Sunday 29 January 2012

I haven't posted the last two days or written up the blog. This is mainly because I have skipped most of the workouts. I just did not have the energy or will power. However my weight is declining and today hit its lowest for this MAP - 127 pounds - a total loss of 9 pounds. This is really pleasing. My measurements have not altered much, but my belly button waist is down a bit. There is still far too much fat around my tum.

I found the fast difficult but stuck it out. Helping this determination was the thought of fillet steak that I bought for my evening meal on the fast day and yesterday. It was so tender and absolutely delicious. I have bought veggies to help - bok choi that I have never bought before. That was nice - I cooked it up with mushrooms and onions.

Now today I do want to psych myself up to do workouts. Although it is the body ones, I can't manage them and do not want to risk hurting myself at this stage. I plan to stick to pyramid and meltdown as I think they achieve the most for me, even though I do not like doing them. I do not like rushing or getting out of breath.

Even though it is not a carb day, I had Greek Yoghurt, muesli and a bit of rockmelon and honeydew melon for breakfast. I have been full of resolve to do pyramid and meltdown today, but now the time has come, I just can't. For a quick lunch/snack, I had an apple, some nuts and water to try to make sure I was not over hungry before the workout, but not I can't put it off any more. I am just going to rest. Earlier I did some housework and some cutting down things in the garden, but I just feel as though I do not have any more energy.

The End of MAP - 8 Feb 2012

I thought I would just put my final post here, so I have a record of it.

I would just like to thank you Deb for the huge effort you have put into this program. You have been unfailingly encouraging and helpful to everyone. I am sure I am not the only one to wonder how you made time to reply to everyone's post in individual terms that addressed their achievements and their concerns. I am also grateful to Dax for his kindness in running MAP again. He has really contributed to increasing the well-being of countless numbers of participants in his programs over the years.

I fell off the workouts program after three weeks, but I did continue with eating ED level 2 up to the end of the month. I did not do the final waves and fasts. I think the workouts and the wave/fast really put me off towards the end. Also, I was probably a bit more stressed during this program than during my previous Meltdown and MAP as I am now needing to spend much more time caring for my husband.

Unlike others who have reported their increased energy, my energy was sapped during the program and I did not like this feeling at all. To be honest, I found all the unfailing good cheer of most people's posts demoralising - not a nice thing to admit, I know. At the same time, I do admire their successes and am quite astounded at the fabulous results many people achieved.

My meltsown densities and pyramid times kept on improving, but this was not enough to motivate me to keep on with these workouts. Currently, now and again, I do some squats, lunges and pushups, bits of PC and bits of DB Matrix. I also do a Pilates class once a week at the gym.

I lost three more pounds in the final week where I was not doing any workouts, but I am afraid I sabotaged my efforts almost immediately by returning to dairy, wheat and caffeine. My weight rebounded of course.  Overall, I have still lost the six pounds that I lost in the early days of the program. I never did lose inches, but perhaps my tummy feels less large in the mornings. I do intend to have another go at sticking to the ED to try to keep my weight under control and I am continuing to take the supplements, including Vit B complex.

I did not bother with the final pictures, as there would be little change to see. My son thinks my arms are toned and he is impressed that I can now do ten pushups on my toes.

My guess is that I am the oldest participant at 70, but I do not think my age led to my failure to complete - that was lack of mental determination. Overall though, I have achieved my goals of losing weight and becoming more fit, but looking back, it is a shame I could not stick it out to the very end.

Thursday 26 January 2012 Australia Day

I was at my lowest weight yet this morning - not by much - but all weight lost is a cause to rejoice. 128.9 lb. Cracked below 129. Yes!

Today was a carb day and I enjoyed Greek Yoghurt, mixed berries and banana for breakfast. Lunch was chicken and lettuce, while dinner was steak, pumpkin, potato and a few grapes. I thought about that potato, because of its being a nightshade plant that apparently aggravates arthritis, but it looked so delicious, baked, that I had some. I did not have the tomato, red capsicum based salad that I made for my hub. My arthritis has been quiet of late. Maybe it is because I haven't had the nightshades and maybe it is because of the exercise and liquid fish oil.

I was extremely tired this morning and went back to bed - unusual for me. By the time I was up and decided it was time to get something done, it was about 3pm. I did PC - 50 reps but only 10 walkouts. For some reason my mind was not dead set against the workouts today, so I did pyramid before dinner with 1m 40s to spare and then did meltdown after dinner. I haven't been totting up the densities lately, but I thought I would add this one into my list as it was quite improved, except for Spidey and the lunges which have plateaued.


Pushups / squats:       97/81  81/72   76/67   75/65    78/69    73/68     70/65       65/63      59/54      48/42  
Shoulder press/sbl:     83/45   66/44   67/41  63/42     62/44     62/44     49/46       47/45      43/40      46/39 
Spidey/stl:                 40/20  43/18   41/18   40/18    43/20     38/20      41/19      39/19       37/17     27/18
Curl and press/ sq     32/65  28/65   27/63    28/52    29/63    28/59     28/58       26/58       25/48     23/43  


Now for the fast tomorrow.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Getting fed up! My weight has plateaued around 129.5 pounds. It has been that way for about 10 days. I am still strictly on the ED and have followed the wave and first fast meticulously. Lost nothing over that fast. I am starting to look at goodies again - I can't stand the thought that I won't each biccies again. I miss having some kind of dessert after dinner. It could be fruit and Greek Yoghurt, except they are on the banned list for low carb days.

Today I had my lovely butter scrambled eggs for breakfast, smoked salmon, avocado and lettuce for lunch, and a very nice grilled beef, with mushrooms, onions and turmeric dish, and steamed broccoli.

Workouts are just a pain to be endured. I did PC this morning, again in dribs and drabs. Then this afternoon, I did pyramid in less than the 20 minutes. But I couldn't believe it - I was too quick to switch the control on the iphone. I think I had 2 minutes something to spare, but can't be sure - damnation. Now I still have Meltdown to  go- I may or may not do it - depending on how I feel and how long it takes to get hub to bed and the washing up done.

Yes I did Meltdown.

Saturday 21 January 2012

Oh well, it had to happen. No blog for three days. I have been too wiped out, more mentally, but physically too. I just could not face doing those workouts. On Wednesday, I did none because I went out to the theatre to see Love Never Dies. I had too much to do before I left and then was tired when I came back.

On Thursday, I did ICP reassessment and PC and on Friday, after needing to go out, by mid-afternoon, I just had to sleep, for a couple of hours. Then I decided to do something that I don't mind - my Wii cardio for 16 minutes (step and small jog.)

Now today, I somehow feel I have a bit more energy. I did DB Matrix (actually in dribs and drabs while I tended to my husband's shower - lunges in one room, weights in another). I repeated each of them, but not in sequence. I still cannot get my legs over at all. I used to be able to do this, with quite a bit of momentum and arm help. Maybe I'll build up to it again.

I have also done Pyramid and this time had 50s to spare. My best yet. I have left PC until last, as I know that as the day goes on, I would not be able to face pyramid.

I know Dax recommends not weighing oneself every day, but I am addicted. For the last three days, my weight has been trending back down again after the blip up to 130.5 and today was 129.4 lb. Pretty good! And so it should be as I have stuck to the ED. Yesterday, I bought in some silver beet and cooked it up with mushrooms and onions to have with a piece of salmon. The veggies were nice, but I overcooked the salmon, so it was a bit dry. I made my husband some baked potato and pumpkin to go with his dinner, and it sure smelled good. Strong little me - I did not even have a taste.

This morning for breakfast I had lovely scrambled eggs - this time with organic butter and almond milk - with avocado. The butter made them so much nicer than the olive oil I usually cook in. Then I was still hungry, so had to have some celery and smoked salmon.

For snack I had a few nuts and by mid-afternoon - lunchtime, I started to feel hungry, so had smoked salmon, avocado and lettuce.

Now I have completed PC (50 reps and 20 walkouts) and had dinner: spinach, onion and mushrooms with veal steak (a bit tough - I bought it on special).

I did cardio with the Wii, two basic step and one free step. Took 16 minutes.

Tuesday January 17 2012

New lowest weight today at 129.1 pounds. Did Meltdown, densities  improved, but can't be bothered to record them here. It is early, but I am tired and will go to bed without doing any of the other workouts.

My husband and I went to a friend's place for lunch today and it was totally enjoyable and ED friendly as I had told them about the diet. Getting home was not good, as stupidly, I took a wrong turn and added heaps of time to the return journey. We were both tired. He is in bed now and I ate my usual quickie of smoked salmon, avocado and celery. Now to bed.

Monday 16 January 2012

I can't be bothered to spend the time tonight. I am flagging in enthusiasm for the workouts and for doing the blog. Breakfast was one fried egg with onion. I had a busy day, going to the gym for Pilates and I did DB Matrix there.

Then I had to get my husband lunch and get him ready to take him to the podiatrist. After that some shopping to chase something that was out of stock. Then home to get him dinner. I had fillet steak and green salad.
Now it is time to wash up and go to bed. No pyramid and only a tiny bit of PC.