It’s the halfway point of the 5-day challenge. The week is flying by! I’m a little bummed and perplexed about the morning weigh-in. I didn’t expect another massive drop in weight like the day before, but I was surprised by the results.
Morning Weigh-In and Kettlebell Workout
Well this is disappointing. I actually ticked up a 10th of a point to 199.5 pounds. The beef and broccoli dinner from the night before is on the heavier side. I also hadn’t gone to the bathroom since the first day of the challenge (you know the manner I’m speaking of!). I haven’t felt the need to.
It’s disheartening to remain virtually at the same weight as the day before. One thing I won’t do is fudge these results to mislead anyone for my benefit. Losing weight isn’t an exact science and trying to do so rapidly is no small feat.
Gut Busting Kettlebell Workout
This Gut Busting Kettlebell Workout is one I created myself. Out of all the kettlebell workouts I’ve done, it is the most exhausting! I feel absolutely drained afterward.
What I really like about it is the progression. It starts with Russian Swings and Goblet Thrusters. The kettlebell then starts to get closer to the floor with some “Figure 8” Squats. Finally, things start to get really horizontal with Clamshell Sit-Ups and Push-Ups.
The entire sequence of these kettlebell exercises lasts around 2 minutes. Multiply that by 7 sets and accounting for very brief rests in between sets (and fatigue) and that nears the total of a 20-minute workout session. I’ve never felt more tired after a workout, and today’s was no exception.
Breakfast & Lunch
Surprisingly, today wasn’t so bad fasting until 2 pm. One would think that with such an intense workout, hunger would be uncontrollable. However, work kept me occupied for a good majority of the morning and afternoon. I suppose that offered enough of a distraction to offset hunger. Although when the time came, I thoroughly enjoyed the shake of the day.
Chocolate Coffee Shake
Out of all the shakes my wife and I have tried, this is perhaps the one we enjoy the most. I’ve consumed it dozens of times and have yet to tire of it. The recipe comes from Paleo Hacks and uses Almond milk as a base. It’s rich, creamy, and filling!
Garden Salad
Another lunch, another salad. The scale timed out so the weight is probably half an ounce lighter than it should be. I used a similar bowl to swap the weight, but not all bowls are created equal! There is enough of a mix of different ingredients that my taste buds haven’t become bored yet. It doesn’t seem like it would be enough to satisfy my hunger, but combined with the snack I actually feel just fine afterward.
Snack
What’s this? An actual healthy snack?! I figured today I’d put the candy away and enjoy some grapes and raspberries. I think a combined 4 ounces is a modest amount. It did the trick as far as eliminating my hunger. Sure, the kid in me wanted to have some candy, but there is always tomorrow!
Dinner
The great thing about some of the Paleo meals my wife and I make is that it usually ends up producing 4 servings. That means 2 nights of prepared dinner for the 2 of us. As such, there was plenty of leftover beef and broccoli that just need to be reheated. Yum!
Evening Bike Exercising & Dessert
At the end of the night, I just want to relax. However, this challenge has driven me to follow through with its rules. I didn’t want to get on the stationary bike, but I do think burning those additional calories is extremely beneficial.
Ironically, I lost track of time a little bit and went several minutes over my 30-minute session. I normally watch a recorded show while on the bike as a distraction. Well, I suppose I was a little too distracted and entertained to notice surpassing 30 minutes. That isn’t a bad thing in my opinion!
Dessert
For the 3rd night in a row, it’s 2 almond butter cups with a small glass of eggnog. Other than the taste, what makes this dessert appealing is how easy it is to serve. Just pour some eggnog into a small glass and take out the almond butter cups from the freezer. Give the cups a few minutes to thaw (but not melt) and they are easy to bite into.
Wrapping Up Day 3
Even though my weight didn’t change from the day prior, I’m not deterred. It feels really good to be back in the swing of things (no pun intended). Aside from losing weight, I’ve noticed how much stronger my muscles have become when working out with kettlebells. So although I’m disappointed, focusing on the small positives gives me hope to reach my personal goals.
