Lies. I don’t love it so much, rather we took too many rest days so we felt obligated to repeat the week. So now we are on week 11 (but 12). I feel at this point my ability to change drastically is over and will be happy if we do most of the workouts each week. Or even 30 min of a workout. At this point maintaining my strength is a greater interest then adding muscle. Stud, however, is still eager to keep pushing it. Oh right, he’s a man. Thank you for the reminder. At least we worked out during Biggest Loser yesterday – I mean if they can do it – so can I. I still think they’re getting more sleep then me.

I could go for more sleep in my life. I almost think that’s more important then working out. By the by! I’m going to an endocrinologist soon. A couple of people who’s opinion I value think that I should go since I’m going on 8.5 months cycle free still…um, which is awesome for convenience sake, but usually as soon as you start supplementing your baby that changes – and I started that at 2.5 weeks post baby…so something is off regardless. And the more I read about thyroid issues the more I think I have one. Why? B/c one symptom is brittle nails and I have never had brittle nails EVER. In fact my nails would make P90X look like a wimp…that is until having a baby and now they break ALL the time. So yes, maybe I’m just hormonally unbalanced or something but either way the doctor should be able to test all of that. Let’s be honest. I’m just looking for an answer. I really don’t feel too bad though – although this is often the case. I really never realize how poor off I am till I get whatever the issue is fixed.

But let’s talk about P90X. This final set of workouts is kind of fun since we do the first session and then follow it with the next session workouts. Since we hadn’t done the first sessions in 4 weeks it was pretty impressive to see how much we improved. I can now do 40 pushups (on my knees) which is 3 times as much then when I started. So, yeah. I’ve built some serious muscle.

So here are the last couple of stats for you!

Week 10 (first time) and week 10 (second time) will be in the bold:

Weight: 161.3 162. Fat. 32.2% 32.2%. Waist: 32 32.5. Hips: 40.5 40. Thigh: 25.25 25.25. Arm: 11.75 11.5.

So even though their was a gain in weight this last week, my fat percentage stayed the same and I lost inches, despite gaining a bit in my waist. Which is ironic b/c I spent all week wearing the belly band which is supposed to SHRINK the waist…so I guess that isn’t worth keeping up. I honestly think I should have used that band though as soon as I gave birth AND I think it’s too big for me now. I should have bought my pre-pregnancy size since that’s my goal. I think I’m going to go nap now.

I’m sorry I’m getting lazy about posting. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day, now that I’m addicted to Jericho on Netflix. I find myself thinking about how I would survive a nuclear apocalypse (which I wouldn’t considering my proximity to DC) and, of course, trying to figure out who’s behind the one in the show. It’s got some delightfully cheesy acting as well. In fact we are so into this show that we’re no longer working out to the dvd’s of P90X but following the workouts through the book and watching the show at the same time – which is making for more pleasant workouts. PLUS it feels like we’re getting ourselves in shape for survival. Every now and then Stud and I have to remind each other that the apocalypse is just on the tv show…we are that into it. I’ve even forsaken Design Star for it. Designing seems so superficial compared to learning how to hunt now!

Anyway, we are having trouble sticking to the workout routines. Forget the diet. We still aspire to eat healthy, and really actually are still eating quite healthy. But every night it’s the same old, “What work out is it? Can we switch it for something else…or do half??” The time it’s taking up is incredible and both Stud and I are eager for shorter workouts simply for getting our evenings back. By the time we finish eating/putting the baby down, working out, and doing laundry it’s often close to midnight and then one of us has to get up with the Admiral at 7am…so it can be tiring. Especially, b/c the Admiral thinks he’s too old for naps – yesterday he took 1 nap. ONE NAP for less then an hour. Plus I’d really like to take up knitting again soon. I hear of my friends who are moms with babies my ages and they’re finishing quilts! I can’t do anything with my main tubby squeeze since he’s so hands on and mobile. I don’t know if I’m very good at giving myself permission to do other things while he’s playing either. Plus I think we need to do some better baby proofing.

Either way. Time is an issue. I did see some family members we haven’t seen in a while and they were noting how good my arms, thighs, and face were looking. In fact they said all of that looked like it was back to pre-pregnancy (which it is according to my numbers…maybe my thighs are still a bit bigger but not by much). My sister even returned my size 8 pants (old Navy brand) and said she bet I could fit into them now. I was dubious but tried them on and COULD indeed button them. But I had an incredibly lucsious muffin top which I was afraid would make too many bakeries in town have a complex. But it was very exciting to be closer to fitting in them.

By the by, my thyroid is tragically normal. So no clear answer on my non shrinking stomach, weight numbers, and lack of milk. I went off my meds for a few days to see if that would affect things but lost so much milk so fast that I went back on. I’ll go off when we are ready to wean.

Last week’s numbers:

Weight: 162.2, Fat: 32.2%, Waist: 32, Hips: 40.25, Thigh: 25.25, Arms: 11.5.

So small weight gain but with minimal change in fat percentage so I’m guessing muscle – probably b/c it was a rest week so muscle had time to build. No change in waist, small change in hips (lower!), gain in thigh, no change in arm.

Not bad. I’m eager to try Turbo Fire next.

First and foremost, thank you to all you lovely blog readers who sent encouragement and suggestions. I can say that now, but at the time I wanted to wallow in my numbers. However, you all were pretty correct in telling me to let go of the scale. I found an article that pointed out that women will have a very hard time losing weight on this workout program and that I should have done something targeted towards weight loss first. But I don’t regret doing P90X as I’ve seen some great results (arms and thighs) and I overall feel and look better. I’m already interested in Turbo Fire though (another Beach Body workout) – it’s supposed to really target fat and be fun. Plus the workouts aren’t nearly as long as the current ones. My biggest complaint right now is how the workouts are too long. It takes up too much of my life.

I went to the midwives yesterday and they agreed that something sounded suspicious with my thyroid. Validation is wonderful. In fact, while there is nothing to be concerned over, it did seem that there might be an additional factor affecting my lack of weight loss. B/c remember, people, breastfeeding alone burns 500 calories a day. So it’s natural for a nursing mom to have low estrogen (too much estrogen affects nursing) – but apparently, mine might be extra low (which means my milk supply should be FANTASTIC which we know is not the case). Anyway, extra low estrogen could explain my fatigue, joint pain, afterbirth pains (I know! STILL! Why do you think I went?!), AND unshrinkable stomach! See I’m still not on a regular cycle (thanks to nursing?) and so once that kicks back in she thought all of that would normalize, but until then they are putting me on estrogen for menopausal women. YEP. Hot. However, she was surprised to hear that I had yet to return to a normal cycle since the Admiral has been supplemented (since 2 weeks) and now has been on solids for months. She definitely was puzzled at my combination of “issues,” but not overly concerned. Either way, it’s proof that it’s taking me an unseasonably long time to get over the birth – but not unheard of. So if the estrogen doesn’t clear up some of my issues in a month then I’m supposed to go back for further testing. If I hear anything about my bloodwork, I’ll let you know, if it seems relevant. All in all, I’m glad I went as it seems that, indeed, what I’m experiencing is slightly strange.

So last week was week 7, I think? Who knows, or cares. And it wasn’t exactly a true to the book week. What can I say, I’m a rebel. So we skipped Yoga because an hour and a half is really hard to commit to. Plus we had a last minutes sleepover to attend to. So we went for a run instead. I was pretty impressed with my endurance through it (especially since I’m carrying extra weight). Then we proceeded to take the next TWO days off!! Not for fun though. I got sick with a fever and was INCREDIBLY achey. So we rested for two days and I still think it was the right decision. We picked back up with Legs and back and then have gone straight into the Rest week. We did swap out Yoga again though for one of the bonus workouts, which was only 30ish minutes long. It felt like a walk in the park just because of it’s length. I’m curious to try Jillian Michael’s Shred it and see if it’s easier since it’ll be so short in comparison.

AH! I have to make this quick and not witty b/c I hear a small child. STATS!

Weight: 160.9, Fat: 32%, Waist: 32, Hips: 40.5, Thigh: 25, Arm: 11.5.

That means I lost some of the weight I had gained, my hips are bigger, my thigh almost an inch smaller!!, and my arms up some.

All in all a good week despite an imperfect workout attendance. Mm. And I ate fairly well, if I remember correctly.

Last night was the end of 6 weeks of P90X. That puts us at almost exactly half way through the program. I can’t say I’m thrilled with my results though. I am pleased at the improvement it’s been, but I was hoping for a bit more then this. Although, there is some satisfaction realizing each week that the weights are getting too light and it’s time to up them.

I should state that I’m not necessarily disappointed in P90X in and of itself. I think it’s a great workout routine and can see how it would do wonders for people – I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time. I honestly, think I have an extra kink in my equation right now and need to get to the bottom of it. It’s more that I feel like “If this doesn’t do it, what IS it going to take!?”

So here are my rather drabby stats this week:

Weight: 162. Fat: 32.2%. Waist: 32. Hips: 40. Thigh: 25.75. Arm: 11.25.

That tragically means I’ve put on 2lbs. Gained in fat (according to my scale – it can give inconsistent readings Stud and I have found). Maintained hips and waist (good!), gained in the thigh (it looks more muscular not fatty), and lost in the arm. Once again, my arms are champions.

What did I consume this week that was outside of the normal diet: BBQ sandwich, beans (3x), 1 cookie, 1 small brownie, 1 small milkshake that was worth every calorie off of Route 29, 2 margaritas, 1 amaretto sour, 1 mac&cheese, 2 hot dogs (with cheese, chili, ketchup, sourkrout), 1/2 chicken picatta, 1 serving of Dr. Pepper, 1 chic-fil-a meal (on splurge day), 1 piece of cake, 2 servings of ice cream,  and 1 cupcake.

That looks like alot if it were all consumed in one day. Thankfully it was spread out over 3. Either way…2lbs! And we didn’t miss a workout. I have an appointment set up with the midwives for next week. Stud is convinced it’s my meds though. I did get a chance to jump on scale friday around 11:30 am at a chiropractor’s office and it read 159 – so that says something too.

Who knew you could go through the second week slump twice? Oh, but you can. Yes, we are in the second week of the second 4 week set and I find myself slumping like mad. Splurging like mad as well. If I’m really clever I could come up with some fabulous alliteration but the hour is approaching midnight and while some princesses turn into pumpkins I turn into a fermented grapefruit.

I’m so slumpy I haven’t even updated you on the last set of stats. Lame face. PS. Let me just say that I splurged yesterday horrifically and plan on splurging some tomorrow in honor of my nephew’s birthday. I won’t regret it either. Why? Because as my stats will soon show I’ve hit a bit of a wall. I’ve talked to several other women who are at or just were in my unfashionably flat shoes these days. I’m talking about boobs again people. Nursing. And in all social settings there was one reaction had by all. Shock. Shock that while working out, dieting (admittedly with splurges – but I used to eat this way pre-pregnancy without this issue), and nursing that I’m losing weight so slowly IF at all. I’m shocked too people. SO the plan is for me to go to the midwives (I love me some midwives after the surprise aid of one on the delivery of my son) and have them test my thyroid WHICH could explain (if it is a lame one) why my milk production never fully came back and all sorts of other things – like why I feel like a mummy rather then a mommy. I even refer to myself as that to my son (but it’s more because I wish I was British). Anyway, if that’s not the issue, then next month we will choose a night for The Admiral to stay with one lucky grandmother and the week prior I will stop taking my lactation medicine. This way I can also measure if I lose any milk going off the medicine.

Ok Stat time.

Weight: 160. Fat: 31.8%. Waist: 32. Hips: 40. Thigh: 25.5. Arm: 11.5.

That means I lost NO weight this last week. Fat is the same. Waist is a remarkable 1 inch smaller (I suspect error in measuring)!!! Hips are half an inch smaller. Thigh and Arm both larger – arguably muscle as they “look” lean still.

SO for no weight change there were still positive results, but come on people. I do not splurge badly enough to have this issue and I’m not overeating either. In fact I think I’ve even eaten less this past week. Yes, suspicions are up some. I’m truly hoping I can blame either thyroid (which my mom’s gave out after her 2nd pregnancy) or it’s these meds.

Oh and by the way. Stud and I cashed in on our first reward yesterday. We took a trip out of town for a friend’s birthday – WITHOUT baby and it was glorious. We went to the chiropractor who told me I was oddly long in the legs for someone my height. Long Stem Rose is what my great-grandfather would call that. Chiropractor called it Strange. Then we got massages – heaven. And Stud got his wife back. For one day.

Rolling around like a banana. My idea of classy. Or P90X’s idea of a workout. We just completed week 4, people!! 1/3 of the way through – we have officially earned our 1st reward – massages! I am drooling over my reward already. There is a puddle at my feet as I type and this time it’s not my infant’s. Speaking of the number four: the Admiral loves this sesame song (and I do too – gosh I love Sesame Street. #iamold): Feist Counts to 4

We did some major cheating on Sunday. I know I always say that, but really we only cheat at dinner followed by a dessert – so it’s not so bad. We made a pizookie – deep dish cookie with ice cream on top (ice cream was 1/2 the fat too! Btw Safeway makes a chocolate sorbet that is 0 fat and DELISH. way better then that sneaky frozen yogurt that WISHES it was ice cream. I don’t understand the fro-yo fad). For dinner we had EXCELLENT Indian food. I’m still purring over that. You are jealous. If I were you I would be too. Perhaps you should come visit me so we can go eat Indian together. I did have at least one frappe type drink this past week but I skipped my snacks so I feel it balances out. However, it really doesn’t fuel me well for the workouts.

Speaking of fueled. I failed yesterday. I missed dinner to go to this Women’s night at our new church and I ate a chocolate piece of cake…and coffee. Which I don’t consider coffee as splurging since it’s a medical necessity these days. It keeps my 6 month old alive (don’t call social services. He’s safe). But the cake really wasn’t a win. It was yummy, indeed, but I crashed SO HARD during plyometrics last night. My legs turned to jello and I had to walk through the last 20 min or so. Pathetic. I was craving meat and veggies the whole time too. So make sure you eat before the workouts… rough. I’m also alot more sore this week (and last week too). We suspect it’s because we ran out of protein powder – I’ve been impressed how much that cuts out the soreness! Who knew!?

Fact: We are probably going to start incorporating the next nutrition phase into our diets some. Just some though. I’m excited to eat whole wheat pancakes. Or to have the option. I will probably continue to eat closer to the first phase since I have plenty o’ weight still left to lose. I’ve noted that I’m more solid these days. So did the Post Man. I impressed him by carrying a package containing a crock pot with one arm. After he exclaimed at my strength (indeed, exclaimed) I said it was due to my 18lb permanent weight in the form of a bouncy (seriously, all he does is want to jump these days) baby boy. But truthfully, P90X has done wonders for my arms. Apparently, I’m looking less pregnant these days too. About dang time Fabulous. My clothes are a bit looser, but there is all this extra skin that needs to find a new home. Or it’s just fat. I like to think it’s skin though. I’m deviating away from pure P90 recipes because they are P90boring. Dear P90 I’d like to introduce you to Seasoning. Seasoning this is P90. You can be friends since you both don’t harbor calories. Low fat recipes will be incorporated and I’m loving it and life again because of it. Plus I would like this to become a lifestyle. So far so good.

STATS!

Weight: 160 even (with clothes on – normally I do it sans clothing, but we had guests and that would be awkward). Fat %: 31.8. Waist: 33. Hips: 40.5. Thigh: 25. Arm: 11.25.

So that is another pound off. A gain in the waist. I’m about to give up on seeing change there (skin?!? bloating?), and I think I might not be measuring in the exact same place each week. Hips are down a half inch. Thighs are down a half inch (cool!), and my arms are down a quarter inch.

So by far my arms win the superlative of “Over Achievers” and my waist has won “Least likely to succeed.” If only the Stud had a thing for hot biceps. Heck, if only I HAD a thing for hot female biceps.

Well we’re at that fateful point where most everyone I know quit. The 3rd week. Which we’ve completed and even started the 4th. I can’t say I know why people quit after week 3 though since this 4th week is a “rest” week – or easier workouts (in theory). No time to babble though – The Admiral is teething and therefore his naps are only a hot second long.

Stats!

Weight: 161.3 (10:30 pm on Sunday the splurge day). Fat: 31.3%. Waist: 32.75. Hips: 41. Left Thigh: 25.5. Left Arm: 11.5.

In other words, I’ve lost 5.3lbs total, dropped my body fat by almost 2%. My waist is smaller, thigh bigger, and arm remains smaller (my child does weight 18lbs now!). Nice. It’s about time my waist changed some! I keep complaining that I don’t care about my arm and legs changing. Which is somewhat true since it’s my stomach that is my biggest embarrassment. How I miss my tight abs. In other news I was able to do ALL of the Ab ripper X video -no stopping.

I have to say it’s easy to get discouraged and wish changes would be happening faster. Patience must be practiced though.

There was splurging this week…but not a massive amount even on splurge day as I kept my portions small at the potluck party that my cast had. Again, I felt sick after eating regular fat food.

And…there goes the teething machine. Off to go comfort.

It’s time for that weekly stats update!

Weight: 162.2 (10:30pm Sunday evening after complete splurge at Fridays – more on that later). Body Fat %: 32. Waist: 33.8. Hips: 41. Thigh: 25.25. Arm: 11.5.

That means I lost another pound…making it approx 4-5lbs in two weeks. Body fat is down. Waist is microly (it’s my new word) smaller (I have alot of bloating issues – unlike that character in Bridesmaids so I suspect that this would read differently if I measured in the mornings). Hips bigger (I expect fluctuation and measuring error). Thigh 1/4 inch smaller and my arm a whole 1/2 inch smaller. Encouraging! Not as encouraging as The Stud’s numbers. While I’ve lost more weight he’s lost more inches and his body fat % is going down rather fast too. Boys always have it easier in just about everything – except women are harder to put up with so perhaps that is their pay off.

My form is getting better- hot dog! I might need to up my weights or figure out how to do better with the resistance bands. Biceps have been on the easy side for work outs – probably b/c I have a built in 17lb weight in my life right now…who after sleeping in 2 hr spurts for the last several days – slept like a CHAMP last night. So I’m rather chipper for the first time in a LONG time.

Confession time: We had Strawberry Lemonade in the house and it was consumed twice by me (one time it gave me a headache). I also have had 2 adult beverages in the form of amaretto sours this week. My kid wasn’t sleeping – well earned. And then Sunday was our self-declared splurge day. I followed the nutrition plan up till dinner. We went to Fridays and Stud and I split their appetizer, main course, dessert deal – except my mom got dessert too and didn’t want it so Stud and I both had our own desserts. We order Pot stickers for the appetizer (each had 3), 8oz steak (in butter) with fries and vegetable medly – All of this was split down the middle though, and then each had our own oreo madness dessert. Honestly, I felt sick afterwards. For those who don’t know, I have IBS, and am supposed to eat a low fat diet for it. I eat fairly well in a non P90X life but I’m eating Hiper Low fat right now and frankly my stomach is loving it! So I might have to keep some of this up for the future.

I, also, had plenty o’ opportunity to consume other sugary goodness this past week, but managed to keep my lips from that temptation. It’s paying off and I’m loving the results. I even had to tighten the corset I wear in my show – huzzah!

My secret hope/goal for next week is to be in the 150′s. That would be amazing.