Rebecca's Fitness Journey

Wow

2010-04-30T20:07:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it's over. At workout tonight I gave Kendall a hug before we started because I knew I'd be gross sweaty when it was all over. It took everything I had to fight back the tears during my first reps. Now that I'm home and it's starting to hit me the tears are coming! This has been such an awesome experience. There is no way I would have been as successful without the love and support everyone in this challenge has provided. I have proven to myself that I DO have time to take care of myself, and that it makes a difference in every area of my life. Proof that my emotional health has improved: I used to cry all of the time for no reason, and excluding today, I've only cried a handful of time in the last 12 weeks. I can MOVE and I see muscles and definition that's been missing for far too long. I can easily manage my food intake. I feel like my body and I are finally working together again, rather than fighting each other all of the time. My son is learning to make healthy choices, and I've been able to open a dialogue with many people about healthier living.

Stats for today were good - I was down in everything. I know I have a long way to go, but I'm halfway there! I've lost about 60 pounds since November, and I need to lose 60 more. It would be AWESOME to be at my goal weight by my (30th) birthday in November. Originally I had said I wanted to be to my goal weight by May 2011, but now I think I might be able to make it by November. I'm going to certainly give it a try. 12 pounds per month is very doable. :)

Denial

2010-04-28T21:20:00.002-05:00

I think I'm in denial that this is the last week. I do that. I cope with loss by pretending it's not happening. It's a character flaw. Sometimes people take it as a lack of care or concern, but I assure you that quite the opposite is true.

There are so many people that have come to be such a part of my daily life! The trainers, contestants, Dome staff, and even other gym members feel like an extended family. I'm proud to know all of them. ;) This challenge has been so great in so many ways, and I will be forever thankful for this opportunity. You simply can't put it all into words.

One week left

2010-04-25T07:07:00.003-05:00

I really can't believe this is almost over. 12 weeks seemed like such a long time before we started. Yesterday was our last group. Everyone but Jay was able to make it. I really wish he could have been there! We had fun playing laser tag and bowling. Personally I did pretty well; second overall to Jamie in laser tag and first in bowling (of the contestants). Scott, Jackie and I broke 100. ;) I don't think any
of us will be quitting our jobs to join the PBA. ;)

I'm going to make it to the grocery store today. I've been out of cereal and eggs. My goal is to finish up strong. I started looking at gyms last night to plan for after the challenge. The Fitness Dome is great, especially since it has been free! Once I start paying for my membership it will just make sense to choose a place closer to where I live and work. I used to have a membership at Gold's Gym in Bryan. I will probably go back there. I firmly believe things will be different this time, now that I have a workout plan.

Week 11 and back to 100%

2010-04-21T19:07:00.005-05:00

I am completely over my stomach flu and its after effects. I was no only able to complete everything at tonight's workout, but I went up on weight for several exercises. That feels good. I really hated getting sick Friday, because not only did I miss workout Friday, but I also missed the extra credit and fellowship on Saturday. Monday was my first day out of bed, so I did good to make it to my last set. I didn't do all of the reps on Monday, but I was definitely feeling it.

David said I was doing well with my points. That's good motivation to really kick it in this last week. This entire experience has been great, but my personality is such that winning is definitely option #1. ;)

Only two weeks left!

2010-04-17T08:18:00.002-05:00

Let's start with the good news: I have lost five pounds in the last day! The bad news is I have the stomach flu. It's really easy to lose weight when there is plenty coming out and nothing coming in! ;) I thought I was going to die for most of yesterday. It started with diarrhea and upset stomach. By 11am I was vomitting, by 3pm the flu-like symptoms had set in. I was finally able to keep a little bread down late last night. I'm still not hungry, but I know my body needs fuel to finish fighting this off. I lost mostly water yesterday, but if I go too long without eating muscle tissue will be next, and we don't want that to happen. ;)

Needless to say I missed workout yesterday and I won't be at Saturday group today. I would hate to get anyone else sick! Hopefully I'll be good as new and we can do measurements and get back to it on Monday.

Week 10 is almost over

2010-04-15T20:28:00.003-05:00

When we started this challenge 12 weeks seemed like a long time. It doesn't seem like it should be nearly over! What I am most proud of at this point is that I haven't quit and I've made progress every week. Some days and weeks are better than others, but you just keep going. You workout, make good food choices and keep your goals in mind. Progress is progress! I'm looking forward to seeing what progress I've made tomorrow. ;)

Week 9 - Friday

2010-04-09T19:59:00.002-05:00

This hasn't been a great week for me. I've been sore (verging on the edge of injured) most of the week so I couldn't workout as hard as I would have liked to. I was afraid I was going to be up in weight since I didn't eat as well as I should have this week. Luckily I didn't gain anything. Most of my measurements were the same as last week. Of course, we did measurements in the morning last week, so in reality I'm probably slightly down.

These last few weeks are going to be crazy. I really hope I can stuck with it! I'm going to try my best!

Week 9 - Wednesday

2010-04-07T19:30:00.002-05:00

Last week was a great week for me. I lost four pounds and was feeling great! This week is a different story. I'm up half of a pound and I feel like I don't have the support of my husband. This entire challenge he hasn't gone out of his way to be supportive, but at least he's let me do my own thing. I told you guys about the Wings-N-More incident last week. Last night he brought home Chicken Express. Today he texted me and asked me to pick him up a MeatLovers pizza. I've been avoiding meat since November, and I've been doing this fitness challenge for two months, and it's as though he doesn't pay any attention at all! I can't make him eat a certain way, but I don't think it's too much to ask for him to NOT ask me to contribute to his unhealthy eating. I need help saying no sometimes, and his bringing home fried food every day and sweets just doesn't help. But, I can't expect him to be selfless, all I can do is stay focused on my goals and be the best role model for my son I can be. Alex has really taken an interest. We have discussions about macronutrients in the car all the time. Just this morning he told me, "Mom you don't need any candy because it doesn't have protein in it." He's five. :)

Here's hoping I can turn this week around before Friday's measurements!

Week 8 - Thursday

2010-04-01T19:47:00.003-05:00

Workout was good today. We all worked hard and stayed for some extra! I actually ran on the treadmill, which I haven't done in a long time. I haven't run since before my back surgery.

My group is looking forward to measurements tomorrow. We've all been working very hard this week and I hope it pays off tomorrow! ;)

On a side note, my husband brought home fried chicken wings, fried pickles, French fries, and ranch dressing for dinner tonight. Really?! Has he been on another planet for the last two months?! Needless to say I didn't eat any. I just wish he'd try eating a little more healthfully and not fill the house with the smell of fried foods. I can resist, because I'm focused on weigh-in tomorrow, but I hate to think what would have happened if I was having a bad day. ;) Fried pickles taste amazing!

Week 8 - Wednesday

2010-03-31T21:27:00.002-05:00

Things are going well. I'm losing weight, and looking forward to Friday's measurements. I'm eating more than I was, which I'm hoping will pay off the way I want it to. ;)

Curcuit work today. My favorite exercise today was decline bench press. I rock that! ;) My knees were a little sore today, so I didn't push it on a few things today. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow. I'm going to try to get some extra cardio in Friday since I'll be off work. I need to get to burning some more fat! ;)

Week 8 Already?!

2010-03-29T19:28:00.002-05:00

I really can't believe it's already the eighth week of the challenge. I haven't made as much progress as I thought I would by now, and food is the reason. I really still need to be eating more, but it's been really hard! This weekend I had my "cheat day" during which I had some red wine and chocolate chip cookies. (Not at the same time.) Amazingly, I've lost two pounds since Friday. This goes along with what I was saying about my cheat days. I'm smart enough to know it's not the chocolate chip cookies that are making me lose weight. However, it dies speak to the caloric deficit I'm in. I haven't been consuming enough calories to adaquately stimulate my metabolism. I'm going to try really hard to consume more calories. If I need to have a cookie every now and again, I guess that will be okay. ;) (Kidding.)

Week 7 - Wednesday

2010-03-24T19:13:00.002-05:00

So the scale was down two pounds this morning. I told you I was burning up last night! ;) Workout was good today. Chest, squats, decline bench, seated row, Australian pull-ups, stairs with a little jog around The Dome, sit-ups, oblique globes, and planks. Kendall does a great job of mixing things up to keep my body guessing.

Let's talk about food, because I'm discovering something. I tend to see greater results when I throw a little something bad in. Not something big bad, just a little bad. For example, the first weekend I ate a Kashi pizza (not bad, just a little bad) I lost four pounds. When I cheated and had a little Starbucks one day, two pounds lost the next day. Now, I don't think it's the cheats that do it of course, but rather my reaction to the little cheats. I think I subconsciously workout harder the next few times to make up for it. I get the satisfaction of the yummy goodness and the motivation to push a little harder. Now, I am not promoting the eating of a whole bag of Oreos, that's bad for you no matter what. But, there's nothing wrong with a little indulgence as long as you stay within you caloric budget for the day. I eat VERY well most of the time, so I can afford a baby cheat here and there. I'm still making progress, so it seems to be working for me. ;)

Week 7 - Tuesday

2010-03-23T21:54:00.004-05:00

I passed out a bit after getting home from workout today. I'm really sore! Probably more so than I've been in quite some time. That's a good thing, because it means I should see some results soon! It is funny (frustrating) how you see success, then plateau. I know my body has been challenged again, so I should see some results on this week's measurements. I'm lying in bed right now (you have to love iPhones) and I can feel the heat I'm radiating. So cool to know your body is working away, burning calories, while you're doing "nothing." ;) Throughout the challenge I've learned to really pay attention to my body. I can tell when I deviate from the formula. I sense how each choice I make with food and how much I push myself during certain exercises affects my body. It really is cool to start to see and appreciate your body for the beautifully complex machine it is! I will never again give this engine crappy fuel, old oil, and dirty filters again! ;)

Week 7 - Monday (Fresh start)

2010-03-22T19:30:00.002-05:00

I've been slacking a little lately. Not keeping up entirely with my food journal, not blogging everyday, etc. I missed group Saturday, which I really enjoy, but I was out of town picking up Alex from my Mom's house. I'm still making progress, but I feel a little bit like a bum. I don't usually half-a$$ so much. Sorry. So, I decided to pick it up hard today. Food journal is complete and accurate for today, I'm back at work after spring break, and I pushed myself during workout. The moral of this story is that every day is a new day! Just because you have a bad day or a few bad days isn't an excuse to keep having more bad days. Remind yourself of your goals and get back in there! Nobody's perfect. The turtle wins the race, right? ;) you just have to keep truckin' along.

Here's to a great week 7!

Week 6 - Tuesday

2010-03-16T19:04:00.002-05:00

Cardio! I feel like I worked harder today than I usually do on cardio days. Which, I thought I was working hard on cardio days, so I guess I didn't realize I had more to give. :)

Everything is going pretty well. I can't complain. I do a good job sticking to the workout routines and a healthy diet, so I'm seeing steady progress. I am having the "munchies" tonight, which I don't normally have. So, instead being miserable, I'm going to indulge my cravings sensibly.

Week 6 - Monday

2010-03-15T15:42:00.002-05:00

I'm back! I took some time off from blogging. This week is Spring Break, so no work! Alex is staying with my mom for the week, so this is going to be a real vacation! I'll miss him dearly, but I will certainly enjoy the time off and flexible schedule.

I'm about to leave to go workout with Kendall. Last week ended on a high note - fat% down and weight down another 1.5 pounds. Hopefully I can make this free time this week count for me and not against me! :)

Week 5 - Wednesday

2010-03-10T18:55:00.003-06:00

Kendall is trying to kill me. I have been so tired after each workout with her. I really don't know what it is, but it's working. She just keeps smiling the whole time, so I don't realize how dead I am until I get home. :) I went up ten pounds on bench. I'm doing four flights of stairs during each circuit now instead of three. I did the assisted pull-ups today for the first time. I also did planks for the first time. I know I'm getting stronger, so I just have to keep trucking along. I didn't get out of shape over night, so I can't expect to get back in shape over night either.

I was upset about the pound I put on so I got out the body composition tool today to try to make myself feel better. Fat % is down from last Friday, so it's muscle and not fat. :) That's good. Still, I want to try to get down a pound or two by Friday. We'll see what happens.

Week 5 - Tuesday

2010-03-09T19:16:00.002-06:00

I feel like poop today. I had a splitting headache at the end of the day that got worse instead of better during cardio. I've taken some Excedrin Migraine now that I'm home, so hopefully that will help. (Remember their old slogan? "I've got a headache THIS big!")

I'm up a pound from last week. I'm hoping it's just fluid. I know a pound is negligable, but still a little disheartening. That on top of the headache, and general life stress at the moment have made today kinda suck. Good news is, tomorrow is another day! ;)

I also realized as I'm updating my food journal that I only had 999 calories before workout at 4:30 today. Not good. Might be part of my headache problem. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Week 5 - Monday

2010-03-08T13:06:00.002-06:00

I won't have a chance to blog tonight, so I'm going to go ahead and get one in now.

I have workout from 4:30 - 5:30, PTO meeting at 5:45, and a Road to College Workshop at 6:00 tonight. Needless to say I'm going to be exhausted by the time it is all over tonight. The husband is out of town as well, so Alex will be running around town with me all evening.

This weekend four of us were able to make it to play basketball. Fun, but very exhausting. I wish I would have worn my heart monitor, because my heart was beating out of my chest during parts of the workout! I took Sunday off, which is nice. I firmly believe that your mind, body, and spirit need a break from time to time.

I hope workout goes well tonight. My core was really sore this weekend and I'm not sure if it was Friday's workout or Saturday's basketball that did it.

I really hope all of my fellow challenge participants are able to get on solid ground this week. I know the last week has been difficult for several of them. We can do this!!!

Week 4 - Friday!

2010-03-05T19:26:00.002-06:00

It's FRIDAY! The happiest day of the week. I had a great workout with Kendall. I'm more tired after working out with her. We do the same exercises (or some variation) but for some reason I've been more tired. We'll see if that continues. It may just be that I'm not eating properly, but probably just because she's awesome! ;)

I am looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow. It will be nice to catch up and see what kind of progress folks are making. I think we could stand a good pep talk too. ;)

Alex has a friend over tonight, so I'm off to be a mommy! More tomorrow.

Week 4 - Thursday

2010-03-04T19:02:00.002-06:00

Good news! Kendall will be taking over my training! I'm super excited. She's awesome.

I feel great today. I got a ton of compliments today about my looks. The hard work is paying off! Lots of comments about the way I'm carrying myself. Apparently I've got a spring in my step and my head up again. ;) I got comments about the spark in my eyes and nice comments about my figure. No one has ever believed that I have weighed as much as I do because I still have a good shape. One lady today said, "You can tell you had a smokin' body before you gained weight and it's starting to show again." That's the goal! I want who I am inside to show on the outside. ;) My students are saying that I seem happier. Everyone is seeing/saying positive things! I really appreciate the feedback. Thank you! Keep it coming! ;)

I'm looking forward to measurements tomorrow!

Week 4 - Wednesday

2010-03-03T20:41:00.002-06:00

Today was TAKS day for a lot of kiddos, including my students. So I spent the entire day tied up with testing. Out of curiosity I wore a pedometer today. I walked five miles around campus today! Craziness. I was also wearing my new workout shoes to break them in before workout today. Mission accomplished!

Kendall graciously stepped in to be my trainer today. She's so awesome. She was worried she wouldn't push me enough, but the sweat I was drenched in by the end thought differently. She did a great job, and I certainly wouldn't mind if she could pick up most of my sessions. ;)

I finally got introduced to the benchclimbers today. Good Lord! I'll tell you what I thought about that tomorrow when the pain sets in. I want to do it justice. ;) stairs continue to be the hardest thing I do, in the sense that they spike my heartrate.

I'm totally starting to dig Smoothie King. A Gladiator post-workout sure hits the spot!

Week 4 - Tuesday

2010-03-02T19:55:00.002-06:00

Cardio went okay today. I was able to jog more and a little faster today, which makes me feel good. The session was a little down, because both Jackie and I are going to be getting new trainers.

I've loved working out with Wade, and I'll miss him dearly, but life happens and you have to move on. I'm very thankful for the time and energy he has put in with me over the last three weeks. Yesterday when I was telling/showing him my sit-up success, he said, "That's all you!" I know I'm the one doing the exercises, but he's been there every step of the way showing me what to do and how to do it, always pushing me just hard enough to improve but not injure myself. I know that the trainer they get to replace him will be great, and I wish him the best of luck. THANK YOU, WADE! :)

Hopefully I'll know who my new trainer is going to be soon.

Week 4 - Monday

2010-03-01T20:33:00.002-06:00

I feel really good today. I took Saturday and Sunday off from working out and blogging. I felt slightly guilty at first, but I had a lot to catch up on. Taking a break paid off, because today at the gym I was down four pounds! Workout went well, I was sweating, feeing good. The best part of today was that I got to show Wade and David my sit ups. When we did the initial fitness testing three short weeks ago I couldn't do a single sit up. Now I'm doing 15-20 at a time. It is such an awesome feeling! I really appreciate both of them being genuinely happy for me. I know sit ups aren't a big deal for most people, but it's huge for me considering where I was just a few short weeks ago. I'm really pumped up to work hard this week.

I went to the grocery store today. I've been doing the vegetarian thing since November, but I haven't tried hummus, tofu, etc. I picked a few of those things up today. We'll see how it goes. I need to expand my culinary choices. :)

Can't wait for workout tomorrow!

Week 3 - FRIDAY!

2010-02-26T22:12:00.003-06:00

It's FRIDAY! I can't believe we are 25% through the challenge already. I'm not super impressed with the amount of weight I've lost, but I'm definitely changing my body. It's a slow steady process. I have lost 3 inches off my hips, which is saying something! :)

Workout was good today. I added weight to most things. I felt rather light and quick jogging around the top of The Dome. I am starting to notice myself JOGGING to do things now. Can you believe that? I even jog down the hallway at work sometimes.

Our heartrate monitors are in - pretty cool! Definitely going to be a help when we're working on our own. We don't have a group day tomorrow, but I plan to head up to the dome around the same time anyway to get a workout in. Maybe someone else will have the same idea. :)

Week 3 - Thursday

2010-02-25T19:21:00.002-06:00

Cardio with Kendall! I agree with Jackie that she could totally make her own video. :) We started on the eliptical (15 min), then bike (10 min), then stairs (5 min) before going outside. Today's workout seems shorter. I didn't get my heartrate up as much as I normally do because I'm still nursing my feet. I want to push through it, but seriously injuring myself would be devestating! I've worked too hard to get into good habits, that I would hate such a set back.

I am still struggling with food. I just don't think I need to be eating as much as I am. It makes me feel slow. I know I just need to play with different combinations, but eating less seems so logical! :) I'm not a big fan of the protein powder - it seems too heavy. I'm going to talk to Wade and maybe David tomorrow and see if they have any recommendations. Tomorrow is another measurement day. I don't think I've lost any weight, but I'm hoping I've lost some inches and FAT.

Week 3 - Wednesday

2010-02-24T19:46:00.002-06:00

Today was a really good day overall. I've started get a lot more compliments from friends and students, which really helps the morale. :)

I started workout really well today, I was flying through my circuits, doing a few extra reps and such. On the last circuit, as I was starting lunges, my left quad started cramping up. Then my left shoulder. I finished out with a few exercises and then did 30 minutes of cardio to try to stretch it out. It's still hurting right now. Hopefully a good night of rest will help.

I had intended to write more, but I'm beat for today. Looking forward to group tomorrow. I really hated missing Tuesday.

Week 3 - Tuesday (aka SNOW day)

2010-02-23T20:09:00.002-06:00

I still can't believe it snowed today as much as it did. Craziness. My students let our at 2PM on Tuesdays normally, so as soon as the majority of them were safely on their way home, I headed home. I live in the northern part of Brazos county, and I was informed from people in the area that I need to to get home before the roads got too bad. I absolutely HATE that I missed group cardio today. I will be staying late after training with Wade tomorrow to try to make up for it a little bit. My body hates it too. Being home for this many hours without having vigorously exercised has been horrible on the cravings. I'm wanting carbs, because those are my comfort foods. Today's food journal isn't going to look that great.

I am happy that Alex got to see and play in REAL snow. He had so much fun today. I have video and pictures of him throwing snowballs at his daddy and building a snowman. There was even enough snow for him to roll BIG snowballs. :) He played so hard, he passed out before 7 tonight.

Today is not a setback! Just a mild detour. Tomorrow is going to be a great day! School is starting two hours later than normal, but if the roads aren't too bad I'll try to make it into town by 9 instead of 10. We'll see! Workout at 5 tomorrow night and then I'm going to do at least an extra 30 minutes of cardio, maybe more if I can handle it.

Good night!

Week 3 - Monday

2010-02-22T19:16:00.002-06:00

I feel really good. I haven't lost a lot of weight yet, but my body is definitely changing. People are starting to notice, which always helps the ego. What kinda kills me is I'm not doing anything extraordinary. I'm watching what I eat and getting a little exercise every day. Sounds really easy when you say it like that, doesn't it? :) I can't believe I thought that was too hard and let myself go for so long!!!

Workout tonight was good. I had to tell Wade to up the weight on a couple of machines. Oh, yeah. :) My inner thighs are SO sore from flipping tires on Saturday! It was so much fun I didn't realize it was such a workout. Sore legs made a couple of the exercises a little difficult today, but nothing I can't handle. I had really planned to get some extra cardio in after training today, but the husband got stuck out of town, so I had Alex in tow. I can't stay at the gym until 7 and then go home and do everything that needs to be done to get Alex in bed by 8.

I think I have a plan for food now. I'm going to have to supplement two servings of protein powder every day, since I don't eat meat, but I can come out with the proper ratios and correct number of calories. I'm going to try it for a week and see how it works. I started my multi-vitamin yesterday, but already forgot to take it this morning. I'll do better tomorrow! :)

Week 3 - Sunday

2010-02-21T12:31:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we had a group day, but only three of us were able to be there. Jackie came in early to the gym to get a workout in, but didn't have a babysitter for the 2-4. I sure understand how that goes! I'm really proud of her for making it in when she could. Tori was with her Mom. I was expecting to see Jay, but he didn't make it either. We missed each of them!!!

Dani and Steve sure didn't go easy on Shon, Jamie, and me! We started out doing a walk/run, that I assumed was going to be around the gym. Just kidding! We went half-way around the block and back. One of these days I'm going to be able to sprint that again! :) We made it back to the gym and went outside. Lots of work with the medicine balls, squatting, throwing, sweating. :) We got to flip big tires, which was actually pretty fun. I didn't think it was doing much at the time, but my goodness am I feeling it in my inner thighs and arms today! Finished with duck-duck-goose, and musical medicine balls. It was a fun day and I'm glad I went.

I FINALLY made it to Smoothie King yesterday. I have a multi-vitamin now, my protein powder, and a shaker. Thank you, Tom! I got a Gladiator Fruit Smoothie while I was there, just see what it should take like. It was really good. I got the medium and it took me an hour to finish it, it was so big! I'm really trying to embrace this whole idea of eating more to lose weight. I can't starve my machine! :) Wade says the protein powder will be a good way to get good calories in, especially since I don't eat meat.

Last night I did "cheat" a bit. I had a Kashi Roasted Veggie Pizza. Over the course of about 4 hours I ended up eating the whole pizza (3 servings). So, if you count it as dinner and a snack, not too bad. But, yesterday was the first day I got up to 2000 calories, and it was the pizza and the smoothie that did it. I don't feel good about the pizza. I didn't go over in any of my areas (carbs, proteins, and fats) for the day, but I still feel a little dirty for eating it. :) I'll remember how that feels when I think about doing it again.

I have a lot to do around the house today. I have to let a lot go during the week in order to have time for my workouts. That means it must get taken care of on Saturday and Sunday. So, laundry and house cleaning, here I come!

Oh, my foot is still a little sore today, so I'm going to rest it today. I want to be ready to go tomorrow, and I think a little rest could go a long way.

Week 2 Comes to an End

2010-02-20T11:14:00.002-06:00

I need to recap yesterday (Friday)...

At 4:30 I went in to have my RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) test done. I had to chuckle a little bit when the final number came out, because apparently my entire body is a little OCD. Other peoples numbers were coming out "2342" and such. My was a nice even 1700. That means if I do nothing, my body needs 1700 calories per day to function. I've only been consuming 1400 a day for the last two weeks. Paul and Wade put my goal at 2000 calories a day (also a very nice even number, thank you) since I'm also working out so strenuously. Obviously if the day is getting late I don't need to stuff myself to get up to that number, but I'm going to make a more conscious effort to incorporate more calories in earlier in my day. I'm doing pretty well today. For breakfast I would normally only have cereal or oatmeal with nothing else. Today, I had 1/2 cup of sprouted grain cereal, 1/2 cup of milk, 1 cup of orange juice, and a banana. I was SOOOOO full, but it was still under 500 calories, which is great for your three "big" meals of the day.

Workout was pretty hard, but my body is becoming more capable every day. Lunges, step up, squats, ropes, a few stairs, wall sits, etc. We ended with some boxing, which I thought was going to be really silly, but was actually pretty cool. Wade was a little scared of my left hook. :) I felt so great at the end of workout that I think I stopped paying close attention to my form. While finishing up some side shuffle/hops I landed wrong on my right foot. It hurt a little at the time, but I figured it was nothing. This morning it was really sore through my arch and up to my ankle, and difficult to walk on. It loosened up a bit as I walked around the house, so I'm hoping it will feel better after I get my shoes on and head out to our 2PM workout today. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, and like some of the other contestants have said, Tori will be dearly missed! I really hope everyone else is able to make it today. I have no idea what they have planned, but I'm sure it will be fun. :)

OOPS!

2010-02-19T13:47:00.003-06:00

I got out of bed late this morning and didn't have time to make the oatmeal I had planned. So, I made the decision that instead of not eating (which is what I would normally do) I would just grab a granola bar that was left over in the pantry from my pre-challenge days. It wasn't the best option, but I think it's probably better than not eating. I also choose banana chips for an AM snack, which also has some fat in it. So as I'm looking at my SparkPeople.com nutrition tracker, I'm already in my range for fat for the day and it's barely after lunch. I've been doing so well! And today is a weigh-in/measurement day! Oh well. What is done is done. I'll do better next time. No sense beating myself up over something I can't go back and fix. I haven't gone over my limits for the day, but I just haven't been smart about planning my meals and snacks today.

I did have a chance to go to Village Foods at noon today. I had to take a half-day off from work for a doctor's appointment anyway, so I figured it was a good time to hit the store.

I'm off to the doctor (check-up), then to have my BMR test done, then workout with Wade. Afterwards, I might make a run by Smoothie King. I haven't had a change to go yet, and I really need to!

Week 2 - Thursday

2010-02-18T18:59:00.002-06:00

Group cardio day! It's absolutely beautiful today so we worked out outside. Walked/ran a bit, some drills, etc. I was actually able to go upstairs afterward for 20 extra minutes of cardio. I left feeling very sweaty, which according to Jackie, means we had a great workout. :)

I got a little out of form on some of my reps yesterday when I was working with Wade. I could tell today. I have some weird twinges throughout my core today. Proper form people! It's so important. I was dragging at the beginning of my workout yesterday so I started (unconsciously) compensating by pulling my body in ways it shouldn't have been going. That's how people end up with injuries, which stinks. I only did it a few times, but that's all it takes. I'm going to be much more deliberate on my movements tomorrow, even it that means I need to go a little slower.

I am completely stuffed tonight. The other contestants and I have talked about this quite a bit. So far I've averaged about 1400 calories a day and I feel like I'm eating all day long. My BMR test tomorrow is probably going to tell me I need to be eating 2000, which I'm going to need some help with. I don't know what to add to my diet (and when) to get more (healthy) calories. I've been losing weight while eating more, so I know they're right about needing to "fuel my machine," but it is so hard to change your mindset that the way to lose weight is to eat less. For several of us, we haven't been eating enough for so long that our metabolisms are shot.

I'll tell you about my BMR test tomorrow. :)

Dead weight

2010-02-17T19:17:00.002-06:00

So I really didn't feel great going into today's workout. I felt heavy and slow. Wade focused on upper body today. The rope machine was pretty cool. At one point, a little more than half-way through the workout I told Wade I was still feeling slow, so he took me outside. We did some shuffles, quick feet, and went on a "fun" run around the gym a couple of times. By the time we made it back inside for ab work, I was feeling like I was coming out of my funk. It was a reminder to me that excerise really is the best cure for being in a funk, even though most of us try to convince ourselves that not "feeling like it" is an adequate excuse for not exercising.

So, when I made it home to finish filling in my food journal for today I realized why the funk today. I ate more fat and carbs later in the day yesterday than I have been. What a difference it makes! I used to eat so poorly that I felt like crap most of the time, so changing a few things didn't really matter. Since I've made healthy changes to my diet, I can actually tell when I deviate from the formula. What a concept! :) I won't make that mistake again.

Last thought....
I have a 25 minute drive home from the gym every day to my little house in the country. Today there was a beautiful sunset. I mean beautiful! It reminded me how much my attitude about things has changed. Making the committment to this Challenge is a key component in my journey back to the kind of person I what to be. I want to be a person who seizes opportunity in every part of life. I want to be eternally optomistic, choosing to see possibility instead of impossibility. Strange how a sunset can get your mind turning. Bottom line, I feel great tonight, when a few short hours ago I felt like dead weight. Amazing what a little workout can do for you, isn't it? :)

Dragging booty

2010-02-16T18:33:00.003-06:00

Just made it home from group cardio. We were all dragging a bit today. Probably something in the air. I'm very proud of all of us for making it through despite not feeling top notch!

We spent 30 minutes on the bikes. It didn't get my heartrate up as much as the treadmill and eliptical at first. Then I increased the resistance! :) It is also noteworthy that the resistance "down" button wasn't working on my machine, so I shouldn't have gotten so cocky in the beginning and turned it way up. Yes, I know I could have stopped the machine and reset it at a lower level, but what would be the fun in that! As it is, my legs are dead now. After cardio Jay had the wonderful idea to go outside for our other exercises. We are slowing building up to doing more "jumping" activities. I think I need to get my bladder checked before we go too much further, because I swear it feels like I'm going to wet myself on some of those jumping exercises! (Moms out there know what I'm talking about!)

Found out today that I will have my BMR (base metabolic rate) test done Friday. I am really looking forward to that! I feel like I'm struggling with my food. I am eating so much more than I normally would, but that's what they keep saying I need to do to boost my metabolism. I want to know what the test says so I can better plan my meals to maximize weight loss while still giving my body what it needs. :)

Week 2 begins

2010-02-15T19:12:00.003-06:00

I could definitely tell today that I didn't do anything yesterday. Today's workout was harder than the workout on Friday. We did mostly upper body, which is one of my problem areas. (I have several.) In order to keep my heartrate up, Wade throws some cardio-type stuff throughout the workout. I am realizing just how much of a workout stairs are! You really can make a big difference in your fitness level simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator! I don't do that many sets, and it always kicks my butt.

I feel so great after working out! It really is a great feeling. Our bodies are designed to do be active, we just have to be willing to use them!

I am still doing well watching what I eat. As I've said before, I knocked out a lot of the junk a few months ago, so that part isn't too hard for me. The hardest part for me is taking in enough calories every day. I feel like I'm eating SO MUCH all day long, but at the end of the day I'm only up to around 1400 calories. That's on the lower end of what I need to be taking in each day, 1400-1800 calories per day. I didn't do well this weekend, probably since my time is less structured on the weekends. I only got three meals in each day - no snacks.

Random thought... I've always had trouble drinking enough water. I just don't think about it until I'm dying of thirst and on the verge of dehydration. (Real smart.) Anyway, I've noticed that by switching to whole grains and sprouted grains I crave more water. It may be a coincidence, but I definitely drink more water when I'm having my sandwich at lunch now. Whatever works, right?! :)

Week 1 has come and gone

2010-02-14T09:41:00.003-06:00

Saturday was fun. All six of us were able to go to the park and play soccer. I haven't kicked a ball in years. I'm sore today from slipping and sliding around, but it was definitely fun. Can't wait to see what we do next time!

Exercise...
So I've finished the first full week of workouts. I'm so happy to be in a gym again! I am actually really happy to be a little sore, because it makes me realize I do have muscles under there! :) The working out wasn't as hard as I anticipated. I could definitely feel it, but I'm still moving. I look forward to more next week!

Food...
I did well not eating things I shouldn't be eating. My "cheat" day was Friday, because of all of the Valentine's stuff at school. I had ONE sugar cookie with icing. Kendall said on the grocery store tour to make sure your cheat day is on a day you're working out, so Saturday and Sunday wouldn't necessarily be the best days. What I thought was crazy is that I could really feel that I hadn't eaten well on Friday during my workout at 5. I was more tired and dragging. I don't know if it really was the cookie or just psychological, but I could tell. I've learned my lesson. :) Food is important! I feel like I've been making myself eat all week. I feel so full, but I'm still not getting all of the calories I should be taking in. I know the science behind it, but it still seems a little strange to tell someone who's trying to lose weight they aren't eating enough. :) Craziness. Keeping the food journal is a little time consuming, but yesterday was the first day I forgot to write everything down as soon as I ate it. I had to go back and try to remember. I plan to transfer everything over to Sparkpeople.com today to make keeping the food journal more easy. I have a tendency to eat the same thing every day, so it should be easy enough.

Time...
I've been getting up around 6AM every day, which is what I usually do. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to take care of the dogs, get breakfast, make sure I have a lunch packed, get dressed, and make sure Alex is fed and dressed. I'm at work from 7:45 until 4:30 on MWF. I usually change at work and then make it to the gym by 5PM on MWF for my training with Wade. I'm there until 6. By the time I get Alex from daycare and get home it's almost 7. Alex's bedtime is 8, so we only have an hour to eat dinner, shower, talk about our day, and get in bed. It's rushed, but do-able. I then have 8-10 to take care of any emailing I need to for work, blogging, finalizing my food journal, and straightening up the house. That last one has been left off the list for this first week, but I'm going to get it back on there. :) I try to be asleep by 10 so I can get 8 hours of sleep, since that's how much I'm suppose to be getting. On Tuesdays/Thursdays I have an extra 30 minutes in the evenings since group cardio is 4:30-5:30, so those days are slightly less hectic.

Bottom line, I'm making it all work! :) My excuse that I was too busy and didn't have time to workout is proving to have been a bit of a lie. Of course I'm having to rearrange and prioritize. I'm just making sure that my health is on that list of priorities. :)

Shout out to BCHS

2010-02-10T20:54:00.003-06:00

I just want to thank my Bryan Collegiate Family. I just noticed that I have over 60 views since yesterday, which means a lot of you took the time to log on and check out my blog. That really means a lot. Thank you so much! You're awesome. I appreciate the support more than you can imagine.

Love you Guys! :)

Day 3

2010-02-10T20:10:00.002-06:00

I'm not dead yet. That's good, right? :)

Yesterday was group cardio. Jackie and Jay are in my group. Kendall was our trainer, and she is one impressive lady! I could certainly learn a thing or thousand from her. She is extremely knowledgeable, especially about food. We did some light treadmill work and then some "hooks and jabs" downstairs. I was sweating, which is the point, I do believe!

Today I met with Wade. We did lower body. Stairs, side lunges, sissy squats, etc. I feel really great after working out. Once I get there I feel like I could stay for hours. Of course, there is some soreness, but it feels great! It's nice to know I do actually have muscles trapped beneath my fluffiness.

My biggest excuse for not working out before the Fitness Challenge was that I didn't have time. I'm finding that not to be the case. I'm making time. Yes, I'm having to cut out some things, and rearrange my schedule a bit, but the TIME is there. The dishes and vacuuming are just going to have to wait another day. :)

I worry about my son having to be in daycare a little longer each day. I don't get enough time with him as it is! But, having a healthy, happy Mommy who can run and play with him is going to be worth that small sacrifice now. I have to believe in quality of time over quantity of time. He's excited for me, and I know he understands. I haven't taken him with me to the gym yet. Maybe on Friday I can swing by and pick him up from daycare before heading to The Dome. I'm sure he'd like to check it out.

Last thing..... FOOD. I'm trying! I actually changed my diet a couple of months ago, so eating the right foods is pretty easy for me. (I'm one of those crazy people who actually love spinach.) What I hadn't realized is how few calories I've been consuming. When I did my food journal on Monday I only had about 900 calories. Not good. Apparently, what I've been doing is not eating enough for several days, and then overeating because I would get so hungry. It's all about the small meals throughout the day. I'm doing well so far, but I'll let you know how it's going after my first week is up.

Pic

2010-02-09T15:24:00.003-06:00

I uploaded a picture of me from about 10 years ago. When I close my eyes, that picture is how I see myself. My goal is to let that person in the picture out! She's been trapped for way too long. I want to feel the way I felt when that picture was taken, rather than staring in the mirror and not recognizing the person staring back.

I can do this!!!

Workout #1

2010-02-08T21:03:00.003-06:00

I didn't sleep well last night. I was up finishing laundry and other things. I was a little nervous about how that would affect my workout today. I was too busy all day to think about how tired I was, so that's probably for the best. I will definitely do a better job getting rest in the future.

So, workout #1 with Wade today. Upper body mixed with come cardio. Overall, I thought it was pretty easy. (Yes, I'll tell Wade.) I could definitely feel the burn and got my heartrate up, but when the hour was over I wanted to keep working out. I'm sure a lot of that is just my excitement about working out again. I'm sure I'm going to be singing a different tune tomorrow when my muscles are all tight. I know I definitely don't need to push it too much in the beginning and run the risk of injuring myself. I haven't done much for quite a while, so taking it too fast wouldn't be safe. In the past I've made that mistake; pushed myself beyond my limits and paid for it.

My form was good on all my reps, but I fatigued way too quickly and I'm not nearly as strong as I once was. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing myself improve in the coming weeks. I was able to preview some really cool exercises that I'm going to be working up to; can't wait!

After workout I went to Village Foods to go shopping. I wasn't able to go on Sunday as planned, so I was ill prepared to eat properly today. By workout time at 5PM I had only had about 550 calories. I didn't have a real lunch. I was slightly dehydrated. I have to do a better job of drinking water throughout the day!

I have good food now to make it through the week. I've already mapped it out in my head, so packing it up in the morning should be easy enough. Of course, that's assuming my five-year-old son, Alex, cooperates in the morning. Sometimes I'd swear he's 15 instead of 5 the way he fights getting out of bed. He goes to bed by 8 most nights, so I'm not really sure why 6:30 is so hard for him. Maybe I'll bump bedtime back to make for a less hectic morning.

Here's hoping I'm not too sore to dress myself in the morning! :)

First cardio session is tomorrow... I'll let you know how it goes.

Baselines and Grocery Store Tour

2010-02-06T17:14:00.005-06:00

I went for my baseline measures at Fit Life on Thursday morning. Pretty eye-opening. I am so out of shape! The good thing is, there's no where to go but up! That's why I'm here; to improve my health and fitness level.

I must say the lab was really cool. I geeked out over all of the equipment, especially the DEXA scan. Cool stuff!

I was SO SORE on Friday. I can't believe I was as sore as I was after just doing tests. I can only imagine what next week is going to feel like! It's going to hurt so good! :)

Today, we met at Village Foods for the tour. Great information. My problem has never been that I don't know what I should be eating, it the actually eating what I'm suppose to be eating that's been the problem. I've been doing fairly well since November 25, 2009. That is the day I looked in the mirror and said something has to change. I haven't had any meat since that day, and I've almost entirely eliminated soft drinks, sweets, and processed foods. I have had a few things here and there. The chocolate chip cookies in the cafeteria at school are by far still my biggest temptation! But, I'm relying on my students to help keep me away from them. I've been able to lose about 30 pounds since November by simply watching what I eat. Now it's time to get to working out so this weight can start melting off!

I didn't get any food while I was at the store today. I wanted to come home and make a plan before heading back up there tomorrow. I MUST start planning out my meals for the week. I'm relatively new to not eating meat, so I still need to explore vegetarian meal options. I have just felt so much better since changing my diet, I want to stick with not eating meat for as long as I can.

Two more days until workouts begin! I can't wait!

Excited!

2010-02-02T18:42:00.001-06:00

Hi Guys! I'm so excited to be part of the 2010 Marethouse Fitness Challenge. This is such an amazing opportunity to make a significant change in my life, and ultimately the lives of others.

I have struggled with my weight on and off throughout my life, but over the course of the last six years I've gotten progressively more out-of-shape. My goal is to use this challenge as a springboard toward life-long health and fitness. I've been healthy before, and I want to feel that way again!

We had our contestant orientation last Saturday. I'm really excited for all six of us. I know we will all work well together and support one another. This is going to be difficult for all of us, but I think we are all committed to being successful.

My mentor trainer is going to be Wade. I'm excited. I told him I'm not a whiner when it comes to working out, so he better yell at me when I need it. I'm naturally very competitive, and I think he's going to push me.

I went for my blood draw this morning, and I'll go Thursday for all of the baseline tests. I am really looking forward to beginning workouts next week. I know I'm going to be insanely sore, but I'm still looking forward to it!

My biggest concern is how I'm going to balance everything. I know it's just a matter of time management, but like so many of you, I have a lot of responsibilities. My husband works out of town a lot, so I'm often alone in caring for my five-year-old son and our two dogs. I work as an administrator in a school, which means every day at work is something new and unpredictable! While I love my job, it can be very stressful at times. :) I have to make this work, and I'm going to make it work. I no longer have the option to pretend I don't have the time to take care of myself.