SergeantS's Journal

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12 March 2013

30 Day Shred, Level 2, Day 2

Yes! On Day 2 of Level 2 of the 30 day shred. I was going to do 30 days consecutively but on day 8 of level 1 I just felt like my body needed a break, I couldn't push myself as hard as I wanted to and had to stop a couple of times as my biceps were screaming for mercy! I took one day off, ate clean and rested and did A LOT of walking instead, I literally walked for hours just to keep some sort of burn going and I felt a million times better so went straight into Level 2. I did the whole of Level 1 with 1kg hand weights which worked well with the side lunge move (HATE SIDE LUNGES NOW AND FOREVER) because they weren't so heavy but were obviously far too light for the easier moves (chest flies etc) which I can do with much heavier weights already. SO! I decided to be a bit cocky, having watched Level 2 (without actually doing it) just to see what to expect on one evening I decided it looked like I could probably push it to 2.5kg weights instead for the entire thing. OUCH. Okay I managed to finish the entire Level without throwing up/collapsing but I came close a couple of times. Today is day 2 and I only had to stop one time, for those of you who have been through Level 2 you'll know that there are millions of plank positions and I tell you now, I was cursing Jillian to hell and back whilst doing the chair squat with a V-fly with 2.5kg hand weights. Surprisingly (or not) even though it's called a chair squat, don't expect to see a chair anywhere in sight. I still haven't managed to do that particular exercise all the way through, my arms normally die at around rep 3 and my breathing goes out of the window so I'm holding my breath to try to use maximum strength whilst preventing my body from vomiting. Welcome to Level 2.

No really, it's not that bad! I think it's a HUGE step from Level 1 and for all the times I wished Level 1 would end during the side lunge, I would take side lunging for a full half hour over some of the plank exercises in Level 2 any day. But it is all about trying to get the best workout possible within a half hour slot so I can't really complain, I don't think I could do more than half hour of this, I think it's just short enough for me to endure the torture Jillian puts me through but man is my body starting to look good! No pain to gain, they say. Will take measurements and weight reading at the end of Level 2, 20 March everyone. Let's hope I survive that long :)

(3 comments)

09 March 2013

Weight:	Lost so far:	Still to go:	Diet followed:
71.6 kg	1.5 kg	14.9 kg	100%

Add Comment Losing 0.7 kg a Week

07 March 2013

Day 7 of the 30 day shred.
I feel amazing! (Photos included for the non-believers!)
I have also started the Primal Blueprint diet, sort of, I'm still throwing in bits from my own diet but really, I am following a paleo diet. Minimal carbs from natural sources only and protein but I still have skimmed milk (no cheese, I don't like cheese anyway!) and oat bran in the mornings. I just bought his '21 day total body transformation' (it's called something like that, don't quote me on it!)book to ease myself into it and so far, I really like it :) It's not a diet, it teaches you about proper nutrition and exercise and how different macros affect your bodily functions and chemical reactions. It also teaches you how stress, hormone and insulin levels all contribute to weight loss and how to manage them. A good all rounder! And I find it's going really nicely alongside my 30 day shred for this month - I will be going on to a combo of 'Ripped in 30' and 'Banish Fat Boost Metabolism' as of 31 March :) eek!

It's strange, because it's true that the scale doesn't really move but although I'm only on day 7 I can definitely see changes in my body. I put on 3lbs after beginning my new exercise routine last week (without changing my diet) and 2 of those lbs came off but I'm still 1lb heavier than I was before last week, literally to the ounce, I'm pretty much staying the same BUT my body is starting to really tighten up, especially under my arms and my stomach (which is my worse nightmare!) I have that little pooch at the bottom of my stomach that's just THERE and so irritating but today I looked at it and actually thought it was nearly gone! It's crazy. I've lost about half an inch everywhere (waist/hips/chest/thighs) as of today but I'm taking my proper measuraments at the end of each Level. I'm so glad I have next week off of work because I go into Level 2 as of Sunday, I watched it already without doing it so I knew what to expect and oh my, I'm scared! I've never been one for exercise DVDs, I never really managed to follow them but I think that knowing it's 30 days and having it all broken down in levels, like a proper routine, makes it perfect for me and super easy to follow.

On day 2 of Level 1 I thought I was going to die. My quads wouldn't bend properly and I had to use my arms on the banisters to propel myself onto the next step when going down the stairs. Yeah, that bad! Now, I'm keeping up with her every step of the way (well, I'm still rubbish at push ups!) and I haven't done any of the simplified moves since day 1, I've always kept up with Natalie and Jillian and I'm so excited that my body is responding so quickly :) :) This is the difference in my body so far, it's not huge but keep in mind I'm only on day 7! I'm not one for posting photos online in underwear, believe me, but I wanted to show you that it DOES work if you put the effort in, no matter how much it hurts it DOES get better and your body will respond in time. I'll be glad when the time to say goodbye to my little belly pooch friend comes!

(6 comments)

03 March 2013

Weight:	Lost so far:	Still to go:	Diet followed:
72.2 kg	0.8 kg	15.5 kg	Reasonably Well

Add Comment Losing 2.9 kg a Week

01 March 2013

So, here we go! March 1st 2013 and starting my 'new' diet :) I feel so great right now, I can't believe how much I have already accomplished and how close I am to getting there. Back in August 2012, the day of my weightloss journey, the end seemed so far away. I had originally decided to lose 77lbs, going from 202lbs (starting weight) down to 125lbs by eating clean and exercising every day. I made it to around November time where I hit a plateau and didn't lose for a few weeks. I decided to take a few weeks off and allowed myself to eat as much chocolate as I wanted over the Christmas holidays and not exercise as long as I made time for walks and balanced it out with LOTS of veggies and healthy foods as well. I managed to get through the Christmas period with a weight gain of 0.8lbs which is nothing considering I ate sausage rolls and chocolate bars for almost an entire week!

I have since re-aseessed my goal and have reduced it by 10lbs. I would be more than happy with a TONED 135lb body :) I'm quite 'stocky' and broad so carry weight well but also quite muscular so in real terms, I have 2 dress sizes to go before I reach goal. I'm not fussed about weight really any more, as long as I get to a UK size 8 I will be happy, whether I'm 125lbs or 140lbs, I just want to be that size and 2 dress sizes shouldn't be too far away if I really commit to this. I now realise that my goal date of June 6th, my birthday, is creeping closer and closer every day so I need to get this done once and for all!

Today is the 1st March 2013, the 28th week of my weight loss journey and I have already lost over 40lbs. 28 weeks, I counted :) I did expect to be a bit closer to my goal after so many weeks but it just didn't work out that way...however! I can't overlook the fact I have lost a good amount of weight regardless, this is the first time in my life at taking weight loss seriously and actually sticking to it.

I know I have recorded my starting weight as 161lbs but I'm actually 158.2lbs. I started serious weight training again this week and put on 3lbs or so. It always happens, it normally just disappears (and some) after a few days once my muscle soreness disappears! But recorded the higher weight just in case! I also started the 1st day of level 1 of Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred and I'm dying a little bit, but I kept all all the way through! Well, minus the push ups, I could only do 3 in a row!

Onwards and downwards, can't wait to see the results in 30 days. Probably should take some 'before' photos so I can compare them to my new photos on the 30th March :)

Weight:	Lost so far:	Still to go:	Diet followed:
73.0 kg	0 kg	16.3 kg	Not Applicable

(4 comments)

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