PeakFit Challenge: Week 6-7 completed (like a blur).

The past two weeks was the worst of PFC I’ve done, but its not Michelle Dozois’ fault.  Its my stupid body and its stupid hormones.  I have to change the meds I’ve been taking and my body finally is starting to react to it.  What does that mean exactly?  Lots of fatigue and lack of sleep…and when that stuff got settled then life had some extra stuff to throw at me.  Let’s just say that my diet went down the wayside as a result.  At the end of week 6, I had managed to lose another 1.5lbs, but I seemed to negate all my gains in week 7.  I’m not sure if its really true since I’m fluctuating all over the place so we’ll see now that I have a little bit more control in the last week.  It’s a little upsetting to do so poorly so close to the end of the program, but it is what it is.  Its almost a little depressing the recap of the past two weeks because the fatigue and frustration prevented me from really enjoying the workouts…

PeakFit Challenge: Week 5 Complete!

So, this was my first week really trying to hit that 1300 calorie limit.  The end result was a 2.5 lb loss!  Did you read that correctly?  Two and a half freaking pounds.  As exciting as it is, it does sort of depress me that weight loss really comes down to diet in the end….but at least we know what the secret ingredient really is!  If you remember my post from last week, I also was trying to add my weighted gloves and do more yoga.  I failed at the yoga, but I blame a seriously hectic schedule.  It’s not going to clear up until the next week though so I have to take what I can get.

Now, I should mention that I didn’t hit 1300 calories every day.  Actually, I did a little less everyday.  The first day, I had a huge emotional fight with my husband which resulted in my eating 1800 calories.  The next day I was determined to do better and go down to 1600.  After that I pretty much hit 1300-1400 calories/ day.  I even got under 1300 calories one day (but barely under).  On the easier days, I supplemented with more walks around campus or the neighborhood with my dogs.  All in all, the culmination of consistent effort led to a now total of 4.5 lbs of weight loss in five weeks.  Not my best number ever, but it gives me hope for the end of the PFC rotation which is coming to a close very quickly.

PeakFit Challenge: Week 3 Completed!

I lost another pound this week….so that makes 2 in the three weeks.  Not super impressive, but I’ll take it given my crappy eating.  It’s been a bit upsetting since my husband has managed to lose 8lbs in the same amount of time, but I shouldn’t be competing right?  I shouldn’t be thinking of lacing his food with craps of processed sugar and carbs, right?  I shouldn’t be thinking about putting his weakness (Dr. Pepper) all around the house, right?  Right?  RIGHT?!?

That aside, I am impressed with how I am able to maintain my weight despite all my indiscretions.  My husband did console me during my tantrums that I have started to take a shape that is more acceptable indicating that maybe if the scale is a lying bastardo and I am changing my body.  I like to refer to this process as “reorganizing” my body composition…but I would love to fit into that Vera Wang dress I have too.  Ok, ok, take the wins, and enjoy the fact that this past week — at least workout-wise — has been super fun with the introduction of new workouts.  

PeakFit Challenge: Week 2 completed!

I don’t have as exciting news like last week (a weight loss number).  I have a flat number — so I maintained.  Should I be happy?  Hell yes because my eating has been out of control.  I’ve been eating over 2000+ calories for a couple days in a row now…the long weekend which was extended longer at home for work on my thesis (so, it was really a weekend but one where I transferred my work from lab to home).  It’s a bit exciting to be eating so much more and not be gaining any weight though I will admit, I am completely feeling the chunk now in my third week.  Hopefully it will motivate me to have better control in the coming week.  Feeling chunky is a horrible feeling, but I’ll tell ya: completing the second week of PeakFit was challenging and brutal.

Initial Impressions: PeakFit’s Cardio Interval Burn Review

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a bit of a cardio addict.  I know the value of strength and flexibility training, but if I could get away with just doing intense cardio for the rest of my life, I would absofrekainglutely do it.  The Peakfit Challenge has a couple varieties of cardio workouts, but only two are focused on cardio only: Pure Cardio and Cardio Interval Burn.  The latter had first been released to the public as Peak 10: Cardio Interval burn and has been repackaged for the PeakFit Challenge.  Both workouts are actually interval workouts, but whereas Pure Cardio alternates between ascent and climb phases, Cardio Interval Burn integrates the coveted peaks for the fat blasting.  Each has their place in your workout rotation, it appears that Cardio Interval Burn is placed every Friday for the next couple weeks.  That’s a bang to end the week!!

Initial Impressions: Peakfit’s Cardio Strength 1 Review

You know when you buy an album — erm, what am I talking about?  I’m showing how old I am.  I mean, you know when you buy download a bunch of mp3s from the same artist there’s always that one song that made you LOVE that artist?  The workout that has brought nothing but adoration for Michelle Dozois from me would be Cardio Strength 1 (or originally packaged as Peak 10 Cardio Strength).  Michelle refers to this workout as the “original” Peak 10 workout…and I don’t know if anything ever really beats the original.

Initial Impressions: Peakfit’s Dynamic Flexibility Review

When you read those fitness magazines, they often talk about the three ingredients to fitness: cardio training, resistance training, and flexibility training.  I’m pretty darn abysmal at flexibility so when I find a stretching workout I like its like the heavens have opened.  Michelle, with her PeakFit Challenge, did not ignore the importance of flexibility and created a 30 minute program for those of us who need the extra guidance and discipline to get the job done.  

PeakFit Challenge: Week 1 Completed!

Now, don’t get super excited and invest money into a bouncy castle to celebrate, but I’ve lost a net of 1lb in my first week of PeakFit!

I know, you can sit down now.  I was excited too, but we all have to move on.

Initial Impressions: Peakfit’s Core Dynamics Review

No workout system is complete without a core routine.  The problem is that most core routines suck in these systems.  They never seem to hit the right balance for me — either way too easy (usually standing work) or dramatically more difficult (mat work).  PeakFit’s Core Dynamics is definitely a challenge for me, and I absolutely cannot do everything, but it’s the closest thing right now to both be in the higher range of my comfort zone and still challenge me.  

Initial Impressions: PeakFit’s Pure Strength 1 Review

The second workout in the PeakFit Rotation is Pure Strength 1.  As you might have guessed, there is at least a second workout known as Pure Strength 2, and I imagine the Michelle Dozois may be setting up for sequels after that one as well.  It’s the first disc in the packaging which had originally misled me to think it was the first workout in the rotation.  Pure Strength 1 is not a “sculpting” workout.  It is a very fast moving resistance training workout that utilizes heavy dumbbells as well as their Exerspy resistance band, but don’t think Ellen Barrett sculpting when you pop in this DVD.   Michelle challenges you to use weights that will push your limits — for reference, I used 8lbs for my light dumbbells and I used 12lbs for the heavy dumbbells (though I wish to graduate to 15lbs by the end of the 8 week rotation).  It is a deceptive workout for those of us who have embraced serious resistance training…you may not feel like you worked super hard during the workout but man you manage to have DOMS somewhere the next day!