Bodybuilding.com - Transformation Of The Week - Chell; AKA - BomChell. - Chell; AKA

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Did you know?
Chell has lost almost 100 Lbs. over the last year. That is amazing. Congratulations!

After giving birth to so many children one can only wonder how they keep their sanity. Well I suppose the only way to put it is... you do what you have to do. Some love it, some don't. Here is Chell's story.

Transformation Of The Week - Chell; AKA - BomChell.

By: Chell; AKA - BomChell.

Before:
Weight: 231
August 3, 2004

After:
Weight: 152 Lbs
August 3rd, 2005

Why You Got Started?

On August 3, 2004, I weighed 231 lbs, pregnant with my sixth child. She was born August 20 leaving me to lose roughly 70 lbs. The after photo above, taken exactly one year later, weighed me at 152 lbs. In talking to women they often say, "I look this way because I have had a couple of children." I would respond: "Well I have had 5 and adopted one."

They would ask me how I do it working a fulltime job of supporting two teams: 1)IT LAN Help Desk and 2) a production environment working in excess of 50 to 60 hours a week. All the while, volunteering to be the President of our neighborhood pool and managing my own; likewise, volunteering to manage the daycare for our church.

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Chell, Mother Of Six.

When exercising I found it most valuable to do any cardio 1st thing in the morning before you eat anything. Your body tends to burn 3x the fat as your glycemic rate stabilized while you were sleeping. (a cup of coffee or tea is ok it will actually help you get moving faster.) If you cannot do that, then try not to eat an hour or two before you work out; otherwise, you are not really burning fat.

Likewise, it is best not to eat any carbs prior to going to bed. You will not burn them off and will probably be stored as fat. Which I might add if you need to have a little treat, do it first thing in the morning so you have all day to burn it off.

How You Did It?

Once I delivered Cydnee (8-20-04), I was so overweight my knees and the arches on my feet were extremely sore. Since I had gained so much weight, partially due to my food intake and partially due to the prednizone I had to take to control the lupus anticoagulant I carry. The anticoagulant can form blood clots that could harm the fetus.

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After I Delivered Cydnee.

The lesson I learned as I try to get back into shape was I could no longer do what I used to. I had to reassure myself that doing a little was worth it and just try to do a little every day. Unfortunately this was my fourth c-section in which my doctor strongly recommended I wait at least three months to do any weightlifting.

Right after delivery I started walking, then I moved on to light weights while slowly increasing the intensity. I cut out all fast food. I increased my protein levels (tuna, turkey, lean meats, chicken, egg whites, and whey protein). Even boiling some of the meats like hamburger and steak to remove the extra grease.

Next I cut down on the sugar carbs (desserts, processed foods such as cereals, bread, bagels, and noodles). Good carbs are most green vegetables, brown rice, yams and oatmeal. At health stores it is possible to find cereals and noodles that are lower in sugar carbs. You may pay a little more, however, it is really worth it.

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Low Sugar Carbs Are Worth The Expense.

You do need to treat yourself once in a while or you will fail. Good cheating things are pizza thin crust, salsa with Tostitos Scoops. They also have sugar free carb candies and desserts. Just remember... everything should be in moderation, as they often replace the carbs with saturated fat. Give yourself a cheat timeframe or even a day a week. Even if that means having a social cocktail. I have found drinking rum or vodka with crystal kool-aid a winner. Zero carbs.

What Supplements Did You Take?

multivitamin

I never saw any significant change; therefore I researched the multivitamin and found the daily allowance to be sufficient.

I do take fat burning supplements such as Stacker II or III, Ripped Fuel, Rev xp, etc.

Favorite Foods are Wal-Mart's Chocolate Soy Slender Soy Milk, South Beaches Protein Bars, and any Frito Lay chip as they contain zero trans fat.

Give Us A Sample Week Of Your Diet.

Sample Diet

Food Size Sodium mg per sodium Protein Carbs per Carbs Fiber*4 Calories Sugar Fat Sat Fat Calories

Oatmeal 2/3 cup 0 * 10 54 * 8 0 6 1 300

Apple 1 oz 0 * 0 5 * * * 0 * 20

Egg Whites 10 540 54 mg 35 6.7 0.67 * * 0 * 167

Almonds 7 grams 0 * 1.75 1.5 * 3 1g 3.5 * 32.5

Oatmeal 1/3 cup 0 * 5 27 * 4 * 3 * *

Almonds 7 grams 0 * 1.75 1.5 * 3 1g 3.5 * 32.5

Chicken Breast 4 oz. 68 68 mg 26 0 * * * 2 * 122

Lignan Flax Oil 1/2 tsp * * 0 0 * * * 1.83 * 18.33

Oatmeal 2/3 cup 0 * 10 54 * 8 0 6 1 300

Turkey 3 slices 900 300 mg 12 3 * * * 3 * 90

Tuna 6 oz. 500 * 32 0 * 0 0 1.5 * 150

Green Beans 1/2 can 550 * 1.5 4 * -2 * 0 * *

Apple 3 oz 0 * 0 14 * * * 0 * 46

Brown Rice 1/2 cup 0 * 2 23 * * * 1 * 109

Brown Rice 1/2 cup 0 * 2 23 * * * 1 * 109

Chicken Breast 4 oz. 68 68 mg 26 0 * * * 2 * 122

Almonds 7 grams 0 * 1.75 1.5 * 3 1g 3.5 * 32.5

Salad 55 g 5 * 0.6 1.1 * 0.8 * 0.1 * 6.6

Salad 55 g 5 * 0.6 1.1 * 0.8 * 0.1 * 6.6

Chicken Breast 2 oz. 68 68 mg 13 0 * * * 1 * 61

Egg Whites 5 270 54 mg 17.5 3.35 0.67 * * 0 * 83.5

TOTALS * 2974 * 198.45 223.75 * 25.6 * 39.03 * 1808.53

What Did A Sample Week Of Training Consist Of?

I try to ride my mountain bike during lunches on weekdays for 40 minutes when work is not to hectic. Weekdays I lift for 30 minutes; normally one muscle group, at least 6 exercises, 3 sets, reps vary in range right now because I am trying to increase my muscle strength; I am lifting heavy reps (3-10).

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I Am Doing This For Me & No One Else.

When I want to get cut, I lift less weights and increase reps with a body pump class that is always to music. On the weekends, I always workout for one hour. I also ride motocross, which I try to do once a week. This really burns calories.

The best way I have noticed in getting my legs more defined is the adductor and low squats. I know guys that think the adductor is a girly movement. However, the biggest powerlifters I have met do those. They are used in every leg movement you perform.

For biceps I like the 21's, 7 reps from bottom raise to waist, 7 reps from waist to shoulders, then 7 reps full curl.

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21's Using The Curl.

View Video Of 21's
First 7 Reps
MPEG (297 KB)
Windows Media (88 KB)

Next 7 Reps
MPEG (247 KB)
Windows Media (78 KB)

Last 7 Reps
MPEG (1.1 MB)
Windows Media (277 KB)

Once I had the baby I found it hard to workout as she always needed me. So I do squats, sissy squats, toe raisers, adductors and leg extensions while holding her. Makes great for extra weight. Good news for moms: babies usually fall asleep during the squats.

Likewise my kids sit on my lap while I place my hands on the bottom step with straight arms. Then I bend my arms and do a tricep dip. I try to include them as much as possible to make it fun plus they are always around.

Shoulder lifts I can do with my 4 year old laying across my arms and good mornings with her laying across my shoulders. Even my 14 year old wants i on this action. She will sit in my arms while I do shrugs.

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I Try To Include My Kids As Much As Possible.

Abs For Women

leg ups

Roman chair

windmills

Working Out With Children
Getting back in shape after having a baby requires excellent time management! The more you can work child's play into your workout, the more time there is for everything else that needs to be taken care of during the day.
[ Click here to learn more. ]

Suggestions For Others

Nothing comes easy but if you truly want it you have to be the one to do it. You will be so happy you made the decision to do it. I went from hurting knees and arches to people stopping me to ask how I made the transition.