Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Blog for a Blog
Hey, looking for some neat vegan meal ideas or just something different? Check out Debi. She has been a regular here on Motivated by Mud.
Shout Out to Debi!!!!
Debi Does Dinner
Hi!
I'm Debi, and my name hasn't been changed to protect the innocent! The food here isn't that incriminating, so I shouldn't need to go into witness protection over it! So yes, I am Debi and I am on a quest.....
Shout Out to Debi!!!!
Debi Does Dinner
Hi!
I'm Debi, and my name hasn't been changed to protect the innocent! The food here isn't that incriminating, so I shouldn't need to go into witness protection over it! So yes, I am Debi and I am on a quest.....
Photo op?
So, yesterday was progress photo day. After taking Xavy's in a series of poses, I decided I should, (in addition to my weight loss photos), have some development photos taken. I've tried a few on my own. You know the kind -in the mirror with the cell phone. Lol. Surely having a helping hand would be better. Right? Nope. I would have preferred to keep the image in my head. In the gym, in good lighting, in my head...I am a beast. When I leave it up to someone else, I just look like a chunky chick with lumps. The muscles I think I see don't show up in pictures quite the same way.
Perhaps my inner beast is a vampire or other such supernatural being that can not be photographed. Hey, anything is possible. Lol
Oh-there is a reason my face is cut out... posing + grunting = Not pretty
Perhaps my inner beast is a vampire or other such supernatural being that can not be photographed. Hey, anything is possible. Lol
Oh-there is a reason my face is cut out... posing + grunting = Not pretty
 |
| Screw the others, back to the mirror/camera phone shots! |
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Modern technology
I'm blogging on the elliptical machine at the gym. On my kindle!
That's all. Carry on.
Breathing and typing is harder then anticipated.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Snapshot
Have you ever wondered what it looked like inside of my fridge? Well, wonder no more!
·Eggs
·Chicken
·Gatorade
Yup...that's how I roll. Lol.
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Thursday, July 26, 2012
Get Real
I wanted to share something with you that up until today, only 2 or 3 people in the whole entire world ever knew. It is a crucial piece of this whole puzzle and at this point, I think I owe it to you to get real and put it all out there. To be completely honest, it is something that I want to get off of my chest. Uhh.. Okay.. so my therapist says I should get off of my chest. Bet you all didn't know I talk about my loyal "fans" in therapy? haha
Before I started this blog, my one true focus was losing weight. I did not care how I did it, I just knew I needed to do it. I had tried several diets and weight loss pills and some worked for a short period of time, others didn't. I found comfort in blaming the method instead of blaming myself. I found that there was a real difference in getting in shape and slimming down because society tells me I should and doing it for myself. Up until that point, I spent my 20's yo-yo dieting because of how I thought others looked at me physically. I had not really felt the need to do it for myself yet. During the time period of my divorce, something in me had shifted. I no longer cared what others thought of me, I cared about ME. My future. Once I had that shift in mindset, I had scrapped all of the other weight loss methods and diets that I had ever done and started doing it the right way. Eat less (crap), move more. You have read all the tidbits in between so there is no real sense in me boring you with them again. Aside from the bits of help from my friend Kelly, I did it on my own. I put together all the little bits of info that I had absorbed from every magazine, Dr. Oz Show, Weight Watchers meeting and read online, and devised a plan. It was a very slow process but it was working. I had managed to lose about 40lbs in a year.
In December of last year, my family suffered a tragedy that shook us and changed us all forever. My Uncle Patrick, fell injuring his spine leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He spent over a month in Shock Trauma and continued his in-patient rehabilitation at Kernan. While my mom and Aunt spent countless hours at his bedside, I took on the responsibility of caring for their two children. They are indeed two of the most amazing kids that I have ever known. The 3 or 4 months that I spent at a "fill-in mom" for them has changed me forever. Before, I complained about getting up for work at 8a.m. and had zero time in the morning for anything else. In a flash, my life had changed and I was up at 6:45, dressed, ready for work and waking up 2 beautiful children to get them on the bus before I went to work myself. Now, that may seem like a breeze to us non-parents but yea, I was wrong. It was a marathon every single morning but I pulled it off and didn't think twice. The times I shared with them were so incredibly rewarding and I doubt that any of us will ever forget not only the bad times but all of the good times we had together. I still see them regularly but I am happy to say that my Uncle is home and although still paralyzed, the family is settling in very well to the new sense of normal.
During this time period, the children came first. No exceptions. Those were not demands from my Aunt, they were the demands of a big cousin protecting her little cousins. I was actually showering from the gym the night that I got the phone call about the accident. Since that day, my routine was turned upside down. I was eating pizza, fruit loops, mac and cheese, doritos and all the yummy stuff you find in the pantry of a home with children. (Mom's, I don't know how you manage to do it all and still stay fit.) The first few days I did not even think twice. My body was running on auto pilot and I couldn't even begin to actually pay attention to myself. I was lucky that I wore clean underwear every day. So were the kids for that matter. Very shortly, I noticed that my work pants were not as loose as they were a few weeks ago. I started to panic. I had worked so so hard for what? To lose all momentum and go backwards? I didn't have time for the gym, I didn't have time to shop and cook separately for myself. Very possibly I was finding comfort in the food I was eating as well. All I know is that I started to put weight back on. I felt as if my hands were tied. I did not know how to move forward. One night, I had been eating so terribly that I started to have what I thought was a panic attack. I had become obsessed with my weight but I couldn't control what I was putting in my mouth. I did not know how to combat that except for to purge it all. I went all the way into the basement and closed the doors so that no one could hear me. I vomited until there was nothing left. I watched every artificial color from what I had binged come up. Afterwards, I felt a sense of relief. My sense of panic has subsided and I may not have lost weight that day but I felt like I had at least broken even. That I could deal with. Unfortunately, the next day, I found that the easy answer was again to make myself throw it all up. I spent a lot of time running around and playing with the kids so that activity combined with the purging shortly began to "pay off". My pants were fitting again. Within just a few weeks, I started getting compliments again on the weight that I was losing and it only encouraged me further. The purging that had become a daily ritual was starting to be one that I was doing after every meal that I considered less then perfect. Within 2 months, I started to get a terrible sensitivity in my teeth and went to my dentist. I knew that the acid was wearing away my enamel but I couldn't tell her that. I led her to the conclusion that the Granny Smith Apple I was eating every day was too acidic. (true-ish). It was then that I knew that I was out of control.
At the same time that I was recognizing that I had a problem, things were starting to settle with my family. The time that I needed to be with the children had slowly narrowed down. The week my Uncle Pat came home, I started back into the gym wondering where to start. I looked into a local "meeting" at the hospital and started to consider going to see my trusty therapist. Although I had not committed to either of those decisions, I still hit the gym. I had cut back on the purging because my meals were a bit more in control but I still had not stopped completely. I was craving all of those yummy/terrible foods still. It was as struggle for sure but I was trying as hard as I knew how.
It was that week that I met Xavy. After a brief conversation of niceties. (Okay, so I was flirting) He offered to help get me back on track. I think he felt sorry for me because to this day he still makes fun of the workouts I was doing on my own. haha. With a meal plan, a trainer, a schedule and a new friend, I started the next chapter in my life. Not once since that day have I gone back to that "solution". Within the next few weeks, I start seeing my therapist and I started this blog. Again, my life has changed for ever. For the better.
The rest, as they say is history. This is the right and only way I will ever attempt to reach my goals for now on. There is no diet pill or magic solution. I may have struggled but I am earning every inch of this journey with "Eating Clean and Training Dirty". (That's Xavy's line. hah)
I hope that this helps you on your hardest days to know that you are not alone. That support is there and that life sometimes throws us a curve ball but that doesn't mean you have to throw in the towel.
Now I need a hug! lol
Before I started this blog, my one true focus was losing weight. I did not care how I did it, I just knew I needed to do it. I had tried several diets and weight loss pills and some worked for a short period of time, others didn't. I found comfort in blaming the method instead of blaming myself. I found that there was a real difference in getting in shape and slimming down because society tells me I should and doing it for myself. Up until that point, I spent my 20's yo-yo dieting because of how I thought others looked at me physically. I had not really felt the need to do it for myself yet. During the time period of my divorce, something in me had shifted. I no longer cared what others thought of me, I cared about ME. My future. Once I had that shift in mindset, I had scrapped all of the other weight loss methods and diets that I had ever done and started doing it the right way. Eat less (crap), move more. You have read all the tidbits in between so there is no real sense in me boring you with them again. Aside from the bits of help from my friend Kelly, I did it on my own. I put together all the little bits of info that I had absorbed from every magazine, Dr. Oz Show, Weight Watchers meeting and read online, and devised a plan. It was a very slow process but it was working. I had managed to lose about 40lbs in a year.
In December of last year, my family suffered a tragedy that shook us and changed us all forever. My Uncle Patrick, fell injuring his spine leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He spent over a month in Shock Trauma and continued his in-patient rehabilitation at Kernan. While my mom and Aunt spent countless hours at his bedside, I took on the responsibility of caring for their two children. They are indeed two of the most amazing kids that I have ever known. The 3 or 4 months that I spent at a "fill-in mom" for them has changed me forever. Before, I complained about getting up for work at 8a.m. and had zero time in the morning for anything else. In a flash, my life had changed and I was up at 6:45, dressed, ready for work and waking up 2 beautiful children to get them on the bus before I went to work myself. Now, that may seem like a breeze to us non-parents but yea, I was wrong. It was a marathon every single morning but I pulled it off and didn't think twice. The times I shared with them were so incredibly rewarding and I doubt that any of us will ever forget not only the bad times but all of the good times we had together. I still see them regularly but I am happy to say that my Uncle is home and although still paralyzed, the family is settling in very well to the new sense of normal.
During this time period, the children came first. No exceptions. Those were not demands from my Aunt, they were the demands of a big cousin protecting her little cousins. I was actually showering from the gym the night that I got the phone call about the accident. Since that day, my routine was turned upside down. I was eating pizza, fruit loops, mac and cheese, doritos and all the yummy stuff you find in the pantry of a home with children. (Mom's, I don't know how you manage to do it all and still stay fit.) The first few days I did not even think twice. My body was running on auto pilot and I couldn't even begin to actually pay attention to myself. I was lucky that I wore clean underwear every day. So were the kids for that matter. Very shortly, I noticed that my work pants were not as loose as they were a few weeks ago. I started to panic. I had worked so so hard for what? To lose all momentum and go backwards? I didn't have time for the gym, I didn't have time to shop and cook separately for myself. Very possibly I was finding comfort in the food I was eating as well. All I know is that I started to put weight back on. I felt as if my hands were tied. I did not know how to move forward. One night, I had been eating so terribly that I started to have what I thought was a panic attack. I had become obsessed with my weight but I couldn't control what I was putting in my mouth. I did not know how to combat that except for to purge it all. I went all the way into the basement and closed the doors so that no one could hear me. I vomited until there was nothing left. I watched every artificial color from what I had binged come up. Afterwards, I felt a sense of relief. My sense of panic has subsided and I may not have lost weight that day but I felt like I had at least broken even. That I could deal with. Unfortunately, the next day, I found that the easy answer was again to make myself throw it all up. I spent a lot of time running around and playing with the kids so that activity combined with the purging shortly began to "pay off". My pants were fitting again. Within just a few weeks, I started getting compliments again on the weight that I was losing and it only encouraged me further. The purging that had become a daily ritual was starting to be one that I was doing after every meal that I considered less then perfect. Within 2 months, I started to get a terrible sensitivity in my teeth and went to my dentist. I knew that the acid was wearing away my enamel but I couldn't tell her that. I led her to the conclusion that the Granny Smith Apple I was eating every day was too acidic. (true-ish). It was then that I knew that I was out of control.
At the same time that I was recognizing that I had a problem, things were starting to settle with my family. The time that I needed to be with the children had slowly narrowed down. The week my Uncle Pat came home, I started back into the gym wondering where to start. I looked into a local "meeting" at the hospital and started to consider going to see my trusty therapist. Although I had not committed to either of those decisions, I still hit the gym. I had cut back on the purging because my meals were a bit more in control but I still had not stopped completely. I was craving all of those yummy/terrible foods still. It was as struggle for sure but I was trying as hard as I knew how.
It was that week that I met Xavy. After a brief conversation of niceties. (Okay, so I was flirting) He offered to help get me back on track. I think he felt sorry for me because to this day he still makes fun of the workouts I was doing on my own. haha. With a meal plan, a trainer, a schedule and a new friend, I started the next chapter in my life. Not once since that day have I gone back to that "solution". Within the next few weeks, I start seeing my therapist and I started this blog. Again, my life has changed for ever. For the better.
The rest, as they say is history. This is the right and only way I will ever attempt to reach my goals for now on. There is no diet pill or magic solution. I may have struggled but I am earning every inch of this journey with "Eating Clean and Training Dirty". (That's Xavy's line. hah)
I hope that this helps you on your hardest days to know that you are not alone. That support is there and that life sometimes throws us a curve ball but that doesn't mean you have to throw in the towel.
Now I need a hug! lol
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Remember when...
 |
| -Finisher- |
Yesterday, I was playing on Facebook when I saw a post for one of the 100 push-up challenges being advertised. I vaguely remember seeing the same ad last year and thinking that the guy in the ad was very cute and super muscular. I guess seeing that, I didn't in see myself doing something that intense. During that time period, I was in a one sided battle with my boss over fitness. She is a runner and is very lean. Me, not so much. There was nothing fitness wise that she could do that I could do better. No matter how much I tried, she was 12 steps ahead. One day, she was talking to me about doing push-ups and I told her that I couldn't even do one. It was then that very discreetly went online and downloaded some free version of the push-up challenge. It said that you only needed to be able to attempt 1 in order to start. Well, I could surely pull off an attempt at one.
Without telling anyone, I made my way through the push-up challenge. I stuck to it and even downloaded the application on my phone so that I could keep up without having any excuse. This was the first "challenge" that I had stuck to on this journey and so far so good! Once I got to about 15 pushups in a row, I started getting noticed in the gym. I would hit the number, drop to my knees for a breath and look up to some guy spouting off some goofy compliment. That was at only 15 mens push-ups. I had 85 more to go. At 30, I had someone at my karate class challenge me to do 10 not knowing how many I could do. Of course at 30, I made 10 look easy. On my day to do 37, I decided to tell my boss that I could do a "few" pushups. We both hung in and mutually gave up at 35. WHAT A FEELING!!! When I hit 50, I told my brother that I was doing men's push-ups now and with out hesitation, he said..."Show me!". So I did. Proudly too! Take that, you big bad Marine! Once I hit 50, I had a few of the guys in the gym checking in on my daily to see what number I was on. They all seemed pretty impressed. How was I to know that 50 push-ups for a man was a lot? I was in the gym the day I hit my 100 and very literally jumped up and down and cheered. I completed a challenge. Not some swanky challenge. A REAL hard core challenge.
Like most things, if you don't practice, you lose it. I hit my 100 and moved on to another something or other. A few months later when I started training with Xavy and he had me do push-ups, I could only do a handful. Well... you know Xavy, within a few weeks, I was doing 4 sets of 40 pushups per workout. I even did a few with my little cousin on my back. We refer to the weighted push-ups now as, "Gracies". Now I am doing row. Not only is that a pushup, but it's one with weights in my hands. Up until that day, I had only ever seen that on T.V.. Since we moved on to another phase of training, again push-ups have pushed to the wayside on the plan but this time, I kept them up on my own.
The day that I went to Ocean City, I wanted my arms to look extra good in my tank top. When I was getting ready to go out, I did a few "Cosmetic Pump" push-ups on top of my regular daily 50. Within about 5 minutes, I did 100 men's push-ups. I then got up and shook it off and walked out of the door. I was not huffing and puffing, moaning and groaning any more. I did it and moved right along. When I told Xavy about it, he got this big smirk on his face. It was really touching to see that he was shocked and proud that his (female) client just voluntarily banged out 100 pushups for no good reason.
Yesterday when I looked at that advertisement, all I could do was smile and be so thankful for this new found inner strength, my support group and my trainer for making me physically and mentally a stronger person every day.
http://hundredpushups.com/index.html
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
A Girl’s Gotta Bench: Chest Workout And Training Tips
A Girl’s Gotta Bench: Chest Workout And Training Tips
To these women, chest development should be left to the men. They're afraid chest training will make them less feminine. Ladies, that thought process is junk! Just trash it. If you want a complete program and a body to be proud of, you need to include chest training.
These busted myths and programming tips will help you get past your fears and lead you to a chest revelation!
Bodybuilding.com - A Girl’s Gotta Bench: Chest Workout And Training Tips
Monday, July 23, 2012
Fried and Gone to Heaven
This weekend, I saw a sign above a food stand on the Ocean City boardwalk that read, "Fried and Gone to Heaven". Instantly, I knew that I was going to have to work that into my blog somehow. Now, I am not saying that my excuse for eating fried oreo's and buffalo wings is my blog but... it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining if I didn't have a good "survival story" or at the very least been able to legitimately work in the title. Right? Yea, Xavy wasn't buying that either. BUT!!! In my defense, he was not exactly the enforcer in this story as much as the enabler. That is the way that I am gonna tell it.
With Xavy being 12 weeks out from his own competition, this was the last weekend to go all out and get some of those cravings under his belt. Starting today... his plan just got insane. No cheats, no extra's, no substitutions. It's on!
What good is a client if they can't give you the inside scoop on where all the best(worst) food is in the state? First stop... coconut muffins from Harpoon Hanna's. In my defense, I only know of that place from when Kelly took me. (See, another enabling personal trainer. Lol.). Next on the list we hit the boardwalk for some fried oreo's. If you are concerned that I am completely slaughtering my own diet plan, think again. Xavy apparently decided that when "splitting" an order, the ratio was 1 to 5. I did manage to steal another half of a cookie and not lose my fingers. I say all in all, we were off to a good start. I washed it all down with a nice cold Diet Coke. It actually took me a few hours to drink it. A year ago I could have finished it in 15 minutes but these days, my body just does not know how to handle soda like it used to. I tried to introduce him to Thrasher's Fries but he had to draw the line there. Instead, we hit Fischers Popcorn. For dinner-ish, we polished off a huge tray of buffalo wings and curly fries at Hooters. I will admit, I didn't have the courage to go all out. I ordered the naked wings. Some how, some way...I'm thinking that after all of the rest, that actually made a difference. And the icing on the cake, (I wish I did have icing.)...Seacrets. Either of us are big drinkers and we had a long drive ahead of us but still... when 1 drink is was more then either of our plans allow.
Today, it was rough getting back on plan. I know what I have to do, I just don't wanna. I had a taste of some of all that yummy stuff and now I don't want to start all over with saying no. Ya know, I never believed it before but I can always feel how after a cheat, my body struggles with cravings. Maybe, just maybe, the scientists were right all along. Sugar does have addictive properties. Crazy, huh?
So far, so good. I had 2 gumballs (oops) but I will chalk that up to needing to ease back info this. By tomorrow, I will be A-Okay! As for Xavy, sounds like he's been on plan all day and off to a great start. Shortly I will get details about his show. I think we can get together a pretty good little fan club for him. Welp- off to the gym!
With Xavy being 12 weeks out from his own competition, this was the last weekend to go all out and get some of those cravings under his belt. Starting today... his plan just got insane. No cheats, no extra's, no substitutions. It's on!
What good is a client if they can't give you the inside scoop on where all the best(worst) food is in the state? First stop... coconut muffins from Harpoon Hanna's. In my defense, I only know of that place from when Kelly took me. (See, another enabling personal trainer. Lol.). Next on the list we hit the boardwalk for some fried oreo's. If you are concerned that I am completely slaughtering my own diet plan, think again. Xavy apparently decided that when "splitting" an order, the ratio was 1 to 5. I did manage to steal another half of a cookie and not lose my fingers. I say all in all, we were off to a good start. I washed it all down with a nice cold Diet Coke. It actually took me a few hours to drink it. A year ago I could have finished it in 15 minutes but these days, my body just does not know how to handle soda like it used to. I tried to introduce him to Thrasher's Fries but he had to draw the line there. Instead, we hit Fischers Popcorn. For dinner-ish, we polished off a huge tray of buffalo wings and curly fries at Hooters. I will admit, I didn't have the courage to go all out. I ordered the naked wings. Some how, some way...I'm thinking that after all of the rest, that actually made a difference. And the icing on the cake, (I wish I did have icing.)...Seacrets. Either of us are big drinkers and we had a long drive ahead of us but still... when 1 drink is was more then either of our plans allow.
Today, it was rough getting back on plan. I know what I have to do, I just don't wanna. I had a taste of some of all that yummy stuff and now I don't want to start all over with saying no. Ya know, I never believed it before but I can always feel how after a cheat, my body struggles with cravings. Maybe, just maybe, the scientists were right all along. Sugar does have addictive properties. Crazy, huh?
So far, so good. I had 2 gumballs (oops) but I will chalk that up to needing to ease back info this. By tomorrow, I will be A-Okay! As for Xavy, sounds like he's been on plan all day and off to a great start. Shortly I will get details about his show. I think we can get together a pretty good little fan club for him. Welp- off to the gym!
Breakfast of Champions
For about 16 weeks, my breakfast meals have nearly been exclusively some sort of waffle. After 16 weeks in the #1 spot, my waffles just had their asses kicked by some Open Faced Avocado and Egg Sandwiches. Protein, fiber, carbs, good fats and FLAVOR!!!!
Check it out in my Recipes section of my blog, I just added it.
Check it out in my Recipes section of my blog, I just added it.
Thank you.
Thank you all for allowing me to come into your lives on a daily basis. This whole blogging thing started as just a simple tool for me to vent a bit and track my own progress. I had no idea that I would ever have a "following". I know that some days I have more to write about then others but I thank you all for being so loyal and checking it for the latest entry. You have no idea how much this helps me stay honest and accountable in my journey. By journaling every obstacle that I encounter along the way, I get a chance to come up with a strategy to keep a strong forward momentum. I hope that I can continue to entertain and provide little tidbits that will help you too.
Again, thank you.
Again, thank you.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Cosmetic Pump
So, you know in the club how you look around and see all the guys all pumped up? Apparently, that is due to what is refered to as a "cosmetic pump". When they are getting ready to go out, they hit weights real quick or do some push ups to get the blood flowing and get their muscles swollen.
Lame right??
I just finished 100 push up. Tank top's on...headed out to Seacrets!!! Haha
:)
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Thursday, July 19, 2012
Leading Lady
Who would you want to play you in a movie? If you would have asked me that a year ago, I would have said Michelle Rodriguez. She is a rough and tumble little hottie isn't she? I mean, Eva Mendez or Mila Kunis would be awesome but my self esteem wasn't quite there. I think that the people that you choose are the reflections of the person that you wish to see in the mirror one day.
Today, my vision of what I wish to see in the mirror one day has changed. I had to find a new, "leading lady" to play me in the action movie of my life. Not that I don't still adore those other women but as far as physique, the image that I am shooting for has changed. I really didn't go online looking for this new leading lady. I was on a few websites over the past few months looking at inspirational photos, physiques, quotes and this same chick kept surfacing and catching my eye. I admit it, I have developed a bit of a girl crush. Rather then explain, let the photos do the talking.
Dana Linn Bailey
Find her on Facebook
I-want-to-be-her! I don't know what it is about her but this is the body that I am looking for in my future. Freaking fantastic. I may or may not get there but I have a goal and she is it.
A bit stalkerish but she lives in Reading, PA and does "workouts" with women looking to train with her. Not as a trainer but as a gym buddy for an hour and a half. I am thinking that this is going to be on a bucket list some where very soon.
Today, my vision of what I wish to see in the mirror one day has changed. I had to find a new, "leading lady" to play me in the action movie of my life. Not that I don't still adore those other women but as far as physique, the image that I am shooting for has changed. I really didn't go online looking for this new leading lady. I was on a few websites over the past few months looking at inspirational photos, physiques, quotes and this same chick kept surfacing and catching my eye. I admit it, I have developed a bit of a girl crush. Rather then explain, let the photos do the talking.
Dana Linn Bailey
Find her on Facebook
A bit stalkerish but she lives in Reading, PA and does "workouts" with women looking to train with her. Not as a trainer but as a gym buddy for an hour and a half. I am thinking that this is going to be on a bucket list some where very soon.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Not every fall is a bad one.
Looking back on the weekend, one could say that I had fallen off the wagon. But did I? Saturday, I had a wedding reception where I had roasted chicken, corn and a baked potato. Not so bad. I have to admit that it was not perfect. I did have half of a cupcake and a Vodka and Cranberry. Again, not so bad. Every meal, I weighed my options but enjoyed my "cheat". For dinner that night I had Indian. I chilled out on the rice but for the most part, I went all out on the flavor. Sunday... mmm.... Sunday I went to the Cheesecake Factory and had half of a low carb cheesecake for a mid day treat. For dinner, I enjoyed some steak, broccoli and a potato at the steak house. Bad? Not at all. I guess it goes to show you CAN go out and eat and live your normal life without thinking that your meal-plan has you enslaved. Because I had made these choices, I did make sure to get all my regular workouts in and upped the cardio to offset the pesky calories that made my cheats so yummy.
So what was the collateral damage? Well, I did not hit 169 by Sunday like I had anticipated. I ended the weekend where I started but I had not had a gain. I actually think that my body does better after a little cheat. I used to be scared to death to allow myself that cheat because I thought I would be making up for it for weeks. I guess there is a difference between a small cheat and an all out free-for-all for 72hrs. I wouldn't say this was a "fall off of the wagon". It was more of a slip. The point is, I got back on right away. I didn't throw up my hands and say, "Screw it!". I made the best decisions for what was offered and took advantage of the factors that I could control. I could control my portions, I could control the condoments, I could control the workouts and the cardio.
This morning, I woke to see something that I have not seen on the scale since I was a teenager. 169lbs. That's 9lbs. to my next goal and a total of 89lbs. down. Yay!!! I may have slipped off of the wagon but when I got back on, I buckled up and kept going. Now looking back at the weekend, I see that I have learned even more about my body and what works for me. I'm putting that in my arsenal going forward on this journey.
So what was the collateral damage? Well, I did not hit 169 by Sunday like I had anticipated. I ended the weekend where I started but I had not had a gain. I actually think that my body does better after a little cheat. I used to be scared to death to allow myself that cheat because I thought I would be making up for it for weeks. I guess there is a difference between a small cheat and an all out free-for-all for 72hrs. I wouldn't say this was a "fall off of the wagon". It was more of a slip. The point is, I got back on right away. I didn't throw up my hands and say, "Screw it!". I made the best decisions for what was offered and took advantage of the factors that I could control. I could control my portions, I could control the condoments, I could control the workouts and the cardio.
This morning, I woke to see something that I have not seen on the scale since I was a teenager. 169lbs. That's 9lbs. to my next goal and a total of 89lbs. down. Yay!!! I may have slipped off of the wagon but when I got back on, I buckled up and kept going. Now looking back at the weekend, I see that I have learned even more about my body and what works for me. I'm putting that in my arsenal going forward on this journey.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Sacrifice
Some people look at me like a leper and others look at me like I am super woman. I am neither of them. I am Lori Adams. I was fat, lazy, undriven and uneducated. Then... I wasn't. That in-between sucked for me too. In fact it still sucks. I have had to give up just as much, if not more then anyone else out there that strives to change their lives. That's why I don't refer to this as a process of just getting skinny. It is a journey to better myself. It goes way beyond a Point A/Point B kinda thing. I am doing all of this to get healthy, fit, change my life, change my lifestyle, change my self confidence and self awareness. I will get thinner in the process but that is not the entire point. I think that that's what upsets me with weight loss surgery treatments. I am pretty sure that if you skip the sacrifice part, you are selling yourself short of the process. I know that at a certain body size, exercise is uncomfortable and dangerous, I get that someone might want a little help to slim down. I've been there and every day I bow down to the makers of compression pants and sports bra's. Without having to go through every pound, every inch, every meal selection and every dumbell in the gym, I am not sure that I would have the appreciation for my body that I do now. I know things about my body now that I had to learn for myself. Important things, things that a surgeon could never prepare you for. Things that you will need in your future when you attempt to maintain that weight loss. I learned it through sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears and of course... mud. I know when I had 20 ounces less water today then I did yesterday. I know when it is going to rain. I know what time of the day I can most effectively train. I know this because I had to learn it. I did not wake up off of an operating table and have the hard work done for me. (Again, I commend anyone on any effort they are putting forth even if it is surgery. I just think that there is a better -but much harder- way to do it.)
sac·ri·fice
noun
1. the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
2. the thing so surrendered or devoted.
3. a loss incurred in selling something below its value.
Yup, sounds about right to me. If you are serious about changing your life and doing it for the long haul, you WILL have to endure some sacrifices. Wanna hear some of mine? Sure you do.
- Cable or Internet. If I had it, I would be home watching it. My gym has Direct TV and wifi. If I need to get online or watch something on cable, I better get my butt on the elliptical and do it.
- Friends. We have talked about that before. I have sadly lost too many "friends" over the fact that I choose my new lifestyle over theirs. Punks!
- Money. Eating healthy is expensive. So is a gym membership, new clothes, shoes and songs for my ipod. Hey, I like me some PitBull!
- Time. It is very hard to find time in your day for anything else when you spend an average of 3 hours in the gym and 1 hour cooking meals for the next day.
- Pets. This is a rough subject still. Today I surrendered my kitty, Marley. It broke my heart but it was the right thing to do. He and I have spent the last several months on edge with each other. He was clearly acting out because I have not been home and have not had the time to spend with him. It became a vicious circle. He was mad that I was not home so he pee'ed on something, I got mad that he pee'ed on something so he was confined to a room, he was mad that he was confined to a room so he pee'ed on everything in the room. Uhhhh... poor guy. He is being adopted into a good home tomorrow so I just KNOW that this was a good choice for him. He deserves more then what I can offer.
- Manicure. I can't even tell you when the last time my nails were done. Even painting them myself only lasts about a day before a chip or break them on a dumbell or in karate.
- Cheese. I don't want to talk about it. *sniff sniff*
- BLT's (Bites, Licks, Tastes.) . I love finger food, I love cooking, I love trying new foods and licking the spoon after mixing or scooping anything. Unfortuantely, all of those itty bitty bites add up. It was hard to give those things up because I assumed they were one time deals and I owed it to myself to try it but guess what..... there will be more Doritos and more chocolate frosting in your life. You do not have to have it every time.
- The list goes on and on...
With all of this that I have sacrificed, it still comes no where near to balance of the things that I have gained. The things that make all of this worth it. I don't need to list them all here. Just re-read any one of my blog entries.
So when you try and tell yourself that you "can't do it" because of some of the sacrifices that you will endure, your just making excuses. We all did it and are doing it every day. We will be your support. We will be there to tell you that we know what its like. If I can do it, so can you. Get over it!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Mud.Sweat.Seaweed
While everyone else in the DelMarVa area seemed to be getting heat
stroke and/or locking themselves in the nearest meat lockers, Xavy and I were gathering at the starting line of the Rebel Race.
It was ridiculously hot outside on Saturday. I was actually surprised that they had not canceled the event. We ran some errands during the afternoon and decided to push off our wave time as long as possible so that we had a fighting chance at not turning into raisins. (by errands, I mean Xavy needed to buy new shorts and shoes to go play in the mud with.).
We ran into a fellow mudrunner that I met via Facebook. Us mudders are an awesome breed of people aren't we? Shout-out to John!!! He was able to catch us crossing the finish line and took a few photos. Yes, that means he beat us in enough time to go find a camera. lol.
Although I knew it was no Warrior Dash, it still gave me a run for my money with obstacles. It was simply too hot to run the whole course and they had run out of water after the second water station. That did not make for a very quick "race". We ran a tad bit in the beginning, then trotted most of the way through. With the hills and the heat, no doubt we still gave it our all. There was only one obstacle that I did not complete. I came all this way to be defeated by monkey bars. The excuse that I am sticking with is that the bars were not stationary and I couldn't get a grip. Of course our Incredible Hulk flew through them like it was nothing! Jerk. As we were coming up one hill midway through the course, we watched as three other people attempted an obstacle to eventually give up and start walking around. Please, I have lived through Xavy's "Warrior Week"! Where is the "EASY" button at the top? If I had to pick a favorite obstacle, it would have been the mudslide into the pond of seaweed. I think I was picking algae and other unmentionables out of my hair at dinner. We had to cross the pond by pulling ourselves through the water upside down and backwards along the rope. As nasty as it was, it was placed at a perfect location on the course to cool off. If I had to pick a the best one to watch Xavy complete, it would have been the Over/Under logs in the mud. When I say that they were in the mud, I mean that they were IN 4 feet of mud. We had to very literally pick either going over and landing in the mud. (possibly, accidentally head first), or diving under the mud to go to the next log. We picked over! I am not sure what the girl in front of Xavy picked but at one point I looked over and saw him not so gently making her mind up for her. Over she went, and not by choice. We certainly got our fill of mud on that obstacle. Or so I thought. The very next water station was out of water so I was pouring ice into my hands and sucking up the muddy ice in order to get some water in my system. Not only did the mud smell like $hit, it tasted like it too. It did make more sense when we passed two cows in the middle of the course. I couldn't stop laughing when I heard someone yell, "Holy cow, a cow!". Oh the sites and smells of the Rebel Race!!! That brings me right into the chick on the side of the path vomiting. Oh, no doubt I wanted to vomit a few times but a lady does not do that in public. lol. I may drink mud but you will not catch me puking, that's for sure.
Over all, we had a great time. It was well worth venturing out in the heat to do it. Maybe not in 107degree heat next time. Speaking of next time, I think its safe to say I have made a mud run fan out of Xavy so make room on the team.
It was ridiculously hot outside on Saturday. I was actually surprised that they had not canceled the event. We ran some errands during the afternoon and decided to push off our wave time as long as possible so that we had a fighting chance at not turning into raisins. (by errands, I mean Xavy needed to buy new shorts and shoes to go play in the mud with.).
Although I knew it was no Warrior Dash, it still gave me a run for my money with obstacles. It was simply too hot to run the whole course and they had run out of water after the second water station. That did not make for a very quick "race". We ran a tad bit in the beginning, then trotted most of the way through. With the hills and the heat, no doubt we still gave it our all. There was only one obstacle that I did not complete. I came all this way to be defeated by monkey bars. The excuse that I am sticking with is that the bars were not stationary and I couldn't get a grip. Of course our Incredible Hulk flew through them like it was nothing! Jerk. As we were coming up one hill midway through the course, we watched as three other people attempted an obstacle to eventually give up and start walking around. Please, I have lived through Xavy's "Warrior Week"! Where is the "EASY" button at the top? If I had to pick a favorite obstacle, it would have been the mudslide into the pond of seaweed. I think I was picking algae and other unmentionables out of my hair at dinner. We had to cross the pond by pulling ourselves through the water upside down and backwards along the rope. As nasty as it was, it was placed at a perfect location on the course to cool off. If I had to pick a the best one to watch Xavy complete, it would have been the Over/Under logs in the mud. When I say that they were in the mud, I mean that they were IN 4 feet of mud. We had to very literally pick either going over and landing in the mud. (possibly, accidentally head first), or diving under the mud to go to the next log. We picked over! I am not sure what the girl in front of Xavy picked but at one point I looked over and saw him not so gently making her mind up for her. Over she went, and not by choice. We certainly got our fill of mud on that obstacle. Or so I thought. The very next water station was out of water so I was pouring ice into my hands and sucking up the muddy ice in order to get some water in my system. Not only did the mud smell like $hit, it tasted like it too. It did make more sense when we passed two cows in the middle of the course. I couldn't stop laughing when I heard someone yell, "Holy cow, a cow!". Oh the sites and smells of the Rebel Race!!! That brings me right into the chick on the side of the path vomiting. Oh, no doubt I wanted to vomit a few times but a lady does not do that in public. lol. I may drink mud but you will not catch me puking, that's for sure.
Over all, we had a great time. It was well worth venturing out in the heat to do it. Maybe not in 107degree heat next time. Speaking of next time, I think its safe to say I have made a mud run fan out of Xavy so make room on the team.
Trimming the Fat
This weekend, I finally got started on trimming the fat in my closet. I have been saying for months that I was going to start going through them but I just have not gotten around to it. Perhaps I was using the clothes as a safety net? Possible. What a freaking safety net. I did keep a size 20 pair of slacks from this winter that I wore to work and a size XXL sweatpants that I wore to the gym. In fact, I wore them to the gym the day that Xavy asked if I needed help with training. Those I plan to pull out pretty often.
I had clothes of all shapes and sizes. The amount of clothes I packed away are just ridiculous. As much as I bi+ch about the cost of having to buy new clothes that fit, I forgot how much I must have spent buying bigger clothes in the first place. I mean, really? $49.99 for a tank top at Lane Bryant? Insane. In Wal-Mart, their clothes in "Extended Sizes" are an additional two bucks right off the top. If Wal-Mart marks up their fat clothes, can you imagine all the money in all of the stores I have wasted over the years?
I will be separating the clothes into more manageable piles and donating them in the very short future. If I could, I'd like to suggest a clothing swap sometime in the fall? I know we are all in the same boat here and we could all use some hand-me-downs. Let me know what you think.
I had clothes of all shapes and sizes. The amount of clothes I packed away are just ridiculous. As much as I bi+ch about the cost of having to buy new clothes that fit, I forgot how much I must have spent buying bigger clothes in the first place. I mean, really? $49.99 for a tank top at Lane Bryant? Insane. In Wal-Mart, their clothes in "Extended Sizes" are an additional two bucks right off the top. If Wal-Mart marks up their fat clothes, can you imagine all the money in all of the stores I have wasted over the years?
I will be separating the clothes into more manageable piles and donating them in the very short future. If I could, I'd like to suggest a clothing swap sometime in the fall? I know we are all in the same boat here and we could all use some hand-me-downs. Let me know what you think.
Friday, July 6, 2012
I'm a Rebel!
Hot mud
Baked on mud
107 degree heat
87% humidity
1pm Wave Time
FUN
I am pretty sure that I am going to melt. If I survive this, I will surely at least have lost 10 more pounds.
Outside of the heat, I am psyched! After training so hard for the Warrior Dash, I have high hopes that the Rebel Race tomorrow is going to be a walk in the park. It looks like there will be nearly double the obstacles. Awesome for me, that's my favorite part. Actually, I think my favorite part is quickly going to become seeing Xavy stuck in a mud puddle!
Click to enlarge
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Walk with a purpose.
Yesterday, I took our dear Miami native to Washinton D.C. to see the fireworks. Spending the day with Xavy, I was a little concerned that I would be stuck to my meal plan all day but surprisingly... this man knows how to eat! We stuffed a bag full of protein shakes and protein bars to munch on throughout the day. Oh, when it came time to eat, we ate. Three appetizers, two entree's, dessert and two cappuccinos later, we were stuffed and ready to face the heat to walk it off. (Okay, So we had cocktails too. So sue me!)
In a moment of brilliance, we decided to go GeoCaching. Another first for Xavy. If you are not familiar with GeoCaching, let me Wiki you in on it.
Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device[2] and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world.
We certainly got in a good walk in. It was really cute to see Xavy getting into it. Heaven forbid that I touch the G.P.S.. He was a man on a mission. After figuring out some of the clues and narrowing in on the location, we found the cache!!! He left a training business card offering one free session in the container. Hey, if someone calls to redeem it, maybe we can make a trip of it and do "Cache Cardio". lol. I think he is hooked. So if you are looking for a free training session, I suggest you get out your G.P.S. and start hunting. :)
In a moment of brilliance, we decided to go GeoCaching. Another first for Xavy. If you are not familiar with GeoCaching, let me Wiki you in on it.
Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device[2] and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world.
We certainly got in a good walk in. It was really cute to see Xavy getting into it. Heaven forbid that I touch the G.P.S.. He was a man on a mission. After figuring out some of the clues and narrowing in on the location, we found the cache!!! He left a training business card offering one free session in the container. Hey, if someone calls to redeem it, maybe we can make a trip of it and do "Cache Cardio". lol. I think he is hooked. So if you are looking for a free training session, I suggest you get out your G.P.S. and start hunting. :)
 |
| Found it!!! |
Belts?!?!?!
I need need needed a new pair of capri's for summer. The ones that I bought (tight) in the spring as my "goal" capri's are now about 2 sizes too big. Great problem to have - if you are made of money. On Tuesday night... I hit good ole Wal-Mart. I still can't get over the fact that I could completely bypass the plus size section without out a second guess. I ventured into uncharted territory for the first time in a gazillion years... The Junior Section. I found a size 15 denim capri's that would do the trick.
Getting dressed for my day out on Wednesday, it was apparent that I needed an accessory that was once a tabu in my closet. A belt! I found one that had been stuffed in the back of a drawer for years. It must have come with a pair of pants that I had purchase back in the day. I had to feed the end into the loops all the way around to the center one at my butt. lol. Thank goodness I didn't have to pee very often cause unlooping behind my back got real old, real quick. I also had to use some "chicken cutlet" boobs in my bra because you could see them hollow out through my shirt. I was once concerned I would have my headlights showing in a thin shirt. Now I am concerned that my bra had dimples where they caved in 'cause Momma's got NOTHING left. haha. My first personal training client will be paying for a shopping spree at Victoria Secrets for sure. The last time I purchased a bra from Victoria Secrets was as a Valentines gift for myself when I was 18. I am sure they have not gotten less expensive since then. Oh well! I deserve it.
Getting dressed for my day out on Wednesday, it was apparent that I needed an accessory that was once a tabu in my closet. A belt! I found one that had been stuffed in the back of a drawer for years. It must have come with a pair of pants that I had purchase back in the day. I had to feed the end into the loops all the way around to the center one at my butt. lol. Thank goodness I didn't have to pee very often cause unlooping behind my back got real old, real quick. I also had to use some "chicken cutlet" boobs in my bra because you could see them hollow out through my shirt. I was once concerned I would have my headlights showing in a thin shirt. Now I am concerned that my bra had dimples where they caved in 'cause Momma's got NOTHING left. haha. My first personal training client will be paying for a shopping spree at Victoria Secrets for sure. The last time I purchased a bra from Victoria Secrets was as a Valentines gift for myself when I was 18. I am sure they have not gotten less expensive since then. Oh well! I deserve it.
Monday, July 2, 2012
It's contagious.
Success is in the air!
Let's see...Holly is aiming at 30lbs lost. Megan is putting me to absolute shame on cardio. Lol. Jen is hearing it from EVERYONE how awesome she is looking. Jessica has guns and her back??? Sexy. Leah is looking fantastic. I have not seen her since high school and she is even hotter now. Damn her!!! Leah also and hung in on one of my "Warrior Week" workouts. Debi is melting away to nothing. Lynn's Warrior Dash shirt is about 3 sizes too big now. Barb, she is rocking it in the bootcamps and making damn sure I remember that I keep wussing out. Haha. Oh, and Xavy is now well into his "building" phase for his competition. We thought he was big before? You can see his chest turn the corner a half hour before the rest of him does. Kelly...have you seen her crossfit photos? My hero!
Did I miss anyone? I sure hope not and if so... it was not on purpose.
I am so excited to even be in the presence of these awesome people. It is really neat how this blog has brought together so many people and have allowed us to kind of create a "team". None if us are alone. We all have eachother.
Congrats everyone! Keep it up!!!
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It's real!!!!
My personal training manuals are in and my Anytime Fitness business cards are here! Okay so the books came in last week and they frighten me. That's just the table of contents.
It is real! I am on my way to a future in changing the lives of people just like me.
Wish me luck!!!
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