Happy New Year!!!!

I feel utterly awful that I haven't blogged in two months!!!  I have been thinking about posting, but I have just been so busy.

My New Years' Resolution for 2015..... continue to blog and inspire the masses!!!!!!

What's been happening with me?  Just keeping busy, making money to live and continue investing into my favorite person.....MYSELF!!!!!

I've continued to workout with Sarah twice a week and taking Pilates twice a week with Cassie.  One change is that my Tuesday night Pilates class was disbanded and I now attend the Wednesday 6 pm class.  I sure do miss my homies, Linda and Maureen, but I just wasn't getting the challenge I needed and that's not good for me.  Linda and Maureen are in a Monday evening class.  I do see Linda around at Lifetime so we do get to chat.  I haven't see Linda though.

As of yesterday, I have joined Title Boxing Club.  Some of you may remember that I had a Groupon that I used in the Spring.  You have read about my experiences here.  I need some big time cardio that I don't think I can get at Lifetime right now.  I do enjoy Spinning, but with the new year the classes are going to be packed and you'll have to claw and fight to get a bike.

I will still be doing everything else at Lifetime, but I wanted to add boxing into my regime at least twice a week.  I opted for the month-to-month membership in case I don't want to go for a full  year.

So, I've continued to lift heavy with Sarah and I have some goals for 2015.
I want to bench 100 pounds.  Right now I am at 85 pounds and I can do about 6 to 8 reps.  If I get to the end of 2015 doing 6 to 8 reps, I will be happy.

I want to RDL 150 pounds.  I think I'm at 135 right now.   I want to super squat 400.  I'm at 380 right now, I think.

I promise I'm going to blog more.  There are some big things that are going to happen in 2015, I can feel it!!!

Check In Time

So sorry I haven't been blogging as often as I used to.  I'm still working out, still training with Sarah, still doing Pilates with Cassie, still do nutrition coaching with Jillian.  I still have the same goals.  Life has just gotten busier and more stressful for me so it's taken up a lot of my time and energy.

Without going into too much detail, there is someone who is out to tarnish my professional reputation.  This is without merit and has more to do with that person's lack of personal responsibility.  I have taken the proper steps I need to and am on the road to being vindicated.  Unfortunately, this person will stop at nothing.  This isn't over.  I don't know to what further lengths he will go to, but if you're the praying kind, please keep me in your prayers.

My food choices haven't been the greatest, but also not the worst.  Let's say I am enjoying life right now because I do like to eat.  I am also occasionally finding myself "comfort eating" during times of stress.  Hey, I'm human.  I am conscious of it.  It happens.  Every day is another day and another chance to be better.

The scale is up, but my clothes continue to feel the same or looser given the particular garment I am wearing.  Nothing is fitting tighter.  Letting go of the scale is a thing I've been working hard at, but we're so ingrained into letting the scale control our successes and failures.

I've got time on my side.  I think part of me had some sot of D day goal.  "I must reach my goal by X date."  I'll always have to work on myself.  It's not like you reach your goal weight and you're done.  Yeah, I'm not where I wanted to me (again, on the scale), but I'm stronger, I'm leaner, I'm healthier.   I'm almost 18 months into this journey and I'm pretty happy with my progress.

I will admit that my mind was more clear and more in the game this time last year than this year.  I guess that's how life goes and also how fitness goes.  I'm still working out 4 to 5 days a week, that's nothing to be disappointed about.  I keep lifting heavier.  I've made some modifications to my diet.

So, that's where I'm at.  I'm just trying to be honest.  My schedule keeps me from blogging as much, but rather than quit and have people think I've  either quit or fallen off the planet, I thought I'd tell you where I'm at mentally and physically.   It's all cyclical.  I'll be back up again, the lesson is to just keep going.  

Coming Up For Air

Wow, I am finally caught up with all of my transcripts!!!!!  Ever since mid-July, I have been pleasantly swamped with transcripts.  The money has been fantastic, I can't complain.  I'm definitely looking forward to a relaxing weekend coming up.

Other than work, what have I been doing?  Well, I'm still training with Sarah twice a week.  We've been taking it easy the last two weeks because my back has been hurting.  Turns out, my pirifomis were mega tight.  Thankfully, Drea loosened them up and I am feel back to my good ole 100%.  Starting this Sunday, Sarah and I are returned to our usual heavy lifting.

I'm still doing Pilates twice a week with Cassie.  There has been some upheaval in the Pilates department, but things are falling into place with the hiring of Lindsay Hill.  I haven't officially been introduced, but I'm sure she'll become my favorite Hill at LTF Novi.

Speaking of LTF Novi management, I am currently beefing with Sean Dick over what I like to call The Great Hot Chocolate War of 2014.  Long story short, Sean  promised Linda and I free hot chocolate because of the extremely cold temperature in the Pilate studio and he FAILED to deliver.  He has promised to go to Starbucks and get us hot chocolate (hold the whipped cream, of course) next Tuesday and he better follow through or else all Hell is going to break loose....and that's just what Linda is going to do him!!!!!

I have Friday off from work and I plan on making my grand return  to Spinning.  I have also signed up for the Kettlebell Workshop on Saturday morning.  I like to think I am pretty astute with the kettlebells, but it'll just be a nice free workout.

I am still doing Nutrition Coaching with Jillian.  I lost 6 pounds in two weeks.  While the scale is going down, my body is adjusting as well.  My current workout shirts are extremely loose in the waist and hip area.  Time to bust out the smaller size I brought earlier in the year!!!!

I'm watching and enjoying the latest season of the Biggest Loser.  I really like the new trainers, Jessie and Jen.    Of course, Dolvett is my favorite.

And that's pretty much what's going on with me.  I have been quiet on the blog, but I'm still plugging away.  I'm closing in on 18 months on this journey and I'm still happy with how things are going.  I'm always learning and improving, and getting stronger.

I'm Back

I know I haven't blogged in forever!  I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth.  I've been super busy with work and so much time has passed that rather than try to play catch-up I will just sort of start over.

I haven't forgotten about this blog.  I just felt overwhelmed when trying to think about catching up.

Where to begin?

Well, I've have set some new PRs.  90 pounds benchpressing.  125 pounds straight leg deadlift.

I'm doing more cardio.

I've switched to working with Jillian for my nutrition needs.  Today was actually our first session together and I think it went very well and I can sense some nutrition goals getting achieved.

I've decided to grow my hair out.  Random, I know.

I went to see Oprah last weekend and it was amazing.  I think and see things differently.  I think that weekend has changed my outlook and every aspect of my life.

I'm still working with Sarah twice a week and doing Pilates twice a week with Cassie.

Biggest Loser Season 16 has started and I really find a lot of inspiration in this show.

As we approach Fall and ugh Winter, the days are shorter and there is that impending doom that snow will arrive in just a few short weeks.  Oddly, this seems to be when I get things into high gear.  I see it as prep time for swimsuit season 2015 and lounging at a pool in a bikini.   I'm actually really excited.
I promise to blog more often.

Project: Slutty Pumpkin

This week marked my last scheduled week to work at a certain location which has been a love-hate relationship.  I've grown to like the people I work with, but I feel so socially out of the loop while there.  Also, the commute sucks.  I wouldn't mind going back there to work a day or two here and there, but not for a full week.

Workout wise this week I worked out four times.  That seems to be my average, but I might change it up and I'll talk more about that in a bit.

Monday and Wednesday I worked out with Sarah and you can read all about it here.  I'm still totally geeked about my PR this week.

Tuesday and Thursday were Pilates days.  Tuesday was "regular" Pilates and both Maureen and Linda were there.  I can't even remember when the three of us were all together in a class.  Seems like forever, but I was glad to see them.  Maybe now that summer is officially over, we'll go back to our normal attendance.

Diet wise this week, I've been hit and miss.  The downer about my work location this week is that I'm stuck there until 430 and I get home at 530.  Going back to my regular location will have me home earlier and I'll be happier, thus more eager to meal plan.

I have two big events that I am hoping will motivate me.  My friend Kyanna is having a HUGE 40th birthday party right before Thanksgiving.  So, Kyanna and I are putting a plan into action to look fabulous for that.  I call it Project: Slutty Pumpkin.

Those of you who are fans of How I Met Your Mother will get the reference of the legendary Slutty Pumpkin that Ted is obsessed with.  My goal is to look so hot that I am branded in someone's brain as their Slutty Pumpkin.

So to get Slutty Pumpkin hot, I plan to tighten the diet.  By that I mean cooking and meal planning better.  Keeping up with the working out and bumping it up to definitely five days a week.  I am currently debating adding a third (YES, THIRD) night of Pilates or possibly getting back into cycling.  I don't know yet.  I'm just thinking about that aspect now.

My second plan is called Project: Bikini Summer 2015.  My main focus now is Project: Slutty Pumpkin, but after Thanksgiving, PBS2015 is going to be the focus.

Do any of you have any fitness goals for the new season?

Long Time No Blog

Ugh, I know I haven't blogged in a while.  I'm still here!!!  

I've been crazy busy with work.  I've gotten a lot of transcript orders and I had seven due last week alone!  But that just means I have extra money to pay for my Lifetime lifestyle.

I usually do my weekly workout threads and I haven't, but I'll try to catch you all up in this one post.

The week of August 17 to the 23, I worked out five days in a row!  I had two days of training with Sarah (Sunday and Wednesday) and you can read about it here.  I did THREE days of Pilates with Cassie.  Yes, THREE!!!  I totally earned Friday and Saturday off after that.

This past week, August 24 to 30, I worked out three days.  Yeah, I know...three days is pretty low for me.  I did two days with Sarah and jumpboard Pilates with Cassie.  I was just super tired.  I was a little scared that my adrenal fatigue was coming back.

I just couldn't get enough rest.  I was getting plenty of sleep, but I was just tired.

Last Thursday, I met up with Eastside Tony for our nutrition follow up.  I'm doing pretty well with avoiding the foods that I am sensitive to.  My tummy is flatter, my clothes are fitting looser, but the scale is still not budging.  That is really annoying me.  My diet is okay and I am making decent enough choices, but I really can't get into the whole food logging and carb cycling.  I don't like to think about my food all the time.

I plan on making more of a concerted effort in September.  This Labor Day weekend is just a disaster, in my mind at least.  I'm sure my eating is fine for the most part but I am starting to have anxiety about eating and that's causing anxiety on top of anxiety.  

Oh, and I plan on blogging more in September, too.  My goal is to blog every day for the month of September and see if that helps.

A Week To Build An Ark

Rain was the big story locally as local freeways were submerged.  It seriously felt like it rained every day or it was super cold for being mid-August.

The Pilates Studio suffered a caved in roof.  Classes resumed but my Tuesday class time is the only time that there are two classes taught simultaneously.  Linda and I had the choice to sit in with Heather's class but we both declined.  I like Heather, but this was a last minute switch and I like the challenge Cassie gives me.  Plus Heather's class is made up of people who have done Pilates for less than a year, so I just didn't want to go.  I will be making the class up on Monday at 7.

Sunday morning I did Week 1, Day 1 of the Couch To 5k program.  I'm not doing the program again, I just used it as some HIIT training since Sarah wasn't working on Sunday and I needed something to do.  I did well, but sweat like crazy.  I may try to incorporate that some place in my weekly program.

Monday and Saturday were my rest days or in the case of Saturday, try to use my arms as little as possible.  Sarah killed my arms on Friday afternoon.   For more on my training sessions go here.  Seriously, my arms were jello.

Thursday was Jumpboard Pilates.  It was just me, Megan, and Rose.  We were in the back room due to the roof mess.  I didn't like it, it was more like sardine pilates because we were on top of each other and I kept banging into Megan's legs during leg circles.  I have been really whiny in jumpboard the last two weeks.  I'm usually not a whiner, but sometimes I just like to annoy Cassie.

So, that was my week.  The upcoming week has me doing Pilates three times.  That combined with personal training will have me working out five days in a row, which I try to avoid.  This should be interesting.

The Pilates Studio Got Douched

For those of you not in the Metro Detroit area, Monday afternoon brought historic rainfall.  Freeways were closed for days, many ended up with flooded basements, commutes were affected.  Talk about a crappy Monday.   Luckily Novi was spared from a lot of the damage.  We suffered temporarily flooded street and slow traffic.  

But there was one victim of the rainfall that hit a little too close to home for me.  The roof of my beloved Pilates studio caved in.  There were some air conditioning issues a couple weeks prior and the old and new AC units were stored on the roof above the Pilates studio area.  All that weight did structural damage and then all of that rain added insult to injury.  

And BOOM CRASH...the ceiling came down.

Here are some pics of the damage.

Repair work has already started and classes continued to be taught in the back room of the studio.

Thanks to Cassie and her staff for keeping it together and keeping the program rolling.

My Workouts Last Week

I can't believe I didn't do a week review last week.  What the heck!?!?!?!   Oh, well, I'll start back up this week with my weekly review.

I worked out four days this week.  I took Monday, Friday, and Saturday off as rest days, but I still went to Lifetime on Friday and Saturday.  On Friday, I met up with Eastside Tony for our nutrition appointment.  On Saturday, I had a massage with Drea.  My left calf has been so tight lately and Drea worked it out.  It hurt like a bitch, but after it felt good to feel the release of the tension in the muscle.  I'm not sure what is happening with that leg, but it feels much better.

I worked out with Sarah on Sunday and Wednesday and you can read all about it here.

My regular Pilates class was on Tuesday, but my homies Linda and Maureen weren't there.  It was just me and then Rose from my jumpboard class joined me.  I kicked ass in Pilates on Tuesday.  I always give 100 percent, but I was really going beyond that night.

Thursday was jumpboard and I was quite whiny in class.  I did everything Cassie told me to do, but I was just such a crabby whiner about everything.  But on the plus side, my buddy Sitwat was back from her Ramadan break.  I missed my little buddy.  I'm glad she's back.

So that was my exercise week.  I kind of wish I had squeezed another work out, but I am on par to get 5 workouts in next week.

This coming week I am working in my least favorite location, so keeping my diet in check will be a challenge, but I really don't want to disappoint Eastside Tony.  I don't like him when he's angry.

Forrest and Bubba Do Jumpboard Pilates

I have been so excited this week for Sarah to finally try Jumpboard.  Now she'll know what I talk about when I describe the stuff we do.  Thursday night was finally the night.  It was just me, Sarah, and Megan and of course, Cassie.  Since Sarah was brand new to Jumpboard, Cassie's introduction went a little like this:

"There are snipers all around this area that would love to grease a Pilates instructor."

Like all of our Jumpboard classes, we started with about 20 minutes of regular Pilates.  Sarah was pretty impressed by my short spine series.  Seriously, I'm pretty awesome at it.  I'm not sure if Sarah had ever done a Pilates class with Cassie before, but I think she learned a couple new things or at least variations.

Then came time for the Jumpboard portion.  It was a pretty tough class, I must say.  We worked with weights, without weights, did arm exercises.  We were all sweating, thirsty, and huffing and puffing.  Sarah really enjoyed the class.  It's pretty badass.  Don't let the fun of jumping on a reformer fool you, it's a killer workout.  I think Sarah got a good mix of everything we do.

The only exercise I'm bummed we didn't do was the "headlight" leg jump, which I think is poorly named.  It should be called tail light because it works the glutes pretty hard.   Headlights are boobs, let's be real.  

After class, we were like:

And as I do every Thursday after Jumpboard, I went home, showered, laid on the couch and was asleep HARD in about 10 minutes.  

I'm A Yoga Drop-Out

This week I worked out five days.  Back to my normal number of days working out.

Sunday and Wednesday were the days that I worked out with Sarah.  You can read that post here.

I had Pilates on Tuesday and I had another freak out during the short spine series.  I felt like I was going to flip over again.  It was kind of funny though.  The class was tough but enjoyable with my homies, Linda and Maureen.  Thursday was Jumpboard Pilates.  I was kind of dreading it because I was so beat from all of my other workouts.  I was afraid of how much pain I would be in on Friday.  I was very sore for class, but I soldiered on.  I survived and I actually wasn't that sore on Friday.

Next week, Jumpboard will be at 8 pm instead of the normal 6 pm because Cassie is closing on her new house.  Also, Sarah is going to take the class.  I am so excited.  I think she's kind of clueless about what jumpboard is all about, so I can't wait for her to experience it.  I'm sure she'll love it.

Monday and Friday were my rest days.  Friday after work, I went to Labcorp to have blood drawn for my Food Allergy Panel test.  I am so excited to get the results and finally figure out what is going on inside my body.

Saturday I went to Rickita's 945 Hot Vinyasa Flow class.  I enjoy practicing yoga at least once a week and I adore Rickita as a teacher and a person.  However, since Lifetime has decided to adopt the Jonny Kest method of yoga, I am finding myself discouraged and losing my love for yoga.  It has just become too confusing and very anti-beginner.  I swear if someone who had never taken a yoga class before came into a Lifetime Fitness yoga class, they would never come back.  Is that really what Lifetime wants?

I used to enjoy yoga class from beginning to end and couldn't wait to take my next class.  Now, I spend the hour on my mat frustrated, angry, and confused.  That's not what yoga is about.  The quality of the instruction has gone down hill.  I have been doing yoga for almost a year and this new way of teaching has me utterly confused.  I feel like you're expected to know poses at the snap of a finger  and the flows are just so convoluted.  

Seriously, during this class on Saturday, I just sat during the entire third flow because it was so confusing and way too crazy to expecting someone to memorize it and flow on their own.  In one word, it's BULLSHIT.

Two people walked out.  I left early partially because I had a meeting with Tony, the dietitian, but I honestly felt rage.  They should rename the class to Hot Homicidal Flow.  And I'm not the only one that's complaining.  Linda from my Pilates class doesn't like it either and she's going to classes in Commerce that are less Jonny Kest centric.  

So, I think my days of Lifetime Yoga are over and it makes me sad.  I love all of the classes that Lifetime has and am Lifetime's Number One Cheerleader, but they made a HUGE mistake when they changed the yoga program.  I'm highly disappointed.  

What Day Is It?

I had such a hard time remembering what day it was this week.  It was Tuesday and I thought it was Wednesday.  It was Wednesday and I thought it was Thursday.  And I wasn't the only person, I'm sure.

I worked out four days this week.  This is a pretty low number for me since I tend to get into the gym five days.  I definitely felt a beating after jumpboard pilates on Friday and Saturday, and being hungover on Saturday didn't help.

I worked out with Sarah on Sunday and Wednesday, which are our regular days.  You can read more about it here.

Tuesday was my regular Pilates class.  I had a helluva time getting all the way up in the short spinal massage posture, so Cassie had to help me out a bit.  Finally I was able to get all the up.  I do enjoy doing this and I think I'm pretty darn good at it.

Thursday was jumpboard pilates class.  I don't know what it is about jumpboard pilates but the hour goes by so fast.  Blink and it's over.  I just love jumpboard.  It's so fun and such an amazing workout.

I took Monday and Friday off from working out, as I usually do.  Friday night I went out with my friend Brittany and I had a great time.  Yeah, my eating went out the window, but Friday dinner tends to always be my cheat meal.

My alcohol consumption derailed my exercise plans for Saturday.  There was no way I was going to be able to survive a hot yoga class in my state.  I did however thoroughly clean my master bath and that took quite a while.  We're talking a hardcore scrubbing of the bathtub tiles and floor tiles.  You can seriously eat off my bathroom floor.  So I like to think my cleaning turned into an arm workout.

My upcoming week looks like a typical week.  I am meeting next Saturday with Tony, the new dietitian.  I also plan on being able to squeeze in my food allergy panel test.

Have a good week!

Fourth of July Week

It's another holiday week here in the US, which means there's the potential for some wayward eating on the 4th, but also time to hang out with friends and have a good time.

This week I worked out five days.  I took my typical days off:  Monday and Friday.

Sunday and Wednesday were training days with Sarah and the post about those days is here.

Tuesday was my regular Pilates class.  I had a funny moment in class this week.  We were doing the short spine series (I think that's what it's called) and I got all the way up on my shoulders and totally freaked out that I was going to fall into the well of the reformer.  Cassie said that's the feeling you should get when you get completely up on your shoulders and you're doing it right.  It was quite a scary feeling.  I came back down fairly fast because I thought I was going to flip over.  I'm pretty proud of myself for being able to do it.  Yay me!!!

Thursday was Jumpboard Pilates class.  It was a fairly small turnout since it was the evening of the 3rd.  It was a tough class, as usual, but fun.  I was sweating like a pig.

Saturday morning I went to Rickita's 945 Hot Vinyasa Flow.  It was really packed for being the morning of the 5th.  I was excited to use my yoga mat towel that I got last week.  This is the towel  that I ordered.  It made a world of difference in my practice.  I wasn't slipping and sliding around like I had been.  I think I might actually buy at least another mat towel because I really made a sweaty mess of this one.  It would be nice to have a backup.  Let's just say I will never take a hot yoga class without a mat towel.

The class was really challenging, but I'm glad I went.

After class, I went home and showered.  Then I drove over to Jackie and Thad's, and Jackie and I walked 4.1 miles at Kensington Metropark.  It was a nice walk, not too hot.  Clearly I am not drinking enough water because my bad ankle ended up swelling really bad and my fingers felt like overstuffed sausages.

So, despite the fact that it was a short work week and also a big party weekend, I did well.  I was diligent in getting my five workouts this week and mixing it up.

Have a good week!  See you next week!!

Pilates, Pilates, Pilates

I did Pilates three times this week and this was the wittiest title I could come up with.

This week I worked out 5 out of 7 days.  Pretty good.  I took my usual days off, Monday and Friday.

Sunday I took Martina's Slowburn Vinyasa class.  I wasn't expecting to get my heart rate up so high or to sweat, but I did.  I guess I shouldn't let the Slowburn word fool me.

Tuesday I had my standard reformer class.  Rachel, the newest Pilates instructor at LTF-Novi, subbed for Cassie.  I had never met Rachel, so I was kind of curious to meet her and take a class with her.  She is so nice and very pleasant.  She is trained the same way that Cassie is, so it was an easy transition.  She's a little quieter than Cassie, but she's new and she had never met any of us before.  Plus, Linda can come across as a thug when you first meet her.

Wednesday was my only training session with Sarah and you can read about it here.

Thursday was Jumpboard Pilates.  I hadn't done Jumpboard in two weeks, so I was anxious to get back to it.  Cassie was there for this class and she filled us in on the new West Bloomfield club that is opening.  We were asking questions because we were interested in what a Diamond LTF club was all about.  Sounds very luxurious, but not what I would want.  (No offense!)

Jumpboard was definitely tough.  We did those agonizing arm exercises.  I just kept repeating "My arms are going to look awesome, my arms are going to look awesome," just to keep me going.

Saturday was a private Pilates session with Cassie!!!  I love private sessions!  It's nice to get the one-on-one attention and just chit-chat with Cassie.  It's like sweating with a girlfriend...except you're the only one sweating.

Before I went to LTF, I stopped at my local Starbucks and picked up a Skinny Caramel Macchiato for each of us.  Cassie and I have the same favorite drink at Starbucks.  Great minds, people, great minds.

Yeah, I know it must seem weird to walk into a gym with two venti Starbucks, but hey, I don't care.  I just strolled on through with a coffee in each hand like:

And I seriously would have gone Naomi Campbell crazy if anyone would have said anything.  

So, that was my week in a nutshell.  I would call it a successful week.  I did a little bit of everything: lifting, yoga, and Pilates.  My three loves.  I think my head is getting back in the game.  I'm not weighing myself every day.  I was going to remove the batteries from my scale, but I didn't and I've been able to avoid the scale.

A Week of Emotional Mania

I won't continue to blab on about what a crappy week I had.  I think I did that enough already.

I worked out four days this week.  Not bad for a crappy week.  I worked out with Sarah on Sunday and Wednesday.  I had a great Pilates class on Tuesday.  I canceled out on the Jumpboard class on Thursday because I was so unsure of what I was going to do.  In retrospect, I am glad I did because I was insanely sore on Thursday and Friday.  We're talking incredible pain.  I can't imagine how I would have felt if I had gone to Jumpboard.  I might have been wheelchair bound.

So I took Thursday and Friday off from the gym and my healthy diet.  I ate like a fricking pig just to re-enforce that I hate the old way of eating.  Seriously, I was so lethargic, bloated, and salty.  It so wasn't worth the momentary euphoria of eating crap.  And it didn't help that everywhere I went I saw morbidly obese people, some who even walked like weeble wobbles.   It made me want to never go back to those days again.

Weeble Wobble toys from the 1970s

Saturday was my return to the gym.  I took Rickita's 945 Hot Vinyasa Flow class.  It was a great class for the most part.  My main issue is that I sweat so much that my feet and hands slip on my mat.  I ordered a mat towel on Amazon and it should be here on Tuesday.   I did the first two flows pretty well, but the third one was a little convoluted.  I did the best I could.  I tried to do crow pose, but that's a lot of ass and leg weight for my arms to hold up. 

I was really glad I took a yoga class.  It was what I needed.  

Have a good week!

  

My Nervous Breakdown of the Fitness Kind

It was bound to happen.  I completely melted down this week.  Five months of a plateau has finally gotten to me.  As I stated in my weekly training thread, the scale was a bitch this week.  Not only was my weight up, but my body fat percentage was up, too.  My diet was virtually the same.  My thyroid checked out okay at the doctor's office.  The Reds left town the week before, so that's no reason for the increase.  I've been eating at home, basically the same menu as the last few weeks.  I.WAS.PISSED.

But on the positive side, I look fabulous.  My skin continues to firm up, my muscle definition is great, people are continuing to comment on positive changes they see.  The scale is the most cruel bitch of all.  I know it doesn't really matter, it's just a number.  It's all about being healthy, getting off meds, feeling good.  But on Wednesday when I was standing on that scale all of that didn't matter.   D.tox was an epic waste, I wanted to quit training and Pilates, I wanted to quit period.

Then I thought about how fabulous my butt and legs look.  My arms are making good progress.  My abs are going to be phenomenal.  My skin looks spectacular.

And then I thought about all the haters and some of you haters are reading this right now.  You know who you are.  I'm doing what you couldn't and can't do.  I'm doing what you don't think I can do.  I'm tenacious, I'm strategic, I'm patient, I'm determined.    And it kills you.  But thanks for pushing me to do better and pushing forward.  I'm actually glad you're around.

So, I'm still climbing out of the pit and regaining my momentum.  My mood about this is still a little manic.  Sad, disappointed, hopefully, lonely, persistent, inspired.  I'm going to be meeting with Sarah and Cassie this week and we're going to tweak things a bit and see what will work.

I'm inspired by the story of Justin Willoughby who lost 550 pounds and it took him a decade to do it.  A DECADE.  That's dedication.  Holy crap!  I guess I shouldn't be bitching about 13 months, right?

Well, that's all for now, but I leave you with the Motivational Penguin.

Jumping Jehoshaphat

I had a super tough workout schedule this week.  I worked out five days in a row.  I usually work out four or five days, but I break it up.  This week I felt extra confident and went for it.

I worked out with Sarah on Sunday and Wednesday.  You can read our training post here.

Monday, I took Tammy's 4:45 yoga class.  I love Tammy's classes and I haven't taken a yoga class in almost two weeks.  June is actually a yoga challenge month and I have failed miserably in trying to squeeze in some yoga.  Between two training days and two Pilates days, I have to try and fit some yoga in at least once a week.  I also have to be careful to not get myself into an adrenal fatigue situation again.  (That sucked).

Tuesday was my regular Pilates class with my girls, Linda and Maureen.  It was a great class and I really got a good workout.  I always get a good workout, but lately Pilates has really been kicking my butt.

Thursday was Jumpboard Pilates.  This was the most excruciating Jumpboard class to date.  Cassie introduced three new exercises and each one was more challenging than the last.  The first two were arm exercises where we laid down on the reformer box (lengthwise) and pushed off the jumpboard with our arms.  Wow, those were rough.   To me, the toughest exercise was the new leg exercise that had us laying on our sides.  Even though it was tough, I can only imagine how beneficial this exercise will be for my glutes and my hips.  Unfortunately, when I was laying on my left side, I had some sharp pain.  I don't think it was an injury pain, but more of a killer cramp.  I did significantly better when we switched sides.

My sugar cravings go into overdrive after Pilates.  Each night after Pilates, I come home and want sugar, sugar, and more sugar.  It's gotten to the point that I am now drinking two protein shakes a day.  One at work as a mid-morning snack and another in the evening after my workouts.

Friday and Saturday were well deserved rest days.

I am really glad I took a yoga class this week.  I have a free morning on Friday, so I might squeeze in Tammy's Friday morning class.

Have a good week!

The Week That Was

This past week was an okay week.  I took three rest days: Monday, Friday, and Saturday.  Friday I was crazy sore and I was away from home all day, and Saturday I was hung over.  Monday is usually a rest day.

Sunday and Wednesday were personal training days with Sarah and you can read about it here.

Tuesday and Thursday were Pilates days.  Pilates really kicked my ass this week.  I came home Tuesday after class, showered, and passed out while watching Extreme Weight Loss.  I did well in class with all of the poses and exercises, but holy crap I felt rough.  My judge heard me sighing on Wednesday morning and asked what was wrong and I said Pilates class.

Thursday was Jumpboard Pilates class and it went super fast (thank God!).  My quads were burning as usual, especially during the warm up.  Once we get to the timed exercises it's not so bad.  It was a packed class, so packed Cassie had to turn someone away.  Eastside Cassie came out.  I was scared. LOL

As I said earlier, I took Saturday off because I was hung over.  I had a wild and crazy Friday.  I had a busy social calendar this weekend with my buddy Sara graduating on Saturday from South Lyon High School.

My goal for the upcoming week is to squeeze in at least one yoga class.  I really miss yoga.  I need to sweat the toxins out and get my yoga on.

Have a great week!

One Week Post D.Tox

This has been the best week in my life because the rollercoaster of emotions, aches and pains, and sugar withdrawal was over.

I woke up on Sunday and drove like a bat out of Hell to my favorite Coney Island (Leo's on Eight Mile @ Farmington) for breakfast.  I ordered a ham and cheese omelet, with potatoes, and sliced tomatoes.  I washed it down with iced tea (unsweetened).  I only had a few bites of the potatoes (too dry), but I ate all of my tomatoes and a good chunk of the omelet until it became too hammy.

I didn't go too crazy with eating.  I did want to maintain and continue my weight loss.  I didn't want to completely negate my progress.

In terms of exercise, I worked out four days this week.  I worked out with Sarah on Monday and Wednesday and you can read about it here.  On Sunday, I took Martina's Hot Vinyasa Flow class and sweat buckets.  I was sweating from every single pore.  I think I lost 10 pounds in just sweat.  On Thursday, I took my beloved Jumpboard Pilates class and it was Cassie's first day back from her honeymoon.  Now that her wedding is over and she's back from her honeymoon maybe she can concentrate on me full time.

Martina complimented my skin and thought I had gotten a facial.  Cassie noticed that my chins were smaller.  Apparently the effects of D.Tox that I didn't notice was my amazingly smooth and clean skin.  I mean I did notice that I was looking cuter than usual, but I had no idea it was because of D.Tox!

On Saturday morning, I went and had Sarah do a post-D.Tox Health Score.  My previous health score from April was a 68.  It is now a 76.  It probably would have been higher, but my glucose reading was high (106).  It was the exact same as in April, but I had an alcoholic drink the night before and that is probably why it was high Saturday morning.  I'll take more about that a little later in this post.

Everything was great.  The numbers were pretty much the same as they were in April.  My body fat was slightly higher, and my lean body mass was a little lower.  So, Sarah and I have decided to add some BCAAs into my supplement list.  Bonus for me:  Sarah surprised me Sunday by buying me some of the Thorne BCAA, so I'll keep you posted on my progress with that.

So, more about my food intake this week.  I definitely am going to watch my carbs because I don't react well to carbs at all.  Everything was cool until Friday.  I went to Mexican Town to have lunch with my friend Brittany.  I got the two cheese enchilada lunch special that came with rice and beans.  I also had some chips and salsa before my enchiladas came out.  My body reacted fine.

Friday evening I was going to go show shopping with my girlfriends.  The time switched from 6 to 7 and I hadn't eaten since lunch.  I decided to go eat at Leo's (seriously, I love this place) and had a bacon cheeseburger with onions, and a side of fries.  YUMMY!  I didn't eat as much as I did before D.Tox.  Before D.Tox, I would have cleaned my plate.  This time, I ate 3/4 of the burger and only half of the fries.  

I drove straight to DSW to meet the girls and my pancreas was in pain from the carbs.  Wow, carbs and I have to set some limitations.

After much success in getting some new summer shoes, the girls and I headed to California Pizza Kitchen.  We each ordered the same alcoholic beverage.  What did it for us was that George Clooney's Casamigos Tequila was in this drink.  SOLD!!!  It was a fabulous drink and I will get it again when I go to CPK.

I ordered just a side salad with ranch dressing.  It was great and refreshing, and a pretty good choice.   My friend Maddie is gluten intolerant and so she ordered a gluten free Margherita pizza.  She couldn't finish it, so she gave me two pieces.  It was so yummy and hit the spot.  My tummy was fine obviously since there was no gluten.

Saturday, I went to a graduation/going away party and I grazed all day.  It was at my friend Jackie's home and so there were a lot of  healthy options.  Her kale salad is amazing.  I was there from noon to 7:30, so I ate lunch and dinner there/  The weather was perfect and so was the food.

So, my first week post-D.Tox was a success.  I did deviate from the script, but that's life.  Life is meant to be enjoyed.  You splurge and get over it.   We're all human.  That's why I am doing this uncut.