Progress | July 23, 2012

I've been watching what I eat and recording it in the My Fitness Pal app {see example screenshot below} on my Android phone as well as doing at least 30 minutes of cardio 5-6 days a week for the past two or so weeks. It's a start. It's 5 pounds down. It's a stronger me. It's abs that are getting firmer. Within the first few days of watching what went into my mouth, I noticed my pants and skirts weren't so tight in the waist. That was the first sign that I wasn't taking in so much sodium and crap. Less bloat is great! I have also been drinking a crap load of water. And I started my weight training again. Baby steps.

I got a new bicycle helmet, new workout kicks, a new sports bra and I'll be bringing the old kicks and some workout clothes to the office this week so I can ride my bike or head over to Cherokee Boulevard for a long walk during the day. Making my fitness more accessible helps. And having the right food choices with me does too.

Oh, and I also also taking part in my friend Mary Weaver's Body Transformation Boot Camp for women over 40. It's a 5 week program with weekly calls, a private Facebook group, a private website and lots of great support from Mary herself. She's awesome! Visit her website at primefit.org for more information. Here is a link to a Q&A with Mary in MetroPulse.

It's on! I'll be posting more updates and insights every so often.

My pants are too tight

I am not very happy. My pants are too tight.
This has to change. It will change now.
Why you ask? Operation Awesome 2012!
Follow me. Experience change!
Kitty. Fantastic.

This is me very happy. My pants were not tight.
This is where Operation Awesome 2012 will take me!

Hubs Joins Me on the Dark Side :: P90X

My husband, Allan, is finally working out with me, but only because it was 'his' idea. Friends of ours decided to do the P90X workout DVD series and Allan thought this sounded like great fun, after all, if Doug and Alicia could do it, he could too.  Allan was amazed at how much work the first few days of the P90X program have been, but if he sticks with it for the first 14 days he will be hooked. I am looking forward to spending even more quality time with Allan, as if working together wasn't enough! The best part of this being his idea is that I have a legitimate reason to nag.

Photo :: Lisa Mueller | ALM Photo

I will be following the P90X workout for the next 90 days as well as continuing with my daily cardio.  So excited to be trying something different especially something that most people can do in their home with little or no investment in equipment. I will be posting updates as well as some 'new' before photos for the this new phase of training.

I Am Committed

Or perhaps I should be committed...

I noticed I had not posted an update since September 2009 and it's been bothering me quite a bit that I have overlooked these updates. Admittedly, I fell off my fitness program somewhere around July 2009 and have fought to regain my sanity and my committment to fitness. I am now ready to throw my hat back in the ring (or my weights back on the bar) and up my workouts so I can get back to the level of fitness and physical appearance that I was enjoying a year ago. I know I can do it!

Most people give up eating right and working out when they achieve their goal weight or level of fitness because they don't realize how important it is for all the components to work together. I knew how important it is but still let myself get off track. Identifying the problem is the first step and I just want to let anyone else having issues with staying committed to know it happens to everyone at some point. Some folks just get further off track than others.

It's a simple equation:

Great nutrition + Fat-burning cardio + Muscle building weght training = A lean strong body

My commitment to myself is for a 30 to 45-minute fat-burning cardio session every morning with an extra 30-minute PM session at least three days a week. Weight training will be spread out to four to five sessions per week. My husband, Allan, would like to get in better shape and has obtained the P90X workout DVD series and I would like to incorporate his workout into my daily routine. I may have to adjust my weight training schedule or intensity in order to not over work my muscles, but it is important for me to be his cheerleader and ride his ass like Jillian does the contestants of 'Biggest Loser'.

The last component of the commitment is nutrition. This was my biggest fail. I was so driven to eat correctly that I stop enjoying food and when I allowed myself some leeway it became too easy to give myself a cheat meal every day, and then every meal became a cheat meal. It's not difficult to eat right even when I am on the road or away on a photo shoot all day. I just have to remind myself of how I want to feel and look and I can get my healthful ways back. Allan might not be too happy about the lack of tasty snacks and delicious ice cream in the house but he will thank me for it later when he feels good and looks better.

One other stumbling block has been my depression. Nobody ever wants to admit they are depressed, so I was reluctant to admit it had laid its black cloud over me, but it did and I have to deal with it. The details are rather personal, so I won't divulge them here, but just know that it's OK to have stumbling blocks and it's OK to drive off your trail into territory that you didn't intend to travel. Just get out the GPS of your body, mind, soul and spirit and find your way back. Turn to your family and friends and those in your communities- both physical and cyber- to help get you back on track to becoming the person you want to be. I will be posting updates on a more regular basis (not the daily updates of the Transformation Challenge), but perhaps at least weekly so I can track my progress, identify my weaknesses and keep myself focused on success. Feel free to drop by and check on me. I have included some links below you may find interesting, or not.

I leave you with a refresher of my before (December 2008) and after (May 2009) images...

December 2008

May 2009

Check out these links to find out more about me, what I do and how I am progressing with my personal fitness challenge. You can be my cheerleader!

Personal Facebook

Sassy Glass Studio Facebook

ALM Photo Facebook

Sassy Glass Studio website

ALM Photo website

AllThingsSassy on Twitter

ALMPHOTO on Twitter

Hanging in There

Just a quick update on my transformation...

I am still working toward my goal of being in the best shape of my life; however, I have been slacking on my weight training and it shows. My businesses have gotten busier, which is great, but that means my schedule has become a little more erratic. I do not like to make excuses so I have decided to do my weight training in the morning rather than the evening on days where I will experience a conflict or time crunch. There...I have put it in writing and shared it with anyone who cares to see it. My plan is official now.

Be sure to check back every now and then to see how I am doing on this quest. At 43 years old I feel better than I have ever felt and love the way my body looks as a result of my efforts.

Getting better every day!

There's No Stopping Me!

Just a quick update...

I am still working out not only because I love how my body is looking but because it is how I maintain my sanity. Carlene of Mommy's Body came by last week and gave me some killer upper body exercises so I should see some definition in my arms and back soon. I have been doing the leg workout she suggested, but a couple of the days I had some terrible pain in my left knee that made it difficult to do lunges. The photo above was taken about a month ago and i like it because I look lean with a bit of definition to my arms. I will keep posting periodic updates as I get new photos or have new milestones to announce.

Thanks for checking in!

Tight Curves Transformation Challenge - Part II

Yesterday I sent in my "after" photos for the second 12 week Challenge in which I was chosen to participate. I have included all three sets of photographs- "before", "during" and "after". "After" is not the end though, so be on the look out for more progress photos in the future. Carlene came by yesterday morning and I stepped on the Magic Scale once a gain and...I am so excited with my results! I lost almost 3% more body fat and gained some lean muscle mass so I am definitely on my way to meeting my overall goals. My fabulously fit friend, Carlene, who is a personal trainer and owner of Mommy's Body Health & Wellness, spent over an hour with me showing me a whole new lower body weight training program including plyometrics that will build muscle in my legs and butt. I am sore today but it's that good sore that lets you know you have muscles being built.

All this just goes to show there is hope for a 43 year-old woman to get in the best shape of her life. It's not easy and it takes time, discipline, hard work and dedication. But I think it is worth, don't you?

These are the "before" photos from December 10, 2008

These are the "after" photos from February 28, 2009

These are the photographs from May 29, 2009...TRANSFORMING!!!

Still Transforming and Working My Butt Off!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that I am still transforming and working my butt off! Carlene stopped by today with the Magic Scale and I am so thrilled to see that my body fat percentage is down. I lost some inches overall but it was all BF and only a teensy bit of lean muscle which is fantastic. Carlene will be putting together a new workout to focus on my lower body- legs and glutes need so much more work than anything else at this point. She's also going to address my nutrition plan which has been rather lame lately. I eat, but don't stick to what I should and sometimes don't eat enough. Lastly, I am going to ease back on my cardio since it is pretty much overkill at this point. One 30-45 minute session in the morning is fine for now and I figure on non-weight training days I can also go for a run in the afternoon if the mood strikes me. I have been walking with my niece, Kristin, and we split pushing her kids in a stroller on a five mile walk up and down hills a couple of days a week which is some really awesome exercise. We're thinking about renting the kids and stroller out to help people get in shape!

Well...progress is being made and I look forward to the day when I am training for a competition. Yes, I said it. It makes me really nervous to think about it but it would be really awesome to have a goal to work toward of that magnitude.

Until next time...keep your chin up and keep your eyes focused on your goals and you will succeed!

Tight Curves Transformation Challenge People's Choice Award :: Vote For Me!

:: AFTER :: :: BEFORE ::

I need your help! As you know, I participated in the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge, a nearly 12 week fitness challenge sponsored by Tight Curves between December 10, 2008 and February 28, 2009. I used their products for the duration of the Challenge as well as ramped up my workouts and changed my eating with the guidance of Carlene Steenekamp who is not only my friend, but a personal trainer and owner of Mommy’s Body Health and Wellness. You can see from my before and after photos that I did work really hard and I still am. Tight Curves sponsored about 20 of the participants, including me, with products for another 12 weeks so we could transform even more. How awesome is that?!

So here is how I need you help…Tight Curves has posted the winner of the Transformation Challenge and posted the finalists for a People’s Choice vote. Please vote for me (and the two other challengers you think made the greatest improvement)! Click here to get to the voting website. You will find me a little more than halfway down the page (Lisa Mueller) and then simply make your selections at the top of the page for first through third place. This was an unbelievable experience for me and I would love to win the People’s Choice! Voting ends on May 15th so don't wait, do it now! :)

Voting website :: http://www.tightcurves.net/transformation-challengers.aspx

I will continue to post periodic updates, including my second “after” photos in mid-June!

Thanks for helping me out!!

Sugar Overload...Getting It Out of My System

Just a quick post to say that I finally gave in to my chocolate chip cookie craving over the weekend. I will be honest and say that is wasn't so much a chocolate chip cookie craving as a chocolate chip cookie dough craving. There I said it! I really wanted to make the dough from scratch but did not have many of the ingredients on hand. I think there is an unopened bag of flour in the cabinet and some crusty, old light brown sugar, but no regular sugar or any chocolate chips. So I guess I could have made a slightly sugary flour paste if I had really wanted to, but that would not have been at all the same as chocolate chip cookie dough, now would it?

So, Saturday afternoon Allan went to the store and got a package of the refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough and I made six cookies. We split them. And then I ate the dough equivalent of like six more out of the package with a spoon. Yummy! I had trouble sleeping that night and I felt kind of yucky in the morning, but do you think I learned anything from that? No!

Sunday afternoon Allan said he was going to go photograph a couple of houses for a real estate agent but he kept hanging around and wouldn't leave. I finally made him leave and then proceeded to eat, with a spoon, about half of the chocolate chip cookie dough that was left. Think I learned anything yet? No! Later that night I made the rest of the dough into cookies and ate about three more chocolate chip cookies and some more dough. Now, I finally learned my lesson!

I have never felt so crappy after eating something (except when I had food poisoning) in my whole life. I felt yucky all through the night and couldn't wait for morning to come so I could go back to eating correctly. I was so overloaded on sugar it was crazy. The craving has been satisfied and I don't know when I will want to eat chocolate chip cookie dough again, if ever. Well, let's be realistic here, I know I will eat chocolate chip cookie dough again, but it will be a long, long time.

This is why people cannot be on a "program" and eat a certain way consistently and go off of it and expect their body to react favorably. My body was mad at me...I think it still is. But I have apologized to it and I think I am making some progress mending our relationship.

So long, sugar!

The Tight Curves Protein Powder and Fat Burner Capsules Have Arrived

I am so excited to have received my 6 lb. jug of Tight Curves Vanilla Bean Protein Powder along with two bags of Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules. If you have not tried any of the Tight Curves products yet, do it now! This is very delicious protein powder and it tastes great in plain old water, but is an absolute treat when enjoyed in skim milk. It's almost like a shake!

I swear the Fat Burner (in addition to an hour of hard cardio almost each day) is what helped me reduce my fat percentage so greatly in the first three months. I am still working out hard and have been pushing myself more with my weight training. I have GOT to build up my legs and butt. Unfortunately, I was born with chicken legs (as Allan affectionately refers to them) and a long, flat butt (thanks Mom!) so I have to work harder on these areas than some people, like J-Lo for instance, do.

I will have Allan do some photographs of my 4 month progress by the end of the month for those of you following my progress. Remember, I need your comments and critiques! I am waiting to find out who has been chosen as the Tight Curves "People's Choice" finalists for the on-line voting as well as seeing the Challenge winner's photos. I need some inspiration!!!

And the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge Winner Is...

...not me, but don't think that this will keep me down, dampen my spirits or cause me to give up on my physical transformation. Ummm, hell no! It's actually going to make me work harder so that I will have a stronger and more solid physique at the end of the extended Transformation Challenge some time in June. Not only was I sponsored for another 12 weeks, but I also receive a $100 credit for Tight Curves products. Yay, now I can try the Chocolate Protein! Carlene says it is yummy!! I will keep everyone posted on the next phase of judging the "People's Choice" which will be the top 20 Challenge finishers who will be posted on the Tight Curves website and the public will vote on their favorite. You can guarantee if I am one of those lucky women you will be asked (required!) to vote for me. So, even though I wasn't the BIG winner for the Challenge I have made such great improvements that I really feel like a winner (and a little bit like a dork for making such a big deal about this whole deal)!

...and the winner is...
Congratulations to Christine Woods Team Tight Curves Member Winner and Angel Miller Transformation Challenge Winner. (Angel's photos will be posted on the Tight Curves website soon and I can't wait to see what I was up against...)

Update :: Sticking With It

Just in case anyone thought that once the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge was over I would quit the cardio, walk away from the weights or ditch the diet...you'd be wrong. I have stuck with my fitness and nutritional program and continued to work toward the fittest me ever! Yes, I did go off the wagon a bit this week when we were out of town for some photography seminars and I shared some cheesecake with Allan, but i am right back on that wagon now.

The Tight Curves Transformation Challenge winner should be announced this week. Over 100 women finished the Challenge so there were a lot of "before" and "after" photos to review before the final winner could be chosen. There is the possibility that the top 10 finalists (after the winner) could be posted on-line for a People's Choice Award which would be determined by votes from the public. I would love to end up a finalist! Plus Tight Curves is offering 20 participants the opportunity to be sponsored to continue the Challenge for another 12 weeks, so I was sure to reply to Tom with my two measurable goals.

I will be posting to this blog more frequently if I am given the opportunity to continue the Challenge because it really helped keep me accountable as far as what I was eating and how much cardio and weight training I was completing.

Wish me luck!

Training and Food Journal: Saturday, February 28 :: Final Day and After Photos

Today marked the end of the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge and I celebrated with pizza and beer for dinner. Woo Hoo! Allan took my after photos for me (warning: photos are posted below and may scare small children so please use caution while viewing ;)) and I was very impressed with the way my body is transforming. I still have a long way to go but for a 43 year old woman I think I look pretty good.

Carlene used her magical machine on me Thursday afternoon and I learned that my hard work is paying off! I have lost 15 pounds, 5% of my body fat, one inch off my hips and three inches off my waist. Good riddance! Sadly, I lost about 3 inches off my chest, however; on the plus side my metabolic age went from 30 to 20! Yay me!

I asked Tom at Bodywell Nutrition to consider sponsoring me with their product for another 12 weeks. They said they would possibly do this for anyone who finishes the Challenge and is motivated. That's me! Unless, of course, I am the winner and then I think I still get some more Tight Curves product to try. I will definitely post whether or not I win or get to continue using the product at no charge. Wish me luck! I will be continuing to work toward my goal of a totally lean, fit and healthy body and will post my progress but probably not a daily journal of my training and nutrition as it has been a rather time-consuming task.

Let me know if you have come across my blog and been inspired to pursue a fitness challenge of your own!

Training:

AM: 35 minutes treadmill

PM: 30 minutes elliptical

Weight training: N/A

Food:

Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules

Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda w/ 1/4 apple

Snack: N/A

Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules

Lunch: One slice bread and 6 slices turkey (150 cals) and soup (140 cals)

Afternoon snack: N/A

Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules

Dinner: Two slices Mellow Mushroom meat pizza and two Stella's

Dessert: Cheese blintz with strawberry sauce and two snack size Milky Way bars

Lots of water

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS

Before - Front

After - Front

Before - Back

After - Back

Special thanks to Carlene Steenekamp at Mommy's Body for getting me involved in the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge and providing the nutrition and workout information I needed to get from "before" to "after" and beyond. Please contact Carlene if you would like to experience your own transformation challenge.

Training and Food Journal: Friday, February 27

Tomorrow is the last day of the Challenge and I am so excited for my "after" photos!

Training:
AM: 30 minutes elliptical
PM: 30 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Workout #1/Upper Body

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda
Snack: N/A
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: Spaghetti and Ragu sauce with ground beef
Afternoon snack: 2 tbsp. peanut butter
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Some sort of diet soup my Mom fixed that was actually OK for me to eat, lots of protein and veggies in it. I also ate a half a peanut butter sandwich.
Dessert: N/A
Lots of water

Training and Food Journal: Thursday, February 26

Carlene from Mommy's Body (I know, even though I don't have a Mommy's Body I still need guidance and Carlene is the perfect coach) came by to update my stats and it was awesome. More on this in Saturday's post since it is the last day of the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge. Check out Carlene's website for more information about what she can do for pre- and post-natal women or any woman who would like to change the shape she is in.

Training:
AM: 30 minutes elliptical
PM: 15 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Workout #4/Lower Body

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda
Snack: N/A
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: One slice bread and 6 slices turkey (150 cals) and soup (140 cals)
Afternoon snack: 2 tbsp. peanut butter
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Chicken taco salad
Dessert: N/A
Lots of water

Training and Food Journal: Wednesday, February 25

After tonight I only have three more workouts until I take the "after" photos. I am waiting to hear back from Carlene on when she will be coming to do my "after" analysis, but I hope it is tomorrow so I can be even more excited for the last couple of days. WOO HOO!

Training:
AM: 30 minutes elliptical
PM: 20 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Workout #3/Upper Body

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda w/ 1/4 apple
Snack: N/A
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: One slice bread and 6 slices turkey (150 cals) and soup (140 cals)
Afternoon snack: 2 tbsp. peanut butter
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Chicken breast with rice and diced tomatoes
Dessert: N/A
Lots of water

Training and Food Journal: Tuesday, February 24

One really great thing about changing my eating habits...no extra food in the house and nothing going to waste in the fridge. Oh and there is a number two...Allan has lost 10 pounds! YAY Allan!

Training:
AM: 30 minutes treadmill
PM: 15 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Workout #2/Lower Body

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda
Snack: N/A
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: One slice bread and 6 slices turkey (150 cals) and soup (140 cals)
Afternoon snack: N/A
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Rice, diced tomatoes, chicken (Yup...same thing, but a little different every night)
Dessert: Sugar-free Jello
Lots of water

Training and Food Journal: Monday, February 23

Not many days left in the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge and I am really really really excited about my progress. I am totally having bizarre (for me!) food cravings: a hamburger with cheese (so, yeah, a cheeseburger) and sweet potato fries and oatmeal, chocolate chip, raisin, nut cookies. And you know what? I am totally going to have all that, in moderation, of course, because the last thing this woman is going to do is jeopardize all the hard work I have been doing since December 10th! Maybe I will post photos of my indulgence!!

Training:
AM: 30 minutes elliptical
PM: 20 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Workout #1/Upper Body

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda
Snack: N/A
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: One slice bread and 6 slices turkey (150 cals) and soup (140 cals)
Afternoon snack: 2 tbsp. peanut butter
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Pasta, diced tomatoes, chicken (amazingly this is NOT getting old with me or Allan...)
Dessert: N/A
Lots of water

Training and Food Journal: Sunday, February 22

Sunday, NASCAR, what more can I say, except that I got my workouts in!

Training:
AM: 30 minutes elliptical
PM: 15 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Workout #4/Lower Body

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda
Snack: N/A
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: One slice bread and 6 slices turkey (150 cals) and soup (110 cals)
Afternoon snack: 2 tbsp. peanut butter
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Pasta, diced tomatoes, chicken
Dessert: Jello and cottage cheese
Lots of water