Day 18 - Everything Hurts

Let me tell you about 80's Roller Skate Night in one Picture:


Day 18 was pretty perfect. I had all my meals as planned and pushed through a kick ass leg workout.

Plyometric Warm Up:
- 6 forward box jumps, 6 high step ups
- 6 side box jumps on each side, 6 high side step ups on each side
- 6 rotational box jumps, 6 high crossover step ups on each side
- Tabata step ups holding 20 lbs (ask me and I can explain, these are intense)

Workout (3 sets)
- Deadlifts 10-12 reps (I used 80lbs)
- Front Squats 12-15 reps (I used 50lbs)
- Leg raises 15 reps

We started to do our sprint workout, but our legs were shot from the night of roller skating and squats. It's good to push through pain, but when joints start to act up, its time to rest. Listen to your body. Every part of my body is sore, and this tends to be the trend by Friday.

I had an amazing post workout meal and I increased my carbs as Maria recommended. Below is my broccoli and tomato salad, quarter avocado, 4 oz of chicken, and a juice (beet, celery, 1/2 an apple, parsley).



I don't even recognize the girl from day 16. What on earth got over me? the cravings for chocolate are gone, I'm not starving. I think Maria was right, I wasn't getting enough carbs around my workouts. It also helps to think about my competitor. Now, I look forward to hunger and pain. When my stomach grumbles, I'm like, "take that, I'm hungrier than you!" and when I can't lift my arms, I nod my head and smile because I am awesome.

My abs are starting to form a shape, I have that little "V" on my lower stomach. I was so excited I ran to Larissa to show her. She is weirdly supportive of everything I do and say, which is great. I know that even if my abs look the same she will pump me up. Love you, Larissa! We all need a friend like her, sometimes realistic can hold you back.

I ran out of food, so I meandered to Lite Bite on Union Street for my second lunch. The owner is so accommodating. I got 5 oz of chicken and a half pound of grilled vegetables and they treated me to an iced tea.

For Dinner, we joined friends at 5A5. They apparently know the owner, so every now and then a waiter would show up with an amuse-bouche compliments of Steve. I did have the hamachi shooter and a crab leg, but for dinner I had the filet mignon and the entire side dish of spinach; the whole table teased me for not sharing. The last surprise from Steve was a chocolate plate filled with 7 unique desserts. The best one, I hear, was the liquid chocolate dome. Here is a picture of my friend, Chad, drinking wine while eating the flour-less chocolate cake. I sipped on my back coffee and didn't even crave a bite. The photo below really happened.



I'm doing ok, and I am looking forward to resting my body over the weekend.

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Day 14 - Losing Faith

Last night I dreamt I was in a house with other girls I know, and it was full of chocolate desserts; chocolate puddings, brownies, every variation of chocolate cake. In the dream I only managed to get in a couple bites before all the desserts disappeared. I spent the rest of the dream hunting for these desserts and trying to figure out why no one would share. I had the same level of anxiety as when I'm being chased by a killer or mountain lion. I am not making this up.

It is very easy to lose track of what is important as time goes by, especially when you are surrounded by people who don't make the same sacrifices you do. You tell yourself you won't win anyway, why bother trying.

It is so important to stay positive and focused. Lucky for me I have a strong support system; Ali, Glen, Maria, Larissa, anyone reading this blog.

To help with my chocolate cravings, I made my own version of almond chocolate butter, and I can have 1 tbsp of it with meals instead of the quarter avocado.


Chocolate Almond Butter Recipe:
(Warning: this isn't the most delicious but I enjoy it)

• - 2 TBSP Almond Butter
• - 1 TBSP Cocoa Powder
• - 1 tsp Xylitol

Our Workout of the Day Leg Workout:

(10-12 reps, 3 sets each, heavy weights)

• - Reverse lunges
• - Front Squats
• - Cross over step ups

Today is Meditation Monday, which happens to fall on the same day as Weigh in Monday. I'm not looking as lean as I would have hoped after 2 weeks of dieting, but I only have my cheats to blame. The good news is that I dropped 4 lbs in that time and I plan to lose another 2 lbs. The other good news is I am learning from my mistakes. every time I cheat, I ask myself what caused it to happen and how can I prevent it in the future. The first time was waiting too long between meals, the second time was skipping meals, and one day I was just really hungry and probably should have had more fiber and water. Are you ready for a picture?

OK, here it goes.

I'm really nervous. I'm posting it.

Right now:




It is really easy for me to start picking on myself, but instead I am going to stay positive; I am working really hard, my shoulders look great, I lost 2 inches on my waist, I love the way I feel... I bought these super sexy Lululemon booty shorts to motivate me to keep working on my butt (so it fits inside them like on all the fitness models).

Larissa and I went to our favorite day spa for a little pampering after our intense leg workout. I called ahead to order our salads with 4 oz of protein, 3 cups of veggies, and minimal fat.

As soon as we arrived, we hit the gym for sprint intervals.

• Warm Up - 5 min speed walk or light jog
• Workout - 5 rounds of the workout below
• 1 min at 6.0 mph (Can carry a conversation)
• 1 min at 6.5 mph (Can talk, but it's getting harder)
• 1 min at 7.0 mph (Polite banter, focus on the breathing)
• 1 min at 7.5 mph (1 or 2 word responses)
• On 5th round finish with 30 sec at 8.5 mph or as fast as you can go (full on Sprint)
• Cool Down - 5 minutes light jog to walk

If this is too easy or too hard adjust the levels accordingly. The whole point of these intervals is to build up your heart rate, then recover and build it back up.

After our filling and balanced lunch, we basked in the sun, read our favorite Oxygen and Rx Magazines, talked about our pitfalls and triumphs, and just relaxed. What I realized today is you don't need to pamper yourself with a great meal, glass of wine or special dessert, you can pamper your body. Rest is just as important a factor as eating well, exercising, and hydration.

Carrie Bradshaw moment:

Maybe we should focus on what we love about ourselves and direct our attention away from the negative. We don't have time to put ourselves down.

Thanks Larissa


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad