Thursday, September 9, 2010

Skinny Jean Challenge - Day Minus 3

Last month I signed up for the "Skinny Jean Challenge" at my gym. The goal is to lose 2 jean sizes in 8 weeks. There are 4 training sessions per week, and then nutritional guidelines. You take in a pair of jeans, try to fit your fat hiney into them, get your picture taken, then start the challenge. At the end of the 8 weeks, if you can fit into your jeans, you're eligible for some prizes. Sounds great, right?! OK - let me fill you in on my consultation ...
The nutritional guidelines are around "eating clean" ... you aren't going to believe this. Sit down. Eating clean means eating no processed foods ... basically no packaged foods ... no bread (with exception - I can eat Ezekiel bread. They keep that in the freezer section of the grocery store. It's that good - they have to freeze it ... I'm guessing this stuff doesn't fly off the shelf!!) ... no pasta ... no rice ... no waffles ... no tortillas ... NO SOFT DRINKS ... no splenda ... no chips (even the baked kind!) ... so basically that means I will have to change almost everything I do today!! No more protein bars for breakfast with a diet coke. No more Jersey Mike or Subway sandwiches for lunch with baked Lay's. No more Brixx's pasta or pizza. Did I mention no more diet coke?!
I start this challenge Monday. I am so excited and yet SO NERVOUS! I have been planning "meals" for 2 days ... I have come up with 6, and considering I am supposed to eat 6 of these mini meals a day, I have a day's a worth! Apple & peanut butter is one. Greek yogurt and berries is one. 1/2 chicken breast and broccoli. Raw veggies & hummus. Hard-boiled egg and banana. Now I can't even remember the 6th one!! At any rate, the goal is to have a protein and a fruit or veggie with every meal. NEVER eat a carbohydrate alone (ever!) ... (oops! you mean that snack of cheez-its isn't healthy??) Oh - did I mention the water? Half your weight in ounces. All of this has to be tracked. If you "splurge" (you know, get wild with a $1 unsweet tea with splenda from McDonalds), you have to put an "X" on your tracker. Only 4 "X's" per week - that's 90% compliance.
And then the exercise part ... I am soooo nervous about that! When my trainer asked me Monday if I worked out, I did NOT tell her I had been trying to run recently. I'm fine with her thinking I walk at a brisk 2.5 miles per hour twice a week! I want to set the expectations LOW!! My first session is Monday at 7am. My sessions are Monday & Wednesday at 7 and Tuesday & Thursday at 6. I am planning to go to the gym Friday mornings to walk, just so I am really pushing myself these next 8 weeks.
OK - I am soooo nervous!! Be thinking about me! I am going to ask the trainer to email my picture to me. I am sure you are all dying to see me trying to fit into my 2 sizes too small jeans ... (when I was trying them on before heading to the gym, Dillon was making fun of me. He didn't know he was, but he pulled his shorts down and then pretended like he was really struggling to pull them back up ... nice ...)
One last weekend of splurges before I get started!! Dion, Dillon and I are going camping tomorrow! Can't wait! Will post more on that when we get back! I haven't been camping since high school - and that last year, I'm pretty sure I ended up sleeping in the van!

1 comment:

Liz Morrow said...

Go and pick up a "Clean Eating" magazine. It has great recipes for clean eating. I don't think they sell them at Target or Wal-Mart, but maybe if you have a Whole Foods or Native Sun or some healthy grocery store. Tommy's not a huge fan, but he will eat some of the things I make from it. I subscribed to it a few months ago and it's pretty good. My Stroller Strength instructor is a clean eater and she always has energy and looks great, so there must be something to it.