End of Week 9!

June 17th                                                                    July 1st

So it has been 2 weeks since my last set of progress photos, which were taken on June 17th. Last weekend my husband had drill, so I decided to see if I could see a larger difference, and I'm pleased to say that I can! My abs are looking a little tighter, and in the back photos, I can see more tone in my rear shoulder muscles. My glutes appear to sit a little higher as well. To be honest, that has been a trouble spot for me during my contest preparation, so I'm extra pleased about this improvement, since I expect it to continue. The area where my shoulder transitions to my tricep also seems to have a bit more definition as well.

I took some additional photos this week, that I don't have comparisons for, but they look really good so I wanted to include them:

My abs, biceps, and shoulders look really good in the right picture, and the ton of back muscle I've amassed over the last couple years shows really well in the left picture. I'm super pleased with my progress in the last couple weeks. It's very motivating. I also think I've lossed another .5% of body fat, even though I' gained a half of a pound. More than likely that is just new muscle.

I also get to buy my competition suit this week, super exciting! Since I will be registering for my competition next week as well! Ah!

So while people watching during my cardio sessions in the gym, and I noticed something that was kind of irritating. They weren't challenging themselves. I saw one lady texting while using the leg press machine, a super light weight, and she wasn't even moving through the full range of motion for that machine. Another woman was doing tricep pressdowns super fast because her weight was too light as well. What's irritating about it, is that these women, in a couple weeks or so, will complain that their gym time has not benefited them in the slightest. Words to live by in this situation: If it doesn't challenge you, it will not change you!

I think everyone should challenge themselves consistently, because consistency is also necessary to see lasting change.

End of week 12, Start of Week 11!

June 2nd                                                         June 10th

So I'm within 12 weeks now of my competition. I really do like my progress this week. I lost another pound (122.6), and .5% more body fat (16%). My abs are really starting to show through, and my legs are still leaning out too.

This week was super busy. I had to get up at 0300 on a couple days this week. I supervised a PT test and made sure to hit the gym each day that I was supposed to go. Actually my new weight lifting program has me working out everyday, but I alternate with two high intensity days and then one low intensity day. The low intensity day is always just cardio. High intensity days are weights and cardio. Judging by my pictures, I would have to say it's working out for me. At least I know I'm getting enough rest now though. Despite my early days, I really felt like all my workouts were quality.

As I've been making my own progress, I have gotten to tell people about what it takes for me to get where I am. The main question is how I manage to keep up with all the work. Really though, when anyone really wants something, they do whatever they can, don't they? Like when a guy really likes a girl, he goes out of his way to takes her to nice places to eat (my clean nutrition), he makes time to see her, even when he has no time (my gym time), and he tries to get to know as much about her as he can (my pursuit of nutrition and fitness knowledge).

Earning an excellent body is just that, you have to earn it. You have to court it. It does take time, and it does take work, but doesn't anything worth having? Despite the fitness gimmicks out there, nothing that will last happens in 10/14/30 days. Real progression is made over time. If you take a pill that causes you to lose 15 pounds very fast, your body may be stripped of valuable muscle in the process. You have not learned to treat your body with the care it deserves. It is often said that the journey is just as important as the destination, and that is especially true for any fitness journey. It never ends.
Once you really hit a goal, the only thing to do is make a new goal.

End of Week 15, on to Week 14!

 May 13th                                                                     May 20th

So I'm at the end of week 15! Tomorrow marks the start of week 14. I have done very well in all my food choices this week. I also got in every single one of the workout that I planned. I was very satisfied with the week. I lost 2 pounds and an inch from my waist, putting me at 25 inches! There isn't as much of a difference between last week's photo's and this weeks, but I'm retaining a bit more water weight for "girl" reasons. I expect next weeks photos to be awesome.

So the big thing I was proud of this week occurred when I took my husband to Red Lobster on Wednesday. I took him because he had a medical procedure that day, and couldn't eat the day before to prepare for it. He was so hungry, so we went there. Surprisingly, there aren't a lot of sit down restaurants open for lunch on Washington Rd. Now.... I was sorely tempted by the cheesy bisquits. As in, my mouth was watering! I was so close to taking one. Then I thought, "How low is my self control that I will be unable to "resist" taking a bisquit?" With that little mental slap, I reestablished my goals as priority, and didn't eat a single bite of a bisquit!

My one big area of improvement this week I think was my legs. You can't see all of them in the picture, but my calves are looking very nice. My quads are getting more definition as I lose more body fat. Another area I've improved is my mindset. It has gotten easier to not feel as tempted by bad food. "Food is Fuel" is my new mindset. Not to mention, my sense of taste has improved greatly, now that I have taken all the added sodium and sugar from my diet. I have to say, that must be another benefit of clean eating.

Next week is going to be tough. I am overseeing a PT test on Tuesday morning (and the next Tuesday too), and I have to take one of them. So I'll probably take the test next week. The question is how to fit in my workout on Tuesday. I'm considering getting up extra early on Tuesday, going to the gym, going home to change, then head to base, and take care of the PT test. It will be a terribly long day for me if I do that. But I'm almost certain I won't have time to work out after work.

Well I guess that's all for now. Until next week!

April Progress Photos

After this wedding on May5th, the next pictures will just get better and better!