Boot Camp Wrap-Up

I know how much you all love reading about boot camp. But hey, this blog is as much a journal for me as it is an update for you, so bear with me. This is my last week of boot camp. Actually, it's the last week of this session, but I like it so much that I've signed up for the next session as well. I won't take the diet class again, but I will continue to follow the plan.

We had a timed strength test at the beginning of this session, and then we repeated that same test last week. Basically, we counted how many pull-ups we could do in one minute, then how many push-ups, then how many sit-ups. Here are my results:

Pull-ups: then, 1; now, 9
Push-ups: then, 8; now, 21
Sit-ups: then, 9; now, 23

So I've definitely gotten stronger. I was thrilled, because I didn't even realize how much I had improved until we did that second test.

And about the pull-ups, don't be too impressed. We use huge rubber bands to help us. There is no way on earth I could actually do 9 pull-ups without that band. Maybe 1. Maybe.

I also had my final weigh-in and body composition testing for the diet class. Over the last eight weeks, I've dropped 11 pounds overall (lost 14 pounds of fat, but gained 3 pounds of muscle), 5% body fat (I'm now in the "healthy" range for body fat), and 6 overall inches (1 from thighs, 1 from hips, 1 from chest, 1 from arms, and 2 from waist). My lean muscle mass increased by 3 pounds. Becky says that after measuring your lean muscle mass, women should add 20-30 pounds to that number to get your ideal weight. I'm still not in my "ideal weight range," but I'm close. I love that we don't go by the traditional charts, because I just don't fit into those. If you look the charts, I should weigh 142-156. But my lean muscle mass is currently 138. That means that I'd only have 4-18 pounds of fat, which is less than healthy. (Yes, I just told you that my ideal weight is 158-168.)

Boot camp makes me tired. I often take naps on days when we have it. But overall I have a lot more energy. And I almost never have headaches anymore. When I do, it always goes away when I drink some water. I haven't taken anything for a headache for a long time. I just feel better. And I really like that my clothes are baggy - although that means I have to spend money to get new ones that fit. Today I plan to spend some time altering a lot of my pants and shorts and see if I can make them last longer. I did buy a new swimsuit, and (TMI alert for you male readers) I'll need to get some new bras. I'm pretty sure about 3 pounds of weight came off of that area.