Overall I definitely feel better than when I started the challenge just over two weeks ago. It’s been almost a week since I had the last illegals, and it’s been easier than I thought to stay away from them. A health challenge was definitely what I needed to refocus. I checked my weight and took my measurements. The change in numbers isn’t too impressive, but I’m okay with that. There has been a definite change in how much fat I can pinch and I was able to fasten my smallest pair of jeans (size 4) today. I can’t sit in them comfortably yet but, about a week and a half ago, they were about an inch away from closing. Wahoo! I am working on building muscle and whittling my shape, so the last of this extra fat isn’t my main focus. It’s still coming off and I’m pleased with the progress. I’m going to try a Beachbody program for the last week of the challenge. Some of my biggest motivators are Beachbody coaches and have seen pretty amazing results with the Insanity and Asylum programs. Top athlete is the best way to describe it! I won’t be trying those but I’m thinking of P90X. We’ll see. I’m looking for something without the cheese factor that won’t kill me. Wussy. 😀 If I like it, I’ll probably follow it for the full prescribed time and then go back to BodyRock for maintenance and to keep myself fit and healthy. I feel so much better when I work out so I better stick to my guns and keep it up. My energy is also steadily improving. I do get quite tired in the afternoon but I feel the need to get things done around the house more often, especially those little things that get pushed down the to do list.
Stats: (measurements are in pounds and inches for my international readers)
height: 5 feet 1 inch
about 1-2 weeks prior to starting the challenge:
weight – 124.6 lbs.
biceps – right, 11 in. left, 11.75 in.
ribcage – 30.5
waist – 27.5
hips – 37.5
thigh – 22.75
calf – 14
day 1
weight – 127.8-128.7 ? (forgot to write it down)
biceps – right, 11.5 left, 11.5
ribcage – not taken
waist – 29
hips – 37.75
thigh – 23.5
calf – 14.25
day 15 (very similar to my first stats but the fat:muscle ratio has definitely changed and my arms are growing!)
weight – 124.6
biceps – right, 12 left, 11.5
ribcage – 30
waist – 27.5
hips – 37.5
thigh – 23
calf – 14.25
Workout: (I almost didn’t work out but ended up talking myself into it. I first thought I wouldn’t work out. Then, I decided to at least do some yoga. After watching Hawaii 5.0, I was all pumped up so just did my workout anyway. Yay! I made up my own non-impact routine from BodyRock exercises, since I cracked my shin today on the wood stairs in the basement and it’s all swollen and bruised.)
plank up – 10
backward lunge leg lift – 25 each leg
one leg bridge leg lift – 25 each leg
one arm side push up – 10 each arm
side plank lifts – 10 each side
one leg wall sit – 25 small pulses each leg
Eats: (95% organic)
1 can tuna with shredded carrots, diced celery, finely diced onion, olive oil, and Celtic sea salt
cranberry rosehips sauce [cranberries, water, rosehips, & raw honey blended until smooth]
butternut squash soup [butternut squash, water, Celtic sea salt, and drizzled with olive oil; raw honey and cinnamon added to mine]
elderberry and tart cherry juice
boiled chicken with raw celery salad (sounds uber boring and tasteless but it was actually really good!)
pumpkin custard [pumpkin puree, duck eggs, honey, Celtic sea salt; I added cinnamon, cardamom, and ground cloves to mine]
Water:
about 64 oz
Items I was able to tick off the list:
oil pulling
dry brushing
detox bath
juicing
fermented cod liver oil [no more butter oil since I have removed dairy from my diet]
probiotics
herbal teas
bone broth
raw liver pills
coconut oil