Are You Up For A Challenge?

Are you up for a challenge?  Typically, I am not.  But, I am going to give it a try, starting Monday.  Monday as in, September 25, 2017.  Bah!  I’m nervous.  Scared and flat freaked out.  My Trainer is challenging me.  Against him.  Body Fat only.  Ewww.  Right?  But at least I don’t have to get on a scale.  Right?  I told my husband about it.  I asked him if he would cook for me.  He said, of course.  The challenge is 6 weeks.  Six weeks without coffee.  Can I really do THAT??!! No dairy.  I don’t drink much milk, but really?  No dairy?  I guess there will be no ice cream.  Dang…   I have unlimited workouts.  I wonder how many I will do.  I kick box Monday – Friday at 5am.  I also work out 2 to 3 more times during the week, at lunch, with my co-worker.  She keeps me sane and is a GREAT partner.   I would do it Saturday and Sunday to, but the gym is closed.  I think I am ready mentally, but 6 weeks?  Yikes.  –I will keep you posted…

It’s the Friday before the Challenge.  2.5 more days .  No sugar, no coffee, nothing processed, blah, blah, blah.  So what did I do?  I bought pizza for my office.  I’m not sure if I bought it just because or if it was something nice for what they have to encounter for the next 6 weeks.  Needless to say, the pizza was great.  On ward and up ward.

I’m not going to lie– this was my last H-O-O-R-A-H, from last night.  I even ate it late, too.  It actually made me happy.

So, I’m on day three.  Day three.  Day one was easy, day two was horrible and three is fine.  Day two I did not eat any protein.  Lesson learned.  Very sluggish and hungry.  I feel good.  Work outs are going great.

Okay, how was week one?  Can I tell you I’m super glad its over?  I did not cheat.  At all.  I feel good.  But I was wiped out.  Super sleepy.  But my calorie intake was limited.  It was weird eating at home all week.  We are always on the fly and eat out a lot.  It was nice to eat at home–and it was so much better for me!!  Lesson learned.  I didn’t do any double workouts last week.  I couldn’t.  To wiped out.  I’m back on the program today.  I actually wasn’t going to, but as I was leaving today my Trainer says, “See you at lunch…?”  Ugg, REALLY??  I’ll be there at lunch.  The best thing about week one?  I lost 10 pounds.  10 pounds–now does that mean I wont lose anymore?  That seems like a lot.  I am still super committed.  As I came to work today, my co-worker gave me this perfect, pretty apple.  It made my day.

And, I’m not going to lie, it was FABULOUS!  Fresh, out of his orchard. Yum!

Week two has been much better!  I seem like I am back to my “normal” self.  Whatever that is.  My eating is going just fine.  Body is getting used to eating well.  I’m not as sleepy, etc.  I guess the thing I find the most interesting, is how your body feels when you do not eat anything processed.  Let’s face it–anything fast and easy, is what works the best, for most of us.  Having to actually make lunch and dinner E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y has been new.  I’m not going to say it has been a challenge, but it is new.  Time consuming.  Calvin has now decided after like 5 years he wants a home-packed lunch, too.  I do appreciate lunch and dinner much more.   It’s also funny how I now come home and immediately fix dinner.  I don’t want to wait around because I don’t want to eat late either.  It’s been fun doing this stuff.  We all have been taught this for years, but putting it together…??  I’m doing it and learning as I go.

I just started week 3.  Not bad.  The whole eating thing has become “normal”.  I don’t eat much anymore.  My body is not craving anything.  Food is just now something that I have to eat when I’m hungry.  I did weigh myself today.  I lost 1 pound.   I mean for eating nothing but cardboard it feels like I should have lost 15 pounds!  When I went in to the gym this morning I promptly told my Trainer that I had only lost a pound. His

response?  Why does it matter, you are not on a weight loss program.  Needless to say the work out was awesome and my head is in the game, and I am no longer weighing myself.  I will wait until I am done.  I feel really good and strong.

I have a Protein shake every other day-ish.  My favorite brand is this one -> Protein Milkshake. Do you see that flavor?  Yes, it is “Ice Cream Cake“.  Not only is it divine tasting, it is so, super creamy.  It’s like a real milkshake.  I also love “Cake Batter“. You need to go check them out on the web: http://www.proteinmilkshakebar.com

The one thing that I have learned on this Challenge is how important breakfast is.  I literally get up, work out, shower and eat oatmeal.  I have never been a breakfast person.  I mean, I like going out to breakfast and eating biscuits and gravy with a side of toast, but really…  Typically I go to work and wait until I am hungry and eat.  Yogurt, apple, banana, whatever.  Cereal.  Doughnuts; you name it.  Oatmeal has been my saving grace.  It instantly fills me up and pretty much sets me up for the day.  I make it with water-no milk and put a dab of brown sugar in it.  I’m pretty sure that is a mental thing.  Anyway, this is my new found fave.

So, most of you know I am an EARLY BIRD.  I like early.  And by that I mean, I go to bed EARLY too…  Anyway, Monday-Friday, I get up at 4:15, get ready for the gym and I am out the door.  Workout by 5am.  It took me awhile to get here.  I’ve never worked out that early before-EVER.  Mentally, I always wanted to, physically, I could not get out of bed.  My Boss, who works out at 5am a couple of days a week told me, “Just do it.  Give yourself 2 weeks. You will never go back.”  I did it and will never go back.  If I could, I would go Saturday and Sunday, too.  When I started at 5, I knew NO ONE.  I was freaked out. Scared, I guess.  The week I committed, my Trainer was going to be gone the whole week due to a vacation.  Now I really knew no one.  However, Marcie, took me under her wing and made it happen for me.  She showed me how to do things I had never done before and made me feel welcome.  She is maybe a few years older than me and is TOUGH.  Strong.  She is one that counts perfectly, does everything exactly like it is supposed to be.  I look up to her.  I love her dedication.   She’s the one on the left.  This is the 5am crew.  All of us are here

consistently.  5 am. is “our” time.  We get shit done.  Period.  We all like 5 am.  We are all Friends and help each other out.  When one of us is down, this troop brings you up.  I love these Peeps!  Can you not tell how much of a morning person Heath is?  He not only loves  mornings, he also LOVES having his picture taken.  **Heath is our Trainer (Owner) @ Chief Fitness; check him out at http://www.chieffitness30.com .  He truly has a passion for Kick-Boxing.

Most ask, “How did YOU get into kickboxing?”  It was actually something I had never thought about until a friend of mine at church had told me she was very interested in doing a self-defense class.  Hmmm, I thought…?  That might be fun.  It was a four day class that was so much fun.  Addy Hernandez from Ki Fighting Concepts  (www.kifightingconcepts.com), taught the class.  She is super fun and a total bad-ass.  She really opened my eyes to being strong.  I was then turned to start taking kick-boxing classes.  Steph Hersh taught them (at Ki Fighting) and she taught me what being strong means.  She’s a total bad-ass, too!  I met great people (Kathy Beck…) who I will be friends with for a long time.  Very thankful for what changed me.  I now kick-box every.single.day. at 5am. and then I try to do it a couple times a week, either at lunch or after work with my co-worker.  It makes me happy and accountable.  I really depend on my work-out crew.  We are all dedicated.

I’ve just started week 5.  WEEK 5!!  I can’t believe it.  I can’t believe I have not cheated–yet!  I’ve lost 18 pounds and feel GREAT!  I’m finally not “craving” food.  Yes, food-in general!  I seriously think about food when I am hungry.  That is good.  I still have not had coffee and that is the only thing that I know I will be having when this Challenge is over.  I miss my coffee “time”.  I’m sure coffee misses me, too!

So, just a reference–I have not been able to do a lot of walking lately due to my hurt foot.  As you may or may not know, my left ankle has been broken twice.  It ALWAYS hurts!  (**Thank You Heath for always giving me “other” options, instead of jumping!)  Due to this, I have been unable to do any “extra” walking, treadmill, etc.  I FINALLY went to the Foot Dr., who then made me go get a new orthotic.  I found out yesterday, as I used it for the first time, how strong I have gotten.  I got on the Tread and fast-walked a couple of miles.  Apple Music + the Tread is not such a bad thing.  It was actually pretty cool.  I’m understanding what it’s like to be strong.  Great feeling!

Okay, so going into week 6 was tough for me.  For the first three days, (of the 6th week) I was wanting to cheat.  I really don’t know why.  After the third day, it was fine.  I’m not sure what that was about.  The last weekend of the Challenge I was in Seattle — with my Best Friend — for the Garth Brooks Concert.  I was super scared I would cheat.  We ate glorious food, but I didn’t give in.  Unless, you consider the Coors Light that I drank at the concert.  I mean, who can say no to a beer at Garth?  I mean, really!  I never had a cheat meal.  I am probably the most proud of that.

As the Challenge is now over, I still have not gone crazy.  The Monday of my weigh in my co-worker was determined to make me my favorite dessert.  Her Pumpkin Roll-Up.  It is divine.  So I did have a piece of that, along with 1/2 of a Dutch Bros. Freeze and a slice of Tillamook Cheese.  It was all so good, however, what was weird and almost uncomfortable, was that I felt so full the rest of the day.  It had been a while since I felt like that.  Needless to say, I did not have dinner.

For the first time in my life I was mentally ready for this Challenge.  The hard part now, is not being so mental, if you will.  I am constantly asking myself–what will that do to my body if I eat that?  I’m not sure that is just something I will do from now on?  Will this go away?  Not sure.  It is a good tool, though.  I still have not had any bread and that is probably the one thing I am still not wanting.  The thought seems so filling…  In a not so good way.

You want to know what I missed the most??  C-O-F-F-E-E!!  You ask — Could you not drink coffee?  Yes, I could.  Black.  I don’t drink Black coffee.  I don’t like it.  So, why would I start drinking Black?  I put a little creamer in my coffee.  That’s how I like it.  This was my first Cup-O-Joe…

Now that this has come to an end, why is it that I am thinking about the next Challenge?  The old Andrea would never think of that.  Here is to the next adventure!  Cheers!

Results You Ask?

In six weeks I lost 21.6 Pounds and 4.97% Body Fat.  I came in 2nd place and did beat my Trainer.

Thanks Heath For All Of Your Help.  You Are So Appreciated.