30 Days, No Wine

I love going to the gym. I really do (most days). And I am really excited about the progress I've made. I am stronger. I have more stamina. I could just barely run 60 seconds on my first day of C25K and today I ran 28 minutes. That's huge. I'm feeling results. But I'm not seeing them.

I take progress photos and measurements almost weekly and I honestly can't see a change from week 2 to week 8. My clothes aren't fitting any better. I can feel muscles under there, but I can't see them. Pretty frustrating. But I know there has to be a reason for it. I am working hard. I don't think the lack of change is due to not working hard enough at the gym. I push myself. So I have to look at my diet.

My diet is pretty clean and consists of mostly vegetables. I eat pasta a couple of times a week. Bread a couple of times a week. I have a fresh juice in the morning before the gym and a high protein smoothie after. Nothing that raises a red flag. Except for.... my wine.

I have read that when you're getting fit you should not have any more than 3 drinks a week. I laughed at that. I mean, who doesn't love a glass of wine or a beer or two in the evening to unwind? But those one or two add up over the week. And as much as I don't want to believe it, I think it may be the thing that's holding me back and keeping this nice layer of cushion over my pretty new muscles. I'm working really hard for them and I want to see them, so I'm willing to give it up. For 30 days. Seriously.

I rarely drink to get drunk. But when I take an honest look at it, I do drink almost every evening. A glass. Or two. Or three. And probably once a week I have drinks with my sister. On that night it's a couple extra drinks. When I add those up I see a big red flag.

So today I'm going to take before photos and measurements. I'm going to keep eating what I eat and keep pushing myself in my workouts and see what happens. In 30 days if I don't feel any better or look any better, well I can always hop back off this wagon at the nearest wine store. They'll still make wine in 30 days, right?

Here is what I ate today:
One slice of thin crust mushroom and spinach pizza
8oz smoothie
(apx) 2 cups of orzo salad with lemon and olive oil. Tons of veggies.
a few chips and salsa.
2oz prune juice (yeah, I like it)
Water. Lots of water. Probably 60oz

Workout:
5 minute walking warm up
28 minutes of running (Couch to 5k Week 8 Day 2)
60 walking lunges w/ 15 lb weights
10X 3 Hip adductor machine 180 lbs
10X3 Hip Abductor machine 180 lbs
10X2 Standing Glute Kickback machine 90 lbs
10X3 Horizontal Leg Press Machine 190 lbs/170 lbs
10X2 Seated Leg Curls (Don't remember the weight)
5X3 Smith Machine Squats 90 lbs
10 Tricept dips (Even though it was leg day)