The Aftermath.... 14 days down, 14 to go!!

Hey there peeps!! It’s been a while…. But don’t fret my pets…. I have not fallen off the wagon – completely.

I am just back from a lovely long weekend in sunny FL! For those of you know me/who read my blog, you know that I HATE the cold (Boston) and LOVE the sun (Florida). You might be asking yourself the same question that I am currently asking…. then why do I live here?? Maybe one of these days I will sit down and make a serious pro/con list. But for now, I will continue being a massochist…. and look forward to my next trip (2 weeks from today – WOOOOO!!).

Ok, SO – here we are 14 days post-BC, with 14 days to go until my next bikini debut. We have some work to do my friends!! But first, an update:

I completed boot camp on 2/8 at 105.5 lbs, and made it down to 104 five days later. I was able to do this with my post-BC plan of Tracy DVDs (PD1), cardio dance (at Equinox some days and BC cardio others), eating clean, and yes – splurging (on wine… and chocolate chips…. and lots of dried cranberries). Seriously, the chocolate chip/dried cranberry splurging was getting out of control. I am happy to say that there are none left, so that will no longer be an option. And yes, there are none because I ate them ALL before my trip….. Whatever!!

As I am writing this, I have no idea the damage I did over vaca. 5 days of eating pretty clean by day, and splurging big time by night. I was able to squeeze in PD1 twice, GOOP Arms/V-Day Abs every day, and BC cardio once. Also there was lots of walking involved… including a 45 min power walk along Vanderbilt Beach in Naples yesterday. It was fab! I guess all in all not tooooo bad. But I could have done a little more working out and a little less ice cream and chocolate covered gummi bear consuming. C’EST LA VIE!

Today, I wasn't really on my best behavior.... Pretty much followed the vaca plan - good clean eating by day and then tonight I ate a bunch of weird/random stuff.

But onto some GOOD NEWS - One post-BC tool that I have found to be very effective is a shared google doc with my friend, Kristie. In this doc we each have a tab where each day we list our workouts, food consumption, weight, and measurements (to be input weekly). I tried to copy/paste here but I'm having trouble with the formatting... Maybe I will figure it out later.

Tomorrow, I will wrap up PD1 and squeeze in some BC Cardio. I am really excited for PD2, everyone seems to love it!! Over the next 2 weeks, I am going to embark on my own little mini-boot camp. I have several social obligations (read: eating fests) to attend, and will have to find the balance between good behavior and splurging. I will not binge on dried fruit and hidden chocolate stashed in the back of my cabinet (oops) and I will complete PD2, do cardio at LEAST 10 (of the 14) days, and continue with GOOP arms and V-Day abs. Seriously, I think I see a difference in my shoulder definition from GOOP already! <3 Also, March 1-3 I am planning to do the 3-day V-Day cleanse… Has anyone done this yet?? If so, would love to hear your experience!!

Here's a little THINspiration for you all!!

Good night peeps.
Cheers to staying on the TAM track!!
Xo
Kerri

DAY 31 - Don't Dream Its Over

Where to even begin?!?! Day 31 - 1st day off BC.

I had almost forgotten what freedom felt like! The ability to wake up at 7:30, blow dry and straighten my hair, enjoy a delectable cup of morning coffee - I mean WOW! The little things, right??

Menu for the day:
1 cup black coffee
Breakfast - 4 oz plain kefir w/ 1c pineapple
Lunch - 8-9oz roasted turkey w/ 1c broc & cauliflower
Snack - Apple w. 2 tbsp Teddie's pb (maybe a little more than 2 tbsp... I was finishing the container)
Dinner - Steamed Turkey with Kale and dried cranberries (subbed for golden raisins)

So overall, still pretty TAMtastic!! For a few reasons... I have tons of TAMtastic food in my fridge. I also received a box from Boston organics yesterday filled will ALL TAM-approved fruits and veggies (kale, lettuce, beets, sweet potatoes, kiwi, oranges, apples, pears, bananas). I also really loved the BC food (for the most part), and I have always eaten low-carb so these items are not too far off the normal course for me. I do not plan to jump back into processed foods, or oils, or overly sauced items... I am saving those things for dinners-out so I can have what I really want. But I will not eat TAM-only foods every day. However, it will certainly be a learning curve. My goals from here are to maintain the weight and continue to tone!!

So... onto to the weight and the toning and the measurements. I have been really hesitant to post some of these numbers here... But since so many other people have posted theirs, and have HELPED me track my own progress.... here goes nothing....

Kerri's TAM 30 Day Challenge
Start: 1/10/2011
End: 2/8/2011
	Measurements (inches)
	DAY 2	DAY 31
Neck	12	11.25
Chest - Top	31	29
Chest - Widest	33	30.5
Chest - Bottom	29.5	26.5
Waist	28	25
Navel		29
Hips	37.5	35.5
Bicep - R	9.5	9.5
Bicep - L	10	9.75
Thigh - R	22	19.5
Thigh - L	21.5	19.75
Calf - R	13	12.25
Calf - L	13	12.25
Weight (lbs.)	116.5	105.5
BMI (kg/m²)	21.4	19.3
Body Fat (%)	28.40%	22.70%
Lean Mass (lbs.)	83.4	81.6
Fat, fluid, etc. (lbs.)	33.1	23.9

There you have it!! If anyone is interested in more detail, I weighed myself every day and measured every 5 days, so I have TONS of more data. Shoot me an email or facebook message, and I will be happy to send you the details. :)

Some of the more interesting things I noted were the following:

• I lost 11 lbs in total, including 9.2 lbs of non-lean mass (what I call fat, fluids, etc.)
• Total inches lost = 22" (this is not the most reliable of statistics but I figured I'd include anyway)
• During the middle of bootcamp (days 10-20) the #s on the scale didn't move much, however this is REALLY when I lost the most non-lean mass and body fat %, particularly in the ab-area.
• During the cleanse, I lost a total of 2.5 lbs and around 2-4% off of each of my measurements!! Not too shabby! I guess my muscles really were BOLTING together!!
• My biceps and calves did not change drastically in circumference, but they are much more toned and much more lean :)
• Clearly I will need to order the HIPcentric Metamorphosis!

Ok - so there you have it! I am very happy with the results - I'll put it out there. I am in a good place, and have clear goals of what still needs to be tightened and toned.

Bootcamp turned out to be exactly what TA said it would be - a jumpstart towards achieving the results you have always wanted!! My personal weight loss story started about 3 years ago... Growing up, I was a competitive dancer. Always long and lean. Around senior year of high school and into college I started dancing less and less, ultimately stopping all together. Over this time I gained a significant amount of weight. Going from a naturally thin person to more of a chubby chica. I am 5'2" and at one point owned a pair of GAP jeans in size 8. (holy crap - why do I admit these things??). I yo-yo'd throughout college - losing weight during summers, and gaining some back throughout the school year. Fitness was not part of my life.

A few years out of school, something just clicked. It was time for me to get myself back into shape. I cut the carbs (not in a high-fat/protein Atkins kind of way... but more in a no white starches/bread/pasta/etc.) and started working out. I started with mat based exercise 3x a week at a local studio, I increased the intensity my dieting - I was on a strict diet of yoplait light yogurt for breakfast, fruit as a snack, a south beach meal bar for lunch, a rice cake w pb for afternoon snack and grilled chicken w veg for dinner. I was very regimented and went on to drop over 20 lbs. This worked for me. I stopped the mat exercise as soon as I stopped seeing results and joined Equinox. I became more lenient with my eating as the exercising became more intense. I dabbled in long distance running/yoga/tabata/pilates/barre method... pretty much you name it, I've done it! And I maintained the same weight (+/- 5 lbs) for those 3 years.

results that I wanted. It is a very frustrating thing working really hard and knowing exactly what you want, but being unable to attain your goals. I now believe that it is because I never had a method. Welcome Tracy Anderson!! Where have you been all my life?! After 30 days, I am confident that if I stick with the method that I will continue to see the results. The other cult-like followers of TAM are inspiring on a daily basis. The method is challenging in a new way every day.

Bootcamp itself is NOT sustainable. Unless you have no job and a live-in chef. However, the things you learn throughout those 30 days are sustainable. Today, I felt like a bump on a log not working out. My body was confused. I found that I had so much free time, and... I kind of hated it! But I ate clean, felt happy and am looking forward to tomorrow.... Back to my mat I go.... Because there is much more work to be done!! BRING IT PD1!!


I have a ways to go, but I look forward to getting there. With a little help from my new friend, Tracy.

Xo
Kerri

DAY 30 - SWEAT is the ONLY fairy dust :)

Well, peeps... I did it!!!!!! I can hardly believe that it's all over.

30 days, by the book, Tracy Anderson Method BOOTCAMP!!!! Done and Done!!!

I will report final weigh in/measurements tomorrow. Today there was no movement on the scale, and I was feeling pretty bad about it. But then, I went back and looked at some other TAM bloggers' cleanse results, and it appears as though I am not the only one fighting the scale during this phase. It seems as though the real results come across in inches rather than lbs (and who doesn't want that?!)... so I look forward to facing the pink measuring tape in the am... When it is actually light out.... because I can sleep til 7:30!! Woo!!

Now, a  note on my personal contingency plan. For the foreseeable weeks, I will continue to eat as clean as possible. I will continue muscle work and cardio dance. But I will take days off, and I will indulge in the finer things in life. I have already set up lunch dates, and dinners and I am not afraid of gaining back an ounce or undoing the work of the past 30 days. I am a regimented person and very dedicated when I set my mind to something. And when I said - Tracy Anderson here I come! - I meant it.

I currently have the Perfect Design Series (1-3) as well as the Mat Workout DVD. That is my muscle plan for the next 2 months (give or take), rocking it 5-6 times per week. My cardio plan is cardio dance 4-6 days per week mixing up Equinox-style dance (a la lauren hefez), BC cardio (for it's accessibility and ability to be done anywhere) and I may foray into some of TA's other cardio (i.e. treadmill dance). Sounds like enough to keep me TAMtastically challenged while continuing on the path to being a Fit Fiona!!

I am taking tomorrow off, and then Thursday BRING IT PDS!!! Tomorrow I will add some more BC reflections, thoughts and recommendations for those who may be considering bringing TAM into your life. I will say this - it is a truly incredible and mind-opening experience. It takes serious commitment. But, commitment = results.

Ok folks... so here it is. As a tribute to my VERY LAST DAY on the TAM 30-day method, and my very last day on the cleanse here you have it -

A day in the life of the TAM CLEANSE!! (Each is a 4 oz serving.)

7am: Kiwi Puree (this no longer phases me... at this point I am just indifferent)

9am: Blueberry Applesauce (no clue why the image flips when I added it to the blog... I swear I took it straight!)

 

11am: Kale Spinach Beet Juice (...holding on tight so no one will come and steal it!!)
 

1 pm: Edamame & Carrot w/ Cayenne (looks worse than it tastes... Seriously, whats not to love about edamame + cayenne pepper? for real!)

 

3pm: Tomato Gazpacho (SO glad I skipped the red onion here. It tastes so fresh and simple!)

 

5pm: Sweet Potato Corn Pudding (yummmm) w/ Kale Juice (seriously, kale + apples = delish! ...and yes, that is an ice cube)

7pm: Chicken Protein Soup (I know some other people pureed this soup. I just double checked and nowhere does it say to do so. But hey - if you did more power to you!! I think it is delish as is. While I formally mocked this soup for not being much protein... I have in fact grown to love it)

9pm: Choco Chestnut Pudding - And then God said - let there be pudding!

Well folks... there it is!! Not to shabby huh??

That's all for now!! Tomorrow is D-Day.... THE FINAL weigh in/measurements... Stay tuned!!

I just still can't believe I'm done. While the past 30 days have been challenging (to say the least) I feel strong, capable, and accomplished. I truly ROCKED IT by the book for 30 days. I will never look back and say I shouldn't have done that or I could have done it differently or better. Because I did my very best... and am better off for it. I learned a system that WORKS for ME. I learned that I am STRONGER than I thought possible. And I learned that even me - the QUEEN of excuses and rationalizations - can wake up every single day before dawn to rock it out!

Tracy Anderson, you ROCK MY WORLD!!

So CHEERS to 30 Days down....

And never looking back :)

XO

Kerri

DAY 29 - Hold On For One More Day

I mean, is this a joke?? Tomorrow is the LAST DAY??

Despite all of the trials and tribulations of inundating myself with TAM and committing to 30 days of by the book bootcamp, I really can't believe its almost over! Key word being ALMOST.

Tomorrow marks the 30th - and final - day. OMG.

This morning, I completed my last TAM BC-cardio. Tomorrow, I am rewarding myself by going to my FAVORITE cardio dance class. I am going to sweat with lauren hefez!!! I assure you all, her dance cardio is way more challenging than the TAM bootcamp one. LOL. And, what the heck, right?

One more day of 5:30 wake up, one more day of beet/dirt juice, one more day of 2+ hours on the mat, one more day of mastication-free food, one more day!!!!!

So, for the sake of full disclosure - I have been a bit skeptical about some of the TAM moves. Especially some of the sequence 3 ab stuff.... Particularly the tuck crunch with 1, 2, 3 cross legs and frog bend (if you don't know what I mean... sorry, pretty hard to explain). However, today I worked out in a sports bra and was studying my stomach while doing said move and you can REALLY see it working the v-shaped abs. Like for real! So, Tracy - you brilliant biatch - you win! And no, I would never go out in public in the sports bra... we're not there yet... But it's a pretty fab sports bra and I was really HOT. lol... in temperature that is ;)

So as I mentioned in the last post, this morning I "paid the price" of eating my choco puddin' so late. I actually gained weight! What the....? Who gains weight on a cleanse? Seriously!! LOL Hoping tomorrow will be back on the right track... We'll see. Fingers crossed, hopes high!

I was feeling hungrier than usual today... Maybe I'm was not drinking enough water? Or maybeeee I was just so anxious for today to be over so I can A. end the epic manic Monday (GMAT class after work = very long day) or B. move on to day 30!! LOL Since I was in class from 7 until 10, I ended up finishing my "meals" pre-7pm. Hoping this will bode well for me in the am :)

In other news.... I really am loving the sweet potato/white corn puree. I know some other BC'ers have hated on it, but what's not to love?? I will post pictures of all of the cleanse items tomorrow for your viewing pleasure :) I keep forgetting to "capture" the tomato gazpacho. But don't worry - tomorrow is the day!!

OK, clearly I have way too much energy for 12am on a school night. And to think... all this without caffeine!! Who have I become? Not sure, but I most certainly will be enjoying some morning coffee on Wed!

A little inspiration before I sign off.... Maybe one day :)

29 DAYS DOWN...
1 DAY TO GOOOOO!!!! :)

Xo
Kerri

DAY 28 - So TAM Close!!!

Sorry for the late post peeps. Sundays are clearly just not a good day for me to blog. Especially yesterday - which was my main squeeze's last day before going to FL for 2 months. We needed some extra-QT :)

SO.... Stayed the same on the scale yesterday. No biggie. Powered through the day on my 4 oz purees. No prob bob. Fitting everything else in - tough stuff!!

Yesterday was super busy with GMAT studying, bridesmaid dress fitting, TAMTAM (40 reps legs/abs, 35L/50R arms, 30 mins cardio = 2hrs 40mins), and more GMAT study. I have to take a practice exam by my class tonight... And have had a very difficult time finding 3+ hrs to sit down and get to it. I managed to get through 1 section... The rest I will do today at some point.

I really can't believe that this is almost over! A few mid-cleanse thoughts...
- I stand by my word that juicing sucks. Plain and simple.
- It is kind of difficult to make yourself eat every 2 hours. I haven't been great at it, and didn't eat my choco pudding until almost 11 last night... oops! I paid for it today tho... More on that later.
- I really am loving the fact that I did this - TAM, BC, cleanse, etc. - just for me. Not for an event, or a trip, or a "goal"... Just for LIFE. Now, the maintenance will be more goal driven... for those events, those trips, those "goals" - whatever they may be.... like looking hot in a Daniela Corte Argentinian-cut bikini, for example. ;)
- I am REALLY, REALLY looking forward to the day - which will be Wednesday!!! - when I can squeeze in a 1 hr. TAMtastic workout no problem! I am ready to get back to life. Life will now include 1 hr TAM 5-6 days a week + 4-6 cardio workouts... (until meta....) But this is soooooo doable!! On about my 3rd left leg-move (push up with leg lift... ahhhh) I was like - OMG after tomorrow, I will be DONE at this point in the workout! How cool is that??

Until then.... I am SO TAM CLOSE!!!

28 down....
2 TO GO!!!!!!!!

Xo
Kerri

DAY 27 - Hold It Against Me

I can NOT believe that I just wrote "Day 27"... This is crazy!!! I guess time flies when you're having fun? Or maybe it's more like... time flies when you're so busy you don't even know what day it is! LOL...

Cleanse Day 2 - done and done!! 40 reps (yeahhhh) legs/arms, and 35R/50L arms. It took me pretty much 3 hours. Oy... It's ok!! Only three more dayssssss. I can do this!!

Another busy day today, and I did not accomplish all that I had intended. Started off making kiwi puree and getting ready for my hair appointment. Scarfed down some blueberry applesauce before leaving. Great (and MUCH needed) cut by Dirk at Bradley + Diegel Salon in Boston. For those who know me, know that I LOVE a good blow-out. And Dirk did a fantastic job!! Too bad I was just coming home to put it in a ponytail to TAM... oh well! lol. Few errands later, I headed home for some beet kale juice and carrot edamame puree. And then... I fell asleep! Completely narcoleptic. I did not have that hour to lose. But obviously, I needed it. After some tomato gazpacho I got to TAMing, followed by sweet potato puree, a shower, kale juice and some QT w my man. Then moved on to the chick noodle soup, cleaned up a bit, Private Practice with a side of choco pudding, and voila! The day is over. What in the world?? This day went by so fast. Literally, too fast. Yes, I was supposed to study today. No, I did not. Tomorrow - I will STUDY. I have to at least take a practice exam (3 hrs)... Plus 3 hrs of TAMing... plus going into the back bay for a bridesmaid dress fitting.... It's gonna be a long day peeps. BUT seriously? I can manage pretty much anything at this point.

Today, I am feeling strong, capable, and ready for the last 3 days. I can do this!! There was some downward movement on the scale today (woo!!) but I have decided I will save the cleanse results for the end... I will just indicate on a daily basis which way the scale moved - up, down, flat - for those who are curious.

If I were to do BC again, or advise anyone who was planning to do BC I would recommend planning it out so that you end on a Friday. Not a Tuesday. It is not really tons of fun to cleanse on the weekend. Now, it would be completely fantastic to finish on a Friday, wake up Sat. morning, eat clean all day and then have a fantastic dinner out for date night or night out w friends. Absolutely fabulous! Especially if you had your hair blown out that very day ;) The GOOD thing about cleansing on the weekend is that you can make your juices right before you drink them, and it doesn't seem so nightmare-ish when its not 12am on a "school night." Also, if I were to do the cleanse again (which I actually plan on doing on a semi-normal basis) I would absolutely NOT be juicing my own kale leaves. I will figure out another way.... Order from pressed? Or the juice press? Or find someone to open a juice bar in Boston, and then go there. Seriously, that's my plan. No more of this nonsense. Unless someone were to buy me a kick-ass juicer. But at this point... I think I'd rather have these or these or these.... Valentine's Day... anyone?? ;-) jk

OK, off to dream about kale juice and applesauce!!

27 days down....
3 TO GO!!!!!!!

XO
Kerri

DAY 26 - My Humps

What you gonna do with all that junk?
All that junk inside your trunk?
I'm a get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my humps!

...Until today!! Because today is CLEANSE day numero uno!! After finally calming down from last night's debacle, I started rocking the cleanse. Not too shabby!! I took some pics but forgot others, so will post "a day in the (eating) life" tomorrow for those who are curious. 9 servings of 4 oz foods. Not bad... Although, a little word to the wise.... Dwight Schrute is a LIAR!! Beet juice is NOT delicious.

Now, those of you who know me know that when I met my bf he had this adorable idea that all vegetables "taste like dirt." We have come a longgggg way since then, and he even eats kale!! Imagine that?! Well, my friends... Beet juice tastes like dirt. Take that Dwight Schrute!

After only sleeping 5 hours I was REALLY REALLY tired this morning. Now, there are days when I feel like I want to fall asleep on my mat. But today, it wasn't even that I just felt like snuggling on the blue rubber mat. My eyes felt like they were drooping down my face, my eyes and head were just SPENT. My body, on the other hand, was really rocking the leg reps. The moves were feeling ...dare I say it.... easier! But my ass kicking leg lifts ultimately lost the battle... and after 1:40 mins of sequence 3 legs (35 reps each - both legs) I knew I had to go back to sleep if I was going to survive an entire day of working and studying and cleansing.

I went back to sleep for an hour, pulled myself together and made it though. Work + 2 hrs studying + cleansing + 35 reps abs + 35 reps (right arm) and 50 reps (left arm) + 40 mins cardio + shower + choco pudding amazingness = SUCCESS. Yes, the arms sound weird... But I swear my right arm is significantly more TAMtastic than my left... so I need to be drastic for the next few days.

I made it through day 1 of the cleanse. And I think I did a pretty freaking good job :) the food was sufficient - I selected the 4 oz every 2 hours plan. You get to eat again before you're even hungry!! Genius. And seriously, finishing the day enjoying the chestnut pudding in bed while watching grey's anatomy on abc.com literally made my week.

Tomorrow, I'm ready for the cleanse! I'm ready to up my legs/abs to 40 (OMG!) and I'm ready to be that much closer to the finish line! I also scheduled my post - BC workouts for the 2 weeks following the 30 days. I cannot wait to only have to do 60 mins of muscle work... Imagine that!!

Seriously, I remember reading Laura's blog before I started BC and was like "Why does it take her soooo long to finish the workouts? There's no way I would EVER do 3 hrs a day." Well peeps.... little did I know that I would become that 3 hr/day freakazoid. It will be nice to break up the muscle work and cardio (i.e. not both 7 days/week) with the flexibility of sleeping until 730/8 once or twice a week. It will seem like a breeze!

I'm just stating for the record... that next Wednesday - 2/9 - I am not working out. I am taking the  day off!! I will eat like a TAMtastic Fit Fiona, but I am going to sleep in before work have some coffee, maybe even blow out my hair (its been a wet-ish bun kind of month....) and probably make it to the office before 9 (nearly an impossible task these days...).

OMG one last thing. So last night, I was obviously wired, on edge, etc. and having "night before the cleanse" syndrome. I was literally 1/2 awake all night DREAMING that I was missing my 1st "meal" because I was sleeping. The 1st meal today was kiwi puree... for the record... and I was worried I was missing it - Ha! I looked at my phone in a panic at 4 am thinking I was oversleeping for the cleanse.... Problems!! Tonight, I plan to sleep soundly dreaming of coffee and shiny hair.

More snow/rain/sleet tomorrow... Hopefully I can maintain some type of inspiration!
I hope everyone has a TAMtastic weekend!! Can you beliiiieeeeeve its the last one???

26 days down...
4 TO GO!!!!!!!

Night night!
Xo
Kerri

PS - I LOVE that its 10:15 on a Friday and I'm going to sleep! HAHAHAA such a nerd!