Final Posting...For The Challenge At Least!

Well, I have to say that overall, I have never felt more better about reaching a BIG goal than I have felt before.  From the first day, I was nervous, the class was hard.  Everyone I spoke to about the class asked, "How is it, are you losing weight?" I answered, "It's hard! and I have not seen anything yet."  That was the first few weeks.  Well as time went on, I spoke with several coaches about eating habits and attended the cooking tutorials and open discussions with people.  I opened myself up to new people, exercises, and a new way of life.  It was liberating.  I learned that just opening yourself up to new experiences that are positive, positive things come your way. I have found a new group of people I like to call friends.  I feel very happy when I am working out over at the Underground.  I love the new things I am going to experience because of the challenge.  I am now about to start running!  I am not a runner!  I am thinking about giving up chicken, turkey, and becoming a quasi vegetarian (small steps).  I may run a Triathlon!  I'm going to start small with 5k's.
This journey has taught me that "You are stronger than you think, You can make anything you want to happen to your body psychically possible".  I love it. Its like, it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I was really getting the hang of the exercises from boot camp and then one day it clicked!  I was doing the planks and I could last for the full 30 seconds, maybe longer now!  I can do the high kicks and push ups!  I still have a long ways to go but I'm in it to win it!
I feel so blessed that I am now apart of a new community of people, that we have all bonded in some ways, that after 7 years of living in this area, I can now call this area of VA officially home.  ( Still love NJ, though!)

Last Week and New Beginnings

I have to say i will miss each and everyone!  But I know that we will see each other again and often. We must keep up with each other so we can be motivated once this challenge has come to a complete end.  I would have to say that I would love to be one of the coaches, but I have so much on my plate right now and coming up (wedding/marriage/school) I can't dedicate all my time into coaching at this moment.  I will though as soon as things lighten up.  You never know, things have a way of happening.  I have to say sometimes I feel a little scared because the challenge will be completed, and on the days where I am dead tired and don't feel like going to class, you don't have to.  So what happens?  You don't go and that is one day, then it just snowballs from there and a person can gain back a little or all of what was lost.  I'm scared of that.  What's great about this group and the class system is that even though we are not required to go everyday, we are still held accountable for our success.  ( I'm hard on myself, a gift and a curse, but I'll be there in class)
How can we be a good example for others when we are not holding ourselves accountable for our personal goals? Well I have my answer,  I will continue to workout as if I am still in the challenge.  This is a challenge for life and longevity.  I have come a long way from the first day.  I will delve into that later this week, but I will do my best to continue to blog.  Blogging I think, also helps us track our progress and keeping up with accountability to ourselves.  The idea and the freedom we have to exercise,  have an outlet to workout and great coaches in Maia, Ashley, David, Patricia and others is truly a blessing!  I know I will get back to the old Courtney!

Is It Really Almost Over?!

I have to say that I will feel a void in my heart because our "mandatory" contractually bond sessions are almost over!  I have really enjoyed meeting so many different people.  I know that I will see most of everyone around, but it will not be the same.  I move for a 90 day challenge! :)

At the beginning, I remember feeling like I can not do this, I am crazy for even joining this challenge.  I knew that I had a goal and I had to finish the goal, there for I was going to finish this challenge.  Well, we are almost there!  I learned through this experience that nutrition and exercising is a life long journey. There will always be something that will be new and its like educating yourself. You will always learn something new.  I want to try new things such as running, I am not a runner!  But i will learn to become one.  I know its never to late. I want to do the Warrior dash, The Zombie run thing. I plan on doing that next year!  I would have never learned about the challenges and run if it were not for BTC!  I feel so renewed!  This weekend I was handicapped do to a medical issue, too personal to talk about.  Let me just say, I was in  A LOT or pain. Working out this weekend would have made it worse.  I was at home and craving a pizza and fries.  well, I did not eat those things.  I love the smell, but I just let pass me by. Now I understand why people take pictures of food, they wish they could eat! At first i thought that was stupid, but now I get it! I find myself just looking at pics of food I can't eat for now.  But you know what? That food, junk food is not going anywhere!  It will always be there. I don't have to eat it! I think to myself about all of the hard work I put into this challenge and for myself, why would I want to throw away all of the hard work for a piece of food?  I am in control of me.  My body will transform back to where it was, and I will start to look like "me" again.  So, with that being said, my fellow Bootcampers, Lets go hard this week!

Two weeks Left- My had the time flown by!

This week i find myself at a hurdle.  My new job this week and for when they don't need me anymore is VERY physical!  I am consistently bending and lifting children.  Some are light but the other is not so much.  So, by the time I get home in the afternoon, I am tired.  More so than ever.  I have not let it stop me, however I am realizing that I may have to do more modified positions because of prior injuries and the muscles I use for work.  My body hurts.   So, I have to modify my workouts before BTC because I am very active at work.  Now I am going to be honest, one thing I have noticed since the beginning of BTC is the Number of people who now have to wear the knee braces.  That is something that is not common and it's directly because of the floors.  They are too hard.  Its one thing for one person but almost everyone has the same injury!  Coincidence, I think not.  What I am doing is looking for a plyo mat that will reduce the shock because I don't want to have a knee replacement in 10 years. I will continue with this journey after the program is complete because I have long term goals I want to meet,  I like trying new things and putting my body to the test (safely).  We are all getting older, its now about preservation of your bones and skin.  I will continue to be active but I will be safe about it.  We all need too, we only get one life, one body, lets preserve it!

A New Decade!

So, this will be my last post as a twenty something year old....I can say, I will not miss the twenties (except for college years)!!! Today was a great day for me, had a light Brunch and used it as my cheat meal.  I had some home fries. I went shopping and I can fit into the regular clothes section now!!!  I am actually in between sizes now and while that is frustrating because its a little harder to find clothes that fit, I am happy that I will be turning the next decade with a body that is forming into what I was used too and even better!  This journey i have learned how to eat better, different options for snacks, and different exercise options.  I am truly grateful that I have met so many positive and great people.  This experience/challenge will be missed because i know that many of us may not be able to commit the next few months to going to BTC everyday and I will miss seeing everyone! I am grateful that Maia allowed me to join the challenge and that I have learned a lot about myself through this journey.  We only have a few weeks left and I am going to make it count!  I plan to lose the rest of the two inches that I want to complete the original goal! This week I will work harder than ever ( have new shoes) and really pay attention to my portions.  I hope who ever reads this will be inspired to be the best they can be in whatever they do this week!

Week 6

Well,  Last week was a hard week for me,  heard very bad news and just stress really caught up to me last week. Sure, I was happy with the weight loss, but I was not happy about the inches count.  last weekend i was under the weather and I needed to let my bones rest.  This week, I will get in more cardio before btc, hopefully do a mini workout with Maia, do the kzx/btc combo class Saturday and mimi later, while going Salsa dancing sat. night to celebrate my birthday Monday! Sorry this blog is not the most motivational, but next week, my blog will be better. That's all for now.

Week 5! Can U Believe It!

So, today (Sunday) I went to the cooking class!  It lets me know that there are so many things that we need to know!  My favorite was the Kale Chips!  It was so good! It kind of gives you that feeling like you're eating chips, but it's not.  Shout outs to Dori! Her dish! Everyone tried a little then after one bit, everyone was trying to brag a small handful.  Asuka made Salmon and confirmed by belief in Pesto!  Pesto makes everything taste good! The true giveaway for the day was David's dishes, such they were not made by him, but it is a reality that most people do daily.  Buy a made chicken and heat up some vegi's. It's easy and healthy! One thing I learned from buying made chicken from the store (esp. Harris Teeter) you may have to put the chicken in the oven to cook it a little more.  Some stores will sell a ready made chicken for you bout you have to check and make sure it is fully done te way you likebaked chicken.  Some stores will give you the chicken, make sure its fully cooked, according to done temperatures( 160-180  degrees I think) but according to your preference, you have to make sure that it is cooked all the way.  Anyway, I did not have a chance to complete on goal from last week because of time.  But, I will this week.  Do a workout  with Maia before class.  I hope that I will lose some lbs for weigh in this week. Other than that, I feel stronger, more confident and just a better person!  Sure I may not scream in class and have a smiley face when we are working hard and out, but best believe I am happy on the inside for sticking to the challenge!  So for the few that may read this blog and see me in class, know that I am happy and I am just trying to catch my breath! :)  I really like this and the people involved!  Its so positive...

Goals for this week...
Do all push ups properly!  (My knees can't take it!)
Go to a spin(2nd love next to dancing) class before bootcamp.
Follow a diet plan giving from a bootcamp coach, never really had one since day one.  I was just staying in the calorie range, it was not really doing anything for me, I will miss the carbs.

Have a great week folks!     

Week Four!! Oh yeah!

So last week I did a 12 minute quick workout with Maia and Cindy and that has made my arms so sore!!! Especially my forearms!  Anyways....I do feel great and a lot stronger.  I'm starting to see some changes in my legs and arms.  Some places that were soft are getting firm and I'm happy for that! I may even ask Maia if we can do another 12 minute workout before bootcamp this week.  After next week, I will ask for 2 workouts and by the end of the challenge, hopefully I will do a workout before each class.  I have been doing Zumba (Kazaxe) before each bootcamp class this week, so hopefully by the next weigh in, I will see some big changes on the scale!  My eating is getting better!  Still sticking to 1400cal a day!  Its getting easier, in fact I notice on weekends when we are allowed to have one cheat meal, my stomach tends to get upset. I heard its because our stomachs are shrinking and we can't take all of the same amount of food that were used too.  I just hope that I will see some changes on the scale. 
My goals for this week:

1. Ask and Join Maia for 1 workout before bootcamp class.
2. Continue to improve on my push ups and do more squats.
3. Push myself harder even though sometimes I feel like giving up in Bootcamp class!

Week Three...Getting Stronger

Well, I have to say that last week was better.  I was so proud of myself because I was able to actually do 5 proper push ups, however it was the modified ones!  But I did it!!  Thursday's class was hard but I have come into more realization of how much I miss taking dance classes and just dancing! I love it!  When I was smaller, that was something that I did that kept the weight off, without realizing that that was what I was doing.  I know that this week I will be better at stamina and bootcamp!  I am getting stronger!!  I have to keep telling myself that throughout the workouts at boot camp.  My goal for this week is to get in more cardio before bootcamp.  I will be a sweaty mess, but it's sweat for the greater good.  Monday I will do Kazaxe before bootcamp.  I will have an hour to rest so I should be okay.  Tuesday thru Friday I will fit my spin class in either before BC or after.  By Thursday, I want to do at least five push ups the proper way, not modified in all push up positions.
For nutrition, I will continue with eating between 1400-1700 per day.  Its getting easier.  I can't front, sometimes I miss the pizza, but I'm not craving for cheese like I used to when I make a sandwich.  I am under the weather and I know that if I had some dairy, I would not be in a good position right now because of the mucus. So, no dairy is good! Still haven't found that book yet (see last week's post).  I will continue to search for it.  People have noticed my face has changed so I hope that will reflect on the scale.  I am a little nervous about it because, I will workout before the weigh-in.  When you weigh yourself after you workout, you tend to be a little heavier then when you started because you are retaining water.  I will talk to Maia about it. Even if you don't workout before you weigh in, b/c its at 6:30pm, you have to think about what you ate for the day and how that may effect the scale.  I have had more success when I weigh in on an empty stomach, usually in the morning.  I'll see tomorrow.  But other than that I feel good, I'm starting to have more energy again, and I fell happier in general!

Week Two!!

I have to say that week two has begun I do feel a little difference in my legs and arms!  I am slowly beginning to not really crave the dairy anymore.  Plus my sister in law said that she stopped eating dairy for a month one time and she noticed a difference in her mucus level, muscle definition and her skin cleared as well.  I also heard, (have to find the book) about how we as humans should not eat dairy. Anyway, that is another subject.  I have learned that I need to eat a little more clean.  Stay away from "healthy" snacks, the kind that are supposed to be healthy.  I have noticed that some of my clothes are fitting me differently.  I have been thinking about how to control hunger.  I understand that its easy to eat fruit for a snack, but if you are controlling portions, what do you do if you are still hungry? I think that is the major issue for most dieters.  I guess eventually, the hunger pains just go away or you just get used to it. But what kind of way is that to live?  I know that I need to lose wait for health and other reasons and I know other people are feeling great and all that, however for those who have to lose some real weight, this is a struggle.  Not because of the exercise, but because of the nutrition and portion control.  On another note, I will surpass this, but it will be hard.  That is why I'm happy to have accountability!  I got this!  Week 2 here we come!
 This week:
1. Get in at least a 30 min of cardio before bootcamp.
2. Eat more veggies as a snack
3. Research more recipes for healthier and heartier salads and meals.

I Feel Good!

What a week! Many challenges in Bootcamp this week, but everyday I do feel myself getting stronger! So that is all hat really counts!  All I have to say is that it hurts so bad, but it feels so good!  Have a restful weekend!

Why Am I Doing This???

Well to piggy back off of the thought of the day, Why am I doing this?  I am doing this because ever since i moved out to the Washington DC area, I have been in a funk of homesickness.  Once a person graduates from college, its pretty hard to make new friends.  In this area, so many people move in for a year and leave the next year its pretty hard to really have a group of people around you who may have some of the same interests as you and if you do find acquaintances, its usually from work and we all don't want to talk about work on our days off!! So for me that has been difficult. I have gained so much weight that when I went to my high school reunion a year ago, people did not recognize me! It was sad.  Long sad story short, I tried many diets and programs lost some weight but it all came back.  I have a wedding in June and some health issues that I am too young to have and now is the time to change it!  I see that many coaches and people are very supportive of each other and this program seemed like a positive place to make the change happen for me.  One thing I do have to say is that I believe that if we can get the nutrition part down, then we will be able to keep our fitness goal in tact.  I believe that its 80% nutrition 20% exercise.  Think about it, ask someone whom you know that it older than middle age or middle age and they "still look good".  If you notice, they exercise and they keep a very close eye on what they are putting into their mouths.   So to end this blog today, I hope people read it, I am really starting to like the whole blogging thing and i hope that people will help each other in keeping this their goals.  I really like to see that people in this test group are positive because you never know what a person in the group is going through, it seems like many of us are going through trying times at this moment.  So a little hand clap ( high five), smile, or words of encouragement may do wonders for a single person!  Lets keep the positivity alive!!
My action Plan:

1. Eat between 1400-1700 cal. Daily
2. Stay away from dairy and wine
3. lose at least 3 inches in the waist and hips.

Day Three

Hi guys!
Last nights class was hard, but I know that with each day I will be getting better! Everyday we all get stronger and stronger, I know by at least week three, I will have more strength and be ready to move up in bands!  I am also looking in cook books to help me come up with some variety in salads and foods.  I will be bored very quickly if I eat the same things each day.  Some choices of good salads that sound filling.  Warm Red lentil salad minus the Goat chesse.  During this process, I'm avoiding dairy.  Lentil and Tuna salad and asparagus and tomato salad! Yummy! Will try these out the rest of the week.

Day Two- Official Entry

Ok, so I think I am now feeling some soreness in my hams and quads.  I sure hope I can buy a seperate shakeology tonight!  If not, then I will have some peanuts for protein and tea.  Then I will fall blistfully asleep! Can't wait till I sleep tonight!   lol!   Can't wait till working out, I get more energy! ( spelling is off but once I navigate around this program I will be able to fix the spellings better) I gotta go!

Day One and Two OF Bootcamp

Day one was good and it kicked my you know what!!  I will get better!  I can feel it!  I do miss my cheese!