Challenge Accepted!

wtf is this sorcery...I'm gonna have to get used to the new blogger look, lol.

I haven't updated this blog in almost a year. I also probably haven't been as loyal to the gym in the past year as I was in the years before. I'm still proud of the fact that I lost 50 lbs!! What I'm not proud of is that in the past year and a half I've managed to put back ALMOST half of what I've lost. I'm not too proud of that, especially after the progress I had made. Instead of sitting back and, you know, being all depressed about how unfortunate my last year and a half has been (gym wise, I mean), I'm going to challenge myself into getting back in track.

Starting tomorrow, SEPTEMBER 01, 2012, I am challenging myself to the "Santa's Snow Bunny Challenge"...ok, so I just made up that title on the spot. I really just wanted something catchy. ESPECIALLY since it doesn't snow here in Puerto Rico... From September 01 through December 31, I will be at the gym, and making the proper dietary options, to become a better person. I want to lose weight, feel good about myself (with and without clothes on-- damn right I want to look good naked), and I want to make a lifestyle change. I want to be able to eat well, without thinking "gross I hate diet food". Like I said before, a long time ago I made a promise to myself, where I was going to change my lifestyle (food and exercise wise). The time was then, and the time is now again. I don't ever want to see my scale tip at 200 lbs again. And I no longer want to hear people tell me that it's ok to weight what I weight only because I'm tall. People, I'm 5'9" (179cm)!! I'm not a 6'5" man (???cm)!

-- is this starting to sound like a campaign speech?? --

Anyway, when you vote for me, even though I don't have that many followers, I am making a promise to myself to post my daily workouts and my daily food intake (unless I'm violating some sort of copyright code: example, any day I do a Fighter Diet workout). Every two weeks, I'll also be posting updated pics and updated stats....and I really hope to inspire at least one person.

Vote for me!!

On Today's Plate: Circuit Training!

Man, oh man --

Hello, and welcome to another edition of "On Today's Plate"...

That should be the official heading from now on, lol. Today, I had scheduled to do some light cardio, and later some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I started on the stationary bike, a small 7 minute warm-up, just to get going. Then, I moved onto the treadmill, where I usually do intervals. Instead of doing intervals (I usually do 2 minutes on 5.5mph and then a minute of 7.5mph for abour 20 minutes), I went "up-hill" (incline at level 10) for a minute on 4.5mph (light jog), and later flattened it out (incline at level 1) at 6.5mph for 2 minutes. It wasn't easy. I don't have a problem admitting it to the little users that do follow my blog. And it was probably a dumb thing to do, but I wanted to switch things up a bit. I didn't last too long, at around minute 8, I was walking up-hill instead of trotting. At that time, my BJJ trainer signals me over. Since no one else had shown up to the BJJ session, my trainer took it upon himself to give me a hell of a good workout. And he did. I'm still sore, and I can't wait to freakin' fall asleep! No pain, no gain, right?

We did a full body circuit. Started with the core, worked our way into my shoulders and back, did some cardio (stationary bike -- intervals between level 10 and 12...AND I had to keep my RPM over 100), chest, more cardio (elliptical -- intervals), arms, more cardio (treadmill -- intervals, started out at 5mph to 6mph, and finished with 6.5mph to 7mph), and finished with the core again. I wish I new more in detail, but, my mind couldn't keep up with all of the exercises, and their descriptions, that we did!

I do encourage you to do your own circuit! It's all about repetitions and speed. So, good luck!

over and out!

On Today's Plate: Legs!

Working on my seated calf raises at 205 lbs....Look at those legs. I swear, my crap ass camera phone isn't doing much for them. They look better in person ;) Hopefully, someday my legs will look that toned without the need of the leg press :P

On Today's Plate: Upper Body and Core

I totally killed my upper body routine today!! Too bad my shoulder is still sore from my injury. I mean, I've been on a fast track of recovery, but there are still some things I can't fully perform how I used to. For example, I used to be able to bench press with 25lb plates on each side. I had to drop it to 12lb on each side. Everything that I do with the barbell I've had to drop about 10 - 20 lbs off it because of my shoulder.

Here's a glimpse at tonight's routine:
• warm-up: stationary bike
• bent-over barbell row x 3
• lat. pulldown x 3
• inclined dumbbell bench press x 3
• standing overhead dumbbell press x 3
• lat. raise x 3
• alternating dumbbell curls x 3
• one-arm overhead dumbbell extensions x 3

On top of all that, I did my mandatory rotator cuff exercises.

I love the burn I feel when I work on my upper body. I just feel everything shaping up. Overall, I love the burn anytime I work out. I hate it when it lasts more than 2 days, though...lol. Happened last week, when I did my lower body routine O.o

On Today's Plate: 10 Years of Me

2002: how most of my high school friends/classmates remember me like
2004 - 2008: how most of my college friends/classmates remember me like (...I need a reunion, lol)
2011: that's how people know me now-ish!!

In case you haven't figured it out, that's 10 years of me. The first pic dates back to 2002. I was about 17 or 18...definitely college bound. At that time, I thought I was fat. I dieted, exercised, and did just about anything to not be fat. Apparently it didn't work (as in, I wasn't quite as motivated later on) because I shot up to about 220+ lbs. (see 2004 - 2008). I actually stopped weighing myself once I went over 220 lbs because I just didn't want to know anymore. I had given up.

I now weigh 185 lbs. On the most "recent" (the one with the cute dress, was taken in late April) picture of my collage I was at around 180 lbs. I'm hoping to drop back to 155 and be toned (I'm not scared of muscles). I hope to someday fight too (in the 145 lbs category).

The sad thing is that, I still look at myself in the mirror and all I see is fat and grossness. I need to change my perceptions of myself, and boost up my self esteem so that I can work harder at achieving my goals without getting discouraged.

But yea, ten years of me...raging from 150-something lbs all the way up to 220+ (gross! I stopped weighing myself after that), and lost about 50+ lbs.

For my awesomely international readers: that's ranging from about 68 kilos up to 99+ kilos and lost about 22+ kilos

Hello! It's been a while...

wow!! Five months have passed by, and I haven't posted anything. sheesh!! Well, let me give you a quick update on what has been going on, and why I haven't really updated...

About a month after my last post (give or take, maybe a couple of weeks), I hurt my back doing BJJ. So I took a break. After my break, I went back to the gym. It felt like starting from square one. It's amazing what a couple of weeks of not working out can do to you. Shortly after getting back on track, I messed up my shoulder sparring with a girl at my gym. DAMN THE FRUSTRATION!! But I said to myself "hey, at least I can do cardio this time. I just don't be able to lift".

Since my last recorded weigh-in, I've gained 5 lbs. eeesh! I feel like crap, but, I have two options: give up, or work harder. Guess which one I'm going to pick ;)

So, what am I going to do to work harder??

For my diet plan, I've decided to do the Fighter Diet: FDX3. Since I'm going to be following that diet plan, I won't be posting my meal plan. Hey! Pauline has put a lot of work and effort into making the e-book. BUT, if I do come up with my own meals (NOT diet plan), I'll see what I can do ;) I hate the word "diet" -- it has such negative connotations for me, but, after talking around with different people on the Fighter Diet Facebook, they treat it as a "lifestyle" and not a "diet". I can do that, hehe. I'll also increase my workout...perhaps sessions in the AM and the PM, on top of my BJJ. I'll post my workouts at least.

Why the FDX3?

I need to challenge my body. I've been on a 2 year stint, where I've been fluctuating between 180 - 185 lbs. I even balloon up to 190 lbs when I'm on my period or retaining water. I have specific weight, and toning goals. You have to work hard to get the body you want. A magic pill won't do it...

I "discovered" www.fighterdiet.com/ back in 2009, a couple of months after  I started training at LA Boxing. By then, I had done BJJ for a couple of months, and I had started attending some MMA classes and training sessions with a friend. I made it a goal that I wanted to fight. If I want to fight, I need to train, eat, drink, and sleep like a fighter. So I Googled like a mad-woman diets for female MMA fighters. ...and nothing came up. I searched for "fighter diets" and I came across two links that caught my attention: www.fighterdiet.com/ and graciediet.com/. I browsed through the two, and I later decided on neither, lol. I didn't think the Fighter Diet was for me. I tried doing my own thing, but trying to keep everything low-everything. I didn't completely disregard the Fighter Diet, though. I kept going back to the site, reading her old blog posts, and joined the Fighter Diet Facebook. I kept following her blog and Facebook because she has muscles! I always find it inspiring when women aren't afraid to have muscles.

After a couple of years of reading her blog, and reading about her clients results (pictures and testimonials), I decided to join the bandwagon! I understand that it will take time, dedication, and many days of frustration, but, I am confident that I can reach my goals.

Stop making excuses, and go for it! What's your plan?

On Today's Plate: No-Flour Vegetarian Pizza

Hooooly crap! I just discovered how great zucchini is!! 

yum! I never knew how good zucchini really is!

I was really craving some pizza...really, really, bad...but I didn't want to deal with the bread, dough, and all the extra grease on it. So I took matters into my own hands. I googled like a lean mean googling machine (hey Google...I just said your name 3 times, I should get money for that :P lol) to alternatives to pizza dough. I came acrossa zucchini crust recipe, which I altered a bit. The one I found used 2 eggs. I think 1 is plenty, if not, it was gonna get too omelette/frittata-ish. I also added cheese and herbs to the crust mix.


And now without further ado.....This dish serves 1 or 2 (depends, really). I made it on a 9" springfrom pan.

No-Flour Vegetarian Pizza:

Crust:

1 whole zucchini (grated)

1 egg

1/4 c of grated mozzarella cheese (I wanted to use real mozzarella, but I'm kinda broke so I went with Sargento)

herbs/seasoning of choice (I used dried basil, powdered oregano, and dried parsley)

Pre-heat oven at 400°F. After you grate the zucchini, pat it dry with paper towels. Place in a bowl and set to the side. On a separate dish, beat the egg, and add your seasonings. Mix in the egg with the grated zucchini and add your mozzarella cheese. Put a little cooking spray on your pan, and press your zucchini mix onto the pan. When the bottom of the dish is fully covered, you can add more of your herbs to it. Once you're done, pop it in the oven for 10 minutes.

Pressed zucchini "crust" mix, before going into the oven.

After: what it kinda looks like after 10 minutes in the oven

Pizza:

cubes veggies -- of your choice. I used the following:

1 1/2 tomatoes

1/2 eggplant (I bought a tiny eggplant)

chopped spinach (I didn't really measure it)

3 tbsp chopped black olives

1/4 mozzarella cheese

herbs/seasoning of choice (again, I used dried parsley, dried basil, and powdered oregano)

virgin olive oil (to drizzle)

Cube/dice/hack all of your veggies. Since I don't like pizza sauce, I laid down the tomatoes first, but, hey, if you like your pizza/spaghetti sauce, use it. I bet this would taste really really really good with some pesto sauce....After I layered the tomatoes, I randomly tossed the veggies onto my pizza, drizzled a little bit of the virgin olive oil over the veggies and sprinkled some herbs over the veggies. Top it off with the mozzarella cheese. Pop it back into the oven again for 25 minutes (still at 400°F). While it's cooking, enjoy the smell of the vegetables and herbs coming together......

Topped pizza before going into the oven...

Pizza's ready!! Fresh and hot off the oven!

And here's another picture of the end result...

Yum!

Enjoy!