The Journey to Get My Body Back: Week 6

This post was first seen on FIT4MOM Front Range’s blog and is my 6th out of 8 posts documenting the journey to get my body back via the Body Back program with FIT4MOM Front Range. My experience is unique, because in addition to being a participant in the program, I’m also the instructor! It’s pretty awesome.

BODY BACK WEEK 6

WEIGHT:

At Assessments: 157.6 lbs

At the beginning of Week 5: 151.0 lbs

Total weight change: -6.6 lbs

I lost 2.6 pounds this week! YAY!

So, this gets me on the thought about weight loss during Body Back. This is a constant trial for some and triumph for others. Sometimes I feel like a broken record when telling people to not place all their eggs on one scale. [Get it? Like don’t place all your eggs in one basket? HA!] Point is, there are many things that change in your body when you are actually 100% invested in the Body Back process. Here are a few:

(Note: I am not a nutritionist, just a nutrition enthusiast. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor before starting a diet or exercise program.)

• Fat loss: This is what most (but not all) of the moms who come into our program desire. Fat loss is a factor of eating foods that can actually be processed by our bodies (a.k.a. clean foods) and burning more calories than we take in. When our energy stores are depleted, our bodies use the fat to fuel us. Thank you, body! However, there is a strict balance with this. Make sure you’re working with a doctor or nutritionist to ensure you’re not depriving your bodies of the calories it needs to function effectively.

• Lean mass gain: We build muscle through our physical training sessions. More muscle = more weight, but more muscle also = more calorie burn and usually a loss of inches, because it’s denser than fat! Thank you, muscles!

• Muscle strength: In the simplest of explanations, this happens through repetitions of working out coupled with rest to rebuild the muscle into a stronger form. Yes! It’s ok and even crucial to rest.

FITNESS:

I started on a high this week and slowly went downhill. My husband went out-of-town for 5 days (Thurs – Tues). This is my first (and hopefully last) time being left to care for a 3-year-old, 2-year-old, and 2-month-old alone while also trying to do swim lessons, MOPS, preschool, teach Body Back, clean my house, take the trash out, keep up with business responsibilities, etc. So, least to say, I tried.
What is my practical advice for when you are stuck in a situation like this? Do what you can to stay active. Clean your house with vigor! Walk the stairs more times than necessary (or just to calm the baby down). Play with your kids by running after them and picking them up several times. Do… what… you… can, and be intentional about it.

MONDAY: Rest day

TUESDAY: Body Back class – I was able to get in about 80% of the workout, and it was SO FUN! Check these beauties out!
WEDNESDAY: I ran 5 miles with a good friend the day before saying “sayonara” to my freedom.

THURSDAY: I cleaned the house… yaaaay.

FRIDAY: I completed the Uncle Sam HIIT workout in 4:13. Short workout, but killer!

SATURDAY: Body Back class! It was a blast, but I was only able to do about 20% of it due to having so many moving parts. My favorite part of it was our walking meditation at the end. We just enjoyed a silent walk, admiring all of the beauty around us – all of the beauty we often ignore due to our conversations or the ongoing monologue in our heads.

SUNDAY: I spent 100% of Sunday just trying to survive with kids who were just OFF! One didn’t seem to feel great, another was running wild, and the third couldn’t sleep due to G.I. issues. Hard day for Mommy, but at the end of it I got snuggles from all 3 and I laid my head on my pillow with peace in my heart (but also with a little anxiety that that peace would be shattered into pieces at any moment).

NUTRITION:

I brought up my water intake! Yes! Besides going to Rodizio with my husband, I think my choices were pretty great this week. Things I could do better: replace lean ground beef with ground turkey in the stuffed bell peppers, skip the brie with crackers, replace some of my trail mix snacks with fruits or veggies. I need more fruits and veggies overall in my diet.

My Meals:

2 weeks of habit forming left until I venture out on my own without your support. My plan is to use these 2 weeks to my advantage!