I'm Back! 2 Month Post-8WW Update

I am sure you've all been eagerly waiting by your computer for my next blog. Ha! Anyway, I thought I would share with you what it's like to "be on your own" after losing the structure of 8WW. 

I am following one of our Alumni Packages. It's actually a bare-minimum plan but it seems to be working for my busy summer months. I am getting my regular chiropractic check-ups and adjustments as needed. (You weren't doubting that I stopped chiropractic care, were you?) That wellness lifestyle is a given in our house. So far, I seem to be holding my adjustments pretty well since I finished the program.

I am also working with our personal trainer, Stacey, once a week. She keeps me working hard with the resistance training I need and the part I dread doing on my own. I've run a 5K and I try to run about 7-8 miles total during the week. I have signed up to run the IMT Des Moines Marathon as a relay, so my goal is to be able to run a 10K by October. Keeping up with the weights is the hardest part and I really rely on Stacey to help me out! 

Massages I've had since 8WW: 0. I am actually quite surprised that it's been that long since I've had a massage. I can't think of a single excuse since we now have TWO therapists on staff, but I will blame their schedule. They are so busy and it's hard to get in!  I've been trying to meditate and relax more each evening as well. 

Nutrition is going great--I am starting to sneak some "junky" food into my week so I need to kick that habit quick! 

SOOOO....I am down an additional 4lbs which brings my total to 20lbs altogether and 32lbs since last fall. It feels great! 

I am thinking about doing 8WW again in September. Anybody want to join me?!?! 

The Results are In!

I had my final measurements taken by Dr. Wes today. It's a little bit of an awkward experience to have your husband writing down all of your numbers. I have always kept it a secret how much I weighed (though he watched the scale as I gained weight while being pregnant. He pretended not to, but I saw him peeking!).

 

Here's my scientific results:

• Lost 16 pounds
• Lost 6% body fat
• Lost 7 1/2" from my waist
• Lost 5 inches from my hips

My blood work is not back yet, but I will let you know those numbers when I can.

More importantly, here are my personal highlights from the past 8 weeks in no particular order:

• Went from jogging two blocks to 30 minutes+
• MUCH improved cardio stamina
• My chest shrunk (this is a good thing for me...check out previous bra blog for details)
• I have cheekbones again and look at myself differently in the mirror
• I know how to eat the correct portions, manage "free day", and balance my carbs to a healthy level
• My legs look really strong, which I am learning to love
• Fell asleep 6 of 8 times during my massages
• My willpower for avoiding tempting foods and diet pop is much improved!

I could easily go on and on, but I will stop here for tonight. Thanks to everyone for your positive support through this. I am no where near "stopping" this lifestyle, and I look forward to losing more body fat along the way! 

Shameless plug: If you would like to find out more about 8WW and if it would be a fit for you, please join us June 21st at 7pm in our office. It's a free orientation session and I guarantee it will change your life! Please RSVP to (515) 978-6661. 

Photos by Request

This picture was taken March 2011 right before my little guy turned one. I really don't like this picture but it was the closest before picture I could find. Maybe I will post my office pre-photo sometime, too. 

This second picture was taken last night. I know I am not technically finished with 8WW yet, but I've been getting harassed for photos. :) I am 7.5 weeks into my 8 weeks in this photo. I've lost over 16 pounds since the first picture with my boys. Yay!

Alotta Tabata!

Yesterday's Tabata workout with Amy is one of my favorites! After a quick warm up on the elliptical, I only had five exercises to do: Squats, Lunges, Sprints, Sit Ups, and Kettlebell Swings. I had to do each exercise for only a few seconds with a break in between each set. After doing all 5 exercises, I was done! (Only 40 minutes!) Amy assured me that this is pretty hard to do and I am feeling my muscles today for sure. The hardest part of those exercises was the sprinting on the elliptical. Ick! I was wheezing when I was done but knowing that I didn't have to do it very long helped a lot.

My massages are now over for 8WW. I know I will have more in the future but it was so nice to think that I got an hour massage every week (and I needed it!)  I've decided that I've been meditating more than I gave myself credit for. I used my soaking in the bathtub as my way to relax for the evening and forget about everything else for awhile. 

So today is a good day. Now if could only figure out a way to satisfy my almond paste craving...

The Home Stretch

Well, I am in Week 8 already and this is becoming a very challenging week. I didn't think this week would be hard, but since I know the end is in sight and that I've already lost 16 pounds, keeping my brain focused is almost overwhelming. 

I keep thinking things like, "There can't be too much harm in eating extra fruit today" or "I think I better skip today's workout because I got a massage and don't want to have sore muscles". The voices in my head are taking over! 

Also, my Ultrameal Shakes are becoming less than appealing. I don't really think they taste bad, but when I am told that I MUST do something I tend to become a little stubborn and don't want to do it. 

However, given the voices in my head and the boring UltraMeal Shakes, I am doing well and looking forward to getting my end results next week. Setting a new goal of losing two more pounds this week is helping me stay in line with the whole program.

Also, check out this article about Nicole from Season 4 on NBC's Biggest Loser. Guess what? She does 8 Weeks to Wellness in Philadelphia when she needs some lifestyle changes too!

Balancing Life

I thought today would be a good day to talk about balancing all the demands of life. I was very excited to go to work today. The weather is beautiful, I woke up before the boys without an alarm clock, and had an open house to go to for a patient's business today. 

Then the puking-of-pancakes commenced in my kitchen. Our oldest son, Ben, has some kind of tummy bug. This means I am working from home today and will be missing my workout with Amy. I quickly tried to come up with another plan for getting my 8WW workout in. I thought I could attend her evening class but then realized that Wes has the next 8WW Orientation Session tonight and that my parents are in the class, so no babysitters. 

It gets tricky sometimes, especially as a mom, to fit in all the things we want to get done in a day and put our health goals as a top priority. It seems that most mothers I know will always put everyone else in their lives ahead of themselves and usually don't think twice about it.

Wes makes it a goal in each 8WW Orientation to say that these 8 weeks are all about you, and that you need to take care of your health in order to take care of everyone else. When I heard this, I thought, "Sure--that's easy for you to say. You aren't the one shopping for groceries, watching the kids while you workout, and fixing all the meals". 

I am now eating my own words. I've put the rest of house on "hold" through these 8 weeks and it has really made a difference. I am getting to the point where I feel healthier and want to do everything I can to be active with the boys and cook healthy all of the time. AND feeling thinner, clothes fitting better, and having an improved cardiovascular system is making me happier and more active at home, too.

So...it's Tuesday-Weigh Day and I don't have a scale that works so I can't report my updates. I am getting excited to get my bloodwork and BIA done again soon. I can't believe I am in week 7 already. Time flies when you're having fun not on Week One!

200 Pies and A Hissing Goose

Well, after posting that I didn't lose any weight this past week, I decided to weigh-in again on Friday. I was down another 3lbs like I thought I should be. SO...the new total is 14 pounds of fat GONE!

I've been working on an event in Des Moines called Penny's Pieathlon. We are raising money for local cancer organizations and national foundations, too. Today was the big triathlon and health expo. To make our event more exciting, we decided that a PIEathlon needed a fourth event--pie eating.

Our local grocery store, Hy-Vee, donated 20 gallons of ice cream and 200 pies. It was my job to cut, scoop, and serve all of them to the participants and spectators. We raised a lot of money this way, but the hardest part was not eating any of it. :)

I left the house at 5:30am and returned home to make my father-in-law a birthday cake. His request was a chocolate cake with white frosting. I made the cake from scratch, didn't even lick the beaters, and decided to purchase the frosting from Hy-Vee instead. It is my free day, but I decided that Subway sounded pretty good and not too terribly bad for me. Not that a 6-inch loaf of bread is ever healthy, but better than pie, cake, and ice cream.

SOOOO...I am pretty excited that I dug up some will power deep within the depths of my brain and even managed to run, jog, trot a couple of miles. Oh, and I got chased by a mother goose who hissed at me so much I had to turn around and run back up the hill I just ran down. :)