2 week challenge
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Man you girls have been moving right along. I have not been 2 week challenging it lately. Between madness at work and then 75% of my family getting the flu (including myself) I've just been trying to stay moderately active.
Been trying to catch up on the conversation though. Always love a good clean eating conversation. Reminds me of what I should be eating and need to get back to eating when I'm 100% over this bug. The flu did help move the scale but not sure how long it will stick around. Definitely helped curb my hunger!
Lots of cooking and baking over the next few days. Glad to say all the recipes I chose are ones everyone else loves and not me. Keep me from doing the 'bite, lick, taste' every few seconds!!0 -
asjerven, meals out are still my achilles heel. At this point, I congratulate myself for skipping the bread and the dessert....that's pretty good, I figure!!
I am going to aim to work on that particular issue in 2012, though. Today is my xmas lunch out with gf's, but we are going to a restaurant that has one of my favourite salads, so I should be okay.
mamareese - stomach flus are the WORST...I don't care HOW much the scale drops, I don't want it, ever, ever, EVER!! Feel better!!!!!0 -
Eating out is always really awful for me too!! I have been trying to move to a more "eat at home" mentality. So when my gfs want to get together for a girls night I try to suggest dinner at someone's place. I actually have been liking it a lot more - its less loud so you actually can have a conversation and its also easier on the wallet 0
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I agree! eating out is really hard and leads to more drinking than I might otherwise. I like getting together with friends in our homes, at least the chances are things won't be fried;) I am sure I would be surprised how many calories are in the things at restaurants.
I looked up the restaurant for Christmas Eve and I think I can get lean proteins with veggies-they have chicken, pork and steak and that sounds better than pasta anyway. might be a better choice than what would have been cooked!0 -
I like going out, so I don't want to 'cut' that out of my life. And, if I go out for lunch, I don't drink, anyway. We have new laws up here, too, which prevent any over-indulgence in the evenings....when I was out on Tuesday, I had 1 drink. 1. Over 3 hours. So, even though I don't AGREE with the change in the law, it's helping me drink less (save money), which is probably a good thing for my fitness goals.0
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I haven't been tracking this week. One day, I didn't even have one complete meal and besides a small bit of ground chicken and a couple of boiled eggs, I hardly had any protein :-/ But I am exercising and staying very active. Had a great breakfast and lunch today but threw it all off balance with a treat. I'm not too stressed though because this is my last lax weak before hitting it hard for vacation. So when everyone is focused on eating cleaner (and tracking) after the New Year, I will be right there with ya'll!!
Wishing you all enjoy this holiday season with your loved ones and any extra time off you may have!!!0 -
You and me, Jen, after Christmas;) Last night I grabbed Subway, which might have been a better choice than the slice of pizza.
But then the beers that followed were not such good choices.
Going to dinner tonight and tomorrow night, not sure what is on the menu for Christmas, though.
Starting Phase 2 of the Jamie Eason Live Fit Trainer next week. Last day of Phase 1 workout tonight, I will take pics...0 -
I'm starting a new "challenge" on Tuesday. So, today will be my last body-for-life strength training session. I'm going to do BOTH upper- and lower- body, because I won't be able to weight-train (again) until Tuesday.
I have increased my calories so that there is NO deficit, at all. I need more protein in order to be able to lift properly, so I've also decided to add whey protein powder to things I'm already eating (yogurt, for example). I have NO idea if this will make a difference, but I'm very anxious to see REAL results (with the measuring tape), and so it begins...
I'm moving through the "New Rules of Lifting for Women" and have been a (lurking) member of that group for some time. Today, I'm no longer lurking and I'm in it to win it! That program is (approximately) 6 months, so we shall see what progress I make by spring.
My husband took some pictures of me last night. My frontal was no surprise - I see that everyday in the mirror. My back-side photo made me cry - I have (obviously) had some sort of GRANDIOSE idea of what I looked like back there. It wasn't pretty and, while I KNOW my bum and my thighs are MY trouble area, I had presumed all this work these last years had been "working" - let's just say it HAS NOT. So, after crying for awhile, I realized that I am on the right track. I've only been heavy lifting for 6 weeks. And I will get there. To make myself feel better, I had my husband take a picture of JUST MY BACK AND ARMS (waist up) this morning and THAT is a great photo....I KNEW some part of me had to be looking good, lol.
I'm not sure why I'm posting all of this. Sorry to vent!0 -
it's ok, Beeps, you're doing really well and I think you are on the right track with the protein and upping calories. I am beginning to think I should do the same.
I don't have any real support on the Eason plan here in MFP, I mean, you guys are great and I always want to check in with you, but I would like someone else to tell me how much they are lifting on the various exercises, and how they are progressing.
Yesterday I worked out at a different gym and the weights were so different! I don't understand how machines could vary that much so I don't even know if I am getting stronger.0 -
asjerven, do you think you might be interested in trying New Rules of Lifting for Women?? Check-out those threads at mfp and tell me what you think. For me, it's the best $20 I've invested this YEAR.
I'm going to write AScheif's trainer and find out how she transformed her shape in 6 months. I'll happily pay her for that advice, but at least I have AScheif indicating she is a real person, etc.0 -
Amy...Game On!!!! Woot! Just enjoy this weekend...I am
Beeps - I LOVED NROLW!!! That's the program that got me started with lifting and I learned so much from it!! That was the first transformation I went through and it got me out of my "Skinny Fat" stage. I was in a Group on Livestrong and that really motivated me! Best of luck to you!! As for the pictures...you'll be glad you took them because you will really see a difference with this program. I might still have my pics from it...if I can find them I'll post. But stick with it and I think you will be pleased!
I did a little bit of legs and some cardio this morning, but I had a big lunch, so I'm going back to the gym with the DH this afternoon to do more, lol!! Gonna go tomorrow too to do chest and tris and then SUNday of course will be a rest day and back to it Monday!!
Have a wonderful afternoon ladies!0 -
Spent all day prepping Christmas cookies and pumpkin rolls for our family travels this weekend. And dinners for our go tos in between. Yoswer, I'm wooped. Luckily I only gave into 1/2 a peanut butter blossom and that was only because they didn't look right (they tasted fine thankfully because I did NOT want to start over!)
I'm off to kick my feet with the kids for a brief moment. Then it's back in the kitchen to make the kids supper, heat myself up some soup, and finish cleaning and prepping the pumpkin roll. I don't even want to think about my to do list tonight. Wrap wrap wrap. Lol.
So glad my eatings been in chcek, granted again it had a lot to do with the flu but being THAT sick made me really listen to my body before I put something in it. If nothing else, I hope I walk away from that terrible flu bug with that piece of knowledge and don't forget as I get to 100%. I'd never voluntarily take the flu bug, but it is what it is so might as well take a little lesson out of it!
Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. I'm hoping to atleast stick with logging through the holidays. And my Turbo Fire should be here tomorrow or Monday. So I'll be back in the workout swing of things ASAP!!! I am excited to try Turbo Fire but listening to you girls chat about lifting makes me miss my gym membership. Few more months and I can get it back!!0 -
jenomaha....thank you SO much for what you posted. I think it is AWESOME to read that this program *does* work. I'm REALLY PSYCHED to get started - I'll start on Tuesday. Gosh, if you post photos, I would be SO GRATEFUL!
Today, I did 75 minutes of cardio (NOT HIIT - just good ol' "feel great" step-cardio!), 15 minutes of weights and 15 minutes of stretching. Followed by the best, longest, hottest JACUZZI I have been able to enjoy in quite some time. It was HEAVEN!
Now, my kiddies are running around with BIG SAUCER EYES and my husband has gone off to pick up our (catered) Christmas turkey dinner. The older boys should be coming over after their work shifts end at 5 and they are spending the night! So, tonight IS our Christmas night and then we'll all have brunch together tomorrow morning (after Santa comes...). So, I still have to do all the brunch prep, but that's okay.
I have some bailey's in my coffee as I write this, and I'm so VERY grateful for whatever brought me to mfp (I was on livestrong last year!) and to this group.
Thank you for your kindness as I wander this journey of fitness - a journey I've been wandering for about 25 years, now!
And, just to show that one should NEVER "give up hope", after being stalled on the scale for the ENTIRE last 6 weeks (since I moved to strength-training, actually), I dropped 3.5 LBS. THIS WEEK.
Out-of-the-blue....cause ain't nothing changed, lol. AND, the ONLY reason I stepped on the scale was to note my beginning stats for the Nrol4W program I am beginning. (I still have to tape measure myself - will do that this afternoon, too).
Merry Christmas to all of you - please enjoy your loved ones and doing all the things that bring you great pleasure....I'll check back here on Tuesday and we'll see what we can *kick-start* BEFORE the new year!!
Blessings and white light to you all!0 -
Hope everyone had a wonderful time spent with loved ones over the holiday weekend! I enjoyed too many indulgences and my too tight jeans are letting me know how badly I did eating. I did workout Sat and Mon, but my nutrition cancelled it all out. So ready to be good the rest of the week and get rid of some of this bloat.
Beeps, your last post was so lovely! Congrats on the scale moving!! That is wonderful!! I can't get logged on to LS at the moment, so I have to do some searching for the pics...but I will look for them!!
Alright ladies, no need to wait for the beginning of the year, I'm starting tomorrow!! Let's do this!0 -
Great post and loss Beeps and Great point Jen- no point waiting until we ring in the New Year!
Turbo Fire came Christmas Eve so I started Monday and finished Day 2 this morning. Like I said in an earlier post, I miss the GYM and the WEIGHTS but for now at home workouts are what I can manage so it was nice to start a fresh program. So far I love it.
I weighed in Christmas Day at my lowest in forever and though the scale is up a little from indulgences over the holiday, I've got my giant cup of water and a lunch stowed away in my work fridge. Looking forward to tackling the new year and not stalling out even a bit as we head in to 2012!!
Hope everyone's holiday was awesome!!0 -
Beeps!! I found my pics...hopefully these aren't huge. I did the program in 2009 and it was my first time following a real program. Before, I just kind of wandered around the gym doing various machines, lol! Ok, so the first the pics I took midway through Stage 1 and the second pic is at the end of stage 4. And looking at it now, wow, I can really see my "pooch" of extra skin, blech!!! lol! Alright, lets see if this works!
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Hey, mamareese, I am really proud of how quickly you have simply chosen to ADAPT and get right onto TRACK. That is IMPRESSIVE!!
I haven't worked out since Saturday, but I hit the gym, today, and start Stage 1, Workout 3 of New Rules of Lifting for Women.
I'm excited!!0 -
jen - LOVE THOSE PICS!!
And, I CAN see "more definition".
I think my back looks about like your "halfway through stage 1, pics....but, my front does NOT. And, my arms are in really good shape. So, Stage 1 should work well. AND, you've made me REALLY EXCITED to push through all the stages, because I CAN see the difference, and that's all that's gonna matter (to me)!!!
Thank you, dear....it is APPRECIATED!!0 -
You bet Beeps!! There were stages/workouts I was not fond of, but I stuck with it because I saw results. So you got this girl!!! Man l LOVE to lift weights, lol!!!0
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Well I enjoyed the holiday and ate and drank too much. But I did start phase 2 of JELF and it has 30 mins of cardio and I have not been running for over two months but it felt good. This week will not be great for nutrition but going to stick to the workouts and do my best. Glad to see everyone sticking with it! Better take those pics, Jen, u inspired me!0
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two days of quiet on this thread-is that good or bad? I am going to be backed with renewed focus on Sunday, my goals will be to stick to the approved foods list 90%. I think I am just going to drink liquid egg whites in a smoothie to get the egg whites. the idea kinda freaks me out, but they are pasturized so it's not dangerous.0
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Wow, asjerven, I'm not sure I could do the "liquid egg whites" thing - good for you for giving it a try!
My next 2-week (fitness) challenge will start on January 2nd, I figure, and it is going to be to complete HIIT at least two times per week. My nutrition challenge will be to try and eliminate sugars altogether.
It's for 2 weeks, right?? I can do ANYTHING for 2 weeks!!0 -
Wow Amy and Beeps, you ladies are revved and ready to go! Love it!
Right now, my focus is just to keep this sickness to a minimum. Once I'm fully recovered, it's gonna be "BEAST MODE"!!! :devil:
Have a great day!!0 -
Jen's right about turning on that beast mode. It's time for it. We've been plugging along and doing so well. Now it's time to up it!
Finished day 4 of Turbo FIre. Really enjoying it so far. It's harder on the days the kids are home to do a stay at home workout but a two year old on you during lunges is just added resistanc eafter all! :laugh:0 -
ok, a question, since tonight I have plans I want to skip the cardio part and do it tomorrow. Right now the schedule calls for shoulders and cardio tonight, and legs tomorrow.
Which would be better: do shoulders tonight, legs and cardio tomorrow OR do legs tonight and shoulders and cardio tomorrow?
I did legs on Wednesday, if that matters.
I just wonder if they don't want me doing legs and cardio together for some reason, maybe it's too tiring for the leg muscles?0 -
I did take the phase 1 after pics and I gotta say, there is no difference. I am trying to manage my expectations but I was really hoping to see a difference:grumble: Still, I wasn't posing or flexing. I know my shoulders and biceps look different when I flex.
I have two months left, and Mexico at the end of that, so I have to stay the course, I just wish I had a little positive reinforcement for all my hard work the last 4 weeks!0 -
Here's my suggestion....only based on what FEELS good to me (no science behind this answer): I would do legs tonight and shoulders/cardio tomorrow. For me, my legs are SO SORE after a work-out, that doing cardio the next day REALLY helps with getting blood back into that area (and stretching out the "soreness").
asjerven, I bet there IS a difference - we are ALWAYS our harshest critics.
I'm starting the January - March, 2012 challenge over at JP Forums. So, that means I *have* to take pictures, measurements, etc. tomorrow. Which will totally make me cry. But, then I only have to do it once-per-month and I'm hoping (like you) to see results of all my efforts!!
Stay strong....you are going to look AWESOME in 2 more months and you will have a TOTAL beach-body for Mexico. I just KNOW IT!!0 -
Amy - I agree with Beeps. Both for the exercise and for us being our harshest critics :happy: But in the future, take pics both flexed and relaxed. It's just so awesome to see the new muscles!!
Amy and Beeps, you both have longer than me to get to your goals But I would love for us to keep tabs here. If anyone is interested, we can post our starting stats on here, our goals and then update every 2 weeks?? I only have 5 weeks for my first deadline, so I NEED something to hold me accountable. I'd even be willing to post before/after pics at the end. Let me know what you ladies think!
Mamareese, awesome job doing lunges with that extra weight lol!! 0 -
Amy- I definitely agree with Jen & Beeps. The legs seperate from the cardio. And I also agree with the ladies, I'm sure there's progress - we just have a hard time seeing it in ourselves! Keep pushing. Jamie's program is great and I'm sure you'll get the results you're looking for before Mexico.
Beeps- Good luck with the upcoming challenges. There's something so incentive filled about participating in them. Love that you are diving into one right into 2012.
Jen- 5 weeks seems short but the way you push and tighten up your eating you'll be knocking those goals out. No doubt. Do you have yourself set up in phases? I've read some blogs about getting competition ready but not sure exactly how it goes. This is one of those times I wish I had FB to keep up with your progress!!
When I started Turbo Fire I did 'Prep' schedule thinking that before diving into the full program I'd learn the moves. But now I"m wondering if it's too slow for me. The workout yesterday was 'toning 30' and only lasted 30 minutes. Granted my muscles are sore but from having that flu bug I was off for almost 2 weeks from exercise. So I'd expect soreness. I'm going to look at the scheule again. BUt I might 'restart' the FULL On Turbo Fire on Monday and just finish out this week with Prep. We have New Years eve plans with the kids whihc will probably result in crappy eating, but that should be my only eating obstacle.0 -
Jen, I'm cool with doing a "goals report" here. I have "goals" for 5 weeks in, but I've just dialed them back (somewhat) because I have to focus on my weight-training FORM....and I'll lose a couple of weeks of heavy-lifting focusing on THAT. I'm doing measurements either way...may not post them until the end, though. I'm soooooooooo impressed with how AGGRESSIVE you are, Jen! I'm a FAN!
mama, I like "competition"....it fuels the right parts of my brain! And, I think you should dive right into Turbo Fire - you'll do great!0
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