Getting honest with myself

I mentioned in last night's post that I had gained back the five I had lost. Well I had not been recording the gains in MyFitnessPal therefore you weren't seeing them on my blog button. So I officially weighed in and recorded this morning.... Not good. 185.6 up from 178.8 two weeks ago. Bummer. It's completely nutrition. I've been running and exercising.

So my goal is to have a loss, any loss, over Thanksgiving break, so by Monday morning.

Check out my progress graph below. This is my most dramatic loss and gain yet :(

Changes!!!

Yeah so Today was pretty crazy. Aside from teaching 7th/8th graders all day that were about to be out of school for 5 days I decided to take a plunge and do something I had been aiming to do for some time. I tried a spin class for the first time. I did a 30 minute entry level class. I went to another location of my gym that I hadn't been to yet. My location has the pool, theirs (same distance from home) has indoor tennis courts and spin classes. Now, let's back up. After calling to confirm when the class was I got all pumped about this new adventure and texted Chad to tell him. Quickly he responded that he was excited for me to go, I then asked about our next training session.....

Chad recently made some job adjustments and got married! (Congrats! Chad!) and he was only training once a week. I knew that the day was coming that he would be done training at my gym and today was that day.... :(

I told him I wanted the best trainer to switch over to. Then I proceeded to be sad that we didn't get to train anymore. And I didn't get my picture with him for my blog. For those of you that have read a while you know this will make my 3rd trainer in a year (Chad trained me for 9 months!)
It's hard to open up to someone, get used to them and then switch.

Anyhow, Chad sent me the contact info for my new trainer. I asked Chad 20 questions about him (Alex). Chad told me that I would really like him. So I texted him. Before I went to spin Alex had already called me and talked with me about some goals and asked me to stop by the gym and meet with him after spin.

Back to spin....

I walk in a room full of spin bikes. OMG what am I thinking!!!! Immediately everyone was sooo nice and helped me pick a bike, the instructor came right over introduced herself, set my bike up for me. Adjusted all the adjustments. Taught me all the hand positions, terms, where to change resistance and how, and tips to make sure my form was right. Then once my feet were all strapped in and I left my water on the floor (it wouldn't fit in the bottle holder) we were off. We stretched while peddling, we peddled flat ground, hills, standing up, setting down, high resistance, low resistance,... All while the lights were out (except a black light that lit up our towels and shoes) Music was going. Everyone was chatting here and there about who was running what races when etc. The instructor was so great. When it came time for water I got off my peddles long enough to pick up my water and the older guy next to me came over and found a way for me to keep my water at arms reach.

I was sweating, it felt so good though. My legs burned, my heart rate was up, I was sweaty! Wondering why I left the tank on my bed and wore the tshirt.

Before I knew it I heard "if you are doing the entry level only this is your last run before cool down"

It went sooo fast!!! Yipee. Me and one other guy left after the 30 min. The others were in for another hour. That will be me one day (not yet, easy does it sometimes)

Everyone was so nice and welcoming and invited me to come back. I will go back for sure. I burned almost 300 calories in 30 min and it went by fast!!

So off to my regular gym location to meet Alex.

I met Alex... He is super pumped to train me. He has high goals for me and my success. I'm still extra nervous but knowing how eager he is makes my mind ease a bit. He gave me his diet plan that he likes to start people on which is what I've been doing just more intense. I did tell him that I like to be pushed. I will start training with him Monday. He told me to enjoy thanksgiving and start fresh on Monday. I like starting fresh. I will weigh, measure, set goals, etc. Alex has already added me on MyFitnessPal (you should too) to view my food journal, read my blog, and told me to text with any questions anytime. I'm pleased with his eagerness to help me succeed.

I had lost down to 178.8 remember? Well I gained back to 183ish. Not making excuses at all but I haven't trained with Chad in almost a month. I had met my goal of losing 5 lbs by the next time I met with him and when I realized last week that I didn't think we would get to meet again it was like subconscious self sabotage going on and I just gave in and gained. That is in NO way Chad's fault. I am the only person who can make things happen for me. Now I have a new goal. I'm going to weigh in the morning, then I am going to set a loss goal for Monday. I do plan to enjoy Thanksgiving but I also plan to get my runs in, and not go crazy. I plan to laugh and enjoy my family that I haven't seen since July!!! So my goal is not a specific number. I just want a loss between Wed. Morning and Monday Morning.

Running update. It's going great. I ran in the rain yesterday with Marnie (teacher running buddy). It was warm and drizzly. The rain was running down my face and it was amazing. I did a 25 minute run and got 2.1 miles in. Best rime yet!!!

5,000 challenge update - 4th try here. I will hit my 5,000 goals by next Wednesday Nov. 30th at 9:00pm. I will get this. I'm setting reminders on my phone so I won't forget which has consistently been my problem thus far!

So I went through lots of quick changes today but it's going to be good. I will miss Chad, but I will do well and make him proud I'm sure of it! I told him that when I have my 50 lb celebration party that he has to come!

Saturday Morning Thoughts

So I got closer to accomplishing my 5,000 goal this week but haven't quite made it. It's a much tougher goal than I realized when I set it. I accomplished 2,880 of my 5,000 (2,100 sec of running, 420 sec of planks, 360 sec of yoga poses, and no knee drives). So I started over today. I will do this. I have set to have it complete by Thursday evening. I'm already off to a good start with 180 sec of planks this morning. I'm not upset for being on my third try I see it as getting better and stronger for the third week in a row.

I headed out to the gym last night for Zumba Party. The Friday night Zumba class at my gym. I got there and it had been cancelled and so the mental argument with myself began.... Stay and work out? Just do cardio? Leave so I can get home and eat dinner earlier? I headed to the car to get my earbuds for cardio and realized they weren't in my car. So I headed to the elliptical trainer to work out in silence. I faught myself mentally until I had 20 minutes in. Then I thought I can't be all warmed up and not do some circuit training. So I grabbed a kettle bell from my trainers office and headed over to the free weight section or what many might call "the guys' section". I rotated 3 kettle bell exercises with oblique sit ups on the inclined sit up bench. I did 12 reps of each exercise in the circuit and repeated the circuit 3 times. I was fatigued on the last few reps, but finished strong.

I laughed inside at all of the grunts and noises the guys make when they lift. Is it really necessary ? One guy (probably 25-30) was being worked out by his friend, who obviously though he was a bundle of awesomeness, and was being pushed by this friend to do more and more and more until he was literally about to vomit right there. The "bundle of awesomeness" friend, I thought, was just being a jerk. Anyhow. Now that that side story is over...

I left feeling great! I had pushed myself to finish a good full workout. I had done a good circuit without my trainer. Which is just an accomplishment for the simple reason that I took what he's taught me and used it on my own.

I did only upper body and abs because my quads were a bit sore from my 2 mile run on Thursday and I was looking to my running assignment today (25 min run) and didn't want to mess it up by overworking my legs. I can't lie though my shoulders are super sore today. I'm glad though, because I pushed myself in circuit training which in my opinion is difficult. I much prefer to have a person telling me what to do and when to do it.

I did 3 minutes of planks this morning. My shoulders felt that too! Yikes!

My running is going really great! I'm looking forward to my 25 min run today!

I am also really REALLY close to my goal of getting to the 170s. I weighed in at 180.8 a few days this week, then it dropped yesterday to 180.2, this morning I was 180.0 EVEN. Come on 170s!!!!

I'm so determined.

My last weigh in was 180.8 lbs. I want to be in the 170s so bad!!! So I gave it my all on my busy busy day today (we had a talent show tonight at school that I was coordinating). I packed my things this morning for running. Two other people from our training group at work ran today as well. They are two experienced runners. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous to run just me and them because I'm not fast. But I had a great time. We went to a local park to run. I did a 2 mile trail. They took that trail plus an extra inner loop to make 3+ miles for them. So one of the girls told me that last time we ran there ( a month ago) when she finished the 3+ route that my running group was at a certain spot. She challenged me to be done with the loop by the time they got done with there loop. My run went great. It was cold but it didn't bother me today. I ran well and I passed up my loop before my time was over and just before they finished the loop. I was thrilled. I did 2 miles in 25 with hills. I was so excited. It was so nice to have someone there to challenge me and encourage me! Thanks girls!
There is a picture below of us after our run.

So after the talent show I was stuck running by Chic Fil A for our dinner. Brandon is under the weather so I got him our favorite, the spicy chicken sandwich with fries, in hopes that the spicy would clear his sinuses. Lol. So I put my dad on the phone as I went through the drive through so I would order healthy for myself. I told him ahead of time what I was getting so that when I got there I couldn't cave in. Dad is good at accountability. So it worked. I ordered a grilled chicken wrap with a carrot and raisin salad. (picture below) They packed my wrap without dressing. It was really good. So I saved 400 calories at Chic Fil a in planning ahead a healthier meal than my favorite meal that I'm always tempted to order.

I came in under my calorie goal today. I can't wait to weigh in tomorrow morning and hopefully hit the 170s!!!!!

One more picture. Me with my students at the talent show!

Will Power

O'Charleys is a restaurant that normally ruins all healthy efforts for me. The sour dough rolls are death to all calorie counts! I actually ate lunch just now at O'Charleys for 305 calories! Yes! I finally beat O'Charley at his tricks to keep me pudgy!

I ordered a pick two lunch combo and got a ceaser salad and cup of potato soup. I only ate a third of the salad (I'm not a big salad eater) and I ate the cup of soup. I ordered unsweetened tea and skipped the rolls. If you stare at them and pretend you can almost taste them. I'm telling myself I can go without the rolls and I'm doing it.

I conquered the rolls! This will in turn help me conquer MY rolls! Lol.

Eating is so Social

So, today in order to avoid eating things I shouldn't me and my tuna and crackers with pineapple stayed at my desk to eat.  I LOVE eating with co-workers, but until I get my routine of bringing my lunch back in check I may have to eat at my desk on days when I feel weak and don't think i'll be able to resist sweets and things!

5000 update

Well. I failed to meet all of my 5000 goals from the previous post and let me tell you why... I got busy and forgot last Fri-Sun because of other events going on. Now let me tell ya 1000 seconds of planks is NOT doable in 3 days. I was sore from 150 seconds a day for 3 days! (which only equals 450)I did manage 250 knee drives and over my 2000 seconds of running. I did not get in any yoga :( So I can't just leave it as a fail. I will try again. Same goals as last time:

1000 sec of yoga
2000 sec of running
1000 sec of planks
1000 knee drives.

I will accomplish this by the Satuday morning.

I was out of town Thursday-Saturday with 13 7-9th graders for all-state choir. I did not log my food while I was gone but that hotel was one long hotel and my room was on the far opposite end from my students. A few good trips between ends was a good little walk. Lol. Anyhow. I ate cracker barrel and pizza and other good stuff but I did it in moderation. I weighed this morning and had lost a few tenths of a pound. Success in my opinion since I traveled.

So this week is my first week with no marching band OR choir trips. Wahoo! So I hope to achieve my 5000 and much more!

Also I got the blogger app for my phone. This means lots more posts!!! I can now even post pictures from my phone. I used to type posts into notes then copy paste them on the site from my phone due to not having Internet at home. So, I'm excited for this app. Picture uploads were few and far between when I came across Internet access. Now they can be anytime, anywhere!!!!