2 weeks down, 10 to go.

Whew...lots and lots going on in my life right now. I have had a very busy day...will be busy tomorrow and super busy on Saturday. Sunday will def need to be a day of church and rest! Just wanted to get on real quick and post meals.

m1: Myoplex Deluxe Bar and coffee CLA and thermodynamx
m2: small apple and low fat moz string cheese
m3: veggie burger with whole wheat tortilla
m4: 1/2. cup ff cottage cheese and 1/2 c. strawberries CLA
M5: SW Chicken breast, 1/2 sweet potato, asparagus
m6: Myoplex lite shake (post workout) with l glutamine and CLA

Will probably not take any pics until 4 weeks. I thought about doing 2 week pics...but I'm not gonna.

Supplements

I am writing this post to remind myself how much of a difference I am noticing in my transformation already with the use of supplements. During my first and only real attempt at BFL back in 2006 I didn't pay much attention to supplements. I knew I had to use at least one for the challenge so I chose the nutrition bars and shakes of course...but really had no clue what glutamine was or CLA or anything like that. I am not saying that I am an expert this go round by any means becasue I still have no clue what this stuff is...but all I know now is that I am using a couple of them and WOW...it really does make a huge difference. I mean HUGE. I don't know what else could be the cause of it, but I have had better results in my first two weeks of this challenge, than I had in my first 6 weeks in 2006.

Just to jot down here real quick my supplements so that I can remember for essay time.
CLA - 3 times a day
L-Glutamine - once a day
Thermodynamx - twice a day
Myoplex Lite - 1-2 times a day

I just read an article about the importance of glutamine...and that is why I wrote this. Before I thought supplements were more of a mental thing...another way for these companies to make more money. I figured they probably didn't really help that much, oh but now I believe quite differently and the article I read explained it very well. Which made me think...hmmmm...maybe what I am taking has a bit to do with how well I am progressing here. It's mainly in my upper body. I have these muscles that are just coming out of nowhere...it ROCKS!!! :) Hoping to see these kind of changes in the legs pretty soon. I am guessing around week 6...hopefully!!! :)

Light at the end of the tunnel...well...the first tunnel

Woo Hoo...I felt super duper strong on the treadmill today. I think while I was running today, well and even last night when I was doing upper body, I had a little change of heart as far as my goals. Nothing too drastic...but check it...I think I am leaning a little less towards the whole "losing weight" part of the challenge and leaning more towards "GETTING STRONGER"!!!! When I was in basic training, the fastest I was ever able to run a mile and a half was 17 minutes. I am now consistantly running it in 15 minutes and it gets easier every day. To be in better shape at 30 years old than I was at 20 is just amazing!!!!! I'm not saying I am thinner or weigh less than I did at 20...but that part will come so easy if I can keep training harder and harder every day. Hello!!!!
So workout for today is done!!!! Sweet!!!!

Cardio HIIT:
Treadmill
5.0, 5.6, 5.9, 6.2, 6.6 and 7.5 for my 10

I am going to try to go up .1 every week. Since this was my last cardio for this week...I will start my 5 at 5.1, 6 at 5.7 and so on. Oh....that's gonna hurt. I eventually want 6.0 mph to be a cakewalk for me!!! That will take the whole challenge I am sure, but I'll get there.

So menu for the day

m1: 2 egg whites, 1/3 c. oats, CLA
m2: Myoplex lite shake, L-glutamine, CLA, Thermodynamx
m3: Chicken breast, salad, apple
m4: chicken breast, asparagus, sweet potato, CLA
m5: myoplex lite shake

M2 is late becasue I wanted to wait until after cardio for it, and my daughter kept procrastinating her nap...so cardio got done late and shake got drank late. That's why I only will have 5 meals today.

Yesterday was free day. The day started off fabulous. But then later in the afternoon I had to buy some easter candy for the kids' schools and I broke down and had a peanut butter bunny. So...had to make it my free day. I don't think bunnies are on the authorized food list...:) My free day was a couple days early...but that's ok because I had major motivation last night break me right off that free day and back into the program. I FIT INTO MY SIZE 10s!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! So excited!!!! They aren't lose or anything, but not super tight either. So my little mini goal of being in a size 10 by the end of my first 4 weeks is def in sight!!!!

Redirected

I just wanted to talk real quick about my blog name. I was sittin here trying to get my blog started and my computer was taking forever. When I went to click on the area to give my blog a name I was thinking of what I was going to use and I am siting here waiting and waiting on my computer and at the top of the screen was a simple little word that said "redirecting". I thought to myself how perfect that name is. Since this will be my blog of my experiences during this time when I am literally trying to change my whole life. I felt at that exact moment that God...the person who is in charge of my transformation...is doing exactly that...he is completely REDIRECTING me. Taking me down a whole different path...

So that's where it came from...didn't want to forget!!!!

Great Monday!!!! 11/84...Only 73 days left!!!!! :)

Ok, so I know to most people 73 days seems like a long time...but it's really not. Not with the results I am expecting to see at the end of those 73 days. To believe that I will be able to achieve these type of results in ONLY 73 more days!!! Woo Hoo...bring it on!!!!

Today was a great day...FABULOUS!!!! Which is very ironic, because I actually have a lot of stressors going right now...but ya know what....it's just stuff I gotta let go. I've handed it over to God a long time ago, and I just gotta know he is taking it and helping us deal with it in his own way...I have no clue what that way is, but until then, I gotta just keep doing what I can and know it will all work out I guess.

Speaking of working out....I have NOT today...not yet anyway. I have upper body today. OOOOOOOhhhhhh...I LOVE upper body!!!!! I can't wait!!! OH..holy cow and I forgot to mention (my mind is going like I talk right now...90 to nothin) I hopped on the scale this morning and I am down the 4 lbs I had gained plus and additional 2...so 2 down from my start weight...which I will take!!!! That's fabulous!!!

Menu for the day was not great....not unauthorized...but I failed to plan. I was all over the place...felt very unorganized and just crazy because my food wasn't planned. But I adapted and overcame....so here it is.

8:15: Myoplex Lite Shake (running late for work as usual)

10:30: Myoplex Lite shake...again

1:30: 2 oz tuna
1/2 c. brown rice
1/2 c. peas
1/3 c. fat free cottage cheese

3:30: 2 tbsp peanut butter
whole wheat tortilla

5:30: 3 oz chicken
wheat toast
1/2 string cheese

At 8:30 I will have and apple for energy and around 9:30 I will have whey protein shake after my workout.

Sunday 10/84

Wow...cant believe I am on day 10 already. It's going by very fast. Yesterday was great as far as food...but I didn't get my workout in so I have to make it up today. So today I have lbwo and cardio to do. I have to knock it out at naptime so that I can get to bed around 9 tonight. I went to bed at 9:30 last night and woke up this morning so refreshed!!!

Yesterday we had unexpected plans...and I was very proud of myself. We were supposed to go to a bridal shower...but then our babysitter cancelled on us...so I planned on cooking a healthy dinner and all right...but then at the very last minute we decided to go anyway with all the kids. It was a crawfish boil with fried fish and all the yummy stuff. I didn't have any food prepared so I just took a myoplex lite shake with me and that is what I had...and that is it. YAY for me!!!! So because of that...I only got in one good meal...but I didn't eat anything unauthorized at all. I will go back and edit my post for yesterday to reflect what I ate.

Today I have planned this:

8:15 am: Protine pancakes (3 egg whites, 1/2 c. oatmeal, 1/4 cup ff cottage cheese)
1/4 c. sf syrup
CLA

11:15: 3 oz tuna
1/2 c. brown rice
1/2 c. peas

2:15: Myoplex lite shake....postworkout with L-glutamine and CLA

5:30: 4 oz chicken breast
1/2 c. brown rice
1 cup asparagus

7:30: Small Apple
low fat string cheese

I have to jot down this one thought real quick that will help in my essay writing. Since this is kinda my journal...I want to keep all little breakthroughs on here. So I think I realized maybe one little reason I always have setbacks and have never been able to complete a challenge. I have always had a low self esteem and never felt accepted I guess. I have always had great friends...but like in high school and stuff...they all had other friends that didn't really invite me to everything or what not. I'm not like cryin about this or anything...but I think I have always had that need to fit in and so once again...when I start a challenge or try to stay on task with eating right and just overall being healthy, I don't fit in with the crowd anymore. At family gatherings...I can't sit around the bar and munch on all the goodies, or drink the margaritas and wine. I cant eat all the yummy desserts with everyone...so that need to "fit in" is not being met. This is just a little example...but I was sitting in the car the other day when I came to this little revelation and I started to cry. I've always been different from the norm I guess...in HS I was always to scared to do the bad things...I didn't drink a whole lot, I never did any drugs, I was spiritual...and most of my friends just didn't really care about that kinda stuff...as most highschoolers don't. And even now....I would rather stay home with my family than hire a babysitter and go out for the night. Since I have had children 8 years ago...I can maybe count on two hands the number of times I have been away from them....and 3 of those times were for anniversary dates with my husband. But we typically celebrate everything with our kids. So bottom line...I just never have felt like I fit in 100% and I think my eating stems from that.

Anyway...had to jot that down so I won't forget.

EDIT:

It's about 1:00 pm now...I just got both my workouts done...lower body and cardio. Note to self...if I have to make up a workout...never do lower body and cardio on the same day. OMG...it was killer on my legs. BUT...I got them both down and I am very proud of my self!!! You know how easy it would be just to let one workout go...VERY EASY...but I didn't. I made it up and now I am back to being able to say...I haven't missed a workout, and I WON'T miss one this whole challenge...I REFUSE to miss a workout!!!!!!!!!!!

Legs:
Squats, sumo squats, side leg raises
Lunges, pelvic raises, step ups
standing calf raises, sitting calf raises

Abs:
Floor Crunches
Ball Crunches
v-sit crunches
Side crunches for obliques

Cardio:
20 min HIIT on treadmill
5.0, 5.5, 5.8, 6.1, 6.6, and 7.5 at incline of 2 for my 10.

Now gotta hit the shower and drink my myopolex to give me back some energy!!! :)

Saturday!! Woo Hoo!!! 9/84

I didn't get to get back on last night and blog my eats and workout...computer problems. So here they are...for yesterday:

eats
8:00 am: 2 egg whites
1/3 c. oatmeal
CLA
diet mountain dew (didn't have time to make coffee)

10:30 am: Myoplex Lite Vanilla Shake

12:30 pm: 3 oz tuna on a whole wheat tortilla
Salad with 1 tbsp ff cranberry vingerette dressing

3:30: Myoplex Lite nutrition bar

7:30 pm: 4 oz chicken breast
3/4 whole wheat tortilla
1 cup green beans

10:30 pm: myoplex lite bar (post workout)

Cardio:

Treadmill HIIT for 20 min - This wasn't my best cardio...don't really know that I hit a high point, but I was doing good to get it in.

Good news!!!! I didn't take motrin all day yesterday or today and back is feeling fine....SO my pinched nerve or whatever it was must have corrected itself. Thank the good Lord for that, because despite what I kept telling my husband ("don't worry babe...it will go away on it's own"), I was very nervous that I may have caused some damage by not resting like I should have. So I lucked out!!! :)

Ok so for today so far...great day!!! Been right on with me eating. I didn't rest well last night, so I am going to have to make sure to call it an early night tonight. That is ONE thing that I never did on any challenges before was get proper rest. I am aiming for at least 6 hours every night during this challenge. I would love to get 8!!! And on the weekends, that should not be a problem. So tonight I want to have my LBWO done and be in bed by 10:30 or 11:00 pm.

Planned eats for the day are:

7:30 am: 2 egg whites
1/3 c. oatmeal
coffee

10:30 am: Myoplex lite bar (was at opening day parade)
CLA

1:00 - Chicken Breast with mustard
Salad with 1 tbsp fat free cranberry vinegerette dressing
1/2 sweet potato

4:00 - banana with 1 tbsp peanut butter

7:30 pm -Myplex lite shake

8/84

Fab day! Busy day! I had to work today...those days are so draining. Running after 15 three year olds...and then coming home to my three kiddos...whew, I am just exhausted by the end of the day. But today I have done great on eats. I have a very hectic schedule beginning at 5:00 tonight for the rest of the weekend, so I stopped by wal mart on the way home from work and grabbed plenty of myoplex shakes and bars to keep in my car over the next 48 hours to make sure I don't mess up!!!

I won't get my cardio in until later tonight. Afterwards I will get back on here and blog it and my food for the day. I will say I am bummed a little today. I have gained 4 lbs. It could be from quitting smoking...could be added muscle...or a combo of both. I am REALLY hoping that will be gone by the end of my second week. My abs are getting a little definition already...but my legs are getting huge. Many say they will get bigger before they get smaller...its VERY VERY frustrating because my jeans that were lose on me 3 weeks ago, are now severly tight in the legs...no where else...just the thighs. UGH! But not a showstopper...I am in the thing for 12 weeks. I wouldn't care if I gained 15 lbs over the next couple of weeks...I am going to keep on keepin one for the results at the end!!!!! :) Because I know they will be awesome!!!!

Feelin Good...end of first week!!! :)

Well today is the last day of my first week on my challenge. I did good I think. I didn't end up doing my workout yesterday. I went ahead and took Tracy's advice to rest and not aggitate my back even more. However...I still want to complete this challenge without missing a single workout...so that ubwo will be made up today which is my real rest day. Make sense??? :) My back...well I can't tell if it's still messed up because I take my motrin every 6 hours. Hopefully it will be fine. I think it should....it's all good!!! ;)

I was looking at some webistes of ladies who are figure competitors. Hmmmm, I am thinking I would love to do that one day. Monica Brandt has a FEM camp in september...if I can afford it then, I am going to go. I think that would be so much FUN!!!!!! So big goal right there...little goals first though.

Since I am blogging about my challenge here I should post a few of my goals. We will start with the first 4 week goals. In three more weeks I would like to be to a size 10. I am a 12 now. I would also like to be able to run a mile in 9.5 minutes without stopping to rest. Right now I can run in 11 minutes without stopping. I CAN do two miles in 20 minutes...but I have to stop a few times for 5 second breaks. Also for the next 3 weeks a HUGE goal is to just make it through...finish the next 3 weeks without cheating on a meal and without missing a single workout!!!! My over all big goal for this challenge is to finish! Finish by the book and not mess up and not quit!!!!!!!

So for now...I am just focusing on small goals. At the end of the first 4 weeks, I will post my second 4 week (8 week) goals.

So on an even smaller scale...for my next week I am just going to focus on planning every meal...not cheating a single day, and making sure that workout gets in no matter how late or early I have to do it. SOOOOO....in order to help myself achieve this goal, I went grocery shopping today. OMG...my family is going to hate me. I got NOTHING unauthorized. No cereal, no crackers, cookies, chips, or soda. Instead of cereal for breakfast, the kids will enjoy eggs, oatmeal, whole wheat or protien pancakes or whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter. 1 or 2% milk and fruit will be added to thier breakfast as well. I shopped the perimeter of the store only. Got tons of fresh veggies, fresh fruits, lean meats. Tip for shoppers on a budget. Lean meats can be very expensive, but a lot of grocery stores put stuff on sale if it's about to expire. For example...today I got a lb of extra lean ground turkey...normally $7.00...for only $3.00 because it was about to expire tomorrow. So I bring it home and freeze it and it's good!!! I got frozen veggies as well...just as good as fresh and cheaper. I was able to walk out the store buying all health food, diapers and even a brita water pitcher and extra filter for around $200...for 2 weeks worth of groceries. How fabulous is that!!!!!

So today is ubwo day....

Chest: Dumbell Flies and Dumbell Bench Press
Back: Cable Rows, Lat Pull Down
Shoulders: Lateral Raises (my fave), Front Raises
Biceps Dumbell Curls, Hammer Curls
Triceps: Bench dips (another fave), Tricep Kickbacks

Eats:

7 am - 1 cup skim milk (taken with my motrin)
1 slice whole wheat (ww) toast with sugar free (sf) raspberry perserves
CLA and Coffee with splenda

10 am - Fat Free (ff) vanilla yogurt mixed with FF cottage cheese

1 pm - Myoplex Lite bar
CLA

3 pm - 3 oz tuna
1/2 sweet potato
1 cup steamed asparagus with 1 tsp olive oil, lemon juice and garlic

6 pm - 4 oz ground chicken breast
1/2 c. brown rice
1 cup fresh snapped green beans with lemon juice and garlic
CLA

9 pm - Myoplex Lite shake post workout with L-glutamine

Starting out

I started my bfl challenge 6 days ago. I am going to blog it on here. I did just have a long blog written, but then I did something and erased it...so this will be short and sweet as I have dinner on the oven. Having a great week. Had to use free day early because I had and encounter with cocoa puffs...and the puffs won. I called that my free day, but I still got in my workout that day. I have not missed a workout.

My challenge weeks start on Fridays...free day on Thursdays. I counted this Monday as my free day because of the cereal...however I got my workout in that day. I will still use Thursday as my rest day...but just make sure I stay on task with eating.

Today is upper body. A trusted friend advised me to not workout today because I have a pinched nerve in my back or pulled muscle or something. I really trust her advice...but at the same time, I wanted to complete this challenge being able to say I NEVER missed a workout. Tough desicion. I guess I will see how I feel this evening when it comes time for the workout...right now I am on motrin so I feel fine.

If I do take today off for my back then I will workout tomorrow...my rest day...to make up for it. I just don't think I can start off week one with a missed workout.