Week 6

Whew! It's about time to write about week 6 (especially since it ended like a week and a half ago!).... So this is what I look like now... haha psych. That'd be nice :) 

To be honest, the biggest motivating factor that got me through week 6 of my 6 Week Slim-down Program was knowing that it would all be over soon. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I did it and if presented with the chance to do it all over again, I'd take it. I only lost about 2.5 kilos (around 5 pounds) with it (incredible considering all the blood, sweat, and tears that I gave in exchange!) but what it did for me was finally push me beyond the dreaded weight loss plateau hurdle into a new realm of fitness. I feel more in shape than I've been in a long time, if ever. I've proven to the doubts in my mind that I really can find time and energy to work out despite a busy (and exhausting!) teaching schedule. And it feels great. 

So was this program the end all of fitness programs and now I'm perfectly satisfied with every inch of my 5'11" body? Well no. But then again, I never expected this program to do what only God could do for me. But it has gotten me on the right track towards taking care of what God gave me; staying active and energetic; and staying committed to not letting my health slide. 

Recently I was looking through my weight records (yes, I try to weigh myself once a week and record it) and I realized that since I started this weight loss journey nearly two years ago, I've actually lost 8 kilos (or 17.5 pounds) which made me feel pretty darn good. So I'll keep at it. In fact I've already ordered a new video: Zumba dancing. Oh yes, it's gonna be good... :) 

Week 5

Yep, that about sums it up... But don't you wish there was some little health fairy out there telling you exactly when that day would be when you're supposed to take it off? Of course, maybe the wait would discourage any of us (weight loss superheros exempt of course) from even getting our butts off the couch and trying if we knew how long it would take in the first place! 

I'm not proud to say that week 5 hasn't been all that great. Yes, I did the workouts--but not all in a row (aka everyday) and with a bit of unhealthy eating thrown in there for kicks as well. Getting back and focused again after two weeks of vacation has been harder than I anticipated and instead of losing that kilo and a half (about 3 pounds) that I gained, I took on another two tenths of one this past week... Erggh... double erggh. 

Two tenths you might say (or a kilo and a half for that matter) is not the end of the world and I agree with you. It's more losing the momentum that was going for me before that is the hard part. But I knew this would be hard when I started and I'd like to finish strong. So I'm throwing myself back in the game with my last week, week 6. 

ps. I'm currently already halfway through week 6 and am happy to report that I weighed in yesterday and have lost half a kilo (1 pound). Almost done! 

Week Four

I'm going to have to make this kind of short because my parents are here visiting me! They decided to fly all the way over the pond to see this place called Franceland for themselves :) I'll update you a little later on some of the highlights of the trip and our random adventures but for now I'll just share a quick fitness update. 

Week four was h.a.r.d. Adding to the time constraints and challenging schedule, was now my whiny little voice saying "I'm bored" and "What, he wants me to do inferno how many times??" I had definitely hit that mid program slump. But that, my friends, is the beauty of a kick-your-butt-boot-camp program. You stick to it just because you feel like you have to. Because all those little printed out workout circles are like little bosses telling you what to do everyday. So you suck it up, remind yourself why you started this personal torture program in the first place and get your sweat on. For weeks five and six (the final two!) I've decided to move to until after my parents leave (because sightseeing and Inferno get tricky to do at the same time). Instead I'm trying to just maintain (or maybe more realistically not gain too much back!) with every other day exercise while still enjoying vacation. 

Week Two

While week one of my 6 week slim down challenge was awesome, leaving me feeling energized and ready to tackle this thing, week two has been a real doozy. It started off with twin vertigo episodes Sunday and Monday nights that left my head reeling and my sleep too scared to come back to bed. I counted my blessings when I realized that one of those days was my prescribed day of rest and so ultimately I was only losing one workout from my week. Wednesday rolled around; I felt great and so I went back at it at full speed. By Thursday I wasn't feeling so great again and this time I wasn't sure how to come at this whole working out thing. I was stuck right in the middle between sick and healthy. I decided I was being a wuss and all my body needed was a little attitude to show those germs where to go. And I sure told them...right through my workout that is until about an hour afterwards when I was puking up just about everything I'd eaten in the past 24 hours. I've been sick with a stomach flu ever since (i.e. the past 5 days).

But I'm not giving up yet. After just a week and some hit and miss workouts during week two I was already starting to feel and see (yes, see!) a difference. So although these germs kicked my butt in round one, I am determined to get the last word in just as soon as I'm back in full health again (I'm hoping to start back up again Thursday). I'll let you all know how it goes!

Week One

Ok, so I've got a confession to make.

I've got jiggly parts.

Maybe that's not as much of a confession as I had thought because clearly any of you who have already seen me in action already knew that! That is kind of the point of jiggly parts: they jiggle whenever you, well, do just about anything. Technically I fall within a normal and healthy weight range but for the last couple years I've been secretly wanting to take it to the next level. To not be uncomfortable at the swimming pool (okay, let's face it--I'll always be that girl accidentally belly flopping when she meant a swan dive but at least I can limit the awkwardness!). To feel trim and toned and full of energy. To not feel like the "big" one in the group. To feel like I'm honoring God with my body to it's fullest potential. To finally accomplish this something that I've wanted for so long!

Last August I decided to do something about those jiggly parts and came up with a rule for myself: super healthy weekday meals and whatever the heck I wanted on the weekends. This was no small feat considering that I'm a teacher; we practically breathe bad-for-you foods at school between birthday cakes, school celebrations, extra party bags, awesome parents who drop off edible gifts. This also meant not dipping into the kids morning or afternoon snacks...yeah, bye bye cheese and cracker snack packs. But I persevered and managed to drop 6 kilos (13 pounds) by late fall!

The thing is, I'm tall. Really tall. So well I appreciated the weight already lost, it doesn't show like it would on a smaller woman. And since then I've plateaued. So after months of frustrating plateau, I decided to take matters into my own hands with a little help from the hit TV show The Biggest Loser. I wasn't sure how it would go because the show is meant for people who are coming from a much different fitness level than me and I was afraid it would be a little too easy, but I decided to bite the bullet and go for it anyway. Here's the six week plan it comes with:

It's pretty funny...imagine Billy Blanks with an English accent and you've got the idea. Because the states is in a different DVD zone than France, American DVDs wont play in our player...thus the British version. I'm three days into the program and feel like I've aged about 50 years. Not kidding you! I have to admit that I went into it....perhaps a bit too cocky...but one session with 'Inferno' and I had changed my tune! Matt (my husband) was taking a nap in the bedroom and finally decided to come out (half awake I might add) to see what was going on. What was going on was me screaming out in agony at some push-up on steroids and British Billy Blanks telling me "Not bad, let's pick up the pace though a bit, shall we?"

Why am I sharing all this? I'm not normally the type of girl that goes around talking about her body issues but I hope by sharing, this blog is going to keep me accountable to finishing the program. And if it motivates anyone else or just makes them chuckle, well then it's worth it! I'll let you know how it goes!