This week would have been quite a bore if not for the hundred pushups challenge. I didn’t go to the gym last Saturday because of a headache. How could I run when the throbbing pain increases even if I walk?

Sunday: I went and did my usual cardio training with high intensity interval in the treadmill. Strength training triceps, biceps, chest and legs.

Monday: Errands. No gym. Week 3, Day 1 of hundred pushups challenge. For the first time in my life, I did 15 consecutive pushups.

Tuesday: Cardio and strength training back and shoulders.

Wednesday: Caught in heavy traffic. Too late to go to gym. Week 3, Day 2 of the hundred pushups challenge.

Thursday: Twice the gym time to make up for the days I missed.

For the hundred pushups challenge, today I will be on Week 3, Day 3! Who knew I could survive this far? This week had been really tough but I am so surprised to be able to pull out an act like 16 pushups in one go. I even had my daughter count my pushups so it was fun.

Since starting the program, it’s just now that I really felt the burn in my arms and what do you know, in my abdomen, too!

Friday: Week 3, Day 3 program: 20, 15, 15, 12, 16+ with 120 seconds rest in between the sets. Twenty!! I’ll do it, do it, do it! 

*****

Thoughts on weight loss.

Weight loss and fat loss are two different things. People trying to lose weight should concentrate on losing the fat weight so the weighing scale is not an accurate source of information to judge whether one is successful in their fitness/weight loss program. We should take into consideration, the body fat percentage.

Take for example, two women both weighing 70 kilos, same height. Woman #1 has 35% body fat percentage and Woman #2 has 20%. That means,

Woman #1: 70 x 35% = 24.5 kilos of fat, 45.5 kilos muscle mass

Woman #2: 70 x 20% = 14 kilos of fat, 56 kilos of muscle mass

Muscle is heavier than fat is a misconception. A pound is a pound. Muscle just takes up lesser space than fat, that’s all. A balloon containing 1 lb of muscle is smaller than a balloon containing 1 lb. of fat. So it means that even both women have the same weight, woman #2 will look leaner because her body fat percentage is lower.

My point? I still weigh a lot than I expected. I thought the weight will disappear easily but it’s not the case. I now weigh 150 lbs/68 kilos (just 4 lbs. lost in 4 weeks) but much leaner looking than when I was weighing the same and not exercising years ago. I even lost the “wings” in my back. You know those, ugly fat sticking out the back under the bra.

This summer of me is almost over and I am pretty sure I am not of the big losers (of weight that is) but it’s ok. I am happy with my body more than ever and I am committed to exercise regularly. I know people will not see me as being the fittest but that’s just because they didn’t see me in my fattest. 

See other weight loss stories at Baby Tea Leaves.