Pictures

Here's the before pictures. Don't get used to them because between TF, running and bowling--and the eventual return of lifting--I'm gonna look badass. Like Misty Knight, Monica Rambeau, Storm badass.

I slacked

Horrendously. So let's try this again. New pics and I'm going to STAY accountable.  There are things I want to do, and I can't do them if I'm going to backslide. I'm going to be moving into the next stage of my life and I want to do that in my ideal body and with my ideal hair.

LET'S GET IT!!!

And that's what you missed on "Glee," er, I mean Thren

So I enjoy TurboFire, a lot actually. Even more than I liked Turbo Jam (and I loved me some Turbo Jam), but I needed something else. I was losing weight, but not just fat. (BTW, I just had to return a dress I bought online because I didn't realize how much weight I had lost and it looked like a tent on me.) And that's not Chalene's fault; it's a common problem with cardio.

So my solution? A TurboFire/ChaLean Extreme hybrid. I get the strength training I was missing from TF and the pure cardio I didn't get in CLX. I'm nearly finished with the second week, and I have to say (in Chalene terms, of course) that I think I've found my "soul mate workout." The first three weeks are mostly CLX, but week four gets you back into the swing of things with A LOT of TF. And I'm reading Chalene's book "Push." I'm currently up to "Day 8: Mapping Your Course." Yes, I really like Chalene Johnson that much. Considering getting a tat that says Turbo Girl when I get to goal size. That's still four dress sizes away, possibly five if I'm REALLY motivated.

I've really missed weights and I don't really like using resistance bands (which is what you mostly use for the circuit training in TF). I AM going to have to watch band basics, though, so that I don't get tripped up when I take the bands on vacation with me - that was one of the major issues when I did CLX the first time: I went on vacation, I couldn't switch the bands easily (dial-a-weights are your FRIEND) so I didn't get the most of my workout, I didn't workout the rest of vacation because I didn't want to deal with the hassle and then I came home and lapsed.
 
Diet-wise, I'm doing well. The MyFitnessPal app on my phone and the computer help keep me honest, especially since I've got my parents using the app. I do tend to overeat a little--now that I see what nutrients I'm not getting enough of in my regular meals, I'll try to make them up by snacking. It doesn't ALWAYS work out, but I try not to go over my max calories, extra workouts to compensate for when I do.

No measurements until the rest day of Week Five. Also, I still don't LIKE them, but push-ups are no longer the bane of my existence.

Fuck yoga, though.

I'm Back, Bitches!!!

Yes, I'm back, with a NEW program to whip my fat ass into a less fat ass. If you haven't heard of the awesomeness of TurboFire, go HERE. Go ahead; I'll wait. Done? Good.

So you probably noticed two things. One, it's from my favorite fitness guru, Chalene Johnson. Secondly, it's an amped up version of Turbo Jam...and you know how I love me some TJ! I'd made my way about halfway through the prep schedule before I started slacking (yeah, yeah, I know. It's a theme), but tomorrow I start doing TurboFire proper. I got the TF Warriors to keep me on track, homework done early to keep me from being up late and missing workouts, my mom alongside me to make sure I get up at 5:00 AM to workout and Results and Recovery Formula to get me through the soreness. Also, I WILL do yoga (also known as Stretch 40). I know I hate it, but flexibility training IS important and will allow me to do things that I couldn't do before. In addition, I now bowl in a league Wednesday nights, am going to start going to Zumba classes and (possibly) get up early on Wednesday mornings to go run before class (haven't completely made up my mind on that, yet).

So let's get on to my monthly measurements:

Weight: 198 lbs
Chest: 47 5/8 in
Left Arm: 14 3/4 in
Right Arm: 14 3/4 in
Waist: 46 3/8 in
Hips: 45 1/2 in
Left Thigh: 25 5/8 in
Right Thigh: 28 7/8 in

No body fat measurements or pictures this go around because you've seen the other pics. You know I'm fat. I'll take pics at the end, though, before I go to the TF/CLX Hybrid.

Oops...

Forgot about those measurements (and the rest of this phase's workouts, but I'll add those after I finish week 2 tomorrow).

Neck: 15 1/2 in
Chest: 47 in
Left Arm: 15 1/2 in
Right Arm: 14 1/2 in
Waist: 44 in
Hips: 47 in
Left Thigh: 26 1/2 in
Right Thigh: 28 in
Weight: 206.6 lbs

I know it's been almost 2 months, but...

I'm still around and I'm still pushing play. Saturday, I finished up an advanced rotation of Turbo Jam and took measuments on Sunday. I've been using my weighted gloves (K-Mart, not the blue Beachbody ones) for those workouts. Monday, I started my very first round of ChaLean Extreme. For that workout, I used my old 3-pound weights that I got for either 4th or 6th grade PE. I ordered some Reebok adjustable weights from Amazon for the program, but they didn't arrive until I was in the middle of the first workout. Next post will be measurements. But first, let Robert Harden tell you about Monday's and today's workouts:

Monday, Burn Circuit 1
Today, Burn Circuit 2

Also, I STILL fucking hate push-ups.

Still Standing

So I'm still pushing play, despite this virus that has either never left or is making the rounds through GNB again still ravaging my system. (Seriously. It's not pretty. You can ask the people at Olive Garden.) I did Punch, Kick  & Jam earlier in the week, and my sweats fell down. Awe-SOME! I also did Cardio Party with my mom later that night. How'd she like it? Well, she was really feeling the music and the routines. What she didn't like was the water break after the Turbo section. According to her, it was just another 30 seconds that she could've been done sooner. Either way, I burned her a copy, and she's considering getting a pair of weighted gloves, as well.

The only REAL issue with doing TJ is that my eating habits have changed - not the fault of Chalene, of course. It's that I've had NO appetite since being sick (constant cravings of OG breadsticks, notwithstanding) and it's begun to affect my metabolism negatively. Despite the sweatpants incident, it feels like I haven't been getting anywhere in my weight (fat) loss journey. I eat decently at dinner - one serving, where I used to eat three or four - but for the rest of the day I don't eat anything. I was starving at work one night and ordered jalapeno poppers. Eight come in an order, and I ate three before tossing the rest in the garbage. My job is moderately demanding physically - moving up and down lanes, and carrying weights (balls) that range from 6 to 16 pounds - and with no appetite, I'm not bringing in the fuel needed for it to actually BURN anything. And vomiting immediately after finishing my ravioli definitely isn't helping.

I've also been deliberately NOT weighing or measuring myself, as a result. Next set of measurements and pictures will be up next month.