The Nerve.

Lawrence drove by at least four gas stations, one donut shop and one bakery on his way home from working out this morning and completely failed to bring me back a strawberry donut. Honestly! The nerve of some people! It's not like I don't know the path he takes or the wonderful food distractions on the way- I've gone there before. Albeit, not lately, but I've been to the gym once or twice and I know a good gas station donut location on the route when I see one. Casey's has the best ones, but QwikTrip is coming on a close second. The very best ones are the ones with strawberry frosting, but the maple frosting with sprinkles takes a close second. Mmmm... I want a donut RIGHT NOW.

And I don't want to hear any heckling about not going to the gym with him this morning! It's not my fault! I know your instinct is to tell me I'm just being lazy, but I blame this all on Donna and Bernardo. You see, they bought us the fabulous horrible heating blanket for Christmas that just sucks me into bed and zaps away my brain cells into a warm, coccoon-like barrier against the world and it forces me to forget that there is even any other place on earth that I should think about visiting. And honestly, who wouldn't pick a warm coccoon over a sweaty gym any day? I'm not lazy, I'm just not stupid. And I think our heating blanket has a mind hold on me. At least until springtime. By then I might have saved up enough energy from my warm bundled trance to fight its hold on me long enough to drag myself to the gym. Until then, at least while there's still at least 2 feet of snow on the ground, I'm just impressed I get out of bed at all these days. You should be impressed, too.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

So yes it's been a while since I posted my random thoughts to the Brandy...er I mean family blog. So I'm going to make an early New Year's resolution to do a bit better in the future with the whole quick postings thing.

The title of this blog may lead you to believe the Cunningham household is gearing up for some early season holiday cheer (which the garland and lights on our banister would tell you is correct) but this is really the loooooong awaited photos from what we are affectionately calling our 12 hour food coma.

Yes, that's right after 9 weeks of working out like crazy people and dropping a combined 30 pounds, Brandy and I decided to binge...a lot! Yes, all of this was in one day. But, rest assured we are back in the death-by-workout-six-days-a-week schedule.


Go ahead...see the food binging for yourselves!

By the Numbers

The Challenge is over. (Did you hear that? I think it was angels singing!) It was actually over 2 1/2 weeks ago, but we're a little slow on the blog updates around here. Plus, we just wanted to keep you in suspense. So as not to have you lose any more sleep over anticipation on hearing how we ended up, here you go... (Are you on the edge of your seat with excitement? If not, scoot forward and then continue reading... go on, scoot...)

First of all, let me share with you that on the day of our final testing, it SNOWED. And if you remember from our initial testing (where it was super hot for the mile run), our mile run is done outside. So yes, we had to run a mile in the snow. And if you continue to remember from the initial testing, I don't like to run at all (that hasn't changed). And if you know me at all, you know that I don't like to be cold. So it wasn't all sunshine and roses like it should have been to be at the very end of this madness The Challenge. But we were all smiles at the end of the run, as evidence from the picture below with our coaches who endured our bitching supported us through each step of the way. If you'll excuse the Lifetime television for women moment here, I honestly don't think I could have done it without them! Thanks Jen & Mike!

So, here are our results...

Push-ups: Brandy went from doing 17 in a minute to doing 51 in a minute. Lawrence went from doing 23 in a minute to doing 64 in a minute.

Sit-ups: Brandy went from doing 23 in a minute to doing 35 in a minute. Lawrence went from doing 42 in a minute to doing 58 in a minute.

% Body Fat Lost:  Brandy lost 3.4%. Lawrence lost 5.6% (aka boys suck- why weren't they created with big butts and wide hips?!?)

Mile Run: Brandy shaved over 2 minutes off her mile time. Lawrence ran his final mile in 6:05. (in the snow, mind you!) Crazy fast!

# Pounds Lost: Brandy lost 14.4 pounds. Lawrence lost 16.6 pounds.

We still have a ways to go but we're both pretty pleased that it's over with our results. (Well, I still have a ways to go. Lawrence is already down about 6 pants sizes and if he gets any smaller I'm going to start to have a complex and flashbacks to my junior high boyfriend, neither of which are good for an almost 30 year old!) So... we've decided to continue with the Maintenance Plan. The Maintenance Plan is just like The Challenge except you don't have any food nazis coaches and there is no end in sight it is a monthly workout fee rather than a specific 9-week program. But you still work out 6 days a week and you're still supposed to watch what you eat. (Pay no attention to my previous blog entry about ice cream, Jen! I made it all up, I swear!)

So, morale of the story, now that we've finally come to then end of the tunnel, we've turned right back around and entered it again. This time, we're a little less fluffy and more hydrated starting off. But don't you worry, after taking two weeks off from any physical activity beyond throwing a frisbee, our first day back working out on Monday was almost just as painful as the first time around. Only this time there were a lot of familiar friendly faces in the room with us.

Where was THIS option?!

Um, where was this option when we were busting our butts getting up at 5:45am to work out 6 days a week and eating no sweet stuff to speak of?!? Do you know how BAD I craved a cookie the past 9 weeks on The Challenge? Do you know what I would have given to have a bite of oatmeal raisin goodness??? And, turns out, there's a diet out there complete made of COOKIES!!! Who knew?!?

Apparently my dad did, because he's the newest addition to the Cookie Diet craze. Alright, Pops, bring it on! Let's see how you do!

[Un]Changed Woman

Many have asked us if we think The Challenge has changed our eating habits for good. Yes, I do think we will forever think twice about what we eat but No, I don't think it has really changed my cravings or my weekly need for pizza (seriously, I think it's an imbalance of some sort!). In fact, we are on the home stretch (final testing is this Saturday!) and I can't wait.

Today my coach and I went spinning after our resistance training class (you know, just to change things up a bit- I really don't know what iIwas thinking to suggest it!) and before that I had mentioned that I was thinking about going to a kickboxing class tonight instead. So she emailed me this afternoon and said:

"Are you wiped out tired? I sure am…but I dare ya to do KB tonight, I know you have the energy left! Go for it."

To which I responded (and I'm sharing this in it's entirety just so you get the full idea of my Saturday plan):

"Are you kidding?! I feel like someone punched me down there thanks to my bright idea of going spinning this morning. Between resistance, spinning, and then your little mile jog idea after I almost died on the bike, I just got up from a two hour nap and I’m thinking of going upstairs and going to bed. And yes, it’s only 7:30. And no, I don’t care. But I’ll be at KB tomorrow morning, don’t you worry.
And in case you’re interested, here’s my list of food I’m planning on eating on Saturday. And yes, I do have it taped up next to my laptop. And yes, it is the best motivation I have right now.

Just to get started:
 - Casey’s donut with pink frosting & sprinkles
 - Pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks

A little after that:
 - a b-bops run for LC on the way down to Winterset

Have I mentioned it’s the annual Covered Bridge Festival back home this weekend full of great food all around the square?!? Coincidence? Definitely not.
 - Steak sandwich
 - Pickle on a stick
 - Old fashioned cherry coke
 - Pork loin sandwich (yes, I have to have both pork and steak- it’s tradition! And yummy!)
 - Fried bread (possibly two since I’ve been craving them so much)

And I might come home after that and have a big spoonful of regular Skippy peanut butter, just because I can! Right before the pizza delivery guy comes.

Great. Now I’m hungry. Guess I’m off to the kitchen to munch on some tuna and celery or something before I go to bed. Mmmm… "

I don't know why she thinks I have a bad attitude about all this or why it might seem that I haven't bought into the whole eating plan.

20 & Counting!

We haven't complained, er, I mean, wrote about The Challenge lately, probably because we're simply too tired at the end of the day to rehash the madness of class that morning. However, I thought I should mention that we have 20 CLASSES left! Woohoo! Don't uncork the wine yet, but start polishing the glasses. That means after class tomorrow we will be in the teens. Wow! I know that everyone likes to say this is a lifestyle change, but bet your bottom dollar that my lifestyle is going to change right back to include a little pizza and wine every now and then just as soon as this is over. Sure, we might buy the low-carb tortillas still and we might stick to lean meats for the most part, but I'm still not sold on the natural peanut butter (Skippy, I miss you old friend!) and "snacking" on turkey or chicken five times a day still isn't part of my natural routine. I'm already creating a list of foods I want to eat as soon as this is over and a large pepperoni and mushroom from Pizza Hut is at the top of the list. I'm pretty sure a BeBop's burger is at the top of Lawrence's list (I'm confident about that since I have heard him talk about it at least once a day, every day, since we started The Challenge).

In honor of the countdown, I think I might go out and make a paper chain out of bubble tape and red licorice. Is that so wrong?

Psychology of Sweat

Just in case you thought it might be getting easier into week 4 of The Challenge, let me tell you a little story of class this morning.

There I am, halfway through class, sweating like crazy (did I mention there's no air? ah, but have I mentioned that they got a noise citation in the Saturday class so now they no longer open the big garage doors, either? it's like a SAUNA, even when it's pleasant outside), and the instructor tells us to do a plank. Ugh. Quite possibly my least favorite word during the workout (particularly when she says lets do pushups to planks, which are a cruel version of torture that should be reserved for terrorists and screaming children, but I digress, this was just a plank).

So, there I am, halfway through class, sweating like crazy, attempting to do a plank and hold it for a minute. And as I'm holding, my arms are quaking underneath me and I realize as I look at my shaking hands (that I firmly believe were not created to hold half my body weight on top of them as they are at that moment) I realize even the creases in the back of my hand are sweating. I didn't even realize there were sweat glands there to begin with, but apparently when you're this hot, tired, and out of shape, sweat comes out all over. And as I'm still...{grunt}...planking... sweat begins to roll off of my neck (note, I have a bandana on to capture the swamp that is my forehead, so this is extra sweat) and fall down onto the mat between my hands. And after a few drops form together I realize that my sweat looks remarkable like those ink blots that they always have in the movies in the psychologist's office. So I start to concentrate on what shape my sweat blots are forming (whatever it takes to get me through that minute, folks!). And after a few more gather, I swear they formed a smirky little smiley face which if it had a voice bubble coming off of it would have been saying "Looks like you're a little hot and sweaty? Having trouble with that plank there? Ha ha ha ha {cackle, cackle}." And then I stopped imaging what my sweat blots were trying to tell me and fell out of the plank. Because really, there's only so much inner psychology you can take from your body at 6:30 in the morning.

The Secret

Today started week 4 of the crazy madness that is The Challenge. We had all new exercises (that sucked in all the same and different ways) AND we were pushed to up our weights for each exercise. Happy Monday to you, too.

After our workout, Lawrence said to me on the way home, "Wow, you could really tell you were pulling in your core on those exercises- I'd look over as you were starting an exercise and all the sudden you could just see your whole midsection tighten up. I can't do that!" I looked over at him and said "I just take one look in the mirror at the bowl full of jelly that is where my abs are supposed to be and tell myself 'suck it in, b*tch' - that's my secret." Now you know, too.

19 classes down, 35 to go, sucking (and sucking it in) all the way.

Finger Lickin'

Well, we're still going strong on week three of this crazy "lifestyle change". Note I'm still calling it crazy, but I'm also still in it til the end (which is exactly 40 workouts from now, in case you're counting along with me!).

Last weekend proved to be the most difficult test yet- Major League Baseball. Now, I personally believe that attending a baseball game without eating a hot dog, even if it's the local little league practice game, is un-American to the point that I'm pretty sure it qualifies as treason. So imagine my dismay when I realized our tickets to the Twins game coincided with the end of our first week of "the challenge". We couldn't back out - Lawrence's sister Courtney was meeting us there and LC was super excited to see the Twins- so we dutifully packed a cooler full of (healthy) snacks (plus water, can't forget water!) for the roadtrip up to the Cities and went on our way. The bathroom break we had to take 1 1/2 hours into the trip should have been a tip that this wasn't going to be easy (can you believe we had to stop on a 3 hour drive?!? I typically only stop once on my way to Denver- I'm SCREWED for my next trek across Nebraska... and just how many rest stops do you think they have along I-80 in Nebraska... Aaarrggghhhh!).

It wasn't that bad until we got into the stadium and sat down. We had eaten breakfast before we left and snack # 1 and light lunch #1 on the road, so we were on target. But then I truly believe that God wanted a little bit more Saturday afternoon entertainment to pass the day away, because it wasn't one inning into the game when the lady directly behind us came back to her seat holding the largest platter of cheesy goodness she called "Macho Nachos" and passed them around the row, the scent of mexican deliciousness wafting through the air. Gulp. Another water, please? Not 10 minutes later the two guys sitting next to me decided to celebrate the beginning of the 3rd inning with a sundae and a coke float. AAaaahhhh! More water? Yup, thanks. And then the icing, well, sugar, really, on the cake. There was a man in front of us with three little boys, all eagerly taking in all that MLB has to offer with wide eyes and empty stomachs, apparently. First they got snow-cones. No worries, I don't even like snow cones that much. You can keep your surupy ice to yourself. Then came the popcorn. Again, our will power is stronger than any little popped corn kernels. We're from Iowa, after all. But then came the true test of will power and might. They got three hot and steamy bags of mini donuts delivered straight to them from the mini-donut man who kept proclaiming the heavenly delight that are mini-donuts up and down the aisle- as if we needed convincing?? And there they were, three little boys digging into what is possibly Lawrence's favorite food of all time, dashing their little hands in and out of the bags getting covered with sugary goodness more and more. Subconciously Lawrence started leaning closer and closer to the row in front of us, bending his head over to better view the little donut trip from bags to mouths. As he licked his lips, stopping the bead of drool that had started to form, he leaned over to me and asked "Do you think they would mind if I just licked their fingers?" Nope, I'm sure that wouldn't be creepy at all, honey. Here, have another water.

"Lifestyle Change"

Lawrence and I started a workout program this past weekend. He likes to refer to it as a "lifestyle change", I, on the other hand, refer to it as hell. I'm pretty sure he'll share the specifics with you but it's 1-hour workouts, 6 days a week, for 9 weeks. Oh, and you have a "coach" (I call her the Nazi) with whom you have to share every morsel that you eat each day and every sip of water you take. Not kidding. Every sip. And I only mention water because that's pretty much the only liquid we can have. Goodbye tailgating, see you next year!

Saturday morning was our pre-fitness test which included timed sit-ups, timed push-ups, and a timed mile run. Oh, and if that isn't bad enough you also have to get your pictures taken in your underwear (!) or a swimsuit (double !!) - front, side and rear so they can see your flab in all its glory from every angle. I haven't run a timed mile since high school and for a very good reason. I suck at running. Now, not Lawrence. He kept his nice little pace the entire time, never once stopping to walk or take a break or slow down. He ran a mile in a little over 8 minutes without breaking a sweat and one of the coaches even asked him afterwards "Are you a runner? You looked pretty comfortable out there?" Now, me on the other hand they did not ask that. They didn't ask me anything after I got done (a handful of minutes after Lawrence), but I'm pretty sure they wanted to ask me "Have you had open heart surgery recently? Did you start chain-smoking when you were four? Do we need to call the EMT?" because it wasn't pretty. I was red-faced, sweating, wheezing, and I didn't make it to the half-way point before I had to stop and walk for a minute. WTF? When did I get so out of shape?!? My only redemption is that we did this little jog at noon in Iowa where the humidity was 100% and the temperature was 94 degrees. Lawrence must have been running in his own little world of cool.

This morning at 6:30am was our first "workout". I won't go into the details, mainly because just like with any other traumatic life event I don't want to relive the pain, but here are a few lessons learned/thoughts pondered today:

1. I've completely lost my core. I'm not sure when or where or how, but somehow I've completely lost it. I'm not sure what is holding my bottom half to my top half, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot of what looks like cottage cheese and not a lot of muscle. I cannot do a plank to save my life. My planks look like they have been left out in the elements too long. They are either sagging with my stomach almost rubbing the ground, or I'm confusing the plank with downward dog and my butt sticks up in the air. Must. work. on. core.

2. Speaking of cottage cheese. It is NOT the ideal protein snack to have before working out, particularly at 6am. I was in a rush, at a loss, and panicked. Never. again.

3. In addition to fitting in the workouts and the food journaling into my daily routine, I also now have to fit in about a dozen extra bathroom breaks because with drinking an additional 100 ounces of water a day comes a need to pee. A lot.

4. I must figure out a different way to wash my hair in the morning after workouts because I literally cried in pain this morning from having to life my arm above my shoulder in the shower. Luckily, I was well-hydrated (see point 3).

5. I'm desperately looking for an in-house masseuse that will work for table scraps. They're very healthy table scraps, if that helps. Any takers?

6. And finally, I'm one day closer to being done with this crazy business, although I still don't know how I got talked into it in the first place. Lawrence should get a raise. His sales and negotiating skills have gotten much better. Obviously.

STATUS: 1 workout down, 53 to go.