Super Saturday!!

Some people rest on the weekends.  I use it as an opportunity to kick it into high gear.  This Saturday was no different.

It started with the 645 a.m. Spinning/Cycle Studio class at Lifetime.  I think they are calling it Cycle Edge or something.  I'm not positive about the name.  I am positive that construction has started on the new Cycling studio that they are putting in at LTF-Novi.

Class was great and I worked up quite a sweat.  Class was PACKED!  It was crazy how busy the class was for being so early on a Saturday.  It was Open House Weekend, but this was just crazy.  I'm sure the much needed thaw that finally blew into Michigan helped.

I then went to the 1215 Ashtanga Yoga class taught by Rickita.  It was my third straight week attending this class.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is my favorite yoga class.  This class, too, was packed.   I had to leave a few minutes early because I had a massage appointment at 130.

My massage was amazing, as usual.  The neck problem I had the previous time is gone, but my complaints coming into this massage was low back pain mainly on the right side and right upper thigh pain.  My next massage is scheduled for the second Saturday of February.

I have to say massage is quite helpful.  Some might see it as an extravagance, but it truly does help me prevent injury and help with any aches, pains, and stiffness I have.  I strongly recommend it.

Couch To 5k - Week 6 Day 1

I had today off from work.  Yay!  I went to Lifetime Fitness at around 8 a.m. to do my next day of the Couch to 5k program.  I took yesterday off from the gym.  I realized I had not taken a day off from the gym since December 26th!  Holy cow!  I totally didn't mean to that and I wouldn't suggest it.  The body does need to rest!

The weather in Michigan is starting to warm up and so is the gym.  There were plenty of cars in the parking lot when I got there.  I think the weather has sort of derailed or delayed some New Years resolutions because the gym has been pretty quiet when I've been there.

I chatted with Sarah in the locker room and she passed her Health Score Certification!!!  Go Sarah!

I made it upstairs and prepared for my run.  You can see from the picture above what I had to do today.  I was a little nervous about the 3 minute walking.  In the past that hasn't been a lot of time for me to "rest" before starting to run again.

The first five minutes was a breeze.  I'm really getting used to running at least five minutes.  I walked for three minutes, then I started the 8 minute run.  It went well and I ran the whole thing.  It did seem to last a while and just as I was checking my phone to make sure the app was still working, it told me to start walking.  Ah!
Then it was time to run the second five minutes.  I knew I could do it.  It was only five minutes.  I did change the speed.  I ran the other two intervals at 5 mph, but I did the first four minutes of this interval at 4.8 mph.  I did the final minute back up at 5 mph.

I have to say I hate running while I'm doing it, but I love it when I am done and have accomplished something.  :)

REGISTERED!!!! 90 Day Challenge - Spring 2014

After my training session yesterday, I registered for the new 90 Day Challenge that starts in February.   I'm pretty excited because I need a new challenge to help me get to my next goal.

I signed up for a couple of Try It Tuesdays that I haven't done before.  I signed up for four to be exact.  There are two reasons why I didn't sign up for more.  One, I already do Pilates on Tuesday evenings and I love my class (Linda and Maureen, and trainer Cassie).  Two, I've done most of them already and wanted to leave the space open for new people who haven't done them yet.

The four things I signed up for were: TEAM Boot Camp (April 8), Fight Shape Challenge (April 22), TCX/Total Conditioning (April 29), and the 90 Day 5k (May 6).   My goal for the 5k is to run the entire thing!!

I can't wait to see how successful I'll be this time around.  I want to lose more than I did during the Fall 2013 Challenge (15 pounds).

Training 2014 - Week 1

I've decided to do a weekly post about my training, how it felt, any new accomplishments, et cetera.

Technically, I've had three sessions this year since 2014 started mid-week, but this is my first full calendar week of training.

Sunday was leg day and I've already blogged about that.  Wednesday was arm day.   The cardio part of my workout was pushing the Prowler Sleigh for a minute.  I did that three times.  Sarah put 145 pounds on it and I googled Prowler weight and an average Prowler weighs 75 pounds.  So, I was pushing around practically my entire body weight (220 versus 223.8)

For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, here is a picture (not of me, but of what I was doing):

That combined with the other weights I lifted left me very tired.  Sarah really challenges me and I love it!  I'm not really sore and I think I can the L-Glutamine has something to do with that.  

I have to say 2014 is turning out to be a good year.  I've done a 5k, I've reached my 50 pound goal, I've run for 20 minutes straight, my training is awesome.

DOWN 50 POUNDS!!!

Officially, on my scale at home I have lost 50 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!   I've been waiting for this achievement for months!!!  I've never lost this much weight....EVER!!!

And now I think I am ready to admit something that some of my other friends have never done...starting weight.  The number.  It's just a number.  And it's a number I'll never be again.

274 POUNDS

Yep, that's what I weighed on May 15, 2013 when I started this journey.  And if you're decent at math, you'll figure out that I am currently 224.  (Actually 223.8).  It's quite liberating to let the cat out of the bag.  I know a lot of people who have lost large amounts of weight (surgery and non-surgery) and they have never admitted their starting weight.  They play the number game just the way closeted gay people play the pronoun game.  "I've lost 50 pounds, I have 50 more to go."  I find that super annoying.  Just say the number already.  Quit beating around the bush.

So there, it's out there.  As much as I hate the buzz phrase "Just own it,"  I own that I used to weigh 274 pounds.  

And since I'm throwing numbers around, my next goal is to get to 195 pounds, which was my weight in college.  So, I have 28.8 pounds to go until I get there.  That is not my goal weight, but rather my next plan of attack.  That is also the goal I've set for myself for the next 90 Day Challenge.

Thanks for all the congrats some of you have given me on Facebook.  I couldn't do it without you.  

Fitbit Challenge - Winter 2014

I'm so excited!  Sarah just emailed me this announcement for the newest Fitbit Challenge at Lifetime Fitness - Novi!!!!  I love a good Fitbit challenge!  I love it even more now that I am just 30 pounds away from being at my college weight!

I won the Summer 2013 Fitbit Challenge, but I wasn't as diligent during the Fall 2013 challenge.  I am definitely going to get 10,000 steps a day so that I can earn two free TEAM classes.  Of course, I am going to push for the grand prize, but I definitely want to at least get the minimum steps.

Couch to 5K Week 5 Day 3

I did it!  I DID IT!!  I flipping did it!!!!  Twenty minutes!  Two Zero!!

I called off from work because of the snow and the nearest freeway to my home being an accident magnet this morning.  I had to shovel myself out of my parking space, and unbury my car, and let it warm up for a half an hour, but I got to the gym and ran it out!

I got a lot of help on my run from my playlist.  A lot of great music came on my shuffle workout mix.  I guess you can say I got a little help from Beyonce and Jay Z (and Monica and Katy Perry, too.)

The temptation to stop running was strong from the get go.  I mean I did some serious shoveling before I got there.  No one would blame me for stopping.  That snow was heavy and was a workout by itself.  But I ran on.  Just keep running.  Just keep running.  

Before I knew it, the app voice chimed in "You are half way done."  Yes!  Ten minutes down, ten to go.  I can do this.  My ears were sweating so bad, I had to take my headphones off around minute 16 and run without music.  I put them back on about a minute and a half before the end so that I could hear the app tell me I was done.  I also put a towel over the screen again, but I did keep peeking.  I took it off for good around minute 15.  The last two minutes seemed easy.  I think my stride got stronger with a minute and a half left.  I think I might have been smiling during the last 30 seconds!  

And finally it was over!!  

I have to say that my body wasn't sore.  It was definitely mind over matter.  You just have to think that you can and you'll do it!