6 Weeks Down... with pics!

aamberrr · May 2013

Okay, quick background: I've been heavy lifting for a while now, but never really fixed my diet (I off and on ate really well and really crappy), so I never really got the results I wanted. I entered bodybuilding.com's BSN 6 week summer shred contest on April 1, and I'm about 6 weeks (half way) through. I have fixed my diet entirely and I'm seeing huge results. I can't wait to see what the final 6 weeks of the contest will bring.

The funny thing is, looking in the mirror from day to day, I didn't really see how much I had changed. But I took photos again today and lined them up with the "before" shots, and I'm so shocked! My back was the one area where I honestly thought I didn't improve at all, but in the pictures, I'd vote that area "most improved" so far. I'm honestly embarrassed by my before shots, but I'm so happy with the progress that I'm posting them anyway. So, anyways, here are stats, followed by the pics:

Weight: -13lbs
Body Fat: -7.8%
Chest: -1.5in
Under Chest: -2in
Hips: -4in
Waist: -3.5in
Navel: -5in

Rhiana1188 · May 2013

Look at you!! Fantastic job!!

SheilaNewton83 · May 2013

Amazing job! You look great!

bethanyp007 · May 2013

You look awesome!

maryannelk · May 2013

Nice work! Your back does look great!

Brandie43 · May 2013

WOW, great results, do you mean you still have anothe 6 weeks to go? How did you fix your food plan? Realy great befor's and afters!!!

aamberrr · May 2013

Thanks everybody!

aamberrr · May 2013

Edit: Sorry, I forgot to hit quote. This was a reply for Brandie 43

Yes, I still have another 6 weeks to go before the contest ends, but I plan on maintaining the exercise/eating plan I've been following (except for I may allow myself one cheat meal every 2 weeks after this 12 week period is over).

For my eating plan, I started out thinking I'd eat Paleo, but that's not really what I've been doing. I stopped eating all wheat products, dairy products, and MOST grain products. I still eat oatmeal and/or rice a few times a week (although for the past week, I've been eating oatmeal each morning because my fiance has been saying I should eat more carbs. Adding in more oatmeal doesn't seem to have had a major effect, but I'm going to reevaluate after another week or so to make sure). I also eat peanut butter (not Paleo, but I only eat Crazy Richard's All Natural, whose only ingredient is peanuts). I do not eat any processed food or sugar.

A typical day might look like
Breakfast: Oatmeal made with unsweetened almond milk, peanut butter, bananas, and cinnamon
Snack: Any vegetable I feel like eating
Lunch: Salad (with lemon and/or olive oil), some type of meat (usually chicken, beef, or shrimp), 1 piece of fruit
Snack: Vegetables, almonds, hard boiled eggs
After Workout: Whey protein shake (so I guess there is still a little bit of dairy in my diet) with peanut butter
Dinner: Meat and Veggies, possibly some rice if I feel like it

I found at times that my calories were actually too low (eating a lot of lean protein fills you up quickly), so in cases like that, I added a little extra peanut butter here or there, added olive oil to a meal, or ate a few extra eggs in the afternoon/evening. It was definitely hard to get used to the diet for the first few days. I was craving carbs a lot. After a few days though, I was fine and I rarely, if ever, get cravings anymore.