Before and After Pics...Beware: Work in Progress

I am doing Zumba at the local YMCA 3-4x a week for cardio.
For weight training, I have been doing the Chalean Extreme videos, so lifting 3x a week...and I lift heavy (or at least heavy for me...lifting to failure).
I finish the Chalean schedule this week, and I am thinking about P90X!?!


As far as calories...(my food diary is open) I've been following the Olivia method, which means that I actually set my calories to maintenance, then only eat right around my BMR everyday (for me is about 1420). This makes the deficit shown at the end of the day the actual # of calories you shorted yourself...at the end of the week 3500cal should equal a pound. I try to keep my deficit between 500-1000 a day--some days it is less, but It should never be more than 1000.
So I guess I usually eat back some of the exercise calories, but not all of them. But I ALWAYS eat more than the recommended 1200 cals.
Also, I am breastfeeding, so I get to add 300calories a day just for that!! I actually eat between 1700-1900 calories on most days (regardless of exercise)

Wow, you look amazing! Ppl like you inspire me... are u also on a low carb diet?

Thanks, I'm not on a low-carb diet...I'm not following any strict diet. I try to eat a lot of protein, but I Always give myself a treat.

I checked out your diary. You did this and still had Taco Bell and jelly beans?? Damn. SlimMama, you are proof that obsessing is not the way to be healthy! You go!

I know for me, if I tell myself that I CAN'T eat something, I will think about it, until I hit the point where I overdo it. For me, I wanted to make a lifestyle change and if it is going to be a way a life, then realistically I will be eating fast food from time to time, and I want my sweets--within moderation. I know that this is not the case for everyone, some people need to cut out their weakness food(s) like sweets, or chips or whatever, until they have gained control, then slowly add it back in or keep it out for good. I think you have to find out what works best for you. Do you want to have one major cheat day each week? Do you want to have some cheat calories everyday? Or can you go extreme, and do clean eating all the way?
Doing it this way, I've only been over calories once or twice in over 90 days...so it is something that I can sustain!!