It's time

Clint and I have decided it is time to get off our butts and start getting fit again. Before the wedding we worked really hard at eating healthy and working out, and then, apparently we decided to take a YEAR off. So, obviously it's time for some changes!

We met with personal trainer Blake Herpeche and he taught us about the Zone "diet" (more of a way of life) and all the science behind it, and we got started. The Zone is based on our bodies' need to get a balanced meal of certain amounts of protein, carbs and fat in order to burn fat, not crave foods, and not even really get too hungry, among other things. Blake created a meal and snack list for each of us after assessing which foods we liked and how often we wanted to eat them. He also created a grocery list with everything we would need to survive a week in the Zone. Last Sunday, we loaded up on mostly grocery store "perimeter" foods (think fresh veggies, meats, nuts, fruits) and set off determined to stick with it, at least 80% of the time. The Zone also includes using the 80/20 rule for following it, meaning, out of 21 meals in a week, 20% of them (4) can be eaten "off" the Zone. We also had to decide to workout at least 3 times a week according to the amounts of food we had been prescribed to eat.

To measure our progress, we bought a fat loss monitor by Omron (which we have affectionately named "the moron") and a food scale that you can get at Walmart for $20. Measuring your food is a huge part of the Zone so that you can be sure you are getting the right amounts of each macronutrient (Carbs, Protein, and Fat), so much so that some meals call for a whopping 3 almonds.

We created a spreadsheet with all of our measurements and will be taking them every Sunday. Clint will be sharing all of his information, while I will share some actual numbers and the rest I will just show the change (so, -1 pound or whatever). I think the girls will understand this :)

Sunday 5/14
9.4 21.6 158.8 32 11.5 11.75 20 20.5 36.5 37.5 33.5

Clint Starting Measurements

Fat % 9.4
BMI 21.6
Weight 158.8
Waist 32
Belly 33.5
Hips/Butt 36.5
L. Arm 11.5
R. Arm 11.5
L. Thigh 20
R. Thigh 20.5
Chest 37.5


Lauren Starting Measurements

Fat % 28.5
BMI 24
Weight maybe I'll tell you later :)
Waist not able to fit into old jeans :(
Belly not pretty
Hips/Butt 41
L. Arm 12
R. Arm 12
L. Thigh 24
R. Thigh 24
Chest 41


Clint's short term goal is to build 5 pounds of muscle, and increase his inches on chest, arms, etc. For workouts, he is doing lifting 3 times a week, and if we do a 4th time (ha!) he will do more cardio related exercises. My goal is to lower my fat percentage, lose inches (but not lean body mass), and gaining muscle would be good too but I'm not as worried about that right now. I'm doing at least 20 mins of cardio 3 times a week, and doing some light lifting (10 mins or so) most of the time when I'm finished running/walking.

Throughout this year of slobbfulness, we have failed at attempts to "eat right" and workout (I think there was probably one workout, then a 6 month span, then another, then a 3 month span, etc. - all while paying for our 24 hr. fitness membership grr) and had felt pretty discouraged. I personally think my calorie restricted diet (lean pockets and green beans mostly, haha!) for the wedding really ended up slowing down my metabolism...but then again I started eating pretty bad after the wedding so I can't blame that really! In general, when left to eating whatever we want and not working out, Clint loses weight and I gain it. Not fun!! So, now we are on the bandwagon and pretty gungho about it, but even through this first week there have been many doubts, a trip to Glorias filled with chips, salsa and refined sugar, and a malt ball or two. All that to say, we are not the diet experts by any means. The (hopefully) on the end of our title helps explain that. :)

We will try to do a post every week with our progress and thoughts, and a couple during the week if we have anything interesting to talk about. And hopefully we will!

A lot of information about the Zone is available on zonediet.com. If you sign up for free account or whatever, it gives you so much more info (meal plans, food lists, etc) and access to the forums and everything. I still haven't mastered the science behind everything, but I find that the more I know the more I want to do it right and really believe in it. Without knowing very much of the science behind it, it is easier to think it is just a fad and not really want to follow it (I started to think that at the beginning of the week), but once I learned more about it, it is definitely not a fad, and is something that can be kept up your whole life and SHOULD to really be healthy.

Hope you'll stick with us and see what happens! We'd love to hear if you start doing the Zone too, or any thoughts you have. Here goes!!! :)

The Moron :)