Feel The Burn

WOW!  So yesterday I felt amazing and near the end of the day I started to get a little bit sore.  I stretched on and off the whole day.  

Can I just say that when I woke up this morning.  I felt the wrath of PT today!  This little meme made me laugh so hard because that is how I feel today!  I had another 30 minute PT (and now I am all caught up on any missed time).  I thought I was going to die!

Started with a walk/run for 10mins then got right into it.  He was training someone today and this gentleman took over my second half.  He did good!  I felt every fiber of muscle in my legs today Ha Ha Ha.

Our little guy woke up with a really nasty cold today.  We had plans to meet a friend of mine who we haven't seen since we got married.  He came from Arizona for a wedding.  Now we don't have anyone to watch our son, so my husband said he would stay home with him.  I feel bad because our date night will not be happening, but I love him for doing that so I can still see a friend.

Well, onward for another busy weekend.  I have missed two Piyo classes after tomorrow because we have had so much going on.  I hate it.  BUT I will be able to start next Saturday, so that makes me happy!

I still have no decided if I will follow into the footsteps of my friend and start training for that competition.  I am figuring it all out in my mind.  I also need to find the time to discuss it with my trainer.  So many things to think about!

Ok, I am tired, and sore, and tired :)  This is blog post 96!  Almost to 100!  I don't keep up as much as I should, but 100 is impressive I think!  Have a great weekend everyone!

~ <3 ~
Me

Feeling Strong

So my trainer always says "You're getting stronger" or "You're improving a lot".  I will tell you something.  I am an impatient person.  This dropping weight and toning up thing does not mesh well with my impatient personality!  HOWEVER, I am still sticking with it, and my PT (Personal Training) days are my favorite days of the week.  I have an intense 30 minute session with Tommy and then I do 6 miles on the elliptical machine....I'd love to run outside but I know as soon as I get home I will get occupied doing other things and let it slide.

I have been doing a lot of upper body stuff at my training sessions and I have to say I have impressed myself!  I am doing squatting chin ups/pull ups.  I can't wait for the day when I can do a regular one all on my own.  That is my goal because I have NEVER been able to do that!  Even when I was younger.  When I turn my arms certain ways I can see the muscle I have.....now I just have to drop the fat!  That is what I need to keep up with.

I am guilty of not doing my every other day PT homework he has given me and I know he knows I am not doing it because my results aren't as obvious.  Why I won't do it baffles me, but I have to start somewhere and that somewhere is tomorrow!!!

I have been doing pretty good with my eating lately though!  I have been doing my protein smoothies for breakfast and having spinach and chicken salads for my lunches!  My husband has been keeping up with it also, so we go through lettuce, spinach and chicken like its chocolate.  It is getting pricey but this healthy eating is just totally worth it!  You feel better and you look healthier and happier.

Slow and steady with the fitness.  I don't want to rush and then let go everything I have worked so hard for.  I also don't want to drop the weight and then get a ton of flappy hanging skin.  That started to happen last fall because I dropped my 20lbs so fast.  Now that I am strength training.....well just training in general....I have really started to tone and tighten up.  My trainer is a blessing and I am forever in debt to my patient that referred me.  It was the right time and meant to be.  Stupid "Other Gym".  I wasted way too much time there when I could have been having results ASAP.  Had I known, I would have loved to do it when I started running last year.  I bet my results would have been HUGE!  Not that they weren't on their own, but I bet it would have been incredible!

I am going to try and start posting a song of the day on my blog.  Some songs I just really push harder while I am working out or running.  I hope it helps you build your music collection everyone!

Ok my friends.....I have a lot to do today.  Stay active and go for a walk.  Enjoy the outdoors playing with your kids or your pets.....live and love life!

~ <3 ~
Me

*Song of the day: "Sail" - AWOLNATION*

Routine Has Happened

I was sitting her on the couch browsing the internet (yeah I know so healthy and all) and I realized something......I finally have routine with my healthy lifestyle!  I was telling a friend of mine how I always heard it takes 30 days to make something a habit.  That is a load of BS! 

I can't tell you how many times I attempted to turn my life around.  I would stick with things for MONTHS and go right back to where I started.  I don't know what the difference is now compared to then, but it just feels right!

It feels weird if I don't work out during the week (especially my PT sessions).  If I don't eat well, by body tells me so!  Like seriously, it makes me miserable....absolutely miserable!  My body craves exercise!  It's like a drug!  A huge antidepressant drug!  I am more positive and my body is happy!

I cried today at my Personal Training (PT) today.  I felt so stupid but I cried!  I was doing a circuit and part of it was a "chin up" move where I squatted to the floor and used my arms to pull up and down.  Immediately I started crying.  My trainer seriously thought I was hurt and that something was terribly wrong with me.  All I could say was "I never would have thought I'd be able to do something like this before".  All he said was "Well, you're doing it now!".  Damn right Tommy!  Damn right!

My trainer is amazing.  (that's my sweaty PT selfie) Super patient but very firm and motivating.  Pushes me to the point that my body can take the work out but, as he said today, "I don't push you to the point that you can't even sit down on the toilet".  SO TRUE!  When I was at Fitness 19 my trainer (let's call him Bob) would work me out so hard that I literally couldn't sit down on the toilet without something to support me!  He knew I had a knee issue and was worried about building up the strength in my thighs and around my knees.  I'd be out of commission for DAYS!

I am sore with my new trainer, but it is a good sore.  A reminder of what muscles I used for my workout and that I am slimming and trimming that fat away!  A reminder of the old me becoming the new me!  RAWR!!  LoL

Ok, so I love my PT days and they make me happy and healthy like my healthy eating!  YAY!  When I miss either of those things, my world comes crashing down and all is lost and gone forever ;)

As a side note, I have signed up for a 5k race every month until October!  I am so happy and so excited because my husband has decided to run with me!  He wants to get into it too!  I am so excited to share this part of my life with him!

Off to bed I go my friends!  Thanks for reading and share this with your friends!  Maybe I can guide someone to a healthier lifestyle too!

~ <3 ~
Me

Feeling Great!

So two weeks ago I got SLAMMED with a knee injury.  I ran Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and BAM that was it.  I could barely make it up the stairs Friday morning.  I took of extra activity for a full week.  I DID however attend a Karate group class Wednesday of last week.  I felt decent, but the knee still felt kind of funny.

This week I went to the same group class last night.  The difference is I wore my HRM (Heart Rate Monitor).  I burned 351 calories!  I couldn't believe it but the Garmin doesn't lie!  I thanked my Dad for kicking my ass :)  He was the instructor for the class.

I had quite the work out.  I did karate with him over 10 years ago and I got really in shape and was used to the physical movements and abuse the body takes.  Yesterday not so much and here is the proof.

I bruised my right knuckles and then I rubbed skin off my left knuckles.  It seems worse than it is and it was an AMAZING work out.  I really enjoy it and I missed it a lot.

SUPER psyched with the weather here in Northeastern  Ohio!  Today it was 62 degrees this morning and I took advantage of it.  I ran 4.5 miles and walked .72 miles.  Puts me at 5.26 I think :)  I missed it so much and at times I did feel that air bubble behind my knee cap.

I didn't push myself too hard for fear I would have the same issues and not be able to run!  It is frustrating because I miss it so much and if I can't keep up with it I may cry. :)  Thanksgiving came and went and I really didn't over eat!  I couldn't believe it!  Almost like my body can't handle as much food.  That makes sense because I am sure my stomach has shrunk at least a little bit over the last 6 months.

Tomorrow is 6 months since I started my new lifestyle and yes, I plan on taking photos.  Probably Saturday morning.  I can't believe it but I also don't feel like that much time has gone by because I feel like I am still learning and growing.  I am sure that will be a constant thing in my life.

I want to write a reflection post this weekend looking back over the last 6 months.  So much has changed.  It's been an amazing ride and I am so thankful to be able to share it with you all!

~ <3 ~
Me

Hello Monday and Good Bye Holiday

I can't wait for Monday.  Back into my routine!  The hardest thing about the holidays not only is controlling and making sure I don't eat every item displayed on the tables, but being able to stick with routine!  It's much easier to keep with it when work is the same and home life is the same.

Last week I took off from fitness due to a knee injury.  I did attend a Karate group class Wednesday which my Dad taught.  He kicked my butt, however I felt amazing!  My upper body was sure as hell sore!  We did 100 push ups and 100 sit ups.  My stomach and along my middle back and my arms were SO sore!!

It felt amazing!  I loved it!  I also realized how weak my upper body is compared to how strong my lower body is.  SO I am going to attend more karate group classes and start doing kick boxing.  All along side my running or elliptical use!  One of my patients said its most important to strengthen the core and back areas.  It helps with posture and any back pain associate with running.

I am excited to try it.  After this crazy holiday I feel like I am stuck in another rut that I need to get out of.  At least I have a game plan!  I do have to say that I tracked my food since last week and have been keeping up fairly well!  Thank goodness!!

~ <3 ~
Me

Same Sweater....New Me....Bad Knee!?

So, I have posted this beauty before in a past blog.  I am mortified I ever let myself get to that point, but what are ya gonna do!?

I was going through drawers trying to find SOMETHING to wear in this cold Ohio weather.  I dove into my sweater drawer.  I need something warm that will fit.  Even if it hangs off me a little bit, I just need it to look somewhat nicely.

As I was going through my drawers I came across this same red sweater.  When I see it, this is the picture I see in my mind.  I almost put it in my donate pile when I thought "The lines on that seem slimming enough....I wonder if it would fit?"

So, I put it on and BAM!  This is how it fit!  I still feel like my face shows my weight, but I realize I have a strong jaw line and chin like my father, so I shouldn't complain.  He is a handsome person :)  I couldn't believe how different I made this sweater look now compared to just a few years ago.

Why did I save it after seeing this picture of me!?  Maybe for a day like this!  I felt amazing in the sweater and it was comfortable.  It was a LITTLE loose, but I felt it still looked somewhat cute! Please no need to tell me any compliments.  I am not fishing for them.  It is just taking time to enjoy this new me!

Now, onto the bad news!  I was doing SO amazing running last week!  I ran Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  By Thursday I noticed my right shin and my knee were feeling a little pressure.  Friday morning I could barely make it up or down our small flight of 6 steps.

As anyone would do.....instead of contacting my physician I turned to the trusted internet!  The only common explanation I could find was that I bruised my knee or knee cap and that was why it felt like I had a huge air bubble behind my knee cap.  The solution/treatment you ask?  Elevation, ice compress, and Advil.  NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!  Did I do something wrong?  I was averaging 13-15,000 steps a day and I was feeling AMAZING!  Was it just too much at one time, or was it my shoes?  I invested in an amazingly supportive pair of running shoes.

I don't know what happened but I am sad.  This has now made me realize to stick with my 3x weekly running with some strength training.  I have GOT to do he strength training!!!  I just need a buddy because doing that by myself at the gym makes me pretty panicky :(

So, to lighten the mood....my old new sweater was a pleasant surprise but my knee is still throbbing *sniffle*.  What is a girl to do!?

~ <3 ~
Me