BBL: Week 8 Progress Report

Two months done!! This week I finished the last week of the Combination program, and therefore my two-month plan of BBL. I took some time off for a little while since I broke my little toe (whacked it on the coffee table - ouch!), but I only took a couple of days off before I got back into my workouts. Now that I'm done with the prescribed BBL workouts I set out to complete over the last two (plus) months, I'm not sure what my workout routines will consist of other than running, but I know I'm gonna keep it up... I still have aways to go!

Monday: 3-mile run (20:39!), Bum Bum, and Tummy Tuck

Tuesday: 3-mile run (20:39) and High & Tight with equipment

Wednesday: 3-mile run (21:10) and Sculpt with equipment

Thursday: 3-mile run (21:10), Bum Bum, and Tummy Tuck

Friday: 3-mile run (21:10) and Sculpt with equipment

Saturday: Tummy Tuck, and High & Tight with equipment

So, did it make a difference? Here's my total loss since I started BBL:

Chest: 3.5 inches

Right Arm: 1 inch

Left Arm: 1 inch

Waist: 3 inches 

Hips: 6.5 inches

Right Thigh: 4 inches

Left Thigh: 4 inches

Weight: 9 pounds

That is a total of 23 inches gone! I'm proud of myself, but I have more work to do. I don't think I'll be posting my progress each week any more, but I do promise to check in every so often and let you know how I'm doing...and especially when I meet my ultimate goal!!

BBL: Week 7 Progress Report

I'm on the home stretch! Only one more week to go...

Monday: 3-mile run (21:10) and Sculpt with equipment (50 min)

Tuesday: 3-mile run (21:06) and Bum Bum

Wednesday: 3-mile run (21:10) and Sculpt with equipment

Thursday: 3-mile run (21:06), Bum Bum, and High & TIght with equipment

Friday: 3-mile run (21:10)and Sculpt with equipment

Saturday: Bum Bum and Tummy Tuck

So, did it make a difference? Well, to be honest, I didn't lose any weight this week.  I did manage to lose half and inch (how does that happen without losing weight?!)...  So I suppose I shouldn't be too upset...  I just can't figure out how all this exercise isn't making the weight just melt off...  Ugh.  Next week is a new week, right?

BBL: Week 6 Progress Report

Six weeks down, two to go! Here's the scoop...

Monday: 3-mile run (21:10) and Sculpt with equipment

Tuesday: 3-mile run (21:10), Tummy Tuck, and High & Tight with equipment

Wednesday: 3-mile run (21:10), Bum Bum, and Sculpt with equipment

Thursday: 3 mile run (21:07), Tummy Tuck, and High & Tight with equipment

Friday: 3-mile run (21:06) and Sculpt with equipment

Saturday: Tummy Tuck and High & Tight with equipment

So, did it make a difference? Here's where I'm starting to disappear:

Chest:  0 inches lost (3 inches total)

Right Arm:  0 inches lost ( inch total)

Left Arm:  0 inches lost (1 inch total)

Waist:  0 inches lost (3 inches total)

Hips:  1 inch lost (6.5 inches total)

Right Thigh:  1/2 inch lost (4 inches total)

Left Thigh:  1/2 inch lost (4 inches total)

Weight:  1 pound lost (8.2 pounds total)

BBL: Week 5 Progress Report

Whelp, I finished "Phase 1" of BBL and completed four weeks of the Slim & Lift program.  Due to a variety of things (schedule mostly, but also a sharp pain in my hip) I took a week off BBL and then started "Phase 2" this week.  So, I'm five weeks in to my BBL experience and just finished my first week with the Combination program!  I did decide, however, that the cardio routine included in BBL wasn't doing much for me, and since I am running three miles a day, I didn't feel I needed it as much.  So, instead of doing Cardio Axe, I either substituted a different program or simply shortened my work-out that day.  Here's how I did...

Monday: 3-mile run (21:50!!), Bum Bum, and Tummy Tuck

Tuesday:  3-mile run (21:37) and High & Tight with equipment

Wednesday: 3-mile run (21:14) and Sculpt with equipment

Thursday: 3-mile run (21:15) and High & Tight without equipment

Friday: 3-mile run (21:10) and Bum Bum 

Saturday: Tummy Tuck and High & Tight without equipment

So, did it make a difference? Here's where I'm starting to disappear:

Chest:  0 inches (3 inches total)

Right Arm:  0 inches (1 inches total)

Left Arm:  0 inches (1 inches total)

Waist:  0 inches (3 inches total)

Hips:  1 inch (5.5 inches total)

Right Thigh:  0 inches (3.5 inches total)

Left Thigh:  0 inches (3.5 inches total)

Weight:  1 pound (7.2 pounds total)

That's a total of 20.5 inches lost!!  I'm not gonna lie, I hoped those inches would melt off a little more quickly, but I can't complain since I've gone down every week...  That's a trend in the right direction!  At this point I have 10 pounds to go before I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight...with a bit more after that to get to my goal of wedding weight.  Think I can do it by Christmas?  Keep up with me and we'll see!!

BBL: Week 4 Progress Report

This week I completed the fourth and final week of the BBL Slim & Lift program!! Tomorrow I'll start the Combination program for maintenance, which is a different combination of the same five workouts. But I'll tell you about that next Sunday! Here's what I accomplished this week....

Monday: 3-mile run (24:10), Cardio Axe, and Sculpt with equipment

Tuesday: 3-mile run (24:14) and Bum Bum and High & Tight with equipment

Wednesday: 3-mile run (23:30) and Sculpt with equipment

Thursday: 3-mile run (23:31), Cardio Axe, and Bum Bum

Friday: 3-mile run (23:30), Cardio Axe, and Sculpt with equipment

Saturday: Bum Bum and Tummy Tuck

So, did it make a difference? Here's where I'm starting to disappear:

Chest:  0.5 inches (2.5 inches total)

Right Arm:  0 inches (0.5 inches total)

Left Arm:  0 inches (0.5 inches total)

Waist:  0 inches (2 inches total)

Hips:  1 inch (3.5 inches total)

Right Thigh:  1.5 inches (2.5 inches total)

Left Thigh:  1.5 inches (2.5 inches total)

Weight:  0.6 pounds (5.2 pounds total)

Again, not great, but at least no numbers went up!  And Hubs is challenging me to a race, so I gotta get just a bit faster, even though I'm stocked that I've dropped nearly three minutes from my times at the beginning of the month!  I'm half-way done, but still have a while to go to my goal...but it's tough fitting in 90 minutes of exercise up to six days a week.  I'm challenging myself, but at the same time I think once I finish this program and modify the routine to my schedule (which will allow me to eat a bit better as well!) the pounds will start dropping!

BBL: Week 3 Progress Report

No pain no gain, right? I'm three weeks in and here's how I'm doing...

Monday: 3-mile run (24:10) and Sculpt with equipment

Tuesday: 3-mile run (24:07), Cardio Axe and High & Tight with equipment

Wednesday: 3-mile run (24:11) and Sculpt with equipment

Thursday: 3-mile run (24:10), Cardio Axe and High & Tight with equipment

Friday: 3-mile run (24:10), Bum Bum and Tummy Tuck

Saturday: Sculpt with equipment

So, did it make a difference? Here's where I'm starting to disappear:

Chest:  0 inches (2 inches total)

Right Arm:  0 inches (0.5 inches total)

Left Arm:  0 inches (0.5 inches total)

Waist:  0 inches (2 inches total) 

Hips:  0.5 inches (2 inches total)

Right Thigh:  0 inches (1 inches total)

Left Thigh:  0 inches (1 inches total)

Weight:  1.6 pounds (4.6 pounds total)


OK.  So not great.  In fact, I'm downright disappointed.  But then I remind myself that we had a four-day weekend with family in town and celebrations for Hubs' promotion.  So, that meant lots of great food and definitely going over my weekly alcohol and dessert quotas.  I'm just glad I didn't gain.  So this coming week is the final week in the Slim & Lift program, and I'm determined to make it count!

BBL: Week 2 Progress Report

Two weeks down and feeling great! Here's the scoop...

Monday: 3-mile run (25:13) and Sculpt with equipment (50 min)

Tuesday: 3-mile run (24:52), Cardio Axe, and High & Tight with equipment

Wednesday: 3-mile run (25:04) and Sculpt with equipment

Thursday: 3-mile run (24:?? I forgot my time except that I was really happy with it!), Cardio Axe*, and Bum Bum*

Friday: 3-mile run (24:35), Sculpt with equipment

Saturday: Cardio Axe and High & Tight with equipment

*I can't lie. I actually did these two routines on Friday. I had a dermatology appointment on Thursday and just didn't have time for 90 minutes of exercise. That only means that I worked out for two-and-a-half hours on Friday. Yes, that is 150 minutes. Needless to say, I was pooped. And hungry. And really really sweaty.

So, did it make a difference? Here's where I'm starting to disappear:

Chest: 0.5 inches (2 inches total)

Right Arm: 0 inches (0.5 inches total)

Left Arm: 0 inches (0.5 inches total)

Waist: 0 inches (2 inches total)

Hips: 0.5 inches (2 inches total)

Right Thigh: 0.5 inches (1 inch total)

Left Thigh: 0.5 inches (1 inch total)

Weight: 1 pound (3 pounds total)

So a total of 2 inches lost this week (9 total). So as great as I was hoping, but I didn't eat so great this week either. Here's hoping this week is better! Wish me luck!

Finding the time continues to be an issue. Especially when you have to do "make-up" routines. I'm working on it. But I didn't want to just skip anything. After all, if I'm going to have maximum results I have to follow the program to the letter, right? I suppose I could have bumped the missed work-outs to Sunday (my BBL rest day). But I wanted to have some weekend time to just veg. And I hate taking two showers in one day (I don't have time to work out Sunday morning before Mass; it's never gonna happen). I also could have moved one of my runs to Saturday, but again, I normally don't work out at all on the weekends, so if I have to in order to follow the program, I'd rather have as short a Saturday routine as possible. Thus, running Monday through Friday, with BBL Monday through Saturday. Like I said, I'm working on it!

Here's hoping this week is better! Wish me luck!

BBL: Week 1 Progress Report

Okie doke... I've survived Week 1 of BBL!! Let's get down and dirty...

My workout plan this week was tough to get used to, but I managed:

Monday: 3 mile run (25:53), Booty Basics (20 min), and Bum Bum (35 min)

Tuesday: 3 mile run (25:25), Cardio Axe (30 min), and High & Tight without equipment (35 min)

Wednesday: 3 mile run (25:31), Cardio Axe, and Bum Bum

Thursday: 3 mile run (25:17) prescribed rest day for BBL

Friday: 3 mile run (25:19), Cardio Axe, and High & Tight (without equipment)

Saturday: Bum Bum and Tummy Tuck (20 min)

So, did it make a difference? Here's where I'm starting to disappear:

Chest: 1.5 inches

Right Arm: 0.5 inches

Left Arm: 0.5 inches

Waist: 2 inches

Hips: 1.5 inches

Right Thigh: 0.5 inches

Left Thigh: 0.5 inches

Weight: 2 pounds

That's a total of seven inches folks!! In just one week!!! I'm so proud of myself! I still have a ways to go, but I'm getting there!

I'm not gonna lie, it was a struggle to fit so much exercise (up to 90 minutes) into the day along with meeting Bunkey's needs and running everyday errands, attending our Parents Place class, and keeping the house clean and cooking dinner at a decent hour, but I did it! Hubs was great taking over the evening chores I normally do on the days I didn't get to my workout earlier and had to do it after dinner... And there were days I skipped either breakfast or lunch, but I'd grab a quick, healthy snack when I could just to keep myself going! So far so good!

Brazilian Butt Lift: Blast Off!

OK folks, remember my recent post about my boo-tay? Well, yesterday was Day 1, the starting point of my journey with the Brazilian Butt Lift, which after today will be known as BBL. I wanted to keep you up-to-date on my progress, but I'm not exactly sure how much I'm willing to embarrass myself by divulging the details of starting weight, etc, so for now I'm going to stay pretty cryptic.

The plan is a four-week Monday-Saturday program, with rest days on Sundays. So, I'll make Sunday my BBL Progress Report post. I'll report my net inches lost (I won't even mention the unthinkable possibility of a gain), pounds lost, and what my workouts consisted of each day. Perhaps I'll throw in my daily "diet" as well. Mind you, I use the term diet very loosely, since really I just watch what I eat rather than messing with counting, recording, and all that scientific stuff!

So, without further ado, I give you my plan of attack:

The Goal: Return to my wedding weight and fit into all the fabulous skinny jeans in my closet as quickly as possible, keeping in mind that I have Hubs's promotion ceremony the first weekend in September and Navy Ball mid-October. I have a dress I'd like to wear to the ball already, so hopefully I'll be able to rock it by then. I'd also like to get back to my pre-pregnancy run time of somewhere around 21 minutes for a three-mile run. My reward for reaching my goal will be a fabulous new gown for the Supply Corps Ball in late February/early March.

The Plan: Continue running three miles at least five times per week. I'll post my run times in my progress reports. Along with running, I'll be doing the "Slim and Lift" workout plan from the Brazilian Butt Lift for four weeks, and then, depending on my progress, I'll either repeat that plan or move into a maintenance phase with the "Combination" workout plan, which also spans four weeks. I'll post my net loss (inches and pounds) in weekly progress reports, along with the workout plan as completed.

Wish me luck!!

My Butt, His Balls, and a Brazilian

Yeah, I know what you're thinking with that title... Get your minds outta the gutter!

Except that yes, I am talking about my butt. And I am talking about his balls. Military Balls that is. More specifically, the Navy Ball and the Supply Corps Ball. One's in October, then other in February/March.

And I'm still carrying baby weight. More than I'd like to admit. All in my butt and hips. I've reduced my caloric intake and started running religiously again, but it's not falling off as quickly as I'd like. I can get most of my jeans and pants on, but I can't button them....or if I can, they look like they're painted on. Not flattering. So I enlisted Hubs to help. And that is where the Brazilian comes in. We're talking a Brazilian man, here, folks, not a wax job!

Hubs ordered me this little gem:

That's right, the Brazilian Butt Lift! Leandro Carvalho's special workout designed specifically for lifting, shaping, and toning my assets. Hubs ordered the program online for me, and I received the package just the other day! Included are three DVDs with five workouts (plus one bonus workout), an additional DVD with a 20-minute Secret Weapon workout, Body Makeover Guide, Fat Burning Food Guide, 6-Day Supermodel Slimdown Plan, training cards for working out away from home, measurement tracker and measuring tape, Resistance Band, and a pencil for performing the "pencil test".

The Body Makeover Guide highlights different types of butts and the best way to lift, shape, and tone each type, with a personalized 30-day workout plan. Having looked through the guide, each day includes nearly an hour of exercise, with a few rests days worked in to each 30-day rotation. There's a maintenance plan after you've achieved your best booty!

Since each plan starts on a Monday, this week I'm continuing my running (at least three miles, at least five times a week) and using the 20-minute Secret Weapon workout to supplement the runs. I started yesterday (Wednesday) and let me tell you... I am sore today! The Secret Weapon workout is all lunges of varying angles and tempos, to work every angle of your derriere! On Monday, I'll start the "Slim and Lift" program for butt reduction. I plan to take measurements and monitor my weight both before and during my progress to see how it goes. I'd also like to keep up my running, just to maintain my endurance and build back to my pre-pregnancy speed (and also because the Navy is eventually going to make me run a PRT - Physical Readiness Test - and I don't want to embarrass myself). So I'll be working out around 90 minutes five or six times a week, and continuing to monitor the foods I'm eating. Diets don't really work for me, but I incorporate whole grains, fresh fruit and veggies, and lean proteins into my diet anyway. I simply can't taper down to the 1000-calorie-a-day plan outlined in the 6-day Supermodel Slimdown Plan included in Brazilian Butt Lift.

So. Navy Ball is two months from Monday (my start date). I'll have four or five months after that for the Supply Corps Ball. Of course, all the food-heavy holidays are mixed in there, but I'm going to do my best. I haven't decided if I'll publish my weight and measurements here, or if perhaps I'll just publish net weight loss (well, and inches lost as well). I'll let you know.

Either way, I'll plan to post often, perhaps weekly, say on Fridays? with my progress. Rest assured, I will in fact still be posting What's Cooking Wednesday and those meals are actual dinners that I make for Hubs and me (though not always on Wednesdays!). So, don't worry, I won't be eating celery for the next few months!

Wish me luck...and feel free to share your workout secrets!!