The other night at the gym I had an experience. I posted about it on FB. I have some humorous friends...one in particular could be a stand up comedian. I just feel that I have to put this on my blog in order to save this experience. I am a clutz for those of you who don't know me well. Just today I slipped in the hall at school and ended up in the splits. A student said, "Mrs. Bunch, you are really good at the splits." I told him thank you, but inside I thought "I didn't mean to do the splits. Good think I've been working out." If you were to have a conversation with my mom about the injuries I have sustained over the years she just starts laughing. There are too many to remember them all. And they are so random...flipping head first over your bicycle, cutting your hand and requiring five stitches because of a coke bottle that was sitting on a shelf, falling while attempting to roller skate and knocking yourself out, falling down a flight of stairs and spraining your ankle bad enough it has to be in a cast...I could go on and on and on...there are some things I just know I shouldn't try. I think it is a sign of strength to be able to admit your limitations.
My Post:Tonight at the gym on the Elliptical watching the Food Network. The show was The Best Thing I Ever Ate...CAKE!!! Torture! The guy next to me on the treadmill was running at a level 10. He disappeared from my view. I glanced over because I thought maybe he fell off. He was running backward on the thing. Now that's talent and something I will never try! Cause you know what would happen to me...
Stephanie Bingman Kice: Frankly, I am surprised you didn't fall just looking over at him.
Lauren Sullivan-Stoner: HAHAHAHA That made me snort!
Dan Stewart: Keep your eyes straight forward Stoner.
Stephanie Bingman Kice: I think it is dangerous for you watch TV while you are on the elliptical. There are too many moving parts....
Lauren Sullivan-Stoner: LOL
Dan Stewart: Tonight on Emergency 911...It was a calm evening at the gym until this young lady decided it was time to turn her head to the left...watch on this video...as she keeps trying to pull her left foot from the eliptical while her other leg has wrapped around her neck...somehow her big toe is stuck in ther mouth. Took 2 paramedics to pull her foot out and 2 more to run CPR on the other people in the gym who had laughed themselves into cardiac arrest.
Stephanie Bingman Kice: ...longtime friends report that they knew it was only a matter of time before this ticking time bomb went off.
Linda Green Cottingham: Dan, you are a riot!
Dan Stewart: One witness said "well you could tell somthing bad was going to happen when she walked in. She stubbed her toe on the door threashold then hit her head on the military press when she tied her shoe. Lke a huricane that was predicted days in advance you can just see somethings coming."
Josie Stiles: Oh my goodness that wouldn't end well for me!!!!!!!!
Tammy Stone Bunch: Laughing so hard I'm crying is an understatement. I had to call my mom and read this to her, but then I was laughing even harder because of how hard she was laughing. I think I just burned more calories because of this post than I have in the last two nights at the gym! As my mom said, "It's so nice that your friends know you so well." Love you guys...really needed this tonight.
Larry Bunch: The sad thing is....its all true
Stephanie Bingman Kice: We love you too!!!!
Stephanie Brown DeClue: Dan, that was too funny - and scary accurate!
This commentary only provides support to my thinking that I shall never ever try to run backward on a treadmill! These dear friends know me too well.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Massage Therapist and the Workout Following
I went to a new massage therapist this past Friday afternoon. For purposes of confidence, we will call her R. I could hardly contain myself all day because I just knew she would cure my shoulder and neck pain. Even though she told me I have issues and I'll be seeing her again in two weeks, I do have some relief. I have not had to use the ice pack the last two nights to go to sleep.
I filled out a lengthy intake form which prompted R to go over some general nutrition things with me. Take for instance her thoughts about artificial sweetners...even though I have a can of diet pepsi like every two days if that...R let me know the horrible, frightening, scary effects. UGH! Glad I'm not addicted to the stuff. We also talked about the importance of drinking water. I used to only drink water back in the day. I still do drink quite a bit of water, but not enough. R has encouraged me to forgo a little iced tea and drink half of my body weight in ounces of water each day. She's all about me having my iced tea. These past two days I've followed this recommendation. Main change: frequency of trips to the bathroom. I know you're shocked right? Anyway, this increased water consumption is supposed to help my neck, shoulder, and lower back pain as well.
R told me the effects of us working together would be cummulative as my body needs to get used to her touch and she needs to get to know my body. This massage was different than any I have experienced before. My past massages I have been passive in a tranquil room with aromatherapy, soft music, and quiet. R told me that I would not be passive in this massage. That's not how she operates. So while the room was a tranquil bedroom in her home, it was not exactly relaxing. There was stretching involved where I had to push against her. She also told me everything she felt. There was never a moment of quiet. She used her whole body to try and work the knots out of me. At the end of our session, she told me there is so much more she needs to do, but since I am new to this she didn't want to be too rough on the first day.
Today was the first day I met with Trainer Mike since the massage. He asked about the massage and I gave him the highlights. One thing R discovered was that my hamstrings are really tight. She thinks part of this is because I sit on my tailbone and not on my sitbones. (She had a lot to say about posture.) Trainer Mike took what she said seriously and we did some deadlifts with me standing on a bench and bending to pick up the weight. Tonight, my legs are on fire. The front of my legs are really strong, but both Mike and R agree I need to do some stuff to build up the hamstrings. In case you aren't aware, I know I wasn't, low back pain could mean your hamstrings need to be stretched. While I was hoping for an easier method than deadlifts, I'll do what Mike says in order to get rid of the pain.
R didn't feel anything besides knots and a lot of tightness in my neck and shoulders. She pushed on this spot on my side under my arm and said, "Oh honey, I'm sorry I know it hurts really bad right there." I hadn't said a word. Yet she could tell. Mike decided we needed to see how my shoulders were so he incorporated quite a few pushups in today's workout. I did okay. Shoulders aren't killing me yet so I think I'm okay.
I had a minor meltdown yesterday. Several things going on. I'm up to my eyeballs in doctorate work. It's a writing process. I've been working soooo much this past week and there isn't a finished product. There are milestone projects due this semester, but for the most part it's write, write, write and then write some more. We had three more snow days this week and then I was out at a wonderful training on Friday. All of this has put me behind at work which overwhelms me. Due to shoulder pain and everything else I have been a total slack on my workouts. Total catch 22. Shoulder hurts so you don't workout/don't workout lose energy and don't feel well. Seriously, my energy level has been down and I just don't feel right.
Today Mike and I had a great workout. He told someone at the beginning that he was ready to kick my butt. I kinda feel like he did. It was soooooo what I needed. While I thought I couldn't lunge or sprint one more time it was an incredible feeling. Now in order to be more on my game next week when we meet I have to get myself to the gym every day this week. My only day off is the day I have class. I have to keep telling myself that I owe it to me. Sometimes this is really difficult for me as I try to balance so many other things.
I'm also the type of person that is all or nothing. Let me explain how this plays out in my working out. If it's time to go to the gym and I don't feel like I can give it 200%, I will opt not to go. This has been especially true this month with the shoulder and neck problem. I have to kick my butt into gear. I'm going to let today's workout catapult me back into my routine. In exactly 199 days my birthday will be here. I have 57 pounds to lose by then! There is ABSOLUTELY NO time to spare! Even though the week ahead is FULL and then some, I will go to the gym. Gotta make it happen. No excuses!
I filled out a lengthy intake form which prompted R to go over some general nutrition things with me. Take for instance her thoughts about artificial sweetners...even though I have a can of diet pepsi like every two days if that...R let me know the horrible, frightening, scary effects. UGH! Glad I'm not addicted to the stuff. We also talked about the importance of drinking water. I used to only drink water back in the day. I still do drink quite a bit of water, but not enough. R has encouraged me to forgo a little iced tea and drink half of my body weight in ounces of water each day. She's all about me having my iced tea. These past two days I've followed this recommendation. Main change: frequency of trips to the bathroom. I know you're shocked right? Anyway, this increased water consumption is supposed to help my neck, shoulder, and lower back pain as well.
R told me the effects of us working together would be cummulative as my body needs to get used to her touch and she needs to get to know my body. This massage was different than any I have experienced before. My past massages I have been passive in a tranquil room with aromatherapy, soft music, and quiet. R told me that I would not be passive in this massage. That's not how she operates. So while the room was a tranquil bedroom in her home, it was not exactly relaxing. There was stretching involved where I had to push against her. She also told me everything she felt. There was never a moment of quiet. She used her whole body to try and work the knots out of me. At the end of our session, she told me there is so much more she needs to do, but since I am new to this she didn't want to be too rough on the first day.
Today was the first day I met with Trainer Mike since the massage. He asked about the massage and I gave him the highlights. One thing R discovered was that my hamstrings are really tight. She thinks part of this is because I sit on my tailbone and not on my sitbones. (She had a lot to say about posture.) Trainer Mike took what she said seriously and we did some deadlifts with me standing on a bench and bending to pick up the weight. Tonight, my legs are on fire. The front of my legs are really strong, but both Mike and R agree I need to do some stuff to build up the hamstrings. In case you aren't aware, I know I wasn't, low back pain could mean your hamstrings need to be stretched. While I was hoping for an easier method than deadlifts, I'll do what Mike says in order to get rid of the pain.
R didn't feel anything besides knots and a lot of tightness in my neck and shoulders. She pushed on this spot on my side under my arm and said, "Oh honey, I'm sorry I know it hurts really bad right there." I hadn't said a word. Yet she could tell. Mike decided we needed to see how my shoulders were so he incorporated quite a few pushups in today's workout. I did okay. Shoulders aren't killing me yet so I think I'm okay.
I had a minor meltdown yesterday. Several things going on. I'm up to my eyeballs in doctorate work. It's a writing process. I've been working soooo much this past week and there isn't a finished product. There are milestone projects due this semester, but for the most part it's write, write, write and then write some more. We had three more snow days this week and then I was out at a wonderful training on Friday. All of this has put me behind at work which overwhelms me. Due to shoulder pain and everything else I have been a total slack on my workouts. Total catch 22. Shoulder hurts so you don't workout/don't workout lose energy and don't feel well. Seriously, my energy level has been down and I just don't feel right.
Today Mike and I had a great workout. He told someone at the beginning that he was ready to kick my butt. I kinda feel like he did. It was soooooo what I needed. While I thought I couldn't lunge or sprint one more time it was an incredible feeling. Now in order to be more on my game next week when we meet I have to get myself to the gym every day this week. My only day off is the day I have class. I have to keep telling myself that I owe it to me. Sometimes this is really difficult for me as I try to balance so many other things.
I'm also the type of person that is all or nothing. Let me explain how this plays out in my working out. If it's time to go to the gym and I don't feel like I can give it 200%, I will opt not to go. This has been especially true this month with the shoulder and neck problem. I have to kick my butt into gear. I'm going to let today's workout catapult me back into my routine. In exactly 199 days my birthday will be here. I have 57 pounds to lose by then! There is ABSOLUTELY NO time to spare! Even though the week ahead is FULL and then some, I will go to the gym. Gotta make it happen. No excuses!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
So Over This!!!
Well readers I'm going to vent a bit...
First on my mind is something that I am trying not to dwell on. As I write this, I do not want it to sound oh whoas me because that is not the point. Five years ago my grandpa was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He didn't consider surgery because he was taking care of grandma. He took a very expensive pill for a while. Shortly after grandma died the cancer spread to his hip. He underwent radiation which took care of that problem, but had to go on a very expensive monthly chemo pill. This kept his PSA levels in the normal range which are below 5. In December he went for a checkup and the PSA levels were .03. When Sandy and I took him out for his birthday around Christmas he was singing praises to God for curing the cancer. He has started not feeling well. Two weeks ago he had another blood test which showed a PSA level of 40. The doctor said that one of the tests was wrong and told him he needed another test in two weeks. This past Monday he went for the blood test. The doctor called yesterday and the PSA count is up to 45.7. The doctor says the December test was read wrong and this is a rapid growing cancer. Grandpa and my dad will be going to the doctor next week to discuss options. They don't know if the cancer is in other spots or not. If you have ever had the opportunity to meet my Grandpa you know he is about one of the finest men alive. His faith is unending. His outlook on life is unbelievable. He truly takes each day as a gift. While I'm mad about this for many reasons, he isn't angry. The level of concern for me is high on many levels. If he were to choose to have chemo it is going to be so hard on him, I hate to see the effects. If he doesn't have the chemo the cancer is growing so fast...and I can't even finish that sentence. I'm not one to question why things happen. But really people...the end of December 08 we lost Grandma, March of 09 my uncle was diagnosed with terminal lung and brain cancer, during that time Grandpa was also dealing with cancer, July of 2010 my uncle passed from the cancer. We spent the fall cleaning out Grandpa's place to get him somewhere safer and closer to my mom and dad and my aunt. We still don't have him moved there because of a run around with the place he is moving to. He has now given mom the authority to take over the case and I feel bad for the people that she is going to be in contact with. It's not going to be pretty for them since they have blown Grandpa off since November by either saying "we will have you moved in in two weeks, your apartment isn't ready yet", or just not returning his calls at all. A very large concern in all of this is my dad. None of this is fair, but truly I worry about how much he can take. This is unending incredible stress.
It's February here in Missouri and we have had one full week of school since December 13. Lots of snow days. I feel like a slug. I have not been making it to the gym because of being snowed in and my shoulder pain which will not cease. I have been to the dr and given stronger muscle relaxers. Every night I go to sleep packed in ice. (Truly not comfortable with negative temperatures) I wake up the next morning and the pain is still there. It is like someone has a knife in my shoulder. Everything is tight and the pain goes up the side of my neck. Trainer Mike's schedule has changed and he has had several family responsibilities so we have not been meeting regularly at all. It is so depressing for me. I haven't been working out and I haven't been eating healthy at all.
I think I will handle the stress of my life better when I get back to working out regularly. Mike and I are meeting Saturday and hopefully we will get back into our routine. I need it bad. I am also going to a new massage therapist tomorrow afternoon. She and I had a long talk about my problem and former injuries. She is pretty optimistic she can fix me up. She has come highly recommended by another friend so I hope this works.
In addition to stress about Grandpa, I have the stress of my doctorate program. This is the semester where we are writing the prospectus and proposal for our dissertation as well as starting the first three chapters. I have done homework for the past three days. I do not have a finished product which is hard for me. Yet, you have to do the reading and writing. It's a research process. I have to keep reminding myself it's a process with a product that will be finished in a couple of years. UGH! We do have some milestone assignments do this semester which are propelling us in the dissertation direction. I am still enjoying the journey. I am learning so much.
Another item of stress is my job. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have your employer call and say don't come in to work today because of the roads. These last three days have been a gift for dissertation work. Yet, I am missing my students. I am worried about my students. And for every day we are out it takes two to three to catch it up.
Life will feel better when I get back into the gym and make that my priority. When Trainer Mike starts to kick it up a notch, I will feel like I'm making progress again. So Readers...I'm over this being a slug...I'm ready to get back to it. And I mean get back to it HARD!!!
First on my mind is something that I am trying not to dwell on. As I write this, I do not want it to sound oh whoas me because that is not the point. Five years ago my grandpa was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He didn't consider surgery because he was taking care of grandma. He took a very expensive pill for a while. Shortly after grandma died the cancer spread to his hip. He underwent radiation which took care of that problem, but had to go on a very expensive monthly chemo pill. This kept his PSA levels in the normal range which are below 5. In December he went for a checkup and the PSA levels were .03. When Sandy and I took him out for his birthday around Christmas he was singing praises to God for curing the cancer. He has started not feeling well. Two weeks ago he had another blood test which showed a PSA level of 40. The doctor said that one of the tests was wrong and told him he needed another test in two weeks. This past Monday he went for the blood test. The doctor called yesterday and the PSA count is up to 45.7. The doctor says the December test was read wrong and this is a rapid growing cancer. Grandpa and my dad will be going to the doctor next week to discuss options. They don't know if the cancer is in other spots or not. If you have ever had the opportunity to meet my Grandpa you know he is about one of the finest men alive. His faith is unending. His outlook on life is unbelievable. He truly takes each day as a gift. While I'm mad about this for many reasons, he isn't angry. The level of concern for me is high on many levels. If he were to choose to have chemo it is going to be so hard on him, I hate to see the effects. If he doesn't have the chemo the cancer is growing so fast...and I can't even finish that sentence. I'm not one to question why things happen. But really people...the end of December 08 we lost Grandma, March of 09 my uncle was diagnosed with terminal lung and brain cancer, during that time Grandpa was also dealing with cancer, July of 2010 my uncle passed from the cancer. We spent the fall cleaning out Grandpa's place to get him somewhere safer and closer to my mom and dad and my aunt. We still don't have him moved there because of a run around with the place he is moving to. He has now given mom the authority to take over the case and I feel bad for the people that she is going to be in contact with. It's not going to be pretty for them since they have blown Grandpa off since November by either saying "we will have you moved in in two weeks, your apartment isn't ready yet", or just not returning his calls at all. A very large concern in all of this is my dad. None of this is fair, but truly I worry about how much he can take. This is unending incredible stress.
It's February here in Missouri and we have had one full week of school since December 13. Lots of snow days. I feel like a slug. I have not been making it to the gym because of being snowed in and my shoulder pain which will not cease. I have been to the dr and given stronger muscle relaxers. Every night I go to sleep packed in ice. (Truly not comfortable with negative temperatures) I wake up the next morning and the pain is still there. It is like someone has a knife in my shoulder. Everything is tight and the pain goes up the side of my neck. Trainer Mike's schedule has changed and he has had several family responsibilities so we have not been meeting regularly at all. It is so depressing for me. I haven't been working out and I haven't been eating healthy at all.
I think I will handle the stress of my life better when I get back to working out regularly. Mike and I are meeting Saturday and hopefully we will get back into our routine. I need it bad. I am also going to a new massage therapist tomorrow afternoon. She and I had a long talk about my problem and former injuries. She is pretty optimistic she can fix me up. She has come highly recommended by another friend so I hope this works.
In addition to stress about Grandpa, I have the stress of my doctorate program. This is the semester where we are writing the prospectus and proposal for our dissertation as well as starting the first three chapters. I have done homework for the past three days. I do not have a finished product which is hard for me. Yet, you have to do the reading and writing. It's a research process. I have to keep reminding myself it's a process with a product that will be finished in a couple of years. UGH! We do have some milestone assignments do this semester which are propelling us in the dissertation direction. I am still enjoying the journey. I am learning so much.
Another item of stress is my job. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have your employer call and say don't come in to work today because of the roads. These last three days have been a gift for dissertation work. Yet, I am missing my students. I am worried about my students. And for every day we are out it takes two to three to catch it up.
Life will feel better when I get back into the gym and make that my priority. When Trainer Mike starts to kick it up a notch, I will feel like I'm making progress again. So Readers...I'm over this being a slug...I'm ready to get back to it. And I mean get back to it HARD!!!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Biggest Loser Thoughts
As I sit here on the eve of my fourth snow day this year, watching last night's Biggest Loser, I have some thoughts.
1) I'm always amazed at the big numbers these people lose. I am envious of those big numbers.
2) I always hope my trainer doesn't watch the show. They do some things on there that are flat out scary and my trainer comes up with enough scary ideas on his own. He doesn't need any help.
3) I'm always so inspired by the contestants. This season there is a person that is especially inspiring to me. Courtney. She is on this show for the right reasons. She lost a hundred pounds on her own before the show started. She truly doesn't care about the game. She just does what it takes to lose.
4) A contestant said something about when a trainer has confidence in you that you can do something you don't believe is possible and you do it...your confidence soars. This is soooooo very true.
5) Another contestant said, "You have to draw a line in the sand and no you are not going to cross back over. You have to make up your mind that you are going to change your life."
In the past few weeks I've struggled with a shoulder issue. Left side...searing pain that shoots up the side of my neck and into my collarbone. I've iced. I've medicated. I've heated. I've spent a lot of time with the chiropractor. I'm frustrated. Running seems to cause pain. Lifting weights causes pain. Sometimes sleeping causes pain. Finally I went to the dr on Monday. After testing my range of motion and having me move my shoulder in every direction possible, he has determined "Mike needs to work on your rotator cuff. You need to strengthen it." He put a pain patch on me...which six hours later I found out I was allergic to and prescribed a new muscle relaxer and told me to use even more ice. Still frustrated, but I'll push through.
1) I'm always amazed at the big numbers these people lose. I am envious of those big numbers.
2) I always hope my trainer doesn't watch the show. They do some things on there that are flat out scary and my trainer comes up with enough scary ideas on his own. He doesn't need any help.
3) I'm always so inspired by the contestants. This season there is a person that is especially inspiring to me. Courtney. She is on this show for the right reasons. She lost a hundred pounds on her own before the show started. She truly doesn't care about the game. She just does what it takes to lose.
4) A contestant said something about when a trainer has confidence in you that you can do something you don't believe is possible and you do it...your confidence soars. This is soooooo very true.
5) Another contestant said, "You have to draw a line in the sand and no you are not going to cross back over. You have to make up your mind that you are going to change your life."
In the past few weeks I've struggled with a shoulder issue. Left side...searing pain that shoots up the side of my neck and into my collarbone. I've iced. I've medicated. I've heated. I've spent a lot of time with the chiropractor. I'm frustrated. Running seems to cause pain. Lifting weights causes pain. Sometimes sleeping causes pain. Finally I went to the dr on Monday. After testing my range of motion and having me move my shoulder in every direction possible, he has determined "Mike needs to work on your rotator cuff. You need to strengthen it." He put a pain patch on me...which six hours later I found out I was allergic to and prescribed a new muscle relaxer and told me to use even more ice. Still frustrated, but I'll push through.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Out With A Bang
Little did I know when 2010 started, that I would finally start a successful weight loss journey. How many times has my New Year's Resolution been to lose weight? Let's see...I'm 39 years old...at least 30 times. Tonight during our workout, Trainer Mike said, "If I would have told you eight months ago that you would be doing this exercise (I can't remember which exercise he was talking about specifically...could have been deadlifts, lunges with barbells, stability ball chest presses or some new thing on the stability ball for my butt) would you have stayed?" Duh...probably not...but had I known how much running would be involved I wouldn't have stayed either. Yet, I didn't know what an emotional change this journey would result in either. Based on the scale and pics and clothing sizes there are significant physical results. The mental results are 100 times more rewarding. I'm a changed person. 2011 is 25 hours away. BRING IT!!! I'm looking forward to shedding more pounds and inches, increasing my running ability, and all of the other challenges Trainer Mike can conjure up. As we are saying farewell to 2010, (I don't know about all of you, but it's been challenging for me and I'm kind of glad to say...SEE YA!)I look back with pride at what I have accomplished and immense gratitude to an incredible trainer and friend! THANK YOU, Trainer Mike. YOU ROCK!
I walked into the gym tonight and Trainer Mike's girlfriend had just endured a workout. She wasn't lookin so good. I could tell it had been rather intense. So when he said to me "Are you ready?" I was kind of hesitant to say yes, but before I could reply he said, "There's no way you could be ready for this." And just like that we hit it and we didn't stop. It was intense. In a series of multiple sprints this girl grabs a mat and plops down right in my path. I had been doing this for a while and it wasn't just her she had two friends with her who weren't working out and they were having a little giggly chat time. As I prepared to take off on a sprint, Trainer Mike said, "Run as close to her head as you can. I can't believe she sat right there. It's not like she didn't know what you were doing." Me being the client that ALWAYS(insert sarcasm) follows directions, did exactly as I was told. That girl looked at me and said, "Oh am I in your way?" I didn't stop to respond...kept on sprinting cause that's how I roll. I don't have time for that nonsense. As I was trying to repress the feelings of nausea that were overcoming me it was time to try a new exercise. Here's how it was introduced. "When we came into the gym tonight Sean was doing this and it looked really cool. You're going to be my first guinea pig." Don't you think you would just be falling over to try an exercise with a intro like that? My response was "Are you kidding me?" It was a squat with a 40 pound barbell into an upright row...for just 20 times!!! Here's what you need to know...as I'm sitting in my pjs in my comfy bed writing this blog...my butt already hurts and it's just been 2 hours since we finished the workout. I can't wait to know what this is going to feel like tomorrow. I think it was a combination of that exercise, deadlifts, squats, and lunges that have really talked to the glutes. That's okay...they need to be talked to and they're not used to it so they're just talkin back a little bit. Trainer Mike decided that "since we went out like Johnny Carson last time we would go out with a bang like Ronald Reagan tonight." 2 sets of sprints, 5 regular pushups and 20 fingertip pushups followed by 30 crunches and 20 military jumping jacks. Yep, I wanted to fall on the floor when I was done. Yet, I wouldn't expect anything less.
Since Trainer Mike referenced Ronald Reagan, I feel that so should I..."There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect." Thus far in my journey I have learned that I had built walls and barriers that loomed over me and that I alone...not food...restricted my own success and debilitated my health. Please know, I still struggle with food. I still see it as my enemy sometimes. I am still challenged by food. However, I now understand that my thoughts about food and my lack of knowledge about food are the enemy. Not the food itself. (Okay...seriously...cake is an enemy to me. Truly an enemy!) Nevertheless, in 2011 I will tear down more walls and barriers and learn how to be friends with food and use it to my advantage. I look forward to it!
I walked into the gym tonight and Trainer Mike's girlfriend had just endured a workout. She wasn't lookin so good. I could tell it had been rather intense. So when he said to me "Are you ready?" I was kind of hesitant to say yes, but before I could reply he said, "There's no way you could be ready for this." And just like that we hit it and we didn't stop. It was intense. In a series of multiple sprints this girl grabs a mat and plops down right in my path. I had been doing this for a while and it wasn't just her she had two friends with her who weren't working out and they were having a little giggly chat time. As I prepared to take off on a sprint, Trainer Mike said, "Run as close to her head as you can. I can't believe she sat right there. It's not like she didn't know what you were doing." Me being the client that ALWAYS(insert sarcasm) follows directions, did exactly as I was told. That girl looked at me and said, "Oh am I in your way?" I didn't stop to respond...kept on sprinting cause that's how I roll. I don't have time for that nonsense. As I was trying to repress the feelings of nausea that were overcoming me it was time to try a new exercise. Here's how it was introduced. "When we came into the gym tonight Sean was doing this and it looked really cool. You're going to be my first guinea pig." Don't you think you would just be falling over to try an exercise with a intro like that? My response was "Are you kidding me?" It was a squat with a 40 pound barbell into an upright row...for just 20 times!!! Here's what you need to know...as I'm sitting in my pjs in my comfy bed writing this blog...my butt already hurts and it's just been 2 hours since we finished the workout. I can't wait to know what this is going to feel like tomorrow. I think it was a combination of that exercise, deadlifts, squats, and lunges that have really talked to the glutes. That's okay...they need to be talked to and they're not used to it so they're just talkin back a little bit. Trainer Mike decided that "since we went out like Johnny Carson last time we would go out with a bang like Ronald Reagan tonight." 2 sets of sprints, 5 regular pushups and 20 fingertip pushups followed by 30 crunches and 20 military jumping jacks. Yep, I wanted to fall on the floor when I was done. Yet, I wouldn't expect anything less.
Since Trainer Mike referenced Ronald Reagan, I feel that so should I..."There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect." Thus far in my journey I have learned that I had built walls and barriers that loomed over me and that I alone...not food...restricted my own success and debilitated my health. Please know, I still struggle with food. I still see it as my enemy sometimes. I am still challenged by food. However, I now understand that my thoughts about food and my lack of knowledge about food are the enemy. Not the food itself. (Okay...seriously...cake is an enemy to me. Truly an enemy!) Nevertheless, in 2011 I will tear down more walls and barriers and learn how to be friends with food and use it to my advantage. I look forward to it!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Johnny Carson Workout
Dear Readers, I am so sorry for not writing for so long. I have been working out, but time has been going quickly. Well my great news is that I got on the scales tonight at the gym and have lost 6 more pounds. I need to lose 7 more and I will be below a milestone weight for me. I can't wait.
My mom wants a way to contact Trainer Mike! NOT! Yesterday my sister and I took our grandpa out for his birthday. There has been this place in Gardner, KS for years called the Blazer Burger. A few months after Grandma passed two years ago, Grandpa started going in there. The owners, a young couple, have adopted him like he's part of their family. When Sandy and I suggested we go to the Blazer Burger for lunch Grandpa's face lit up. He couldn't wait for us to meet Jimmy and Heather. Let me get to how this lunch with my sister and Grandpa resulted in my mom wanting Trainer Mike's number. They have this unique ice cream machine over there. It comes out in a swirl onto a cone, but the edges are flavored. I ordered strawberry and the edges were strawberry with everything else vanilla. You need to know I would have NEVER tried the ice cream if my mother hadn't talked about it over and over and how good it is. Sandy thought we should send a pic of me with the ice cream to Mom. We did. She called me talking about how mean I am. She's the one that's been talking about this ice cream going on and on like it's the best thing since indoor toilets. I straight up told Trainer Mike my mom wanted his number and why. And I also told him she is FAR more of an ice cream addict than I am.
I hadn't been to the gym since a week ago when Mike and I worked out. The stomach flu knocked the workin out right out of me for a few days. I was a little worried walking into the gym and I should have been. Right off I had to run sprints. But the hardest part tonight was the lunges with barbells. I lunged down and back which is approximately 44 lunges with 40 pounds on my back. Then I did it with 30 and then with 20. OUCH! This was AFTER I had done three sets of lunges with kettle balls. In the middle of this Mike said, "Who likes lunges? Tammy likes lunges." Someone in the gym had to comment on how they do lunges. It's hard enough to do them without weight, but when you add that component it gets all sorts of tricky. At the end of the workout, Mike decided we would sprint again. I said, "Um...I think you forgot that's how we started the workout?" He said, "I know. We started happy and we're going to end happy. Johnny Carson style." The thing is...working out does make me VERY happy! Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die in the process, but overall it makes me sooo happy. I leave the gym and think, "Wow, Bunch you did it! You didn't puke or pass out. You did it." I am amazed that I have been doing this for 8 months now (HOLY COW!!! I just now realized it's been 8 months! And my trainer has stuck by me. That's a miracle. Surprised I haven't scared him off!) and still I am so challenged by the intensity of the workouts and sometimes scared that I'm not going to be able to do it. However, to quote the great Johnny Carson "If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined." I do feel more peaceful and I'm liking myself more all the time. 8 months ago...not so much!
My mom wants a way to contact Trainer Mike! NOT! Yesterday my sister and I took our grandpa out for his birthday. There has been this place in Gardner, KS for years called the Blazer Burger. A few months after Grandma passed two years ago, Grandpa started going in there. The owners, a young couple, have adopted him like he's part of their family. When Sandy and I suggested we go to the Blazer Burger for lunch Grandpa's face lit up. He couldn't wait for us to meet Jimmy and Heather. Let me get to how this lunch with my sister and Grandpa resulted in my mom wanting Trainer Mike's number. They have this unique ice cream machine over there. It comes out in a swirl onto a cone, but the edges are flavored. I ordered strawberry and the edges were strawberry with everything else vanilla. You need to know I would have NEVER tried the ice cream if my mother hadn't talked about it over and over and how good it is. Sandy thought we should send a pic of me with the ice cream to Mom. We did. She called me talking about how mean I am. She's the one that's been talking about this ice cream going on and on like it's the best thing since indoor toilets. I straight up told Trainer Mike my mom wanted his number and why. And I also told him she is FAR more of an ice cream addict than I am.
I hadn't been to the gym since a week ago when Mike and I worked out. The stomach flu knocked the workin out right out of me for a few days. I was a little worried walking into the gym and I should have been. Right off I had to run sprints. But the hardest part tonight was the lunges with barbells. I lunged down and back which is approximately 44 lunges with 40 pounds on my back. Then I did it with 30 and then with 20. OUCH! This was AFTER I had done three sets of lunges with kettle balls. In the middle of this Mike said, "Who likes lunges? Tammy likes lunges." Someone in the gym had to comment on how they do lunges. It's hard enough to do them without weight, but when you add that component it gets all sorts of tricky. At the end of the workout, Mike decided we would sprint again. I said, "Um...I think you forgot that's how we started the workout?" He said, "I know. We started happy and we're going to end happy. Johnny Carson style." The thing is...working out does make me VERY happy! Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die in the process, but overall it makes me sooo happy. I leave the gym and think, "Wow, Bunch you did it! You didn't puke or pass out. You did it." I am amazed that I have been doing this for 8 months now (HOLY COW!!! I just now realized it's been 8 months! And my trainer has stuck by me. That's a miracle. Surprised I haven't scared him off!) and still I am so challenged by the intensity of the workouts and sometimes scared that I'm not going to be able to do it. However, to quote the great Johnny Carson "If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined." I do feel more peaceful and I'm liking myself more all the time. 8 months ago...not so much!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Do You Trust Yourself
Last night's workout was SCARY. I've yet to workout with Mike and not be challenged in someway, but last night we were at a new level. We started out doing a Hiway Patrol test. I tried to explain that I'm not going into the Hiway Patrol, but Mike thinks this is good for me. So I ran for 7 minutes straight without complaining or whining once. I walked for two minutes and then ran the rest of my mile. Pretty cool. I was impressed with myself. But then he decided we needed to run sprints. So it was two times down the gym and 20 pushups and 20 flutter kicks. Next three times down and back with thirty pushups and thirty flutter kicks. Four times down and back with forty pushups and forty flutter kicks. Five times down and back with fifty pushups and fifty flutter kicks. We followed that up with 50 crunches and then hopped right into some kickboxing. (I thought after I hit the trainer the last time we were finished with this, but I'm so excited he brought it back.) It's such a great stress relief. After that we did some squatting. Then we went into some serious ab work. First I held a weighted ball and with my legs in the air did 25 crunches with the ball above my head. I took a break then we did squats, jumping jacks and 25 more of the ball crunches. Then Mike said, "Do you trust me?" It's not a matter of me trusting Mike. I trust him completely. He's an expert and wants me to succeed as badly as I want to succeed. The question is do I trust myself? So I laid on the floor and Mike stood over me with the weighted ball. He dropped it, I caught it and then I threw it up in the air to him. I really had to focus because if I missed the ball it was going to hit my nose and you know I would end up with a broken nose. But we did it successfully 20 times. It was painful.
At the end of the workout I was dripping with sweat and extremely nauseous. I had to sit down in a chair. My husband had come to workout, but ended up watching my workout instead. He and the trainer started talking. I was extremely quiet because my seratonin levels were so high. It was like I was having some out of body experience. We finally got in the car to come home and Dave said, "He kicked your ass. That was just a spanking." I was nauseous for an hour after the workout. I managed to drink a protein drink and then I crashed. I could barely focus on the book I'm reading. When I fell asleep it was a deep hard sleep. It's the kind of sleep I love. I'm hoping for a workout like this next week when I don't have to get up and go to work the next morning. I could have slept way past my alarm this morning. My legs, butt, and abs were so sore this morning, but it was that good sore. And the scales were down another pound. It was a scary workout, but I LOVED it. The harder they are the better I feel. I'm enjoying this journey so much. "Every man is the builder of a temple called his body." ~Henry David Thoreau...I've got a lot more building to do, but I'm doin it!
At the end of the workout I was dripping with sweat and extremely nauseous. I had to sit down in a chair. My husband had come to workout, but ended up watching my workout instead. He and the trainer started talking. I was extremely quiet because my seratonin levels were so high. It was like I was having some out of body experience. We finally got in the car to come home and Dave said, "He kicked your ass. That was just a spanking." I was nauseous for an hour after the workout. I managed to drink a protein drink and then I crashed. I could barely focus on the book I'm reading. When I fell asleep it was a deep hard sleep. It's the kind of sleep I love. I'm hoping for a workout like this next week when I don't have to get up and go to work the next morning. I could have slept way past my alarm this morning. My legs, butt, and abs were so sore this morning, but it was that good sore. And the scales were down another pound. It was a scary workout, but I LOVED it. The harder they are the better I feel. I'm enjoying this journey so much. "Every man is the builder of a temple called his body." ~Henry David Thoreau...I've got a lot more building to do, but I'm doin it!
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