Trainers and Life Thereafter

I had my last session with Kelly on Saturday. We met at the park and she made me work for it. The sun came out, the humidity went up, and I was doing a lot of squatting. I could barely move yesterday. Now it's on to life after the trainer. I feel as though I am ready to take this challenge on. I know tons of people who are successfully changing their lives without a weekly session with a trainer. I have become friends with people all over the world on FB who are faced with the same weightloss battles as I. While Mike inspired me to 1) enter a gym and 2) do things in a gym I never thought possible, Kelly taught me about eating and routine workout sessions. By routine, I don't mean easy. I mean which body part to work when and how to fit cardio in the workout. Kelly also told me that no amount of working out can make up for bad eating. The picture above is pretty fitting. She also taught me how to get out of a plateau by working with my training heart rate. I have the tools. Now it's time to put them to use. I think it is going to be a lot like what I've been learning about food. PLAN PLAN PLAN I can't just show up at the gym and workout. I have to know what I'm going to do ahead of time. I did cardio tonight. Tomorrow is going to involve abs and more squats. See...I have a plan. I also have this cool ap on my phone that shows me lots of different exercises for each body part. I guess I should add that to my list of tools. The thing that's different now is I enjoy going to the gym. I love sweating. I love the changes I'm making. The spark has been ignited!

On the employment front...not one. single. interview! It appears that right now the market is saturated with people who have experience. Other districts wouldn't even consider an interview. Our district had openings. I didn't get an interview there either. HOWEVER, I did something I would have never done before the changes I've made in my life with working out and the doctorate program. I sent an email to our assistant superintendent and our superintendent. The tone of the email was one of curiousity and confusion. The assistant superintendent met with me and explained that there had been over 90 applicants for the jobs and 90% of them had experience. I explained to him that I am frustrated because my principal gives me a lot of experience, but I can't put it formally on a resume. He was extremely encouraging which I appreciated. I am still pretty bummed that it's not happening. Friends tell me God has a plan and when it's time he will move me. I truly believe that. I just wish the time was now. I do LOVE my principal. We make an outstanding team. She's one of my biggest cheerleaders. So it's not that I don't want to stay where I am. I like my job. I'm just ready to move. Bottom line: keep the prayers coming I need them.

Abs of Pain

I missed a week of working out thanks to bronchitis. I met with my trainer this past Tuesday night where I was introduced to a new circuit. I won't bore you with all of the mundane details. One piece of the circuit does deserve special mention. A pushup into a plank into a leg lift. You think it sounds simple? Get on the floor and try it. Oh oh oh...wait...if your shoulders, hips and knees are not in a straight line then you aren't doing it correctly. "Lower your hips, Tammy." I arched my back. "Tammy, watch me do it again." "Tammy, do you need a visual?" After getting the correct form finally by Kelly pushing my body into place I did six in a row and then I started thinking about it and messed the whole thing up and we had to start over. On each circuit we did a set of twelve. I did the circuit THREE times. Each time that pushup/plank thing threw me. I knew I was in trouble Wednesday morning when my abs woke up before the rest of me. They were screaming. I kept thinking..."Gee for someone who couldn't even do the move correctly most of the time I sure did work some muscles." It was worse today. I went to get out of my chair one time and let out a squeal. A student said, "Mrs. Bunch, are you okay?" "Yes, yes, I'm fine." Tonight's workout took place in the park with no mercy on the sore abs. You haven't lived until you've done crunches on a park bench. WOOT WOOT!!!

Monday our cafeteria ladies put rice krispie treats in the lounge. I walked by and said, "I really want one of those." One colleague said, "Well, go ahead. That's what they're there for." Another colleague said, "Tammy, you look too good to eat one of those. You are looking really good and I know how hard you have been working. Don't ruin it." Well okay then. That's all I needed to hear. I kept on walking.

On Wednesday a colleague's husband joined her for lunch and he didn't even recognize me.

Today I put a new outfit combination together and had tons of compliments.

Don't worry. I'm working out and getting fit because it's healthy and I FEEL so much better. It has little to do with vanity. However, on days when I really want to fall off the wagon or my abs hurt so bad that it's painful to walk, compliments lift my spirits, stroke my ego, and keep me keepin on!

Epic Fail to Major Success

A week ago this past Thursday I met my trainer after work. We had a nutrition session which started with me getting on the scales and having a gain. It was small, but still a gain. She asked me what was going on and I said, "I'm not eating right." Of course she wanted to know what I had been eating and I tried with all my might to dodge the question. Then she made me list what I had eaten that day. I was in the cafeteria all day as we were trying to establish some new procedures. Lunch was a choice of chicken nuggets or chicken fried steak.I had my lunch in the fridge, but opted for the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy and a homemade dinner roll. As if this wasn't bad enough someone had left three different cakes in our lounge. In typical Tammy mentality, I went for the cake because I had already blown the day with the lunch right? Not just one kind of cake. I tried two. The look in Kelly's eyes made me wish I had never even thought of eating such poor choices. Then came the lecture. You can workout as much as you want, you can have the best workout plan in the world, you can have professional help, BUT if you don't have the diet...you will NOT be successful. Then came the eight step eating plan.

I started the plan a few days later. I couldn't start immediately because I needed to wrap my head around it and go to the store. I played around with it a bit and officially started it one week ago today. The scales keep going down. I keep getting on thinking I've got to be doing something to make them go back up, but they keep going down. I can't tell you how much yet because I don't want to jinx anything. BUT THE SCALES ARE GOING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY!!!! I announced this news to my sister on Saturday while she had me in the car and we were driving toward Lawrence and then she lectured me. "Sister, you cannot get on the scales every day. I was telling my friend at work about it and she says you need to get rid of the scales. I told her how your other trainer made you throw the scales away." Okay, okay, okay...so I haven't been on the scales since Saturday morning. Until this morning when I had to go to the doctor....AND THE SCALES WENT DOWN AGAIN!!!! It's not all about the number, but I've been stuck. I realize it has been my fault. Having these eight steps that I had to write down and knowing I have to get on the scales the next time I meet with Kelly has totally helped get me jumpstarted. In all honesty, part of today's loss is related to me developing bronchitis and the flu. I've been trying to get everything in that I'm supposed to eat, but when you can't taste anything and your throat hurts and you are coughing so hard you puke...food isn't always the first priority. All of that said, I think the biggest success has been being prepared. I pack the food and don't even think about it throughout the day. I pull it out and eat it on schedule. Simplify. Simplify.

Another success in the eating realm is that I made 6 dozen sugar cookies and 4 dozen brownies frosted with fudge icing. I didn't eat a bite. I had to rely on others to tell me how it tasted. I hope there is not one person out there thinking this is no big deal. When you feel like a sugar granule because you've smelled so much of it and you look like the Pilsbury Dough Boy because you've been so into your cooking and you have the biggest sweet tooth this side of Paula Deen then it's a pretty darn big dang deal that you didn't eat it even though you wanted to take just a little lick of that icing and you thought one cookie couldn't possibly hurt, but you knew if you did it might cause the scale to go in the wrong direction so you just stayed focused on your journey in hopes that one day you might beat the stupid bulge!!!

I'm a little frustrated that I haven't been able to workout since last Thursday. The cough has been too much. Not to mention I have had no energy. Working out takes so much stress away. There's nothing like turning the iPod on with my favorite playlist and hitting it really hard. Hopefully, in a couple of days I'll be back to the gym. UGH!

Many of my loyal followers have asked about job prospects. Here is the update: I have heard back from two districts. One had 37 people apply. 21 of those had previous experience. They interviewed six of those. The other district had 54 people apply. I'm still waiting to hear from others. I am extremely hopeful, but worried too. I appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts.

From Epic Fail (making super bad food choices) to Major Success (putting steps into place and being diligent enough to make the scales go down!)Because there can be no more excuses. I've been making excuses for way too long. I have to make necessary changes. I have to find the thin Tammy because I deserve it!

Until next time...

OOOOWWWWW!!!!

Yesterday afternoon my trainer texted me and told me to meet her at the park. I had no idea what was in store for me. We started off with a brisk walk talking about how nice the weather was. How unbelievable it was that on February 2nd we were doing a workout outside and not uncomfortable with the weather at all. I was thinking...this isn't too bad. I can keep up. I'm going to be out of breath, but this isn't bad. Then we arrived at a park bench which turned out to be my first station. Pushups and squats and then we jogged to the next bench which was across from some bleachers. Stepping up and down off of the bleachers for fifteen times on each leg works leg muscles. We moved to the bench where I did more pushups, crunches, and calf raises. No time for a break we took off jogging to the next bench where I had to step up and down off of it for 15 times on each leg. I finished with more crunches, squats, and calf raises. Then a jog to the gazebo where I held onto a beam and lowered my leg off the back of the gazebo. 15 times each leg followed by running sideways up and down the stairs and then running up and down the stairs like any normal person would do. We took a quick break for some water and I was back lowering myself off the side of the gazebo and running stairs. I should have known I was in trouble when I woke up this morning and my upper leg muscles were talking to me before I ever tried to move them. They screamed when I moved them. The pain became slightly worse as the day wore on.

Being ever so dedicated I went to the gym after work. I hit the Helix for ten minutes. The leg muscles were screaming in a very hostile manner. Yet, having gone farther on the Helix than ever before I hopped off feeling quite successful. I meandered over to the stepper and was only going to go for twenty minutes. I was listening to my ipod, but watching the news. I saw a Deffenbaugh truck and saw a clip. I changed my headphones over quickly. (My dad is a supervisor for Deffenbaugh.) A driver was killed in an accident where his truck backed over him. I unplugged the headphones and called my mom. (Over Christmas I was told by my sister and my aunt who alternated cleaning an office with Mom on Friday nights that if I texted or called Mom on a Friday night I would owe them a cleaning because my calls and texts distract Mom and put them behind. I have adhered to this because I do not like to have to clean the office. However, this involved my dad and I classified it as an emergency.) Dad did in fact know the man who was killed. It's a tragedy that brings back even more emotion than knowing the man who was killed. Almost 16 years ago my dad was crushed by a trash truck. The fact that he didn't die was a miracle according to police officers who worked the scene and doctors who treated my dad at the hospital. Knowing that my dad is dealing with the hurt of losing a co worker and remembering his own accident, combined with me remembering his accident invoked a new strength in me. I went faster on the stepper than I have in a long time. So fast my heart rate was too high. I ended up on the stepper for 30 minutes instead of 20. Now trying to stand up from a sitting position isn't at all graceful. Don't fear Readers, I'm enjoying the burn. Hurts so good.

I haven't cut my hair for a year. There have been two trims and that's all. I was standing in the hall today problem solving a situation with a teacher. As I was playing with my hair I discovered it might be long enough for a pony tail. I made a trip to a friend who lent me a pony tail holder and I swept it up for the first time in 17 years. (I've been more partial to a shorter hair style for a great number of years.) Toward the end of the day some fifth grade girls saw me and said, "Mrs. Bunch you look beautiful with your hair up like that." "Mrs. Bunch you look fine." "Mrs. Bunch if you keep losing weight and growing your hair you aren't going to be a counselor they are going to want you to be a model." Oh one of the benefits of being an elementary educator is when you have students swooning over you. :) I could actually feel my head getting bigger. I see many more pony tails in my future. HA!

A public shout out to my new friend Belinda. I met Belinda as a result of this journey. I am soooo proud of her. She is hitting that gym so hard. She's getting results too. Go Belinda!!!

The Helix

Today I was in collaboration meetings all day in my principal's office. It's a great time where we get to look at growth our students are making and put plans in place for those who need extra help. I love being able to collaborate with colleagues in this way. It was all of the candy and popcorn that caused the day to be a bit of a challenge. A couple of people even went to grab Sonic for lunch. I am working out with Kelly and want to make the most of the time I have with her so I am working really hard to follow all of the rules especially with the diet.

I went to the gym after work to do my strength training workout for the first time on my own. The sheet Kelly gave me that has everything on it with the amount of reps and weight??? Yep. Forgot that. I remembered it all though. As part of this workout there are one minute recovery sessions. I'm not sure why they are called recovery because I feel like I'm going to croak each time. A minute of mountain climbers or a minute of plyo jumps on the step. On my fourth day of cardio I'm supposed to be on the Helix for thirty minutes. The only way to describe this thing called the Helix is for you to imagine yourself pedaling a bicycle sideways. I tried it the other night and said there was no way I could do it for thirty minutes. Kelly assured me that was okay and told me when I had to take a break to run to the bike and do that for a minute and then go back to the Helix. I had the brainy idea tonight to do a minute on the Helix as one of my recovery sessions. I made it. For those of you who know how uncoordinated I am, I can't think about it. I have to get on and go. I did two one minute recovery sessions and then decided at the end of the workout I would do the Helix for as long as it took The Black Eyed Peas to sing "Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night". Kinda forgot I had a remix of the song on my playlist. Six minutes later the song was finally over. Sweat was pouring off of my face, but I survived!!! WOOT HOOT! Go Me!!!

My friend Zedena posted to me tonight about a sign she saw at her gym. I think it's so fitting and true...
"Sweat is your fat crying"
I smile as I type, but at the same time I think...I have a lot more sweating to do...
What about you? Are you getting your sweat on?

Hunger Pains and Inspiration

I didn't eat well over the weekend. I would give myself an F if I had to fill out a report card. Yesterday morning I woke up with renewed vigor ready to attack the food demons that plague me. I packed my lunch of asparagus and chicken along with two snacks, started the day off with oatmeal and finished strong with chicken and a salad. There was only one problem. I was so hungry all day I couldn't stand it. Friends, I am not talking about the kind of hunger in your brain where you "think" you want something to eat. I'm talking about the kind of hunger where your stomach is growling and you actually feel the hunger pains. You have trouble focusing because you are so hungry. I was counting down the minutes between times to eat. Thank God I met with Trainer Kelly tonight. She encouraged me to mix a protein and a carb for each of my meals and snacks. In this way I am increasing my metabolism and my body will feel full longer. Aha! I will be forging on with my new plan.

I had a good workout with Kelly tonight. We also talked about the pain in the neck. I told her that since one of my goals is to run a 5k I get going on a routine where I am incorporating running and after a couple of days my neck hurts so bad I can't run and have to force myself to do anything at all. According to her, the impact of running is actually not good for my condition and she advised me to lay off the running for now until the neck is under control. Please don't think for one second I am upset by this. Just the opposite. I am excited to take the pressure off of myself. I know have a plan for working out as far as when and how frequently to do cardio and when and how frequently to do strength. It is my intention of mixing it up a bit and three days a week getting two workouts in. This is a goal and if I achieve it I will be lighting that metabolism up.

Today was a most uncomfortable one. I had to go through recertification for proper techniques in restraint. The entire day puts me on sensory overload. The only way for the training to occur is for the trainer to demonstrate and then with another person you practice. In the morning session it's about releases and you are with one partner. This wasn't so bad because my principal and I were partners. We had quite the fun time taking out aggression on each other. Please understand we have no aggression directed at each other...just the aggression that builds up from the stress of everyday life. The afternoon session involves being restrained by and restraining everyone in the session multiple times to practice/learn new restraints. I like meeting other people. I enjoy interacting with other people. The three hours of touching tests my personal space senses for sure.

Even with all of that I left the training flying high! One of the trainers complimented me on how small I'm getting. She also told me how inspiring my blog is to her. Again, I never cease to be amazed when people say I inspire them. WHAT??? I'm really struggling with the fact that the scales still aren't going down as fast as I would like. It was so encouraging and inspiring to me for her to say that. And then...in the middle of me being restrained by someone I've known for a few years...she pauses and says..."Tammy's getting skinny!" The words from both of these ladies might be just what I needed to hear until that number starts to move again!
Thanks, Friends.

As I'm writing this, I realize that as I notice others losing weight I need to be more intentional about giving them verbal praise. If it means as much to me as it does to them then it's pretty darn important!

So one of my biggest followers, mom, has had a tooth problem for the last couple of weeks. I think it started on New Years Day. Tooth pain. She had the name of three dentists and went to see the one who could get her in first. A root canal and crown were necessary. It is rare for mom to let pain get her down. She lives with it every day. I could hear how bad she hurt over the phone. They started the root canal, where she was in the chair for almost two hours, finished up for the day, and told her it would be another week and they would finish the job. She hurt so bad and I felt so bad for her. All during December she had been telling me that after the first of the year she was going to get started on her diet and exercise again. I joked with her and told her that only being able to eat soft food was a good way to start a diet. The dentist called her the next day with a cancellation and was able to finish the root canal, but she had to wait until today to get the crown. (I had forgotten today was the day because she really doesn't complain.) So for three weeks she has been on a diet of soft food! I left the gym and called her. "Watcha doin?" Please understand that when she answered I could HEAR the smile in her voice. "Just finished eating fried chicken." "What? That's ironic since I just came from a workout with my trainer and a discussion about diet." "Hey! I finally got my crown on and I wanted fried chicken and I've been eating soft food for three weeks so I had me some fried chicken!" Touche! Tammy Touche!

That's all for now. I'm going to get my food ready for tomorrow. (It's my hope to have a good loss next week! A little jumpstart if you will...)

Just a little message for one of my followers...

VR (You know who you are!) Even if it's a thirty minute walk three times a week, you need to be doing some sort of exercise. It doesn't matter if you have weight issues or not. You care a lot about all of those little hearts out there. Those families need you. You owe it to your own heart, yourself, your family, and all of the others you touch to keep yourself healthy! ;)

Degenerated

All of these posts you have read about my neck and shoulder pain. Finally! A diagnosis. The doctor called me this week to tell me the results of my xrays show I have degeneration of discs C5, C6, and C7 with C7 pressing on a nerve. Of course I had to research this to find out how one gets disc degneration. It can happen with age. It can be caused by a major trauma (car accident) or a minor trauma (a fall) or in some cases just by getting out of bed wrong. I can hear you all laughing. As my friend Amy said, "This could have started the moment I was mobile." Mom thinks with all of my accidents there would be no way to pinpoint how this process started. For now (and insurance purposes) I am working with a physical therapist to alleviate pain. Doc also told me to keep up with the ice. Really challenging when it's 17 degrees outside.

I've met with my new trainer two times. The second time we hit it. I woke up the morning after and wasn't sore at all. It was about 12:30 the following afternoon when the abdominal muscles and legs started speaking to me. Almost as though they were laughing and saying, "Hi! We're still here. Don't you love a little burn?"

I can't wait for this week's workouts. I missed two workouts last week because of the stomach flu. YUCK!

No news on the job search. More application opportunities. No interviews scheduled yet.

I've been watching some other weight loss blogs. Love finding inspiration to keep me going.