It's amazing to me how for the past 2 weeks I have done a great job of making time to eat 6 times a day, drink 100ozs of water, and get myself to bootcamp three times a week on top of going to school, dealing with three children, and going to bootcamp three times a week. I get to a weekend that changes the "schedule" I had put myself on - and everything goes to hell in a handbag.
A simple case of planning a head would of made things run smoothly this weekend, but instead - I bombed!! Saturday came, and I ate breakfast as usual and then ate my first snack. It was then time to head out for my tattoo. Spending four hours at a tattoo shop had a devastating effect on the schedule of my next two meals. When I finally got home, I managed to make a healthy dinner and then Steve and I headed out for the evening. Around 11:00PM, I found that I was starving!! It's crazy how going from eating six times a day to only eating three times can have such an effect on your hunger. There's really not any healthy options available at that time of night, so we opted at stoping at Taco Bell. The bad news was I did NOT order from the healthy menu - the good news was I couldn't eat all of the burrito I ordered because I got too full.
Yesterday, I started out the day just fine...I ate breakfast, my first snack, grabbed a light lunch while I was out shopping, and then it was time to head to my mom's. I missed my 4th meal, and then we decided to grab Chinese take-out on the way home. I didn't do too bad with that. I chose a light meal that was loaded with veggies, but probably still above my limit for proteins, carbs, and fats.
I'm really not happy with my food choices this weekend, or the fact that I didn't do ANY extra workouts. I'm really ready to get into this week full speed ahead. This week at bootcamp is supposed to be a hard one, so I really want to get in there and make up for the "choices" I made. I know that one bad weekend isn't going to kill me - as long as it happens on a RARE occasion. My routine will now consist of bootcamp Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays; 30 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of weights on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and Saturday mornings will be devoted to my running. Sundays, by order of bootcamp personnel, will be my "rest day". If I want to drop 26lbs (hopefully less than that after the weigh-in this week) in the next 5 1/2 weeks, I have GOT to start uping the ante on my work-outs. It also means NO MORE sliding out of the food schedule either.
This is my last week of school, so starting Saturday I am going to have to reevaluate my schedule. I don't plan on sitting in the house all summer, so I am going to have to start planning ahead and taking food with me - if need be. Fourth of July is approaching fast, which means another holiday full of food, fun, and drink...planning MUST be made in advance for that one.
I'm not going to dwell on things that happened this weekend, I'm going to learn from my mistakes. It's the only way to do it, right? In the words of Harley, my bootcamp instructor "I only live once, I'm gonna feed my taste buds once in a while." Once in a while is the key part of that sentence...I did it once - now no more till I'm at least done with bootcamp.
Till next time. ;)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I am Now a Tattooed American
My dad is COVERED in tattoos, my mom has 1, and my brothers each have a couple. I thought it was only fitting that I join my family and their desire to be "inked". We got to the tattoo shop around noon yesterday, and I can tell you that my heart was racing. Having your first tattoo is really like having your first child. You hear so many different versions of what the pain is going to be like - you literally freak out!! Steve (my hubby) was also getting his first tattoo, so I opted to go first - just to be sure that I didn't chicken out...LOL
Sitting in the chair waiting for the artist to get ready is probably the worst part about getting a tattoo. You're sitting in the chair, psyching yourself up for the moment....it seems to last forever...and then you hear the "buzzzz" of the tattoo gun. I almost jumped out of the seat when she first turned it on. Luckily she was just getting the needle ready, and not starting. It was finally time to get started, and my dress had wet handprints on it from the sweat from my palms.
I will have to say, that when she first started doing the outline for the tattoo my nerves started to get in order. The best way I can describe the "pain" is to say it felt like I was being scratched with a sharp pencil. It was irritating, but definately nothing I couldn't handle. I felt much better about the procedure after the first part was over. When the outline was all done, the gem of a tattoo artist sprayed my shoulder with lydocane so that I would be mostly numb for the coloring part. That was so nice of her. I really didn't feel any of the coloring, except for some minor scratches here and there. The whole thing was a piece of cake!!!
Steve got his done in half the time I got mine - but his was a lot less detailed. We were still in the shop for 4 hours, though. After we left, my shoulder was kind of sore. When the sun hit the tattoo, it felt like I had bad sunburn - but again, nothing I couldn't handle.
Now, for the next 6-10 days, I have to take special care not to irritate my shoulder. This should be interesting when bootcamp is involved. I spend a lot of time on my back doing exercises there, so I just hope I'm careful enough not to irritate it.
So, I'm happy for yet another big change to myself - a permanent one. For anyone that asks "ewww, what's it going to look like when you're 80?" I will respond "old and wrinkly - like the rest of my body". In case you're wondering what the tattoo is - the inside is a triquatra. It is a Celtic/ Pagan symbol symbolizing the woman's journey of maiden, mother, and crone - and how the three phases of her life intertwine. The flowers and vines are just to give it a "girly" touch.
Till next time. :)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
I Did the Obstacle Course How Fast??
Last night, bootcamp gave me another one of those "I am Woman" moments. We found out when we first got there that we would be doing a timed run through the obstacle course. We've ran the obstacle course several times since starting bootcamp last week, but we've always done it after an ass kicking work-out - so I was always exhausted while trying to get over the obstacles.
Last night, we got the chance to do the course as fast as possible without already being exhausted. We got into our formations, and went in groups of 3. My group was the second to last group to go. I got on the starting line, listened for the signal, and off I went. I sprinted to the starting line and started jumping through the tires. Got into the 3rd tire, and BAM!! I went down. I guess I was going a little too fast..LOL I got back up, and took off again. I flew up the rope ladder, came back down the other side, flipped my legs over 5 hurdles, jumped over the sandbags, and held on at the monkey bars for 7 seconds (cause I still haven't grasped those yet). It was then on to going over and under 5 more hurdles. I climbed over the 10ft straight wall, hit the ground and army crawled my ass off....then came the 5ft wall. I'm almost to the point where I could get over it, but it didn't happen - so I took my 3 second penalty and took off the the zig-zag balance beams. I jumped off those and ran as fast as I could to the finish line. My heart was pounding, my legs were screaming, but I ran!! I crossed the finish line and heard "2 minutes 39 seconds". I looked around thinking surely they were talking to someone else - but nope, I had completed the course in a little over 2 1/2 minutes. I was sooooo happy!!!
Shortly after letting my victory set in, I noticed that one of the recruits that had started with me was having a really hard time getting through the course. This woman started bootcamp on Wednesday. She is a larger woman, and reminded me very much of how I looked this time last year. I was so amazed that she was willing to give bootcamp a try. When I saw her struggling, I knew what I had to do. I went back to where she was and started cheering for her. I was with her every step of the way - and it blew my mind to watch this woman get over the obstacles that I struggle with. When it came to the army crawl, she zipped through that sucker like she was on a slip and slide. I could see the exhaustion in her face and so I just had to help. I helped her across the zig-zag bars, and then ran with her to the finish line. She didn't say "I can't" once...she did it!! Tears welled in my eyes as this woman crossed the finish line. Unfortunately, the fear that she accounted while doing the course set in - and it caused her to get very dizzy and had to be taken in side for some medical treatment.
After seeing this woman, the motivation level in me shot through the roof. I was so proud of her, and knew that I had to step in and do what I could to help her achieve her goals. After bootcamp was over, I got to spend some time with her and her kids. We discussed my weight loss journey, and I told her I wanted to help her do what I did. I gave her my number and thus our friendship has now begun. My goal not only includes continuing my journey, but now includes helping this woman achieve hers.
Till next time. ;)
Last night, we got the chance to do the course as fast as possible without already being exhausted. We got into our formations, and went in groups of 3. My group was the second to last group to go. I got on the starting line, listened for the signal, and off I went. I sprinted to the starting line and started jumping through the tires. Got into the 3rd tire, and BAM!! I went down. I guess I was going a little too fast..LOL I got back up, and took off again. I flew up the rope ladder, came back down the other side, flipped my legs over 5 hurdles, jumped over the sandbags, and held on at the monkey bars for 7 seconds (cause I still haven't grasped those yet). It was then on to going over and under 5 more hurdles. I climbed over the 10ft straight wall, hit the ground and army crawled my ass off....then came the 5ft wall. I'm almost to the point where I could get over it, but it didn't happen - so I took my 3 second penalty and took off the the zig-zag balance beams. I jumped off those and ran as fast as I could to the finish line. My heart was pounding, my legs were screaming, but I ran!! I crossed the finish line and heard "2 minutes 39 seconds". I looked around thinking surely they were talking to someone else - but nope, I had completed the course in a little over 2 1/2 minutes. I was sooooo happy!!!
Shortly after letting my victory set in, I noticed that one of the recruits that had started with me was having a really hard time getting through the course. This woman started bootcamp on Wednesday. She is a larger woman, and reminded me very much of how I looked this time last year. I was so amazed that she was willing to give bootcamp a try. When I saw her struggling, I knew what I had to do. I went back to where she was and started cheering for her. I was with her every step of the way - and it blew my mind to watch this woman get over the obstacles that I struggle with. When it came to the army crawl, she zipped through that sucker like she was on a slip and slide. I could see the exhaustion in her face and so I just had to help. I helped her across the zig-zag bars, and then ran with her to the finish line. She didn't say "I can't" once...she did it!! Tears welled in my eyes as this woman crossed the finish line. Unfortunately, the fear that she accounted while doing the course set in - and it caused her to get very dizzy and had to be taken in side for some medical treatment.
After seeing this woman, the motivation level in me shot through the roof. I was so proud of her, and knew that I had to step in and do what I could to help her achieve her goals. After bootcamp was over, I got to spend some time with her and her kids. We discussed my weight loss journey, and I told her I wanted to help her do what I did. I gave her my number and thus our friendship has now begun. My goal not only includes continuing my journey, but now includes helping this woman achieve hers.
Till next time. ;)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Change of Scenery - Time to RUN!
So, you may have noticed that I have changed the background for the blog. It's only fitting that I change the background to represent one of my goals from my weight loss: to be a runner.
I have decided that on the 26th of this month, I am going to run my 2nd 5K. I'm really hoping that by that time, my running will be a lot stronger and my time will be much better. My goal for bootcamp is to be able to run a mile in 10 minutes. I would love to be able to run the 5k in 35 minutes - that's a very tall order, and over 10 minutes less than what I ran my first 5k. The thing I keep reminding myself, though, is that on my first 5k I wasn't as strong and I had a really bad knee. I finished that 5k in 48 minutes, so surely I can shave a nice chunk of time off of the next one.
This weekend, I really want to focus on my running. I have had a chance to do a little running at bootcamp, but it's focused more on strength training. That's great, and exactly what I need - but I also need to be training for my running. I keep telling myself that on my "off days" between bootcamp, that I will run - but that hasn't happened yet. Mostly because I'm so tired from the bootcamps, I need a day to rest before having to do it all over again. One thing I realized last week, though, is that having the weekend off really made things tough for me on Monday.
My hip-flexer muscle is feeling a little better - but still sore. I did my stretches this morning, and that made the pangs of pain creep back. I attempted a sit-up and the pain was there again. I decided to hold off on doing anything else until tonight, because I really don't want to add insult to injury (pun intended).
Ok, so goal for this weekend: 5 miles on the treadmill both Saturday and Sunday. Can I do it? Guess you'll just have to wait and see.
Till next time. ;)
I have decided that on the 26th of this month, I am going to run my 2nd 5K. I'm really hoping that by that time, my running will be a lot stronger and my time will be much better. My goal for bootcamp is to be able to run a mile in 10 minutes. I would love to be able to run the 5k in 35 minutes - that's a very tall order, and over 10 minutes less than what I ran my first 5k. The thing I keep reminding myself, though, is that on my first 5k I wasn't as strong and I had a really bad knee. I finished that 5k in 48 minutes, so surely I can shave a nice chunk of time off of the next one.
This weekend, I really want to focus on my running. I have had a chance to do a little running at bootcamp, but it's focused more on strength training. That's great, and exactly what I need - but I also need to be training for my running. I keep telling myself that on my "off days" between bootcamp, that I will run - but that hasn't happened yet. Mostly because I'm so tired from the bootcamps, I need a day to rest before having to do it all over again. One thing I realized last week, though, is that having the weekend off really made things tough for me on Monday.
My hip-flexer muscle is feeling a little better - but still sore. I did my stretches this morning, and that made the pangs of pain creep back. I attempted a sit-up and the pain was there again. I decided to hold off on doing anything else until tonight, because I really don't want to add insult to injury (pun intended).
Ok, so goal for this weekend: 5 miles on the treadmill both Saturday and Sunday. Can I do it? Guess you'll just have to wait and see.
Till next time. ;)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Holy Hip-Flexer, Batman!!
Well, I have sustained my first "injury" from bootcamp - a pulled hip-flexer muscle. I noticed a sharp pain in the bottom of my stomach while working out on Monday, but didn't think much of it. That was until it was time to do sit-ups last night. The only way to describe the pain is to say that it felt like the right side of my stomach was going to rip open while trying to do a sit-up.
After reporting my pain to the instructor, he advised me of what the problem was and suggested that I watch the pain. We started out with our normal stretches and rotations, and then it was time for calasthetics. The calasthetics, thus far, have been pretty simple. Last night, the instructor thought it would be fun to add in my favorite exercise (NOT!!): flutter kicks. The minute I tried to do a flutter kick, the pain was there...bad!! I reported the pain, and the instructor suggested it might be a good idea to skip last night's workout. Hmm, easy out for a night of torture?? That's just not how I roll!! I told him I would stick it out, just might not be able to do some of the exercises. Well, I had no idea that the evening was going to consist of sand bag work-outs.
Ahhh, sandbag workouts. These workouts consist of carrying around a 50lb sandbag as if it were your child - it can NEVER touch the ground!! We did sandbag chest presses, sandbag pull-ups, and sandbag lunges...all such wonderful exercises to endure with a pulled muscle. The real icing on the cake was the fact that we had to hold our sandbag over our heads while laying flat on the ground - and they leaked!!! By the time we were done, all of us were absolutely covered in sand. I had sand in my hair, my mouth, all down my shirt...it was everywhere. I did manage to endure the torture, with only minor modifications (like not having to do flutter kicks while holding the sandbag over my head).
After the sandbag torture was over, which lasted 30 minutes I might add, we moved on to running. I was actually happy to hear that we were going to be running. Although, because of my injury, it was suggested that I spent 20 minutes on a stationary bike so that I could work on stretching my strained muscle..YAY!! (**Insert sarcasm**) Another girl had a slight back injury, so the both of us worked on stationary bikes while the rest of the group went on a jog around the gym. I thought I would have the chance to take it easy - who the heck was I kidding?? LOL The instructor put us on a set level which included high resistance. After 20 minutes on the bike, my legs felt like jello. It was then time to rejoin the group and finish up the night with some stretches.
I felt like last night was ok - it was tough, especially with the pain, but I had it easier than most. The instructor gave me some stretches that I have to do in the morning and at night to help with my pulled hip-flexor, so hopefully I will be back to full-torture by Friday..YAY!! (again **Insert sarcasm**)
Till next time ;)
After reporting my pain to the instructor, he advised me of what the problem was and suggested that I watch the pain. We started out with our normal stretches and rotations, and then it was time for calasthetics. The calasthetics, thus far, have been pretty simple. Last night, the instructor thought it would be fun to add in my favorite exercise (NOT!!): flutter kicks. The minute I tried to do a flutter kick, the pain was there...bad!! I reported the pain, and the instructor suggested it might be a good idea to skip last night's workout. Hmm, easy out for a night of torture?? That's just not how I roll!! I told him I would stick it out, just might not be able to do some of the exercises. Well, I had no idea that the evening was going to consist of sand bag work-outs.
Ahhh, sandbag workouts. These workouts consist of carrying around a 50lb sandbag as if it were your child - it can NEVER touch the ground!! We did sandbag chest presses, sandbag pull-ups, and sandbag lunges...all such wonderful exercises to endure with a pulled muscle. The real icing on the cake was the fact that we had to hold our sandbag over our heads while laying flat on the ground - and they leaked!!! By the time we were done, all of us were absolutely covered in sand. I had sand in my hair, my mouth, all down my shirt...it was everywhere. I did manage to endure the torture, with only minor modifications (like not having to do flutter kicks while holding the sandbag over my head).
After the sandbag torture was over, which lasted 30 minutes I might add, we moved on to running. I was actually happy to hear that we were going to be running. Although, because of my injury, it was suggested that I spent 20 minutes on a stationary bike so that I could work on stretching my strained muscle..YAY!! (**Insert sarcasm**) Another girl had a slight back injury, so the both of us worked on stationary bikes while the rest of the group went on a jog around the gym. I thought I would have the chance to take it easy - who the heck was I kidding?? LOL The instructor put us on a set level which included high resistance. After 20 minutes on the bike, my legs felt like jello. It was then time to rejoin the group and finish up the night with some stretches.
I felt like last night was ok - it was tough, especially with the pain, but I had it easier than most. The instructor gave me some stretches that I have to do in the morning and at night to help with my pulled hip-flexor, so hopefully I will be back to full-torture by Friday..YAY!! (again **Insert sarcasm**)
Till next time ;)
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Bootcamp Week One Weigh-In Results
My first week of bootcamp is over, and I've got three sessions under my belt. I was very anxious to see what my weight and measurements were this morning. We were warned on Monday night that we might see a slight increase in our weight the first week or two, as our body was building muscle. I was a little nervous about hearing that - because the last thing I want to do is put ON weight.
So, here are this week's results:
225lbs (no change)
Measurements:
Waist: 40 1/2" (-1/2")
Chest: 42" (-1")
Bicep: 15" (-1")
Thigh: 23 1/2" (-1/2")
Calf: 18" (-1")
So, I would rather have no change in my weight rather than more weight. I am pretty happy with my measurements - an average loss of 1" is pretty good in a week, I think.
Keeping it short and sweet today. Will have another session of bootcamp tonight to write about tomorrow.
Till next time. ;)
So, here are this week's results:
225lbs (no change)
Measurements:
Waist: 40 1/2" (-1/2")
Chest: 42" (-1")
Bicep: 15" (-1")
Thigh: 23 1/2" (-1/2")
Calf: 18" (-1")
So, I would rather have no change in my weight rather than more weight. I am pretty happy with my measurements - an average loss of 1" is pretty good in a week, I think.
Keeping it short and sweet today. Will have another session of bootcamp tonight to write about tomorrow.
Till next time. ;)
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
My First "What was I thinking?" Moment Last Night
Last night's bootcamp was the hardest, thus far. Even though I had or have no intention of quitting, there were several times last night that I said "WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING???"
We started the evening out with push-ups, sit-ups, stretches and calasthetics. Then it was on to the obstacle course. My team was the last team to run the course, which meant we spent the whole time doing core-focused calesthetics while the other teams had their turn on the course. Spending a few minutes doing flutter kicks, push-ups, and swimmers before the course takes every ounce of energy out of me which makes the course 10 times harder. I managed to pull myself (literally) through the obstacle course - not once, but twice.
After the course, we had a 1 minute break and then it was on to circuits. The circuits consist of flutter kicks, push-ups, mountain climbers, jumping jacks, basketball tosses (you do a push-up and then stand up and jump), swimmers, and donkey kicks (you jump up and kick your own butt). We had to do 1 minute at each station, then sprint to the next station. By the last circuit, I was literally crawling. We then had another 1 minute break to find out we were doing the circuits again for 40 seconds each. That was it - the "WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING??" moment. I really couldn't do the push-ups, flutter kicks, mountain climbers, or basketball tosses, so the drill instructor had me hold a push-up position for each of those circuits for the 40 seconds.
Following the circuits, it was time for sprints. We lined up and had to sprint 100 yards and back, then 200 yards and back, and then 300 yards and back. I did this a couple of times - only having to walk back after the 300 yard run. We did all 3 runs 3 times. We then walked 300 yards back to our starting formations. We then ended the night with some stretches - which I will admit felt SOOOO good. I was really hurting more than I've ever hurt before we started stretching, but the stretches made everything feel much better.
When we were dismissed, I had a quick nutritional check and got the ok for doing well. I was then given a gym membership to use while I'm in bootcamp. I was excited about that - cause that means on the weekends I can go and take a couple of classes to keep things working while I'm not at bootcamp. I know, I'm a gluten for punishment, but I'm not going through all of this torture for nothing.
This morning, I'm not nearly as sore as I thought I'd be. Don't get me wrong, I ache, but I also feel really good. I guess that shows that I'm getting stronger?? We'll see.
Till next time. ;)
We started the evening out with push-ups, sit-ups, stretches and calasthetics. Then it was on to the obstacle course. My team was the last team to run the course, which meant we spent the whole time doing core-focused calesthetics while the other teams had their turn on the course. Spending a few minutes doing flutter kicks, push-ups, and swimmers before the course takes every ounce of energy out of me which makes the course 10 times harder. I managed to pull myself (literally) through the obstacle course - not once, but twice.
After the course, we had a 1 minute break and then it was on to circuits. The circuits consist of flutter kicks, push-ups, mountain climbers, jumping jacks, basketball tosses (you do a push-up and then stand up and jump), swimmers, and donkey kicks (you jump up and kick your own butt). We had to do 1 minute at each station, then sprint to the next station. By the last circuit, I was literally crawling. We then had another 1 minute break to find out we were doing the circuits again for 40 seconds each. That was it - the "WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING??" moment. I really couldn't do the push-ups, flutter kicks, mountain climbers, or basketball tosses, so the drill instructor had me hold a push-up position for each of those circuits for the 40 seconds.
Following the circuits, it was time for sprints. We lined up and had to sprint 100 yards and back, then 200 yards and back, and then 300 yards and back. I did this a couple of times - only having to walk back after the 300 yard run. We did all 3 runs 3 times. We then walked 300 yards back to our starting formations. We then ended the night with some stretches - which I will admit felt SOOOO good. I was really hurting more than I've ever hurt before we started stretching, but the stretches made everything feel much better.
When we were dismissed, I had a quick nutritional check and got the ok for doing well. I was then given a gym membership to use while I'm in bootcamp. I was excited about that - cause that means on the weekends I can go and take a couple of classes to keep things working while I'm not at bootcamp. I know, I'm a gluten for punishment, but I'm not going through all of this torture for nothing.
This morning, I'm not nearly as sore as I thought I'd be. Don't get me wrong, I ache, but I also feel really good. I guess that shows that I'm getting stronger?? We'll see.
Till next time. ;)
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