Biopsies, Cleansing, and Carb Cycling

I haven't blogged in a while and it seems to really get my thoughts together.  Today I had biopsies done on my "lady parts" as Scott so nicely put it.  This is the second time I've had these done and this time was much easier than last.  It was still not a blast.  :)  After some intesne training weeks and the fourth, when I didn't eat my normal foods, I have felt extremely bloated and uncomfortable.  After reading the blogs of different nutrion experts and trainers, I decided to try Jilian Michaels 14 day cleanse.  For the first 7 days (the ones I am on right now) you take detoxing and cleansing supplements and drink ALOT of water.  Let me just tell you, the detoxing sutff, makes you STINK!  Your pee stinks, you are gasy, and your sweat even stinks!  I have showered multiple times a day because of this.  I can already tell a difference, even after 2 days.  My stomach is flatter and I can start to see some of the muscle that has been buried in fluid!  Next week I will be taking a probiotic to add the mutrients back in to my body and "fat blaster" caps.  These are supposed to help with melt the fat that has already been detoxed.  I hope that this will get rid of my bloat in time for school to start.  Doing insanity, I needed to add carbs back in to my life.  I didn't want to just eat a lot of carbs everyday.  I was hungry all the time, so I needed something that would give me a high carb breakfast to keep me full, but that would not be a carb overload everyday.  After some research, I found Carb Cycling.  A healthy eating plan created by Chris and Heidi Powell.  There are multiple plans, but I settled on the Turbo Cycle, which is supposed to accelerate weight loss, while giving you the healthy nutrients your body needs.This is the way it works- You start the week with a low carb day, followed by a second low carb day.  On low carb days you still start the day with a High Carb Breakfast from the Smart Carbs list.  On day three you have a high carb day.  Most of your calories on this day will come from the smart carbs column with veggies and protein.  Days 4 and 5 are back to low carb, Day 6 High Carb, then Day 7 is a Treat Day/Treat Meal with a mix of high and low carb foods.  This has kept me from being hungry all day long.  It also seems to have helped with the soreness some as well.  I think that this will work for me.  We will see what kind of progress I make with it.  If you are interested in any beachbody products like workouts, shakology, or about any of the things I am currently doing, let me know!

Vacation Week

Today we left for vacation.  I am determined that I will eat right and keep up with the insanity schedule this week.  When I packed, I packed all the fruits and veggies that would spoil in a cooler bag and packed all my Kashi and Kind bars for the car and Dollywood/Hiking.  We stopped twice during our drive over here.  The first time was for lunch.  We stopped at a gas station that had a subway.  I had a spinach chopped salad with teriyaki chicken.  When they chop it, it doesn't need dressing!! It was very filling and very low calorie.  This afternoon I ate a Kashi crunchy flax seed bar.  It was pretty good!

The last stop I wanted something to chew on but not food so I settled on some gum. I found the most amazing flavor of gum EVER!!!!

SERIOUSLY AMAZING!!!!

After we got to my parents and visited with my dad some, I decided it was time for Insanity.  Today was Cardio Resistance. :-/  It is seriously a killer.  I am sad to not have my BFF and workout buddy this week but I powered through anyway.  I seriously am starting to burn so many more calories!!  It was tough but I got it done!

For dinner my momma grilled a wonderful dinner!  Steak (first red meat in over a month) I ate about 2/3 of it, grilled asparagus, and fresh steamed green beans!  Yum!! 

Tomorrow we're going to dollywood!  I am excited to see if I can fit on some of the rollar coasters I couldn't last time!  I will be packing my own foods and do not plan on eating any junk at the park!  Stay tuned for pictures and more accountability pictures for vacation 2014!

Working out alone...

Today was the last day of the first week of Insanity.  I would say that more than any other workout this week, I NAILED IT! There is something to be said for doing a work out more than once.  The first week of each program I have struggled with two major things: Low calorie burn and fluid retention causing little if any weight loss.  I know that I will probably not loose anything, and may even gain the first week or two of Insanity.  This program more than any, because it is killer on your muscles.  Sore muscles retain fluid to help heal them, therefore you hold or gain weight.  The low calorie burn I have figured out is only because they are all new and I am trying to learn the choreography.  Today was Plyometric Cardio.  I had this on Tuesday and only had a burn of around 200 calories.  Today, even though I was missing my workout buddy and BFF, this was my burn:

Twice as much as Tuesday. 

Let me tell you, I WORKED MY TAIL OFF TODAY!  I worked out some of my stress and frustration caused by multiple facets in my life.  This is why I love working out, I can take all of lifes frustrations out in that workout.  I had a good sweat going today too!  By the time I was done, I felt amazing, but am a TAD sore now.  There are alot of push ups in this particular work out so my arms are feeling it.  I drank my results and recovery formula so hopefully the soreness will subside tomorrow.  

Chasidee, does this look like one of your sweats?? HAHA

I wasn't really in te mood to work out today.  Chasidee was unable to work out with me because of the time I had to work out today to be able to do it without my children (which is very important for my sanity).  But I knew that this was my last day of the first week and I was determined to finish strong.  Then this afternoon I came across this:

This is so true! What I want to be is effected only by what I do.  The decisions you make today determine your tomorrow.  What you do not only effects you but all the others around you.  I made the decision to get healthy first of all for myself.  I want to be healthy and I want to feel good about myself.  Mostly, I wanted to prove that I could do it.  I am stubborn enough that when I decided to do something and really decide to do it, then I am going to do it!   I did miss my workout buddy and will miss her all next week while I am an vacation, but I am committed to this and will continue to do it no matter what! What healthy decisions did you make today?

It's all in the Kitchen

Day FIVE of insanity.  Just saying that makes me feel accomplished.  I honestly didn't think when we started this I did the fit test that there was ANY way that I would be able to do this!!  We have now made it through ever workout in the first phase and I am alive and made it through all of them. I am proud to say that I don't even have to stop as often as some of the people in the video!  It's definitely not easy, but it is doable!

Chasidee and I thought that insanity warrented an insane smile!

Today was Pure Cardio and let me tell you! IT WAS PURE CARDIO!! That Junk was BANANAS YO!  In the words of Shaun T (with the languaged censored just a bit) It was seriously intense!!

I realized that the first couple of weeks of Insanity I will probably not loose any pounds.  I decided I am OK with that after finally seeing in pictures what I already knew.

If lean muscle takes up the same space that fat does, it is going to weigh more, a lot more.  That's why the inches are more important.  If you have five lbs of muscle it will take up less space than 5 lbs of fat.  When starting any intense program, espcially a high impact muscle program, the muscle soreness the first week or so, you retain fluid in your muscles to help them heal.  After a few weeks this should subside and the muscle should start ZAPPING the fat away! 

Back to the title of this post, it's all in the kitchen, I've had several people ask me about my diet.  Let me say first of all that loosing weight and being healthy is done in the kitchen.  It doesn't matter how much you exercise if you put junk in your body.  Does that mean that everything I eat is perfect? GOODNESS NO! But it does mean that 95% of what goes in my body is good stuff.  I eat mostly fruits and veggies and mostly raw.  Once a day I eat meat and cooked veggies.  Once a week I have a cheat MEAL.  Not a cheat day like so many people think is OK, but a cheat meal or even just a cheat treat.  The one thing that has changed is that after a cheat or even a slip up I do not think that it is a ruined day or that it is OK to go on a binge or completely get off the train.  I just know that it was one thing and it's time to move on.  It makes my life so much healthier and less stressful to let myself off the hook!  There are a few things that I have eliminated from my diet though:

Peanut Butter- Peanuts are not good for you

Instead I eat almond butter or the new thing I love Cashew Butter:

This stuff is pretty darn good.

I also don't use dairy products at all.  During my first Whole 30 one of the things you give up is dairy.  After the 30 days was up I decided that I have a slight lactose allergy.  Now my whole family drinks unsweetened almond milk and they all like it!  

I eat alot of Kale.  We go through about 3-4 bunches of Kale a week.  

This is another staple in my diet: GREEN TEA!  I drink it hot in the morning and was super excited when I found this tonight!

Now I can drink it cold too!

Anyway, it really is s journey that is accomplished in the kitchen.  Shakology has been my number one staple since I started.  Now I can't go a day without it!  For more information and nutrition tips just ask!  

Check out Shakology and all the Beach Body workout programs at the link above (Beach Body Coach)

Remember to make one new healthy decision tomorrow!

Insanity=Insane!

Today marks day 4 of Insanity and I am beginning to wonder if Chasidee and I are insane! This is seriously hard core!  I saw a post that said most peoples work outs are the warm up for insanity and it is true!! It's a love hat relationship though.  I want to punch Shaun T in the face, but at the same time I AM IN LOVE!!! It is an amazing feeling to accomplish these workouts!

I may have a bit of an obsession. :)

Today we had to do the Cardio "Recovery" and let me tell you it LIES!!! There is no recovery to it!  It is alot of major squats and lunges! Luckily, my awesome Coach Ammie, brought me some Results and Recovery formula and a new shaker cup and I don't feel near as sore as I have the past few days!

This is a delicious orange flavor that tastes like orange Sherbet! 

I am loving insanity so far!  We will see what kind of results I get on Sunday (after the almost 5 pounds I gained last week on our trip and a visit from my female friend!)  

I am also super excited to say that I got a new TShirt for band AND IT'S A LARGE!!! WOOT!!!

I am super excited that I already know which program I am doing next (8 weeks from now, if I'm not dead!) 

This is a low impact, high intensity work out!  Chalene took the best of pilates, yoga, and cardio, and turned them up!! I can't wait to do it!  If you are interested in Piyo or any other Beach Body products, check out www.beachbodycoach.com/lyndiking29  When you order from my site you get a free gift with each workout your purchase!!  Make a promise to make one new healthy choice tomorrow! Your body will thank you for it!!!

From the Beginning

On January 1st, 2014, I began my journey to a better, healtheir life.  This was me......

It's not a pretty picture.  I was unhealthy and out of shape.  I went for my yearly physical and topped the scales at 315 pounds.  My cholesterol was well over 250 with my good cholesterol being low and the bad being extremely high.  At this point in time I was taking multiple blood pressure medicines and constantly had headaches.  I knew I needed to change.  I made the decision that before my 30th birthday, January 31st, 2015, I would be under 200 pounds and would be in excellent health.  This would be the first time since elementary school that I would be under 200 lbs.  I found my workout "soulmate" in my best friend Chasidee.  She is a trooper and is game for anything. We started off at the gym and quickly built up a little endurance.  After the first month (and a very rude and hateful gym staff) we decided that we would start something new.  I ordered Turbo Fire with trainer Chalene Johnson and immediately fell in love!! She is such an upbeat encouraging personality! You can't help but work out harder with her!  We saw amazing results with this program.  I lost 30 lbs during the first 6 weeks of this program and a TON of inches.  Then I looked more like this......

I started in a size 24 pants and 2x-3x shirt.  After turbo fire I was wearing 20's and an XL shirt.

After two months of turbo fire we decided to switch it up.  I ordered T25 and fell in love with Shaun T.  There is no one that can push you to your limits like Shaun!  You want to hug him and punch him in the face at the same time. In March the insurance people came to the school for our physicals.  In 2 months of eating right, exercising, and drinking shakology my cholesterol was 120!! WHAT?!?!? It came down over 100 points.  Both my HDL and my LDL were excellent!!!  During the first phase of T25 (alpha) I lost 18 inches and another pant size!! So then I was in an 18 pants. Then I looked like this....

  During Beta Phase I had some issues with m weight loss.  I stalled for a couple of weeks.  I shocked my system and then started eating MORE calories made up of mostly plant proteins and very little meat. When we finished T25, I had lost a total of 65 lbs and TONS of inches.  At this point, I am wearing a LARGE shirt and can fit in to some 16 pants and all 18 pants! I HAVE NOT BEEN IN THIS SIZE SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!!!!!

We have strated insanity now and it is KICKING MY BUTT!!!!!  I have a goal to reach.  By the time we go to Disney World at Christmas, I want to have lost another 50-60 lbs.  This will put me under 200.  My goal is 180, but I am gauging based on what my body looks and feels like.  I haven't been under what I am right now since middle school so I am not sure what is going to be a good maintenance weight.  Anyway, here are a few more pictures documenting my progress.  I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far!  After insanity my next conquest is Piyo, Chalene's new hyped up palates/yoga/cardio program! Shakology has also been a HUGE deal in my journey! If you have never heard about shakology it is a must in any healthy diet! It is literally a miracle super food in my opinion!  Check out all these programs and shakology at www.beachbodycoach.com/lyndiking29

I will post recipes, pictures, and journey updates Regularly!!!