I know this is a beauty blog so if you have zero interest in weightloss and fitness, skip this entry and read another one. I was thinking of creating a second blog or Tumblr account for this but then I thought, damn it, this is my blog and I can write whatever I want! There's no need to create a million different channels and accounts just because it's a different subject.
For those of you who are still reading - HI! I thought it would be great to write journals (mostly for myself but for anyone else who cares to read along) about my weightloss journey and lifestyle change. As some of you might already know, I've totally changed my diet and fitness habits since January and have continually been losing weight. I did this with a nutritious and healthy eating plan and exercising. No diet pills, no crazy crash diets, just the good old natural way.
This past week I've decided to up the ante and start doing some strength training in addition to my cardio. The reason being is that I'm staring to plateau, meaning I'm not losing much weight anymore despite eating well, and my body just needs a change of pace.
I started pilates but honestly, I felt it was really tough on my back from doing most of the moves lying down and I just didn't feel comfortable with it and had mediocre results. So now I've moved on to a fitness DVD called P90X. It's a high intensity workout DVD that targets specific regions in your body (core, shoulders, back, legs, abs, etc.) and has extremely varied workouts, the main focus being on strength and endurance. I am absolutely loving this! Most of the movements are done standing up which is much easier on my back, and you don't need a ton of additional accessories to get started. I bought a pair of 3kg weights (6.6 lbs) and an exercise mat as I don't have carpeting at home. There's some routines that involve a chin-up bar but I'm nowhere near that strong yet.
I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get through even a single routine as I'm a complete wimp when it comes to strength, but I was amazed when I did my first arms and shoulders workout on there and managed to get through the entire thing. Two days ago I did the workout for legs, and let me tell you, I am paying for it now. My muscles were extremely sore the day after, but this is normal if you're a beginner, as your muscles have to adjust to your new fitness routine. I love the fact that I can target a different area each day, so that when I'm sore the next day, I can work out another part of my body while giving the sore areas rest.
Would I recommend this DVD series to a complete beginner? Well, it is challenging; if you are extremely obese and haven't done any exercise or cardio in years, this most likely will be too tough for you. I am very new to strength training but have been doing regular cardio for 3 months, and I am able to get through the workouts, doing fewer reps and lower weights than the muscle maniac instructor of course. So I guess this is a good DVD for those who have reached a medium level fitness routine already and want to build muscle. Though I've read that some people started this completely out of shape and stuck with it, but it would probably have been too hard for me.
I've been extremely motivated lately to switch up my fitness routine, as I was starting to get bored of the elliptical machine. I'm going to try to keep this up all summer, I really cannot wait to start seeing results, though I know it won't happen overnight. It's a lot of sweat, pain and tears but I've never felt better. I need to concoct a perfect post-workout power drink that will replenish my body and muscles, as my body is screaming "FEED ME" right after. Right now I'm doing smoothies containing plain yogurt, berries, 1 banana, and some oatmeal for carbs, but I might have to look into adding some protein supplement in there as well - not quite sure where to buy that. I'm not one to chug down a bottle of Gatorade or another chemical drink.
I think this change in my fitness routine will definitely have an impact. I never thought that training just using your body weight could be so effective, but it's right up my alley. I hate gyms, I hate smelly locker rooms and unhygienic showers, so I love that I can do this whenever I want at home. I haven't tried out all the routines yet, I'm looking forward to trying out the Kenop segment next, which is based on martial arts moves.
As for the rest of my diet, I'm still eating the same as before. High on vegetables and proteins, reduced but consistent amount of whole-grain carbohydrates, and the occasional cheat meal on weekends. I don't do entire cheat days, but if I want to have the occasional sweet now and then like some ice cream on a hot day, I'll have it.
Some of my viewers voiced concern that I shouldn't become obsessed with weightloss and exercise - trust me, I'm not. I still have a life outside of all this, I meet with friends and family, go out, and don't think about every morsel of food I put in my mouth, and punish myself afterwards by over-exercising. The way I see it is that I was a lazy couch potato long enough, so now I really have to work my butt off (literally) for a few months to make that retroactive, then it's all about maintenance. I never want to slip back into my inactivity and laziness and poor eating habits again. I am liking what I see in the mirror more and more, and that is putting a bounce back in my step, and motivating me to keep going.
That's my latest update, I filmed a weightloss update video a few days ago that I'll upload onto my vlogging channel on Youtube soon enough where you'll see new progress pics and I answer some of the questions people had.
Have a great day!
