Battle with the Post-Bridal Bulge: Week 7

Boo-Freaking-Hoo

Today was my last day of Memphis Adventure Boot Camp before I leave for our Aruba vacation tomorrow. Last June, when I first had my body fat percentage calculated, Dexter told me that a person of my size, stature, age and weight should have 15% body fat. I can't remember exactly what my percentage was at that time, but I know I was nowhere close. When I came back to Boot Camp in December and assessed my body fat percentage, it was an embarrassing 28.99%. That shame prompted me to set a goal of reaching 15% body fat by today. By Week 6, I had reached 17.15%... I was almost there. I made it my mission to lose the remaining 2.15% in a week.

And I failed. According to today's measurements, my body fat percentage is 16.64%, 1.64% away from my goal. I failed. And I HATE to fail.

But you know what? BOO-FREAKING-HOO. I've worked really hard in the past seven weeks and I'm really proud of the progress I've made. So what if I missed my goal by 1.64%? I'm in the best shape (probably of my life) and I have gotten to where I LOVE Boot Camp. I am paying closer attention to my caloric and fat intake and I can really see a difference physically and mentally. I've had significant losses in my arms, waist and thigh measurements and have converted much of my fat weight to lean weight.This process has helped me eat better and practice better living habits, in general. So, yeah, I failed. But so what? I've won so many other battles in the process.

I realize that this last paragraph makes it sound like I'm done with Boot Camp. Oh, just the contrary! Once I return to Boot Camp on March 21, I have a new goal in mind: I want to reach 10% body fat, which is the essential amount of body fat needed for women. I WILL reach that goal!*

We leave tomorrow for vacation and I am sure that my stats will be awful when I get back, but that's ok too. Just knowing that I'll have that much further to lose when I get back will help me to curb my eating during the trip. And who knows, I may even go for a run or something crazy like that while we're away.

Beginning measurements:

• Weight: 126 (up 11 lbs since September!)
• Arms: 22 mm
• Waist: 32 mm
•  Legs: 22 mm
• % of Body Fat: 28.99%
• 36.53 lbs of Body Fat
• 89.47 lbs of Lean Body Weight

Week 7 measurements:

• Weight: 123 (down 3 lbs)
• Arms: 10 mm (down 12 mm)
• Waist: 14 mm (down 18 mm)
•  Legs: 14 mm (down 8 mm)
• % of Body Fat: 16.46% (down 12.53%)
• 20.25 lbs of Body Fat (down 16.28 lbs)
• 102.75 lbs of Lean Body Weight (up 13.28 lbs)

Oops I…:

• Again, with the cream cheese sushi!
• Overate at Frank Grisanti's for lunch yesterday, but I blame Larkin for sending it all out.
• Ate chili tamales Tuesday night...I was too scared to look at the nutritional info.

Proud that I…:

• Have not had Poncho's white cheese dip, even though it's in my fridge (it's the small victories)
• Resisted the urge for fast food while Ryan was out of town. Opted for chicken noodle soup.
• STILL have not had Chick-Fil-A
• Went to Boot Camp Saturday and everyday this week
• Have come so close to my goal and I am still motivated to lose more!

So yeah- I'm good with that. I'll be back the week of the 21st to tell you all about our trip and post the much-anticipated beach body photo. Or maybe I won't post it- all that matters is that I feel comfortable taking it!

If you'd like to try Memphis Adventure Boot Camp, check them out online or on Facebook. The women there are so encouraging- it really makes all the difference!


*I didn't say how long it would take me :)