Month: November 2015

It’s Go Time!

by Courtney, posted in NYE 8 Week Challenge

I started a new challenge today – one that will last 8 weeks and very conveniently ends on New Years Eve!  We have BIG plans for NYE – my cousin and her husband are opening a jazz club that night and we will be attending the “Roaring 20’s” themed grand opening.  My dress and earrings are purchased, and I’m in the process of securing a hair and makeup stylist.  We don’t usually go all out for these types of things, but with this club being the newest hot spot, and the most anticipated opening of the year in our city, well… we’re pretty excited!

In normal “Courtney fashion,” I’ve documented my measurements and stats and I’ve taken my “before photos.”  I am not new to these photos, and I’ll post my most atrocious ones soon enough.  This is the best shape I’ve ever started a challenge in and these are easy to post, unlike the photos from last year.

Left images are without flexed abs, right images are flexed
Left images are without flexed abs, right images are flexed

Starting Statistics:

  • Weight:  140.0 Pounds
  • Body Fat Percentage:  22.9%
  • Natural Waist (narrowest part):  27.5 inches
  • Belly Button:  32 inches
  • Chest:  33.5 inches
  • Hips:  35.5 inches
  • Left Arm:  11 inches
  • Left Leg:  19 inches

I believe goals are important.  VERY IMPORTANT.  I’m truly in maintenance mode after losing 40 pounds, so over the last 9 weeks, I’ve only dropped 3 pounds.  And I’m very happy with that.  However, I would like to drop another 5 pounds in a healthy way.  I’d like to trim down that body fat number.  I’d like to stay active and step it up a bit.  I’d like to get stronger and more toned.

Goals for the Next 8 Weeks:

  • Lose 5 pounds and end up at 135.0 pounds
  • Drop 1% body fat to be at 21.9% or lower
  • Workout 4.5-5.0 hours per week
  • Run 20-25 miles per week
  • Come within calorie goals 5 days a week
  • Complete the Beachb.ody PiY.o 8 week program

That’s pretty much it!  I’ll post weekly progress each week for sure to keep me in line!

So… Fitness… Challenge…

by Courtney, posted in Fitness and Health

I am still finishing out my “12 Weeks of Maintenance” and logging daily, but I decided that with winter around the corner, and my lack of strength training, that doing something different and exciting would be a good idea.  I’m not sure when we’ll get our weight machine from my in-laws (we have some things to move to make room for it) and I pondered classes at the Y, but don’t want to dump my son in “child watch” when M-W is our time together (and it’s winter – colds – yuck).  So I’ve been thinking about some new programs and videos and decided to just jump in and join Josey on her “Fit Through the Holidays” challenge.  My friend has the PiYo DVD’s she’s giving me and Josey was kind enough to still let me join her team, which is great because there’s a lot of motivation on the FB page for this challenge.

I’ll start a page for this challenge because it goes beyond my 12 Weeks of Maintenance which just gets me to Thanksgiving.  It was Thanksgiving last year when I was sitting at 144.6 pounds and 22.8% body fat.  Today, I’m at 141.2 pounds and 22.8% body fat, so I’ve had a stable year.  But I need to stay interested, I need to stay motivated.  The holidays are the worst and I need to stay on track.  I did a great job last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas (ended up at 140.2 pounds and 21.9% body fat), but I think that’s because I was riding the high of losing the weight.. but a year at essentially the same weight isn’t near as exciting as dropping 1-2 pounds a week, you know?

So, what am I doing?

Well, I’m doing the full PiYo program.  Hottie got all over me for getting DVD’s and not the streaming service (“you should have just bought VHS tapes!”  HA HA!), but I reminded him that we didn’t pay for the DVD’s and the streaming service doesn’t have the full PiYo program included.  I already think I’ll get the streaming beac.hbod.y service once our exercise room is up and running (which will credit my coach, I think!), but for now, I’m doing the full PiYo on DVD, 6 days a week.  I start once my friend returns from Europe (or Asia, I can’t remember) and can get the DVD’s to me – so later this week/weekend.  I’ll have to double up workouts the first week to get caught up to the group who all started today.  I’m going to keep running – a lot.  I honestly do not intend to decrease my mileage much/at all while doing this challenge (20-25 miles a week).  I will maybe lift some weights once the weight machine is in the house, but that may not be necessary.  Hottie is getting the kickboxing bag prepped for winter use in the garage (needed a good mat), but like weights, I expect to not do that too often.  We have committed ourselves to eating cleaner than we already eat (we cook ultra healthy at home, but we can always improve), and we need to cut the sweets – not entirely, but they need to be reduced.  AND… if all works out… Hottie and I are going on a fitness trip in early December together in Utah!  It’s our Christmas present to each other!  He’s ready to get in shape too, so these next few weeks will be great fun working together at getting healthy/healthier for Utah and beyond!

I’m pretty amped up to start, and hit it hard starting yesterday and today to not lose any time as I wait for my DVDs.  I run my current “12 Weeks of Maintenance” Wed – Tues and will likely continue that trend.  I really like weighing in on Wednesdays – it’s a more realistic weight than on Fridays before the “free” weekend.  🙂

I’m still thinking of specific, measureable goals.  But my “before” pics are done.

Here we go… AGAIN!