Vi-Pumpkin Protein Bars:
1/2 C xylitol brown sugar blend
1 4-oz. jar baby food applesauce
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground clove
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 large egg whites
1 15 oz can raw pumpkin
Mix ingredients well in a bowl and add
2 c oat flour
2 scoops Vi Shape shake mix
1/2 cup almond milk
(optional) 1/2 c chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350
Spray 9x13 pan with non-stickk spray
spread batter into dish and bake for 30 min
Makes 24 squares
Each square has 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8g carbs, 4g protein (with walnuts)
47 calories, .7 g fat, 8 g carbs, 3.7 g protein (without walnuts)
Friday, December 9, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Crossfit Review
Crossfit is a major fitness buzzword right now. What I knew about Crossfit is that it's popular, it's hardcore (ie rope climbing, pull ups, etc.), it's done in a big gym/garage/box setting, people love it, and I wanted to try it.
I did an internet search for Crossfit's in Salem and there are a couple. I went to Crossfit Salem's website http://www.crossfitsalem.net/ and saw they have free classes on the weekends and that those classes are best for newbies because they go over basic movements, etc. Perfect.
I showed up and the group was already warming up...by doing burpees. Burpees as a warm-up? Hello. The group stood in a big circle, each person said their name and then a burpee would ensue. 15 people in the class. 15 burpees. The fitness level of the group at first glance seemed to really range as some people were already struggling with the warm-up. I was surprised that my burpees went very easily as I haven't done them in a month or so.
Andy, the Owner and group leader for today informed us there would be two workouts. We would pair up in teams of two and complete the following WOD (Workout of the Day):
8 minutes of taking turns going down the length of the gym and back doing:
1. bear crawl (on hands and feet)
2. Lunges
3. Squat Jumps
Sounds straightforward enough until he throws in there "and by the way, when you come 'back' you are moving backwards". What?! Just as I suspected, the human body is not designed to move so agilely backwards. Weird. And hard.
At the end of the 8 minutes, each team went to the white board and put how many times we went through this circuit. The environment is gently competitive, but also very supportive, with random people cheering you on by name.
The second half of the workout was also done in teams of 2, but we had to partner up with a new person. I hate that. I always flash back to picking teams in gym class, and because I'm not very aggressive at claiming somebody, often times, I end up in a musical chairs scenario and end up with the last person who is roaming the area like a lost puppy looking for a partner. Same happened today. But my partners were extremely nice and supportive and I don't know what the heck I'm doing here so I didn't really care. The workouts we are doing turn out to not depend on your teammates abilities only except for where your total time completing the workout is concerned. Because during this workout, we will workout until the last team finishes.
Second circuit:
Sprint 200 meters (outside in the parking lot) with a medicine ball - my partner brought a 15 pounder. Each person does this three times.
100 ground-to-overheads which is a squat with a medicine ball in your hand and then you "clean and press" the medicine ball overhead. 100 has to be completed between the two teammates, so we can split it up however we want. My partner and I hand off every 10, but I'm going much faster than her so we split the last 15 to allow her to rest a smidge longer.
Then we run to rowing machines and row 200 meters 3 times each person. Oh, but by the way, you only get to use one hand to row. Awkward and hard!
After that, we grab jumpropes and do "double unders" as fast and as many as we can until the last team is done. I cannot do double unders. Need to practice. So I jump singly hard and fast til we are done. My teammate states that lots of people can't and you divide the number of single jumps by 4 to get the equivalent in double-unders. Good to know. For next time, since I didn't bother counting.
The workout was tough, no doubt about it. I don't know why but I barreled through that workout. The training I have done with my trainer at Platinum in Keizer has definitely more than prepared me for Crossfit. As I was sprinting along with my medicine ball, passing people left and right, I was thinking "medicine ball, schmedicine ball. Try running stairs with a 20 pound vest on with dumbbells in your hands AFTER a leg workout, people!"
I was informed that the weekend workouts are not as rigorous as the weekday ones. So I will come back and try the weekday one as well, just to get a true taste of Crossfit. What I will say is I will definitely be back for a weekend workout there. It's more than I would've done to myself on a Saturday morning, and that is the whole point, isn't it?
I did an internet search for Crossfit's in Salem and there are a couple. I went to Crossfit Salem's website http://www.crossfitsalem.net/ and saw they have free classes on the weekends and that those classes are best for newbies because they go over basic movements, etc. Perfect.
I showed up and the group was already warming up...by doing burpees. Burpees as a warm-up? Hello. The group stood in a big circle, each person said their name and then a burpee would ensue. 15 people in the class. 15 burpees. The fitness level of the group at first glance seemed to really range as some people were already struggling with the warm-up. I was surprised that my burpees went very easily as I haven't done them in a month or so.
Andy, the Owner and group leader for today informed us there would be two workouts. We would pair up in teams of two and complete the following WOD (Workout of the Day):
8 minutes of taking turns going down the length of the gym and back doing:
1. bear crawl (on hands and feet)
2. Lunges
3. Squat Jumps
Sounds straightforward enough until he throws in there "and by the way, when you come 'back' you are moving backwards". What?! Just as I suspected, the human body is not designed to move so agilely backwards. Weird. And hard.
At the end of the 8 minutes, each team went to the white board and put how many times we went through this circuit. The environment is gently competitive, but also very supportive, with random people cheering you on by name.
The second half of the workout was also done in teams of 2, but we had to partner up with a new person. I hate that. I always flash back to picking teams in gym class, and because I'm not very aggressive at claiming somebody, often times, I end up in a musical chairs scenario and end up with the last person who is roaming the area like a lost puppy looking for a partner. Same happened today. But my partners were extremely nice and supportive and I don't know what the heck I'm doing here so I didn't really care. The workouts we are doing turn out to not depend on your teammates abilities only except for where your total time completing the workout is concerned. Because during this workout, we will workout until the last team finishes.
Second circuit:
Sprint 200 meters (outside in the parking lot) with a medicine ball - my partner brought a 15 pounder. Each person does this three times.
100 ground-to-overheads which is a squat with a medicine ball in your hand and then you "clean and press" the medicine ball overhead. 100 has to be completed between the two teammates, so we can split it up however we want. My partner and I hand off every 10, but I'm going much faster than her so we split the last 15 to allow her to rest a smidge longer.
Then we run to rowing machines and row 200 meters 3 times each person. Oh, but by the way, you only get to use one hand to row. Awkward and hard!
After that, we grab jumpropes and do "double unders" as fast and as many as we can until the last team is done. I cannot do double unders. Need to practice. So I jump singly hard and fast til we are done. My teammate states that lots of people can't and you divide the number of single jumps by 4 to get the equivalent in double-unders. Good to know. For next time, since I didn't bother counting.
The workout was tough, no doubt about it. I don't know why but I barreled through that workout. The training I have done with my trainer at Platinum in Keizer has definitely more than prepared me for Crossfit. As I was sprinting along with my medicine ball, passing people left and right, I was thinking "medicine ball, schmedicine ball. Try running stairs with a 20 pound vest on with dumbbells in your hands AFTER a leg workout, people!"
I was informed that the weekend workouts are not as rigorous as the weekday ones. So I will come back and try the weekday one as well, just to get a true taste of Crossfit. What I will say is I will definitely be back for a weekend workout there. It's more than I would've done to myself on a Saturday morning, and that is the whole point, isn't it?
Steak Marinade Recipe
3 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
2 Tbsp Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
4 tsp Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tsp dried Oregano
1 tsp dried Basil
1/4 tsp dried Thyme
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
Put all ingredients in a large ziploc bag and put steak in, covering completely in marinade. Let marinate overnight.
2 Tbsp Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
4 tsp Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tsp dried Oregano
1 tsp dried Basil
1/4 tsp dried Thyme
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
Put all ingredients in a large ziploc bag and put steak in, covering completely in marinade. Let marinate overnight.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Recipes for When You Wanna Chew Your Shake
Recipes for When you Wanna “Chew Your Shake”
Applesauce Reinvented
Take 2 cups of applesauce and add 2 scoops of Vi shape and mix well (can add a little more applesauce if too sticky). Can microwave and serve warm if preferred.
Banana Muffins
Dry ingredients: Mix together in large bowl.
1c Low carb baking flour
1c oats
2 rounded scoops of Vi-Shape mix (or other protein powder)
1 ½ Tbsp milled flax seed
~2 Tbsp Splenda brown sugar
Baking powder/ Baking Soda
1 Tbsp (or more to taste) ground Cinnamon
In separate bowl or large measuring cup, mix moist ingredients:
2 ripe bananas, mashed.
1 whole egg + 1 egg white
2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1/2container low fat banana (or vanilla) yogurt
1 Tbsp Flax seed oil.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tins with no stick butter flavored spray. Add the wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Be sure to mix well to blend all flavors.
Spoon into muffin tins and bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned and toothpick comes out clean.
Recipe makes 1 dozen muffins.
Change it up by using blueberries, raspberries, peaches, strawberries, etc. for bananas. Swap out yogurt flavors to compliment fruit.
Banana Nut Bread
2 scoops Vi-Shake Mix
1 Banana Health flavor pk. (optional)
1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons flax seed meal
4 ripe bananas, mashed (if using banana health flavor pk only use 2-3 bananas)
3 tablespoons and 1/2 teaspoon skim milk
3 tablespoons and 1/2 teaspoon low-fat/fat free sour cream
1-1/2 teaspoons egg whites
1-1/2 cups and 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2.In a medium bowl, mix together the Vi-Shake mix, flax meal, bananas, milk, sour cream and egg whites until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda and nutmeg; stir into the banana mixture until moistened. Spoon into prepared loaf pan.
3.Bake for 45 -60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the crown of the loaf comes out clean.
Banana Pancakes
Recipe is for 2-3 Pancakes
1/2 C Vi Shake Mix, 1/4 C Water, 1 Egg, and 1/2 C Bananas. Mix together Shake Mix, Water and Egg in mixing bowl. Stir in fruit, gently. Pour Batter onto slightly greased skillet. When pancake bubbles around edges and towards center, turn. Pancake is done when golden brown. Top or fill as desired
Blueberry Banana Muffins
2 C. Vi-Shape shake mix
1 c. Gluten Free Baking Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
½ tsp. Salt
2 C. Dry Oatmeal
1 Egg
½ C. Unsweetened Applesauce
1-4 oz. Greek Yogurt, Vanilla
3 Ripe Bananas
¼ C. Ground Flax/Flax Seed Meal
¼ C. Wheat Germ
1 C. Frozen Blueberries (unsweetened)
Mix all ingredients except blueberries (use a potato masher to help mash the bananas). When well blended, stir in blueberries. Using ¼ cup per muffin tin, distribute evenly into 12 muffins. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
Blueberry Pancakes
Recipe is for 2-3 Pancakes
1/2 C Vi Shake Mix, 1/4 C Water, 1 Egg, and 1/2 C Blueberries. Mix together Shake Mix, Water and Egg in mixing bowl. Stir in fruit, gently. Pour batter onto slightly greased skillet. When pancake bubbles around edges and towards center, turn. Pancake is done when golden brown. Top or fill as desired.
Chocolate Covered Bananas
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 ripe bananas, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Vi Shake mix
Preparation:
Stir chocolate and oil in heavy small saucepan over low heat just until smooth. Let stand 15 minutes to cool. Add Vi Shake mix to taste.
Place each topping in separate shallow dish. Line baking sheet with foil. Arrange banana slices on foil. Using fingers, dip 1 banana slice in chocolate, coating completely. Shake off excess chocolate. Drop dipped banana in topping. Using clean hand, sprinkle more topping over banana to coat. Transfer to foil-lined sheet.
Repeat with remaining bananas, chocolate, and toppings. Freeze until firm, about 3 hours then serve.
Assorted toppings for coating bananas (such as crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, toffee bits, chopped butterfinger candy bars, chopped salted peanuts, or tasted shredded sweetened coconut)
Cran-Apple Spice Bars
2 C. Vi-Shape shake mix
3 C. Dry Oatmeal
1 C. Dried Apples (cut in small pieces)
1 C. Unsweetened Applesauce
4 Ripe Bananas
½ C. Wheat Germ
½ C. Flax Seed Meal/Ground Flax
½ C. Gluten Free Baking Flour
1 C. Craisins
2 tsp. Cinnamon
Mix dry ingredients. Dice bananas into small pieces. Add bananas and applesauce to dry mix. Mash & mix together. Pour mixture into greased 9x13” pan (grease with olive oil spray). Cook for approx. 25 minutes at 325. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, cut into 18 pieces and store in air tight container.
No Bake Cookies
To make a double batch, 13x9 size, double the recipe.
Put 1 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup honey in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, to melt a bit. Add 1 cup oatmeal, and 3 scoops Vi Shake Mix. Mix well and then pat into bottom of a 8x8 pan or drop by teaspoon full and let cool
Protein Pancakes
1/2 c. oatmeal uncooked
2 scoops vi-shake
2 egg whites
Mix ingredients together and spray griddle with Pam. On low 250-300 temp. spoon the batter on the griddle, flip after a few minutes.
Optional: add 1/4 c. blueberries to the batter.
Strawberry Banana Protein Muffins
1/3 oat bran
5 egg whites
2 scoops of Vi Shake
3 strawberries (cut very small)
1 banana mix in
cinnamon optional
Heat oven to 350-365, spray muffin pan with pam, put in oven for aprox 22-25 min (ovens vary) test with tooth pick and ENJOY!! Once again you can get really creative, nuts, apple sauce, fresh fruit, nuts, even Jello for flavors
Strawberry Granola Parfait
2 scoops Vi-Shape shake mix
8 oz. Low Calorie Strawberry Yogurt
½ C. Fresh Berries
¼ C. Granola
Slivered Almonds
Mix shake mix into yogurt. Layer into a glass: yogurt, strawberries, and granola. Repeat layers. Top with almonds.
Strawberry Pancakes
Recipe is for 2-3 Pancakes
1/2 C Vi Shake Mix, 1/4 C Water, 1 Egg, and 1/2 C Strawberries. Mix together Shake Mix, Water and Egg in mixing bowl. Stir in fruit, gently. Pour Batter onto slightly greased skillet. When pancake bubbles around edges and towards center, turn. Pancake is done when golden brown. Top or fill as desired
Ultra Oatmeal
2 scoops Vi-Shape shake mix
1 serving cooked Oatmeal
1 packet Chocolate Cardia Care Health Flavor mix-in
Dash of Cinnamon
Mix and Enjoy!
Vi-Crispy Treats
2 1/2 Tbsp. Margarine, melted in a 4 qt. pan
1 C. Mini Marshmallows
Melt thoroughly and allow to spread on bottom of pan
Add 1 scoop Vi-Shape Shake Mix, stir well
Add 1 1/2 Cups Crispy Rice Cereal, stir well
Turn out on wax paper and allow to cool completely
Vi-Yogurt Covered Strawberries
Cut strawberries in half and put in ice cube tray face down.
Add 2 scoops ViSalus shake mix with yogurt and mix well.
Scoop yogurt and put into ice cube tray with strawberry.
Freeze and then enjoy!!
Other Ideas:
Use pre-packaged cake or muffin mix and take out two scoops of mix and add back two scoops of Vi Shape
Use waffle mix and add two scoops of mix and an extra egg to the mix.
Use Vi-Shape to dust pastry dishes, in place of powdered sugar.
Any recipe that calls for Whey Protein Powder, substitute Vi-Shape shake mix
Thursday, October 6, 2011
How Body by Vi Shaped my Transformation
One of the most frequently asked questions is how I am applying the Body By Vi Challenge Kit products to my particular transformation.
I am using the Transformation Kit which includes: 2 bags of Vi Shape shake mix, 2 boxes of Neuro (healthy energy drink), Vi Slim (metabolic booster tablets) and Vi Trim (hunger control powder). Also at my disposal is the Vi Pak (daily and nightly vitamins).
During Phase 1 of my eating plan and also the Pre-Contest Carb Cycling phase, I was on three shakes a day. Three DOUBLE shakes a day. 4 scoops Vi Shape, 8-12 oz. water and some ice. I used one as a pre-workout shake every morning, no matter what phase of eating I was in. The other two were always used as snacks. One mid-morning and one mid-afternoon.
For you fellow Visalians out there, if you do the math, that means I was consuming one complete bag of Vi Shape shake mix every 5 days single-handedly! During this time, I didn't take the Vi Pak every day. Once every few days. I figured with all that shake mix, I was probably pretty covered in the vitamin department.
Since I had a previous history using whey protein, I appreciated the opportunity to drink Vi Shape instead. Whey protein tastes bad. And it never kept me full like Vi Shape does. And whey is gritty. Vi Shape mixes really well. Often I would make a shake in the morning and put ice in it, put it in my Vi shaker cup, and put it in the fridge. The ice would stay and the whole shake tasted amazing hours after the fact. It doesn't get more convenient than that. There were some days when I wasn't that organized that I would just bring the shake bag with me and put some water in a 12 oz. styrofoam cup and put four scoops of Vi Shape in that and use coffee stirrers to mix it up. It was funny to see half the cup full of shake mix before water was even added. It made a really thick, milkshake like drink though and I thought it was pretty tasty. And easy to get in as a snack during a busy day.
Neuro and Vi Trim were hands-down the keys to my dietary success on this transformation. The third week into my Challenge a huge life stress entered my life that is still present today. It caused many sleepless nights, lots of preoccupation with stressful tasks and thoughts and without Neuro, I'm not sure I could've carried on with the Challenge. See, with my busy schedule, 5:30 AM is really the only time I can work out five days a week and always make it without conflict. My gym is across town, so I wake up every morning at 4:30. Neuro in the pre-workout shake helped me wake up and perform at my workouts. As the diet became more strict, every mid-morning and every mid-afternoon I would have a Neuro with a Vi Trim to keep my hunger at bay. It worked so well. I would often compare notes with other contestants prepping too and they were really suffering from hunger and lack of energy. I had tools at my disposal to manage these issues and it was the key for me staying on track.
I used the Vi Slim as directed as well. Some people feel "zingy" from Vi Slim, I don't feel a noticeable difference in my energy level, but as with all the Visalus products, I always feel generally vibrant and even keel. A constant sense of well-being.
The Transformation Kit is something that I will continue to use, even when I transition into maintenance mode. I love the products and they all have a place in a healthy, fit lifestyle. I truly am a "Body by Vi".
I am using the Transformation Kit which includes: 2 bags of Vi Shape shake mix, 2 boxes of Neuro (healthy energy drink), Vi Slim (metabolic booster tablets) and Vi Trim (hunger control powder). Also at my disposal is the Vi Pak (daily and nightly vitamins).
During Phase 1 of my eating plan and also the Pre-Contest Carb Cycling phase, I was on three shakes a day. Three DOUBLE shakes a day. 4 scoops Vi Shape, 8-12 oz. water and some ice. I used one as a pre-workout shake every morning, no matter what phase of eating I was in. The other two were always used as snacks. One mid-morning and one mid-afternoon.
For you fellow Visalians out there, if you do the math, that means I was consuming one complete bag of Vi Shape shake mix every 5 days single-handedly! During this time, I didn't take the Vi Pak every day. Once every few days. I figured with all that shake mix, I was probably pretty covered in the vitamin department.
Since I had a previous history using whey protein, I appreciated the opportunity to drink Vi Shape instead. Whey protein tastes bad. And it never kept me full like Vi Shape does. And whey is gritty. Vi Shape mixes really well. Often I would make a shake in the morning and put ice in it, put it in my Vi shaker cup, and put it in the fridge. The ice would stay and the whole shake tasted amazing hours after the fact. It doesn't get more convenient than that. There were some days when I wasn't that organized that I would just bring the shake bag with me and put some water in a 12 oz. styrofoam cup and put four scoops of Vi Shape in that and use coffee stirrers to mix it up. It was funny to see half the cup full of shake mix before water was even added. It made a really thick, milkshake like drink though and I thought it was pretty tasty. And easy to get in as a snack during a busy day.
Neuro and Vi Trim were hands-down the keys to my dietary success on this transformation. The third week into my Challenge a huge life stress entered my life that is still present today. It caused many sleepless nights, lots of preoccupation with stressful tasks and thoughts and without Neuro, I'm not sure I could've carried on with the Challenge. See, with my busy schedule, 5:30 AM is really the only time I can work out five days a week and always make it without conflict. My gym is across town, so I wake up every morning at 4:30. Neuro in the pre-workout shake helped me wake up and perform at my workouts. As the diet became more strict, every mid-morning and every mid-afternoon I would have a Neuro with a Vi Trim to keep my hunger at bay. It worked so well. I would often compare notes with other contestants prepping too and they were really suffering from hunger and lack of energy. I had tools at my disposal to manage these issues and it was the key for me staying on track.
I used the Vi Slim as directed as well. Some people feel "zingy" from Vi Slim, I don't feel a noticeable difference in my energy level, but as with all the Visalus products, I always feel generally vibrant and even keel. A constant sense of well-being.
The Transformation Kit is something that I will continue to use, even when I transition into maintenance mode. I love the products and they all have a place in a healthy, fit lifestyle. I truly am a "Body by Vi".
The Show
I woke up at 7:15 the morning of the show. Thank goodness that night is over. Seriously! I have minimal things to do to be ready to go...I put on my show suit and put the sweats right back on over it. But not before thoroughly inspecting my body in the suit. Ahhh...dehydration. I get it now. My stomach muscles are showing and my stomach has sucked in quite a bit. I flip around for a booty check. Yessss! Looking much, much better. Still large and in charge, but so much better.
I brush my teeth. Sort of. With minimal water of course. My mouth is so dry the toothpaste just kind of adheres to the inside walls of my mouth. I end up rinsing some water in there just to get it out. I sooo wanted to swallow that water. But no, I'll spit it out in the name of smaller hips.
I pack the things I'll need for the show: satin robe (some people have been roaming around the hotels in their robes since last night. I'm not sure at what point I will put mine on, but not yet). 5" heels. Cameras. Phone. My 8x10 "before" pictures - I have a plan for those. Food. Ohhhhh the thought of choking down more dry chicken with no water is making me sicker than the hunger I feel. I'll bring it, but I don't think I can eat it.
I say goodbye to hubs and hop the shuttle to the resort. I'm the only person on the shuttle and the driver and I have a nice conversation about the competition details and she wishes me luck. She has no idea how much I need it today!!
I was way early for my hair and makeup appointment. So I hang out in the lobby and listen to my iPod and try to relax. About ten 'til 8 I go to find the room I'm supposed to go to. Woops. I don't know where I am going. The elevators to my team's rooms apparently aren't the same. Now I'm frantic. I find the concierge and he smirks and tells me to look across the way at the other half of the hotel across the courtyard. Yeah, yeah, ok, I get it. I'd be kind of miffed if I could muster up the energy. But I can't so I limp away toward the elevator I'm supposed to be on. I get up to the room and my hair and make-up artist Meredith informs me she's running a few minutes behind. I hear a "hello!" coming from the bathroom, I look in at it's Shannon! A girl I met in posing class. Yay! A familiar and friendly face. We catch up on competition prep. Turns out she's doing Figure (she practiced bikini with me months ago in posing class). She's done a show before and so feels ready for today. She saw me back in my first posing class, all 29% body fat of me, and couldn't believe my transformation. All the conversation and friendly vibes were making me feel so much better. Friends are good. I peer one last time into my lunch bag and decide me and chicken are officially breaking up. For now.
I take an "after makeup" picture of Shannon and we wish each other well. I, in similar fashion have Meredith, my makeover guru take a before makeup picture of me. Let's see what a competition makeover looks like! She does my makeup, commenting how she feels so sorry for us girls with our completely dried out lips because we are so dehydrated. We talk about my transformation and Meredith is so supportive and excited about it! She says she is going to come out and watch me compete and cheer me on. Yay! More friends to love on me while I'm strung out. This is making me feel very happy. Meredith's sister Marina comes in and she starts working on my hair and we are all excitedly chatting about the day's events and how it will go for them, doing hair and makeup and then joining Joe Pesci downstairs to tan ladies all day long. They told me they would happily reapply makeup and help me get properly gussied up for the show all day long and to just come find them. Ah, I love a good connection! These girls are my peeps!! It takes exactly an hour to do hair and makeup. Here is a before and after of my competition makeover:
I almost labeled the before and after pictures. Ha haaaaa. Yeah, I'm guessing you can figure it out.
So now I'm rushing immediately downstairs to the competitor meeting. I am analytical and need every piece of information I can get. Wow, I can't believe it's 45 minutes until the day round starts. Thank goodness for distractions!!
I run into my team in the hotel lobby and we all go to the meeting together. I run into the girl from high school and we give each other some encouraging words and move along with our respective teams. The meeting is basically asking the bikini girls to not be lude and crude and to keep it "for the family". Then they go through a bodybuilding posing routine to show what's expected. They mention that last year's event had 140 competitors and this years it's around 220! They mention future competitions and who should be getting tan touch-ups when. And then we are dismissed.
My team finds an area in the "pump area" to put our stuff and station ourselves. The figure girls will go on first. I head to spray tan to fix the debacle my tan has become. I've become blotchy and realized my toes never got tanned last night. They completely respray me. I also had them apply "bikini byte" a rolling glue stick that keeps the bikini where it should be. Apparently it's a show essential. I had them glue me wherever they could possibly glue. Whew. One less thing to worry about. That sucker ain't movin'.
Now I finally don the robe. I'm looking around watching my teammates "pump". The trainers have them lifting weights strategically to make their muscles pop. It's amazing to watch the definition articulate in their arms as they do it. Wow! Wow! Wow! I'm watching ladies in five inch heels drop and do army-style pushups. It's crazy. It's fun. It's a completely different world. Then, in disbelief, I watch my teammates eat chocolate covered raisins, offered by the trainers to raise their blood sugar and energy right before going on stage. Nice! I get to have some and at first it's like the most delicious thing ever. But then, my dehydration trumps the chocolate (I didn't know anything could trump chocolate??). My mouth gets all drawn and I'm instantly nauseated. Not. Feeling. Well. I tell my trainers and I get to have like an ounce of water. I swish it in my mouth really good before swallowing it because I am treasuring it. Make it last! I told them I'm too sick to eat my chicken and they said it's fine at this point to not eat. So now we wait. I go out onto the floor with my trainer to watch my teammates compete in their classes. Amanda's class was huge. I guess they are typically 8-ish competitors. She had 18! She did really well and I was so proud of her. We've all come such a long way and everyone just looks so good up there. I spot where my family is sitting. They don't see me but now I know where I might spot them.
I head backstage and finally it's my turn to lineup. They call my name and I'm walking toward the line and for the first time since yesterday, I finally have the courage to look in a mirror. Hey! Wait a second! I back it up. That's me?!?! I look kind of...well....good! But then I look at my place in line. I am standing next to Robo-Blonde number 1 - a tall, svelte, amazing looking girl that puts the "wow" in boom chicka wow wow and she just so happens to be wearing the very suit I saw at my suit-makers place and said "I want that suit!!" She informed me it was already spoken for and I instantly wanted to somehow find a way to swap it out with Robo-Blonde #1. If I had a carbohydrate left in my body, I'm sure I could take her. Oh well. Come to find out it's her first show too and she's lost about 30 pounds as well, but over a longer period of time. Dangit. Beautiful AND nice? Sheesh. I'm having a hard time doing the girl thing and hating her. The gal behind me is Robo-Blonde #2. She is so hot that she turns boom chicka wow wow into bowmmmm cheeka wow wowwwww. Why do I have to be between the robo-blondes? What's worse is they are on the same team and apparently are in the midst of a she-mance (a bromance for chicks) and so they keep reaching around me to touch hands and look all dramatic and supportively at each other. Put Hallmark on standby, I feel a fitness competition card being written as we speak.
As I'm mentally figuring out how I am going to strategize all this blonde hotness around me and somehow market myself as equally hot on stage, I hear my teammate Anna's name being called. Wait a second. She's not entered in my class. Au contraire. Screw up in the registration and now she's no longer in the Master's class (Ladies over 35 years old) She's now in mine! Now don't get me wrong, Anna has got this freak-of-nature perfect fitness body that makes even the Robo-Blonde's look out of shape. She's amazing. But I know she could probably obliterate her competition in Master's and now she's walking with 20 year olds. I know what she will be thinking. I run out of line to let her know she's being called and alas, Anna is added to my group. We pin our little button numbers on whatever piece of fabric exists to hold up our suit bottoms and I guess with that, we are ready.
We line up at the backstage entrance. We can hear the class on stage. The girl I went to high school with is in the class before me so I am cheering her on. I have suddenly decided in my anxiety that the odds of me sporting a camel toe on stage are 50-50 with the size of my suit bottoms and that no amount of bikini byte can remedy this now. I am frantically picking at my crotch backstage and I just don't care what people see or think. Must. Avoid. Camel. Toe. At all costs. I'm sorry if that's rude and gross, but seriously if that were to actually happen out there, it'd be worse. Trust me. Family show, remember?? Okay. Whew. I think the toe issue is at bay. I look to my right and see my trainer in the doorway. Did he just see that? I don't know. I don't think so. He came back to be my Posture Police and tell me to straighten up. Yes! I forgot, but I will. Must look as tall and lean as possible. And with that, they call out our division.
I repeat my prayer for this weekend, which is "Dear Lord, May I shine as bright as this suit, may I not trip in my 5 inch heels, may my spray tan take two sizes off my hips and in all the madness, may I have a little fun! Amen"
I walk out, back straight, determined not to trip and to look like I belong out there regardless of how I feel. If I look scared out there, I will look awkward and out of place. I must own it. Work it girl!
They call us all out in a line, then have us in 5's come forward and pose, swivel sassily around and pose butt to the crowd (I almost lost footing here but I am the only one who knew that beside the girl behind me that saw my startled face and locked eyes with me). Swivel back around. Go back into the big line. Then after all the groups of five have been seen they call out three groups of random numbers and this is based on how the judges will probably rank them. First group will probably be the top five. They have them pose and swivel quite a bit as they judge them. These girls are good. I'm trying to keep posing and smiling and working it but I'm kind of watching them too. To see how it's done. Awesome. Second group gets called out. Third group gets called out and my number was one of them. I totally wasn't expecting to get called out at all, so my mind was like "wait! Did they just call my number??" I wanted them to repeat it so I didn't go to the front if they didn't in fact call my number, but I knew that wasn't going to happen so I move forward. I smiled big and locked eyes with the judges, changing up my poses as much as possible. I see the value of posing class now and I had a good one. We retreat off stage and that is day round for me.
Before the competition, one of the trainers told me there would be so many spotlights I wouldn't be able to see the crowd while on stage. Wrong. For some reason, my sister Mindy's face shone like a beacon in the night. She was so radiantly lit up and I could see from her face that I must be fitting into the group and doing okay. No shock, dismay or mortification going on from my family. Whew. She looked really proud of me and that made me smile even bigger.
I pull my sweats on and the trainers inform me we will reconvene at 5:45. I get to go eat. They said I could eat whatever I wanted. Have a hamburger and fries if I want. Just very little water. Huh? I asked them one more time and explained that my dehydrated, starved brain may not have heard them correctly. No, it was correct. Hmmmm...what to eat?
I go to my family's table and their energy was kinetic. They were just competely jacked up and said I looked like I fit right in and I did so good up there. They were buzzing with pride and happiness. EEEEEKKKK! We break to eat and they want to take some pictures, so in a completely untrue to my fashion act, I strip down to my bikini and heels in the casino lobby and we take pictures. My own personal paparazzi and I owned. it. Niiiiice. They kept oohing and ahhing at how lean I looked and I absorbed the praise. I have killed myself to get here and I'm doing it. A goal that is bigger than I could even believe for last Thursday and here I am. How 'bout that?
We go to eat and I get a big fruit plate with cottage cheese. And have a quarter of a turkey sandwich off my Dad's plate. And a sippy of water. Ahhhh, it felt so good to eat! And fruit! Every bit as good as I dreamed. We walked around the casino for awhile. It was only 1-ish, so hubs and I went out to my parents car and we took a nap. I slept hard for a couple of hours and was so glad I did.
I met up with my team again at 5:45. This is starting to feel like a long day. I felt better with some food and rest, but it became apparent that night round was going to take awhile. Each person gets to walk individually and be introduced and parade a couple poses and then they crown winners. I got tanned. Again. Bronzed. Glazed. Again. I have so many layers of colored crud on my you could probably take a putty knife to me and get a solid amount of product off my skin. I did my walk and it went good I think. I don't think I 'nailed it', because I felt like I had to hold back my walk so I didn't shake in the wrong places, which made me unsure about how that was looking to others. But I smiled, posed and did my thang. It was nerve wracking to have the whole stage to myself. When each girl got off stage the rest would cheer for them backstage. I guess I just wasn't expecting such a supportive environment. All in all, I was having a really great time. And I met some really great people. Our winners got crowned and we all retreated to the pump area again.
I got my trusty sweats on again, said goodbye to my team and went and claimed my family. We decided to leave and start heading home. I had another part of somebody's sandwich and started filling my body with water immediately. Water has never tasted so good.
When I got home, as tired as I was, I knew I needed to march right into the shower. It was said that this tan could last 10-14 days. Mine seemed to pretty much all wash right off. I'm okay with that. I was sad to see my fake eyelashes come off. I could get used to those. Pretty much, I walked into the shower a rockstar bikini diva and came back out my usual everyday self. Dang.
The next morning, I have to admit, I felt like Cinderella after midnight. Yesterday seemed like a dream. Totally surreal and still slightly unbelievable that I did all that. I'm exhausted today. Right to the core. I put on loungewear, we ran a few errands and I took naps and ate and drank and just vegged all day. I needed to just rest and recoup. The Challenge resumes tomorrow!!
I brush my teeth. Sort of. With minimal water of course. My mouth is so dry the toothpaste just kind of adheres to the inside walls of my mouth. I end up rinsing some water in there just to get it out. I sooo wanted to swallow that water. But no, I'll spit it out in the name of smaller hips.
I pack the things I'll need for the show: satin robe (some people have been roaming around the hotels in their robes since last night. I'm not sure at what point I will put mine on, but not yet). 5" heels. Cameras. Phone. My 8x10 "before" pictures - I have a plan for those. Food. Ohhhhh the thought of choking down more dry chicken with no water is making me sicker than the hunger I feel. I'll bring it, but I don't think I can eat it.
I say goodbye to hubs and hop the shuttle to the resort. I'm the only person on the shuttle and the driver and I have a nice conversation about the competition details and she wishes me luck. She has no idea how much I need it today!!
I was way early for my hair and makeup appointment. So I hang out in the lobby and listen to my iPod and try to relax. About ten 'til 8 I go to find the room I'm supposed to go to. Woops. I don't know where I am going. The elevators to my team's rooms apparently aren't the same. Now I'm frantic. I find the concierge and he smirks and tells me to look across the way at the other half of the hotel across the courtyard. Yeah, yeah, ok, I get it. I'd be kind of miffed if I could muster up the energy. But I can't so I limp away toward the elevator I'm supposed to be on. I get up to the room and my hair and make-up artist Meredith informs me she's running a few minutes behind. I hear a "hello!" coming from the bathroom, I look in at it's Shannon! A girl I met in posing class. Yay! A familiar and friendly face. We catch up on competition prep. Turns out she's doing Figure (she practiced bikini with me months ago in posing class). She's done a show before and so feels ready for today. She saw me back in my first posing class, all 29% body fat of me, and couldn't believe my transformation. All the conversation and friendly vibes were making me feel so much better. Friends are good. I peer one last time into my lunch bag and decide me and chicken are officially breaking up. For now.
I take an "after makeup" picture of Shannon and we wish each other well. I, in similar fashion have Meredith, my makeover guru take a before makeup picture of me. Let's see what a competition makeover looks like! She does my makeup, commenting how she feels so sorry for us girls with our completely dried out lips because we are so dehydrated. We talk about my transformation and Meredith is so supportive and excited about it! She says she is going to come out and watch me compete and cheer me on. Yay! More friends to love on me while I'm strung out. This is making me feel very happy. Meredith's sister Marina comes in and she starts working on my hair and we are all excitedly chatting about the day's events and how it will go for them, doing hair and makeup and then joining Joe Pesci downstairs to tan ladies all day long. They told me they would happily reapply makeup and help me get properly gussied up for the show all day long and to just come find them. Ah, I love a good connection! These girls are my peeps!! It takes exactly an hour to do hair and makeup. Here is a before and after of my competition makeover:
So now I'm rushing immediately downstairs to the competitor meeting. I am analytical and need every piece of information I can get. Wow, I can't believe it's 45 minutes until the day round starts. Thank goodness for distractions!!
I run into my team in the hotel lobby and we all go to the meeting together. I run into the girl from high school and we give each other some encouraging words and move along with our respective teams. The meeting is basically asking the bikini girls to not be lude and crude and to keep it "for the family". Then they go through a bodybuilding posing routine to show what's expected. They mention that last year's event had 140 competitors and this years it's around 220! They mention future competitions and who should be getting tan touch-ups when. And then we are dismissed.
My team finds an area in the "pump area" to put our stuff and station ourselves. The figure girls will go on first. I head to spray tan to fix the debacle my tan has become. I've become blotchy and realized my toes never got tanned last night. They completely respray me. I also had them apply "bikini byte" a rolling glue stick that keeps the bikini where it should be. Apparently it's a show essential. I had them glue me wherever they could possibly glue. Whew. One less thing to worry about. That sucker ain't movin'.
Now I finally don the robe. I'm looking around watching my teammates "pump". The trainers have them lifting weights strategically to make their muscles pop. It's amazing to watch the definition articulate in their arms as they do it. Wow! Wow! Wow! I'm watching ladies in five inch heels drop and do army-style pushups. It's crazy. It's fun. It's a completely different world. Then, in disbelief, I watch my teammates eat chocolate covered raisins, offered by the trainers to raise their blood sugar and energy right before going on stage. Nice! I get to have some and at first it's like the most delicious thing ever. But then, my dehydration trumps the chocolate (I didn't know anything could trump chocolate??). My mouth gets all drawn and I'm instantly nauseated. Not. Feeling. Well. I tell my trainers and I get to have like an ounce of water. I swish it in my mouth really good before swallowing it because I am treasuring it. Make it last! I told them I'm too sick to eat my chicken and they said it's fine at this point to not eat. So now we wait. I go out onto the floor with my trainer to watch my teammates compete in their classes. Amanda's class was huge. I guess they are typically 8-ish competitors. She had 18! She did really well and I was so proud of her. We've all come such a long way and everyone just looks so good up there. I spot where my family is sitting. They don't see me but now I know where I might spot them.
I head backstage and finally it's my turn to lineup. They call my name and I'm walking toward the line and for the first time since yesterday, I finally have the courage to look in a mirror. Hey! Wait a second! I back it up. That's me?!?! I look kind of...well....good! But then I look at my place in line. I am standing next to Robo-Blonde number 1 - a tall, svelte, amazing looking girl that puts the "wow" in boom chicka wow wow and she just so happens to be wearing the very suit I saw at my suit-makers place and said "I want that suit!!" She informed me it was already spoken for and I instantly wanted to somehow find a way to swap it out with Robo-Blonde #1. If I had a carbohydrate left in my body, I'm sure I could take her. Oh well. Come to find out it's her first show too and she's lost about 30 pounds as well, but over a longer period of time. Dangit. Beautiful AND nice? Sheesh. I'm having a hard time doing the girl thing and hating her. The gal behind me is Robo-Blonde #2. She is so hot that she turns boom chicka wow wow into bowmmmm cheeka wow wowwwww. Why do I have to be between the robo-blondes? What's worse is they are on the same team and apparently are in the midst of a she-mance (a bromance for chicks) and so they keep reaching around me to touch hands and look all dramatic and supportively at each other. Put Hallmark on standby, I feel a fitness competition card being written as we speak.
As I'm mentally figuring out how I am going to strategize all this blonde hotness around me and somehow market myself as equally hot on stage, I hear my teammate Anna's name being called. Wait a second. She's not entered in my class. Au contraire. Screw up in the registration and now she's no longer in the Master's class (Ladies over 35 years old) She's now in mine! Now don't get me wrong, Anna has got this freak-of-nature perfect fitness body that makes even the Robo-Blonde's look out of shape. She's amazing. But I know she could probably obliterate her competition in Master's and now she's walking with 20 year olds. I know what she will be thinking. I run out of line to let her know she's being called and alas, Anna is added to my group. We pin our little button numbers on whatever piece of fabric exists to hold up our suit bottoms and I guess with that, we are ready.
Me, the Robo-Blondes and Anna
We line up at the backstage entrance. We can hear the class on stage. The girl I went to high school with is in the class before me so I am cheering her on. I have suddenly decided in my anxiety that the odds of me sporting a camel toe on stage are 50-50 with the size of my suit bottoms and that no amount of bikini byte can remedy this now. I am frantically picking at my crotch backstage and I just don't care what people see or think. Must. Avoid. Camel. Toe. At all costs. I'm sorry if that's rude and gross, but seriously if that were to actually happen out there, it'd be worse. Trust me. Family show, remember?? Okay. Whew. I think the toe issue is at bay. I look to my right and see my trainer in the doorway. Did he just see that? I don't know. I don't think so. He came back to be my Posture Police and tell me to straighten up. Yes! I forgot, but I will. Must look as tall and lean as possible. And with that, they call out our division.
I repeat my prayer for this weekend, which is "Dear Lord, May I shine as bright as this suit, may I not trip in my 5 inch heels, may my spray tan take two sizes off my hips and in all the madness, may I have a little fun! Amen"
I walk out, back straight, determined not to trip and to look like I belong out there regardless of how I feel. If I look scared out there, I will look awkward and out of place. I must own it. Work it girl!
They call us all out in a line, then have us in 5's come forward and pose, swivel sassily around and pose butt to the crowd (I almost lost footing here but I am the only one who knew that beside the girl behind me that saw my startled face and locked eyes with me). Swivel back around. Go back into the big line. Then after all the groups of five have been seen they call out three groups of random numbers and this is based on how the judges will probably rank them. First group will probably be the top five. They have them pose and swivel quite a bit as they judge them. These girls are good. I'm trying to keep posing and smiling and working it but I'm kind of watching them too. To see how it's done. Awesome. Second group gets called out. Third group gets called out and my number was one of them. I totally wasn't expecting to get called out at all, so my mind was like "wait! Did they just call my number??" I wanted them to repeat it so I didn't go to the front if they didn't in fact call my number, but I knew that wasn't going to happen so I move forward. I smiled big and locked eyes with the judges, changing up my poses as much as possible. I see the value of posing class now and I had a good one. We retreat off stage and that is day round for me.
Before the competition, one of the trainers told me there would be so many spotlights I wouldn't be able to see the crowd while on stage. Wrong. For some reason, my sister Mindy's face shone like a beacon in the night. She was so radiantly lit up and I could see from her face that I must be fitting into the group and doing okay. No shock, dismay or mortification going on from my family. Whew. She looked really proud of me and that made me smile even bigger.
I pull my sweats on and the trainers inform me we will reconvene at 5:45. I get to go eat. They said I could eat whatever I wanted. Have a hamburger and fries if I want. Just very little water. Huh? I asked them one more time and explained that my dehydrated, starved brain may not have heard them correctly. No, it was correct. Hmmmm...what to eat?
I go to my family's table and their energy was kinetic. They were just competely jacked up and said I looked like I fit right in and I did so good up there. They were buzzing with pride and happiness. EEEEEKKKK! We break to eat and they want to take some pictures, so in a completely untrue to my fashion act, I strip down to my bikini and heels in the casino lobby and we take pictures. My own personal paparazzi and I owned. it. Niiiiice. They kept oohing and ahhing at how lean I looked and I absorbed the praise. I have killed myself to get here and I'm doing it. A goal that is bigger than I could even believe for last Thursday and here I am. How 'bout that?
We go to eat and I get a big fruit plate with cottage cheese. And have a quarter of a turkey sandwich off my Dad's plate. And a sippy of water. Ahhhh, it felt so good to eat! And fruit! Every bit as good as I dreamed. We walked around the casino for awhile. It was only 1-ish, so hubs and I went out to my parents car and we took a nap. I slept hard for a couple of hours and was so glad I did.
I met up with my team again at 5:45. This is starting to feel like a long day. I felt better with some food and rest, but it became apparent that night round was going to take awhile. Each person gets to walk individually and be introduced and parade a couple poses and then they crown winners. I got tanned. Again. Bronzed. Glazed. Again. I have so many layers of colored crud on my you could probably take a putty knife to me and get a solid amount of product off my skin. I did my walk and it went good I think. I don't think I 'nailed it', because I felt like I had to hold back my walk so I didn't shake in the wrong places, which made me unsure about how that was looking to others. But I smiled, posed and did my thang. It was nerve wracking to have the whole stage to myself. When each girl got off stage the rest would cheer for them backstage. I guess I just wasn't expecting such a supportive environment. All in all, I was having a really great time. And I met some really great people. Our winners got crowned and we all retreated to the pump area again.
I got my trusty sweats on again, said goodbye to my team and went and claimed my family. We decided to leave and start heading home. I had another part of somebody's sandwich and started filling my body with water immediately. Water has never tasted so good.
When I got home, as tired as I was, I knew I needed to march right into the shower. It was said that this tan could last 10-14 days. Mine seemed to pretty much all wash right off. I'm okay with that. I was sad to see my fake eyelashes come off. I could get used to those. Pretty much, I walked into the shower a rockstar bikini diva and came back out my usual everyday self. Dang.
The next morning, I have to admit, I felt like Cinderella after midnight. Yesterday seemed like a dream. Totally surreal and still slightly unbelievable that I did all that. I'm exhausted today. Right to the core. I put on loungewear, we ran a few errands and I took naps and ate and drank and just vegged all day. I needed to just rest and recoup. The Challenge resumes tomorrow!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Pre Show Week!
Friday
I'm getting dangerously close to the show. As soon as tomorrow (1 week away) I start a regimen of scrubs and lotions each day to prep my body for the mondo spray tan I will be receiving Friday night. Apparently, not only do I need multiple exfoliations but also the pH of my skin must be just right for the tan to absorb well. Sigh. Did I mention I'm a low maintenance girl? I had to literally write myself sticky notes and post them in my calendar so I remember to scrub and moisturize. Sad.
On the upside, I found some pictures on Facebook of me in March and man have I changed. I just hope it's enough!
Saturday (T-Minus One Week 'til Show)
Scrub and moisturize in preparation of mondo spray tan. Check.
My excitement up until this point is officially being replaced by terror. I am TERRIFIED. Sheez, what is WRONG with me??
I'm full of fear. My hope is to go out there and just not look out of place. Because this is a fitness competition which means there are going to be people there that have been doing this for years. I'll have been at it for 68 days. Seriously? What made me think I could do this?!?! If I can just go on stage and not stick out like a total outcast, I'll be happy. The judges and audience will have no idea the journey I've been on and although I know I am doing this for my challenge and myself, I still don't want to look like a crazy fool. Ughhhhhhhhh.
Sunday (T-Minus 6 Days 'til Show)
Moisturize Only. Check.
My workout today is doubly hard. He's taken it up a notch and we are shredding my legs when my legs have nothing in them to give. Digging very deep emotionally to get the physical to happen today.
Today is my last posing class. The girls are there en masse and all in their suits. Can't wait til I can see mine! Today shook my confidence as apparently my chest and butt are doing a little too much shaking when I walk sassy so I have to tone it down while trying to keep it zesty. Ohhhh, WHY does the last posing class have to be the time when issues arise?? Now I am not feeling so great about my posing.
Monday (T-Minus 5 Days 'til Show)
Today my cardio is done in the morning to shake up the routine and shock the body (as if it hasn't been shocked enough??)
Afternoon workout with trainer included for the first time HIIT training - pushups, crawl into pushups, bicep curls/presses, plank, plank on elbows, plank with toes on exercise ball, lat raises, front raises, elliptical: 20 seconds crush it, 20 seconds leisurely for 5 minutes. Repeat cycle.
We had our competitor team meeting and I got measured. 16.4% body fat!!!! YESSSSSS! Obviously, I would like to be lower than that going into a competition, but hey! 63 days ago I was 29% body fat with a dream of getting into the teens. There are three of us on Team Platinum. This will be the first competition for each of us. The other two are competing in figure so they are extremely lean and looking amazing at this point. I still feel like Fatty McFatty in comparison, but I have to push that feeling out of my head or I will never go through with this. We were informed that much of our Saturday will be in a satin robe (which I need to go buy because sweats is my luxury leisurewear these days and satin is not in my possession) and our competition suits. All three of us have competely different bodies and goals so the trainer was mentioning how interesting it is that we will all be on different food plans going into this competition.
Scrubbed and moisturized today. Check.
Since I workout at the same time every day and have for two months, there are some regular people at the gym that have been watching me work my guts out and watching me transform. I call them my "cheerleaders" because they have always been full of supportive comments, questions about my challenge and excitement about the upcoming show. They are all starting to wish me well and it's very moving. Even the other trainer at the gym is full of excitement about the show and full of helpful advice. These people want me to get out there and reach my goal. It's cool.
The stress of everything is feeling really emotional to me. I am not a very overly-emotional person in general and right now I feel like I could use just a big, unabashed, gut wrenching cry to just cleanse out all the stress and uckiness of the fear and exhaustion and feelings of the journey thus far. But not right now. But definitely before the show sometime so I don't end up tearful during. It's just a lot to take in.
Tuesday (T-Minus 4 Days 'til Show)
Moisturize. Check.
Today's workout involved running and shredding my arms. Without carbs, everything feels so much harder than usual.
I got my hair cut and colored. I went a little blonder which is how I like it. I have no idea how they will style it, so I'm not sure what to do. We left my bangs long and just trimmed to keep it healthy looking.
I left work this afternoon and SWEAR the air outside smelled just like donuts. I'm pretty sure this is the official start of food hallucinations. Mmmm Donutsssss.
I also find myself unable to take my eyes off of other people's food. I'm like a dog. I have to ask people what they've eaten, what are they eating and then I stare at it until it's gone. Woof.
I'm starting to daydream about what I would like to eat after the show. I thought it would be something totally junk food related, but what I really want is a deli style turkey sandwich and a big bowl of fruit. I really miss fruit. It's been weeks without it and I miss that by far more than anything.
Wednesday (T-Minus 3 Days 'til Show)
Scrub and moisturize. Sigh. This is very high maintenance to a low maintenance gal like myself.
I thought I heard my trainer say I would still be getting carbs, just not hydrating after eating them. But I was wrong. No more carbs until after the show. Ugh. Bye bye energy (what was left of it, anyway).
On the upside, I'm down three pounds since Sunday and very stoked to be back in a goal weight range I haven't seen in a longgg time.
My workout consisted of pushing over a huge tire, jumping on it, in it and then over it. Again and again. And squat presses, squat pulls. Running a mile fast. We were done early today, which was fine by me. I'm spent.
I went shopping today and bought a satin robe and some blingy jewelry. I noticed that a lot of the bikini girls wear sparkly earrings and bracelets and I found the perfect things to suit me. That was fun!
There is a bag of sourdough rolls on our kitchen counter that is pure evil. Every time I walk by it I find myself saying out loud unexpectedly "I want that". Bread....mmm...carbs....food....NO! I will leave it as a tempation. Who knew sourdough could be so sexy?
Starting yesterday this is getting really hard. It's a little bit preoccupying in my mind and I'm having to work through some mental endurance. I wasn't expecting it to be easy, but I didn't think through how hard it might be. I can do this.
I went to Shutterbug and printed 8x10's of my before pictures. I'm sitting on the Kodak machine reviewing my pictures. Why, of all the times to go to Shutterbug, do all the machines need to have people on them? I'm sandwiched between two people and here pop up huge images of my before pictures. Nice. People are probably not understanding why I feel the need to enlarge such an unflattering picture. The poor Shutterbug attendant will be earning their money today!! I just hope the images aren't burned into their memories. Maybe I'll leave them a tip...
I've received a couple of emails from the tanning outfit who will be doing the spray tans at the competitions. Both were disturbing in their own right.
Email #1: Excerpt of interest
Sleeping:
Wearing cotton gloves while you sleep can save your palms and alleviate 70% of touchups.
Sleeping with stacked pillows under your knees will keep you from sleeping on your side. Sleeping on your side will allow your legs to touch which creates heat and you sweat where your legs touch. If you stack some pillows under your shoulders this also helps keep you from side sleeping, for me it is comfortable. Well as comfortable as you can get the night before your show.
Keep yourself lightly clothed, I sleep in my contest suit, for women that may not be very comfortable so sleep in as little as you can. If you have a pair of silk pajamas, that is best.
These are guidelines that will help keep your tan in good shape over night. Stay dry, cool, and comfortable!
Do I REALLY need to buy cotton gloves? The sleep situation as outlined above seems like I can throw away any ideas of being comfortable and getting rested for the show. Fantastic!
Email #2: Even more disturbing
This email made me spit out my drink as it said after today you won't be wearing deodorant anymore. Apparently, if you do, the spray tan can turn your armpits green.
Hm, two more days of workouts, hovering over massage clients, and generally living in close contact with people and I have to swear off deodorant?? Oh. Boy. Does the glamour ever end?
Thursday (T-Minus 2 Days 'til Show)
Moisturize. Done.
2 cardio sessions today, done separately
Got a pedicure. As per my posing coach, French tips on the toes is best.
Got a wax. I didn't have to Nair my arms or anything since I sport more of a peach fuzz than hair, but a good solid wax is unavoidable when you are parading around in a doilie.
My plan is to drink lots and lots of water today because after tonight, I do not get any more water until after the show. Anyone who knows me knows water is very imperative to me. I'm nervous about not being able to have any.
I am supposed to shower tonight but not tomorrow also due to water restriction. Apparently my skin can drink too much water too?? Who knew??
So...no deodorant....no shower...what is backstage going to smell like? Blech.
Tonight I finally get to try on my suit. Normally a suit would be done way before now. But I think my people were waiting to see if I was actually going to go through with it. And then with my dimensions changing so much, it's hard to have it done super early. My suit is custom made for me, I got to go and pick out the fabric and expressed my desire for as much bling and sparkle as possible. We discussed suit types and she knew exactly the style I would've chosen which looks best on my body shape: string bikini bottom and halter style top. My suit it beautiful. Sparkly jewels and a gorgeous pink/purple metallic color. But it's awfully small. And on my body it seems even smaller. I just happened to run into another bikini competitor when I went to go try it on and it's a girl I went to high school with so that was such a small world experience. It was fun to run into her, but made me anxious because next to her, I felt like Godzilla. But I'm gonna have to get over that feeling because it is very likely I will feel like that all weekend. Get over it, sister.
When I left the fitting with my suit in hand, I was unnerved. Officially. Freaking. Out. I can't do this. Can I do this? What ever made me think I could do this in two months? Please don't let me look like a total freak out there. Does my suit even fit? Should I turn back and have her refit it? How is my butt not going to totally eat the tiny back of that suit? Is there a Godzilla class in Bikini? I'm in trouble. What do I do? I can't back out now? Can I? Should I? Hey, people like booty. I could go for a Beyonce sort of twist to this thing. No. I'm not lean enough. It's going to be bad. Very very bad. And worse. On the internet.
I texted my trainer. God Bless my trainer. I'm sure I unleashed all sorts of crazy via text message on this poor man. He asked me to send over some pics of me in my suit to help me verify whether in fact we are crazy by entering me in this stinkin' contest. He assured me I looked fine and adding spray tan and dehydration would be that much better. I asked if I could request a Jamaican tan. He laughed. I didn't. I had to just completely trust his judgment and reassurance, which is practially impossible for me to do. But I did. What choice did I have?
My husband witnessed my complete meltdown and had me try on the suit at home and thought it looked great. Okay. Feeling a little better. Because my husband wouldn't tell me that if he didn't know it to be true to his opinion.
I killed it during my second cardio workout in reaction to all the fears listed above. I drank tons of water and took a long shower to clean off the crazies.
Friday (T-Minus 1 Day 'til Show)
All I get to eat today is chicken five times. No fluids. No shower. Chicken. Dry. Chicken. No Drink. Chicken. I'm so hungry I don't care.
But by 11am I am missing water in a big way. To the point I have to close my eyes and tell myself I have to get through this. That it's not reasonable that I could possibly be dehydrated already. I've had plenty of water leading up to this point. In the past I could've run a half marathon on the water that is in my body now so let's be reasonable here, Melissa. In the future I would not work on this day. I would stay in my jammies and stare off into space which is exactly how I could've best managed this day.
I got fake finger nails. Full set of gel with French tips. They were so pretty but such a waste for me because I have to file them all back down to massage therapist nubs by Sunday night. Pity.
I'm in that weird space today. No workout. Idle calm time between normal life and a whirlwind of a weekend that is going to change my life story.
After I got my nails done I headed home and we waited for my parents to pick us up and make the 3 hour drive to the resort. I've never packed so little for a weekend away...bikini, 5" heels, satin robe, flip flops, sweats and some chicken. Here we go!
I arrived around 6. Checked into my hotel which was just across the street from Seven Feathers Resort & Casino. All the twiggy or buff people were obviously there for the competition. The other folks looked shocked to see so many twiggy and buff people roaming around and were apparently there for a vacation of sorts. I met up with my peeps, my trainer and teammates. I was feeling extremely apprehensive and still 1 strand from coming unglued at this point. Plus I was starving which means illogical. Plus I was thirsty which means desperate. Strung out seems like an appropriate descriptor.
I felt bad for my teammate Amanda. She was having some bloating issues and had to do a workout in her sweatsuit in a sauna. She looked purple and miserable. I wish I could've seen that workout but was so incredibly thankful I didn't have to do it.
We went to check in. You have to wear your suit under your clothes and then pull down your pants and flash your butt to the lady at check in to make sure your suit isn't too skimpy (loose definition here) for their "family oriented" show. Mmm hmm. Okay. I studied the lady's face very carefully to see if she was shocked or mortified by my butt. Nope. Okay then. Got my height measured and then confirmed my contest division with the officials. There were some verrrrry beautiful girls at check-in and I started to go down my shame spiral again. Normally I'm such a rise-to-the-occasion girl. But I find that where my body image and self confidence are linked, there's a break in the bridge. This whole experience is hitting a nerve for me. A deeply personal one. If I survive this, it will be a miracle.
We had girl time back at the hotel and then went to our spray tan appointments. Part of the hotel conference room and the hallway are now lined with canvas sheets on the floor and plastic all over the walls. There is a big arena of plastic with zipper door entries. You go in and it's like a tan-tent-city in there. I could've gotten the lady for my spray tan. But no. I got Joe Pesci's Northwest equivalent. Had had to lift up "the girls" to spray and dry under them. (Can somebody verify I didn't get duped into going to second base?) Then he crouched down in front of me and thoroughly sprayed my nether-regions brown. Just another day at the office, ya know? I'm a massage therapist and even I was feeling a little exposed. The good thing is, after that, all inhibitions were G.O.N.E. My doilie looked like a bodysuit now!
After our tans, we laughed, took some pictures and went our separate ways to bed.
After I got back to my hotel room I realized Houston, we have a problem. A big one. All the sheets and towels in the hotel are stark white and I am such an incredibly ridunkulous color of orange/brown. I frantically texted one of my teammates. Apparently she got the memo to bring old sheets to sleep on. Oh no. What am I gonna do? Roam the night like a supertan vampire? I decide to lay out my clothes chalk-outline style on the brown carpet on the floor of the hotel room, line my body up in exactly the formation and try to just sleep soundly and not move in this formation. That lasted until 2:30 in the morning. I was freezing. And I moved and smudged tan on the carpet. And oops I woke up on my side which is a tanning no-no and now my legs will need touched up. And I'm thirsty and hungry, miserably tired and really irritated that I can't find a brown piece of linen anywhere in this joint. I decide to put my sweatsuit on (my legs are already ruined) and lay out a white towel on an armchair and then I line the ottoman with, get this, KLEENEX all over the thing and strategically place myself on it. I put the hood up on my sweatshirt and put a rolled towel under my neck and managed to sleep most of the rest of the night this way. Who knew that naked wearing cotton gloves would've in fact been the better alternative for sleeping?? Un-be-freaking-lievable.
Believe it or not, I was thankful when morning arrived. Thankful because I don't have to get my PhD to figure out how to sleep with a spray tan on any longer. Good grief.
I'm getting dangerously close to the show. As soon as tomorrow (1 week away) I start a regimen of scrubs and lotions each day to prep my body for the mondo spray tan I will be receiving Friday night. Apparently, not only do I need multiple exfoliations but also the pH of my skin must be just right for the tan to absorb well. Sigh. Did I mention I'm a low maintenance girl? I had to literally write myself sticky notes and post them in my calendar so I remember to scrub and moisturize. Sad.
On the upside, I found some pictures on Facebook of me in March and man have I changed. I just hope it's enough!
Saturday (T-Minus One Week 'til Show)
Scrub and moisturize in preparation of mondo spray tan. Check.
My excitement up until this point is officially being replaced by terror. I am TERRIFIED. Sheez, what is WRONG with me??
I'm full of fear. My hope is to go out there and just not look out of place. Because this is a fitness competition which means there are going to be people there that have been doing this for years. I'll have been at it for 68 days. Seriously? What made me think I could do this?!?! If I can just go on stage and not stick out like a total outcast, I'll be happy. The judges and audience will have no idea the journey I've been on and although I know I am doing this for my challenge and myself, I still don't want to look like a crazy fool. Ughhhhhhhhh.
Sunday (T-Minus 6 Days 'til Show)
Moisturize Only. Check.
My workout today is doubly hard. He's taken it up a notch and we are shredding my legs when my legs have nothing in them to give. Digging very deep emotionally to get the physical to happen today.
Today is my last posing class. The girls are there en masse and all in their suits. Can't wait til I can see mine! Today shook my confidence as apparently my chest and butt are doing a little too much shaking when I walk sassy so I have to tone it down while trying to keep it zesty. Ohhhh, WHY does the last posing class have to be the time when issues arise?? Now I am not feeling so great about my posing.
Monday (T-Minus 5 Days 'til Show)
Today my cardio is done in the morning to shake up the routine and shock the body (as if it hasn't been shocked enough??)
Afternoon workout with trainer included for the first time HIIT training - pushups, crawl into pushups, bicep curls/presses, plank, plank on elbows, plank with toes on exercise ball, lat raises, front raises, elliptical: 20 seconds crush it, 20 seconds leisurely for 5 minutes. Repeat cycle.
We had our competitor team meeting and I got measured. 16.4% body fat!!!! YESSSSSS! Obviously, I would like to be lower than that going into a competition, but hey! 63 days ago I was 29% body fat with a dream of getting into the teens. There are three of us on Team Platinum. This will be the first competition for each of us. The other two are competing in figure so they are extremely lean and looking amazing at this point. I still feel like Fatty McFatty in comparison, but I have to push that feeling out of my head or I will never go through with this. We were informed that much of our Saturday will be in a satin robe (which I need to go buy because sweats is my luxury leisurewear these days and satin is not in my possession) and our competition suits. All three of us have competely different bodies and goals so the trainer was mentioning how interesting it is that we will all be on different food plans going into this competition.
Scrubbed and moisturized today. Check.
Since I workout at the same time every day and have for two months, there are some regular people at the gym that have been watching me work my guts out and watching me transform. I call them my "cheerleaders" because they have always been full of supportive comments, questions about my challenge and excitement about the upcoming show. They are all starting to wish me well and it's very moving. Even the other trainer at the gym is full of excitement about the show and full of helpful advice. These people want me to get out there and reach my goal. It's cool.
The stress of everything is feeling really emotional to me. I am not a very overly-emotional person in general and right now I feel like I could use just a big, unabashed, gut wrenching cry to just cleanse out all the stress and uckiness of the fear and exhaustion and feelings of the journey thus far. But not right now. But definitely before the show sometime so I don't end up tearful during. It's just a lot to take in.
Tuesday (T-Minus 4 Days 'til Show)
Moisturize. Check.
Today's workout involved running and shredding my arms. Without carbs, everything feels so much harder than usual.
I got my hair cut and colored. I went a little blonder which is how I like it. I have no idea how they will style it, so I'm not sure what to do. We left my bangs long and just trimmed to keep it healthy looking.
I left work this afternoon and SWEAR the air outside smelled just like donuts. I'm pretty sure this is the official start of food hallucinations. Mmmm Donutsssss.
I also find myself unable to take my eyes off of other people's food. I'm like a dog. I have to ask people what they've eaten, what are they eating and then I stare at it until it's gone. Woof.
I'm starting to daydream about what I would like to eat after the show. I thought it would be something totally junk food related, but what I really want is a deli style turkey sandwich and a big bowl of fruit. I really miss fruit. It's been weeks without it and I miss that by far more than anything.
Wednesday (T-Minus 3 Days 'til Show)
Scrub and moisturize. Sigh. This is very high maintenance to a low maintenance gal like myself.
I thought I heard my trainer say I would still be getting carbs, just not hydrating after eating them. But I was wrong. No more carbs until after the show. Ugh. Bye bye energy (what was left of it, anyway).
On the upside, I'm down three pounds since Sunday and very stoked to be back in a goal weight range I haven't seen in a longgg time.
My workout consisted of pushing over a huge tire, jumping on it, in it and then over it. Again and again. And squat presses, squat pulls. Running a mile fast. We were done early today, which was fine by me. I'm spent.
I went shopping today and bought a satin robe and some blingy jewelry. I noticed that a lot of the bikini girls wear sparkly earrings and bracelets and I found the perfect things to suit me. That was fun!
There is a bag of sourdough rolls on our kitchen counter that is pure evil. Every time I walk by it I find myself saying out loud unexpectedly "I want that". Bread....mmm...carbs....food....NO! I will leave it as a tempation. Who knew sourdough could be so sexy?
Starting yesterday this is getting really hard. It's a little bit preoccupying in my mind and I'm having to work through some mental endurance. I wasn't expecting it to be easy, but I didn't think through how hard it might be. I can do this.
I went to Shutterbug and printed 8x10's of my before pictures. I'm sitting on the Kodak machine reviewing my pictures. Why, of all the times to go to Shutterbug, do all the machines need to have people on them? I'm sandwiched between two people and here pop up huge images of my before pictures. Nice. People are probably not understanding why I feel the need to enlarge such an unflattering picture. The poor Shutterbug attendant will be earning their money today!! I just hope the images aren't burned into their memories. Maybe I'll leave them a tip...
I've received a couple of emails from the tanning outfit who will be doing the spray tans at the competitions. Both were disturbing in their own right.
Email #1: Excerpt of interest
Sleeping:
Wearing cotton gloves while you sleep can save your palms and alleviate 70% of touchups.
Sleeping with stacked pillows under your knees will keep you from sleeping on your side. Sleeping on your side will allow your legs to touch which creates heat and you sweat where your legs touch. If you stack some pillows under your shoulders this also helps keep you from side sleeping, for me it is comfortable. Well as comfortable as you can get the night before your show.
Keep yourself lightly clothed, I sleep in my contest suit, for women that may not be very comfortable so sleep in as little as you can. If you have a pair of silk pajamas, that is best.
These are guidelines that will help keep your tan in good shape over night. Stay dry, cool, and comfortable!
Do I REALLY need to buy cotton gloves? The sleep situation as outlined above seems like I can throw away any ideas of being comfortable and getting rested for the show. Fantastic!
Email #2: Even more disturbing
This email made me spit out my drink as it said after today you won't be wearing deodorant anymore. Apparently, if you do, the spray tan can turn your armpits green.
Hm, two more days of workouts, hovering over massage clients, and generally living in close contact with people and I have to swear off deodorant?? Oh. Boy. Does the glamour ever end?
Thursday (T-Minus 2 Days 'til Show)
Moisturize. Done.
2 cardio sessions today, done separately
Got a pedicure. As per my posing coach, French tips on the toes is best.
Got a wax. I didn't have to Nair my arms or anything since I sport more of a peach fuzz than hair, but a good solid wax is unavoidable when you are parading around in a doilie.
My plan is to drink lots and lots of water today because after tonight, I do not get any more water until after the show. Anyone who knows me knows water is very imperative to me. I'm nervous about not being able to have any.
I am supposed to shower tonight but not tomorrow also due to water restriction. Apparently my skin can drink too much water too?? Who knew??
So...no deodorant....no shower...what is backstage going to smell like? Blech.
Tonight I finally get to try on my suit. Normally a suit would be done way before now. But I think my people were waiting to see if I was actually going to go through with it. And then with my dimensions changing so much, it's hard to have it done super early. My suit is custom made for me, I got to go and pick out the fabric and expressed my desire for as much bling and sparkle as possible. We discussed suit types and she knew exactly the style I would've chosen which looks best on my body shape: string bikini bottom and halter style top. My suit it beautiful. Sparkly jewels and a gorgeous pink/purple metallic color. But it's awfully small. And on my body it seems even smaller. I just happened to run into another bikini competitor when I went to go try it on and it's a girl I went to high school with so that was such a small world experience. It was fun to run into her, but made me anxious because next to her, I felt like Godzilla. But I'm gonna have to get over that feeling because it is very likely I will feel like that all weekend. Get over it, sister.
When I left the fitting with my suit in hand, I was unnerved. Officially. Freaking. Out. I can't do this. Can I do this? What ever made me think I could do this in two months? Please don't let me look like a total freak out there. Does my suit even fit? Should I turn back and have her refit it? How is my butt not going to totally eat the tiny back of that suit? Is there a Godzilla class in Bikini? I'm in trouble. What do I do? I can't back out now? Can I? Should I? Hey, people like booty. I could go for a Beyonce sort of twist to this thing. No. I'm not lean enough. It's going to be bad. Very very bad. And worse. On the internet.
I texted my trainer. God Bless my trainer. I'm sure I unleashed all sorts of crazy via text message on this poor man. He asked me to send over some pics of me in my suit to help me verify whether in fact we are crazy by entering me in this stinkin' contest. He assured me I looked fine and adding spray tan and dehydration would be that much better. I asked if I could request a Jamaican tan. He laughed. I didn't. I had to just completely trust his judgment and reassurance, which is practially impossible for me to do. But I did. What choice did I have?
My husband witnessed my complete meltdown and had me try on the suit at home and thought it looked great. Okay. Feeling a little better. Because my husband wouldn't tell me that if he didn't know it to be true to his opinion.
I killed it during my second cardio workout in reaction to all the fears listed above. I drank tons of water and took a long shower to clean off the crazies.
Friday (T-Minus 1 Day 'til Show)
All I get to eat today is chicken five times. No fluids. No shower. Chicken. Dry. Chicken. No Drink. Chicken. I'm so hungry I don't care.
But by 11am I am missing water in a big way. To the point I have to close my eyes and tell myself I have to get through this. That it's not reasonable that I could possibly be dehydrated already. I've had plenty of water leading up to this point. In the past I could've run a half marathon on the water that is in my body now so let's be reasonable here, Melissa. In the future I would not work on this day. I would stay in my jammies and stare off into space which is exactly how I could've best managed this day.
I got fake finger nails. Full set of gel with French tips. They were so pretty but such a waste for me because I have to file them all back down to massage therapist nubs by Sunday night. Pity.
I'm in that weird space today. No workout. Idle calm time between normal life and a whirlwind of a weekend that is going to change my life story.
After I got my nails done I headed home and we waited for my parents to pick us up and make the 3 hour drive to the resort. I've never packed so little for a weekend away...bikini, 5" heels, satin robe, flip flops, sweats and some chicken. Here we go!
I arrived around 6. Checked into my hotel which was just across the street from Seven Feathers Resort & Casino. All the twiggy or buff people were obviously there for the competition. The other folks looked shocked to see so many twiggy and buff people roaming around and were apparently there for a vacation of sorts. I met up with my peeps, my trainer and teammates. I was feeling extremely apprehensive and still 1 strand from coming unglued at this point. Plus I was starving which means illogical. Plus I was thirsty which means desperate. Strung out seems like an appropriate descriptor.
I felt bad for my teammate Amanda. She was having some bloating issues and had to do a workout in her sweatsuit in a sauna. She looked purple and miserable. I wish I could've seen that workout but was so incredibly thankful I didn't have to do it.
We went to check in. You have to wear your suit under your clothes and then pull down your pants and flash your butt to the lady at check in to make sure your suit isn't too skimpy (loose definition here) for their "family oriented" show. Mmm hmm. Okay. I studied the lady's face very carefully to see if she was shocked or mortified by my butt. Nope. Okay then. Got my height measured and then confirmed my contest division with the officials. There were some verrrrry beautiful girls at check-in and I started to go down my shame spiral again. Normally I'm such a rise-to-the-occasion girl. But I find that where my body image and self confidence are linked, there's a break in the bridge. This whole experience is hitting a nerve for me. A deeply personal one. If I survive this, it will be a miracle.
We had girl time back at the hotel and then went to our spray tan appointments. Part of the hotel conference room and the hallway are now lined with canvas sheets on the floor and plastic all over the walls. There is a big arena of plastic with zipper door entries. You go in and it's like a tan-tent-city in there. I could've gotten the lady for my spray tan. But no. I got Joe Pesci's Northwest equivalent. Had had to lift up "the girls" to spray and dry under them. (Can somebody verify I didn't get duped into going to second base?) Then he crouched down in front of me and thoroughly sprayed my nether-regions brown. Just another day at the office, ya know? I'm a massage therapist and even I was feeling a little exposed. The good thing is, after that, all inhibitions were G.O.N.E. My doilie looked like a bodysuit now!
After our tans, we laughed, took some pictures and went our separate ways to bed.
After I got back to my hotel room I realized Houston, we have a problem. A big one. All the sheets and towels in the hotel are stark white and I am such an incredibly ridunkulous color of orange/brown. I frantically texted one of my teammates. Apparently she got the memo to bring old sheets to sleep on. Oh no. What am I gonna do? Roam the night like a supertan vampire? I decide to lay out my clothes chalk-outline style on the brown carpet on the floor of the hotel room, line my body up in exactly the formation and try to just sleep soundly and not move in this formation. That lasted until 2:30 in the morning. I was freezing. And I moved and smudged tan on the carpet. And oops I woke up on my side which is a tanning no-no and now my legs will need touched up. And I'm thirsty and hungry, miserably tired and really irritated that I can't find a brown piece of linen anywhere in this joint. I decide to put my sweatsuit on (my legs are already ruined) and lay out a white towel on an armchair and then I line the ottoman with, get this, KLEENEX all over the thing and strategically place myself on it. I put the hood up on my sweatshirt and put a rolled towel under my neck and managed to sleep most of the rest of the night this way. Who knew that naked wearing cotton gloves would've in fact been the better alternative for sleeping?? Un-be-freaking-lievable.
Believe it or not, I was thankful when morning arrived. Thankful because I don't have to get my PhD to figure out how to sleep with a spray tan on any longer. Good grief.
The Food
I started my workouts on a Monday. My first phase of my food plan started Thursday. Corey (Trainer) said to ease into a new program so it's not so shocking to the system. The workouts were hard enough, believe me. But I was anxious to get started and very motivated so I felt better once I had a food plan in my hands.
Corey had me log a few days of my eating - time I ate, what I had, etc. I had to be very honest because how can he help me if he doesn't know what I'm doing currently? Writing down my eating made me visually see how much worse I was eating compared to last year when I was at my lowest weight and also how much eating out is likely contributing to my weight issue. Lots of eating out.
Phase 1 - Entry into Healthy Eating
Pre-Workout: Vi Shape Shake
Post-Workout: breakfast consisting of eggs, oatmeal and berries
Snack: Vi Shape Shake or Nutra Cookie
Lunch: lean protein off of trainer's list and mixed veggies
Snack: Vi Shape Shake or Nutra Cookie
Dinner: lean protein off of trainer's list and green veggies
No more eating after dinner.
Drink 1 gallon of water every day.
*It should be noted, when I drink a Vi Shape Shake I am using a double serving (4 Scoops of shake) in water only. I add ice to it to make it exciting. But that is the extent of my shakes this challenge.*
This plan made me lethargic and very hungry. Did I mention I was hungry? How 'bout hungry. I like this plan the least of all the plans (including Carb Cycling, which is saying a lot).
At one point he let me add a piece of fruit to my afternoon snack and that helped a little with how I was feeling.
Phase 2 - The Salmon Phase
I was on this diet for a longgggg time. Or at least it felt like it. I felt very lucky though because I really like salmon, so even though this is A LOT of salmon. It just wasn't that bad!
Pre-Workout - Vi Shape Shake (yep, still double serving in just water)
Breakfast - eggs, oatmeal and berries.
Snack - lean protein off of trainer's list and veggies off of trainer's list
Lunch - salmon and green veggies
Snack - lean protein off of trainer's list and veggies off of trainer's list
Dinner - salmon and green veggies
Gallon of water daily.
No snacks after dinner.
Corey said the good fat from the salmon will help me feel better and it did. I loved this meal plan and found it easy to stick to. I did finally start to get really tired of salmon near the end of this phase.
Phase 3 - Carb-Cycling (this is a pre-contest diet)
This looks very much like Phase 1, except that carbs were eliminated for 2 days and then I would get them for 1 day and repeat and repeat. I would always feel fine on Day 1 of No Carbs, but Day 2 of No Carbs was always very hard. I would get very hungry and get a weird desperate feeling that must be a physical longing for carbohydrates. Carb day was always much appreciated and I felt like it was a reset button for myself. That went along just like that until my last carb day, about a week out from the competition. By that point, every day, even carb day felt like Day 2 of No Carbs.
I also added a second workout during this time - an hour of cardio in the afternoon/evening.
Phase 4 - Week of Contest (this is a pre-contest diet)
Bye Bye Carb Days. All days are no carb days now. Super. Very hungry.
Second cardio workouts still happening during this phase.
Corey had me log a few days of my eating - time I ate, what I had, etc. I had to be very honest because how can he help me if he doesn't know what I'm doing currently? Writing down my eating made me visually see how much worse I was eating compared to last year when I was at my lowest weight and also how much eating out is likely contributing to my weight issue. Lots of eating out.
Phase 1 - Entry into Healthy Eating
Pre-Workout: Vi Shape Shake
Post-Workout: breakfast consisting of eggs, oatmeal and berries
Snack: Vi Shape Shake or Nutra Cookie
Lunch: lean protein off of trainer's list and mixed veggies
Snack: Vi Shape Shake or Nutra Cookie
Dinner: lean protein off of trainer's list and green veggies
No more eating after dinner.
Drink 1 gallon of water every day.
*It should be noted, when I drink a Vi Shape Shake I am using a double serving (4 Scoops of shake) in water only. I add ice to it to make it exciting. But that is the extent of my shakes this challenge.*
This plan made me lethargic and very hungry. Did I mention I was hungry? How 'bout hungry. I like this plan the least of all the plans (including Carb Cycling, which is saying a lot).
At one point he let me add a piece of fruit to my afternoon snack and that helped a little with how I was feeling.
Phase 2 - The Salmon Phase
I was on this diet for a longgggg time. Or at least it felt like it. I felt very lucky though because I really like salmon, so even though this is A LOT of salmon. It just wasn't that bad!
Pre-Workout - Vi Shape Shake (yep, still double serving in just water)
Breakfast - eggs, oatmeal and berries.
Snack - lean protein off of trainer's list and veggies off of trainer's list
Lunch - salmon and green veggies
Snack - lean protein off of trainer's list and veggies off of trainer's list
Dinner - salmon and green veggies
Gallon of water daily.
No snacks after dinner.
Corey said the good fat from the salmon will help me feel better and it did. I loved this meal plan and found it easy to stick to. I did finally start to get really tired of salmon near the end of this phase.
Phase 3 - Carb-Cycling (this is a pre-contest diet)
This looks very much like Phase 1, except that carbs were eliminated for 2 days and then I would get them for 1 day and repeat and repeat. I would always feel fine on Day 1 of No Carbs, but Day 2 of No Carbs was always very hard. I would get very hungry and get a weird desperate feeling that must be a physical longing for carbohydrates. Carb day was always much appreciated and I felt like it was a reset button for myself. That went along just like that until my last carb day, about a week out from the competition. By that point, every day, even carb day felt like Day 2 of No Carbs.
I also added a second workout during this time - an hour of cardio in the afternoon/evening.
Phase 4 - Week of Contest (this is a pre-contest diet)
Bye Bye Carb Days. All days are no carb days now. Super. Very hungry.
Second cardio workouts still happening during this phase.
The Workouts
I was often asked as I recounted the totally exhausting workouts I've been participating in: the fairly consistent feeling of being on the verge of throwing up, begging for mercy and pushing weight with muscles that literally have nothing left in them, "Are you writing all of your workouts down so you know what to do when your 90 Day Challenge is over?".
I thought about it. But decided against it. Here's why:
1. My workouts are never ever the same. I may do some of the same types of exercises, but to keep the body changing and striving to work outside of my comfort zone, it's always different. What I can tell you is that it is a circuit style of training called "Metabolic Training". Designed to burn 1,000-1,500 calories per workout and keep my body a raging metabolic inferno the rest of the day. It includes bursts of cardio at various effort and times. It always includes some form of weights. Sometimes it's body-weight exercises, sometimes it's free weights, sometimes machines. Reps range from 20-50, weight varies all the time. So to try to put rhyme or reason to it is futile. And as hard as it would be to duplicate on my own, it would be undesirable to duplicate it as well. I workout 60 minutes 5 days a week and that includes time to warm up, cool down and stretch. Very efficient timewise.
2. I would NEVER do this to myself. When my internal alarm system is going off and my brain is saying things like "you can not physically complete this exercise" "I'm exhausted" "I have nothing left" "It's safer to stop". That's when my trainer just smiles and pushes harder. It is his job to know how far to push me outside of this mental state without me getting injured. I could probably push myself (sometimes) into this zone, but I do not recognize at what point I risk injury by doing too much. He is excellent at knowing how far to push.
3. Motivation. It's very easy to forget why I am doing this when I'm exhausted. He reminds me that I have big goals which require moving outside of the comfort zone, that when it burns I'm burning more calories, and that if I don't complete the exercise with proper form, I get to do it again. Motivation.
4. Built-in spotter. I can't always complete the exercises. I am a lone wolf when I work out. Therefore I could never lift as heavy without someone to watch over me and help me out. Having the help is helping me progress.
5. It takes a lot less energy to just show up and do what your told. I've spend a couple years reading, researching and planning countless workout plans. Always taking a fairly uneducated stab at what would get me the body attributes I was looking for. Only ever mildly successful. This time it is working in a big way!
The value of a trainer is infinite. I won't be able to continue with as many sessions as I have been doing to win the challenge. But I will continue to work with my trainer. There is huge value to it and he is an integral part of getting me where I want to go in the most efficient way possible.
Info on my trainer and gym: Platinum Sports & Fitness
I thought about it. But decided against it. Here's why:
1. My workouts are never ever the same. I may do some of the same types of exercises, but to keep the body changing and striving to work outside of my comfort zone, it's always different. What I can tell you is that it is a circuit style of training called "Metabolic Training". Designed to burn 1,000-1,500 calories per workout and keep my body a raging metabolic inferno the rest of the day. It includes bursts of cardio at various effort and times. It always includes some form of weights. Sometimes it's body-weight exercises, sometimes it's free weights, sometimes machines. Reps range from 20-50, weight varies all the time. So to try to put rhyme or reason to it is futile. And as hard as it would be to duplicate on my own, it would be undesirable to duplicate it as well. I workout 60 minutes 5 days a week and that includes time to warm up, cool down and stretch. Very efficient timewise.
2. I would NEVER do this to myself. When my internal alarm system is going off and my brain is saying things like "you can not physically complete this exercise" "I'm exhausted" "I have nothing left" "It's safer to stop". That's when my trainer just smiles and pushes harder. It is his job to know how far to push me outside of this mental state without me getting injured. I could probably push myself (sometimes) into this zone, but I do not recognize at what point I risk injury by doing too much. He is excellent at knowing how far to push.
3. Motivation. It's very easy to forget why I am doing this when I'm exhausted. He reminds me that I have big goals which require moving outside of the comfort zone, that when it burns I'm burning more calories, and that if I don't complete the exercise with proper form, I get to do it again. Motivation.
4. Built-in spotter. I can't always complete the exercises. I am a lone wolf when I work out. Therefore I could never lift as heavy without someone to watch over me and help me out. Having the help is helping me progress.
5. It takes a lot less energy to just show up and do what your told. I've spend a couple years reading, researching and planning countless workout plans. Always taking a fairly uneducated stab at what would get me the body attributes I was looking for. Only ever mildly successful. This time it is working in a big way!
The value of a trainer is infinite. I won't be able to continue with as many sessions as I have been doing to win the challenge. But I will continue to work with my trainer. There is huge value to it and he is an integral part of getting me where I want to go in the most efficient way possible.
Info on my trainer and gym: Platinum Sports & Fitness
Body by Vi Challenge #2: Crazy is as Crazy Does
Well, as low-key and toe-in-the-water as my first 90 Day Challenge was, all I can say is this one looks to be the polar opposite...How did this Challenge come to be? Let me explain...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Spam of Truth and BBV Challenge #1
So, I just got a spam email and I couldn't help but read it and giggle. Tell me if this couldn't be an actual conversation:
Dear Body Fat,
I'm done.
I'm sorry, but I...I just can't take this anymore.
Look, I don't want to hurt your feelings. It's been a long relationship, but it's over. It's gotta be over.
You have to see that, right?
C'mon. don't look at me like that...oh, are you crying?
Please don't...I hate to see you cry.
Seriously...listen, I just haven't been happy in a very long time. We've been through this, and I keep running away from having this conversation.
It's not working and we both know it.
No, don't say it is. You know it's not.
We can't go more than a few days without arguing. And whenever we're NOT fighting it's really just because
I'm sort of going along with whatever you want. You've been around so long that I just let you run things.
You determine the way I eat, how I feel...even how I shop.
Just the other day in the mall, those jeans made my butt look amazing--the girl at the store even said so! I could see how jealous you were, unwanted body fat! But it didn't matter, because YOU were there, and my
muffin top made me look ridiculous. I couldn't buy the jeans, just like I can't eat carbs--you're always
telling me what I CAN'T do.
I work my butt off to get into great shape, and no
matter what I do, there you are. Always right there on top of me. You're smothering me, can't you see that?
Oh, no don't you dare look at me like that. You know I'm telling the truth. And don't tell me you'll "back off"
for a while.
That's BULL and You Know It!
You always feed me the same BS lines and I keep falling for it. The same thing happens, ALL the time.
We break up, we're back together, you're gone, you come back. Well, I'm tired of you coming back.
It's REALLY over this time. I'm taking you out of my phone. I've already unfriended you on facebook,
AND untagged all the pictures of us.
Please take back all the things you got me: the emotional baggage, the self-esteem issues, the fatigue from years of struggling. I'm just...well, done with this. With us.
Don't call or write. Don't even respond to this email.
Peace out. It's OVER. Talk to you never.
Your Now Ex-Body
I think it's sadly, ridiculously, hilarious only because if I didn't laugh I would cry. We try not to keep toxic people in our lives, so why on earth do we let ourselves have an on-again-off-again relationship with something that we feel like we need (ie bad food, sedentary lifestyle, etc.) that makes us wish and want for change and hacks our self esteem? I let myself slide that direction over the Winter - I let stress be my excuse and fear be my underlying reason to not keep chasing more for myself. And I'd never felt worse!
As I close my first 90 Day Body by Vi Challenge, I've lost 16 pounds and a couple of pant sizes. I've gained a renewed excitement for my fitness journey, goals and my weight loss. I don't want to lose weight because I think I'm not okay, I want to lose weight to BE healthy and DO everything life has to offer. The reckless abandonment that comes with feeling like I am living your potential. My relationship with my weight holds me back whether I like it or not. It's dysfunctional, and yet, when people reach out to me (which is happening more and more often) and saying they really relate to my blog, I realize "dysfunctional" might very well be the "norm" for us gals.
My next 90 Day Challenge is upon me and it will be focused less on the poundage I want to lose, that will come. I need it to be focused on my journey this time around. I'm in search of a do-over. A new fitness life that includes an exercise routine that doesn't leave me feeling lifeless by week's end. I want to continue with the Body by Vi shakes because they have given me great results, and honestly, I feel awesome. I have energy, I feel light inside and healthy and vibrant. And I want to find a nutrition program to do in addition to the shakes that supports my active lifestyle, marathon and beyond. Because that's what broke me last year. Starving and exhausted can only last for so long. I thank goodness I found the shakes, because it has led me back to healthier pastures and I'm happiest there.
So cheers, my fellow shake-drinkers! And if you haven't had that "break-up" talk with you know who, take a deep breath and get it over with. Buh-bye.
Dear Body Fat,
I'm done.
I'm sorry, but I...I just can't take this anymore.
Look, I don't want to hurt your feelings. It's been a long relationship, but it's over. It's gotta be over.
You have to see that, right?
C'mon. don't look at me like that...oh, are you crying?
Please don't...I hate to see you cry.
Seriously...listen, I just haven't been happy in a very long time. We've been through this, and I keep running away from having this conversation.
It's not working and we both know it.
No, don't say it is. You know it's not.
We can't go more than a few days without arguing. And whenever we're NOT fighting it's really just because
I'm sort of going along with whatever you want. You've been around so long that I just let you run things.
You determine the way I eat, how I feel...even how I shop.
Just the other day in the mall, those jeans made my butt look amazing--the girl at the store even said so! I could see how jealous you were, unwanted body fat! But it didn't matter, because YOU were there, and my
muffin top made me look ridiculous. I couldn't buy the jeans, just like I can't eat carbs--you're always
telling me what I CAN'T do.
I work my butt off to get into great shape, and no
matter what I do, there you are. Always right there on top of me. You're smothering me, can't you see that?
Oh, no don't you dare look at me like that. You know I'm telling the truth. And don't tell me you'll "back off"
for a while.
That's BULL and You Know It!
You always feed me the same BS lines and I keep falling for it. The same thing happens, ALL the time.
We break up, we're back together, you're gone, you come back. Well, I'm tired of you coming back.
It's REALLY over this time. I'm taking you out of my phone. I've already unfriended you on facebook,
AND untagged all the pictures of us.
Please take back all the things you got me: the emotional baggage, the self-esteem issues, the fatigue from years of struggling. I'm just...well, done with this. With us.
Don't call or write. Don't even respond to this email.
Peace out. It's OVER. Talk to you never.
Your Now Ex-Body
I think it's sadly, ridiculously, hilarious only because if I didn't laugh I would cry. We try not to keep toxic people in our lives, so why on earth do we let ourselves have an on-again-off-again relationship with something that we feel like we need (ie bad food, sedentary lifestyle, etc.) that makes us wish and want for change and hacks our self esteem? I let myself slide that direction over the Winter - I let stress be my excuse and fear be my underlying reason to not keep chasing more for myself. And I'd never felt worse!
As I close my first 90 Day Body by Vi Challenge, I've lost 16 pounds and a couple of pant sizes. I've gained a renewed excitement for my fitness journey, goals and my weight loss. I don't want to lose weight because I think I'm not okay, I want to lose weight to BE healthy and DO everything life has to offer. The reckless abandonment that comes with feeling like I am living your potential. My relationship with my weight holds me back whether I like it or not. It's dysfunctional, and yet, when people reach out to me (which is happening more and more often) and saying they really relate to my blog, I realize "dysfunctional" might very well be the "norm" for us gals.
My next 90 Day Challenge is upon me and it will be focused less on the poundage I want to lose, that will come. I need it to be focused on my journey this time around. I'm in search of a do-over. A new fitness life that includes an exercise routine that doesn't leave me feeling lifeless by week's end. I want to continue with the Body by Vi shakes because they have given me great results, and honestly, I feel awesome. I have energy, I feel light inside and healthy and vibrant. And I want to find a nutrition program to do in addition to the shakes that supports my active lifestyle, marathon and beyond. Because that's what broke me last year. Starving and exhausted can only last for so long. I thank goodness I found the shakes, because it has led me back to healthier pastures and I'm happiest there.
So cheers, my fellow shake-drinkers! And if you haven't had that "break-up" talk with you know who, take a deep breath and get it over with. Buh-bye.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Bod Pod
Well, that was shocking and disappointing. All of my body fat tests during the years have been, I don't know why I thought a highly accurate test would somehow feed my delusions?
The experience itself wasn't so bad. They have a tent set up in the lobby of the gym. A closed party-size tent not a sleep-out-in-your-backyard size tent. Therein sits the elusive Bod Pod. I didn't realize you are totally enclosed in said pod. I had it envisioned that my head would stick out of it or something.
I was way too anxious about the whole swimsuit thing, so I wore a fitted exercise top with no sports bra (no underwires in the pod) and fitted exercise pants. They have you put your hair in a nursing cap and then a swim cap over that. As if I could look any hotter at this moment. I had to remove all jewelry and take off my socks and shoes.
For prep they ask that you do not eat, drink or exercise for two hours prior to your test. I took that one step further and didn't do it at all today until after my test at 9am. I wanted my weight to not be clouded by food in my system for an accurate read.
The gal was super nice and showed me how I will just sit in the pod, breathe normally and not move a lot and oh, by the way here's this big panic button on the bottom if you need it.... I'm assuming this is for the extremely chlostrophobic, because the test itself is a series of 3 - 40 SECOND scans. She kept opening the door between each scan asking if I was ok. Yes, I'm fine. Scan on! During the test the machine makes a single pop noise and then it sounds like a little man in the machine is sawing back and forth for the remainder of the time. It doesn't feel like anything, just maybe a small vibration in the chair.
After the test I asked how it works. The gal started to attempt to answer and then said "well, they tell us to tell people it's magic." Seriously? I wasn't expecting the Harvard version, but I wasn't expecting that!
Here's the Harvard version for inquiring minds like myself:
Bod Pod How It Works
It's supposed to be as close in accuracy as you can get to the water-submersion way which is considered the most accurate way.
Anywho, so I hopped out of the pod. We stepped out of the tent and walked over to a printer where my fate was printing out. Yes, I really am that dramatic.
I was shocked that my body fat was 33.5%. Yikes! 10 pounds ago at my skinniest, I was stuck at 21%. The trainer would always tsk,tsk that really a person of my age should be able to get into the teens. Which is what started my foray into my dietary downward spiral. And although I have not been really watching my diet and we have been going out to eat excessively for awhile, seeing the number printed on paper made my stomach sink. Because now I'm faced with have to lose fat pounds I already lost before and just ugh. UGH. Not only am I up 10 pounds, but I am quickly trading muscle for fat in a big way. Must. Stop. Now.
The nice thing about the report though is it's informative. She said it's good that I have over 100 pounds of lean body mass. I'm in the Excess Fat category, but I'm 2.5% away from being in the Moderately Lean category which made me feel as if all hope is not lost. Here's their breakdowns:
Women Men
Risky (high body fat) >40% >30% (good thing I'm not a dude!)
Excess Fat (could we have a nicer name please?)
31-40% 21-30%
Moderately Lean 23-30% 13-20%
Lean 19-22% 9-12% (sniff. I used to be here)
Ultra Lean 15-18% 5-8%
Risky (low body fat) <15% <5%
Then the report goes on to tell me my current RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) is 1,358 calories a day. So if I do NOTHING in a day, that's how many calories I should be consuming.
Then, depending on your activity level, you times that number by a "factor".
Sedentary 1.24 (so for me, 1684 cals)
Low Active 1.52 2064 cals
Active 1.74 2363 cals
Very Active 2.07 2811 cals
Okay, well this tells me that last year, even through all my guidance and diet trials I was not eating enough by a long shot. When I was lean and miserable last year, I never ate 2800 calories. Ever. No wonder I felt like I was void. I was starving myself.
So, I am considering myself active at this point. I WILL be making it to the gym every day and vigorously exercising on a regular basis. I am NOT eating out all the time like we have been and any time I do, I need to eat as clean a meal as possible.
I'm rescheduled to pod again in 5 weeks. I have no idea what a realistic body fat percentage goal would be, so I'll go with scale weight. I'd like to lose 2 pounds a week in five weeks. Be down 10 pounds of ALL FAT. That would put me at 29% body fat. So, there it is. 5 weeks. -10 pounds fat. -4.5% body fat.
The best antidote, by the way, to the reeling depression a body fat test can bring is to immediately have scheduled yourself for a workout class. I do that every time and I work off my despair with an extra-invogorated workout and feeling empowered that I'm taking steps immediately to change things for myself. I've felt much better ever since.
The experience itself wasn't so bad. They have a tent set up in the lobby of the gym. A closed party-size tent not a sleep-out-in-your-backyard size tent. Therein sits the elusive Bod Pod. I didn't realize you are totally enclosed in said pod. I had it envisioned that my head would stick out of it or something.
I was way too anxious about the whole swimsuit thing, so I wore a fitted exercise top with no sports bra (no underwires in the pod) and fitted exercise pants. They have you put your hair in a nursing cap and then a swim cap over that. As if I could look any hotter at this moment. I had to remove all jewelry and take off my socks and shoes.
For prep they ask that you do not eat, drink or exercise for two hours prior to your test. I took that one step further and didn't do it at all today until after my test at 9am. I wanted my weight to not be clouded by food in my system for an accurate read.
The gal was super nice and showed me how I will just sit in the pod, breathe normally and not move a lot and oh, by the way here's this big panic button on the bottom if you need it.... I'm assuming this is for the extremely chlostrophobic, because the test itself is a series of 3 - 40 SECOND scans. She kept opening the door between each scan asking if I was ok. Yes, I'm fine. Scan on! During the test the machine makes a single pop noise and then it sounds like a little man in the machine is sawing back and forth for the remainder of the time. It doesn't feel like anything, just maybe a small vibration in the chair.
After the test I asked how it works. The gal started to attempt to answer and then said "well, they tell us to tell people it's magic." Seriously? I wasn't expecting the Harvard version, but I wasn't expecting that!
Here's the Harvard version for inquiring minds like myself:
Bod Pod How It Works
It's supposed to be as close in accuracy as you can get to the water-submersion way which is considered the most accurate way.
Anywho, so I hopped out of the pod. We stepped out of the tent and walked over to a printer where my fate was printing out. Yes, I really am that dramatic.
I was shocked that my body fat was 33.5%. Yikes! 10 pounds ago at my skinniest, I was stuck at 21%. The trainer would always tsk,tsk that really a person of my age should be able to get into the teens. Which is what started my foray into my dietary downward spiral. And although I have not been really watching my diet and we have been going out to eat excessively for awhile, seeing the number printed on paper made my stomach sink. Because now I'm faced with have to lose fat pounds I already lost before and just ugh. UGH. Not only am I up 10 pounds, but I am quickly trading muscle for fat in a big way. Must. Stop. Now.
The nice thing about the report though is it's informative. She said it's good that I have over 100 pounds of lean body mass. I'm in the Excess Fat category, but I'm 2.5% away from being in the Moderately Lean category which made me feel as if all hope is not lost. Here's their breakdowns:
Women Men
Risky (high body fat) >40% >30% (good thing I'm not a dude!)
Excess Fat (could we have a nicer name please?)
31-40% 21-30%
Moderately Lean 23-30% 13-20%
Lean 19-22% 9-12% (sniff. I used to be here)
Ultra Lean 15-18% 5-8%
Risky (low body fat) <15% <5%
Then the report goes on to tell me my current RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) is 1,358 calories a day. So if I do NOTHING in a day, that's how many calories I should be consuming.
Then, depending on your activity level, you times that number by a "factor".
Sedentary 1.24 (so for me, 1684 cals)
Low Active 1.52 2064 cals
Active 1.74 2363 cals
Very Active 2.07 2811 cals
Okay, well this tells me that last year, even through all my guidance and diet trials I was not eating enough by a long shot. When I was lean and miserable last year, I never ate 2800 calories. Ever. No wonder I felt like I was void. I was starving myself.
So, I am considering myself active at this point. I WILL be making it to the gym every day and vigorously exercising on a regular basis. I am NOT eating out all the time like we have been and any time I do, I need to eat as clean a meal as possible.
I'm rescheduled to pod again in 5 weeks. I have no idea what a realistic body fat percentage goal would be, so I'll go with scale weight. I'd like to lose 2 pounds a week in five weeks. Be down 10 pounds of ALL FAT. That would put me at 29% body fat. So, there it is. 5 weeks. -10 pounds fat. -4.5% body fat.
The best antidote, by the way, to the reeling depression a body fat test can bring is to immediately have scheduled yourself for a workout class. I do that every time and I work off my despair with an extra-invogorated workout and feeling empowered that I'm taking steps immediately to change things for myself. I've felt much better ever since.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Road to Portland is Paved in Sweat
Well, it is. I worked out really really hard the week before last. I did Group Ride (spinning class) on Monday and found myself to be quite the beast in that class. I had reserves of energy and, coming off of last Winter when I kind of "burned out" on all levels, it was really nice to feel energetic while exerting so much effort. I used to always feel depleted during those classes. I did a vigorous step class, I ran hills and found my energy levels just kept on keepin' on. I know this improved vitamin intake and nutrition has got to be a key for me.
My weight didn't change this week but then all of a sudden I could wear a pair of capri pants that last week wouldn't close. So, the shift is still happening.
I found a link online. See what Dr. Oz says about drinking a shake for breakfast:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/boost-your-declining-metabolism
I don't know about you, but boosting my metabolism up to 25% has got to be a good thing, especially with weight to lose. Besides, I'm feeling downright sprite these days. I pop up out of bed in the morning, I'm in a really decent and even mood all day long, I don't slump in the afternoons, I have energy when I workout, I'm more productive and feeling light and healthy inside.
I didn't really do anything exotic with my shakes this week. Same ole, same ole's, but that works just fine for me.
This most recent week I wasn't so on track. My workouts were few and far between, and we ate out a lot. Tons of social engagements and I was lazy and didn't plan as well as I should for that. My weight is the same, but that's my fault, not the shakes! It's a helper, not a miracle!
I went to the grocery store and got some healthful things for noshing this week. I'm also T-minus two weeks out from a swimsuit wearing opportunity (opportunity just does not capture the dismay running amuck in a swimsuit in public places brings about, but I try to be optimistic). So the next two weeks I am upping myself to two shakes a day and then a normal dinner. If I have a heavy workout planned though, I will eat a normal breakfast and do a shake as post-workout.
I also have a date on Tuesday with "THE BOD POD". The name must've scared people silly, because my gym now changed it to be called "True Analysis". Whatever. It's a "Beam Me Up, Scotty" type of pod you sit in and it scans you and tells you how fat you are. And what makes it even better, is you have to either wear a swimsuit or a spandex bodysuit to get the test done. Gee, can't wait. There was also a rumor circulating that they manned the pod with a dashing young man which made both bodysuit and knowledge of fat levels very uncomfortable for us gals. I did a little fact finding and found out a girl would be beaming me up on Tuesday. I'm subjecting myself to this potential trauma because I want to really track my progress as I get further into the Body by Vi Challenge. I want my changes to be lasting and lifelong and to support the active lifestyle I want to get back. Not deplete me like my former diet did and get me totally off track. If I plan to run 26.2 miles in October, I need to be feeling great, not void like I did last year.
I'll post again on Tuesday night so you know how my pod experience turned out. Beam me up!
My weight didn't change this week but then all of a sudden I could wear a pair of capri pants that last week wouldn't close. So, the shift is still happening.
I found a link online. See what Dr. Oz says about drinking a shake for breakfast:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/boost-your-declining-metabolism
I don't know about you, but boosting my metabolism up to 25% has got to be a good thing, especially with weight to lose. Besides, I'm feeling downright sprite these days. I pop up out of bed in the morning, I'm in a really decent and even mood all day long, I don't slump in the afternoons, I have energy when I workout, I'm more productive and feeling light and healthy inside.
I didn't really do anything exotic with my shakes this week. Same ole, same ole's, but that works just fine for me.
This most recent week I wasn't so on track. My workouts were few and far between, and we ate out a lot. Tons of social engagements and I was lazy and didn't plan as well as I should for that. My weight is the same, but that's my fault, not the shakes! It's a helper, not a miracle!
I went to the grocery store and got some healthful things for noshing this week. I'm also T-minus two weeks out from a swimsuit wearing opportunity (opportunity just does not capture the dismay running amuck in a swimsuit in public places brings about, but I try to be optimistic). So the next two weeks I am upping myself to two shakes a day and then a normal dinner. If I have a heavy workout planned though, I will eat a normal breakfast and do a shake as post-workout.
I also have a date on Tuesday with "THE BOD POD". The name must've scared people silly, because my gym now changed it to be called "True Analysis". Whatever. It's a "Beam Me Up, Scotty" type of pod you sit in and it scans you and tells you how fat you are. And what makes it even better, is you have to either wear a swimsuit or a spandex bodysuit to get the test done. Gee, can't wait. There was also a rumor circulating that they manned the pod with a dashing young man which made both bodysuit and knowledge of fat levels very uncomfortable for us gals. I did a little fact finding and found out a girl would be beaming me up on Tuesday. I'm subjecting myself to this potential trauma because I want to really track my progress as I get further into the Body by Vi Challenge. I want my changes to be lasting and lifelong and to support the active lifestyle I want to get back. Not deplete me like my former diet did and get me totally off track. If I plan to run 26.2 miles in October, I need to be feeling great, not void like I did last year.
I'll post again on Tuesday night so you know how my pod experience turned out. Beam me up!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Body by Vi Challenge - Week 3 Review
Week three and going strong. It's just not that hard. I take 3 minutes, throw some stuff in the blender and make a shake. And I either drink it in the car on my way to the place of the moment or I put it in the fridge and down it for lunch or dinner. It will never be easier than this. And for once I don't feel like I'm suffering in the name of weight loss. It's a beautiful thing.
I'm down 12 pounds in three weeks. My body maintains for a few days and then woosh, big weight loss.
I am feeling really "good". That word doesn't give proper oomph to what I'm feeling. I feel really "even", an ongoing sense of well-being, more energetic and I feel healthy. I talked to my family members who are doing the Body by Vi Challenge too and they are reporting the same findings. Dieting and I'm feeling good... it's a new concept but I'll go with it. I keep thinking it must not be working because it's too enjoyable and easy. And yet, it's working.
I went to the gym only once this week (bad girl) but when I did, a gal I know there immediately said "you're losing weight". Why yes, yes I am! Woo hoo!
So far, so good. I got some other products in my distributor kit and finally curiosity got the best of me and I tried some of them. Here's how that went down:
1. NEURO - this is a healthy energy drink. Only 1 gram of sugar (I think some brands top out at 50+ g, so that's excellent), some caffeine but not as much as the ones on the market. They say it lifts you up without the "crash" that is associated with other energy drinks. They say it "clears brain fog".
I stuck it in a Costco bottled water and shook it up really good. It comes in lemon or berry flavor. It tastes like a flavored fitness water or perhaps a Crystal Light. Pretty good. I do not drink caffeine at all typically and I don't think I've EVER had an energy drink. After about 15 minutes, I started to feel little zings of energy and about 25-30 minutes in I felt extremely energetic. I found my eyes darting about and my mind thinking "I just wanna DO something". Hee hee. I didn't notice myself come down from the high energy feeling but at some point I must've. I never crashed. It didn't make my heart palpitate like a caffeinated soda usually would. I would definitely use this during a half marathon (caffeine has been shown to boost athletic performance) and on afternoons when I know I'm going to get sleepy.
2. Vi Trim - this is a tasteless powder that is supposed to control hunger. I don't really have issues with hunger on this shake challenge so far, but I just wanted to see what it would do. I had a normal food breakfast. Then I had a nutra-cookie (see #3) and an apple for lunch. By about 2:00 I was already getting hungry, so I mixed a Neuro and threw some Vi Trim in there. I was still hungry at 2:20 but then all of a sudden I wasn't. I decided to just wait it out and see at what point I would want dinner, which was to be my delectable chocolate peanut butter shake. I had to work late that night so I figured I would probably drink my shake at around 7. I found myself driving home at 9pm and realizing I never drank my shake! Still not hungry! I did drink it anyway just because I probably should eat something, but I was impressed at how un-hungry I was.
3. Nutra-Cookie - I'm having a love affair with the Nutra Cookie. This actually didn't come in the distributor kit, but I know myself well enough to know that any cookie is a friend of mine so I ordered some to sample at parties and well, let's be honest, EAT. It comes in Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Peanut Butter. It's 150 calories. I could eat it plus an apple for lunch and feel satisfied. They are delicious. They are super nutritious with ingredients such as broccoli sprout concentrate, brussel sprout powder, raspberry powder, etc etc. You can't taste these in there, swear! It tastes like a healthy cookie. A smidge earthy, but very good overall. I heart the nutracookie and it saves me on days when I need to have a shake but have nowhere to store it until I'm ready for it.
One last thing I'm noticing on the shakes, they are taking away my insatiable sweet tooth. I think because they are sweet tasting, I find myself not so preoccupied with finding sweet things to get into around the house. This is a very good thing.
Bring on week 4!
I'm down 12 pounds in three weeks. My body maintains for a few days and then woosh, big weight loss.
I am feeling really "good". That word doesn't give proper oomph to what I'm feeling. I feel really "even", an ongoing sense of well-being, more energetic and I feel healthy. I talked to my family members who are doing the Body by Vi Challenge too and they are reporting the same findings. Dieting and I'm feeling good... it's a new concept but I'll go with it. I keep thinking it must not be working because it's too enjoyable and easy. And yet, it's working.
I went to the gym only once this week (bad girl) but when I did, a gal I know there immediately said "you're losing weight". Why yes, yes I am! Woo hoo!
So far, so good. I got some other products in my distributor kit and finally curiosity got the best of me and I tried some of them. Here's how that went down:
1. NEURO - this is a healthy energy drink. Only 1 gram of sugar (I think some brands top out at 50+ g, so that's excellent), some caffeine but not as much as the ones on the market. They say it lifts you up without the "crash" that is associated with other energy drinks. They say it "clears brain fog".
I stuck it in a Costco bottled water and shook it up really good. It comes in lemon or berry flavor. It tastes like a flavored fitness water or perhaps a Crystal Light. Pretty good. I do not drink caffeine at all typically and I don't think I've EVER had an energy drink. After about 15 minutes, I started to feel little zings of energy and about 25-30 minutes in I felt extremely energetic. I found my eyes darting about and my mind thinking "I just wanna DO something". Hee hee. I didn't notice myself come down from the high energy feeling but at some point I must've. I never crashed. It didn't make my heart palpitate like a caffeinated soda usually would. I would definitely use this during a half marathon (caffeine has been shown to boost athletic performance) and on afternoons when I know I'm going to get sleepy.
2. Vi Trim - this is a tasteless powder that is supposed to control hunger. I don't really have issues with hunger on this shake challenge so far, but I just wanted to see what it would do. I had a normal food breakfast. Then I had a nutra-cookie (see #3) and an apple for lunch. By about 2:00 I was already getting hungry, so I mixed a Neuro and threw some Vi Trim in there. I was still hungry at 2:20 but then all of a sudden I wasn't. I decided to just wait it out and see at what point I would want dinner, which was to be my delectable chocolate peanut butter shake. I had to work late that night so I figured I would probably drink my shake at around 7. I found myself driving home at 9pm and realizing I never drank my shake! Still not hungry! I did drink it anyway just because I probably should eat something, but I was impressed at how un-hungry I was.
3. Nutra-Cookie - I'm having a love affair with the Nutra Cookie. This actually didn't come in the distributor kit, but I know myself well enough to know that any cookie is a friend of mine so I ordered some to sample at parties and well, let's be honest, EAT. It comes in Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Peanut Butter. It's 150 calories. I could eat it plus an apple for lunch and feel satisfied. They are delicious. They are super nutritious with ingredients such as broccoli sprout concentrate, brussel sprout powder, raspberry powder, etc etc. You can't taste these in there, swear! It tastes like a healthy cookie. A smidge earthy, but very good overall. I heart the nutracookie and it saves me on days when I need to have a shake but have nowhere to store it until I'm ready for it.
One last thing I'm noticing on the shakes, they are taking away my insatiable sweet tooth. I think because they are sweet tasting, I find myself not so preoccupied with finding sweet things to get into around the house. This is a very good thing.
Bring on week 4!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Body by Vi Challenge - Week 2 Review
At the official end of Week 2, I 'm down 7 pounds. And celebrating!
I did one shake a day every day except one day I did none. I did make it to the gym 4 times. Improvement. It's funny how just knowing I am making an effort for health, even something as simple as making a shake, is starting to make me want to do just a wee bit more to try harder. Plus, now that I've lost a few pounds I like how moving toward my goal feels so much that I want to keep doing it!
The shake flavors I tried this week were:
Root Beer Float - 2 scoops shake mix, 4-6 oz. unsweetened almond milk, 4-8 oz. diet root beer, and 4-6 ice cubes. My husband and I split it for dessert and it was delicious!! Highly recommend.
Berry Classic - this one I used to make with straight whey protein prior to starting this challenge. This one is my husband's favorite: 1 cup frozen mixed berries (the big Rader Farms bag from Costco is way economical for this), 2 scoops shake mix, enough water to be even with top of ingredients. Blend and enjoy. I find mixing it with the shake mix keeps me much fuller than when I just did straight whey protein. You can add a tablespoon of flaxseed oil too if desired for extra Omegas.
Chocolate Banana - 2 scoops shake mix, 8-12 oz. unsweetened chocolate almond milk, 1/2 banana.
The variety is fun, but honestly right now, that is the least of my concerns. I've liked all the shake varieties I've tried so far, so any of them are good for me. My Dad mixes his shake mix in his coffee - like a creamer. He said it was delicious and other coffee drinkers I've shared that with agreed. Definitely more economical than Starbucks!
I referred three people and got my kit, which is big enough for my husband and I to each have a daily shake, for free.
So, by the end of week two I had two people tell me I look like I had lost weight. Awesome awesome. I read once that many people won't notice a weight gain/loss of five pounds but 10 is definitely noticeable. I was in despair when I first read that comment because I had gained 20. But now I'm happy 'cause I'm close to having lost 10! Oh, the emotional roller coaster of weight management.
The plan is still easy, yummy, economical and convenient. I have no complaints at this point going into week three. I've noticed in myself and others that are trying it too that it seems like I don't lose for a few days and then suddenly, sizeable weight loss.
Since my weight is coming off at a much faster rate than I expected, I plan to take my update pictures every 2 weeks. It will take some courage to post those, so I'll post them on a day I'm feeling extra saucy and invincible.
On to week 3!
I did one shake a day every day except one day I did none. I did make it to the gym 4 times. Improvement. It's funny how just knowing I am making an effort for health, even something as simple as making a shake, is starting to make me want to do just a wee bit more to try harder. Plus, now that I've lost a few pounds I like how moving toward my goal feels so much that I want to keep doing it!
The shake flavors I tried this week were:
Root Beer Float - 2 scoops shake mix, 4-6 oz. unsweetened almond milk, 4-8 oz. diet root beer, and 4-6 ice cubes. My husband and I split it for dessert and it was delicious!! Highly recommend.
Berry Classic - this one I used to make with straight whey protein prior to starting this challenge. This one is my husband's favorite: 1 cup frozen mixed berries (the big Rader Farms bag from Costco is way economical for this), 2 scoops shake mix, enough water to be even with top of ingredients. Blend and enjoy. I find mixing it with the shake mix keeps me much fuller than when I just did straight whey protein. You can add a tablespoon of flaxseed oil too if desired for extra Omegas.
Chocolate Banana - 2 scoops shake mix, 8-12 oz. unsweetened chocolate almond milk, 1/2 banana.
The variety is fun, but honestly right now, that is the least of my concerns. I've liked all the shake varieties I've tried so far, so any of them are good for me. My Dad mixes his shake mix in his coffee - like a creamer. He said it was delicious and other coffee drinkers I've shared that with agreed. Definitely more economical than Starbucks!
I referred three people and got my kit, which is big enough for my husband and I to each have a daily shake, for free.
So, by the end of week two I had two people tell me I look like I had lost weight. Awesome awesome. I read once that many people won't notice a weight gain/loss of five pounds but 10 is definitely noticeable. I was in despair when I first read that comment because I had gained 20. But now I'm happy 'cause I'm close to having lost 10! Oh, the emotional roller coaster of weight management.
The plan is still easy, yummy, economical and convenient. I have no complaints at this point going into week three. I've noticed in myself and others that are trying it too that it seems like I don't lose for a few days and then suddenly, sizeable weight loss.
Since my weight is coming off at a much faster rate than I expected, I plan to take my update pictures every 2 weeks. It will take some courage to post those, so I'll post them on a day I'm feeling extra saucy and invincible.
On to week 3!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Body by Vi Challenge - Week One Review
So, the first day I drank a shake for breakfast - I just put shake mix and plain unsweetened almond milk in a blender. I liked how fast my breakfast was ready. And no dishes to wash - rinse the blender and cap and voila. This could have a very good compound effect in my life as there are many mornings I simply don't have time to cook or pack something healthy. I drank it, it tasted good, kind of like melted cookies and cream ice cream. I was full (completely full) for 2 1/2 hours before hunger started slowly creeping in. I try to eat every 3 hours anyway to keep my metabolism stoked and avoid hunger and overeating, so this model works well. My husband doesn't usually eat again until lunch and had no problem waiting until lunch. He said he was hungry by lunchtime, but wasn't suffering at all in the morning. The mix is 90 calories and then if you add unsweetened almond milk, it adds 40-60 calories, depending on how much milk you add. So, 150 calories and full. Nice. Even if I did my egg/egg white & oatmeal breakfast, it's around 350-400 calories.
The next day I hopped on the scale because I am a lab rat in my own perpetual life experiment and even though experts always say there is no logical reason to weigh yourself every single day, too bad. The scale is part of my morning ritual. Down 2.4 pounds! Wha?!?! Seriously?!?! I got giddy because it's so easy so far.
I did shakes for breakfast all week and am down a total of five pounds. My plan is on the weekends or nights when I know my diet is going to be unsavory, perhaps consider a shake for lunch too to allow myself a little calorie deficit going into the evening. It's all about doing something that allows you to continue living life in a reasonable way, right? I ended up doing that three times this week because we had so many social activities going on. Other than the shakes, I really didn't try much this week. I only made it to the gym twice and we ate out Wednesday night, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, me holding five pounds through this is pretty amazing.
Usually when we eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant, for whatever reason, the next morning I am up 3-4 POUNDS on the scale and it takes me half a week to get my weight back down. I don't know if it's sodium or bean bloat or what the heck is going on there. But it happens every time. This weekend, the MAM (morning-after-Mexican) was 0. I held my weight loss to the OUNCE. Another delightful surprise.
The final delightful surprise: variation. My three favorite shakes this week were:
1. Plain Jane: Shake + 10 oz. unsweetened almond milk (unsweetened almond milk adds a nice consistency and if it's unsweetened, 0 sugar to the shake.) It's delicious.
2. Orange Dream: Shake + 8 oz. OJ + Ice (I nixed the ice because my blender is elderly and just can't do it anymore, poor old girl). Tastes like an Orange Julius which is why I feel that this once again is a little too delightful to be a diet.
3. Choc Peanut Butter: Shake + 8-12 oz. unsweetened chocolate almond milk + 1 spoonful (1 TBSP if unsure) of peanut butter (careful, a spoon is plenty and don't go overboard with fat and calories by putting a ginormo spoonful in. It doesn't need it). It's really really good.
The shakes are so good that I literally find myself looking forward to them. And like tonight, we ate out for lunch and I'm opting to skip leftovers for a shake for dinner.
The last thing to report is that both my husband and I have reported to each other independently that we are feeling so much more "even" this week. Like a calm feeling of well-being.
For a first week on a "diet", I'm thinking this is a pretty good fit. I have not suffered, I have not killed myself trying (although I do plan to resume my workout schedule soon), and my life is virtually the same and I lost weight. I like the product's taste so much I look forward to it. I just haven't found a downside yet.
We went to the grocery store today and restocked our oj/milk supplies and got some new things to make new flavors this week as well as food for our non-shake meals. My grocery bill was exactly half of last week (almost to the penny). It's because we know what we are having for particular meals of the day now. Instead of haphazardly buying food "options" for the week or buying multiple things for meals, it's bringing our cost of living down. I can live with that.
My husband and I both are down 5 pounds the first week.
If you want to know more, visit http://melissamcgarvey.bodybyvi.com/ If you decide you want to purchase this shake you can order it on that site and I get credit for the sale, which I really appreciate. If you purchase the shake and refer three friends who buy it too, yours is free. I'm happy to help you do that if this interests you. There are a lot of opportunities with this product and company. I'm going to pursue the business piece as well because I'm in the spa business and that supports this kind of a product. But people who aren't in a traditional business are realizing huge financial perks from being associated with this company as well. Some get free BMW's (it's not as hard as you think) and some are making anything from "a little extra money" each month to making 6 figures a month. If you want to see how the business side of this company works, I am happy to give you the details as well so you can see if it is a good fit for you. Either way, I'm pumped about my progress this week and am looking very forward to week 2!
The next day I hopped on the scale because I am a lab rat in my own perpetual life experiment and even though experts always say there is no logical reason to weigh yourself every single day, too bad. The scale is part of my morning ritual. Down 2.4 pounds! Wha?!?! Seriously?!?! I got giddy because it's so easy so far.
I did shakes for breakfast all week and am down a total of five pounds. My plan is on the weekends or nights when I know my diet is going to be unsavory, perhaps consider a shake for lunch too to allow myself a little calorie deficit going into the evening. It's all about doing something that allows you to continue living life in a reasonable way, right? I ended up doing that three times this week because we had so many social activities going on. Other than the shakes, I really didn't try much this week. I only made it to the gym twice and we ate out Wednesday night, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, me holding five pounds through this is pretty amazing.
Usually when we eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant, for whatever reason, the next morning I am up 3-4 POUNDS on the scale and it takes me half a week to get my weight back down. I don't know if it's sodium or bean bloat or what the heck is going on there. But it happens every time. This weekend, the MAM (morning-after-Mexican) was 0. I held my weight loss to the OUNCE. Another delightful surprise.
The final delightful surprise: variation. My three favorite shakes this week were:
1. Plain Jane: Shake + 10 oz. unsweetened almond milk (unsweetened almond milk adds a nice consistency and if it's unsweetened, 0 sugar to the shake.) It's delicious.
2. Orange Dream: Shake + 8 oz. OJ + Ice (I nixed the ice because my blender is elderly and just can't do it anymore, poor old girl). Tastes like an Orange Julius which is why I feel that this once again is a little too delightful to be a diet.
3. Choc Peanut Butter: Shake + 8-12 oz. unsweetened chocolate almond milk + 1 spoonful (1 TBSP if unsure) of peanut butter (careful, a spoon is plenty and don't go overboard with fat and calories by putting a ginormo spoonful in. It doesn't need it). It's really really good.
The shakes are so good that I literally find myself looking forward to them. And like tonight, we ate out for lunch and I'm opting to skip leftovers for a shake for dinner.
The last thing to report is that both my husband and I have reported to each other independently that we are feeling so much more "even" this week. Like a calm feeling of well-being.
For a first week on a "diet", I'm thinking this is a pretty good fit. I have not suffered, I have not killed myself trying (although I do plan to resume my workout schedule soon), and my life is virtually the same and I lost weight. I like the product's taste so much I look forward to it. I just haven't found a downside yet.
We went to the grocery store today and restocked our oj/milk supplies and got some new things to make new flavors this week as well as food for our non-shake meals. My grocery bill was exactly half of last week (almost to the penny). It's because we know what we are having for particular meals of the day now. Instead of haphazardly buying food "options" for the week or buying multiple things for meals, it's bringing our cost of living down. I can live with that.
My husband and I both are down 5 pounds the first week.
If you want to know more, visit http://melissamcgarvey.bodybyvi.com/ If you decide you want to purchase this shake you can order it on that site and I get credit for the sale, which I really appreciate. If you purchase the shake and refer three friends who buy it too, yours is free. I'm happy to help you do that if this interests you. There are a lot of opportunities with this product and company. I'm going to pursue the business piece as well because I'm in the spa business and that supports this kind of a product. But people who aren't in a traditional business are realizing huge financial perks from being associated with this company as well. Some get free BMW's (it's not as hard as you think) and some are making anything from "a little extra money" each month to making 6 figures a month. If you want to see how the business side of this company works, I am happy to give you the details as well so you can see if it is a good fit for you. Either way, I'm pumped about my progress this week and am looking very forward to week 2!
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