the end of the day I was STARVING. On top of this I was stressed out by work, not getting enough sleep from being up against a deadline. When these two factors (stress and hunger) combine, I'm far more likely to drift off healthy eating habits.

 

3) I'm starting today with renewed motivation. I CAN DO THIS!

 

4) I'm adding more food into my lunch so that I'll have sustained energy throughout the 2nd half of the day.

 

Time to dust myself off, enjoy my rest day and the break that my body needs, and move forward knowing that I can do nothing about the past.

[Anamal]

Then don't step on the scale, only take that risk when you feel comfortable to do so.

 

Awesome! Once I get enough money to do so I'll try out the Master Class to! I love having everything already laid out for me, workouts and meals. Makes it less chance for me to get overwhelmed with what I should prepare for the whole week.

Yeah, the meal plans are being released soon and I'm definitely looking forward to that! I find the less stress in exercise, food, and fitness in general the easier it is to complete. Also the less you have to plan and map out ahead of time, the easier it is. I like being able to show up to the gym and instead of having to devise a workout just being able to follow along.

[Ba'sini'on]

Good thing you aren't beating yourself up over just one day of splurging, instead you studied what made slip and are making plans not to slip up again!

 

Usually I have a big breakfast and then a healthy lunch, that ties me over until dinner. But if your very active then I would have a bigger lunch on hand, or some portable snacks like trail mix. Protein is also really good on making the body feel full.

[Pallas Athena]

Is Nom Nom Paleo doing the meal plans? I met her at a food blogging conference last year and we had a chance to visit for awhile--she's great! She's got a great paleo recipes phone app, too. Enjoy!

[Pallas Athena]

Hallo? AwkwardActive? Been busy?

[Anamal]

Hallo? AwkwardActive? Been busy?

Hi, hi! Sorry, yes things have been a bit crazy, and I've been putting more effort posting in the master class forums.

 

First off, Nom-Nom Paleo isn't doing all the meal plans, but there are some recipies from her on the site, and its definitely opening my eyes as to what can be paleo. For example, I made myself some thai coconut curry chicken soup a few days ago, 100% paleo and totally awesome! I was really proud of myself for making something new and being able to piece together a recipe from several non-paleo ones and make changes where needed.

 

Last week I was going super hard in all my workouts, and ended up at 8 days with no rest... and then, the sickness got me! Half my office is sick and I so I have a bit of a cold right now, and this will be my third day out of the gym. However, I'm starting to feel better so I'm going to get a walk in later tonight just to get the body moving again, and then hopefully I'll be able to do weights tomorrow, although it might be another day off before I can do strenuous cardio.

 

Ummm, that's about it I think... OH yeah! I bought some new jeans (size 10 still) but its so weird, they fit everywhere... except my waist where they're too big. Apparently pants makers don't account for girls with fit legs and smaller waists. I'm hoping it will show in my before/after pictures from this challenge.

[Ba'sini'on]

COOL! That's gotta make you feel better, your waist is getting smaller and you got new jeans! Lucky!!