I joined this contest with full awareness that this would be the most challenging time of the year for me. All the more reason to do it. I knew that around week 5 my routine would start to change and by week 7 be completely chaotic. Even more reason to do it. I really wanted to be able to deal with all the routine changes and chaos. My goals for this contest was to lose more fat, boost my metabolism and see if I could stick it out with all the chaos. The things that were achieved kind of revealed themselves as I went along and once again learned so much.
Age: 38 and probably 20 times healthier than when I was 28. I started the contest 37 and ended 38 and a little wiser.
BODY STATS: I've conformed to write in inches and pounds.
- NECK: 13.6 ----> 12.8 (Less 0.8)
- BICEP: 10.8 ----> 10.2 (Less 0.6)
- FOREARM: 8.9 ----> 6.7 (Less 2.2)
- CHEST: 37.2 ----> 33.9 (Less 3.3)
- WAIST: 30.3 ----> 28.5 (Less 1.8)
- HIPS: 38.2 ----> 35.8 (Less 2.4)
- THIGH: 21.9 -----> 18.9 (Less 3)
- CALF: 12.6 -----> 12.2 (Less 0.4)
BODY WEIGHT: My start weight was 135.1 which is possibly not a true representation because I was in recovery from bronchitis. My weight then climbed to 137.1 which is more like where I was before I had the bronchitis. At the end of the 12 weeks I ended up at 132.4.
Workouts.
- Booty for Wife phase 3 (weeks 9-12)
- Metabolic Resistance
- Buff Dudes And Hot Chicks
I learnt how important it is to keep an active attitude outside of the workout time. So during this 12 weeks I also built a small veggie garden. Just have to keep moving an be active. It's also important to have that rest too. It's pretty easy to want to do more, but allowing the body to rest was crucial. I also learnt to be aware of form and tempo during the workout.
Nutrition - Knowing that I'm supposed to create a deficit in order to lose fat I decided to try zig zagging around the energy (calorie) intake. I split it into three categories of low, medium high. So on the days where there is a bigger deficit, the low days, I needed to know how to eat lots but still create the deficit. So usually I'd have white meat such as fish and then fill up on veggies. The medium could include a red meat, some rice but still lots of veggies and high day was whatever...just eat.
I learnt that moderation means moderation. When I first packed the weight on, I'd given up cigarettes and was pregnant with twins. I had no idea of moderation and food was amazing since I'd regained by taste buds and figured it was because I was pregnant. My appetite exploded. The whole cigarette craving was being replaced by food and I had no idea. So now I realise that I can have some wine with food on a regular basis, but just one. I can eat whatever on a high day, but then it's back to work so to speak. Cut out sugar, processed foods from my daily diet. Really exercising moderation makes way for all the pleasures of food.
I also learned, and this was the greatest thing to learn actually, that how I go about with my diet plan is a direct influence on my kids. I have two girls who will be 8 and it's so important that they see their mum lose fat from the TT workouts and eating healthy. So if it takes longer I don't mind, just as long as my kids are influenced positively.
I do realise that I still have a way to go to be a lean chick. My transformations are subtle, but consistent. I feel like I'm moving in the right direction. When I look back to last year there is a massive change. February 2010 I was 165lbs. My family benefit, I'm always looking for a new recipe, it's a lot easier to buy clothes and I have much more strength, energy and enthusiasm. I'm just going to keep at it and keep learning. Can't go wrong with Turbulence Training.
Debra
