Friday, November 23, 2012

Insanity Update


Successfully made it through week 5 of the Insanity Program and started on week 6.  I met a few setbacks in scheduling this week, with having been gone all weekend to a dance exchange (whee!) and with the holiday, so I am a bit behind.  My plan is to use the last days of the week plus next week to finish week 6 and start week 7 the following Monday.  I will finish the program, just not in the 60 days it calls for, which is okay by me...because sometimes life happens.   On a better note, I beat Tanya (the instructor in the series refers to her as "the machine" if that gives you any clues to how amazing this is) at two of the fit test exercises.

Pictures from last weigh in/measuring:
 

And these are from this Monday:
 

Not as drastic a difference as the first set, but I definitely am seeing two things: sleeker waistline and the beginning of visual definition of my abs!!!

This week's step up from the first month's routine is kind of kicking my butt, but I am more than game.  I have no doubt I will be kicking butt and taking names by the end.  Even Thomas is jealous of my biceps and fitness right now...and although I still cannot do a pull-up, I can knock out several styles of legitimate push ups.

I have continued using myfitnesspal.com to track my calories, still not "dieting" just focusing on portion control.

Current results:  since I started September 22 I have lost 15 lbs (I was at -19 but I think I was dehydrated) and when I took my measurements for the beginning of week 6 I lost 2 more inches around my waist.  That makes for a total of 7.5 inches lost around my waist since starting to watch my calories less than two months ago!  Overall I have lost about 12 inches among all my measurements.

What About You?  What are you doing to combat holiday treats?  What are your least favorite types of exercises?  (I hate jumping exercises)

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies :D

So, I fell victim to the fall fad of everything pumpkin...not because it is a fad, but because it is soooo good.  I decided pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were a safe and easy bet since I did not feel like doing a pie.  And I stuck relatively close to the recipe...imagine that :D

Ingredients:


  • 1 can pumpkin pie filling (here I used pumpkin puree instead of pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 tbsp. milk
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 c. vegetable oil
  • 4 c. flour
  • 4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 sm. bag chocolate chips (depends on your want for chocolate in the cookies)
Directions:
Mix ingredients in large bowl (yup, literally put everything in one bowl and stirred). Bake 10 minutes in 350 degree oven.

The "dough" was a little weird looking and smelled at tad funny until I added the cinnamon.

They were really cakey and yummy!
This recipe will make about 64 cookies...so it might be more than you would typically make so adjust accordingly!  They have a nice texture in between cake and cookie, delicious and only about 100 calories per cookie :D
They were a huge hit at work.









What About You?  Do you like pumpkin flavored things particularly in the fall?  What is your favorite cookie flavor/texture?

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Weight Loss/Fitness Journey (Update)


As I have previously blogged: I have taken a vested interest in losing weight and getting fit.  I committed myself to completing the Insanity program.  So far, I have successfully made it through the third week.  I am impressed with myself, in the past I have tried to establish a routine and failed miserably, and with the results.  I do not know why this time is different, but it is...maybe I just got fed up with being overweight and depressed (exercise is proven to fight clinical depression).  Or maybe it is because I am struggling with my confirmed diagnosis of PCOS and the fact that it is in part responsible for my weight...and that losing that weight will decrease my later life risks and current/future symptoms.  Whatever the reason...I am improving my life.

These are my pictures from when I first decided I would do the Insanity workout...kind of miserable and a bit embarrassed, if you cannot see that in my face.



















These are the pictures I took at the beginning of the third week (October 29) before the second Fit Test.  See the difference?  I do.


















Insanity is not easy.  It is sometimes hard to get up early/make time...but it makes my day better.  Excuses lead to lapses and then you are right back where you started.  When I work out in the morning I have more energy, am more focused, and happier the entire day.  Any fitness routine requires dedication...when I miss a day (sick, too busy, etc) I might double up on workouts (one in the morning and one at night...do NOT recommend!) or work out on the scheduled day off.  If you are not sweating, you might want to rethink your exercise routine (I usually am sweating by the end of the warm up).

I have noticed a lot of improvements:  my endurance is better (stopping less, able to do more reps on all Fit Test exercises, able to complete more of each exercise, etc), my clothes fit a little looser, people are noticing, I am starting to get back a 6-pack, and I have the beginnings of my first ever hip dips (you know, the little dips all the underwear models have, which is a result of inguinal muscles)!

I continued using myfitnesspal.com to track my calories, still not dieting just exercising portion control...yes I still eat chocolate, cookies, and ice cream (sorry purists but I am getting results and not inclined to binge.  I am a fan of moderation, if you cannot moderate it might be easier not to eat this way).

So far my largest motivator has been my results:  since I started September 22 I have lost 12 lbs and when I took my measurements for the beginning of week 3 I went down in every measurement *again* ...most notably I lost 1.5 inches around my waist.  That makes for a total of 5.5 inches lost around my waist since starting to watch my calories less than two months ago!

For all of you wondering how...just establish a routine (any routine!) and start tracking your calories.  Calories in<calories out = weight loss.  Make sure if you follow this method you are eating diverse foods and enough calories (for people my age and size, no less than 1200 a day) so your body is healthy and gets the vitamins and variety it needs, and you do not put your body into starvation mode (which can make losing weight harder).

What About You?  What are the excuses you use not to work out?  What foods are your weaknesses and cause you to hit speed bumps in weight loss?