I am pleased to announce that I have really stuck to my guns about cleaning up my diet and lifestyle FOR GOOD, even maintaining through vacation.  The only cheat I had was lunch at the tea room and a piece of cheese cake at the steakhouse on the final night.  It was definitely worth it.  Since I’ve been back, I’ve not drank and I have stuck to a meal and workout plan religiously.  For weeks, however, I’ve been plateaued at 153lbs.  It. Has. Driven. Me. BONKERS!  However, as of yesterday, I broke that plateau and woke up at 151.5lbs!  This is such a big deal for me.  I haven’t been this small since some time in high school.  At 6’0″ tall, I don’t need to lose much more weight.  However, I do carry ALL my weight in my tummy region, (thanks for those genetics, Mom.) and that is the scary kind of fat.  So realistically I would like to drop about 10 more pounds, then, continuing with my fitness plan, tone up and add back on around 5lbs of muscle.

So what is my plan?

I will lay out my food and fitness daily grind here for you.  I am not a doctor, so you probably shouldn’t follow this plan without consulting a professional.  This is just what is working for me at the moment.

Meal 1: 2 whole farm fresh eggs scrambled with 1tbsp salsa and sprinkled with feta, 1-2 cups of fruit, 1/4 avocado, cup of Yogi Blueberry tea, 16oz h20.  Supplements-biotin (for hair and nails), vitamin C (for combating pesky colds), green coffee extract (to aid in weight loss) and b12 (for energy!)

Pre-workout: Pack of sweet and spicy tuna (I really hate to eat prepackaged food and limit it as much as possible.  However, this is pretty good, and quick and easy on the go.) 16oz of h2o

Post-workout:  Protein shake.  (8oz of Blue Diamond vanilla unsweetened almond milk shaken with Designer Whey 100 calorie chocolate protein.)

Meal 2: 4oz of lean protein, 2 cups green veggie (typically this would be chicken or turkey with spinach or broccoli)

Meal3: 4oz of lean protein, 2 cups green veggie (same as earlier, but I could use chicken, turkey, salmon or beef, with spinach, broccoli or green beans)

Pre-bedtime: 1/2-1 cup vanilla greek yogurt topped with 1 cup fresh berries and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. cup of smooth moves organic senna tea 3x/wk (this is kind of embarrassing but I drink this stuff because my whole life I have had problems with, ahem, being regular.  Holding on to that extra stuff isn’t good, so I drink this stuff to help me out.  Moving along.)

If I’m craving something sweet and could use the extra calories, I will sneak a tablepoon of peanut butter 1-2 times per day.

I try to stay at 1200 cals.  Any more and I don’t lose weight, any less and I don’t lose weight.

My exercise plan so far is pretty beginner.  I have taken a sample workout from a bikini competitor and altered it to fit my beginners needs and I am sore all over.  Constantly.  I unfortunately will never be a person who just enjoys working out. I hate it.  My time could be far better spent doing other things.  But honestly that was part of the plateau problem.  I had lost as much weigh as I possibly could without exercising so I had to start.  Le sigh.

Monday:  Legs- 4 sets of 12 each:  leg press, leg extensions, squats with a 25 lb body bar, and lunges holding 15lb dumbbells, 30 mins cardio (15 mins on treadmill at 6-6.5mph, 15 mins on spin bike)

Tuessday: I rest

Wednesday:  Im crippled from Monday, but make myself go.  Arms-  4 sets of 12 each:  hammer curl, barbell curl, tricep dips, and behind the neck tricep press.  30 mins cardio.

Thursday:  Im basically a paraplegic at this point, but alas, no rest for the wicked.  Back and abs- 4 sets of 12 each: bent over barbell row, one-arm dumbbell row.  Row machine as hard as possible for 2 minute sets, 4x.  Crunches with legs elevated to 90 degrees, 4 sets of 20.  Russian twist, 4 sets of 30.  Hanging leg raise, 4 sets of 20.  30 mins cardio.

That brings me to today.  I’m actually going to get my body fat measured at the gym today.  And I’m thinking I’ll do shoulders and chest plus cardio.  The thing with my body type and what I’m trying to achieve, is that I have to focus most of my energy on diet and cardio to get rid of this pesky belly fat.  The rest of it is just to tone up and get rid of all that cellulite and give me a sleeker appearance all over.  I have been taking progress photos but I need to censor out my lady parts so those will be added later.

Anyone else on a fitness journey and want to share?  I’d like to know I’m not alone here.  What is the old saying, “misery loves company?” haha!