10th week...

WOW...i can't believe it has been 10 weeks of hard work at the gym already.  Perhaps I have not lost as much as I wanted fast enough, but I can feel my body getting fit as the weeks go by.  This has truly been an amazing week.  My plans were to get away and go to Miami, but plans changed.  Instead, I stayed home and actually dedicated most of my time to going to the gym and trying new things.  I knew this week would be tough with Thanksgiving and all.  I started on Monday by going to the gym early in the morning for a little cardio routine (keeping in mind I had fever and had a sinus infection) and then in the afternoon with Javier our normal workout.  He did change it up a little and made me do some new exercises for my arms.  I went again on Tuesday for a 30 minute cardio on my own.  On Wednesday, I had a mini-boot camp with Mark (well that's how I felt it was).  I did it earlier in the day and after the workout, I felt I had soooo much energy.  Still sick, I went to the gym Thursday morning and had so much energy, I washed my car inside and out afterwards.  I was tired but I pushed myself to do it.  I normally pay someone to do it cause I guess I am a little lazy. :)

I will admit I ate my normal plate for Thanksgiving but the food was soooo good, that I went for seconds.  Big mistake! I was hurting for like 2 hours.  But after a few laughs with friends, I felt better.  On Friday, I had signed up for the Beginners Spin Class...another mistake.  My body is definitely NOT ready for that class.  After 20 minutes of pedaling, I gave up.  They need to customize those bikes for a wider, more cushion seats and wider pedals so my feet could fit.  Don't worry, I have already made my suggestions known.  The instructor Norma was so nice and understanding.  I did some stretching and left.  However, Norma suggested I try her Saturday morning Beginners Boot Camp.  I agreed, and again, why did I?

To start off with, I woke up super late.  I am the type of person I like to wake up, relax a little before I get up.  The class was at 8:30 and I arrived at 8:45.  I thought of not going at all, but something told me to just go to see if they were still there.  And they were.  No one else showed up so it was Norma, her husband and me.  I thought they would take it easy with me, which they said they did, but boy did they make me sweat.  At the end, I was very glad I went.  I did things I thought I could not do and realize that I really need to work on my left side (arms/legs) as they are truly weaker than my right.  I enjoyed it so much that I already signed up for a couple of more Saturdays.  I am sure it will get a little harder, but my body needs it.

****P.S. But most of all, the greatest news was that I weighed myself on Friday night after the mini-spin class (LOL) and I not only lost the pound gained the week before, but 2 1/2 pounds more....YEAH...that's a great accomplishment  because I know I ate like 5 pounds of food alone on Thursday.  If it wasn't for that, I know I would have lost even more.  I am very happy about it and feel I am back on track.  The only thing I did a little different this week, besides going to gym everyday, was that I ate a little more of a snack in between the shakes (fat free cheese and crackers for example).  I felt the shakes alone with one meal a day, was not enough and my body needed more food to get my metabolism going.  I did have a day where my sugar dropped dangerously low, which again is good news and means my body needs less medication.

Next week I will try a Strength Express class on Thursday afternoons...wish me luck!!!

9th Week

I honestly thought this would have been a great week...boy was I wrong!!! I worked out with Javier like usual on Monday.  He was tough with me, but I expected that.  However, as a result, I hurt my heel with excessive launchers (which helps me strengthen my knees). So much that I ended in my Podiatrist Office on Tuesday.  He did give me a shot, but warned me it was the last one.  Next is surgery (something that I am avoiding). On Wednesday, I received a call to see if I can do my deep cleaning that day (RPC).  I did and again, I was in pain but I knew I needed it.  I did exercise that same day, even though Mark had an emergency and was not able to train me.  On Thursday, I decided to participate the beginning yoga class at the gym.  I had a total different thought of what it would be.  But I did not give up.  I stayed throughout the class but had to rest more frequently than others, and was not able to do a few things.  I did learn that we should always roll to the right side whenever we get up from the ground or bed.  Has something to do with preventing heart attacks or something like that.  Overall, I felt good about doing it.  I met a lady name Pam who was very encouraging and motivated me throughout.  Again, on Friday I woke up very soar on my left knee and my left ankle.  I guess i over did it with certain positions of yoga.  So much it was very hard to get out of bed.   I did not let the pain stop me and I went to the gym to weigh in and do some exercises on my own.

That's when my whole week went down the drain.  I actually gained a POUND.  I couldn't believe it!!! Another trainer, Will told me not to worry about it because it could be muscles building.  But I did not care, if anything, I should of stayed the same, but not gain.  I was so upset, but I went ahead and did the bicycle and some leg and arm exercises.  But I only stayed for 20 minutes.  I was just so upset.  I thought about what I did wrong this week.  Could it have been the 5 tamales I ate on Wednesday?  The rice I ate on Thursday for dinner?  But I am aloud to eat one meal of whatever I wanted.  I guess in order to lose weight I need to stick to the two shakes for meals and a lite meal, i.e. salad.  But I do get so hungry.  I left the gym so upset, that I decided to go and really pig out.  I went to Sonny's BBQ and had baby back ribs with lots of sauce, baked potato with lots of butter and sour cream, corn on the cob, and TWO garlic toasts.  I said to myself, I am really going to give an excuse to gain now...but afterwards I felt so sick and guilty.  I wanted to give up the whole thing.  I posted on Facebook how I felt and I was very surprised on the response of support I received.  I cannot give up.  I have come a long way to give up and I have such a LONG way to go.  I need to take it easy and stay focused.  I guess I will have good weeks and not so good weeks.  But giving up is for cowards and I am not such person.  I have been through worse hurdles and have bounced back strong.

I am off this week for Thanksgiving and my goal is to go to gym in the morning and in the afternoon to work extra hard and see if I can lose at least 5 pounds.  I will also get very strict in what I eat this week.  My strongest goal is not to give up if I don't meet my goal on Friday and just continue to work at it.  I know God is giving me the strength I need and is by my side every step of the way....

8th week

This has truly been a very interesting week.  It is my official full week on Body by Vi and it has been better than I thought it would be.  I started the week with a workout with Javier.  I know not to mess with him cause he makes me pay for it during workout.  I guess I really need that push.  Wednesday it was time for Mark.  He needed me to step it up with my workout routine.  He made me do things I didn't think I was ready for.  But I did it...and an hour later...I went home in pain.  I woke up worse in the morning...but it was the good kind of pain.  My body needed the change as it was getting used to the normal routine.  Friday came and it was time for weekly weigh in...I lost 3 and a half pounds.  I was thrilled because I will admit, I've been eating not too healthy snacks in between.  However, I've been sticking to the shakes and one meal a day.  I didn't work out on Friday because I was going out to eat and then to a high school football game.  After getting a speech from Mark and eating nachos at the game, I felt guilty and did go to the gym on Saturday for at least a 30 minute workout.  I felt good about going.  I feel my body does ask for me to work out more, but my legs and knees are still not quite in the same agreement.  However, I am determined to stick to this and win the challenge.  I know with Thanksgiving nearing (and going home to Miami) I really need to workout extra hard this week.  Well til next time...

Important News...

I forgot to mention my most important news...I went to the doctor last week to get results of my blood work...the great news is that after having my H1C levels over 8.6 for over a year...they finally went down to 6.2.  I am diabetic and my target is below 7 but my doctor's target is below 6.5.  Therefore I exceeded both of our goals.  Doctor is happy and I am supper happy.  If it continues, I will start reducing my meds and final goal is to get off meds entirely.  God is Good....!!!

Thoughts...

As I sit on my bed...my mind wonders.  I have not had the worst life but it has not been the greatest either.  One day I will open up completely and tell the world my fears as a child and part of the reason why I let myself gain so much weight.  As for now, I can honestly say that I have come a long way to who I am today.  I used to be this shy woman that allowed people to step all over me.  Now, I am a very independent woman who struggles to let anyone get too close to her.  Yes, I have family and friends that I love very much.  But there is NOT one person I completing trust...except God.

Til next time.

7th week

What a week...I started the week with pain and cancelling Monday's gym.  Gym celebrated their 1st anniversary and joined forces with the new Lakeland Raiders Arena Football team to promote wellness through Body by Vi.   I am very fortunate to have been selected as a participant of the Body by Vi 90-day challenge.  It's a contest where the Lakeland Raiders pay for 6 participants to use Body by Vi products and exercise through TBC 24 Hour Fitness and compete for a prize.  I did workout on my own on Wednesday and began the products on Thursday.  It has actually been easier than I thought substituting 2 meals for milkshakes.  They smell and taste good...especially when I add fruits to them.  It's like drinking a smoothie.  However, I did not workout on Friday because I was very tired from testing with my students all day. Oh, did I mention that I am a teacher? Well yes, I am an 8th grade inclusion teacher at Mulberry Middle School.   Nevertheless, after resting my legs, I did go to MHS Homecoming football game and really enjoyed myself.  I woke up Saturday with so much energy, that for the first time in a lonnnng time, I cleaned my whole house in one day.  This usually took me 2-3 days to do.  It was a nice cool day and I opened all the windows, put on some music and did some spring cleaning (well maybe Fall cleaning).  So I guess that was my workout for Friday...because boy did I sweat.

I feel I have lots of energy and that is good because then it brings me a positive attitude that I so much need.  This new challenge will be very hard.  It will take me through Thanksgiving, Xmas and New Years which are very big holidays in my family...eating wise.  But I need to do what I need to do.

6th week

I know it's been a while but this week was very difficult...my trainer had to cancel on me on Monday so I went but did very little.  I woke very swollen on Tuesday and pretty much for the whole week.  I cancelled on Wednesday and did not go to the gym on Friday.  I felt depressed because i had lots of pain on my feet and legs.  No one really understands the pains I have daily.  It gets so painful, I can barely walk.  However, I wake up every morning leaving my pains to the Lord.