All week my team and I have been eating clean. What that means, if you don't know already, is eating only whole foods and nothing processed. It's sometimes also called the Paleo Diet (only eating things that a caveman would have access to) or the Stick to the Outer Rim of the Grocery Store Diet. Luckily we have been aided by a wonderful local resource, Custom Fit Meals (www.customfitmeals.com if you're interested). They specialize in whole foods that are freshly made (not frozen) and packaged ready to pop into the microwave. I'm not getting anything for saying this, but I'm going to tell y'all that I had no idea how good whole food could be. I thought it would be pretty basic and bland, but it is delicious and varied. I also had no idea how filling it would be or how much energy I've gotten from not eating anything processed. There are many ways to eat clean on your own, but I was very grateful to not even have to think about what I'm going to eat.
I was most thankful today because I knew I was going to be getting home late since I had a workout this evening with John. Because the gym at work is like a mother ship calling me home each day, I still went down on my lunch hour and walked the treadmill with Sylvia and did a few weights. After work I put on my second set of gym clothes and headed over to John's gym where we did four tough circuits that tested the limits of my endurance. My quads are definitely killing me from dragging him around the parking lot, forwards and backwards, while he pulled back against the bands to make it extra hard. I was trembling, legs going numb, and too exhausted to even think straight. But it was awesome!
I staggered home tired and drenched and was so so happy to pull that black container out of the fridge and into the microwave. It's also teaching me a lot about portion control because I know that my serving-guesser is very distorted. I never knew I could get so much out of myself on what would normally be half of the size of what I would put on my plate. I also never thought I would have it in me to do two workouts a day. As Jay-Z sang from the old mix CD I listened to on the ride home tonight, "Can I get an encore? Do ya want more?"
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Conjuring the Exercise Mojo
Exercise can do so many good things for you. The wonderful thing that happens on the scale aside, when I get finished working out I feel:
Since then, I've broken out into a run here and there...painful, short bursts that took everything I had. It's gotten easier over time and that dream of mine to run a race gets closer and closer. During today's workout, Jeff and Marisa divided us up into two groups of three for a relay competition. Millie, Mary, and I were on a team going up against Jeff M., Florence, and Lakshmi. Two people had to hold a plank position while one person held two twenty-five pound weights and hustled down the length of the gym (speed walking) and back, then the next person would do it, while the walker went down to plank. We rotated through this relay for five minutes to see how many laps we could do.
The next round we got to ditch the weights, but this time you had to run full out while the other two held the static squat position. Mary and Millie are runners for sure, but I was concerned that I would mess up our competitive edge. Somehow though, like anything else I've done in the gym, suddenly one day you just start doing it, like you've conjured up your own personal brand of exercise magic.
I was first up to run and when they yelled "go!" I took off and some how the magic happened. Endurance was there, my breathing was right, I was pumping my arms, everyone was cheering...it was awesome. I ran back to my position, got down into my squat as Mary took off, then she was back and Millie was off like a shot. In no time it was my turn again and there I went. Five minutes doesn't sound like a long time, but believe me...it slows to a snail's pace when you're doing this kind of stuff. At the end of the circuit, I was breathing hard, drenched, but feeling like a rock star.
We went on to do a tough core workout, and then cheered each other on in a rowing machine row-off. At the end we were all feeling like we could pass out, but also feeling all those wonderful side effects I listed above. I may not have "moves like Jagger" like Adam Levine, but today I felt like a rock star.
- Victorious.
- Sweaty, a visual sign of my hard work.
- That wonderful warm-from-the-inside-out feeling in my muscles.
- Totally relaxed mentally and physically.
- Giddy and giggly, even more so that usual.
Since then, I've broken out into a run here and there...painful, short bursts that took everything I had. It's gotten easier over time and that dream of mine to run a race gets closer and closer. During today's workout, Jeff and Marisa divided us up into two groups of three for a relay competition. Millie, Mary, and I were on a team going up against Jeff M., Florence, and Lakshmi. Two people had to hold a plank position while one person held two twenty-five pound weights and hustled down the length of the gym (speed walking) and back, then the next person would do it, while the walker went down to plank. We rotated through this relay for five minutes to see how many laps we could do.
The next round we got to ditch the weights, but this time you had to run full out while the other two held the static squat position. Mary and Millie are runners for sure, but I was concerned that I would mess up our competitive edge. Somehow though, like anything else I've done in the gym, suddenly one day you just start doing it, like you've conjured up your own personal brand of exercise magic.
I was first up to run and when they yelled "go!" I took off and some how the magic happened. Endurance was there, my breathing was right, I was pumping my arms, everyone was cheering...it was awesome. I ran back to my position, got down into my squat as Mary took off, then she was back and Millie was off like a shot. In no time it was my turn again and there I went. Five minutes doesn't sound like a long time, but believe me...it slows to a snail's pace when you're doing this kind of stuff. At the end of the circuit, I was breathing hard, drenched, but feeling like a rock star.
We went on to do a tough core workout, and then cheered each other on in a rowing machine row-off. At the end we were all feeling like we could pass out, but also feeling all those wonderful side effects I listed above. I may not have "moves like Jagger" like Adam Levine, but today I felt like a rock star.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Back to Center
We made it through Hurricane Irene with minimal damage and only minor irritations. God definitely spared us from what the Weather Channel was calling an "epic storm". Note to self: stop watching the Weather Channel. Their hyper dramatics sent me straight to a box of salt and pepper Triscuits on Friday. Marry this with the fact that I didn't work out on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and today I was feeling puffy and restless.
So I learned two lessons: one, find my weather updates elsewhere so that I don't stress eat and two, I am not motivated to exercise at home. Oh, I had the P90X kenpo DVD at my disposal for the duration of the storm, but I didn't want to do it.
No worries though. Monday came around and today life went back to normal. I rounded up the girls (who had had similar hurricane experiences) on email and we quickly worked out a plan to do the cardio-strength workout Millie and I had created. At two o'clock we were back in the gym, sweaty and out of breathe, but feeling back to normal.
As we were running laps between each exercise, I was thinking about how much my group motivates me. The others feel the same way too. Millie admitted that she wouldn't have come today had she not been meeting up with the rest of us. I thought about this and about how most of the people that I see regularly in the gym work out with at least one other person. If I could only impart one piece of advice about how to be successful with a wellness plan it would be this: get yourself some buddies. There are six of us ladies, and we all have those days that the only reason we show up to work out is because we want to be together.
Today, I was so proud of our group and the fact that we have all of this knowledge and the ability to create a workout to challenge ourselves. At the end of it, I looked around at everyone's red faces and said, "Who hates Jenn and Millie?"
Millie, who was propped up on the ledge of the window to catch her breathe, laughed and said, "I hate Jenn and Millie!" I laughed and said, "I hate Jenn and Millie too!"
So, Irene may have blown us a little to right or left off of the path of our journey, but today we got right back to center.
So I learned two lessons: one, find my weather updates elsewhere so that I don't stress eat and two, I am not motivated to exercise at home. Oh, I had the P90X kenpo DVD at my disposal for the duration of the storm, but I didn't want to do it.
No worries though. Monday came around and today life went back to normal. I rounded up the girls (who had had similar hurricane experiences) on email and we quickly worked out a plan to do the cardio-strength workout Millie and I had created. At two o'clock we were back in the gym, sweaty and out of breathe, but feeling back to normal.
As we were running laps between each exercise, I was thinking about how much my group motivates me. The others feel the same way too. Millie admitted that she wouldn't have come today had she not been meeting up with the rest of us. I thought about this and about how most of the people that I see regularly in the gym work out with at least one other person. If I could only impart one piece of advice about how to be successful with a wellness plan it would be this: get yourself some buddies. There are six of us ladies, and we all have those days that the only reason we show up to work out is because we want to be together.
Today, I was so proud of our group and the fact that we have all of this knowledge and the ability to create a workout to challenge ourselves. At the end of it, I looked around at everyone's red faces and said, "Who hates Jenn and Millie?"
Millie, who was propped up on the ledge of the window to catch her breathe, laughed and said, "I hate Jenn and Millie!" I laughed and said, "I hate Jenn and Millie too!"
So, Irene may have blown us a little to right or left off of the path of our journey, but today we got right back to center.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Skinny Carnitas
Thanks to my friend Amy for this awesome recipe I made tonight!
Skinny Slow Cooker Carnitas
2.5 lb pork roast, lean and trimmed of all fat
6 cloves of garlic, cut into slivers
cumin
dry adobo seasoning
garlic powder
3/4 cup of fat free chicken broth
2 to 3 chipolte peppers in adobo sauce
2 bay leaves
Season pork with salt and pepper. Brown the pork on all sides. Remove from the heat and let it cool. Cut small holes in the pork and insert the garlic slivers. Season pork generously all over with cumin, adobo, and garlic powder.
Pour chicken broth in the crockpot and add bay leaves and chipolte peppers. Place pork in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours. After 8 hours, shred pork and combine well in the juices in the crockpot. Remove the bay leaves and add a little more of the garlic powder, adobo seasoning, salt, and cumin. Cook another 15 minutes.
Serving size: 1/2 cup. Calories: 176. Fat: 8 g. Protein: 26. Carbs: 1. WW points: 4
This was probably the most tasty thing that I've made recently. We ate it over some saffron rice that I added cilantro and lime to, along with some fresh tomatoes and avocado slices. You could also use tortillas.
Trust me on this recipe. Majorly delicious!
Skinny Slow Cooker Carnitas
2.5 lb pork roast, lean and trimmed of all fat
6 cloves of garlic, cut into slivers
cumin
dry adobo seasoning
garlic powder
3/4 cup of fat free chicken broth
2 to 3 chipolte peppers in adobo sauce
2 bay leaves
Season pork with salt and pepper. Brown the pork on all sides. Remove from the heat and let it cool. Cut small holes in the pork and insert the garlic slivers. Season pork generously all over with cumin, adobo, and garlic powder.
Pour chicken broth in the crockpot and add bay leaves and chipolte peppers. Place pork in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours. After 8 hours, shred pork and combine well in the juices in the crockpot. Remove the bay leaves and add a little more of the garlic powder, adobo seasoning, salt, and cumin. Cook another 15 minutes.
Serving size: 1/2 cup. Calories: 176. Fat: 8 g. Protein: 26. Carbs: 1. WW points: 4
This was probably the most tasty thing that I've made recently. We ate it over some saffron rice that I added cilantro and lime to, along with some fresh tomatoes and avocado slices. You could also use tortillas.
Trust me on this recipe. Majorly delicious!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tire Flippin'
I think I must be certifiable: I worked out with not only Jeff today, but with John too.
My masochism started today at two o'clock when Jeff worked out the girls at our work gym. Since he and Marisa had thoroughly shredded our legs with Tuesday's workout (in order to sit down at my desk for the past two days I basically have had to hold both sides of my desk and fall into my chair, hissing unladylike words to myself) he decided to go after our arms today with a lactic burn workout. We did the cable cross machine, planks, curl presses, rows, arm rotations, a few squats for good measure, and four different band exercises...and then repeated it. I may not be able to type tomorrow, seriously.
I had a brief reprieve at my desk, then it was time to change into my second pair of workout clothes and head over to John's gym. Outside of this gym is the infamous 18 wheeler truck tire. It weighs roughly around 365 pounds and we use it for various tortures such as working with ropes, beating it with a sledgehammer, and doing bench dips. The current rite of passage for John and TJ's clients is to flip that tire, and when John told me I'd do it one day, I looked at him like he'd lost his mind. I figured this day was way off in the future.
Oh no friends, that day was today. Right out of the gate we headed outside in the heat and he told me that not only was I going to flip it, I was going to get dirty in the process. I crouched down and put my hands between the treads, not seriously thinking that I was going to be able to accomplish this task. John told me how to use my whole body - legs, arms, and abs - to lift and flip the tire over, then he stood next to me to spot me. Taking a deep breathe and concentrating hard to make all my muscles work together I lifted that big mother and flipped it...not once but sixteen times.
Then, we went on to do multiple rounds of beating the tire with a sledgehammer, doing the ropes, boxing against the paddles John held, slamming the medicine ball, and walking loops around the parking lot with a 30 pound sand bag. As I walked those loops, I marveled that last year this time, I drug around three times that much weight on my body.
I was wet, dirty, tired, sore, and my eyes stung as sweat dripped into them. I had tire smudge all over me. I was sure in the knowledge that I may be curled up into an achey ball tomorrow. But I felt like a rock star!
My day wasn't over yet either. After eating a much needed supper (looking down at my chicken and vegetables I told my husband, "I am going to destroy this food.") we headed off to Super Wal-mart with the rest of the crazies to get our hurricane provisions.
We walked around for an hour and a half as I pondered a new challenge. I didn't want to ride out Hurricane Irene eating a bunch of bad snacks and sitting around like I used to, but what non-perishable foods does one get in such a case? Tuna for protein, low cal peanut butter, dried fruits, apple sauce, Special K bars, and canned beans went into the cart.
And did I get a break after that? Oh no. Another mini workout awaited as my husband and I had to drag all of that mess into the house...and hurricane food (bottled water and cans) isn't light. With great relief, I eased myself onto the couch marveling at what I've done today. Again, it's 90% mental and John has taught me to concentrate on one rep at a time. It really does help to do that. In one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies, The Fast and the Furious, Vin Diesel's character says that he lives his life a quarter mile at the time. That went through my head as I went about my workouts and I realized that I live my life one rep at a time. And tomorrow, it will be most likely one "ouch" at a time.
My masochism started today at two o'clock when Jeff worked out the girls at our work gym. Since he and Marisa had thoroughly shredded our legs with Tuesday's workout (in order to sit down at my desk for the past two days I basically have had to hold both sides of my desk and fall into my chair, hissing unladylike words to myself) he decided to go after our arms today with a lactic burn workout. We did the cable cross machine, planks, curl presses, rows, arm rotations, a few squats for good measure, and four different band exercises...and then repeated it. I may not be able to type tomorrow, seriously.
I had a brief reprieve at my desk, then it was time to change into my second pair of workout clothes and head over to John's gym. Outside of this gym is the infamous 18 wheeler truck tire. It weighs roughly around 365 pounds and we use it for various tortures such as working with ropes, beating it with a sledgehammer, and doing bench dips. The current rite of passage for John and TJ's clients is to flip that tire, and when John told me I'd do it one day, I looked at him like he'd lost his mind. I figured this day was way off in the future.
Oh no friends, that day was today. Right out of the gate we headed outside in the heat and he told me that not only was I going to flip it, I was going to get dirty in the process. I crouched down and put my hands between the treads, not seriously thinking that I was going to be able to accomplish this task. John told me how to use my whole body - legs, arms, and abs - to lift and flip the tire over, then he stood next to me to spot me. Taking a deep breathe and concentrating hard to make all my muscles work together I lifted that big mother and flipped it...not once but sixteen times.
 | ||
| I did it! |
Then, we went on to do multiple rounds of beating the tire with a sledgehammer, doing the ropes, boxing against the paddles John held, slamming the medicine ball, and walking loops around the parking lot with a 30 pound sand bag. As I walked those loops, I marveled that last year this time, I drug around three times that much weight on my body.
I was wet, dirty, tired, sore, and my eyes stung as sweat dripped into them. I had tire smudge all over me. I was sure in the knowledge that I may be curled up into an achey ball tomorrow. But I felt like a rock star!
My day wasn't over yet either. After eating a much needed supper (looking down at my chicken and vegetables I told my husband, "I am going to destroy this food.") we headed off to Super Wal-mart with the rest of the crazies to get our hurricane provisions.
We walked around for an hour and a half as I pondered a new challenge. I didn't want to ride out Hurricane Irene eating a bunch of bad snacks and sitting around like I used to, but what non-perishable foods does one get in such a case? Tuna for protein, low cal peanut butter, dried fruits, apple sauce, Special K bars, and canned beans went into the cart.
And did I get a break after that? Oh no. Another mini workout awaited as my husband and I had to drag all of that mess into the house...and hurricane food (bottled water and cans) isn't light. With great relief, I eased myself onto the couch marveling at what I've done today. Again, it's 90% mental and John has taught me to concentrate on one rep at a time. It really does help to do that. In one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies, The Fast and the Furious, Vin Diesel's character says that he lives his life a quarter mile at the time. That went through my head as I went about my workouts and I realized that I live my life one rep at a time. And tomorrow, it will be most likely one "ouch" at a time.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
My New Friend Debbie
One of my favorite shows last season was A & E's "Heavy." If you've never watched it, it is a truly inspirational show. It allows you to follow the experiences of people who have a long weight loss journey ahead of them (like me), but who courageously share their story and their quest to save their lives through diet and exercise. What was really cool last season was that one of the people documented on the show, a bubbly blonde named Debbie, was from our hometown of Wilmington! As I watched her story this winter, right smack in the middle of my own struggle, I connected with her and what she was going through. Her triumphs gave me hope and I thought, maybe one of these days I'll run into her around town.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I met someone who knew her, and he was able to introduce us via Facebook. Millie and I quickly struck up an online friendship with Debbie and found her to be a genuinely nice person who was eager to share her story and be our cheerleader.
Yesterday, after having our butts kicked by Jeff and Marisa in a workout that still has me saying "ouch" when I sit down, Lakshmi and I had the wonderful opportunity to have dinner with Debbie. Immediately on meeting her I felt like I'd known her a million years. We all shared similar stories and things we'd found helpful. We commiserated on past and present struggles and the things that we do to encourage ourselves. It was also cool to hear what it's like to be on a weight loss show. Debbie is such a brave and honest person and I'm happy to call her my friend and sister in combat.
What I'm learning is that when you cast your net out and seek like minded people, you increase your community of support. This community of support is like your armor, because make no mistake, this is the fight of your life. The stronger you make that armor, i.e. the more people in your community, the better defense you have, and that defense is priceless.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I met someone who knew her, and he was able to introduce us via Facebook. Millie and I quickly struck up an online friendship with Debbie and found her to be a genuinely nice person who was eager to share her story and be our cheerleader.
Yesterday, after having our butts kicked by Jeff and Marisa in a workout that still has me saying "ouch" when I sit down, Lakshmi and I had the wonderful opportunity to have dinner with Debbie. Immediately on meeting her I felt like I'd known her a million years. We all shared similar stories and things we'd found helpful. We commiserated on past and present struggles and the things that we do to encourage ourselves. It was also cool to hear what it's like to be on a weight loss show. Debbie is such a brave and honest person and I'm happy to call her my friend and sister in combat.
What I'm learning is that when you cast your net out and seek like minded people, you increase your community of support. This community of support is like your armor, because make no mistake, this is the fight of your life. The stronger you make that armor, i.e. the more people in your community, the better defense you have, and that defense is priceless.
Monday, August 22, 2011
"It looks a lot better in my mind!"
We had a wonderful weekend outdoors and in the water with family and friends, so when Monday rolled around I was dragging into work. The day whizzed by; it seemed like I sat down at my desk with my coffee and BOOM, hours had gone by and I felt like I hadn't blinked away from my computer screen once. Finally it was time to meet my group for Zumba, and I sprung away from my desk with the eagerness that my cat springs into a fresh batch of laundry from the dryer.
It was so good to put my projects on hold and enjoy an hour of nothing more than trying to get a salsa step correct. We got to the point in the routine when it's time for a little booty shaking, a step my friend Diana likes the most. "Go Diana!" a couple of us said. She laughed and said, "It looks a lot better in my mind!"
I think she's awesome at Zumba, but she definitely makes a point that I've seen to be true over and over. Working out is 85% mental. Same goes with tricking yourself out of indulging in bad foods. Over the weekend at a family gathering, I sat next to an open bag of Doritos, my own personal Kryptonite, for the duration of lunch. The bag was two inches from my grasp, but as hard as it was, I controlled myself. Because, I look a lot better in my own mind, and I can't wait until the day comes that the mental matches up with the physical.
It was so good to put my projects on hold and enjoy an hour of nothing more than trying to get a salsa step correct. We got to the point in the routine when it's time for a little booty shaking, a step my friend Diana likes the most. "Go Diana!" a couple of us said. She laughed and said, "It looks a lot better in my mind!"
I think she's awesome at Zumba, but she definitely makes a point that I've seen to be true over and over. Working out is 85% mental. Same goes with tricking yourself out of indulging in bad foods. Over the weekend at a family gathering, I sat next to an open bag of Doritos, my own personal Kryptonite, for the duration of lunch. The bag was two inches from my grasp, but as hard as it was, I controlled myself. Because, I look a lot better in my own mind, and I can't wait until the day comes that the mental matches up with the physical.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Resorting to Trickery
No matter how much your eye is on the prize, there are some days that you just don't want to be on your game. I've been at this three hundred and forty some days straight. In that time, I've worked out five to six days out of each week except for the two days I had bronchitis and also in that time I've only had one meal each week where I let myself have exactly what I want. I call this meal treat night and it is what keeps me honest the rest of the week. But, as soon as this wonderful meal is over with, it's back to counting the calories. I'm not going to quit, but sometimes I wish that life was like Tivo, just push pause, eat some Doritos and some Ben and Jerry's, rewind and away go the calories!
That's a fantasy that won't be coming true and sometimes the road ahead looks nearly impossible. My friend expressed the same feeling this week when she said, shaking her head and looking overwhelmed, "If I don't work out every day, I gain weight. I'm going to have to do this the rest of my life!"
So what do you do when you are feeling overwhelmed, when you're tired and don't want to workout, when you feel like all you eat are plants? Much like parents use the airplane technique to get children to eat their vegetables or how you hide the dog's medicine in a piece of cheese, you have to employ trickery, this time on yourself.
Some examples of trickery I've used on myself:
That's a fantasy that won't be coming true and sometimes the road ahead looks nearly impossible. My friend expressed the same feeling this week when she said, shaking her head and looking overwhelmed, "If I don't work out every day, I gain weight. I'm going to have to do this the rest of my life!"
So what do you do when you are feeling overwhelmed, when you're tired and don't want to workout, when you feel like all you eat are plants? Much like parents use the airplane technique to get children to eat their vegetables or how you hide the dog's medicine in a piece of cheese, you have to employ trickery, this time on yourself.
Some examples of trickery I've used on myself:
- Yum! This spinach salad is just as tasty as that pizza they're eating.
- I'm not tired at all today. I have lots of energy.
- My feet don't hurt.
- My arms aren't going to give out, I can hold this plank.
- Chocolate is gross!
- If I cover the timer with this magazine, these thirty minutes on the elliptical will fly by!
- That spot on the ceiling of the gym is fascinating and I don't even feel like my arms are going to fall off doing the speed bag in kickboxing class.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
"Sweat is fat crying."
It's been a busy work week and long hours staring at my laptop culminated in me ready to use the walls of my cube as a scratching post by the time this afternoon rolled around. My brain muscles hurt and I had a lot of pent up energy. When three o'clock finally got here, I tossed my glasses onto my desk and grabbed up my gym bag to hustle downstairs to meet my girls for Zumba.
A group of us met up in the group exercise room to do a DVD Mary found that really broke the steps down. Now, I've been doing Zumba for almost a year and I keep moving the whole class, but I'm not always doing the steps right by any means. If I miss what the teacher is doing, I'm liable to pull out my old move from the club (my cousin Devon calls it the "pull back") until I figure out the steps.
This DVD was great because it starts you out with the basic moves and builds upon them until you're truly doing the steps correctly. We were doing salsa, calypso, reggatone, cumbo, and even a little belly dancing. It was fun learning the steps together and we definitely worked out our core muscles by laughing at ourselves. We're doing the next DVD tomorrow and have tentatively dared the guys to come Zumba with us. We promised them that they could stand at the back and we wouldn't look at them (ha - yeah right!) but I'll be shocked if they come. I told them Zumba is not just for girls...and it's a great cardio workout! These days I'm not satisfied unless I come away from a workout with a drenched shirt and damp hair...and this DVD delivered. It's summed up best by a quote my friend shared with me recently, "sweat is fat crying."
A group of us met up in the group exercise room to do a DVD Mary found that really broke the steps down. Now, I've been doing Zumba for almost a year and I keep moving the whole class, but I'm not always doing the steps right by any means. If I miss what the teacher is doing, I'm liable to pull out my old move from the club (my cousin Devon calls it the "pull back") until I figure out the steps.
This DVD was great because it starts you out with the basic moves and builds upon them until you're truly doing the steps correctly. We were doing salsa, calypso, reggatone, cumbo, and even a little belly dancing. It was fun learning the steps together and we definitely worked out our core muscles by laughing at ourselves. We're doing the next DVD tomorrow and have tentatively dared the guys to come Zumba with us. We promised them that they could stand at the back and we wouldn't look at them (ha - yeah right!) but I'll be shocked if they come. I told them Zumba is not just for girls...and it's a great cardio workout! These days I'm not satisfied unless I come away from a workout with a drenched shirt and damp hair...and this DVD delivered. It's summed up best by a quote my friend shared with me recently, "sweat is fat crying."
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
In the meantime, there's always salad.
You'd think after almost a year I'd have this food thing figured out, but it is still a daily struggle. Today I realized that how I feel is totally cumulative of how I've eaten during the week. I've kept my calorie count in check this week, but have not been good at getting my protein in. Several lunches have consisted of low calorie soup that was convenient, but didn't have any protein value at all.
Wednesdays are particularly hard because I do Step class at noon and so I don't want to eat my lunch before hand and risk seeing it come up on the floor of the gym, but you have to have something to fuel you on so what to do? Today I ate some fruit and cheese before heading to class, but as soon as I got there, I almost felt hungrier than before my snack. What proceeded was a limp noodle trying to work out. My limbs felt heavy and didn't want to move, and I highly suspect that the third pair of tennis shoes in a year are on their last legs due to the way my feet were hurting.
I never quit a workout and refused to throw in the towel. When I almost fell off one side of my step then the other, I finished the rest of the class on the floor. It wasn't my shining moment, but I got through it and headed back to my desk to hoover down the grilled chicken salad that was waiting for me.
Later in the day, I found myself arriving home later than usual and discovered that the teriyaki beef that I'd gotten going in my crockpot this morning had literally turned into jerky. Somehow we choked it down and thankfully there was salad too.
No wonder obesity is an epidemic. Eating right is hard. It's so much easier to hit the drive through, and a lot cheaper too. But, nothing worth having comes easy, so I'm determined to figure this thing out. In the meantime, there's always salad.
Wednesdays are particularly hard because I do Step class at noon and so I don't want to eat my lunch before hand and risk seeing it come up on the floor of the gym, but you have to have something to fuel you on so what to do? Today I ate some fruit and cheese before heading to class, but as soon as I got there, I almost felt hungrier than before my snack. What proceeded was a limp noodle trying to work out. My limbs felt heavy and didn't want to move, and I highly suspect that the third pair of tennis shoes in a year are on their last legs due to the way my feet were hurting.
I never quit a workout and refused to throw in the towel. When I almost fell off one side of my step then the other, I finished the rest of the class on the floor. It wasn't my shining moment, but I got through it and headed back to my desk to hoover down the grilled chicken salad that was waiting for me.
Later in the day, I found myself arriving home later than usual and discovered that the teriyaki beef that I'd gotten going in my crockpot this morning had literally turned into jerky. Somehow we choked it down and thankfully there was salad too.
No wonder obesity is an epidemic. Eating right is hard. It's so much easier to hit the drive through, and a lot cheaper too. But, nothing worth having comes easy, so I'm determined to figure this thing out. In the meantime, there's always salad.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Jenn and Millie's Day of Pain
Around lunchtime today I picked up my phone and dialed Millie's extension. "So let's come up with our battle plan," I said when she picked up. We're without our trainers this week and we'd previously confirmed our usual time with all of the girls, but we'd yet to come up with a plan. This normally amounts to us standing around for fifteen minutes trying to sort out what we're going to do.
She and I quickly hatched out a plan that would work arms, legs, and core as well as getting in cardio too and at two all of us convened in the gym. We were excited to see most of the guys there too and quickly adjusted our workout to include them.
It was a tough one and I was cussing myself not long into it. But, it was also so awesome to see our group doing our thing without trainers. We weren't just putzing around on the ellipticals either. We were doing hammer curls, bench dips, kettle bell swings, burpees, crunches, squat/planks, curl/presses, and running running running. Everyone was hot and sweaty and breathing heavy at the end of it. I looked at Millie and said, "Ha ha, we just killed these guys!" She gave me a high five and said, "Yeah we did!"
She and I quickly hatched out a plan that would work arms, legs, and core as well as getting in cardio too and at two all of us convened in the gym. We were excited to see most of the guys there too and quickly adjusted our workout to include them.
It was a tough one and I was cussing myself not long into it. But, it was also so awesome to see our group doing our thing without trainers. We weren't just putzing around on the ellipticals either. We were doing hammer curls, bench dips, kettle bell swings, burpees, crunches, squat/planks, curl/presses, and running running running. Everyone was hot and sweaty and breathing heavy at the end of it. I looked at Millie and said, "Ha ha, we just killed these guys!" She gave me a high five and said, "Yeah we did!"
Monday, August 15, 2011
Fluff Club
My Nanny had a cross stitched picture of a sheep hanging on her wall forever and ever that had the saying, "Ewes not fat, ewes fluffy". You know those certain things around your grandparent's house that always stood out to you in childhood? That was mine. I always loved that little saying.
Tonight a group of friends and I met to establish a monthly night where we can come together and discuss our weight loss challenges, exchange recipes, talk about what motivates us and what gets us down. We got the idea from the show "Ruby," a reality show about a woman who used to weigh 700 some pounds and now is down in the 300's. She calls hers "Women's Fat Night," but we wanted to have our own name. As we pondered it over, Amy mentioned that cute little saying about not being fat, but rather being fluffy and then she came up with the name, Fluff Club. We all loved it! I suggested our mascot could be a cute, fluffy sheep.
And so Fluff Club has been born. We're all on different legs of our journeys, but our destination is the same. Vera's just about to her goal weight and looks awesome, but she still struggles with the same challenges that I do. Amy doesn't have as much weight to lose as me, but it's still just as hard to her as it is to me. I can't wait until the next meeting and also can't wait to try the yummy low cal crock pot carnitas recipe that Amy gave us tonight.
As I was driving home, I realized what a different and wonderful era we've entered into. All of the shows like "The Biggest Loser" and "Heavy" and "Ruby," have brought overweight people "out of the closet" so to speak, and have de-stigmatized the challenge of weight loss. I remember being so ashamed to say I was "on a diet" back in the day. Now, with so many of us, no matter whether we are overweight or not, focused on wellness, it's easier to be out in the open about your struggle. These days most people are trying to eat healthier and exercise, or at least they talk about it and acknowledge the benefits. Restaurants are finally getting on board and offering healthy choices. It just makes it easier, and hey I'll take any advantage I can get.
So yay for Fluff Club! I can't wait to meet up with you ladies again. I have realized that it is so important on a journey like this to build a community of like minded folks around you. Mine is made up of my supportive family and friends, my trainers, my Transformation team, my exercise instructors and the friends in class, my girls in the locker room, and now Fluff Club. The stronger you can build your web of support, the better. On the days when your resolve is weak, they are what get you through.
Tonight a group of friends and I met to establish a monthly night where we can come together and discuss our weight loss challenges, exchange recipes, talk about what motivates us and what gets us down. We got the idea from the show "Ruby," a reality show about a woman who used to weigh 700 some pounds and now is down in the 300's. She calls hers "Women's Fat Night," but we wanted to have our own name. As we pondered it over, Amy mentioned that cute little saying about not being fat, but rather being fluffy and then she came up with the name, Fluff Club. We all loved it! I suggested our mascot could be a cute, fluffy sheep.
And so Fluff Club has been born. We're all on different legs of our journeys, but our destination is the same. Vera's just about to her goal weight and looks awesome, but she still struggles with the same challenges that I do. Amy doesn't have as much weight to lose as me, but it's still just as hard to her as it is to me. I can't wait until the next meeting and also can't wait to try the yummy low cal crock pot carnitas recipe that Amy gave us tonight.
As I was driving home, I realized what a different and wonderful era we've entered into. All of the shows like "The Biggest Loser" and "Heavy" and "Ruby," have brought overweight people "out of the closet" so to speak, and have de-stigmatized the challenge of weight loss. I remember being so ashamed to say I was "on a diet" back in the day. Now, with so many of us, no matter whether we are overweight or not, focused on wellness, it's easier to be out in the open about your struggle. These days most people are trying to eat healthier and exercise, or at least they talk about it and acknowledge the benefits. Restaurants are finally getting on board and offering healthy choices. It just makes it easier, and hey I'll take any advantage I can get.
So yay for Fluff Club! I can't wait to meet up with you ladies again. I have realized that it is so important on a journey like this to build a community of like minded folks around you. Mine is made up of my supportive family and friends, my trainers, my Transformation team, my exercise instructors and the friends in class, my girls in the locker room, and now Fluff Club. The stronger you can build your web of support, the better. On the days when your resolve is weak, they are what get you through.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
My Hate/Hate Relationship With the Stairs
My little sister is a student at ECU and the time of year has come for students to start moving back in. My parents had gotten her mostly moved in last weekend, but today Momma and I followed her back to Greenville to move in the last of her stuff and have a girls day before heading back home without her.
Last year her apartment was on the first floor of her complex, which was great for old, lazy me who wasn't active and hated stairs. Over this past year, Jeff and Marisa (as well as the rest of my gym buddies) have been slowly but surely curing me of this fear. I remember back when I began working with Jeff, he started me on short risers and then transitioned me to the stairwell outside of the gym. Nine months and a lifetime ago, after a workout where I had mastered the step bench with one riser, Jeff made me go out to the stairs by the gym where he showed me with the measuring tape how each step was the same height as the riser in the gym and made me go up and down the first flight. I was terrified and so clumsy.
Next, Marisa and I started walking, first short distances and then longer and longer, having great conversations about everything under the sun, and soon I forgot that we were walking further each time. The end of these walks always culminated in doing the staircase from the parking lot back into the building. I huffed and I puffed, but I always felt victorious at the top.
Shortly after this, Jeff started jumping out at me as I was about to board the elevator. "Stairs Minter!" he would say and I would roll my eyes and get off the elevator. My workout buddies followed suit. What is the name of that psychotherapy where you're forced to immerse yourself in your greatest fear until you get over it? I don't know, but this is what was happening.
Soon I drank the kool-aid so to speak and began parking in the outdoor parking lot at work, as opposed to the parking deck across the street, so that I would be forced to do those two flights of stairs each morning...the majority of the time loaded down with my computer backpack, gym bag, purse, and lunch bag.
Today we took my sister back to ECU and I was again faced with the stairs as she is now on the third floor of her complex. This time I wasn't scared of being out of breathe or of falling. As I slung the straps of one of her bags over my shoulder (the bag weighed fifty pounds, no exaggerating), my mom and my sister said, "Put that down, it's too heavy!" I assured them I'd be alright. The whole way up those three flights of stairs, they kept asking if I was okay. I said, "Seriously guys, I got this." And I did...in the heat, with fifty extra pounds, and three flights of stairs, I was okay. And you know what, I went back for a few more loads.
Last year her apartment was on the first floor of her complex, which was great for old, lazy me who wasn't active and hated stairs. Over this past year, Jeff and Marisa (as well as the rest of my gym buddies) have been slowly but surely curing me of this fear. I remember back when I began working with Jeff, he started me on short risers and then transitioned me to the stairwell outside of the gym. Nine months and a lifetime ago, after a workout where I had mastered the step bench with one riser, Jeff made me go out to the stairs by the gym where he showed me with the measuring tape how each step was the same height as the riser in the gym and made me go up and down the first flight. I was terrified and so clumsy.
Next, Marisa and I started walking, first short distances and then longer and longer, having great conversations about everything under the sun, and soon I forgot that we were walking further each time. The end of these walks always culminated in doing the staircase from the parking lot back into the building. I huffed and I puffed, but I always felt victorious at the top.
Shortly after this, Jeff started jumping out at me as I was about to board the elevator. "Stairs Minter!" he would say and I would roll my eyes and get off the elevator. My workout buddies followed suit. What is the name of that psychotherapy where you're forced to immerse yourself in your greatest fear until you get over it? I don't know, but this is what was happening.
Soon I drank the kool-aid so to speak and began parking in the outdoor parking lot at work, as opposed to the parking deck across the street, so that I would be forced to do those two flights of stairs each morning...the majority of the time loaded down with my computer backpack, gym bag, purse, and lunch bag.
Today we took my sister back to ECU and I was again faced with the stairs as she is now on the third floor of her complex. This time I wasn't scared of being out of breathe or of falling. As I slung the straps of one of her bags over my shoulder (the bag weighed fifty pounds, no exaggerating), my mom and my sister said, "Put that down, it's too heavy!" I assured them I'd be alright. The whole way up those three flights of stairs, they kept asking if I was okay. I said, "Seriously guys, I got this." And I did...in the heat, with fifty extra pounds, and three flights of stairs, I was okay. And you know what, I went back for a few more loads.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
A Beastly Workout
Today brought with it a much needed second wind and I was glad to be in the gym with my besties Millie and Sylvia. Marisa had written up a strength training workout for us and Millie played trainer. Even though I had to grit my teeth as I did bench rows with a 20 pound weight, it was cool to watch the muscles in my arms work. We ladies are proud of our "guns"!
It was definitely a challenging workout, but did I expect any less from Marisa? She's a cute little blonde thing on the outside, but make no mistake...she's a killer. In fact, Dana has nicknamed her "Beastwood".
We were soon through our first beastly circuit and I wasn't paying attention to what was on the sheet Millie was reading from, so when she said, "Okay, pull-ups next," I was totally unprepared.
I silently followed the girls over to the pull-up bar, trying hard not to breakout into a cold sweat. The last time I had attempted this, a couple of months ago, I clung paralyzed to the bar, frozen with fear as Jeff patiently tried to get me to attempt one pull-up which I couldn't do. We lined up behind the bar, and all of those elementary school, self-conscious gym class fears overtook me.
"Okay so we're each going to do four pull-ups and then go to the back of the line, and we do these eight times." Millie said, reading Marisa's instructions. Beastwood, what are you doing to me? Millie laughed when she saw my face and pointed to the sheet where she'd written some notes next to Marisa's, and by the lines about the pull-up station Millie had written "machine where I cried that time." I laughed, because we all have places in that gym where we've shed some tears.
Naturally, I got to the back of the line and watched as both Millie and Sylvia each did their first four pull-ups. Then it was my turn. I took a deep breathe and gripped the bar. And paused. My cheerleaders cheered for me. I took another deep breathe and concentrated hard on engaging not only my arms, but my legs and my core to pull myself up not once, but four times. Then I ran through seven more circuits of those for a total of 32 pull-ups!
I was feeling like a rock star until it was time for the next circuit which included the place where I cried that time, the step up bench. See a theme? All exercises that involve heights and the potential for falling. A few months ago I found myself paralyzed and in tears with frustration at the fear of stepping up that high, not once but twenty times on each leg. At that time, these wonderful ladies surrounded me and urged me on with a confidence in me that I didn't have in myself. When I first started working out last year, I had a hard time going over a step on one riser, Jeff even had to hold my hand! That seems so foreign to me now as I steadily lifted myself up onto four risers on one leg with no help. I've been at this steady for almost a year. I've worked out five to six days out of every one of those weeks, only missing two workouts when I had bronchitis and it still blows my mind.
It was definitely a challenging workout, but did I expect any less from Marisa? She's a cute little blonde thing on the outside, but make no mistake...she's a killer. In fact, Dana has nicknamed her "Beastwood".
We were soon through our first beastly circuit and I wasn't paying attention to what was on the sheet Millie was reading from, so when she said, "Okay, pull-ups next," I was totally unprepared.
I silently followed the girls over to the pull-up bar, trying hard not to breakout into a cold sweat. The last time I had attempted this, a couple of months ago, I clung paralyzed to the bar, frozen with fear as Jeff patiently tried to get me to attempt one pull-up which I couldn't do. We lined up behind the bar, and all of those elementary school, self-conscious gym class fears overtook me.
"Okay so we're each going to do four pull-ups and then go to the back of the line, and we do these eight times." Millie said, reading Marisa's instructions. Beastwood, what are you doing to me? Millie laughed when she saw my face and pointed to the sheet where she'd written some notes next to Marisa's, and by the lines about the pull-up station Millie had written "machine where I cried that time." I laughed, because we all have places in that gym where we've shed some tears.
Naturally, I got to the back of the line and watched as both Millie and Sylvia each did their first four pull-ups. Then it was my turn. I took a deep breathe and gripped the bar. And paused. My cheerleaders cheered for me. I took another deep breathe and concentrated hard on engaging not only my arms, but my legs and my core to pull myself up not once, but four times. Then I ran through seven more circuits of those for a total of 32 pull-ups!
I was feeling like a rock star until it was time for the next circuit which included the place where I cried that time, the step up bench. See a theme? All exercises that involve heights and the potential for falling. A few months ago I found myself paralyzed and in tears with frustration at the fear of stepping up that high, not once but twenty times on each leg. At that time, these wonderful ladies surrounded me and urged me on with a confidence in me that I didn't have in myself. When I first started working out last year, I had a hard time going over a step on one riser, Jeff even had to hold my hand! That seems so foreign to me now as I steadily lifted myself up onto four risers on one leg with no help. I've been at this steady for almost a year. I've worked out five to six days out of every one of those weeks, only missing two workouts when I had bronchitis and it still blows my mind.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Thanks Frank!
Finding the motivation to work out today was hard friends. I usually go during the day on my lunch hour when all my buddies are there and my energy is at its peak. Today I had a rare lunch out with my wonderful family and intended to work out after work. Well the day got away from me and suddenly it was 5:30 and I was worn out and tired and going to the gym was the last thing I wanted to do, which isn't like me at all.
Walking into the gym I suddenly realized that my earbuds were back upstairs on my desk and now I had no way to listen to my music, my last saving grace for working out. I knew that if I turned around to get them, the odds were that I would just head off straight to my car. I said some ugly words under my breathe but forced myself into the locker room and then back out onto the bike.
I got through the first half of my workout by reading an article on the Kardashians. The second half I got through because my team mate Frank came in and I was able to chat with him and make it through the last half. Sometimes that's all we need is a friend to turn a situation around. Thanks Frank!
Walking into the gym I suddenly realized that my earbuds were back upstairs on my desk and now I had no way to listen to my music, my last saving grace for working out. I knew that if I turned around to get them, the odds were that I would just head off straight to my car. I said some ugly words under my breathe but forced myself into the locker room and then back out onto the bike.
I got through the first half of my workout by reading an article on the Kardashians. The second half I got through because my team mate Frank came in and I was able to chat with him and make it through the last half. Sometimes that's all we need is a friend to turn a situation around. Thanks Frank!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Feeling Trapped?
I talked to a friend tonight who is in his own challenging situation that he doesn't see any reprieve from. While our challenges are different ones, I related it directly to my weight loss, which has been the fight of my life. I told him that this time last year, I would have never believed in a million years that I would be in the place I am now. 365 days ago, if you had told me that I would be doing a 2 hour zumba class, or running, or working out 6 days a week, or handling a workout in 100 degree heat, I would have asked if you smoked crack for lunch. Before, I couldn't even walk to the gym without stopping to catch my breathe. Now that unhealthy person is as much of a stranger to me as the person I am now would be to me a year ago.
To anyone who feels trapped in any situation, whether it be a weight issue or not, I am here to tell you that it is totally, 100% possible to change your life if you want it bad enough. If you're willing to come out of every comfort zone you have and give yourself no excuses, if the pain of what you're feeling is more acute than the pain of what it takes to get things accomplished, then nothing can hold you back. It doesn't mean that you will win every day. I was up one pound at this week's weigh in, but I'm not freaking out, I'm getting this done, and believe me when I say, if I can do this anyone can. If you need some encouragement or a cheerleader, email me. I've walked that road, and my journey isn't over.
To anyone who feels trapped in any situation, whether it be a weight issue or not, I am here to tell you that it is totally, 100% possible to change your life if you want it bad enough. If you're willing to come out of every comfort zone you have and give yourself no excuses, if the pain of what you're feeling is more acute than the pain of what it takes to get things accomplished, then nothing can hold you back. It doesn't mean that you will win every day. I was up one pound at this week's weigh in, but I'm not freaking out, I'm getting this done, and believe me when I say, if I can do this anyone can. If you need some encouragement or a cheerleader, email me. I've walked that road, and my journey isn't over.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Stop the Watch
Today was Monday and back to the gym we went. Millie, Florence, Sylvia, and I had decided to do the second part of the bike cardio routine so that we could work up a good sweat following weekend activities that inevitably bring on more temptations. This routine was tougher than the one that we usually do, and since it was interval based, we needed a stopwatch.
The stopwatch that lives in my gym has issues. Every ten minutes or so it goes off for no apparent reason, and no one has been able to fix it. Highly annoying to say the least, especially I'm sure to my trainers who are in the gym more than anyone. Sometimes it hangs from the bulletin board to sing out it's presence every ten minutes to whomever is around. I don't know how many times I've been in the middle of something and thought to myself, "There goes that d&^% stopwatch again." Most of the time it stays in the drawer of the desk near the entrance to the gym, and as I went to retrieve it today, it announced itself with a BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP.
I grabbed it up, gave it a cross look, and started across the gym with it to where my friends were waiting on the bikes. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going because I thought my path was clear and I was currently engaged in the familiar pursuit of how to hush the watch. Note to anyone reading this: always look where you're going in a gym. Sure enough, I went stumbling over a pair of 10 pound dumbbells that were laying in the middle of the floor. Luckily with my new spidey senses (aka: I have balance and reflexes now) I was able to catch myself.
After a tough and sweaty workout, Millie and I walked on shaky legs back over to the desk to throw the annoying watch in. Jeff was there and after asking about our workout, he handed me the watch (which had gone off in its usual way) and bet me that I couldn't fix it. A challenge! As I headed back to my desk with the watch in my hand, I immediately began mentally googling stop watch troubleshooting.
After work, and many stopwatch announcements later, I took my crack at it. I was mid-google when I thought about what I do when my Blackberry goes squirrelly...I take the battery out, wait a few seconds, and put it back in and all is right with the world.
"Ha ha ha, I'm gonna crack you open!" I said to the watch with evil undertones. A friend had a mini screwdriver set and with that and the tweezers that I always keep in my desk, I took the watch apart, took out the batteries, put them back, and screwed it back together again. A simple solution and the dang stopwatch reset itself and hushed. It wasn't rocket science or complex engineering by no means, but I did feel a little bit like McGyver.
The stopwatch that lives in my gym has issues. Every ten minutes or so it goes off for no apparent reason, and no one has been able to fix it. Highly annoying to say the least, especially I'm sure to my trainers who are in the gym more than anyone. Sometimes it hangs from the bulletin board to sing out it's presence every ten minutes to whomever is around. I don't know how many times I've been in the middle of something and thought to myself, "There goes that d&^% stopwatch again." Most of the time it stays in the drawer of the desk near the entrance to the gym, and as I went to retrieve it today, it announced itself with a BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP.
I grabbed it up, gave it a cross look, and started across the gym with it to where my friends were waiting on the bikes. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going because I thought my path was clear and I was currently engaged in the familiar pursuit of how to hush the watch. Note to anyone reading this: always look where you're going in a gym. Sure enough, I went stumbling over a pair of 10 pound dumbbells that were laying in the middle of the floor. Luckily with my new spidey senses (aka: I have balance and reflexes now) I was able to catch myself.
After a tough and sweaty workout, Millie and I walked on shaky legs back over to the desk to throw the annoying watch in. Jeff was there and after asking about our workout, he handed me the watch (which had gone off in its usual way) and bet me that I couldn't fix it. A challenge! As I headed back to my desk with the watch in my hand, I immediately began mentally googling stop watch troubleshooting.
After work, and many stopwatch announcements later, I took my crack at it. I was mid-google when I thought about what I do when my Blackberry goes squirrelly...I take the battery out, wait a few seconds, and put it back in and all is right with the world.
"Ha ha ha, I'm gonna crack you open!" I said to the watch with evil undertones. A friend had a mini screwdriver set and with that and the tweezers that I always keep in my desk, I took the watch apart, took out the batteries, put them back, and screwed it back together again. A simple solution and the dang stopwatch reset itself and hushed. It wasn't rocket science or complex engineering by no means, but I did feel a little bit like McGyver.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Aunt Jennifer
The first week into this journey, last September, we were spending the weekend at Kure Beach and decided to take a trip to the aquarium at Fort Fisher. I had just begun to be able to move around better, but all of the walking was still a challenge. Today, 89 pounds lighter, we returned to the aquarium for the first time since then, with our niece and nephew.
It was great today to spend time with the kids, and it was great to be able to run after them with ease and to be able to lift them up over the crowds to see into the tanks.
I've always been fun Aunt Jennifer; before Aunt Jennifer was always there to read a story or draw a picture. That Aunt Jennifer always had the kids come to her from wherever she was currently sitting. This Aunt Jennifer is now able to run and play with the kids, to keep up with them as they dart about, wanting to show her this or to come see that. This Aunt Jennifer feels good and alive, and even kids can pick up on it.
Later the kids wanted to eat dinner at Golden Corral so that's where we went. I ate a salad and grilled steak. Everyone else, however, put on the feed bag. There was fried chicken, pizza, french fries, desserts, even a cotton candy machine. I finished my meal long before everyone else and I had to sit there amongst all that food, still slightly hungry. I watched as people came back from the buffet with plates loaded with food that was definitely off of my menu. A plate heaped with warm yeast rolls, shiny with butter, drifted by me and my mouth watered. I stayed strong and finally we were able to get out of there before my resolve waivered.
I got a little satisfaction later when we got back to my sister-in-law's house and everyone was full and miserable on the couch, slowly slipping off into a food coma while I felt fine. I wanted to get some activity so I looked around the room at everyone and said, "Hey kids, want to go skating?" They were all hyped up on cotton candy and gummy bears from the ice cream bar, of course they wanted to go skating.
The adults groaned, but the kids and I were insistent. So off we went to the skating rink. My nephew was a little nervous on skates, but I ran beside him while he skated, so that I would be there if he started to fall. Then he got a little more comfortable and we had a race: me on foot, him on skates. It felt great to be able to keep up with the kids. I was missing out on so much in my old unhealthy days. You only learn so much about the kids in your life watching them from the couch. Aunt Jennifer still reads stories and draws pictures, but she's also right there when the kids want to run.
 |
| Last September, in front of the hurricane display. |
 | ||
| Today, same spot, different me. |
 | ||||||
| Having a fun day with Cameron and Hailey. |
Later the kids wanted to eat dinner at Golden Corral so that's where we went. I ate a salad and grilled steak. Everyone else, however, put on the feed bag. There was fried chicken, pizza, french fries, desserts, even a cotton candy machine. I finished my meal long before everyone else and I had to sit there amongst all that food, still slightly hungry. I watched as people came back from the buffet with plates loaded with food that was definitely off of my menu. A plate heaped with warm yeast rolls, shiny with butter, drifted by me and my mouth watered. I stayed strong and finally we were able to get out of there before my resolve waivered.
I got a little satisfaction later when we got back to my sister-in-law's house and everyone was full and miserable on the couch, slowly slipping off into a food coma while I felt fine. I wanted to get some activity so I looked around the room at everyone and said, "Hey kids, want to go skating?" They were all hyped up on cotton candy and gummy bears from the ice cream bar, of course they wanted to go skating.
The adults groaned, but the kids and I were insistent. So off we went to the skating rink. My nephew was a little nervous on skates, but I ran beside him while he skated, so that I would be there if he started to fall. Then he got a little more comfortable and we had a race: me on foot, him on skates. It felt great to be able to keep up with the kids. I was missing out on so much in my old unhealthy days. You only learn so much about the kids in your life watching them from the couch. Aunt Jennifer still reads stories and draws pictures, but she's also right there when the kids want to run.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Total Immersion
This has been an awesome day. It started out with me dragging around, feeling like bronchitis was on the way, and ended with me feeling victorious and strong.
Marisa and Jeff arranged for Mike Clay to come speak to our group. Mike has lost 100 pounds and started a company, Custom Fit Meals, to help others like himself learn to eat whole, natural foods and meet their weight loss goals. As he told his story, I found myself so many times in his words. He also made a whole lot of sense as he explained that the simple approach works the best, meaning that your likelihood of success decreases statistically the more complicated you make things. Think about it: how many weirdo diets have you started and stopped over the years? Complicated diets only work momentarily. The key to real success is sustainability.
After work I headed over to John's gym with little confidence that I could work out. I felt like a limp dishrag and planned on begging him to take it easy on me. No such luck. John takes no prisoners. I was running on the treadmill, running outside in the heat, working those blanketity blank ropes outside in the heat, doing push-ups, hitting the bag, doing weights and lunges, and holding a plank position until I was shaking. I walked out of there a hot mess, but feeling victorious with no symptoms of sickness whatsoever.
The farther I get on this journey, the more I realize how building a weight loss community around yourself is the key to success. My trainers, my team, my family and friends, and the experts I meet are all layers of support and protection around me. They keep me going and keep my head in the game. After all, what is the best way to learn a foreign language? Total immersion. The same bodes true for weight loss success.
Marisa and Jeff arranged for Mike Clay to come speak to our group. Mike has lost 100 pounds and started a company, Custom Fit Meals, to help others like himself learn to eat whole, natural foods and meet their weight loss goals. As he told his story, I found myself so many times in his words. He also made a whole lot of sense as he explained that the simple approach works the best, meaning that your likelihood of success decreases statistically the more complicated you make things. Think about it: how many weirdo diets have you started and stopped over the years? Complicated diets only work momentarily. The key to real success is sustainability.
After work I headed over to John's gym with little confidence that I could work out. I felt like a limp dishrag and planned on begging him to take it easy on me. No such luck. John takes no prisoners. I was running on the treadmill, running outside in the heat, working those blanketity blank ropes outside in the heat, doing push-ups, hitting the bag, doing weights and lunges, and holding a plank position until I was shaking. I walked out of there a hot mess, but feeling victorious with no symptoms of sickness whatsoever.
The farther I get on this journey, the more I realize how building a weight loss community around yourself is the key to success. My trainers, my team, my family and friends, and the experts I meet are all layers of support and protection around me. They keep me going and keep my head in the game. After all, what is the best way to learn a foreign language? Total immersion. The same bodes true for weight loss success.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Kenpo
My day got away from me today and I found myself missing my usual Wednesday Step class with the girls. I was starting to feel like I was getting a chest cold, but choked down some vitamin powder and went down to the gym later on in the day.
Armed with a magazine and my music, I started towards the exercise bike without much enthusiasm. I knew that feeling the way I currently did, I wasn't going to have much motivation with the same old tunes and the uninteresting cranking up and down of legs that is the bike. Procrastinating, I poked my head into the group exercise room where a group of my friends were doing their daily P90X workout. I'd tried to do it a couple of months ago and had to modify so much that I figured it was beyond me and never considered trying it again.
I had intended just to say hello but out of curiosity I asked which workout they were doing today. "Kenpo! Come join us!" said Angie. Kenpo is the martial arts disc of the P90X set, and I have been really curious to try it, so they didn't have to ask me twice.
I loved it! It incorporated a lot of the things I've learned in kickboxing class and then took it a step further into grabs and more complicated combos. I was disappointed when the DVD ended because I was ready to learn some more moves.
Later in the day I was telling a friend that this year has been interesting in many ways, but in particular, the psychological aspect. In the beginning our group was basically new to exercise, so all we could do was just concentrate on getting through our workouts. Now, our personal preferences are starting to show more. I watched Lakshmi in her element at the Zumba class we attended this weekend. I watched that glow of giddy pride on Mary and Millie's faces when they found their runner's stride on the treadmills the day we did the President's challenge, and they haven't stopped running yet. Sylvia's pretty much good at everything, and it's awesome to see her enjoy her workouts (sometimes she does a little Sylvia shuffle if you watch close enough) when before, she used to be the self described "grouch of the gym." Me, I like to fight, whether its martial arts related or boxing. I plan on examining what that says about me at some point in time, but right now I'm just going with it.
Armed with a magazine and my music, I started towards the exercise bike without much enthusiasm. I knew that feeling the way I currently did, I wasn't going to have much motivation with the same old tunes and the uninteresting cranking up and down of legs that is the bike. Procrastinating, I poked my head into the group exercise room where a group of my friends were doing their daily P90X workout. I'd tried to do it a couple of months ago and had to modify so much that I figured it was beyond me and never considered trying it again.
I had intended just to say hello but out of curiosity I asked which workout they were doing today. "Kenpo! Come join us!" said Angie. Kenpo is the martial arts disc of the P90X set, and I have been really curious to try it, so they didn't have to ask me twice.
I loved it! It incorporated a lot of the things I've learned in kickboxing class and then took it a step further into grabs and more complicated combos. I was disappointed when the DVD ended because I was ready to learn some more moves.
Later in the day I was telling a friend that this year has been interesting in many ways, but in particular, the psychological aspect. In the beginning our group was basically new to exercise, so all we could do was just concentrate on getting through our workouts. Now, our personal preferences are starting to show more. I watched Lakshmi in her element at the Zumba class we attended this weekend. I watched that glow of giddy pride on Mary and Millie's faces when they found their runner's stride on the treadmills the day we did the President's challenge, and they haven't stopped running yet. Sylvia's pretty much good at everything, and it's awesome to see her enjoy her workouts (sometimes she does a little Sylvia shuffle if you watch close enough) when before, she used to be the self described "grouch of the gym." Me, I like to fight, whether its martial arts related or boxing. I plan on examining what that says about me at some point in time, but right now I'm just going with it.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
"You're a Bum!"
I arrived in the locker room today just as boot camp was letting out. A bunch of my buddies came staggering in, warning me that Jeff (who had just taught class) was hyped up today. Oh boy, here it comes I thought to myself.
The boys on my team weren't able to make it to the group workout so it ended up being just Lakshmi and I facing the scale and Jeff. I felt good about it. I knew that I had really pushed it this week and made the right choices in what I ate. What a great day it was, because Laks and I both lost four pounds this week, making my total 89 pounds GONE! With only 11 more to go to hit that big milestone of 100 pounds lost, I was fired up and ready to work out.
Jeff told us that he'd been watching a "Rocky" marathon and was channeling his inner Mick. The "Rocky" movies are on my favorites list and I especially like the training montages, but it's a whole new thing to experience it in real life. He had us hitting the heavy bag and switching up on the elliptical machine. We were squatting and curling and pressing. We were doing 200 meter sprints on the rowing machine and planks (me with a 20 pound weight on my back for crying out loud). Yo Adrian, what a workout.
When he took us over to the elliptical machines at the end of the workout, I knew what was about to happen. It was time for the challenge that defeated me last week...trying to keep the speed at over 100 while on level 20, for a solid minute. Last week I tried this five times and couldn't last longer than 30 seconds. I wasn't optimistic. It's so much harder than it sounds!
Mick is famous for telling Rocky, "You're a bum!" I was determined not to be one too. I put my mind in another place and let my body take over. At thirty seconds in, I felt like I was losing all of the breathe in my lungs but I kept going. At ten seconds left, I felt like I couldn't go on, but I was too close to quit. You can do anything for ten seconds, and so I just kept breathing and kept going and finally the minute was up and I'd conquered last week's challenge!
So the Rocky workout was done. Bring on the gray sweatshirt and the old Chuck Taylors. One of these days I'm going to run up those steps in Philadelphia. I would definitely feel like a champ then!
The boys on my team weren't able to make it to the group workout so it ended up being just Lakshmi and I facing the scale and Jeff. I felt good about it. I knew that I had really pushed it this week and made the right choices in what I ate. What a great day it was, because Laks and I both lost four pounds this week, making my total 89 pounds GONE! With only 11 more to go to hit that big milestone of 100 pounds lost, I was fired up and ready to work out.
Jeff told us that he'd been watching a "Rocky" marathon and was channeling his inner Mick. The "Rocky" movies are on my favorites list and I especially like the training montages, but it's a whole new thing to experience it in real life. He had us hitting the heavy bag and switching up on the elliptical machine. We were squatting and curling and pressing. We were doing 200 meter sprints on the rowing machine and planks (me with a 20 pound weight on my back for crying out loud). Yo Adrian, what a workout.
When he took us over to the elliptical machines at the end of the workout, I knew what was about to happen. It was time for the challenge that defeated me last week...trying to keep the speed at over 100 while on level 20, for a solid minute. Last week I tried this five times and couldn't last longer than 30 seconds. I wasn't optimistic. It's so much harder than it sounds!
Mick is famous for telling Rocky, "You're a bum!" I was determined not to be one too. I put my mind in another place and let my body take over. At thirty seconds in, I felt like I was losing all of the breathe in my lungs but I kept going. At ten seconds left, I felt like I couldn't go on, but I was too close to quit. You can do anything for ten seconds, and so I just kept breathing and kept going and finally the minute was up and I'd conquered last week's challenge!
So the Rocky workout was done. Bring on the gray sweatshirt and the old Chuck Taylors. One of these days I'm going to run up those steps in Philadelphia. I would definitely feel like a champ then!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)