7 Week Recap & Preparing Myself for the Final Four

I can't believe that the Renegade 7 Week Challenge has ended! Our final, end of challenge, meeting is next Sunday, April 17th which I am pumped about. The goal of our last meeting is to revisit the transformations to our diet and exercise, to review how we can improve, and more importantly, to discuss how this new life-style (aka diet) can become more of a stable way of life. 

Well, I am wondering if any of you are wondering how I did? Well, Coach Kemp was dead-on on his guestimate of my new body fat percentage, which surprised me! Overall, I am very pleased with my results, realize I could have lost more body fat/weight, but am taking what I have learned and moving forward. So without further-ado...

In total, I loss 8 pounds, went from 22.4 to 18.0% body fat, and saw decreases in my point thickness in many areas. 

We leave tomorrow for Dallas, and I know that indulgences in the alcohol department will be had. I am aiming to eat healthy for all my meals, and then just have fun at night. I am bringing a plethora of Quest Bars, did you read my full review? And also sticking to the original diet plan that was established during our challenge. At about the half way mark, my diet plan changed, so maybe for three weeks. Jen and Chris altered my diet because I was not seeing as many changes. I will discuss my reformed diet after the Final Four. 

I have been doing a little research on the caloric content of many spirit beverages and I am torn between drinking Absolut Vodka (98 calories) + Club Soda with Extra Lime or a very light bear, for example, Miller 64, Bud Select (55 Calories). I am not a huge beer drinker, so that is my one deterrent from choosing that option. The Absolut Vodka options seems to be my first choice. I actually just thought of buying Crystal Light, and asking for water in the alcohol, and then adding a little to my glass.... Do I sound crazy? 

Via

Michelyn

Thoughts on My "Diet"

Granted it has not been a full week since I began my 7-week challenge, I figured now was a good time to share my reasoning for embarking on this journey. Let's first be clear, I know I am not overweight by any means. My current body fat percentage lies in the middle of the "Fitness" category. In the contrary, I realize that I have strived to live a "healthy" life by being active and eating my fair share of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and all that jazz. However, I also realized that living a healthy lifestyle is a journey and some guidance never hurt anyone. What truly resonated with me, this occurred after I decided I was doing the challenge, was an open letter written by one of the owners/trainers of Renegade, Jen. In her letter she shared her journey from being an "inactive" youth to fitness trainer and competitor. My youth was not like hers in the activity department, in the contrary I was active in dance (classes 4-6 days/week), but I did eat my fair share of fast foods as did many kids of my generation. What truly struck a cord was about her transition from her youth to her young adulthood. She speaks freely about spending hours in the gym, but then going out on the weekends drinking and eating un-healthy foods. Ok, so I am in my early 30s so I am not binge drinking like an undergraduate, but I saw commonalities with in my own life with working out, but not emphasizing my diet. 

I am now defining diet as the foods you put into your mouth, the combination, amount, and timing of these foods. More recently I have seen many health magazines, blogs, and Instagram speak of the 70/30 approach to weight loss. The 70/30 approach is a rule of thumb that says about 70 percent of initial weight loss comes from changes in diet and 30 percent from exercise. And more recently I have seen 80/20; that kicked me in the butt, literally! 

So basically, I am truly hoping to make lifestyle changes through the next 7 weeks. Am I hoping that I become more lean? Absolutely! I workout often, and have for some time, and to be honest do not believe my hard work shows through, enough. I typically get asked if I was an athlete, or if I run, but I do not have visual definition that I desire. I know that I will not lose 5% body fat in 7 weeks, but I am hopeful that I can "see" some physical differences in my appearance. 

Michelyn