The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall

That's right friends. I am back!!!! With a true confession....I fell off the wagon harder than I have done so for this entire challenge. We're talking fast food, candy bars, and booze. BAD MOM!!!!
How has this affected the challenge for me? Well, for one, I feel sluggish and bloated. And two, the thought of posting that "12-week" picture scares the bah-jeejee outta me!!!!!
So, here I stand (ok sitting at the moment,) ready to get back on track. Here are my goals for the final 18 days of the challenge:
1) 30 minutes of cardio DAILY
2) More protein, less carbs
3) Try to stay within 1200 cal per day (with the help of  My Fitness Pal for Android)
4) Resistance workout 3 days per week
5) Water, water, and more water!

The clock is ticking.............

Week 8 in progress!!!

Wow, I cannot believe that this is Week 8 of the Challenge. I am just stunned at how fast it has gone. Just little more than 4 weeks to go!!! A brief summary of my own ups and downs of the Challenge until now:

*The original goal was 6 days a week in the gym. I am regularly working out an average of 4 days a week.
*The original goal was 3 days of cardio alternated with 3 days of weights. I am regularly doing both cardio and weights in the same visit to the gym
*The original goal was to alternate upper and lower body workouts. I am regularly doing both upper and lower body in the same visit to the gym.
*The original goal was to eat 6 times a day. That has gone right out the door. I AM making more sensible choices 60% of the time. Weekends are my downfall.
* I started the Challenge as a size 12. I am happy to report that I am between an 8 and a 10, depending on which brand I am wearing. The 10's are all pretty loose though.
*I have lost 10 pounds of fat
* I wish I knew how much muscle weight I have put on!!!! I am seeing definition.
*I have lost inches everywhere, but no record of starting point. :(
* The original goal was to wear a bikini by the 4th of July. As of right now, I am still incredibly self-conscious in a bathing suit of any kind, especially a 2-piece. I have body issues/ low-self-esteem about my shape, so not sure if I will ever rock the 'kini, but I will faithfully post a pic in 4 weeks. And then crawl under a rock. ;)

So that's where I am right now. Definitely seeing progress! Thanks to all who have followed along so far. The end is in sight!

Strong is the New Skinny

Thin is out! Strong is in! Women sporting muscles and curvier figures are now becoming the new “it” girls.  It seems that the skeletal-look of  Victoria Beckham, LiLo, Nicole Ritchie, Megan Fox and Kelly Ripa are no longer thinspirations. A recent poll among women found that the majority wanted to have bodies like Jennifer Aniston, and fewer than 10% wanted to look like pencil-thin Kelly Ripa. Included on the list of sportier, muscular celebs are Cameron Diaz (those arms!) Fergie, Kim Kardashian, and Pink. And let's not forget Jillian!

Women rocking muscles and curves are not only devoted to working out, they also—shocker!—eat real food. Proving that starving and living with hunger pangs  24/7 is not much fun—nor is it good for you. SKINNY IS NOT HEALTHY!!! Starving yourself thin is a losing proposition because all that happens is your metabolism continues to slow down with the decreased muscle mass, and you have to eat less and less with each passing year.

So here's to getting stronger every day!  Strong is the New Skinny!!!

All the wrong places

We have all heard it said before. You lose inches from where you least want to lose them from First, and from where you really want to lose them from Last. That's my rant for today. My troubled area? THIGHS!

I HATE my thighs!!!!

Really truly and passionately do I hate my thighs. So much so that you will rarely see me in shorts in the summertime. A cute skirt, yes. But not shorts. Unless I am just around the house with my family. For kicks and grins today, I decided to try on an old pair of shorts that did NOT fit pre-Challenge. Well, the good news is that they fit. But I still HATE the way my thighs look, especially when I sit down. It's like they spread out to twice their upright size. YUCK!!!

OK, so that's my rant. Feel free to share where your troubled zones and stubborn-to-go spots are with me, either by posting here or on Facebook.

TGIF, btw. ;)

Excuse me, did you just Burpee??

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This funny word keeps coming up, "BURPEE." Excuse you? Oh, you didn't mean THAT.

So what is a burpee then?? Well, it's the latest craze in quick cardio bursts combined with strength training. Here's how to do it:

• Begin in a squat position with hands on the floor in front of you
  
• Kick your feet back to a pushup position
  
• Immediately return your feet to the squat position
  
• Leap up from the squat position (off the ground for you over-achievers)
  
• Repeat, moving as fast as possible
  

You should maintain a fast pace for this exercise to get the full cardio benefit. And the plank position is going to be great for toning your upper body and core as well.

So now I know, and so do you, what this BURPEE word means....don't look for me doing these in public though. I'll save my Burpees for the privacy of my living room, thank you! ;) 

PS from Mom: I just completed 50 burpees. These things are NOT easy. Talk about raising the heart-rate and quick! Wow. Try doing as many as you can during the next commercial break of your favorite TV show. You'll feel it!