It's almost the new year!

It's almost the new year and I do feel rejuvenated.  I am ready to clean out the junk in my life and get back on the healthy train (not to be confused with Ozzy's Crazy Train).  I came across a two year old Ladies Home Journal at the spa last week and they allowed me to bring it home. (Really those gals need to replenish their magazines) In said mag, was a article with a seven day plan based on The Biggest Loser television show.  Since I already know what the exercise portion of this program is, I thought "what the what", so I am currently restructuring my menus according to The Ladies Home Journal seven day plan.

One of the things that I am never honest with myself about is bread and pasta.  On this plan, you will periodically see one slice of whole grain bread. NOT an entire loaf of bread in the form of oven baked cinnamon toast. I really needed to see seven days worth of meals printed out to remind myself of the extras that I have been eating.

I am a "nester", I like to get the house good and clean with dishes done and laundry fluffed and folded. This means I can snuggle in somewhere and read or do needlework and not have to worry about chores.  This also translates into snacking.  I don't eat because I'm bored or lonely, I eat because I love to eat. Period. Now, I'm certainly not saying that there aren't deep seated reasons for my love of the ritual of eating, there  are and I know it and I know how to deal with it. Sometimes I just fall back into old habits.

All that being said, I'm starting out this years' version of "Let's Lose Weight This Year" with a slightly different attitude.  I know that I'm in control and that my weight problems do NOT stem from any medical conditions.  I'm healthy and I'm ready (this week, anyway) to lose some more weight.

Of the twenty pounds that I lost last year, I gained back about six of it gradually. I know why and I know how to continue with losing in a healthy manner.  I hope, if there is still anyone that reads this little blog, I hope that you will join me in my continuing journey of losing weight and gaining confidence.

I will not give up

Even though I'm old, I will not give up. Even though I never get any comments here,I will not give up.  Even though I'm so tired of the rules of staying fit, I will not give up. Even though I ate six pieces of toast with jam for my breakfast this morning, I will not give up. 

Even though I want to, I will not give up.  Even though my back hurts, I will not give up.  Even though I have corns on my pinky toes, I will not give up.  Even though I really want to stop worrying about my weight, I will not give up.

Life is good.  I have food (obviously) and a sweet husband and two loving sisters.  I have a nice house and fun things to do with my free time.  I pretty much have it made.  Why would a gal in my situation feel defeated by the inability to lose weight?  I don't know.  It's the one thing that no matter what I do I can't control.  I really don't want to be consumed by numbers and grams and trans fats and words that end with "ose".  I don't want to be, but I am.  But you know what?  Even though... I will not give up.

I'm quitting the weight loss challenge at our gym

That doesn't mean that I've given up, it just means that I want to find a way to customize my workouts and not be at the mercy of a pre-determined generic workout.  I'm tired of dreading the sessions.  Everyone says working out is supposed to be fun.  Well, guess what...going out with your honey, that's what's fun.  Meeting up with friends where your hair looks good and you don't have to worry about passing gas in public because you are in a torturous position, that's what's fun. Meeting new people and not sweating on them when you shake their hand, that's what's fun.   Get my drift?

I tried to make the most of it, but truth be told, I don't give a rat's patooty if I never do another burpee or another mountain climber.  I'm ready to plan my own workout, doing the things that I like so the workout will be less aggravating (notice I didn't say fun). I think I can still be fit and feisty if I do it myself.  This is the second time I've tried the standard trainer driven workout plan of bosu balls and crab walks,  and this old gal is tired of people thinking I'm a miserable old coot, because I don't think military style calisthenics are fun.

So all that being said, I'll keep you posted on how it goes.  I'm not saying I'm smarter than the certified trainer, I'm saying she's not certified in motivating and training a Silver Fox like me.  I'll show them, you just wait and see!

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.