Cheekbones and Clavicles – Medifast Week 4: Smelling like someone else’s sweat is sooo not sexy

It’s official, I’m have lost 7 lbs in one month. I could not be more thrilled.

Week 2 was a tough one because the scale didn’t move and I needed it to move. But as is me, as much as I wanted to throw in the towel and give up, I didn’t. Life hasn’t been easy on me, why start now? And even when it seems like the road is paved and smooth in front of me, I usually go out of my way to take the road that is not paved and not smooth.

Remember last week when I told you about the Hell I willingly put myself through? Go ahead and read it now. I was defeated. Humiliated. But I sat there and it only made my resolve to succeed even stronger. You know, that road less traveled thing.

Here’s the thing: Medifast is pretty intense. It’s an 800-1,000 calories per day plan. And the goal is to stay less than 100 grams of carbs. If I’m going to be honest here, I was probably eating twice that amount of both calories and carbs which is why I’m on an eating plan in the first place. The first week was the hardest for me. (But then again I did go off plan and eat an orange in week 3 so…… I guess it really comes down to just making the commitment and sticking to it. Once I found the foods that I liked, because there are some that I really don’t like, it truly made a world of difference.)

So, anyway, to expect that I could walk into a boot camp type of class (think crawling on the floor like army men, elephant walking, running, skipping…) off the street after two years of 0 activity and a few weeks of walking under my belt was just naive. And it’s also why I didn’t last more than 15 minutes. While sitting on the sideline in defeat one of the fighters at the facility (it’s a training facility) suggested that I needed to “carb up” about 1-2 hours before the class. But carbs are off limits. And it is suggested that you are on a 1,200-1,500 calorie per day diet.

I have been struggling because I stepped up my exercise and it felt so good I really didn’t want to give it up. This weekend it became clear that I wasn’t going to be able to do both and I thought I had to make a choice.

Alas, Jessica to the rescue!! When I told her my issues she said, why can’t you do both? Well, DUH, why can’t I do both? Medifast has fabulous Nutritionists available to consult when issues like this arise and Jessica suggested that I contact the Nutritionist that I have been working with. SEE! I really do take the difficult road. So I e-mailed Jennifer and told her of my dilemma and within an hour I had an answer……

You can continue to participate in the kickboxing class.

I was so relieved. Angels sang. What Jennifer suggested for me is to add 2-3 oz of protein 30 minutes before the class. This will provide additional calories to sustain the workouts, but not add extra carbohydrates to keep me in fat burning. Medifast is all about fat burning. And she said that if that isn’t enough and I’m feeling tired or hungry during the day that further modifications can be made. How fabulous is that?

So I went to the kickboxing class tonight. (I think it’ll be a while until I dare step foot in the body transformation class again, but I will conquer it within this next 10 weeks.) The class was on my mind all day long though and when it came down to time for the class I was so nervous that my stomach was doing flips. I actually had to drive around the block and drove back home and down a few Tums! NO LIE!!

But I faced it. I walked into that training center. People around me had their own boxing gloves. WTF? I know it’s a kickboxing class, but I have to wear gloves? My stomach rose to my throat. I wasn’t sure I could handle another episode of feeling humiliated, and I wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to do this.

The instructor introduced himself to me. I explained that this was my first class and I must have looked as nervous as I felt because he assured me that he would walk through every step of the way for me. One of the girls in the class introduced herself to me, but I couldn’t tell you her name if my life depended on it.

I’m pretty sure that in the first 15 minutes that this class was pretty close to the same pace of difficulty as the last one, but I WAS NOT going to sit this one out. I just kept telling myself that I could do it. Kind of like the Little Engine That Could. I think I can, I think I can.

And I did.

I finished the entire class. I never once sat out. I did have to take a step back a few times, but I DID IT! I walked out of there with every ounce of me feeling like Jell-O and soaking wet with sweat. I wanted to cry. I might have teared up when I got home and looked at myself in the mirror, but we won’t talk about that.

The commitment that Medifast requires of me has given me a strength that I didn’t believe I had in me. Cheekbones and clavicles are going to show themselves before I know it!!

On my shopping list:
Advil because every bit of my body hurts.
IcyHot because, well, see above.
My own boxing gloves because smelling like someone else’s sweat is SO not sexy.

Follow my progress here:

Getting started
Week 1: -2 lbs
Week 2: 0 lbs
Week 3: -3 lbs
Week 4: -2 lbs
Month 1: -7 lbs
Week 5: -2 lbs
Week 6: – 3 lbs
6 week total: -12 lbs

BRING ON MONTH TWO! Yes, those are brownies and I can eat one for breakfast if I want!!!

Like I said last week I am starting from ZERO. And I want you to see that it doesn’t matter where you start from as long as you START! If I can do this, you can do it too.

Interested in learning more about Medifast? Medifast has a great customer savings program. If you use my coupon code, BUDGET56, and sign up for Medifast Advantage when you order $250+, you’ll receive 56 free Medifast Meals and free shipping! Medifast Advantage has a lot of perks, including free customizable meals and a free BlenderBottle® with minimum purchase.

For your first order of $250+, use my code, and enroll in Medifast Advantage to receive 28 free meals. Do the same on your next order and you’ll receive ANOTHER 28 free meals! This offer is only valid if you enroll in Medifast Advantage, and it’s limited to one per customer. It’s not valid with prior purchases, any other promotions or discounts, or for Medifast Ready-to-Drink Shakes. Check out Medifast’s website for complete details on program and discounts.

Disclosure: I receive free product in order to evaluate and comment on my experiences on the Medifast Program. Medifast products and the Medifast Program are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any medical improvements noted while on the program are related to weight loss in general, and not to Medifast products or programs.

Check out how some of the other Medifast bloggers have done!
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The Adventures of Goober Grape and Monkey Man (maintaining since April ’11)