Good morning, all! Happy Sunday.
Well, I'll just get down to it: I gained back 3.7 lbs this week.
Naturally, I'm not at all happy about this. I've worked my behind off (literally and figuratively) for the past 10 weeks, and when you put in as much work as I have, you never want to see the scale NOT go down, much less go back up. With that being said, this blog, and this process, are all about holding yourself accountable, and this week I messed up.
I did every workout and then some. I'm doing a fitness challenge at my good friend's gym with her that is three weeks long. I did that Monday and Tuesday on top of Workouts 9 and 10 of Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. Naturally, this put my body under a lot of stress. Wednesday I had a jam-packed day and I could barely walk, so I took a rest day. Thursday I resumed with the workouts and doubled up on my workouts yesterday to make up for the lost day. This means that I did Workout 10 AND Cardio 3 on the same day in order to compensate. Clearly, the issue this week was not the workouts because I actually did MORE than I've been doing when all is said and done. The problem was that I still have issues with my diet.
I cheated a lot this week, and I didn't do the greatest job of tracking what I ate in Weight Watchers to gauge what I was consuming. This isn't to say that I pigged out on McDonalds, Chipotle and ice cream all week, but I drank a lot more alcohol, had a bunch of sushi with a friend Wednesday night, ate salty foods and drank a lot of soda. I didn't have great self control at all, and it shows by my weight gain. I also understand that me working out more means that I built more muscle this week, so I'm sure that contributed to the weight gain as well, but I can take responsibility for my poor diet choices this week and realize that if I'm going to see success through the remainder of this program, I have to watch my sodium intake and keep the cheating to a minimum.
With that being said, the one thing about this that I've really been struggling with is the self loathing I feel over gaining a few pounds back. I feel like it negates my hard work when it hasn't! I need to learn to stop being so hard on myself. My physical fitness level has improved tremendously, as has my endurance and physical appearance. I worry about how much I obsess over the number on the scale. So this week, I'm actually going to do what I said I'd do last week: put the scale away until next Sunday. I'm not taking it out under any circumstances, nor will I weigh myself again until next Sunday. Instead, I'm going to focus my energy this week on making better diet choices, continuing with my workouts and letting go of this week.
Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Yes, people can lose twenty pounds in two weeks through a fad diet, but once they go back to normal eating habits they gain it back just as quickly. When you do things the healthy way, you're going to experience setbacks like this from time to time, and I have to learn to accept that and not want to cry every time I weigh myself and I'm half a pound heavier. I've been making positive changes, so I need to focus on my positive results. It's the only way I'll get through this and not give up right at the finish line.
I have three weeks left of this program, and it's time to finish strong! I know a lot of you who read this blog are people who are doing the program too, and I hope my honesty and accountability for my results inspires you to keep going, even if you experience setbacks! Learn to let go. That's what I've had to do this week.
Have a great week everyone! xx
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Week 9: Can You Believe?
Happy Sunday! I hope you're all having nicer weather than Chicago is. Who else is ready for spring? I honestly can't deal with this freezing cold much longer. It'd be nice to turn off the heat too ;).
This week was REALLY tough workout-wise. I moved in to Phase 3 of the program, which is the final phase. Here it the lowdown on the workouts.
Workout 9 is the first front of body workout for phase 3. It is inspired by a lot of power yoga moves and is INCREDIBLY tough on your quads and core. The first two circuits are totally brutal, and the cardio intervals involve a lot of plank (my favorite...NOT). With that being said, I do kind of love this workout despite how "evil" it is. I was dripping sweat by the end of it and felt like I really got stronger with every passing second. It also showed me how far I've come in terms of my fitness level since the beginning of the program. I could have NEVER gotten through a workout like this two months ago. It's empowering to know that I can do this workout. Sure, there are some moves I still struggle with, but that's going to be the case whenever you move up. You're not supposed to look like the fitness models in these videos. That's what you're ASPIRING to. Do you know how long those people have had to work out in order to be in that kind of shape? If you're doing this program and feeling discouraged because you don't think you can do it, remember that. The fitness models in these videos work out for a living, and it has taken them years to look like they do. The same is going to apply to me.
Workout 10 is the first back of body workout for phase 3. This one is KILLER on your legs and butt. It also involves a lot more jump training with weights and cardio intervals with weights. Once again, as difficult as this workout is, (I personally feel it's the hardest thus far), I do love it because I feel my legs getting exponentially stronger with each exercise and am dripping sweat by the end. I feel as though I've accomplished something and gotten a good workout in. Once again, I did struggle with some of the moves. There are a lot of balance moves in this workout that are incredibly difficult for people like me who struggle with that, but I'm confident that will improve with time as I continue to work out more.
Cardio 3 is the cardio workout for phase 3, and it's the cardio I'll be doing for the remainder of the program. This instantly became my favorite. It's definitely hard, but because there are 24 exercises per circuit, each lasting about 20 seconds, the workout is fast-paced and goes by really quickly. Once again, it's so empowering to see how far my conditioning and endurance has come. I did very well at the cardio DVD both times I did it this week, given that it was my first couple times. Sure, I had to stop for about 20 seconds the second time I did it, but compared to where I was a month ago, that's not so bad. I'm confident that by the end of this phase I'll be killing that workout and doing it without pause.
In terms of my diet this week, that was frustrating. I can definitely see that I'm making better food choices, and I did a really great job of sticking to the diet I'm on. What was frustrating this week was my body! It was holding on to water throughout the week and I'm chalking that up to not watching my sodium intake enough. I was getting bloated, and as a result when I'd weigh myself throughout the week I'd see that the scale wasn't moving. I really watched it the last two days and lo and behold I ended up being down about 3.3 pounds this week. I still ate my designated number of points for the day, but I didn't drink as much soda and was careful to eat more fresh veggies and fruits that weren't too high in sodium. Boom. Weight lost, ready to keep rolling.
Another lesson that I'm going to have to stick to: STOP WEIGHING MYSELF EVERY DAY. Your body goes through natural fluctuations throughout the week and compulsively weighing myself only creates more frustration. I'm going to stick to weighing myself Sunday mornings after I wake up and putting my scale out of sight for the rest of the week. That way I won't harp on it and obsess.
Ready to keep rolling on to week 10! I'm taking things up a notch this week. One of my friends asked me to do a fitness challenge with her at her gym, so I'll be doing this program in the mornings and the challenge in the evenings. It should be interesting...hope my body can handle it!
Until next week!
Sarah
This week was REALLY tough workout-wise. I moved in to Phase 3 of the program, which is the final phase. Here it the lowdown on the workouts.
Workout 9 is the first front of body workout for phase 3. It is inspired by a lot of power yoga moves and is INCREDIBLY tough on your quads and core. The first two circuits are totally brutal, and the cardio intervals involve a lot of plank (my favorite...NOT). With that being said, I do kind of love this workout despite how "evil" it is. I was dripping sweat by the end of it and felt like I really got stronger with every passing second. It also showed me how far I've come in terms of my fitness level since the beginning of the program. I could have NEVER gotten through a workout like this two months ago. It's empowering to know that I can do this workout. Sure, there are some moves I still struggle with, but that's going to be the case whenever you move up. You're not supposed to look like the fitness models in these videos. That's what you're ASPIRING to. Do you know how long those people have had to work out in order to be in that kind of shape? If you're doing this program and feeling discouraged because you don't think you can do it, remember that. The fitness models in these videos work out for a living, and it has taken them years to look like they do. The same is going to apply to me.
Workout 10 is the first back of body workout for phase 3. This one is KILLER on your legs and butt. It also involves a lot more jump training with weights and cardio intervals with weights. Once again, as difficult as this workout is, (I personally feel it's the hardest thus far), I do love it because I feel my legs getting exponentially stronger with each exercise and am dripping sweat by the end. I feel as though I've accomplished something and gotten a good workout in. Once again, I did struggle with some of the moves. There are a lot of balance moves in this workout that are incredibly difficult for people like me who struggle with that, but I'm confident that will improve with time as I continue to work out more.
Cardio 3 is the cardio workout for phase 3, and it's the cardio I'll be doing for the remainder of the program. This instantly became my favorite. It's definitely hard, but because there are 24 exercises per circuit, each lasting about 20 seconds, the workout is fast-paced and goes by really quickly. Once again, it's so empowering to see how far my conditioning and endurance has come. I did very well at the cardio DVD both times I did it this week, given that it was my first couple times. Sure, I had to stop for about 20 seconds the second time I did it, but compared to where I was a month ago, that's not so bad. I'm confident that by the end of this phase I'll be killing that workout and doing it without pause.
In terms of my diet this week, that was frustrating. I can definitely see that I'm making better food choices, and I did a really great job of sticking to the diet I'm on. What was frustrating this week was my body! It was holding on to water throughout the week and I'm chalking that up to not watching my sodium intake enough. I was getting bloated, and as a result when I'd weigh myself throughout the week I'd see that the scale wasn't moving. I really watched it the last two days and lo and behold I ended up being down about 3.3 pounds this week. I still ate my designated number of points for the day, but I didn't drink as much soda and was careful to eat more fresh veggies and fruits that weren't too high in sodium. Boom. Weight lost, ready to keep rolling.
Another lesson that I'm going to have to stick to: STOP WEIGHING MYSELF EVERY DAY. Your body goes through natural fluctuations throughout the week and compulsively weighing myself only creates more frustration. I'm going to stick to weighing myself Sunday mornings after I wake up and putting my scale out of sight for the rest of the week. That way I won't harp on it and obsess.
Ready to keep rolling on to week 10! I'm taking things up a notch this week. One of my friends asked me to do a fitness challenge with her at her gym, so I'll be doing this program in the mornings and the challenge in the evenings. It should be interesting...hope my body can handle it!
Until next week!
Sarah
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Week 8: Mind Over Matter
Hi everyone! Hope you're all having a kick-ass Sunday.
So...where to begin with this week? I'm completely done with Phase 2 of the Body Revolution program and move to Phase 3 on Monday. I can't believe I'm two months in already! In just five weeks I'll be done.
This week was a rough one for me with the workouts. I worked out every day, but I still felt myself really struggling to get through Workouts 7 and 8. I definitely have improved, but it's still not easy. I felt a sense of dread every day when I had to work out this week, and that hasn't been the case up until this point. I had a few things going on personally and emotionally too that had me in a down mood for a lot of the week, so that might have had something to do with it. All I know is Wednesday, when I did the cardio DVD, I felt as though I did it just as terribly as I did the first day. It was a little bit discouraging for me.
Somehow Friday I turned a corner. I think it's because I did something positive to get out of my head and stop stressing out over the things that were bothering me. I signed up for my first 5K! One of my most encouraging and supportive friends through this journey told me to join her team for a zombie apocalypse themed 5K. Basically people dressed as zombies chase you through an obstacle course, and there's a party afterward. I don't know about you, but I think that sounds like a blast. If anything is going to get me to move my butt, it's being chased by a pack of zombies, right? Anyway, my Friday and Saturday workouts went very well and I felt better about moving on to the next phase after I was done. I have to learn to channel anything negative I'm going through into my workouts and transform it into positive energy instead of letting it drag me down. Lesson learned: mind over matter. Always stay focused.
The diet went well overall. I was back on track and tried my best to be good after my cheat week last week. I did have a few beers this weekend, but I also had one of the most fun weekends I've had in awhile. It was nice to finally go out with some friends and have a more low key night after a few weekends of staying in then my birthday party, where I overdid it a little with the drinking.
Anyway, I lost another 2.5 pounds this week! It was great to see the momentum keep going. Here are my phase 2 results:
Total weight loss in phase 2: 8 pounds
Total weight loss since beginning of program: 13 pounds
Total weight loss since January: 22 pounds
I'm feeling great and looking better than I have in the past year. I'm hoping to continue this successful track record in Phase 3, but I must admit I am apprehensive after previewing these upcoming workouts. They look HARD. I'll just have to push through and make them happen.
Thank you all for your continued support. It really does mean the world to me to have so many people cheering me on. It's what keeps me going.
Have an amazing Sunday!
xo, Sarah
So...where to begin with this week? I'm completely done with Phase 2 of the Body Revolution program and move to Phase 3 on Monday. I can't believe I'm two months in already! In just five weeks I'll be done.
This week was a rough one for me with the workouts. I worked out every day, but I still felt myself really struggling to get through Workouts 7 and 8. I definitely have improved, but it's still not easy. I felt a sense of dread every day when I had to work out this week, and that hasn't been the case up until this point. I had a few things going on personally and emotionally too that had me in a down mood for a lot of the week, so that might have had something to do with it. All I know is Wednesday, when I did the cardio DVD, I felt as though I did it just as terribly as I did the first day. It was a little bit discouraging for me.
Somehow Friday I turned a corner. I think it's because I did something positive to get out of my head and stop stressing out over the things that were bothering me. I signed up for my first 5K! One of my most encouraging and supportive friends through this journey told me to join her team for a zombie apocalypse themed 5K. Basically people dressed as zombies chase you through an obstacle course, and there's a party afterward. I don't know about you, but I think that sounds like a blast. If anything is going to get me to move my butt, it's being chased by a pack of zombies, right? Anyway, my Friday and Saturday workouts went very well and I felt better about moving on to the next phase after I was done. I have to learn to channel anything negative I'm going through into my workouts and transform it into positive energy instead of letting it drag me down. Lesson learned: mind over matter. Always stay focused.
The diet went well overall. I was back on track and tried my best to be good after my cheat week last week. I did have a few beers this weekend, but I also had one of the most fun weekends I've had in awhile. It was nice to finally go out with some friends and have a more low key night after a few weekends of staying in then my birthday party, where I overdid it a little with the drinking.
Anyway, I lost another 2.5 pounds this week! It was great to see the momentum keep going. Here are my phase 2 results:
Total weight loss in phase 2: 8 pounds
Total weight loss since beginning of program: 13 pounds
Total weight loss since January: 22 pounds
I'm feeling great and looking better than I have in the past year. I'm hoping to continue this successful track record in Phase 3, but I must admit I am apprehensive after previewing these upcoming workouts. They look HARD. I'll just have to push through and make them happen.
Thank you all for your continued support. It really does mean the world to me to have so many people cheering me on. It's what keeps me going.
Have an amazing Sunday!
xo, Sarah
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Week 7: Celebrations and Perspective
Happy Easter, everyone! I hope you're all having a fantastic day with your friends and family.
Well, I did it. I'm over halfway in the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution program! Here's a short summary of what went down:
The workouts: Workouts 7 and 8 are INCREDIBLY tough. In Workout 7, almost the entire first circuit is in plank/push up position. After that first circuit, things do get slightly better, but by no means easier. This was a struggle, but it was also a reminder of how far I've come since I started this, both physically and mentally. I'm becoming better at fighting through the pain, and that's important. Workout 8 is the hardest back of the body workout to date, and the third circuit is really challenging. She also introduces cardio intervals in this workout that you do with weights, which always takes things up a notch. Again, I struggled, but instead of getting discouraged I reminded myself that I should be struggling. If it's easy, I'm not working hard enough or doing the exercises right. I look forward to this week because I'm confident I'll improve in both workouts! I've also improved at Cardio 2 immensely since the beginning of the month and have even started to look forward to doing it.
I also have to give myself props. I had my birthday party Friday night and STILL woke up Saturday morning and did my cardio video slightly hungover. Was some of it half-assed? Admittedly, yes. But what matters is I woke up and did it. Something is better than nothing.
The diet: Let's put this in perspective. My birthday, Passover AND Easter were all the same week. Needless to say, I ate what I wanted and used my daily Weight Watchers points, all of my cheat points, and all my activity points earned and just stopped obsessing over my diet for the week. I gave myself a break. A coworker put it well: I have to live. It was a holiday week and my birthday, and I should be able to cheat a bit and enjoy myself.
The results: So, I didn't lose any weight, but I didn't gain any either! Given that I stopped dieting for the week, I'll take that as a win. One thing I did notice was that even as I was cheating, I made better food choices than I would have a month and a half ago. This just goes to show that I'm not just going on some extreme fad diet or cleanse temporarily. I'm making a lifestyle shift for the better. Even at Easter brunch today I still had dessert and ate what I wanted, but I didn't make horrible food choices.
I really gained a lot of perspective on things this week, both personally and in my health. I posted a photo online of myself in my Syracuse jersey the day after they beat Indiana, (sidenote: FINAL FOUR. SO PROUD), and I got so many "likes" and encouraging comments saying how great I look and how skinny I'm becoming. This was so much more gratifying than any weight loss on the scale. People are noticing my hard work. It's paying off. I've also realized today that I need to stop harping on negativity and focus on the positive things in my life, so that's my goal for next week. Stop sweating the small stuff and start doing my own thing.
Thank you all for your support and positive comments! You all have made this journey so amazing for me so far and the support is what's been keeping me going through my rough days.
Until next week!
xo, Sarah
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Week 6: We're Halfway There
Well, here we are. I'm halfway through my Body Revolution journey, and I had an incredibly successful week!
To begin with, I lost 3.5 pounds this week! I was amazed. Yesterday I had a little bit of a rough day. I was feeling like I should be farther along than I am and like I wasn't seeing the changes that I wanted to. After talking to a few fantastic and supportive friends, I felt much better. I have to remember that weight loss isn't a sprint. It's a marathon. This program is a great way for me to start exercising more regularly and living a healthier lifestyle, but I'm not going to reach all my goals through this program alone. It's going to have to continue after I'm through with it. Seeing that 3.5 pound weight loss though really helped me and it's motivating me to start the second half of this program stronger than ever.
I stuck to my diet this week, too. I consumed all my daily Weight Watchers points and used some of my cheat points on Sunday. I've decided that if I'm going to cheat, my weigh-in days are the good days to do it because then I have the whole week to get back on track. This week, however, is my birthday so my cheat day is going to be Friday night when I celebrate. My birthday is on Tuesday, but I have to work that day and the celebration won't really be happening until the weekend, so I should be able to stick with it until then.
In terms of the workouts, I did incredibly well at workouts 5 and 6 this week. Some of the moves were still a bit of a struggle, but I modified when needed and feel that overall, I got some great workouts in this week. Cardio 2 is still a struggle for me, but I'm finally able to get through it without stopping. Now it's about picking up the pace so I can keep up with the athletes in the video.
I can't believe I've made it halfway. Honestly, I've never stuck to ANY diet or weight loss program for this long on a consistent, regular basis as I have this one. I'm so determined to prove to myself that I can be strong, carry on and do this. I'm incredibly proud of myself because I haven't missed a workout yet! I've made this a top priority in my life and it's really paying off. I feel better, have more energy and feel myself getting stronger.
What I've learned this week is not to doubt myself or my progress. I'm doing this the healthy way--by eating better and exercising regularly. This is a sustainable lifestyle change that I'm making, and I'm thrilled with it! I CAN do this and I WILL finish it, and eventually the results will speak for themselves.
I'm halfway through the program, and I have lost 10 pounds! Since I started dieting and exercising in January, I have lost 19 pounds. I'm anticipating a plateau for next week because it is my birthday and I already know I'm going to want to go out for dinner, eat what I want and have many cocktails, but I'm thrilled with the progress I've made so far and I look forward to making more.
Have a great week everyone! I'm on to workouts 7 and 8 this week. After previewing them, I'm a little scared, but I was scared of 5 and 6 too. I'll let you know how they go next post...
xo, Sarah
To begin with, I lost 3.5 pounds this week! I was amazed. Yesterday I had a little bit of a rough day. I was feeling like I should be farther along than I am and like I wasn't seeing the changes that I wanted to. After talking to a few fantastic and supportive friends, I felt much better. I have to remember that weight loss isn't a sprint. It's a marathon. This program is a great way for me to start exercising more regularly and living a healthier lifestyle, but I'm not going to reach all my goals through this program alone. It's going to have to continue after I'm through with it. Seeing that 3.5 pound weight loss though really helped me and it's motivating me to start the second half of this program stronger than ever.
I stuck to my diet this week, too. I consumed all my daily Weight Watchers points and used some of my cheat points on Sunday. I've decided that if I'm going to cheat, my weigh-in days are the good days to do it because then I have the whole week to get back on track. This week, however, is my birthday so my cheat day is going to be Friday night when I celebrate. My birthday is on Tuesday, but I have to work that day and the celebration won't really be happening until the weekend, so I should be able to stick with it until then.
In terms of the workouts, I did incredibly well at workouts 5 and 6 this week. Some of the moves were still a bit of a struggle, but I modified when needed and feel that overall, I got some great workouts in this week. Cardio 2 is still a struggle for me, but I'm finally able to get through it without stopping. Now it's about picking up the pace so I can keep up with the athletes in the video.
I can't believe I've made it halfway. Honestly, I've never stuck to ANY diet or weight loss program for this long on a consistent, regular basis as I have this one. I'm so determined to prove to myself that I can be strong, carry on and do this. I'm incredibly proud of myself because I haven't missed a workout yet! I've made this a top priority in my life and it's really paying off. I feel better, have more energy and feel myself getting stronger.
What I've learned this week is not to doubt myself or my progress. I'm doing this the healthy way--by eating better and exercising regularly. This is a sustainable lifestyle change that I'm making, and I'm thrilled with it! I CAN do this and I WILL finish it, and eventually the results will speak for themselves.
I'm halfway through the program, and I have lost 10 pounds! Since I started dieting and exercising in January, I have lost 19 pounds. I'm anticipating a plateau for next week because it is my birthday and I already know I'm going to want to go out for dinner, eat what I want and have many cocktails, but I'm thrilled with the progress I've made so far and I look forward to making more.
Have a great week everyone! I'm on to workouts 7 and 8 this week. After previewing them, I'm a little scared, but I was scared of 5 and 6 too. I'll let you know how they go next post...
xo, Sarah
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Week 5-Building Some Momentum
Good morning! I hope you're all having a fantastic Sunday.
I can't believe I'm another week down! This one seemed to fly by. It seems the further along I get in this process the faster it goes. Next week, I'll be halfway done!
This week was a transition week for me, both for this program AND in my professional life. I began a new job, which was incredibly exciting, as well as entered Phase 2 of the program. My first week at my new job went very well, and my first week in Phase 2 went MUCH better than I was expecting, but it wasn't without its challenges.
The strength workouts for weeks 5 and 6 are much harder than they were in weeks 3 and 4. There's a lot more plyometric training involved, which is just another word for jump training. Workout 5 is known by the people who do Body Revolution for being tough, and they're right. It is. It is, however, doable. This one almost brought me to tears Wednesday. In weeks 5 and 6 Jillian introduces "supersets", which are circuits that hammer away at the same muscle groups over and over. So instead of doing triceps, then quads, then shoulders in the same circuit, each exercise will hammer away at the same muscles throughout the circuit, even in the cardio intervals interspersed halfway through each circuit. This means that when your quads are on fire after doing jump squats, they'll hurt even more when you go in to a deep lunge and start doing tricep pulses. It definitely sucks, but I also know that it'll be effective. I can already see a change in my physique this week.
Workout 6 is slightly less painful than 5, but it involves a lot more balancing and several sets of single leg squats. For tall people like me, those are miserable! There are supersets targeting the back of the body in this workout, and there's one circuit where Jillian just hammers at your abs. I'm thankful for that because my stomach has always been my biggest problem area and this will help shred it. Overall, I love Workout 6! It's tough, and the cardio intervals are a bit more high-impact than what I'm used to, but it's fun! The one thing I wish she'd eliminate from it is the Running Man. I was hoping to see that one put to bed after Cardio 1 and was NOT happy when it popped up again. Oh well. Only two more times of doing it.
Cardio 2 is a LOT harder than Cardio 1. The exercises are much more high-impact and you have less "rest time." The first time through I literally thought I was going to die I was so exhausted, but the second time yesterday went much better. It is a fun DVD, it's just a lot more jumping around. Overall, I really like the workout. It pushes me and it'll be great for building up my conditioning. If I can get through this one without pausing the DVD even once, I'll be thrilled!
I stuck with Weight Watchers for my diet this week and saw ANOTHER loss! I lost 1.5 pounds this week, which is a great way to start phase 2. Even more exciting is the fact that I went shopping with my Mom for my birthday gifts yesterday and was able to buy clothes that I KNOW I wouldn't have been able to fit into a month ago. My legs are more toned my arms are skinnier, and my waist is shrinking. It's such an amazing feeling, and it's the motivation I need to keep going throughout this process.
As always, thanks to all of you who have been reading this. Some people think it's weird or awkward that I'm sharing my journey this way, but I think it's a great way to hold myself accountable for finishing this and sticking to my plan that I made for myself. If I need to post a blog each week and discuss my results, then I'll want to have POSITIVE results to share!
Until next week! xo Sarah
I can't believe I'm another week down! This one seemed to fly by. It seems the further along I get in this process the faster it goes. Next week, I'll be halfway done!
This week was a transition week for me, both for this program AND in my professional life. I began a new job, which was incredibly exciting, as well as entered Phase 2 of the program. My first week at my new job went very well, and my first week in Phase 2 went MUCH better than I was expecting, but it wasn't without its challenges.
The strength workouts for weeks 5 and 6 are much harder than they were in weeks 3 and 4. There's a lot more plyometric training involved, which is just another word for jump training. Workout 5 is known by the people who do Body Revolution for being tough, and they're right. It is. It is, however, doable. This one almost brought me to tears Wednesday. In weeks 5 and 6 Jillian introduces "supersets", which are circuits that hammer away at the same muscle groups over and over. So instead of doing triceps, then quads, then shoulders in the same circuit, each exercise will hammer away at the same muscles throughout the circuit, even in the cardio intervals interspersed halfway through each circuit. This means that when your quads are on fire after doing jump squats, they'll hurt even more when you go in to a deep lunge and start doing tricep pulses. It definitely sucks, but I also know that it'll be effective. I can already see a change in my physique this week.
Workout 6 is slightly less painful than 5, but it involves a lot more balancing and several sets of single leg squats. For tall people like me, those are miserable! There are supersets targeting the back of the body in this workout, and there's one circuit where Jillian just hammers at your abs. I'm thankful for that because my stomach has always been my biggest problem area and this will help shred it. Overall, I love Workout 6! It's tough, and the cardio intervals are a bit more high-impact than what I'm used to, but it's fun! The one thing I wish she'd eliminate from it is the Running Man. I was hoping to see that one put to bed after Cardio 1 and was NOT happy when it popped up again. Oh well. Only two more times of doing it.
Cardio 2 is a LOT harder than Cardio 1. The exercises are much more high-impact and you have less "rest time." The first time through I literally thought I was going to die I was so exhausted, but the second time yesterday went much better. It is a fun DVD, it's just a lot more jumping around. Overall, I really like the workout. It pushes me and it'll be great for building up my conditioning. If I can get through this one without pausing the DVD even once, I'll be thrilled!
I stuck with Weight Watchers for my diet this week and saw ANOTHER loss! I lost 1.5 pounds this week, which is a great way to start phase 2. Even more exciting is the fact that I went shopping with my Mom for my birthday gifts yesterday and was able to buy clothes that I KNOW I wouldn't have been able to fit into a month ago. My legs are more toned my arms are skinnier, and my waist is shrinking. It's such an amazing feeling, and it's the motivation I need to keep going throughout this process.
As always, thanks to all of you who have been reading this. Some people think it's weird or awkward that I'm sharing my journey this way, but I think it's a great way to hold myself accountable for finishing this and sticking to my plan that I made for myself. If I need to post a blog each week and discuss my results, then I'll want to have POSITIVE results to share!
Until next week! xo Sarah
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Week 4-Finding What Works For Me
Good morning! Welcome to that Sunday where everyone loses an hour of their day. This is always one of my least favorite days of the year. It's so disorienting, don't you think?
This week marked my last week of Phase 1. I ended up switching back to my Weight Watchers PointsPlus system for my diet. It's just easier for me to keep track of what I eat this way. It also allows me to eat the amount of calories I want to eat for each meal. Having to calculate exact calorie breakdowns for each meal just got way too annoying. Overall, I just feel that Weight Watchers is a more sustainable diet plan. Some of Jillian's recipes are delicous, and I will certainly include them in my diet, but I found myself obsessing over what I was eating when I was following her meal plan and, quite frankly, I have one life to live here. I should be able to live my life day to day without harping on whether or not I ate around 400 calories for lunch. It's much easier for me to calculate points and allot for meals out, cheat points, etc.
The workouts were also interesting this week. Workout 3 was such a struggle for me on Monday, but I managed to kick ass at it on Thursday, the last time I was to do that workout. Sure there are still a few moves I struggle with, but everyone has those. I was debating whether or not to move up but was given advice to do so, and I'll be beginning Phase 2 tomorrow. I've heard awful things about Workout 5, namely that it's one of the hardest in the program, but I'll just keep in mind that I'll only have to do it 4 times and then I'm done. I did really well at Workout 4 this week and I'll be sad to see it go, along with Cardio 1. I grew to love doing this cardio workout over the 1st month, but it's time to move on to something harder. I won't be sorry to say goodbye to the Running Man exercise though. I'd rather Jillian have just given us an extra minute of suicides! ;)
This week, I FINALLY saw a loss again! Looks like switching up my diet a bit paid off. I lost three more pounds, making my Phase 1 results:
Weight Loss: 5 pounds
Inches Lost: About 10
I took more pictures today to see the progress from the beginning to Phase 1, and I could see a difference in my physique! I've heard Phase 2 kicks up the volume on the body transformation and weight loss, so I'm excited. I'll be looking to lose more than 5 pounds next month, but hey, that makes about 14 pounds since January when I started dieting. I'll take it!
Encouraging words always welcome! I struggle sometimes with bad days or insecurities and you guys are the ones who help me through. Thanks again!
xo, Sarah
This week marked my last week of Phase 1. I ended up switching back to my Weight Watchers PointsPlus system for my diet. It's just easier for me to keep track of what I eat this way. It also allows me to eat the amount of calories I want to eat for each meal. Having to calculate exact calorie breakdowns for each meal just got way too annoying. Overall, I just feel that Weight Watchers is a more sustainable diet plan. Some of Jillian's recipes are delicous, and I will certainly include them in my diet, but I found myself obsessing over what I was eating when I was following her meal plan and, quite frankly, I have one life to live here. I should be able to live my life day to day without harping on whether or not I ate around 400 calories for lunch. It's much easier for me to calculate points and allot for meals out, cheat points, etc.
The workouts were also interesting this week. Workout 3 was such a struggle for me on Monday, but I managed to kick ass at it on Thursday, the last time I was to do that workout. Sure there are still a few moves I struggle with, but everyone has those. I was debating whether or not to move up but was given advice to do so, and I'll be beginning Phase 2 tomorrow. I've heard awful things about Workout 5, namely that it's one of the hardest in the program, but I'll just keep in mind that I'll only have to do it 4 times and then I'm done. I did really well at Workout 4 this week and I'll be sad to see it go, along with Cardio 1. I grew to love doing this cardio workout over the 1st month, but it's time to move on to something harder. I won't be sorry to say goodbye to the Running Man exercise though. I'd rather Jillian have just given us an extra minute of suicides! ;)
This week, I FINALLY saw a loss again! Looks like switching up my diet a bit paid off. I lost three more pounds, making my Phase 1 results:
Weight Loss: 5 pounds
Inches Lost: About 10
I took more pictures today to see the progress from the beginning to Phase 1, and I could see a difference in my physique! I've heard Phase 2 kicks up the volume on the body transformation and weight loss, so I'm excited. I'll be looking to lose more than 5 pounds next month, but hey, that makes about 14 pounds since January when I started dieting. I'll take it!
Encouraging words always welcome! I struggle sometimes with bad days or insecurities and you guys are the ones who help me through. Thanks again!
xo, Sarah
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Week Three-Seeing the Changes
Well, another week down! I can't believe I've been at this for three weeks. I am proud of myself for sticking to this for as long as I have. As they say, it takes 21 days to make a habit, so now hopefully these workouts will start to feel like a necessity. They already do, to a degree.
This week, I moved up to the next set of strength DVDs for Phase 1. Workouts 3 and 4 were NOT easy. When Jillian "takes it up a notch", it's more than the typical "notch." It's more like a small leap. Regardless, I stuck with it and saw improvements in by the end of the week! I'm starting to see noticeable changes in my body, as are family, friends and coworkers. That's what really matters to me. The numbers on the scale are one thing, but the actual physical changes are far more important. Next week, I continue with this set of strength DVDs and will be entering my last week of Phase 1! I have to say, I'll be sad to see Cardio 1 go too. I've come to enjoy doing that workout, even the running man, which in my opinion is far worse than suicides. I'd rather do two minutes of suicides than one minute of running man any day of my life.
In regards to my diet, well, that's a different story. I'm still struggling with the whole "self control" thing. I'll do SO well all week, and then I'll blow it on the weekends. I was on the path to weight loss until last night. I went to a friend's party and could not stay away from the snack table. It was terrible. When I got on the scale this morning, I found that I hadn't loss ANY weight. It sucked, but at least it wasn't a gain. I'll consider that a win after how I ate both Friday night AND Saturday.
With that being said, I need to reevaluate my personal diet plan. In terms of dietary choices, I have truthfully seen the most success when following the weight watchers points system than counting calories. I think I might do the weight watchers points system for my diet starting this week and continue with working out six days a week with this Body Revolution program. I'd also like to try a few of Jillian's recipes from her cookbook this week. I was at my parents' this week watching the house while they were out of town and the week before I was sick, so I haven't really had a chance to get in my own kitchen and start cooking since week 1. I think if I try to change up my approach to my diet, I might see better results.
As I said, two pounds in three weeks isn't where I wanted to be, but it's better than nothing at all, and the changes I'm seeing in my body are far more obvious to everyone in my life. With that being said, I NEED to work on my self control. Right here, right now, I'm committing to not having another drink before my birthday in three weeks and also not to have another full-blown, cheating meal that doesn't work within my pointsplus system. I didn't choose to do this program just to not get the results I want because I can't say no to chips and queso. It's ridiculous. ;)
Anyway, until next week! Thank you all for the support. I appreciate it.
xo, Sarah
This week, I moved up to the next set of strength DVDs for Phase 1. Workouts 3 and 4 were NOT easy. When Jillian "takes it up a notch", it's more than the typical "notch." It's more like a small leap. Regardless, I stuck with it and saw improvements in by the end of the week! I'm starting to see noticeable changes in my body, as are family, friends and coworkers. That's what really matters to me. The numbers on the scale are one thing, but the actual physical changes are far more important. Next week, I continue with this set of strength DVDs and will be entering my last week of Phase 1! I have to say, I'll be sad to see Cardio 1 go too. I've come to enjoy doing that workout, even the running man, which in my opinion is far worse than suicides. I'd rather do two minutes of suicides than one minute of running man any day of my life.
In regards to my diet, well, that's a different story. I'm still struggling with the whole "self control" thing. I'll do SO well all week, and then I'll blow it on the weekends. I was on the path to weight loss until last night. I went to a friend's party and could not stay away from the snack table. It was terrible. When I got on the scale this morning, I found that I hadn't loss ANY weight. It sucked, but at least it wasn't a gain. I'll consider that a win after how I ate both Friday night AND Saturday.
With that being said, I need to reevaluate my personal diet plan. In terms of dietary choices, I have truthfully seen the most success when following the weight watchers points system than counting calories. I think I might do the weight watchers points system for my diet starting this week and continue with working out six days a week with this Body Revolution program. I'd also like to try a few of Jillian's recipes from her cookbook this week. I was at my parents' this week watching the house while they were out of town and the week before I was sick, so I haven't really had a chance to get in my own kitchen and start cooking since week 1. I think if I try to change up my approach to my diet, I might see better results.
As I said, two pounds in three weeks isn't where I wanted to be, but it's better than nothing at all, and the changes I'm seeing in my body are far more obvious to everyone in my life. With that being said, I NEED to work on my self control. Right here, right now, I'm committing to not having another drink before my birthday in three weeks and also not to have another full-blown, cheating meal that doesn't work within my pointsplus system. I didn't choose to do this program just to not get the results I want because I can't say no to chips and queso. It's ridiculous. ;)
Anyway, until next week! Thank you all for the support. I appreciate it.
xo, Sarah
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Week 2: Minor Setbacks
Alright, well week 2 is down! This was a tough week for me. To begin with, I had a nasty head cold throughout much of the week, so while I did the workouts every day and stayed on schedule, it was hard for me to really give them my all. It was a struggle, but I was determined to stay on schedule. It helped that the program goes down to one workout a day this week. That made it easier for me to say, "Okay Sarah. It's one video for thirty minutes. Just do the damn thing. Then you can lay down and watch TV."
Another issue I had is this week I didn't do the greatest with the diet. I cheated a lot and haven't been making the best choices, and as a result, I gained two pounds back this week. It's really frustrating because I've been working really hard to make sure to get my workouts in every single day, but because of my food choices, I didn't get the results I wanted. This is when I find it really hard to stay motivated and keep doing this.
Lesson learned! I can't waver from this diet and continue to make poor dietary choices. Part of my problem is when I go out to eat with my friends, we almost never pick anywhere with healthy food options. I need to learn to start suggesting those places more!
At the same time, I can see some real differences in my body. My upper body, (shoulders, back, arms) and lower body (butt and legs) look so much more toned. My problem area has ALWAYS been my stomach, so that still needs some serious work, but I'm confident that this week I'll get back on track, diet-wise.
As discouraged as I feel right now, I need to remember that these things happen. The only person who can take responsibility for this setback is me. I made a lot of poor choices this week (drinking beer and diet coke and eating really unhealthy dinners the past couple of nights) and the fact that I stepped on the scale this morning and saw a gain was eye-opening. I can't deserve to allow myself to "cheat" so often. I have to commit to MORE than just the exercise. I need to make some serious changes to what I choose to eat when I go out and I can't let the pressure to have a drink sway me. I need to say no or limit it to one drink and have that be the end of it. I also vow NOT to have a diet coke relapse again, (god help me. Those of you who know me well know that's the real addiction I'm going to struggle with giving up).
Anyway, on to the next set of strength DVDs next week. Jillian will be upping the ante in Workouts 3 and 4. Thankfully, you only switch cardio DVDs once a month, so I'll see a familiar workout video Wednesday and Saturday. In a way, I'm grateful for this setback because it's really the motivation I need to put me back on track and to STAY there.
Until next week...keep the encouraging words coming! I could use them after this week's setbacks.
xo, Sarah
Another issue I had is this week I didn't do the greatest with the diet. I cheated a lot and haven't been making the best choices, and as a result, I gained two pounds back this week. It's really frustrating because I've been working really hard to make sure to get my workouts in every single day, but because of my food choices, I didn't get the results I wanted. This is when I find it really hard to stay motivated and keep doing this.
Lesson learned! I can't waver from this diet and continue to make poor dietary choices. Part of my problem is when I go out to eat with my friends, we almost never pick anywhere with healthy food options. I need to learn to start suggesting those places more!
At the same time, I can see some real differences in my body. My upper body, (shoulders, back, arms) and lower body (butt and legs) look so much more toned. My problem area has ALWAYS been my stomach, so that still needs some serious work, but I'm confident that this week I'll get back on track, diet-wise.
As discouraged as I feel right now, I need to remember that these things happen. The only person who can take responsibility for this setback is me. I made a lot of poor choices this week (drinking beer and diet coke and eating really unhealthy dinners the past couple of nights) and the fact that I stepped on the scale this morning and saw a gain was eye-opening. I can't deserve to allow myself to "cheat" so often. I have to commit to MORE than just the exercise. I need to make some serious changes to what I choose to eat when I go out and I can't let the pressure to have a drink sway me. I need to say no or limit it to one drink and have that be the end of it. I also vow NOT to have a diet coke relapse again, (god help me. Those of you who know me well know that's the real addiction I'm going to struggle with giving up).
Anyway, on to the next set of strength DVDs next week. Jillian will be upping the ante in Workouts 3 and 4. Thankfully, you only switch cardio DVDs once a month, so I'll see a familiar workout video Wednesday and Saturday. In a way, I'm grateful for this setback because it's really the motivation I need to put me back on track and to STAY there.
Until next week...keep the encouraging words coming! I could use them after this week's setbacks.
xo, Sarah
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Week 1- "Why" Over "How"
Well, I did it...I survived my first week of Body Revolution! Just like I thought, this was tough, but very rewarding. If there's one thing that I've learned on my journey so far, it's that I'm dedicated to this. Here's a quick recap of what went down this week:
The diet: I was doing the 7-Day Kickstart Your Metabolism program, which primarily featured recipes that included protein and veggies, but no fruit or carbs. I stuck to this for the first few days, then gradually began re-introducing carbs and cheating a little. I was still careful with my calorie counting and tried to stay around Jillian's suggested calorie breakdown per meal, which is:
250 calorie breakfast
400 calorie lunch
150 calorie snack
400 calorie dinner
I just can't do extreme diets. I definitely tried some of the recipes, and they were delicious, but I need more food variety in my diet and DEFINITELY need the energy that carbs give. Going forward, I will eat more clean and organic and try some of the recipes in the meal plan, but overall I feel it's just too expensive and too time-consuming to follow it to the letter. I'll just continue making better food choices and count my calories. I still saw great results!
Here are a few photos of the recipes I made this week:
I'm someone who never cooks, so even making these small recipes was something of an accomplishment for me.
The diet: I was doing the 7-Day Kickstart Your Metabolism program, which primarily featured recipes that included protein and veggies, but no fruit or carbs. I stuck to this for the first few days, then gradually began re-introducing carbs and cheating a little. I was still careful with my calorie counting and tried to stay around Jillian's suggested calorie breakdown per meal, which is:
250 calorie breakfast
400 calorie lunch
150 calorie snack
400 calorie dinner
I just can't do extreme diets. I definitely tried some of the recipes, and they were delicious, but I need more food variety in my diet and DEFINITELY need the energy that carbs give. Going forward, I will eat more clean and organic and try some of the recipes in the meal plan, but overall I feel it's just too expensive and too time-consuming to follow it to the letter. I'll just continue making better food choices and count my calories. I still saw great results!
Here are a few photos of the recipes I made this week:
 |
| Greek Yogurt with Cinnamon and Almonds |
 |
| Chef Salad |
 |
| Southwest Turkey Burger with a Small Spinach Salad |
The workouts: The first week of the program, if you're doing the kickstart, encourages you to do two workouts a day. Normally, the workout schedule is as follows:
Day 1: Front of body strength workout
Day 2: Back of body strength workout
Day 3: Cardio
Day 4: Front of body strength workout
Day 5: Back of body strength workout
Day 6: Cardio
Rest Day
Since I was doing the kickstart, I did this same workout schedule in the morning and then did the Cardio workout every night. Wednesday and Saturday, I did the Cardio workout twice. The first day when I did the first workout, I legitimately felt so exhausted and nauseous throughout most of it. As the days went on, I got so much better. It's amazing how adding in the cardio every day conditioned my body and built up my endurance. At the end of the first week, I still think some of the moves are hard, but I can do all the DVDs without stopping and am working on perfecting my form. The workouts for the first two weeks are all basic strength moves designed to build up your core strength so your body can work out harder. As a beginner, that's just what I need. I honestly love these first few workouts and am starting to see and feel changes! I have to say, working out every morning gave me the energy I needed to start my day and I've been feeling amazing all week. This is the motivation I need to keep me going, the fact that I can feel myself getting stronger and also feeling more energized and motivated.
The results: I lost about 4 pounds this week! I am thrilled with this result. Normally, when people start working out and eating healthier, they lose more the first week, but I've been dieting and exercising for about a month now, so I already went through the exciting "water weight" loss. These are 4 REAL pounds, which is better than I could have ever hoped for. It'll definitely give me the motivation to keep going. Next week, when I go down to 1 workout a day, I might gain some of it back, but I know it's part of the process and I'll just have to do a better job of watching my calories.
The takeaway: There's something Jillian says on one of her DVDs that stuck with me. She says, "If you have a why, you can get through any how. Any amount of pain or punishment is something you can get through if you remember why you're doing this." This doesn't just apply to working out. It applies to life. So many people give up easily on things that are difficult or challenging for them, but in order to get through, you really have to remember WHY you're doing something. I had to give notice at my job this week because I accepted another offer. I hate confrontation and disappointing people, so I was afraid to have the conversation because I didn't want to let my supervisors, who believe in me so much, down. In order for me to have that conversation, I just had to remind myself why I was leaving my position and why I wanted to move on. That's what helped me have the chat, and it was a surprisingly positive and drama-free experience. This week, ALWAYS remember your why. You can get through the "how" if you do!
Also, I have to say, I love the support I'm getting on Facebook! Thanks so much, you guys. Your words will be what gets me through, even if I gain, plateau or feel like I want to give up. I appreciate the encouraging words, so keep them coming!
xo, Sarah
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Journey Has Begun...
I've decided to take control. My whole life, I've been the fat girl. There's no fundamental reason or deep-seeded issue behind it. It's just always been a large part of my identity. I've let myself become unhealthy, out of shape, and, as a result, unhappy. A lot of the issues I have with self esteem and self worth have stemmed from my weight, and they have since I was a child. That's why I've decided to take control and do something to change that. I took the plunge and purchased Jillian Michaels's Body Revolution Program.
This is about a number of things. My family has a history of diabetes and other health issues related to being overweight, and I don't want to experience those same things. Besides just getting healthy, there are other reasons I'm doing this. If I take the time to take care of myself and to look my best, that'll transcend to feeling my best. That might sound vain, and in a way, it is. I want a hot body. What I'm trying to say is that there isn't anything wrong with that. I want to get healthy, look my best, and feel my best. I want to take control of my life and make this drastic lifestyle change because in the long run, I'll feel happier and healthier if I do.
I chose this program because I've done some of Jillian's other workouts in the past, including the 30 Day Shred, and I absolutely love them. They're tough, a good workout, and you see results. She makes the most of your time during a workout video and you actually sweat. I chose to do Body Revolution because I need an exercise AND diet program that's doable and will help me change my lifestyle choices. This provides that and promises results. As much as I've loved Weight Watchers, I've found myself hitting plateaus, and that's caused me to get discouraged and fall off the wagon one too many times. This program will keep me motivated.
As I embark on week 1, I expect a number of challenges. I'm doing the 7-Day Kickstart Your Metabolism program for the first week, which means a diet of high protein and veggies only and working out twice a day. I have no doubt that this week will be incredibly challenging and difficult, but I also think it will be very rewarding. I went grocery shopping today for all of the ingredients, cleaned out my fridge and pantry and threw away everything that's bad for me. I'm ready to dive in.
I'm keeping this blog as a way to track my progress and reflect on my journey along the way. At the end, I'll post the before and after pictures and you can all see the results for yourself. I'm excited to start this program and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.
Wish me luck!
xo, Sarah
This is about a number of things. My family has a history of diabetes and other health issues related to being overweight, and I don't want to experience those same things. Besides just getting healthy, there are other reasons I'm doing this. If I take the time to take care of myself and to look my best, that'll transcend to feeling my best. That might sound vain, and in a way, it is. I want a hot body. What I'm trying to say is that there isn't anything wrong with that. I want to get healthy, look my best, and feel my best. I want to take control of my life and make this drastic lifestyle change because in the long run, I'll feel happier and healthier if I do.
I chose this program because I've done some of Jillian's other workouts in the past, including the 30 Day Shred, and I absolutely love them. They're tough, a good workout, and you see results. She makes the most of your time during a workout video and you actually sweat. I chose to do Body Revolution because I need an exercise AND diet program that's doable and will help me change my lifestyle choices. This provides that and promises results. As much as I've loved Weight Watchers, I've found myself hitting plateaus, and that's caused me to get discouraged and fall off the wagon one too many times. This program will keep me motivated.
As I embark on week 1, I expect a number of challenges. I'm doing the 7-Day Kickstart Your Metabolism program for the first week, which means a diet of high protein and veggies only and working out twice a day. I have no doubt that this week will be incredibly challenging and difficult, but I also think it will be very rewarding. I went grocery shopping today for all of the ingredients, cleaned out my fridge and pantry and threw away everything that's bad for me. I'm ready to dive in.
I'm keeping this blog as a way to track my progress and reflect on my journey along the way. At the end, I'll post the before and after pictures and you can all see the results for yourself. I'm excited to start this program and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.
Wish me luck!
xo, Sarah
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