Lifting & Eating ⊱✿ Photoshoot ✿⊰

I've been meaning to write a progress report for many months now. Gosh, how times flies when you're having so much fun!!

I started off April 7, 2011 @ 160.2lbs. I set a GW of 140lbs & have YET to see that number on the scale. My lowest weight (145lbs) was last March before running my 1st 1/2Mary.
In the beginning: SW: 160.2


These are the only "before" shots I have with such little clothing.


I was losing fine in the beginning, keeping my cals on the low end. I ran a little, but I did not lifts weights of any kind. To be frank, I didn't see the use in spending unnecessary money on a gym membership. In August 2011, I hit the plateau from H-E-Double Hockey Stix! I think I have tried everything known to man to break it. I was 148lbs for a very long time. I just knew cardio & 1200-1350 cals was the answer to my prayers and since running burns the most cals in the shortest amount of time, I began to run more and more. However, the more I ran, the more I stayed exactly the same.

In December 2011, I bought some small "barbie" weights for home use, a BIG pink stability ball, an Ultimate Body Press, and some sand--to make a homemade sandbag, using a backpack. All of this worked really well for 2 months while I created some workout routines from BodyRock.tv, Zumba, P90X, and Insanity.

In January 2012, I started training for my 1st 1/2 Mary to be held in April.

In February 2012, I realized I would need some heavy weights to accomplish the goals I wanted, so I broke down and joined a nearby gym. I weighed 147.5 lbs (still on a plateau). I was running 3-4 times a week and lifting a couple days a week--but not really into heavy lifting. I was still eating in the 1200-1350 ballpark, with a Spike Day once a week.

After the race in April, I began a "Body Reset". I basically didn't watch as closely the things I was eating, and I took a bit of a rest from running. It was summertime, and I vacationed much of it. My weight stayed the same--hovering around the 146-148lb mark.

In August 2012, I began seriously lifting. I bought and read the NROL book, which I created my own routines with the help of this book. To be quite honest, the book was too confusing for this blonde to follow. I alternated heavy lift weeks with lighter lift weeks, with more reps on the lighter lift weeks.

In October 2012, I began training for my 2nd 1/2 Mary to be held in December. With the increased running, came increased food and carb intake and much less lifting. I felt like I was back at square 1. On November 30, the day before the race, I weighed 152.2 lbs--the most I've weighed in a year! (Albeit, the excess poundage came from water and a Cortisol shift due to eustress for the race.)

I had made a deal with "HelloItsDan" in November that after the race, I would give his IPOARM ideas a shot. What did I really have to lose? After all, I've been the same weight since August 2011--give or take 5lbs.

On Decemeber 1, 2012, I started eating MORE. Going from 1200-1350cals to 2000cals per day--every day! On most days, I try to get my protein intake out of the way because trying to consume 150g of good protein each day takes a little planning. I miss it some days, but not usually. After I have met my protein requirement, the other cals are used for carbs and stuff I like to eat--like frozen yogurt with raw pecans. Most days, I make a Green Monster using whey protein or eat Quest Bars to meet the protein requirement.

I am lifting heavy 3 times a week and lighter 2 times a week combined with running sprints. I am not currently distance running, nor training for any other races at the moment.

December 29, 2012
CW: 150.4
Net Loss 1.8 lbs

I still have a TON of work because I am NO WHERE near my goals, but at least I feel like I am finally heading in the right direction. Plateau--Be Gone!!

Before and After Abs


I've always had thighs, hips, and a der·ri·ère…..no point in trying to squeeze all this into a size "2"!


Say cheese!


Special Thanks to my amazing MFP friends for all of your support. I couldn't do this without each of you
Dan "helloitsdan" Jason "4theking" Starla "StarIsMoving"
Craig "lbmore33" Brooke "brookepenni" Jo "jomatho"
Cindy "keeponkickin" Kristiina "Kristiina67" Nicole "ncuneo"
Amanda "mandipandi75" Basil "basillowe66" Karla "kgblue"

IPOARM
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12