Finally...

I guess I've finally recovered from that Cardio Day, JK ~ been a lazy blogger, I'm over it now. Last Saturday was the end of week four and we were allowed to weigh ourselves if we wanted, I had already the week before, but did again Sat. morning, I'd lost 15 pounds in four weeks! Can't wait until next Saturday when it's the end of week six and we get measured. I'm going to try not to step on the scale until week eight.

This week was back to evening classes ~ the boss was back from vacation so no more getting away with coming in late. Missed the girls!! But, next week no more work so back to mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday!! Which also means back to Cadio Days...

I'll try to be better at blogging and putting in what I eat, workouts, etc. This week I tried squash, it was okay, kind of bland. Tonight I'm having brussel sprouts ~ that's right TWO new veggies in one week ~ making up for no new veggies the week before.

Last nights workout was Spread the Wealth: you can see pictures on Ben's Blog.
Circuit 1
Kettlebell Swing x 10
Push ups x 20
Goblet Squat x 10

Circuit 2
Renegade Rows x 10 each side
Reverse Crunches x 15
Split Squat x 10 each side

We had 10 minutes on each circuit and had to complete as many round as we could, I tried to count but lost track, I think I had done Renegade Rows and Reverse Crunches in round 4 when times was up on Circuit 2 and 5 full rounds in Circuit 1. push ups were killer for me. I'm back to knees, but have been working on touching the ground with nose and chest before coming back up, gives me spaghetti arms!

OMFG ~ Cardio Day

At 6:30 this morning I was a cardio day virgin, at 7:30 this morning my innocence was lost! Wow, what a different workout then I am use to. There were five stations: firehose (another first), sprints, burpees, high knees and the bike, sounds easy enough, right? I thought I was going to die ~ part way through this workout was the first time in three weeks that I questioned whether I could do this. Of course I can, but there was a moment.

I think the first round was 30 secords work, 90 seconds active rest and we did each exercise twice and had to beat at least two scores, we all did! Second time around was 30 seconds work 60 second rest and again had to beat two scores, and again we did. My heart was beating so fast and my lungs were on fire! It was a great workout, but hard ~ not the work itself, but how I felt. It was a little weird not working with any kind of weight.

I think I'm too tired to think about typing right now ~ more later.

Fitness Score plus More

Friday I got to work out with the girls again minus Missy who had a family emergency and couldn't be there, she was missed! We did Fitness Score plus more! We started with push-ups x 3 and pull-ups x 3. Three rounds each exercise keeping track total number of reps. I had 49 "boy push-ups" and I think 3 or 4 pull-ups, such a small number don't know why I can't remember it. But, I usually do rows so this is a step up for me so I'm not too discouraged by it. Erica also did boy push-ups and pull-ups, in fact superwoman had more pull-ups then me ~ you go girl!! Then it was onto Tabata Squats x 8. 8 rounds with quick rest in between each round, I can't remember what the times were (20/5 maybe) you'll have to check Ben's Blog for that, go 8 rounds using lowest number of squats. Then when that's over it's math time, add the total push-ups and total pull-ups then multiply by lowest number of squats and that is your fitness score.

After that we did:
10 kettlebell swings
1 burpees
9 kbs
2 burpees
8 kbs
3 burpees
7 kbs
4 burpees
6 kbs
5 burpees
5 kbs
6 burpees
4 kbs
7 burpees
3 kbs
8 burpees
2 kbs
9 burpees
1 kbs
10 burpees

We did that for time, don't remember mine 5:?? or something.

Then... after that we did wheelbarrow races for a prize, it was Lisa and I again Erica and Christine and according to Erica I look like a walrus, thank God no video of that!

Saturday we had bootcamp in the a.m. to make up for Monday and MM class after that. All good there and Missy was back!! After that Missy and I had our kitchen "makeover," Ben came to our houses to give us tips and suggestions to make our kitchens more user friendly on this journey of ours. My kitchen was okay, Ben suggested keeping a bowl of apples or other fruit on counter for easy grabbing. I had watched a video blog of Ben's months ago and he had showed what was in his fridge and cupboards so I had gotten tips that I started using way back then.

Tried a new breakfast mixture this morning that was delish!! 1/2 cup oatmeal cooked, then added 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 1/2 cup strawberries, freakin' yummy!! A little more calories then I usually have for breakfast, but a nice change on a Sunday morning and planned rest of day so numbers work out!!

Working with the Girls!

Yesterday I got to work out with the other Moosers for the first time and it was great. Fun and sweat all mixed together ~ good combination. I pushed myself a little harder then I think I normally would have and used heavier weights too ~ had to keep up with the other girls!!

We started out with planks and supergirls - did you know that Erica is faster then a speeding bullet and Missy is more powerful then a locomotive and that Lisa and Christine are able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Yup, those are the girls!!

After that we had 4 stations with 2 exercises at each station. We did each exercise for a minute for 3 rounds (so in case your math is as bad as mine - 6 minutes), then a minute break then on to next station. The stations were: 1) rows and goblet squats with 20 lb weight, 2) kettlebell swings (not sure of weight) and wall sits (ouch!!), 3) wood chops with 25 lbs disc and step ups with 10 lbs weights in each hand, 4) kettlebell deadlift, not sure of weight but was a heavy one and push press with 15 lb weight in each hand. MY LEGS WERE ON FIRE!! Especially the top front part. It was a tough workout and I sweated like a boy! It was great.

As far as food goes it was a good day. Got all my numbers today! Woo hoo me!!
Breakfast: 2 eggs whites (not actual eggs, the kind in carton) scrambled and 1 slice country kitchen wheat toast
Post Workout: Prograde Lean with 1 cup skim milk
Snack: 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 cup strawberries, 6 almonds, mixed together, yummy in my tummy!
Lunch: 2 cups spinach, 1/2 cup cucumber, 1/4 cup fat free mozz. cheese, 3 oz. chicken breast, josephs wheat pita
Snack: Blueberry ChoYo and apple
Dinner: 3 oz ham steak, 1/2 cup broccoli and 2 cups skim milk

Tuesday night I tried parsnips for the first time and they were good so I'll be incorporating that into menu, also can't bring myself to try salsa again right now, the smell of it grosses me out. Maybe down the road. Also, tried eating out for the first time Tuesday afternoon and I have to tell you it sucked! I couldn't find really much on the menu that was healthy and tasty. I ordered grilled chicken which was good and figured 3 oz. with what we learned in MM last Saturday, but instead of mashed potatoes or french fries I asked for extra veggies and I got nastiness! It was boiled broccoli and cauliflower and it was soggy and bland. My lunch I bring to work it so much better, so I'll be sticking with that for now.

Get to workout with the girls again tomorrow. Fun, fun for all - especially Ben!

Salsa and Cottage Cheese

Saturday's bootcamp was GREAT! It was the end of the session so it was Fitness Score time (read about it on www.bensbootcamps.com/blog), my score almost doubled! I was excited and disappointed - excited because I doubled my score, disappointed because I know I could have pushed a little harder at the end on Tabata Squats. So, new goal to add to my list, push myself harder. If my legs get tired and I want to break - nope, I'm going to keep going and cry about it later.

Saturday also was MM class. Learned some good stuff on portion sizes and ordinary things that can be used to "eye" the proper portion size. Which down the road will be a good tool, because right now I measure and weigh everything. Also set some goals for the week. 1) steer away from the same menu every week 2) eat a new vegetable and 3) try salsa (I've never had it). Lots of laughing in that class - the girls are funny and I'm really looking forward to seeing how we work out together. Little worried that I'm going to be busting up their group, but I think okay with it.

So, want to know how that's going? Well for breakfast this morning I scrambled two servings of egg whites (1/3 cup each) with one serving of salsa (2 tbs) and it was kind of gross. The taste wasn't too bad it was the texture of it all. I ate it, but kind of had to swallow and not chew toward the end of meal. I am going to try it again tomorrow and see if I can get over the texture thing since taste was okay. Lunch today was also different then the last two weeks lunch. Usually I have 4 cups baby spinach, 1/2 cup cucumber, 1/2 cup carrots and yogurt, this week I am having a whole wheat pita stuffed with 2 cups baby spinach, 1/2 cup cucumber, 3 oz. turkey (which I baked on Sunday and portioned up for the week, plus extra in freezer) and 1/4 cup fat free mozzarella cheese, it was a good change, liked the pita. And lastly, a new vegetable - I am going to try parsnips this week, bought them when we went grocery shopping Saturday, but haven't tried yet, will have to get back with verdict on that, also have to google how to cook that.

From Russia with Love

I'm pretty sure Russia doesn't love us! Last nights workout was less of a struggle then I thought it was going to be when I saw that board, after the Pile On I suppose anything else would have been relief!

We did Kettlebell Swings, Overhead Press, Goblet Squats, High Pull and Squat Press. 1 minute at each station without rest. After a full round we rested for 1 minute (seemed like 10 seconds). We did 5 rounds! Arms were getting tired, but no quitting, kept going.





We didn't count reps, but I know mine numbers were low, but I've been trying to work on breathing properly. I notice that when I don't breath right my body isn't positioned the way it should be for certain exercises and my back really starts to hurt. That's what happened during Pile On, but Ben showed me. So, last night I really concentrated on breathing and was able to go much lower with squats without that pain! Now I just have to learn to do it without thinking.

I was a little proud of myself though - I started off by grabbing 15 pound weight, but switched for 20 pounds and stayed with the 20 through all rounds, even when my mind was telling me toward the last couple rounds "that 15 pound weight is right next to you."

Food numbers are getting better. I was only 4 calories below my number tonight. Carbs and protein were a little high and fat was low, but will continue working on that.

Loving the Prograde Lean. Tasty little chocolate treat after a good workout!!

I'll admit it - I almost lost my lunch!

PILE ON!! She was a doosy.

We started out with two exercises, 1 minute with each: kettlebell swings and kettlebell high pull, no biggie. One minute break, then Ben added two more to the list, so now were at kettlebell swings, kettlebell high pulls, goblet squats and get up sit up. One minute break and add two more to the list. Kettlebell swings, kettlebell high pulls, goblet squats, get up sit ups, BBC pushups (I love me some pushups), and split squats. One minute break and add two more (are you kidding me!). Kettlebell swings, kettlebell high pulls, goblet squats, get up sit ups, BBC pushups, split squats, burpees, and jump squats. I know, you must be thinking we're done, but Ben in his evil way has two more to add to the ever growing list. Last round was Kettlebell swings, kettlebell high pulls, goblet squats, get up sit ups, BBC pushups, split squats, burpees, jump squats, Romanian deadlifts and hill climbers. Wasn't sure I was going to make it, but I did!!

Killer workout, but feeling great!!

Also, got Prograde Lean delivered today so I sat down with fitday.com to work out my meal plans, and I'm still not right on my numbers but I am getting a lot closer. Little help and suggestions and I think I'll have it. Very excited about that!

Tomorrow we're going to be on Moo92 in the morning talking about, well talking about us I guess and next week I'm going to be working out with the girls on Friday which I'm super excited about (skipping a little work, but don't tell).

Update

So, I have some catching up to do on the blogging. It's been just over a week since I started the Metabolism Makeover and bootcamp classes as one of the 5 Biggest Mooser contestants. Unfortunately, because of my work schedule I don't get to work out with the other girls, but am lucky enough to still be able to go 5 days just at a different time. And after meeting the other four this past Saturday I wish even more that I could workout with them. First I want to thank everyone who voted for me and especially thank Ben for this great opportunity!

My first full week of bootcamps was great! I felt good about the classes, was a little tired during them but that was because of my food (more on that later). I go to my usual class in Derby Tuesday and Thursday nights, but I now also go to Derby Saturday mornings and to St. Johnsbury Wednesday and Friday nights. You can read more on past workouts on Ben's blog at www.bensbootcamps.com also you should check out the other girls progresses at www.thebiggestmoosers.blogspot.com.

Metabolism Makeover - so much harder then I thought. I haven't been craving anything bad, which is great, just coffee and I did break down on Saturday and have a cup, but skipped the cream and sugar and used skim milk and sweet and low. My biggest issue is getting enough calories - who would have thought that would be a problem! I'm always way below the number I'm suppose to have (I'm thinking the reason I've been tired) and it's been kind of a struggle to bring up that number, but I'm getting closer to it. I put everything I eat on fitday.com everyday which helps me keep track of all my numbers and percentages, it's a great tool that has been a huge help. My bf, Kevin, has been a huge support for me. He's been eating pretty much what I do (minus the green veggies) and hasn't been bringing home anything that I might want. Saturday was the first Metabolism Makeover class and the first time I got to meet the other girls, who are all nice, motivated and seem really fun/funny! We went to Shaw's and learned how to shop healthy. It was a good outing and I learned a lot of new things and helpful things.

Here is my before picture - this will be the last time you see me looking like this!!

Now that we're kind of caught up with weeks past...

Last nights bootcamp class was one of my all time favorites! Deck of Cards, but first we learned the Turkish Getup, which I really liked. Both workouts where a bit of a struggle because I fell on the ice the day before and my left wrist is pretty sore, but I pushed through. For the Deck of Cards workout we are in groups of two, each group gets a deck of cards, each suit is a different exercise and the number of exercise you do is the number on the card, aces are 11, face cards are 10, joker is 10 of each exercise and a 3 is wild - 15 reps of exercise you choose - and you just keep drawing cards.

I'm in the pink shirt (still doing modified push-ups, grrr... not for long though!!) with my workout buddy and faux sister-in-law Gab.