Diane’s Macros Meal Plan: Week 10 Update & Progress

I can hardly believe I've already cruised through 10 weeks on this 12-week meal plan from Christine at Gauge Girl Training!

If you missed my previous posts about this meal plan, check them out:

My Macros Meal Plan “Planning & Preparation” post (written the first week)

My Macros Meal Plan “FAQs” post with all the details (written a few weeks into the plan)

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If you want to interact with me LIVE daily about my experience, head on over to Periscope!

I'm vlogging (video blogging!) about the experience with daily Periscope videos that are live, so you can jump in to watch the broadcast (don't worry, only my face appears on-camera, not yours!) and ask questions there.

If you still need to download the Periscope app, it's free and available in the App store on iPhone and Andriod OS. Simply search for it in the App store, then find me there @dianesanfilippo.

You can also watch my previous Scopes in my Katch replay archives here.

Make sure you're following me on Twitter to get notification links to the live broadcasts, especially if you're on a desktop or laptop computer during the day as you'll be able to watch (though you can only interact if you watch from the app on a mobile device) from anywhere.

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My progress so far

In the 10 weeks since starting the program, I've regained the baseline of what it feels like to be myself. I know that sounds like an unscientific result, but I'll get to the numbers in a moment.

The biggest difference I feel is that I have a newfound way of balancing the nutrition I'm taking in to work for not only my energy levels and satiety (I truly have not been hungry beyond the normal “pre-meal” time on this plan!) but also for the fat loss goals I had.

I haven't weighed myself on this plan.

Since I honestly feel like scale-based numbers, while relevant in the grand scheme of things, are simply not the biggest indicator of progress for someone who trains and may gain muscle and who has fewer than around 20 pounds to lose.

In the absence of a scale, what have I done to track progress?

I've taken progress photos every single week, in the same spot in my apartment, in the same sports bra and shorts outfit (I set it aside exclusively for photos each week) as well as measurements.

The Gauge Girl Training online tracking system asks for the following measurements:

Waist – for women, this is the smallest part of our abdomen, or our “natural waist”
Hips – this is the fullest part of the glutes
Chest – measured under the arms about 3″ above the nipples
Arm – flexed, around fullest part of the bicep
Thigh – the largest part of the upper thigh
Calf – flexed, the largest part of the calf (I think I measured the first few weeks of this unflexed, so I'm only counting what I believe was an honest loss below, since measuring flexed)

I added two of my own measurements, since I feel they were extremely relevant to seeing my own progress:

Waist, large – this is at the bellybutton or the widest point of love handles
Hips (natural) – this is the hips at their widest point (this is lower than where my hip bones and fullest part of my butt are – thanks squats!)

Changes I've seen in my measurements over the last 10 weeks:

Waist: -1.0″
Hips: -1.0″
Chest: – 0.25″
Arm: -0.50″
Thigh: -0.75″
Calf: -0.25″

Waist, large: -2.25″
Hips (natural): -2.25″

You can see why I wanted to measure those extra spots!

I know my body well, and I knew that while my natural waist might shift a bit, the area I had the most to lose from was much lower than that in the love handle area! I also knew that my hips are an area where I easily put on weight, so the extra measurement there was a great one to track.

Both of my additional measurements proved to have the largest loss. I think that my particular body type – which I would consider an athletic pear shape – is one that may be relevant for these extra measurements if you're taking on a similar fat loss plan.

What will you do after the 12 weeks are up?

I will re-assess where I am at the time, and either take a break and then continue with a newly formulated plan for a new set of goals, or I'll talk to Christine about “reverse dieting” to get back to a baseline for a new normal. Time will tell.

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What my meals have looked like in the last few weeks…

Fasted morning cardio with coffee.

Meal 1: 2 whole eggs, small portion of additional lean protein (though sometimes I forget to add this), white rice, white potatoes, or sweet potato, arugula or some kind of green vegetable.

    

Meal 2: [lunch] chicken, steak, or seafood (any type of fairly lean protein), white rice, white potatoes, or sweet potato, vegetables, my portion of additional fat.

     

Meal 3: [post workout] protein shake with Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, organic frozen cherries, organic vanilla extract, pinch of green stevia or sometimes a tiny bit of organic maple syrup, ice, water, and a splash of low-fat coconut milk. Watch my protein shake recipe video here.

Meal 4: [dinner] chicken, steak, turkey, or seafood (any type of fairly lean protein),white rice, white potatoes, or sweet potato, vegetables, my portion of additional fat.

    

Meal 5: [evening snack] chicken, steak, turkey, or seafood (any type of fairly lean protein), white rice, white potatoes, or sweet potato, vegetables, my portion of additional fat. I change this meal up pretty often with something like deli turkey or roast beef, a small amount of Paleo mayo (see below for the one I use) or other sauce that fits my plan, and fruit instead of starches and veggies for my carb source. Sometimes this shifts to be a 3 or 4pm snack versus after dinner if dinner is later.

    

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Links to products I'm using & foods I'm eating

(Get more details on these items in my Diane's Macros Experience: Planning & Preparation post if you like.)

Single Compartment Meal Prep Containers

2-Compartment BPA-free Containers 
3-Compartment Meal Prep Containers
If you prefer to use glass, I love these containers from Glass Lock.

Salter Eco-Friendly Bamboo Kitchen Scale (hold the “on” button for a few seconds to turn it off)

Misto olive oil spray bottle

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

Organic Green Stevia Leaf Powder

Stainless steel straws

SkinnyFat
Nutreince Multivitamin (I like the natural/unflavored best)

Speaking of quality oils, if you'd like to try the Paleo mayo I use from Primal Kitchen, use code BALANCEDBITES at checkout to receive a whopping 15% off of your order. Along with the oil, the spices are a must-try, as well as the balsamic vinegars!

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My training update.

My weekly workouts typically look like this:
Monday: Morning cardio, 45-60 minutes (fasted), Cardio Kickboxing, 60 minutes (Turbo Kick) in the evening – if I arrive early for the class, I do some lifts I may have missed over the weekend.
Tuesday: Morning cardio, 45-60 minutes (fasted), Session with personal trainer (mostly body-weight workouts with some kettle bell movements, barbell lifts, and gymnastic-movements that are full-body movements and lots of core strengthening, balance,  etc.)
Wednesday: Morning cardio, 45-60 minutes (fasted), Tennis with my husband before lunch
Thursday: Morning cardio, 45-60 minutes (fasted), Session with personal trainer(mostly body-weight workouts with some kettle bell movements, barbell lifts, and gymnastic-movements that are full-body movements and lots of core strengthening, balance, etc.)
Friday: Morning cardio, 45-60 minutes (fasted)
Saturday: Late morning weight lifting session, Cardio Kickboxing, 60 minutes (Turbo Kick)
Saturday: Late morning weight lifting session, Cardio Kickboxing, 60 minutes (Turbo Kick)

I don't do the morning fasted walks on the weekends since my daily routine is different then, and I like to slow-roll into my weekend days. On weekdays lately I've somehow found that I not only enjoy my hour at the gym, I look forward to it and don't like when I need to miss it for some reason. WHO AM I?!

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