Saturday, October 28, 2000 I'm sitting here with my best friend Gordon, and we are about to go EAT! Capoeira class was good today, but I'm going to try to practice the difficult moves at home. I had a really great upper-body workout yesterday, complete with aerobics. I think I can do it every day. Friday, October 27, 2000 Even though I haven't been documenting it, my workout has really been great! I was in a slump last week, but this week I redid last week's workout and picked up the pieces. I may or may not fill in the blanks for the days that I missed - I'm tired of playing that game. Today is my upper-body workout and I'm going to try to continue the success I had on Monday. I've also decided to do cardio every day. If THAT doesn't cut the fat off ... Wednesday, October 18, 2000 Okay, today is a new day! Starting out a little late (10am), but that's okay, we're gone to try and get back into the groove. Today is my lower-body workout, so that's the easy part. The hard part will be to eat like I'm supposed to - 6 meals. Two of those meals are Myoplex, so that makes it a bit easier. I have to write down what I'm going to eat and make it at home. One problem I've noticed is that I've been eating out more lately. And eating more in individual meals than I probably should - trying to eat 3 meals in one sitting. And drink that water! Water Water Water! Well, I've already had two glasses today! I'm going to try this thing again and I think it's gonna work out fine ... Tuesday, October 17, 2000 It's already noon and I don't feel like doing a damn thing. Maybe I'll just use today to regroup and refocus. I do need to stretch, though, but I'm not going to worry about it. I need to do something to perk my spirits up — this is not good. I'm halfway through this thing and I wish I had more to show for it. I know I'm sick of feeling abdominal muscles flex underneath this layer of fat! Monday, October 16, 2000 I'm not even going to try and front - it's later in the day and I didn't do the program today, only Capoeira. And I barely got out of the house for that! And I barely had the energy for that. I need to figure this out and quickly. Sunday, October 15, 2000 Okay, half of the challenge is over, but I'm a little disappointed with the amount of fat I still have. Actually, I'm very depressed about it. I can't figure it out - I work out six days a week and HARD. I've been taking fat burners for the last two weeks. I should be able to eat anything I want! If I starve, I'll probably lose some more weight (including muscle) then I won't have the energy to work out. Then I'll gain more fat. I'm really getting sick of this. Saturday, October 14, 2000 Really great lower-body workout yesterday! I think I'm ready to push again. Capoeira today! I really do look forward to this class. Friday, October 13, 2000 Of course it would be Friday the Thirteenth that I would choose to get my act together (i.e. typing almost a week of journal entries, eating on a regiment, etc ... yada yada yada). Oh, I had a good stretching session yesterday. I can really put my leg up in the air with much more control. Thursday, October 12, 2000 Yesterday, I had a great upper-body workout! I'm really pushing! I truly need more upper-body strength, so I'm working at it. With all this congestion, I can't breathe properly. I'm wondering how it will affect my aerobic workout today. Wednesday, October 11, 2000 Next week, I will be pushing my aerobic workout. I get a good burn, but I think I can push harder. Darrell left this morning, so now I can't blame him for corrupting my program! *grin!* Tuesday, October 10, 2000 My lower-body workout was really good yesterday, but I've come to expect that now. Getting much better at Capoeira, but I know I'll see more results once I have more upper-body strength and balance control. Monday, October 9, 2000 This is the beginning of my sixth week of the Body-for-LIFE challenge. I can't really focus right now for two reasons - 1) Darrell's here and 2) my house is a mess. I've been going to the gym and taking my supplements, but I need to tighten up my eating and planning habits. Sunday, October 8, 2000 I took Darrell to the Capoeira workout yesterday, and he loved it! I'm still barking like a dog, but working out seems to make me feel better. Well, he didn't know he was loving it at the time, but eventually he did *grin!* ... it was the beginning of a magnificent day. Darrell's here for the weekend, so I'm allowing myself to go outside the lines a little bit with regards to eating. Saturday, October 7, 2000 I'm really having doubts about whether or not I should do the Capoeira workout today, but I really want to share it with Darrell, so I'm forging ahead. Last couple of days of eating have not been as measured as I would like. It seems like it gets more difficult to really plan well towards the end of the week. Plus, I'm feeling cute - my weight loss is obvious and I'm WEARING my clothes — BUT, it's NOT over! Friday, October 6, 2000 I feel so lousy and one of my best friends is touching down today from New Orleans! I'm still snifflin', sneezin', and now coughin', but I'm still going to the gym! I got so much to do today ... I need to plan well. Thursday, October 5, 2000 I woke up this morning trying on clothes that haven't fit in a while. Well, they still don't look the way I want them to, but I can get in them and walk outside. By the end of this month, the amount of fat around my stomach will be miniscule! Let's say it together - mi–ni–SCULE! I think this funny weather has finally caught up to me - I've been sniffling and sneezing all over the place! I've been trying to fight it with massive doses of Vitamin C. Oh well, I don't feel bad, so I'm still going to the gym today. And I'm determined to do either a handstand or a cartwheel by the end of this week! Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Great aerobic workout and thorough deep stretching yesterday! Ate 5 out of 6 meals and drank lots of water. Today, I'm running a bit late - waiting for my laundry to be delivered. I think I'd like a massage soon ... Tuesday, October 3, 2000 Okay, doing both workouts (good technique in my upper-body workout) and starting the Phen-Free yesterday was a BIT much. I could feel my blood coursing through my veins in my entire body! During Edna's abdominal workout, I felt like I was being electrocuted! I really had to take a break. Edna says that I should join her school so I can take part in her batizado next month! Me, a capoeirista? Yeah, I think I was born to do it! Now, if I can only convince my body! *LOL!* Monday, October 2, 2000 Yesterday was the first free day that I allowed myself to go buck wild! I had Belgian fries with andalouse mayonnaise and a Haagen-Dazs dulce de leche ice cream bar. No soda thought - I don't miss it THAT much. I've decided to workout earlier today; it's my upper-body day plus capoeira later this afternoon. I'm going to try working out the first thing in the morning every day, not just on my aerobics days. Today, I also start taking Phen-Free, Myoplex Deluxe and Betagen. It will require some coordination, for real! I really need to drink that water and eat properly. I can do this! Sunday, October 1, 2000 Okay! A new month! Four weeks down, eight more to go! I'm glad I looked at EAS' website - the use of ephedrine-based fat burners (such as BetaLean HP) is NOT allowed in the Body-for-LIFE Challenge, so I'm going to use Phen-Free (which uses synephrine instead). I saw it in the Eva's yesterday when I picked up some Myoplex Deluxe and some Betagen, but I really wanted the BetaLean HP. I'm only doing it throughout October, after that, my body has to burn fat on its own. I hate taking drugs, and you can't help but feel affected when you take a fat burner. Now, I most DEFINITELY must increase my water intake. Anyway, I went to a batizado (Capoeira graduation ceremony) yesterday for Grupo Ginga in the East Village yesterday! It was amazing! Also, these little kids from Edna's class joined the roda (the students sit around in a circle and they play in the middle), too. And played! I saw one little kid trip up one of the fiercest instructors I've seen, Furacao! I think I can do it! Oh, by the way, Edna is back from Brazil! Oh, did she kick our tails in that class on Saturday! Well, the whole class was hyperventilating, so I didn't feel as bad! *LOL!* I bought the Body-for-LIFE book, so I will be reading it today. I'm very proud of what I've achieved over the last month. I'm shortening the list of things that I didn't think I could do, and you know what? The most important thing is that I feel really great!