Eight Week High

I started this blog because I wasn't certain how intense the 12 weeks would get. I know it helped me to read blogs from a few other people who had taken Mariah's 12 week challenge, to understand their high and low points and know that they got through the difficult weeks and met their goals. It seemed that it might help me to have a place to document my frustrations or progress and also something to look back on to see just what it took to get through the twelve weeks.

I think I've been remiss about blogging regularly because overall I have LOVED this program. Yes there have been weeks where I've been frustrated. When you inexplicably gain weight despite adhering religiously to the diet and workouts, when I bruised my knee and every workout was somewhat at least uncomfortable if not downright painful, etc... But eight weeks in the rear view mirror and I have only positive things to say.

Mariah said this would be the best summer of my life and I've had some good ones but I have to agree that this has been just what I needed. I'm back to maintaining a very regular schedule with several 5am mornings a week. I work out typically every day of the week, several days twice a day. I feel great and have no hesitation to join in whatever weekend warrior activity Tracey has currently dreamed up. I've lost 15 pounds so far and am wearing shorts again and plan to buy a new swimsuit today.

I traveled to Orlando last week for a large customer event we host once per year. I could not believe the number of people who greeted me asking what I was doing differently as I looked fantastic. Nice feedback when these are people I haven't really seen since I started the challenge. Eight weeks in and they could definitely tell a difference which was all the motivation I needed to get through the next four weeks. And really, like I said, there wasn't much motivation needed as I'm loving these workouts.

I will admit that I'm looking forward to scaling back a few days a week and I am definitely looking forward to a pizza. I think probably for lunch or dinner on my last day, July 29th!

Mid-point Reset

Last week was a whirlwind on the Revelation front and I never found the time to sit down and blog.

The first of the week I spent traveling where I tried to be very careful with what I ate and hit the gym every morning yet gained two pounds. Damn. I lost it again by the end of the week but still frustrating as that netted a pretty flat week. Not to mention the knee. What was sore before developed into visible bruising and swelling. I took to the gym and tried to stay off the streets to rest it best I could but I'm still working out 7 days a week so I can't say I'm really giving it time to heal.

After 5 weeks we got a new trainer, Keith Outlaw. How good a name is that for a trainer?

Keith dropped the excessive weights and moved to more of a continuous circuit of light weight and cardio. This week he was off on vacation so Jim Nettles, Mariah's partner in Revelation Fitness, stepped in.

Wow, these trainers are all fit but Jim was definitely something to admire and so friendly. Again our workouts changed pretty significantly as he did more core and body weight work. Today we used the TRX bands which I'm seriously thinking about buying for the house. An eye hook on the back porch and I could go to town. He also sent me good reminders and tweaks Monday night by email and spent the whole hour going through our diets with us and making sure we had all our questions answered. All of which made for a really good week 7.

So my life as it exists in week 7...
3 days of strength training and 5-6 days of cardio a week.
1000 calories a day, 5-6 small meals/snacks with at least 100 grams of protein.
No carbs after breakfast and fruit only after a workout.
Basically meat, veggies, egg whites, greek yogurt, occasional oatmeal or granola and protein shakes. Have to plan to make sure I enjoy those juicy summer peaches as soon as I get back from the gym.

5 weeks to go, already half way there. I'm loving the workouts and would be happy to sign up for another 12 weeks just to keep training. The diet...I don't mind the diet day to day but I can't say that I'm not really looking forward to the 1st of August. It was quite the struggle to turn down a beer after fly fishing in Colorado last week and on the boat last night as the sun went down.

Today is the end of week 5 and I'm still going strong.

The body camps and format of the whole challenge are great. I got the right mix of exercise and diet about two weeks ago and really began to see a faster drop in weight. My arms are even starting to get back some of their definition. Still some work to be done on my legs and abs for sure but it feels good to actually be able to see the difference!

I've quit trying to keep track of our workouts. I typically go straight from our training sessions to the gym for another 30-45 minutes of cardio and by the time I'm done I'm exhausted, racing to work and can only seem to recall the most evil of the exercises we did that morning. We're getting enough homework exercises on the weekend though that I think I'll have a good selection to pull from down the road.

We are switching trainers next week. I quite like Christina. She's cute with a perfect little body which motivates you to work harder just to look like her. Tuesday we switch to Keith who she described as a small Mr. Clean.

I did notice over the last week that my knee is starting to flare back up. Bad news as I was just starting to enjoy running again. What am I saying? I hate running, always have. But I was getting back to a good place where I could go out and run most of a 3 mile loop and feel good when I got home. I'm going to have to decide pretty soon if I need to cut it out to preserve my knee for our workouts and keep my cardio to bike, crossramp, treadmill or other classes at the gym. Shame as running is the fastest way to knock out a workout on Saturday morning.

Ramping Up

It's Friday of week 3 and this week was challenging.

I struggled a bit with Tuesday's workout. For the first time I took off without a quick yogurt or oatmeal and I also knew I had to get back home and showered quickly if I wanted to drop Levi off for his last day of school and then on to the airport. I didn't bonk but I definitely didn't feel like I was really all in and struggled a bit.

Being back on the road for work was great but challenging when you are trying to eat well. I threw in a few protein bars and asked for my steak grilled dry and substituted the potato for broccoli at dinner (thank goodness my friends are also habitually healthy eaters and did the same without ridiculing me). The wine was definitely off plan though! Coming back through the Phoenix airport was the worst as fast food reigned without even a turkey sandwich in sight. I am going to have to come up with packing strategies for my food. I have a conference in Colorado, another day trip to Phoenix and a week in Orlando coming up in the next month and need a plan to avoid food courts and banquet meals. Just think about all the sparkling water I'll be drinking during the social events, it makes me feel healthy just thinking about it!

Thursday's workout was also difficult. The weights were so heavy that I had trouble keeping good form and I think my shoulders are more tender today than my legs after an hour of squats. There must be a compromise here, we'll see if Christina agrees.

The tweak that I knew was coming but thought would be another week out... we are upping the cardio and getting stricter with the diet. The goal... a total of 5000 calories burned a week. I don't know where I am today but even with the daily workouts and dramatically improved diet I bet I have a lot of work to do to get calories down and exercise up to reach the goal. With this goal we are cutting out carbs after noon.Makes the afternoon snacks a bit more challenging. More list making in my future as I adapt to these new changes.

I think I'll take a quick run despite the fact that I already did spinning this morning, 5000 is a really big number! We are headed to the neighbors for our usual Friday night happy hour and what better way to end a run than in the pool.

The Most Useful Thing I've Learned...

Did I mention that the diet hasn't been a problem yet? Yes, I would like a piece of pizza and I'm really thinking about a taco on my day off Saturday or maybe a chocolate croissant or lemon tart from the new French bakery opening just down the street.

Besides those occasional thoughts though I'm really not feeling deprived at all. I eat constantly trying to get in 5 small meals a day and they are all substantial meals. They might be small but with protein and carbs in each one I'm seldom hungry unless I sneak up on four hours between meals at which point I start to go into a mild panic. This doesn't feel like a diet and really probably isn't... it's just a better way of eating.

We have found some absolutely outstanding recipes that still have me looking forward to dinner and the leftovers. Can you believe it? I'm eating leftovers and enjoying them.

Thank goodness Joel and I are good cooks. Poorly cooked chicken breasts deserve their reputation but a perfectly cooked one, particularly when you buy local/organic, are awesome. Grilled or cooked over dry heat, braised in broth. You name it and I've been eating it and loving it. With grapefruit salsa. Grilled with Peri Peri courtesy Neale. In fajitas (who knew corn tortillas were a good choice?). Slow cooked with pintos and a classic mirepoux.

Fish has been my other stand-by. Seared or grilled tuna, salmon and halibut with a big side of vegetables is one of my favorite. I'm also getting out for lunch once a week treating myself to sushi/sashimi. Next week I think we better throw in some beef just to up the variety.

Not to say that we aren't going to throw a good rib-eye on the grill at the end of the summer or that I'm going to pass up the puffy tacos at Vivo's. But nice to be building up a whole variety of things that I can eat all week long so that I can have that puffy taco on Saturday before I slip on that swimsuit.

Speaking of food... time for lunch.

2 of 24 training sessions down, week 2 done.

Well, not done. I still have to find time for cardio on Friday and Saturday which is the part I tend to find myself dreading. I actually look forward to the training sessions. But still, the really measurable part of the week is behind me.

Today's workout was upper body with enough mat work where my head was below my heart that I'm still a little lightheaded and nauseous three hours later.

WO4:
Warm-up
3 sets 12 each side standing DB rows
3 sets 20 DB chest press followed by 20 DB flies
3 sets 20 caterpillars followed by 20 oblique push-ups

3 sets 20 ? - lay on the ground gripping DB and pull from behind head through to chest
3 sets 20 ? - plank position raising alternating hands

3 sets 20 DB curl-ups

This morning as I dropped Levi off at school I introduced myself to a mom who I had heard is also training with Christina and Mariah. Turns out she is in week 12 and she was headed for her last session. She looked fantastic and was not thrilled that the 12 weeks were over but disappointed that it was coming to an end. I was pleased that I took the time to stop her as it was an encouraging reminder that I can continue to take whatever they throw at us even as it ramps week by week.

After a few months off she plans to start up again in August and invited me to join her as she lives in our neighborhood only a few blocks away. I'm actually thinking about it. First things first though... weeks 3-12.

Week 2, Workout 3

It is easier to knock out a big goal if you can break it down. When the reps are just too much (and 3 sets of 20 of everything we do almost always is!) then I close my eyes and just try to push through to 10 then start again and see if I can't get another 10. That last 10 sometimes has to be broken down into 5s.

We are in week 2 of 12 and I'm still loving this. Week one -check. Week two - in progress; one of two workouts with Christie down. Only 10 more weeks after that. I can so do this.

Sure, 5am is early. But if you put those feet straight on the floor and into your shoes and leave yourself time for a yogurt before heading out the door it is not so bad and at 7:15 when I'm driving down Bee Cave absolutely exhausted yet feeling great I know I've already done something good for myself and still have my entire day in front of me. It definitely helps though that I know I only have to do it 2 days a week. Yes, I have to workout pretty much everyday but I can jump on the bike at home at 6am which seems like a luxury or even hit the gym at work over lunch.

This past weekend we had an extra upper body workout to do on our own. I think that will be the norm. Strength training homework assignments above and beyond the 3-4 days of cardio that is.

3 sets of 20 each:
Dumbbell Bicep Curl, Tricep Pushups, Burpees (Burpees suck)
3 sets 10 each:
Dumbbell Hammer Curl, Overhead Dumbbell Extensions, 40 Mountain Climbers
3 sets:
30 second run followed by 25 chair dips and 30 second plank

This morning was a lower body workout. You burn between 500-800 calories in the hour and the idea that it is lower body is completely false. I can feel every muscle in my body right now from my ears to my toes.

WO3:

3 sets 20 step-ups followed by 10 lateral squats each side
3 sets 12 stand from wall with overhead weight followed by moving lunge & twist
3 sets alternating skips followed by 10 toe dips each side
3 sets 20 incline push ups followed by 20 squat jumps

It's been 4 hours since my last meal and 2 hours since my last latte which counts as a snack at this stage in the game given the protein in the skim milk. I'm starving. A chicken fajita for my 4th 'meal' of the day at 1pm.