6 weeks out - update

no morning run today.  i slept in and do NOT feel bad about it!  i was up late last night prepping meals for the week and needed the extra sleep.

  i worked out with my trainer saturday,

shoulders, legs, and stairmaster = sweaty mess.

i actually don't mind the cardio at all- even when i don't have my ipod.  i'm up to 7 hours of it a week, which is just an hour a day. (weight training and ab work is not included in that though).  after i get nice and warm (at least 10 min into it) i don't feel a thing.  i do try to keep it exciting and use several machines.  20 min here, 20 there, 20 somewhere else, and i only start counting again when my heart rate reaches my fat burning zone.  no cheating on my diet OR workouts!!

*update*

after 3 successful rounds of carb cycling and two more weeks out the window:

146lbs  (lost 4.7)

2.7 % body fat lost, which brings me down to 13%.

i always kept a light sweater with me at all times cause i get cold easily.  however, 68 degrees for our home temp is now unbearable.  Sonny is convinced that the house must be this cold in order for him to sleep. *side-eye*  i've been going to bed in thermals recently- long sleeve tops AND bottoms in the middle of a Houston Summer!!! however it makes sense- less body fat and weight, less insulation.

i missed Chiso's stank butt so much this weekend! i surprised Sonny with a short and sweet getaway for his birthday (post coming), and Chi spent some good times with his grandparents :)

what can i say.. this has been the toughest week yet and it's only gonna get tougher.  after 3 rounds of carb cycling, i'm in the middle of my fourth.  per my trainer, no changes to my meal plan this week since my body is responding so great to the carb cycling.  i just keep thinking over and over again how little time i have left. i'm 100% dedicated to reaching my goal, i can do this, and it will all be over soon.  in that order. lol.  at this point i'm craving things i don't even normally eat- frito pie, doritos... churros...   and my obsession with food network is about to ruin my life.  if i'm not watching it on TV, i'm on food blogs all day long.  food is SUCH a huge part of my life. i'm a FOODIE.  makes me wonder if i'll do another show after this one to be completely honest. the urge to binge only comes around full force when i'm watching Paula Deen put 42 sticks of butter into her upside down apple cake.  outta sight outta mind really works best for me at this point.

anyway, i have these guys (thick cut sirloin steaks) marinating in some Braggs liquid aminos, green onion, cilantro, and montreal steak seasoning, and will throw them on the grill tonight when i get home.

on a lighter note, i must express how much i LOOOOOVE the Instagram community, WOW!!! if you aren't following some of these crazy inspirational, motivational,  health and fitness role models, then just looking through their pics is still worth every second of your time.  they are REAL, hard-working moms and dads doing the healthy thing, sharing recipes, fitness tips,  and reaching their goals one day at a time.  after this show i cannot wait to get crackin' on some of these recipes!! look'em up:

fitfoodiele :lol:

fitfoods

livefiteatclean

powercakes

onefitfoodie

c_fitnessjourney

eatclean_behappy

fit4aprincess

MyFitnessLife24

kristfitj1210

fitandsexy_fe

healthygirll

instagramfitness

mattyb2126

myhealthydish_

there are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too many more, but take a peek at these guys and girls.

enjoy the rest of this blessed day!

le

natural high

morning! i usually post at night after Chiso goes to bed, so this is new.

feeling good cause monday morning cardio is done, and it's high carb day :)

i was literally running for my b-fast!!  thought about making and devouring my eggs and oatmeal the entire time.

right after a 50 min run in my fat burning zone as the sun came up.

which means, i can get in and out of the gym tonight and only have to focus on weights.  i'm on other body building sites and blogs for inspiration and ideas all the time, and AM cardio/PM weights seems to work for a lot of competitors.  whatever lets me spend more time with my family @ home, i'm all for it.

some of my fav sites to visit:

******************************************************************

Figure Girl World

The Bikini Competitor

Female Transformations (via bodybuilding.com)

GetInShapeGirl (even if outdated, still tons of info to soak up)

******************************************************************

hope you are able to get SOME work done today :lol:. SO addicting and inspiring, huh!

looking forward to devouring all this lovely, juicy fruit today.

enjoy the rest of your POSITIVE & PRODUCTIVE Monday!

le

the saga continues

so dramatic.

my expectations for carb cycling are pretty darn high, and i was honestly expecting a huge change in my body, instantly.  we always want things when we want them!!  i really have noticed a few changes after almost two cycles, but i figure i'll just wait until my next progress update (1 more week) to see the full effect it will have on my body. deal?

oh, and btw- thursday, my 1st high carb day, was pretty darn fab.  i purposely took about 45 minutes per meal to eat. NICE AND SLOW. lol.  i enjoyed my fruit, and i hit it hard in the gym that evening and worked on my shoulders and a little back.

but now it's back to another fruit-less three days.

i came across an old Academy Sports and Outdoors ad i did about 3 years ago.  yes, my expression looks as if someone just cut the cheese.   i don't know what the heck their selection process is with their pictures, but i was just grateful for the opportunity :lol: . anyway, i brought this up because those were my abs before giving birth.

and these are my abs now.

i admit, i thought my body would change for WORSE after giving birth... i didn't think it would ever be the same again.  women were designed and made for childbirth!  treat your body right and it will show you just how AMAZING it can be.   even after Chiso has plenty of siblings, i know that i can get right back to where i am with a little hard work and commitment and so can you.

getting there, week by week. did i mention i have 7 weeks left?!

le

core work - part I

because breaking the post up into parts means NO, i am totally not done!!

i had no idea how popular TRX  was/is.  your gym may or may not have it, no biggie. there are two main pieces of equipment:

the suspension belt:

and it's connected to this contraption:

i'm just now catching up with it, and you guessed it, i hate it :lol:  i had my first taste of TRX about 3 weeks ago while working out with a competitor friend of mine at 24 hour fitness.  it's hardcore suspension training using your own body weight.  just after 3 sets of  10 'pushups/peaks/tucks' (that's what i'll call it for now), i felt soreness in my entire torso for the rest of the week.  every laugh, cough, twist and turn was a swift reminder of my 1st TRX date.

try them:

facing downward, put your feet in the straps and get into a pushup position.

complete the pushup, (both arms come to a 90 deg angle) and go immediately into a 'peak' by lifting your glutes into the air and keeping your legs straight and your back as flat as possible.

then, go right back to starting/plank position by lowering your glutes and complete the 'tuck' by pulling your knees super close to your chest. keep your knees and feet close together.

that's one! do 10 in a row for starters, and add on the stronger you become.  you will get stronger... just keep doing them, i promise.

don't have one of these fancy contraptions at home?  me neither!

use a yoga ball.

here are a couple exercises i have added to my routine recently to get this 6 pack going!

 peaks and tucks w/ the ball:

(start in a high plank)

you don't have to do the pushup if ya don't want to, IMO. i'm such a slacker.

peak (remember, keep your back flat, not rounded- clearly i need to work on that)

aaaand tuck. 3 sets of 10

twist ups:

( yoga ball or a medicine ball will do.) start out with your body flat, legs out into a V, and the ball overhead btw your hands.

engage your core and sit up nice and tall keep the ball directly in front of you.

keep sucking it in!! now, twist the ball to the left or right,

then back to the center, and back to starting position. repeat, and hit up the other side.

make sure you get a nice, deep, significant twist.

v sit ups w/ yoga ball:

start on your back and stretch your arms over head while clutching the yoga ball in btw your feet/ankles.

form the 'v' by bringing your limbs up toward the ceiling, and passing the ball to your hands from your feet.  pull your bellybutton into your spine and keep your limbs straight the entire time.

take the ball in your hands and extend your body back to the starting position.  on the next one, pass the ball back to your feet and repeat.

elbow rolls:

up on your toes, elbows on ball, plank position.

extend your elbows out as far as possible- this IS a tough one, it's not just you!! then, using your core, pull the ball back to you and keep that nice solid plank. i fell multiple times- you gotta fight to keep your balance.

i promise i moved!!! doesn't take much to feel those AT ALL.  3 sets of 10

 incorporate some of these moves for a stronger core and chiseled mid-section.

heading to bed- super early AM workout tomorrow, as usual!

le

kickin and pushin

who left their gym clothes at home yesterday? i could have kicked myself.  i was driving to work when i realized what i had done. guess where i went on lunch break:

i'll never have enough workout gear, so no biggie there!  no excuses...nothing will keep me from my workout date.

my colorful ensemble!

  i can feel my husband giving me a side-eye through the screen, but i could have gone to lululemon, sooo.... :-?

now shoes, on the other hand, those are deal breakers.  i would have just had to go back home for them. striking a pose before i went to kill it- upper body and cardio that night.

update:

currently @ 152 lbs and 18% body fat after two more weeks.

yeah i thought my body fat went down a lot more too by now, HMPH.  i'm losing weight for sure, but my trainer says i burned a little muscle too, bummer.  this means i need to make sure i am staying inside my fat burning zone during my cardio sessions.  it's honestly hard for me to stay there cause i just want to GO GO GO all the time and burn up everything.  i have to remind myself to stay focused and concentrate on burning fat.

been working on my posing and walking every chance i get. i hope it shows! these progress pics help me tremendously though- i see so many things i need to fix asap.

no cheat meal(s), no processed snacks, no white sugar nothin for 4 weeks straight now. wow is all i can say.  it's ALL God. i have never, ever, in my entire life gone this long without those things.  when i'm tempted, i start praying lol!!!! i'm so very serious though.  somehow i look up minutes later and the craving is gone and i've moved on to doing something else.  i was talking with Sonny the other day about just how much my/our lives revolved around food!  for any special occasion, milestone, celebration - WHATEVER - we go eat.  bored and nothin going on?  we go get fro-yo.  before Chiso was born, we would randomly wake up in the middle of the night and go get some fries or ice cream or something sweet.  gosh i miss being able to do that! with the way the weeks have been flying by though, it won't be long before i can enjoy those things again.  my mentor reminded me that 'the body always craves what the body can't have.' unfortunate truth. UGH.

i came to terms with having a thick waist and being shaped like a boy a few years ago.   i am happy to report that this couldn't be any further from the truth.

this is my first time wearing this dress since 2010 @ my mom's graduation.

matter fact, i almost sent it to Goodwill this past year.  it just wouldn't zip up anymore and i was tired of sucking it in.  i was sooooooo uncomfortable that day.  not only were my feet hurting, but i couldn't even breathe right cause the dress was so tight.  i was trying to be cute - you know how that goes :roll:

alright now!  it's pretty comfy these days as are my jeans and other bottoms.  found it in the back of my closet and wore it to church this past Sunday.  old dress turned new again!  competition or not, i love these results and i plan to commit to eating 85% clean after this is over with.  life is just too darn short not to indulge every now and then.  no food will ever be off-limits in my book.

kissy break during the 'photoshoot'- you know he was wasn't too far away:)

finally, i miss eating my fav foods these days for sure, but i miss cooking new things and meals just as much if not more.  i see TONS of inspiration and ideas on Instagram and Pinterest every single day and i have collected and created a nice log of cleaner and leaner recipes (breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert)  over the past few weeks that i add to daily.  i cannot wait to get back into my kitchen and get creative and test out these recipes...and most important, EAT them!!  september will be a great month. a really, great month..

i'd love to place in this upcoming competition...i think about the day of the show often.  overcoming the entire journey leading up to stepping on that stage is what i will be the most proud of, though.

le