Week 3 progress report

Even though I started Barracuda Bootcamp 4 weeks ago, I am essentially just finishing week three since I was down for the count with a terrible cold for a whole week.

Here’s the progress report for measurements at the end of week 3.

I’ve lost 1 inch each in my chest, hips and each thigh and 2 inches in my waist. The only thing to grow is my arms, which is mildly frustrating as my shirts are getting tight in the sleeve and baggy in the boob… go figure.

That’s nearly 6 inches at all my measurement points.

Furthermore my endurance is vastly improved. I’m now using heavier weights and the exercises, while being made more difficult are helping me to feel stronger.

An interesting discovery is that I am gaining weight, even though I am losing size. Nick assured me before we began doing the weight training that I was likely to gain weight from muscle mass and bone.

I shrugged at this and said, “I’m cool with that.”

But as it happens…. Evidently, I’m not. For days I’ve been stepping on the scale and watching it steadily climb. While Nick was excited about this – I have struggled with disappointment. Which is silly but once I puzzled it out it went like this.

We as women, and even people in general, are often judged by our weight. Not our measurements. Regardless of our measurements being somewhat normal, Body Mass Index calculates only on weight and height, not weight of muscle or weight of bone – it assumes fat.

“Don’t pay attention to the scale,” Nick encourages. “According to the BMI scale I am grossly obese because I am 5’6” and 200lbs with a percentage of body fat near 8%” He shrugged “The BMI scale is not designed for people who work out.”

Even though I thought I was fine with gaining weight – I seem to still have it associated in my mind that weight equals fat – even though the measurements of my waist show otherwise. Silly. I know. But there it is.

So currently, I am working to rewire my way of thinking about weight versus size and the only way I’ve been able to do this is by putting my scale away and just going off the measurements alone.

Other things of note are my increased cardio endurance. I’m noticing an increase in energy lately, a higher body temperature and a stronger hunger for protein rich foods. My complexion is also becoming smoother and for the first time in quite awhile I feel held up by my muscle structure rather than leaning against my bones.

That’s my news to report for the end of week 3.

Also some of you have been wondering what I eat and how that’s going. Here’s a picture of my fridge.

Week 3 fridge shot

I eat 180 grams of protein a day. Depending on which days I’m lifting and which days I’m doing cardio, I alternate my maintenance calorie depletion (to maintain my weight I need to eat 2400 calories a day) by 10% on lifting days and 30% on cardio days.

While the diet is actually really easy for me, the part I struggle with is WHEN to eat. I work odd hours and remembering to eat at specific times is difficult and twice now I’ve eaten too close to a workout and gotten sick. A couple times I ate too far away from a workout and got dizzy and a little delirious. And a few times I haven’t eaten enough carbohydrates to get me through the bulk of my lifting days.

So the timing seems to be a tricky component that I haven’t quite figured out yet.

On average this is my fridge.

1. Cream
2. Blueberries or fruit (this is a new addition this week after I discovered I need more carbs)
3. Smart Balance and peanut butter
4. Apples and Grapefruit (new this week)
5. Cheeses and smoked salmon (string cheese, brick cheese, salmon)
6. Cottage cheese (a primary staple)
7. Vegetables that are for snacking or going into my chili tomorrow
8. Turkey patties (or steaks or salmon or chicken)
9. Eggs (another staple) I go through about a dozen eggs a week
10. Butter
11. Salad (in this case Swiss Chard)
12. Vegetables, etc. (celery, carrots, ginger, lettuce, potatoes, etc)
13. Not shown Medifast protein meals (my supplemental protein shakes and meals to grab and go.

I haven’t been struggling with the diet really. That part is okay. I’m never at a loss for something good to eat. Tonight I had turkey steaks and garlic asparagus.

For the moment the biggest issues are really rooted in my way of thinking about weight and my timing around when to eat for optimum performance around my funky schedule.

When I asked myself, in total seriousness, “Would you rather be this weight and strong or weigh next to nothing and not have the muscle?”
My answer was immediate and there wasn’t any hesitation. “I’d rather be strong. No contest. I don’t want to be petite.”

That’s what I really need to hold on to as my body continues to evolve back to that form it used to know. Which interestingly – I think it remembers.

As I am building calluses on my hands from the dumbbells and my body aches at night from the burn – I think, “Oh, right. I remember this.” And when I wake up in the morning I’m smiling because I feel literally tighter everywhere and it’s like my younger version, the athlete, is breathing a sigh of grateful relief.

And I gotta say, bruised muscles aside – it feels FUCKING SPECTACULAR to feel like I’m becoming an athlete again.

Week 3 face shot

Week 3 body shot

To keep me hopeful that I can survive this celibacy wager. I have written about him to keep my mind on the future!

He’s:

Somewhere between the ages of 28 and 40. Confident. Patient. Impatient. Independent. Smart (world or book) Creative (or gets people who are) Willing to cause trouble at the drop of a hat (or be ready to haul ass the second I start it first) Like road trips. Says yes to most things at least once, twice if you aren’t sure. Enjoys being home and making a fresh pot of homemade chili on a cold night with some movies and a stiff… drink. But also able to rock the house if we feel like going out to hit a club.

Someone who enjoys sitting on a rooftop in the city with a glass of wine and talking till the sun comes up, or having coffee with a morning of scrabble and a game of where’d I leave my pants last night. Maybe he likes to go camping and play in the mud with the jeep then come home, wash up, dress to the nines and go fine dining.

Someone who is full force in to their own life passions, following their dreams or building great plans on how to do so. Someone who gets the need for 5th gear and open spaces, ocean and the zen of mountains. Someone who gets the way I communicate – snarky, a little flowery but always brutally honest.

An observer, who enjoys the unexpected. Physical. Dreamer. It would also be great if he loves dogs, horses and is a little bit of an exhibitionist. Funny is also a plus, man doesn’t have to be a comedian – but a giggle from time to time is nice.

Ideally, I’d like to be with someone I admire a little, am frequently amazed by and would hope to be able to return the favor. In my wildest passions I imagine that someday I’ll be with someone who looks forward to a little mischief and is naturally a boat rocker.

I hesitate to say “rebel” but I suppose that’s not too far off the mark. Mostly, despite the cliche, I just dig a guy who does things his own way, less interested in convention and lives according to his own code of honor, despite the social discomforts of self-hood. I’ll even satisfy the cliche by saying I’m hot for guys who ride motorcycles and have long hair.

My deal breakers are dishonesty, dishonorable behaviors, entitlement and generally poor attitudes.

Aside from all that, I don’t care if he’s tall or short, so long as he’s comfortable in his own skin. I don’t care if he’s educated or not so long as he has an open mind. I don’t have a preference whether he has been married before, has kids or has a history of not being a “committer”. I don’t even mind if he’s got baggage, who doesn’t, but hopefully he’s working on it, cuz I’m working on mine.

So there it is.
Wish me luck!
I can last till May 10th. I think I can. I think I can!