Chapter 5: New Year Resolutions, 7lbs down, Focus T25-Beta, lost INCHES?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! 

Welcome 2015...where New Year Resolutions are made!!!

I decided  to update since it has been a while since my last post in this section of my blog (December 3rd wow...full month). So what's my progress?!!!

So Far I've LOST 7LBS (OMG!!!).

I've lost a total of 9" OVERALL or 1.5" each area (ex. waist, hips etc)

Though for some people, that may be nothing but for me, seeing that number on the scale after not seeing it for AWHILE (or more like seeing the number increase -_-) its a good accomplishment! I'm trying to lose about 60-80lbs so 7lbs is indeed progress. It also shows that what I'm doing currently  is working!

How Have I Lost Weight So Far?

1. Diet or Lifestyle:

Brown Rice, Mixed Vegetables, Egg with Black Pepper/Salt and Roasted Chicken

• So I personally HATE diets. I think diets are pretty useless since your not going to be on a diet forever right? I want to make this a LIFESTYLE change. Ive noticed some people going on diets where they eat REALLY healthy and yes, the weight drops fast which of course I would love to happen to me too. However, once u end this diet and go back to the OLD food you use to eat, sadly that weight will ALL return and more.
• Therefore, Ive been trying my best to have more healthier meal choices. I still personally struggle when I go outside with friends (which I'll talk about later) but when I'm home, I have improved in eating much better food.  
• Another thing is WATER. I drink LOTS of water!!!! About 10-12 glasses or MORE! Lowest I drink is about 7-9 (thats ONLY if I go outside and dont bring a water bottle). 
• TRACK WHAT YOU EAT!!!!
• I never liked tracking my food online or on my phone since I'll either forget or it just doesn't happen! Now I track everything I eat, drink and my workouts in a book! I started on Dec.8th and I've kept using it (like a weight loss bible now)! I write down everything I do and really helps on those days where I'm starving and dont know why?

2. Workouts/Routine?

Example of what I aim for at the Gym

•  Some people have been asking me what I do at the gym or how have I been losing weight? I go to GoodLife Fitness about 2-4 times a week currently as well as do Focus T25. 
• GoodLife Fitness Gym
• I go to Goodlife normally on Mondays, Tuesdays, and the other 2 days are pretty random. It all depends on how I feel and if  I think I need to do another workout. I normally focus on Cardio especially Treadmill. I now started focusing on weights to get toned and lose fat/replace it with muscle 
• ZUMBA (Mondays):  
• I LOVE ZUMBA! People who say Zumba doesn't burn calories is LYING or dont know what they're talking about!!!!! I dont even reach the best of my ability (still learning) with the moves/steps and I burn on average 450-500 calories within the hour. The best part is, I'M HAVING FUN! I burn more when I go on stage to dance in front of the class since I work harder (everyone watching you >.<). Class #4 is on Monday. 
• Focus T25: 
• I started with Beta Phase of T25 because I was bored with Alpha. I have tried alpha 3 times (completed it once fully) and was just bored since I knew the moves already!. However Beta is TOTALLY DIFFERENT!! Now THIS is what you call a workout! Its so much more intense, fast pace and all those moves you learned in Alpha MAKE SENSE! With this/combined with my gym workouts have contributed to my weight loss. It in-cooperates weights and cardio so I get some weight training within the week. Today I finished Day 17. Did I mention its only 25 MINUTES >:D
• BTW I currently have ONLY been doing the modified version of all the videos. Therefore, Next month I will be REDOING Beta Phase but with little to NO modifications. 

• How many Days I workout on average: 
• With Home workouts and Gym workouts combined I work out probably 5-6 days a week. In December, I worked out 22/31 days of the month (which was due to the holidays and I was kinda lazy =D)

3. Do I have Any Goals I Want to Achieve?

• OF COURSE!!!! Everyone always has new goals to achieve when its the New Year. However, I have stopped with the whole New Year = New Me Nonsense. Compared to other years, I have been working out before the new year and am expecting to continue working out and trying to make it a habit even a lifestyle!
• I wrote down a list of rewards I will treat myself too once I lose a # of lbs. Though personally, I HATE THE SCALE with a Passion due to a number of reasons but I will SADLY use it for a while? I will probably use it till I reach 10lbs lost and than will check either monthly or whenever I feel like :D! One main reason for me is that due to my body type. I weigh ALOT heavier on the scale and when I lose weight (inches) it seems the scale increases -_-. So I will not be dependent on it. Also, A NUMBER DOES NOT DEFINE YOU!!!! 

• I have some plans in August with my best friend and REALLY want to look Goood like SEXYYYYY GOOD for it. Therefore, my currently goal is to lose enough weight by August 2015. Therefore I have about 8 months!!!

That is what I've been doing so far. When I went to Zumba last week, my friend told me I looked like I lost weight. I think it may be cause I was wearing black pants but I do feel I have lost a little bit on my thighs. Regardless, I'm going to keep pushing. I will make another update probably by the end of the month since I will be done Beta Phase of Focus T25.

I took new before pictures when I was at the gym last week with my friend so I will post an update in a month or two when I see better progress or results.

The remaining of my goals will be kept to myself for now. I have removed many people from my Facebook since I didn't want many people knowing my plans or personal life. Now the people remaining are people I talk to daily or inspire me. I also becoming a "fitness hermit" and reducing my hangouts since that of course will lead to junk food and I want to stay on course this year!!!!

Another way to remind myself of my results and goals are STICKY NOTES! Love putting them all over my computer, so whenever I come on to play videogames etc its another reminder to get off my ass and workout =3

Measurements, Goal Sizes, Due dates etc

Thanks for Reading and hoped this helps some of you achieve your goals!!! Be Strong!! <3 ~

Till Next Time...

Yumoyori <3~

Chapter 3: 2lbs LOST, Focus T25 Alpha, Shaun T Crazy

Today marks Week 2, Day 4 of Focus T25 (W2D4) and I've lost 2lbs so far!

2lbs isn't ALOT, I have to admit (could honestly just be water weight), but I think its good progress. Im not to focused on my weight atm because it wont be AS accurate as it could be for many reasons.

I do night shifts 4-5 times per week, so its almost impossible for me to weight myself the same time since the days I have night shift, I have to switch my whole schedule opposite (day time=sleeping, night time= food, workout etc). I clearly understand that this CAN hinder my weight loss just a bit since I'm confusing my body, especially on my days off when I go back to my Day-Food/workout and Nights- Sleeping pattern. Regardless,  I wont let it hinder me at this point. As stated, Im not AS concerned with my weight, my focus is on how my measurements or the feel of my clothes so I'll weight myself in December 1st since I start the gym that day.

I got myself the Polar FT4 Heart Monitor Watch (well do a review later). I realized I haven't been pushing myself to the best of my body capabilities. In my double workout when I got my watch, I did an about an hour workout and ONLY burned about 180/workout. Doing a double workout, and adding squats/dumb bell lifts with 5lb weights, I burned 405 calories. This is pretty low for me. When I use to do Insanity, where I lost 33lbs, I would burn about 500-650 within 1 hour of workouts. With Cardio portion of T25, many individuals usually reach 200+ but for me to only reach 180, was kinda disappointed.

So, I analyzed what I was currently doing. With T25 there is the main workout moves and there is a modified version. Jumps are still pretty hard for me due to my weight and such (which honestly sometimes I use that as an excuse) so I usually do the modified moves for all these workouts for the first week of T25. However, regardless of doing modified you can still be sweating buckets which only proves that the real thing will get your body burning!

Today, was Cardio and I had just woken up from my 12+ hour sleep =3= (I have a night shift so...). When I pressed play, I decided, lets push myself today. Instead of just the modified moves, I alternated between the two. I would start with the normal move OR modification, after 15 seconds, switch (if I did the normal move, I would switch to modification IF I cant continue). So some jumps include the basic jumping jacks/rope, squat jumps, high knees, lung progression etc. By 15 minutes in, I was already sweating and feeling it in my legs. However, I continued forward and by the time I was done BAM 200 calories! After the 3 minute cool down, 100 squats and 20 dumb bell raises with 5lbs I was at 265 calories burned! Much better improvement than before.

Now that my "experiment" has been successful (I survived the workout), I'm gonna push myself harder for the remaining 3 weeks of Alpha. I want results! Thats my primary goal. I'm in a Focus T25 Facebook group where many people post their results etc, and T25 CAN get me to where I wanna be. Alpha round is literally just a stepping stone to the REAL thing.

I reviewed Beta, just a little peak to the workouts I'm going to be doing the middle of next month and WOW. Talk about crazy/intense. Thankfully,  there is also a modification version as well. So once Alpha is over with, I'll be performing Beta twice (1st round modification/2nd round hard core). By than, with the addition of my gym workouts with my best friend/zumba classes, I'll determine IF I will redo both Alpha and Beta again OR progress to Gamma (CRAZY INTENSE ROUND! Zero modification). I personally love Shaun T workouts, especially this one since its all centred on getting you results within a good time limit that ANYONE can incorporate in their schedule.  Im pretty busy person myself but 25 minutes....I can do that.

That's what has been going on with me! I'll update on Dec.1st or 2nd after my first gym workout at Goodlife Fitness with my best friend and any changes in my weight/measurements. Still been eating as healthy as I can (I need to go shopping, ran out of salad) with the occasional hangouts. Trying to choose healthier options when I go out with friends, so well see how this week goes (have 3 hangouts -__-).

Till Next Time...

Yumoyori <3~

Chapter 2: Week 1, Food Prep, Equipment, Workout Programs?

So yesterday, I decided that I would hop back on the workout wagon today (Sunday, Nov.9). When I went out, I bought 5lb weights :D (was so heavy carrying around the mall). I moved my Yoga mat in view and took my worse enemy, "The Scale" out from the storage room and put it in my mom room (the washroom has carpet so cant really put it there).

Women Size 8(left), 10 (center), 12 (right)

I weighed myself and I have ALOT to lose! My Goal Weight is 180lbs. I'm going to go more by the size of my pants most of the time since it is easier to determine how I want to look compared to the scale. Seeing as I'm +230 and still the same size as 2 years ago when I lost weight, hopefully I will be a much smaller size at 180lbs.
My goal pant size is 8-10. I think that's a good size for my body type and curves. I wouldn't want to go any lower than 6, so my range is 6-10 pant size atm. In the image on the left, I wouldn't mind to be a 10 or even a 12 :D. So currently I'm a size 16-18 in pants, and XL in the top area (thanks to my chest). So my goal is to be a size 8-10, and a M-L in chest/top area (lose about 2-4 pant sizes)

My current measurements are:

                                                    Bust: 44                    Thighs: 34.5 (L), 34(R)

                                                    Waist: 38                  Arms: 15.5 (L), 15.5 (R)

                                                    Hips: 56                    Calves: 21.5 (L), 21 (R)

My Calorie intake range with my activity at "lightly active" (may increase it to moderate now that I will be working out) will be between 1750-1950. I'm going to try and eat every 2-3 hours, and eat 3-4 main meals daily. Also IF I do go out with friends, I'll make healthier choices such as salads, noodles, etc compared to my normal chicken wings, junk food decisions. Also will cut down on the bubble tea.

I have 5 MONTH to lose 20-30lbs. Thats my first goal. I want to reach my 60lbs weight loss by my birthday in September (also going on vacation probably in August). So that give me at least 9-10 months. 

Workout Plan?

I have done many workout plans, however ever since finishing insanity, I haven't been able to finish a WHOLE program. So this time around, instead of losing motivation, I'm going to mix the workouts. 

Focus T25: 

This is going to be one of my PRIMARY workout. I personally like T25 cause its 25 minutes, there is a modifier (Tania) and you will get results regardless of going hardcore or doing modification. Even with modification, I will be dripping in sweat!!! So, I will stick with this and hopefully finish ALL of Alpha round before Beta. 

Jillian Michael's Workouts:
Now this workout program is a first for me. I will try to do this in conjunction of T25, or on alternating days of T25 (will make a schedule of my workout plan). My friend just started and has already lost an inch off her waist. It looks pretty cool and various workouts (also has a modifier) so I will attempt it :D

I'm thinking whether to purchase a copy with my Polar watch (on amazon, if I buy my polar watch which is $100, I get one of these DVD for 6 bucks or something. Also Free shipping). Still debating since I don't know much about this program. Ive heard good results from fitness pal so I'll look at the demo videos on Youtube and see if its worth the purchase.

Chalene Extreme: 

I have done this workout program before. I never really got to put my full 100% into this workout. I had a pair of weights but they were 10lbs with a metal bar and was indeed WAY to heavy for me. I really struggled doing the workouts, though I could feel the burn. Now that I've bought my 5lbs dumb bells, I actually have a good chance to do this workout in conjunction with the above. The normal schedule is usually 3 days a week so it can be implemented.

Zumba: 
I will be joining Goodlife Fitness next month (have to pay for my membership this month if I want to start next month) and they have Zumba classes!!! Ive done Zumba once (before my CRNE exam with my friend) and it was SO much fun. Talk about sweat!!! One hour and your drenched! Its also fun depending on the instructor and with music thats really in and popular. I wanna see what Goodlife classes has to offer and since its included in my membership, why not?

I don't need much equipment besides from my weights and yoga mat. Which makes it a lot easier compared to programs like P90x where you need ALOT more items which indeed cost money.

Overall, that's my general plan. I still need to work on a solid schedule to follow and my overall diet plan. I did do some Food Prep today, took about 2 hours, before eating dinner and taking a nap before my night shift, so I have enough food for about a week or 2, probably have to make more vegetables though since I want to eat more greens. Costco made my shopping a lot easier and cheaper as well. I will be writing what I eat instead of using fitness pal, and weigh myself every 2 weeks-1 month (probably more along the 1 month). My concern is measurements and inches! Thats going to get me to my goal size, not really the weight on the scale.

Starting My Workouts: Monday, November 10, 2014

Till Next Time...

Yumoyori <3~