Day 12 (where did 7-11 go?)

This has been an interesting week of ups and downs.  I look in the mirror and I see that I actually have a butt.  Seriously, there is some nice "shelf" action going on there.  I think it's because the majority of the weight I lost has been in my back, so I am not just a square from my neck to my thighs now.  Then I turn and look at my belly-not pretty!  Will I ever have a flat stomach?  Honestly, is it going to take surgery?  As of Monday, I have lost 15 pounds since September.  That's pretty good, right?  But I still have a ways to go.

This week I followed Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer program.  I'm actually on week 3 of the program.  The first 2 weeks only had 4 days of lifting, so I continued with what I had been doing, which was a five day program.  This week, however, I followed her plan.  I had to improvise a bit because I lifted at home this week.  Monday was "legs" and since we did a ton of squats and lunges in Tabata class, I just ran on the treadmill and then walked forward, backward and sideways (with leg bands) at 30% grade.  The rest of the days are as follows - day 2:back and biceps, day 3:chest and triceps, day 4: legs, day 5: abs and shoulders, days 6 and 7: rest.  I will rest on Sunday, but the other "rest" day I will use as a long run day.  What I really like about this program is that Jamie Eason said that you can mix up the days to accommodate your schedule.  This works good since sometimes life can get crazy.  She also recommends adding the muscle group that needs the most work on to another day, three days after you worked it.  For example, on Tuesday I worked my back and biceps.  My back is very week and my biceps need more definition, so I am going to add those on with abs and shoulders.  We purchased one of those pull up bars that you put over the door frame, so I'm just going to work on trying to get a wide grip pull up.  You can also do close grip chin ups and pull ups on it, which I can do about 1 of each.

Emotionally, I am as unstable as ever.  Like I already said, this week has been full of ups and downs.  I haven't had any added sugar, including natural sources like honey, for 12 days.  Last night I walked by my daughters bag of sour patch kids and I thought about just eating one, but I refrained.  I haven't even been eating dark chocolate.  I have also kept all the other aspects of my diet "tight."  I have been following Tosca Reno's stripped diet.  This means that I eat 1-2 fats, 1-2 starchy carbs, and 1-2 fruits per day.  Everything else is lean protein and vegetables.  Today I did splurge a little and had a banana, berries, and an apple.  Usually, though, I only have 1/2 a banana or 2 TBSP applesauce in my oatmeal and then either berries in my smoothie or an apple as a snack.  As for starchy carbs, I have oatmeal every morning and then maybe a sweet potato for lunch.  If I eat a pumpkin protein bar or turkey meatloaf meatballs, I count those as my other starchy carb since they have oats in them.  As for fats, I put flaxseed oil in my shakes and then I will either put balsamic vinaigrette on my salad or have nuts/nut butter.  What is frustrating is that  after all of this, after everything that I'm not eating, I look in the mirror and I don't see any change (except for my back).  My "mommy's belly" is not going anywhere, my inner thighs are still "fatty," and where are all those muscles I have been working on developing?  I could go on, but I am going to quit boobing and complaining and get over myself (yeah right).  Even though I am frustrated, I am glad that I committed to this 12 week challenge.  It is what is keeping me from going to Costco and buying a red velvet cake and eating the whole thing by myself.  I know that I just have to keep it together.  The time will pass whether or not I stick with it and looking back in 12 weeks, I will be so glad that I stuck with the tight diet and didn't fall off the wagon.   I just hope that I don't look like an idiot in the "after" picture!!!