Well, It's Over... Or Is It?

Yesterday was the final day of the challenge and while I did not lose 30lbs, I'm super happy with my results. I lost 8.6lbs over and 8 inches total. I had been wearing my maternity jeans still and today... nope, I'm in my regular jeans. Now, I wasn't at an "ideal" weight when I got pregnant, but at least I'm back to that point. I'm in a size 6 pants so now its time to work on those size 4's now.

I feel good overall, I feel like I may have "fixed" my metabolism a bit. I know I have alot of work ahead of me still, I've always had food allergies/sensitivites so I should've been doing gluten free, sugar already. But I wasn't. I still crave sugar and find it interesting that I would eat it again in a second...

I am going to continue with the diet at about a 90% accountibility rate. I would like to try to add cheese back in and I'll likely use butter again in cooking. I think I am going to reward myself with one cheat meal with ice cream when I hit 130 lbs (4.4lbs to go) and then again in 5lb increments until I hit 115-120.

I am amazed at some of the other people's results in 30 short days. This whole program has been amazing, thanks again, Dax!!!

Sunday Night - The End is in Sight

Well, last measurements were good. Spent the weekend low carb and ED friendly. I had to go to the chiro again this weekend as my back has been VERY sore. I'm sure partly workouts, mostly baby getting big and hard to carry around, LOL.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's measurements. My clothes have been fitting better and I *feel* thin. Weird... I am a bit below the weight I was when I got pregnant so that's a plus. Still have plenty to go though so I'm not stopping anytime soon. I look forward to Dax's advice on how to continue this program after our 30 days has expired.

I'm currently making butternut squash soup for our higher carb day tomorrow. Smells yummy!!!

Rounding the Bend!

Finally back online... got the new computer up and running. Have been trying to keep up on everyones progress as well as send updates to my coach via Blackberry... so not fun, LOL

So, we're not supposed to be weighing everyday but I have gotten on the scale two days in a row. Yesterday was 135.8 and today 135.4. Little changes but they're in the RIGHT direction so I won't complain. I do have a confession though, I've skipped 5 workouts in the last 3 days because my back and neck are killing me. I went to the chiro last week and even that didn't help so I decided to taper back a bit... that's when my weight started to creep back down. Not sure if there is a correlation?

The fasting this week was MUCH harder than the first week. Not sure why? And today was especially hard, low card Elimination Diet while at SAS Programming training. They had breakfast burritos, ice cream, M&M's, cheesecake and flavored coffees. OMG, everything smelled soooo good. Tomorrow will be more of the same since I'm back in Central Phx for more training!

We have official weights and measurements tomorrow, hoping to post a few more losses either in inches or ounces! Fingers crossed :)

Saturday - Heading Into the Home Stretch

Not much to report, the workouts are fine although I skipped 2 today. I'm burnt out, tired, sore and frustrated :(

Weights and measures on Monday as well as another fasting day. I didn't seem to lose anything with the first fast but Dax assures us that its not immediate. I am frustrated at the lack of weight loss since the first week but know that I am healthier. I am not sure why my body is not responding as quickly to this diet or why I have been at a plateau for 2 weeks. Argh...

Wednesday and Higher Carbs

Today brings a higher carb day and I'm soooo happy to have fruit again. Very excited for my orgnanic banana and my fresh strawberry/apple juice. Trying to keep that to 8-10 oz so I don't go overboard on cals today.

Workouts have been good, I do feel drained but I imagine its partly due to the heat. We're looking at 115 degrees this weekend so I'll be keeping my butt inside. Sorry, Dax, no vitamin D on those days...

I'm amazed at the changes so far. The few pounds I've lost don't quite tell the whole story. I woke up today and my stomach looks even smaller. I measured even though it wasn't a weights and measurements day and it appears my stomach is another .25 smaller since Monday. I just LOOK thinner and I like it. Baby Girl turned 5 months on Sunday and it was definitely time to get my own body back.

And there are other changes. I mentioned in my first posts that I am addicted to sugar and that I have systemic candida which is aggrivated by sugar. Well, usually when I diet, I have really bad issues. I have cravings like unbelievable and usually end up cheating quite early. I get the shakes, I get clammy, etc when I do low carb days. Not this time around. I've been good. I haven't had the shakes or clamminess except for one episode while hiking last weekend.

When I was competing in Figure, it was so easy to get in shape. After the cancer and moving to Arizona, I have had issues. I always diet, do good for a bit, then cheat. I'm a closet sugar-a-holic. And bad. Like driving home eating cookie dough in the car, bad. I know Dax said to clean out your cupboards, etc before starting the diet and I did a good job except for the freezer. I have 4 pints of Starbucks icecream, 4 quarts of Breyers ice cream and some Lean Pockets out there in the garage freezer (if you're reading this honey, HANDS OFF). I haven't touched it, I haven't even been tempted. It's odd. I feel like I'm forming a better relationship with food thru this.

I also mentioned 2 eczema spots that were nagging me. The one we won't talk about and the one on my shin are both getting smaller. They also don't itch as much, i noticed when I ate sugar, they tended to itch. I will be very happy when these are gone although I figure I may need to extend the Elimination Diet out further to have those clear up.

So while I'm not EXACTLY on track to lose 30lbs in 30 days, I feel good. I feel like I've made huge progress and we're only into week 3. Now, Dax has some other nutritional tricks in his bag that we start this week so I might get just a bit closer to my goal weight yet :)

Monday Begins Week 3

Well, my weight is staying constant at the 136.6 (down from 143 start) but I'm losing inches!!! Down another 1.75 inches since last measurements (thursday) for a total loss of 6 inches.

Today's measurements came in at: chest 34.5, hips 38, Waist 36.5, Thigh 21, Calf 13 and Arm 11.

Overall feeling good, very tired though and baby girl decided she wanted to stay up and chat last night. She's become VERY vocal over the last 5-7 days and is learning to shreek! UGH. I am off work today (vacation day) and plan to do my workouts, clean house, get some Vitamin D (OMG, its going to be 110 today!) and nap!!!!

What Day Am I On?

I've lost count of the days... I just know today is a higher carb day and I started the morning with fresh juiced strawberry apple juice combined with a banana and some flax for a tasty smoothie.

Dropped Hubby off at the airport for his short trip home, did my first workout already and getting set to do #2.

Yesterday was uneventful as far as food and workouts. Got it all in AND a very nice hike at Tonto Natural Bridge. We hiked a solid 2 hours (putzed around for another hour too). The temps were about 10 degrees cooler which makes a difference when you wake up in Arizona to 92 degrees at 5am. Hiking on a lower carb day is not fun though, let me tell you!!! It was an amazing day though as there was quite a bit of water in the springs and the waterfall actually had WATER. SOOO pretty and the landscape was very lush.

Spending today doing workouts, prepping food and cleaning house while baby girl naps. I'm hoping to get lots done while Hubby is away. I have a MOUND of junk mail to shred, gotta get on that....

Ok, I'm off to workout, then going to try a YUMMO sounding recipe for asparagus my friend Amber sent to me. If I master it, I'll post it!

Day 11 - Ugh.

Ugh about sums today up so far. Well, today didn't bring another drop in weight, in fact, I'm up 1lb from Monday. Not good. I'm still down 5.4 lbs and 4.125 inches from 11 days ago so I'll take it.

The multiple workouts per day are starting to wear on me, I struggle to fit them all in between work/commute, the baby and household chores. Lets just say the laundry needs to be done (well, Pipers gets done) and the bathrooms could use a good scrubbing. I'm very happy to be off tomorrow and have the weekend to catch up.

I figure the lack of weight loss the past few days might be attributed to a few things. Possibly under eating, I think I may be restricting too much. Also I'm eating alot of red meat, might need to incorporate more fish into the diet. I also could not be getting enough fiber/veggies but I won't get into the "how i know that" part, LOL.

I'm going to go hiking at Tonto National Park tomorrow. http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/tonto_natural_bridge/tontobr2_l.html
One of my favorite places in Arizona. So excited!!!! Then I'll pick Piper up early from daycare and spend the rest of the day with her.

For today, I'll wait on some advice from the coach (Dax Moy) on how to tweak the diet or if I should just keep keepin' on.