Results of My 6-Month Nutrition and Fitness Experiment

Results of My 6-Month Nutrition and Fitness Experiment

Wow! It’s already been 6 months since I started my experiment, which also completes the experiment! Now, just because it’s completed doesn’t mean I won’t keep doing a lot of what I have been. It means it’s time to reveal the results!!!

How I Look and Feel after My 6-Month Nutrition and Fitness Experiment:

13-15 pounds lost!

2 inches lost in most areas of my body! 2 inches lost from waist and 2 inches lost from hips!

These were pounds and inches that just weren’t budging before this experiment. I finished P90X less than a month before the experiment, and although I felt stronger, my body stayed much the same as in my normal exercise and diet.

One of the most exciting and interesting things is that as soon as I started the experiment, the pounds and inches started dropping off me (literally)! In the first month it was about 8 pounds, and by 3 months I’d lost 15 pounds. Now this weight is pretty much my ideal weight, so the goal after that was maintenance for the next 3 months. Did I maintain? Yes! My weight at the end of the experiment is 13-15 pounds less than when I started the experiment! When I say 13 to 15 it’s because of the weight fluctuations from day to day by a couple of pounds. Some days it’s 13, 14, 15, or even 16 pounds less. I actually feel I’ve lost more than what the scale says as I’m sure I’ve gained more muscle, especially as I’ve been doing more strength training the past 3 months.

The best thing is that I feel toned and muscular while still having some curves … just really good in general!

I feel great!

I feel more energetic!

I feel healthy!

I am stronger and have built more muscle!

Thyroid Results Revealed:

My thyroid is still low, unfortunately. However, I just think of how great I will feel when it’s regulated if I am already feeling good and better than before, and that’s with my thyroid not being level. My T3 & T4 tests have been level the entire time, but my TSH levels fluctuate. Ideally, my doctor wants my TSH at 2.

Here are my thyroid blood test results:
Blood Test Results May 21, 2013:

TSH: 4.52
Free T4: 1.26
T3 Total: 1.1

Blood Test Results January 22, 2013:

TSH: 2.60
Free T4: 1.37
T3 Total: 1.2

Blood Test Results December 19th & 5th, 2012
December 19th, 2012
TSH: 3.21
Free T4: 1.19
T3 Total: 1.1

December 5th, 2012
TSH: 4.85
Free T4: 1.34
T3 Total: 1.3

What do I feel contributed the most to my success?

Eating my version of a gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free vegetarian diet made the most dramatic difference. I was already working out pretty consistently, although I’m even more consistent now. However, being extra consistent with the 6-day-per-week workout schedule was a very important part, too. The nutrition and workouts worked perfectly together for me!

Did my cravings lessen or get stronger? At first it was difficult, but I got into the habit pretty quickly. If someone was visiting and we were eating out more than normal or they were having indulgent food or dessert, it was definitely harder than at other times. Sometimes even that hardly bothered me at all … I barely noticed it because I was happy with what I was doing. Interestingly, the final month of the experiment was more difficult craving-wise. This could be contributed to imagining what I could have at the end of the experiment, visitors, or my thyroid being off more so more hormonal imbalance. The main thing is that I persevered and made it through!

Was it worth it? Absolutely! I love feeling healthy and being strong and toned! Amazingly, once I got started, the time flew by. In certain ways, it didn’t even feel like all that much work. Other times, of course, felt very difficult. Overall, it was a very rewarding experience! Completing the 6 month experiment is now something I’ve successfully accomplished, and I can always remember that if I feel down.

Would I do the experiment again? Yes, yes, and yes! It was so worth it. I’m sure I will do the experiment again or in a slightly different way. It’s most likely what I will do when I’m pregnant some day and after pregnancy to get my pre-pregnancy body back. Time will tell, though! If I need to lose a few pounds, this is the plan I will do!

Be sure to check out my original 6-Month Nutrition and Fitness Experiment post for a list of all my posts and recipes!

Note: To learn more about the Ellie fitness outfit I’m wearing in two of the photos (and get a 20% discount), check out my post on Fitness Fun with Ellie Activewear at UTC.

My own variation of a sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free vegetarian diet:

Sugar-free consisted of no sugar, sugar substitutes, honey, or other equivalent except for a small amount of preferably natural sweetener that was already in a product such as bread or whey protein.

Dairy-free included a few exceptions. I included whey protein. I also had times of experimenting with Greek yogurt and regular yogurt to see if they were beneficial to me. In addition, I included eggs in my diet, which is a variation from a vegan diet.

Gluten-free also included a few exceptions. I included Ezekiel Bread or sprouted bread, which is close to gluten-free in how it’s digested but not actually gluten-free. Some gluten-free plans say oats are fine and some do not. I included oats in my plan.

My fitness plan:

My exercise consisted of workouts 6 days per week. The only exception was if I did an additional workout on a day to count for one of the days or on a recovery week every few months.