Weight Loss Update

Weight loss progress update: (to read my previous post and get 30 awesome workout songs click here)

 

This week went pretty darn well.  I’m down another 3 lbs which puts me only just shy of 10% of my body weight lost.  I’ve also lost 10 inches between my waist, hips and thighs!   Just to recap, I’m mostly following Chris Powell’s program from his book, choose to lose more for life.

 

I feel confident that the contestants on his show Extreme Weight Loss, follow a very different program.  While I am very happy about having lost 3 lbs this week, I genuinely don’t know what more I could have done to lose more than that; at least, not if I am following his plan strictly.

In Powell’s program you carb cycle; each morning you eat within 30 minutes of waking up and every 3 hours thereafter until you’ve hit 5 meals.  Monday and Tuesday are low carb days (however you start your day with a good carb, like Oatmeal or fruit etc.) Then Wednesday is a high carb day, adding a complex carb to each of your 5 meals for the day. Thursday and Friday follow with low carbs days, Saturday is another high carb day and Sunday is a reward day.  For women, we need to eat approx 1200 cals on low carb days and 1500 on high; Men are 1500 and 2000 respectively.  I should add that I am doing this program with the hubs and he is officially down 15lbs!! Men suck! Why do they always lose so much faster than women?

For my workouts, I’ve been doing Powell’s 9 minute missions first thing in the morning before I eat breakfast.  He has 30 different 9-minute mission routines listed in his book, but you can also find plenty of them on youtube.  It’s shocking how painful 9 measly little minutes can actually be!?  Then, usually around 10:30 (if I’m lucky enough to get my twins down for their naps at the same time) I’ll do my full workout (when I’m unlucky, I typically have one or more babies climbing all over me during the workout).  I’ve been doing the Tapout videos

 

and I’ll just say, they are not for the faint of heart! J My 3 year old kindly tells me, “Mommy, you’re doing it wrong.  The people on the tv do it different.” Truth.  But I’m doing it.  I’m gonna say, Tapout is probably for people who already have a great baseline of fitness; I do not.  It’s mildly depressing actually.  Especially since I’ve been very fit most of my life, but I’ll say, even back in the day, those videos would have STILL kicked my hiney!  I also am mixing it up with some fully body kettle bell routines, just random ones found online…I promise I’ll share as soon as I find anything I actually really like.  Mostly they’re boring…I mean, they’re difficult, but ultra repetitive, which I hate.

I’m super sore every day, but I really feel like I’m improving FAST!  I know it’ll kind of plateau soon, but I’m just happy to see my repetitions and endurance increasing so much this quickly.

So, back to the diet part.  I was particularly skeptical of the “reward day.”  Even though you can eat whatever you want, you’re still supposed to keep it in moderation (not to exceed 1000 over your usual daily calorie count) and still get in your 5 healthy meals, each with protein.   I was convinced I wouldn’t lose much this week because of last Sunday’s reward day, in which we ate my hubby’s amazing Texas Chili and cupcakes.  I kept it at that and got right back into the low carb day the next day and saw great results.  Three lbs may not be the kind of results you see on Extreme Weight Loss and Biggest Loser, but I feel like I’m eating a ton of food and getting much stronger and this program feels so much healthier than diets I’ve done in the past, so I’m glad of that.

My complaints so far:

Um…I don’t have many.  I did read Chris Powell’s book from my phone, which was a little annoying and felt disjointed. His app is quirky and has quite a few issues with updates etc, but generally it does okay.  I will say, I hate that he pushes theVemma Bod-E so much.  It’s super expensive, and I have NO intention of trying any of it.  I use the Gold Standard Whey protein,


 

which is the best tasting protein I’ve ever had, and believe me, I’ve tried TONS!  I also keep Premier Protein shakes on hand so if I’m running about, I always have something I can take with me so I don’t cave and get fast food.

So, there ya go.  I’m hoping to post a few before and “during” photos maybe in a couple weeks if I’m starting to see a difference (else, what’s the point, right??).

I’d love to hear from you and hear about what you’re doing and what’s motivating you!

 

 

7 comments
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  • Aleesha

    SOunds like you have a great plan! You are such an awesome example! I am hoping to get started on an exercise routine, but keep putting it off everyday and I really need to do it for my health. What keeps you motivated to do it everyday?ReplyCancel

  • Cassie

    Hey Leesh! Thanks for reading! The biggest thing motivating me right now is the team competition. I’m in that challenge competing together with my family and when I’m tempted to not workout, or to get an extra scoop of peanut butter, I remember that I do not want to let them down! And then the next thing is our trip to Hawaii. I’m planning to have our family pics taken on the beach, so giving myself a timeline to aim for is also really motivating!! I know I won’t be to my final goals by then, so when we get back I think I will attempt my first 10k…or mini-triathlon. I think having something that I’ve paid for and HAVE to train for will also keep me motivated.

    What have you been trying??ReplyCancel

  • Krista

    Hello, Cassia!

    I LOVE to read the posts you write. I haven’t commented until today, for some reason I felt the need.

    First, you’re going to Hawaii?? I’m SO jealous. And family pictures on the beach? What? How do I get on that? haha!

    Second, exercising is definitely not easy. It is a constant battle. I find myself literally laying on the floor in tears asking myself why I let myself get ‘this far’ and why ‘can’t I just get the results I want now’. I’ve been working out consistently since February 7, 2013-5 days a week, sometimes twice a day. I wasn’t willing to change my eating habits back then because I LOVE food and knew I wasn’t going to stick with it. I wanted a lifestyle change, not a diet. Yeno?! I lost about 10lbs from February-July. In 5 months I thought I would see more results than that. I was so discouraged.

    At the beginning of July I was given the opportunity to purchase Sean T’s (Insanity) new workout DVD’s, called T25. It was a challenge that I was able to participate in. I was elated. I knew I could do better if I was pushed and held accountable by other people and not just myself. I started July 15 and the challenge ends on September 20, it is a 10 week program. When I first started I was eating whatever, whenever. There were so any people getting great results but I wasn’t moving anywhere. I was doing T25, playing bball some days, Zumba and jogging. I was exercising so much and still not seeing the results I wanted and that was when I realized I HAD to change our eating habits.

    Oh boy! Has it been a challenge. Like I said before if I had to change my eating habits it had to be a lifestyle change or I would NOT stick to it. I’ve been researching ‘clean eating’ thinking that was the route I’d like to take. I’m not willing to do everything organic so I knew I would have to make some adjustments, which meant it wouldn’t be strictly ‘clean’, but I knew it would be better than what we were putting in our mouths before. We are only 2 week into the clean eating and my family hates it. I’m not going to give up. I’m just going to try a little harder, find better recipes. A lot of people have success losing weight and have changed their ways of eating when it comes to ‘clean eating’, so I know they aren’t miserable and hating the food they eat or they wouldn’t do it, right?! Maybe the problem is me. Ha!

    Anyway, since starting my exercise journey in February I’m VERY pleased and proud of the goals that I’ve made and that I have accomplished thus far. Although, I said I wasn’t getting the results I wanted I was still getting RESULTS. That is key and something I need to keep reminding myself. Results are still results, regardless of the size. 😉

    I will share with you a few of my goals.

    1. Get off the couch… THAT I DID!
    2. Exercise at least 3 times a week, totally doable. I DID. And sometimes 5 days a week, twice a day depending on what is going on.
    3. Find a love for running. Oh man did I hate running. HATE! I Pushed and pushed and pushed myself to keep running even when I dreaded it. But I wanted to find a love for it. So bad. And guess what? I HAVE! I don’t get to run often because my husband is busy after he get off work and can’t take care of the kids, so when he can, I’m off. I take full advantage to get the gravel beneath my feet. 🙂

    4. Sign up for a race. I’m not a marathon runner, or even a half marathon runner. I’ve HATED running. Always have. Until I found a love for it. I wanted to run a 5k or even a 5 mile race, but that was pushing it. August 3, 2013 I ran my FIRST 5 mile race. And I didn’t stop. It was difficult, but nothing compares to running across that finish line.

    5. Mini-Triathlon. This is a HUGE (emphasis on huge), goal. Mabe even a long term one. I’m not sure I will ever accomplish this one because it terrifies me, but wouldn’t it be cool?!

    6. Get out of my pre-pregnancy jeans. I’m not sure why I haven’t met this goal yet. It seems weird to me since I HAVE lost weight. Maybe my hips got bigger with my 4th baby? It is still goal.

    These are just a few of my goals that I wanted to share. They are not all of them, but a few. I’ve met A LOT of them already this year and the year is only half over. I love it. And I’m proud of my goals this year.

    Now that I took up your entire comment section you can delete this after you read it. Thanks for letting me share. Everyone wants you to accomplish goals. They are important. And it CAN be done. It is nice to be held accountable to other people as well and not just yourself. But yourself IS enough. 😉

    Good luck, Cassia. Wish we lived close so we could meet our goals together.ReplyCancel

    • Cassia Denton

      I totally appreciate you commenting Krista! Take up all the space you like!!!! It’s always so nice to know I’m not the only one on this journey.

      It’s funny you mention the T25 program. I was really interested in joining, but I JUST barely bought the tapout program (which is WAY too hard for me, but I do it anyway lol) and have been following Powell’s book I mentioned. I didn’t really want to spend another $180 a month right now while I’m saving up for Hawaii too. I’m glad to hear that you really like it. I know that when I’ve been successful is when I really switch things up every 8-12 weeks, so I will probably get the T25 program when I get back from my trip.

      I definitely understand how vital the diet portion iS!! Jeez. I wish it weren’t so. I’ve lost weight before by diet alone….and I mean, SUBSTANTIAL weight loss too. But when I did that…well..to be honest, I have an entire post series I could and likely will write about that experience…I lost the weight, but it was a really negative experience.

      Back to the T25, I’m guessing if you’re in the program right now, you’re doing the shakeology? Do you like them? I have to say, I REALLY like the diet from Powell’s book. It is definitely something I know I could do the rest of my life, and I plan to. I like the carb cycling and now that I’m going onto 3 weeks into it, I’m finding it easy to follow without thinking much about it; plus, the reward day is nice, and realistic. LEt’s be honest, I absolutely will not swear off all brownies for the rest of my life, but now I can reign in my cravings and stick to it just the once a week after a job well-done all week long.

      Keep me updated!! I LOVE hearing about other people working on bettering themselves; it really encourages me to keep rockin’ it every day. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Krista

    Yes, you’re definitely not alone. After four children and one back to back pregnancy my body really hates me. Ha! I’ve got a lot of work to do.

    I do like T25. Realistically I love it because 25 minutes a day is do-able. Anyone can do 25 minutes. Perfect for parents.

    Yes, I’m doing shakeology right now. Problem is. I can’t continue it. I can’t afford to spend $138.00 p/month to supply it. It is not in the budget. I’m sad because it is a great supplement, but it is incredibly expensive. If I had the money, you bet I’d keep it around. So, I’ve gotta find a different supplement when this one is gone. *heavy sigh*

    Maybe I should check out the diet from Powell’s book. Or at least read about it and see if it something I would ‘stick to’ for good, and not for a short time. If you’re 3 weeks into and feel you can do without event thinking about it, that is great. Exactly what I need.

    I too, will never swear off the sweets in my life. But everything in moderation, right?! Or at least I’m learning to tell myself that and train my brain that way. CTM

    I will be checking in from time to time to see your progress. I have pictures of me in February till now. Not a huge difference but they work. I would be willing to share them with you, if you’d like. I still have A LOT of work that needs to be done.

    I have pictures of me when I started in February, to the most recent (yesterday). If you’re interested I could share them with you. Keeping in mind I still have a long way to go. I’m excited what they will look like come September 20, but that is not the end of my journey, just a start to a new one. =)ReplyCancel

  • Krista

    ^ Oh dear, you can totally tell I stepped away for a minute and came back to finish what I was writing… Oops! Repeats are good, right?! CTMReplyCancel

    • Cassia Denton

      HAha, I’ve done that lots!! 🙂

      If you’re looking for a good supplement, I do the gold standard whey protein (I posted a link in the post so you can check out the contents and price), which I usually get from GNC with my membership since you get 20% off…but I think that the amazon price is the same as gnc’s 20% off?? maybe. plus, with amazon prime, it’s free shipping, which I like since it’s sometimes hard to get out with twin toddlers and a 3 year old! lol

      Yeah, that shakeology is pricey!

      I would totally love to see progress pics!! If you want to send them privately, you can send them to my email, just cassiadenton AT gmail DOT com or if you wanna inspire others too, you can post them on MyMommyStyle’s FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/MyMommyStyle

      I actually have seen quite a bit of progress…but I haven’t been brave enough to share my “before” photos…It’s like, I just wanna pretend it never happened. Because I actually GAINED weight AFTER the twins were born…ugh! Who does that?? this girl, that’s who.ReplyCancel

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Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and reality optimist. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, and I hope while you're here you'll find something that makes your #momlife easier!

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