CHALLENGE COMPLETED!!!

All finished. 12 week USN challenge done.

I’ve been on diets and most times theminute I finish the weight creeps back on because I can’t wait to eat“normally”. This is different, eating healthily does feel normal and I feel SO much better in myself.  

The final weeks of the challenge were really hard as my mother was very ill. The old me would have turned to comfort food and piled on the pounds but not this time. I stuck to healthy eating principlesand despite personal set backs, I’ve still achieved good results.

People tell me I look great and I look like I’ve lost “loads of weight”, in actual fact I haven’t lost much weight, I’ve gained muscle but to me, this challenge wasn’t about the weight.  It was about a better way of living and getting into shape. I’ve dropped body fat and gained muscle and I feel so much better.

I really enjoyed my USN body challenge, far more than I thought I would.

I feel better now than I did in my early twenties – and I look hotter now than I ever did then! I genuinely feel like Iam in the best shape of my life. If you want to crash diet - do something else. If you want to make a change which you can keep, do the USN Body Makeover Challenge.

Start

Body Fat: 24.2%

Thigh: 55 cm

Hips: 97cm

Waist: 76 cm

Chest: 82 cm

Bicep: 26 cm

Dress size: 10-12

Weight: 64kg

Now

Body Fat: 19.4%

Thigh: 50 cm

Hips: 90 cm

Waist: 70 cm

Chest: 81 cm

Bicep: 25 cm

Dress size: 8-10

Weight :60.4kg

Some food from this week

So here is some food from this week.

This is a kind of lamb kofte/kebab thing from a local Turkish restaurant - its minced lamb with garlic and herbs with a salad. It's LOVELY.

I don't know what they put on the bread in this restaurant but if it came out that it was crack cocaine, I'd believe them. After 2 slices I had to ask them to take it away!

Home made gluten free bacon roll with turkey bacon, egg, cucumber and tomatoes. Sunday brunches!

This was at a friend's house, I asked her to make me healthy food and she did. Chicken kebabs and cous cous.

Fruit with fat free yogurt

Spinach, olives, turkey bacon, quinoa, chicken and cottage cheese.

Quinoa salad with turkey bacon, chicken, chick peas, with vegetables.

I love these yogurts.

Whole wheat pasta, grated courgette and ham

Porridge from the graze box.

Take out salad for lunch.

Salad at home, smoked salmon, eggs, crunchy salad leaves and avocado.

Bit of a treat, homemade fruit compote with fat free yogurt

Week 8 photos

So here is week 1 vs. week 8 photo.

So far I'm pretty pleased with the progress and on days when I think "Christ, what am I doing?" and "is there any point?" then I just look at these photos to see how far I've come. It is SO important to measure your progress. Its a mistake I've made many a time on body changing/weight loss programmes before. I take measurements every week but you don't see the cm here and cm there in the mirror - the photos really put it in perspective.

Its not perfect, sure, but it's a lot better than it was. Must keep going!

Week 8 - Friday

I've stopped posting every day because most days look the same. Sleep, gym, eat, work, gym, eat, sleep, repeat. I figured it wouldn't be long before that got boring.

So, how am I doing?
Not bad!
I posted my week 6 results which I was pretty pleased with. Weeks 6-7 I kind of left my foot off the pedal with a few social events and not particularly healthy choices. So I had some wine, a few pub lunches which were still salads but jot the best ones. I also had a blow-out curry with some friends which was great fun but a week of not brilliant (but not totally bad£ food plus curry and I felt pretty rubbish. I started to get totally paranoid for my measurements this week. I was quite sure that I'd made no progress since week 4 and that I would have put on body fat. My measurements also hadn't changed much since week 4. Had I undone all my good work? Was I on a plateau? I started to really doubt myself and I was on email to my friend Taz (who I mentioned and has already done this challenge) having a bit of a wobble. Ok, having a major wobble. Taz did what all good friends do and reassured me. So this week was the test, I'd not had my body fat measured since week 4, what would the callipers say?

They said I was down to 19.4% body fat! A little more than 2.5% body fat off! Yay!

I'm really happy with this. To top it off, I've checked my measurements today and my thigh has gone down to 51cm down from 53 and my hips are at 90cm down from 93.

Week 8 eating and training plan is really clean. I'm off the booze again for a few weeks just for the last push of the challenge. I might have a drink to celebrate my tower run on the 23rd but that's pretty much it. Lots of salads, veg, protein for me!


Will keep you posted

Half way through pictures

Week 1 -6 result pics

So here you have it, weeks 1 to 6 complete and the picture results.  So far most people have commented on my back and upper body changes. It would be nice if my stomach and thunder thighs would follow suit!

Overall though, I don't think it's bad progress for 6 weeks.

Day 40

I think it's human nature to want instant gratification. The only trouble is that things like body transformations don't come instantly or quickly. I'm at week 6 now and I just can't help wondering if I'm doing enough, doing it right, ever going to get to where I want to be. I guess we all go through thoughts like that at some stage.

Don't get me wrong, I don't feel like quitting or anything. I just wonder if I have plateaued or if I am still on track or whether I need to be doing something different. I'll ask my PT. I'm seeing him tonight.

Just got to keep going and trust the process.

So to keep me motivated, time to take stock of the changes:
1) I workout 5 days a week, minimum now
2) I have cut down my alcohol intake significantly
3) I eat a minimum of three healthy meals a day
4) I can fit into my size 10 trousers very comfortably now
5) My size 12 trousers are way too big
6) Friends have noticed changes and say I look slimmer/more toned

So there. It's not all bad.

Some food

Here is just a whole bunch of pictures of some of the dishes I eat, including meals out. As you can see, I have some variety, I have some treats and by and large, I think I eat reasonably healthily.

Turkey breast, sage roasted butternut squash, courgette and a side salad. The dressing is also homemade, it's 0% fat yogurt, herbs, lemon juice and mushroom ketchup. Sounds gross, tastes nice.

Turkish food at a deli called EV in London. Dolma (my husband ate those), hummus, chick pea salad, aubergine and a salad of tomatoes, peppers and feta. I didn't eat the bread you see there. But it is very tasty bread if you ever go.

Curry night! Homemade saag paneer (spinach and cheese) with Okra and brown rice and mushroom pilaf.

One of my less-good moments, Costa coffee and there were no salads so this was the best I could do. It's chicken, tomato and rocket Panini on wholemeal bread.

Homemade vegetable soup with tarragon. They really do make awesome soup at work.

Turkey breast and salad with cucumber, carrot, tomato, avocado and a home made dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon and wholegrain mustard. A sprinkling of seeds as well.

Banana snack

Another curry night! Lamb and spinach curry with a spinach and tomato and onion salad.

Treat time. Yes, I have treats. 70% cocoa dark chocolate mini buttons.

Another work lunch, roast turkey, green beans with mushroom and broccoli. I had the homemade gravy.

Day 38

I've been absolutely rubbish at posting for the last 10 days. Must do better.

Week 5 was ok workout wise. I managed to do my weights four times which I thought was good, considering how busy the week was. Food wise it wasn't as good. I had 2 glasses of wine on Tuesday, two large glasses on Wednesday and quite a bit on Thursday for a work do. Probably not as much as I would in the past but I just felt that it really hampered my efforts. Plus I slept like crap the whole week. This week shouldn't be so bad, I've only got 2 events which may require drinking and I might be able to duck out of the drinking part.

Measurements wise I've not really changed too much. I've put on a cm on my hips and I've lost 2 from my bust (bugger!). No other significant changes other than I'm down to 9st 9 on the scales but I'm not taking massive notice of the scales to be honest.

Will attempt to do better this week diet wise and workout wise.

UPDATE: So I texted my personal trainer and he says that it could be my back which is shrinking and not my tits. I'm not too sure myself but its a much better story than my ever diminishing bosoms so I'm going to go with that. He also tells me that diet is everything. So this week's mantra is....


DIET IS EVERYTHING. Remember this Lisa.

Day 28 results!

Well it's four weeks in and here's how I'm doing

Measurements
Current weight: 62.2
Body Fat: 22.2%
Right bicep: 27cm
Chest: 82cm
Hips: 93
Waist: 72
Thigh: 52
Calf: 37 (don't remember measuring that the last time!

So all in all, big reduction in the hips and the body fat. Little weight loss but I'm not actually bothered about that.

Pretty pleased.

Here's week 1 photos vs week 4

Day 25 - half way through week 4

Yesterday I ate pretty badly. I didn't photo everything but roughly speaking, this is how it went

Breakfast - protein shake
Mid Morning Snack - mini millionares shortbread
Lunch - roasted vegetables and white fish
Snack - atkins protein bar
Dinner - curry which consisted of dal, soup, pouri (fried bread - I know! I know!) then rice and chicken.

I opted for what I thought would be a fairly healthy chicken dish but it turned out to be in a sweet sauce which was really disappointing. I woke up this morning feeling really bloated and pretty pants to be honest.

Today I tried to limit the damage by going for about 50 mins cardio at quite a heavy going pace. I was dripping sweat by the finish.

Tonight it's a legs workout which is also my hardest going weights workout I do. If I'm feeling VERY adventurous I will also do a spin class. I might not feel up to it though! Who knows!

Will update with photos of food later.
Thus far it's been

Breakfast - shake
Mid Morning Snack - pot of 0% fat yogurt and a banana (pretty green banana)
Lunch will be salad
Dinner will be something equally light!

Day 22

So I measured myself yesterday and I've lost 4cm around my hips! I've also lost one from my waist and one from my thigh. Put on a pound but my clothes feel a little bit looser and I look good in them so I don't care.

I'm at the cinema this afternoon with mum. No doubt she will want popcorn and ice cream and all sorts. I'll have a bit of popcorn and a diet soft drink and I think that will be my lot. I had a good breakfast this morning. Salad for lunch and something light for dinner will mean there should hopefully not be too much damage done by some popcorn.

I worked out last night at home with my turbo fire dvd. The tone 30 workout is really tough. I did a HIIT and if I'm not too tired I'll do another HIIT tonight.

Day 19

I'm at the station, ready to head to the gym.

Last night was the first time I'd drank anything in over a month. I did miss my old friend wine. I had about 2 glasses
of bubbles and three of wine. I was rather sloshed which was great but now I'm rather hungover which is shit. I had a really tough day at work and i thought i'll have some wine now that i can and it was nice but more than two glasses just messes with my sleep. I was awake at 5.20am and i'm knackered today. Ho hum.

Today I'm going to do plenty of calorie burning with my cardio and then it's legs with my friend tonight followed by dinner at a lovely fish restaurant. Nice.

Day 18

I'm up even earlier because I have to be at work for 8.30 today so it gym by 7am.

I've signed up to a tower run (did I mention that?) I'm running up the gherkin in June! 1037 steps.

I'm doing some training on the stepper this am with ankle weights. We'll see how it goes.

I'm officially allowed to drink as of yesterday but I've not as yet had a drink. We'll see how long that lasts!

For some reason People have decided to bring in an inordinate amount of cake and biscuits into the office. It's bloody hard work resisting it all, all the time! I'm incorporating more smaller meals/snacks into my diet as i'm hungry by 11am and 3pm. Today I have low fat yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken slices for little meals in between.

Day 15 - what supplements I'm using

Bought new gym gear by way of pick me up and well done for reaching week 2!

I never normally wear fitted gym pants, I've always worn lose ones but feeling a bit more confident I got a pair of legging type things and another pair which are fitted to the knees and then flare. Both looked nice and even my husband said I looked more toned than before. I can't see a significant difference myself but my husband barely notices anything so I am assuming it is fairly noticeable. I will say that my 12 trousers are pretty lose now. Before there was a little bit of room but 10's were often too tight. My size 12 workout pants are going to have to be relegated to weights workouts or slobbing about the house as they're falling down when I jump about!

Bought casein shake as instructed by my trainer. Bleh, it's not great.

If anyone is interested, these are the products I am using:

http://www.usn.co.uk/product/Weight-Loss-Supplements/Xedra-Cut-Ultra-XT-90s/151

http://www.usn.co.uk/product/Weight-Loss-Supplements/CLA-Thermo-45s/87

http://www.usn.co.uk/product/Amino-Acids-Testosterone-Boosters/BCAA-120s/76

http://www.usn.co.uk/product/Protein-Shakes-Meal-Replacements/Whey-Protein-228KG/103

http://www.onacademy.co.uk/gold-standard-100-casein


A little note on each.

USN Xedra-Cut Ultra XT
I don't know if anyone else has found this problem, but I personally find that for between 10 and 20 minutes, this gives me terrible heartburn. This is a capsicum based supplement and although I eat a lot of chillies personally, I can feel this fizzing away in my gut which is not nice. Like I said, the feeling goes away after about 10-20 minutes and it can range from a bit uncomfy to pretty unpleasant. I'm sticking with it for now because I have a whole pack. I've tried to cut down from the recommended 2 caps to 1 and while I still get the same feeling, its not as bad. I now take two in the morning (and just live with feeling a bit rotten for a bit) and I take one around lunchtime. The product overall gets good reviews so I'm hoping I see a difference.

CLA Thermo
I'd never heard of CLA before I started the challenge. The idea behind this product is that it slows down gastric emptying rate so you feel fuller for longer. I can't decide whether its because I eat a lot of protein rich foods now or whether it's this but I think it does make a difference. The thermo ones are a bit more expensive and I've tried the green tea ones as well. I think it's much of a muchness to be honest so go with either.

BCAA's
Never heard of these either before I started the challenge. Meant to take them 30 mins before a workout which I do. I take 3 and would only take 6 if I was doing a mammoth workout.

Protein shake
I use the chocolate one at the moment but I tried the pistachio recently and I am gutted I didn't get that one as it tastes lovely. This protein shake is smoother than some I've tasted, the mixability is, well, a bit mixed. It's perfectly drinkable in a shaker but I tend to find a blender gives you a better shake. It tastes very nice with water and I've not tried this one with milk. The other shake I've tried is the SCI mix and that was also really nice. A little bit more gritty in texture but the taste was equally nice.

Casein shake
It was a choice of eating cottage cheese (which I hate) or a casein shake, which as it turns out, I'm not that keen on either. This one gets rave reviews for taste and I have to confess, when I smelt it, I was really looking forward to it! The texture is a little gritty for my liking. I'm going to try it with milk tonight to see if that helps with the taste. I wasn't overly keen but I certainly didn't wake up hugely hungry this morning. I've literally only tried this for a day so that's all I can say so far.

A word on all these supplements. It's actually really expensive so shop around for the best deals.  You also need to be careful of the mg in each packet so you don't sacrifice cost for a lesser quality product. Read packaging very carefully is all I can say.

Day 14

2 weeks into the challenge now. I weighed myself but I'm exactly the same 9st 10. I'm not sure that's a huge deal as I'm not actually planning to lose a lot of weight but build muscle and tone. I measured myself and in total I've lost 3 cm from my stomach, lower part. I've lost 1 cm on my hips. I'm pretty pleased with that.

It was much easier to get to the gym this week. Eating wasn't too bad either (I don't think). I've eaten out a couple of times and I've been able to have a decent meal while still sticking to healthy eating principles.

My personal trainer said "be strict with your diet and do your workouts" so that's what I'm doing.

Day 13

It's almost two weeks since I started the challenge. When I first started it was all a bit overwhelming, the training plan, what to eat and when and what supplements to take etc. I'm much more into a routine now. I've not completely deprived myself of eating out or socialising. My month of no drinking continues for another few days and it will be interesting to see how I adapt after that. I don't want to go back to boozing at the level I was before.

I've not measured or weight myself today. I had every intention and then when the alarm went off I just threw on clothes and got out the door. I didn't really have time to then step on the scales and get the measuring tape out. I'll do that tomorrow and post it then. I might not have changed much in two weeks. I always hope to have lost loads quickly but it's highly unrealistic. If anything has changed I'll be happy though and if not, there's still plenty of time.

So I did my cardio today which was good. Tonight I'm having the night off and going to the cinema. I will aim to get a small bag of popcorn like I did before and a diet drink and that will be my treat for the movie!

Day 12

I never sure if I'm completely scuppering myself by having a small amount of rice or tiny bite of bread now and again. You hear so much about processed carbs. I am of the view that every once in a while a little bit of what you fancy does you no harm. As was the case for lunch when I fancied a hot dish which came with rice and I asked for the rice on the side and spooned out a small handful for myself and ate the rest of the stir fry. Proof will be in the pudding as to whether I'm right I guess.

I did weights and cardio this morning and I've done the same this evening. I have to say I can see how you can get addicted. I keep thinking if I should do workouts when I get home and at that point I have to remind myself that I've already done two workouts today, a third is obsessive.

Food today has been rather boring save for lunch:
Breakfast: shake
Snack: 12 pistachios (yes I did count them)
Lunch: chicken stir fry from wagamamas
Dinner: shake

Day 10

It's been a couple of days since an update but essentially things have been going fine. I ate healthily at the weekend and did a HIIT workout from Chalene Johnson's Turbofire. Love those workouts.

Now I'm in the swing of it I do actually feel a good bit better in myself. Someone mentioned that I looked really well and a few people have commented that my skin looks good. Not sure if this is the new diet, lots of water or the sauna every morning after my cardio but either way, it's nice to get comments. I feel my stomach looks better although when I measured it there was absolutely no difference since the start. It's only been a week, I really need to stop expecting instant results.

I would show you pictures of yesterday's food but it was two shakes, one for breakfast, one for dinner and a pret chicken salad for lunch. I also had three boxes from my graze box yesterday as I was really hungry and it turns out a pret salad does not fill me up! I did discover the wonder of USN Pistachio flavour shake, that's going to be a purchase at its delicious! I did my cardio for about 50 mins and I also worked out with my friend doing weights for about an hour. On way to gym now for my morning routine of cardio, nosing at other people in the gym and a sauna!

Day 6 (Friday)

Friday night and the third with no booze. This is ok, I have alcohol free wine in the fridge and I've worked out quite a bit.

Tomorrow will be a week - its flown by.

I have to squeeze in a HIIT workout and a weights workout this weekend and I will have completed my training plan.

Did chest and triceps today, super sets of opposite exercises. It was pretty simple once I got the hang of it and I liked the fact I could get it done in about 30 mins. Even did an extra 10 mins on the stepper!

Breakfast was a shake (naturally!) with half a protein bar. Lunch was roast beef with peas and horseradish sauce. Dinner was a shake and will also be whatever I have left in the fridge which from memory is eggs and spinach. Anyways, it's going ok.