I started DietBet in November 2014. I played games through August 2015. I lost roughly 40 pounds give or take a few here and there which was about 22% of my starting weight. I had lost about 5 pounds prior to starting DietBet too. I often played 3 Kickstarters (with 4% loss in 4 weeks goal) back to back and 3 Transformers (with 10% goal lost in 6 months).
I found out a lot about diet and nutrition during my time with DietBet. I found out that it was more about eating whole foods and less chemical, artificial, or processed junk. I found out more about water intake and protein and fiber intake as well. I found out that instead of dieting, I was changing my lifestyle.
I had a healthier attitude towards nutrition and I realized I felt better the better I ate. Instead of doing an elimination diet, I worked towards focusing on the amount of water and increasing the amount of the foods that were better for me. I found that when I did this, I didn't even want or crave the bad stuff that often. I learned that for me it wasn't a diet, it was a lifestyle; so I did not worry myself with the words like "I can't have that, I am on a diet" or "I cheated on my diet" or "cheat day" or "cheat meal". I didn't like the connotation of this type of speaking or thinking. If I wanted one of the bad things, I would have it on occassion (maybe once or twice a week, maybe farther between. I didn't really keep track.
I was using a calorie deficit to lose the weight because I did have to lose 2 pounds per week for about 3/4 of the Dietbets I did back then. I still didn't worry too much if I went over now and again (once or twice a week).
The other part I really learned a lot about was exercise. I found what exercises I liked and what I didn't. I learned that I didn't have time or the need to push myself to do something I hate just to burn calories when I could do something I loved and burn calories too.
First of all I started with walking. i have always liked walking, but I suddenly became addicted to the Fitbit I had already had for awhiile but hadn't been paying much attention to. I started with a low goal of 5,000 steps a day because this pushed me to walk more than I was on a regular basis, but was not too farfetched for me at the time. I decided that I would shoot for my goal every day for 30 days in a row and once I reached that goal, I would increase my step goal by 500. I did this for 135 days and at a 7,000 goal, I missed my goal one day by less than 200 steps. I had just gotten a new dog and had to stop walking several times that night to try and figure out what she wanted. I got frustrated by missing my goal and didn't quite pick back up the habit of reaching the goal every day again for awhile. I did join a StepBet in June, and had to increase steps every week, but didn't have to meet a daily goal again with that. I picked that back up again in September of 2015 and met my goal for about 75 days and made it up to an 8,000 step goal and missed again. I got started again the weekend I joined DietBet again. On Jan. 9, I started with my 8,000 step goal and reached that and have reached it every day since. Once I hit 30 days in a row again, it will increase to 8,500 and so on. If I miss a day, the count goes back to Day 1 the next day.
After walking, I started using my AeroPilates Reformer with some of the moves from the workout dvd's that came with it and a couple that I kind of created on my own that I like. I kind of picked and chose the ones I like and made my own 10, 15, and 20 minute routine with it. I also use the pull up bar nearly every time, and I use the rebounder attachment for it on occasion, but not as often as I should.
I have a Sit 'N Cycle stationary bike and used it from time to time as well. I don't use it that much anymore because my walking takes awhile and I use that for enough cardio for the day. If I had more time, I would probalby use it more.
The next thing I did was I re-discovered my fascination with Yoga. I tried Yoga from a couple of apps and then tried a free 30 day trial for what was then called Gaiam TV (now it is called Gaia). I got super into Yoga and absolutely love it. It became my exercise of choice. By then I was doing Yoga most days and walking and using my AeroPilates Reformer a few days a week too. The more Yoga videos I did, the stronger I started to feel. I used the FitStar Yoga app a few times too, but I really liked the different X amount of days focused plans they have on Gaia.
Then, through DietBet, I discovered Blogilates by Cassey Ho. I fell in love with her short videos and her 30 Day Challenge Calendars. Quite a few months I used her Challenge Calendars as the last exercise I would do before getting into bed after whatever other exercises I did. I found some other challenge calendars from other hosts and/or trainers I liked too, but the Blogilates ones were my favorite.
I didn't think it could get any better and I didn't like I could love my workouts any more. Then, I discovered Yogalosophy by Mandy Ingber. I bought her book and her app which have pretty much the same thing, but I tried the Y28 Day Revolution when I did her Dietbet. I had a few issues during that one and missed a few days, but did as many as I could. I then continued into the summer using this Yoga routine as my go-to when I wanted to do Yoga but didn't have a video in front of me. Her video for this routine is on Gaia as well!
I pretty much discovered through my DietBet Journey that I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Yoga and Pilates. I could walk and do Yoga and/or Pilates for the rest of my life and I really feel like I would get all the exercise I needed if I walked every day and did Yoga and/or Pilates 3-7 days a week.
Then, July came and I went on a family vacation. I did a lot of walking on this vacation, but didn't exercise a whole lot otherwise. I streched a couple different times, but nothing major. I felt like crap for most of the vacation too. Part of it, I think I was having a reaction to a bee-sting I got right before we left. Then, early in the vacation I got sunburned and just felt bad for most of the week and was often so cold at night on the cruise that I couldn't enjoy myself very much. I had a lot of fun in the day time visiting and seeing new places though. I tried to get back into an exercise routine when I came back home, but still didn't do very well for awhile.
In August, I started one of the Blogilates 30 Day Challenges again and did it for awhile until my monthly visitor arrived and I couldn't stand doing it for a few days. I didn't pick it back up after that though because I went to the beach with my mom and my niece. I did do Yoga on the balcony at night 2 or 3 times while we were there though. We had a lot of fun with walking and swimming too.
All of this time on vacations, I wasn't eating very well anymore either. I really tried to make better choices when I could, but when every meal is made out of the home, it's hard to find really good options.
When I returned home from the beach, I started having moderate to severe cramping in my stomach when I started exercising with my AeroPilates Reformer or Yoga or Pilates. I discovered that my IUD was coming out and needed replaced. When I finally had the money to pay for it and called my Doctor for an appointment, I had to wait untiil the beginning of November, 2015 to get into see her. I tried to keep up with walking as I noted earlier. I started reaching my goal again in mid-September and made it about 75 days (I even made it the day I had my IUD replaced and the next few days when the cramping was the worst). I don't remember what day I missed it and stopped trying again. However, I couldn't do Yoga, Pilates or use my AeroPilated Reformer, so my exercise was kind of just out the window. My food kept getting worse and worse too. Eventually around Thanksgiving I started trying AeroPilates again every week or so, but it still induced moderate to severe cramping and swelling. I eventually just gave up and waited until my follow up Appointment on December 24 to make sure it was OK to start exercising again. The Doctor said everything was great and to take it easy starting back as Pilates and Yoga can be hard on the pelvic area.
I took it easy for doing AeroPilates two or three times a week at first. Then, I finally decided that since I was cleared to exercise that I was ready for DietBet again. I was ready to lose the 10-15 pounds I had gained back over the summer and fall from poor eating and lack of exercise. I knew that DietBet would give me the motivation I needed to start exercising almost every day. I knew with exercising more, I would make smarter food choices more and more too. I knew it would be tough to lose the weight, but I was ready to try. I am at the point in my life where I am not as concerend about the numbers on the scale as I am about making healthy chocies for my body through exercise and nutrition. I know that the number on the scale is not the whole picture. It is not the ultimate goal for me in life; yet, it is the ultimate goal for DietBet. I don't really want to lose my money, even though if I do, I know it is ok. I know I have to play the numbers game and log my food (which makes me make healthier choices) and try to maintain a calorie deficit to match my weight loss goals.
I also have another fun thing that happened when I started DietBet again this year. I signed up for 3 Kickstarter Dietbets to lose 4% of my body weight in 4 weeks on January 10. One started Jan. 10, one started Jan. 11 and one started Jan. 12. I also signed up for a Transformer DietBet on Jan. 17 which started on Jan. 5. I need to lose 10% in 6 months. I honestly don't know if I will be able to get as low as my goal is for that game, but I am ready to give it a try. I really want to use the game as a long-term motivator to keep myself focused on healthy eating and activity.
Now back to the other exciting news. On January 11, I started taking Dr. Sears L.E.A.N. Health Coach Certification classes. I learned about Dr. Sears through my business. He is a Doctor that takes and promotes the same products I do. I cannot mention that product or company in this DietBet Blog due to DietBet rules. The L.E.A.N. Health Coach classes I am taking are to become a triple certified Health Coach focusing on Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude and Nutrition. I am super excited to take this next step in my life. I want to learn as much as I can about exercise and nutrition and I want to be able to help others do the same. I want to help others to change their lives as I have changed my own. I would love to in the future take the Advanced course as well. I am 2 weeks into my first class and I am LOVING it. I am learning SOOOOO much and I can't wait to start using this informtation to help others.
Another goal of mine is that in the future someday I would love to attend Yoga Teacher Training. I am currently looking at two places, and would love to take a 1 week retreat to both places sometime to help me decide where to complete my teacher training. I would also love to become a certified Pilates Instructor as well someday. I have considered the personal trainer route too, but I am not sure if that's necessary because my main focuses are Yoga and Pilates.
Things have gone pretty well for me when I have been involved with Dietbet. It has changed my life. It has made me realize that health, fitness, and nutrition are my passions. I wish there were maintenance games, so that once we reach our personal goals we could keep paying to stay in the community to keep the motivaion to keep getting healthier.
When I joined DietBet this year, I decided to do all of the current 30 Day Challenge Calendars from www.blogilates.com.
There is the Journey to Splits (when I tried this one before I only made it about 6 days in before I went on vacation and then didn't finish it), 30 Day Flat Abs Challenge (I have done this one a few times before), 30 day Butt Lift Challenge (I have done this a few times before), 30 Day Thigh Slimmiing Challenge (I have done this one twice before), 30 day Sleek Arms Challenge (I have done this one once before), 30 Day Waist Trainer (this one was new this month), and The Stretch Project (I have done this once before).
I started Day one on Jan. 10 when I joined my 3 4 week Dietbets. The Stretch project has 5 stretches you do every day and on Day 6 you start adding that day in plus the first 5 stretches. With the Stretch Project, you just do the strech of the day. The other 5 challenges each have their own set of exercises that are to be done each day and the amount of reps you do increase each day. The Ab Challenge has Roll Ups, Ankle Reaches, Double Leg Lifts, Reverse Crunches and Criss-Cross. The Butt Lift Challenge has Squats, Pointed Butt Lifts, Fire Hydrants, Heel Kicks, and Bridges. The Thigh Slimming Challenge has Plie Squats, Side Leg Swings, Side Lunges, Side Leg Lifts, and Inner Thigh Pulses. The Sleek Arms Challenge has Arm Circles, Arm Raises, Single Chest Press Pulses, Half Cobras, and Up Up Down Downs. The Waist Trainer Challenge has Eagle Abs, Reverse Crunches, Double D's, Infinity Abs, and Accordians. Most of these start with 5 of the first 3 and work up to 10 and then add the 4th move in at 5 and work up to 10, then add the 5th move in at 5 and work up to 10. Once you get to 10 on all 5 moves each day increases by 1. The Arm Challenge is the only one that is different. It starts with 10 of the first 3 and works up to 15. Once at 15, you start the 4th move at 5 and work up to 10 and then add the 5th move at 5 and move it up as well. When you get to 15 of each, then you finish adding 1 rep of each move until the end of 30 days. At the end of these calendars you are doing 22 reps of each of the 5 moves. I know that sounds confusing, but it's really not.
I love these challenges. I do them in a specific order. Journey to Splits to start, so I can start with some stretching. Then I do Abs, Butt, Thighs, Arms, Waist Trainer, and The Strech Project, so I can end with a stretch too. I sometimes even do more than 1 stretch at the end to loosent things up. The Thigh one is the hardest for me, so I put it in the middle, so I can work up to it and back down from it. These are mostly in order of when she created them except I put the Splits and Stretch one at the beginning and end instead of in order of creation.
I thought things couldn't get any better than this. I am taking health coach classes, I am loving Pilates and Yoga and I have found favorites in Yoga and Pilates along this journey too. I don't even do most other "normal" workouts. However, when I joined DietBet this year (Jan 2016). I discovered yet another trainer, Katie Dunlop and her site Love Sweat and Fitness. I found her DietBet Challenge calendar the day after the game started and the day after the challenge started. I decided to give it a try too. The first week, I was trying to find a way to balance time with video workouts, walks, and Blogilates challenge calendars. I only had time to do 3 days of the Love Sweat Fitness calendar. I was a little upset that I couldn't do it all, but no one can do everything all at once after being out of the exercise game for a little bit. I also don't do her videos 3 times through right now because my time is limited with balancing homework and other workouts. The second week, I did two videos one day and videos 3 other days too. I did a litte more the second week than the first, and counted that as a win. I may not finish this calendar when everyone else does, and I may take a few rest days from it here and there, but I will finish it. I have committed to doing 3-5 days a week of this calendar too until I finish it.
These workouts are different than the ones I am used to. They are not the thing I would typically be doing. They are hard and they push me outside of my comfort zone. However, they are fun. Katie makes them fun. I love hearing her encourage me during my time doing the video. I have fallen in love with another trainer. Just like finding Blogilates and Yogalosophy though Dietbet, I am now in love with Love Sweat and Fitness too! Without DietBet, I never would have found these gems. I am so thankful to DietBet for changing my life!
I have currently finished Day 15 of all of the Blogilates Challenge Calendars so far and Days 1-8 of the Love Sweat and Fitness DietBet Challenge Calendar. I have been exercising again and walking again every day since Jan 10 and I feel great. I have not lost as much weight as I had hoped towards my goals this time yet, but I am hopeful I can make it. I started Jan. 10 at 152.5 and joined the Transformer Jan 17 at 151.5. I submitted a weekly verified weigh-in today Jan. 24 at 150.2. With the calorie deficit I have had and the exercise I have been doing and the foods I have been eating, I should have lost a little more by now. My monthly visitor showed up Friday as expected by the bloating building a few days last week. I hope once the visitor is gone maybe she will take a few more pounds with her. She usually does. I have been trying to keep the water intake up. I am doing better than I have been for months, but still not quite as good as I should yet. I am trying to eat enough protein to help the muscles repair and rebuild after my workouts too. I think I am doing everything right. I have had a few extra treats the past couple of days thanks to my visitor, but I have been within my calorie deficit too, and I think those carbs will be gone in a few days too.
Sorry about the length of this to anyone who is actually reading it. I did not originally intend for it to be so long. I simply needed to kind of clear my mind about these things and get them into writing, so I can pull them out and use them later for something I am slowly working on. This is more a personal recollection than anything.