Laugh, go ahead. I'd laugh with you if I wasn't so sad about how out of shape and weak I am. That buck stops here.
I've committed myself to Beachbody. I did the first workout today. Ow. Let me say that again...OW. But in a good way. G was so stinking cute, he wanted to exercise with me and he did all the stretches and he even did some push-ups!
I need to lose about 20 pounds but more so I need to gain some strength. I don't know that I've ever been more physically weak in my life. No bueno.
I can't go to sleep at night without some kind of sleep aid and yet no matter how long I have slept each night I'm still tired all day. I can't take more than a few running steps toward G without one or both of my hips buckling beneath me.
10/2/12
Cardio today...I could hardly keep up and it was only 30 minutes. My calves were burning halfway through but even the warm up stretches made me whine about how sore my quads were/are!
I learned a valuable lesson...I need to do this workout when G is not around or sleeping. Why? Because there is a lot of kicking and punching. No, it didn't encourage him to kick and punch...he liked standing in front of me taking blows. He thought it was hilarious to have my foot connect with his stomach. What a weird kid.
I sweated plenty and I had to work hard! When I took a break for some water G handled me a bottle of clear liquid telling me, "Drink this mommy, it's so healthy for your body!" Too bad it was a bottle of vinegar.
10/3/12
Don't worry, I won't be updating every day...just when I feel like I have something to say. I'm done with my work out early today...I did it at 1:00 pm instead of 7:00 or 8:00 tonight. The boys took off on the 4 wheeler so I could have a quiet house for working...so I worked out. It was so nice to do it all by myself without E staring at me (uh, creeper alert) or G trying to purposefully trip me. It was weights/sculpt again but this time I dug out my the 8 lb free weights that had been hiding in the garage quite literally gathering dust (and cobwebs and goodness knows what else). Unbeknownst to me, E has been using the weights to hold up a damn pick ax, which came plummeting pointy end towards my face when I grabbed the weights. I guess that'll teach me eh?
I was worried that I really might not be able to do much because my quads and hip flexors have been h.u.r.t.i.n.g. so much. Hurting as in I grab hold of the bathroom counter when I sit to pee because that up and down motion with my legs makes me want to cry. I didn't realize that those muscled have been so very, very underused but I am using them now. Ouch. I did the full work out and the muscles didn't feel "good" while I was doing it but they didn't make want to cry either. I know it'll only get better from here!
10/6/12
See, I skipped a few days of blogging. Aren't you proud of me? Yesterday was a day we had to go to town so I did my workout first thing in the morning. Go me! It's so nice to get it out of the way first thing so I don't have to worry about finding time for it later.
The day before that I did it while G was outside playing and E was mowing the lawn. Then later in that same day we went to check out fire activity and I ended up on a hike with G that spanned a few miles. One definite is that the more I keep moving the less my quads and hip flexors hurt. They'll stop hurting eventually, right? If they don't I'm going to have to break out my cane, ha!
Today I woke up in the guest room bed because E had been snoring loudly all night. I have a kink in my lower right back that is killing me and it's 9 pm and I haven't worked out yet. I get one day off a week but I was hoping to save that for tomorrow. Today was shot day too so my stomach and I aren't getting along. So if I can get the cardio workout done maybe after the guys go to bed then I'll pat myself on the back for pushing through a feeling rather crummy day.
10/8/12
I could have taken a day of rest...but I didn't. I tried to tonight because I could certainly justify it but I just don't want to lose my momentum. So as soon as I felt a smidge ahead in my work I took a break to work out. Dinner sat a little heavy on my tummy for some reason and once I started my cardio I got some good heartburn/garlic burps but I just kept chugging water to get to them go away. I again waited until both my guys were in bed before working out which meant it was almost midnight but that's okay, at least I still got it done. I still can't do any of the impact moves on the cardio (i.e. running lunges or side hops) but I just make sure that I keep moving so my heart rate stays up. And out of the ten ab sets I can do them all now except for two so that's progress.
I'm totally digging that I'm finding it easier and easier to get out of bed in the morning. Now I'm not talking about, "Oh I'm so rested," because I'm not there yet (but will be someday), I'm talking I don't have to roll out of bed and hope that my hips don't give out on me. This makes me very hopeful already that I won't ever have to use my cane this winter just until my joints get warmed up.
10/9/12
I took a break today. I mean to get my workout in but things just kept getting in the way. Before I knew it, it was almost midnight and I couldn't keep my eyes open. I had to talk myself out of trying to push it and instead just go to bed.
10/10/12
It's opening day of hunting season. E went out on his own this morning which is normal. After getting some work done I stopped and did my sculpt workout at around noon with the intention that after I was done with that G and I would go hike Colgate Licks again. But E came home during my workout. So we went back out hunting with him instead. We got off the 4 wheeler and went for about a 3 mile hike. G fell asleep on the way back down the mountain and I had to use some serious muscle holding him up on that 4 wheeler.
So?
Well once we got to the 4 wheeler and E was loading it up G and were playing ninjas. G had a ninja sword (aka a stick) and I took it from him. He tried to get it back from me so I took off running. Yes, you read that right I TOOK OFF RUNNING. Normally I'd get a few running steps in and one or both of my hips would start screaming and then buckle under me. Not this time!!!! I RAN and he couldn't catch up to me until I stopped. I ran enough that I was out of breath. So that is proof that the Power 90 is making changes in my body...great changes! I can't wait to see what it's like in about 5-8 weeks!
10/13/12
I skipped my sculpt 1-2 yesterday...but it was kind of by accident. I'd gotten up at 0500 to go hunting, you see, and intended to do my workout once everyone else was in bed...but I fell asleep at like 8:30! Yikes, that's early for me! So I did it today instead. We didn't do much hiking when we were out hunting and I didn't do much of the heavy lifting (that's what I have a husband for, right?) but it's not like I just didn't move so I don't feel toooooooooooo bad about myself.
10/15/12
Yesterday, since my mom was still here and I for some reason can't bring myself to both work out in front of someone but tell anyone outside of my husband that I'm doing this program (you know, in case I fail then I won't have to tell anyone) I skipped my workout. Well and I was going to do it after everyone went to bed but I'm kind of behind in that pesky thing called my paying work. BUT earlier in the day my mom, the boy and I did take a nice long hike and climbed rocks down by the river so it's not like I spent the day sedentary. I'd like you know that those stupid Sketcher shape-ups are not ideal for climbing wet rocks and I cracked my fanny and tweaked my wrist thanks to my stupidity.
I went to bed feeling pretty guilty for skipping another work out.
So I did two of them today. I did first Sweat 1-2 and then Sculpt 1-2 right behind it. I'm shocked that I was able to finish them both and I am thoroughly spent for the rest of the day! I still can't do the close hands push-ups (how DO they do those?) or the stupid bicycles on power abs but I can do everything else! I'm still on eight pound weights and I can see that I could up my weights for bicep curls but not for the other moves.
Onward and upward baby!
Oh and I weighed myself. Good thing I'm not doing this specifically to lose weight or I'd be discouraged. I mean yes, I need to lose some weight but for it's about feeling good and getting some strength back. I've gained three pounds. That's not fair.
10/18/12
Bad Cyndi, stop eating doughnuts.
Okay, I didn't really eat a doughnut. Today anyway. Yet.
I skipped working out day before yesterday and yesterday. Not cool. The day before yesterday it was because I just had too much work to do to justify stopping for 30-60 minutes. Excuses, excuses I know but I need my bread and butter and decided to try and not stress about it. I stressed anyway.
Yesterday I can't exactly count as a break day even though I didn't do any Power 90. What I did was go help E pack out his elk. I learned that when he says, "It's not a bad hike," he means it could potentially make my calves explode. Sheer, brushy uphill climb which of course the boy was able to practically run up. Show-off. We pulled/rolled the elk downhill so I got a good workout just trying to stay on my feet. Once we got it to the bottom of the draw, it was up the other side before coming back down again. It wasn't a far distance, just a lot of climbing, going down, climbing, going down, etc. and it was cold and rainy so the climbing part especially sucked since G kept slipping and/or falling backwards so I had to do a lot of catching him.
But here's the thing. A few weeks ago I would have gone on that hike begrudgingly, knowing it would hurt from start to finish. I would have gone because I always push myself too far but this time I wanted to go. I wanted to see how far I could make it, I wanted to know what it felt like in my quads and calves now that I'm building muscle. I'm glad that my arms have strengthened pretty fast because I had to do a lot of catching and grabbing 50 pounds of G so they got a good workout too. Don't get me wrong, I've hiked plenty in my lifetime but I'd always been in relatively good shape. I'm on the right track.
10/20/12
What does it say about me, though, that I am kind of looking forward to making the haters jealous? Ha. It will be a long time before that happens though, because I've been a hellacious slacker. It's week three, that's too soon to be wimping out. I kicked both boys into my bedroom to watch football in there and I took over the living room TV so I could work out. They didn't like that much but too bad. I did both sweat 1-2 and sculpt 1-2 to make up for not working out yesterday. My guys took me into town and that's an all day thing.
My right shoulder hurts, it has for about a week now. I figured since my right side is my strong side that this kind of hurt would happen to my left shoulder but nope, it's my right. It hurts the most when I'm doing pushups. I start out feeling okay but then the right one just starts hurting. It hurts to lift my right forearm and elbow up beyond boob level.
I need a massage.
10/22/12
Shakeology day #1! No wonder it's a meal replacement, it's a huge glass! I put a banana, some oats and a big spoonful of almond butter in there with a little coconut milk and ice and voila, I have my lunch! I needed to do something because gaining weight is not going to keep me motivated!
I really don't want to like the Shakeology because at like $120 a BAG for a 30 day supply...uh...yeah. But this shake sure is tasty...
10/24/12
Still just trucking along. I found this today and it spoke to me. To me it's not saying that I shouldn't be worried about getting healthy, etc. but moreso that God will care for me. And a reminder that a healthy lifestyle is just that, a lifestyle but it's not my whole life, that worrying about losing weight and/or getting stronger will not help me at all.
Matthew 6:25-27 says "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
So I had a little "extra" time today and thought to myself, "I feel pretty good, let's take it up a notch." I wanted to see what phase 3-4 has in store for me and since I like the sculpt 1-2 better than sweat 1-2 I went that route. I finished it, though it wasn't pretty. I haven't sweated that much in a long time. I should have had a bath sheet to towel the sweat off of me. Wow. It's mostly the same moves at sculpt 1-2 but more reps and a faster pace. And then they threw new stuff in there too like decline pushups. Uh, I tried and felt like I was going to break my neck. And then G saw me with my feet on the chair and my hands on the floor and decided he needed to use me as a slide. I got to do calf raises (ouch) and forearm work with the weights (double ouch). Tony laughed at his two helpers because they were both sweating and maybe even panting a little, "This isn't Cardio Sweat guys, it's just Sculpt." Meanwhile I'm on the other side of the tv turning blue and panting like Siren in hot summer heat. Since it's fast rep and a quick pace it sure felt like I got my cardio work out in. If this is what Sculpt 3-4 is like I'm almost afraid to findo ut what Sweat 3-4 is like. Probably a lot more of that dang power yoga that I am not coordinated enough for. Hopefully no pushups because my right shoulder is still giving me a lot of problems.
I had a box of athletic wear show up today. It's my reward for making it 30 days...even though I haven't made it 30 days yet. Ha. Do I save it until then? Doubtful.
Oh and note to self, Shakeology gives you not just the farts but the walkin' farts. My dad would be ever so proud of me.
10/25/12
I apologize now for what you're about to see. It's me. Not completely covered in clothing.
Now here is something cute, G was working out with me.
I learned something today. A workout goes so much faster and I seemingly have more energy when I turn the stereo up loud and put Tony and the crew just loud enough to hear the instruction. I miss music. I think this means that I'm going to have to ask for an iPod for Christmas. Yep, I'd better. I don't like to work out when E or G is awake if I can help it and I'm pretty sure that they won't appreciate me working out to loud music at 0100 in the morning so the iPod is a good solution.
10/28/12
I haven't worked out today but I have to tell you that I woke up this morning and was really sore. I guess working out with music yesterday really did make me work out harder. I'm ready for some more!
Yesterday when I logged into my Beachbody dashboard, when I finished my workout it congratulated me for 20 work outs. UH...27 days in and 20 workouts? Not quite. I know I haven't missed 7 complete days of working out? I should just stop keeping track on there but it does hold me accountable.
11/06/12
Did you think I've given up? Not a chance. I'm too afraid of having to start over. That first week was painful and brutal and I don't want to start from there again. Besides, I have no reason to give up. I can find excuses all day long to not work out but none of them are good excuses so I just keep plugging along. Yesterday was probably my worst day in 30+ days. My joints were so so so achy and swollen. I was ten minutes into the workout and I just wanted to stop. But I didn't I kept going. I had to pry my wedding ring off with olive oil and still today there's a noticeable indentation in my ring finger. My joints are stiff today but not as bad as they were yesterday so I'll get my workout knocked out, hopefully without dropping a dumbbell on myself.
A friend of mine who is a Beachbody coach asked if I would be a coach too today. I told her I'd think about it. I don't have any measurable results (i.e. weightloss) STILL and I know that's what motivates people the most. But my invisible results (i.e. fitting better, muscle development, etc.) are pretty kick ass so far if I do so say myself!
11/18/12
If anyone actually read this they'd be wondering where the heck I'd gone. I'm still here, still plugging away. We had to pack up the house completely, except for the bathrooms (which were packed full of things that we'd packed from other rooms) and the kitchen. So that includes my workout DVD's and TV and DVD player. No biggie except for one important thing...when we started moving stuff back in I couldn't find the stupid DVD's to save my life. I could not for the life of me remember where I'd packed them! So I went four days without my pal Tony (Horton) and two of the days I tried to do them from memory. Oy. I'll tell you what, yesterday was my first full workout with a DVD (I found them in G's bag of portable DVD player, DVD's, etc. for the car) and I am feeling it. Kind of four days off and ouch. This is why I never want to go more than two days off, my body is like a rubberband and it'd be plenty happy to snap right back to big lump of gelatinous goo Cyndi.
11/24/12
Sigh. This is hard. Hard to stick with it when I still see no real measurable results. I nee more cardio, period. Cardio burns fat. I have a lot of fat. I am a curvy girl anyway, but when fat at least all my fat kind of melds together. Now I have developed my quads and I have a ledge that starts mid thigh and goes up. It's muscle below the ledge and fat above it. I need to work my glutes more to get rid of that but there isn't much on the Power 90 series that makes me work my glutes. I'm hoping that E can get the treadmill put in the back room for me but he doesn't think he can get it around the narrow hallway. If he can't I will have to wait until after Christmas to put it back in the dining room. I really wish I had an extra $1,000 to buy the elliptical I want but especially at Christmas I just can't justify the expense. Onward I plug away...
12/01/12
Can I get a "Yee-haw?"
Okay, I'm kidding, I don't want a yee-haw. No really, you look ridiculous, put your hands down.
12/9/12
BIG NEWS
I started October 1, 202 at exactly 161 pounds.
Finally today I've actually lost some weight.
Two and a half months later I weigh...
160.8 pounds.
Yeah, that's me being a smart ass, carry on with your normally scheduled life.
12/15/12
I kept telling myself when I lose 10+ pounds I'm going to reward myself by cutting my hair back off. I prefer short, short hair, that's all there is to it. Well screw it, I need a reward so bye-bye hair!
12/19/12
Woo to the hoo! AFTER eating breakfast today I weighed myself on a whim...159 on the dot. FINALLY the scale moved. I'm impressed considering thanks to a medication change (and one that commonly causes weight gain even) I've been lethargic and spotty with my workouts. It's hard enough just to get through each day and I've let myself slack way too much.
01/01/13
Hello?
Betcha thought I'd given up didn't you?
The holidays were busy and stressful and I didn't work out as much as I should have. Then add to that the fact that I hurt my wrist and that I was just plain pooped. And still managed to make sure I got some form of physical activity in. But it's time to get back at it. I found the elliptical that I want at Costco, got to play on it and everything. But I can't bring myself to put out the $500 for it, especially when we just had Christmas and bought a rather expensive (to us) new bed. But I really, really want an elliptical. But I have a treadmill. The hard part is getting E to help me get it back over here and set up in the back room. It's huge and I can't do it myself.
02/10/13
Regardless, my weight is now down to 151.4 pounds. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice huh? Except that I lost that weight in about a weeks time and I lost it by not being able to eat because anytime I ate more than a bite or two my stomach would expand and that made a bunch of the rest of those stupid other organs I have compete to do crazy things like inflating/deflating (i.e. lungs, etc.).
Anywho...now that the tumor is gone I'm kind of itching to get back to my secret boyfriend Tony. I'm pretty sure I'm going to start on the Power 90 program again and start working into the Brazil Butt Lift program. I'm ready for a summer of showing off my hard work and belly scars. I'll even shave my legs this year.
03/18/13
I forgot to mention something. I'm back at it. As of yesterday I was 155.2 pounds which means I gained almost five pounds from my pre-surgery sickness during recovery. Oh well. My muscles seem to remember but they are protesting, loudly. I hate to jump up and down even more. Well, I don't hate it, my bladder does. Ew.
I started with cardio yesterday since it's my least favorite activity and I figured I might as well start back in with what I hate. Yeah, I'm that girl who ate her veggies first just to get it over with. I did the Ab Ripper too. Not as funny considering about five weeks ago I had my abs cut open. I took it slow but I can sure feel it today. I had to splint with a pillow when I coughed this morning. Yowzas!
03/22/13
The hubs finally put the treadmill together for me! Woop, woop! Except now I have to use it. I did my weights circuit and threw a bunch of extra squats and lunges in at the end. Ow. I figured since my legs were already crying at least that meant they were warmed up and I my heart rate was up from that so I jumped on the treddie for two miles. I even jogged some. I hate jogging. I hate running. I hate anything impact because it makes my boobs hurt or makes me feel like I'm going to pee myself. Yep, I said it. G sat in the room and played on the Kindle Fire while I did that (35 minutes total with warm up and cool down) and then when I was done he hopped on the treadmill and went to town himself for 15 minutes. Little stud muffin.
03/26/13
I am loving having the treadmill at my disposal. Know what else I'm loving? I can run on it for bursts of time that six months ago I would have dreaded even attempting. That means there's good muscles down there doing their thing, right? Woohoo! I have it set up in the back room and I can run and watch the snow falling off the trees outside. I wish I had an elliptical still but only because I don't have to run to keep my heart rate in the target zone if I'm on that bad boy. Oh well, the treadmill is paid for and it's here so it's gonna get used and abused. I found that if I hop on there right after doing my Power 90 my heart rate is already up so I can hold it consistently if I just get moving and I don't have to spend time warming up because I'm already plenty warm!
03/27/13
So, I tried out a fad. Bad me. But I wanted to see if my biggest problem area, which can only be "fixed" with liposuction would respond to these cellulite wrap dealios. The results speak for themselves, right? I know they're not a cure all and of course I have to keep working out and eating right, etc. but for the first time in about 20 years my knees and the fat above them don't look so bad. Supposedly the results can last 3-5 months and I guess I'll wait and see but for now I'll continue to work on muscle building and toning.
04/04/13
I am trying. I really am. I was getting pretty proud of myself. Then I saw some pictures of me and my ego was dashed. Don't worry, not enough to stymie my drive but dang.
04/10/13
How great would it be if it was this easy?
04/20/13
I figured I must be making a difference because E decided he wants to do what I'm doing. Yep, I had a workout partner today for the first time in a very long time. I am so excited that he's joining me!!!
I'm only 5'03" and 159.4 pounds is still a lot of weight even on my curvy frame. And I'm sure I still look reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally bad naked. But I feel better. I walk stronger. I think clearer. I'm dropping medications. I'm not at constant war with my RA all day. It isn't easy, it's a battle pretty much every day to get going but I do it. This is the first picture taken that I actually feel like I can say all this exercise crap is paying off. I've been, obviously, too focused on a number when I am making progress. Much more than I give myself credit for.
And maybe I should listen to E when he tells me how good I look, etc. He might not be as crazy or blind as I thought. This bodes well for my wearing shorts this summer, yes?
04/23/13
I bought Brazil Butt Lift from someone in my challenge forum. It's been sitting on my desk for a few days so yesterday I popped it in and pushed play. H.O.L.Y. S.H.I.T. I can see why it works but for the life of me I couldn't do it. I mean I did it but for every 10 of something that they did on the video I was lucky to knock out 4-5 of them. It moves really fast and the moves are a little complicated. I breathed hard and sweated like a mofo but I finished it. I think I might have to put that one off for a little while longer and I certainly can't do it with G around because the little shit kept trying to put Hot Wheels under my feet and I almost broke my neck more than once.
A friend posted about a squat challenge. I don't mind squats and goodness knows my quads need some serious help so what the heck?
So I posted about this because after only 12 days...I have noticed a big difference in my quads. Seriously, they feel like they're rock hard. I need to concentrate on using my glutes and hamstrings more to get a better rounded benefit but I'm glad I started this! I can't go straight through, in fact I still have 30 left to do today but I like doing some of them right before I climb into bed for the night. Surprising huh?
OH and the other day I went to bed at midnight and woke up feeling refreshed...at 0600. This morning...0600 again but that was because of other circumstances. So what I'm saying is that I'm also doing pretty good on the improving my sleep habits front! Go me!
p.s. I ordered E some workout clothes. He doesn't have any and he's insistent that he's doing this!
05/01/13
I love having someone to work out with me. I love that I push myself harder because I know he can see me.
After stretching it goes into power yoga. E is not so good at the yoga, men aren't as flexible as women and he's just getting started...plus that power yoga on Power 90 is hard stuff! As we're finishing up he says, "So can I practice the downward dog later? On you, naked." Well hell yes! Too bad later when I asked him if he wanted to work on his downward dog he groaned, "I'm so tired." Haha, good because I was just bluffing, I was too tired as well!
I went to bed last night without any ambien. I woke up a.l.o.t. during the night and felt like I had a hard time getting back to sleep, especially since Snory McSnorerson sleeps in my bed. I don't feel rested today but hopefully that will help me sleep a little better tonight if I can do it drug free.
05/18/13
I punished myself last night. I ate out AND had a bunch of alcohol night before last so I knew I'd make up for my bad (and awesomely refreshing) behavior with a whole lot of sweat. I ran out of time during the day to get my workout in but at about 8:00 pm I hopped on the treadmill, I figured if nothing else at least that way I could pump up the incline and work my booty. Seventy minutes and 4.25 miles later I said, "Wow, go me." I don't run. I can't run. I'm too fat and my hips are too weak. But I jogged almost that entire 4.25 miles because it just felt good. And I could have kept going.
I was in a bad mood last night. I felt like G was literally trying to push me to tears. Even when I was on the treadmill he was doing things to make me angry, like throwing things at my backside so they would hit me, then hit the treadmill, then shoot off the back. More than once I had to hop off the treadmill (seriously, why isn't there a pause function on that bastard?) and chase him out of the room. Working out with him around is my biggest stressor of the day. If I'm doing weights or cardio with a DVD he automatically starts getting into everything he's not supposed to get into. I have to stop to discipline him or yell at him, etc.. Not cool to do to a woman who is already out of breath and who is struggling just to finish the set.
But the exercise is good for my mental state too and I try to remember that that's important as well. Go endorphins!
Oh and I forgot to mention that I finished the 30 day squat challenge on the 11th. I was ready to be done by then but I have to admit that I like the change in that fat area above my knees that some say is quad muscle. So I've continued to do about 100 varying squats each day. Like when G is in the tub and I'm hanging out in there with him usually sitting there reading my Kindle. I do them using the toilet seat as my guide and knock out 100 now...while still reading my Kindle of course. I like how when I'm done you can see the muscle. Some day the fat/cellulite will be gone from above there and I'll appreciate it even more then.
05/25/13
I am feeling a little down on myself. I pulled out some old clothes yesterday and I'm still too fat for them. I feel like I'm stuck and I don't like this feeling. Not plateau'd but like never gonna move. I know, I know, the number on the scale doesn't mean anything but sometimes it does. I measured thighs, waist, etc. and from October 1 to now there really isn't much change. Some change, yes, but not as much as I thought. And I've gained a little weight in fact. Lovely.
Again my sleep is off and I feel like I'm in a bad mood most of the time...especially when I don't work out. I took on too much work and then used that to justify not having time to work out when I know that if I had snuck a work out in I would have felt better and in turn would have focused on my work and gotten it done sooner. It's a vicious cycle that I can only blame myself for getting into.
So today I started my birthday present to myself, Chalean Extreme. I am not really sure why I decided to do that one, of all the Beachbody and specifically Chalean's programs but I think it was the perfect choice now that I see what it's about. Weights. I love weights. I do not like how my body responds to weight training but this is different than any other weight routine I've done. I was challenged today after doing the introduction, band basics and then the first circuit. My muscles were screaming but that's the point. It's lower reps and higher weights, specifically targeting concentration on how the muscle is moving the weight. So 12 reps doesn't seem like much but with 15 pounds (or 8 depending on the move) and a slow concentration on contracting the muscle, etc. my muscles were fatigued by the end of those 12. I loved it, every second of it. It's not just upper body, core, it's also legs with squats and lunges. I like the pace, it's not too fast that I struggle to keep up (which is how the majority of the cardio routines frustrate me) but it moves along enough that my heart rate is raised.
So, that's where I'm at right now. Still just trying to work hard and find what is going to build the most lean muscle so that I can start losing the fat and the weight. I was 160.8 pounds this morning.
06/02/13
So I'm still at it. I'm so sore from the Burn Circuit 2 from yesterday. I did the majority of it with the 15 pound dumbbells because the 8 pound ones just weren't maxing me out. Ouch. Today is a new workout, one that combines strength training with cardio. I hate cardio. I'd just as soon jump on the treddie and do tht but then I wouldn't see what the workout is all about so I'd better quit my bitchin' and get it done. Later. Ha!
I am also going to do a 2 day fast (Beachbody's 2 day fast) to see if I can't kick start my metabolism a little bit. So fair warning, I'm going to be a mega bitch because, well, I like to eat and I get crabby when I haven't. I know it will help me feel better because I've become that person who has a body who lets her know when it's not happy with what I've eaten or the lack of water I've drunk. Speaking of drunk I just did a jigger glass (big shot glass) of Single Barrel. Why? Because.
06/04/13
Fast, day #1. It is 1:10 pm and I'm hungry. I haven't had my afternoon "drink" of the fasting powder so I guess if I'm hungry I should do that. It doesn't taste bad, it just doesn't taste good. Water, water, water every time I've felt hungry. And I realized it's not that I feel hungry, it's that I want to chew on something. Weird huh? I just kind of want something with some substance to it. Because who doesn't want to feel that lump of whatever in their stomach? That's kind of why I'm doing the fast. It's now 9:30 pm and I'm still going strong and feeling okay. I took double my normal dose of Ambien so that I'd get knocked out fast since this time of night is when I make my worst food choices and snack mindlessly. I'm hoping to go to bed at a normal time and sleep well and not stuff my face. I'm downing another 33.8 ounces of water right now and then I'll climb into bed. I wonder if I can hold off on the eating tomorrow. All I had today was the fasting supplement and a whole lot of water. And a tiny nibble of the cheese only from G's pizza for dinner. Minuscule but satisfied having something solid to chew on for a second. And gave me the salt I was craving. My body doesn't seem to be hungry or deprived but mind is being deprived the action of eating and the taste of foods. I can hold out!
I also did a wrap of my quads and inner thighs today. I will warn you now to look away if you don't like fat girls because you're going to see the before picture I took...and I be fat. I told you I look bad nekkid. Now you have the proof.
06/05/13
Fast, day #2. I woke up at 6:20 am...on my own. I didn't get out of bed, mind you, because why would I? But I haven't woken up on my own without feeling completely and overwhelmingly tired in ages. I almost felt like a cloud had lifted and the fog had cleared from my brain. And I wasn't hungry. It's 9:20 am now and I have finished my drink for breakfast so I just have to stay strong and I'll be able to eat something small starting with breakfast tomorrow. So another 24 hours. Totally doable. Or so I say now.
Are you still trying to recover from that ^^ picture up there? I almost forgot that I posted it until I came in here this morning to update on the fast thing and went, "Why the hell did I post that? Gross. Ew." But I am what I am. Ew and all.
It's 6:00 pm. I'm hungry, I won't lie. And I'll admit that while I was pulling apart the rotisserie chicken I picked up at Costco the other day I ate a piece of the chicken. Just one piece. Okay, okay, you got me, I ate two bites. Really, truly, just two. Mm, salt. I drank some pre-prepared carrot juice (i.e. not freshly juiced) but I had to mix a little bit of orange in with it. Then I also drank an Odwalla berry smoothie which is 100% natural as well so other than it not being fresh squeezed I'm doing just fine, no added sweeteners, etc.. But I'm tired. Like my body is tired. That could be all the stuff I accomplished today, that could be being up early or that could be because my body is just out of fuel. Ha. I done lost my mojo. But I'm so close to being done that other than my little slip up mentioned above I can make it until breakfast time tomorrow. In fact, I might just try it again some day.
06/06/13
I woke up at 5:20 am. And felt great. It's 6:15 right now and I've folded some laundry, showered and am sitting down to work for an hour or two or however long I have until the Beast wakes up for the day. E asked me, "So did you lose your seven pounds?" Where he gets that number I don't know but I went, "Oh yeah, let me go weigh." I don't feel any lighter other than I don't feel weighed down by fog. Well I'll be a monkey's uncle, I dropped 5.6 pounds. Niiiiiiiiiiice.
Now I'm enjoying my coffee with a splash of creamer in it and contemplating what to make for breakfast when the boy asks for it. Hm, egg white omelet? Or oatmeal?
07/13/13
Well hello there. Miss me?
I did it, took the plunge, stopped researching and just went for it. I bought an elliptical. It's from a guy on craigslist but I did my research and went for it anyway. Ha. I can neither afford nor justify one that costs $700+ (actually the one I want is almost $1,100) so I started to look for a used one that was midrange but under $400. The man was asking $400 for this (used a handful of times and purchased on sale for $900) and I talked him down to $230.
.jpg)
07/16/13
Well yesterday I did 70 minutes on the elliptical. Man that thing is a sweat producer! Yay! I burned about 850 calories, not too shabby if I say so myself. And if I was a calorie counter that might actually be more impressive.
07/27/13
I was afraid that going on vacation/road tripping with my mom and G would knock me off the bandwagon. I didn't have access to a gym or any exercise equipment but I still got plenty of work outs. Like swimming with G. Or running around like a mad woman trying to find G (he escaped). Or that time that I had to push a heavy golf cart containing a 10 year old, 8 year old and 5 year old because the golf cart died. About 1.5 miles before the other adults back at camp realized that we'd been gone too long. Up a hill. In 100 degree heat. Ouch.
I didn't eat much and they were smart choices when I did eat (except those two trips to McDonalds but hey, we were looking for the minion toys) PLUS I didn't snack late at night like I typically do because I was too exhausted to get up and find something and/or I was already asleep. So I came home 7.3 pounds lighter than when I left. SWEET! Today I weighed myself just for giggles and found that I've lost an additional .8 pounds. It may not seem like much but for a girl stuck it's encouraging to say the least. I was 155.8 pounds this morning. Go me!
08/29/13
I got down to 151.0 pounds. Holy crap I'm close! I don't know what I'm at right now but since Aunt Flow just showed up (it's my blog, I don't care if that's TMI, it's reality) I'm not going to even weigh in because it won't be accurate so why risk putting a hiccup in my mojo? And I bought a new shirt. Size medium. Yessir! It's been a loooooooooong time since my big old boobs fit into a size medium shirt. I made one of my major goals which was to wear shorts this summer. I wore them plenty. And out in public even, not just here at home. It was so much more pleasant a summer for me with my legs uncovered. I didn't swear nearly as much as I typically do. In fact, some days I even rocked those things!
I'm supposed to start logging my food into myfitnesspal.com as part of our challenge group. I hate MFP. I hate logging my food. Sure, it'll likely be an eye opening experience but I don't want to do it. It takes too much time and that is one thing I don't have a whole lot of lately.
Wish me luck!
09/07/13
148.8
Oh hell yes!
We all make excuses, right? This is as good as any other excuse I can come up with for why butt is so big.
I want to do more yoga. I'm not graceful but as long as it's the basics my body might actually really appreciate it. I do some power yoga on the cardio section of Power 90 and I like how the warrior pose makes my quads quiver.
So now to I need to do some research and find a good beginner program. I wonder if I can find a few at the library to try out first. I mean I already live in yoga pants so why not go ahead and give yoga a try?
So this one time when I was like 20 I was taking Kenpo karate. I really enjoyed it. I would probably be a black belt by now except that during a private lesson (one on one) which was held in a small room the instructor had me doing some yoga type move to warm up. With my butt right up in the air I let one fly. It was a complete accident, I swear to God. It wasn't quiet. I tried in vain to make the sound again so I could pass it off like my foot had slipped on the mat or something. I thought I was in the clear. Until the smell hit. And hung in the air like some kind of mythical beast. I never went back after that lesson.
09/15/13
I forgot to mention that I bought some workout shorts. In size medium. Oh yes, no more size large for this girl! I don't like my legs (how many times am I going to say that?) so I rarely wear shorts even to work out in. Well no more of that, I sweat too much to wear capris or even pants to work out in. Shorts it is!
Oh wait, maybe that's why I'm still a chunkster?
09/18/13
09/19/13
I went to bed last night at about 12:30 am. Typical for me except for one thing, I didn't take any kind of sleep aid. I slept until 5:56 am and woke up feeling awake and refreshed. Very odd for me. So I got up, hopped on the elliptical and hit it hard for an hour, then showered, woke up G and fed him breakfast, then we got school started. THAT is the schedule I want, not this waking up at 7:30 am feeling like I could sleep at least another two hours and never feeling awake until about 9:30 at night. Now it's 10:15 pm and I'm exhausted. I'm so rarely exhausted when I go to bed and that's why I end up having to take something to fall asleep. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let this be the beginning of a good trend.
I am three days away from where I started this page a year ago.
p.s. I ordered a pair of jeans from The Gap...in a size 8. A friend gave me a pair of 10's awhile ago and they're baggy on me. Yessir, an 8.
10/06/13
I tried on the 8's. They fit. Comfortably even. I was expecting muffin top and there was none. That was a nice surprise.
So onward I go.
I stepped on the scale this morning, just for the heck of it. It's been awhile. I dang near fell off the scale when it registered 145.4. For over a year now it's shown that my goal is 145.8 and I'd laugh at that when it'd pop up. Somehow I exceeded that goal from what feels like forever ago. How am I only 145 pounds? Wasn't I just bitching yesterday about not being able to break into the 150's?
I hated my time on the elliptical today. It was painful. I have had to amp it up a little and not only did I do 70 minutes but I burned almost 1150 calories. I've upped the resistance so my leg muscles are challenged and that really gets my heart pumping.
I've gotten to shop for a new dress for E's work Christmas party. I bought a couple of possibles, taking a big gamble and ordering them online and in a size 8. Well dangit if they didn't all fit beautifully. Do you have any idea how rarely it happens that something fits my entire body the right ways?
Now don't get me wrong, I don't really care about impressing his co-workers. Nope, I care about impressing him. But mostly it's about me. I want to impress me. I want to look in a mirror and think, "Daaaaaaaaang girl!" I had E take a picture of me in the top two contenders so I could get a consultation from my fashion maven friends on which dress to keep and which one to return. At first glance I was like, "Man I look good!" But each time I saw it I got more and more grossed out. Why does that happen? I won't post the pictures here because I don't want to look at me again.
Hopefully in a month when we go to the party and I put everything together I'll be happy with the result. And not be disgusted by how I look. Although I now only have shy of 30 days to work on my bat wings (i.e. arm fat) because the winning dress is of course sleeveless. Oh yay. And lots of ab work because it's form fitting and I don't want to showcase my "will forever be chubby from my c-section ledge" tummy. Wish me luck!
11/16/13
Why did I do a quick weigh-in at 11:30 at night...on day two of AF? I hopped on chanting in my head, "Just still be under 150, still be under 150." It rang up...141.4.
What?That can't be right. I subsisted on Jalapeno cheese dip and corn chips yesterday.
Shut up, I was craving salt.
I made pork spareribs, stove top and corn for dinner tonight. And I had two helpings.
I haven't worked out in three days (or is it four?).
I need to figure out how to test that dang scale to see if it's broken.
I did some quick measurements and they're all equal to or bigger than they were two months ago. What's up with that?
11/28/13
I read this article and it hit home a little bit for me. Especially this part, "When you constantly complain about your own body, a man's desire to enjoy and love you are being eroded a little at a time. In other words, you're rejecting him. He thinks, “I could touch her body all day,” and you say, “I'm too flabby.” You're not only tearing yourself down, you're tearing HIM – his thoughts, his desires for you, his excitement about you – down." I hadn't ever really looked at it that way. I've always been self-deprecating but I guess for this reason alone I should stop doing that.
12/10/13
I guess I pulled it off. E's Christmas party. I'll admit I was nervous to go there since the last time we went I had the body of a woman nursing an 18 month old. I was beautiful then, there's just a bit less of me now. Ha! It wasn't so much about impressing anyone...it was about feeling comfortable in my own skin. I looked pretty classy, I fit into my size 8 dress easily. The classy train stopped once I got enough vodka in me but come on, liquid courage counts, right? I was wearing 4.5" platform heels. It's been three days and I still can't feel some of the toes on my feet thanks to those things but dang they make a boothy look higher and legs look leaner!
And E approved...which is what meant the most. Doesn't he look so handsome too? He fought me on the sweater but I could barely keep my hands off of him, he looked soooooooo good! He's lost weight too, can't you tell? He tries to do some exercise with me but mostly it was just cutting back his portion sizes and drinking a lot more water. It's not fair that he can make simple changes and lose 10-15 pounds. Not fair at all! We had a sitter (Nana came to our house and stayed with G) and we got to stay overnight. It was nice to just be us for a little while. We went out to breakfast the next morning and we didn't have to order for a child, didn't have to constantly tell a child, "Stop talking and just eat your food so we can get going." Though we missed him it was nice to be grown-ups without a little person to be responsible for.
So the above picture was apparently a little shocking to some on FB. Are you telling me no one reads my blog? Hahahaha, just kidding, I only read it. And maybe my sister but that's only because she cares and she is nosy. Don't try to deny it Sarah, you want to see if I've failed. It's okay, sometimes I do fail and I come in here and read a few days worth and am like, "Nope, back on the wagon shortround, let's get this done." Anyway, other than what programs or what changes I've made in nutrition that right up there about commitment is what has made the difference. I'm not just interested in better health I'm committed to making it my reality. You see it's been 14 months since I started. I'm in a size 8 and weigh around 140 pounds. That's right where I wanted to be. My next big goal is running Bloomsday in 2014. And I likely won't run it so much as knowing that I can start and finish it without hurting myself. That's the goal. Because I'm getting old so that's realistic.
Hot dog. I made it through the holidays without packing on any weight. A few pounds here and there but nothing to worry about.
So onward I trudge. I didn't exercise much at all the last month. Burnt out? Nah, just tired and lazy. No good excuse.
E's going to have to start something dedicated because work has instituted a mandatory fitness policy. Poor guy is only two years from retiring and they institute this but he can do it. If he had to knock it out tomorrow he could likely meet the minimum but he would struggle.
And this serves no purpose other than it made me laugh. I don't know that I will ever not feel that way.
I have a workout buddy again! We've been at it together for about a week now. He's doing awesome. The first few weights workouts hurt like a mofo but we're both adjusting quickly. I was down to 139 pounds (woot woot) but I know I'll gain weight as I gain back muscle I've lost. And that's okay! I'm just glad to see E working so hard.
02/28/14
My grandma died this month, throwing my workout schedule all a tizzy.
03/31/14
I've got to tell y'all about this new product I'm trying called Plexus Slim. I'm liking it so much that I actually committed to selling it. That's kind of a big deal because I don't sell stuff, period. But I want to try more of their products and the results I've had speak for themselves so why not, I figured?
http://cyndiholbert.myplexusopportunity.com/
Nope, no weight loss to associate to Plexus. I'd already accomplished that. What I was hoping for was an improvement in wellness from the inside out. I battle with Candida which is something you should probably learn as much as you can about. So many health issues can be attributed to Candida overgrowth.
.jpg)
.jpg)
04/15/14
Hey so check this out. I went into Vicky's Secret the other day and was measured. I was wearing a bra that was 38D. The woman who measured me said, "What size do you say you are?" Uh, 38D. "No way you're a 38." She declared me a 34 and then said, "Probably a DDD." Say what? How do I lose weight and inches and go up two cup sizes? Apparently the around size (38 to 34) coincides with the cup size...so she brought me 34DDD and 36DD to try on because I insisted there was no way I was a 34. Well by Vicky's standards, sure enough that's what fit. Oooooooooooookay. I was just too excited to find out that I'd lost FOUR INCHES around my chest. Holy crap.
I did something I didn't think I'd ever do. I entered myself into the Beachbody Challenge. If I win anything I'm going to put it towards the new PIYO program that's coming out in June. It's a hybrid of pilates and yoga. I'm so excited to try it out!
Hi there. It's been awhile yes? Probably because I was slacking and didn't want to admit it to anyone. But I'm back.
This picture is from a friend's funeral in April. This is my Beachbody coach, an awesome guy. All I see is hips. A lot of big ol' Cyndi hips. Those are size 27 jeans but I guess I should say thank goodness for stretchy denim. So many people that I hadn't seen in ages stopped to tell me how amazing I looked and admittedly I was feeling pretty good about myself. And then I saw this picture. I cropped it from the chest up, ha! Magically, after returning home from that trip is when I started to find all sorts of excuses to not work out, making everything but fitness a priority. And before I knew it more than a month had gone by.
I've been waiting and waiting for a new Beachbody program to come out. It's finally out so I bought it today! I'm so excited to give it a whirl, it's called Piyo, it's a combo of pilates and yoga. No jarring impact moves, no weights and bulk. It'll be a nice change from Power 90 (which don't get me wrong is awesome) and Chalean Extreme. There are days where E just isn't going to be able to work out with me and as much as I enjoy having someone here to sweat with, that's okay and this program likely won't be up his alley anyway so I'll try to save it for those days.
07/12/14
Still just trucking along, feeling like I'm lazy and not doing enough but knowing that at least I'm doing something.
The other day I had some extra oomph so I did something I have been meaning to do for awhile. I went for a run on one of the trails behind the house. It's about a mile to Parachute Road so Gunner (the ACD) and I took off. It had been raining on and off all day and it was chilly. The chilly part was nice but I got SOAKED by the water on the trees and brush that I had to run through. And don't get me wrong, by run I mean not walking but not all out running. Before I knew it I was at the road and it was time to turn around. Wait, did I just do that all in one shot? I had to stop once because I lost Gunner (dang that inquisitive dog) and had to back track a little before he came to me. But I was surprised at not only how "easy" it was (my hips would disagree) but how much easier it got as I kept going. I'm not built to run, between my hips and boobs impact is not a friend but maybe, just maybe I can work into it.
.jpg)
09/08/14
http://news.distractify.com/people/inspiration/the-15-hardest-things-about-getting-in-shape-and-how-overcome-them/?v=1
The 15 Hardest Things About Getting In Shape (And How Overcome Them)
2. Problem: You have no time.
Solution: Between work/school, family, and other responsibilities, it can be hard to find time to break a sweat. If you can't bring yourself to wake up a bit earlier to get that workout in, you might just have to squeeze it in throughout the day. Do a few pushups and jumping jacks right before you shower to make your daily cleanse worthwhile. Pump out some squats while you're waiting for your food to heat up in the microwave. These "mini-workouts" won't give you the body of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but they still add up, and they're MUCH better than doing nothing.
7. Problem: You're always tired.
Solution: Promise yourself you'll work out for just five minutes. Yep, that's it. If you're still tired after those five minutes are up, you're excused to go home and crash on the couch. But chances are that after you get your blood flowing, you'll feel way more awake than you would have if you'd stayed home being a lazy bum. A short warm-up might be all it takes to get your engine going, and you'll end up staying and exercising for way longer than just the five minutes you promised yourself. Eat a few nuts for a quick burst of energy if you're feeling extra sluggish.
8. Problem: You can't get motivated.
Solution: Set small goals that focus on your abilities rather than your appearance. Sure, you might REALLY want that bikini body, but even more beautiful is the fact that you set a new record for your mile run. Focusing on what your body can do rather than what it looks like means that you can measure your progress with more than just a mirror and scale. If you keep it up, you might just find that you DO end up looking like a supermodel, but it'll just be a sexy side effect to making your body the incredible machine it was designed to be.
03/15/15
I've been hit hard with the shingles virus. If you've never had it, try not to get it because, quite simply, it sucks. I've never been so worn out in my whole life. And it's kind of painful all over my left side. From my waist up into my hairline, on the left side of my chest and in my armpit, etc. The rash itself is nearly gone but the pain is still there on and off and the exhaustion is what I'm battling now. I want to get back to working out regularly but I'm still fighting just to have the energy to accomplish every day things. It's been almost 4 full weeks now.
1 comment:
I'm working on getting rid of some "baby" weight too. I think you are doing great, and it helped me today to know that we all struggle a little with eating or fitness (even bad asses like you!). We can do it!!!
Post a Comment