Moment of Truth

Wow the beginning of week 8! I’m almost 2/3rds done! Lower body workout today was good.  My legs hate me!  It was a wonderful gym day.  It wasn’t too crowded, people had put the weights back where they belonged and the loud group that usually works out in the mornings while I’m there were low in numbers.

The one thing I was dreading was getting on the scale.  I normally check my weight after I teach my spinning class.  All day, I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t eat anything but that was just a stupid idea.  I don’t want to deprive myself of the energy and nutrients my body needs because I was a little afraid of the number on the scale.

When the moment of truth arrived, I approached the scale with caution.  There was a guy in front of me.  “I don’t think it’s working,” he said as he looked at the monitor, which appeared to be dead.  Of course I had to check for myself and hopped up.  Yep, it was dead.  Reprieve!  I’ll just weigh myself in the morning.  Don’t we weigh less in the am?  Maybe that’s a good thing.

I went to take my shower and get ready to go home.  Once I was done, surprise!  The scale was miraculously working again.  Steeling myself, I got on.  The good news was I hadn’t gained any weight however I was only down 1.2 pounds.  At least I was down. I had hoped to be down 2 pounds so I fell .8 pounds from my goal.  When I say it like that it doesn’t sound so bad.  I know I shouldn’t focus so much on the scale but that’s what I do.  At least the number went down not up!

Philadelphia Cheat Day

Yesterday was a just a regular day.  Ate well and did cardio.  Was a little frustrated but I’m happy I’m sticking with the program.  I’m also feeling good because I’m starting to feel better about myself.

Some friends and I took a quick weekend trip out of town.  It was nice to get away and I was looking forward to my cheat day.  Let me just say if you’re going to really cheat this was the way to do it!

The day started out innocently enough.  I split an egg white omelet (not even with cheese).  It was delicious.  Then a buddy said we had to go to this hot spot and try these Belgium waffles.  Mine were blueberry with dark chocolate sauce.  I had been craving a cupcake.  I don’t know why but we found this trendy cupcake shop and I got one.  My craving had now been satisfied.

What I didn’t mention was that our weekend trip was to Philadelphia and of course you can’t leave the city until you’ve had one of their famous cheesesteaks.  The residents will argue over their favorite places and we went right to the heart where two of the most beloved sit across the street from each other (Geno’s and Pat’s).  By the time we got there it was freezing but it didn’t stop the throngs of people from forming huge lines in front of both establishments.  We opted for Pats.  It was worth the wait.  As we noshed on our goodies, I couldn’t help but wonder how will this day affect me when I step on the scale.  Yikes!  We’ll see tomorrow!

A Little Frustrated

Why do I get up early? It certainly can’t be fight for a stairmaster.  Yet I still do.  Up early and off to the gym but no stairmaster today back on the treadmill.  I have to hand it to myself.  I’ve been steadily improving on the machine and I’ve come not mind it so much.  Don’t get me wrong.  There will never be a lovefest between me and the treadmill but I don’t think it’s all bad.

My running has gotten so much better.  I can see the 5k in my future!  Well I’ve taken more pictures of myself but I still can’t bring myself to look at them. I’m just hopping that the pictures came out.  I’m still not 100% comfortable in my own skin but who knows… a month from know that could all change.

As I sit here today thinking about the Challenge, I’m glad I’ve started it but the old me still sees those perfect bodies and chiseled abs at the gym and get a little frustrated.  Sure I’ve had lots of success but I guess patience isn’t one of my fortes.  I want the final product now. 

Despite my frustrations, I had a good day.  I had a great exercise day and ate well.  Why was I so down on myself?  Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

Clothes Surprise!

Last night I didn’t get enough sleep.  This has been an ongoing challenge for me and I really thought I’d gotten better at going to bed a decent time.  Clearly last night was not one of those nights.  I knew I was bad and I knew I would be in trouble when the alarm went off at 5 this morning.

Why didn’t I go to bed earlier?  Part of the reason happened as I was laying out my clothes for today.  I was looking at the back of my closet at the clothes that I had abandoned for the last few years. Hey I wonder if any of these fit?  Cautiously, I pulled out what I called my “incentive clothing”.  You know the ones.  The clothes that you can’t quite give away.  The ones that you just know will fit again someday.  I tried on a few things.  THEY FIT!!!!  Naturally that meant I had to try on all of the items that I had long ago tucked away. I even pulled out some stuff that was so small for me that I had resigned myself to give away.

The results? Almost everything fit. I clearly still have some work to do but I took this as a real sign that by the end of the next few weeks, I can accomplish my goal.  The shallowness in me set of goal of fitting into a specific pair of shorts.  While I was able to get them on, I still need to work hard to accomplish this goal.  Just 7 weeks ago, I couldn’t get those pants past my thighs.  I’m still patting myself on the back.  And that’s why I went to bed late last night!

As tired as I was, I managed to pull myself out of bed and make it to the gym however my upper body workout was more challenging than ever. I struggled through my chest exercises trying to remind myself not focus on the reps but to work on my form.  Hitting those 10s was just a little out of my reach today.  I think being tired didn’t allow me to think as clearly as I should’ve and I slacked off a bit.  I didn’t push as hard as I really could have.  By the time I reached my biceps I was spent.  I couldn’t complete the final reps without taking a break.  Disappointing but I can’t beat myself up.  I realize that I can’t have perfect days everyday.CloCl1`````

A Good Day

After a good day yesterday, I was determined that today would be just as terrific.  As the alarm interrupted me from my dream state, I paused for only a moment before hopping out of bed.  It’s cardio day so I couldn’t procrastinate if I wanted to be one of the lucky few who got to use the Stairmaster this morning.  Did I really say lucky few?  I must be crazy!  Success!  I was the first one there so the Stairmaster was mine!

Today that Stairmaster was no match for me! I upped my speed and set out for my 20 minute journey.  I really pushed myself and I felt good when I finished.  When I looked at the monitor, it said that I have covered 3.26 miles.  Wow about a 5K!  Remember my goal is to run a 5K fairly soon so I took this as a sign of encouragement.

Since I’ve been back on BFL, my eating habits have gotten back on track.  Sure sometimes my cooking can be hit or miss but at least I’m not running out for lunch eating the wrong things just eating too much.  One of my favorite meals is baked salmon with veggies and a sweet potato.  If it’s a salmon day, I usually have as a lunch meal and it’s really something to look forward to during the middle of the day.

My coworkers are now eyeing my lunch and they can’t believe that something really healthy can taste delicious.  Lucky me!

Hard Work and Little Drama.

I’ve always kinda of dismissed my lower body workouts but I’ve made a conscious effort to treat them like my upperbody workouts and really commit to working just as hard.  Today I really felt like I accomplished my goal.  I think I mentioned that for these latest 4-weeks my exercises have been extremely challenging.  Well I certainly feel like my legs got a real workout this morning.  By the time I got to my ab exercises I was in a full sweat.  It was a heavy sweat.  So much so that I almost slid off the bench I was working on.  When I hit the last set of my abs I was breathing so heavy that the guy working out next to me looked concerned. In reality I was a little concerned too.  I know I’m going to be really sore tomorrow.  LOL

I was feeling pretty good and was looking for something to wear to work. I wonder if some pants would fit that were staring at me from my closet.  Mind you, it’s probably been 2 or 3 years since I’ve put them on.  I pulled them out and hesitated a little because I really didn’t want to be disappointed if they didn’t fit.  I slipped them on. No struggle, no problems, they fit as if those years had never slipped by.  I was so glad I hadn’t given them away like I originally planned.

Although I was dreading it, I went to work.  Things there haven’t improved but I’m determined to make the best of it. Afterall, I’ve very grateful that I have a job, I consider myself a team player and I still intend to give 100%.  But just like I’ve been assessing what physical changes I’d like to make during this 12 week transformation, I’m also thinking about what other transformations can I make throughout the other aspects of my life.  This self assessment has been pretty difficult for me and I’m not sure where I want to be yet but by the time I finish this first cycle I do know I want to be a happy healthier me!

I made it through work with little drama.  Sometimes that’s all we can hope for so that was a good thing.  As I was leaving, I heard someone call my name.  I turned around and it was some of the guys from the IT department. “Man, you have really dropped some weight!  What are you doing?” Wow, what a cool feeling!  Even though I know there have been changes, it’s hard for me to notice them and I think I’m my worst critic.  This really made my day!