June 25, 2011 - 3 Weeks

Goals, goals, goals. I think the key to success is setting small goals along the way. Goals that are challenging but obtainable. I have weekly, monthly, yearly and even life long fitness goals. My ultimate goals are completing an iron woman triathlon and becoming a fitness model! Those are more like dreams I suppose, but hey! a girl can dream. Until then...I'll just keep working.


I feel really good about my success this week and realized that I'm alot stronger than I thought. I normally don't lift heavy weights, but I had to this week since body weight exercises aren't making me sore anymore. Never thought that day would come, but here it is. So, I'll be venturing to the gym more frequently now to push some weights around. I was a little shocked when I got to the leg press and realized I could pump out 3 sets of 15 at 280 pounds...what?!? Not quite sure where that strength came from, but I was pretty stoked!!


Current stats: Weight 124.6 Body Fat: 16%

Measurements:

Bust: 33.5

Waist: 25

Hip: 34.75

Thighs: (R) 20 (L) 19

Calf: (R) 14.75 (L) 15

Biceps: 10.5

Day 12: June 16th 2011

Day 12 is coming to an end and I'm slightly behind on my workouts due to a stomach virus early this week. Yesterday was my first workout since Sunday, but I was really weak so it wasn't very impressive. Today, I ran a few miles this morning, went through some strength training, and ran a fun run this evening.

I spent some time this week looking at posing suits and contemplating which color and style will be most flattering. I think I've found a seamstress out of Salt Lake who will make me one at a reasonable price. I'm thinking blue or pink... decisions, decisions. I also worked on my 4 quarter turns and free pose. Still not as graceful as I'd like, but I still have plenty of time.

With school out for two weeks I'm switching to a two-a-day training schedule which will be challenging, but rewarding. I'm hoping that the change in routine will help me get over my current plateau and help me reach a new standard. I'm currently the lightest I've been since...well, since I can remember (Probably middle school).

In 12 days I've lost 10lbs, 3% body fat, and a total of 6.5 inches, and no I'm not starving myself, or taking any crazy weight loss pills (which I think are a huge scam)!!

Current Stats:
Weight: 125.4
Body Fat: 17%
Measurements:
bust: 33
waist: 25.5
hip: 35
thigh: (R) 20.75 (L) 19.75
calf: (R) 15 (L) 15
bicep: (R) 10.25 (L) 10.75

Quick Update!

This is going to be short and sweet since I'm gearing up for an all-nighter to finish finals.

Saturday concluded week one. I was able to reach my goal of getting down to pre-vacation weight. I lost 6.6 pounds putting me at 128.8!

So, now I begin week two. I just finished today's workout which was much shorter than usual but all I could afford given the finals schedule.

2 mile run - 17 mins
23 exercises - 850 reps

Baked off 10 chicken breasts for the week.

That's all for now!!

Day 4: June 8, 2011

So, I'm half way through week one and am making good progress towards this week's major goal, which is getting back to pre-vacation weight. My biggest challenge this week is time management. It's finals week for school and with four classes, I'm finding it hard to justify taking 2-3 hrs away from studying for workouts. Another big challenge I'm facing is nutrition and remembering to take the time to eat. I know that sounds crazy, but sometimes I get so wrapped up in homework, I will completely forget to eat lunch. To help with this I pre-baked 10 chicken breasts earlier in the week and set up a time schedule for meals, and snacks. So far, it seems to be working.

This is what an average day looks like. 4 meals, all ranging between 300-500 calories = roughly 1600 calories per day. Breakfast: multi-grain toast w/ jam, fresh egg whites w/ spinach & chicken, 1 C fruit. Snack: I only have a protein shake on the days I strength train. This one is fresh yogurt (not the crap full of HFCS and other random sugars), avocado, strawberries, flaxseed, whey (low sugar) protein powder and H2O. Lunch: Whole grain salad w/ fresh vegetables & chicken. Dinner: Salad w/ chicken.



Workouts this week consist of full body strength training sessions and running. Since another one of my goals is to run 1200 miles this year, it's important that I continue with the running schedule I was on before I started the hardbody challenge. As you can imagine, I'm quite sore. I've been fighting a few minor strains, one in my gluteus medius, which is proving most difficult to overcome and still after two weeks is tender to the touch. Another challenge is the heat!! With temperatures reaching 100+ and humidity ranging from 40-70% I'm finding it difficult to run my normal distances of 8-10 miles and maintain a decent heart rate. So, I started two-a-days. Running 4-5 in the morning and 4-5 in the evening 5 days a week, then strength training mid-morning, two days on, one day off.

So here's all my gear that I have for home workouts, although I normally run outside. I try to hit the base gym for more diversity a couple times a week, but I prefer my home workouts.

Some of you may wonder what a typical strength training session looks like....well it ranges from 18-22 different exercises, averaging between a total of 650-900 reps, with high knee jump rope every two exercises and a ten minute stretch at the end. I write everything down to track progress!!

Here's an example from earlier this week.

Current stats:

Height: 65inches

Weight: 129. 4

Body Fat: 17.2%

Leg measurements are the same. Bust, waist, hip, and left bicep all down -.5inch

Current running totals (miles):

For the week: 18

For the month: 29.35

For the year: 452.6

Day One

So, I've decided to start a blog about my fitness challenges, hopes, desires, and dreams. The next 15 weeks will be dedicated to my current challenge, which is getting ready for my first bikini and figure competition. Now, this isn't a hardcore competition, it's mostly for fun, but I'm hoping to gain enough confidence from it to compete in the 'real' thing when I get home to the states.

So, here comes the hardest part...posting current pictures. I'm not really the kind of girl who likes to parade around in a bikini in front of other people, but I feel to properly portray the progress it must be done. Please keep in mind while posting comments, that I am a real person with real feelings, and if you don't have something nice to say, please move on.

After meeting with a friend yesterday over lunch to discuss strategy, my confidence and motivation was not nearly where it needed to be. So, needless to say when I got up this morning the last thing I wanted to do was take pictures of myself in a swimsuit. Partially since I just returned from vacation and gained 7 pounds and partially because last night I ate an entire large pizza and a box of gourmet desserts. Oops=)

So, today is day 1. New challenge, new diet plan, new workout plan... wish me luck.
Current Stats: Height: 65inches Weight: 135.4

Measurements:

• Bust: 34


• Waist: 27.5


• Hip: 36.5


• Thigh: 21 (R) 20 (L)


• Calf: 15.5 (R) 15.5 (L)


• Bicep: 10.5 (R) 11 (L)

*according to the BioMeasure Machine, my body fat is measured at 20.7%