I’ve only been in Phase 2 of the program for two weeks. I have to say
that it’s quite a bit more challenging than Phase 1 – but I was ready for it! I
think my least favorite part is that 30 minutes of cardio is required four
times a week. I’m much fonder of the quick HIIT workouts or just super-setting
while I lift to get in my cardio. But, I’ve decided to forgo the treadmill for
the most part and turned to biking instead. I’m already walking at least three miles per day, plus I stand a good portion of the day at work to get in my NEAT
time.
Otherwise, I’m enjoying the lifting workouts. They are well-organized
and challenging in themselves, plus it’s very challenging to get used to
lifting six days a week. YIKES! I’m used to a bit more rest and it shows,
unfortunately. During workout #39, my back popped while I was doing jackknife sit-ups
(ahh…the joys of middle-age!). I managed to get through workout #40 since that
was focused on shoulders and cardio. But, I skipped the #41 leg workout, so I
could get two rest days in a row. I’m SO happy I did this because I’m feeling
about 95% today and I’m ready to get back in the gym for my next workout.
I thought about going back and picking up at the leg workout rather
than sticking to my regular schedule. But, I’ll be back to the leg workout
tomorrow again since it’s twice per week. Save my knees and back a bit for
another day.
Like I said, as far as the workout goes, I’m still happy with it and I
want to finish it now that I’ve made it this far. I definitely feel stronger!
And, I feel like I’m more concentrated on my workouts as I’m doing them than I
am when I write my own workout program. But, I was derailed a bit when I
weighed in on Friday and realized I’d gained back the three pounds I lost
during the first four weeks and then some. I wasn’t expecting it because I’ve
made nutrition modifications over the past six weeks that were improved from
the summer months. Namely:
- Tracked food and stuck to macros more consistently (I needed more protein!)
- Reduced average alcohol intake by half (I had a very stressful summer, which contributed to my red wine intake...)
- Reduced average calorie intake from 1800 to 1600 per day
- Increased activity with this workout plan, plus I changed my desk at work so I could stand all day instead of sitting!
So, you can see why I’m disappointed! That said, I’ve been at this
weight loss thing for a long time. I haven’t been “perfect” over the last six
weeks. There’s more cleaning up I can do with my diet. Looking over my macro
intake, I need to cut out a little bit of fat and I can afford a bit more carbs
and protein. And, I’m sad to say, there’s more room to cut the red wine and increase
my water intake! I’m also going to look at my daily caloric intake and make
sure I’m getting it right. As backwards as it sounds it could be that I’m not
eating enough. If anything, I’ll increase my protein intake here to experiment
with eating more calories.
Most importantly, I think I just need to keep at it and continue to be consistent. I’m thankful that
I’ve been tracking my calorie/macro intake and expenditure so carefully because
that information is going to help me experiment with adjustments. I’ve also
been tracking what’s going on in my life each day, so I can see if there are
patterns that I can adjust. It’s a testament to tracking! I know it’s a
complete pain to do it, but it’s such a great information tool!
Wish me luck on the rest of Phase 2! I’ll update again soon!
