Wrapping Up Week 5...

So our journey together is officially half-way through and it kind of makes me sad :'( One month has seemed so long yet so short?! I've learned so much and gotten so much support and it saddens me that before I know it, it will be all over.

Body: Well I'm starting to ache in places I've never ached before!! LOL for example my knees have been hurting since Mondays fit test but I tried some bands that Yadira and Cindy use and it seemed to help! So I'll be going out and buying some this weekend. I'm also feeling less energized, could be the chillier fall weather, IDK.

Learning: I'm learning that I can push my limits but also be very careful not to push too hard or I can hurt myself! It's a hard balance but I'm slowly learning were I can push myself harder and at what points I need to stick to moderation moves until my body grows stronger.

Observation: This week was truly emotional!!! The positive energy that I've had over the last month has been a very good thing and I believed that the exercise and better nutritional plan was the reason. But this week was very different; after getting my review and taking Tuesday off it all hit me hard on Wednesday during class. Lets just say I was thankful when we were doing core exercises so know one could see me tearing up. I really pushed myself through that entire class yet still had to take breaks and felt very hurt. It was upsetting that I couldn't tell my body to keep going that it was giving up for me! Even though I continued my double workout that night alone with Kazaxe I really should've gone home because I was very distracted and emotional the entire class. I did call my coach that night and she did make me feel better but the dark emotional cloud continues to follow me... need to shake this ASAP!

Goals: I did get some tips from Maia about the pain in my legs and feet. I'm still struggling with hunger at night so I'm going to have to try the protein shakes as everyone has been recommending to me. I'll be working out all 3 days this weekend with my coach so that will up my weekend workouts.

Setting next weeks goals:

• Getting more sleep! I'm getting much busier now with all my responsibilities but I need to put an effort into going to sleep early so that I'm not as exhausted throughout the day.
• Need to go running! I need to learn to tolerate running, LOL, right now I pretty much hate it.
• Create a budget! Eating healthy is NOT cheap! After last weeks grocery run I was shocked, need to evaluate what I eat/use most and not try to get too much at once.

Postive Affirmation of the Day

"Your job is to show up and let go. Your job is to get out of your own way. Your job is to live in possibility and leave the negativity and impossibility for the world to deal with. But you, YOU know nothing of these things. You are going to demonstrate what's possible in a seeming world of impossibility." <3 TDL - Mastin

Results so far!

I forgot to post my results from last week's measurment day, 9/12/11. I lost 4 pounds in the 1st two weeks, 1% off my BMI, about 1 inch off my waist and hips, and gained some in my arms and thighs (from muscle of course!!) Though at first I was kinda dissappointed in my results I realized I have a lot to improve in my eating habits and how far I push in my workouts. Honestly when it came down to it I was happy just to know I hadn't gained weight!! LOL

Now for even BETTER news!!! So just for fun I weighed myself before Bootcamp last night and saw that I had lost an additional 4 pounds in the last week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO-HOO!!!! Down a total of 8lbs at 191lbs body weight!!!! OMG I'M SOOOO HAPPPYYYYY! My 28th bday is this Friday...yikes...I'm gonna try my best to finally get under 190 before that because that would be the BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT TO MYSELF <3<3<3

Week 3: WHOA!

So lets see week 3 was a little bit of everything!

BODY: On Monday my left hip started to hurt at work and by the time I got to Bootcamp I was limping, surprisingly it didn't bother me much during the workout but was much more sore after. Luckily the rest at night helped it for Tuesday and it was fine until my double workout that night! Kazaxe really made it hurt more and on Wednesday I was in serious pain! I finally did ask Maia Wednesday night how to relieve the pain and she showed me a  way to massage my hips to feel better. YAY, NO MORE PAIN!! Though I'm still feeling pain in the bottom of my feet and my calves tighten up badly I just need to keep working those out.

LEARNING: I'm learning that I have to push on this journey for ME! I'm the one who has to kick ass in my workouts, I'm the one that has to give up the greasy food, I'm the one who has to start living an active life. It's on no one else but myself. Most of my friends have been amazingly supportive during this whole time but there is still some negativity that brings me down. I can't allow that to spoil all I have worked for. As Maia says after each class "Thank you for taking this time out for yourself" (or something like that! LOL)

OBSERVATIONS: This past weekend I had to go up to NYC Friday night and all of Saturday and some of my friends asked me why didn't I make a weekend of it?? I realized I just didn't want to jeopardize missing my weekend workout all together. Though I barely got any rest for 24hrs, I wanted to sleep in my own bed Saturday night and wake up Sunday to workout here in VA.

GOALS FROM LAST WEEK: I happily upped my my goal for more weekend workouts last week but because I was out of town 2 days of the weekend I was only able to do 1 workout. Even though I still ate out some meals I tried my best to watch portions so as to not overeat.

SET GOALS FOR THIS WEEK:

• Keep up my 6 workouts during the week and do at least 2 more on the weekend plus a rest day by taking a walk.
• Work on eating less carbs at night.
• Ask Maia and what would would help alleviate the pain I feel in my feet. I already bought new shoes and got insoles with more support but my feet are still achy!

Week 2 Wrap-Up



Friday night workout

B - My body is feeling stronger as each workout goes by. Yes, I'm feeling sore all the time but I'm not letting me hold back from doing more. In the past I would of made a quick excuse and would've laid in bed for days while eating Mcdees! LOL glad I'm not doing that!

L - I ran almost 4 miles on Friday night after work and almost 3 miles on Saturday morning. I hate running and its something I have avoided for years!!! I learned that every step seems so painful and hard but with Natasha running by my side giving me motivation I can do it! If you had asked me Friday morning do u think ur gonna run almost 7 miles in the next 24 hrs I woulda said Pssshhhhh ur crazy! There is no way I wouldn't pass out before the 1st mile! 



With my coach <3



O - After my run on Friday night I went out to DC for 2 of my friends birthdays. I observed that I felt so hyped, positive and glowing with pride! I texted all my close friends my accomplishments and their positive responses really had me smiling all night! I looked good in my party outfit and even got a compliment on my legs, LOL. Also, I was so happy that I wasnt' even tempted to drink even though my friends got a table and I had a whole bottle of liqour at arms reach the whole time! :)

Friday night partying



G - Hmmmm so 2 of my 3 goals from last week didn't go so well. I was able to push thru the pain cuz believe me when I say I was in pain! But my consistant mealtime only really happened Tuesday-Friday at work, on the weekend it got challanged since i was in long training meetings both Saturday and Sunday. The food available to eat was loaded with carbs and cheese! and though I tried to keep my portions small being faced with a buffet style meal was not a good idea at all!!! I was so not ready to say no. :( So my portions got jacked up too.

S - setting next week's goals:


• PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE! My meal plans need to be planned ahead of time. The biggest challange I faced last week was with making substitutions with less healthier options such as eating 1 cup of my moms jasmine rice instead of taking time to cook my own brown rice.

• Cut out dinning out. In my life before the challange I would eat out about 95% of my meals and while I am looking at calorie counts and ingrediants now when eating out I'm still eating entire meals that would equal 2 of meals at home!! I've proudly stayed away from anything fried but I can't help but still feel guilty everytime I divert from my meal plan. I know I'll be out of town on Friday night and most of Saturday this week so I'll be packing protein bars and fruit for on the go and will stick to healthier cheat meals while away. Being strict with myself the rest of the week will be critical!

• Start increasing the amount of workouts I have per week. Aim to do 2 lunchtime workouts from the office gym and workout 2x on the weekend with Natasha and a nature walk with friends 1 day of my weekend as well.  Everyone else in the group seems to be working 3x more as me since I've been only been doing my 5 workouts (this week I did do 7! :) )

Saturday abdnominal workout. This picture pushes me to lose wieght! o_O

Day 10

Yesterday was soooo good!!! I felt so energized to be back in class :) I pushed myself harder than before but still found it to be slightly less difficult. I'm getting through the warm-up panting less and less each day! LOL My diet is going well and I'm def starting to see the results!! YAY FOR DAY 10!

Week 2 HERE WE GO!

My prayer for this journey is "Dear GOD, please sustain me through this journey. Please help me stay inspired and energized to see this through.  Please help me remove the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual blocks that have kept me waiting with this weight. I invite health, vitality, flexibility and joy into this process. I am now healthy, vibrant and fit. Thank you for this opportunity to thrive!" -TDL

So Labor Day weekend was truly a test on my commitment!! I had the opportunity to be extra lazy but I wasn't and got 2 workouts in, YAY!

Saturday 9/3: 90min Bikram Yoga



That made me feel awesome because I feel I'm truly sticking to the commitment of getting fit. The only thing I do feel guilty about was my portion control on Sunday, I def ate too much and then my tummy hurt! I felt super bad afterwards but decided to make up for it by pushing myself harder during the week! I expected the holiday weekend to be a big party time but my friends were being womp! LOL Instead we just chilled and they were each telling me of there own journey with fitness and what worked and what didn't. I had some doubts that I got to discuss with them and they definitely encouraged me to stop being afraid and stop making excuses! I've been weighing myself at home but I don't want to trust that number, wish weigh-ins and measurements were every week!

Monday 9/5: 1hr at Planet Fitness

My 3 goals for Week 2

• Keep consistent meal times. I tend to wake up late so I'm rushing through breakfast or even skip it all together then I get busy at work meeting deadlines and eat later than I should which makes me feel starved! I'm still getting really hungry late at night after midnight.
• Portion control. By keeping consistent meal times I will avoid feeling like I could eat a cow and therefore help me stick to my portions.
• Push through the pain. I don't believe in my strength enough and so I wanna push myself to at least try level 2 at BTC. I get a lot of pain in my lower back and in calves & ankles but with new shoes after the 15th I hope it gets better!

Week 1 is over...well almost, LOL

So Week 1 of Mon-Thurs KZX Bootcamp is DONE!!! Just got make sure to get in my 5th workout on Saturday morning: Bikram Yoga in Falls Church :D

Last night I felt very accomplished in the strength and endurance I've gained in just one week! Kinda even sad we have no class on Monday (?!?) :-/ I'll make sure to get my workout on with Frances aka Freddy Myers at some point that day.

This weekend will be hard because I'll be at bday dinners, home, and just out of my regular routine!! Stocking my fridge with healthy stuff and pleading with my friends not to TEMPT ME!! I can do this! LOL

Here are a couple group pics from last night after class:

Following the herd, REASONS WHY I'M DOING THIS:

• Loose weight! I currently weigh 199lbs and have lost 16lbs on my own so far by making small changes in the past 2 months! My goal weight is 132lb <3<3<3 KZX BTC is my kickstart.
• Have more energy :) I seem to drag all the time...feel lazy, tired, crabby...LOL. I think by eating healthier foods I can change all this and feel good about myself. So far eating healthy has been nice!! Its amazing how much I've learned about the food I put in my body o_O myfitnesspal app on my phone has helped A LOT!
• EXERCISE!! I never knew it could be fun but Kazaxe def helped me realize it could be :) Sometimes I hate that my body gets tired easily but I know I'm working hard to get to the next level!

How will I get there? :

• Following my coaches advice!! I'm looking it at as if I'm learning to live again. She's giving me the gameplan and I'm following.
• Giving it 110%! Yea I know it sounds cliche but I know I can easily let myself slack so I'm determined to push myself 'till I cannot push myself no more!
• Drinking my 10 cups of water. Before on average I drank only 2 per day if that but in the past 4 days I've been able to drink 5 and I hope to keep getting that up.
• Get my friends involved. Without their encouragement it will be a hard and lonely journey! I have 2 of my very good freinds, Jackie & Frances, doing the test group too and I'm making more friends each day. My other friends are aware of my goals and truly believe I will accomplish them.

...its coming along...

Day 3 was hard! Lacked energy even though I ate more than in the previous two days, just need to get used to my new lifestyle I guess :)

Class has been hard but I'm trying my best not to slack. Here are some pics of the veggie soup Natasha wants me to have for dinner every night: