Slowing down = Awesome workout

Yesterday I learned that when I listen to what my body is telling me I get a better/longer workout.  I have this commitment with my sister - we workout twice a week every week.  The past couple of times we've been going to Planet Fitness (which I could write a blog on all by itself but for now I'm just going to say it's awesome).  We start off with doing some weights - the legs first - then we move to the arms - and finally we do 20 mins on the treadmill.

The 20 mins of cardio is what I'm talking about today.  The first time I went to PF with my sister she introduced me to the way she does her intervals.  Silly me.  I thought I was completely amazing.  I was at a run speed of 5 MPH - and a sprint speed of 7 MPH.  And then after what was about 2 mins later - I wanted to try and up my spring speed to 9 MPH.  Yep - dumb move.  I didn't fall off or anything I just didn't have enough stamina to last all 20 mins on the treadmill.  So I had to swallow my pride and walk for the rest of the time.  

This time I came in with a different mentality.  We got through the weights.  Did about 3 mins on the stairs machine (oh hannah!) and then got on the treadmill.  This time my "jog speed" was a nice walking speed for me.  My sprint speed was only 4 MPH.  I was able to go the entire 20 mins doing that....plus I got a good caloric burn.  It was amazing.  I didn't hurt when I got off but my muscles were tired.  It was awesome.

So I learned that I need to really slow myself down - recognize where I really am physically and not get down on myself because of where my mind thinks I should be.  I didn't put on this weight overnight and I need to learn that its not going to come off overnight.

Keep going - even if you feel discouraged.  Trust the process - change will come!  

Back at it

So after nursing an injury for a month (some days using it as an excuse) - I'm back at the battle of losing weight.  Since taking that time off I've gained all of my weight back plus some.  This tells me that I eat way way way too much food.  Something I seriously need to work on.  Join weight watchers??? Do a food journal??  I just don't know where to start.

A family member of mine said once that they were fat because they had reached a certain pound.  I've been thinking about this - my family member of mine is in NO WAY fat and I'm not just trying to be nice.  Other family members and I tried to teach them that it doesn't matter how much you weigh as long as your body is healthy.  As long as you keep your body in shape - the weight doesn't matter.  Not really.  It's a hard concept for this day and age.  So this is the last post that I will talk about how much I weigh.  From here on out - I'm going to talk about how my body feels and occasionally post a picture so you can see the process working.  I'm not going to see how much I weigh.  It doesn't matter.

This time - I've decided to do less impact exercises (in order to not hurt myself) such as biking (man those seats hurt) and playing at an adult playground.  This playground is completely amazing.  It is right next to a kids playground so the kids can play while the parents workout.  I'll have to get a picture of it and put it on here.  I think all playgrounds should have something like this.  Today I tried Yoga with my sister.  It was HARD! By the time the exercise was done I was dripping with sweat.  I wasn't glistening - it was a full on down pour.

I've mad a commitment to my sister.  We've decided to workout twice a week, every week with one another.  I can tell you that it has already helped me more than I think she realizes.  Not only do I AT LEAST get two workouts in a week - I get a chance to build a stronger relationship with my sister.  Its priceless.  My goal is it to be able to look at myself in the mirror and say "You did it today.  You are awesome."

So here's to me and everyone else - who decided to stand back up - to get back on the horse.  We can do it, one step at a time.

Week 1

I'm extremely happy to say that I've lost 5 pounds since last Monday.  I never thought I was going to lose that much.  I was hoping for 2 pounds at best!  I guess that's what walking/running 18 miles does for you!

This week has been hard but awesome! One thing I learned about myself this week - I AM STRONGER THAN MY PAIN!!!

Thanks to everybody who has been encouraging me this past week - leaving me awesome comments and I'm sure positive thoughts and prayers.  I love you all.

I will prevail!!!

Today was by far the WORST day yet.  I was about a half a mile into my workout - when my back went out on me (not surprising...poor thing - look what I've done to it over the past few years).  You know you are hurting when you contemplate lying down on the sidewalk to get some relief.  Now - if you are a Mother (especially my mother) I would suggest skipping the rest of this blog.  If you don't - well then please don't gripe at me at the end.  I, being the competitive one by nature, decided to push through the pain and finish my THREE MILE workout.  I was walking through the pain - my vision blurred by tears.  I said a tiny prayer - and lets be completely honest - it WORKED.  I asked for some relief from the pain - and enough was taken away from me so that I could finish my workout.  Yes Ladies and Gentleman - with a thrown back I FINISHED my three mile workout.  It was the prayer along with my will power (which was surprisingly strong today) that got me through my workout.  I told my body that this whole workout thing was going to be my new life now - and that it (being my body) should just stop fighting the process and let it happen.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.  I hope it listens better than it did today.

Wish me luck!

Today I had a VICTORY!

Yesterday I went 3.2 miles in 58 mins.  I walked it of course.  I am trying to do things in a realistic sort of manner.  Today - I went to walk/jog another 3.2 miles and I noticed how heavy I truly was.  My every bone ached - my muscles ached - and my spirit was tired.  Lap #1 - walked 75% and jogged the other 25%.  A feat in and of itself.  About half way through lap #2 I noticed my usually wet throat was extremely dry and achy   Stupid me - I didn't take any water.  I was only going to workout for an hour - who needs water in an hour (DUH!).  After lap # 2 (only 40 mins into my 1 hour workout) I sat down to drink some water (my hubby brought me some).  BAD IDEA.  

Mental note #1.  Do not SIT down to drink water - when you are already tired and sore and a little down in the head.  Make sure you keep walking while you are drinking water.

After I drank the water - I told myself that I couldn't go any further (the mind is a terrible wall).  So I went inside and took off my running shoes and resigned myself to failure.  

Here is how my reward system goes - for every 50 scheduled workouts (1 hr each) - I get to have a professional massage.  Once I reach the 100 mark I get to buy myself something - whether it be a new outfit, a movie, dinner out...whatever it is - I get to get it.  If I do not workout for a full hour - on my schedule day (which is 3 days on and then 1 day off - thanks to a shirt that Bob Harper was wearing) then my marks go back to 50 and I have to start over again.  

On top of that - with every 1 hour I workout - I get $1 (I got a dollar...I got a dollar...I got a dollar hey hey hey hey).  That is my money to keep - even if I do not workout for a full hour I get to keep the money that I have previously earned but do not get a dollar for that specific day.

As I was sitting there, feeling like a great big bag of nothing, my wonderful husband encouraged me to finish the extra 20 mins that I had left.  He suggested that I do 20 mins of crunches (which I loathe), jumping jacks, push ups etc. and then he said something that kicked me out of my woe is me feeling.  He said - okay then - go put your marks back on the board.

Now I only have taken off 1 mark so far - and to put that mark back on the board, after only a day, seemed like a terrible tragedy.  So I picked myself back up - put in my running shoes - grabbed my cute little dog and we went for a 1 mile walk.  

I DID IT!!!! Laziness = 0; Determination = 1.  

I'm thankful to my wonderful, loving, supportive husband who helped me get through today.  If you don't have a support system - set one up people.  They really do help.

And I know you were all wondering - here is a cute pictures of my dog! His name is Toby!

This is me - stripped.

This blog is going to be about my journey to life. Even though it will embarrass me completely - my vow is to write about my journey of losing weight, of getting healthy. Starting at the beginning - my grandfather died shortly after I graduated high school. At that time I felt like I had nothing under control except for one thing, eating. As you might tell from that statement - I was heading down a road of Anorexia.

 

I told nobody about this problem - it was mine to deal with. After a while - people around me started noticing things. The fact that I would excuse myself before every meal (and not come back until it was all cleaned up and put away) - the fact that I was losing weight at a quick pace. Finally - after months - I had a family member confront me and it all came out in the open. I moved in with people who are now my in-laws. They helped me get past my fear of not being able to control my entire world. Dec 2007 - I married my best friend. I weighed 145 pounds. Life couldn't have gotten any better!!!

 

 After a year of being married - I got pregnant. Let me tell you - it was the hardest pregnancy ever!

 

 To make this story short I'll go over just the major points. Couldn't keep anything down (most expecting will understand this), lost 7 pounds, had emergency surgery at 10 weeks (scary), still couldn't keep anything down, started having back pains, found out we were having a baby boy!, lost baby boy at 19 weeks due to complications. I did a downward spiral after this happened. I didn't want to go back to not getting - so I shoved my face with food until my pains went away. The summer after I lost my baby boy - I gained probably 20 pounds. It's been 4 years since that has happened and I haven't lost the weight from that tragic time. I've actually gained more weight.

 

 This is who I am now. I am a 5 foot 6 inch, 26 year old female who weighs 226 pounds. No I do not have cancer if that is what you are thinking - I shaved off my hair in support of my lovely and amazing grandmother. She is fighting stage 4 lung cancer. I'm afraid of what will happen to me emotionally when she leaves this earth, and I am bound and determined to get my life into shape before that happens. So hopefully when it does happen - I can turn to something healthy when feeling emotional instead of something destructive. This blog - is my journal of losing the weight that has been holding me back for years. I'm writing it - not for you - but for me. Putting myself out there - I feel is the way that will keep me motivated to finish the task. As you read these posts - please leave words of encouragement. I'm sure going to need them.