Day#352: My Legs Are Jello

Well I'll say this for CrossFit days with Beau, I don't leave thinking I can handle things... It's certainly a challenge!

70 Days Till WDW2.0 HUZZAH!

Wednesday is a CrossFit day, and the work day leading up to the work out was stressful, I needed to blow some steam. ON top of that I feel like food and I are having a bad argument... Food no longer calls, it won't talk to me anymore, it makes faces at me when I visit it at the grocery store...! Stupid Food! Our relationship sure has suffered since CrossFit entered the picture ;) lol

Nah... But seriously, the Diet that comes with the CrossFit Challenge is tough. On top of that I'm trying to manage things with my Diabetes, so that alters the diet plan as well. So far I've just tried to mush my old diet with this new one, adjusting where I can to make sure that my glucose levels stay where they need to be. If they aren't high enough when I go work out I feel shaky and awful afterwards... kinda like today. Oops.

Big mistake... I had a late lunch of Grilled Chicken, Baby Carrots, and a couple strawberries... but it wasn't enough carbs to last me through workout. I felt the crash, and the fact that Beau is crazy intense only made things more evident.

That Guy really pushes us, Which is totally awesome. I just need to be better prepared for workouts with him by making sure my blood sugar is high enough before the work out so that I don't pass out or anything crazy like that. Still learning how to balance things! (just in case you were worried... no I haven't passed out ;) )

#sweatyselfie #crossfit


Monday - CrossFit with Mandy (sore muscles of the day... Shoulders and Abs)


Tuesday - Personal Trainer day with Kylee (we did lunges... my poor legs are so stiff!)


Wednesday - CrossFit with Beau (All of me hurts... especially my legs and some arms)

Okay... Truth is that this is challenging. But I'm LOVING IT! I didn't know if I would but I do. I feel so proud of every work out I accomplish and of every small victory of simply going and doing my best.

I think a major thing I've been learning is to have patience with myself. I want it all to happen fast and right now. But change isn't like that... But then messing up doesn't derail things either... both are gradual. One day here or a bad day there... these things are all recoverable if I just keep trying and starting over. Forgiving myself for making mistakes on this journey of fitness is hard but golly I've got to keep trying. Nothing changes in just one day, but it all gets better the longer I keep trying.

Forgivness... and perspective! I'm almost to my next milestone; and i'm the most fit I've ever been. I feel good. What a crazy thing to realize! I'm blessed for sure.

Day#347: CrossFit Week1 Completed

Well I did it folks! I successfully completed the first week of CrossFit! I totally did, I've amazed even in myself. I've worked out every single day this week. Take that, you stupid weight loss slump! HA!

75 Days till WDW2.0 - That's 1/4 of the way! WOOT!

So, Took my "Before" Picture for the 6 week CrossFit Challenge. Here I am in all my plushy glory!



It'll be cool to see the changes in just 6 weeks. Feeling excited and hopeful. I can already tell that my legs are going to be rock solid! SO MUCH SQUATTING! (sobs in the corner)... so much...

So Recap!?

Wednesday:
CrossFit with coach Beau (he's so freaking intense!) We did a lot of varied things. But the worst was the squatting wall ball tosses... Ouch. These were brutal, had to toss a ball at the wall to a target, and then as the ball comes down, catch it in a squat. Each movement flowing into the next squat. So hard!

We also did: burpies, planks, single arm overhead press, deadlift bar raises (I think that's what they are called), Box jumps, and rows and sit ups.

Thursday:
Personal Trainer Day with Kylee. Realized why I've been emotional and why Tuesday was just that much harder when I discovered my monthly visitor had stopped by... Golly it's great to be a girl! So Thursday we did a work out: Planks, Squats, Single leg deadlifts, pushups, anti rotations, and TRX Rows. It wasn't super intense but IT FELT IT... my legs were still so sore from those Wall-Ball-Squats-of-Death.

She didn't ask about the follow up questions from last time... but I'm kind of okay with that. I now have an answer to give her... And I'll discuss it with her next week.

Then did 45 Minutes of walking.

Friday:
TGoodnessIF Peeps! I need a weekend to just bring things down a notch from this loaded and stressful week. CrossFit Day today, marking the last workout of the week since I've started HOLLA! Oh yeah, I'm so jazzed. One Week down like a BOSS!

#sweatyselfie #oneweekdown



Today with did some Olympic lifting... Yeah! (exactly what you're thinking!) Overhead Snap Raises.
This is the video that the Coach Mandy, posted to get us "Pumped". (It only managed to get me anxious to be honest.)

So Yeah... I did that but with wimpy weight! (50lbs) ;) Got to get technique down so that when we start adding weight I don't hurt myself. And I need all the practice I can get :)

We also did Rows, Burpies, Box Jumps, Bear Crawls (But I couldn't do these correctly yet, they really hurt my knees bad!) So... Lunges for me, and Goblet Squats.

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I'll tell you what, CrossFit is no joke! But golly I'm so excited that I'm doing something challenging! If only to just push myself to see what I can do. :) As my coworker said today when I told him about my new CrossFit Challenge... "You're so close to getting all your "Stuff" together." Ha! Hows that for support? Golly I hope so! ;)

Good to know I've got a couple friends at work still who cheer me on and support me. After all - When you hit rock bottom, only one way to go, and that's up! Happy weekend everyone!

Day344: Soreness & Tears

Today is Tuesday, which means it's Personal Trainer day. It was also my first day with the new trainer they've assigned me since Thomas left. Her name is Kylee. She's fine... I guess... Maybe.... (insert exasperated sigh).

78 Days till WDW2.0

I'm feeling frustrated. And perhaps that's because I've been spoiled by trainers that have really believed in me and pushed me... but still I'm jaded that I'm now on trainer number 4 for the last three weeks before my contract is up. I'm ready to push myself and really show myself what I'm capable of.

So needless to say I'm sore. I've been sore in my legs particularly since Saturday... but still, able to work out... but apparently It was a mistake to tell my new trainer my new adventure into CrossFit. I need support, and she definitely did not give off the vibe that she was going to be supportive. Her first words were... "OH... You're brave." (with a sour-ish kind of look I might add)

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but come on!!! I'm paying them... and with my last six sessions they should be about my needs, and NO, I don't want to spend half or more of those in an hour long group session... I'll be getting enough of that Monday, Wednesday, and Friday thank you very much! So having that shoved down my throat over and over is not something I appreciate.

I don't know what to do, and she kept pestering me through the work out... what do you want, how can I help... what nutrition plans can I help you with... these are all good questions that if I were to have a trainer for more than a total of five more visits it might be worth getting into. But I'm feeling defeated by my feelings here... I didn't know what I wanted from her, and I still don't. I want to be done with it and move on... but I want to get what I paid for. It's a fine line of not caring, and caring.

When put on the spot, particularly when I'm emotional and had a hard day at work too... surmounting emotions collide and I can't pinpoint why I'm upset. Such was the case with Kylee today. I started to loose my cool under these loaded questions; and I cried a bit while biting back bitter nonconstructive words. Then was lectured at because of the pause and lack of a satisfying answer.

Now i've promised to come on Thursday and tell her what I want from working out with her. And right now I don't know what that is... Sigh! What do I want...?

#sweatyselfie



Guess I have another day to really figure that out... Tomorrow is CrossFit again.

Day#343: CrossFit Day One

So just this last Saturday afternoon I posted a video on Facebook about my impending craziness... I've joined a 6 week CrossFit Challenge. It's an all Ladies group, and all of us are in various places in our fitness goals... some peeps have even done challenges like this in the past (those pros making the rest of us look bad ;) )

CrossFit, as I understand it; is a combination of olympic weight training, combined with "Functional" strength training. Functional meaning - they do work outs that target the kinds of muscles you use for regular life, and build them specifically. All this is done with a huge amount of intensity - Lots of repetitions in short bursts to really tax you.

I attest, it's taxing for sure!

79 Days till WDW2.0

So I've been working out for nearly a year, and felt I needed to step up my game, or as I told Mandy one of the CrossFit coaches today, to "put the fear back in me" on my fitness journey. This is a super accurate description. I am scared and full of nerves about it. CrossFit is going to be very challenging. Particularly given the fact that I still have Personal Trainer through Vasa for another 3 weeks.

That means that for the next three weeks my life will pretty much look like this:

Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: Personal Trainer
Wednesday: CrossFit
Thursday: Personal Trainer
Friday: CrossFit
Saturday: Optional (but highly encouraged) Cardio CrossFit
Sunday: Rest Day.

I'm not sure what I was thinking... but I've sure set myself up for some crazy weeks ahead. Not sure if I'll renew the trainer once my year concludes, I think I'll wait and see how much I love or hate CrossFit after the Challenge is over at the End of March.

On top of this insane workout schedule I have a new diet plan that goes along with the CrossFit Challenge that I have to adhere to. So with my diabetes it'll be interesting to see how I can make the meals work and still have level blood sugars... But I think I can do it, Having grown more familiar with my body and how it reacts to food I've gotten better at spotting how to deal with low or high levels as they hit me.

Here's a pic from today's work out; the "Official" first work out of the challenge.



Calling it the first work out, when the work out on Saturday was supposed to be an "Orientation" is mean. Because to be honest... Saturday's work out killed - call it more of a hazing. I have been sore all weekend - the only relief I've really felt has come from working out again today and doing lots of foam rolling. (Heaven Bless my Burnt Tootsie Roll!)

These ladies are super nice, and everyone is very supportive. I can see why the community aspect of CrossFit is so appealing. It's nice to have company when you're miserable... then you know they can understand you're pain... really understand it ;) Misery does indeed love company. Haha!

So... Crossfit Summery of Day1:

Today's work out was 2 parts... the first was a Workout of the Day: it consisted of sumo barbell deadlifts followed by hip bridges. I lifted 95lbs total on those barbell lifts! Crazy Sauce!

Second Part was three sets of 6 minute high intensity workouts, with two movements in each repeated 3 times. Then we'd get a 2 minute break between these intense 6 minutes.

First we did Rows and Mountain Climbers (Do not like these, they hurt my knees).
Second we did Russian KettleBell Thrusts, and sit-ups.
Last we ran 200 meters, and then did Russian twists.

After all this, I was pooped... but so stinking grateful that we didn't do any squats because my legs are  still sore from "Orientation."

Overall, I'm feeling good right now post work out. Feeling very proud of myself and glad that I'm trying this new and challenging experience. Who knows what I can accomplish, but I can't wait to find out! :)

Day#339: Goodbyes Again

Today I had my last training session with my trainer Thomas. Dang it sucks to see another trainer go, just when I felt like I was getting used to his style of training. What's worse is that I don't even know who my trainer will be after this... (bites nails nervously to nubbins).

83 Days till WDW2.0

I'm almost at my year mark since I started working out, and in that time I've now had 3 trainers. Each of them have taught me a lot and added something new to my work out experience that I'm grateful I've had. I've got my fingers crossed that whoever is next really helps me amp up my game and pushes me even further just like Thomas did, and Tyler before him, and Kendra before that.

Here's Thomas and I with a post workout #sweatyselfie - I really am going to miss this guy!



How appropriate that we should make muscles for the camera (his idea by the way), since he's the trainer that I feel I've gained the most muscle with. I mean WOW! That gun show is impressive (shifty eyes...) lol.



I suppose I'll just have to move on somehow ;) Here's to the next leg of the journey.

Day#333: Set Backs Suck

Today i'm trying to do my best to accept it. I've gotten to a wall... a huge set back in my progress and I'm not very happy with myself for it. Queue the guilt montage and tears. That's right... I to am human.

89 days till WDW2.0

So It's been coming on for awhile now, but it's hold seems to be iron tight now. My weight loss progress has stalled; or to put it more realistically... I've gained a depressing step back of 5 lbs. Somewhere between my sickly holidays and my getting back in the swing of it couple of weeks something happened... I stopped making progress.

Practically flat lined :(

Plateaus happen according to more educated people than me. But that doesn't stop them from being discouraging. In fact it makes every ounce creeping in the wrong direction a massive bummer. I'm not sure entirely why things have stopped moving. I've been keeping up with my good diet (aside from the occasional error), and working out has actually increased since the new year started.

According to the many things i've been googling the last few weeks... there are many reasons that these things happen:

I could just be no longer eating at the calorie intake that is appropriate for my weight loss to continue. This sucks, because I already have a hard time with where my limit is currently, adjusting it with taking my diabetes into account is something that worries me since keeping a even blood sugar level can be tricky, it can easily sway one way or the other and make me feel sick.

It could be that I've gotten too much in a rut with my work out. My body is used to the work outs that I've been doing. Although this is good for building muscles in specific areas, this does not keep my body challenged and hence the weight isn't coming off the same way as it was. Thomas is a good trainer and a great Guy, and I do like seeing defined muscle... but I don't know if I like that as much as seeing the numbers go down on the scale.

It could be related to my thyroid issues. I honestly don't know here... I feel so uninformed about how my low thyroid actually is hindering my ability to loose weight, but now that I've gotten my blood sugars under control I would have expected to actually feel a difference in the meds I'm taking. Sigh... Guess It's time to talk to my doctor again.

I suppose it all can't be rainbows and weight loss, got to get kicked down to reality every so often to appreciate things.

Now I just have to decide what things I'm going to alter about my current lifestyle to get back to that wanted weight loss... I'm starting with diet.

#sweatyselfie #workingoutonafriday



Got to keep doing my best and forgetting the rest, I can only control so much right? Here's hoping that I can get back to where I was and on to where I want to be. :)

Day#330: Just my luck... Again.

It's a Tuesday, a tricksier Tuesday to be exact, because fate has dealt me an odd one that's for sure. Try as I might I keep seeming to scare off these unsuspecting trainers... In my own defense I did tell Thomas when he started that I was cursed.

92 Days till WDW2.0

Yup, Today Thomas informed me that Vasa was relocating him, just like the did with Tyler. He's off to be a whole bunch of other people's new trainer and I have to get a new one. :( major frown face here!

I'm starting to get annoyed... I mean come on? that's 4 trainers in the corse of a year? That's ridiculous! RIDICULOUS I SAY!

Sigh...

I guess I can't keep them around, It sucks but there it is. With how much I'm paying to have a personal trainer you would think they would make an effort to keep you with the same one right? Apparently not. I'm incredibly miffed.

I'll do my best to take it in stride and hope that a new trainer is a blessing in disguise. I was starting to feel frustrated with my lack of progress. So... maybe history will prove this to be a stroke of good luck. but for now my history book has this event recorded as a miss.

#sweatyselfie



In other news... I went to see my grandma this last Sunday and caught a glimpse of something amazing and magical! Behold!





THIS RADICAL SWEATER! Oh yeah! Check it out in all it's 90's glory! seriously the coolest sweater ever with it's lurid colors and outrageous print... Not to mention the wonderful built in turtle neck this sweater has it all!

I think I'm like 7ish in these pictures... I was so stinking cute once!

I'm thinking of re-creating it as a tee shirt design. I could rock that again in 2017 right? lol!