Doing the Work

I’m six weeks deep.
I’m 6 weeks into my training at Body Space Fitness and I’ve lost 3 percentage points in body fat. I started at 23.3% and now, I’m down to 20.3. My take? It was hard, but not that hard. 

How did I do it? Firstly, my diet. Anyone who knows anything about fitness and nutrition will agree that most of how we look and how we feel depends on what we eat (70-80%). My homework over the past few weeks has been really looking at what I’m consuming at meals and as snacks and doing my best to incorporate protein, carbs and fat every single time. “Good” fat in the form of nuts, avocado and olive oil are essential to keeping us feeling satiated, full and far away from chips, cookies or whatever we each run to under siege by a massive snack attack (for me, it’s ice cream and frozen yogurt). Remember this: good fat is most definitely your friend.

Changes that I’ve made thus far: 

• Swapping Fage 0% greek yogurt for 2% at breakfast (there was literally zero fat in my breakfast)
• Eating a handful of mixed nuts with fresh fruit as a mid-morning snack
• Making sure that my salads start with a spinach base, which offers a higher nutrient density per calorie vs. romaine lettuce or mixed greens
• Stocking up on Quest Bars, which are much higher in protein than most others, as an afternoon snack at my desk when fresh foods aren’t readily available (I highly recommend the S’mores flavor!)
• Mixing more protein into my meals, overall, in the form of lean chicken and meat

Secondly, there’s my workouts. I’ve become much more acquainted than ever with the kettlebell. My weekly BSF sessions incorporate a mix of kettlebell training, free weights, TRX bands and core work like the body saw, which is basically a moving plank. Every third session, there’s tabata, a mix of high intensity bursts and small periods of rest, for 4 minutes per block.  It feels like torture (in a good way, kind of)…and, it’s up next. I’ve also bumped up my indoor cycling from once to twice per week. And, that’s that.

People are surprised when I say that my wedding is taking place next April and I’m already well into my training.  But, I’m a perfectionist, I’m my own worst critic–and I care very deeply about my dress, which is the most fashion-y, fun and flirty gown that I could have ever imagined.  I know that I won’t be completely happy unless I’m happy with how I look.  So that means giving myself time to succeed without starvation or insane exercise. And, I’m totally on the way. 

Here’s to being the best version of ourselves–whatever that means to you–today, tomorrow and every day thereafter.

The optimal workday lunch at my desk: spinach salad with grilled chicken, avocado, sprouts, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, chick peas, carrots, cucumbers and broccoli.

Kettle bell training: this mama is 40 pounds! 

Seated squat to shoulders to chest press with a pair of 20-pound free weights.

Celebrating 3 down.

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