OFFICIAL WOMEN'S CHALLENGE THREAD

[UConnJulie]

OK, there have been 8-10 of you who said you were in ... let's hope at challenge's end there are still 8-10!!!

Purposes of this challenge ...
1. Accountability. Nothing does it like having your pictures out there for everyone to see.
2. Improved body composition for participants.
3. Support and problem solving (if things aren't progressing for you).
4. FUN!!!

Rules:
1. You can do any plan ... does NOT have to be NROL4W ... you can change plans mid-stream ... but you have to state what your plan is ... disqualification if you are doing something stupid like Kimikins.
2. You MUST post your beginning stats and photos sometime between now and January 7th. If you don't want to post your pictures, then this challenge isn't for you. If I'm the only one challenging, well, so be it. I need the accountability. I will NOT be this fat in 3 months.
3. You are encouraged to keep a log in the training log forum. That way when you complain that you aren't making progress, we can look and see what you might/might not be doing that is contributing.
4. The challenge will run for 3 months ... you will be required to post progress photos by the first of each month and by contest end of April 1st. Winner will be decided by poll.

I'll be posting my plan, stats, and photos later today.

Happy challenging!!!

[UConnJulie]

CLARIFICATION: You can do any plan you want ... PSMF, Weight Watchers, PN, TNT, Cass's plan from NROL4W, anything ... but nothing stupid or dangerous where you are starving yourself or are taking diet pills or only eating grapefruit on alternate days when the moon is out or what have you. HEALTH is just as important (if not more so) than appearance. And although this is a competition based upon visible results (ie appearance), you will be penalized if you are doing something that detracts from your overall health.

[fengshway]

I started a log under Wendy's Transformation. can't get the pics to load, but they are visible here:

http://journals.aol.com/fengshway/WendysFitnessJourney/

[fengshway]

my training log is in my sig

[UConnJulie]

Here it is ... the ugly truth ... time to face the music ... this will be so good for me to have this accountability ... trust me, I will NOT look this way in 3 months ...



Current Stats:

Weight: (gulp) 181.2 lbs (the most EVER except when 9 months pregnant)
% BF: 34.4 using 1-site Accumeasure (just to trend)
Measurements:
Upper Chest = 36"
Right Upper Arm = 13.5"
Ribcage = 31.5"
Waist = 33.25"
Navel = 36"
Hips = 44"
Right Upper Thigh = 25.5"

(I had myself a good cry this morning after viewing the pictures and comparing to where I was a year ago with weight/measurements/appearance ... but I know that it was good to heal my metabolism and get my hormones back on track. I vow that I will NEVER look like this again!!!)

My plan ...

Exercise ... this week I will do yoga 4-5 times as a deload week/prep week for NROL4W which I will start on Monday, January 7th. My plan is to follow the program as written, so I'll be starting with Stage I and doing 3 workouts per week. I'm really glad that the program is progressive and doesn't start with any intervals until stage 2 (stage 1 is 6 weeks). It should give me time to gauge my recovery and make sure I don't exacerbate the adrenal fatigue. I also plan to do yoga at least twice a week to aid in recovery.

Nutrition ... I'm going to track my intake for a few weeks. If I start to get obsessive and nutty, then I will stop. I will be following mostly Schwarzbein's program ...
1. 5 meals daily
2. 20 g protein at each meal
3. 20 g "real carbs" at each meal, not including fibrous veggies
4. fats until I am satisfied, leaning away from saturated fats since I am trying to drop bodyfat

But I also will take into consideration Cass's recommendations because she is a smart lady and I want to see what it does for me ... so I am aiming for ...
Non-workout days:
Calories = 1645
100 g protein
65 g fat
165 g carbs
(per meal = 329 cals, 20 g protein, 13 g fat, 33 g carbs)

Workout days:
Calories = 1926
120 g protein
74 g fat
195 g carbs
*On workout days I will have a post-workout shake, which will basically make up the difference in calories (shake = 281 cals, 20 g protein, 9 g fat, 30 g carbs). It will not be whey due to an allergy. I am going to concoct something using kefir and/or greek yogurt or maybe some cottage cheese to avoid using soy.

My goals:

1. Ultimately I'd like to be 20% bodyfat which given my current bodyfat and subsequent lean body mass puts me somewhere in the 145-150 lb range. I doubt I will reach that in 3 months, but hopefully in 6 months. So if I am halfway there by April 1st I'll be really happy.

2. Get back on track with my exercise and nutrition. I have let it slip ... too much (obviously from looking at my pictures!).

3. Remain healthy ... no increase in fatigue or joint pain ... sleep continues to be good ... no moodiness ... no foggy brain ...


That's it folks ... please please please hold me to it. I NEED the tough love ... I'm counting on you all to give it to me (even those not in the challenge.)

Posting this here and in my log (which is in my siggie).

[L'ilJ]

Julie...you are gonna kick ass AND take names! Good luck!

[RacerBill]

Ah, so here's where the Women's Challenge thread ended up!

100% behind you, Julie and Wendy! You'll be accomplishing great things!

[missjane]

OK, here are pics and stats (not too good with the images resizing thing!):



For diet, I will be following NHE (Natural Hormonal Enhancement). Basically, after a 7-day break-in period of little carbs, I will be following a 3/4 cycle. Two days of high protein, 60 carbs or less per day (30 max at a single meal), then day three will be a carb load as last meal of the day. Days four, five, six back to high protein, low carbs. Day 7 another carb load end of day. And repeat. After a month, I will evaluate how this is going and see if any adjustments in diet need to be made.

I will be following NROL4W from Stage 1 right on through til the end.

Beginning measurements:

Weight 160.5 - 5'8"
Chest 40.0
Right below chest 32.0
Lower abdomen 39.5
Waist 32.5
Hips 41.0
Right Thigh 24.25

Official start date will be 1-7-08.

[L'ilJ]

Excellent plan Jane. Good luck with the challenge!

[Bluefever]

Is it to late to join the challenge?

I am waiting for NROL4W to arrive. Would love the accountability too.

[Jodi]

I would like to join, too! Will try and get some pics taken tomorrow.




Jodi

[UConnJulie]

Not too late ... we officially start on January 7th (Monday) ... post your stats/photos/plan here before then and you're good to go!!

[vanessa40]

Hi Everyone,
I got my book today so i'll spend tonight reading it and getting ready

[Steve-O-68]

Good luck ladies! I'll definitely be following along.

[orangechic]

I will be joining in as well- my goals to increase muscle! I want amazing arms and noticeable abs!
My stats-
Age- 26
Height- 5'7
Weight- 116

[missjane]

C'mon girls!! Only THREE of us in so far???

[Aoife]

OK chicas, do us proud!

cheers

[vanessa40]