Tag Archives: bodybuilding.com

Jamie Eason Live Fit – Phase 2, Week 3

Posted on by

0

Week 3

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-phase-2.html

Re-Focusing My Goals

               The Live Fit program is awesome, and is always challenging me. This week we have upped the ante again by increasing the number of sets, sticking to a calorie range based on the workout and my goal weight, and I am increasing the weight that I am lifting. Since my caloric intake is based on my goal weight, I am only weighing myself weekly just to see what the scale says. However I’m not discouraged if I only lose 1lb or so because that’s 1lb that I will never gain back.

I am starting to appreciate the inches loss over the weight loss. I am noticing that I look smaller, and that my clothes are fitting me better, while the scale is only creeping slowly down toward my goal. I am starting to think that I will probably reach my aesthetic goal before my weight/scale goal. So my focus is not on the scale so much, even though deep down inside I am hoping to lose more weight soon.

I have re-focused my goals. Up to this point my goal has been to get down to 140lbs, and enter a bikini contest sometime next year. The Live Fit program has really helped improved my overall strength and endurance. I am able to perform single leg squats with better form, and jack-knife crunches slightly better. Now that I am more than half way through the program, I am definitely looking ahead, and ready to take my journey to the next level.

After I finish the Live Fit program, I am going to do P90X. So my new goals are to complete the Live Fit program, and then move right into P90X. After the P90X program my goal is to do another fitness program. By the time I complete my goals, I should be ready to get a personal trainer, and start getting ready for my bikini contest. I am not setting any limitations on myself.

 

Epiphany Moment: While sitting in Atlanta traffic I had this epiphany. Many people never reach their goals in life because they set too many limitations on themselves. No matter your dream, no matter how big, visualize yourself doing whatever it is you want to do. Then pray about it. Then research the necessary steps you need to take to accomplish your goal. After you’ve done your homework, get moving towards your dream. Do whatever you have to do to make it happen, and make excuses on behalf of your goal and never against it. Understand that it won’t be easy because there are people around you that don’t want to see you happy. You will have to push through negativity, and convince yourself that you are a champion. Recognize that each accomplishment you’ve made towards your goal is a sign that your dream really is your destiny. Make sure to let no person or circumstance convince you otherwise. Be tough, be confident, and set no limits.

Jamie Eason Live Fit – Phase 2, Week 2

Posted on by

0

Week 2

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-phase-2.html

Fighting Frustrations

         I am starting to get a grasp on why I have been so frustrated since starting Phase 2 of the Live Fit program. I cannot perform many of the exercises with as clean of a form as I would like. As much as I would like to lift heavier and increase my strength, I just can’t do it right now without losing form. Some of the exercises I can barely do at all. For instance, those jack-knife crunches! Those have to be the worst abdominal exercises Jamie Eason could have chosen for her program. Pull-ups? I can barely do those either. Push-ups? Can’t stand them! So when I saw I had to do side-to-side pushups I was like, “What the hell?” I must stick with this program because these are the exercises that I never did prior to starting the program, and I am sure they will be preparing me for Phase 3. I can’t let the fact that I can barely do them make me quit the whole program. I have to keep trying, and do what number of reps I can. The program isn’t strict. I make it flexible according to my abilities.

                I love clean eating so that is far from my issue with this program. The problem is sometimes I hate going to the gym to workout. I really despise feeling sore all the time and limping around, and barely being able to do my hair because my arms are sore. I am always stretching too so that is not the problem. I stretch during my workout, I stretch when I stand in lines, I stretch at my desk at work, I stretch after using the bathroom, and I am still always sore. Maybe I’m just having a moment! I drink those protein shakes right after my workout which helps but it does not eliminate the soreness completely. I am fighting through being frustrated at not being able to perform some of the exercises with cleaner form. Next week I start calorie counting, and really start burning fat so I’m going to enjoy this week before the fire really gets turned up. Aside from all the frustrations, I’m now half-way through the program and I feel good about what I’ve accomplished thus far. I’ve lost an additional pound which means I’ve lost 6lbs total on the program.

Epiphany Moment: Your rest is just as much of a priority as working out, eating clean, and supplementation. I definitely notice a major difference in my performance when I am well rested. I highly recommend anyone reading this to make sleep a priority.

 

Jamie Eason Live Fit – Phase 2, Week 1

Posted on by

0

Phase 2 Before Photo

Phase 2 Before Photo. Camera date is wrong! Today is October 8, 2012.

Phase 2, Week 1

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-phase-2.html

New Challenges         

I am 5lbs lighter these days, and 2 dress sizes smaller. Phase 2 includes 30 minutes of cardio at medium-intensity 4 days a week, and the workouts increased from 5 days a week to 6 days a week. I’m also lifting heavier weights, but doing less repetitions including doing groups of supersets. A superset is performed when you go back and forth doing the 1st set of Exercises 1, 2, and 3. Then after a 1-2 minute break start the 2nd set of Exercises 1, 2, and 3. Every day except for the day that you work your legs, ends with a 30 minute cardio session, making sure to keep your heart rate in fat burning mode.

 In Phase 2 Jamie Eason has you working your legs and your abdominals twice a week, and the workouts are much more challenging than Phase 1. The Nutrition part of this plan starts to turn into a diet in my opinion because you can’t eat carbohydrates in the evenings. So now my eating is slightly restricted. I am allowed more lean protein and good fats in place of the carbohydrate loss. I don’t eat any carbohydrates after 5pm now, even if they are good carbs. I’m starting to wonder why I was in such a hurry to be in Phase 2!

In Phase 2 I definitely recommend an energy pill or fat burner that will give you the energy you need to get through these workouts. The workouts are tough in my opinion and require focus. In Phase 2, Jamie Eason asks for you to do pull-ups <GASPS!>Thank God my gym has one of those machines where you can do an assisted pull-up. She also has you doing various forms of pushups. Tweak the workouts to work for you, and do what you can, don’t kill yourself. Do what you can safely. If you can’t do a “Donkey Calf Raise” then perform another exercise that you haven’t done for your calf’s.

Since I’ve started this program I’ve been sore every single time I workout. Now that the workouts are six days a week, I really don’t get a lot of time to recover so it is necessary to drink my protein shake immediately after my workouts to assist in faster recovery. The workouts have also increased in time. What used to take me 30 – 40 minutes is now 60 – 90 minutes easy.

Since paying more attention to ingredients, and not solely focusing on nutrition facts I have learned a lot about where the calories are coming from that I am consuming. Preservatives do not break down as fast as clean whole foods which can make a difference in how soon you will see results when trying to lose weight. I am enjoying eating clean and making this my lifestyle going forward.

 Epiphany Moment: I am so glad I did further research on clean eating and took the nutrition part of this program to heart. I have decided that for the rest of my life I am going to work out and eat clean. I really hope anyone who tries this program, who feels they can’t handle the workouts, will at least change their perception on nutrition.

     

               

Jamie Eason Live Fit – Phase 1, Week 4

Posted on by

0

Week 4

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-phase-1.html 

Perfecting Clean Eating and Supplementation

              I am so ready to jump on the elliptical! The only thing standing between me and Phase 2 is time. I’ve been patient with this program, going out of my comfort zone, and foregoing cardio for a whole month to build muscle so that cardio doesn’t destroy the muscle I need to build to burn fat and get toned. I love that the workouts switch up every 2 weeks so that you don’t get bored, and your body never gets a chance to get used to your routine. Waking up at 5:30AM to do the workouts is tough. I’m not a morning person, but I’d rather have my workouts done and out the way 1st thing in the morning. I still get sore after my workouts too which means I am never not challenging myself when in the gym. Oh and by the way, I lost another pound. So I’ve lost a total of 3lbs so far on this program.

                I want to say one thing about the clean eating diet, and I don’t care if I sound stupid because I didn’t know so I’m sure someone else out there doesn’t know, what exactly is processed meat? I found out that the deli meat I’ve been eating, although its smoked turkey and smoked ham, is processed meat! Deli meat, breakfast sausages, corned beef, and bacon are all high in sodium.  I am fine living without refined sugar because I like Stevia and Truvia, but sodium is a tough give up. I love my Goya seasonings and Tony’s Creole seasonings.

Eating is 80% of your weight loss. Just Google Eating Clean and you’ll understand why by simply changing your diet you will start losing weight. Use your time in Phase 1 to perfect your knowledge of clean eating as this may be something new for you. That way come Phase 2 and Phase 3 you can achieve the maximum results.

                Please note that I am not taking the supplement stack that Jamie Eason recommends at this present time. It’s not that I don’t feel I need it; it’s just that all of this is expensive for me. The groceries are already high due to the economy, and eating healthy is more costly than not eating healthy which is really sad. You have to do what you can and not go into debt for this. It’s a lifestyle for me, and I don’t plan on popping pills for the rest of my life. So note that my results for this part of the program were achieved without the supplement stack that was recommended. All of my supplements at this time I get from Wal-Mart for about $25.

Drink a lot of water to avoid feeling too sore and stretch. Personally I kind of like feeling sore. It lets me know I didn’t waste my time in the gym.

Epiphany Moment: As of date, I have noticed that my clothes fit me better, I have more energy, and my mood has improved. My hair is also getting stronger and longer, and my skin is clearer, and I am much wiser on how to eat without dieting. I’ve completely changed my lifestyle for the better. I am excited to be going into Phase 2 of this program.