Weighing In. Week 1 Results

It seems that some days there are always obstacles in the way preventing you from hitting your goals.  The challenge then becomes what do you do?  Do you let these obstacles stop you or do you find ways around them?  That’s what you have to ask yourself when trouble comes your way.

I was sooo prepared this morning.  My meals were planned out and prepared for the day.  Even my last snack was ready.  I was going to the theater and I wanted to stay on track.  Workout was prepared.  With my added weekly challenge of hitting real 10s as I worked out, I was really looking forward to the gym.  Clothes were packed so I was all set.

Last night I told myself I was going to bed at a decent time however I putzed around and ending up getting into bed later than I wanted.  Naturally when the alarm when off, I played the snooze button like Pavlov’s dogs.  Everytime the buzzer sounded I slammed it off. Boy am I trained! Once I finally realized it was morning and that I finally got out of bed.  Did the morning prep, got packaged up my meals and clothes all the time thinking don’t forget anything.

I was patting myself on the back congratulating myself thinking even though I broke my sleep promise as well as hit the snooze a few too many times, I’m still making it to the gym on schedule.  No sooner than I finished my happy dance I realized I had forgotten my work shirt I! I couldn’t go to work shirtless (I’ve only completed Week1).  I had to go back home. Damn! Now what do I do?  See what I mean about obstacles?  It was like someone was telling me not to work out today, not to get on the scale and make it up tomorrow.  Don’t be late for work.

The devil on my shoulder said go home, get dressed and go to work.  If not you’ll be late.  However, the angel said remember you goals.  If you plan it right you’ll be okay.  I chose the latter.  Guess what?  It worked out better than I planned.  My lower body workout was amazing.  I really pushed myself to reach those 10s.  I was sweating and felt like I really had a successful workout. Score one for me.  However I forgot to track my start time so I don’t know how long my workout was.  I believe I took longer than I planned. Minus one for me.  The next step was to step on the scale.  Back in the locker room it was time for the moment of truth.  How did I do? Ding! Ding! Ding!  I was down 3.9 pounds! Score another point for me.  Net ….. I’m still up in points!

I was happy to see the movement.  Maybe this will work out for me again. (Smile).

Only 72 Days to Go!

Well I made it one week!!!! I don’t really feel any different but I’m not going to give up.  Even though it was a cheat day, I didn’t really cheat. I just didn’t feel like it.  I was so prepared to nosh on some chocolate truffles I was given as a gift.  Chocolate is a real weakness of mine. However, after getting myself together for Week 2 (preparing meals and planning my next workouts) I was so pooped that I crashed on the couch.  After settling down, I was too tired to get back up and eat them.  They’ll keep until next week.

As I look back over my first week, I think I did pretty well in sticking to the program.  My upper and lower body workouts were pretty good.  I just need to push myself a little more and shoot for real 10s during my high points.  For my HIIT cardio training, I really think using my strategy to “trick myself” to make it for twenty minutes works for me. In addition, really good music on my iPod is very important for my success.  But don’t get me wrong, I STILL HATE THE TREADMILL!!

So what are some of my goals?  My short term goals for this week are to get more sleep and drink plenty of water.  Long term goals: by the end of the transformation it’d be nice to be back under 200 pounds again while losing fat yet still gaining muscle.  It be awesome to see that 32 waist again.  I don’t want to be winded walking up a flight of steps and I just want to feel better about myself.

Tomorrow I’m stepping on the scale.  No matter what the outcome, I’ll post the results. 

Week 1 is Now in the Can

Well I made it one week!!!! I don’t really feel any different but I’m not going to give up.  Even though it was a cheat day, I didn’t really cheat. I just didn’t feel like it.  I was so prepared to nosh on some chocolate truffles I was given as a gift.  Chocolate is a real weakness of mine. However, after getting myself together for Week 2 (preparing meals and planning my next workouts) I pooped myself out and crashed on the couch.  After settling down, I was too tired to get back up and eat them.  They’ll keep until next week.

As I look back over my first week, I think I did pretty well in sticking to the program.  My upper and lower body workouts were pretty good.  I just need to push myself a little more and shoot for real 10s during my high points.  For my HIIT cardio training, I really think using my strategy to “trick myself” to make it for twenty minutes works for me. In addition, really good music on my iPod is very important for my success.  But don’t get me wrong, I STILL HATE THE TREADMILL!!

So what are some of my goals?  My short term goals for this week are to get more sleep and drink plenty of water.  Long term goals: by the end of the transformation it’d be nice to be back under 200 pounds again while losing fat yet still gaining muscle.  It be awesome to see that 32 waist again.  I don’t want to be winded walking up a flight of steps and I just want to feel better about myself.

Tomorrow I’m stepping on the scale.  No matter what the outcome, I’ll post the results. 

Can Do Cardio!

All in all, yesterday was a good day so I was hoping that it would extend to Day 6.  LOL that’s not how it started.  After staying up way too late and not getting enough sleep, I had the treadmill to look forward to. I firmly believe I have a love hate relationship with that machine.  I hate running on it and it loves to make me miserable!

I got to the gym.  Uh oh! Where’s my lock?  It was not in my gym bag.  Hmm was this my excuse to skip the day and not run because I was worried that my stuff would be stolen.  Trust me.  There’s wasn’t much of value in the bag so it was just an excuse.  Once I realized that, I left my unmentionables in an unattended gym locker and headed to the machine that gives me so much grief.

Trying to remember to set myself mini targets, I hopped on the treadmill.  Naturally, the one open machine was next to Mr. “I don’t sweat even at this ridiculously fast pace” which was right behind Ms. “You don’t break a sweat? Ha I can go faster!” Yeah I told myself I wouldn’t let these people get to me. “You are on a mission for yourself.  Don’t be intimidated just because you can’t go at their speeds. This about what you need to do to reach your ultimate goal.” Besides, I had gotten myself into this situation and couldn’t expect change overnight.  Although of course, I wish I could.

So my little target today was time.  You see, while I on the treadmill I always have the desire to stop.  So I turned it into a game.

1.    You can stop if stay on for 5 minutes. Done

2.    Since you made it 5 minutes, you can stop if you hit a mile.  Done.  Wow halfway through the second cycle.

3.    You can stop if you make it to third cycle. Done

4.    If you really want to stop, make it through the first two minutes of cycle 3.  Done, still going strong.

5.    Since you’re still going, why not stop once you get to the last cycle? Task completed How about after you make it through the cycle?  By then you’ll be done.

I did it.  Treadmill conquered for the day!

Finished the day by hitting the grocery store and planned out some meals.  I’m really looking forward to this program.  I just finished 6 days at the gym.  Woohoo to me!  Now if I can get my sleeping times in order.  I’ll be golden.

Little Victories

I taught spinning this morning but this was an upper body workout day.  I don’t really feel I get a workout while I teach.  I’m more about watching and instructing the class.  Although I work hard, it’s more about giving the members a good workout.  Even though I didn’t feel like it, I hit the weights.  The gym was quiet so I figured I could workout in peace without being taunted by people with “pecs of death”, ridiculously bulging biceps or the washboard abs that seem so elusive to me.  Yeah right!

As soon as I walked onto the floor, there he was standing right in front of me.  Everything I didn’t want to see….buldging biceps. Ugh where are my sized people?  The group with whom I wanted to share a camaraderie with and stand together and say, “Together we can do this.  Together we can perservere!” It doesn’t matter.  I’m on a mission.  Looking around, there was “pecs of death”, “shoulders of death”, “legs of death” and if I had my dirty laundry, I could’ve scrubbed them clean with “Mr. Washboard Abs of Death!”  Oh the humanity.

A little deflated, I set about my workout.  I gonna get through this.  As I was working out, I started to notice something.  There were actually other people who did look like me.  So maybe this is not going to be so bad. Maybe they are experiencing the same frustrations I am because they just starting out like me. At least that’s what I’ve convinced myself.  I decided that although I have a long range goal maybe I needed some short range targets.  It was a victory that I decided to work out. That’s good.  Intensity level was really tough when I hit the level 9 of my shoulder workout but I pushed myself through it.  Victory! Tricep pushdowns were really challenging but I didn’t not quit.  Victory!  Day 5 ended on a good note.

Twenty Minutes Seems Like A Long Time

Bad! Bad! Bad!  I didn’t get enough sleep today so I was way too lazy to get up and go to the gym in the morning. Surprisingly my legs weren’t too sore from yesterday’s workout… a little tight but not too bad.

Work was crazy but stayed on track with my meals. Yeah I know I’ve been bad with the Subway turkey sandwich but hopefully I will get my meal act together over the weekend.  Supplements came today, finally!  Feeling like I can maybe achieve my goals but it’s only Day 4!

Left worked late and thought about bypassing the gym (hey I was tired!)  But I made it.  It was pretty late so I didn’t expect it to be crowded at the gym and it wasn’t however not a fat person in the gym.  I guess I brought up the weight average but no worries soon I’ll be part of the fit elite!

I think one of my reasons I wanted to skip the gym was because it was cardio day.  I still hate the treadmill.  I know some people prefer to run outside but I think the treadmill keeps me on track for HIIT training.  Every minute I just need to make an adjustment on the machine.  If I was outside running, I don't think I have the discipline to make the necessary intensity adjustments.  Still if I had my say I wouldn't do any running at all.

Back on the treadmill.  After Wednesday, I thought I could amp it up a bit. Popped in the ipod and off I went.  Well after 5 minutes, every ounce of my body wanted to stop!  Oooh my shoelaces are loose, no just my imagination!  Is that a cramp I feel…suck it up! Sweating too much…you have a towel, use it.  Wow down to last two and half minutes…. Didn’t quit!  Yeah it’s only twenty minutes but it seems sooooo long. Time moves very slow when you’re watching every second tick by.

I was happy that I finished and feeling pretty good until I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, spirits sank. Remember it’s only Day 4.  Got home and treated myself to a salmon pasta dinner.  Boy, am I a good cook.  Another plus supplements arrived.  I’m using Betagen, Phos Force and Muscle Armor.  Another day’s down only 80 to go!