Adamson's Peak Performance

The holidays are here and last week I saw a beautiful satin red dress perfect for holiday parties. I ordered it online from Macy's and bought two sizes - one the size I normally wear and the other a size smaller. I like ordering from Macy's for these reason alone shipping is free, you get choices way beyond our Redding Macy's, and if it doesn't work, I can return it in our local store. Well, the red satin dress arrived today and to my joy the smaller size fit! The best part, it's sleevless and my arms looked pretty good! I've always been self conscious of my arms and thought they looked flabby....now I like the definition they are getting. It's been eight weeks, 13 lbs down and well....a full dress size. Now, I just need one thing.....and invitation to a party. Anyone?

Well, I survived Thanksgiving (barely!), I was far from perfect and therefore VERY relieved my scale didn't go up this morning when I weighed myself. It was a challenging time, 1) Well, Thanksgiving and 2)Being off my routine. Not having structure sure throws one off. Also, being away and not being able to train with Zak. What I did realize however, is that I easily could've taken this time "off" but instead I adjusted. I didn't have my workout with Zak but was still able to do planks, lunges, and push ups on my own. I also found a hill and did hill runs on two different occassions. I could've been better with food choices but I could've been ALOT worse, and I could've put my workouts on hold but instead I improvised. I learned a big lesson and it was that I don't have to be "all or nothing" as I've been in the past, sometimes a compromise is what it takes to get through the challenges (ie: Thanksgiving). Now it's a new week and I'm back on it to give it my all.

Halfway!!! I am heading into week 7 (I think....it's been going so fast I'm losing track). But, I believe I officially passed my halfway point on Friday of my 12 week program. In 6 weeks I've lost 12lbs (of fat) while gaining muscle and my jeans fit great....there aren't a pair of jeans in my closet that I dread putting on! I feel strong, my arms are getting defined and I can actually feel triceps. The biggest change I've noticed is in my core. Zak my personal trainer extraodinair is pushing me beyond my limits, I've never held a plank longer, did lunges with heavier weights or did so many push ups in my life. I'm always sore...but, in the bearable kind of way. It's just a constant reminder from my muscles that they've been worked. All of these changes have also changed the way I carry myself, I've noticed I stand up taller, there's a stronger strut in my step and confidence in my presence. I am changing into a "Fit Female" (if you're on the program you will know what a Fit Female is). I can't believe how much change has transpired in just 6 weeks not just physically, but mentally. If I feel this good at the halfway mark I can only imagine what the next 6 weeks will bring! I'll keep you posted!

Guilt - it's a five letter. We humans carry so much guilt for many different reasons, and if you're a working mom, raising children, balancing "life" we experience guilt probably hourly. One major part of my life I always struggle with guilt is with diet and exercise. Almost daily, I'd be riddled with it....if I had something to eat that was indulgent or if I didn't get in my workout or run for the day. Diet +Exercise = Guilt, they'd go hand in hand for me. However, these last five weeks have been blissfully guilt free. It's the first time in a long, long time I have felt guilt lifted off my shoulders (at least when it comes to diet and exercise). The Skinny Jeans Challenge has given me permission to splurge and to rest. The "splurge" fits into the 90/10 rule....follow the nutritional plan 90% of the time and enjoy a splurge 10% of the time. Even when I am indulging it is part of the program, I'm supposed to splurge! The same goes for the rest or recovery day in the program. My trainer Zak puts me through a hard workout 3x per week, but then he requires a recovery day in between, actually he demands it! It's amazing...I'm enjoying my rest day without feeling I need to get on my running shoes. I talked early in a blog about enjoying the journey, feeling "guilt-free" is definately a highlight of this path I'm on.

I have two words HOPE and FAITH. Those two words sum up me going through the Skinny Jeans Challenge. I HOPE, HOPE, HOPE anytime I step on the scale that the direction it is going is down. And even when it doesn't I must have FAITH in the Skinny Jeans program that I will see the results. I lost weight immediately, the first two weeks, however the follwing two weeks my scale was virtually stuck. I HOPED everyday it would get moving again and had to keep the FAITH in the program. And then, last week I lost 3lbs and broke through the plateu! I think I literally cried tears of joy. Not only for the break through on my scale but more so for the mental "break through"....knowing that I had Hope and especially Faith on my side. "I BELIEVE!" Now, that is a powerful tool!

Naomi with her Personal Trainer!

Well it's the beginning of week 5 (almost halfway there!)....I've started Phase 2 of the Skinny Jeans Challenge. This phase the diet changes up (less starches) and the workout adds in a metabolic workout. I've lost about 9lbs so far, which I'm thrilled about! The workouts are really hard and push my limits ie: planking for 60 seconds when I thought 30 was always good enough. And even though they are hard, I do look forward to them in some sadistic kind of way. Working out with a personal trainer has shown me a new way. You see I've always had this mindset....if I'm putting in the time "I want the most bang for my buck". Therefore, I've spent most of my fitness activity through the years focused on running. I truly believed running was the most amount of results for the effort. Well, I was really, really wrong. Now, I'm having a paradigm shift and learning that the "most bang for my buck" workout is the workout that utilizes all kinds of different muscle groups and then keeps burning calories through the day even when I'm resting. Running didn't do that, it just used calories in the time I was doing it. What was frustrating too, is I'd run, and run and run and never lose weight. My heart was/is probably healthy, but I never had anyone approach me and say "Naomi you must be running because your heart sure looks fantastic". Now after just a month of weight training, I already have people commenting on how I look. Here's a secret wish I have....and it's not to be the thinnest or skinniest, what my biggest desire is for people to look at me and say "you must workout". I always felt like I put in the effort so I deserve some results. My running shoes are now just for enjoyment....but, I've found the most "bang for my buck" in the gym with the weights working the muscle groups. And my personal trainer never lets me off the hook! I have a feeling 90 second planks are in my future.