It's amazing how much you use your leg muscles. Every movement involves the legs in some way...well, almost every movement. And after the workout Anthony put me through yesterday, my legs are SORE.
Yesterday, after the gym, I went to the library. There are stairs leading up to the entrance to the library. Stairs were my enemy last night. Going up was okay. Going down...not so much. Later, I went to UNLV to see The Nutcracker ballet. There were stairs leading up to the theater entrance. Holy COW. One step at a time with a deathgrip on the railing - only way I made it down without falling on my face! Sheesh.
All in all, it was a tough workout, and I nailed it. I worked hard, and I kicked butt. :o) Anthony is an awesome encourager and teacher.
I love the place I'm in. There's a determination and an eagerness in going forward that's never been in me before. Today, I thought about the future a bit. The next time I go to Morocco, I'll be able to play futbol with the kids. I'll be able to get down in the dirt and have fun, with ease. I'll be able to run. And I'll be a walking testimony to health and vibrancy and life-change.
Until next time.... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Blowin' it OUT!
This evening was session 2 with Anthony. :o)
We worked on shoulders and back, and then did more crunches on the big squooshy ball.
My arms are tired, to say the least. And I'm getting over the fear of Mr. Squooshy. I didn't even strain with my legs to hold myself in place this time. And he had me do 3 1-minute sets. :o) LOVE IT!
At the end of the session, he said "For the first time...you blew it out. Good job." :o) Fun fun fun.
And yesterday, I went to the gym and walked 2 miles on the treadmill, using up to a 3.0 incline.
The biggest hurdle I'm facing is something you'd think would be easy for someone like me, especially being addicted to food and all. I'm not getting enough calories. The last couple days I've averaged about 1600-1800 a day. Anthony told me that that is WAY too little. He wants me around 2000 a day, even 2200 for the first couple weeks. Problem is, I'm not hungry, and I'm eating 5 times a day. I've cut out all fast food, and am not eating all fat free or light, although some things are. I'm eating a lot more fiber, hence not being as hungry.
So, yeah. Gotta figure out how to get more calories, without going unhealthy. Sheesh.
The next session with Anthony is Tuesday afternoon. Till then I'll be treadmilling it daily. :o) I'm thinking 2 miles is a good target daily, although I may try to go a little more sometimes. I don't want to overdue it, but doggone it, it feels SO good to be moving! I just can't wait till I can RUN again! THAT is going to be SO MUCH FUN!
Otherwise, things are going well, and I'm super excited to be on the road to health!
Till next time!
We worked on shoulders and back, and then did more crunches on the big squooshy ball.
My arms are tired, to say the least. And I'm getting over the fear of Mr. Squooshy. I didn't even strain with my legs to hold myself in place this time. And he had me do 3 1-minute sets. :o) LOVE IT!
At the end of the session, he said "For the first time...you blew it out. Good job." :o) Fun fun fun.
And yesterday, I went to the gym and walked 2 miles on the treadmill, using up to a 3.0 incline.
The biggest hurdle I'm facing is something you'd think would be easy for someone like me, especially being addicted to food and all. I'm not getting enough calories. The last couple days I've averaged about 1600-1800 a day. Anthony told me that that is WAY too little. He wants me around 2000 a day, even 2200 for the first couple weeks. Problem is, I'm not hungry, and I'm eating 5 times a day. I've cut out all fast food, and am not eating all fat free or light, although some things are. I'm eating a lot more fiber, hence not being as hungry.
So, yeah. Gotta figure out how to get more calories, without going unhealthy. Sheesh.
The next session with Anthony is Tuesday afternoon. Till then I'll be treadmilling it daily. :o) I'm thinking 2 miles is a good target daily, although I may try to go a little more sometimes. I don't want to overdue it, but doggone it, it feels SO good to be moving! I just can't wait till I can RUN again! THAT is going to be SO MUCH FUN!
Otherwise, things are going well, and I'm super excited to be on the road to health!
Till next time!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Stronger than Before & Motivated for Change
Today I met with Anthony at 24-Hour Fitness. He's this huge guy, body builder type, but very nice, funny, and promises to work me hard in our sessions.
Our session today was mostly paperwork. Measurements, evaluations, and then a little bit of time on the floor "seeing what you're made of" (his words).
That 20 minutes was very encouraging.I'm stronger than I was the last time I was in the gym. The weights he handed me were easy. He had me do some back, biceps and triceps - four different exercises - and then one more...some pull down thing where you spread your arms as you pull the thing down. Can't remember what it's called. He pushed me to the point where I couldn't pull it down anymore...and then took me over to a machine, telling me it was going to be fun.
I stood looking at that thing wondering what in the world it was, and what I was supposed to do with it. It's a chin up/ pull up machine. And it IS fun! And I did chin ups...lifting my body weight only, but still...that's a flippin lot of weight. Anthony was impressed at how well I did.
Then he took me to the most dreaded thing for me, something I've never done because I've been afraid of it. Crunches on the exercise ball. That big squooshy thing that surely would fly out from beneath my butt as soon as I tried to do a crunch. He goaded me on...teasing me a little about the fear, and pushed me to do it, not taking no for an answer.
And I did it. 2 minutes worth of crunches. I haven't been able to do crunches in longer than I can remember, and that big scary squooshy ball made 2 minutes of 'em seem easy.
So, he told me that he has a great idea of what kind of program to put me on, and Friday we hit the ground running with the entire session. :o) I'm excited!
And now, here I sit, watching The Biggest Loser finale - and have been in tears more than once. I've made a goal of being off blood pressure meds completely by the end of 2009. One contestant on the show was on 5 medications when he started. Within weeks, he was off all of them. He no longer has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Another contestant was in the worst health they've ever seen on the show - a 50-something year old man who's "inner" age (body-wise) was over 70. They did the same tests on him just recently, and at the finale the doctor told him that his "inner" age is now 52. That man has come off all his medications, and gained back 24 years of his life.
My goal of being off bp meds by the end of 2009 seems ultra conservative now...but it is SO ENCOURAGING to know that it's possible. This is going to be so much fun!
Our session today was mostly paperwork. Measurements, evaluations, and then a little bit of time on the floor "seeing what you're made of" (his words).
That 20 minutes was very encouraging.I'm stronger than I was the last time I was in the gym. The weights he handed me were easy. He had me do some back, biceps and triceps - four different exercises - and then one more...some pull down thing where you spread your arms as you pull the thing down. Can't remember what it's called. He pushed me to the point where I couldn't pull it down anymore...and then took me over to a machine, telling me it was going to be fun.
I stood looking at that thing wondering what in the world it was, and what I was supposed to do with it. It's a chin up/ pull up machine. And it IS fun! And I did chin ups...lifting my body weight only, but still...that's a flippin lot of weight. Anthony was impressed at how well I did.
Then he took me to the most dreaded thing for me, something I've never done because I've been afraid of it. Crunches on the exercise ball. That big squooshy thing that surely would fly out from beneath my butt as soon as I tried to do a crunch. He goaded me on...teasing me a little about the fear, and pushed me to do it, not taking no for an answer.
And I did it. 2 minutes worth of crunches. I haven't been able to do crunches in longer than I can remember, and that big scary squooshy ball made 2 minutes of 'em seem easy.
So, he told me that he has a great idea of what kind of program to put me on, and Friday we hit the ground running with the entire session. :o) I'm excited!
And now, here I sit, watching The Biggest Loser finale - and have been in tears more than once. I've made a goal of being off blood pressure meds completely by the end of 2009. One contestant on the show was on 5 medications when he started. Within weeks, he was off all of them. He no longer has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Another contestant was in the worst health they've ever seen on the show - a 50-something year old man who's "inner" age (body-wise) was over 70. They did the same tests on him just recently, and at the finale the doctor told him that his "inner" age is now 52. That man has come off all his medications, and gained back 24 years of his life.
My goal of being off bp meds by the end of 2009 seems ultra conservative now...but it is SO ENCOURAGING to know that it's possible. This is going to be so much fun!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Erasing the Neglect of 17 Years
How exactly do you do that?
I guess, in some ways, it's un-erasable. For instance, the damage to my heart is irreversible, barring a miracle from God - which I totally believe can happen, don't get me wrong. The experience of being overweight for so long means a lot of missed opportunities, some of which will never come around again. I believe that if I hadn't been overweight, I may have been in a better place within my marriage - or even before meeting him, and maybe wouldn't have gotten married at all...meaning no divorce and dealing with that over the years. Those things, and others, are un-erasable.
On second thought...it's all un-erasable. And that's okay with me...I just realized how exactly okay that is with me. Because all the experiences over the years, beginning with the beginning...they have all led up to this day. This time. This experience. And I wouldn't be the person I am today if those experiences hadn't happened.
However.
This is the day I say, "No more." This is the day I say, "This will change." This is the day I say, "I believe in miracles." This is the day I say, "I believe in myself."
Most importantly, this is the day I say, "I believe in the ability of God to give me the strength to make permanent changes in my life."
And those changes may not erase the neglect of the last 17 years...but they sure will make the rest of my life a glorious testimony to the COMPLETE power of His redemption.
Tomorrow, December 16, 2008, is my first appointment with a personal trainer.
I'll keep you posted on the progress.
I guess, in some ways, it's un-erasable. For instance, the damage to my heart is irreversible, barring a miracle from God - which I totally believe can happen, don't get me wrong. The experience of being overweight for so long means a lot of missed opportunities, some of which will never come around again. I believe that if I hadn't been overweight, I may have been in a better place within my marriage - or even before meeting him, and maybe wouldn't have gotten married at all...meaning no divorce and dealing with that over the years. Those things, and others, are un-erasable.
On second thought...it's all un-erasable. And that's okay with me...I just realized how exactly okay that is with me. Because all the experiences over the years, beginning with the beginning...they have all led up to this day. This time. This experience. And I wouldn't be the person I am today if those experiences hadn't happened.
However.
This is the day I say, "No more." This is the day I say, "This will change." This is the day I say, "I believe in miracles." This is the day I say, "I believe in myself."
Most importantly, this is the day I say, "I believe in the ability of God to give me the strength to make permanent changes in my life."
And those changes may not erase the neglect of the last 17 years...but they sure will make the rest of my life a glorious testimony to the COMPLETE power of His redemption.
Tomorrow, December 16, 2008, is my first appointment with a personal trainer.
I'll keep you posted on the progress.
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