Round 2 has been the biggest challenge since I started the 12WBT and boy what a journey it has been. I am now leaner and stronger than I have ever been. My yoga practise has improved so much as has my running. I love this program so much that I am signing up again for round 3. Here’s a run down on my goals and my accomplishments.

• Maintain weight lost Well I lost more weight. Not much about a kilo.
• 15 push-ups on toes Done! I can actually do about 16-18 depending on the day and how my shoulders feel. So proud. Now I just do push-ups on toes then if I feel like I can’t hold it, I move onto the girly push-ups.
• Keep working with heavier weights. Try to chest press 1 set with 8kg dumbbells with good form. Well this has been a struggle because the gym changed the free weights section. No more smith machine (:( ) and there aren’t any between weights from 5kg to 10kg so I haven’t been able to access these without getting the evil eye from the PTs every now and then when I go into the PT room to grab them. I might try later in the week and see how I go. I do find that my form goes pear shaped when I get up weights. I’m sure I can but just haven’t done it.
• Buy a pair of size 6 pants I bought 2 size 6 pants in the last couple of weeks because a few brands I like their size 8s are way too big (yes looking at you vanity sized SABA and CUE). Nothing wrong with vanity sizing but really makes it a pain when all you want to do is grab clothes off the rack. I am a lovely UK size 8 now verified by my ASOS purchase last month although the skirt I bought is a little loose.
• Get body fat to 18% based on my scales Well on weigh-in day, I jumped on my scales and viola, 18% on the dot! That took me to a loss of 3.8% and according to my friend, 20% body fat loss once you do the math. I still don’t quite get it but hey, he said it sounds better.

Now that the round has finished I have learnt so much more about myself and it is still a process to break years of bad habits like snacking on the wrong foods and over-eating. I still struggle with that a lot and I am still consciously making myself aware of this. I think it will take more mindset lessons to get me through but it will happen one day. I am actually quite pleased now that I am actually making a lot more of my own food meals, even desserts. At least now I know what is going into my food as opposed to going into a cake shop and not knowing what proportion of ingredients they use. I can make modifications where I want and still get the dessert I want.

While I wait for round 3 to start, I am hoping to restart the lean and strong program from round 2 as well as doing some group classes again in preparation for round 3so that I don’t lose the strength that I have gained. I am also looking forward to the training session next Saturday where Michelle will be training us in our groups. It will be so much fun! Also the finale party is on the same day and I finally get to frock up and meet my friends from the program. Thankfully the venue is close to home so if I do want to disappear, it’s just a short walk home.

Bring on round 3 because I want myself a great beach body for summer! I haven’t felt this good in years!

Oh no, 2 weeks left on the program for Round 2. I’m scared. I have to say this round has been so difficult. It’s so easy losing weight. It’s harder trying to maintain it and even build some muscle. I upped my calories from 1200, to 1300  and now finally to 1400 and god, I’m struggling. I think it was the fact that I thought, “OK, now I can eat more, I’ll choose more calorific food.” Well, the calorific food involved muesli bars (which I think are great snacks, in moderation, not 3 at a time), cakes, biccies and fruit bread brought into work for morning tea. Sigh. So I’ve decided that with 2 weeks left, I am going to try my best to avoid or at least limit my snacks to unprocessed food or at least something more protein based. I’ve gotten rid of the baked goods I made over the weekend. I admit, I threw most of them out and then I did eat some. o_o

I really don’t find exercising hard so it had never been an issue of getting to the gym. I’m thinking I might add some cardio in the morning to get me going. So I will keep following the Nike Training Club workouts. I think they are really good. I wish my apartment had a bit more space for me to do the workout because I can do it without wearing headphones instead of at the gym and I have to wear my arm band and headphones. I end up picking workouts that don’t require much space. Another option would be to get the skipping rope out and skipping out on the balcony. I’m sure the neighbours won’t mind the sound of skipping. LOL.

Anyway, that is the plan of attack for the next 2 weeks. I also bought a pair of size 6 pants. They fit, i.e. I can zip them up. Yeah, there’s muffin top and I don’t think I could sit down in them. LOL. So hopefully at the end of the 2 weeks or at least at the end of next month, they will sit pretty!