Day 29

"Did legs and cardio today.

130g of protein. Little low."

I'm trying to catch up on my exercise goals for the week. It's super warm in my apartment. We're having a heat wave and it's a challenge to work out. 

Managed to complete Killer Body Lower Body, and do half of one of the Zumba Country Heat workout. 

It's been a while since I did pure cardio. So much easier than Jillian Michaels. I think I need to start doubling up some days to jumpstart my loss again.

Ran a bunch of errands in the morning so had to get a smoothie out for breakfast because I forgot to eat breakfast. Not too much of a calorie bomb, but not high protein.

The only reason I even got that much protein was because I ate back my exercise calories, but I want to try not to do that unless it's to drink a protein shake. 

My goal is to do arms and cardio tomorrow, and legs and abs on Friday. Then, if I just do arms on Saturday, I'll have exceeded my exercise goals for the week. Wish me luck!

Day 27

"Did half my exercise routine this morning. It was rough going back to our after three days off. 140 grams of protein. 130 calories over count."

Skipped the workout two days last week and then still took my rest day. I had trouble pushing myself to complete the workout. But Jillian Michaels Killer Body is treating me well. I like that all the modifications (beginner, intermediate, advanced) are in one video so I can mix and match per circuit based on my ability. I want to write a review for this at some point once I've gotten farther into my program.

Day 21

"Day 21! End of Week 3! 9 more to go! Check in?"

"Weighed in at the supplement shop today. I'm down 2.6% body fat in three weeks. My weight has stayed the same, but I'm down 5 lbs body fat. I'm proud of myself. I did all six of my exercises last week, two ab workouts, two lower body, and two upper body. I didn't do any legit cardio days, but Killer Body has cardio intervals in each workout. They make my heartrate go crazy, though, so I phone them in a little bit. I am not in shape, yet.

I've only been wearing my fitbit during my workouts to track my exercise calorie burn. I burn between 200 and 300 calories per 30 minute workout.

I hit my calorie goal everyday last week, with one cheat day on my rest day on Sunday (went way over). I only averaged 108 grams of protein per day (my goal is 185). My average daily calorie intake for the week was 1,606. That's two really good weeks in a row! Woot!"

Day 20

"Monday! Day 20! Hopefully the weekend didn't do too much damage!"

"Did 10 minutes of my ab workout this morning. Was overheating (and I might be a tad hungover... Cheat day repercussions). Under calorie count at this point but holding my breath for the rest of the night. Will try to do both legs and full abs tomorrow."

Day 18

"It's gotten awfully quiet in here! Day 18! Let's have a strong weekend. Come on, regulars!

Doesn't matter if you fell off the wagon or had a few bad days. It's always time to start making healthy decisions!"

The group got kind of quiet so I challenged people to get back to it, and it worked!

"Met my calorie goal, worked arms, and got 114 grams of protein."

Day 17

"I'm so sore today. My workout soreness usually has a two day delay so I'm still feeling my legs today and my arms just started in. It's leg day, so we'll see how this goes..."

"Hit the workout harder than last time so burned more calories.

Getting better at doing the moves. Made an apple spinach smoothie today with pumpkin seeds, ginger, cinnamon and unflavored protein powder! Yum!"

"Had a good day. Indulged in sushi and was under calorie count but only got 100 grams of protein. Oh well." 

Day 15

"Got 36 grams of protein in breakfast.  Woot! Good start to day.  Woke up late so didn't exercise before work, so will have to do it after..."

"Only got a hundred grams of protein today.  Ate a lot of bulky food (veggies and fruit) around dinner time, so, even though I had calories left, I was over full and just didn't want to eat anymore.  Did a half hour of arms."

Day 14

Day 14! Two week check in!

"I'm down 1 pound this week.  Did pretty well with my calorie and protein goal.  Weighed in at the supplement shop and I'm down .4% body fat. Exercised yesterday and didn't die and planning on exercising after work. This blender I got its revolutionizing my breakfast routine."

"Only a hundred grams of protein today,  but met my calorie goal and worked legs."

Day 13

"Already did my exercise for the day,  30 minutes of abs. Wanna get my calorie and water goal for rest of day."

"Hit my calorie goal and got 161 grams of protein.

Did some research and I think I drink too much water.  Gonna try to cut back tomorrow."

The recommended water intake for women is about 84 ounces.  I drink more like 140 to 160. I think I need to cut back...

Day 12

"I was good at weekly breakfast out (didn't have homefries and only had one piece of toast). It was still a little high calorie, though, so I have to watch myself for the rest of the day....

No exercise today, probably.  Have to do laundry and work. Will try to be better about it this week...!"

"Last time I went to the supplement shop, they said, if I wanted to lose fat and gain muscle, I should be eating almost a gram of protein per pound of body weight.  That seems like a lot, but hey,  I'll try it.

Did okay today. Ate well, except for breakfast,  and even that wasn't too bad. Got 154 grams of protein out of 184, but had to go over calorie budget by 166 calories.

This week for exercise.  I'm gonna try.  I'm starting Jillian Michaels Killer Body.  It's an ab, an arm, and a leg routine that you rotate twice weekly each.  I'm gonna try.

144 ounces of liquid."

Day 7

"Day 7. Week 1 of 12 done. What was your biggest success? What's your goal for next week? What are you worried about so we can help you feel better?"

"I'm down 2.2lbs, have been drinking far less alcohol, averaged 128 grams of protein per day for the week (my goal is 133 grams per day), and did my legs once, arms once, one day of cardio, and stretched once. 

This is the best health week I've had in months. I've been stuck in a plateau for 6 months so to lose 2lbs is amazing. I would have been happy with .5.

I found a new workout dvd plan in my dvd collection that is exactly what I wanted (I bought it months ago but hadn't previewed it). My goal for the week is to continue to eat my protein goal, and work abs, arms and legs once each, do one day of cardio, and try to stretch at least once. I want to stretch more, especially on days I do strength, if I can, because I think it will help with my recovery...

My fear is that I will stall out again or start putting weight back on. Some of the medications I'm on cause me to gain weight, and I'm trying to figure out if one of them is still covered by insurance. Will find out today. If I have to switch, it could trigger not only mental instability, but weight gain. Wish me luck with the insurance company...."

Turns out my meds are covered. Woowoot!

Day 3

I slept in and someone else started the Day 3 thread. I'm so happy to have this support. I hope everyone sticks with it!

"Only had a protein bar in the middle of the night. Better than last night. Still need to exercise today."

I'm a notorious midnight snacker. Don't know if I should curb that or not as long as I'm sticking to my calorie goal...

"Went to the supplement shop to use their fancy scale. The last time I went was September. I've lost 23.8 fat pounds since then, just a few muscle pounds, and 6.1% bodyfat. They set me up with a goal to lose 5% bodyfat in 12 weeks, which is .4% per week. Gonna weigh in with them every 2 weeks."

"I got my exercise in. Did Jillian Michaels Killer Butt & Thighs Level 1. Drenched in sweat. Got through it. Almost overheated. Took breaks. But did it."

Under 200!

I've hit my first major goal. I'm down from 235 to 195. That's 40 pounds! Quite the achievement!

I've upped my calorie intake from 1300 to 1500 and it has made a major difference in me being able to meet my goals. It gives me some space to adjust my plan as the day goes on so that I'm still near or under my goal, where as when I was eating 1300, if I was over and there was no hope of saving it, I would just keep eating.

I'm meal prepping. I don't know if I've mentioned this before. I make big batches of food, divvy it up, and freeze it. I'm sick of shrimp this week, though. I made a big batch of rice, broccoli, and shrimp with sweet chili sauce, and I just don't want to eat it anymore. I'd rather eat that than the spaghetti squash I still have languishing in the freezer from last month, though.

Being able to grab something, heat it up (I finally got a microwave, and that has been a game changer, too), and eat it, has made a huge difference. I figure out the calories by inputting all the ingredients into a recipe in myfitnesspal and then figuring out how many servings it is. I try to keep the calories per serving under 450. Sometimes they're lower (turkey tacos with tofu, cauliflower, and corn were 300), but sometimes their a bit higher (550). I don't sweat it too much and just try to jigsaw everything together.

I'm still making egg casseroles (I'm almost done with what I have frozen so it's time to make a new one). Up next on that list is roasted red peppers with feta, kale, and ground sausage. I'm excited for that one.

I've also been making overnight oats. I have my recipe down pat, now. Half cup oats, half a container of vanilla chobani, quarter cup whole milk, quarter cup water, two teaspoons brown sugar, and one teaspoon cinnamon. Yum yum. Makes me happy in the morning. I missed oatmeal.

I'm also making some life changes. The overnights finally got to me. Tonight is my last one. I gave me two weeks notice... two weeks ago. I'm going back to waitressing. I can only imagine this doing me good. No more yo you sleep schedule (daytime schedule three days, nighttime schedule four), and I'll be moving way more, probably making at least the same amount of money if not more. With the overnights, I'm sitting in awful, back cramping chairs 7-8 hours a night. I'm so sedentary it's not even funny.

I'm also thinking about making a couple of other major changes.

I'm thinking about canceling my gym membership. When I have been exercising, I've been exercising at home. Bringing back the workout DVDs! I just ordered some new ones to mix up my program, too. Balance ball and kettlebell. Should be good.

And then there's the internet. I'm paying way too much a month, and only use it for Netflix, which I can watch on my unlimited phone. If I need the internet on my computer, I can just go to the coffeehouse.

So that's me. First goal met, making some changes, meal prepping.

Next goal, 180. Here we come!

30 Day Challenge Day 8 and 9 - Termination

"30 Day Challenge, Day 8 and 9. Guys, I'm not killing it anymore. I've been sleeping for two days. My guy is out of town and my sleep schedule is all out of whack from the wedding and my overnight shifts. Working 20 hours of overtime this week in addition to the holiday. Don't even know if I want to go to my family get together because I'm working the overnight on either side and need to sleep. My eating hasn't been terrible since the wedding, but I think that's just because I've been sleeping and have frozen leftovers... So need to clean Mr apartment and do dishes... Packing and laundry (clean and dirty) and Tupperware everywhere... Four days off. Should I go back to my workout video tomorrow....?"

Between the holiday and twenty hours of overtime, this just wad not the time for s thirty day challenge.

Will try again at new year's.

30 Day Challenge Day 6 and 7

"30 Day Challenge, Day 6 and 7. Did a lot of dancing at the wedding, so my calorie count isn't as over as it could be, though I definitely indulged.... I did not get any stretching in Saturday, and I was gonna workout today, but I was exhausted so sleepy to prepare for my shift tonight. Will hopefully get back at it tomorrow. I think I needed the rest day anyway, and I'm doing pretty well I think. Not much muscle soreness and I did the DVD four times in seven days. Much better than my usual exercise track record as of late...!"

30 Day Challenge Day 5

"30 Day Challenge, Day 5. Beginner Shred, Day 4. I'm slacking a little, but getting through the workout. Have all my food budgeted for the day. On my way to a wedding rehearsal dinner with the wedding tomorrow, so who knows what will happen tomorrow, but it meant I had to get the workout in today. Also did 15 minutes of deep recovery yoga stretching. May try to do at least that again tomorrow before call for the wedding to avoid DOMS. Added onion salt and turmeric to my eggs today. Yum!"

30 Day Challenge Day 4

"30 Day Challenge, Day 4. Day 3 of Jillian Michaels Beginner Shred, Level 1. Fitbit says I didn't burn ass many calories today. Maybe I didn't push as hard. Will try again tomorrow"

I'm doing some of the advanced modifications. It makes me feel good. Previewed Level 2 today. Not sure how it's gonna go.

Fitbit: 158 calories.

30 Day Challenge Day 3

"30 Day Challenge, Day 3. Did 15 minutes of deep recovery stretching. Helped with the soreness a bit. Back at it tomorrow."

Man, was I tight. Stretching helped with the muscle pain in my thighs some. Getting back at it tomorrow!

Fitbit: 36 calories.

30 Day Challenge Day 2

"30 Day Challenge, Day 2. Second day of Beginner Shred, level 1. Lots of squats. Feeling yesterday in my thighs. Gonna take it easy and recover tomorrow, probs do some yoga!"

I was feeling the burn, had some pain in my thighs getting through the workout today... Did it, though. Didn't do as well as Day 1, took more rests. Time for a recovery day!

Fitbit: 221 calories.

30 Day Challenge Day 1

"30 Day Challenge, Day 1. Did Level 1 of Jillian Michaels Beginner Shred. All the gym time is paying off. Much easier than last time I attempted it! Now to eat some protein and go visit my mum!"

I tried this video when I first bought it about two years ago, and it kicked my butt! Now I can make it all the way through it! Totally gorged myself on Alfredo pasta with my mum, though. But it was totally delicious. Long time since I binged....

Fitbit: 219 calories.