90 Day Challenge - 30 day update

So I'm 30 days into my 90 day Challenge. Time for some results!

To recap - for exercise I have been doing a Beach Body program called Chalean Extreme, and running 3 days a week. The program is divided into phases. There are two ab DVD's in the Chalean program, and I've been doing those as well. I've tried one of the two cardio DVD's, and liked it but am depending on running for cardio right now. 

For nutrition, I'm using Shakeology for one meal a day and following  a lower-carb, lower fat, higher protein diet. I'm not counting calories, exactly, but I am logging my food into My Fitness Pal for accountability. 

I have a Beach Body coach, Lindsay, as well as a Facebook support group with other challengers of like minds and similar goals. The Facebook  group is really awesome. Our Coach Lindsay is attentive and supportive. She really wants to see each of us succeed in our health journeys.

I enjoyed the first month of Chalean Extreme. The first phase is called "Burn".  There are three Burn Circuit programs for each week. And most of the exercises certainly do burn - in  the best kind of good way. I splurged and bought a set of adjustable dumbbells.

These are the ones I ended up getting:

Power Block  SportBlock 24

They adjust from 3 pounds to 24 pounds, had great reviews and were mostly in my price range. I got them just in time. to up from 10 to 12 pounds, and they worked great. I like them very, very much.

My running has improved - the squats and lunges have really helped me with hills and endurance. Our running club is hosting a Half Marathon in November. I will be doing a Color Run the same day with my two sisters, but am still training for the 1/2 because I want to improve both my distance and speed.



So, Results!

I weighed, measured and took update photos.

30-day Weight loss - 3.5 pounds
Total weight lost from start of 10 day challenge - 7.5 pounds

30-day Inches lost - 4.5
Total inches lost - 7.25

Photos: I can see a slight difference, hopefully next month will be more, uh, "dramatic".

The main thing is my clothes are fitting better than they have in a long time, and that's a great feeling.

At the beginning of our challenge we had to come up with 30, 60 and 90 day goals. My 30 day goal was to PR (get a personal record) in a recent 8K race. And I did it!! You can read about that HERE. Meeting a goal like that is so empowering!

We have to come up with "Can, Will, Did" goals each week. The last two weeks my goals were about the number of sweets I would/could eat each week. It helps to have the goals because they keep us focused and accountable, and sugar is one of my weaknesses.

This week we had to come up with a theme song that described our life at this point. My song is "On top of the World" by Imagine Dragons.

This is one of the Color Run 5K theme songs. The first time I heard it I loved the happy music beat. Then I listened to the lyrics and realized they spoke to me where I'm at right now.

"I’ve tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on falling short of something

I coulda gave up then but
Then again I couldn’t have ’cause
I’ve traveled all this way for something

Now take it in but don’t look down

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay
Take it with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world."

With my weight loss journey, I have definitely tried to cut corners and take the easy way out, but kept falling short. And that way may work in the short-run, but in the long run it really does take focus, discipline and hard work to become a healthier version of ourselves.

I've learned a few things this month.

• I've been crushin' on my calves lately, which is funny because I've never liked them. Thought they were too think, too stubby. But now I just really like them. I like standing on my toes and seeing definition in them. Muscles! I don't really know if they look any different, or if I am seeing them different. When I look at them now they look strong. I'm still courting my thighs and my upper arms, but I think we might have a thing going on by the end of 90 days.

• I really can control what I eat. It's hard sometimes, especially on those days where I think I deserve something, or when I think food is going to help me feel better or comfort. But it really is in my control. I am learning to eat to live, and not the other way around.

• Lifting weights is awesome. I was one of the people who thought I would bulk up with heavy weights. Not true. Building muscle helps you burn calories longer...muscles burns fat.....bring it on!

• Having a support system of people who are doing the same thing is invaluable. It's  wonderful to have support of friends and family. But being able to converse with others about temptations, successes, ups and downs really makes a huge difference! I have never met any of the girls in my support group face-to-face (except my dear sister), but I feel like I've known them a long time. Some of the most helpful, supportive women I've come across.  And, by the way, my sister is blogging her experiences too over at Forty By Forty.

If you are interested in joining a similar challenge, please contact me or check out Lindsay's website by clicking HERE. She is starting another one on Oct 22. Lindsay lives in another state, so you do not have to be close geographically to be involved!

I'll post again in 30 days with my 60 day update. Hopefully my results will be as good or better than these first 30 days.

Do you have fitness or weight loss goals? Have you written them down? Do you have a plan to achieve them?

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Better Me Days 6,7,8 (2 to go!)

It was a crazy weekend, and my food log shows it. But I just did the best I could and went with it. That's the way life is, right? And this post is a bit late, but that's life sometimes.

Our most recent challenge homework was to create a vision board. A visual picture of what I am working toward, how I am accomplishing my crazy awesome goals and future rewards from my changing lifestyle.

We hooked in with Oprah to create our vision boards - you can make one too - Vision Board. Here's mine:

I'll print it out and hang it up where I can see it everyday. Shows my "before", my tools to get where I am going, some of my goals and the rewards along the way.

Only 2 more days to go - what happens next?

I have a couple of options if I want to stay with Beachbody for a little longer. I can just order the Shakelology, and have basic support month-to-month. Or I can join a 90 day challenge which includes the Shakeology and a Beachbody.com fitness program.

Of course, I can also just take what I have learned and go it alone from here. Mmmmm....What to do??

I admit I was skeptical about the liquid meal, but I really do like it, I feel it is good nutrition and it's easy in the mornings.

But to continue with Beachbody (either way) there is an expense. So I'm still thinking about it. No decision yet.

I admit that I have already weighed myself (on day 4) and was pleased with those results. I also think I've lost something around my waist because my pants are fitting better. But I haven't measured yet. Waiting for the end of the challenge.

If you are thinking about doing one of these for yourself - you can check out my coach, Lindsay Phillips web site. She is very upbeat, motivating and supportive.  Pin It Now!

Friday Confessions 8.10.12

I confess......this has been a great week! I started a Ten Day Health Challenge with a Beach Body.com coach on Monday, and it has really been going well. We were sent 10 shakes (1 for each day), and use the shake for breakfast or lunch. All other meals are from a meal plan that we were given and it is real food. Stuff I actually eat, and like. Our coach is wonderful - very supportive and helpful. I think these challenges happen regularly, so if you are interested in finding out more info - just let me know.
I confess.....I was uncertain about the whole liquid meal part. I mean, I really, really like to chew my calories. But my sister asked me to do this with her, and two are better than one, right? So we both jumped in. The shakes are actually really tasty, and very, very filling. We have 9 chocolate and 1 strawberry packets. I'm saving the strawberry for the weekend - will add some frozen blueberries to it, and use it for a lunch. It's called Shakeology, and there is a lot of science behind this product. 
I also confess....that I have been exercising more regularly this week, and it feels really good. It's groovy to be in a groove. 
I confess that my residents at work have made me laugh a lot this week! At least half of them have some kind of memory challenges, and they say and do the funniest things. One lady "K", has a big blue goose egg on her forehead from a recent fall. During our baking group yesterday another lady asked her what had happened to her, to make the bruise. K's friend, F answered for her. F said, "Oh you know K, she was out partying late one night, and couldn't find her way home." The other lady just said "Oh, MY." These are nursing home residents in their early 90's - making this stuff up. Where does it come from?? I was laughing, so I didn't say anything - just enjoyed the entertainment. And I have two women right now who are like Weezer and Clairee from Steel Magnolias. They both talk all the time - taking digs at each other, when they aren't together, they are on the phone, and are in rooms right next to each other. So we can all hear their conversations from both of them talking so loudly on the phone to each other, in the hallway. Hilarious times! I do love my job!
Lastly, I confess that one of my guilty pleasures is reading SUAR's blog Shut Up and Run. She is very funny, sarcastic and writes things that everyone else is thinking, but may not say.  She's also an athlete - which is how I found her - when I searched for running blogs. I love her blogs! 
She is blogging this week about an Everyday Endurance giveaway. One of the ways to enter the giveaway is to blog about it. So here I am, blogging about it. They have very cool designs for runners, triathletes and everyday endurance people. Check out these designs, for example. 

Others sleep - it's a lifestyle thing.

Inner Peace - it's a lifestyle thing.

The Pacer - It's a lifestyle thing.

Very cool, huh?

There will be five winners, so hopefully your odds of winning are certainly better than getting on a plane with a drunk pilot (117 to 1), or becoming a pro athlete (22,000 to 1).  The winners can select any design from the Everyday Endurance line and have it put on any item available for that line – shirt, iPhone case, water bottle, hat, visor, etc. Sound good? Totes!

To enter (comment for each):

• Visit FFC Everyday Endurance site HERE, and tell me which design you like +1 entry
• "Like" Family Fan Club on Facebook HERE + 1 entry
• "Follow" Family Fan Club on twitter HERE + 1 entry
• Twat, FB or blog about this giveaway +1 entry

Five winners will be selected at random on Wednesday, August 15.

Special bonus! 

Until August 15, save 15% at Family Fan Club by entering the code “shutup15” at checkout. 

I confess that I would LOVE to win one of these designs on a shirt!!
What are you confessing this week? Pin It Now!

Better Me Day Two (8 to go)

I woke up a little after midnight with a splitting headache. I'm sure it was the toxins crying out for more junk in my body. Only one healthy day, and my body rebels. That should tell you what kind of a diet I've had lately. I was awake about an hour, then drifted into a very deep sleep.

This morning did not start well. Yesterday my alarm didn't go off at all. Today it alarmed on schedule at 6:15am, and I immediately hit the snooze button - about 4 times in a row. Then turned it off completely, and when I woke up it was 8:05am. Ugh! Not good! And I really should have washed my hair this morning, especially since I knocked out 3 miles last night in high humidity, but just no time.

I texted the girls at work and let them know I was running late, and then focused on getting my food ready. No time for the blender, so I broke out my new blender bottle for my shake this morning. It has a little wire ball inside that mixes everything up. It worked really well.

I had all my food ready in the frigde, so I just had to throw it in my lunch bag this morning. It really helps me to take a few minutes each night to get my snacks/lunch ready. 

Lunch today was soooo good. I had sauteed veggies last night, and made enough for my chicken pita sandwich today. I heated the veggies with some raw spinach in the microwave and it was just really good. I also had a couple slices of an heirloom tomato and 1/3 of an avocado. When I stuffed it in the pita, it all fell apart, so I just cut it up and ate it like a salad. I used my balsamic dressing to drizzle on it all.  For dessert I had a Minneola tangerine. A great meal. Can you tell that I really enjoyed this lunch? Everyone at the table kept telling me how good it looked. And the best part? It was healthy! 

Here is my food for the day:

B - Shake w/ PB2 & unsweetened almond milk
MS - plain fat-free Fage greek yogurt & strawberries - I really like the plain Fage, even though it's 0% fat - it tastes creamy to me.
L - Grilled chicken pita w/ veggies & avocado, tangerine
AF - small apple w/ peanut butter
D - Salad w/ grilled chicken, sunflower seeds, strawberries, blue cheese & balsamic dressing

Workout - Ripped in 30 (Jillian Michaels) 

Recovery - 1/2 cup 1% Choc milk

My yummy dinner salad:

By the way, I'm doing this with my sister Mary - you can read about her experience here on her 40 by 40 blog.

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