CTF Challenge 4w3d

Today was circuit day and I did it at home. Challenging, but fun. I did R27 TK in the intervals between circuits. Very fun & sweaty. Weigh in today was 226.

CTF Challenge 4w2d

Today is day 2 on the exercise schedule and I was able to complete 50 full minutes of sweaty cardio. I did R26 of TK and it went much more smoothly than last week. It seems that I have to do a full run through of each 8 count in the 32 for each section just before I begin. I wonder if I could teach it without my cheat sheet notes on written on the dry erase board in the conference room. Probably not!!

Staying on program on eating today. Tummy feels worlds better than yesterday. Hopefully that trend will continue!!

I don't know why, but I just feel like I am making no progress this week. Each morning weigh in brings me no closer to the weight I was two weeks ago at weigh in. Very worrisome. Yesterday was 228 and the day before that was 226. What happened to 225?? Grrr...last weeks weigh in was 226 after the 225. Man the scale is so SLOW!! I've got so much to lose too! You'd think it'd be more. I was shooting for a scale loss of 1.5-2 lbs a week during the challenge and so far, after a month, I've lost a whopping 7 lbs on the scale. My bf measurements have been going way down, bu it makes me wonder, doesn't the caliper measure your sub-q fat and not include the visceral fat that lays below the muscle??

CTF Challenge 4w1d

Had to rush and do my workout today. I had a last minute all day meeting offsite and didn't get to my workout until 4:30 PM. I had a great sweat though! I was able to do strength plus 35 minutes of drenching cardio.

Haven't been feeling well in the tummy department all day. I've had nausea & the "d" word all day. Yuck. I don't know if it's a bug or something I ate. No one else seems to have it but me.

The offsite meeting provided what used to be a challenge for me: free food. No free food fest for me today. I even did not eat the entree provided by the company for our meal...just salad and my own lunch (spinach & salmon) and a few dinner rolls for my carb. No dessert, no cookies, no sugary coffee. I was a good girl! Proud of myself!!

Front View

This is a different suit, but it didn't really fit, well it still doesn't fit well yet, last picture time. I think I will have DH do a shot each month to see progression. I like this suit better because it's more form fitting under the breasts and shows where I am losing from my upper core. Well, I am losing from everywhere!!

Betsey

CTF Challenge 4w0d

Okay. One month in and I can see a difference in my body already. I had DH reshoot bathing suit pictures and I can for sure see a difference...

Today is my rest day, but running around Costco and chasing after the boys really isn't "rest" but it's not really exercise either!

Betsey

CTF Challenge 3w6d

Yesterday was strength day. First time on Beginner 2. I added cable rows with the bodylastics. I can feel it in my triceps and back. I used the 19 lb cable, whatever that means. I did R26 through punches & kicks on both sides. The strength work took about 13 minutes and I did about 50 minutes of R26 for cardio (planned is 15 minutes, but I figure I should just go until I get tired).

I measured today. Here are the results (I changed the measures on the arms, thighs & calves for both legs):

weight: 226.6 (+1.4)
body fat% 30.2 (-2.5)
neck: 14.25 (-.25)
chest: 48.5 (+.25)
waist: 40.25 (-.25)
arms: 24.7 (+.25)
thighs: 44 (-3)
calves: 33.2 (-.75)

With the jump in body fat down from 32.7 to 30.2, my fat loss jumped from 11.4 lbs last week to 16.6 lbs this week. My weight jumped up a bit, but according to my fat measurement, my lean mass jumped up from 6.6 lbs this week. Looking at my scale weight graph, I usually post a big loss, a small gain the next week and a bg loss the following week.

Betsey

CTF 3w4d

I had a great cheat day yesterday. Planned my cheat meal for a potluck. I usually can't help myself at potlucks. It was nice to be able to eat whatever and not feel guilty!! Yesterday was circuit day. I used Hip Hop Hustle as my cardio section of the circuit. HHH1, both hustles and part of "the show".

Have been sick most of this week. Headcold turning into chest cold. Should be getting better soon. No DL for me, though. Since I've not had a fever, I've stuck to my exercise everyday.

I decided after Monday's strength training that I needed to up it to the next level and plan on doing Beginner Level 2 through the end of the month. Will move to Beginner Level 3 starting in May. My assisted pull-ups, chin-ups & push-ups are getting easier, so I think it's time to step it up.

Hoping today brings some fun R27 TK for cardio session.

Betsey

CTF Challenge 2w6d

Ok, no cardio yet, but the boys aren't being agreeable on naps today.

But I did weigh in:

weight: 225.2 (5.2 lbs less than last week!)
fat % 32.7 (25mm)
neck 14.5 (no change last week)
Chest: 48.5 (-.25)
waist: 40.5 (-.25)
arm: 12.5 (no change)
thigh: 23.75 (+.75)
calf: 16.5 (-.25)

According to the database software, I am down 11.4 lbs of body fat, 8 scale lbs and a muscle gain of 3. I can feel my clothes getting baggier, so I know there's a difference. I am nearly complete with three weeks. Should be interesting so see how far I go and where I will be in mid-June, when the challenge is through.

On a happy note, my insulin usage was 23 units of long acting insulin each AM to control fasting number. My fasting numbers started to go down within the first week of being on program. I have dutifully checked my sugars each morning and have been noticing that I need less and less every other day. I am currently down to 10 units a day. I hope that by the end of the challenge, I could be insulin free!!

B

CTF Challenge 2w5d

Weigh in was 227.6, down 3 from yesterday. Calliper measure was a 22mm pinch, which puts me at 31.2% body fat. A-mazing!! That makes my fat loss 14 lbs and muscle gain 8! Way cool! Tomorrow is my official weigh/measure day, so I will do it all tomorrow.

Today was strength day and I can feel I am getting stronger with the assisted chin-ups and push-ups. I have never been super great with even assisted push-ups, I could get out maybe two or three. I was able to do my eight at the top of the pyramid, no problem. I did about 40 minutes of TK R32 today.

Here I had about a week of off and on BMs and the last two days have been every trip. Balance would be good!!

Hoping for an awesome weigh in tomorrow!!

CTF Challenge 2w4d

Did my circuit yesterday. I tried a tricep dip set instead of tricep pushups. I liked it. I had to split out my circuits. I can't remember what came up, but something. lunch or a meeting or something. Yeah, lunch. Anyway, it was my cheat meal day. I went to Chevy's with a friend and had jumbo shrimp fajitas. Yummy. I even had a flan dessert. Very yummy. Worth the week's wait!!

Did cardio today. R25 through recovery was about 45 minutes of pure sweat.

Trying to get more on plan on food. It's been challenging since there is so much info and I read it a month ago. Was going to try the cayenne pepper/oil/lemon trick. No cayenne, no lemon (DH insisted on limes...same acid).

Sample of eating day

breakfast: protein cookie & non-fat milk
snack: orange, protein drink (low carb) & psillium husk
lunch: pile of spinach, salmon, sweet potato
snack: apple, protein drink (if after workout, with sugar, of not, without)
dinner: chicken breast and a pile of broccoli
dessert: cottage cheese and fresh strawberries

Betsey

CTF Challenge 2w2d

Weight check: 229.2. 230 ish has been a sticky scale point for me before. If I remember correctly, so was 200 once I got down that far. Fat % is going down, so I will keep plugging along.

I did cardio LIIT today, altough I don't know how low I did it since I did not have my heart rate monitor on during exercise. I worked off some steam, for sure. It's een a stressful few days.

Tomorrow is circuit day. Also my scheduled cheat day.

Betsey

2w0d - Rest Day

100% on diet! Yeah. Even had some temptations from DH, smores baked on the BBQ and some apple drink. No to both. Proud of myself.

Daily AM weigh in was 229.0

Betsey

CTF Challenge 1w6d

It's measure day...I gained .08 lbs this week, but I did my measurements were improved, including my fat %. So, although I gained this week, it appears that I've gained muscle. Also, the scale was no helped by my inability to have a BM since Thursday. I know, gross, but important.

Two weeks in result:
Today's weigh in: 230.4
fat % was 30mm or 34.6%
Neck measure 14.5 (no change)
chest measure 48.5 (-.5)
waist measure 40.5 (-.5)
arm measure 12.5 (-.25)
thigh measure 23 (no change)
calf measure 16.25 (no change)

Did Turbo Sport today for the first time. Fun, but very plyo and energetic. This made it more difficult to stay in the fat burning zone. Worked out for 75 minutes and burned 512 calories. So far, as of 5PM, my calorie burn today is 2075. Way cool. Maybe I will take a walk with Ryan and Tucker in the stroller this evening. The weather has been very warm this week, already in the upper 80's. I hope we don't have a killer hot summer this year. I would much rather the temps stay in the upper 70's. The warm weather in the afternoon definitely added to the sweating during the workout!

1w4d CFT challenge

Today I did TK R25 for four sections: punches, kicks, punches & kicks and recovery. I was dreading it a bit for some reason.

I guess I am bummed that the scale is REFUSING to move this week! Last week was amazing...4 lbs lost and this week, it's 0.4. I've been pounding the exercising, doing better on food than last week and barely budging. I hope I can pinch a lower number on the calipers on Saturday.

I was weak today, though. Ryan had a potluck snack in his room today. Parents brought foods in for snack. I did very poorly at keeping myself away from the bad foods. I ate fruits, which was what I intended on doing, but the chocolate, whip cream in cakes beckoned. It was horribly yummy. Darn it, I should have kept to drinking my water this afternoon insteading of filling my body with absolute crap. Oh yeah, a mom brought chicken tenders from KFC. I ate some! Why do I do this crap to myself. Did I think for a second about my motivations as I filled my tummy with crap? Uh, nope! I need to change the way I think about food. Just because it's sitting there, I don't need to put it in my mouth.

Here's to a better eating day tomorrow.

B

1w3d

It was circuit day today. I did not look forward to circuit day, although once I got into it, it wasn't so bad. Last week, I was not able to complete the full circuit. I did today. I did a TK R32 warm up, followed by R lead punches, pull ups, L lead punches and so on to complete about 55 minutes of a work out. As of 9:49, I've burned 2870 cals...nice!

Tomorrow is all TK. Weight this AM was 229.4. No movement. Hopefully, I am gaining muscle and losing fat. Saturday will tell the tale. Clothes are feeling looser, including underwear, so I know that all this work is paying off in some way...onwards to tomorrow. Beddie bye bowskie for me...

B

1w2d on CTF Challenge

oday was LIIT cardio day. I did 3 full sections of R32 for about 40 minutes. Hit a high of 11.8 cals per minute doing it. Pretty cool to know that. Did a checklist log type of document to help me remember stuff like drinking my 128 oz, taking my vitamins and my dry carb meals.

Weigh in: 229.4

Lost .2 on my cheat day! Wahoo!!

Two day pH testing resulted in a composite score of 5.6875. Not good. Should be about 7.25-7.4. Will start taking potassium bicarbonate in water daily.

1w1d-First cheat meal...ugh

I went all out on my first cheat lunch. I was supposed to have my cheat meal on the weekend, but DH wasn't interested. Like he's following HIS diet plan. Anyway, I went to Buckhorn Grill in Embarcadero. It was an every so often haunt before dieting. I had a Big Buck (6 oz of tri-tip) a small bun, a mountain of tiny fried onion strings and a cookie. All after my 2 PM workout. I haven't been able to eat since. I am still full. Not digging the greasy burps either. Maybe next time I will focus less on bad fats as bad sugars.

This AM's WI was 229.6, same as last Saturday. I don't htink I'd expect a movement with no exercise. I wonder if it will go up tomorrow with the increased calories today. Not sure.

Back using the bodybugg. Since Tucker, now 14 mos, is self-weaning, my milk production is down and my calorie expenditure is going down too. To be expected. Should be interesting to see where it bottoms out at. Most exercise days, I burn between 2600-2900 cals and non-exercise days are about 2200-2400 cals. I exercise 6 days a week, so there are many of those, thankfully!

Exercise was strength day: I did assisted pull-ups, military presses with a green band and bodyweight squats. Squats didn't feel like enough of a workout, although it did get my heart rate up to nearly 125 at the peak of the pyramid. Must figure out a band way to do squats so I feel it more in my butt and quads. Also, I don't think I am doing the assisted pull-ups right because I didn't feel it in my lats. Of course, I am pretty strong in the lats. Last I was at the gym, I was at around 170 lbs on lats. Which reminds me of why the squats are doing, well, squat. I was pressing 225 lbs with my quads when last at the gym three months ago.

Wow, that was a lot!!

'til tomorrow!

Betsey

Challenge 1w0d

Today is my day off from exercise. I was planning on doing a cheat meal today, but I think I will do that for lunch tomorrow after my strength training.

Bets

Challenge 0w6d

Nearly the end of full on week one on the CTF. Doing pretty well so far. Very happy with results so far.

Today's weigh in: 229.6
fat % was 30mm or 35.6%
Neck measure 14.5 (-.5)
chest measure 49 (no change)
waist measure 41 (-2)
arm measure 12.75 (-.25)
thigh measure 23 (no change)
calf measure 16.25 (-.25)

Exercise today will be 30 mins of cardio, which will be turbo on an empty stomach.

Receved pH strips and tested right away. About 5.5. Not good. That was in the PM, when most alkaline, so I am sure my morning number is lower. Eegads! Test strips came with instructions on how to get a composite score for two days of testing. Will start with rising pH with both urine and saliva tomorrow.

Betsey

Today

So far, I've just weighed myself today. No exercise yet, but it's LIIT today, or low intensity fat burning cardio. Been better about daily weighing as I've done it two days in a row and I am down to 231.6, nearly 2 lbs down. BBL after my workout.

Betsey

Day 3 on challenge

Day one was a bust because we were travelling. Day 2, I was able to squeak out 30 minutes of cardio. Today I did most of the day 3 circuit. Wahoo! Weight remains the same as last week.

Betsey