Working Out - 12 Weeks In!

Week 9 started out strong. 

I'm still finding it preferable to wake up early and work out before anyone wakes up.

I'm definitely getting stronger, as the workouts I'm doing are getting easier and I'm able to get through the circuits without dying. 

I'm still sticking around the 118-119 range and managing to keep up with my eating habits. I think it's because I'm not trying to diet.

When I had friends over, I got a couple of subs and didn't feel bad eating a section. With chips and dip. 

In moderation, folks. 

Still trying not to drink my calories. 

9 Weeks In (as of Wednesday, August 19)

Definitely seeing a difference in the waistline. Probably will have the "baby pooch" forever. Ugh.

I also got new headphones! Steve actually surprised me with them! 

I had mentioned the other night when we were getting ready for bed that I needed some over the ear headphones. I have ear buds that I got when we went on our honeymoon (10 years ago!) and they work ok - I mean they are great for what they are, but obviously not as nice as on ear ones. 

Steve mentioned these headphones that he heard were good for working out. 

I said great and maybe for Christmas or something I could get them.

Then he SURPRISED ME! Yes, he's still got the romance in him and went and surprised me with them.

You can read more about the headphones here.

I also got new workout clothes! Nothing feels better than pulling on fresh, tight leggings all the way up to your boobs. I'm not into fancy workout clothes. Let's be real - the budget cannot support that. Or should not support that. I've had GREAT luck at Old Navy of all places. First time trying out one of their sports bra tops and I love it! I found leggings that I absolutely 100% love more than anything and when I found out they were $15 on sale online, I bought 3 more pairs, totaling 5. 

10 Weeks In (Wednesday, August 26)

The girls spent the night at my mom's last night, so I was excited to wake up this morning and crush a workout.

I'm officially 10 weeks into this journey and I feel super motivated still. 

I KNOW I'm not supposed to really care about the number on the scale, especially since I'm not trying to lose weight. 

BUT, residual effect is great, right? Eating healthier and cleaner and being more mindful or portions. NOT drinking my calories (except for my morning coffee - I have reduced to only ONE cup of coffee and you know, half cup of creamer - lol). 

My morning weight this morning was 116.5 pounds. I haven't seen this weight since I was breastfeeding Ava 4-5 years ago. 

WUT.

And on top of that, it's not just the weight. It's the definition I'm starting to see.

"They" (whoever they are) say that in 4 weeks, you'll start to see differences in yourself. In 8 weeks, close friends and family will see a difference and in 12 weeks other people will start to see the difference.

I can see more definition in my upper body for sure. Shoulders and arms. I also am seeing more definition in my quads, so all of this is super exciting for me. 

Just a different angle of the quads. I never knew all the different muscles that are in each body part. The stuff I'm learning by going on this journey is amazing. 

This is what I wore to my first meeting with my new work people (Wed. Aug. 26 - the 10 week mark). I can easily feel the difference in the jeans and how they fit. First of all, the waist part fits with no muffin-top. Second, my thighs and butt feel different. And I'm loving it! Also, these are jeans I couldn't fit into back in March. 

Monday, August 31

Goal = capped shoulders (these pics are taken about a week apart 8/31 and 9/8)

Definitely seeing more definition in the quads (and forgive my face lol)

11 Weeks In (Wednesday, September 2)

I am hanging around in the 116 - 118lb range at the moment. I'm starting to loosen up on my eating habits - for a couple of reasons. First, I want to be able to sustain my lifestyle of lifting weights and eating cleaner and overall healthier, but I don't want to do something so drastic that I know I'll give up and go back to my old ways. The thing I'm doing is really watching how much I put on my plate. I absolutely love rich, creamy comfort foods (like my homemade biscuits and sausage gravy), but I won't gorge myself like I used to. Instead of two helpings, I literally will only eat half a helping. 

I am also getting motivated enough to work out twice a day. 

And I'm also understanding the importance of rest day. 

Of recovery day. 

Letting the muscles rebuild after microscopic tears. 

I am also now consistently able to use my 10-pound weights for most of my exercises. I'm trying to find a way to get 15-pound weights, while keeping the 10 pounders. The weights I have are the kind that you add more weights to get to the higher weight. But that would mean that I'd have to disassemble them each time I needed to go down in weights. And because of stupid COVID, dumbbells are like a million dollars right now. So stupid. 

77 Days. 

That's how many days it's been since I started this journey back in June. 

I've missed 10 days.

Mostly in the beginning when we went on vacation and then a couple days here and there. That's it.

I'm adding in recovery days now to make sure I give my muscles the chances to rebuild. 

I also took some time this week to go through my old pants and see what I could get rid of.

There was a lot. 

This is just the pile I could probably sell or donate. Some still with tags! 

And I'm also SO embarrassed to put this up, but I REALLY want to document this journey and keep myself honest. I want to be able to come back to the blog in the future and see my before and after photos.  

[I've been working my shoulders and back and am working on that taper]

I went shopping with my mom and sister the other day. My sister is considered "medically fragile" due to her severe asthma so she hasn't been OUT in forever. So we went to Marshall's and Trader Joe's. 

You Guys.

I bought some shorts. 

Fitting rooms were closed for obvious reasons. 

They didn't have my size, but they have some stretch...so I figured I'd give them a try and worst-case scenario I'd have to return them. 

YOU GUYS. 

THEY FUCKING FIT. 

They might be a tiny bit snug, but because they have some stretch, it's not too bad. 

They are a size 3, people. 

[CHECK OUT THE NON-MUFFIN TOP] Side note: I've also never (and I mean NEVER) have owned denim shorts. Like, ever. EVERRRRRRR. They just have never been flattering on my body shape. Flubby belly, flat ass. Just no. Until now. I can't even believe it. I feel like my body composition is already changing. 

This is a common meal of mine these days. Seasoned chicken breast, sweet potatoes and avocado. 

Starting to see more definition in my arms. #gainz #nofilter

12 Weeks In (September 9, 2020)

YOU GUYS.

I MADE IT THREE FUCKING MONTHS?

No way!

I'm so proud of myself I can't even take it. 

I have never committed to anything like this before. 

And I just wanna keep going. I don't have any "end goal" in mind. Other than being stronger. And you know, that vacation next year. But seriously. I don't have an end date in mind. I am loving this. 

Skipping a day, even for a rest/recovery day is hard for me. I feel sluggish; I feel like I need to do something. So there's that. 

Also, official weigh in, today, 12 weeks in. Right after waking up, after going pee, before working out. 

My weight is: 114

I can't even believe it. I got on the scale 3 times to make sure! 

You guys. 

That's 12 pounds lost in 12 weeks. 

Eating cleaner and in moderation.

Weight training almost every day. 

Here's a pic right after my workout. It was 7:30am. I can absolutely see more definition in my arms/shoulders. 

Beyond weight, I can feel my body changing, if that makes sense. Like, in the body composition way I mention above. Clothes fit...differently. Better. They just feel different. I used to have the muffin top + saggy butt/thighs. Now I have the opposite - room in the waist and butt/legs filled in. A much better ratio if you ask me! LOL. I've never had the hour-glass figure, so let's see what I can do to make it appear as though I do! 

Let's keep it going and I'll be posting a SIXTEEN week workout update. 

Insanity I tell you.