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 14, Start of Week 13!

May 20th                                                                                       May 27th

May1st

So it has been a nice weekend so far. I have 4 days off because of the Memorial holiday. Well I'm not sure I'm seeing much of a difference here. Up top, I have the comparison from last week and this week, and I even put up the very first one I took this month. Meh, maybe I'm looking too closely. I know that I have lost another 1/4 inch in my waist, and I lost 1/2 pound this week. My legs are defnitely looking better, so maybe that is where I made the most progress this week. I really do want way more definition in my thighs. I'm pretty thick in that area comparatively speaking, so if I can get great definition in that area, then it will look fabulous.

It was a short week, to be true, but I still had enough stress for a full week! My biggest issue this week was people not doing their job, and trying to make it seem like it was somehow my fault. Very irritating. I don't let that illusion last very long though, no I sure don't!

I did well with my diet this week as well. I haven't had a dessert in 3 weeks, and no cheat meals. We have gone out to sushi once a week, and I get very simple rolls with no sauce. This week was the last weekend we are going out to eat though. No more restaurants for the next 3 months! Well we are going to a cookout on Monday for Memorial Day, but I'm eating dinner before we go, and I am also considering bringing a protein shake with me. Cookout food does not tend to fall in the lines of clean eating, at least it doesn't if I'm not cooking it!

The PT tests we were supposed to have last week never happened, so the big thing that could throw a wrench in my plans will be a "surprise" (aka last minute) PT test. So I'm on the look out for that this week. I also have a couple meetings after work, so I may need to bring extra snacks, so I don't cause my metabolism to do a super fail.

I'm working a little bit harder at not letting worthless people stress me out. I have a small flair for drama (if you ask my husband, he might tell you it's a dramatic flair for drama), and these worthless folks are flamable fuel for my fire. I know I need to chill out, but it's a lot of stress at work, from the office and the Army, so I just feel like I want to punch them (metaphorically speaking) right in their faces! (My arms are shaping up nicely too, so it would probably be an impressive punch!)

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!

End of Wk. 16, 15 Weeks to go!

April 29th                                                                   May 13th

 So this is the end of week 16. I am counting down to the Atlanta NPC Coastal USA competition, which is scheduled for August 20th. As it is my first competion, I am taking extra time to prepare. I am very excited, and just hope I can feel satisfied with how everything turns out. I was in pretty good shape to start, so I know diet will be a huge factor for me, but don't think I will slack on my gym time!

This first week has been pretty much ideal. I got in all my workouts, and ate practically 90-95% clean. I'm giving 5-10% for food I didn't know wasn't that clean! I have been trying to drink a gallon of water or more each day. I lost almost 2 pounds this week, and my midsection looks a little leaner I think...

I also joined a new gym Tuesday morning, a Gold's Gym right down the street from my house that I didn't know was there. I read in a Muscle and Fitness Hers, that sometimes you can boost your motivation by changing your scenery (i.e. new gym), and the editor was totally right. I felt so great surrounded by this cleaner, bigger, more well equipped gym! I made it in every day at 0430, except on Wednesday, when I had to go in after work. I don't know about other people, but going to work out after work is harder for me than getting up early! I was so determined not to skip my workout!

The gym I was going to is on Ft. Gordon. Because so many young training soldiers use it, it gets really crowded, the equipment is all over the dang place, and it is kind of.... not dirty, but ill kept I guess. Not to mention more people know me in there, and they don't read the focused face as : Leave me alone, I'm busy." It seems to be understood as : "I'm in here killing time, wanna chat?".

As I said, diet is a huge component for me at this stage in my fitness journey, and I can't afford any mess ups. I have actively begun analyzing everything that goes in my mouth. It could mean the difference between feeling like I did everything I could to prepare, and having regrets and feeling like I have no self control.

It is Sunday, and I feel like I am more that ready for Monday and my Quads Calves focused workout tomorrow morning. Work will be a little hectic since I'm standing in as the NCOIC for my section, but I will manage, since I know all my workouts and diet will be handled.

Until the end of week 15!

April Progress Photos

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

More progress!

I lost another half inch from my waist, a quater inch in my hips, and gained a quarter inch in my neck this week. I stopped seeing progress one the scale within the last couple weeks, so that means I will have to focus more on progess pictures and the measuring tape. Not such a bad thing really. All that means is that I'm gaining more muscle than I'm losing fat! My abdominals are shaping up so nicely. I'm currently between 18% and 19% body fat.