Sarah's Last "Try" for Success

[sblandrus]

So, along with all of you other lovely ladies, I have decided to commit myself to a journal. I started journaling in my body blog, but feel this is a much more appropriate place to do so.

A little about myself: I am 5'6", and currently 135 lbs, and 23 years old. At my leanest I was 128, but a good portion of that was water weight (which I know I am retaining a bit right now). As of late I am usually in the 16-18% body fat range, at my leanest I was around 15% (maybe a little less, this is a guesstimate).

I have been refining my process of getting/being fit for the last 4 years or so. I've gone through highs and lows and everything in between, and at this point I believe I am the most committed I've ever been as well as the most knowledgeable.

My main goal is to be consistent in my dedication to my diet and exercise, but more specifically and short term, I would really like to lose about 10 lbs, not muscle (obviously) but bodyfat/water weight. Moreover, I want to lose that final little bit of fat on my inner/outer thighs, and have deeper cuts in my quads (I can already see a little bit of separation.)

I have kind of been in a slump lately after having breast implant surgery on the 17th of february. I absolutely could do NO exercise for 2 weeks straight, and since I went under the muscle, I have to really take it easy on arm exercises for awhile...which is SLIGHTLY depressing. I LOVE working my arms out, and have lost some muscle in the past month that I haven't been able to use them.

Anyhow, the reason for my title "sarah's last 'try'..." is because I want to quit trying. I just want to HAVE success, I want to BE successful. I have had this last bit of weight that I've been DYING to drop for the longest time!!!! And it's about damn time I just DO IT.

So here we go ladies. This is my final "attempt"... only success will follow. Root me on!!!

[rubes00]

Hey there! Good luck.. you have a hawt body (no homo!!!)

[sblandrus]

Currently I am struggling with my eating. It's really inconsistent. However....I have a plan *muahahahaaa!!!* (lol, k i'm a dork) I recently bought the newest issue of Oxygen Magazine (LOVE it!!!) and they have a "lose 10 lbs in 3 weeks!" feature, while normally I would say "this is ABSURD!!!" well, not really, more like "that's unhealthy", #1 I trust Oxygen's judgement, they have very sound health advice/ideas in their magazines, #2 this diet is NOT recommended for over 3 weeks (as the daily caloric intake peaks at less than 1200 calories), and at the end of the 3 weeks you resume your usual 1800+ calories/day and #3 this is a diet they borrowed from a celeb trainer's book who helps celebrities lose weight quickly.

I don't necessarily think that I will lose 10 lbs in 3 weeks, (if I do, sweet), but I see this as a kick start to not only my motivation, but also regaining my focus and sticking to something strict for 21 days so I can strengthen my discipline muscle (my weakest muscle, hands down). Anyhow, here's what week one looks like (the diet changes slightly each week with calorie intake, and food types).

Meal 1:
3/4 cup oatmeal
1 banana

Meal 2:
Apple

Meal 3:
4 oz. fish/chicken
1 cup zucchini
3 cups salad (spinach)
1 tbsp low fat dressing

Meal 4:
2 cups celery
1 tbsp almond butter

Meal 5:
6 oz fish
1 cup asparagus
1 cup summer squash (yellow)

Meal 6:
1 cup mixed berries (i just do black berries)

Then u can add a snack:
1 piece of fruit OR
12 almonds OR
1 tbsp almond butter

Anyhow, have made several attempts at this last week, and have hit the mark at about 75% success rate. But as I stated before. I will be making no more attempts. Today IS THE DAY!!!!

I will follow this 100% from today, March 30th, until Monday, April 20th!!!
NO MORE TRYING!!!
Success only.
And doing.

Anyhow, I really never thought I would say this, but I want to be in shape for swimsuit season (guilty.)...but, you know, it's not such a terrible goal to aim for, you know??? I really would just like to be in shape all year round, but I guess the beginning of this summer will be a good starting point for that long term goal, right?? Sure, yes. RIGHT. Anyhow, I've got PLENTY of time to DESTROY my goal. I figure June first to be my "BEST BODY" deadline. Very realistic, if I stick to it. Then it will be a fun challenge keeping myself in shape and thinking of creative ways to up the ante.

I have already decided that my reward for this June 1st challenge will be to get hair extensions, since I'm trying to grow my hair out....

June first, you'd better watch your back biotch, 'cause HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jenga09]

Good luck! I will be following along.

[sblandrus]

Thx rubes, I need to update my progress pic...not quite as cut right now...but seriously, water weight plays SUCH a huge role. Anyhow, I prob have a little extra layer of flab just waiting to be removed as well. lolz

[Miranda]

Originally Posted by sblandrus

they have a "lose 10 lbs in 3 weeks!" feature, while normally I would say "this is ABSURD!!!" well, not really, more like "that's unhealthy", #1 I trust Oxygen's judgement, they have very sound health advice/ideas in their magazines, #2 this diet is NOT recommended for over 3 weeks (as the daily caloric intake peaks at less than 1200 calories), and at the end of the 3 weeks you resume your usual 1800+ calories/day and #3 this is a diet they borrowed from a celeb trainer's book who helps celebrities lose weight quickly.

#1 i slightly disagree. oxygen contradicts itself every month and sometimes within the same issue
#2 10lbs in three weeks is going to be mostly water weight (if that's what you're after)
#3 'celeb trainer' is meaningless, as is using 'celebs' as a gauge

the diet looks like it's low in protein. i agree three weeks won't kill you.

just some random thoughts.

[sblandrus]

Originally Posted by Miranda

#1 i slightly disagree. oxygen contradicts itself every month and sometimes within the same issue
#2 10lbs in three weeks is going to be mostly water weight (if that's what you're after)
#3 'celeb trainer' is meaningless, as is using 'celebs' as a gauge

the diet looks like it's low in protein. i agree three weeks won't kill you.

just some random thoughts.

There really is no proprietary macronutrient ratio...trust me, I have done my research, and I have done a traditional bb diet where the ratios are 40-40-20, and I have also done keto (ckd) where the ratios were 65-f 30-p and 5-c with a carb up on weekends, and actually gotten leaner with higher fat and less protein than the traditional one, all I'm saying is everyone's body is different, and this is really similar to a cutting diet.

Anyhow, I'm not going to argue. I've done this long enough to be confident in my dieting choices, and more than anything, I think this will help me regain my focus, and also stir things up a bit with my metabolism.

And afterwards, I will probably stick to a lower carb thing...I'm working on writing that one right now.

But I am excited, and looking forward to trying something different!!!

[twinnett]

Hey there...I think you look awesome right now, but I know that we all have our own goals..good luck to you!!

[sblandrus]

Yesterday started out really great, but I took a nose dive at night when I ate some left over mexican food. Damn it!!! Then this morning I started out on the right track, but I simply have not been feeling well, and I was not at my house where my healthy food is at, so I ate what is available to me: Bagel+Cream Cheese, and....cocoa puffs. EEK!!! I know, it's awful. This is the slump I've been in, though. I just can't seem to control my cravings, and it's been over 2 weeks since I've actually been to the gym. God, this is so terrible!!! I've got to pull myself out of this!!! Not much time left for my deadline. I need to get the bf on board, he's so supportive, I just need to tell him what I'm doing, and maybe he'll eat right along with me the same things. This is a slump that I've gotten myself into in the past, and I promised myself after my dedication this winter that I would NOT let myself go like this again!!! It's such a pain trying to regain lost ground. I'm not going to do this, I WILL NOT!!!! I need to cook food tonight. That will help.

I've noticed that when emotionally trying things happen in my life, it is comforting for me to turn to food, while I have never let it get that far, I am afraid of it going that far, and having to work SO much harder to get back to where I was. The reason I mention this is because I moved out of my bf's house recently, I feel like it was the right decision to make, but I have a hard time living by myself, and sometimes I get lonely, and so that makes me start eating, I think. Ugh. I need to get to the gym tonight, I WILL go to the gym tonight. In 2 hours I am leaving for the gym...I need to find my iPod too...

C'mon Sarah!!! Get it together!!!

[Kee13]

Hey Sblandrus, take it slow. There are so many things that can get in the way of accomplishing you goals. Focus on the big picture and where you want to be. Don't beat yourself up. If you fall of the wagon one day, just get back on track the next day. Good luck to you and I will be following your journal.

[rubes00]

Mmmm cocoa puffs do sound good.. but I don't think they're on the 21 day plan

Tomorrow is a new day though!

[sblandrus]

Haha-rubes, yeah, not so much. Well, as far as diet goes, I was probably 90% there, then my bf wanted to go to Thai food...MY FAVORITE...so I caved. I didn't eat a ton, it wasn't horrible, but, yet again, not on my plan...also, in addition to this, found out from the doc on tuesday that I have a bladder infection (never had one b4) so have been feeling pretty out of it b/c of that, and then yesterday, I had to leave work, I was feeling SOOOOO awful!!!! And last night I could hardly sleep, my right kidney was THROBBING!!! I think the infection may have spread to my kidneys 'cause I waited too long to get antibiotics (didn't know what was wrong with my body!), so hopefully resting and taking the antibiotics will help. Tuesday night I slept 11 hours, after taking a 4 hour nap that day, then yesterday I took 1.5 hour nap b4 work, then slept another 11 hours last night!!! Needless to say, haven't made it to the gym Hopefully I can kick this thing real soon, but in the mean time, I can definitely focus on my diet. I know I can do it, I just need to stay focused.

[sblandrus]

Oh yeah, and I posted some updated progress pics...not terrible, but I can do much better.

[twinnett]

Ummm....if I could look like that and Cocoa Puffs and Thai food, I think I'd be in heaven!!

[rubes00]

I think your progress pics look great... so at this point

Rest > gym

[sblandrus]

Thank you ladies. So in response to Rubes and twinnett, thanks for the compliments, but I will put up some pictures that are a little more telling of my problem areas: hips and ass. I usually (even when I've been really overweight) stay pretty lean looking on my upper body, so that's nothing I can really take credit for. I just carry my weight REALLY unevenly, you can't tell as much cause I'm not obese or anything, but my hips are so much wider than my shoulders, and my goal is to even that out. I don't even care about what my upper body looks like anymore. It's a false representation of my true body fat. I would have some serious saddle bags if I weighed 15-20 lbs more. And, as it stands right now, that area on my behind is NOT smooth...:-S

Anyhow, yesterday was a 5 star day(!) No cheats!!!! I drank TONS of water (3/4 gallon-ALMOST there), AND did 30 minutes of cardio. I was going to lift, but the bf and some friends were waiting on me to go out, so I had to cut it short. But it felt good to start getting back in a routine!!! OH, I did deviate a little bit (from my eating), but I just adjusted the rest of my day accordingly...

Meal 1:
3/4 cup oatmeal
1 banana
A handful of cocoa puffs (i know, I know...lol, but not only are they cocoa puffs, they have the marshmallows from lucky charms in them too!!!)
Small spoon full of peanut butter

Meal 2:
Apple

Meal 3:
4 oz tilapia
1/2 cup brown rice
1 cup yellow squash

meal 4:
6 oz chicken
1 cup asparagus
1 cup zucchini

Meal 5:
3/4 cup oatmeal
1 banana
1/2 cup black berries


So, obviously, the cocoa puffs are not on the plan, lol. And since I had the spoon full of pb, I cut out the almond butter and celery, and at the end of the night, I am just supposed to have a cup of berries, BUT, to avoid having some VERY delicious cookies my friends brought over, I made myself a heaping bowl of oatmeal and added the banana...it was actually a little overkill, I felt like I was going to explode. Anyhow, today I'm gonna hit 100% with the diet, and cardio+weights! I actually pre-made a bunch of my food and it's packaged up. Easy.

Catch ya on the flip side!!!

[rubes00]

Hey good job on yesterday! Now you just gotta fix those small things and you'll be good to go But small changes are better than none!

[CharliC]

Hiya

I think most females can relate to the hips and ass thing. I bet they're not as disproportionate as you see them but best of luck in getting them into the shape you want!

Diet's looking good, though maybe a little low on healthy fats? I am liking the sound of Meal 1

[Miranda]

Originally Posted by CharliC

I think most females can relate to the hips and ass thing.

most definitely. women are fatter than men and the majority of that fat is stored in the lower body. genetics. so it's not anyone's 'fault' as such.

if your lower half looks disproprotionate, concentrate on building good shoulders, chest and back to even things out

[sblandrus]

Yay!!!! I had a rock-star day yesterday....two thumbs UP UP UP!!! So here's the diet for yesterday:

meal 1: 3/4 cup oats + 1 banana + a sprinkle of splenda

meal 2: 1 green apple

meal 3: 4 oz tilapia + 1 cup summer squash + 1/2 cup brown rice (mmmMMmm!)

meal 4: 2 tbsp almond butter* + 2 celery SPEARS!

meal 5: 6 oz chicken breast + 3 cups spinach + fat free italian + 1 cup asparagus + 1 cup zucchini

meal 6: 1 cup warm blackberries with a dash of splenda (mmMMmMM!!!)

I did it!!! My diet was 10 for 10 yesterday AND, if that wasn't enough, I drank one whole gallon of water, thankyouverymuch!!!

Wooohooo!!!

*this almond butter is the REAL DEAL, we have a WinCo grocery store here now, and for those of you who have never been to one (or simply don't know), you can get 100% natural peanut butter OR almond butter that is made fresh right there, they have this machine that you turn on and grinds either almonds or peanuts into a butter. No other ingredients!!! It's super awesome, plus oatmeal in bulk!!!!
Then, I did my very first official workout since my surgery, this is what it looked like:

Cardio:
15 minutes elliptical
-resistance level 8
-about 195 strides per minute (SPM)
-'228 calories' burned
15 minutes treadmill
-4mph
-8% incline
-'132 calories' burned
for a rough total of 360 cals burned for cardio, not bad

Weights ( chest ? triceps = abs )
Flat Bench:
12 x 55 lbs
12 x 55 lbs
8 x 55 lbs
last 4 dropped down to just the bar (45 lbs)

Incline Bench:
8 x 45
8 x 45
7 x 45

Decline Bench:
10 x 45
10 x 45
9 x 45

Triceps cable pull down:
12 x 20
12 x 20
12 x 20

Overhead triceps cable extensions:
15 x 20
15 x 20
15 x 20

Skull CRUSHERS!!!!:
6 x 20
6 x 20
6 x 20

Abs:
3 x 25

Wow, it was a great workout!!!
A side note: I have noticed a definite loss in strength in my pecs/tris since surgery, I think partially because I am still healing a bit, and also it has been almost 2 months since I have worked those muscles (doctor's orders), because before I would never have benched just the bar because it was too easy...also, I got as close to failure as I could since a spotter is a luxury for me since I'm usually solo, I was shooting for 3 x 12-15 for each exercise, but because of my decreased strength and lack of a spotter, my numbers are a little more variable. I guess this will be a good goal for me then to increase my strength!!!

And I was really doing a thorough analysis of my body composition when I was looking into the mirror today trying on swimsuits, and realized that the quad and lower hamstring area of my thighs are actually decently lean, as well as my upper body (with exception to my lower back, where I carry a small percentage of extra body fat), but the majority of the approximate 17% body fat I carry is in a considerably confined area of my body, this by all appearances is about 4 inches down from the top of my hip bone expanding down to about 3 inches below the glute-hamstring junction, starting at my inner thigh, and wrapping around and stopping in a semi-circle at the outer side of my quads...because like I said, my quads are fairly lean on the very front. I guess I just found this interesting....

Anyhow, in response to Miranda, I think just trying to even things out by bulking up top would kind of defeat my purpose of having a lean, defined lower body, plus, for me that would be the easy way out.

And in response to charli, yes, my diet is very low in fat, and pretty much everything else!!! But this is just a jump start, my diet will change pretty dramatically (i.e. higher cals, more protein, and more fats) after the 3 weeks of this one is up, I am doing this one to regain my focus (so far it's really working!) and help me to get back into discipline mode anyhow, I will start working on my post-3-week-kamakazi-diet diet and post it here so you ladies can have a looksies!!!

Oh, and today I am spot on with my diet once again (!) and I went for a 20 minute outdoor run today, it was a beautiful day!!!! And I weighed in at 134.2... approx 9 lbs from my goal weight (all things considered)...

[Miranda]

Originally Posted by sblandrus

I think just trying to even things out by bulking up top would kind of defeat my purpose of having a lean, defined lower body, plus, for me that would be the easy way out.

i guess you can see it that way too.

depending how 'lean' you want your legs, you'll burn fat from everywhere else first - it is the way it goes. if you don't have muscle underneath you *could* end up looking very drawn, scrawny and tiny in the upper bod with 'smooth' legs still.

. . . and building muscle isn't 'easy'

[TauruSmith]

sblandrus -

Just spent some time reading through your journal. Looks like we have some of the same goals. I'm not much help with meal ideas/ workouts yet, but it will be awesome to follow others in their pursuits. Good luck with everything!

[Kee13]

sblandrus, you look like you have some pretty good workouts. You are well on your way. Like TauruSmith, i am still learning a lot on this site so I don't have any advice or anything. I just wanted to wish you luck!

[sblandrus]

Originally Posted by Miranda

i guess you can see it that way too.

depending how 'lean' you want your legs, you'll burn fat from everywhere else first - it is the way it goes. if you don't have muscle underneath you *could* end up looking very drawn, scrawny and tiny in the upper bod with 'smooth' legs still.

. . . and building muscle isn't 'easy'

First of all, I am not neglecting my upper body, I am definitely focusing on building muscle up there, however not so much so to necessarily balance out my lower body with all it's current fat. My body fat goal (however long it may take me) is between 10-13%. Yes, that low. And trust me, I know how my body works, I started lifting weights and 'working out' when I was 17 or 18, and have been serious about lifting for the past 4 years, so you're preaching to the choir about the body fat issue, I know it will come off my hips and thighs very last, Yay!!! (<--sarcasm) And because of my genetics, putting on muscle does come fairly easy for me. Every body is different, and I'm a pretty built girl and have a fair amount of muscle to start with, so I can't see the scrawny or tiny look anywhere in my near future.

Thanks Kee and Tauru!!! I really mostly started this journal to keep me accountable.
I am new to this part of the forum and having a journal, however, I am not new to this lifestyle, but ideas and imput are always appreciated!!!

[Miranda]

Originally Posted by sblandrus

First of all, I am not neglecting my upper body, I am definitely focusing on building muscle up there[...]I know how my body works, I started lifting weights and 'working out' when I was 17 or 18, and have been serious about lifting for the past 4 years[...]I am new to this part of the forum and having a journal, however, I am not new to this lifestyle

ah i didn't know this

[sblandrus]

no worries, miranda, I forget that not everyone automatically knows where I'm coming from. Lol.

Well, the past couple days have been a bit of a bum as far as the diet goes, I won't go into the details 'cause my diet was all over the place, but I know the cause of this: ran out of food. It seems silly, but I'm sure plenty of you ladies know what happens when you don't go grocery shopping- you eat whatever is available, which is usually not according to plan. Anyhow, I went shopping yesterday and got the fridge all stocked up and I'm back on track!!!

Bad news on my training, tho, when I did that chest/tri routine last saturday, I really hurt myself. Normally, this would just be a routine *getting back into it* jump start, but, as you may recall, I did have breast implants mid february, and my doctor said that after 6 weeks I could lift as much as I want...well, that didn't mean that I SHOULD...so, needless to say, I have been in pain from my lifting episode ever since saturday, and this was not normal pain after lifting, I know what that feels like, and normally enjoy it, but this was intense. I could hardly move the next day, and monday and tuesday were the worst!!! I had to take 3 ibuprofen in the morning and in the afternoon. Anyhow, I am just going to go with my original plan and wait until august until I lift those muscle groups again, sad to say, but that's the price you pay when you get fake boobs. I don't regret getting them at all, but I will have to learn to be patient, and come up with a different lifting schedule.

[sblandrus]

So yesterday was not a good day in the world of fat loss and healthy living. While I did walk 2 miles with a client who is training for a race (better than nothing) I did not go to the gym, and I did not eat right.

I honestly get really down when my body is not performing to the extent I know it can, and I don't mean to rant on about my surgery, but I have never experienced anything like this before, and it is making me stop and think.

When I was 2 weeks out of surgery (JUST beginning to feel better), I was feeling guilty for not going to the gym, which is pretty absurd if you think about it, since I was physically un-able to go. So, I hit the gym at almost exactly 2 weeks post op, this was foolishness. Even though I only did a little bit of bicep work, and mostly legs I began feeling extremely weak, and nauseous like I was going to pass out. I learned my lesson, or so I had thought, to follow doctor's orders and take it easy. Well, since then, I have found myself in this funk of not wanting to go to the gym, or wanting to but just feeling SO bummed about my body not functioning like it normally does. But I think that for such a long time, I have taken my excellent health for granted. I've never broken a bone, only ever had so much as the flu as far as "ailments" go. My genetics are great, I respond to exercise very quickly, I am naturally athletic and a lean person. And now, since I've had an ELECTIVE surgery, I am getting all bummed out that I had to take it slow at the gym????`

Wait a second, there are PLENTY of other folks who have had unfortunate accidents, born with a disorder, or have genetics to fight every single day, and those people overcome the bad hand they were dealt and still make their health a priority and beat the odds. Yet here I am whining about my surgery keeping me from performing where I used to?!

How pathetic. I need to start being thankful for my good health, and do EVERYTHING I CAN to preserve that, and take advantage of it. I need to be grateful that when I fill out medical forms, I can skip over all the parts listing diseases, allergies, heart problems, and other ailments and not have to think twice about checking any of those. I am a strong, healthy, 20-something year old, and I need to get myself out of this stupid rut, and find a higher purpose in lifting weights and eating right, instead of superficial reasons.

I want to counteract muscle and bone loss, I want a strong heart, I want to be full of energy, and I want to live for a very very long time.
From this point on, I am making a promise to everyone who reads this, and most importantly myself, that I will start changing my attitude towards myself, and about health and well being, and start living my life and treating my body like it is the only thing I have, and to continually remind myself of my overall goal: to live my life to the fullest, and to shun anything that would keep my body from being it's very best. I want to preserve this health and youth that I have to the best of my ability, and to treat myself as I treat others: with respect, honoring my own promises to myself.

So I would like to start over, not with my diet, not with my workout routine, but with my attitude.

[Miranda]

Originally Posted by sblandrus

I have found myself in this funk of not wanting to go to the gym, or wanting to but just feeling SO bummed about my body not functioning like it normally does.since I've had an ELECTIVE surgery, I am getting all bummed out that I had to take it slow at the gym?

i'm not really sure why you're frustrated . . . you had surgery, you're not fully recovered yet and need to take it slow?

listen to your body. if it needs to recover and can't handle training, honour its wish. you are not a separate entity from your physical being.

Originally Posted by sblandrus

need to start being thankful for my good health, and do EVERYTHING I CAN to preserve that, and take advantage of it. I need to be grateful that when I fill out medical forms, I can skip over all the parts listing diseases, allergies, heart problems, and other ailments and not have to think twice about checking any of those. I am a strong, healthy, 20-something year old, and I need to get myself out of this stupid rut, and find a higher purpose in lifting weights and eating right, instead of superficial reasons.

a 'healthy' lifestyle is important to a degree. however, resistance training and diet are a means to achieve overall balance in your life, not an end.

that 'balance' means you won't always be able to perform 100% but it is part of who you are and you should be able to accept and embrace it. yeah, you might not agree . . . but it won't change the way things are

missing out for a few days (or weeks) is not going to cause cancer or heart disease; make your muscles fall off or turn you into a fat blob. the human body is much more resilient than that. you ARE young and strong. you ARE healthy. what 'more' do you want? you don't need to do 'everything', do 'enough'.

if you engineer your life so that it revolves around the 'right' foods and gym, you risk missing out on other things. not everything you experience in life contributes to your physical health but it doesn't mean it is not worth it.

Originally Posted by sblandrus

my overall goal: to live my life to the fullest

^^