The Skinny: Week 3

Oy, Friends!

Okay, I need a new way of saying "hello." Taking suggestions, please.

This week March Break ended sadly...So now I'm back to my no-to-very-low-excess-sugar-intake diet. I'd like to cut myself off from juice soon but since I had a "bad" week last week (despite doing a form of exercise almost every day!) I'm just going to focus on getting back in the swing of things and getting my water intake higher.

Let's start this post off fun, shall we? Last weekend, my cousin Callie (aka. Cece or the other million nicknames I've created for her) came over and put up with my great obsession over a group that hasn't reunited since 2012...but that's not the point. We had a lot of fun and seeing as I've been feeling pretty British lately, I've been craving fish n' chips for a week. My mom, Cece and I went driving around Toronto trying to find the best place. We went with BlogTO's choice of "Olde Yorke" and it was VERY GOOD!! Highly recommend it. But guess what the first thing we saw when we drove by it? Not "Olde Yorke" but "Posh Fish & Chips."

WHAT A COINCIDENCE!!

Callie and I tried to take a nice photo together in the restaurant. I am not showing you the photo because, unlike what usually happens when I wait a week, the photo did not get better... so here is a selfie we took in the car later which is much better.

Callie also showed me these hilarious videos of miss Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell

I don't know which line was better: 

• "I'm Emma Bunton, Zigazig-ah.", (from the original video. The video above is different than originally posted)  
• "Never stopped Victoria...", 
• "I'm not really a baby...I'm a toddler now.", 
• "Back in your box, Geri!", 
• "Yes!! IN YOUR FACE! GIRL POWER!", 
• "So in summary: slam it to the left...if you're having a good time. Shake it to the right... if you know that you feel fine.... Chicas to the front...Go round." 

Just...Just so good.

Oh bless her! Fun fact: for mother's day, Geri's gorgeous daughter, Bluebell, drew her a picture and included her cleavage as you do...It was so cute and so funny! Check the photo on her Instagram to see what I'm talking about. Love those Halliwell's!

 Now, back to fitness...

I'm proud to say that on March 22nd I realized that the Full Planks are getting easier and easier. I start getting tired or irritable around 50 seconds now and then end up holding it until about a minute and 6 seconds. The Dolphin Planks are still the death of me honestly... Around 40 seconds I start feeling it in my core and the pain wraps around my ribs. I have to start singing along to the song I'm listening to so I can distract myself and hold up to the 60 second mark.

This is also the 3rd week of working out and the 4th week of watching what I eat. This is the week that will prove to me if this time is the time I follow through. I always go on a health kick for 2 weeks and then give up. But...The motivation is still strong and seeing Mel C on my instagram feed every day be it from a Spice Girls fan account or a post from herself personally, is helping to remind me why I'm doing this and that honestly, I should do it. I start Randolph again this week so that should be nice motivation again to keep going. I'm determined and ambitious and I can do it... It just really sucks.

On Monday, March 23rd I was really tired. School sucks...It was the first day back. So as the day progressed, I wasn't sure if I was going to workout. At work I had to say NO TO CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY AND COFFEE TRUFFLES!!

*Claps rapidly* GOOD CHOICE GOOD CHOICE! *Continues clapping to cover the noise of my tears*

I was on the TTC and as each stop came and gone, it was like a little piece of my motivation got off too. I decided to walk home from the Subway station (*Claps* GOOD CHOICE GOOD CHOICE! *Claps*) and then I spent the next hour at home trying to get motivated. Mel C was trying her best, and it was finally a music video and a text from Jessica that got me inspired. It wasn't going to last long so I got down to it. And, to my surprise, TODAY WAS MY BEST PLANKING DAY YET!

Yes, I almost cried when I did the dolphin planks and I sounded like I was giving birth, especially with the breathing and my mom had to tell me not to cry because that was weird... but I breathed through it before starting day 3 of Pilates! There is one part of my back that is sore right now and I don't know what it's from but it's definitely a workout pain..I wanted to use my trampoline today but I was exhausted and wasn't going to push it. I also discovered that I don't like any of the juice that's in my house so I guess my "no Juice" cleanse is happening sooner than later.

This week is proving to be hard and it's only Monday...AM I SKINNY YET!? GEES!

But, today I also had the realization that my legs are significantly smaller. My thighs aren't sticking out as much, jeans are fitting me, it's harder for my elbows to touch my waist (don't ask...), and my arms are a lot smaller! Thank god! So happy I'm seeing results and that I worked out today despite my head cold, exhaustedness, and lack of motivation.

March 24th was really hard to get through: my head cold got worse and my stomach started getting funny. I came home during my spare, slept, then went back to school. During my last class, I felt worse and worse and walked home (40 minutes) so I could skip Pilates today. When I got home, I took nap #2 and then broke my plank record again. I'm getting to the point where I can start setting a new goal: full plank-1:30 dolphin plank 1:15. I was so sick today, glad I pushed through and did the planks. #NoRegrets #SportyToldMeTo #MelCIsProud

March 25 I did pilates for the 4th time this week (*slowly claps*) and I really felt my planks today so that was painful. But I did it. I feel like I have to say that a lot...I understand why week 3 is the "giving-up" week for me because honestly, I'm upset I'm not seeing more results than I am and I'm just exhausted and I want to progress quicker but it ain't happenin'!

This week I wanted to work on two things: eating less sugar and not feeling guilty when I do have a sugar. So I went 2 whole days without any excess sugar (including juice) and then today I had the worlds biggest craving for Nedege croissants....so my dad brought them home. I was very happy eating it...and the macarons...but then regretted it instantly after the last bite. So I need to work on that. It's over, it was in moderation. It won't kill me, I probably wont gain weight from it...It's all good. Right? Right...stop being so dramatic.

March 25th was also a very exciting day because history repeated itself. Just as Geri left the Spice Girls in 1998, Zayn has left One Direction in 2015. Both bands are British and are/have continued as a group of 4 instead of 5... Interesting huh? I ALSO CAME ACROSS THIS ON THE INTERNET TODAY (Pictured left). UH YES THAT'S RIGHT MY FRIENDS! Next year the Spice Girls will celebrate their 20th anniversary and, as miss Emma and Mel B have said, they have always talked about a reunion BUT now they're just waiting for the right time. NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT, LADIES! Or well...2016 would be better...I need to save up for this. I will be paying A LOT of money to see them and hopefully meet them. But I won't get excited until it's official...And trust me, I will write post longer than this when that happens.

Oh yes, and I won my next hair cut for free today too! YAY CURL AMBASSADORS! I love them so I'm very excited.












So today is March 27th and I have 0 motivation. I am exhausted beyond belief...and if I didn't use up my 1 day that I don't plank a week on SATURDAY, I wouldn't be planking today either. I am using up my "no exercise day" today. I had plans to walk to co-op AND THEN THE WEATHER WAS LIKE "HAHA IT'S COLD TODAY GIRL!" so I didn't walk...and I came home from grocery shopping and slept and didn't wake up feeling better so I'm skipping it. Skipping Pilates day 5...but planking because I have to. As well, I've been having cravings all week but today I can't help myself...luckily there is no junk food (that I'm craving anyway) in my house for me to eat but I would literally eat everything today. My cravings include: fish & chips (AGAIN), biscotti, hummus (which I had today and now I'm satisfied), cake, chocolate, cookies... I'm going to be so fun when I'm pregnant one day...

In a fantastic change of events, I did workout. I pushed through and I'm so so happy I did.

Me: Mom, I have this weird feeling...I'm really tired and I like... Half don't want to work out but half of me wants to...
Mom: Yes that's normal, typically that's how I feel. I never want to work out. (so true mom...that started putting me in perspective)
Me: Right...But I just...I don't know what I should do. Should I work out?
Mom: I don't know...What would Sporty Spice do?
Me: UH WORKOUT! GOSH DARN IT! NOW I HAVE TO WORKOUT!

"You may not like it now, but you will thank me one day!" - Barb at rehearsal

So true. I did not like it, but no one ever did a workout and regretted it. Now my mom is willing to buy me a custom bracelet that says "WWSSD: What Would Sporty Spice Do?"

Planks Log (all teasers are half):
March 21: No plank day
March 22:
Full plank- 1:08
Half teaser 1:20
Dolphin Plank 1:02
8 pushups
March 23:
Full plank- 1:10
Teaser 1:20
Dolphin Plank 1:05
10 push-ups (the usual one I do)
March 24:
Full plank- 1:15
Teaser- 1:20
Dolphin Plank 1:08
March 25: 
Full Plank -1:15
Teaser- 1:21
Dolphin Plank- 1:08
March 26:
Full plank - 1:16
Teaser- 1:23
Dolphin Plank- 1:08
March 27:
Full Plank - 1:16
Teaser- 1:24
Dolphin Plank - 1:09

Exercise log:
Sat: Pilates
Sunday: Pilates and Planks
Monday: Pilates and Planks
Tuesday: 40 min walk and Planks
Wednesday: Pilates and planks
Thursday: Trampoline and Planks
Friday: Planks and Pilates and at least 1L of water :)

So glad I pushed through this week people. I understand why I hate week 3 now. Results are slowing, your motivation decreases, you get sick....But you push through and you never regret it in the end. I do, however, regret giving up at week 3 all those times I tried to lose weight before. I proved it to myself, I can do this, I will do this, and I will succeed!

Just think: What would sporty spice do?

Wish it. Dream it. Do it.