#gingert25

I finished Alpha phase and took some progress pictures that I’ll upload in a separate post to this because I want to keep my photos mostly text free for better comparisons.  I was disheartened to see that I hadn’t changed much, but then remembered that despite the picture the body measurements spoke for themselves - two inches off my waist and chest in 5 weeks? That’s nothing to sniff at. I hope I can keep it up!  I started Beta phase four days ago and so far, so good! Its definitely harder than Alpha, and I mistakenly thought that Speed 2.0 would be as forgiving as Speed 1.0 (it is not!) and I did my first workout with weights! Today’s workout was Dynamic Core and I loved it! I struggle still with the plank stuff, but I really like working on the ab areas - reverse crunch is my JAM.  Two days until next measuring - I’m looking forwards to it. 

Food today was:  Breakfast: A bagel with chilli hummus and chia seeds.  Lunch: Chickpea and Potato Madras with rice Dinner: Chilli Pasta and Veggies Snack: Two crumpets with hummus  I feel old and I am going to sulk until I feel better. 

I got up early to do this workout, and its one of my favourites. Nothing new to report - I felt I did it well and only struggled a little.  After work, I also went for a two hour hike, which was fun even though it rained and it was foggy everywhere.  Food today was:  Breakfast: Two rounds of seeded toast with hummus and chia seeds Lunch: Vegetable soup - but I didn’t have time for it so I skipped it.  Dinner: Fishless Finger fajitas with salad, and some rice and onions. 

I enjoyed so much the fact that I got to have time to lie in this morning before doing the workout. It was awful, haha! I hate those plank walks and plank things - I hate planking! Wah!  Still, only another week and a half to go before I get to take an ‘after photo’ and see how I do!  Food today was:  Breakfast: Mushrooms, chilli and vegan cream cheese on a bagel.  Lunch: Two salad sandwiches on sesame seed buns (one with lettuce, cucumber and hummus, and one with lettuce, cucumber, smoked chease and pickle).  Dinner: Vegan sausages, mashed potato, sweetcorn and onion gravy. 

The most amazing thing happened during the stretch workout - I was able to do one of those S-Hold stretch things! I was pretty chuffed about that. Nothing much otherwise to report about the stretching as it’s not really a workout and aside from the balance side of it, isn’t really that challenging!  Food yesterday was:  Breakfast: Chilli hummus on toast Snack: a bag of salted crisps, cucumber and plain hummus Lunch: Brocolli pasta salad Dinner: Tofu rogan josh and turmeric rice  Supper: Bagel with vegan chocolate spread  Day 22:  For some reason the cardio workout really kicked my butt today! I struggled a LOT and my legs burned. I remember the clock telling me I had 17 minutes to go, and I felt a flush of hatred for the number! 17 minutes - no way I could do it! I came so close to stopping, but I didn’t and I made it through.  I’m so glad I did - I’m feeling a lot better now.  Today’s food is:  Breakfast: Bagel with mushrooms, chilli and onion powder and a spoonful of creamy violife cheese Lunch: whole wheat minestrone tinned soup Snack: two kallo rice cakes with ‘chease’ (one with a spoonful of pickle, and one with hummus)  Dinner: Stacked Veggie Burgers (vegetable quarter pounders, lettuce, vegan mayo, vegan cheese, salsa, hash brown)   

Man, my middle ACHES today, but you know, its all good - and it’s a nice ache!  Below are this weeks measurements:  Chest: 39.25″ Waist: 39″ Arm: 13″ Leg: 23″  So, that’s a quarter inch lost off the chest, and another half across the week! Pretty chuffed with that for a weeks work. :)  Food today was:  Breakfast: Two rounds of seeded bread with chilli hummus.  Snack: Cucumber and lemon hummus Lunch: Rice, tofu and veggies Dinner: Vegan alfredo Snack: Dark mint chocolate

So. Many. Plank. Based. Moves.  My arms were shaking by the end of these two workouts. It was tough, and I wasn’t feeling my best and I felt a little bit sick at one point but I managed it and actually felt a lot better when I was done!  My shoulders ache a little now, but in general after the workouts I don’t hurt anywhere near as much as I did on the first day. I am definitely feeling better about myself and my mood is improved  greatly overall.  Today’s Food:  Breakfast: Two crumpets with chilli hummus Lunch: Rice, tofu and veggies Dinner: Chips, mixed peppers and onions and gravy.  I’m going to treat myself to some dark chocolate today as well! 

Today’s food was: Breakfast: Two crumpets topped with mushrooms and vegan cream cheese. Lunch: Tomato Soup Dinner: Mixed fried veg in a warm baguette. I didn’t anywhere NEAR enough today. Tomorrow I will do better!