If you are wondering where I've been and you don't follow Facebook or talk to me regularly, I've had a HORRID case of bronchitis. As always, Readers, there is a story...
On Sunday April 17th, Trainer texted me shortly before our workout and told me to meet him at the high school track instead of the gym. I immediately replied back "NO!!!" I expected him to not respond, but he told me he could meet me at the gym. As scared as I was I knew this day was coming and I had just better get it over. Having talked to a high school friend earlier that day and telling her that Mike had been threatening me with running the stadium stairs she said, "He better wrap you in bubble wrap first." My mom was terrified at the thought. She is scarred from past emergency room visits. Anyway, to the stadium I went with my husband stopping by on duty. I don't know if it was support or to laugh. I had called him on my way and told him where my life insurance information was just in case. Onto the track with a lesson on only running in the outside lane I was off. Didn't take long at all for my lungs to feel like they were ON FIRE! Having not felt well the whole week before I had avoided the gym and thought the burning in my lungs was a result of the allergies which had been plaguing me and a lack of working out. I finished my laps around the track and my pushups. Mike tried to get me to do some chin ups off the side of the bleachers. That didn't work out so well. We were both frustrated. We moved to the stairs.
Ever the encourager, Mike told me he was going to do these with me. He also told me he had done them earlier in the week and could barely move for two days after. "This is really good cardio." With Mike running much faster than me up his side, I ran up the stairs. Having his own experience with my clutziness, Mike had cautioned me to come down the stairs slowly. No worries. By the time I arrived at the bottom after my first trip, I was sure I was a loser. I was breathing so hard, my lungs were on fire, my legs were burning, and I was light headed. I grabbed onto the rail to catch my breath before going back up. So for every three trips Mike made...I went one. My final number was ten. Mike kept telling me what a great job I had done. I was ready to cry. How could I have been working out for almost a year and be so weak? I got in the car and my legs were shaking so hard I could barely drive. I had to reposition myself in the car to push on the accelerator. My muscles weren't working right. Ten minutes later I arrived home and puked. If I had said in the past that I had almost died from a workout, I was totally mistaken because this workout was kicking my butt. The only way I could get my legs to quit shaking was after sitting in a hot bath for an hour. Then the coughing began. I was coughing so hard I was crying.
Monday morning I woke up and felt like I had been hit by a truck. I left work early to go to the doctor who listened to my lungs and said, "CRAP TAMMY!" He was in disbelief that I had worked out the night before and not ended up in the ER. Now part of me was relieved. This explained why I felt so awful during the workout and after, but then reality pulled up and I started to cry. "But I only have two weeks left in my doctorate course work and I have this, this, and this due! I have to feel better QUICK!" Doctor agreed to treat aggressively. I spent the next day and a half in bed. Barely made it through work on Wednesday...stayed home on Thursday and then there was Friday at the end of which I ended up with the ER doctor. He was arrogant, but very compassionate and said that in addition to bronchitis I had a sinus infection and they weren't responding to my Z Pack and inhalers. A new antibiotic, two new inhalers, and another round of steroids and I was out the door. During this time, my dear friend dropped off an herbal product at the house. She's in the doctorate program with me and realized the situation I was in.
It's hard to say if it has been the new prescription drugs or the herbal stuff, but I do feel better. Now the toughest part is that the doctor says I can't go back to the gym before Thursday. I'm feeling better and VERY fat. Steroids for two weeks? Really? Do you know what that does to the scales? They don't go down that's for sure. Even when I didn't eat for five days...they went UP!!! And even when I was sooo sick and insisted to my husband that the only thing which would make me feel better was ice cream and he wouldn't go get it, the scales still went UP!!!
That, Dear Readers...is how the stadium was a near death experience for Bunchy...I feel like I'm back to square 1, but I really can't wait to start working out again. I feel like a slug!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
That's So Last Year!!!
I'm feeling frustrated today so it's a great time to blog....bahaha!!!
I did it. I went at this diet with a vengence this week. No holds barred. Chicken breast and asparagus or green beans for lunch. Either chicken or turkey and a vege for dinner. Mixed in a few protein drinks. Started my day with oatmeal and blueberries. Denied myself lots of food and four days later I am the exact same weight. So here's how the conversation started tonight at the gym...
Mike: "How are you Tammy?"
Me: "I'm grouchy"
Mike: "Why?"
Me: "They're building onto our school and the construction moved inside the building today. They were cutting metal. Then they were building walls inside. It was noisy. And some of the adults were getting on my nerves."
Mike: "We're going to run sprints to warm up. 10"
Me: "And let me tell you what else. I've been on this diet for four days and I haven't lost a pound!"
Mike: "Tammy it's not easy. How long have I been on my diet? 6 months!"
Me: "But Mike you lost weight the first week."
Mike: "Tammy I'm a guy and you're a girl."
Truthfully, he might have said something else after that, but I just started running. I was even grouchier. If I could grow the piece of anatomy that makes it easier for a man to lose weight don't think I wouldn't try it.
New exercises like jumping jacks while holding weights. I ask...what's wrong with regular jumping jacks? Those were last year is the answer I get. Seriously. This phrase comes out of his mouth with more frequency the closer we get to our year anniversary of working out together. What worked last year doesn't work this year all of a sudden. The most challenging exercise for me tonight was to hit a pushup from a squatting position and then jump up toward the ceiling. It's kind of like a frog hopper with a pushup involved. After trying this a couple of times, Mike told me I could be on the special olympics. Gee...thanks!
I spent Tuesday night with my massage therapist. She does somatic massage. For those of you that have had a massage this is not the relaxing kind where you are passive and falling asleep. You are active in this massage. My knee was hurting and the last time I was there she had told me we needed to do some work on my legs. Perhaps this was one of the most painful experiences of my life. She wasn't even using full pressure. It was scary painful. She kept telling me to breathe so I wouldn't pass out. She said my IT bands were way too tight and that I needed to tell my trainer this and I needed to make sure I was stretching before and after the workouts. In case you are wondering the IT band runs from the outside of your hip to just below your knee where it connects with the Tibia. It is a tendon. When these get as tight as mine were it causes low back pain and butt pain, and leg pain, and knee pain. She told me to make sure my trainer knew this. I texted him immediately to let him know. So tonight we ended my workout by him stretching the IT band. Incredibly painful, but so incredibly relaxing at the same time. It was an amazing experience. Now I have to train my husband on this type of stretching. We also stretched my hamstrings and my quads. Same deal...painful, but wonderful at the same time.
What Trainer and I did decide is this...no more cheat meals. Those are finished. Have to treat the body like a machine until it responds to me. I have to add eggs to breakfast so I have protein. I'm mad enough at this point about not losing weight that I'm gonna give it a go and see what happens. Trainer Mike says this will work so I'm trusting him.
I did it. I went at this diet with a vengence this week. No holds barred. Chicken breast and asparagus or green beans for lunch. Either chicken or turkey and a vege for dinner. Mixed in a few protein drinks. Started my day with oatmeal and blueberries. Denied myself lots of food and four days later I am the exact same weight. So here's how the conversation started tonight at the gym...
Mike: "How are you Tammy?"
Me: "I'm grouchy"
Mike: "Why?"
Me: "They're building onto our school and the construction moved inside the building today. They were cutting metal. Then they were building walls inside. It was noisy. And some of the adults were getting on my nerves."
Mike: "We're going to run sprints to warm up. 10"
Me: "And let me tell you what else. I've been on this diet for four days and I haven't lost a pound!"
Mike: "Tammy it's not easy. How long have I been on my diet? 6 months!"
Me: "But Mike you lost weight the first week."
Mike: "Tammy I'm a guy and you're a girl."
Truthfully, he might have said something else after that, but I just started running. I was even grouchier. If I could grow the piece of anatomy that makes it easier for a man to lose weight don't think I wouldn't try it.
New exercises like jumping jacks while holding weights. I ask...what's wrong with regular jumping jacks? Those were last year is the answer I get. Seriously. This phrase comes out of his mouth with more frequency the closer we get to our year anniversary of working out together. What worked last year doesn't work this year all of a sudden. The most challenging exercise for me tonight was to hit a pushup from a squatting position and then jump up toward the ceiling. It's kind of like a frog hopper with a pushup involved. After trying this a couple of times, Mike told me I could be on the special olympics. Gee...thanks!
I spent Tuesday night with my massage therapist. She does somatic massage. For those of you that have had a massage this is not the relaxing kind where you are passive and falling asleep. You are active in this massage. My knee was hurting and the last time I was there she had told me we needed to do some work on my legs. Perhaps this was one of the most painful experiences of my life. She wasn't even using full pressure. It was scary painful. She kept telling me to breathe so I wouldn't pass out. She said my IT bands were way too tight and that I needed to tell my trainer this and I needed to make sure I was stretching before and after the workouts. In case you are wondering the IT band runs from the outside of your hip to just below your knee where it connects with the Tibia. It is a tendon. When these get as tight as mine were it causes low back pain and butt pain, and leg pain, and knee pain. She told me to make sure my trainer knew this. I texted him immediately to let him know. So tonight we ended my workout by him stretching the IT band. Incredibly painful, but so incredibly relaxing at the same time. It was an amazing experience. Now I have to train my husband on this type of stretching. We also stretched my hamstrings and my quads. Same deal...painful, but wonderful at the same time.
What Trainer and I did decide is this...no more cheat meals. Those are finished. Have to treat the body like a machine until it responds to me. I have to add eggs to breakfast so I have protein. I'm mad enough at this point about not losing weight that I'm gonna give it a go and see what happens. Trainer Mike says this will work so I'm trusting him.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Brownies, Bloody Chocolate Cake, and Pains in my Butt!!!
As I was starting my day today a friend stopped at my office door and said, "Have you seen the bloody teacher's lounge?" I looked at her stunned. "It's pay day treats. Don't go in there. Chocolate cake, brownies, and a bucket of candy this big." My friend who had her arms outstretched to show me the size of the bucket of candy is on Weight Watchers. Well twenty minutes later I had to go make a copy. Readers, I am honestly reporting to you that she was not EVEN kidding. Do you think I wanted a piece of the chocolate cake? NOPE!!! I wanted to bury my head in it and not come up for air until I had inhaled the entire thing. It looked so moist with thick frosting (and a lot of it!). Nevermind the chips and cheese dip, the dip and crackers, the sausage and cheese, and the veges and dip. All I wanted was that chocolate. If you think that I have gained a lot of will power, you might be mistaken. I avoided the lounge like the plague for most of the day. Yet, it was as though the cake were whispering in my ear in a seductful way, "I'm here. I'm waiting. Come here beautiful!"
I don't know if anyone noticed or not, but when I did have to go in that wicked aroma filled room I had my hands in my back pockets. The whole blessed day. The jeans I was wearing were too big. At one point today as I was standing with my hands shoved as deeply as they would go, I learned I can take the jeans on and off without a snap or a zipper. (I didn't moon anyone, but did learn I probably need to go buy a new pair.)At lunch as I was waiting for my protein and veges to heat up I glanced closer at the brownies. BROWNIES WITH CARAMEL???? Truly, only people trying to sabotage me would have brought those. REALLY??? To everyone who took a bite...I asked "Are they worth it?" Not one person told me "No, they aren't worth it." They all made these moaning sounds. Where is my support system when I need it? Who are these people that have been cheering me on? Where did my friends go? One gentleman said, "Aren't you going to do it? Trainer couldn't even resist those." "My arms hurt so bad from the 200 pushups I did yesterday that I just don't think I should." Now as I'm saying this I'm thinking...I'm going to eat one of those brownies and just a taste of cake. But as I said it, the gentelman almost choked on his buffalo chicken chip and said, "You did not do 200 pushups. Be real. I can't even do 200 pushups." "If you count the 20 pike pushups I certainly did do 200 pushups!" "I don't believe you. Call Trainer Mike right now. Get him on the phone." Now I had a point to prove and I couldn't cave and eat the brownie or the bloody chocolate cake! On the day went. I did notice with my hands shoved in my back pockets that there is less of my butt. It feels firmer and tighter. This might seem weird, but keeping my hands on my butt kept me from indulging in brownies or the bloody chocolate cake all day! Not to mention the enormous container of Hershey's chocolate and other candy! Let's move on to the real pain in the butt...
My arms, legs, and abs have been sore all day. Tonight I walked into the gym and decided I would get the legs out of the way first. After doing leg presses and some hamstring work, I moved to the abductor/adductor machine. I was feeling pretty full of myself so I thought..."I'll just do 100 of these and then do cardio." I made it to exactly 93 and got a cramp in my butt. Please don't mistake this for a "Oh it is really sore burn." You know those charley horses you get in your leg in the middle of the night? That's what was happening in my butt. I was trying to remain calm. Sitting spread eagle acting like I was just pausing in my workout. In the few seconds this lasted (which felt much more like minutes) thoughts ran through my head. "Woman stuck on weight machine." "Gym calls emergency team to remove woman from weight machine" (which would have involved both my trainer and my husband tonight). Finally, the cramp subsided and I was able to get on the stepper and do my cardio. Now I go to bed with sore arms, sore legs, sore abs, AND a sore butt, but I didn't eat the brownies or the bloody chocolate cake! SCORE: 1 for Bunchy 0 for the Bulge!!!
I'm just going to add that yesterday Trainer Mike had me on a new contraption for abs because "Doing abs the other way isn't working for you anymore." You have to hook your feet around this thing and lay back. I jumped off several times before I even did a crunch because I was scared I was going to fall. Trainer Mike was relentless. "You are doing these," with this smirk on his face like I was a moron. Now with my accident history...do you blame me? Like I should by lying upside down ready to fall on my head? He assured me even if I did fall it would only be six inches or so. Have I mentioned that I never fall gracefully? A lot could happen to me in six inches. Tonight there was this high school kid using this contraption and the brilliant young lad put a foam block. Duh!!! Even though my orders were "Get used to this, we are going to be on it a lot" I didn't try it tonight on my own. Maybe tomorrow...for now...back to doctorate work!
I don't know if anyone noticed or not, but when I did have to go in that wicked aroma filled room I had my hands in my back pockets. The whole blessed day. The jeans I was wearing were too big. At one point today as I was standing with my hands shoved as deeply as they would go, I learned I can take the jeans on and off without a snap or a zipper. (I didn't moon anyone, but did learn I probably need to go buy a new pair.)At lunch as I was waiting for my protein and veges to heat up I glanced closer at the brownies. BROWNIES WITH CARAMEL???? Truly, only people trying to sabotage me would have brought those. REALLY??? To everyone who took a bite...I asked "Are they worth it?" Not one person told me "No, they aren't worth it." They all made these moaning sounds. Where is my support system when I need it? Who are these people that have been cheering me on? Where did my friends go? One gentleman said, "Aren't you going to do it? Trainer couldn't even resist those." "My arms hurt so bad from the 200 pushups I did yesterday that I just don't think I should." Now as I'm saying this I'm thinking...I'm going to eat one of those brownies and just a taste of cake. But as I said it, the gentelman almost choked on his buffalo chicken chip and said, "You did not do 200 pushups. Be real. I can't even do 200 pushups." "If you count the 20 pike pushups I certainly did do 200 pushups!" "I don't believe you. Call Trainer Mike right now. Get him on the phone." Now I had a point to prove and I couldn't cave and eat the brownie or the bloody chocolate cake! On the day went. I did notice with my hands shoved in my back pockets that there is less of my butt. It feels firmer and tighter. This might seem weird, but keeping my hands on my butt kept me from indulging in brownies or the bloody chocolate cake all day! Not to mention the enormous container of Hershey's chocolate and other candy! Let's move on to the real pain in the butt...
My arms, legs, and abs have been sore all day. Tonight I walked into the gym and decided I would get the legs out of the way first. After doing leg presses and some hamstring work, I moved to the abductor/adductor machine. I was feeling pretty full of myself so I thought..."I'll just do 100 of these and then do cardio." I made it to exactly 93 and got a cramp in my butt. Please don't mistake this for a "Oh it is really sore burn." You know those charley horses you get in your leg in the middle of the night? That's what was happening in my butt. I was trying to remain calm. Sitting spread eagle acting like I was just pausing in my workout. In the few seconds this lasted (which felt much more like minutes) thoughts ran through my head. "Woman stuck on weight machine." "Gym calls emergency team to remove woman from weight machine" (which would have involved both my trainer and my husband tonight). Finally, the cramp subsided and I was able to get on the stepper and do my cardio. Now I go to bed with sore arms, sore legs, sore abs, AND a sore butt, but I didn't eat the brownies or the bloody chocolate cake! SCORE: 1 for Bunchy 0 for the Bulge!!!
I'm just going to add that yesterday Trainer Mike had me on a new contraption for abs because "Doing abs the other way isn't working for you anymore." You have to hook your feet around this thing and lay back. I jumped off several times before I even did a crunch because I was scared I was going to fall. Trainer Mike was relentless. "You are doing these," with this smirk on his face like I was a moron. Now with my accident history...do you blame me? Like I should by lying upside down ready to fall on my head? He assured me even if I did fall it would only be six inches or so. Have I mentioned that I never fall gracefully? A lot could happen to me in six inches. Tonight there was this high school kid using this contraption and the brilliant young lad put a foam block. Duh!!! Even though my orders were "Get used to this, we are going to be on it a lot" I didn't try it tonight on my own. Maybe tomorrow...for now...back to doctorate work!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
School For The Gifted
Is this what you were referring to tonight Mike??? I'm still laughing. Okay Readers...here is what happened based on my perception and interpretation...
I worked out with Trainer yesterday after not working out for five days. When I arrived at the gym tonight to meet him again my legs and arms were on fire. As I was running he told me we would not be touching any weights tonight. We were only going to do exercises where I was working with my body. That means I did two hundred push ups, lots of squats, a new type of lunge, and some pull ups. So I got to the bar where I was to pull up and got ready to go. (I'm laughing so hard right now just typing this...) Mike says, "Tammy, you need your feet to go the other way or you are going to pull the bar off on you." I look at the bar and said, "Oh yeah. Yeah because it's not connected on this side." I turned myself around and as I began Mike said I remind him of the kid in this far side cartoon. Maybe I have not told Mike this, but I have told my husband many times...as I'm working on this doctorate there is soooo much new knowledge going in my brain that some stuff (and usually it's the common sense stuff) has to leave. There is simply not room for everything. AND more importantly, this is not a doctorate in physics...it's in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis which would explain how I misjudged my distance yesterday and almost sprinted into the mirrored wall (which was complicated by the fact that I was supposed to be HIGH fiving Trainer on my way back and he was making me jump for it)and how tonight when leaving the gym I walked into the door. I'm still laughing!
Well I ended up not working out as much last week because I got icky sick. Thursday morning I woke up with this horrible mid back pain which didn't get better as the day went on. As a matter of fact, I became light headed and nauseous. I cancelled my session with Mike that night and was asleep before 7:00. I don't like to cancel my sessions it makes me grouchy, but to be completely honest...I felt so yucky I didn't even care. Friday I went to the chiropractor who said, "Tammy, what have you done?" I truly don't know what I did. So after another visit to the chiro on Saturday morning I was good to go for last night.
Truly, as I have spent this entire weekend working on this stinking Research Prospectus, I am very confident that working out is the BEST stress relief ever. Some of my fellow cohort members question how I have time to do the gym thing while going through this program, but I think I would be close to four hundred pounds and a wreck if I weren't doing it. I look forward to going to the gym each day. Even though I'm getting a lot better at pushing myself on my own, the workouts with Trainer are still the best. In order to write the Research Prospectus I have had to read over several other dissertations. There is this acknowledgement section. I'm pretty sure Trainer is going to get acknowledged in my dissertation because working out has been a major part of the doctoral journey.
I've hit a wall this semester with the doctoral program. If I hadn't invested so much time and money I think this semester would have been where I bowed out. Okay, probably not...because I don't quit stuff, but I have wanted to quit several times this semester. I'm burned out. I'm tired of reading and writing and revising and editing. With that said, I'm still enjoying the journey. I love learning. I really do. It's an amazing experience. Hopefully, a year from now I'll be defending the dissertation and so much closer to DR!!!!
Just one more thing before I sign off tonight. I've been sitting in here with my laptop for about three hours since I returned from the gym. Aside from going up and down the stairs to do laundry (which my legs are screaming at me for) I've been doing homework steady for three hours. Do you have any idea how many times pop tarts are advertised in three hours? Do you have any idea how good a pop tart sounds right now? I don't normally eat pop tarts! What the heck? It's simply because I want a carb...I get it, but holy moly!!! And now I'm watching this special on the upcoming Royal Wedding. You should see the candidates for the wedding cake...I want to dive my face right in. I can help Kate and William pick that cake out with NO problem!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Bunchy Boot Camp
I decided to make spring break my Boot Camp. Trying to jump start myself back into a serious routine. I feel like I'm fighting for every pound at this point. I need to be able to eat like my body is a machine and feed it only what will make it more efficient. It is a struggle every single day. I'm either terrified to eat or I'm craving food that isn't good for me. These past two days I've eaten very healthy. Eggs, chicken, veges, and protein shakes. I have no choices left. You know I was just watching a show on people climbing Mt. Everest. The higher they climb it's difficult to lift each leg to take a step. That's kind of how I'm feeling with eating. It is the biggest challenge for me in this journey. Most days I still feel like a failure. I feel like I should be losing faster. I know it's my own fault that I haven't lost more pounds. When you have struggled with eating forever it's difficult to change bad habits. I question everything that goes in my mouth.
I'm really sore tonight. Last night's workout with Trainer Mike was the second of the day and I call it a Near Death Experience. At one point, I asked him if he still liked me because we were hitting it so hard. He insisted it was for my own good. When I got on the scales this morning I had lost three pounds since yesterday morning. My mom asked what he had me doing...it was a set of lunges right into jumping jacks followed by push ups and then repeating the whole thing. Arm exercises and mountain climbers and frog hoppers and dead lifts. I truly felt like crying at one point. When I got home I puked. So I woke up this morning and was sore, but went to the gym anyway and did cardio. Tonight I went back and worked arms. Now in addition to my legs and abs being sore from last night, my arms are burning too.
Let me just add here that we have moved from "fake" pushups (on my knees) to real pushups most of the time now. I never thought this would be a possibility for me. It's surreal that I'm doing real pushups. Not all the time, but they are definately being incorporated.
Please don't think I'm complaining. I LOVE challenging workouts. Maybe not in the moment, but after I'm on a high. It's like "WOW! You did it!" Even today, I'm still pumped from last night and can't wait until my next trainer session.
I'll keep you posted on how the Boot Camp goes. Right now...I need to get back to some homework...
I'm really sore tonight. Last night's workout with Trainer Mike was the second of the day and I call it a Near Death Experience. At one point, I asked him if he still liked me because we were hitting it so hard. He insisted it was for my own good. When I got on the scales this morning I had lost three pounds since yesterday morning. My mom asked what he had me doing...it was a set of lunges right into jumping jacks followed by push ups and then repeating the whole thing. Arm exercises and mountain climbers and frog hoppers and dead lifts. I truly felt like crying at one point. When I got home I puked. So I woke up this morning and was sore, but went to the gym anyway and did cardio. Tonight I went back and worked arms. Now in addition to my legs and abs being sore from last night, my arms are burning too.
Let me just add here that we have moved from "fake" pushups (on my knees) to real pushups most of the time now. I never thought this would be a possibility for me. It's surreal that I'm doing real pushups. Not all the time, but they are definately being incorporated.
Please don't think I'm complaining. I LOVE challenging workouts. Maybe not in the moment, but after I'm on a high. It's like "WOW! You did it!" Even today, I'm still pumped from last night and can't wait until my next trainer session.
I'll keep you posted on how the Boot Camp goes. Right now...I need to get back to some homework...
Friday, March 11, 2011
Dinner in Denver
I've spent the last two days in Denver at the International Positive Behavior Support Conference. No, smart alecks...this was NOT for my behavior. HA!
For the past two weeks I've had a sinus and ear infection. A week ago I finally caved and went to the doctor only because I knew I had to get on a plane. The doctor gave me an antibiotic to start and eventually a steroid. On the day I was feeling my worst I went to have a work out with Trainer Mike. I couldn't lift anything and had no strength. That was a week ago yesterday. I haven't been to the gym since. UGH! We were going to work out tonight, but things were changed around and now I'm meeting with him on Monday. This will give me a chance to get in the gym for the next two days and hit it on my own so that perhaps Monday won't be so grueling.
Before leaving for Denver, I had lost four pounds. Now maybe this was because I hadn't been working out or perhaps it was because I was really watching what I was eating because I was terrified of the steroid effect. It really doesn't matter. I am quite sure if I get on the scales in the morning there will be a significant increase in the number. Add to the fact that I haven't been working out, the past three days of sitting. I've either been sitting in an airport, on an airplane, or in a conference session. The only breaks have been when my colleagues and I went for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Wednesday night's dinner wasn't even until 11:00 p.m. because of our flight delay. That was midnight our time. Yesterday's lunch was at the Hard Rock Cafe. I ordered a salad!!! I think the fried chicken and dressing that was on it kind of defeated the purpose. Last night someone had recommended an Italian place to us saying "It will be the best Italian you ever eat." Okay...he was soooo RIGHT!!! Imagine our surprise when the salad made Olive Garden salad seem like Road Kill. The salad was sooo good in fact that we asked for extra dressing so we could dip the warm home made bread in it. Then came the Ziti I ordered. Chefs shouldn't cook food this good. They really shouldn't. Now I can't even describe to you teh three layered chocolate cake the size of a whole pie that went by our table. I gasped out loud when I saw it. I could hardly get my friend's attention fast enough to make sure she saw it as well. You'll be happy to know we didn't order it. Instead, we ordered the smore cake. It was just as large. We were all pretty miserable walking the three blocks back to the hotel. Hey does that count that each time we went to eat we walked about three blocks there and back??? I know...it totally doesn't.
I guess the moral of this story is the thin girl who is struggling to get out was thrown down by the fat girl while in Denver. The fat girl didn't even care about what was right. She was overwhelmed by all the choices and just went for it. The thin girl needs to get stronger and fight back. This next week I'm on spring break. Going to spend some serious time working out and concentrating on diet. I'll keep you posted and let you know how it goes!
For the past two weeks I've had a sinus and ear infection. A week ago I finally caved and went to the doctor only because I knew I had to get on a plane. The doctor gave me an antibiotic to start and eventually a steroid. On the day I was feeling my worst I went to have a work out with Trainer Mike. I couldn't lift anything and had no strength. That was a week ago yesterday. I haven't been to the gym since. UGH! We were going to work out tonight, but things were changed around and now I'm meeting with him on Monday. This will give me a chance to get in the gym for the next two days and hit it on my own so that perhaps Monday won't be so grueling.
Before leaving for Denver, I had lost four pounds. Now maybe this was because I hadn't been working out or perhaps it was because I was really watching what I was eating because I was terrified of the steroid effect. It really doesn't matter. I am quite sure if I get on the scales in the morning there will be a significant increase in the number. Add to the fact that I haven't been working out, the past three days of sitting. I've either been sitting in an airport, on an airplane, or in a conference session. The only breaks have been when my colleagues and I went for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Wednesday night's dinner wasn't even until 11:00 p.m. because of our flight delay. That was midnight our time. Yesterday's lunch was at the Hard Rock Cafe. I ordered a salad!!! I think the fried chicken and dressing that was on it kind of defeated the purpose. Last night someone had recommended an Italian place to us saying "It will be the best Italian you ever eat." Okay...he was soooo RIGHT!!! Imagine our surprise when the salad made Olive Garden salad seem like Road Kill. The salad was sooo good in fact that we asked for extra dressing so we could dip the warm home made bread in it. Then came the Ziti I ordered. Chefs shouldn't cook food this good. They really shouldn't. Now I can't even describe to you teh three layered chocolate cake the size of a whole pie that went by our table. I gasped out loud when I saw it. I could hardly get my friend's attention fast enough to make sure she saw it as well. You'll be happy to know we didn't order it. Instead, we ordered the smore cake. It was just as large. We were all pretty miserable walking the three blocks back to the hotel. Hey does that count that each time we went to eat we walked about three blocks there and back??? I know...it totally doesn't.
I guess the moral of this story is the thin girl who is struggling to get out was thrown down by the fat girl while in Denver. The fat girl didn't even care about what was right. She was overwhelmed by all the choices and just went for it. The thin girl needs to get stronger and fight back. This next week I'm on spring break. Going to spend some serious time working out and concentrating on diet. I'll keep you posted and let you know how it goes!
Friday, February 25, 2011
River Dance
A little bit more stress was added to our plates this week. Dave's Grandma was diagnosed with colon cancer. Surgery was performed today. The surgeon removed a mass the size of his fist. He is confident he got everything. After test results come back from pathology, we will know what the next step is. In the mean time, she will be in the hospital for another week.
I have continued to work out every day this week. Toward the end of the day I find myself ready to go to the gym. Yesterday, a winter storm reared it's ugly, white head on KC. A mix of sleet and rain through most of the day and then it turned to snow. I mean a lot of snow! i drove to the gym for my 6:30 meeting with Mike. As I was driving I thought, "Probably not my best plan." Needless to say the gym was pretty empty. Gave me plenty of room to start out with those sprints and pushups. 150pushups to start. More were incorporated throughout the workout. Along with some pull ups. Isn't that interesting considering we were working legs? Things that make you go hmmmm....
Now the drive home should have burned a ton more calories...I couldn't see where I was going it was snowing so hard. To be quite honest, I was a little scared. I realized how people get lost in the snow. There was not a travelled path on the highway. I couldn't even see the highway.
Tonight our workout started with me running a mile. Not a flat mile either. Trainer decided to increase the incline. That SUX!!!! Let me share with you a snippet of conversation that occurred during tonight's arm and shoulder workout...
(Me lying on the bench with weights raised above my head and bending them at a 90 degree angle over my face)
Mike: Faster (as he snaps his fingers)
Me: I'm trying
Mike: Lower
Me: It burns
Mike: What's that face you're making?
LOL!!! I do make some crazy faces. I am TERRIFIED of hurting my shoulder again. I woke up this morning and it was sore. I was worried that because of our workout last night the pain was starting again. Mike assures me I need to work through it.
Mike told me that he and my husband have been talking and they have big things planned for me this year. (This conversation occurred last night.) So I've had all day to think things like, "What are the two of them dreaming up?" Tonight I asked for clarification. Let's just say I think I'm going to be working harder than ever in preparation of the big 40. That's good though. I want to be pushed. I feel like Mike was really pushing me tonight. Especially when he ended my workout by making me run sprints with 150 pushups. And when I was ready to quit he gave me the half glass full speech. For those of you who don't know my husband, he is an eternal optimist. He is always a glass half full kind of guy. This works out very nicely most of the time. As long as he realizes sometimes I need reassurance and gentle nugding to get to the half full. I am half full most of the time. I do have my moments of feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Anyway, tonight when I was struggling with the thought of running sprints (5 sprints, 50 pushups, 4 sprints, 40 pushups, 3 sprints, 30 pushups, 2 sprints, 20 pushups, 1 sprint, 10 pushups)Mike said, "You need to have more of your husband's attitude." I must have given a perplexed look. He said, "You know, glass half full. Right now you're the glass half empty." To which I replied, "My husband isn't in here running sprints right now." And off I went...my legs were stiff and it was a bit painful, but I did it. On about the third sprint, at the end. Mike thought it was my attempt at River Dancing. It was totally not what I meant to do. I LOVE River Dancing, but I am not coordinated enough to even try it. I've seen River Dance at the theater before, but I think my most favorite River Dancing EVER was what Kate Winslet and Leonardo DeCaprio did in one of my most FAVORITE movies ever...TITANIC!!! ;)
And with that friends, I've had my protein drink, my dinner, and my shower...and I'm now headed for my after workout sleep which is usually the best sleep!
I have continued to work out every day this week. Toward the end of the day I find myself ready to go to the gym. Yesterday, a winter storm reared it's ugly, white head on KC. A mix of sleet and rain through most of the day and then it turned to snow. I mean a lot of snow! i drove to the gym for my 6:30 meeting with Mike. As I was driving I thought, "Probably not my best plan." Needless to say the gym was pretty empty. Gave me plenty of room to start out with those sprints and pushups. 150pushups to start. More were incorporated throughout the workout. Along with some pull ups. Isn't that interesting considering we were working legs? Things that make you go hmmmm....
Now the drive home should have burned a ton more calories...I couldn't see where I was going it was snowing so hard. To be quite honest, I was a little scared. I realized how people get lost in the snow. There was not a travelled path on the highway. I couldn't even see the highway.
Tonight our workout started with me running a mile. Not a flat mile either. Trainer decided to increase the incline. That SUX!!!! Let me share with you a snippet of conversation that occurred during tonight's arm and shoulder workout...
(Me lying on the bench with weights raised above my head and bending them at a 90 degree angle over my face)
Mike: Faster (as he snaps his fingers)
Me: I'm trying
Mike: Lower
Me: It burns
Mike: What's that face you're making?
LOL!!! I do make some crazy faces. I am TERRIFIED of hurting my shoulder again. I woke up this morning and it was sore. I was worried that because of our workout last night the pain was starting again. Mike assures me I need to work through it.
Mike told me that he and my husband have been talking and they have big things planned for me this year. (This conversation occurred last night.) So I've had all day to think things like, "What are the two of them dreaming up?" Tonight I asked for clarification. Let's just say I think I'm going to be working harder than ever in preparation of the big 40. That's good though. I want to be pushed. I feel like Mike was really pushing me tonight. Especially when he ended my workout by making me run sprints with 150 pushups. And when I was ready to quit he gave me the half glass full speech. For those of you who don't know my husband, he is an eternal optimist. He is always a glass half full kind of guy. This works out very nicely most of the time. As long as he realizes sometimes I need reassurance and gentle nugding to get to the half full. I am half full most of the time. I do have my moments of feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Anyway, tonight when I was struggling with the thought of running sprints (5 sprints, 50 pushups, 4 sprints, 40 pushups, 3 sprints, 30 pushups, 2 sprints, 20 pushups, 1 sprint, 10 pushups)Mike said, "You need to have more of your husband's attitude." I must have given a perplexed look. He said, "You know, glass half full. Right now you're the glass half empty." To which I replied, "My husband isn't in here running sprints right now." And off I went...my legs were stiff and it was a bit painful, but I did it. On about the third sprint, at the end. Mike thought it was my attempt at River Dancing. It was totally not what I meant to do. I LOVE River Dancing, but I am not coordinated enough to even try it. I've seen River Dance at the theater before, but I think my most favorite River Dancing EVER was what Kate Winslet and Leonardo DeCaprio did in one of my most FAVORITE movies ever...TITANIC!!! ;)
And with that friends, I've had my protein drink, my dinner, and my shower...and I'm now headed for my after workout sleep which is usually the best sleep!
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