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Focus T25 - Day 17 - The first Day of Failure

11/24/2014

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Without completing this 30 day challenge, I can tell you that after 17 days, I have failed.  If I don't see real results quick enough, I won't stick with any diet or exercise program.  So far, I have seen about a half an inch to an inch loss when taped but never lost a single pound, and that's just not enough progress to keep me motivated.

I realize now why they send you the healthy eating plan with these DVD workout programs.  Because it doesn't work without it. 

It really is all about what you put in your body.  Don't get me wrong, I am an advocate of exercise and think everyone should get some, but there are days when I prefer to walk the dog rather than stand in my living room and step on him while following the 25 minute daily fitness routine.

I am not a horrible eater and I don't eat much throughout the day, but what little I do eat, are the wrong choices.  I still have a terrible carb addiction that I work on regularly, but if I plan to lose my 20 lbs before vacation in January, I am guessing I need another paleo plan challenge, since I have proven results from the past.  I am not a member at our crossfit gym anymore (prices are up to like $130 a month - insane!) but I will start the T25 plan over again and combine that with my paleo plan for 30 days and see how insane I get my results!

This challenge will begin on Dec 26th and I will record all my stats, my daily eating plan, and daily exercise routine.  I still have the before pictures from this challenge that have never been seen, so I will also include those at the end of the next challenge.

In the meantime, besides Christmas shopping, I will be gathering easy paleo recipes so I can plan out my 30 days of eating.  If there is one thing I learned from my last paleo challenge, it's that if you poorly plan, you won't eat anything... which makes me very cranky! Planning is essential for a successful challenge.  I have all the books that were given to me by the nutritionist that I saw back in 2012, so I will share some helpful information along with the recipe guide, so c'mon along for the ride!

See T25 comparison stats, from Day 1 to Day 6 to Day 11.

See my paleo challenge results from 2012. 
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Focus T25 - Day 13-16

11/17/2014

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Day 13-16 - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Friday I totally failed the abs workout because of my arm and most of the workout is on the floor. Oh, and I have no ab muscles.  Saturday was the lower muscle group workout and that one is my favorite!  Rocked it! Sunday, there was no workout and I will explain why in just a minute.  Monday was the total body workout and I would say I gave it a modified 80% effort.

So all in all, I am failing at this challenge.  In a previous post, I mentioned my 30 day paleo/crossfit challenge that I had completed and succeeded at, though this was prior to breast cancer. (BC) I am convinced that this challenge is not working in my favor because my diet is no good.  I am trying to eat healthier but not giving it enough of an effort.  This weekend we celebrated an early Christmas with some family members that live a couple hours away.  The party consisted of several finger foods, along with pizza and wings.  I knew better than to eat the pizza and wings so I ate nothing.  Instead, I drank 3 glasses of Moscato.  That may have been worse than just eating the pizza!  Needless to say, there was no working out on Sunday because I couldn't move myself from the couch.  3 glasses of wine did a number on my stomach and my head!

So, in order to turn things around and not give up on my challenge, I am going to try paleo foods for 3 days out of the week.  I've done the paleo challenge and it just is impossible for me to live on that food plan, but I could manage three days a week. 

In 2 days, I need to measure my progress and check my weight and I am afraid I haven't lost any weight.  This is that part of a diet where I get depressed because I am not seeing results...  I need some inspiration to hang on and not give up...

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.

See comparison stats so far, from Day 1 to Day 6 to Day 11.

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Focus T25 - Day 12

11/14/2014

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Day 12 - Thursday

I mentioned in a previous blog post that I was going to work on a better diet because I am not seeing amazing results.  Yes, I am seeing results but I know they could be better if I were to eat healthier.  I guess I will start that today, since it didn't happen yesterday.  For an entire year, I ate whatever I could get down just to get through the cancer treatments and that mentality is hard to break... I still use food to maintain my emotional stability.  I didn't eat a lot yesterday, or terribly bad... I just know that I could have made better choices.

The workout today was cardio.  I don't mind this DVD because there is no floor work. I was actually able to tighten the core (as Shaun T says), during most of this workout today - which is the first time since starting this whole challenge.  Before today, I was only trying to get through the 25 minutes and not worrying about tightening anything.  Guess it took me 12 days to get into the swing of things.

For lack of any better pictures to post, yes I am sporting my pajamas as I do the daily workout.  See, I am proof that anyone can get off the couch and do a little exercise for just 25 minutes... even in PJ's.

Food for today:
Breakfast: banana
Lunch: bowl of frosted flakes
Dinner: broccoli stuffed chicken breast and mashed potatoes

What I did today to better my diet:  Drank a ton of water.  Future goal: Make one paleo dinner per week.

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.


See comparison stats so far, from Day 1 to Day 6 to Day 11.

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Focus T25 - Day 11

11/13/2014

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Day 11 - Wednesday

Today's workout seemed less difficult than the last time.  Not easy, just less difficult.  I think Lucia and I have come to the conclusion that this one is our favorite.  It's the speed DVD.  For me, still doing the modified version, I am able to get through the entire DVD except for the part where both arms are brought behind the back.  My right arm still isn't able to go there.  But I try and am hopeful that by the end of our challenge, I will be able to fully complete each of the DVD's without extra modifications.  Even the pushups, which are impossible at this point.

Today was stat day.  Not huge improvement but some improvement nonetheless.  Lucia lost 5 lbs and I only lost 1.  But again, she isn't doing the modified version.  I am still pleased with my results and hopeful for more improvement before the end.

Stat comparison:
TODAY 11/12/14                        11/5/14                                    START STATS
Weight: 156.0                           Weight: 157                            Weight: 157
Hips: 39"                                    Hips: 39"                                 Hips: 41.5"
Waist: 30.25"                            Waist: 30.5"                            Waist: 31"
Right arm: 10.5"                        Right arm: 10.5"                     Right arm:  11"
Left arm: 10.5"                           Left arm: 10.75"                     Left arm:  11"


Food for today:
Breakfast: 1 piece of french toast, 2 pieces of regular toast with butter
Lunch: 4 bites of some leftover pasta from the fridge but it was gross so I threw it out
Snack: a piece of the leftover cake that I need to throw out so I don't eat it any more
Dinner: bacon burger and fries

Let me just say that when I actually write out everything I have eaten for a week, it becomes painstakingly obvious how bad my diet really is!  I need to get to the grocery store for some healthier food options in my house!

What I did today to better my diet:  I chose not to eat a bowl of frosted flakes cereal at midnight... drank water instead.

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.

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Focus T25 - Day 10

11/13/2014

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Day 10 - Tuesday

Today is Veterans Day, so we must go out for lunch.  It makes Lucia happy to listen quietly to others (typically old men) in the restaurant as they tell stories of their past adventures at war.  Previous Applebee's loyal customers on this day, we changed it up and went to Olive Garden.  Click here if you want to know why we made the switch.  It was a great choice but once again, it must be the heavy cream in the alfredo sauce that gives me a terrible stomach ache every single time.  So I came home and darted for my bottle of tums.

Today was also a day that I hosted a birthday party so I had to bake a cake... and yes, that means I had to lick some of the batter.  It's impossible not to.  Let's just pretend that white cake is better for you than chocolate cake.  Hey, I did use egg whites only.  That's something.

For dinner I made an easy and really tasty baked chicken breast with sauteed mushrooms and onions on the side.

Yes, we did manage to get our 25 minute workout in today, in between all this food.

Food I ate today:
Breakfast: none
Lunch: too much - 2 breadsticks with dip; salad; 3 bites of chkn gnocci soup; 12 sips of salted caramel martini; 4 tortellini al forno
Snack: Marshmellow and I licked the beaters from making the cake
Dinner: One piece of cake (I let everyone else eat the chicken and saved some for Lucia's lunch)

What I did today to better my diet:  I made everyone chocolate milkshakes at the birthday party but I did not have one for myself

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.


See comparison stats so far, from Day 1 to Day 6.

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Focus T25 - Day 9

11/11/2014

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PictureLucia and I on our weekend trip
Day 9 - Monday

Ok, so we completely failed the 30 day challenge.  We went out of town for 2 days on a business trip to NYC and it was almost impossible to do the workout.  I guess we could have when we got back to the room late Sat night but I was so exhausted from the day that I don't think I would have managed too well.

So, we start again today and we start on a Monday, which is how we should have done the program to begin with.  If we had, we would not be at the point of fail.

Today's cardio wasn't as bad as the last two 25 minute cardio workouts, or at least I didn't sweat as much... which is good, it means we are getting stronger.

Today's food:
Lunch: spaghetti and one meatball
Dinner: peanut butter and jelly sandwich and 1 piece of pizza (the freezer kind)

What I did today to better my diet:  Nothing that I can think of because I am still exhausted from this weekends trip  :(

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.


See comparison stats so far, from Day 1 to Day 6.


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Focus T25 - Day 8

11/7/2014

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Day 8 - Friday

So as I type this, I am watching Alessandra Ambrosio unveil her new line of bathing suits, and if you're not familiar with who she is (which I wasn't until she came on my tv), she is a supermodel.  The bathing suits are all amazing - why? Because they are all being modeled by skinny minnies.  This is what I call motivation!


Today we started a new week with the cardio cd. It was much easier than last week when we were on day #1!  I can already tell a major difference.  And the ONLY thing we have been doing is the workout for 25 minutes a day.  No special diet and not even walking the dog anymore because it has rained or snowed (today) every day this past week.

Today's food:
Breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage link
Lunch: none
Dinner: spaghetti and meatballs

What I did today to better my diet:  Nothing that I can think of.  :(

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.


See comparison stats so far, from Day 1 to Day 6.


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Focus T25 - Day 7

11/7/2014

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Day 7 - Thursday

Today's 25 minute workout was the stretch CD.  Although it didn't exhaust me like the cardio workout, it still works! I could feel it in my muscles while walking up the stairs last night.  I thought to myself, "wow, I didn't realize that little stretching would make such an impact."

I heard someone say that losing weight is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise.  I really hope that isn't true.  Can I at least get a 50/50?  My diet doesn't suck but like I mentioned before, I am not on a "diet", I am just being more careful about what I put in my mouth.  I want to be able to lose weight and tone my body without going on some crazy ass, food I don't like, no you can't have anything type of diet.  Well, I guess only time will tell.

Oh - and for the record, I feel like I have much more energy these days.  Maybe too much.  I cleaned out the basement yesterday.

Today's food:

Breakfast: Cappuccino
Lunch: 1 slice frozen pizza, ceasar salad
Dinner: 1/2 portion of chicken broccoli alfredo with one corn biscuit

What I did today to better my diet:  I made the alfredo dinner myself and only used 1/2 the recommended heavy cream, I substituted the rest.  I also used double the amount of broccoli and added cauliflower. I left the sauce on the side, so I was able to add only a small amount on my angel hair pasta.

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.


See comparison stats so far, from Day 1 to Day 6.

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Focus T25 - Day 6

11/7/2014

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Day 6 - Wednesday

Been waiting for today ALL WEEK!  The program says I get to skip today and do the stretch and cardio tomorrow.  Yippee!

Today is also a weigh-in day.  So although there's no workout for today, I did measure and tape myself.  I didn't lose a single pound, but the tape measure shows improvement so I will take it!

Stat comparison:
TODAY 11/5/14                                    START STATS
Weight: 157                                           Weight: 157
Hips: 39"                                                Hips: 41.5"
Waist: 30.5"                                          Waist: 31"
Right arm: 10.5"                                   Right arm:  11"
Left arm: 10.75"                                    Left arm:  11"


Food for today:
Breakfast: cappuccino
Lunch: Panera greek salad and asiago bagel with plain cream cheese
Dinner: Ham and turkey sub from Subway

What I did today to better my diet:  I chose Subway over McDonalds!

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO NEXT POST.

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Focus T25 - Day 5

11/5/2014

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My daughter always takes her "selfies" in my bedroom mirror so I took this one in her room. Yes, her shorts and underwear are on the floor!
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Day 5 - Tuesday

I'm going to keep it short and sweet today because it was such a busy day that I barely made my 25 minute workout.  Because Lucia and I are working this program together and our schedules don't always merry the way they should, it only leaves a few hours in the middle of the day to fit in the workout.  But, once again we made it happen.  It's really about making it a priority, because I could find an excuse every day to say that I'm too busy to exercise.

Thankfully our workout today was the leg muscles and bottom portion of the body.  Which is the exact opposite of what I would have said a year and a half ago.  But because of the missing lymph nodes in my right arm, it just doesn't work the way it used to and I tend to be overly cautious with it.

Today's fab news is that I fit into a new pair of jeans! Calvin Klein's size 30/32.  Baby steps!

Today's food:
Breakfast: frosted flakes cereal
Lunch: toast
Dinner: Kielbasa pasta with veggies

What I did today to better my diet:  Instead of getting out of bed to have some toast at 11pm, I drank water from the bathroom sink - and continued to want a snack but drink water 2 more times before just getting up at 6:00am the next morning.  I seem to be really hungry lately! Is it the working out?  Yes, I know my eating habits aren't the best...

Click here to read my Focus T25 Challenge from day 1.

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    One full year after my breast cancer diagnosis, I began getting my shit back in shape!

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I prefer not to be defined by cancer, but my life has certainly changed because of it.
Today, the simplicity of life and small moments of joy is what drives me.
Thanks for following my journey!