Jennifer’s Journey: Week 3 – Continued

Written By admin • 5 min read

“The Wall…. I have been hearing about hitting the wall since the first day I got here. At some point, usually week three, everyone supposedly hits the wall. All the carbohydrates are burned out of your muscles, you have been away from home for awhile, your muscles are tired and a little strained, you may be fighting an injury, the enthusiasm you arrived at camp with is beginning to wane, lots of the friends you were close to left on Sunday and then you go to your second weigh in to start the week off! I kept thinking that this would NOT happen to me because I was more prepared, more centered and now I knew what was coming. I was, as usual, completely mistaken!

I had my weigh in on Monday morning. I had a goal of 5 more pounds. The anticipation didn’t really get any better for it being the second weigh in. I also got my measurements done. I lost an additional 4 pounds. At home, on my own, 4 pounds is great! Being here, coming up a little short of my goal, 4 pounds sort of felt flat. I called my husband and he made me feel a lot better, even if it made me miss him more! I knew I had to get back on the horse and give 100% this week so I can hit that 5 pounds next week!

I started off our Monday morning hike in good spirits and quickly felt like it was my first day! My heart rate spiked to 177 and I couldn’t catch my breath. I had to slow down. At boot camp, there is the metal sled that you can add weights to called “The Butcher”, that we have to push across the field like football players. I couldn’t get it there and back in the time that we had, my muscles felt so weak! It was frustrating and my roommate (and boot camp partner) reminded me that it was my third week!

I finally feel hungry again and that has helped my energy levels come back. It hasn’t hurt that the food has been phenomenal! I have a new favorite that I can’t wait to learn how to make at home. The crusted chicken spinach salad! I didn’t leave one leaf of spinach on my plate. We also had PIZZA for lunch! It had a spelt crust and we had a choice of a Mexican style pizza or a chicken and vegetable pizza. My roommate, Savannah, and I ordered different ones and shared so we could taste both!

A really positive part of my being here has been the nutrition training. We had a nutrition class to learn all about green shakes. Bonnie taught us the benefits of using greens like spinach and kale in the blender with water, ice, fruit and natural sweeteners like agave or stevia. Then she made several different shake combinations, including: Just spinach, spinach with lemon, spinach with cantaloupe, spinach with berries, and spinach with pineapple, banana and raspberries. They were actually surprisingly good! The one with spinach, water and ice has only 10 calories and provides 3 hours of energy and tons of vitamins. I can’t wait to get home and get my kids drinking this with breakfast instead of juice! It might be my entire breakfast on days I am in a hurry.

We also had nutrition training with Leah, one of our trainers, all about snacks! We learned that snacks need to be between 150-180 calories and include something with fiber and energy (like fruit) and something with protein (like nuts). It was really helpful information to take home for me as I would love to pack my snacks and my kid’s snacks! That is really one benefit of taking this time now for me is that my children will hopefully develop healthy habits to last throughout their lives!

These first few days of this week have been hard in another way. I strained my rotator cuff and the trainers are telling me to ice it, do strengthening exercises at night and do not do pushups or anything over my head or out to the side with my arm. On top of fighting off shin splints that make it so difficult to run, this has made me very frustrated because I can’t work out as much as I want to. I decided to try to turn this into something positive, so I rallied those of us who are fighting injuries to get together and have an ice party.

We all got our ice packs and sat around visiting and laughing while we iced! After dinner, we often get a group together to walk to RiteAid for vitamins, medication, toiletries or gum. We sometimes continue our walk to the Sports Authority to get essentials or non-essentials(I bought TWO new pairs of shoes this week). I enjoy spending my two hours of downtime before bed getting to know the people here. It reminds me that I have friends here to rely on to break through that wall!”~Jennifer

I am 37 years old and a mom of 4 beautiful daughters. I am a stay-at-home mom who is never HOME! I do some work from home helping my husband run his business. My weight was not a problem until I got pregnant and began having children. I have never completely lost that weight. I have tried different diets and felt like a yo-yo for the past 8 years! (see me on far right of picture)

A combination of things happened in my life to make me decide to make some major lifestyle changes and putting myself first, making healthy choices for me and my family. Please join me on my journey on several blogs: on the Premier Fitness Blog, on the TimeOutMom Blog, on the Mom It Forward Blog, and on the Today’s Mama Blog, as I do five weeks at the live-in camp and get twelve weeks of coaching and support after I return home. This is going to be life-changing! It is already life-changing!