My 12 Week Challenge March 5th-May 28th

[dana82]

So I am finally going to set aside 12 weeks and really eat right and exercise right. I've never really done a journal but I figure it will help me stay motivated and I take criticism constructively so it can only help me by getting feedback from others. I'm truely believe that when done right you can really change your body in 3 months so I will be taking pics, measurements, and tracking my weight. I guess I'm combining a bunch of different things from different programs. Here are some of the sites I used when creating my exercise and eating plan to customize it for what works best for me.

www.fitday.com
www.bodyforlife.com
http://www.sonomadiet.com/public/index.aspx
http://diet.ivillage.com/plans/pfatf...,,4s44,00.html
http://www.shapefit.com/workout-routines.html


Alittle background on me (though some of you may know from other posts) I'm 24 5'2 124 lbs. I haven't touched weights in over 2 years, I've gone through phases of walking and running over those 2 years but nothing real concrete. When I was younger I've underate over exercised and yes even taken diet pills so I hope my metabolism isn't too damaged but I think its alittle on the slower side of normal and I'm hoping to bring it up!~

I'll take a better photo that will reveal my progress more as long as I don't chicken out! lol but here is the most recent photo I have from Christmas time.

[minime]

woohoo! welcome to the journaling section dana! I think having a journal will really help you : its great for holding yourself accountable and for encouragement and support from others!

Which one is you? im guessing its not you dead center lol : whichever of those ladies is you, you're beautiful! Im guessing the other is your sister.

I underate and overexercised too, and now my metabolism is working just fine : so hang in there, it will get better!

Welcome Dana. You are off to a good start with your intro. I can tell by your posts the last couple of days that you appear to be serious about your goals and motivated, at least in mind.

Now we will see how bad you want it. In my opinion, intensity will get the job done for you. No need to be doing those prolonged steady-state treadmill workouts when a brief 10-15 minute pedal to the metal CV workout will get the job done for you.

I'll be following your posts, like a personal trainer with a bullhorn yelling at you to try harder if I think you are slacking.

How bad do you want it?

[CF-OC_gal]

Hi Dana,

Nice to see your journal. Me too, I'm asking myself which one is she? :confused:

Either way, both of you in the photo already look great. I hope you don't make the man in your life mad with weight loss goals.

[Lady C]

That Sonoma Diet looks interesting. I wanted to see what the diet was but you have to join (at a cost) to even see the diet. Did you sign up?

I'm trying to remember - Are you vegetarian? If so, do you eat dairy?

[gymgirl]

hey dana! glad you decided to start a journal! i agree with pierini on the 10-15 min pedal to the metal workout will get the job done!

[dana82]

Thanks everyone for your support

I hope I can fix my metabolism I think I started off with a relatively good one I do not blame having a slow metabolism for my struggles however I do think because of what I did I damaged it.

I'm definetely going to go for the pedal to the medal route because I've hoenstly never done that! I'd be at the gym for hours and just feel so tired I guess because I wasn't eating enough. But this time around I want to feel and look fit not just look skinny. Feel free to get in my face because if it will push me to work out harder I'm all for it!

I am the one on the right the man in the middle is my 3 year old brother ( not planned I am the oldest of 5 kids) and the girl on the left is my 16 year old sister so I hope I don't look 16! lol

I'm not vegetarian but I don't really like red meat, pork, or ham but I love seafood, Chicken, or Turkey. I do like dairy luckily I don't like mayonnaise just pretty much vanilla yogurt and mozz or feta cheese.

I didn't join the sonoma site but I bought the book. It mostly is a leaner mediteranean diet emphasizing 10 power foods: almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, and whole grains. Certain foods containing saturated fat, added sugar, and refined white flour are discouraged throughout the program. It's not low fat or low carb ( which is what I used to do). It's a lot of flavorful cooking really.

I'm not following this diet to a T but I do like alot of their recipes. Here is a basic layout of the diet:It is divided into three waves. Wave 1 of the diet is a 10-day period in which dieters are urged to throw out or give away foods in their pantries containing refined flours, non-whole grains, hydrogenated and saturated fats, sugars, and any oil that isn't extra-virgin olive oil, nut oil, or canola oil. Fruits are also prohibited in this wave in order to wean the body from sugar. On Wave 1, you can eat certain vegetables, lean meats, seafood, limited dairy, some grains, three daily servings of olive or canola oil, a small amount of nuts, black coffee, tea, and an unlimited number of herbs and spices. Wave 2 allows the same foods in Wave 1, but adds fruit, more vegetables, fat-free yogurt, some sugar-free sweets, an occasional piece of dark chocolate, honey, and some wine. Hope that helps!

I prob won't post too much in this thread until I start but I'll see you soon!

[Lady C]

Thanks for the diet summary. I might have to go buy the book.

I have my fingers and toes crossed for ya Dana!

[dana82]

Thanks Lady C!!

I like to keep up on my reading instead of making a bunch of article threads I think I'll just post some in here. It helps keep me motivated to keep reading fitness articles!

John Berardi - Lean, Sexy, and Hard - Part 1

Testosterone Nation - Are You A Beginner II

[Rufiedodg]

Hey Dana,

I remember you from a long time ago. Good to see you back and full of enthusiasm!

Whenever you're in need of some extra motivation, have a look at GymGirl and Minime's journals. I promise you--those two will get you going.

Both you and your sister are absolutely beautiful. You must have picked good parents!

Good luck towards your quest. I'll be checking in on your Journal

Dan

[dana82]

aww Thanks rufiedog your too nice!

I'm def going to be reading their journals for motivation. They seem to know what they are doing!

Here are som articles I was reading today...

Weight Training for Fat Loss by Taylor Simon

Hi Dana,

What is the significance of a March 5th start date? What's wrong with starting RIGHT NOW!!!!!

Ditto the comment made by Dan, you and your siblings picked good parents. You are very photogenic.

Start training NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[arbit]

You look SO not what I had in mind !!!!
I had somehow had a "bimbo" picture of you in mind, but both of you look so mature !! I thought your sister was 30ish

Whats your ethnicity if I may ask ?

Also, why the heck do you want to lose weight ? You look a bit underweight as it is !!

[arbit]

Originally Posted by dana82

I didn't join the sonoma site but I bought the book. It mostly is a leaner mediteranean diet emphasizing 10 power foods: almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, and whole grains.

I hate the "10" list thing.
Whats wrong with 1)cabbage 2)cauliflower 3)green beans 4)carrots 5)beetroot 6)plums 7)mung/black/garbanzo beans 8)green onions 9)eggplant 10)mushrooms 11)radish 12)okra 13)blackberries 14)peanuts 15)walnuts

[dana82]

lol well I probably should start training now I just wanted to figure out exactly what I am doing as far as workout routine. The only reason I picked March 5th was because it give me exactly 12 weeks until Memorial day which I mark as the beginnig of summer.

I am insulted!! Why did you think I was a bimbo? I'm a mut Italian, Portuguese, German, and Lithuanian.

Trust me I am not underweight! I have some extra cushioning I'd like to get rid of

Yeah I don't typically like lists like that either because I think really alot of the foods are interchangable