Weigh In Weds

Weigh in Wednesday - yep, that was today!  Down two pounds, not much in the scope of things, but its a process, a long trek, a lifestyle.

 

I had another session with my trainer, and it went well.  I'm feeling awesome, but my arms and legs feel like spaghetti noodles.  *grin* that's ok, well worth the price. 

There are days, however, 

when I don't feel like exercising.  

And that's when I check my "Top 100" list.

Here are a few reasons why I need to exercise: 

• Because you made a commitment to yourself
• Because you're tired of starting over
• Because there will always be another wedding, vacation or reunion
• Because you're not a quitter
• Because it improves your cholesterol
• Because it boosts your metabolism
• Because it prevents age-related muscle loss
• Because if you can do this, you can do anything
• Because a fit body is a healthy body
• Because it beats sitting on the couch
• Because  everyone has at least 10 minutes to spare
• Because you want to be stronger than your excuses
• Because not working out isn't working out for you
• Because the only workout you ever regret is the one you skip

Yep, I made a commitment to me, because I'm worth it, it's good for my health, and frankly, not working out isn't working for me.   I gotta be moving in order to reach my goals! 

Doing It Again

After my trek at Tempe Town Lake, I realized that I need to get into better shape.  So I'm doing it again.   My trainer sent me a text about a special that was ending:  5 sessions for $xxx.    I pondered it for only 20 minutes and decided to go for it.   I dashed over on my lunch hour and signed the papers.  I had a training session the next day!



As always when I'm working with my personal trainer, Russell, he doesn't allow me any slack.  We went through a few exercises that I can do on my own, at home or at the gym.  I can tell you, I'm a little sore the morning after.  But it's a good kind of sore.  I'm now feeling optimistic and in control of myself again.   Day 1 down, 34 more to go!

In an effort to do my part on the nutrition side of things, I got up this morning and cooked up a chicken vegetable soup.  By my calculations, there are 600 calories worth of ingredients in my pot, and it should be good for four 2-cup servings.... with a nice dinner roll, it will be a perfect lunch or dinner!





Wedding Central here is beginning to slow down.  I think I have a total of 30 vases done up in my daughter's colors, each of them different and unique!

It's been a great way to feed my creativity -- and use up some of the stuff I've accumulated over the years.  A few of the vases have scraps of lace and beads from my own wedding.  "Something Old" certainly applies!   *lol*

Weigh In Weds

*throws her fists into the air*   -- I did it!!

Today, I reached my goal:  I lost 50 lbs!!!

I joined 24 Hour Fitness in 2011 and started my own regiment of cardio and resistance training, but my progress was very slow.  After a year, I realized I couldn’t do it on my own, and hired a personal trainer.  Not only did he switch up my workouts, we talked at length about food, nutrition and eating habits.   With a few simple changes (cutting out sugars and processed carbs) I was on my way, and lost 25 lbs in five months.   But again I struggled on my own, and decided to try another round with a personal trainer. 

It’s been harder to take off the second 25 pounds, but with hard work, persistence and loads of encouragement and advice from the trainers here at 24 Hour Fitness, I finally reached my original goal:  to lose 50 lbs.    My doctor, and my family and friends are amazed at my tenacity.   It’s not always easy – you can’t just “give up” food.  You just learn to eat in new ways.  Am I always successful?  No, I stumble from time to time.  But I leave the guilt behind, make myself accountable by saying “I chose to eat that” and move ahead to make better choices.   

 

I’m 53 years young, and I feel terrific.  Thanks to the training staff here, I can do things I haven’t been able to do for years.  They inspire me to dig deep to reach my goals, and even surpass them!  And when I do, I reward myself with something – this time, it’s a tattoo of a phoenix.

Weigh in Weds

Well here we are, another week has gone by.  I haven't blogged often because I've been working out a bit more than usual. Sometimes just stuff at home, and sometimes longer walks than normal, but really focusing on my efforts, and my eating, this week.  And it paid off!  I was down two lbs, only FOUR MORE to go until I reach that 50 pound mark. 

Its been quite a journey, learning things about myself, about eating healthy, about trying new things, and daring myself to be a better person.  Is it easy?  Heck no!  Is it worth it?  Hell Yes!

When I think about 50 lbs, that's quite a load to pick up in a barbell.... and here I was toting that all over with me on a daily basis! 

Today, my trainer Allan had me doing some leg press machine, we started off with 100 lbs, I said too light, add more, and he never hesitates!  He had me press until I was fatigued, then made me do five more!  Afterwards, my legs felt like rubber! But they recover quick, and of course, the training kept on.  I struggle with the abs work most often.  Today,  "bicycles" -- that's laying on your back on the floor and bicycling your legs in the air.  Those use more of the upper part of your core, and that's ok.  Then the flutter kicks, feet held about 6inches off the floor and up/down.  They use more lower abs, and mine are shot.  I blame 2 kids, 2 C-Sections, my hysterectomy, and nephrectomy --- all those surgeries does awful things to your muscles!  But... that's no excuse.  I should have been working on them all along, but I chose to be lazy.

There.  Using the "I chose...." statement means I own it, its mine, my choice, I can't blame anything but my own choices in life.  I'm working on correcting that from here on out. 

So here I am, weighing in at 219 lbs...  My original goal was to get to 200...

I've come this far, who knows how far I can go! 
But I'm going to keep trying - every day :)

Weigh in Weds (Tats)

Another week has passed and it was my day to weigh in, see if I reached my goal.....  only down a pound, but at least it was in the right direction!  8 more lbs to go and I'll get my tat !!! 



In Greek mythology, a phoenix or phenix (ancient Greek φοίνιξ phóinīx ) is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor.  A new life from the old ... losing 50 lbs will definitely do that!  So many of the tats of a phoenix are more bird like, some very elaborate, thus a little bigger than I want mine to be.  (like this one on the left)  The one I fell in love with is below; as you can see, I'm debating colored, b/w or a combination?  We'll have to see what the tat artist says. :)




As far as my workout went today, it was a pretty good session.  Alan works me very hard on very basic stuff, so a lot of core workout - which is definitely needed in my dept.  He seems to want me to do so much more of that than cardio, but I know my old body.... it needs as much cardio as I'll give it!  I'm going to attempt to make my calories really count this week -- more veggies and protein than anything else, while maintaining a calorie count of 1300, instead of 1550.  I want to push myself just a little bit more, see if I boost my system just a tad. :)

Weigh In Weds (and Bent)

Yes, its that day again -- Weigh in Weds.  All week I've been kind of dreading this day.  I haven't been "on my game" as I usually am, and didn't think my numbers would be there... but they were *really big smile*  Since I started on this journey, I have lost 41 lbs.  It has taken me 13 months.  But I broke that magical 40 lb marker and whew, that was work. I think its been harder to lose these last 10 lbs than it was the first 30.


I was a little perturbed on Monday after talking with my trainer.  Russell wanted me to train with Alan on Monday -- and I did.  Was I happy???  No.  I was upset.  I signed on for more sessions because I wanted to see results.  And for me, consistency = results.  Switching trainers midstream seemed counterproductive to me.  But.  I trained with Alan again today, and it went pretty well (Monday did too, but I couldn't see past my "mad" to realize it.) 

I'm a loner, and I'm ok with that.  But that part of me makes it difficult to accept a change, but I am going to turn it into a positive thing - because I need to change my ways and be a little more social, get out of my shell more often.  And I'm thinking about Alan's way of training, and maybe that's a good thing for me.  He's more into the focus of core and making each move count.  He also knows a lot of yoga moves, and those are sometimes incorporated into the workout.  After today's session, I even braved the elliptical for another half mile before leaving the gym :)

Within all this little bit of turmoil for me, it brought it home to me even more that I truly am a loner.  I've sort of dug that little niche for myself, and that's OK.  Most of the time.  But when I need support, an ear, some venting -- there isn't anyone in my life I can count on in a real way. Sure, I have friendly acquaintances and a gal pal I hang with at work for breaks and lunches.  But I'm always 'the strong one' - the one people come to for an ear or advice. 

But I liked a song I heard on the way home by P!nk ...
I'm not broken, just bent. 
(It's from her song Give Me a Reason) 
And its true. 
I'm not broken, maybe just a little bent. 

Things always get better. 
Always.
If you're willing to work at it.

Weigh In Weds

After Monday's workout, and Tuesday's mark for reaching a new goal, my body was burned out for my weigh-in.  Granted, I still went, but thankfully Russell understands and toned the workout down.  We did a bunch of boxing moves and those are always good workouts.  There's nothing like putting on a glove and punching away at something to release a little frustration. 


And frustration was what I felt when I stepped on that scale.  We all know that working out and eating right doesn't always bring the results we want -- meaning the numbers on the scale.  And I'm no exception.  I still expect to see the numbers going down, even when logic tells me that it won't happen all the time.  In fact, I had steeled myself for a 2 lb gain, and it was only a half pound gain.  As Russell pointed out, it could be extra water retention because its warmer outside now.  Or because of the amount of sodium intake over the last couple of days.
(Or lets face it honestly, maybe is was the Venti Green Tea frap from Starbucks!)

But the scale isn't always a good enough measure.  Russell and I talked about this from the beginning, and he takes body fat measurements on Weds as well.  And those showed me down a half percent.  Not a lot, but down is better.  So I'm crossing my fingers that next Weds will have some results on the scale for me as well.  Because no matter what I tell myself, the scale is my ultimate measure -- and my emotional downfall when I don't achieve my expectations.

So, I plod along in my days, working on calories, cardio and (mental) conditioning.  I have to admit, having a trainer is worth the expense -- a great big Thank You to Russell Daniels at 24 hour fitness, you're the best! (Especially when you push me to do things I think I can't do! hehehe )

Day 9

I was too tired to post yesterday.  Work is going well..... errr, well enough.  As I get tired, I realized today that I can do my job, the functions that are performed every day.  But the more days I'm there, the harder it is to think about things outside the normal realm.  But that's ok... its nearly done and heading toward the weekend!


After my workout yesterday, I came home, put Sadie on her leash, loaded up the car and off we headed to Riparian Preserve (Our fav place to walk and take pix!)


A local photographer is posting challenges for photos -- and this week's topic was "Green".

Sadie and I stopped here along the creek and captured this hmmm... water grass.

There's something so peaceful about the sound of running water.  I've always loved that -- wouldn't a cabin near a river be a wonderful way to retire?





A new Personal Best today on the elliptical machine: 

2 miles in 27:45 - with a calorie burn of 318! 

(When I am working the mileage, my goal is to be more than 10 calories per minute -- which would have been 274 -- that's how I know I'm working harder than average)

My trainer is on vacation - but that doesn't stop him from being in touch!  Thanks, Russell, for the Happy St Pat's wishes!  And yes, even though you're not there, I'm still hitting it hard (just not as hard as when you're putting me through my paces!!!)

Weigh In Weds

They seem to happen once a week!  And today was typical,... down a pound on the scale - which for those of us who are trying to get those numbers down can be a disappointment.  But its not always about the scale, and that's the part I try to remember.  I think I'm replacing fat with muscle... which is good ... but muscle weighs more.   Russell takes measurements every week and says I had a really good week, and I am pleased :)

As for my workout today, wow!  O. M. G. Workouts have been becoming more intense. It's a good thing my trainer has more confidence in me than I do!  I got to the gym early and logged in a mile on the treadmill (because I went to work early, I  left at 2:30) Little did I know what was on his agenda ... so we climb on the treadmill (rather, *I* climb on the treadmill, he's working the controls!) and says "we're only doing a half mile" and I'm thinking ok, I can do this.  Then he throws in the other part:  "We're going to see how fast you can run."  *blink*blink*  Well.  I know I can run for a bit at 5.0mph -- meaning about a minute, 90 seconds on a really good day.  I had to slow down and walk a couple of times, but got right back into the 5.0 - the whole time Russell's telling me I can do this -- is he convincing ME? or himself?  lol  Like I said, good thing he has more confidence in me than I do!   Half Mile reached in 6:25.  High Five!

Of course, the workout doesn't end there -- 50 pushups, 100 situps and 150 squats. Oh yeah, fun times! And to finish off the workout??? Yep, you guessed it, another half mile on the treadmill, trying to break the first time record.  Up to 5.1 and cranking it out, walking a couple of times, but finished strong for a few seconds at 6.5mph.... who knew these legs could run that fast???  hahahahahahahh  (This half mile took 6:05!!! )

Mileage update:   89.4  miles.  Less than 300 to go!
Look out beach.... I'm headin' your way :)
(its good to have goals!!)