Last Day of the Semester

Today was my "official" last day of my junior year in college. Of course there are exams (awful, dreadful, horrible exams; well actually only one of them will be like that) but that doesn't do anything to bring down my happiness that I am well on my way to graduating next May.

During the semester I was bombarded with work, papers, exams, readings (your typical college stuff) and it really took a toll on me. Although I did okay with my eating and getting my exercise in, I could have definitely done better with both, a lot better.


You may be thinking, what does that have to do with this weight loss blog? Well, up until this past Friday I could never have imagined finding time to workout during the semester. Yes, this past Friday was practically the end of the semester and it would make sense that I could find the time, but the point is, the specific workout I have chosen has helped me find the time.

As you may (if you have read yesterdays post) or may not (if you haven't read the post or this is the first time you are reading my blog) know, I started the Biggest Losers Cardio Max workout. At the point I am at in the workout, I have been able to incorporate it into my daily routine. I always tried to make sure I worked out at least 2 days a week (during the semester) but now (of course, at the end) I am getting more days in. Definitely, better late than never.

I always told myself that I could find the time if I put my mind to it and I am finally doing that. I am finally able to focus on something that I am enjoying (in this case the workout). I am still in the beginning stages; trying to keep up with the moves, regulate my breathing so I can last longer, etc. but I am having fun with this workout and that's the most important thing.

The Biggest Loser - Cardio Max

Yesterday, I mentioned that I had recently started the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout and I am in LOVE with it so far. This is the first at home workout that I have found in a long time that actually challenges me and pushes me to new levels.

The workout, a 6-week program for maximum weight loss, features Bob, Jillian and Kim. Bob takes on cardio level 1 and leads the warm-up (5 minutes), cardio level (20 minutes) and cool down (5 minutes). Level one is as far as I have gotten since I started on Friday because it is recommend that you complete level one for weeks 1-2. Jillian comes next with cardio level 2 which adds on another 10 minutes and Kim comes in with cardio level 3 which is a kickboxing routine for another 10 minutes.

By week 6, the workout will run around 50 minutes but at the beginning it will run you around 30 depending on if you take breaks or not. For a 30 minute workout you do get a good calorie burn in.

Here are results from days 1 - 3. Day 1 is normally my day to follow along while taking note of everything that occurs in the workout which means I do not always catch every move but I do try. As the days go on, I try to add in a move that I may have missed on the first day or add more reps of moves that I may have stopped earlier than those in the workout.

Day 1 (Introduction)

              Day 2 (gave more than the previous day)

Day 3 (Completed some additional reps)
















I do enjoy burning more calories than I did the day before, but I focus more on getting in all the moves and digging deeper than I did the day before even if I have to do a few reps more than once to get the hang of it.

One of the biggest things that I like about this workout is that it actually features real people. By real, I mean people who are not flaunting around their bodies in sports bras and short shorts (but I do suppose the whole "if you got it flaunt it" phrase appeals to most). The participants in this workout are actually from the Biggest Loser. There are times when they get off sync, when they don't dig as deep, when sweat is pouring off of them and they are breathing hard. These are the things that I want to see in a workout which is targeted at helping you lose weight. I can't follow someone (in other workouts) who does a modified version of something which is on the same level with the non-modification.

Yes, this workout does have modifications but they are modifications that I can follow. Each day I cannot wait to do this workout because seeing contestants from the Biggest Loser inspires me to push myself because I know that I can dig deep for something I want.

Weekly Goals

This weeks goals are going to be very straightforward.

• Log EVERYTHING!!- I had to put that in all caps for myself, before it goes into my mouth, it will be logged, this is the only way I can be accountable for everything that I eat or drink.
• Exercise - I have a very busy week ahead of me but that is no excuse for me to slack up on my exercising. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter (if you don't and would like to, the links are provided to the right) you already know that I have begun The Biggest Losers Cardio Max workout. I have only done 3 days but I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far (more to come in a future post) but I would like to keep this going for the entire week.
• Focus on clean eating / cut out junk foods - I am not sure what my exact definition of clean eating is but I do know that I am still monitoring my carbohydrate intake but I would like to keep my carb intake in check and increase protein and vegetables. At times that can get to be slightly difficult when you are in a rut food wise (which for me basically means, when you have a fridge full of food but you don't want to eat any).
• Enjoy the last two days of the semester as well as the first day of exams - This probably seems like it has nothing to do with weight loss, but for me, if I can enjoy the last two days of the semester (that will be no problem at all) and make it through the first day of exams (without having a nervous breakdown) my week will be that much better which will definitely help me on this journey. 

These are the things I have to focus on to get my mind back into this weight loss game and to get myself back on the right path on this journey. 

Weigh In Day

Today's weekly weigh in shows a 0.8 gain. Surprisingly, I am not mad at seeing that at all, mainly because I didn't have the best week but I also didn't gain a pound, only .8 ounces. Therefore, I am actually pretty pleased with today's results.

Total gain for this week: 0.8 pounds
Total loss for the month: 2.2 pounds
Total loss since the start of this journey: 15.2 pounds (this is why I am not mad at today's weigh in, because I am still holding at over 15 pounds lost)

Since April is coming to a close, I decided to take final measurements to see how I compared from the start of the month to now.

Here are measurements from Saturday, April 6:
Neck - 15
Bust - 46
Chest - 41
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 28
Calves - 16
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10 1/2

Here are measurements for Saturday, April 27:
Neck - 15
Bust - 45
Chest - 39 1/2
Waist - 44
Hips - 50
Thighs - 28
Calves - 15 1/2
Upper Arm - 14
Forearm - 10

Overall, for the month as a whole, my inches went down, which is a large non-scale victory, I had a slight 1/2 inch increase in some areas from last week, but again, that is no problem because these things happen. Sometimes you lose, sometimes you don't. I have never had a week where I saw a substantial loss (like last weeks 3 pounds) followed by another substantial loss; it just doesn't work like that for me. What works for me is knowing that I feel better as each day moves on, not the number on the scale.