BOOT CAMP

So if you have Facebook you know that I have been going to Boot Camp. Before I came to the US on vacation I wrote my family explaining some of my fitness goals and asked for their support while I was in America. My aunt took it upon herself, God bless her, to enroll me in Fitness Boot Camp at Pure Living Fitness center in Glendora, Ca. She got a killer deal through www.livingsocial.com. I wasn't sure what it was going to be like but i was willing to try it since she had already paid for it.
It's intense. It is exactly the type of workouts that I have been reading about in the Fitness books. Muscle confusion! You work out one part of your body then another giving the previous body parts "a moments rest". Never letting your heart rate go down though.
What do we do? This was this morning in a nut shell. We speed walked on the treadmill for 10 mintutes while the trainer talked to us about our fitness goals and eating healthy and answered questions that we have,etc. Then we used medicine balls (I think that is what they are called) and did different arm exercises just to get warmed up. You swing the ball over your head then through your legs, you twist side to side you go knee to sholder, you do a lunge and touch the ball to the ground and bring back up, etc. Then we did jumping jacks. The we did a different variation of a lunge that caught my legs on fire. From a standing position you bend,back straigh, down touching the right knee to the ground and left knee to 90degree angle. The up again. Do 15 on each side. The push ups till you can't do it anymore. Then back to the other one but jumping straight up this time. Back and forth between this and push up a few more times. Then a quick run on the trend mill then standing on a vibrator things that was CRAZY! It is suppose to help lower your heart rate faster and relax your now fagtued muscles. Then more leg exercises with jumps and squats. Pull ups with these strap things. Back and forth a few times.... It is exhausting but possible because you are switching back and forth so your legs get a rest while you are working or arms, and vise versa. Every time is different. Some times there is more focus on abs or bum and other times arms or shoulders or legs. Anyone in the Glendora area I would totally suggest trying it out. There are always several trainers and there are people of all fitness levels. They do this boot camp, ZUMBA, and personal training. It's not a gym! So it's you and only a few other people at most. You get to know the other people fast because you have encourage eachother to get through it. There is a good vibe in the room and all the trainers are their to really help you meet your fitness goals. Just wish I could get them to move to Taitung... I would make the sacrifice to go full time.
Oh, and they have a great deal for next month if you are thinking about doing it. Contact them ASAP... tell them I referred you.

Progression over the last 4 months

Starting Point

After one month

After Two Months

After Three Months
After Four Months (today)

Week 16 (Vacation Week 2)

This morning I was 154.2. That means I have only lose .2 pounds last week. I was a little disappointed because the day before I was 153.7. Not sure as to why I was up today but I have some guesses. Possibly water weight. Also I started Fitness Boot Camp (I'll write a blog about it next) this last week and I am gaining muscle mass which I might be trading out for fat. Another platue. Don't know... I wish I can see progress from the last month but it's hard. I know I see progress from 4 months ago. I wore size 14-16 now I wear a size 10! I tried on some pants that I left here last year that didn't fit and I swim in them now. So yes, I see progress... but sometimes I get impatient. It motivates me though. I am more determined than ever.

Week 15 (On Vacation Week 1)

I am now officially on vacation. (That's why I am late with this blog entry.) Using a different scale I weighted 154.4 on Saturday morning here. (I seriously considered bringing my scale but decided against it because it is made of glass and I would have to take it to all the different places that I am staying over the next 5 weeks.) I am now down 24 pounds. It feels weird not weighing in every morning and a little scary. In the past it was when I wasn't caring about my weight that I wasn't checking.
I definately care. I have been eating really healthy (using meal ideas from Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 meal plan). I have tried to exercise but that is easier said than done. I actually started boot camp today and had a blast. (Best explained by watching the Biggest Loser workout sessions.) All in all things are going well. I won't know an offical number until I return to Taiwan on Aug. 22nd.
NOTE: No picture this week because I just traveled 8000 miles!

Week 14 (Goal Date #1)

Remember these were the shorts I couldn't fit into. Now look at me!


I had a goal to lose 28.4 pounds in 14 weeks. I have lose 23.1 pounds! I didn't meet my weight goal but I am still really proud of myself. One area that my goal was met was in how many inches I have lost on my hips and waist. I wanted to be a size L for the brand ROXY and I have accomplished that!
My current weight is 155.3 lbs
My current measurements are
31 inches waist;
41 inches hips.
I have lost so far ...

3.25 cm off my arms
4 cm off my legs
17 cm (7 inches) off my waist
11 cm (4 1/2 inches) off my hips

I still have 20 pounds that I want to loss. My aunt signed me up for boot camp while I am home so I am hoping to lose 8-10 pounds in the next 5 weeks while in America which would leave me with 10-12 to lose one I get back. I am hoping to lose all 20 pounds by November 1st. The way I am estimating now is 10 pounds while home and then a pound a week for the following 10 pounds. I am learning that those last 10 pounds are considered vanity pounds and aren't as easy to lose at the ones that were needed to lose because I was over weight.
Jumping on a plane in a couple of hours and headed to my America homes. Looking forward to some R&R and time to reflect on the other areas of my life that still need work; aka connecting with friends and family and God again.

Week 13

I am down 24.4 pounds.
This week has been a big week for me. Listening to Jillian Michaels podcast I realised that it is really important to stay on top of your doctor's appointments. I hadn't seen the dentist in almost 4 years. I can't remember the last time I had a physical (besides the one you get for STDs and leparcy when applying for your resident visa in Taiwan). So finally I swallowed my fear and went. Both had great outcomes. The dentist said my teeth look better than 4 years ago. I started brushing and flossing after every meal these last 3 months when I found out that gum disease is thought to be linked with heart disease (which runs in the family). I only had one cavity and filling that needed fixing. I went to the doctor and explained some of my family history and asked to get a full range of test done to make sure that everything is ok. I had an EKG done and chest x-rays. I get blood test on Monday done. I am going to try and make an appointment to see a dermatologist to check for skin cancer signs. And I am going to make an appointment at the womans doctor (most dreaded!)
I realised that I couldn't say why me if I got heart disease or diabetes or cancer even if I wasn't doing the things I need to do to prevent these things. With education I have I have to do everything I can to be healthy then above that I give control to God for my fate.
One more week unitl I board a plane back to the States for a 5 week vacation.

100 things to do before I die

Been watching some of the Buried Life on line. I honestly really like this show even though I don't agree with some of the ... behaviors let's say on the show. I love the premise behind it; go after your dreams and help other people along the way to do the same. They wrote a list of a 100 things that they wanted to do before they died and made a TV of them doing these things. For everything they checked off their list they helped someone else check something off their list. Pretty cool, huh?
So I have started to make a list of my own. I have come up with my first 18... it's not as easy as it sounds. I have already done sooo much in my life but it's been good thinking about what I really want. Here they are in no particular order.

1. Write a book.
2. Adopt a child.
3. Go on an epic surf adventure.
4. Learn how to roll a kayak.
5. Buy one year of school clothes for a child in need.
6. Go to Palau.
7. Wear size 8 pants.
8. Learn to dance.
9. Buy a tomb stone for my mom’s grave.
10. Get a PhD.
11. Get a reward for teaching.
12. Complete a triathlon.
13. Find my biological father (see a picture of him.)
14. Lead someone to Christ
15. Go on a short term mission trip.
16. Right a wrong.
17. Read through the entire bible.
18. Learn to play a musical instrument well.

Week 12

I am down 22.5 pounds. In the last 3 months I have lost almost 6 inches on my waist and a little over 4 inches on my hips. I went from not being able to wear some of my clothes because they were to small to not being able to wear some of my clothes because they are too big. I have 5 pounds to go to meet my go to US weight and 2 weeks to do it in. I am actually really happy at where I am at. I am about 5 pounds away from being out of the overweight category.
I am confident that I will get there. SUBWAY opened up in Taitung today which makes it soooooo much easier to eat healthier because the reality is I just don't have time to cook every meal. I need something easy and healthy to take for lunch every day. 3 monthes down 2 1/2 months to go till I meet my goal weight.

**NOTE: Week 11 post just never happened because we were wrapping up the end of the school year and this teacher was super busy.**