JCore - Update

Sorry for the MIA-ness the last few days. Came down with a terrible stomach bug and just didn't have the energy to post!

The last few days of JCore have been going really well. Getting dressed this morning I feel like I am starting to see some shrinkage in the waist and hip area - YAY!

The Fire Fit may be my favorite DVD so far- good moves and it is tough. I love it. The 20 minutes goes by so quickly by the time I feel like I am about to fall over, theres only the cool down left.

Hard Core was the hardest workout of the set (so far) and I am hoping more days of that will have me getting a stronger and smaller middle.

Cutting out bread and cheese for this period is going to be the hardest. I can get by without bread if I must, but cheese, oh man. This will be difficult, but what can't you do for just 10 days?

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend everyone. The boyfriend and I will be heading to NYC for a lot of sunshine and walking!

JCore Days 7 and 8

Yesterday was the 1 week mark of the JCore program. With that day came the first fit test! On Day 1 there was a 10 minute fit test that will be repeated 4 times during the program: Day 7, Day 14, Day 28 and then the Final Exam on the last day! 

So I grabbed my notepad and pen and began the fit test. There are 10 exercises that you do for 60 seconds, the goal being to increase the number of reps on each subsequent test. For the 10 exercises I was up in rep count on 7 out of 10. For the other 3 I was down by 1 rep, 1 rep and 3 reps. However, the ones where I was down in count, I had done in proper form instead of modified form. I count that as an improvement, even if the number is down. 

Day 8 is an off day, but I'll head to spin class tonight to get a decent workout. Next Tuesday is my next appointment with Carly. I'm excited to see what the scale says, even though I'm trying not to get hung up on the number, of course!

JCore Day 6

Today is the day I was dreading the most on this program. The first Saturday. Weekends have always been my downfall. The work week is so easy to plan, pack and stay on point with nutrition, and even though I'm good about weekend workouts, there is something about Saturdays that makes me just want to throw calories and portions out the window. A big part of the mental hurdle of doing JCore and following Carly's plan is me focusing my energies and willpower on not going crazy and thinking about the end goal. How can I make smarter decisions while out but still feel like I can relax and have fun?

At the gym this morning I did the same upper body workout from last Saturday, and after I get home from work this afternoon I will do the assigned JCore DVD, I didn't check my calendar but I think it is the Cardio Core 4x4 again.

I know it is too early to see results, but I did have someone say to me yesterday that I was looking more toned. I'm hoping that the combination of following Carly's plan, switching up my workouts, and now adding JCore is going get me through this homestretch.

JCore Day 5

Yesterday was the non-workout day of JCore, which worked out in the long run since I had a lot of errands to run after work, including spending over an hour waiting at the DMV to get a new photo for my license, as I noted in my last post. :) After the DMV trip the SO and I went to Ikea and loaded up on boxes for our new entertainment center. Lugging all the shelf pieces, drawers, and other miscellaneous boxes from the parking garage to the apartment was my weight lifting workout for the day, that's for sure!

The rest of the evening was spent moving furniture and assembling the new pieces. While not a traditional "workout" I was certainly gross and sweaty by the end of the night! Today is day 5 and the workout DVD for this evening is Rev Up, the same one from Day 2. When walking around Ikea yesterday I noticed some soreness in my obliques and I think it is from the Cardio Core 4x4 workout! I don't think we add any new DVD's until the next 10 day period, but I'm excited to see how sore I get and if I start to see any changes or results.

Renewed

I had to go and renew my drivers license today. After an hour and 15 minutes waiting in line, I held in my hand a new identification card. Comparing the photo on my old license to the new, I realized that not only was I now a legal driver again, but I was a renewed person. No longer am I held back (as much) by my insecurity and self-consciousness. It is drastically reduced from the crippling fear I once felt. Looking at these two pictures, I feel happy with myself and proud of what I have accomplished and continue to accomplish.

JCore Day 4

Here I am, 1/10 of the way through the JCore program. While I am not following the nutrition plan to the letter, I am glad that this program and my dietitan have given me the same advice. I know that I could easily drop the last 20-30lbs I want to lose by cutting out all carbs and sugar. But I also know that I would gain that all back as soon as I tried to reintroduce those foods. Plus, I would feel deprived. I'd rather lose this last bit slowly, doing it the right way and eating things I enjoy, than making myself miserable.

Last night the workout was the Cardio Core 4x4 and it was tough! I love that the workouts are 20 minutes and it feels like a FAST 20 minutes. It was a tough workout, mostly floor exercises that focus on tightening the core while working arms and legs.

Today is an off day for workouts and I'm leaving work early today to go get my drivers license renewed (Yay! DMV lines!) But I may do a small workout when I get home, like a kinect workout game, just so I get some movement in today.

JCore - Day 3

Well, I have to say that yesterday went better than I anticipated. Was able to hold out all day without any artificial sweeteners. No coffee and no diet soda. :) Although today I think I am going to attempt coffee with just a teeny bit of milk. Considering I didn't start drinking coffee on the regular until a few months ago, this is a big change for me. I've been trying the peppermint herbal tea but the lack of caffeine is what I'm missing most. Otherwise the nutrition plan with JCore hasn't been hard to follow, since it is so similar to what I've already been doing.

I did a "before" photo along with measurements and a weigh-in yesterday. It will be interesting to see what the difference is in 37 more days! I did the first workout yesterday, Rev Up, which was the fastest 20 minute workout I've done! It was very fast paced and with only 30 seconds per exercise, you need to focus and push hard. My legs were definitely sore afterwards and I was plenty sweaty.

It just so happened that my SO and I were signed up for a spin class last night, so I toweled off from JCore, got changed into my bike pants and headed off to class. I think it made for a good combined workout. With JCore you are encouraged to do other activities and exercises on the days where no JCore workout is assigned, which is nice for me to keep spinning, running, and swimming in my schedule.
Tonights workout I think is the Cardio 4x4 so I'm excited to see what that is like.

JCore - Day 2

I guess this is an incorrect and misleading title, since I am going to recap day 1 and not get into day 2 yet. Oh, well.

So, day 1 was pretty easy. Didn't change too much from my usual routine. The plan was to cut out artificial sweeteners but I did have a diet soda. Ugh. But I am going to really put full 100% effort in from now on to avoid it. After drinking so much water all day, I just really wanted that diet dr. pepper!

There was no official workout for Day 1, just a fitness test. It was 10 1-minute exercises, pretty basic. You are supposed to write down your number of reps for each exercise and then beat that number on each subsequent fitness test. There will be 2 during the 40 days and then a "final exam" on the last day. Hoping I can really boost my numbers by the end!

Day 2 has the first DVD work out, Rev Up, which I will be doing later this evening. My boyfriend and I have been taking spin classes on Tuesday so I'm hoping it won't be too much to do this 20 minute workout before spin class.

The plan for today is for my friend and co-worker who is also doing this program and I to do "before" photos and take some initial measurements. It will be nice to have those numbers to compare to the end results.

Armed with lemon water and peppermint herbal tea, I'm hoping my willpower hangs in there today.

JCore - Day 1

Against my better judgement I let a good friend talk me into trying a fitness/diet plan for 40 days. It is the JCORE plan and since my friend knows someone who successfully completed the program and is featured as a "Success Story" I was even more interested. Things have been going well with Carly, my RD, and I really don't want to mess with a good thing. But I ordered the program anyway and was relieved to find that besides a few minor tweaks, the JCore program and my program from Carly are almost identical. Both diets focus on a goal calorie range for your goal weight, and then creating a balanced diet using an exchange system. It is a balanced plan including protein, carbs, fats, fruits, and veggies.

The biggest differences in JCore from what I'm currently doing are 1) cutting out ALL processed foods, artificial sweeteners, added sugars and alcohol. 2) Removing bread and cheese from 10 days of the 40 to see how sensitive your body can be to those items and 3) Having slightly larger portions of protein. I've decided not to mess with Carly's numbers and exchanges so I will not be following #3 for JCore, but I will attempt numbers 1 and 2. I think finally trying to wean myself off of diet soda may be a good thing in the long run (though I'm not sure on my willpower to actually stop). Removing bread and cheese for 10 days isn't terrible, and you are free to add them back in after the 10 days are up. Diets in Review did a pretty decent review of the JCore diet plan.

Fitness wise the plan comes with 5 DVDs and the program calls for 4-20 minute workouts a week. The program comes with a calendar and shows you how to rotate the DVDs. The other 3 days of the week are open for "Optional Exercise" or adding in another JCore DVD. This will work well with my current fitness routine and 20 minutes a day is doable even with my crazy schedule.There is also a fitness test DVD which you do a few times over the 40 day period to track progress.

Today is Day 1 for me, so after I get home this afternoon I will do the Intro/Fitness Test DVD and get this ball rolling. Let's just see how I do this morning without a coffee with splenda or a diet cherry pepsi to get me through! Tomorrow I will update with a "Before" picture and some stats so we can see how much can really change in 40 days.

Saturday Morning Upper Body Workout

Warm Up: 1 mile run: .5mi easy, .25 hard, .25 sprint

Complete each exercise for 30 secs, complete each circuit 3 times.

Circuit 1:

- Tight grip/Tricep push-up

- Wide grip/ Chest push-up

- Down dog/ Shoulder push-up

- Mountain Climbers

- 1 minute jump rope-

Circuit 2:

- Single arm kettlebell or dumbbell swing - Right

- Single arm kettlebell or dumbbell swing - Left

- Bicep curls

- Bicep curls with overhead press

- 1 minute jump rope- 

Circuit 3:

- Tricep dips

- Overhead tricep extension

- Single arm tricep row - Right

- Single arm tricep row - Left

- 1 minute jump rope-

Circuit 4:

- Dumbbell pull-over

- Chest flies

- Chest press

-Wide grip/ Chest push-up

- 1 minute jump rope-

Warm-down: Rowing machine

The couple that works out together....

The past few weeks have been exciting since my SO has decided to get on the health kick with me and start watching portions and thinking more about what and when and how to eat. I'm certain he is already seeing results and I'm so happy and proud of him. Plus, he's much less OCD than me, so he does not seem to have the constant stress and anxiety that I have.

Tonight we are taking a spin class together, which is VERY exciting. I have taken spin classes before, but this will be his first. I'm excited not only for him to try something new and to push himself further than he has before, but also because it is something that (if he enjoys) that we can do together.

After all of this Olympics coverage I got back in the pool this past weekend. I love swimming and have not done it for a long time. Saturday morning I hit the pool and swam laps, walked laps and tried to do as much movement as possible. After the hour was up I didn't feel like I had really gotten much of a workout in, but by the time I got to work an hour later, my body was SO sore. I am hoping to hit the pool on weekends for the rest of the summer since running outside in this humidity is impossible for me.

My birthday is coming up soon and I am hoping to make good choices this week and through the weekend since I am meeting with Carly the RD next week for my monthly weigh in!

A Fresh Start?

Here I am again, rebooting this baby for the 3^rd time. Maybe I will actually be able to commit and get this to become a regular occurrence instead of a temporary enjoyment! Life just seems to always get in the way of the things I would rather be doing. Like writing here!

Since my last post things have been, interesting, to say the least.

Finished my first year of grad school, still working full time, and still battling those last 30 or so pounds.

Since my 25^th birthday in 2010, the only loss I have seen was a few pounds, which came right back. I’ve been holding steady at 201-205, which is pretty disappointing. I would love to be back under 200. The only positive is that I seem to at least be shifting the weight around, because I am fitting in mostly size 12 clothes, or size Medium. Which is a definite change from the last time I was in this weight range.

I started working with a registered dietician, Carly, who is awesome! My last post I had met with a nutritionist who I stopped seeing. His approach was coming from a good place but it was just not a good fit. Working with Carly, I switched from calorie counting to an exchange program about 6 weeks ago. Diet seems to be where the problems are, since my workouts continue to be strong, varied, and intense! Hopefully with some patience and tweaking we can figure out where the disconnect is as to why I haven’t been dropping pounds.

With a full time job, a boyfriend, two cats and grad school, there are still days where I just want to stop caring so much about what the scale says, what I eat, and what workouts I do. But after coming this far, I just can’t bring myself to stop yet. I know I can reach that end goal.

For now I will promise this, a stronger commitment to this blog and more regular updates. Third times the charm right?