MFP Elimination Challenge - Week#7

I survived another week of our challenge. And the Wolverines were the safe team again...meaning we all met the basic requirements of the challenge and had the largest percent of weight-loss.    I had a pretty good week.  But the current week is already frustrating me enough to make me want to drop out.  The challenge is becoming more of a food thing and less of a physical challenge.  But really, even if I quit today, I'd take everything I've learned up to this point and keep working it.  But I digress...

In summary:
I was supposed to do 2 30-min, a 60-min, and a 120-min workout, with one of those 30-min workouts being a new workout for me.  I did that.  The team goal for calories was 18,200.  We hit that.  My portion of that goal was 1,400.  I actually burned 2,356.
I was supposed to do 800 reps...200 each of upper body (UB), lower body (LB), core, and cardio. I did 1,600... 300 UB, 400 LB, 400 core, and 500 cardio.
I was supposed to do 30 squats on at least 4 days. I did exactly that.
I was supposed to do 6 15-second planks on at least 4 days. I did exactly that.
And the team was supposed to get 350 Extra Movement (EM) points. My fair share of that was 27.  I did 65.
I was supposed to stay under 2,500mg of sodium all five days, which I did.  And I was supposed to stay under my allotted carbs all five days, which I did.
For the weekend challenge, I was supposed to workout each day...I did.  I was supposed to burn 500 calories during the weekend...I burned 957.  I was supposed to stay under my calories on at least one of the two days and stay under my sodium and carbs both days.  I did all of that.

In the end, I lost another 0.6 lbs!!! When Week #6 started, I weighed 219.2. When Week #6 ended, I weighed 218.6.  I was a little disappointed.  But hey, a loss is a loss.

Week #7 Challenge:

1. WORKOUT - I have to burn at least 1,500 calories in workouts this week.  And our team goal is 23,400.  We lost one team member this week due to the food challenge (and they almost lost me too).  So we only have 12 team members now.  So my fair share of the team goal is 1,950.  If I don't hit at least 1,500 calories, , I will be eliminated.
2. REPS - I have to do 1,000 reps this week.  And they can be any combination of upper body (UB), lower body (LB), core, or cardio reps. If I don't complete this, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one this week.
3. HARD REP - Our HR is optional this week.  WooHoo!!
4. FAVORITE REP - Our FR is also optional this week.  WooHoo!
5. EXTRA MOVEMENT - I have to get 15 EM points this week.
6. FOOD - There are five parts to the food challenge for the week.  1) Drink 8 oz of water before each meal and another 8 oz during each meal, four out of five days.  2) NO CARBS after lunch unless they also have at least 4g of fiber, four out of five days.  Fruits and veggies don't count against me though.  3) Stay under 2,500mg of Sodium four out of five days.  4) Substitute one thing in my diet that isn't particularly good for me (salt, coffee, soda, chips, alcohol).  5) Stay under my Fat allowance, four out of five days.  ***see my rant about this one below***
7. WEEKEND CHALLENGE - I don't think we have a weekend challenge this week.  But hey, it's just Tuesday; I guess that could change.

My issues with the food challenge...

• The owner of the challenge (Sheri) says that the purpose of the drinking all the water at meal times is to make us feel full so that we don't over-eat.  My breakfast is either 2 boiled eggs and 2 pieces of whole wheat toast OR a bowl of oatmeal and a piece of fruit.  I only make as much as I should eat.  There's no way I'm going to EAT more than that because I'm not going to FIX more than that.  Book-ending 6 oz of oatmeal with 16 oz of water just seems a little overkill to me.  It also makes it difficult for me to actually finish the part of my breakfast that has any nutrients in it!
• I have been enjoying pushing myself physically during the challenge...working out 120 minutes in a row, getting a ton of reps done in one day or one week, tracking my calories and miles...I've enjoyed ALL of that.  But telling me what I can and can't eat and even WHEN I can eat them is a little much, I think.
• Personally, I've been struggling to consume enough calories every day.  She wants us to burn more calories and workout more often...and I'm doing that.  But my 'net calories' is regularly falling well short of what it should be.  'Net calories' being the number of calories I eat MINUS the number of calories I burn.  Did you know that you really shouldn't fall below 1,200 net calories in a day...even if you don't work out?  And you REALLY shouldn't make a habit of it.  Monday, my net calories was 297.  I ate three meals and snacked twice and still only finished the day with less than 300 calories...AND IT WAS A HOLIDAY!  Normally I'd finish my day with a peanut butter sandwich or cottage cheese or another bowl of oatmeal so I got a few more calories in.  But because those things have carbs and less than 4g fiber, I'm violating this challenge if I do that.  Ugh!
• In the last three months, I've been enjoying a diet that's higher in protein and healthy fats and lower in carbs.  That worked out fairly well in this challenge until this week when I'm no longer allowed to go over my fat allowance.
• Most importantly, I just don't think that a diet is something you muck with just to be doing it.  If you find something that's working for you, enjoy it.  Tweaking every once in awhile is a good thing, especially if you feel you need a change.  But making such drastic changes every week and building on them...it just seems to me like this non-nutritionist, non-personal trainer is taking the things that she thinks might be necessary for her own diet and forcing them on the rest of us.  This is actually the first week (#7 out of 11) that I've felt like instead of being challenged, we've been set up to fail.  And for me, it's working...because I'd just as soon quit.

So, I'm starting out this week at 218.6 lbs. This is my workout plan for the week...
Monday - morning run/walk (60), Rockin' Body (50), 300 reps, 4 EM
Tuesday - lunch 300 reps, evening Rockin' Body (50), 7 EM
Wednesday - morning run/walk (45), lunch 300 reps, evening Rockin' Body (50), 7 EM
Thursday -  morning run/walk (45), lunch 300 reps, evening Rockin' Body (50), 7 EM
Friday - morning run/walk (45), lunch 300 reps, evening Rockin' Body (50), 7 EM
Saturday - WEIGH-IN, TurboJam (45)
Sunday - morning run/walk (60)

Wish me luck!

MFP Elimination Challenge - Week #6

I survived another week of our challenge.  Unfortunately, we lost two Wolverines.  One simply didn't appear to work the challenge at all.  The other just didn't get everything logged in on time.  It was a pretty good week for me.  This next week is going to be a bear, I'm pretty sure!
In summary:
I was supposed to burn 800 calories. I burned 2,445.  We also hit our team goal of 27,000.
I was supposed to do 600 reps...any combination of upper body (UB), lower body (LB), core, or cardio.  I did 2,100.  We also hit our team goal of 13,500.
I was supposed to do 120 squats. I did exactly 120.
I was supposed to do 15 15-second planks. I did exactly 15.
And I was supposed to get 20 Extra Movement (EM) points. I did 39.

In the end, I lost another 1 lb!!! When Week #5 started, I weighed 220.2. When Week #5 ended, I weighed 219.2.

Week #6 Challenge:

1. WORKOUT - We have no individual calorie burn goals for the week...just a team goal of 18,200.  Divided evenly between the 13 remaining Wolverines, I need to burn at least 1,400 calories.  Also, I have to workout 4 of the 5 days this week and my workouts have to be at least 2 30-mins, a 60-min, and a 120-min in length.  AND one of the 30-min workouts needs to be my 'new' workout (TurboJam).  If I don't help our team reach our team goal or if I slack on the lengths of my workouts, I will be eliminated.
2. REPS - I have to do 200 each of upper body (UB), lower body (LB), core, and cardio reps during the week, for a total of 800 reps.  If I don't complete this, I will be eliminated.  No Team Goal for this one this week. 
3. HARD REP - I have to do my HR four days this week, and I have to extend the hold time to 15 seconds and add another rep over what I did last week. My original HR was 3 10-second planks...last week, I did 5 15-second planks...this week, I'll be doing 6 15-second planks on four different days.  If I don't, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one. 
4. FAVORITE REP - I have to do my FR four days this week, but I have to do 1 1/2 of my original number. My original FR was 20 squats, so I'll be doing a total of 30 of them on four different days. If I don't, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one.
5. EXTRA MOVEMENT - We have no individual EM goals for the week...just a team goal of 350.  Divided evenly between the 13 of us, I need to earn at least 27 points this week.
6. FOOD - For all five days this week, I have to stay under 2,500mg of sodium.  AND I have to stay under my carb allotment set my myfitnesspal.com.
7. WEEKEND CHALLENGE - Again, we've been given a Weekend Challenge. The challenge is to stay under my calorie allotment at least one day of the weekend, to continue to stay within my sodium and carb allotments both days of the weekend, to burn 500 calories between the two days, and to get some form of workout each day of the weekend.

So, I'm starting out this week at 219.2 lbs. This is my workout plan for the week...
Monday - Kettlebell (25), lunch walk/run (2.5m), TurboJam (30), 400 reps, 6 HR, 30 FR, 7 EM
Tuesday - Kettlebell (25), lunch walk/run (2.5m), Rockin' Body (120), 400 reps, 6 HR, 30 FR, 7 EM
Wednesday - Kettlebell (25), lunch walk/run (2.5m), TurboJam (30), 400 reps, 6 HR, 30 FR, 7 EM
Thursday - Kettlebell (25), lunch walk/run (2.5m), TurboJam (60), 400 reps, 6 HR, 30 FR, 7 EM
Friday - Kettlebell (25), lunch walk/run (2.5m), TurboJam (30), 400 reps, 6 HR, 30 FR, 7 EM
Saturday - WEIGH-IN, TurboJam (45), walk/run (2.5m), 400 reps
Sunday - mow the lawn (120), 400 reps

Wish me luck!

MFP Elimination Challenge - Week #5

Last week was all about pushing myself.  And you know what?  I'm tired of pushing!  Ugh!  Last week was exhausting.  I've never done so many core and cardio reps in my life...and I survived Basic Training!  This week appears to be much more reasonable.

In summary:
I was supposed to burn 1,500 calories. I burned 3,198.
I was supposed to complete 5 miles.  I did 18.18.  My goal was 25, so I slacked a little there.
I was supposed to do 200 upper body (UB) and 200 lower body (LB) reps.  I did exactly that.
As a team, we were supposed to get more core and cardio reps than our opponents, the Tigers.  My contribution to that goal was 7,050!  That's a 783% increase over last week...and my core is feeling it!
I was supposed to do 60 squats. I did  100.
I was supposed to do 9 10-second planks. I did 15.
As a team, we were supposed to get more Extra Movement (EM) points than the Tigers.  My contribution to that was 63.

In the end, I lost another 1.2 lbs!!! When Week #4 started, I weighed 221.4. When Week #4 ended, I weighed 220.2. AND the Wolverines were one of two safe teams for the week! ...the other was the Tigers.  BUT we blew them away in the head-to-head challenge.  It was a great week to be a Wolverine!

Week #5 Challenge:

1. WORKOUT - I have to burn 800 calories between Monday and Friday this week.  If I don't complete this, I will be eliminated. Team Goal - Burn 27,000 calories.  OH!  And we have to find a new workout to do for at least 20 minutes...or one that we tried once before, but gave up because it was too hard for us at the time.  I just received TurboJam and TurboFire HIITs in the mail.  So, this is definitely my new workout for the week.
2. REPS - I have to do 600 reps this week.  And they can be any combination of upper body (UB), lower body (LB), core, or cardio reps during the week, but they have to be in increments of 25. If I don't complete this, I will be eliminated. Team Goal - 13,500 reps.
3. HARD REP - I have to do my HR only three days this week, but I have to add 2 planks and extend the hold time to 15 seconds.. My HR is 3 10-second planks, so I'll be doing a total of 15 15-second planks in three days.  If I don't, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one.
4. FAVORITE REP - I have to do my FR only three days this week, but I have to double them. My FR is 20 squats, so I'll be doing a total of 120 of them. If I don't, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one.
5. EXTRA MOVEMENT - I have to earn 4 EM points each day of the week.  That means parking far away from the building I'm entering, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to places instead of driving, etc.  This should be no problem.
6. FOOD - For all five days this week, I have to stay under 2,500mg of sodium.
7. WEEKEND CHALLENGE - because we all tend to slack over the weekend after working so hard during the week, we've been given a Weekend Challenge.  The challenge is to stay within 200 calories of our daily allotment both days, to burn 500 calories between the two days, to workout at least 20 minutes both days, and to stay under 2,500mg of sodium both days.  Sunday is normally my rest day, but I'll get at least 20 minutes of exercise in.

So, I'm starting out this week at 220.2 lbs. This is my workout plan for the week...

Monday - lunch walk/run (2.5m), TurboFire Low-Intensity HIIT 20, Kettlebell (25), 400 reps, 5 HR, 40 FR, 7 EM
Tuesday - lunch walk (2.5m), TurboFire Low-Intensity HIIT 20, 400 reps, 7 EM
Wednesday - TurboFire Low-Intensity HIIT 20, Kettlebell (25), 400 reps, 5 HR, 40 FR, 7 EM
Thursday -  lunch walk/run (2.5m), TurboFire Low-Intensity HIIT 25, Kettlebell (25), 400 reps, 5 HR, 40 FR, 7 EM
Friday - lunch walk/run (2.5m), TurboFire Low-Intensity HIIT 25, Kettlebell (25), 400 reps, 5 HR, 40 FR, 7 EM
Saturday - WEIGH-IN, TurboFire Low-Intensity HIIT 20, walk/run (2.5m), 400 reps
Sunday - TurboFire Low-Intensity HIIT 25, 400 reps

Wish me luck!  I eased up my workouts a little on Tuesday and Wednesday because I have to adjust my diet for those two days.  I'm hoping that the adjustment helps me lose a few pounds this week.  Wish me luck!

MFP Elimination Challenge - Week #4

I did a couple of things this week that I didn't know I could do.  Work out for 120 minutes straight?  Are you kidding me?  But I did it!  And I felt GREAT afterwards!  After accomplishing that one, I wasn't as worried about the 90 minute workout, but it ended up being a 40 minute walk/run followed immediately by a one-hour PiYo workout.  I was completely exhausted by the time I finished.  But I was pretty excited that I did it.  And this week, the scale reacted favorably.

In summary:
I was supposed to burn 1,200 calories. I burned 3,133. TEAM GOAL: burn 22,000 calories, which we more than doubled.
I was supposed to do 200 core reps. I did 900.
I was supposed to do 200 cardio reps. I did 1,000.  TEAM GOAL: 9,000 core and cardio reps combined, which we more than doubled.
I was supposed to do 140 squats. I did 200.
I was supposed to do 21 10-second planks. I did 27.
And I was supposed to get 8 Extra Movement points. I got 24.  TEAM GOAL: 160 Extra Movement point, which we nearly doubled.

In the end, I lost 2.2 lbs!!! When Week #3 started, I weighed 223.6. When Week #3 ended, I weighed 221.4. AND the Wolverines were the safe team for the week!  We blew everyone else away!  So, we lost no team members this week!

Week #4 Challenge:

1. WORKOUT - I have to burn 1,500 calories and travel 5 miles between Monday and Friday this week. Travel miles can be via swimming, running, walking, biking, etc.  If I don't complete this, I will be eliminated. Team Goal - Burn 30,000 calories and 105 miles.
2. REPS - I have to do 200 upper body (UB) reps (arms, shoulders, chest, back, etc.) PLUS 200 lower body (LB) reps (rear end and legs) during the week. I can mix and match what I'm doing reps of, but they have to be in increments of 25. If I don't complete this, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one. 
3. HARD REP - I have to do my HR only three days this week. My HR is 3 10-second planks, so I'll be doing a total of 9 of them. If I don't, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one.
4. FAVORITE REP - I have to do my FR only three days this week. My FR is 20 squats, so I'll be doing a total of 60 of them. If I don't, I will be eliminated. No Team Goal for this one.
5. SIDE CHALLENGE - The teams have been paired up for a side challenge.  The Wolverines will be battling head-to-head with the Tigers.  These are the only two teams that have earned immunity.  We will be competing in Core Reps, Cardio Reps, and Extra Movement (EM) points.  We don't have a minimum of any of these numbers that we have to hit, but we want to do more than the opposition.  If we win this Side Challenge, we can give one of our team members a bye week in case they don't complete the challenge one week and we want to save them.

So, I'm starting out this week at 221.4 lbs. This is my workout plan for the week...

Monday - lunch walk/run (2.5m), track walk/run (2.5+m), 50 UB reps, 50 LB reps, 3 HR, 20 FR, 200+ core reps, 200+ cardio reps, 20+ EM
Tuesday - lunch walk/run (2.5m), track walk/run (2.5+m), 50 UB reps, 50 LB reps, 200+ core reps, 200+ cardio reps, 20+ EM
Wednesday - lunch walk/run (2.5m), track walk/run (2.5+m), 50 UB reps, 50 LB reps, 3 HR, 20 FR, 200+ core reps, 200+ cardio reps, 20+ EM
Thursday - lunch walk/run (2.5m), track walk/run (2.5+m), 50 UB reps, 50 LB reps, 200+ core reps, 200+ cardio reps, 20+ EM
Friday - lunch walk/run (2.5m), track walk/run (2.5+m), 3 HR, 20 FR, 200+ core reps, 200+ cardio reps, 20+ EM
Saturday - WEIGH-IN

My lunch walk/run is my favorite workout in my repertoire.  I don't know, I just feel like I totally achieved something when I finish that one.  So, doing it twice a day could be/should be a good thing for me.  Wish me luck!

May 1st Update

Okay, I intended to write this on the first, but didn't do it.  So you're getting my monthly update today.

I weighed and measured myself on Tuesday because I want to do that every month on the 1st.  My weight came in at 221.6.  So, I lost 6.8 lbs in April.  And that was after losing 6.6 in March.  So I'm pretty close to averaging 1.5 per week...which was my goal!

I've also lost 3" since I started this journey on March 5th.  I'd like to keep up this pace through the summer.  That means I could be down another 27 lbs and 6" by early September.  That would be lovely!  I know things will slow down as I drop my weight.  But I think this is still a good rate of loss for my size.

The fact is, even though I have a long way to go, I can feel the differences in my body and my fitness.  I can run much farther than I could before.  I can endure a workout much easier than before.  I'm eating better too, which is always a good thing.  And so far, I'm still enjoying the process.  So, here's hoping the next few months are as successful and enjoyable as the first two!