Workouts week 14 Days 1 and 2

Since hubby is now safely home and we are all happy I can't express to you my contentment. My life has suddenly sunk into bliss with a complete family under my roof. The joy of my daughter saying Da-Da and the smile across his face as he embraces her.

The passionate kiss he gives me when we wake. The breakfast he made for us and his joy making food on US soil and enjoying his first breakfast taco in months. I revel in domesticity.

My workouts have gone to the three day a week program to accommodate hubby, baby, work and class. I am really pushing myself and enjoying the hard work.

I only got thru 4 cycles of intervals again and would like to make 5 but i am really pushing hard already. maybe next time. My resistance workouts are difficult but i enjoy them and can really feel the power in my muscles as I work them.

My eating is portioned and i'm feeling good ..tired from lots of traveling but happy and content with my world.

Mini Goal Reached

Another mini Goal has Been reached!

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I've lost 2 pounds and have passed my half way point which was at 172lbs. I'm now at 171lbs as of this morning!

This is so great. How will i celebrate? Makeup? Shoes? new blouse?

Will have to keep focusing on having fun in my workouts and putting something fun into my routine like i did this week by adding belly dancing to relive some tension and work the abs

Met my parents in Austin to take all the grandkids to the Children's museum and they had so much fun! ( they meaning my kid, my niece and nephew) It was great to watch Victoria run around and know she couldn't break anything but she could touch and play with everything!

Plus, she napped all the way home. Ahhh how blissful.
I digress, my parents and my brother said i looked great.
Not to mention that when i did get a look at my self in a mirror i was actually quite pleased with how I looked. Also, my capris looked a little larger than they had when i first put them on that morning.

I truly is the little things that make life sweet. What a journey this has been for me thus far.

Week 13 Resitance Training

Yesterday was a struggle with my workout. It was Movements B and i was fine until i got to the Jackknife on the stability ball.

Ideally it's supposed to look like this:

However, I tried and i remember being good at this at one point. But for soemreason today i just fell and kept falling off the ball. I did 4 good reps each time and finally stopped wanting to get bruised on purpose.

I know it will get better but sheesh was that rough. Stability ball plank was a little tough but i stuck it out for 30 sec each time before i started shaking and rolled off the ball. I'm so glad i do this at home and not at the gym...what a mess it would be.

Adjusting my food again. My breakfast tacos are becoming to much for me to eat. Especially with the flour tortilla. I have been eating them without the tortilla lately and when we finally had some with it was quite filling. This is good to know and i put my food down during each bite and let myself enjoy the flavors of egg salsa and cheese and guacamole. I also had a book to read so that made for a good few minutes in between bites. Drank a lot and found that i had leftovers.

I have to say, my new outlook on this whole thing has me in a better mood than weeks previous. To add a little bit of variety to my week I've added some belly dancing to my week. Found videos on YouTube that are really great.
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pvyXkFTa18

Just another way to have fun and relax and take time for me. Victoria likes to try to follow along it's too cute!

Week 13 Day 2 Intervals

Had to do my intervals at home instead of at the gym. It was a little tougher than i expected.

Did a variety of speed moves for my 90sec burst and then patterned that with jumping jacks and oh yeah did four sets of four complete burpees somewhere in there. I was huffing and puffing after 4cycles.

But it was a good challenge.

Remembering to get that green in at every meal is getting better with being able to get salad in and enjoying it without dressing. Fruit is in but has been limited so i'm not getting too much sugar in. Hard when all the new in season fruit is coming out. I so can't wait for Poteet strawberries. They have a festival in Poteet every year. I'd like to go one year to try some strawberry brandy...it sounds delicious.

Calming down from the stress of prepping for hubby's R&R and i'm back ontrack..this is the way things should have been the last two weeks.

Week 13 II Day 1

Today,

I got thru workout A.

It was tough. I do need heavier weights for dead lift so while i contemplated new weights, i concentrated on form. Have to be careful with this one because I tend to start doing the Romanian dead lift instead of this version.

Had to go to Youtube to get a good visual on how to do this properly:

My next challenge was the A2 movement: the close grip pushup. Especially the way Holly does it. This style of pushup was introduced to me in a Pilates video so i call them Pilates push ups. It's always been a challenge to me. So doing this style in a close grip was even more of a challenge. Any suggestions?

The rest of the workout went smoothly although i do need to increase the weight for the MB Side Lunge to Raise movement..again concentrated on form once i recognized that weight needs to be increased by maybe a pound or 2. Since my shoulders are easy to burn out not a huge increase in this movement will be necessary.

I always loved Denise Paglia's shoulders her is a picture from when she as in Shape or Self or one of those fitness mags. Does anybody remember fitness beach on ESPN?

She is so cooool. Along with Wonder Woman, i think she will go on my inspiration board along with my goals and motivational quotes.

Here she is on the first issue of Muscle and Fitness Hers in Spring 2000.

Though my shoulders are burning i feel good after this workout. Best of all i didn't psych myself out today and NOT do my workout.


And i love Corey Everson..she is one cool chick. I loved her show on ESPN as well. I have a few taped...yes on that ancient thing called a VHS. Still great quality.

So mini goals additions:

1) close grip push ups or full body push ups.

2) heavier medicine ball, and set of 10lbs weights

Self-esteem

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Sunday prep to begin again weeks 13-16

Prepping to start over from week 13. I want to give my best. with nothing due this week except a paper which I'm not worried about, so i can focus on a good beginning.

Husband will be home 9 days. i'm so nervous. why it's just my husband??

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i guess it's i just want everything to seem perfect and not normal since he's been away.
normal to me is just chaos. there's never enough time to do what i need to do.

i will get enough done for him to be happy to be home and me to be happy that he sees a clean house.

my mini goals for the next four weeks:

1) not get overly frustrated with core supersets. I think they are the moves that are so challenging for me.

2) Have something green at every meal and pepper in color like orange.

3)not fall down with the one leg curl on the SB

4) Breathe and not sweat the small stuff.

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Friday Workout A Toughie

I was tired so my workout was tough. I went back to doing the 3 day a week schedule this week.

So after Intervals resistance was just rough. I did get through the whole thing though slower than i had anticipated.

I so want the fat off my thighs to melt away i can feel my muscle under there and i'd love to show the hard work. I know it will come with time though.

Eating better making sure to get the green in every meal and stay away from those comfort foods i really want due to stress.

Since the last two weeks have been off due to mid terms, emotional eating and what not i would like to start over. i think I'm going to i wanted to give these 16 weeks my best and the last two weeks have NOT been my best.

I need a new plan of attack. going to have to think about this tomorrow at church while i pray. I do some of my best thinking there. The music and intonation of the word from Father make it so ideal to pray and think about what i need help with and what i need to work on.

Working on programming for the library is also taking time. I need to stop working and start doing things for me..i think this is where i go awry. Plan but plan for myself as well.

Okay meals for this week:
Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomato Sauce
with rice
Slow Roasted Rosemary and Garlic Chicken
with rice
Considering most of these family style recipes last so long i only need to plan for 3 at most a week. I kinda like that.

My breakfasts are consisting of eggs, salsa and avocado. no tortilla necessary.
other breakfasts are what and flax seed waffles with yogurt and fresh fruit.

yummy!

rediscovering peaches and how good they are. Finally found some in juice instead of syrup and it's heaven. Frozen berry mix is also economical and delicious. The juice from the defrost process is great. what a treat.

I feel better for having written.

week 14 weight loss!

I have reached a goal! I have lost two more pounds and i now weigh 173!

I have officially lost:

This is just wonderful!

Take a look at my ticker i have 33 lbs to go but one more pound to loose and i'm at my halfway point which is 34lbs down and 34lbs to go.

Attacking eating habbits with renewed vigor. To celebrate: healthy lunch with big salad!

celebration #2: makeup..Sephora here i come

week 13 and 14

these two weeks have been the hardest of my life.

Stress was so high i did get in some workouts, but my eating went so wrong.

I'm now recovering and starting to get back on track but it's so hard.

My intervals are great my weight training is great. Hard but i like the new challenges.
finally got my sleep back up tot where it needs to be and water intake is also back.

week 12 and 13

Week 13 Starting strong and WOWs
Posted by Christina on March 3, 2009 at 12:06am


As always with a new set of four weeks i am just tired but get thru what i can. Week 13 day 1 is exactly that.


My intervals were tough but i took them outside today and walked it. Added the 30lbs of my screaming toddler and it was quite a workout. However it was great to be out in the open air.

My resistance workout was so challenging...my DB Deadlift i had to get a video from Youtube in order to do the basic and not a Romanian deadlift. Those were my fave in high school Romanian deadlift. I may need to start using a barbell..i love going heavy on that movement-- if not to maintain posture.

The other movement i had a little difficulty with was the close grip push up. I think i just need make some adjustments with the close grip because my arms went out instead of back to tickle the ribs. I'll get it though.

I really need to get a medicine ball. I went to go get one at Ross and they were gone. Academy has them for $10 and up so I'll look there. Also listed a wanted ad on Freecycle to see if anybody has one they want to get rid of.

getting in more veggies today with some roman broccoli:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessicajuriga/354974517/

steamed and with a small bit of cheese to help with taste but i really didn't need it, they had a lite flavor i liked. I think next time i'll make this recipe i found on all recipes.com
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roasted-Garlic-Lemon-Broccoli/Detail.aspx
begin final 4 weeks & Texas Group
Posted by Christina on March 2, 2009 at 9:30am


as i am prepping for weeks 13-16 i finally got all the bloat and salts out of my body. I am so excited about that.

i can fit back into the sz14 pants i just bought and just feel lighter and no longer heavy int eh mid section. yes i still have my lil pouchlette ( it has become way smaller since joining) but it's livable and back to normal where as before it has enlarged with all the bloat and salts.

back to healthy eating and control. i think a lot of my emotional eating is from class and trying to get ready for Dh to come home. I miss him so. I am now two weeks ahead in one of my classes and getting the house in order and cleaned out again. Spring cleaning has begun early.

Oh and The Texas Group is going to be getting together in Dallas in July. Right int he middle of the heat will be FYM Tejas style!!!! If you are in Texas and haven't joined the Texas group in the Forums please do so so we can all get together and have some fun!


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Week 12 at an end
Posted by Christina on February 27, 2009 at 11:53pm


This week was different. trying to get everything in and work and projects.


today i did get done cardio and weights like i had said. yesterday i decided i needed a break so instead of finishing my A workout i decided to dance. It was so great! I did a bollywood inspired workout since i've been watching and listening to a lot of bollywood lately.

if you can rent or borrow from your library Jodhaa Akbar it is such a great epic! what a beautiful love story.
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Anyways back to Thursday: It was a great release from the ordinary and much needed stress reliever. I've been stressing over the bloat from salt and pms that i needed a change from the routine. This has just been a hard month especially with hubby getting R&R soon and me wanting to look great.

Doing intervals again with the block to get in variety. The burpees i'm not ready for yet. I get can 4 with a good rhythm then after than it's like crawling to every movement...lol.

My resistance workout i was able to concentrate more and i substituted C1 and C2 for the C1 and C2 from workout A since i didn't get to it. I feel so strong. I need to find my resistance tube..it grew legs and walked away ..or it's still in my trunk...hmmmm

Eating getting back to regular eating and I'm feeling heavy in the mid section. maybe it will just take some time and i shouldn't be so hard on my self..i've been doing soem greta eating i had plans and i'm drinking water it will take time to get all the bad stuff out. it's not going to hapen in two days from a week and a half of stress and emotional eating. Looking over my beginning blog entries and how i struggled with eating i think that it will take a bit of time but once i get back on track things will melt as before. I am human not super woman ( wonder woman is way better)

Positives: I'm smaller than I was when Dh left for Iraq.
Evidence: new jeans and dresses, increased energy.

Positives: I can now recognize where i need to improve in my eating habits with my journaling and have coem to terms with the fact that i hate looking at my mistakes

Evidence: have put on big girl panties and am now dealing with it rather than avoiding it.


and i keep moving forward.

Positives: now have healthy stock of food again and am ready to take on my next 4 weeks with determination.

Evidence: lower grocery bill and full icebox and fridge.

Positives: i love peas
evidence: 2lbs bag of frozen peas in ice box..lol

week 12 mid week
Posted by Christina on February 26, 2009 at 1:00am


okay go thru my intervals with no problem, but my resistance workout i didn't get to finish. I would like to make it up tomorrow when i have food in my system. b/c my fasting gave me energy during the day but not to workout at night for my resistance workout.

so tomorrow i have B&C of workout A to do. i am so winded. now that it's after midnight i can go eat. i'm tired... i tried and will finish tomorrow and do better.

arg.

i did get another full 3 sets of 12 push up done though and that was worth getting winded.


Week 12
Posted by Christina on February 25, 2009 at 9:39am


Intervals on Monday went well. I really am starting to get used to the intervals. Looking forward to the next 4 weeks for a change and pushing myself and challenging my muscles. Amazing how 3 weeks ago i was panting and felt like dropping after my new intervals for these 4 weeks.

Taking my intervals and weights workout to the gym today.

Taking Ash Wednesday as a day to reaffirm where I want to go and make another small change to my eating habits to get this transformation moving. Today my eating has to be reduced for spiritual fasting. Small breakfast, regular lunch and small dinner, no snacking today bu i can have plenty to drink today and we'll see how that goes.

Bean soup is on the menu today. No meat today except some fish. I think for Friday I will make my Tomato and salmon soup I've been dying to try.

Need to flush out some salts i have been bad with emotional eating and i can feel it. my workout pants feel a lil tight today but working to remedy that.

Okay will post today's workout later.

Cheers!

combining posts

Good intentions and a nice surprise
Posted by Christina on February 22, 2009 at 7:58pm


I had intentions to do my workout and carido..then i had to sleep deprive daughter for her MRI and my sleep was also lost. I haven't yet recovered.

The MRI went well, get results soon. More on that later.

But yeah I've been out of working out for this week since Thursday. I have accepted it as an opportunity to catch up on rest and be better at working out because when tired i can't do my best at all and only get through a small portion of the workout and feel even more tired afterwards...yuck.


On the bright side...I've slipped down another size. I can now wear some size 14 jeans and pants!!! I'm so stoked. Also a bit nervous because i hope i haven't gotten smaller than my Easter dress. I think i can have it altered if i need though. but yeah I'm shrinking again!

i also fit into a vintage skit i bought 3 years ago before i got prego. It's very 50's and so beautiful. it's the first time i fit and there was room. it's a--mazing!

I'm so looking forward to fitting into the other vintage skirts i bought...i bought a few of them for like a total of under $10 at the goodwill..great vintage well made clothing that was made here in the US. What a steal!

Updates:

Dec 2008

February 2009

Realization
Posted by Christina on February 20, 2009 at 12:09am


Looking at my weight-loss ticker. I lost 2 lbs from Jan 28 to Feb 2, 2009. That's 6 days.

It's now the 17th and I'm apparently maintaining. One of my mini goals is to loose 3 more pounds before March. I know i can do this with two weeks left to February. Maybe even loose 4 pounds if i can do 2 lbs in 6 days.

I've been stressing with my kids' MRI coming up and a paper due as well. So emotional eating took place this week. I need a new game plan to achieve my goals by the end of this month.

It has to be in the eating. lack of water when i stress as well. hmmmm

Have an interval session to do tonight. I want to try burpees since i'm home today. I wonder how many i can get through.

will keep thinking and planning menus.
Tags:

A little sweat ain't hurt noBody
Posted by Christina on February 17, 2009 at 9:41am

What an intense 4 min!

I'm still trying to grasp for air! Did it just as Holly did it. I feel strong , wow does my butt hurt.

this was great because i was so dreading today's cardio b/c the base gym is closed due to the holiday.

Sore but in a good way. tabata's I'll try once a MONTH just to keep some variety in.

I can feel muscle building again. Muscle build then fat loss as it has always been for me. Looking forward to some loss.

Week 10

Week 10 kicking butt and taking no prisoners!
Posted by Christina on February 14, 2009 at 11:38pm
okay so i wasn't able to do it during the week but i am getting it all in.

Friday i did my cardio on the elliptical and it was great. i think i need to pump it up because my body is getting used to it.

On the bra front..lol... i had myself fitted at JCP and they said my band size is now 37. I could wear either a 38 or 36B this is so exciting! When i started this i was a 40b.

loosing weight and inches and getting new lingerie. This is the best workout program ever!!!!!


tonight getting resistance workout done and Sunday Tatabas. Yes i am inspired by the new video and will try

okay just finished resistance workout i made it thru 25 sec of side plank!

Hubby has decided to come home at the end of March in time for my library conference in Houston. So i have a few more weeks to loose some inches and tone up. Also more time to dream and miss him

He sent me roses to work today. it was nice. I don't like Valentine's day. I had a bad experience as a kid and it scarred me. So i don't celebrate V-Day. Besides i don't need a day to know how much my hubby loves me. That's what Un-Birthdays are for!


Put together a greta playlist to get through the workouts.


I've got Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Kevin Rudolph, Rihanna, Beyonce, Pussycat dolls, Lenny kravits, NG2 and some others..it's pretty energizing for me. I'll keep me moving smoothly and dancing in between supersets. Keeps the baby dancing also. It's very similar to Rachel Brickner's recently added songs. Great minds!


week 10
Posted by Christina on February 13, 2009 at 10:16am

this week has been difficult with emergency room visit and papers and meetings at work. i'm going to try to get in my workouts today and Sunday. I really need more rest.

i also noticed i need to get refitted for my bras. i need a new size. I love the bali seductive curves bras i found but i may have reduced in band size or something because i've got gaps all over.

exciting yet scary i hate bra shopping.

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Week 10..mini goals and updates
Posted by Christina on February 10, 2009 at 9:54am


Well my tummy has never been the flat since i has Tori and here are the updates:

10 weeks and i have lost another pound. I'm at 175. I'm 3lbs away from my half way point and 2 lbs away from a total weight loss of 30lbs since last January when i started working out to not be obese.


I am really concentrating on getting stronger in push-ups and side plank i think those are the two challenges i really want to improve upon.

I look forward to getting smaller and flatter as the weeks go by.
Going to need to get new jeans because I'm starting to get puckering when i tighten my belt. This is so cool.

The hubby is just going to hit the floor when he sees all the changes.

I know it's been slow with the weight but the inches that have just melted away are wonderful.

I can do this. This system is amazing.

Week 9 so far.

Posted by Christina on February 6, 2009 at 1:56am
Week 9 has been very interesting. i fins myself truly growing stronger. Pants are yet again fitting looser and my eating habits have been mindful and healthy. I think the boost from VS shopping really helped.

My strength in side plank is really coming along and i can do 20 sec without gasping for air. so i think next week i will shoot for 25 sec. I am looking forward to getting to 30sec and then lifting my leg. i foresee many falling downs when that happens....lol


I am fully enjoying working out for the first time in a very long time. it doesn't seem like a chore.

The new version of the intervals is also going well. I have adjusted to the 1 minute burst and i find it invigorating and challenging. I think it's about time for that change as sometime i wouldn't keep track of my watch and i would wind up doing a burst longer than 30 sec sometimes in workouts previously.

i've had to go back to 6 days a week but i try to get in carido at the gym at least 2 times a week and the third time is at home due to time constraints.

Revelations! Help me choose lingerie!

Posted by Christina on February 1, 2009 at 5:00pm
I now fit into a Victoria's Secret size large w/o it being snug or odd!

this is great since the DH will be home for his R&R in March. I'd like to loose 5 lbs by then. I will officially be half way to my goal of 140lbs if i do loose the 5 lbs.

Back to the lingerie.
Help me choose one:

#1



#2



#3



#4



all would be in black with the exception of #1 b/c it's the Dh's fave color.

This is so exciting. It was so nice to walk into VS and have the girl say yes you will fit. She was so nice.

Week 9 Day 1 Part II

Posted by Christina on January 28, 2009 at 1:44am

forgot to list my resistance training...duh

well, i can say this i am better now at plank than last time. i'm not raising my leg yet but holding up to 20sec for 3 sets is great!
Goal:


The squats i think i will need to get heavier weights. The 8 lbs dumbells are too light.

I'm not sure i quite get the Bow movement but is it prepping for deadlifts? if so then i think i can do it better next time.

Love using the ball for a workout. it's great.

Week 9 Day 1

Posted by Christina on January 26, 2009 at 11:47pm

Okay looks liek this week i can go back to 6 days a week.

My intervals today were very good i was able to use the family exercise room on base and use the elliptical. I felt really good.

My soup for this week is the slow cooker minestrone...I say this week because the recipe made a LOT of stew. It'll take me all week to get through it.

I was able to use my Parisienne carrots in this one. Replaced the cannelli beans ( still not paying almost $9 for canneli beans) with pink kidney beans and i put in green pigeon peas (Puerto Rican favorite!). I am really happy with the results.

I am finding that the three day a week program is leaving me restless on the days off. So i may just go back to 6 permanently. But I'm trying the 3 to accommodate school but i think that will help when the semester is in full swing.

while i was at the gym I did get a chance to take a long hard look at myself in the mirrors. The family room is separate from the rest of the gym and is enclosed so it's kinda private. The two other women who were working out had left so i took a chance to look at myself.

It wasn't bad. I had seen that my tummy had pulled in and that I don't look as big as i think i do. I'm happy where i am now and know that it's going to change in the next two months. I've been avoiding full length mirrors for a long time and i think it's time to start looking to reaffirm all my hard work.

I have come a long way lost 23lbs before FYM 2 with FYM.
25lbs is no small feat.
The inches lost so far with FYM are amazing. I just have to keep pushing and taking time for myself and eat supportively.

Day 2 Week 8 Part 2

Posted by Christina on January 22, 2009 at 12:17am
I feel really good after my resistance workout.

I used the set of 5lbs dumbbells again and increased the reps.

So for Supersets A & B i did the max reps. No dizziness this round.

Notably: i was able to sink lower into the Prisoner squats. I had my FIRM step behind me and was able to lower myself safely to just above the 14" height of the Fanny Lifter! That is a biggie for me since i could never do that without pain.

getting more water in today with a larger water bottle. It helps alot.

I noticed that in Darla's call she mentioned that some of you gals are staying in a certain mode of the 16 week workouts..like staying in intermediate phase until you are strong enough to move on to advanced....did you do that after going through the first 16 weeks of workouts or are you doing it until you progress in strength?

Honestly I'd like to improve most in my core supersets. Especially side plank

I think the move to 3 days a week will work nicely. What do you all do on the days of rest?

Kicking butt day 2 week 8

Posted by Christina on January 21, 2009 at 10:30am
Since class started this week i need to move from 6 days a week to 3. So i'll be doing my carido in the morning and resistance training in the evening.

This morning: 5 cycles of the 1 min rest and 30 sec burst. My bursts today were all jumping jacks. It was invigorating and now the effects of my workout i'm alert and ready to take on the day. I think I'm just getting comfy with them and may need to start moving on to burpees. Are they okay at this stage of the game?

I'm still in a lil bit of a funk with my eating habits even though they are great this week with me eating on time and eating portioned supportive meals. i think that's why i don't log in with the food because it becomes a numbers game to me and it depresses me. I know Selene you said exactness is not the goal but it becomes that.


well today i'm going to make the Caramel Onion soup. I haven't been out to get new plastic for storage so i need to limit the food i make this week. There is plenty of yummy quinoa -squash and it's so yummy.

My snacks have been dried cranberries and almonds at work for my evening snack and my afternoon snack has been fruit and some sort of accompaniment like yogurt or peanut butter.

Need to up my water intake. I've been doing a lot with class prep and trying to get time to clean the house i forget to drink water. worry drives me from other tasks. Yes this is the time when i do the MOST emotional eating during the semester when i'm stressing. So i think that's what i'm worried about now that i'm writing it out. That i'll just fail because of the added stress of this semester.

However: