operation boot camp - week 6 update

This was my final week of camp.  And it certainly was not my best week as a "camper" as I'd mentioned on Monday.  I discovered several things this week that will and won't work for me when trying to lose weight. 

1.  I have to exercise every day.  (I skipped 3 workouts this week)
2.  I have to write down what I'm eating each day.  (I only tracked my food 2 of 7 days)
3.  I need to eat an actual meal or healthy snack for dinner.  (3 nights I had a plate of yummy cheeses and crackers for dinner)
4.  I cannot drink wine every night.  (I drank wine every single night this past week)
5.  I need to drink a lot of water during the day.  (While I drank water, I didn't drink as much as I had been)
6.  I need to cut back on the Diet Cokes.  (I was drinking Diet Cokes instead of drinking water)
7.  I need to eat more vegetables.  (Not one of my favorites things....)

On our first day of the program we each took a Physical Training Test.  We took the same today and were able to compare the results.    This was very encouraging for me considering my slip-up on the scale!


Here are my results from my PT Tests:


Mile Run
First Day:  11:15
Last Day:  9:04

Push-Ups (in a minute)
First Day:  24 "boy style"
Last Day:  32 "boy style" and 7 "girl style"

Sit-Ups (in a minute)
First Day:  22
Last Day:  33

Tricep Dips (in a minute)
First Day: 17 + 5 w/bent knees
Last Day:  24 + 20 w/bent knees

Measurement results after 5 weeks:
Weight loss = down 3.8 pounds
Chest = down 1.5 inches
Waist = down 2 inches
Hips = down 1.5 inches

I have about a 3 week break before the next boot camp begins on April 25th.  My goal is to continue exercising daily, eating healthy and lose 1-2 pounds prior to the class beginning.  I'll pick up the boot camp updates with "week 7" when I start back!

And now...I'm off to enjoy the rest of our Spring Break!  The car is packed and I'm off to the mountains!

operation boot camp - week 5 update

It's raining today!  That means today's boot camp was a bit wet.  Unless we see lightening in the area, we are working out in the rain!  Today wasn't too bad though.  Our instructors showed us some mercy and we didn't make us do anything in the wet grass.  Instead, we ran.  And ran.  And ran.  It was a very nice change though from all the sit ups, squats and push ups that we normally do!  And, getting wet was still better than exercising in the heat.

I'm in my 5th week of boot camp and have completed 30 days on the program.  Results have slowed down from the first two weeks (which is to be expected), but I'm still making progress and am enjoying the way I feel.  I can certainly see physical changes and can see new habits being formed.  Even though it's not my first choice in snack, I'm beginning to reach for the fruits and veggies to snack on in between meals instead of chips and crackers!

So - here are my results to date.

My results after 4 weeks:
Weight loss = down 5.8 pounds
Chest = down 1.5 inches
Waist = down 2 inches
Hips = down 1.5 inches

Boot camp ends a week from today.  I'm almost positive that I'll sign up for the next one which begins towards the end of April.  I'm hoping that after 12 weeks of boot camp, that I'll be pretty close to my goal weight (another 7 pounds to lose)!

For now...I'm logging off to go get dry and enjoy my "Fun Friday" (which was rescheduled to today)!!

operation boot camp - week 4 update

So I'm officially at the 1/2 way mark for Operation Boot Camp.  The 3rd week was a bit of a struggle.  The newness has worn off and it was more difficult to eat right 100% of the time.   I did pretty good eating until we got to the weekend and then, well...., let's just say I over indulged at a couple of meals.  Mainly in the wine category.  I paid the price.  I was still feeling it at Monday's workout.

Speaking of workouts...Our boot camp is 3 days a week for 45 minutes each time.  The other 4 days a week we have "homework".  We exercise every single day.  7 days a week.  No days off.   So depending what we do at boot camp, sort of determines what I do for homework.  Sometimes I'll jog or go hiking, but normally I'll do some sort of strengthening exercises.  My favorite "homework" when I'm in a hurry is to do 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 20 seconds of plank and repeat 5x.

So, how did I do this past week on the scale?  Well, I was disappointed that the scale did not move, BUT I did lose a bit with the measuring tape.  Here are my results...

My results after 3 weeks:
Weight loss = down 5.2 pounds
Chest = down 1.5 inches
Waist = down 2 inches
Hips = down 1.25 inches

As for my "reward" that I earned last week for losing the 5 pounds?  I bought these black running shorts from Old Navy and a blue Nike shirt.

So, this week, I'm expecting to continue with good results.  I'm going to focus more on what I'm eating and be sure to track my Weight Watcher points.  I'm going to do at least 2 days of cardio on my "homework days".   And, I'm going to continue to remind myself that while the scale didn't move, I did lose an inch in my waist and a 1/4 inch in my chest. 

operation boot camp - week 3 update

I've started Week 3 of Operation Boot Camp and am still loving it!  One of the main reasons I wanted to join the group was to lose weight, get my body stronger, and revamp my eating habits.   Our boot camp is all outdoors at a park next door to our library.  We have about 10 people in our group and meet 3 days a week.  The other 4 days we have "homework" and have to exercise.  There are no "off days".  Another part of our homework is to track EVERYTHING that goes into our mouth!  Since I've been doing Weight Watchers already and kinda used to tracking, this wasn't too hard for me.  But, we are held accountable for it and have to show our logbook to the instructors each time we meet.  The instructors are great and give some wonderful feedback.  If we need to tweak something in our diet then they kindly let us know!

Before boot camp, I tried to watch what I eat (most of the time...), but I loved to have my glass of wine (or two...) each night after dinner.  And I loved to have a piece (or two...) of chocolate with that wine.  During the day, I rarely drank water, but instead drank a LOT of Diet Cokes.  So, how is my diet now?  Here is what I eat on a typical weekday now:

Meal 1 at 6:45 - Whole Wheat English Muffin with a smear of Natural Peanut Butter

Meal 2 at 10:15 - 1/2 cup Egg Beaters with green onions and salsa, 3 slices of Canadian Bacon, Grapes

Meal 3 at 1:15 - Carrot sticks and Fat-free Ranch, 1 slice of Ezekiel bread, turkey and low-fat Swiss cheese

Meal 4 at 3:30 - 4 pieces of wheat Melba toast stacked with low-fat Swiss, turkey and a sliced tomato, Grapes, and a Diet Coke

Meal 5 at 6:30 - Lots of lettuce with fat-free cheese, Green onions, red onions, Grilled chicken, fat-free vinaigrette dressing, and 1 slice of Ezekiel bread

Meal 6 at 8:00 - 100 calorie popcorn, 1 oz almonds

And my results after 2 weeks?
Weight loss = down 5.2 pounds
Chest = down 1.25 inches
Waist = down 1 inch
Hips = down 1.25 inches

I have created a couple of incentives (or rewards) for myself for my weight loss successes!

When I...
lose 5 pounds, I'll treat myself to a new workout outfit
lose 5% (7 pounds), I'll treat myself to a pedicure
lose 10 pounds, I'll treat myself to another new workout outfit
reach my goal weight (lose 13.6 pounds), I'll treat myself to a massage

So...I'll be shopping this week for myself something new to wear for my workouts!  yea!  :)

operation boot camp - refrigerator makeover

On March 1st I started a 6-week program in our area called Operation Boot Camp (OBC).  It's an intense training program that focuses not only on making exercise a daily habit, but also focuses on proper nutrition.   I have been wanting to take this Boot Camp class for a couple of years, but have never done so because it's a bit pricey (about $300 for a 6-week session).   This past November though, my husband and I were the high bidders in a charity's Silent Auction that included a gift certificate for Operation Boot Camp along with several other gift certificates.  I was ecstatic!  I was able to donate money towards a charity and sign up for the Boot Camp that I'd been wanting to do for 2 years.

Well - I'm about to begin my 3rd week of Operation Boot Camp and I absolutely love it!  I've been resisting talking too much about OBC on my blog because I could certainly get carried away and talk about nothing besides this!  I'm very fired up about it though!  I think I will though talk about it some, simply because it's creating so many new habits for not only me, but also our entire family.

One of the main areas where we've made changes is in our nutrition.  Our "homework" prior to OBC beginning was to complete a refrigerator makeover.  My refrigerator was the perfect candidate!  What do you think?

BEFORE!  The hummus and yogurt are the only healthy things in sight...

I removed all this from my freezer...

and this from my refrigerator...

 and then I stocked it with lots of nutritious food!

And, drum roll please....

my AFTER!

I know it's hard to see, but the freezer is stocked with frozen fruit & veggies, chicken breasts, shrimp, ground turkey, Ezekiel bread, shrimp, homemade pesto and frozen fruit bars.  In the refrigerator I have lots of water, fresh fruits and veggies, yogurt, low fat cheeses and deli meats, Egg Beaters, hummus and low fat/whole-wheat English Muffins.

Beginning this week I'll dedicated Wednesdays to blogging about what's going on with my Operation Boot Camp and all the fun things I'm learning!