I've started! 46 days til the big 4-0!

I'm very happy to announce that I finally started the fabulous CHALEAN EXTREME workout program -- today is already day four! (I was dying to blog earlier in the week, just didn't have time).

When I first decided to do this workout program, my first thought was, how will I find the time for this? My work hours can be crazy at times (I work in TV production), and I go out after work a few days a week. I'm absolutely NOT a morning person, but -- surprise, surprise! -- I discovered that if I put my mind to it, I can indeed wake up an hour earlier each day to do this. AND it's getting easier -- one day I even shocked myself by waking up before my alarm.

Days 1 and 3 were with weights -- or in my case, the workout bands that came with the program. (I bought the "deluxe" version) I've never worked out with bands before -- I'm going to try to give it more time, but I'm not loving them so far. It feels like there's just too much room for error (eg, it's too easy to have too much slack on the bands, which means you're getting a too-easy workout). My wonderful friend Debra gave me a pair of 5 lbs weights, and I'm going to look into buying others -- maybe make an investment into some cool adjustable weights. Any suggestions are most welcome!

Day 2 was supposed to be a rest day (already??) -- but I was raring to go, so I did a hip-hop cardio workout that I had DVRd from Fit TV -- the TV show All Star Workouts. Holy cow! I've taken dance classes in the past, but this was some seriously intricate choreography! You'd have to be a former Fly Girl to keep up with the steps -- but it was fun, and I still broke a sweat.

Today -- day 4 -- hard-core cardio with some light weights in the Burn Intervals workout (followed by 10 minutes of abs in Ab Burner). WOW! This was some challenging cardio! Towards the end, I had to stay on the lower impact side -- but I stuck to it.

This was an interesting eye-opener: the program comes with a fitness test to help you estimate your level of aerobic fitness, strength, flexibility and endurance -- it's a good way to track your improvement over time. I did it with my friend Debra last night -- she's very slim, and is very much into weights and boxing classes. It was interesting to see that we had very different strengths and weaknesses: I was able to do more pushups, but she was able to do the seated wall squat for quite a bit longer than I could. I'm more flexible, but she could do more arm curls.

This was most humbling -- Debra took some "before" pictures from me. Looking at these pics, I realize I have almost NO muscle tone. I'm pretty active in biking and rollerblading, but I haven't been consistent lately -- and it doesn't help that I'm carrying about 10 - 15 extra pounds.

Can't wait to see how these pics will change in the coming months!



STATS:
Age: 39 (not for much longer!)
Height: 5'4"
Weight: this week -- fluctuating between 140 - 142
Waist: 33"
Hips: 38"
Abductors (just below the butt -- saddlebags): 37.25
Chest: 35.5
Right arm: 11"
Left arm: 10.75
Right thigh: 20.5
Left thigh: 20
Body fat percentage: 22.2*
* using the calipers for the first time -- no idea if I was doing this correctly.

If you're doing ChaLean Extreme (or have done it in the past), would love to hear your stories, tips, etc!

Progress pics: 139.8

Pics taken today, Saturday, Feb 7, 2009. I feel like I look just a *little* less fleshy, maybe a little smaller than my pics from two weeks / 6.6 lbs ago. But I still have a way to go -- looking forward to getting rid of that back fat and getting some muscle definition.

Probably the only good thing about having a few extra pounds was the fact that my breasts were fuller -- I'm disappointed that they're starting to get smaller! I'm a small-to-average B-cup -- with those few extra pounds, I was happy with the cleavage I was sporting.

Will try to update the pics every 5 lbs or so.

146 lb pics.... and Jamaican food

So -- I'm a spaz, and can't figure out how to get the pics on the left, and the words on the right -- I thought I hit the right button. Anyway. Pics from this week! I usually don't wear glasses, but was on this day... and they were still a bit tinted from being outside.

Oh my... those shorts might be just a *little* too tight for me -- anyway, they'll be looser soon enough! They're my favorite treadmill shorts -- I really can't run on the treadmill in workout pants, I just get too hot.

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Third day on WW – started off great: 2 hard-boiled egg whites on hearty whole wheat toast (Balthazar bread) with a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese – I think the bread must be about 3 pts, for a total of 4. Very filling.

THEN… yesterday I mentioned that I was going to be scouting some restaurants in the Bronx for work (I work for a food / travel TV show) – and I had a feeling the Jamaican place would be tough. They were rumored to have great jerk shrimp (not too bad), as well as excellent beef patties (I LOVE these – but they’re about 10 – 12 pts each!).

I didn’t do as well as I could have – but I didn’t scarf down as much as I would have in the past. Shared both with a co-worker.

Later had a small amount of leftover pesto pasta (really should have measured it), with a boatload of broccoli. Met friends for a drink, and stuck to just ONE vodka / soda (2 pts), and drank water the rest of the time.

I will be SO psyched to see the changes in pics to come!