2018 Begins

9 years later....

Many attempts, many failures. Though I have a healthy heart and great cholesterol.

2016 was the year of the trainer. Marc and I signed up for a personal trainer. Twice a week for 30 minutes each. After 3 sessions, Marc bailed and it was up to me to fulfill the contract.

My trainer, Misgna at LA Fitness was wonderful. He worked with me. He pushed me. He got me to do some embarrassing moves. While I did not see any weight loss, I definitely gained muscle and my pants were slightly looser. WIN!!

BUT... I really want that damn scale to move. Everything in me screams for the scale to go down. I'm not unrealistic. With 0% body fat, I would weight 150 lbs. That is not my goal. My true goal is to be pre 1st baby. I started my weight gain journey weighing 205 lbs. My "the stars aligned" goal would be 190 lbs, but I think genetics and age will fight me on that.

2017 led me to Orange Theory. Loved those workouts. It was like being with the trainer for 1/3 of the price and I could go 5 days a week. Which I did. I was a work out machine.

Still no weight loss. Just a stronger heart and great cholesterol levels. With a big ass.

If I change nothing else this year, I want to reduce the size of my hips and belly so that I am comfortable on an airplane. I hate that my hip pushes up the armrest between myself and the poor sap in the middle seat. My only consolation is that I lean into the window to give them space and I read quietly, plus I smell good. LOL.

2015 is almost over

Here we are...6 years later and no big changes. Even a minor change would have been nice. 

I struggle daily. 

I completed a round of optifast. 500 calories a day, for months. I lost 20#. Good news was 16# were fat, not all muscle loss. Bad news, I gained it back plus 20 when I went back to eating. 

I cut out soda. I decreased Starbucks. I started going to the gym. 

By the end of 2013, I was going to the gym 5 days a week. Sometimes for 2 hours. I switched between treadmill, elliptical or rower for 30-60 minutes. I tried to keep my heart rate in the fat burning zone. Then I would hit the weights. NO WEIGHT LOSS!!

Frustration and acceptance has set in. 

Day 4

I'm hoping I will hit my writing groove and these will become more witty, but for now.. I'm proud that I am getting the work done and keeping myself accountable.

Day 4 of my 30 day March challenge was Thurs, Mar 3rd. I met my friend at the gym and we stretched before working out. We completed 40 minutes on the treadmill (I was 3.5 mph at a 2-3% incline). My hips are hurting today. 

My friend was meeting her friend at 11am for lunch so I said good-bye and stayed at the gym. Yep, I stayed to finish my workout. I am loving the gym.

I did:
Abs:
crunches - 3 sets of 10 with 80 pounds
side twists - 3 sets of 20 with 50 pounds


Bicep curls - 3 sets of 10 with 30 pounds
Triceps - 3 sets of 12 with 30 pounds
Shoulder press (to the sides) - 3 sets of 10 with 35 pounds


I'm trying to find the weight that makes me exhausted at the end of the 30th rep. I know that means it's not too light and not too heavy. My arms feel the burn, but not enough pain to discourage me from the next workout.


My day 5 workout will be on Saturday. I will be a great workout (especially after the crap I ate today). Hopefully I can make it to the store afterwards to pick up a new pair of shoes and some new t-shirts for my workouts.


This is the new me. I am healthy and happy!
 

Day 3

Woot. Woot. The exercise train is rolling from the station.

It's day 3 of my 30 day challenge and I'm doing great (though it is only day 3).

I met my friend at the gym this morning. We worked out for an hour-ish.

1. Ab machines - I have strong abs with a healthy layer of fat on top.
2. Arm machines - I avoided the shoulder press since it caused cramping last time and my triceps were screaming at me while doing bicep curls (because of the pressure down on the pads). That's good - I've made them work.
3. Recumbent bike- 30 minutes at level 7 - this worked up a good sweat.
4. Stretching - nothing like coaxing those muscles to relax after working out.

I drank a protein shake for breakfast and had my morning mocha. The protein infusion seems to help me from getting dizzy after working out. Nathan and I enjoyed a lunch out. I had Aloo Matar (potatoes and pees in a spicy sauce). I kept my portion small to save money and calories. I drank 24 ounces of water - definitely need to go refill my water bottle. I had some all white chicken nuggets with the kids for a snack at 4 and am still not hungry. I'm realizing now that I am seriously lacking in the fruits and vegetables department, so I'll have a carrot or green bean snack for my dinner.

I'm feeling very tired and blah right now. I'll put the chocolate away and step back from the kitchen!

Meet some other great friends working on losing weight by joining Lucy's Fat to Fit Blog Hop.

Day 2

Another successful day!!

I met my friend at the gym.

Stretching (more like gossiping)
40 minutes on the treadmill at 3-3.8 mph and a 2-3% incline
We skipped weights because we ran out of time.

I feeling my muscles in my arms today. Not terribly, but enough to know I did good. I have a cramp in my trapezius muscle that causes my right arm to feel numb. Last time I ended up calling the chiropractor at 3am for the pain. I used my friends advice and imagined my muscles as taffy and slowly pulled the muscle into a longer shape. It worked enough to not cause my unbearable pain and I fell asleep. 

Now it's Day 3 and I'm off to the gym again. Woo Hoo!

Day 1

The first day of my 30 day challenge is complete and done!!

9am:
20 minutes on the upright bike
ab exercises
2 bicep machines

11:30am:
lunch with Mr N (slice of pizza)

1pm:
20 minutes on the rower
20 minutes on the treadmill (3mph, 2% incline)
2 tricep machines
2 shoulder machines

Overall - a great first day
(I even drank water!! about 48 ounces so far).

March Challenge

picture found at http://healthycurb.com/blog/

It's always time for a change. Every night I think "if I had done 10 sit ups today - I would be 1 day closer to losing the weight". I've gained about 75 pounds in the last 11 years. This is the weight I gained having 4 kids. My oldest will be 11 in June and it's time to rid myself of the weight I carry.

My knees hurt, my heart pounds as I go up the stairs. It's time to slim this waistline and get healthy. For me. For my children. For my life.

I've started by joining LA Fitness. My neighbor and I bought a one year family plan. It's all paid for and daycare comes out automatically. My youngest enjoy the daycare. I'm glad they are old enough to be in charge of themselves because the childcare staff is horribly inattentive.

I was going 5 days a week (for 2 weeks) and walking a 5k on the treadmill. I gained 3 pounds. I really don't think I changed my eating habits, but with this new challenge, I'm going to track everything.

My goal:
1. go to the gym 5 days a week for the month of March. Walk my 5k on the treadmill (takes me about 50 minutes). 
2. use the weights to perform arm exercises 3 days a week.
3. use the weights to perform leg exercises 2 days a week.
4. use the weights to perform ab exercises 5 days a week.
5. follow my firm, flat abs fast (10 minutes) every night with my husband.
6. write down everything that passes through my lips. EVERYTHING!!
7. Drink water - this one is huge. I realize I haven't had a glass of water in 2 weeks. I drink coffee. Lots of coffee.


I'll try to get some updates on here. Tomorrow will be my weigh in and measurements.

My challenge for April will be to start the couch to 5k.