30 Day Shred, Day 14

I have not done The Shred for 14 consecutive days. However, as of yesterday, I had completed a full 14 days.

Yay me!

I decided to measure myself again to see where I was after a second week.

When I measure myself, I am careful to make sure I'm not sucking in. I don't want that to be a factor. Plus, I don't look at my previous week's measurements because I don't want it causing any bias when I determine the final number.

Here are the results so far.

Beginning measurements:
Tummy: 50 in
Waist: 38 in
Bust: 43 in
Arm: 14 in
Thigh: 23 in


Week 1:
Tummy: 48 in
Waist: 38 in
Bust: 43 in
Arm: 13.5 in
Thigh: 25 in


Week 2:
Tummy: 45 in (3 more inches for 5 total. WOW!)
Waist: 37.5 in
Bust: 42 in (1 down)
Arm: 13.5 in
Thigh: 24.5 in

Seriously?? Those results are just amazing to me! Especially since my back has been hurting me and the last couple of days I've been modifying the workout and leaving parts out as needed.

Okay, so the workout may be a bit boring (especially after 14 days) and may tucker me out, but it apparently works. I am totally going to keep going as much as I can!

30 Day Shred, Day 7

I have now done the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels for seven days straight and thought I'd give you a few of my thoughts.

What I Like About the 30 Day Shred:

1. It has relatively little time commitment: 20 minutes is really hardly anything in the course of a day. As a mom of 2 little one, my kids are often demanding and require attention, especially when they know I am busy elsewhere. As long as they are fed and changed and can stay out of trouble, 20 minutes is a relatively short time to leave them for their own entertainment.

2. It is hard work. This short, 20 minute workout is enough to make me want to quit 5 minutes in. By the time I am done, I need a few minutes to catch my breath and recover my jelly legs. I also love that it focuses on strength, cardio, and abs, making it a well-rounded workout.

3. It is effective. Already, by day seven, I can feel myself getting stronger. I am able to get through the first level much easier and am almost ready to move to the second. Plus, one week ago I took my measurements. They were as follows:

Tummy: 50 inches
Waist: 38 inches
Bust: 43 inches
Arms: 14 inches
Thighs: 23 inches

Now, one week later, my measurements are:

Tummy: 48 inches (2 inches in one week!!)
Waist: 38 inches (same)
Bust: 43 inches (same)
Arms: 13.5 inches (slightly smaller)
Thighs: 25 inches (Haha! 2 inches larger. Although, considering the number of squats, I guess that's not surprising.

My tummy measurements were quite surprising. I have started to slim down after only a week and I hope that the workout continues to be as effective.


What I Hate About The 30 Day Shred:

1. It is hard work. Yes, I know this is one of the things I like about it. But it's also one of the things I hate about it. The first few days I was energized and ready to try it, but by now I really kind of dread it every day. Only strong thoughts of strengthening my body and a short time-commitment propel me through each day.

2. I am sore. By now I am just getting over my soreness and starting to feel like a normal person. But that first week was rough. And my back is still sore when I go to lift things or bend down. Part of it may be due to the very small cool-down featured in the video. I would recommend taking more time to stretch and recover from the intense workout.

3. I cannot skip directly to the workout. Okay, this may seem like a small complaint, but after 7 days of doing the same workout, I really just want to skip the intro part. I've heard it, thank you, let's move on. If anybody knows how to pass this one, let me know.

Overall, I like the workout. I think it is a good one. I'm just really glad that there is a day when I can stop doing it and move on to something else. :)

Tuesday Tip: Buy Smaller Plates

This week I went out a bought some new plates.

Not a lot, just a few.

Four, to be exact.

I didn't really NEED plates because I have plates in my house.

(They're not particularly fancy, but they get the job done.)

But I was tired of looking at my plate and seeing something like this:

Check out this woefully sad amount of food.

At least, that's what it looks like.

All that space alone is enough to make me feel hungry.

And so I went and bought new plates.

Four plates.

Salad plates.

Just for me.

So that now my meals look like this:

Ahhh, much better.

Same exact amount of food.

But somehow, I feel more full knowing I ate a plate's worth of food.

Isn't it great that I can just trick my mind like that?

It's like an optical illusion...only completely different.

Plus, I'm in love with my brand spankin' new plates.

The color makes me happy and I just can't wait to fill those plates with healthful*, well-balanced food.

(*Did you know that in English things are healthful and people are healthy? Who knew?)

My Fitness Pal

Pssssttt... I forgot to mention earlier, my username for My Fitness Pal is Belhepsibah. If you're on there, find me and we can "friend" each other!

Feeling Good

Ahhhh....

I don't know why I let the healthy lifestyle get away from me.

The difference is amazing!!

Two weeks in and I already am feeling so much better overall.

Yes, my muscles are sore.

Yes, I'm having to put in some hard work every day.

Yes, I'm having to stay organized and prepared (a true challenge for me).

But the payouts are worth it.

I feel energetic.

I feel strong.

I feel capable.

I feel in control.

I feel balanced.

And it feel SO GOOD!

You know how people are always saying "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"?

Well, I think that's a lie, personally.

Some things taste really, really good.

But I would amend it just a bit.

Nothing tastes as good a HEALTHY feels.

Of course...if you're eating healthy you can still taste anything you like...in moderation.

Perhaps that's why I like that saying more. ;)

Saturday Suggestion

While I'm not weighing myself this month, I decided to do something new to keep me on track.

Something I've told you before that I hate.

Calorie counting.

**gasp!!!**

I know, I know. I DO hate it. But it's effective.

During this month I want to focus on creating healthy habits. One of which, is reacquainting myself with proper portion sizes. I figured that an overview on the calorie content of my typical foods would only help me with this goal.

I grabbed my phone, searched for a free calorie counting app, and downloaded My Fitness Pal.

Honestly...it was the first one that came up, so I went with it.

I have had it for 2 days now, and I must say, it's relatively pain-in-my-butt free.

I always hated how much time it took to track calories. Pad and paper journals meant I had to look everything up. And online journals meant I had to have a computer handy.

But my phone is as handy as can be. I have it with me almost constantly anyway and it's only a matter of seconds to enter any food that I consume.

(Gee, Sara, welcome to the world of technology.)

Here are a few things that I like about My Fitness Pal:

• It gives me a calorie count to aim for based on how much weight I want to lose.
  
• It counts down my calories for me, telling me both how much I've consumed and how much remain for the day.
  
• I can enter my water intake.
• I can enter my exercises.
• I can create "meals" which allow me to just quickly select a meal rather than enter things individually.
• It syncs with an online account, so that I can always update and modify things online if I so desire.
  
• I can enter and track my weight loss.

It's a pretty neat little app.

Hopefully this month goes by quickly and I learn a little more about the foods I eat.

'Cause knowledge is power, right?

January Weigh-In | Sara

The holidays are over.

Our decorations are safely stored once again.

Our company has left.

We are back to our usual routine.

And it's time to face reality.

This morning I went and worked out, came home, and weighed myself.

I currently weigh 198.6.

(I'm just keeping it real here, folks.)

After weighing myself I promptly handed the scale to The Hubster and told him to go hide it and not bring it out again until February.

Am I hiding from the terribleness that is my weight?

No.

I'm really not.

I have just decided not to focus or obsess over my weight this month.

Instead, I am going to focus on healthy living.

Am I getting enough sleep?
Am I drinking enough water?
Am I eating appropriate portions?
Am I balancing my meals?
Am I moving every day?
Am I being productive?
Am I ridding my days of time-wasters?
Am I spending a little time each day focusing on me?

I feel as though I need to get some balance in my life first.

I need to be well-adjusted. Centered. Balanced.

Am I hoping that I'll lose weight in the process?

ABSOLUTELY!

I'm not crazy, that is my overall goal.

I just have to straighten out a few other things first.

Welcome to 2012!!

It's a new year.

A new beginning.

No mistakes yet.

(Unless you count the fact that I ate my weight in cake balls yesterday. Then perhaps I have one mistake.)

I am ready to start again.

I am NOT giving up.

I am NOT letting my weigh get the better of me.

Are you ready?

Of course you are!

This is the year, folks!!

This year we will spank those pounds into submission...TOGETHER.

You can do it!!

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

Be strong.

Be brave.

Be bold.

A year from now you will wish that you had started TODAY!

And so we are going to open this up so that it's not just about Chelsey and me anymore.

How about it?

Do you want to join us?

To be encouraged by us (and others)?

To have have some partners in your journey?

Head over to our brand "spankin'" new Facebook group.

Click on "Ask to join" at the top of the group.

One of use will approve you and you can join our awesomeness over there.

Together we will be accountable.

We will set goals.

We will have friendly reminders.

We will motivate ourselves.

We will overcome obstacles.

And we will help each other succeed!!!

See you there!!