I have talked recently on the forum about my new found commitment to training and DIETING!  I thought I would blog about it and explain what did it for me.  I know a lot of people who have been waffling on their commitment to their training and diet.  I am in that camp.  Everything else has been coming first for me-WORK, home, kids kids kids–I have been making it to the gym but it is my nutrition that I have let slide.  I have been trying to get back on track for a while now and finally I am ON.  The switch has flipped for me and there is no turning back now. Why?  Pictures do not lie!  I saw a photo of me this past weekend and truly did a double take.  I was like–no way that is me!  Well, pictures do NOT lie.  it was me, it was me looking out of shape.  Do most of my clothes still fit-yes, but not the same.  I think I have known this for a while but just haven’t had it in me to step and take charge.  Well that is definitely over!  That photo was enough convincing for me.  THAT is not me.  So I am now determined and ready to go.  I have two goals that I am shooting for that are going to keep me in line!  So watch out–the old me is coming back!  I am working my way back to this:

I just posted a great new testimonial on National Level Figure Competitor Lisa Peper HERE She talks about her difficult prep this go around and finding out about her thyroid condition.  I am hoping that she chooses to compete again this year because she definitely has the body and the work ethic to do well.  Now that her health is in check, I think this year will be so much easier for her!

Before I post the blog that Ali wrote, I want to just say a couple of things about how she is doing.  I have worked with Ali off and on for quite a while and love her to death.  This wedding has really given her a concrete goal to work for and I have been VERY proud of her thus far.  Even moreso in fact now that she is going to allow me to post progress pics in this blog.  Not many who aren’t at their ‘goal’ size would do this!!!

6 Weeks In…

And I’m feeling great!  Noel and I are both pleased with my progress at this point, and most surprisingly, I am still 100% with my dietary adherence.  I guess you could say I am motivated!  There is no changing this “show” date so I have no choice, really.

It’s been really easy to eat on plan this time since I made sure to ask for foods that I know I enjoy and will not get sick of.  It looks like I’m working towards completely eliminating protein powder since even the little bit I’m using in my cottage cheese may be affecting my digestion.  I say “working towards” because I’m desperately trying to find 0% Greek yogurt in Canada, with no luck so far!  Sometimes people look at me funny when I shop, like last week when I told the stock man at my grocery store that I had 4 kids when he saw me loading up on eggs.  (fyi, I don’t have any, they were all for me to shove in my pie hole).

I am excited to be getting stronger in the gym, and to improve my time and splits with my runs.  I still can’t believe I’m running outside in a Canadian winter (which still really isn’t winter this year), but what’s even more surprising is how much I’m really loving it!  I am looking forward to running without a base layer, hat, gloves, neck gator and three tops though.  Oh, and if you are new to running, just a word of advice, do NOT drink greens plus within a few hours of running, unless you want to set a serious personal best while sprinting to get home asap, if you know what I mean…

So after 6 weeks on plan I am nearly 10 pounds down, and I think 10 inches down.  I’m starting to feel a big difference in how my clothes are fitting, especially in the thigh and butt area.  Many people have commented that they can see the loss in my face and waist as well.  That excites me, because this is only the beginning!!!  I can’t wait to see where I will be in another 4 months!

As for the actual wedding preparations, we ordered the cake (3 tiers, carrot with cream cheese frosting, lemon, and cappuccino) and believe me, I WILL be eating cake at this wedding – each tier is FOUR layers of cake with THREE layers of frosting!  Actually, I’d be happy with a bowl of frosting and a spoon.  We started ballroom dance classes a few weeks back which is great fun, and we started addressing invites this week.  I can’t believe it’s just over four months to go!

Picture time.  I have struggled with myself as to whether to allow Noel to post my progress pictures, and every time I think about it I nearly DIE from embarrassment.  I mean, SHE gets to look at all my flubber, and I’m okay with that, but EVERYBODY?  <crawls under a rock>  Ugh.  I am horrified to have real people look at these!!  But there IS a difference, even if the most recent picture is still frightening.  Anyway, after much deliberation, I have decided that in order to keep me honest, I will have her post them.  And also because I intend to have some seriously buff “afters” in another four months!!!

This blog is inspired by a few recent biweeklies that have come in from clients that have been wondering why results aren’t better even though it seems like things are on track with the diet and training.  After digging deeper it is amazing how the small things–or the things you don’t think matter actually matter a LOT.  I think sometimes when we pick at foods or have a bite of this or a piece of that, we just think that it really can’t effect our results.  If it were just that ONE bite or that ONE piece of Valentine’s candy–It wouldn’t, but add up all of the bites and samples and pieces and you can kill the deficit that is created for your diet.  Here are some of the things that people don’t realize have calories….

Hard candies–this is a surprising one to most.  One of my clients (love you : ) ) has been popping jolly ranchers.  Now again–a couple –not a big deal.  Several every night—well a serving of them (3) has 17 carbs in it.  This is more then a serving of fruit.  Now add that in a few times a day-every day.  ADDS UP!

Hot Chocolate-  Even in the sugar free Swiss Miss–it has 2g protein, 10 carbs, and 1g of fat.  And if it is just a regular Hot Chocolate–it can have 23carbs.  Like I said it isn’t that having these things is a big deal if it is isolated but over time it will catch up with you.

What about the gum you chew?  Yep gum.  Sound ridiculous I know but I have seen people who are dieting try to avoid food and chew a pack of it in a day– each piece has 1 carb and a pack of it has 18 sticks in it (trident).

Splenda–oh yes this NO CALORIE sweetener does in fact have calories. And I have seen people BLOW through Splenda.

SPLENDA(R) Granular
1 tsp =  0.5 gm carb = 2 calories
one half cup = 12 gm carb = 48 calories
1 cup = 24 gm carb = 96 calories

*1 tsp. = 1 serving

Packet of SPLENDA(R)
1 packet = .9 gm of carb = 4 calories

These are just a few examples of what I am trying to show that can add up to so much more.  So when you think your diet just isn’t “working” ,  pay attention to the extras that could be adding up.

Ok now that I signed up for this Warrior Dash I have decided that I need to start doing a bit of cardio.  So if you know me, you know that I HATE running long distance.  And long distance is anything longer then about 1/4 mile LOL.  I am a sprinter-I played soccer for a reason   The weather here in Georgia has been pretty wet lately and now we have about 3 inches of snow on the ground so I go to the gym and get on the dreaded treadmill.  I decide that I am just going to run for about 3-4 miles.  No big deal. I think my text to Elizabeth after I left the gym was something close to – Please shoot me now-  And I was DRIPPING in sweat, like I had just run a marathon.  PATHETIC

I have had a few people ask me if my training will change due to this run.  Um–I will be running more.  I think I have the upper body strength to take on most of the obstacles but I just really SUCK at running.  This should be interesting LOL

Quite the visual huh?  lol

Well I have been waffling on what I want to do this year–compete or not compete.  I still don’t know but in the mean time I have found something that is going to be a ton of fun.  I have gotten a few people to do it with me because stuff like this is always more fun in groups.  THE WARRIOR DASH

This is going to be at the end of May.  It is up in the Mountain City, GA and it is a 3.22 mile run BUT includes all kinds of crazy obstacles.  Here is the description of the obstacles in the race:

1. Knee High Hell–100s of tires to get through

2.Leap Frog-bound from bank to bank on floating platforms

3.Cliffhanger-rappel down a steep ravine

4.Black Forest-forge your way through uncharted forest

5.Tunnels of Terror-Burrowthrough the black tunnels

6. Cargo Climb- Maneuver over the cargo net

7.  Warrior Wall-conquer the wooden barracade

8.  Junkyard Jam–climbing through the junkyard -over old cars

9.  Warrior Roast–jumping over fire

10.  Breathless Bog-Plunge under water and weave between submerged logs

11.  Muddy Mahem–scramble beneath barbed wire.

Sounds fun doesn’t it!!!   I have needed something different and fun to motivate me and this is the perfect thing.  My brother, sister-in-law, husband and good friend are all going to go with me.

I have always had trouble getting my glutes to fire and have been working a ton on glute activation.  I have added Barbell Glute Bridge to my program and WOW!!!!  This is the movment:

Not the most fun to do in a gym full of people BUT I do love the fact that I can really contract my glutes and not feel it just in my hamstrings!  There are many different progressions from this as well.

Barbell Hip Thrust:

And these are great too. Single Leg Hip Thrust:

Put one of these in your plan or at least try it out and tell me what you think.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who commented on my first guest blog.  I truly appreciate all the supportive comments and they absolutely help me focus on my goal.  I’m a week late with this blog update as my trusty little laptop decided to fry itself last week, so I am now the proud new owner of a Macbook!!!  So far I’m loving it, although there is a bit of a learning curve, switching from a PC.

So how am I doing?  Pretty fabulous!  So far I seem to be right on track.  According to the numbers I lost 4.5 pounds and 5.5 inches in the first two weeks on plan.  Dietary adherence was 100% (which is a huge accomplishment for me) and while I had a rough start in the gym due to a nasty flare up of a lower back injury I deal with from time to time, I’m happy to say that it seems to have resolved.

The most frustrating thing I discovered during these two weeks is that I definitely have issues with protein powder.  Some of you who know me might recall all the terrible bloating issues I have had off and on over the last year or so?  Well it seems to be caused by protein powder!  The good news is that I’ve finally pinpointed the cause, the bad news is having to deal with the agony of being blown up like a helium balloon while I cycle through all the different types while I try to find one that I can tolerate.

Thankfully, Noel was able to incorporate a new interest of mine into my program.  Because I am crazy, I decided to join a running clinic in January.  Why does that make me crazy?  I live in Canada.  Who decides to start running OUTSIDE in the middle of a Canadian winter???  It certainly helps that so far we have been having the mildest winter we have had for as long as I can remember.  Initially my intent was to find an activity that would help me to enjoy the winter, instead of hiding in the house and hibernating on the couch.  To be honest, I am LOVING it.  Provided I am dressed properly, I don’t find it cold at all, AND I was forced to go out and buy all kinds of cute new winter running gear!  Currently I am running about 15-20 km a week, and for the first time EVER I am not missing any of my SS cardio sessions!!  My goal “race” for the clinic is the Frosty 5K on March 7.

Wedding planning is moving smoothly forward.  We are having an outdoor ceremony (weather permitting) followed by a reception at a local golf course.  Here is a link to their website:

http://www.crosswindsgolf.com/weddings.html

There will be a MENU tasting at some point in the future, but I don’t anticipate that will be for another few months.  Hopefully I will be able to take a cheat meal for that!  What I will NOT be doing is tasting any cake when I go to my cake tasting on Thursday.  Dave was not interested in doing this (“why should I taste cake?  I’ve never eaten cake at ANY wedding I’ve been to, why should I start now?”)  I should also add that he suggested we get a marble cake.  Um…yeah, it’s not the 80s anymore.  So, MOH to the rescue, Carrie will be tasting and choosing our wedding cake.

I am definitely loving this video today!!!