The holidays are upon us

Well, the holidays are upon us and while we didn't overindulge too much for Thanksgiving, my delicate constitution isn't aware of that. Enough of that, I'm ready to get back on my regular plan of healthy eating. We had our  first weigh in last week (we're only weighing once a month) and I was down three pounds, but it really isn't indicative of anything.  I had eaten way too much the night of weigh in, in my mind it doesn't really count.

I am struggling with a team member that refuses to stop talking during our sessions and I feel like I'm being gypped out of some of the experience.  She is one of those gals that needs constant reassurance.  I really don't know if she has poor body image, or just needs attention.  She mentions the size of and burden of carrying her "butt" around all day.  How hard the exercises are because of her butt, how she doesn't want to lift weights because her arms are too big (what ever that means) and on and on.  The reason I join these weight loss programs is because I need the discipline of having a trainer.  I would not exercise as vigorously as I do if not for this program.  I'm beginning to wonder if it really is worth it. I am so tired of her constant chatter, that I'm wondering do I really need to balance on a ball and do push ups and such?  I really think that this will be my last round of this program.  I'm just not sure how I feel about things.  I know I am stronger than I was a year ago and that is actually my main goal. Strength and endurance comes from exercising.

I'm venting, I guess.  Why is it always so difficult to workout with a group? Is one out of every four people a jerk?  Last time we had  boy/girl teams with a team mate that was down right mean and was physically a bully to the other guy on the team.  Same trainer, nothing much was done, but that guy dropped out about halfway with an injury or something. Honestly, upon reflection, I think that the trainer is the problem.  I like her as a person and one-on-one she is a good trainer (I guess), but she really doesn't have much control of a team.

What are you thoughts on this? 

Here is a typical workout...

Our trainer is sick today, but she sent us a workout to do in her absence.  I had already told her, I wouldn't be able to show up, since I was so sore from Tuesday.  I'm glad I didn't because this is what she sent us to do:

Bike - 10 minutes 

Start at level 6

Minute 2 - level 8

Minute 4 - level 12

Minute 6 - level 14

Minute 8 - level 8 - finish at level 8.

Elliptical - 10 minutes (you choose which machine)

Either set it to a program or choose quick start

If you choose a program, select at least level 10.

If you select quick start, set it to level 8-12.

3 laps (lap 2 is backwards)

25 jumping jacks

25 pushups

1 minute plank

10 burpees

3 laps (all are forward)

24 alternating lunges (12 each leg)

25 wall taps (jump up and touch wall)

V-Sit - the hundred (body is in a v position - arms out straight and pulse hands - try to count to 100

25 Tricep dips (use the bench where the cubbies are)

3 laps (lap 2 is backwards)

Wall Squats - hold for 1 minute

Plank - 1 minute

25 mountain climbers

2 laps - walk last lap to cool down

Stretch!

I don't know about you, but this is quite a workout.  I'm going to try to do some of it on my own tomorrow. Wish me luck.

It's On Like Donkey Kong!

Well, today was the first day back with the trainer. I have been sick with a cold for several weeks, but I powered through.  Our group chose the name "Hips Ahoy". Pretty funny, huh?  Since we are using the same trainer as before, she knows what we are capable of doing and trains accordingly.  Today we did a mile on the track to start with. I had to do a "run a lap, walk a lap", but I still made the nine laps in under 14 minutes.  Pretty good for having basically taken 15 weeks off from any really strenuous exercising and having a cold.

For evaluation purposes, we also did crunches (63) and pushups (32) for a minute each.  Then she wanted us to do more cardio so she put us on the stationary bikes.  Started out at resistance of 8 for eight minutes, then went up to 10 for two minutes and then back down to 8 for two minutes and then 10 again.  At one point I felt really sick and had to go to the ladies room and get a wet paper towel, but I didn't upchuck.  I came back and finished up feeling OK.   She was monitoring the RPM's on the bike as well as the resistance and I had never done that. 

So, all in all, it was a really good session.  I like the gals on the team and my recovery time was quick. I'm really glad that I signed back up for this. The cost is $250.00 for working with a trainer twice a week for fifteen weeks.  Can't beat that. If I can hang in there, I'll continue on with the program next time and won't take a break.

That's it for now.  Remember to eat healthy, get some form of exercise, even if it's walking up and down your driveway.  It's exercise and you will feel better for it.

Orientation

Just went for orientation, weigh in and photo for the next round of Lose Big at our gym.  I weighed in at 186 with my shoes on.  That is a few pounds up from my last weigh in in May, but we weren't wearing shoes.  I think I have put on about 5 pounds, but I'm ready to get back in the groove. We don't start our official workouts with our trainers until next week, but I'm ready to hit the gym full force.  I want to lose another 20 pounds this go around.  I started off in January weighing 196+4.

I'll be making posts along the way with the types of exercises we are doing and any weight losses. This round ends in January so hopefully I will have lost almost 40 pounds in a year. That's what I shooting for.  How ever long it takes, I'm going to keep going until I lose 60 pounds. 

Anyone care to join me?  Weigh or measure yourself, check your fridge for trigger foods, and get ready to make some attitude adjustments.  We can do this.  If I can do it at my age (58) I know you can.  It's like anything else, it works if you work it.

Let's get in shape BEFORE the holidays

I know, I know...it's only a week until Labor Day, but I'm talking the food holidays, the ones that always seem to involve goodies.

November brings to the States the always popular Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving brings us turkey and all the trimmings, normally healthy veggies made unrecognizable by the addition of marshmallows, sugar, and other refined additives.  Shucks, I'll bet you know someone that adds a can of condensed...well, they call it soup... to at least one dish that is served.  What is that stuff anyway?

Well, if you're careful you can survive the onslaught of covered dishes and get ready for the real test. Because as we all know, Thanksgiving, in addition to being a very family oriented holiday, is the kick off for the shopping season.  While some seem to take this as justification to melt the plastic in their wallets when buying gifts for loved ones, other folks take to the kitchen to melt chocolate, sugar and butter while creating delights to give as gifts of food for their friends.

January rolls around and here you are rolling around from the massive amount of visceral fat that has accumulated from the consumption of the above mentioned gifts of food.  Sheesh, what a gift...another five pounds of body fat.  I could have done that myself and they could have avoided the astronomically high Discover bill, not to mention the time lost on baking dozens and dozens of cookies. Let's not even mention the burns they got from wrestling with that bubbling caldron of fudge that somehow overtook the neighborhood.

So just as you think your New Year's resolution for losing said poundage is really going to work, some well meaning friend (read saboteur) brings you a huge heart shaped box full of additional calories. Sigh...

You get my drift, there is always a food related holiday to get in the way of losing weight.  But we know  that the choice is really up to us.  We can graciously accept the food and then donate or re-gift it.  We can tell folks ahead of time that we won't be accepting any food gifts, and suggest a charity  that could use the money they would have spent. We could even promise to match the amount as incentive.  We can do lots of things to stay healthy.  We can...but will we?

Speaking for myself, I have signed up for an additional fifteen weeks with a trainer at our fitness center.  I did this in February and lost about 17 pounds.  I took a break to see how well I could do on my own, and I have maintained the weight loss, maybe going up and down 1-2 pounds.  I do know that I wont push myself like I will for my trainer, so here we go again.

Well, that's it for me for today.  Remember if you're bored and want to do some web surfing that I have two other blogs that are always looking for new friends.  Stop by and see me at ...A Walk In The Park or at my newest blog...Where We Really Create.  Never know, you just might find something interesting or make a new friend.   Till then, take care and have a great holiday.

Still here...

Just wanted you all to know that I'm still hanging in there.  Still hitting the gym 4-5 times a week and eating healthy.  My weight plateaued at 177, but I'm going to knock through that number and start losing again soon.

Since my weight loss posts have become few and far between, I am starting a new blog for anyone and everyone that has a hobby. The idea is to send me a picture of your studio and something you have created and I will post it on the new blog.  If you are interested, check it out here.  It is new today, so no followers yet, or any fancy stuff.  These things will be forthcoming.  I hope to see you there soon.

Still hanging in there

Just stopping by to let everyone know that the hubby and I are still hitting the gym every day.  He has lost all of his weight, of course, and I still have 25 pounds to go. I am currently at a plateau and am trying to change things up to "trick" my body into losing again.  I have started using the stationary rowing machine.  It's easy to do, doesn't hurt your knees, feet or butt and is said to be an excellent machine.  For some reason, no one uses them at our gym so they are always available.  I started out with five minutes and have worked up to 20 minutes.  If you are interested in proper technique and form when rowing, check out the Concept 2 website.  The reason I mention learning proper technique is because you can get a burning sensation in your shoulders if you are out of alignment.

Well, that's it for me today.  I am still logging in my exercise and food intake on My Fitness Pal and as I said, we are hitting the gym 4-5 days a week.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend (if you're in the States) and if you're not just have a great weekend. 

Take care and kiss you loved ones, they deserve it.