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!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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!
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