Back on Track

I am not someone who gets stressed out easily, but 2 and a half weeks ago, I all but had a breakdown. I felt drained and weak in the gym and to top it off, I wasn't seeing results. I was definitely over training. I didn't have time to address the problems with my prep, nor was I able to let things continue as my contest crept closer. I had to make some changes if I wanted to be in shape on time.

I felt defeated and unfocused and my body was depleted, so I spent the next week adding additional calories which didn't help me to lose any fat, but I did start to feel like myself again. On Thursday, I wrote my own diet that I would start on the following Monday. Also, I decided that I needed to soften my cardio plan. I'm walking for morning cardio for 30 minutes instead of 45. It's just enough to get my kick start my metabolism in the morning. I'm also running in the evenings for 30 minutes, although it's inching up to 45 minutes over the next week. This is more intense and I'll add intervals and/or sprints a couple times a week.

After a week on my new diet and cardio plan, Easter weekend was upon us. My husband, Adam, and I, and our two dogs ,Parker and Bailey, went to Maysville to see Adam's family Saturday. That night I sat and watched as they ate homemade tacos. It's okay, I had a nice cold glass of crystal light. On Sunday afternoon, I watched again as they enjoyed roasted chicken and vegetables. Yes, I had a glass of crystal light again. Later that afternoon, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate chip cookies were made. I sat and stared and felt sorry for myself as they ate yet again. Of 'course, all this time I had been eating too, but nothing that I hadn't measured, cooked, and brought with me in my cooler. By the time we got home on Sunday night, I wanted to go out to dinner. I ordered a salad, steak, and asparagus which led to eating the bread on the table which led to ordering dessert. It was very good.

On Monday, a call was returned to reschedule my body fat test, and they were able to do it that day. It would be the day after i had a cheat meal. When I went to have it done, I was anxious and messed up the first time by coming up too early. I was worried about the possibility of learning that I had lost more muscle and still had too much fat to lose. I calmed down and tried again to get 3 consistent trials. Then, I waited in a towel shivering for good news or bad news. It was very good news. In the last two weeks, I had lost 4.25 pounds of fat, and gained back a half a pound of muscle. I finally feel like I'm on track.