3 Week mini challenge!

So in Valerie Waters Red Carpet Ready Club, I've issued a mini 3 week challenge for myself, which I thought I'd share with you here.... Now that others will be watching maybe I will push myself a little harder...
As I've mentioned in another post, my lower body has always been my problem area - arms, back, abs - not so much ... butt, hips, thighs - oy... This girl is definitely a pear shape...

When I started Val's program in January of 2009 - my stats were as follows:
Weight 147
Waist 28.5
Low Waist 32
Hips 141.5
Thighs 25

After 8 weeks

Weight 136 - down 11 lbs
Waist 26 - down 2.5 inches
Hips 39 - down 2.5 inches
Thighs 23 - down 2 inches

Over all inches lost over my entire body.... 13.25 !! Not too shabby - right?
Percentage-wise - I lost 30% of my total weight loss in the first 4 weeks and 55% of my total weight loss in 8 - after that it was harder and took longer to get a pound off - plus at that point I have to think some of the fat was being replaced by muscle - and as we all know - muscle weights more than fat ....

November 2009 was my all time low - weight was 127 and total inches down 25.25 - yowza!!! But after the holidays around Jan 1, I was up 5 lbs and 6 inches, which ended up being an inch or so increase to my waist, low waist, hips and thighs.... Not horrible - plus I've been able to maintain a 15lb and 19 inch loss over the past year.... I should be happy about this, shouldn't I?

So why the need for this mini challenge - Well honestly, the last time I got comfortable and lost focus, I ended up at 147 lbs and barely fitting in any of my pants, skirts, or shorts. I was embarrassed to go out in public in a pair of shorts or walking with confidence on the beach... Like I've said before, at almost 48 now, I feel as good as I did 20 years ago, maybe even better, but one thing is still hanging around - a little dark cloud over all my success... The darn cellulite on my thighs... I am determined by this summer to get it O-F-F! This means a cleaner diet and a lot harder work..... So with that said here is my plan:

This plan will consist of Val's principles and workouts - she is a staple forever in my life (http://valeriewaters.com/) ... also I've added some sprints and a grueling leg workout compliments of the anchor in my life and my husband, Mark - another fantastic trainer - for you ladies who work out with him - you know what I'm talking about (http://markoneworkout.blogspot.com/) ... Also I am hoping the Superfood journey I've started on courtesy of Ryan Orrico, and additional food and workout advice from my good friend Linda Muszynski (http://fitin-lindam.blogspot.com/2010/04/are-you-in-or-out-of-control.html) with be the final piece of my fitness puzzle...

Workouts - basically the same - adding extra cardio
Sunday - AM -Sprints / PM - 1 mile slow jog
Monday - AM - Valerie Waters Action Hero Babe Build / PM - 1 mile slow jog
Tuesday - Off
Wed - AM - Leg workout / PM - 1 mile slow jog
Thursday - AM - High Intensity Interval Training / PM - 1 mile slow jog
Friday - AM - Valerie Waters Action Hero Babe Burn / PM - 1 mile slow jog
Saturday - AM - High Intensity Interval Training / PM - 1 mile slow jog....

Food - basically the same
6:45 AM Super Green Smoothie
9:30 AM Egg whites and Oatmeal
11:30 5 Shrimp / Salad and 1/3 cup Quiona
1:00 PM Workout
3:00 PM Apple / 12 Almonds
5:30 PM Dinner - lean protein, 1 - 2 cup of veggies and /or salad

Monday - 4 oz of Chicken
Tuesday - 4 oz of Fish
Wednesday - 4 oz of Ground Turkey
Thursday - 4 oz of Chicken
Friday - 4 oz of Fish
Saturday - 3 oz of Beef
Sunday - 4 oz of Turkey

I hope you enjoy my journey - after these three weeks I will see where I'm at, and at that point I will re-evaluate to see if I need to switch things up.... As our bodies adapt and we get in better shape, we need to switch things up and kick our own butts to reach the next level of fitness. Lord help me!

Stats as of April 11, 2010
Weight 132
Waist 27
Low Waist 30
Hips 37
Thighs 22

Day 1 Completed!!

Warm up 1 set of 20 walking lunges
6 sets of Sprints (70 yards)
1 set of 20 walking lunges
2 sets of shuttle runs (12 x 25 yard times)
cool down 1 set of 50 walking lunges

3 week minin challenge - week 1

Saturday Day 7!! Results are in!!

Well I think I've even surprised myself here... Yes this has been a hard week, but I made it, and am still in one piece! Was it worth my efforts - Oh Ya!!

So after 1 full week of consistently eating clean and working out, and mind you - I did have a couple of cheats.... here are my results...

Weight 130 - down 2 lbs!!
Waist 26 - down 1" !!
L Waist 29.5 - down 1/2" !!
Hips 36 3/4 - down 1/4" !!
Thighs 21.5 - down 1/2" each!!

Wow - that is 2lbs and 2 3/4 inches in ONE week!! Now onto week two... in the meantime - I'd like to throw out a little challenge... I'd like you to try to get through this next week eating 90/10 clean and getting in 6 workouts - is it easy - no, is it fun - hell no - can you do it - hell ya!! All you need to do is make a plan and follow it - be consistent - if you have to, focus on getting through one day at a time... If you need help on how to do that, check out my Goal Setting blog. If you need more help - send me an email ... This is very do-able - just ask yourself "how bad do you want it"..... Oh and it you decide to take me up on this - please share your result and help inspire another to get fit and healty!!

Friday Day 6 ... Mood - Crabby pants have finally left the building and the fog has cleared from my head - Today I bounced out of bed feeling great!

Food
6:30 Green Superfood Smoothie
9:30 2 Egg whites / 1/4 cup oatmeal
12:00 5 shrimp, 2 cups salad and 1/3 cup quiona
1:00 Was starving, why, I don't know - but ate a small bag of trail mix (240 cals)
1:30 Upper body sculpt workout
3:30 cup of coffee
6:00 4 oz of turkey tenders, salad, 1 cup raw broccoli and 1/3 cup quinoa..
8:00 feeling really hungry tonight - may have to have a 1/2 smoothie.....

Exercise - Legs are kinda burned out - so going to do upper body, abs and some cardio if time - need to get about 45 - 50 mins in..... Tomorrow AM - weight and measurements to see if all my hard paid off - wish me luck!
Water - 2 of 28 oz bottles with lemon, 28 oz of detox tea, last 28 oz plain water...
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Thursday Day 5- Woke up a little hungry this morning so I had my egg whites and oatmeal first - Green smoothie at 10:00, and because I was still super full at 12:30, held off from lunch until after workout - ate my almonds to hold me over.... I think I was still full because in addition to the water from my morning drive, I drank another 14 oz of detox tea with lemon - have to say it tasted much better yesterday - bleck! Consumed 28 oz during workout - another 14 oz of that awful tea in the afternoon, and then 28 oz on the ride home...

Mood - a tad edgy - walked down the stairs to the vending machine, then turned around and grabbed a cup of coffee instead,. whew - that was close - one more day to go - weigh in on Saturday morning..... gosh - I hope I can make it - feel like I could crack anytime now.... Still have a severe case of the crabby pants.

Food
3 egg whites / 1/2 cup oatmeal
Super smoothie
almonds
$30 treadmill workout (check the link if you don't know what that is)
5 shrimp, 1/3 cup quinoa and 2 cups salad
5 oz Haddock, 1 cup green beans and salad
oh and a handful of cashews.... : (

Exercise - 3 sets of the $30 Treadmill, 1 mile slow jog after dinner and extra Ab workout - Slow jog was really tough - got 1/2 mile in then walked a 1/4 and ran the last quarter - hmmm might need to take an extra day off moving forward and do 5 days a week - my body is feeling tired. I'm doing a lot of leg work without much recovery time.... will let you know... Have a great night!

Wednesday Day 4 - Well darn - fell off the wagon a little last night - Had a pita pocket with my salad and shrimp, not too bad - but then I went to the store to get some lemons for my water, and ended up with a mounds bar.... I knew I should have just stayed home - in the back of my mind I think I knew I was going to get something - we always do!
Today I changed things up a bit - It was so nice outside I went for a 4 mile power walk with my friend Beth instead of doing my leg workout, which I will do tonight.

During the day I drank 24 oz of detox tea with a little honey and a half of lemon, 56 oz of water with lemon, and 28 oz of regular water on the ride home.

Food -
7:00 AM Super-food Green Smoothie
9:30 AM 2 Egg Whites and 1/4 cup oatmeal
12:00 PM 5 shrimp, 2 cups salad and 1/3 cup quiona
1:00 - 2:00 PM Walk
3:00 PM 12 almonds and an apple
5:30 PM 1/2 cup quiona pasta, 1/2 cup ground turkey with sauce and 1 cup of salad
7:30 PM Leg workout - wow - came so close to skipping - night-time is the hardest time for me to get motivated for a workout - but I do know this about myself so I try NOT to schedule workouts in the evening.... Wow - am I tired - really kicked my own butt and I loved it ; )
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Tuesday Day 3 - Wow is my body tired.... glad it's my day off... Still struggling with water a bit - will just have to focus here ... Food - no cheating so far!! Woo hoo!! ... and even more surprising no wine for 5 days now - When I did the Valerie Waters Diamond Club last year, one of the keys to my success was cutting the alcohol out - had no idea it was that bad for weight loss - I thought a glass of red wine was good for you... well it may be, but as far as your body is concerned it is a toxin and the first thing your liver does is work to filter that toxin out of your system... and oh, by the way, while it is doing that, it is NOT metabolizing the fat in your body. Another Ah-ha moment for me...According to Ask.com It takes your body around 1 hour to process 1 Unit of Alcohol, so that's about 8 oz of beer, less than a 1 oz shot or 2/3 of a 4 oz glass of wine. That number is for people with a healthy liver. For others, it may take longer.

Drinking 16 oz will take your body 4 hours to process the alcohol, increased or decreased by the amount of food in your digestive system and the health state of your liver. Usually on a good night out the Units will stack up, keeping you over the legal limit to drink and drive far far longer.

Honestly how many of us have ONE 4 oz glass of wine - one of my glasses is probably 6-8 oz... good grief - right?

Oh and lastly, I've been wondering why my brain has been a little fuzzy.... thought it was the lack of sleep after my granddaughter was born - now I think it's from cutting the sugar and carbs out of my diet - body is in full detox. Hopefully if all goes well by tomorrow my head should start to come back...... I can only hope!

Monday Day 2 - off to a great start ! Food and workout on point!! Water has been a little difficult to get back on track with - at noon I only had 28 oz in... Got another 1/2 in before 1:30 PM workout - got a full one in during workout - and another half through the afternoon. Last one on the way home... A goal for water should ALWAYS be between 80 and 100 oz.... My intake goal is 112 oz daily, which is 4 of my water bottles... Also, going to start adding fresh squeezed lemon to my water - lemon is a natural diuretic. Consuming anything sour makes the liver and gallbladder purge stored toxins. The liver is especially important for weight loss and overall health. When the liver is filled with toxins, it cannot do its critical tasks in metabolizing fat (which we want).

Workout - Action Hero Babe Build - Changed up a few exercises to increase intensity - like reverse lunge - added 20lb dumbbell and Bulgarian Split Squats, a favorite of Linda M's - added a 15lb dumbbell in each hand..... kinda tricky while trying to keep my balance. As I mentioned before, I'm trying to build my quads to push that darn cellulite O-U-T! 7 pm completed 1 mile jog and extra ab workout...... Too much fun right!
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