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.  

Back to the Heavy Lifting

Today was my return to lifting heavy after taking it easy for about two to three weeks due to my back pain/piriformis tightness.  It felt great and I was so excited for this workout.   We didn't pick up right where we left off, but it was still a heavy lifting day.

Our first exercise was the Icarian Super Squat machine.  I think the last time we did it, I squatted 360 pounds.  I can't remember what Sarah said, but I squatted somewhere in the mid to high 200s.    We did straight leg deadlift next.  The last time, I did 125 pounds.  I think today I did 110-ish from what I could tell.

The rest of our workout was very arm heavy.   We did the seated row on a machine we had never done before.  Sarah thought we had used it before, but I can assure you we had not.  I kind of liked it.   I have to say I also enjoyed the chest press (50 pounds) with my legs in tabletop.  I'm used to tabletop since we do that in Pilates, but I was a little nervous about doing it while lifting.   It worked out well and wasn't difficult at all.  I was afraid my legs would be tired and it would be hard to keep them up.

I'm pretty excited to be back to the heavy lifting.  I am working out with Sarah Wednesday and next Sunday and then she is going on vacation.  She has arranged for Jeff Douglass to train me.  This should be pretty cool because he shadowed one of my workouts with Sarah last summer when he was just an intern.  I can't wait to see what he has planned.

My Latest Guilty Pleasure

The newest thing I like to do in my rare bit of spare time is watching YouTube videos of people giving advice and reviews.  I have a few channels that I subscribe to, but my current favorite is that of Tyrone Magnus which up until recently included his now ex-girlfriend Sarah Caissey.   Tyrone does near daily video uploads and Sarah hasn't uploaded anything to her channel in a little bit.  I must say that I was truly saddened that they broke up.  I really hope they get back together.

I actually might email Tyrone a question because I need advice on a sticky subject and the current male advice I'm getting sucks.

I learn a lot when I watch their videos and I laugh my ass off.  Tyrone also does an occasional workout video, which is all right, but I sometimes disagree with.  It's cool though, everyone works out differently.

My favorite videos are when he answers subscribers' questions.  He gives hilarious, but honest answers.  And when Sarah was in the video, it was even funnier.

So, if you're looking for something fun and informative to watch, I strongly suggest subscribing to Tyrone's channel.  His goal is to get 1 Million Subscribers (WHOOOOOAAAA)

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.

Inspirational Week

This week has the potential to be a great week.  First of all, Biggest Loser returns on Thursday for its 16th Season.  I like watching Biggest Loser and not just because Dolvett Quince is on it.  I do love him......

Seriously, can he be any hotter?

And then on Friday, Jackie and I are heading to Auburn Hills to hang with Oprah.  Yeah, that Oprah.  Oprah has been doing weekend retreats called The Life You Want.  I am so excited.  I LOVE Oprah (but not in the same way I love Dolvett).  

Between Biggest Loser and Oprah, I am hoping that my motivational fire will be reignited.  It hasn't been distinguished, but running a little low.  I've set some goals for myself like Project: Slutty Pumpkin.  

I will definitely blog more about Oprah once I get home from the weekend.  I'm geeked to get motivated!!

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?