My team participated in a triathalon at the Northwest CT YMCA. Four members of my team showed up, and one other team had two members, so that means six of us were competing for first place.
I had a strategy planned before I did the triathlon. I knew that my strength was the treadmill. I've been using it for so many years and have been increasing the speed on it. I wanted to make sure that I blasted through the treadmill way before everyone else. Why? For one thing, swminning is my weakest area.
I haven't heard any updates from my team mates this week but hopefully they're doing well.
I'm on vacation this week on my way to Virginia but thought I would update about my challenge.
Picture this: June 2009. Fifty-five years old and at my highest weight ever. Recently laid off and feeling, well, not good! Join the local YMCA to swim because I’m too embarrassed to be seen in a gym.
I thought I was done with wellness challenges. I did two challenges at the Northwest CT YMCA, two walking challenges sponsored by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and even a triathlon challenge at the Greater Waterbury YMCA, all in about two years.
Now I'm in another challenge at the Northwest CT YMCA, this one being titled the "Fitness Commitment Challenge". The only reason I decided to join this challenge is that it focuses on something the other ones didn't, that being body fat percentage. My trainer wants my body fat to be around 13 so I still have a way to go.
My suspicions were confirmed. My jumpstart weight-loss had stalled. Why? Stupidity on my part. As much as I thought I was following my program I inadvertently introduced elements that were different and it has put a bump in the road.
I am following a low carb food strategy and I started using Truvia sweetener. Truvia carries 3g of carbs per packet. Shame on me for assuming it was carb free as other sweeteners I had used in times past. Truvia IS the healthy way to go... but for now I will hold off on using it until the maintenance phase of the diet. Since I drink Green tea like a fiend, I was consuming about 35-45 grams of carbs per day alone with Truvia. That is what I believe is causing the the jumpstart weight-loss to stall. For the jumpstart program to work, I need to consume next to 55-75 grams of carbs per day for 8 days... (And yes it is not that fun... remember, jumpstarts for any type of diet plan, are to be tolerated... anyone selling "fun" is trying to sell you product, I'd say to save your money.) The rest of the intake is an overload of protein, minimal fats, appropriate amount of salt and a whole lot of water.