The Tijuanan Pharmacy Within

I'm watching Biggest Loser as I write tonight. Bob is telling a contestant he has been wanting to kick his a#$ for a week and that he wants to snap someone like a twig. Mike the trainer hasn't said those words to me, but I think he thinks them before our workouts. And Jillian is telling contestants that they will never win. She says, "Just when you think you've got it under control, I'll push the up button. You will never win." I can so relate. Just when I feel like I know what I'm doing we switch it up. Tonight I was doing bench presses while lying on a decline bench. I asked why we were doing bench presses on a decline bench and the answer was to mix things up a bit. We also did some rows. We've done rows a lot. I'm used to it. Mike said, "I want you to stand and do these." So I proceeded to straddle the bench and and grab the handles. Mike said, "No, up here on the bench." There was another trainer working with a client and I must have given him a look because he said, "Don't look at me! You hired him!" Balance is NOT my strong point. It took me a few times to get the hang of standing on the bench and pulling the weight to me...okay...I almost fell once. I even said to Mike, "Obviously, you have not paid attention to the fact that I am terrified of heights." "But you're like a foot and a half off the ground. A baby squirrel wouldn't get hurt falling that far." Tonight's workout ended with the treadmill. So I was at a very brisk walk/slow jog which felt like running. Mike is standing on the treadmill next to me. I'm begging to just run for two minutes and then walk and then run again. Smart aleck Mike said, "You can go eight minutes. You're not even going that fast. If you were taller you would be walking." At first I was highly frustrated at him, but then I just thought..."Wow! You got me that was a good one." The final was that I ran 6 minutes and walked 5. I consider this an accomplishment for the girl who is scared of running.
I'm hoping the next part of tonight's blog will not offend anyone. It certainly isn't intended to.

After the workout Mike and I started talking about my thyroid. I've been on thyroid meds for nine years. Recently, my doctor told me my numbers are borderline, but he was hesitant to take me off of the meds because of my weight loss journey. I took it into my own hands and didn't refill the prescription this last time. It was time to go have my blood drawn to get it refilled anyway so I just skipped it. I shared this tonight and Mike started to explain how the growth hormone works in your body. His analogy was a Tijuanan pharmacy. Laugh with me here. Everyone knows you can go to Tijuana and get whatever meds you want without a prescription. You can get surgeries cheaper there and everything. You have to understand this analogy is so funny to me because I left physiology at the door of Johnson County Community College and really didn't look back. Mike's knowledge of the human body and how it works never ceases to amaze me. I think he knows more than my doctor about how drugs interact with the body and each other. Bottom line: because of my working out the Tijuanan pharmacy within me has started producing more growth hormone. When Mike is pushing for intensity and reps in my workouts it increases even more. When I start to feel like I'm going to puke we are really getting to where we need to be. I'm going to stop feeling like a loser everytime I get naseous during a workout and think "Whoo! I made it to a great spot! Now I have to push harder." Okay...there will probably be self talk involved which will go something like, "Don't puke in the middle of the gym. Don't puke in the middle of the gym." Please don't freak because I've gone off the meds. I'm monitoring the situation closely. I have tried to go off of it before and had no energy and gained 5-7 pounds in a matter of a few days. I've been off for three weeks and have lost weight and have a ton of energy. Workin out...it does a body good! I'm pretty amazed at this. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be able to reverse my thyroid. I didn't know it was possible. I thought it was a hand I had been dealt that would be with me forever. Who knew? This journey has been full of unexpected perks! I can't wait to see what else lies before me!