Training and Food Journal: Tuesday, December 30

I didn't give myself enough time for a full 30 minutes of cardio this morning and then selfishly spent the better part of the day hanging out with friends playing Scrabble and Monopoly rather than hitting the elliptical again in the afternoon. However, I did not succumb to the pizza they all had for dinner and instead stayed on my diet and ate chicken on a bed of lettuce with some balsamic vinegar on it. It was really good and tasted even better when I thought about how much better off I will be for not eating the pizza. I am going to make sure I get all my cardio in tomorrow as well as a weight training workout. I can't beat myself up too much as I have continued to do at least 20 minutes of cardio everyday for over two weeks running.

Training:
AM: 20 minutes elliptical

Food:
Pre-cardio: 1/4 apple and two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Post-cardio: Tight Curves Protein in one cup skim milk
Breakfast: 1/2 c. oatmeal with flax seed, cinnamon, ginger and Splenda
Lunch: 2 slices Very Thin Pepperidge Farm wheat bread, half a can of tuna, touch of mustard, onion and garlic powder and lettuce
Afternoon Snack: 1 oz. mozzarella cheese
Dinner: Roasted chicken on a bed of lettuce with some raspberry flavored balsamic vinegar
PM Snack: 1/3 cup 1% milk fat cottage cheese and 1/4 apple
LOTS of water!!

Training and Food Journal: Monday, December 29

Today I am very proud of myself. I made a commitment to start eating better today and I did. Every day that I do the right things brings me a closer to my goal. YAY me!!

Training:
AM: 30 minutes elliptical
PM: 20 minutes elliptical
PM: Shoulder workout per Carlene's instructions

Food:
Breakfast: 1/2 c. oatmeal with wheat germ and flax seed, cinnamon and Splenda
AM Snack: 1 packet of Tight Curves Protein with a cup of skim milk
Lunch: 2 slices Very Thin Pepperidge Farm wheat bread, half a can of tuna, touch of mustard, onion and garlic powder and lettuce
PM Snack: 1 packet of Tight Curves Protein with a cup of skim milk
Dinner: Roasted chicken and 1 oz. mozzarella cheese
LOTS of water!!

Training and Food Journal: Sunday, December 28

Starting today I will keeping track of my progress on a daily basis to keep Carlene up-to-date on what I am doing and to keep me honest. I have not been following my diet and it will end up costing me serious results if I don't get on track. Journaling my diet will help me see where I might need help with my food habits and make me accountable. My weight training and cardio workouts will also be reported daily. Time to get in the zone and stop slacking. I am going to win the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge!!

FOOD:
Water
Tight Curves Protein powder in 1 cup of skim milk
Coffee with Splenda and half and half

Uncle Herschel's breakfast at Cracker Barrel: two eggs, grits, biscuits, gravy, hashbrown casserole, catfish fillets (grilled), lots of water (the only item I am allowed to consume in this meal)
...not surprisingly I am not hungry at 6:26pm but if I feel the need I will just have some more protein and, of course, water.

TRAINING:
AM: 30 minutes cardio on elliptical
PM: 30 minutes cardio on elliptical
Lower body weight training per instructions from Carlene

Today's thoughts: I am getting back on track with my diet and this will make me feel better. Also, starting tomorrow, Monday, I will be back to a more normal work schedule and this will keep me from doing any grazing during the day. It has been difficult to keep up with the diet since I haven't gone to the grocery store in a while and it is the holidays and we have friends in town who want to eat out. I have to be better about telling everyone that I am doing this Challenge and that it is important to me and I have to eat right and exercise everyday. NO EXCUSES!

Days Fourteen through Eighteen :: Update

I am still making progress but getting through the ritualistic holiday eating has gotten me off track with my diet. Every day I am doing at least 30 minutes of cardio, but it won't have a positive effect if I am not being good about what I put in my body. Starting today I will be journaling my diet and training every day in order to keep me on track and keep me honest about my progress.

I am feeling more energetic and stronger and my pants are requiring a belt...This is great news but I really need a new belt...

Days Six Through Thirteen :: Updates

I am feeling some improvement! My pants are not as tight and I have more energy and I am no longer mad at myself for not working out. I am eating better, although I am not 100% on the nutrition plan Carlene has laid out for me. As soon as I can get to the grocery store again I will be closer to being on track. I won't beat myself up about this right now. Every morning I am doing my cardio either on the treadmill or the elliptical, whichever one I am in the mood for and I am doing my weight training in the evening. Working out with weights in the afternoon or evening works best for me.

Most exciting of all is that my pants are not as tight as they had been. YAY! So a little progress has happened already and that is what matters most. This will keep me going and I should really start making some progress in the next two weeks.

Happy Holidays!

Days Four and Five :: Updates

I received my diet plan and shopping list from Carlene yesterday along with four workout plans that I will do once a week on four different days. I also have to do 30 minutes of cardio each morning when I get moving and then make sure I eat my breakfast and the rest of my 4-5 meals each day. I have been disciplined with my diet and exercise before so this won't be too difficult, however; I do have to make sure that Allan gets enough to eat... He is very support of me in everything I do so I should be fine for the duration of the Transformation Challenge (and beyond). The protein supplement and fat burner have not arrived so Carlene substituted another protein source for my diet, but the Tight Curves products should arrive this week. Each program that Carlene designs for Mommy's Body is specifically tailored to the individual based on the information she obtains from a series of questions, tests and feedback during the consultation. Although Carlene and I have known each other for quite some time she has followed her usual procedures to ensure she doesn't overlook anything in my analysis.

I have to keep a diet journal of everything I eat. This, I know, will be the most surprising part of the next 11 weeks. I honestly don't eat as well as I used to and I will have to work hard to prepare the nutritious meals that Carlene has on my program. The meals themselves are not difficult it will be me making the time to shop and then prepare each day. Just a little re-prioritizing of my time and energy is all. I have gotten so used to working from home that I often overwork and lose focus on me and what is important to my health and well-being.

Just to keep me on track...30 minutes of cardio and the shoulders/abs workout yesterday and 30 minutes of cardio already this morning (per the program!). Thought for the day: Focus!

Days Two, Three and Four :: Updates

There has obviously been no major progress on the transformation yet, but I have sworn off the Christmas cookies for the rest of the holiday season as of Thursday evening. I have been holding an Open House for my fused glass business, Sassy Glass Studio, and served some yummy cookies and they were my dinner on Thursday. Cookie overload. I won't need another sugary treat for a while, I guarantee it.
Carlene from Mommy's Body came by Friday afternoon to do my analysis which included checking my blood pressure (good) and my body fat (not good) and she will be preparing my diet plan and give me some guidelines on my workout program as well. I have been doing about 30 minutes of cardio most days of the week, but I really need to step it up if I am going to win the challenge.
No excuses. Excuses don't win you anything...

Day One :: Tight Curves Transformation Challenge

December 10 marks the first day of the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge. My before photos are below. They are not pretty and I didn't realize how out of shape I am. Thanks to Carlene Steenekamp of Mommy's Body - http://www.mommysbody.com/ - for getting me involved in this Challenge. The Transformation Challenge is about 12 weeks long and the winner is chosen based on overall appearance improvement not weight loss, fat loss or increase in muscle mass. I have been so focused on building the two businesses my husband Allan and I have, Sassy Glass Studio and ALM Photo that I have not been focusing on my fitness like I used to when I had a regular job. You would think that working for yourself would guarantee you would have and make time to workout but you would be wrong. It has taken a goal to get me to reevaluate my life and day to day activities in order to fit fitness back in.

In this blog I will be keeping track of my progress and providing some information on the challenges I face on my way to the end of the challenge and beyond. Drop me a line if you have any suggestions or tips that will help me stay focused and strong!