An extra workout...go me!

This week, Book Camp is not being held...I have no idea why, but they didn't ask me!

My friend Kim has been going to a personal trainer...Beth. Beth has her own business...BodiesbyBeth. Beth also has won many competitions, and has also appeared in 2 different editions of Playboy...ya know, the magazine?? She will also be in the August edition!! Needless to say, she's cut and she's gorgeous!

Anyway, Kim's daughter was supposed to accompany her today, but she's at Grandma's, so Kim offered to let me go since the session was already paid for. I was glad to be able to do this, however I was a little nervous about whether or not I could keep up. I mean, I know I've been working hard for 3 weeks, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything!! I really enjoyed being able to laugh about stuff with Kim too...I didn't waste a single smart-ass comment.

I did great!! I was able to keep up and do all the exercises!! Now.....I'm not sure it was as difficult as Boot Camp, but I'm sure I'm thinking that because I was soooo miserable during my first day!

I'm planning to keep in touch with Beth and attend some of her classes in the fall after school starts back. Not only does she look great, but she's had FOUR kids!! She must know what she's doing to have had 4 kids and look so fabulous.


Today....
I'm proud of me!
I believe I can do this.
I believe I can make good choices.
I believe this CAN be a lifestyle change.

Today, I just believe~~~

I did it...day 15!!

It was a rough start. I didn't want to go to Boot Camp this morning. I woke up before 7:00 and thought,"I'll just snooze a little longer. I don't have to be up until 7:30." Let's face it...I'm going to work out and sweat my GUTS out. All I do to get ready is brush my teeth and make sure my hair isn't standing on end! So I stayed in bed...my soft, cozy, comfy bed.......

Finally dragging myself out at 7:45, I brushed my teeth, fought the girls into a sports bra, threw on some clothes, grabbed a banana and my water, and raced out the door. I really didn't want to. All I could think was, "I HATE this. I DON'T want to do this!"

I was too busy focusing on how much I HATE it, I didn't realize I had already done the hardest part...I got out of bed and was on my way! I ended up calling a friend. I'm so thankful for my friends!!!!

Cyn is one of my ScrapShare friends. She is an aerobics instructor. Who better to call when I don't want to be there?! She encouraged me....reminding me how much I like it that my clothes are fitting different. She reminded me of why I'm doing this. There are many people I could have called for the same thing, but I thought the aerobics instructor might bust my butt more!!

I got there and began the workout. And something happened! Something shocking...at least to me. I could do it! I could complete the exercises!! My form may not have been perfect, but I could DO IT!! When we first started, I could barely hold the bridge pose. That's the exercise where we're holding ourselves up, parallel to the floor on our forearms and toes. When we first started, I could hardly hold it for 10 seconds...and that was grunting and dripping sweat like a faucet from the tip of my nose. Today I was able to hold the bridge for the whole minute! One whole minute!!

Throughout the whole workout, I was able to do all of them!! Other days, I've had to stop and catch my breath, then catch up with the group. Today, I was able to keep up with the group!! I was able to do each and every single exercise! Yay Me!!!

Now...for the comic relief. :)
Most days after our workout, we walk a mile and chat along the way. Today as we were on the return path to our cars, I said, "OMG...what's that?" There up in front of us, on the side of the road, was some weird black and white, long and skinny thing...moving towards the road. About that time, I realized what it was. "Oh look at the mommy skunk and her babies!" They were so cute! They looked like tiny kittens! When I said that outloud, it registered with all of us at the same time and we stopped in our tracks! We watched them as they continued along the right side of the road, coming toward us!! Elaine said,"What are we gonna do? They're coming this way." About that time, they decided to cross the road...so we continued to stand still and watch. But then Mommy Skunk began leading her litter down the LEFT side of the road....still towards us where we were standing motionless! She led them a little off the path...about 3 feet from the roadside where we were walking, so I decided that was our chance. "Come on guys, let's make a run for it before she does something we won't like." So we take off at a quick walk, keeping our eyes on her. Just as we became even with her and the babies, she spotted us!! OH NO! She ran around her kittens (that's what baby skunks are called...I looked it up! LOL) and put herself between us and them and raised her head looking at us. We took off!! You have never seen a group of middle aged women running so fast in all your life!!

When we stopped running, we looked back at the cute family of skunks waddling along the roadside, going the other direction. And we laughed and laughed and laughed!! It's really hard to laugh and run at the same time!

Today, I just believe~~~

A Lazy Day...it happens!

Last night we had crazy storms around midnight. I'm not sure how long they lasted, but I was in the 'twilight zone' during all the excitement. You know, that state you're in when you're not really awake, but you can hear everything that's going on around you? In other words, I didn't sleep well at all!

Besides that, the electricity flickered (that's what we get for living in the middle of nowhere!) and when the alarm went off this morning, it was actually 7:50 instead of 7:00. Could I have made it? Sure...woulda been about 15 minutes late, but I coulda made it. But after a night with little sleep, I decided I wanted to sleep...so I did.

I'm kinda scared about it though...because I don't feel very guilty at all. I know, I know...it's okay to have a lazy day once in a while. But I don't need to get used to the idea, kwim? If it becomes 'easy' for me to sleep in, I'll be in the same boat I've been in with all the gym memberships I've started...and paid for...and not attended!

I NEED this for my LIFE! I cannot afford to have many days like this. If you've read this today, remind me of this. Remind me of why it's so important to KEEP IT UP at all cost!!

Day 13...is it Friday yet?

Today was a killer...I feel like I say that everyday! Today I hated it. Today was a day when I almost cried. Then I get mad because I'm about to cry. These emotions don't help me when I'm trying my best to complete an exercise!! Then I get even madder because the emotions make it harder!! And then I started feeling nauseous...and THAT made me mad! I worked through it...and I finished the workout in one piece...barely!

I don't know why it seemed harder though. But I wonder, should it be this hard all the time to get the benefits from it? That's a scary thought. But then, maybe that's when I can LIKE what I'm doing?

Mr. Candy seems to be alternating...one day we do more on legs, the next more on upper body, but both days we work core.

Speaking of Candy, I'm not liking him to much today. He is very quiet for the most part. I need someone who will banter with my smart aleck comments. I need someone to laugh with me. He's not doing that. The ladies I work out with are better at that, and that's great and it does help, but...

We didn't walk today, which was okay with me. I was doing good to make it down the driveway to my car!

Today is a day...I just want to see a difference. I just WANT to believe.

Day 12

I just had a thought (imagine that!)
I hope that anyone who reads this, keeps my goofy, smart-aleck attitude in mind and that you're able to 'hear' me as you read. Otherwise, I suppose some of it could be misconstrued as very rude!

Well it's over...day 12 that is. I noticed a couple of things today.

I can more balance now. When I first started down this road, I couldn't stand on my left foot for any length of time. Was it because of the extra weight or just a balance issue? I guess it could be both.

**But that leads me to another bad issue!! The scales have NOT moved! How in the world could I have gone through 2 weeks of torture and not lost any weight?! I know, I know....muscle weighs more than fat, I'm building muscle now, blah, blah, blah....but it still would be nice to see something on the scales. How in the heck can the people on The Biggest Loser lose 15 lbs. the first week?? Are they not building muscle right away? Are they working alot harder than I am? I mean, I know I only work out an hour a day...then I walk 30-60minutes. I'm sure they spend many more hours, but come ON! I'll admit I've lost inches. I can tell in how my clothes fit. One of the ladies says she can see it in my face too. But it's always nice to see it on the scale!**

And on to the second thing I've noticed...I can do the jogging and breathe much easier. I'm able to jog the half-length of the gym twice (WITH the rest of the ladies!) and go on to the next exercise! I am SOOO excited about that!!! One of my desires, as sick as it may be, is to be able to jog for exercise. I'd like to be able to "go for a run" to help with stress as well. It's looking like it might be possible one day.

Today while we were working out and I was grunting to lift the 20lb. weights (one in each hand!) over my head, I asked Graham,"Aren't you supposed to be saying,'good job' and stuff like that?" He laughed and said,"But you're here, so that's a given." I answered, "Oh hell no....I need you sitting on my shoulder! I need to hear it!" The other ladies piped up and agreed. Elaine even added,"We never hear that so we need to hear it! It's pretty silent at home." We all laughed....then grunted through the next exercise.

Okay, maybe there's 3 things I've noticed. I am amazed at my stomach muscles. I can feel them (with my hands) when we're doing the millions of crunches or bicycles or leg lifts. One day I'd love to have the washboard stomach. I'll just have to keep working to get the towels off of it!!

Today I believe...
...maybe it's working.
...maybe this can be a lifestyle...but how?
...there are more muscles in my arms than I thought possible.

Today, I just believe.

Another day, another grunt!!

The first day of the rest of the week...and once again I've survived, although I'm not sure how!

Mr. Eye Candy was back today, and he had NO mercy! He really worked out butts off....I'm sure he could have picked it up and handed it to me on a silver platter!

Sometimes, while I'm grunting through an exercise, I think,"Gosh, I hope I don't have some weird heart condition that has gone undiscovered!" It would be terrible to die right here in the gym. And then when the EMS got there, they would think,"OMG, this lady must have drowned!Why else would she be soaking wet?"

There are no words, except today was really, really hard. We were working a circuit, doing an exercise for 1 minute, then doing side-steps from midcourt to the end of the gym and back....TWICE! Then we moved on the the next exercise, then down the gym and back. Of course I don't know the official names of the exercises, but I know what it is!

I started with the medicine ball squats. We have to raise the ball and slam it to the ground as hard as we can, but we have to squat and catch it as it bounces. After side-stepping, I moved to the mountain climbers (I think that's what they are called) They are deadly! More side-steps, then bicycling, side-steps....and you won't believe the next one! We had to back up to the wall and get into a sitting position (without a chair of course!) While holding a medicine ball between our knees, we had to hold another one straight out in front of us....and stay like that for a solid minute. HA! That's all I'm gonna say about that. After side-stepping, it was my turn at the bicep curls. Before it was over, I had also done squats holding a 15lb. weight by the bell and lowering it the floor while squatting, the iron cross....with squats of course, and also doing tricep work by holding another 15lb. weight by the bell and while keeping our elbows by our head, lifting the weight behind and over our head. Good grief...I think I just pulled a muscle while re-living it here!!

Tomorrow is another day...*sigh* I don't think I'll like it any more, but...like a good friend once told me...It's my butt...I made it this big...so I've gotta move it!!

Ups and Downs

Well, today was day 10 of Boot Camp and I'm happy to say I'm still alive!! I can still walk. I can still breathe. I can still dress myself. Surprising I know!!

Today seemed like a light day. We did the usual...squats, presses, Russian twists, bicycles, oh...and don't forget about the jogging to the end of the gym and back 4 times between each set!! I'm really really hoping that it wasn't an easier workout, but that the workout is becoming easier.

I notice a difference in how my clothes are fitting. I know I've lost inches in my waist and hips...I can tell by how my shirts fit. They aren't hanging on my hips, but rather sliding down over them! Yay!! I also wore a t-shirt yestesday that's been too tight for a long time. It wasn't loose, but it fit just right.

I just gotta keep this up!
Our plans have changed and we're not going on vacation next week, so I'll be able to *enjoy* another week of Boot Camp before the week of July 4th! Woohoo! :)