I know it's been a while since my last post and I haven't been keeping up with the blog as I had intended, it's been a crazy year with lots of changes. I'm now moved back to the East Side of Milwaukee and just started my first semester of graduate school for my Master's in Counseling. Since I graduated with my Bachelor's in May 2013 I've lived in 4 different homes, worked 4 different jobs (at different times), and began grad school. Also during this time I gained about 15 pounds, yikes! I think the past year and a half I've been in quarter-life crisis, feeling so lost as to what I wanted to do with my life. I feel I'm slowly figuring things out and have taken a big leap forward starting grad school, but there are still some doubts surrounding the program and finding a more specific direction within the program. I'm hoping as I go through my classes and perhaps engage in some volunteer work I can learn what areas I'm more interested in. I can already tell grad school is going to be a bit more demanding and challenging than my more laid-back undergrad years. Knowing this, I've been making serious attempts to turn around my eating and other lifestyle habits, while still approaching it with realistic goals.
The good news is I've been able to maintain my weight or may have lost a few pounds since moving at the beginning of August. I've also discovered Jillian Michaels workout DVDs after reading many success stories online. After restarting it a couple of times, I now just completed Day 7 of her 30 Day Shred video, which is free on youtube by the way. In the past, I mostly focused on cardio at the gym and really only switched between power walking on the treadmill and occasionally exercising on the elliptical. Now going through the 30 Day Shred, which is a High Intensity Interval Training of about 28 minutes of non-stop cardio and strength training, I can how my workouts in the past weren't really cutting it. I can tell you the workout is not easy, you will very sore the first few days and will be drenched in sweat. I have already seen a big improvement in my endurance from Day 1 and I feel like the workout is getting a little easier. After Day 10 I will be moving on to Level 2 workout for 10 days, and then onto Level 3 for the last 10 days (I do take a Rest day after about every 5 days). While I'm proud of myself for sticking with the 30 Day Shred (so far!), I am still attempting to make similar gains with my eating habits. My goal is to minimize processed foods and keep up with cooking and meal prep so I have healthy food to eat when I'm in a hurry.
I really hate that I have gained this weight and weigh this much while I'm starting this new chapter of my life. This spring I had told myself I'd reach my goal weight before starting school, but so much for that. I know this is going to be something that will take some time, and I'm slowly accepting that fact. Part of me feels ready to jump in and start dating now that things are a little more stable with school and my living arrangements, but part of me feels I must be disciplined enough to make some important lifestyle changes before I jump into something. One day at a time.
I'm planning to repost soon with more feedback and updates from the 30 Day Shred progress!
The good news is I've been able to maintain my weight or may have lost a few pounds since moving at the beginning of August. I've also discovered Jillian Michaels workout DVDs after reading many success stories online. After restarting it a couple of times, I now just completed Day 7 of her 30 Day Shred video, which is free on youtube by the way. In the past, I mostly focused on cardio at the gym and really only switched between power walking on the treadmill and occasionally exercising on the elliptical. Now going through the 30 Day Shred, which is a High Intensity Interval Training of about 28 minutes of non-stop cardio and strength training, I can how my workouts in the past weren't really cutting it. I can tell you the workout is not easy, you will very sore the first few days and will be drenched in sweat. I have already seen a big improvement in my endurance from Day 1 and I feel like the workout is getting a little easier. After Day 10 I will be moving on to Level 2 workout for 10 days, and then onto Level 3 for the last 10 days (I do take a Rest day after about every 5 days). While I'm proud of myself for sticking with the 30 Day Shred (so far!), I am still attempting to make similar gains with my eating habits. My goal is to minimize processed foods and keep up with cooking and meal prep so I have healthy food to eat when I'm in a hurry.
I really hate that I have gained this weight and weigh this much while I'm starting this new chapter of my life. This spring I had told myself I'd reach my goal weight before starting school, but so much for that. I know this is going to be something that will take some time, and I'm slowly accepting that fact. Part of me feels ready to jump in and start dating now that things are a little more stable with school and my living arrangements, but part of me feels I must be disciplined enough to make some important lifestyle changes before I jump into something. One day at a time.
I'm planning to repost soon with more feedback and updates from the 30 Day Shred progress!