Lee Lebrada 12 Week Lean Body--OHH YEA!

Let us begin with a preface: I am the type of workout-er who needs to have a SCHEDULE that I can follow to hold myself accountable. Enter: bodybuilding.com. 

BEFORE YOU THINK IT~~ No...this site is not just for body builders...do not let this scare you into thinking you will end up with popping arms veins, scary large legs and a bulging neck. I've seen those women...WHOA GIRL.

Bodybuilding.com is for everyone and I love it. Under the trainers section you can choose your gender, what type of girl/guy you want to look like and your goals. Then the site will set you up with trainers you can choose from...and begin their programs. 

I chose Lee Lebrada's 12 Week Lean Body program found here. I'm almost done with my 12 weeks and I feel amazing! I have NOT been staring at the scale so I have no clue how much weight I have lost. I chose not to obsess over the scale...because I would do exactly that...OBSESS.  Instead...I have measured the part I want to lose the most...dun dun dun BABY BELLLLLLLLLLLLY. Proud to say...I have lost two inches already and can tell a huge difference when I do that side stance in the mirror.

Below is what I love the most about bodybuilding.com. You set up your own "BodySpace" and when you start your 12 weeks it sets up a calendar for you to track your workouts everyday. Yes....on this program...as you can see...you workout everyday. However, the workouts are no longer than 45 minutes long. This works for me for the most part. I do occasionally miss a day. But this calendar keeps me accountable--I need structure!

On this program you basically have the following types of days:

Cardio Day

Legs & Ab Day

Shoulders & Triceps Day

Back & Biceps/Cardio Day

I absolutely love this layout! I love that when I have my cardio day...it's JUST cardio day...and I'm done for the night!...Except on back day...but back day only consists of four workouts and then 20-30 minutes of cardio. So simple. The other days are just lifting weight with the appropriate area of the body and Lee chooses what workouts to do for you. Again, so simple.

I always thought I needed to be a cardio bunny. I have learned through much research that this is not true. Even MORE important is LIFTING WEIGHTS!

Women please listen to me when I say:

LIFT WEIGHTS AS HEAVY AS YOU CAN!

For some reason women are scared of weight lifting when really it's the best thing you can do. Muscle burns fat like crazy...so lift lift lift! I bought this book and it's amazing! Tons of pictures and variation to work every inch of your body!

Do not skimp when you are lifting your weights. When you choose your weight...make sure that at the end of your set of 8-10 that your muscles are bUrNiNg! Rest for one minute and repeat...Just like Lee says ;)

I have been amazed that in this 12 weeks...well lets say this last 8 weeks when I realized that I was letting myself lift way too easy....how much strength I have gained. My legs look amazing and feel so strong!

Okay...enough for today...check out bodybuilding.com...there is something for everyone and great training programs. Look through them and find one that fits you best and DO THE 12 WEEKS! (most are 12 week programs). Twelve weeks is not a long time to turn your body around and get on the right track for life! Give yourself the favor of 12 weeks!

Muah!!

Ky

Accountability:

I have a little bit of an issue....with self discipline. Basically I spoil myself. 

If I want it...I get it.

If I want to do it...I do it.

If I don't want to do it...I don't do it.

This was my workout dilemma up until recently. I would constantly...and I'm talking for a good couple of months strait...be nagging about:

--how much I hated my body after having the baby

--how I was so tired all the time

--how all I wanted to wear was yoga pants and a t-shirt because it's all I felt good in

--how none of my clothes looked good on me anymore

--how my big ol' breastfeeding boobs literally fit into no bras...anywhere...not even maternity stores (had to special order...that's how big these milk jugs are)

I wasn't gaining weight...I just wasn't losing those last 15 pounds from baby man. I'm sorry but I thought breastfeeding was supposed to make me melt to a smaller size then before I was pregnant???? Someone...everyone...lied to me!

Anyways...three weeks ago I was sick of nagging about myself and decided it was time to start feeling good. ALL I wanted was to feel good about myself again. And be healthy. Baby boy is 5 months now...it's time.

But...since the first 30 days of working out are the hardest...and I'm such a me pleaser...I had to find a way to make myself accountable...literally MAKE myself workout.

So I did this:

Right on my vanity mirror....the place I stand at in the morning, night and sometimes throughout the day...so I could literally stare my progress...or non-progress in the face. 

I'm marking what I do each day and big fatty fat red lines on the days I didn't workout. 

(Except for the squat challenge...I do that every day no matter what!) 

This method holds me completely accountable for what I'm doing. I want to see results...& I'll do whatever I need to to get there! I want to be wearing WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT TO...not skimming endlessly through my closet just trying to find something I'm comfortable in! The time is now! I'm ready to be the me I want to be! Are you?

Squats! Squats! Squats!

I've seen soOoOo many "Squat Challenges" lately and I'm definitely up for the challenge! 

However, all the challenges I was finding were going by day of the month. 

So I took to my handy dandy Google pal and found one that I like better. Plus this one has a well-squatted tushy you can use as motivation :)

I also love that this one started at 50 squats because it just so happens I did 50 yesterday so I already get to advance to 5 extra squats. Go me! Except you know how you usually feel that terrible muscle pain about two days after your workout...yea....nope...feelin' it today...and BAD! I can barely walk right now. I'm basically slowly sashaying down the office hallways :/

But....it's the BEST feeling to "walk" and feel all those muscles I just worked to death hurting with every step I take. It's like "Hi, I'm hidden thigh muscle you never knew existed until now".

IMPORTANT:::Make sure you do your squats the right way. Take a look at this girl's blog...and where I learned the proper way to squatski right...here! Pretty interesting huh...squat like a baby? WhoOoda Thunk?!

Anyways...get ya squat on!

Glazed regret

There they are.

Just sitting there.

And they are the one and only type of donut I like...GLAZED!

I swear someone around the office is trying to sabotage my weight loss goal.

This little "gift" of random junk food appears in the office at least once a week to tease me!

One day...I know I will be able to ignore them. 

But until then...this is pretty much how it goes:

I walk in the break room kitchen, 

The "gift" box is taped shut.

I grab what I came in the kitchen for and leave.

I come back a little later,

the box is now open.

I peek inside.

UCK..EW..donuts!

But damn...they look so...glazey.

NO KYLEE...that's like 300 calories you don't need!

Stay on track you fatty!

Well, I could work it off in the gym tonight.

But then that leaves 300 other calories I could burn instead...damn.

I touch one.

I grab it.

Oh well, I'll burn 300 calories just from breast-feeding today.

I eat it.

Shiiiiiit....damnit Kylee...it wasn't even that good!

Moral of this random story? I'm really trying to work on my self control because I always find an excuse to give myself something I really want! However, I know I want this awesome body I'm envisioning MORE....so one day I'll learn! <3