Progress w/Pictures and a Plan

It is Sunday evening here in Eastern Standard Time (USA). The foods have been cooked for the week, the lunch box and containers are clean and ready, gym bag cleaned out, workout clothes ready and packed for tomorrow and the plan has been written.

Let the week begin! Tomorrow begins with a good nights sleep and a plan in hand.

This is an exciting week for me! I have been so diligent to be on plan because I am going to meet my friend Tabitha on Friday for the first time and watch as she competes in a natural bodybuilding competition that she has been training for. Tabs, as I call her, has been part of my tight circle of friends for almost a year now. Last June she and I and two others started on our serious journey at the same time and started writing what could become known as The Bikini Blogs. We energized each other and I could not wait to see the latest progress pictures from this group of gals. We chatted, texted, and just clicked . . some a little tighter than others. We were all in our forties and feeling fantastic for the first time in our lives . . . I referred to us as the Fantastic Four. I felt fantastic whenever I heard about their accomplishments and progress and they made me feel fantastic with their words of encouragement. I hope you have a circle of friends like that here on Spark. If not, seek on out. Press into someones space and be part of what is going on in their journey. Link up with people who are headed in the same direction as you or have already achieved what you dream of achieving.

Let me get back on track. You know I could write a book a night. LOL!! So, I will have a shorter workout week and a little tighter schedule because of traveling . . .but you know I have a plan.

Monday: Cooler 2 Day 4 Workout is Lower Body Blast - Boom Boom Pow
Breakfast: Ezekiel English Muffin, spread with yogurt cheese, topped with spinach, tomato and scrambled egg whites.
Snack: Trail mix (almonds, cashews, dried cranberries, raisins, 1 apple, water.
Lunch: Spinach w/grilled chicken, pitted chopped dates, slivered almonds, dash of both olive oil and balsamic vinegar, water.
Snack: 1 sliced orange (I will have kiwi) 1 handful cashews, water.
Dinner: Bison burger, roasted carrots and brussel sprouts, quinoa. water.

Tuesday: Cooler 1 Day 2 Workout is a 2 mile run
Breakfast: Oatmeal, w/flaxseed, wheat germ, chia seed, cinnamon. scrambled egg whites
Snack: 1/2 apple; water packed tuna (and I am adding 2 TBSP greek yogurt here. I have been without dairy for too long because of the previous 28 day challenge, you do what is best for you to reach your goals).
Lunch 1/2 sweet potato, spinach topped with grilled chicken breast, radishes, cucumber, dash of balsamic vinegar, water.
Snack: tuna, cherry tomatoes (I add tuscan spice mix and a drizzle of olive oil)
Dinner: Roasted turkey breast, 1/2 sweet potato, steamed asparagus, water.

Wednesday: Stripped Plan Week 1 Thursday Full Body Circuit w/upper body emphasis
Breakfast: Oatmeal with 1/2 banana, chopped walnuts, 4 egg whites.
Snack 1/2 chicken breast; steamed green beans; water.
Lunch: Bison burger, raw spinach w/radishes, straberries & chopped almonds, squeeze of lemon, water.
Snack: Protein shake: 1 scoop powder, water: 1 pear.
Dinner: Lots O' Peppers Seafood and Black Bean Chili, water.

Thursday: Cooler 1 Day 7 Rest night to pay and prepare foods for the weekend.
Breakfast: Oatmeal w/flaxseed, wheatgerm, chia seed, cinnamon. Egg whites, water.
Snack: 1/2 apple; protein shake made with water + 1 scoop powder.
Lunch: Grilled Tuna Loin (I will have salmon here) 1/2 sweet potato; radishes. water.
Snack: Hardboiled eggs, sliced tomatoes, 1/2 pear. water.
Dinner: Grilled chicken, 1/2 sweet potato, zucchini, asparagus, water.

Friday: Stripped Week 2 Friday early morning lower body workout + teach yoga at noon before hitting the road to Illinois.
Breakfast: Take Me on Vacation Oatmeal. water
Snack: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 1 pear
Lunch: Tuna over romaine lettuce with sprouts & squirt of lemon
Snack: Strawberries and cashews
Dinner: Baked Tilapia (it says trout) w/mixed veggies and brown rice (I will use farro)


Saturday: Cooler 1 Day 7 (not sure about my workout this morning, scheduled to run 3 - 4 miles)
Breakfast: Oatmeal w/flaxseed, wheat germ, cinnamon, chia seeds, hardboiled eggs. water.
Snack: 1/2 apple, protein shake made with water + 1 scoop protein powder
Lunch: Baked fish + 1/2 sweet potato, radishes. water.
Snack: Hardboiled egges, sliced tomatoes, 1/2 pear. water
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, 1/2 sweet potato, zucchini, asparagus. water.

Sunday: Cooler 1 Day 3 Rest day travel home.
Breakfast: Oatmeal w/flaxseed, wheat germ, cinnamon, chia seeds, hardboiled eggs. water.
Snack: 1 pear; grilled chicken
Lunch: Grilled chicken + 1/2 sweet potato + green beans
Snack: turkey breast, radishes
Dinner: Grilled bison, 1/2 sweet potato, zucchini. water

There it is. That's the plan.

I am hoping I am able to get in a full force exercise set tomorrow. I am extremely sore this weekend. I am not sure why, it could be any one of a number of reasons. I am working out at a new gym with different equipment that hits muscles in a different way, I have a new workout routine, I missed two epsom salt baths after two key workouts this week and I have changed my menus. Oh, and I started running again this week. So, my muscles feel totally trashed. My obliques and hips hurt like they have never hurt before. For this weeks pictures I could not hold in my abs and felt like flexing was just too much effort. But, I do feel changes in my body and how my swimsuit is fitting.


Two weeks difference. On the left is the end of the Stripped program, then I had a week off and did not take a before pic before starting this 28 Day Challenge. Right is today.




I had my hair pulled back in the other two pics, but had to retake this one due to a bad angle and had already taken my hair down when I realized I needed a redo.


My new swimsuit! The top is reversible. The other side is the same print as the shorts


I am ready for summer!!!!

I have my toenails painted a pretty coral pink and all my new sandals, dresses and skirts lined up for this week!!! Bring on warm weather!!! I am ready!