Wednesday, February 24, 2016

6 Week Challenge No.3 - the results are in



When I joined Burbank Fit Body Boot Camp I was on a mission. Lose the weight. I'm sure that is what everyone who walks in says to the trainers. They will be surprised at what the trainers suggest, and I say suggest because most people will be like WHAT! 

1. Eat more calories. This was really hard for me to do in the beginning.  I don't even know how many calories a day I was honestly eating. My breakfast consisted of a bagel and coffee. Lunch was usually left overs from dinner. It could be tacos, to lasagna, to whatever. Then I'd go home and have dinner. Probably the same thing I had for lunch, unless it was Pizza day. My husband loves his pizza day. That was usually 3 slices of Pepperoni pizza with a salad of course. Can't forget the beer. Pizza and beer my favorite. Anyway the point is I was not eating very healthy. I was filling up on foods that were bad for me. Learning to eat healthy calories has been amazing!!!    

2. Tracking Macros. I had no idea what this was. It took me a while to figure it out.  Right now I'm doing 40% Carbs, 40% Protein, and 20% fat. Carbs? Yes but my carbs come from veggies and fruits. Protein from protein shakes, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, eggs, etc. The fats are in everything, so as long as I'm sticking to my 20% goal , I'm happy. 

3. Cottage cheese. YUCK! It looked like spoiled milk to me. All I knew about cottage cheese was that it was a good fat burner.  My new favorite is 1 cup of Knudsen cottage cheese with 1 cup of fresh pineapple. AMAZING!! I have this a couple times a week. It was also suggested to me to add cottage cheese to my protein shakes. At first I was like NO really that just sounds gross. I tried it ...and I am in love. It makes the protein shake more smooth and creamy.

All in all I am loving this lifestyle change. It is a struggle at times but I am learning to cope with it. I think the hardest part is trying not to make it look like a diet to others. What do I mean? OK an example would be going out or even getting invited to go out. Most of my friends don't call me anymore. I'll get the 'Oh we didn't invite you because we know you aren't drinking'.  Or we are barbecuing and are wondering what can you eat? One time I got this and this was amazing,keep your healthy food out of our house we only eat junk food here. I laugh because not 2 minutes later - Oh that looks good can I have some. Punk!  

I still crave the junk food when I see it, but that is why no junk food is allowed in the house. If my husband has it, he has to put away somewhere that is NOT in the kitchen and where I can not see it. 

Now on to the results picture. Where I started and where I am at. 

I find my weight so embarrassing! I cry. I'm very sensitive about my weight. (Side Note: I asked my husband to read my blog and he looks at me and says you never weighed that much! I didn't see it. Gosh I love him!) So before I started boot camp I lost 3 lbs on my own and my starting weight at boot camp was 184 lbs. So *sigh* my highest ever was 187. Yeah...I don't even know what to say!! My ending weight after this last challenge is 166.4.            


So all in all I have lost 20.4 lbs. More than that I have lost 14.65 FAT POUNDS. Have you seen what that looks like?  I can tell you exactly where I've lost it. My thighs, my tummy, my back, my arms, actually everywhere. For the next challenge I want to focus on keeping my lean lbs the same and losing the fat lbs. 


I do have a goal photo, but it's not really about what I looked like in the photo it's about the jeans. I still have those jeans and have kept them in hopes to fit into them again one day. They are nothing special I just love those jeans. 


For now I'm still on my own challenge until the next boot camp challenge starts. I'm staying focused and looking forward to slipping those jeans on again but more than that being healthy feels good. Sometimes I just want to bottle up this feeling to share it around. 
  

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Who are you calling fat?

I cried after I saw this photo (picture taken November 2014). Who is that?  What happened to me?

I made excuse after excuse about my weight. It's menopause. I'm going through the change, so you know at my age it's harder to lose weight. Maybe it's my thyroid. Yeah that's what it is. Or you know what it is, Diabetes. It runs in my family. That is what it is. I know it. It didn't matter how little I ate or how much I exercised I wasn't losing anything. 

Then it happened. Someone called me fat. Well not straight to my face, but it was more like 'Us fat girls need to stick together.' WHAT? Who are you calling fat. I looked backed to see who else was around and it was just her and I. I smiled but deep down inside I knew it. Honestly that wasn't the only time. I noticed in a group photo that holiday season I was 'cropped' off at a holiday party I attended. I was the only one that didn't look like the rest - you know in size. I just smiled when I was told oh you know Instagram cut you off. After that I was like who needs enemies when I have friends like you. OK fine... whatever. Over it.   

I then went on diets. I tried an all protein diet, I tried crazy cleanses. Nothing. I would lose 3 pounds. Gain back those 3 plus 1 or 2. It made NO SENSE! NO SENSE AT ALL. 

My bursitis in my hip wasn't getting any better and the Orthovisc shots I received in my knees would soon wear off. I asked what can I do so I don't have to come back and get these shots again. Doctor looked at me and said losing weight would really help. Umm.. hello. I'm solid. I do triathlons, I run marathons.. it's all muscle at least that is what I thought.   

Then one day I saw photos of an old teammate pop up. The transformation was amazing and I wanted to find out more about it. I sent her a message on Facebook. She told me all about this bootcamp she was attending. It was more then a workout they also talked to you about nutrition. She mentioned they were starting a new 6 Week challenge and this would be a great opportunity for me to try it out. During these challenges the trainers would give you extra workouts on the weekends and help you with nutrition. I figured I have nothing to lose. 

I joined Burbank Fit Body Bootcamp in the month of June 2015. Lets fast forward because I'm a boring writer. 

Part of the challenge is that they take before and after photos. In the beginning I hated them. Actually I still hate getting them taken, but when I see how much my body has changed I get so excited. 


From June to November I know I was a lot more motivated. During the holidays I admit I got a little lazy. I didn't gain any weight during the holidays (which is AWESOME) I actually lost about 2 pounds, but then my body pretty much stayed the same. 

What I have learned. Lean bodies are made in the kitchen. It's the whole 80/20 rule. 80% Food 20% Exercise. I log in all of my food and try to attend boot camp at least 4/5 days and sometimes 6 days. Just really depends on what is going on. 

(1-. When I strted bootcamp, June 29, 2015. 2- At the end of my 2nd 6 week challenge, November 10, 2015. 3- The start of this current 6 Week challenge, January 9, 2016)

What I love about this is that I make my food choices. I am learning what is good for my body to keep it healthy. Most places give you a meal plan. At Fit Body Boot Camp it's the members who help eachother in this part. We all talk about food all day long. What works, what tastes great, but it's up to you to make it and keep yourself accountable. 

Each time I get tired or I am feeling unmotivated I look at my challenge photos. While I still have a lot to lose the changes are happening slowly but surely. I cry. It's not about trying to impress anyone. It's about feeling good - physically!   

This is the last week of this 6 week challenge (my 3rd) and I can't wait to see my before and after photos side by side. I did get a little sick and didn't make it in as often, but I still kept to my calorie and count and watched my macros. 

I feel like I can start planning races again. It's been a long time since I've felt motivated enough to even look at a race website. I look at the bike (I HAD TO HAVE) and it's just sitting there - flat tires and all. All Triathlon gear is neatly put away. 

What do I want to do? 
I want to do Kona 70.3. I want to do an Ironman! I won't get ahead of myself, I know I have to start over and I'm OK with that. Summer 2016 is when I plan to start training again. Now to find a race. :) The possibilities are endless.