Kelly the Culinarian: #TransformationChallenge Two-Week Check In

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

#TransformationChallenge Two-Week Check In

After a bonkers partner workout
Short version: I'm down 4.5 pounds in exactly two weeks of working out at Orange Theory La Grange.

Long version: This. Is. Hard. Unlike the last time I lost weight using Weight Watchers and running an absurd amount, I'm not hungry all the time and I don't find myself accidentally eating peanut butter right from the jar. Instead, I'm more concerned I'm not eating enough. I've been using FitBit to track my food and aim to get as much protein as possible with the calories I'm allotted. I think the reason that I'm not ravenous is that my legs aren't hungry. The longest I run at OTF is maybe 4.5 miles, so I don't have time to ramp up to that "feed me now and no one gets hurt" level. I'mn fasting until lunchtime most days, filling up on tons of vegetables and finishing most days with a protein shake to try and head to bed with enough protein to build muscles overnight. I'm also taking BCAAs after workouts and melatonin before bed for the same reasons.

The aforementioned ahi tuna, brown rice quinoa
and blistered asparagus
What I've found delightful is that although we're spending quite a bit more on groceries, I'm enjoying trying new recipes and they've mostly turned out better than I expected. Tonight I made seared ahi tuna steaks with a balsamic reduction (best to follow me on Instagram to get the insights) and yesterday, I made chicken stuffed peppers. Next week, I'm planning to try a lentil quinoa bowl knock off based on a really satisfying lunch I had at Panera this week.

I'm also trying to not get obsessed with the scale and man is it tough. I bought a body fat scale that sends all the data to FitBit via an iPhone app. If it's to be believed, I reduced my body fat from 26.7 percent to 19.1 percent. Seems unlikely.

Make no mistake, I know how I got here
On the OTF front, I've been making it to class almost every day, save for some weather-related nonsense. I'm pretty diehard but I don't think I have it in me to leave the house when it's the coldest it's been in a generation. I am feeling less sore than I anticipated. I think it's because I'm constantly moving, and focusing on getting in at least 10,000 steps ahead and taking the BCAAs. I caught myself in the mirror the other day and my arms are already looking more defined. And maybe one day I'll be bold enough to post my two-week abs progress.

I have a planned cheat meal/outing on Friday with the First Look for Charity gala right around the corner. I'm looking forward to eating all sorts of local treats without guilt because I've been on plan and on point.

So my question is, how does one determine exactly how many calories and grams of protein you need to build muscle and lose fat? Evidently, this is a very hotly contested topic on the Internet.

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