Friday, October 12, 2012

Fitness Poynters Extreme Fat Destruction::::Recap & Review

In January of this year I started a weight loss journey [for what seems like the millionth time]. I checked in with you all and also competed in a challenge at the gym. I did extremely well until May, having lost 18 pounds total. At this point the dreaded plateau crept up on me and I did what any completely irrational person would do... I gave up.

When the going got tough, I crumbled. I often found myself saying, "There just must be something wrong with me, because I'm doing all the work and it's not coming off." So after about a week or two of the same number on the scale, I started to back slide. 

I gained back 7 of the pounds I'd worked so hard to lose. And I'm talking QUICK. 

Then came vacation. Honestly vacation had been a huge motivator for me. I didn't want to feel self conscious all week, I wanted to enjoy it. But I was already in the negative mind set so not only was I self conscious all week, I sabotaged myself even more. Eating and drinking what I wanted. 

The one good thing [health-wise] I did was I did something active almost every day: running while my mom biked, biking with her, WOD with my brother, or stand up paddle boarding. But that was apparently beside the point. I really just used it to fuel the thoughts that I worked hard so I deserved to play hard also. 

When all was said and done, I gained back the complete 18 pounds, plus two more. It only took two months to completely undo what had taken me 5 months to do. Needless to say I was in a horrible place. I talked to my brother and he encouraged me to get in touch with Steve Poynter of Fitness Poynters. Matthew had worked with Steve a year or so ago when he decided to transition out of power lifting into a more lean muscle build. He spoke positively of his experience and I thought, well what do I have to lose. I knew I had to do something. 

I got in touch with Steve and he sent me a questionnaire asking my fitness goals. I was completely honest with him about my struggles and what I wanted. I want to lose weight, but I also want lean muscle mass. I don't want to be a twig, I want muscle! 

Steve had my plan to me within the week [He is extremely timely.... Any email I sent him was answered within a day, but very often it was much sooner]. I chose the Extreme Fat Destruction Plan ($64.99*), which comes with a workout plan and a meal plan. 

My first impressions::::
  • I would need to plan ahead. I ended up grocery shopping on Sundays then making everything I'd need for the week. I made a lot of turkey burgers, Brad grilled chicken for me, I steamed huge amounts of green veggies. 
  • Wow, I can actually eat carbs.
  • I loved how everything was spelled out exactly for me. Yes there were places that I had options as to what to eat, but it wasn't overwhelming. 
  • I'm going to be living in the gym. 
How it actually went::::
  • I do really well with strict directions. I'm a people pleaser and I didn't want to check in with Steve and have to tell him I cheated [which in case you're wondering, I did cheat some, but I was honest with Steve about it. and he didn't sugar coat it for me]. 
  • The meals filled me up. During the first few weeks I was stuffed, which was VERY different from any other meal plan I'd used previously. 
  • The workouts didn't actually take as long as I thought. I got into a good routine of getting up before work to get my workouts in. 
The Results::::
  • I've lost 20 pounds in 12 weeks. 
  • I really wish I'd done measurements before, but I didn't. But I can tell a HUGE difference in how my clothes fit. When I lost the 18 pounds earlier this year, a lot of my smaller clothes were starting to fit. Now they're big on me. So I know I've gained lean muscle in the process, which makes me so happy. 
  • Because I did so well, Steve is doing my next plan for free. He told me to take this week off [from lifting, I'm still eating clean] and we'll start it again next week. I'm so excited to continue this journey with him! 
And I'm beyond mortified to put this picture out there, but I feel like I need to. Please be nice! 

If you have any questions about Fitness Poynters, please let me know! Check out their site and testimonies, they're amazing!


*I received a discounted rate in exchange for blogging about my experience. All opinions are my own. 

27 comments:

  1. Awesome! I'm checking it out. I have 20lbs that I've gained in the last 3 years to lose.

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    1. it's definitely worth checking out!even at times when the scale didn't move, the changes in how my clothes fit kept me going!

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  2. Wow, great job and you look great :) I agree with planning ahead and shopping on the weekend for the week's food otherwise it is so easy to get off track and take the easy road to unhealthy quick foods.

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  3. There's a big difference!! You should be proud of yourself! You look great!! I have so many friends, myself included, all of us women that struggle with weight and staying on track. Looking amazing, heck, even looking good is tough work, almost more mentally than physically. I'm glad you found something that works for you and hopefully it'll inspire others :)

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    1. thanks coy! i think sometimes i justify in my head that women like us who run and race shouldn't have to worry about weight because we work so hard, but unfortunately that's not the way it works!i've got to get over that mentality!

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  4. Amazing!! You look GREAT Courtney!!

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  5. Wow, you look amazing! So proud of you:)

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  6. You look amazing, Courtney! Great job sticking to it. :D

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    1. thanks clarinda! i hope i can continue to stick to it!

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  7. Court you should be verrrrry proud of yourself!!!! I couldn't not comment (I'm always stalking;) because this is fantastic inspiration for others! I always get super pumped hearing, reading, and seeing people's success stories so keep it up! For me, the physical results are equally motivating as the overall health, and eating clean + working out is the perfect combination:) <3's

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    1. thanks for the sweet comment jenn! i agree with you perfect combo comment, it's amazing how great you feel when you're working out and eating clean. beyond the weight loss, it's motivation in itself!

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  8. Congratulations Courtney! That is awesome! You should be so proud of yourself! All it takes is a little commitment! Keep up the good work!

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  9. That is a big difference Courtney! Great job & bravo for sharing - I know posting those pics are tough but you will inspire many to give it a try!

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  10. I am so inspired by your blog. I am very fortunate to be your newest follower. If you have the time, please check out my blog as well :)

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  11. Very impressive work Courtney! You look great and it sounds like you've found something that really works for you. Can't wait to see how you continue to progress in the next few months! Do you have a new set of goals for the next phase of the plan?

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  12. Courtney you should be so proud of your accomplishments!! I'm curious to know more about the next phase.

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  13. Keep up the good work. Before you know it, this will be a lifestyle for you and it will be second nature. You'll be able to look at food and know exactly how much of what to eat. Good luck...you're definitely on your way!

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  14. Wow! You look great! It is so hard to lose weight, but seems like you are putting in the work the right way!

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  15. You look nothing short of amazing. Seriously.

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  16. 1. What an extremely honest post about your struggles. and I am sure it was hard for you to post that picture but the progress is so amazing. You should be so proud of yourself and use that to continue to motivate. not just that but think of all the people you are inspiring! You look great! That bikini is so cute too.

    Congrats on your progress!

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  17. You look awesome!! (and you didnt look bad before, girlie!) Anyway thanks for sharing this, I think you rock!

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  18. wow that is really impressive! do you feel like you learned enough from the program to keep it off?

    also wanted to let you know you've had one referral already for HBBC!

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  19. Do you still feel the same way? i'm about to sign up and just want to know how it went. You look great!

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  20. This is really incredible Courtney, I hope you guys are doing good and I am sorry I may have never commented on this but then again, I could have, it's been quite some time now.

    Congrats on all that is going on in your life at this time, it really is amazing to see how well you are doing and all of your accomplishments that you are making happen.

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