Progress Not Perfection + Week 7 In Review

I can't believe how fast time flies, it has been 7 weeks since I have started sharing my journey with you and I have to say I am loving it!  I have been keeping up with my workouts and I am having fun sharing them with you.  I hope that you have had the chance to try a few too!  My current mantras are "Strive for Progress, not Perfection!" and "The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday".  What are a few of your favorite mantras you use in your journey?  

Since I am trying not to focus on the scale as my only measure of progress I took my measurements.  This week Thursday was 4 weeks from the first measurements I took on 8/19.  My results?  A total of 11.5" lost!  I am so excited to see these numbers.  The biggest change was in my stomach, with 5" lost.  I can tell a difference in how I look, feel and how my clothes fit.  I am starting to see some muscle definition, but I need to work on my nutrition to add more muscle.  How do you measure progress?  What are your goals?

Because I am having trouble putting on enough muscle with the workouts that I am doing, I decided to seek help for my nutrition from a fellow fitness professional.  It is much easier to help others, there is something about not being able to look at your own day and decide what changes need to be made.  I am working with a coach and I will be doing the IIFYM method.  Huh?  Yea, same thing I said.  IIFYM stand for If It Fits Your Macros.  My coach set my macro (carbs, fats and proteins) goals along with a fiber goal and some supplements to help with my workouts and recovery.  It will be nice to have some help with this aspect and I am excited to learn about this new eating lifestyle.  My coach said I can eat anything as long as it fits in my macros for the day.  What does this mean?  That if I want a cookie, pizza or chocolate I can have it, but it has to fit in my macro goals for the day.  I will keep you updated on how I do.  Since my goal is to lose body fat and gain lean muscle, I will definitely be focusing on the nutrient dense foods, but it is nice to know that no foods are off limits and oddly enough that is kind of freeing!  I am looking at this as a lifestyle, not a fad diet.  If you have any questions on the IIFYM please ask!  I am excited for this next step in my journey.

On to my week 7 in review.  I feel good about the weights I am doing, I need to add a few more HIIT sessions in next week.  I think with eating more of the right things I should be able to accomplish this.  As far as my nutrition for the week, I did really well.  I had food prepared and had salad the few times I ate out.  We did order pizza, so I did have that this week too.  This week, if I do have pizza again, I need to work it in to my macros!

Monday: Chest & arms

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: back & shoulders, added sprints in between circuits

Thursday: rest

Friday: Legs 

Saturday: upper body circuits
Sunday: walk with Ariana in the stroller

My week 8 goals are focusing on getting my macros right and getting all my weight lifting sessions in.  I am working on setting up my meals so I know what I need when, I feel that this is going to help a ton with my energy levels during workouts and my ability to add more muscle.  I also want to add 2 HIIT sessions this week and will fit them into my non-lifting days.

I have some fun things coming up this week that I am excited to share, make sure to check back!

 

Have you heard of If it fits your macros, or tried it?  I would love to hear from you.