P90X - Day Thirty Eight

Well, here I am at day 38. Haven’t lost a pound in 8 days and getting a little more than frustrated. However, I have read that Phase Two is less about weight loss and more about body transformation. So, I will keep at it and check the results at day 60. I really wish I was strong enough to put away the scale until the milestones. But, it’s just not going to happen.

The diet has been pretty good. I do have an overwhelming feeling that I’ve been cheating, even though I’ve really stuck with the right ratios. All I really know if I’m eating way more healthy than I ever have with a good blend of food, so the weight is bound to come off at some point. I am on the same belt loop as before I was pregnant so there must be some change! 

Tom is starting with me as of today as well. I’m excited for him. I think he will bulk up quickly and the muscles will just pop through. I’m so happy he’s decided to do it too. We did yoga together today and it was a lot of fun. We giggled a lot on the hard moves and I actually had my best yoga calorie burn. The girls joined in at the end too which is always funny. Josie was trying to get us to skip the exercises because they were so hard. They always love the “Ohms” and they look so cute doing it! 

Now that we have our internet back, I’m going to try to load my face photos of before and 30 days. I can’t believe the difference!

End of Phase I!

OK – so today is the end of phase one. Tomorrow begins the new workouts and the new nutrition plan. I have to say I feel like I’ve cheated the program a little lately. Today, I did nothing and feel bad. Even though today is Stretch or Rest, I chose to rest. It just didn’t fit into the day and I didn’t make it fit. Then, of course, last night, I ate the chips. Ugh. They were still worth it but I’m wondering if it will lead to more bad things. I’m going to have to kick it into gear tomorrow morning. Tom says he’s going to do it with me, so we’ll see. I’ve heard crazy things about this round – one handed and clap push ups. I wonder if they have the same effect if they’re done on the knees. 

One other thing I’ve done is put together a spreadsheet for nutrition and calories. It made me realize I’ve actually been pretty far off of my ratios. But, I’ve lost more pounds than the 3500 per pound deficit, so something is working. Right now, I’m assuming 500 calories for breastfeeding and using the first two digits of weight times 100 times 1.2 for the base calories burned. So, over the month, I had an almost 20,000 deficit, which would equal 6 pounds, but I actually lost 9.5. As for the ratios, I actually need to cut down on the fat. My protein/carbs weren’t too far off (averaged 44 protein and 32 carbs, which they were supposed to be 50/30) but fat was 25% instead of 20%. So, I still need to cut the fat and now can switch some protein for carbs. I got double protein bread for a piece of toast in the morning. We’ll see how it works this phase.

Still have two days until measurements and photos. I think I’ll see change for sure. I still have a ways to go, but it’s kind of all gravy from here. I’d love to be pre-Josie weight by the time I’m done. But, I’ll take a few pounds more with muscles. I’m thinking maybe a Turbo Jam circuit after this round of P90X. I’m sure I’ll still have fat and inches to lose by then. Well, that’s 60 days away, so I’ll see when I get closer.

P90X - Day Twenty Seven

Well, tomorrow marks the end of phase one! I got kind of bored at the end of this recovery week both with diet and exercise. So, I had chips tonight at El Rodeo – my first real food cheat. I thought about it a lot in advance to make sure it wasn’t an impulse thing. Man, they were good!

I’m excited to move on to phase two. It will be nice to have toast with breakfast! I’m also excited to take my 30 day stats and measurements. I know I’ve lost pounds and inches!

Hot Tub Shopping

About two months ago, I gave the go ahead to Tom and said he could get a hot tub. He was thrilled and we went out that day to shop for one at a large outdoor patio store. That was a struggle in itself because we had all the kid and the store also sold huge play sets so thats all the girls wanted to do. There were a handful of sales people around the store but everyone seemed busy avoiding us (we were the only customers in the store).

Finally, the sales manager gave the girls beach balls to play with and asked if we needed help. Tom asked for the 5 minute run down on what we needed to know about buying and owning a hot tub. The sales manager was great, except for one fatal flaw – not asking for our info. Which, brings me to my next point.

Fast forward to today – we still haven’t bought one, but probably could have been convinced to do so a week after we were in. I am currently sitting in the car with Jack while Tom’s in his second store of the day. Tom said he acted like a typical Timber Run customer in the first store.

Sales person: hi. How’s it going? Shopping for hot tubs today?
Tom: just looking.
SP: what size are you looking for? Whats your price range etc.?
Tom: just looking.
SP: isn’t your wife going to come in?
Tom: nope. I’m just scouting things out. See you!

At least he tried and asked all the right questions. The second store was way worse. The guy wouldn’t stop running his mouth and apparently cussed in front of the kids. Nice. So, we are back at step one. I guess we will go back to the outdoor store.

Motivation

Here are my reasons for staying motivated on the diet and exercise front:
(I’m tracking them here because I’m afraid I may forget!)
1. To prove to myself that I actually do have willpower.
2. I don’t recognize myself in photos – I need to lose about 10 more pounds to get back to my “old” self.
3. Vanity – I want to look good by Christmas so that the people I see only a few times a year are “wowed.”
4. Vanity Part II – Just like when I trained for the mini-marathon, I’m so proud to tell people that I’m doing it and think it’s cool that people are so amazed.
5. Want to prove that even though this is probably one of the craziest times in my life, I can still do something just for myself and be a little selfish. I want to have this reminder when I feel like I couldn’t possibly fit in working out. If I can do it now, I can do it whenever!
6. If I’m going to bust my butt on the workouts, I’m not going to blow it on the diet. And, vice versa.
7. We keep saying we’re going to take a vacation this winter and I would love to wear a bathing suit and not be totally self conscious. My ultimate goal would be to wear the suits I bought for our 5-year anniversary cruise.
8. I have not been pleased with how I’ve felt the last few years at the lake for the 4th of July. 2011 will be different!
9. I want killer arms for the Gift of Life Auction in February. And, I’ll buy a new dress. 
OK – now that I’ve been totally honest, I feel better. (As I’m looking, they really are pretty vain reasons, but whatever it takes, right?? I suppose that I’d like to healthier and set a good example for my kids, blah, blah, blah.)

P90X - Day Eighteen

Well, still going strong. Had a bit of a hiccup this morning. Got up at 5:30 like normal, but Tessa came down right as I was starting Yoga. So, I only got about 1/2 hour in before I realized I was getting no where and fast.  So, I think I’ll try it at nap time. I was hoping to get a nap myself, but I guess Yoga will have to do.

I’ve stuck with it all – diet and every day work outs. I’m doing the stretch too instead of taking a day off. I’m just afraid if I let myself “skip” a day, I’ll just go downhill from there. Same with the diet. No cheating! I made an awesome pork tenderloin and then great tilapia this week.

I’m down 8 pounds, which is so hard for me to believe. The weight is just melting off. I think the key is that my body just can’t have the carbs if I want to lose weight. I’m not sure if it’s diet or the exercise, but either way, I couldn’t be more pleased. Only 3 more pounds to go before pre-Jack weight, then 14 pounds to pre-Josie weight and then 10 pounds to be really smokin’!  I’ve never really thought I could drop that much, but now it seems doable. I am keeping a close eye on Jack though because I don’t want to hinder the nursing by “dieting.” I think I’m fine because I’m eating so healthy and still getting about 2000 calories. But, I am watching.
Can’t wait for the 30 day results.

P90X - Day Thirteen

Man I’m tired!!! I felt like I just couldn’t go it today in Kenpo. Yesterday was a long day at Bands & BBQ with a ton of walking, so maybe that was it.

Either way, I’ve stuck with this thing. Worked out for 13 days in a row and plan to keep at it. The best part is that I’ve kept up with the diet. Still not getting enough protein and too much fat ( about 40/30/30) but sticking to all good foods. Only cheats I’ve had are wine and beer and an extra serving of fruit one day. It’s hard to believe I only have one more week until my first recovery week.

I’m pretty sore today too but again could be from yesterday. I got grape juice for my recovery drink this week. I’m also going with hard boiled eggs and turkey sausage just to change it up a little. I can sense that variety will be the key here.