Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

I'm sorry for the delay in posting the results of the challenge. I had to wait for pictures and information about how my team did before I could post it.

As you may have already read, my team, Healthy Living CT, came in at number two. I'm very proud of my team, I think we all did an awesome job! The way the competition was set up, each team accrued points for each exercise class they attended at the YMCA. My team could not make as many classes as the winning team, which was the Totally Awesome team. A special shoutout to Alicia Pecora, who was on the winning team, who I think made most of the classes.

I haven't looked at some before pictures in a while and found this picture. It's fun to see how far I've come.

I know I have more of them and will post them as I find them, but this picture shows how much heavier my face looked back then. It's quite a difference!

It's not easy… my trainer wants me doing intense strength training exercises every other day. I feel stronger and I'm hoping my body fat percentage will go down.

My trainer wants my percentage to be about 13 or so. The last time he checked, I was around 19 percent. I don't think I can change my diet much more than I already have. My trainer thinks I eat very clean as it is, so I know it's the strength training that will bring the body fat percentage down.

My personal trainer changed my workout around for the next two weeks. This time he wants me to use something I never used before… kettlebells.

There are four sets of training that I need to complete every other day. The first set focuses on speed and involves the kettlebells. He gave me exercises including squats, swings, rows and thrusters. I have to do three sets, 10 reps each.

I just wanted to give a shout out to my team. I think we did incredibly well. We came from behind and we're not far from the top. We may even win it, we'll have to see.

Mat, the Fitness Director, decided to do one more superfood, so this would be for the 9th week. This time, he chose chia seeds. This means I've had every one of the superfoods. Chia seeds are nothing new to me, I have them nearly every morning at breakfast. It's full of protein and omega 3. It's a choice that I can't argue with!