Weigh-In #5

I’m trying not to be discouraged & I’m trying to remember what the personal trainer at the gym told Tony who told me, “Two people can weight exactly the same – but one could be up to THREE dress sizes smaller.” So as you can guess my 5^th weigh-showed no change.

127 pounds.

I kicked this week’s ass too!

I followed every nutrition rule I made for myself with the exception of Saturday night appetizers & Korean BBQ for lunch on Sunday. BUT, you know what is great...I feel AWESOME.

I’ve slept well...clothes feel good, my post workout glow has been complimented on, I’m saving money cooking at home, & I end up getting out a lot of aggression that seriously feels like brain toxins....clouding my head, making me emo and/or irritable.

This week my fitness schedule is/will be:

Monday: Spin AM & Yoga

Tuesday: Spin AM

Wednesday: Strength and Tone & Ballet

Thursday: Boot Camp

Friday: Shane Spark’s Master Class OR swimming 500 yards (depending on traffic...LOL)

Saturday: Cardio Barre or hiking (depending if I go out Friday)

I did measure myself with my nifty measuring tape from Sister #3.

Waist: 27.75 inches
Thighs: 18.5 inches
Hips: 37 inches
Chest: 34 inches

So even though I did not change in weight, I did lose inches in both my waist & thighs. J Working out has been fun – a lot of variety going on and I am in love with Cardio Barre.

My goals this week are going to be:

1) Stretch at least 15 minutes every day. Try to get my middle/right side splits back.

2) Eat completely vegan Tuesdays AND Thursdays.

How are you all doing?? Let me know. Some challengers have been blogging in their existing blogs, some leave comments, some email me directly and some have even created their own blogs to log in their goals, etc.

I’ll leave you with this known fact (think of it more as a reminder).

Kcal Input < Kcal Output AND 3,500 calories equals ONE pound.

and of course...fitnesspiration photo! This week is of the cardio barre instructor we had this past Sunday, Kamilah...who I just realized was in the Top 6 for SYTYCD season 1. She's as gorgeous in real life & is so kind, motivating & inspiring!

Weigh in #4

So I guess it wouldn't be called a "challenge" if it were easy, right? I'm going to honest here, I totally dropped the ball on my "eating out" rule. I ate out a lot this past weekend & threw a party - it was a nightmare nutrition week.

On a positive note, I did workout.

Monday = yoga (1 hr)
Tuesday = boot camp (1 hr)
Wednesday = strength & (1 hr) tone then ballet (3 hrs)
Thursday = lunch workout; 45 minute cardio & 15 minute abs
Friday = OFF
Saturday = ballet (3 hrs)
Sunday = OFF

I ended up weighing in at 127 pounds this week. (+ 1.5 pounds) which is a BMI of 23.2.

Another positive note, Sister #3 ordered a super cool measuring tape. So, I will now be including my measurements as well.

Waist: 28.5 inches
Thighs: 19 inches
Hips: 37 inches
Chest: 34 inches

I have never really measured myself in the past but I know some of my "skinny jeans" (in both senses) are a 26 waist, so that will be my set goal. As for my thighs, I'm not too concerned, I dance & they will be more muscular. I'm just measuring because the tape measure is so darn cool. Hips, I'd actually like to keep, I want to keep my somewhat curvy figure so I don't want this measurement to go less than 36 (especially since Sir Mix-A-Lot requires 36 inch hips, j/k) & my chest will forever be 34 cm. It has been since I was 12.

My goals for this week.

1. I will NOT eat after 830pm. This is difficult with ballet ending at 10pm on Wednesdays. That just means I have to eat a light dinner early on the evening & to pack a little luna bar for our break that is usually given around 8:15 or so. This rule might also have to broken on Thursdays starting in October when I start Culinary School.

2. My days off will not be days OFF of sticking with my nutrition goals. I will also try to do a longer walk with Riley or clean the patio. Things that aren't exactly a set workout but are still active enough.

I am considering doing the Master Cleanse if I still am having problems picking up healthier eating habits. We will see first how this week goes.

I hope you are all still sticking with it! Try not to get discouraged, remember challenges aren't meant to be easy.

Photo Inspiration: Dara Torres.

Okay, so she's kind of an Olympic athlete that trains for a living but still. She's a mother & she's in her 40s and she rocks. I have to give her props. Just because we all can't swim 6 hours a day doesn't mean we can't be inspired.

First Giveaway!

Congratulations to Carol and Sister #3 for winning the first giveaway of the Big 10 Challenge! I am sending them both pedometers (it's fun to try to record and challenge yourself to break x amount of steps during a work day) and copies of food encyclopedias, which include recipes but most importantly the health benefits and nutrition facts of almost every fruit and vegetable, A-Z.

These 2 challengers have shared with me their struggles and their successes in the past 3 weeks. Even though there are hurdles, neither of them have shown the slightest glimpse of giving up and that has helped me stay just as motivated. Thanks & enjoy your prizes. :)

Weigh-In #3

I was so scared this morning to weigh myself because I spent yesterday indulging in crab and korean BBQ at my parents' house to celebrate Sister #3's birthday. The food was just so good but I guess I did make myself swim longer than normal and I didn't really eat a big dinner after the extremely large lunch. This morning when I weight myself at was at 125.5 pounds, which keeps me on track with the 1-2 pound a week weight loss.

This week I did meet my fitness goal! I got myself into the gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and had my 3 hour ballet class on Saturday. It was tough to workout some of the days during work but I really forced myself to, even sacrificing my lunch hours.

I also succeeded in eating breakfast, except yesterday, since I knew I was going to be overindulging.

I'm excited because it's time for new goals. Here they are!

1) Abs workout - EVERYDAY. Even if it's just 10 minutes.
2) Increase fiber intake. ("We maybe crazy, but at least we're regular!" -Tony's dad) Raw fruits, vegetables and an afternoon drink of whole psyllium husk.

I have failed to purchase a measuring tape but will do so soon, especially since I feel a plateau coming in weight loss.

Let me know how you are all doing! Email, leave comments, etc.

Here is my photo inspiration this week. Ms. Jackson and her ridiculous abs. (although, they might be a bit too defined for me, she is still such a hard worker and inspirational)

Weigh-in #2

Great News! I totally rocked my nutrition goal for week #1. No Soda! While I was at it, I consciously avoided eating out. I made dinner every night except Friday night - grilled veggie sandwiches, tilapia, lobster tail ($8 sale), veggie curry, vegetable provocal soup, spaghetti squash. It was excellent. I substituted water/green tea for my sodas and I got results! They are a big drastic so I'm hesitant to share, but today I weight in at 127! That is already 4 pounds less than where I started. But as I knew before, I gain and lose weight ridiculously fast, and if I hit my goal early, I'll continue this challenge. Besides, I know from past experiences, at around 120 pounds my body plateus like no other.

Bad News - I totally dropped the ball on my fitness goal. I went to the gym...once during a lunch break. I ran 3.2 miles but other than that, unless you can't running around doing errands, moving furniture, or walking Riley as "working out", I only went once. Pathetic. SO I am repeating that goal this week. I like moving forward so making myself repeat a goal for another weak is enough punishment.

So my goals are as follows:

Repeat Goal #1: 3 days of cardio for 45 minutes/week

Goal #2: Eat breakfast EVERY day. Yogurt, fruit, hard boiled egg, puffins, etc. I'm bringing breakfast back.

I purchased my scale but have yet to grab tape measure, which I feel I should, especially since the pounds go quickly off my frame but do not necessarily take off inches.

I hope everyone is still working on goals. If you fell off the wagon, get back on. It's not too late. It's not a competition, it's just you and it's for you. You can do it!

Here's another fitnesspiration photo. It's Courney from SYTYCD Season 4. She was in the Top 4, with my favorite Katee. Although, Katee rocked her at performing, I always admired Courney's strength and petite frame.

She is an amazing dancer. I love it! Perfect inspiration before classes pick up again.

Weigh in #1

Weight: 131 pounds
BMI: 24
Measurements: N/A

Workout inspiration photo: Jennifer Lopez - she's been my favorite since 1997. She works her ass off without literally working her ass off. I love it.

My weekly goals for this week are.

1) No more soda. I'm by no means a soda addict but I will probably about 7 a week if you consider how large the servings are at movie theaters or in a restaurant. That is at least 800 calories I could cut out. Which equates to about 2 plus hours on the eliptical. What an easy way to budget those calories.

2) Hello, Cardio, I've missed you. I seriously haven't run or done anything of the sort since Kaua'i when I ran down a hike...that was 2 weeks ago and before that it was even more pathetic how long it's been. I will do AT LEAST 3 days of cardio for 45 minutes.

Need to purchase:

1) a tape measure to do measurements
2) a scale to weigh at home (currently using one at work in gym)

What are some of your first goals for yourself??

Welcome to the Big 10 Challenge!

What is the Big 10 Challenge?

The Big 10 Challenge is a challenge to you from yourself to try to lose 10% of your body weight in 3 months. This one officially started August 1 and ends November 1. You can of course start any time.

How does the challenge "work"?

Easy. Calorie input is less than calorie output. How will you achieve that? Through yourself. Set weekly goals that are UNIQUE to yourself (no fried foods, no soda, gym 3 times a week, pick up a weekly yoga class, etc.). The idea is to slowly, realistically mold yourself into a healthier you without any severe drastic changes.

Studies have shown that if you slowly develop healthy habits they will stick. Results may come slower but will last longer.

Who are you?

Hi! I am Lani and I am in my late 20s, I'm highly active but LOVE to eat in large masses. My metabolism is slowing and it's showing. So with the help of one of my older sisters, Sister #3, we decided to challenge ourselves in a 'support group' manner.

I work for a large food company in their test kichen as a corporate nutritionist. I have a background in food science and nutrition but am not a dietitian but a lot of my friends are. Any health claims I may make during the challenge or on this blog will always and ONLY be from reliable resources.


Why should I do the Big 10 Challenge?

There are many, many great health benefits to losing 10% of your body weight (go ahead, google it for yourself "benefits of losing 10% body weight") AND you'll look and feel amazing. I know it. I plan on it.

Also, there will be giveaways through out if you share any tips either via email or on the comment section. Also, I am in the works of developing a grand prize for everyone that succeeds in doing the Big 10 Challenge - losing 10% of their body weight between August 1-November 1. This is on a total honesty policy. But please make sure to 'officially' register yourself by emailing me at the bigtenchallenge@gmail.com.

Also if you have any other questions besides these 'basic' ones listed let me know.

Let's do this - eat right, be active, be supportive and don't give up. One of my big mottos for this challenge is, "No excuses!" Keep remininding yourself that really there are no excuses. There are no high demands going on here - just your own discipline and your own rules. I won't pretend like I know your "nutrition/workout vices", you know them...now take control!

Cheers!