Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Back in the saddle!

And rearing to go.  I keep making all these weird innuendos today, sorry, so don't mean them!  I am 3 days back into working out after a few week hiatus, and it feels soooo good!!! I am sore all over and loving it. (again, sorry, that just doesn't sound right)  During my little break I was felling pretty crappy.  I've been attributing it to the time change from our trip to San Diego, and then the other time change, and this back and forth change of seasons that is spring in the Midwest.  I have been so tired that working out was THE LAST THING I could do in the day.  But finally Monday I got to work, and I am feeling soooo much better.  It is the 10,000th time I see again how much better I feel when I am working up some sweat.  It just gets your body moving and that's what feels so impossible when you haven't moved it enough.  So lesson: when feeling lowest MAKE MYSELF WORKOUT ANYWAY BC I WILL FEEL BETTER NOT WORSE!!!

Now that we have our daily lesson, this is my plan:  I am re-doing the bootcamp DVD, but modifying it.  I was loving  the Meta dvd, its all shiny and fancy, but I didn't feel like I was getting enough ab work for my purposes right now.  I still have that I've had 2 babies pooch that needs taming so I really want to address that.  I am not looking to drop much more weight, if a few LBs come off I won't miss them for a second, but this time around its to really firm up the problem areas.  I am going to try to keep the workout to 1 hour per day, 6 days/week.  So far that means I have done 25 reps of legs, 40 of abs and arms, and 10-20 minutes of dance cardio.  It feels so good to not be so rigid about it but to just get in 1 hour of working hard.  Some days I will focus on cardio more, other days on mat more.  I'm gonna just go with it and see what happens!!!

So glad to be back at it!!!  One month till I have to put a bathing suit on and be in public!!!  YIKES!!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Knock knock, anyone still there???

Well, hello!!! I didn't think there was anyone here, myself included!  I think I fell and blacked out for a minute, or no wait, that was just me not exercising and eating anything and everything for the last 2 weeks. 

But I am back.  I am here writing again bc it gave me the accoountability I needed when I did bootcamp.  I will pull my mushy butt up off the ground and get back to work with the help of this and your kind words of encouragement.  So thank you in advanced!!!

And, to be clear, I WAAASSSS on vacation so I wasn't being a TOTAL lazy bum, but it is a slippery slope my friends!

Currently debating doing parts of bootcamp over, WHAT???? Yes, but I did say parts.  Like maybe 25-30 reps and 10-20 mins of cardio, in order to keep workout down to an hour and a half tops!  Orrrrrrrrrrr, I continue on with the Meta series.  I don't know.  I will play with the 2 over the next couple of days and let you know what I decide.

And just so you know, I am 2 months out of BC and have maintained my weight loss.  I am feeling a bit mushier, esp in my belly, but at least I haven't gained the 10 lbs I thought I would by now!

So here we go again...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

THE 30 DAY WRAP UP!!!! HOLLA!!!!!!!!

 
Ok people the wait is over, the stats are in, the pictures are loaded (yikes)!!!  It has been one heck of a long month in some ways, but has gone by really fast in others.  I am so glad to be done and OH SO glad that I did it!!!  I finally kicked that baby weight in the ass!!! Now to work on that ass and get it a bit higher and firmer, but that will be chapter two. 

For now I am enjoying my day OFF working out, yay, but it felt really strange to not get up to work out today.  I will REALLY be enjoying my pizza party tonight with my family, because oh cheese and pizza how I missed you sooooo!!!  But then it will be back to work.  My plan is to do the Omni series, as it is music to my ears that it is a ONE HOUR workout.  I will be eating kind of like I did during the last month but with a bit more wiggle (and giggle) room.  I just can't have the all consuming diet plan keep going.  I think I have shifted enough in my eating habits that I can keep things toned down on a daily basis, but if I want to go out to dinner or make braised short ribs, I will.  I only have a few pounds I really wish to kiss off and then work on toning up the rest.  I will keep things posted here on my stage 2 progress.  I am hooked on TAM and so glad that I found it and committed, because clearly this baby weight was not going to magically come off. 

I don't want to bore you with the insights I gained through this experience, but there were many.  I encourage anyone considering this bootcamp to go for it.  I did it the best I could with some cheats and substitutions all over the place but I feel I got significant changes that would not have happened without this structure to work from.  I am certain I would have lost more and toned more if I adhered to every detail and added more reps and did 40+ mins of cardio, but I really couldn't do too much more than 2 hours of exercise with work and kids and life.  The previous days blogs go into detail of what I ate and the amount of daily exercise i did in case you want to see that. 

 So here it is, the results of a mom of 2 that hadn't ever dieted, or worked out in too many months to count until a month ago when the light finally went on:

                                     DAY 1                TODAY (day 31 I guess)             CHANGE
WEIGHT                  156.5  lbs                   142.6  lbs                                     -14 pounds
BUST                           31"                            30.5"                                           .5"
WAIST                        33"                             29" (just under actually)              4+ "
BELLYBUTTON LN   36" on day 10            32"                                            4" in 20 days!
ASIS (top of hip bone)  39"                              36"                                             3"
HIPS                             42"                             37.75"                                        4.25"
THIGHS                        25"                             22.75"                                       2.25"
 BODYFAT %            26.8% day 7              24.1%                                  almost 3%

TOTAL INCHES LOST:  18 INCHES
SIZE JEANS: barley buttoning a 10, now comfortably in size8

AND NOW FOR THE PICS










 
Day 2 1/4/11

Day 30 2/1/11

 
Day 2

Day 30

 
Day 2

Day 30

Day 30

 AND NOW FOR THE MONEY SHOT, JUST A LITTLE FLEX TO SHOW WHATS TO COME:


WAIT FOR IT...................


  
Day 30

F-YAY!!!!  WHO IS THAT???
 
So there you have it peeps.  I hope that you are well on your journey to find what you are looking for. 
Thank you to everyone who gave me encouragement along the way, IT HELPS SOOOO MUCH!!!
This has been awesome and I look forward to keeping it going!
 
PEACE AND LOVE XOXO
Ally
 
 
 
 


Sunday, January 30, 2011

DAY 28, I'm back, as in back to life from yesterday!

Oh what a difference a day makes.  I was crawling yesterday, but today is a whole new day.  I was able to go back to sleep until 10 this morning, and that is amazing and I think what my body REALLY needed.  The timing of my body being over worked, the cleanse diet and my period was not a good combo yesterday.  So let's move on shall we?

Today I did cheat, again, and had an egg for breakfast.  Then kale juice then off to workout.  I was able to do 35 reps of legs, 40 of abs, and 40 of arms.  And I got in 30 minutes of cardio.  It all felt pretty good today.  My ankles and knees are ready for a break.  I have to do this on a basement floor with 2 layers of area rugs.  Its less than optimal and I am starting to feel it.  My legs and hip area is feeling much firmer and stronger.  I think my ab area will be the last to give, and that may take another month or two.  I should post a picture of how huge I was with my last pregnancy and you would understand.  My belly reached the other side of the room, it was crazy.  So getting things back in order I knew would be a challenge.  Its just encouraging to know that others actually have been able to get the skin to go back, so if that take more time, fine.

I want to be clear that I totally understand that I have cheated and made exceptions on this 30 day journey.  I did what I have felt capable of doing.  I have never dieted in my life, I was always naturally thin and ate what ever, when ever (although I am an overall healthy eater).  but it had been a while since I was really in any decent shape (like 6 years ago).  I totally fell off the wagon after kids.  For the first time ever I had a belly and back fat and more hips and more cellulite.  And baby 2 only made matters worse.  So for me to be as restricted as I have been and as dedicated to working out as I have been has been huge.  I would love to be done with the belly fat now, but again, knowing it can happen is good enough for me right now.  Like I said in an earlier post, I'm not going to the SAG awards tonight or any other night in my near future, so I have time.  I'm good.

I really appreciate all comments I have gotten, it really helps on the days when you just want to forget it and go to town on what ever is near by.  I hope that reading how I have done this month vs the by the bookers (Summer and Laura to be specific)  will give you a comparison.  To see yes, you will get results, but they may not be the end of the road towards your goal.  

Alright here's to 2 MORE FRICKING DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy Crap!!!!
Ally

Saturday, January 29, 2011

DAYS 25, 26 AND 27!!! Holy cow where has the time gone???

So I've been MIA for a few days here.  Things have been a little crazy and with the 2 and a half hour work outs, its hard to have time to do the rest of my life.  My god the end cannot come soon enough!!!

So the cleanse began yesterday.  And god, just when I thought I was fully in swing to finish strong, ugh, this is so hard.  I did pretty good yesterday but had to have a Think Thin bar after my workout due to the shakes I was having.  Then I had spontaneous date night which NEVER happens, soooo....we went so see Burn the Floor, which was amazing full of awesome percussion and dance, inspiring for sure.  But before my husband wanted to grab a bite, so I had a small bowl of soup and a glass of white wine.  I could not resist.  I am a weak weak person.  But it felt like the right thing to do. 

And now today.  DAy 2 of cleanse and i am draaaaagggggingggggg.  I don't think my metabolism is suited for this.  When I went to work out I was so shaky again I had another Think Thin bar.  It helped but I gotta say this was BY FAR THE HARDEST WORKOUT TO DATE.  Every single second was hard and painful and the only good thing about each rep was that it brought me one rep closer to being done.  I got through 30 reps of legs, 20 of abs, no arms and 20 mins of cardio.  I was sweating and shaky and it still took me an hour and a half to do.  My kids are currently eating and its killing me, trying to stay away.  Can't wait for my oh so satisfying chicken protein soup and my sweet potato corn mash, yum yum :(  But at least I have choco chestnut pudding to look forward to !!!  And that reminds me, yesterday I did NOT eat my kiwi or the choco pudding so I figure I swapped the calories for the soup and wine, right? right?  I thought so!

I think these last few days are like your last few reps in a sequence, the total killers but what you need to complete to push yourself to the next place.  I just wish it involved a little more substance. 

3 more days of this, I can do it, I can do it I can do it....
oh and weight down to 144.2, the silver lining I suppose.
oh AND my monthly cycle started today, so definitely not helping the ol' energy.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

DAY 24!!! As I sit here eating my pureed broccoli soup

And can I just say how freakin delicious the mango smoothie is?  I was not looking forward to it, as I like mango but not in the way people who like mango like them.  And keifer as we all know is tolerable, but not exactly on the top of my list of foods to eat, I mean drink?  So the combo??? Fantastic!  The keifer negates the over sweet mango and the mango balances the whatever tastes that makes keifer keifer.  Try it!  And i used Trader Joes frozen mango slices, bc really finding a good ripe mango in Ohio in Jan? no.

The workout continues to be brutal.  It is crazy that its hard in such a different way.  Its not like holy crap my gluets are on fire, it more like holy crap my entire body is WORKING SO HARD to do this.  But it takes for ever! Over an hour and just got 30 reps of legs and abs.  After work I will have to finish off with arms and 30 minutes of cardio, bc realistically that's about all I will be able to muster up at 8:30 tonight. 

Food sticking to the book with the minor addition of 1 hard boiled egg bc I worked out this morning and I know it would be a while before lunch and lunch is this broccoli soup, no protein.  Some of the days of this diet I am wondering if they were really detailed edited because it seems very uneven.  Some days tons of protein, little fruit, other days tons of fruit, little protein.  IDK, just saying, since the video and book contain errors, maybe someone dropped the ball a little in editing.  Or maybe not and there is meaning behind every choice.  Which I wish was addressed in the book more.  Why this, why that?  Why this exercise then that.  i like to understand the reasons behind those things it helps me stay the course.  But, not complaining just saying.  I love this method and I am hooked!

Oh and down one more pound, BOO-ya!!
See you tomorrow for Day 25!! YESSSSSSSSSAHHHHH
ally

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

DAY 23 ...10,9,8,7!!!!

I cursed and sweat (and cursed and sweat etc etc) my way through day 3 of sequence 3 thinking why why why do we have to do downward dog with a split and side sweep???  Is there a way I can get out of this one?  Who would know really???  It takes me like a half hour just to get through those.  I have to stop every five, and its making my left hand go numb.  I want to see some serious payoff from that move.  As I said yesterday i do like this sequence, it is hard in a different way.  It tests your flexibility and stability a lot.  So I feel sore in totally new way, just like Miss Anderson predicted.  Damn her and her teeny tiny smarty pants.

So no new deep thoughts or revelations to share.  I am feeling very motivated to finish strong as if this is my last chance to get rid of this belly fat once and for all.  I kind of keep forgetting that after Tuesday I actually do have to keep doing this (just not quite so regimented, and not for 1.5-2 hours EVERY DAY).  So 7 more days of this, but then what?  Eat pizza that's what!  (just for a day)

Exercise: 30 reps of all-took me an hour and a half just to do this and I am not kidding.  Then 20 minutes of cardio bc by god I had to get ready for work.  I plan to do 20 mins more tonight (lets all pray for me now, that I actually do it). 

Food: by the book today, apple w PB, turkey burger w tomatoes and basil, and turkey and broccoli waiting for me when I get home.  Oh I did have a non menu snack of a carrot and 2 tablespoons of Baba ganoush (how ever the hell you spell that, you know the stuff like hummus but made w eggplant and its delicious).

I weighed in this morning, and drummmmmm rollllllll, down another LB to 146.2, which my dear friends is a 10 pound LOSS!!!! So come on 6 more and I will be around target weight!!!

Here's to finally getting my belly to have muscle tone after those 2 little babies stole it away! YAY

oh in case I didn't already say this...7 days to go!!
ally

Monday, January 24, 2011

Day 22!!! 10,9,8...keeps running through my head

Holy crap!  Today the cursing out Tracy wasn't just in my head.  There were muliple times that I had to actually yell FU at the TV.  This sequence is killlllerrrrrr.  I surprisingly like it, but it is hard and it takes forever.  I am a little confused on some of the moves still, so I hope I am doing them correct.

Other than listening to my husband walk our crying teething one year old around the house I am feeling really good.  I followed the menu today, but had to sub salmon for red snapper bc the store didn't have it.  I also couldn't do a bean salad afer bean in omlett and the chicken at lunch.  I will probably have some fruit tonight.

Not much more to say, other than I really need to go rescue my husband now.

Feeling great 8 days to go!!!!

Ally

Sunday, January 23, 2011

DAY 20!!!!! (in Oprah's deep announcing voice) and Day 21

Woot-woot!!!! Day 20 day 20!! Yay-ya!!!!  Sorry for leaving all of you (and by all of you I mean, what 15 of you, but anyway) high and dry on the BIG day, but I was sooooo poooped last night by the time I got the kids to bed and took an epsom salt bath I was d-o-n-e. 

But here we are!! The wait is over.  I made it to the next milestone, and the end is in sight.  I will be taking this in 5 day increments.  Just got to make it to Thursday, then the cleanse begins, but lets not go there yet.

Back to the the last 2 days.  Yesterday I finished sequence 2 strong.  I still did 35 reps of all, and 30 of cardio but that is really due to time issues.  Its nearly impossible for me to get in more than 1.5 hours.  So I just worked each thing really hard and made the most of my time.  I actually felt more sore today than I had in a while, so that was good.  I mainly stuck to the book diet yesterday but I made a veggie burger/turkey burger combo.  It was great!

And now today.  Sticking to book as much as I could I had 1 hard boiled egg (no kale juice bc ran out of kale).  Lunch the chicken protein soup I had leftover.  Dinner chicken (instead of tofu) arugula salad.

But the main point of interest for the day is the new sequence.  Again the "you are a crazy b---h" comments were back, but this time FOR REAL!!!  I mean come on.  The hardest part is figuring out what the hell she is doing.  And there are multiple ones where the book and video are different, so that doesn't help.  I went along with a LOT of distractions today just trying to get the moves down and did about 20 of each.  My cardio today was sled riding and walking up and down the hill to retrieve my daughter's sled.  That kind of counts, right?  It was on off day ok, just wasn't quite up to par, but I did what I could with the day I had.  Weekends are so hard, only one more to get through!

So now the real meat, the measurements:
WEIGHT:  148.2 lbs (down from 156.5 on day 1, 149.4 on day 10) = 8 lb difference
BUST: 30.5  = down from 31" day 1
WAIST: 29.5  = down from 33" day 1, 30.75" day 10
BELLYBUTTON LINE32.5"  = DOWN 3.5 INCHES since day 10!!!
ASIS (hip bones): 37"   =down from 39" day 1, 38" day 10
HIPS:  39.5"  = down from 42" day 1. and 40.5 day 10
THIGH:  23.75"  = down from 25" day 1, and 24" day 10

So things slowed down in some areas from day 10 to 20 but there continued to be changes in each area. 

PICTURE TIME (holy crap, please stop me before I hit publish)

These were taken on day 2.  This is humiliating I can't believe I am doing this.  And yes I got an umbilical hernia from my last pregnancy and it isn't pretty.  But I want you to see what I am working with and it is some real flab.




And these were taken today.  Clearly not surgical results, but on the right path for 20 days.



A lot of work left to do, but at least I can see the shell of my old body peeking out!!! There is hope!
(Sorry for the poor camera work, its a little degrading to take these so I just want it over with, no retakes)

Alright people...this is it, and now you've seen the real me, yikes.  Lets see where this next 10 (9 now!) days takes us!!!  Here's to everyone's encouragement and hard work.  Love it!

Peace out,
Ally

Friday, January 21, 2011

Day 19...almost to the big 2-0!!!

Other than today being the day before Day 20, there is not much going on.  I am trying to stick closer to the book on the diet, so therefore I want to stuff my face with anything and everything right now.  Just had 2 pieces of a sushi roll, yum yum!  ( I mean it really is cruel for my family to eat regular food around me, I have shown my willpower is thinner than a triscut (yum). 

Exercise was a bit of a bummer today.  I got 35 reps of everything but it took me FOREVER.  I was dragging through the DC and my knees and back of my calves were killing so I couldn't jump as much.  But I got through 30mins, it just didn't feel as productive as it usually does.

Food: 1 hard boiled egg, beet and orange salad with some grilled chicken, leftover grilled chicken and roasted broccoli and cauliflower cold out of the Tupperware bc I was so starving by the time I got to it.  Oh, ya, and the 2 sushi rolls.  I can't promise I won't get into my popcorn tonight.  It is so lo cal and it just helps me get through the night.  Clearly I have some trouble with night time snacking.  Its just part of me.  But replacing brie cheese and crackers with a little fat free plain popcorn will probably be a better choice :) unfortunately.

So tomorrow will be measuring and weigh in day.  We shall see.  But most importantly, it will be day 20!

Peace and love,
Ally

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Day 18 ok I lied

Yes I was a big fat (ha) liar and in fact weighed myself again today.  Finally down to 148, lets see if it can stay there.  But really maybe I just won't weigh myself tomorrow just for kicks. 

I was re-reading Laura (by the book)'s blog yesterday and I have some thoughts and comments.

1. And number one for a reason, bc most importantly, she has got some will power!  Sticking to every point of the book and exercising some days for over 3 hours is so beyond me and my abilities.  I am in awe.  (Also, Summer has a blog that is by the book and I am also in awe of her willpower, incredible)

2. I too have this cycle of feeling awesome then feeling like the worn out heel of a shoe.  Very emotional some days and cool and happy others. 

3. I too am experiencing some sluggish-ness in the you know what and I don't get it.  All this fruit and veggies what is the deal with that? 

4.  I also love that Tracy does not smile once through the whole DVD bc she means business, damit.

5.  Reading about the last 10 days and how she felt is kind scaring the crap out of me.  The cleanse days are REALLY scaring the crap out of me.

6.  I wish there was a clearer post-boot camp plan to follow.  I'm getting a little freaked to be released to my own devices in 12 days. 

That's all I can think of now bc I am quite fried ( ummm fried).

Exercise: 35 reps legs,  35 abs (so thats 70 reps for the ones that alternate L and R), and 35 for arms.  And I got in 30 minutes of DC.  I sweat like crazy and felt great today.  I have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE every time she does the grapevine, it comes when I think I might keel over, ahhh the grapevine, it saves me!  And how happy do you get on the last grapevine bc you know the ballet arms comes next and then the ab dancing stuff and then done!  Love it.

Food: trying to stick closer to the book but need to grocery shop again.  Breakfast: 4 oz Keifer blended w blueberries.  A few almonds and dried blueberries, Lunch 2 lettuce wraps w turkey and sprouts.  Dinner: baked turkey and roasted broccoli and cauliflower. 

That's all for now my peeps...have a good night sleep, and let me have one too!!!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Day 17

Feeling frustrated by my non-budging scale so I think I will stop the daily weigh-ins for a few days.  I feel I've hit a major plateau and nothing is happening.  My stomach feels pouchier than it did a week ago.  I guess due to my going off the book here and there?  I don't know, but I do know that I have been trying really hard and eating really well so that's about what I can do right now. 

Those were my morning thoughts of frustration.  I then began my exercise for the day and really noticed a change in my strength.  Moves that I could barely get my leg in position I could get through 30 and uped my reps to 35.  The dancing is getting easier, I am keeping up.  So it made me think that Days 11-20 should be renamed the "mind game series".  There's the elation after the first week and loosing 7 pounds, followed by nada change which leads to frustration and WTF thoughts.  I know Tracy says in the book that this series is designed to increase the brain/muscle communication, and I'm getting that.  There have been more "emotional" or mental road blocks during this portion.  But, there is something clicking in a different way and it doesn't show up on my scale.  Yes I want the flab roll to disappear so that when I sit down it does not fold over the top of my waist band, yes, yes I want that, but as much as Tracy is a miracle worker, that may not totally happen in one month.  And that's ok, because this whole thing is not for this one month, it is a way to drastically shift my habits so that in 6 months I can still talk about how much I love TAM and that the things I have learned become part of my daily life, without the careful planning and attention to every detail.  It will just be. 

So that's my thoughts for today, this middle of the road boring ol' day 17.  I knew going into this these were the days that would drag, and they are. 
Until tomorrow my friends, keep up the good work!!!
Ally 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

DAY 16! Whoop-di-do!

Day 16 was a long ass day.  I was up early with kiddos and had a busy day at work.  So coming home at 7pm with an hour and a half work out in front of me kinda sucked, but I did it and I feel great!!!  I hope I'm back on the feeling great train and left lousy back at the station.  I am getting stronger and feeling more coordinated in the movements.  I can EVEN do the grapevine with the SPIN NOW!!! Do you know how exciting that is to me.  I don't trip over my feet AND I keep time with her.  Now if I could get the shoulder isolations with the ab section in the DC I'd really be a rock star.  (and I'm really not THAT uncoordinated, but for some reason that move evades me).

Exercise: 30 reps of all legs, and each side for all abs and arms.  I definitely felt I could do more today but dealing with the time issue I kept it to 30.  EXCEPT for the dreaded connection push-ups with the attitude lift, I did 20, which is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G to me.  Then 30 minutes of DC and I really pushed myself, sweat a ton, and felt like I almost didn't have to stop during the on and on bouncing/jumping jack portion.  (total time 1.5 hours)

Food: 1 basted egg, abt 4 oz of keifer with some blueberries, turkey, sprouts, spinach, avo wrap; kiwi with mint salad (yum yum), and grilled chicken over red leaf lettuce with tomatoes and sprouts. 

And I am done and done with day 16!  13 days and counting...
Ally

Monday, January 17, 2011

Dasy 14 and DAY 15!!! HALF WAY TO PERFECTION :) (right?)

So day 14 was nothing exciting to write about, other than I kind of cheated and had a small slice of bread AND a small small small piece of cake bc it was my niece's birthday and I only have sooo much willpower.  I have realized 2 things: 1. weekends are way worse for me and the eating and exercise thing, too much going on and 2. that 6am doesn't work for me as a wake up and workout time.  I stopped fooling myself and gave up on setting the alarm and have worked it into my day in other ways.  But that may mean loosing 10 minutes of cardio here and there bc of kids or work or what have you.

SOOOO the big DAY 15!  !*!*!*!****!!! (that's confetti and streamers).  I will take my half way there pictures this evening and post them at some point.  It may or may not look different from the initial pictures, but I feel different.  You know when you stick your stomach out to gross out your friends by showing them how huge your stomach really is, well, I can't do that like I could, it simply just doesn't push out like it did.  So if nothing else, I have that.  Weight is holding steady around the 149 mark.  I don't like that I have become so caught up on this number bc I honestly never ever weigh myself or have been concerned with my actual weight.  And now that I am doing it every day I have become a bit attached to it and what that means.  I get a little "urgh" when I step up and its not different from the day before. I dont like that.  On the positive note, my scale measures body fat percentage and that has been changing by a half percentage point every couple days!!  So good scale, bad scale, make of it what you want.

Exercise: 30 reps of all.  So that means on the exercise where you alternate sides I do 60 total so that would be 30 on right/ 30 on left.  Referring mostly to the abs and arm work.  Then I got in 30 mins of dance cardio.  I felt pretty good doing it all today. 

Food: trying to make up for my weekend oopsies: I had a half a stinkin grapefruit for breakfast.  I said I wouldn't do it and I did it.  And it was ok.  Lunch 1 turkey w avocado rolled up in red leaf lettuce.  I just had a string cheese.  I will have salmon for dinner. 

So still hanging in there, doing what I can.  I cannot believe I am half way done, it has gone by really fast.  So here's to the next 15 and a fabulously strong finish!!!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Day 13, the day the pity party showed up

Last night I felt it creep in, but I thought it was the lack of carbs talking, so I had some popcorn, AND toast with peanut butter.  I thought that did the trick, but around noon today, smack, I got hit in the face.  So I spent most the day in a pitiful mood, and inner dialogue-ing all the way.  I finally concluded that since I had been feeling soooo good up until today it MUST mean my body needs a rest.  So no exercise, day of rest.  Of course my mom and husband both agreed.  Ah, see even they think its ok if I take the day off.  So 2 seconds after I said, ya, I don't think I'm going to exercise today, I sat down, and opened up Tracy's book.  And wa-la, page 31, commitment=results, "That's why I'm asking you to SHOW UP EVERY DAY"  goddamn her, she knows how to get you!  And that's what I did.  THANK YOU Tracy for being so damn insistent!

Exercise:  got in 25 reps of legs, 30-40 of arms and abs, and 20 mins of dance cardio.  I needed to be done in 1 hour in order to deal with the kids this eve.  But at least I did my hour and the guilt can wash off me, YAY!!!

Food: missed breakfast bc wasn't hungry and dealing with other things around the house.  Lunch black beans w grilled tofu and grilled peppers.  I had to grab something out bc of how the day unfolded but it seemed rather appropriate.  Snack: half grapefruit.  Dinner: flank steak and roasted broccoli and cauliflower. 

So there you have it.  I did all that I could to NOT do it today and she still won.  Remember those pages when you need the extra encouragement: PAGE 31-32!!!

Until tomorrow, one day closer to HALF WAY!!!  WOOT WOOT!!

Ally

Friday, January 14, 2011

Day 12!!!

Good ol' day 12.  Not much to report so I will keep it short and sweet.  Second day of series 2 and still I'm cringing in pain for most of the leg work.  And can someone PLEASE feel my pain on the CONNECTION PUSH UP with LEG LIFT!!!!  Jesus H., that one sucks.  I can hardly do 10 for each leg.  And I'm pretty sure I look like a wounded animal in the wild trying to get away from something dreadful.  Not anything like miss graceful, this doesn't hurt a bit, Anderson. 

Reps:30 for legs, 40-60 on abs and arms, depending on which one, bc some I can actually perform correctly, and some I want to die, like the crunches with the twist.  Cardio I got 30 minutes in today.  I wanted to do 10 mins more, but again with the stomach sloshing noises, its too distracting, and thats after having a forbidden 2 eggs for breakfast. 

Food: 2 basted eggs, turkey roll-up w spinach, avocado, and sprouts.  6oz of keifer blended with some blueberries and about a teaspoon of peanut butter (ya, thats right, peanut butter) for taste (this is over the course of the day, not just breakfast btw).  Will probably have my left over talpia for dinner.

That's it my friends!  Just bitting my lip so that I don't eat the potato chips my husband brought home, or my kids grilled cheese, or or or anything.  I'm so jealous of normal eaters right now it's about to make be bonkers!

Until tomorrow...
Ally

Thursday, January 13, 2011

DAY 11!!

And so begins Sequence #2...and so returned the f-bombs and the hate you's.  Jesus H, some of those moves were tough.  This stuff definitely points out your weaknesses and rips them apart.  Mine being my gluets, quads, and hip flexors.  Ouch!!! Sums up today.

But more importantly, as I was prepping to exercise today I was deep in thought about doing this and getting my body back, as in its my body again, since it has been used as a vessel for conceiving, growing, birthing, and nursing 2 babies over the last 4+ years.  So now its time for me to have it for me.  Anyway, I was composing my whole monologue on the subject as I busted out my floor work, and I thought of some really important things to say.  However, when I went to change for my shower and did the usual pinching and smacking of the belly rolls, I noticed something else.  Something else seems to be getting smaller too, yes, I'm talking about the girls.  WTF?  Come on now.  Where's the justice in this?  I don't remember reading this is the fine print.  I don't remember seeing an *, followed by "may cause loss of breast tissue, please be prepared".  Anyone who has nursed should feel my pain.  You get the once in a lifetime chance to have 'em, but the use is kind of limited, then they go back, way back to worse than before.  And now this.  Thanks alot.  Humff.

Its a price I am willing to pay, but its messed up none the less.

Food: 2 (yes 2) basted eggs.  And may I say if you have not basted an egg please try it.  I think I have perfected it.  Its like a fried meets poached meets hard boiled egg and its yumm-o (thanks rr). Then 1 left over turkey burger in lettuce wraps with avocado.  And about to have a half a grapefruit, or amy be some kiwi.  Dinner will be the mustard talapia, roasted asparagus.  So that's it for today.  One little baby boy is hollering for me now...

Until tomorrow...
Ally

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Day 9 and DAY 10!!!!

Yay!!!! I made it to day 10!!! I can glaze over day 9 as being pretty much the same as day 8 and move on to the more important topic of DAY 10!!! Did I say that yet?  Sorry but really excited about that.  This marks my first mini-milestone on the 30 day adventure and I know I can do it now.  I am pretty sure the next 10 days are not going to be hell, but its ten days.  Then I will only have 10 days left!!! And as much as I love this program, it will be nice to relax a bit.  I am already planning my breakout dinner when its over that may involve carne asada tacos and margaritas (many), is that bad? 

The exercise: 35 reps of legs, 40-60 of abs (depending on which exercise) and 40arms.  I only got about 25 minutes of DC in today as my body is feeling to effects of 10 straight days of exercise and therefore felt like it was filled with led.  And I was getting hungry and the sound of my stomach sloshing every time I jumped was getting to me. 

Food: breakfast-one egg, after exercise 1/2 grapefruit. snack- few almonds and dried blueberries. lunch-the chicken protein soup.  And that's where I am now. 

THE MEASUREMENTS!!!!  (drum roll please............)
weight: 149.4  yea that's right, 7! seven! 7! pounds!!!! HOLLA (yea that's right I said holla)
bust: 31" (no change)
waist: 30 3/4 " !!! 3! Three! Three! INCHES!!!   WTF?!?!?!
bellybutton line: (not sure the technical term, and not measured before, but seeing as that's the worst area I thought it should be measured)  36"
Hip bone line (ASIS): 38" Down 1 inch!
Hips (my real trouble area): 40.5" Down 1.5 INCHES!!!!
Thigh: 24" down 1 inch as well!!!

So I am AMAZED at the progress so far.  Wouldn't you agree??  I mean 3 inches on my waist was what I hoped for, I am still stunned.  I can tell that there has been a change just in how I stand.  I feel straighter and more pulled in, which after having baby number 2 was a major issue.  I am so happy and feeling great. 

I am, however, scared to death of sequence #2 and the chair.  I looked through the exercises last night and really kept saying, "What is she a crazy person?  How the hell am I going to kneel on a chair, put my hands on the floor, and kick my leg around at the same time????"  I think, yes, she might be a crazy person, but she knows what the hell she's doing.  Breaking the mold always requires a least a little crazy. 

So here's to me and you and anyone reading this on their own journey.  We have come so far, and still have a ways to go, but its all in arms reach now!!!

Peace,
Ally

Monday, January 10, 2011

DAY 8

Today began on the groggy side and I thought for sure when the kids nap I will have to nap (as I do not work on Mondays, usually).  I got to treat my little tootsies to a Reflexology session and that felt amazing as my feet have definitly been working hard.  Getting a massage tomorrow and I can't wait!  I feel like my muscles need a nice wringing out and then be fresh and new! 

When nap time rolled around, I instead laced up my shoes and went to work.  And it was great again.  The leg work is getting better, but I am dying doing those connection push ups.  And my wrists are starting to hurt a bit...anyone else?  But the cardio was fun and I did the last 10 minutes with both my kids bouncing around the room with me.  My daughter was yelling "Dance Party!!!"  and she loves a party! 

Food:  I had a hard boiled egg for breakfast.  I honestly do not think I will be able to do half a grapefruit as breakfast.  I feel my body needs protein in the morning to get going.  Lunch I had my leftover salmon and roasted veggies and it was great and filling.  I had a few almonds around 5pm, but I really felt pretty good all day.  Dinner I made the turkey burgers and that too was tasty (approved by husband and daughter).  And I had a little cucumber, tomato, avocado, and basil salad to go with.  I am still full 2.5 hours later. 

I am so excited that day 10 is so close.  I have been breaking this into 10 day intervals in my head and it seems I will make it through the first, so of course I can do the other 2! 

So glad to be doing this, I really feel a shift in my body and it feels great!

Till tomorrow...happy hopping!!!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

DAy 7!!! Week ONE DOWN!!!

Yes!  My first milestone, 1 WEEK!!! And it really was very doable.  I am encouraged and ready to boot up for week 2.  I'm a little scared of Sequence 2 and the involvment of the chair that will come in a few days.  But for now doing great.  Today I did 30 reps of the leg work and 40of abs and arms.  I gotta say I HATE HATE HATE the "three taps leg lift"  move.  It kills me.  But I can tell I am getting stronger bc I feel like I am pushiong through to do the move fully rather than feeling like I am lifing a load of bricks off the ground.  I'm pretty sure my shoes weight about 10 pounds more than Tracy's.  Then I did 40 minutes of DC!  Finally hit the 40 mins mark.  It was fun and felt great.  I used Pandora again today and did a "DJ Dan" station and it was fun. 

Food today: one small breakfast sausage (turkey) and kale/apple/carrot/garlic juice.  Which, by the way was so yummy my kids were drinking it and I hardly got any.  Lunch: turkey, lettuce, and one super thin slice of cheese.  Dinner: the orange glazed slamon and roasted cauilflower, broccoli, and fennel (w garlic).  So so so good!!!  I'm satisfied, and I feel great. 

Finally got a new scale and still holding at 152 lbs. 

So I guess that's it for today, nothing too exciting, just gald to be a week closer to the finale!!!!

23 days to go...YAY!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

DAY 5 AND DAY 6!!!

So I am saving you the bother of reading 2 days worth of info by combining into 1.  Lucky you. 

So yesterday, Day 5, I was feeling awesome.  Really good energy, my body was feeling different.  More together and pulled up and in if that makes sense.  I had limited workout time so I did 30 minutes of DC and just the abs section, 40 reps.  It felt great.  I had a hard boiled egg for breakfast, and a few slices of my left over flank steak in a wrap with cilantro and spinach.  So, clearly not by the book, but doing what I can.  I had some cantaloupe as a snack, and about 5 cashews.  I think pretty good.  Then last night hit.  Ok I have the best excuse in the world for falling off the train a little, AND I still did so good!!!

My mom had a party with 6 of the top chefs from our city coming to prepare a 6 course meal for her and her 11 dinner guests.  I was there not as a guest but to help with the serving.  I cannot begin to describe the torture I was in smelling and plating and carrying all of this decadent unbelievable food around!  I only had a bite of a few of the dishes, as the chefs were giving me a pretty hard time about it.  But the big problem was the wine.  Sorry, I did, it I drank the wine. Oops, can't say it won't happen again, but limited.  I mean really, was I supposed to NOT drink and be merry with these guys?  I think I know what you would have done.

So today, Day 6.  Feeling good again today.  I just finished 28 reps of legs, and 40 reps of arms and abs.  Then I did 30 mins of DC.  I weighed my self last night and still holding out at 152lbs.  Day 10 I will remeasure and take more pictures, which I will not post until this is over and I can un-embarrass myself by having something to show for it!!

Thanks for reading and keeping me going!!!!
Ally

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Day 4-complete

Yay!!!! Just finished 28 reps of legs, 30 of abs and arms and 30mins DC!!!! And I am done.
till tomorrow.......

Day 4- To the Floor!

And not the exercise floor.  Literally the floor.  Can't I just grab a warm blankie and lay down for a while?  I was so good and in bed lights off by 10pm last night, alarm set for the elusive 6am.  And then the baby woke at 3:30am screaming his little head off.  My husband, thank god, got up to deal with him, as I found it nearly impossible to move my head, arms, or legs.  After quite a while of crying I finally drug myself out of bed to see if I could help.  I was told, thank god, to go back to bed, so I did.  But I had to listen to this on and off crying for another hour.  Teething babies=no fun.  Point being, when the ring ring of 6am hit, guess what happened?  I talked myself out of getting up, yet again.  I kept playing out in my head how I would possibly be able to go on with the long day ahead of me if I did this to myself right now, and that was all I needed to hear and fell back to sleep until 7:30, at which time I still felt loaded down with bricks. AND a raging caffeine headache.  Shitballs, this is going to be a fun day.

This was followed by 2 hours of me trying to get showered and dresses with a still incredibly cranky baby who: a) had 2 unbelievably terrible diaper needs if you know what I mean, b) went through  the bathroom garbage as I was trying to get out of the shower c) threw his beloved blankie in the toilet and d) I cant remember what d. was but you get the picture.  All this while my body is in slow motion and my brain hurts.  Sooooo, a had a small cup of coffee and a least I feel a bit more alive. 

But it made me think this morning in my home sanctuary I go to ever morning to pray and reflect, i.e, my shower, how the f am I going to make this through and, more importantly, how did Laura "by the book" (love her) do this, by the book.  She's more nuts than Tracy, just saying.  But to each her/his own.  I'm ok with where I am and what I'm doing.  I hope to get some results so that I will be motivated to keep it up.  I'm not going to an Oscar party in a few weeks, as much as I would like to, so I don't really need to look like I am.  If I could sit down and not have a rolling pin worth of flab hang over the waist of my jeans I will be totally satisfied (for now :)

So thanks to my new followers, you give me reason to keep trying.  So I will have to lace up tonight after the kids go to bed and rock it out with Tracy!!!  Bring it!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

DAY 3

Laying in bed last night at midnight after not finishing my work out until 1030, I was dreading how crappy I would feel today.  Oh the torture.  However, I was amazed that, yes I was sore, but not the all over crappy flu-like I was expecting.  I was able to do my workout at 1030am this morning which was an awesome time of the day for me.  I was a little cocky going into the first exercise, like, oh man this is so much easier today, then we got to exercise 2, 3, etc etc and the inner dialogue of hate and curse words began.  I found if I just stayed focus on counting and my breath I could get through it all fairly smoothly.  I was able to do 25 reps of each leg exercise, and 30 each of the abs and arms.  I did 25 mins of DC.  I was pretty spent and huffing and puffing, but I made it through.  I have a hard time keeping up with some of her moves in the DC.  Especially the move I call the basketballer, I don't know why but when she does that foot hopping thing- hop, hop on right while left foot kicks out and in a bit- she looks like such a badass basketball player.  And I look like the biggest dork.  So that is encouraging. 

MUSIC TIP!!! I brought my laptop down to the basement (where I am forced to do this so as to stay out of view of anyone) and I put on Pandora.  There is a "dance" genre option and it worked great.  It was cool to not know what song would be next and if you dont like it you can hop on over and hit skip.  Worked perfectly.

The weigh in:  Unless I have shed an unhumanly possible amount of weight and now weigh 10 lbs, my stupid Target scale is not working.  Soooo I have to get a replacement ASAP, along with that measuring tape.  Jobs, jobs, jobs, do they ever end????  Oh and did I mention the fun of doing this and having 2 sick kids at home, one that is 1 and just wants to be held, and my arms are saying sorry buddy. 

Oh and I earned another slap on the wrist because I used a spinach tortilla to wrap instead of lettuce today for my wrap.  I had to.  My survival is important.  So, clearly I am not able to follow the diet to a "T" I have been ad-libbing a bit.  I scan through the days and pick out what sounds closest to something I would like to eat and have that.  But 4 lbs down as of yesterday, and my muscles are definitly working, so we'll see how it goes.

All for now, SOSOSOSOSOOOOOO glad my workout is done for the day. 

27 days to go...

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Day 2, part 3

10:30 pm and I am ready to put some wrapping paper on this day.  Got the workout done, and it felt a little more coordinated to do today, but still in misery most the time.  You know its bad when you get to the abs section and you say YES!! But my god, the leg work is B-R-U-T-A-L!!!  If you could hear the inner dialogue in my head it would seem I have terrets.  Sorry Tracy, but I pretty much say I hate you over and over and over.  (of course I don't, don't even know you, but you get it).

I did 21 reps of all the muscle work, even 30 on some of the abs (bc like I said, yes!)  And I will admit that while doing the first cardio section I really was only going to do that one bc it was so late, and I actually wanted to do section 2!  Whew hew for me!!!  So still only 20 mins of cardio, but at least I did it.

Measurments I so promised:
bust line: 31"
waist: 33"
ASIS (top of hip bones) 39"
hips: 42"
thighs: 25"

these were taken with a very high tech device (a string) so may be ever so slightly off.  I will look into something more official as this continues.

AND the weigh in:
152.6 lbs, are you saying WTF bc I am.  Yesterday 156.6, 4 lbs in one day?  I don't know but maybe starting my cycle had something to do with that?  Or that I'm starving?  On the food note,I was definitely dying at the end of work, but came home grilled chicken and roasted asparagus and am fine now.  But can't wait for my cocoa dessert, just cause I can.

Peace for tonight.  Really really really dreading tomorrow morning's soreness.
yikes.
And I need some music soon!

Still Day 2

Ok I don't want to over do it for 1 day, but wanted to add that its 6pm and I'm starving, and I'm still at work, and I still have to go home, make dinner, see kids, put them to bed, and work out for 1+ hours. 

What have I done.

Technically 29 days

Ok first ever blog and I am strangely a bit nervous.  It feels odd to put thoughts out there for no one or possibly someone to read.  But I feel I must, to make it through. 
Through what?  The 30-Day Tracy Anderson Method, or boot-camp as it is referred to.

I have been inspired by reading other boot campers blogs.  It will give me some sense of accountability, so that on days that are rough I can say, but I can't write that I just didn't do it.  So here goes...

I began yesterday.  Really I began 2 months ago when I bought the book.  I devoured every page and thought this makes sense to me, and I will do it, let me just stuff my face for 2 months first.  So like the rest of the world the magic first Monday of the new year brought DAY 1.  And heres the rundown so far:

DAY 1
height: 5'9"
weigh in: 156.5 lbs
measurements:
    bust:
    waist:
    hips:
    thighs:
I need to do those today, and I will and get back to you.  This was a spur of the moment decision and I don't have measuring tools on me.  And I will post my Day 1 picture as well. 

I also want to mention that I have a 1 year old son and a 4 year old daughter.  The belly flab left over from those two is what has driven me to get my body back!  My daughter has sweetly put her hand on my stomach and patted it, looked up at me and said its like there's still a baby in there.  And this is a year later.

The food.  Oh boy this is going to be the really, really, really hard part.  The diet is very restricted for the 30 days.  I eat a lot.  I am conscious of what I eat, I eat relatively healthy, but I snack and get very cranky when I am hungry.  So, knowing my body, I will stick to the diet as best as I can.  I know this may alter the results but its what I can do.  I will be eating the meals according to the meal plans, but probably not on the exact days.  And I may need to add a couple almonds or sugar snap peas in from time to time.  I have to have enough energy to do this, work, and take care of my kids, so be it, I ate an almond!

There's there ground work.  Now the real work.  Day 1 was a tough workout.  I did 20 reps of the exercises in sequence 1 and 20 minutes of cardio.  That's all I could do before my 4 year old came down to see if she could do my yoga with me.  Ya, I wish I was doing yoga right now! 

Today, DAY 2, I did what I prayed I wouldn't do and talked myself out of getting up at 6am to work out.  Slap Slap, bad girl.  So I will be forced to do it tonight after the kids go to bed.  Sucks.  So lessoned learned I hope.  So far today I had a hard boiled egg, 1 cup of coffee (w a splash of milk and a dash of agave nectar), bc yesterday I only had 2 cups of green tea and I needed the boost today.  Then I had 4 almonds, and lunch 2 lettuce wraps w roasted, low sodium turkey breast, and avocado.  I am consistently hungry, but doing ok.

Hopefully dinner will be a little better than the poached cod last night, or my husband my form a revolt.

So here's to doing it and making it through!!! I can't wait to cheers my self in 29 days with the biggest and best glass of wine I can find (or maybe like 3)!!!

Ally