2015 WLG Summer Strong 12 Week Challenge Winner - Secrets of Competitor Arlette Cross!

Feb 21st, 2015

May 16th, 2015

The 2014 Fall Challenge helped prepare me for the Summer Challenge.  I knew that if I wanted to do well it was going to involve some changes to my lifestyle and planning ahead.  I needed to be dedicated and committed to the challenge.  The first thing I did was to get my family on board and explained to them how important the challenge was to me.  Next, I sat down and figured out how I was going to fit into my schedule daily hour exercises, bonus miles and meal prepping.

I work three 12 hour shifts a week and I’m off weekends.  The first three weeks I followed the meal plan that was provided to us.  After week 3, I still used the meal plan but I substituted the soups and other dishes with just eating chicken, lean meats or fish with vegetables/salad for lunch and dinner.  For breakfast I usually ate 2 eggs (one egg white and one whole) and piece of wheat toast or Whey protein shake with unsweetened almond milk.  For snack, I usually ate an apple with Peanut butter or half of a banana.  I kept it simple and pretty much had the same routine every day.  I meal prepped either Saturday or Sunday for the entire week. 

Drinking water was key.  At first, I tried to keep track of my water intake by refilling a 32 oz water bottle twice a day.  However, my lips were getting chapped which told me that I needed to drink more water.  I started carrying around a 3 liter water jug with me; as silly as it sounds this was the best way to keep track of my water intake.  I knew that when that jug was empty I was finished drinking water for the day.  I only drank water and at week 8 I acquired a taste for coffee which was new for me.  I drank one cup of coffee in the morning with half &half and 2 Splendas.

I worked out every day for the 12 weeks except for a few times that I missed due to conflict with my schedule or just needed a break.  Since the week started every Saturday in the challenge I attended 8 am Saturday class and ran right after class.  I’m off weekends so I wanted to get my bonus miles done or mostly done right away just in case something came up during the week and it also allowed me to just worry about working one hour every day during the week.  The first 8 weeks I worked out before work 3 days a week, either at Club One or did Insanity DVD at home; one day a week with Kendra and two days at WLG.  On Sundays, I worked out at Club One. 

The last 4 weeks I stuck to eating lean meats, chicken, fish and vegetables.  For my snack, I ate string cheese and avocado.  My energy level increased significantly the last 4 weeks so I started going to bed early and waking up very early to make it to 6 am class.  Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday I attended WLG, one day with Kendra and the other two days at Club one or DVD’s at home.  I gave up alcohol completely at week 8.  The first 8 weeks I drank alcohol a total of 3 times.

The Summer Challenge helped me reach my fitness goals.   Even at my skinniest I never looked or felt like this.  I’m full of energy, happy and way more efficient all around.