Gold's Gym Body Transformation

The program is officially over and we had our final measurements this weekend. I did much better than I had expected losing a few pounds, but also losing 2% body fat, and 10 inches from my body. We also did our end of program fitness test and I made huge improvements going from 25 laps on the running beep test to 50 laps, from 5 push ups to 19, and from 20 situps to 30. I'm happy with my results considering I had made zero progress midway through the program, so basically all of this happened in the five weeks where I switched up my routine and learned to love the 5am workout! Thanks Paige! I'm looking forward to continuing in the 4 week small group training programs!!

Out of Touch.....

I've been very out of touch with my updates, but I will get back on it very soon! I'm hoping to update this weekend.....hoping being the key word!
Updates include: Johnny's Runnin' of the Green 5 miler, Half Marathon training, BTC final week, and waiting with anticipation for the NYC Marathon lottery draw on April 7th!! :0

Week Three

It's been nearly 3 weeks since the start of the BTC and I've been killing it in the gym. In fact, my body is a bit sore and beat up right now, so I'm taking tomorrow off.....well, I say that now. I've been having some problems sleeping, so I've been getting up and heading to the gym at 4:50am. It's great for my system and has been an awesome way to start the day, so I'm thinking if I'm up tomorrow, I may just go in and run for 30 minutes. We shall see how I feel in the morning. I do like getting the workout in before my day starts b/c more times than not, I'm so drained from the day that the temptation to just go home and veg wins over a gym visit. Anyway, enough on that!

The point of my rambling is that I feel like I'm doing well, I feel changes in my body already, and I'm energized. Someone actually said to me at the group training last night "You've got to be doing well, you are here all the time!". Yay! It's truly a life change. I've been working out for years, but this time it's different. I'm incorporating proper nutrition with daily exercise, and I'm getting results.

I do have a question??? I'm doing great and feeling changes, but when I get on the scale, I'm not really seeing the results. I JUST DON'T GET IT!!! I can't put my finger on what I'm missing on this journey and I really need to figure it out in order to make the life change permanent, and not get discouraged along this 10 week BTC journey and beyond. We have mid program weigh in coming up around week 5. If anyone has any insight or suggestions to get the scale moving, I'm all ears! I've been working out (hardcore workouts), monitoring my diet, and working to get proper sleep and decrease stress. Over the 3 week period I've only seen about a 2lb change in the scale. I realize that isn't enough information to make a diagnosis, but any suggestions on jumpstarting would be fantastic!

Week Two....

I've started off strong in week two of the BTC. I went to the 5am training session today and then went back after work for a 5:30 Body Pump class. Feeling great so far. Awesome meals today.....chicken florentine, haddock, baked potato......love it! Starting to get tired, but aiming for another 5am workout tomorrow, only this one won't be circuit training, this will actually be a run. I'm gunning for 3 miles on the treadmill b/c I need to start building my running base again. All is going well so far, my challenge will come later on when I start to slack. I'm hoping to miss that stage and continue making great progress!

I finally registered for the Flower City Half Marathon in April after having toyed with the idea of doing the duathalon on that saturday and the half on sunday, but I have realized just how out of shape I got over the past few months and decided it might not be the best idea at this point. I think I need to focus on getting back in shape, and building my running base. I'm going to add cycling to my spring/summer/fall training in the hopes of doing a duathalon someday, but, the full marathon is really my target for this year, and then I may think about other types of events. I need to stay focused on one event for now, I feel that is better for me.

Double Session Saturday!

Today rocked! I went to the new release of Body Attack and then stayed for the BTC saturday circus workout. It was fantastic! I felt soooo good.....although I later fell asleep in the car as we were driving around looking at boats. Oops... I definitely had a throurough butt kicking this morning! Thank you Body Attack and BTC!

Now I'm headed to a much deserved girl's night at a friends house. Good times!

Day Two....

Even though today was a holiday and I wonderfully had the day off, I still got up at 4:30a.m. to make it to the 5a.m. BTC workout with Paige. She is a pretty kickbutt trainer, so I dragged myself out of bed to make it to the gym. Great workout, only 30 min, but still a good early morning workout. I went home after that, showered and then went back to bed for about an hour or so. I then headed to the gym for round two because I was feeling guilty that the morning workout was only 30 mins. I went in for BodyFlow, which is a type of yoga/pilates and loved it!! This was my first time with this class, and I'm only bummed that I'm just starting it now. Good stuff! The eating is under control so far, and maybe I'll even throw in a run for later this week!

Body Transformation Challenge '10

BTC '10 has begun! Today was picture, weigh in, & measurements day. Basically, today was reality check day! I knew things had gone down hill regarding my physical health and wellness, and I learned the hard facts on how far I've let myself go. I've got my work cut out for me, but I know that I'm ready to make a permanent change and get back on track. I know I can control this, I've just not made the choice to do so until now.

Welcome 2010!!

I couldn't be happier for the beginning of a new year! After all the turmoil in our lives, Alex and I are finally gainfully employed IN THE SAME CITY!! What an incredible feeling to be back on our feet and enjoying life again! I'm looking forward to what this year holds in health and happiness for everyone! So 2010, I welcome you with open arms and an open heart!!

The start of a new year, brings on the start of a new running season! Yay! I'm beginning to plan out my schedule for the year and a full marathon is on the agenda! Which one has yet to be determined. I'm filling out the lottery paperwork for the NYC marathon, but I figure that is a long shot and we will see if I get the luck of the draw. Rochester recently added an April 1/2 marathon (Flower City Challenge), so I'm planning to aim for that run in a few months. If NYC doesn't pan out this year, I'll still have time to register for Philly or Niagara Falls. I'd LOVE to run Chicago, but I don't want to register and then crazily get chosen in the NYC lottery. Maybe I'll register for Chicago and plan NYC for next year? Sorry, just thinking out loud......I have a few more weeks before Chicago opens registration, so I can figure it out.

This running season will once again begin with Johnny's Runnin' of the Green on St. Patrick's Day. Always a fun run with a huge turnout.....and of course a great way to begin a day of consumption!

On another note, the start of the new year, brings the beginning of the Body Transformation Program at Gold's Gym. I love this program and look forward to all the positive changes I will see with the support of the training team at Gold's. I couldn't have found a more positive and encouraging environment to work on my physical self. So, I have a lot of work to do over the next few months. I've allowed the stress of the past few months to negatively affect my eating and exercising habits. I desperately need to get back in touch with that side of myself.

Here I go, the start of a new year and the start of a new and improved ME!

Gold's Gym Body Transformation Challenge

The challenge has been wonderful again this year!! I have been attending the small group sessions as well as the Wednesday night circus workouts when I can. We are now at the end of week 7 of the challenge and the workouts are certainly getting much more challenging!! While I haven't been as dedicated to the program in the first 6 weeks, I still had some weight loss as well as losing some body fat percentage points at the mid program weigh in. I feel much stronger and feel that my core is much tigher as we have been working a great deal on strengthing the core. The plank position is my new best friend!! Overall my experiences have been wonderful in the program and I'm very much looking forward to being much more dedicated for the second half of the challenge!!

Stay Tuned....

New updates coming soon. Life has been a bit hairy the past few weeks, so I haven't had a chance to catch up with the blog.

I've been running and hitting the gym pretty regularly though! And of course, the Gold's Gym Body Transformation Challenge has begun! We are 1 week in and it's been fantastic so far!!

Fantastic Run!

I had a fantastic run at the gym today! It felt awesome!! I did 4.5 miles on the treadmill and then headed for some lower body and ab training. I just need to get to 20 mi per week by the end of the month. Then I will know if I'm ready for the marathon training!

I won't start logging weight loss for a few more weeks. I officially registered for the Body Challenge and scheduled my photo and measurements for 8am on Jan. 17. Yikes!!

Last Chance Workout #2

I went to my Bootcamp style Last Chance Workout tonight and wow......I was either going to throw up or start crying! It was super hard but I loved it!! Once again we started with a cardio warmup that included sprints, but this time we also rotated the sprints with jumping jacks, squat thrusts, and high knees. We then went to circuit weights and core training and ended with abs. I think the "round the clock" push-ups hit me the hardest. Ugh! They came about 45 min into the workout and were killer, but totally worth it! I felt fantastic after the workout! I'm actually excited to go to the Tuesday workout now that I have completed grad classes for the semester.

Gold's also began advertising their Body Transformation this week. I grabbed a flier and will be signing up soon! It starts Jan. 14 and I can't wait!!

Body Transformation Challenge

I've been participating in a Biggest Loser type program at my gym (Gold's Gym) for 12 weeks now. It ended this weekend with final weigh in and measurements as well as photos. It has felt amazing to lose some weight and just overall, feel fantastic!! I feel stronger and more confident as well as excited that clothes I haven't worn in forever are now fitting! It was hard walking in there the first day and having someone take my picture and do my measurements, it made what I'd done to my body a true reality for me. Although it was difficult, it was the best thing I could have ever done! It made me aware and it made me not want to sit by and watch myself while I self distruct. Anyway, my final numbers show the work that I put in over the past 12 weeks because, I lost 13.5lbs, 8.3% body fat, 4 in off my hips & chest, 4.5 in off my waist, 2 in off my thigh, and 1 in off my arm! This is just the beginning, I still have a long way to go, but it has really educated me on how to take better care of myself. The best part about it is the change in my running! I 100% attribute my time differences to the change I've made to my body and the crazy workouts I've been doing at the gym. Thank you so much to everyone at Gold's Webster, this experience has changed my life!! :)