Yo-yo no more

Today is Jan 20.  My next TOM visit is predicted for Jan 25.  With the way my last cycles have been going (Sept. was a 26 day cycle, Oct. was a 29 day, Nov. 26 day, Dec. 29 day…. this month could likely be a 26 day cycle, meaning I’d start my period in the next day or two) Today at work, I started feeling those same symptoms.  Fuzzy/light headed…. feeling like I’m not 100% there, almost out of body…. like I was going through motions but didn’t realize I was going through them.  I went to the breakroom and sat down for half an hour and I finally called my manager and told her I needed to go home.  So, I’m home.  And, somewhat relieved to see that TOM is coming up….shocker!  I need to get to a doc soon and see about this.  It seems to be all hormone related and I need to get it fixed if possible!!!!!

Okay, that’s all!

*Edited January 22, 2008** TOM came to town today.  Imagine that.

I probably won’t write about EVERY meeting with the trainer.  But, right now it’s in its new stages and so exciting to me I just want to write it down and remember it forever!

My legs (mainly the backs of my legs) and my butt were no less sore today than they were yesterday.  Jessie loved this and said “good!”.  It may hurt, but at least I know that something got worked! lol.  Today we did upper body stuff.  I managed to hang by my elbos from 2 straps in the air and do 5 lifts with my legs….. I’m still amazed!  We did crunches and push ups (on a workout ball and on a workout bench) and lots of squats (my legs hurt more now than they have over the past 2 days).  Jessie is SO encouraging though!  She kept saying how “fit” our kids parents were going to be.  We also met her hubby who told us how awesome he thought it was that Brett and I are training together.  (yeah, I think so too :-)  We trained for nearly an hour and a half.  She found out that Brett and I both have the day off on Thursday, so she’s scheduled for us to do an extra workout on that day.  So, for the rest of this week, we will meet with her on Wednesday at 7am, Thursday 11am and Saturday 7am.  We go in the gym tomorrow and I am to do 35 minutes of cardio while Brett does weights.  (I guess that’s my homework).

Something that Jessie said today that stuck with me.  While doing rounds of push-ups, crunches and squats, she said “… and when you feel like you can’t do a single thing more, when your body is telling you ‘no way’, always do 2 more!”.  Hmm… I never thought of it that way!

So, I am enjoying it so far.  I’m hoping this will get me out of my 190’s plateau and into the next decade!!!

MY 28th BIRTHDAY (Feb.4) GOAL:

Well, today starts a new TBL Weight Loss Challenge on 3FC.  I am the PROUD Black Team leader!  So, it’s time to buckle down and get busy!  My goal for the challenge (which ends on April 7, I believe) is 170!  With Jessie helping me, I don’t know why I can’t reach that goal!  I’m still trucking along and loving it.  I think this week may post a gain…. I’ve changed my eating (still on WW, but eating differently) and with the up in working out (and the pace we’re working out….. and having someone pushing me when I would normally give out) - I think my body may go into WTF mode again.  But, we’ll see.  Weigh-in’s for me will be on Friday mornings.  My weight this past Friday morning was 195.8.

Ready….. set….. GO!

And GO BLACK TEAM!!!!!

***PRE-WORKOUT*** 

Le hubby and I have hired a personal trainer at the gym we go to to whip our bodies into shape.  Part of me is scared to death of what she might do (she is SUPER sweet, but so is Jillian on The Biggest Loser), but the other part of me knows that with the help of someone pushing me really hard I will succeed even faster than I have been!

At our first consult yesterday, we talked about my goals (goodbye arm jiggle, I shall never see you again!), my nutrition (YAY, I can keep Weight Watchers as long as I modify it a bit to her liking), and exercise (have you ever heard of a kettlebell?)

However,  right now it is 6:30 am (I am SO not a morning person), I’m hungry, cranky, and sleepy…. all great components for a first workout with a personal trainer, huh? *giggle*  I am still excited though - but wonder how much yawning I’ll do this morning that will in turn make her make me do even more……. maybe I’ve watched Jillian too much on TBL.  Oh well.  I will write more after our first session.  We’re supposed to be at the gym at 7. Stay tuned….

Starting weight with a trainer: 195 (I weighed this morning, in fact)
Starting Body Fat %: 35.3 (*YIKES*, I wish I knew what it was when I started - alas it is on its way DOWN)
Starting BMI: 31.5 (but I knew this already)

***POST-WORKOUT***
     Ouch…. ouch…. and ouch again….wow!  As I write this, I’m sitting in a hot bath with Epsom salt (I shall transfer this to the computer when I’m done in the bath), hoping that it helps me to walk again! HA!  Okay… it’s not THAT bad… but it’s pretty bad.
     So, I was begrudgingly up at 6:30 this morning.  Our gym is a 24 hour gym, so the lights are always on.  We were supposed to be there at 7 to start our warming up.  When we pulled up at 6:45, it was still dark outside and….wait a minute… dark inside too?  Yep.  Apparently they were doing electrical work on the building next door and in turn had to shut off power at the gym for a few hours this morning.  There were 3 cars in front of the gym, all of which had their headlights facing the gym to shine lights inside.  Luckily everything still worked except for the treadmills.  I was quickly thrown into the episode of The Biggest Loser during “Green Week”!  How fitting!
     I introduce Brett to Erica.  She’ll be training with us on Saturdays also.  She’s really sweet, and a mommy just like me!  The three of us start our warm-ups.  Erica and I on bikes and Brett on an eliptical.  We find out that the 3 of us are the “pioneers” in the “Boot Camp Saturdays” for Jessie. 
    Jessie then introduces us to “KettleBells” (that’s Russian for PAIN and TORTURE!!!!…. okay, maybe not so much).  However, check out www.russiankettlebells.com to find out what they’re all about.  Apparently this form of exercise was used by the Soviet army to keep their soldiers in shape.  And, it is r-o-u-g-h!  Now, I have witnessed a Kettlebell class there before.   I thought it looked so easy and wondered how on earth it could possibly help you to lose weight… and why was it so popular at our gym?  HA! Did I ever find out.  For an hour I never once ran, walked, did sit ups, push ups, jumping jacks, etc…. but I ended up sweating more than I ever have before! The kettlebell is like a cannonball with a handle and you use it in conjuction with your body in different motions and movements.  Let me tell you, I feel muscles in my legs that I never even knew existed!!!  It is truly insane.  But, I loved it!! 
     So Brett and I are set up to train together on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays @7am with Jessie.  I can’t wait to see where we are in a couple of weeks.

My diet has also been modified by Jessie.  I eat 6 small meals a day.  Each mean contains 50% protein, 20% fat and 30% complex carbs… but I can also follow WW while doing this.  It’s so awesome!

More later!

I am getting to the update… promise!

 This is, again, just for personal reference.  3 days before my “predicted ovulation” and I’m having the same symptoms…. wavy feelings.  Yay!

it’s been a while, huh?  Update to follow…..