Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Doing better

My legs are much better today. I did yoga last night and that seemed to help. Still stiff and sore this morning, but this evening almost pain free. I even walked on the treadmill for 45 mintues today. I did 40 minutes with my heart rate at approx 150 bpm. I was exerting myself but was at a pace I could sustain for an even longer period. I had to pick up the girls or I would have done a full hour of walking. 3.5 mph at 1.5% incline (lowest incline on my treadmill). I figured out why I couldn't do my intervals on Sunday. The treadmill did not lower completely. I figured it was stuck at a higher setting but couldn't get it to go down. Today I played with the damn thing and finally got it lowered! I am feeling really good tonight. I am loaded with energy and ready to take on the world. Except that now I am about to spend 3 hours driving to and from Grand Rapids so that my children my go to Religious Ed.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

My Legs hurt

Yesterday, I had my third PT session. Mike started with legs and boy did they burn! Step ups on a 24" step. Can you say OUCH? Then it was leg extentions, hip abductors, dead lifts and to finish the ATM machine. What is an ATM machine you ask? It's a cross between a stepper and elliptical machine. I did my intervals on the ATM machine. I got dizzy so we had to slow down. Instead of a 60 second rest I did 90-120 sec rest. Mike said my heart rate should drop 20 counts during my rest period before attempting another interval. But never was not finishing the intervals a possibility. Mike pushed me through it. Again, I say the cost of PT pays off. I attempted intervals at home on Sunday and quit after 2.5 sprints. My body just couldn't do it. But I was only allowing 60 sec rest periods. Today my quads hurt like when I climbed Camelback in AZ. I cannot climb up or down stairs without pain. Going to the bathroom is again painful! Sitting down is a bitch. But I also know, this pain is temporary. I am noticing that I am getting lightheaded, dizzy and drowzy after some meals. I am going to have to start marking the meals this happens with so that I can figure out what is causing it. It doesn't happen everytime, but often enough that I am concerned. I particularily do not like the drain in my energy level.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Ouch!

My triceps hurt like never before. My legs are still a little sore but not bad. I can feel the muscles in my back but not painful. But I cannot lift my arms to scratch my head!!! :) I tried to my interval training today. I did a modified Mountain only up to 10% incline and back down. I did 3 intervals, 4.6, 4.7, and 4,8 mph. I had to stop during the third interval. I couldn't continue. I finished walking for 5 minutes. I don't know why I couldn't continue. But my body was done. I hesitated to even get on the treadmill this morning, but felt that was just me trying not to excersie. But I was still very sore this morning. I probably should have waited for my PT tomorrow to do intervals again. I looked at my food totals for the first week. I am doing good at keeping my nutritional value percentages in line. But I noticed that my calorie totals are right around 1,200 cal per day. If they told me I would only be eating a 1,200 calorie diet I wouldn't have done it. But I ate only 1,200 cal for a week and never noticed. I am rarely hungry and if I am I eat. I have so far staved off junk food by constantly asking if it is worth the cost. You know what, it never is. I even have a closet full of junk food for the girls and if I start to want it I ask myself if is's worth the cost and any thought of going off reservation is voided. Thus far it is not worth the cost. Let's see how I am doing 3 weeks from now. I have kept to the Jump Start meals 90% of the time. I am looking forward to adding food to my diet. This weekend I added smoothies. Much better that ready to drink shakes. Speaking of which, I am going to go make one for myself now. Time to eat again! :)

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Dreams

Last night I dreamt that I went "off plan" with my food. I started to eat all sorts of junk food. I ate a handful of potato chips then another and another. Then I started to eat other junk food. I didn't care. But the guilt feeling were strong.

When I woke up this morning, I smiled and realized I had not gone on an eating binge and further more had no desire to eat that junk. And I felt great because I knew the food I was eating was refueling my body.

Speaking of the food I am eating. While the food I am eating is good and good for me and also normal food, it requires a lot of chewing and chewing and chewing... I guess I am used to such processed food that I can eat it faster. Of course then I have to eat again sooner. I am missing the sweet tastes of foods. But not the actual foods. I want my eggs and oatmeal to be sweeter. I had a veggie scramble this morning that took me 30 minutes to eat! It may have gone down faster if it was sweeter. Although the recipe suggested some salss andI forgot to put that one. Salsa may have helped give it some more flavor.

The other meals are not so bad. I guess I just need to find a way to make my oatmeal sweeter. I gag eating plain oatmeal. But for the Jump Start phase I will survive.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

First PT

I worked with Sara today. I did 30 minutes of cardio. First we did 5 min @ 3.5 then upped incline to 2 then each minute upped to 5, 7,10, 12, 15 then down each minute. Then we did 6 sprint sets. I ran for 60 seconds, jumped off for 60 seconds then repeated 6 times increasing my speed each time. A little light headed as I came off treadmill.

I then did 30 minutes of strength training. My legs were jello by the time I was done.

I would have to say that having a personal trainer is definately worth the expense. As I was doing my repititions I probably would have quit sooner. I would feel the burn. And I know on my own I would never have completed the full 15 repetitions on a lot of the exercises. I will certaining consider a weekly PT training session after my 12 NEWO program is completed.

I also met Valerie at the gym. She just started the program yestereday. She was having her nutrition consultation this morning. I hope I see her around in the gym. IT will be good to have someone who is at the same place I am. But she said she will be working out primarily Tuesday and Thursdays. And since I am limited to M/W/F we probably won't see much of each other :(

I must say my energy level has increased. And I am spending less time on my duff and am now getting things done. I am actually only on my ipad because I am procrastinating paying bills. so off I go!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Day 1

My meal plan consists of 6 meals eaten 3-4 hours apart. Each meal is approx 250 caloris, 25g protein, 22g of carbs and 7g of fat. This breakdown of calories is designed to stablize my blood sugars.

Today is the first day I have ever eaten more grams of protein than carbohydrates. And with these meal plans it wasn't even that hard. The meal plans are with normal everyday food. It is just a matter of exchanging foods from protein, carb, and fat.

This program reminds me of the diabetic diet I was on with Hannah. And as I recall I lost about 10 pounds my last trimester of pregnancy. And I wasn't working out at the time. I was just eating healthy.

But now I know it was more than just a healthy diet that made the weight come off. I had stable blood sugar which prevented fat from being stored and released already stored fat.

My hope is that by eating with my blood sugar in mind that the weight will again fall off. But with the exercise component Lean Mass will replace it.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Starting Numbers

Yesterday I was measured, weighed and pinched for my starting numbers for the NEWO (No Excuses Work Out) program. So here they are.

I currently weight 212 pounds and have 38% body fat. Yuck!!! but these are my starting numbers. And I expect these numbers to drastically go down over the next 12 weeks.

Monday, I meet with the nutrition consultant for my first of 6 consultations. We will go over a meal plan designed for me. Wednesday is my first Personal Trainer (PT) session. I am looking forward to both!

I am thinking this will be my week of Fitness Ridge spread out over 12 weeks. It is my hope that all of this information and length of training that I will have new lifetime habits in place.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

It's been excactly one year!

I cant believe its been a year since I last entered a post. I know once I got my ipad I spend very little time on my laptop. And entering posts on the ipad has not been convenient until now. I just purchased a keyboard for my ipad. I can now type much easier...except for the the two choodles on my lap.

I have been horrible exercising and eating this past year. I am back up over 200+ pounds. But in that time we moved to a new home. I am now driving 3 hours roundtrip to Grand Rapids 2-4 days a week. I promise to get my body clutter under control. But first I need to my house clutter under control again.

I have one last room to unpack. and it is 75% done! We have company coming next weekend and they need a bed so it has to get done.

We have had a lot of positive occur in our life lately. We cut our credit card debt in half this past week! we sold our house in GR at a $30,000 loss. But our new house has a much better payment structure. I am putting money into savings for Christmas and other gift giving needs. I am purchasing a trip for Erica, my mom and I to go to Orlando for a week in April. Mia is going to Europe for 3 weeks this summer and that trip is paid in full. Financially life is starting to shine. With those worries gone, I will will be able to fucus my attention on much needed other arenas of my life. And I am looking forward to it! Excercise will become my friend once again. It will not be a burden.

I look forward to posting more now that I have a keyboard. I've missed my blog.