Taking some time...

I spoke with my personal trainer yesterday about my body just not responding to the workouts lately. In fact, I've been so exhausted before and then worse after, that I'm not really feeling or seeing the benefits of the workout. Some of it is a lack of motivation. A majority of it is just the fact that my body is tired. It needs a break.

At least that's what Trainer Sue said. So, here's the plan. I'm taking a week off.

Yep. That's it - it's that simple. I'm taking Wed to Wed off - starting today. There's no need to delay what I need - I'm not getting anything out of my recent workouts.

I was afraid I'd forget to go back after that much time off. Trainer Sue said she'd hold me accountable to get my bootie back into that place. And, in an effort to trick my mind into believing that I'm not missing an entire week, I'm doing it mid-week so that I already have Monday and Tuesday under my belt this week and can put in for Thursday and Friday next week.

Works for me.

So, I'll also be taking a week off from posting...hopefully not in losing weight. I'm hoping to make a strong comeback after this short respit.

Until then, ...

Going through the motions

There's a time in any routine in life where one must go through the motions in order not to lose any ground. That's sort of where I'm at.

Maybe it's the changing of the seasons or the slow (and I mean extremely slow) results that I'm getting from my workouts, but I am just not feeling the motivation. In fact, I'm not feeling ANY motivation!

What should I do?

I'm thinking a little change-up is in order. Since Daylight Savings is this weekend, maybe I could try:

• Going to the gym earlier in the day, like before work (say 6:00 am-ish)....
• Re-hiring my trainer (gotta figure out the financial part for that to work)...
• Changing up the routine...going all-out on cardio on a daily basis and specific strength training targets each day...
• Seeing a nutritionist to help with the diet (again, figuring out finances)
• Renewing my determination (we all know it's a mental game - gotta focus!)

How about you? Got any advice for me?

Send me your ideas, suggestions, criticisms, whatever...Help me get out of this slump that I'm slowly falling into...I don't want to lose any ground and I HATE just going through the motions!

One of those days (take 2)...

It was one of those days at the gym.

I had it altogether. I went to the gym. Got the machine of my choice. Worked a hard 20-min on the cardio and sweated to several sets of ab exercises. It felt good. My T-shirt had those rewarding marks of someone who has worked hard at the gym. So off to the locker room I go.

That's when it all went downhill...

I threw off my sneakers and socks to grab my flip-flops. Pulled them out, put them on. I reached in my bag for my towel - wha? No towel. I forgot a towel. OK. We've done this once before, grab 8-10 super-absorbant papertowels - we're good. Get in the shower, get a good rinse in, turn off the shower. Dry off with all 10 of those super-absorbant towels...Reach in my bag for those ever-important pair of clean undies...where did I...check the side pockets...oh boy, guess what I forgot....CLEAN, DRY UNDIES! To top it off, I dropped my dress socks out of the bag into the small puddle at the bottom of the shower. So, picture with me if you will, no clean, dry undies, wet dress socks and a patted-dry body ...

I guess it's just one of those days!

Late night at the gym.

It's been a long time since I've gone to the gym in the evening.

In fact, I think I've only done that once or twice. But, with the schedule I've had, I couldn't go during lunch and early morning was definitely out of the question. The evening crowd is much different than any other time during the day.

When I've gone early morning, the folks that are there are just rolling out of bed (evident by the nappy-heads and eye-crusties). They are usually more serious about their workouts and, by my observation, are mostly females.

Ok. Fast forward to the lunch crowd. The CAR SENSE mechanics are all there (in their CAR SENSE uniforms). There are trainers and their trainees. There's a good mix of young, old, men, women...it's crowded, but not too bad.

Then, there's the night crowd. These are your standard GYM RATS. Mostly men. The kickboxers fill the free weight area (evident by their "special" shorts and bare feet). The young men staring at themselves constantly in the mirror whilst flexing their biceps or making their pecs dance... Almost always - MEN! And not just any men, but men you know have been working out - they have the huge biceps and the weight-lifting belts and the muscle shirts...

Then, there's me. I'm big, I'm bad, I'm wearing all RED. I'm a woman. I'm pretty much the only woman. Hey, I don't care, I'm there to workout, not stare at or be stared at. I'm going to do my own thing. One of the best benefits I received from having a personal trainer is the confidence I need to know what I'm doing and how to do it. So, watch-out for the woman in red flinging the kettle ball!

I like the evening for one reason: TIME. I'm not rushed. I could warm-up with 10-minutes on the ARC trainer and give it all I have and then go through a full strength training routine. It takes just over an hour. I don't have that time at lunch.

Although, I don't have the time to go most evenings. By the time I reach home (about 7pm), I'm rushing through my dinner routine, check my mail and settling in just in time to go to bed. I don't like that either.

So, for those who've been biting their nails (or clipping them into their eyeballs), yes, I'm finding the motivation to get myself to the gym. I can't go too many days without going....As it is, I'll probably go again tonight due to the PHILLIES PEP RALLY at my work where Jamie Moyer's first and second cousins will be at the autograph tent in our parking lot - signing stuff.

Falling into Fall...

I didn't make it to the gym yesterday. I was planning on going to a football game of some of the JR. High boys in my church. I was going to run home during lunch and pick-up my North Penn Sweatshirt to cheer them on. On the way to my home, I called the mom of two of the boys to confirm the game only to find out they weren't able to play due to a school project.

Alright, so no football game and no need for a sweatshirt from home.

Then the mom asked where I was and if I wanted to meet her for lunch. Well, of course! I love eating lunch. Since she is babysitting a set of twins, she wanted to go to a lunch place with play tubes = inside. The only place that has that is McD's. Subway and Saladworks don't have play tubes. And since I was already feeling lethargic and functioning on almost 4 hours of sleep, my willpower to make good decisions (or even a faint feeling of caring), I ordered the #7 - Southern Chicken Sandwich, medium fries and a diet coke.

I know, I know. What was I thinking...well, frankly, I wasn't thinking - I DIDN'T CARE! I was going to eat and enjoy this sandwich. And besides, I was working on my Monopoly Millions! It was so worth it! (OK, maybe my next time at the gym will work it all off).

I will be missing the gym at lunch today too. I have a lunch appointment. My goal (and I am pushing for it) is to go after work.

I don't know what it is - maybe it's the change in seasons, but I just don't feel like the extra effort of going to the gym. It's sad, but it's true. I think I'm just going to keep pressing in and going after it - it is exactly what I need!

Maybe Today is THE DAY!

Today just may be the day I hit that elusive 10 pounds.

You may be tiring of hearing about it, but I am only tired from working so hard to hit that number!

I hit a new low on the home scale (lowest in 2008) - so I'm expecting a similar "low" at the gym scale (the "official" scale).

Wish me luck!

Ho hum...

Ho Hum...

Going to the gym

I don't feel like going

Something I must do

Ho Hum...

Gonna lose that pound

Whether I like it or Not

Don't like it, but

Ho Hum...

Basking in the Glow...

It's been 2 days since the 5k - I'm still basking in the glow of my victory!

Ok - so maybe I didn't win the run or even place in my age group, but it was a personal victory to have ran almost 4 minutes faster than I have run in over 10 years! It goes to show that the training and working out is really "working" out.

So, I've decided that I'm running in another 5k on 11/22. I had already decided it was time to jump back on the 5k wagon. I have always loved the 5k, simply, it's only 3.1 miles. I don't have to commit to weeks or months of training and strategizing...I just go out and run and hopefully stop running in just over a half hour. Easy enough...

Today, I'm going to the gym to put in some serious cardio time. I'm thinking a slight jog on the treadmill or a time of gliding on the Arc trainer ... I guess it depends on how I feel when I hit the gym at lunchtime.

I'm also basking in the glow of the choices I made last week...

Last week, I was fighting a losing battle with salt and a lack of preparation - let's just say I have set-up a strong foundation in the McD's Monopoly Game!

This week, I'm playing a new game! I'm setting a strong foundation to get me through this week, meal by meal. I have the instant oatmeals, fruit, yogurts, nuts, raisins. I picked-up some low calorie, Healthy kashi meals on the clearance rack (awesome deal) for those nights where I don't feel like cooking. There are plenty of options to keep me from feeling out of control or to help when I'm feeling lazy.

By the end of this week, maybe I'll be basking in a new glow - the glow of FINALLY hitting that elusive (and I mean stealth-like elusive) 10 lb mark!

Wish me luck!

I ran a 5k!

It has been a very LOOOOOONGGGGG time since I last ran a 5k. I believe it's been over a year. I just have not had the interest in running since I completed the half in April. Well, I did it!

I woke up at 6:00 this morning to begin prepping. I had a bowl of Organic Cheerios-like cereal with 1% and some honey. Yummy! I got dressed in my running tights and half marathon technical shirt (it was cold outside), put on my UA running gloves and headed out the door to go get registered. I got there really early.

So, I did the registration thing and sat in my car for 20 minutes with the heat on, all while eating a PowerBar that came in the Goodie Bag (one of the fringe benefits of running). After I finished the bar, I decided to take my gym bag and head inside the gym for some stretching and pre-run strategy (which for me is just putting on my Ipod and doing some stretching, all while wondering why I signed up to do this!).

I headed back outside to the registration area to pick-up a free cup of hot Black Coffee - mostly just to warm-up and get a little caffeine-boost. Then, the Master's Master walked up. I didn't know she was going to run this race, but was glad to see a face I recognized.

Race Time - headed to the starting line-up, got the National Anthem sang to us by the NPHS choir and we were off! I had my Nike+ with me to track the run and provide a little motivational music. There's nothing like Shania Twain singing, "I feel like a Woman" to get you in the mood for running 3.1 miles!

The race course was flat. There were absolutely no hills. PERFECT! I ran pretty fast for the first mile - stayed with the Master's Master almost the first mile, but it wasn't my pace and I couldn't get in a rhythm, so I slowed up ever so slightly and found my race-pace. My breathing followed...

I RAN THE ENTIRE RACE - only walking to grab water and sip it - AND THEN RAN AGAIN!

I also finished 4 minutes faster than my average pace for a 5k. I haven't ran that fast in over 10 years. I am so happy. I was going to be happy to hit my average pace - considering I haven't ran in months.

Other than my lungs screaming out for mercy, this was an awesome run. Now, I've got a fever. Wait, not just a fever - THE FEVER - RACE FEVER.

I want to run again. Maybe it's time to get the ol' running journal out and start some goals for the next few weeks and months. Or maybe...nah. I'll just sit here, sipping on my McD's coffee and bask in the glow of this morning's accomplishment!

Gonna Run a 5k tomorrow...

Yeah, so, the gym I'm a member of is hosting a 5k tomorrow. I've seen the signs and postings for months now, but never even considered running in it. Well, that was until yesterday. I ran into my trainer in the locker room and she asked if I was running in it.

I said, "no".

She said, "why not?"

I said, "I really don't have a good reason..."

She said, "Registration starts at 7:30 - see you there!"

I said, "ok."

Whaaaa? How did I agree to that so easily. And not only the running part, but getting up on a Saturday to register at 7:30 - that's AM! I have to get up at 6:00 to dress, eat breakfast and drive over there. Oh boy!

I haven't ran in weeks. I've been working out and doing the treadmill and ellipticals and the stairs, but not really running.

I'm in for some fun!

Salt is my enemy...

I haven't been telling you everything...

I have a dirty little secret - maybe not as dirty as others, but still, my deep, dark secret. I LOVE salt!

I usually cook all my food raw. I hardly use any canned product. When I do, I read the label and ensure there are only wholesome ingredients in the food. I also check for the sodium content. Low sodium is the goal. So, I can assure you there's no hidden sodium in the foods I consume, but...

I love salt.

Lately, I feel the need, the necessity...to add salt. Not just any salt - GARLIC SALT. It's like my body is craving the salt. Maybe I do need it, maybe I don't. But I can tell you this, that whole retaining water thingy - it's true!

In the last week, I've had an unusually high craving for salt. What I've been noticing is the swings in my daily weight (some days as high as 4 lbs). It's been a little frustrating. I have noticed the swings have not been there for months. But then again, neither has the salt consumption. But lately, the swings are there - and so is the salt consumption.

Does anyone out there have any good advice on the whole salt thing? I don't think I use a lot, but then again, the scale does not lie. I want to make sure my body gets the sodium it needs, but I don't want to be going overboard and becoming a salt-a-holic.

So for now, I must take control over this sodium beast within that is hungering for more...it's time to start the revolution and put this beast to rest.

My anti-salt revolution now begins!

Squat Thrusts and All that Jazz!

I'm still teetering on that 10-lb mark - just can't quite hit that mark. I figured it's time to pull out all the stops and hit the gym with some of the exercises that have made me sweat the most and be sore the longest. So, I did SQUAT THRUSTS! (See "Kill the Trainer" on 6/19/08).

Yep. You heard me right. On my own, without the paid coaching of a Personal Trainer, I embarked on 3 sets of 8 SQUAT THRUSTS! If I want that 10th pound, I'm going to work for it - DARN IT! I'm willing to work for it. I'm not expecting it to be handed to me, but it shouldn't be this difficult! I'm lunging, lifting and squatting - working, pushing and praying for that blasted 10th pound.

IT WILL BE MINE!

I want that 10th SMILEY! (I send a smiley to my trainer for every pound I've lost). I've gotten as close as : , but no )!

This will be the week! Today, I plan on tackling my "favorite" cardio machine - THE TREADMILL! I can't stand the treadmill. It's just so ... BORING! I'd rather run outside with grass and trees or even asphalt. Not like a hamster, running in place. But, it has to be done. If I want to burn the calories (and hopefully that last pound), then I need to push myself to do things I don't like to do. Today, that would be the treadmill.

So, in just a few short hours (I'll let you know how it goes), I'll head off to the gym and hit the treadmill in hopes of losing that elusive 10th pound.

Wish me luck...

A new week...

It's another week in the weight-loss saga of my life.

Yesterday, at the gym, I was teetering between that 9-10 lb mark on the scale. Blasted! I'm a fraction of a pound away from that elusive 10-lb mark. I know that the slower I lose the weight, the more likely it will stay off, but this fraction of a pound is just killing me. It's like I should strip off just one more piece of clothing and maybe, just maybe, I'll hit the goal.

But alas, it's another day of hard work, sweating and making good choices that will eventually get me to that goal. I'm pushing - pushing hard. I've been pushing myself at the gym harder in both the cardio and strength training. I'm burning more calories...I'm eating well...

That elusive 10-lb mark is mine - it's in my sites! I'm focused on it - I'm going to find it. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, but it's mine!

A Weekend of Football, Family and FOOD!

It's one of those beautiful fall days. It's a little warmer than normal. The sun is brightly shining. The colors of autumn are springing forth. It's just beautiful!

I will be headed to NY this weekend for a weekend of Homecoming Football. My nephew plays football for his high school and tonight is their homecoming game. He's been asking for weeks if I would come. Why not - it's the perfect weekend for that. Some of my other siblings had heard and were planning on a visit over the weekend too. It makes for a time of football, family, and of course, food.

This is where trickery mocks me. I try not to stick-up my nose and say no thank you, eating what is placed before me. But this is what has been my downfall for nearly my entire life. What is a help is that my niece is a very particular eater - so, I find it easier to follow her lead. That's the plan for tonight and tomorrow.

I also like visiting this sibling in that the high school track is less than a mile from their home. I have ran on this track practically everytime I have visited them. So, Saturday morning will be no exception. Plus, the nephews like to run with their auntie - even though she's practically a foot shorter and runs like a slug.

So off I go on a car ride through the Poconos - enjoying the beautiful autumal splendor and a weekend of football, family and food!

Where's my Peeps?

It hasn't been that bad, but it's been bad enough. I haven't fallen off the bandwagon just yet, but I am hanging on the side railings.

Ok - so, where am I at?

I have been hitting the gym pretty much daily during the week. I haven't slowed on that, yet I've missed at least one day over the past 3 weeks. I haven't gone at all on the weekends, but I'm not a couch-potato either.

Where I have been slipping is in the food choice department. I have, on the most part, been sticking to cereal and oatmeal with fruit for breakfast, nuts, fruit or yogurt for mid-morning and soup and bread for lunch. But from there, it just slowly is going downhill.

I don't like that I've started drinking Diet Coke again. So far, just one a day (hopefully, we can stop that altogether). I've been drinking coffee in the morning. That makes me feel like I'm slipping...maybe that's my issue. By mid-afternoon, I've been wanting chocolate again. I haven't been eating it, but I REALLY want too...

I have eaten too many jelly donuts in the past 3 weeks - at least one a week. This place ALWAYS has donuts somewhere. I don't like it. I'm better off without the option. I won't seek them out, but somehow they find me. So, don't bring or buy me donuts! I love you, but don't bring me donuts...try an apple or a banana...those are good.

I forgot my lunch yesterday so I was forced to do the fast-food thing. Let's just say I didn't make a good choice. Maybe I should eat the straw in the wagon that I'm hanging off of...

Granted, I've been lucky and haven't gained any weight, but then again, I haven't lost any either...maybe it's time to pull myself up, swing my leg over the railing and fall back into that wagon!

But I need some help! Where my peeps?!?!

I haven't been doing half bad all on my own, but I have only been doing half-good on my own. Some accountability helps...cheering from the sidelines...

Rules are there for a reason...

OK. So maybe this is out of sorts for a weight loss blog, but I'm fed-up.

I like rules. I know rules are there for a reason - to keep things right and fair. I like the 10 commandments - they show me the right way to live and to follow what is moral and ethical. I like laws - like speed limits. They are designed to keep me and others safe on the roads.

But what I don't like is when the rules are changed or are more like a moving target! It just really peeves me! Tell me what is expected and then I will follow in that direction. Don't decide later to change the rule, contradicting yourself, to fit your need at that time.

Let's talk about work. We set up rules and consequences for a reason. When we say something to a vendor, shouldn't we abide by it? I think my word is worth something. I don't just go off spouting my mouth on things because it sounds good at the moment. If I say I'm going to do something, then I'm going to do it. I'm not going to find a loophole or a bypass to get around it, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW MY WORD. No matter what it will cost me.

Let's be clear - your word means something to me. If you say it, shouldn't you mean it? Why would you go back on it later?

Alright - let's turn this the purpose of this blog. This pent-up frustration will be taken out today - not in verbal jousting or an irate email or ranting - it will be taken out at the gym.

The equipment is made for that kind of beating. So, I'm going to serve a beating to those weights today. Just watch out for the floor space around me. I just might be tossing, dropping or sweating my frustrations within a 5-foot radius of my very being!

Back in the Day...

Years ago, when I was a mere child, I used to jump-rope. It would be fun. I would do a casual double-hop while singing some children's nursery rhyme:

"down by the banks of the hanky-panky

where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky

with a hip...hop...hip...hop...hop..."

.

Nowadays - there's No double-hopping - it's one single hop as fast as I can until I jump 75 times. My heart is racing so fast, my face is draining of all the blood-flow, my lungs are screaming - wheezing, gasping for air... There are no nursery rhymes for children in my head - just the screaming rhythm of my heart beat throbbing through my brain and the sound of my breathe wheezing from my lungs...

.

I did 3 sets of these. I was sweating. I was panting. I was EXHAUSTED!

.

I ended up only working out for 30 minutes due to my exhaustion. I completed some medicine ball tossing/catching squats, push-ups and bicep curls before finishing it all off with 3 sets of crunches and reverse crunches.

.

I still am exhausted and it has been almost 4 hours!

.

I think it's time to go home and lay my weary head on my pillow and wait for tonights debate.

Feeling kinda lazy...

Maybe it's the coolness of the fall air or the lack of sleep I've been experiencing in recent days, but I'm just feeling kinda lazy! Not necessarily lazy in the gym department - more like, lazy in the food department.

I've been drinking coffee in the morning - more days than not. I've drank a few cokes in the past week. I've eaten pumpkin pie maybe once or twice - ok, twice. I've had a donut (only one though). I've skipped meals and ate more than I should have at others. It's been one heck of a lazy two weeks of eating.

It's time to get back on that wagon and start strategizing my meals again. Yes, I said strategizing in reference to my consumption of food. You have to. If you don't plan, you're left floundering on those nights when you don't feel like cooking or arranging anything, you just grab what's easy and filling - whatever that might be.

So, I will take some time this Saturday to strategize (there's that word again) for the next week. That will probably include some homemade soups and bread. I will dust-off that crock-pot (it is now officially fall) and start some all day meals (yummy chili in my tummy). I also plan on dusting-off that $700 investment (the dreaded treadmill) and start using it to walk in the evenings whilst watching my favorite fall programming (usually "The Biggest Loser" and reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond" or "King of Queens"). I can add that 30 minutes of walking to my lunch routine at the gym.

Speaking of routine at the gym - today is strength training day. I don't know what it is, but I've been dreaming up ways to do ab-work. I have had these visions of medicine balls and crunches and how to incorporate them together...something's wrong with me!