Days 5 through 10

A little late here, but I wanted to finish up the stats for the 10 Day Challenge.

I'm not going to go into all my meals for 5 days suffice it to say I did *very* well, no cheating, kept under my calorie goal, etc. No fast food, no alcohol, no sweets.

My exercises were as follows

Day 5:

Burpee Fuhsion

A interval ladder. 10 weight squats, 10 burpees, 10 squats, 11 burpees, and so on, each time adding a burpee until you reach 20. I also did a 45 minute cardio routine

Day 6:

Ran for 60 minutes, 200 knee tucks, 200 back lunge kick ups

Day 7:

Quantum of Sweat

4 round - 2 intevals

50 seconds active/10 seconds rest

Skipping Rope L Leg

Commando Push Up

Skipping Rope R Leg

Commando Push Up

Go through twice

Low Jump Rope Jacks

Push Up, Knee Tuck

Low Jump Rope Jacks

Push Up , Knee Tuck

45 Minute Cardio Routine

Day 8:

Running for 60 minutes

200 crunches

100 squats

Day 9:

MMA Workout (20 minutes)

40 rounds 2 intervals

20/10

Sandbag Side Lunge Knee Up (Left Leg)

Sandbag Side Lunge Knee Up (Right Leg)

Push Ups

45 minute cardio routine

Day 10:

Ran for 60 minutes

60 squats

Skipping Rope Intervals

48 rounds

15/10

Fast as Possible!

My measurements on Day 11 were as follows

Chest - 37

Arms - 11

Thighs - 22

Hips - 38

Waist - 31

Weight - 143

My OVERALL TOTAL LOSS was 2 pounds and 3.25 inches!

Even with such good results, I was not the winner of the challenge. I actually had two winners. One person had more inches than anyone and the other more pounds than anyone! I'm really pleased with how it worked out. I call it a success and I think I'll be doing more of these in the future.

Personally, this WAS a challenge. There were days I wanted to do nothing, days I wanted to eat greasy cheeseburgers but the whole point is to resist and push through. It really showed me, and I think it showed the other participants, that if we can commit to a healthy lifestyle we can see amazing results. We FEEL better, not only physically, but mentally. We prove to ourselves that we are capable. It seems a small thing but how you feel affects so many areas of your life. Exercise really is a cure all.

Days 4 and 5

So we're halfway done with the 10 day challenge and I want to KICK ASS! I want to make the last 5 days the BEST.

Day 4

Food was decent. I was under my calorie mark and ate really low fat most of the day, even though my friend invited me over for coffee and had a plate full of cookies in front of me. I didn't have one. I'm so happy! I DID have one of my own Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies, but I made them lower in fat.

Breakfast

Egg whites with tomatoes and coffee

Snack

Shakeology with PB

Lunch

Tuna salad

Carrots

Celery

Tomato

Hard boiled egg

Green Tea

Snack

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie and green tea

Dinner

Shrimp Stir Fry

Coffee

My Workout

Intervals of 20 Push Up and 20 Crunches 5 times

60 minutes of various cardio workouts (treadmil and elliptical)

Day 5! (the HALFWAY MARK)

Food was excellent day! I think having an interview for a position as a personal trainer gave me the will to say no to bad choices. I wanna LIVE THE LIFE!

Breakfast

Oatmeal with PB

Coffee

Snack

Another cookie

Lunch

Turkey sandwich

veggies no cheese

Snack

Shakeology

Dinner

Baked chicken wrap

Lettuce

Tomato

Light cheese and sour cream

My Workout

45 minute cardio routine and the Burpee Fusion workout from Bodyrock.tv

Day 3

Day 3 has been pretty tough. I was busy with house stuff all day that when it came time to do a workout I just wasn't into it. But I did it anyway. My first workout was Turbo Jam's Cardio Party 2 and the "WOW Booty" workout from Bodyrock.tv. I'm telling you, I am SORE. Even if my attempt at Turbo Jam was less than my best, I still worked hard. That's what you have to do sometimes. Even people who are passionate about fitness have those day when they JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. Just push through and you'll feel better for it.

My diet was good today.

Breakfast - Egg white omelet with a handful of shredded chedder, Coffee

Snack - Yogurt with 1/2 scoop of Shakeology

Lunch - A grilled ham and cheese with tomatoes on tomato basil bread (Okay, NOT super healthy, but pretty decent)

Snack - Shakeology

Dinner - Sauteed Shrimp and Stir Fry Vegetables, Coffee

My arms feel SUPER tight. I like that feeling. ;)

Day 1 and 2

I meant to post this earlier. I've had such busy days the last two days that I didn't get a chance to post my Day 1 and Day 2 experiences for my 10 Day Challenge.

DAY 1:

Food -

NO CHEATING! I ate clean for all meals!

Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, coffee
Snack - Yogurt with this puffed rice whey stuff
Lunch - Shakeology with PB and milk
Snack - Apple, cheese stick
Dinner - Egg whites and toast, coffee

My workout was Punch Kick and Jam with hand weights and an interval challenge that lasted 12 excruciating minutes.

DAY 2:

Food - Little cheaty. I was out and about all day so it was slightly more difficult to eat right.

Breakfast - Whey and Puffed Rice Cereal with 1% milk, coffee

Snack - Bagel with LF cream cheese

Lunch - Chicken Sandwich, lettuce, tomato, coffee

Snack - Celery with PB

Dinner - 1 slice of pizza, coffee

My workout was a 4 mile run and 1000 freestyle reps with the Jump Rope

How do I feel?

SORE! I feel extremely sore. But I also feel SO good. I feel energetic, sexy, and strong. Isn't that what we're going for, really, in a hard workout program or challenge? My goal was to feel challenged and make progress. I feel that happening.

In related news - I got an email about the possibility of being a personal trainer at a local gym. It's funny, I never wanted to be a personal trainer. It's weird the places life takes you. I got into fitness to help myself. But, I see how what I do and say affects and motivates those around me and, I have to say, that's the best feeling in the world. I love that just TALKING about my workouts or my progress helps others who've been struggling get up and do the same thing. I know how much fitness has helped me and improved my life. The fact that I can help someone else achieve that same joy warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. :)

Centennial!

I just wanted to share that I weighed myself this morning and I'm officially down 100 pounds!

100 POUNDS!

I lost a whole person!

I'm so excited about this! I'm even more excited and motivated to start my 10 Day Challenge tomorrow. Maybe I'll drop the final 10 pounds.

To anyone who might read this and think, "I can't do this!" Yes! Yes, you can! I've lost 100 pounds with no gimmicks, no pills (aside from a daily vitamin), no surgery, no fad diets. Just clean eating and regular exercise. It can be done. It takes a while, it takes work, but it's worth it. Start now, today, this moment. I got my life back and you can, too.

10 Day Challenge

Hello again!

I'm putting together this 10 day challenge.

The run down is that the participants exercise everyday for 10 days straight. They also commit to not cheating at all in their diets. Measurements are submitted in the beginning and at the end, on day 11. The "Biggest Loser" gets a shiny prize.

More details about it can be viewed here.

I encourage you to join! It'll be a blast and it's a friendly competition.

But I'm not posting to promote my event.

No really.

I want to keep a journal of my experiences, exercises, diet and results each day. I wanted to keep my rabid reader updated!

Why to Choose a Home Based Workout Program

Traditionally, getting fit meant getting a gym membership and hitting the machine or treadmill or class every day. Now, I won't say that it's bad to do that. However, I know when I started in my own fitness endeavors I did NOT want to go to a gym. I had my various reasons and I'll talk about some of those, as well as some reasons OTHER people might not want to visit the gym. Really, the goal is to discuss why a home based fitness program might be the one for you.

First, embarrassment. It's okay to admit it. I didn't want to go to a gym in the beginning because I had this image of a room full of hard bodies and then me waddling in. The idea was terrifying so I didn't want to go.

Another reason to choose a home-based workout program is lack of knowledge. Many gyms offer a temporary trainer to help you get started. Many people go and just venture into fitness on their own. The problem with that is we aren't all fitness experts. So a person without knowledge about fitness and nutrition might not see results, might use improper form, might injure themselves or any number of things. Following a home program prevents these things because the instructor WILL know what they're talking about and offer tips for form. Many programs come with additional information to help you with nutrition. Also, calenders tell you what to do and when.

FLEXIBILITY is a BIG reason for me now. I, like most people, lead a busy life. Being able to do workouts on MY schedule is invaluable. At a gym, you have to workout based on their schedule. Not only that, but there is often a time limit for machines, a time limit for daycare, and a time limit for gym hours (with the exception of a few 24 hour gyms). With home-based programs you can workout when it's best for you. This is especially awesome for people with odd work schedules or busy lifestyles.

That's the long and short of what I feel are the major reasons for choosing a home-based workout program. If a gym is just your thing, go for it. But if you're wondering about why one might wish to choose to workout at home or if it's right for you, I hope this article helps!

Good luck!