Fit Challenge Competitor, Saul Zevada - Week 4

I have this sinking feeling that i'm somehow hitting a wall :( .... today's weigh in gave me some fantastic, motivating results and I intend to use them for as much psychological and spiritual strength as I can! When I weighed in today I was actually 1 pound heavier than I was 3 days earlier and now my knee is swelling every day, even when we don't have our workouts. These can all have logical explanations, or they can be legitimate causes for concern. I'm nervous, but I think that if I keep focused, continue to push myself and really listen to the guidance of my trainers, I can still continue to change my body. Compared to where I was when this journey started, I feel so much stronger, so much more balanced, and much more willing to attempt difficult exercises. My insecurities are disappearing and confidence is beginning to dominate every area of my life. I'm even more focused and attentive at my two jobs! It's totally possible that burning fat is going

to begin to get more difficult, but this is where I really have to continue asking myself how badly I want it. See y'all at sunrise ;)

Fit Challenge Competitor, Emily Hanson - Week 3

This week has been very much a blur.  In fact, as I sit down to write this blog I can hardly remember the happenings of the past week.  I remember little snippets of things I wanted to write about but no clue as to where in the week they fell.  You see, I have this “problem” where when things are really chaotic in my life, I tend to actually make myself forget the things I don’t want to remember.  I don’t know if that’s normal or if that makes sense, but it’s what happens.  So, here’s to a rather random and spastic blog!

Speaking of spastic, on Monday towards the end of our workout I had the weirdest thing ever happen.  We were doing the sitting squats against the wall and out of nowhere my legs started shaking like mad.  I’m not talking about a little twitch; I’m talking about the roadrunner’s legs going crazy getting ready to take off!  I couldn’t stop laughing because it just looked so hilarious! It was almost as if I was running in place super-fast like the football players do as a warm-up... only I was trying my hardest to stay still.  When I got to work that morning, I made the mistake of wearing heels.  Now I should preface this with: I can RUN in heels.  Seriously, I’m a pro.  So I figured no big deal, legs are still a little shaky but I’ll be fine!  Well, I’m fine, but I definitely made a little closer of friends with the stairs than I had wanted.  As the day went on my legs chilled out, but it was a fun experience to say the least.

The rest of the week flew by.  The workouts are great.  I feel like each time I’m pushing myself to new limits (sometimes that results in a little throwing up, but I know it’s my body still adapting to the serious lifestyle change, so I can deal with it.)  I’m really learning to love the workouts because I feel so much better each day.  I’m not as “lazy” tired as I used to be.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m TIRED, but it’s an entirely different kind of tired.  Along with the workouts, I’m enjoying cooking all my meals and experiencing new things.  Most of the time it’s a success, sometimes not so much, but that’s the fun of it all!

My weekends are probably the most problematic.  I’ve been going down to take care of my grandparents on the weekends and it’s difficult when you’re out of town and you literally have to plan two and half days of food to bring with you.  I think I have everything but inevitably once I’m three hours away, I realize I forgot the almond butter to put on my rice cake.  Damn.  And I really like that one at TJ’s.  But one of the positives about going down to stay with my grandma each weekend is that she keeps telling me I’m getting thinner.  Maybe it’s the Alzheimer’s and she just remembers me at my heaviest, but I’m going to go ahead and say that she’s on to something ;).

Until next week… ciao!

Fit Challenge Competitor, Barbara Byrge - Week 3

Week 3 done! I'm a quarter of the way through, yahoo! I feel very accomplished, stronger, and I'm starting to see some results. Just knowing I've gone everyday and worked hard is already an amazing feeling, but I definitely earned the right to feel good about myself. I had a lot of ups and downs this week (and not just push ups, and squat downs ha ha), and I still made it through, with a lot of help from my friends! Clothes fit better, and that means more to me than I knew. I realized this week that there are certain clothes that I've been pushing toward the back of the drawer, hiding from, ones that haven't fit since before I was pregnant. There are shirts I'm scared of because I know they don't quite cover my belly. I remembered how hard I've been working and decided to try one on. Suddenly that same shirt that couldn't cover my belly was halfway down my zipper! This week I had a 'yahoo' moment each time I fit differently in one of those clothing items. I am no longer afraid of my wardrobe, and before I started this journey I had no idea what a mental drain it was on me each time I saw one of those clothing items and had that stinging 'ooo, won't fit' secret self loathing. Well, some of the clothes are fitting anyway (I am still on week 4, not at goal weight yet). I was walking around with my everyday jeans feeling baggy, and that is the kind of all day high you just can't get from a donut. Did the word donut cross my lips? Well at least it was the word, and not the donut! OK, you caught me I ate the donut! This week was not a perfect diet week, but even then I still did better than my regular daily diet before I started really watching what I was eating. I ate a couple of crappy food items, but I stayed within calorie limits, and was on point the vast majority of the week, and I know controlled indulgence is part of making it stick long term (the habits, not the donut) so I didn't sweat it. The same could not be said of my workouts. 

This week's workouts were definitely tough! I'd get to the top of the stairs, lungs screaming, legs melting, and I look down at Stacey and kept hearing Bob Harper's voice in my head saying 'do you feel uncomfortable? I need you to get UNCOMFORTABLE!!!' I trained in the gym next to athletes, and the regulars who are in great shape, and I noticed even they are out of breath; even hard bodies still sweat!! They sweat because they still push hard. That's when I had an 'a-ha moment' and realized its not about workouts getting easier. Exercising, training, and conditioning requires you to work to fatigue! So if you are in better shape, you are stronger so you lift more, you do more reps, or more advanced exercises to get 'the burn' but you still burn!!! So the excuse that 'I'm too out of shape, and its too hard for me' just doesn't fly anymore. Its hard for everyone. Its supposed to be hard. If its not hard, you should get a trainer, or get a new trainer! So it was a hard week, in more ways than one. 

I was sick Monday through Wednesday, and it hurt. It hurt to get up, it hurt to push and breathe hard, but I did what I could and it was almost all of the routine. I did skip that one stadium out of breath, but I'm OK with that. The baby was also sick this week, and needed more of me and I just felt tapped out, and that caused me some stress. So getting there was a big battle this week, and I know all too well the reasons people fail to be consistent, life is messy and tough at times! But there was just no choice in my mind, there was never a question, I am going to every workout! So, I just went, and as I got out the door late on Tuesday, and was still a couple miles away at 5:58,  I thought, 'Oh no, I only have 2 minutes to get there!' Then I thought about how long 2 minutes really is, as in 2 minutes at the gym! Two minutes of lunges, two minutes of bicycle crunches, two trainer minutes!  Two minutes of stadiums are probably the longest minutes I've ever lived. Shoot how about 30 seconds of plank time! No, not 'Planck time' (as in the shortest measurable increment of time, a ha ha for you physics nerds) quite the opposite actually. Its the longest second of my ever lovin' life actually! And then it dawned on me. How amazing a second can be, or a minute. I thought about how many seconds and minutes of my life I'd wasted on stupid things, like worrying about what time I would arrive when I was already in the car on the way, and the stress would do nothing to make me arrive sooner. I contemplated how meaningful a second of my life really is. As I thought about trainer time I really started to appreciate the beauty of really tiny increments of time. I embraced what it means to feel the burn, and really be present in the moment.  I understood how it is to be connected to your body in a very attention demanding way, that simply won't allow for other thoughts to creep in. Its definitely meditative, and I can see why people make a habit of this kinda thing. The workout really is your 'me time' a time 'to focus on me' which is a phrase that now how a whole new meaning. Working out has helped me reclaim the minutes in my day. Not to just seize the day, but seize the minute and the second even! Its really crept into my head, and changed the way I reckon time. The benefits just keep adding up!

Another challenge this week was to survive Super Bowl Sunday and the calorie binge opportunities galore! I was preparing to visit with family at my Dad's house in my hometown, and if there is one thing we do well as a family its eat! So after working out 5 days, I decided to mitigate the inevitable (managed) diet destruction by going to the track and getting some extra cardio. I picked up my 17 year old nephew John on the way. He's got a few pounds to lose, and just needs someone to kick his butt and get out there with him. I was happy to oblige. He was a willing (if lazy) teenager, and in the end we did 2 miles around the track. That was particularly gratifying for me because we were at my high school's track. I was John 15 years ago, overweight and under motivated to do anything about it. To be on the same track I used to dread running 'the mile' on in PE, because I knew I'd be the fat kid, huffing and puffing (or more likely just walking and dogging it) and coming in last was awesome. I ran 2 miles around that track voluntarily! And it was a bonus Saturday workout too! OK, granted I jogged and walked more than ran really, but the feeling was so unbelievable. Stacey told me 'we hit walls, then we break 'em down!' and that moment just felt like breaking through a wall; a wall of my own inertia! After we worked out I took John and my sister on a grocery store tour. I don't claim to be an expert (yet) but I do know that whole wheat tortillas, 2% cheese and greek yogurt are better food choices than what they were buying! And they were willing to eat those things, so it felt good to make a positive influence in their lives. As for me, I did indulge on Super Bowl Sunday, but in a controlled managed way rather than a 'go hog wild' kind of way. I did enjoy several beers, but I focused on the veggie platter, and kept the chips to a minimum. I skipped the 'super bowl sundae' I made for everyone else. Part of this process is also redefining what is an indulgence. Four beers is an indulgence. Four beers, plus 4 cups of chips, 4 slices of deep dish pizza, and 4 scoops of ice cream is just insanity, but I'm sure I ate that and more at last year's Super Bowl! So while I did indulge, I took it as a learning experience and felt that I learned how to indulge responsibly! 

This process has been not only a lifestyle and physical change but its deeply emotional. Anyone's who's ever watched 'The Biggest Loser' is familiar with that idea, but until it happened to me I had no idea that this would be such an important life change. I have been dedicated, and I made it to every single workout, and even one that it might have been ok to call in sick to and on that day Stacey talked to us about knowing our limits. So I did some reflecting on 'when is it an excuse, and when is it an limit?' and I think that is a question we all have to ask ourselves on a continuing basis. When you get up and feel sore, you have to know thyself, and know when its better to skip a day and prevent injury, which would take you out of the game longer, and also to know when you are using a little soreness as an excuse to not do the work. Its inspiring knowing that the trainers work through sickness, injuries, lack of sleep, for 15 hour days, and the list goes on. Some even pop ribs out and just keep going! So yeah, I guess one little chest cold shouldn't get in my way. Nor did it get in my way, BOOYA! Feels good sayin' that. And I even got to share some of my new knowledge with my family. Like Nicole said 'it doesn't end here (at the gym)!' This program is having a ripple effect on those around me, and I couldn't be happier!

Fit Challenge Competitor, Chelcie Holguin - Week 3

Hi, my name is Chelcie and I'm addicted to my scale. Yes, I admitted it, I can't stay off of it. It run's my life, or at least it did for the past few years. I have always thought that the only thing that matters is what the scale says. But that all changed the beginning of the week. I have noticed a whole entire roll is missing from my side. But the scale says I've gained weight. That made me furious. So I told my husband to hide the scale. I am done with it running my life. I will define what is important to me and how everyone else will perceive me. That said, I haven't weighed myself all week and that is such a great feeling.

I am so dedicated to this life change, that I have done 7 days of cardio. I even went in at 2:30 am because I had to be to work at 5:15 am. I have never been prouder of myself. I am seeing life in a whole new way and I will admit it, I am addicted to the elliptical. It such a great stress release and I can burn 600 calories in 60 minutes.

I have the greatest husband a women could ask for. He tells me daily how proud he is of me and how he can see a difference. If it wasn't for him I'd over sleep and never last.

I kicked week 3's butt and can't wait for week 4. Bring on Stacey, Nicole and Ashely.

Fit Challenge Competitor, Emily Hanson - Week 2

Dobrodosli natrag prijatelje, zavrsila sam sedmicu broj dva!!! – which is Bosnian for…Welcome back friends, I’ve finished week two!!!  And what a second week it has been.  I have so many thoughts racing through my head as I try to sit down and recapture my week on paper, it’s simply impossible!  How about we just start from the beginning, eh?

On Sunday, I was feeling extra ambitious and decided to map out a nice little run by my house to start off my day.  However, my nice little 3 mile run turned into a .25 mile run and a 2.75 mile hike because I totally spaced on the fact that living on the Riviera means UPHILL all the way!  But nonetheless it was amazing.  Within an hour of getting back home however, I came down with the absolute worst flu-like symptoms I have ever had!  I was so proud of myself for going on the run out of my own will and excited to continue my second week of training and now my excitement was blown.  I was practically laid out for 3 days.  Eating was rough.  I probably had the equivalent of one bowl of chicken soup from Sunday to Tuesday.  But I pressed on and continued the workouts and I have to say, I think they helped!  I felt stronger as the days went on.  I kind of wonder if my body just needed to de-toxify and if it did, then it was a success!

The physical part of the challenge is starting to feel more like a regular part of my life/schedule.  I’ve finally got a little more accustomed to going to bed earlier and waking up at the ass crack of dawn.  I’ve been an night owl my entire life, so going to bed early three days a week is a challenge for me!  But I’m definitely feeling more energized and, well, healthier!  The muscles are sore, but it’s such a good sore   My coworkers laugh as I groan while going up the stairs first thing in the morning but the cool thing for me is… I’m no longer out of breath when I get to the top like I used to be!  It’s the small things like that that totally make it worth it on a daily basis.  And then there’s of course the whole pants fitting a little looser part!  I mean, sometimes seeing is believing, right?  Well, seeing and feeling my clothes fit better is a wonderful feeling.  But of course I sometimes wonder if I’m just imagining things… but when my boss actually added to our meeting agenda, “Emily is shrinking!” that was all the “seeing” I needed to believe.

As for the emotional side of things?  Still a little bit of a rollercoaster   But I find, a good re-arranging of all of the furniture in my house will help solve that! (And be a little workout all in itself…bookshelves, elliptical, coffee table and sitting chairs are pretty darn heavy for one to move!)  My grandma was finally able to go home from the hospital but is now in hospice care.  She has been such a huge part of my life and I only hope that my children someday could have the amazing relationship with their grandparents as I have with mine.  Which brings me to another dip in the coaster… each of my parent’s health is not the greatest.  They’ve both battled cancer amongst other problems and living a healthy lifestyle is sometimes a challenge.  Even in just these first two weeks, sharing on a regular basis with them my triumphs and tribulations in this challenge, I somehow hope that it will stick in their minds… and I think it is.  I’m sharing with them what I’m eating and even little exercises they can do in their own homes and they’re genuinely interested!  Only time will tell and I’m excited for my results to be the kick in their pants to make a difference in their own lives.

Well that’s the week in a nutshell, or kind of a nutshell; what can I say, I sometimes talk a lot when I’m passionate about something.  Speaking of passions… I’ve spent some time in Bosnia and met one of my dearest friends while there.  I was talking to her this week and she is truly an inspiration in my daily life.  I was sharing everything about life right now – the challenge, my grandma, the breakup, work, everything! and she was just so encouraging.  It’s so great to know that I have such a strong network surrounding me during this complete life change.  From friends, to coworkers to family, I know they’re there cheering me on.  Until next time - vidimo se laku noc! (see you soon and good night!)

Fit Challenge Competitor, Saul Zevada - Week 3

I've been paranoid about stepping on a scale for literally years. For some reason, I felt compelled to weigh myself at the gym after an arduous workout last Thursday. It's crazy what a string of good decisions and hard work can reward you with. The reward wasn't necessarily what the scale read back to me (although I was thrilled with my progress), the reward was how OK I felt with challenging myself to step on the scale in the first place! I feel so good about the discipline I've shown myself. I've definitely had people approach me with praises and kind words about the change they're seeing in me physically. As much as I love how that feels, I'm so much more grateful for feeling proud of myself and holding my head up higher than I have in years. One of my primary goals in this program is to get back to playing the recreational sports that had always been a part of my life up until a few years ago. My ego, pride and self worth take a huge hit every single time I step on a basketball court, a soccer or softball field, and I am not able to compete at a level that I am satisfied with. I know that machismo and competitiveness are really at the core of my feeling bad about myself when this happens. Regardless, staying on track in this program will hopefully satisfy my desire to play some competitive team sports soon! 3 weeks down and a lifetime to go!

Fit Challenge Competitor, Heather Wright - Week 3

We all have good days and bad days. That is just life. There are so many things all of us are going to get on this three month journey, one of which is really learning how to take care of ourselves on the bad days and enjoy the good days to the nth degree. One thing I do when I have things on my mind is I go to the beach before sunset. I watch the sun go down and stay for the glory that it leaves, taking in the bright colors and clouds that paint the sky until I have talked myself through whatever it is. I did that last night and I really need to do that more. I think no matter where it is, we all need to find a physical happy place to go. To me, being somewhere in nature and connecting with the earth on some level helps, as crunchy as it sounds.

Hopefully if I do that enough, I won't be so hard on myself. It's funny, I have learned I am a bit of an extremist. Either I am hardcore exercising, eating right and worried it isn't enough--- or I go the other way and let loose and toss back the drinks and eat whatever. I think by learning how to take care of myself in ways other than eating, drinking, online shopping- I won't be so extreme because I have found other panacea. Usually my go-to is a whole pizza and a bottle of red wine when I am feeling tired, down, or just in a bad mood. It is important that I do a self-check in- figure out the root cause of how I got into that mood. Then, find some way to take care of myself that is still supportive of my goals. So if I am craving pizza, I might just be sleep-deprived or needing to connect with a friend. If sleep or a phone call fails-music, magazines, movies and manicures are all better options that don't leave me with guilt and a hangover the next morning!