princessarthur

you’ve been haunting the recesses of my very full mind these last few months.  What has kept me away…..the end of riding season, becoming more active in our church, my husband losing his job, I lost my job, job hunting, my hubby getting on the insulin pump and all the training that went with that, and sicknesses.  And the worse part is….the sickness for myself and my husband stems from not being healthy.  In truth any excuse it seems like.  My body seems to be fighting me since my illnesses last October and resulting surgery in April.  My female cycle is a mess and it seems to have taken my mind and spirit with it into a spiraling maze of confusion, exhaustion, and a complete lack of motivation.  Perhaps the accountability of my dear BS will get me charged and moving again?  I pray and hope it does.  As I start back on my journey, I am probably heavier than ever and here it is day 32 and I feel all the symptoms and yet wait.  I attempt efforts at health….I pack a healthy lunch and my gym clothes are in the car but I never seem to make that turn off to the gym.  Maybe it will be today?

Thank you Marc for your blog today on weight lifting.  Today is normally my “strictly strength” class which is a resistance training class but only uses light dumbbells, a weighted bar, and resistance bands.  So I got to the gym early tonight and hoped on the treadmill for a quick 15 minutes.  While I was walking (I didn’t have my mp3 player) I remembered Marc’s blog and was inspired.  Since getting back at it I’ve avoided the weights and focused on cardio. So I hit the weights and it felt awesome!!!!  I did a full body workout of 2 sets of 12-15 reps…..inc chest press, flys, seated rows, leg press, leg extension, seated leg curl, calf raises, abductor and aductor, torso twists, shoulder press, lat raises, rear delt, tricep extensions, bicep curls.  I finished it up with another 15 min on the treadmill.  Amazing what a change can do to help my mood.  Came home and made a salad of romaine, yellow tomato, avocado, and grilled chicken breast….yummy!  Overall a win win day!

I think my weekends are just destined to suck on the nutrition and exercise front.  Other than that the weekend was great.  Charity ride on Saturday had a huge turnout…..at least 150 motorcycles and we did blocking for most of the intersections which meant lots of speed.  This was great to help cool off after sitting still while all the bikes passed.  The day started at 7am and it was going on 7pm when we got home and we left long before the gig was over.  Only redemption was that I had premade dinner (chicken with mushrooms, tomato in a marinara sauce over pasta) to warm when we got home home so that we could skip the “hog”.  First half of Sunday was spent at church…..2 hour ministry class and church.  Lunch was a buffet…..no need to say anything else right? 

But here it is Monday and I’m already back to clean eating and logged 1 hr turbo jam……can I truly make any progress like this?  TOM is sulking in the recesses ready to spring and I’m craving chocolate and salt…..going to be a long week!!!

So I get to the gym, change and head to studio 1 for my kickbox jam class.  I love my Friday workouts….look forward to it the most because the gym is almost empty.  So I get to studio 1 and there is a sign on the door apologizing for the inconvenience but class is cancelled.  I just starred at the sign numb.  So do I go home?  Yay, go spend the evening with my hubby.  But that little voice in the back of my head says there is a zumba class at the same time in studio 2.  And I remember Nancy speaking so passionately about her zumba classes…….so I walked over to studio 2 and an hour later walked out dripping with sweat.  So thank you to Nancy and the little voice in my head.  I got my workout in and a new experience under my belt. 

So it is 5 days till TOM and frankly for me it is not TOM that rips me it is PMS.  Nearly as soon as I rolled out of bed this morning I knew I’d be riding my broom and I don’t like that me.  I don’t like that I can’t control that need to bite the heads off of nails or to want and hurt my husband.  So when I stepped on the scale and it didn’t budge I could feel the brew commence to bubbling.  I wanted it to be 198 so I could see a 20 lb loss.  My ankles and hands are tight with water….did I really expect the scale would be down?  I’m freaking lucky it wasn’t up even though the week so far has been stellar with lots of exercise and clean eating. 

Busy weekend again….ride tomorrow proceeds to benefit a fellow ABATE member who needs a liver transplant, have homework to do for our ministry class before church on Sunday…..and somehow need to find time to clean, grocery shop, laundry.  Hoping I can get up and exercise before the ride tomorrow and am planning on taking my own roll for the hog roast, going to freeze a yogurt for breakfast, and have some cantaloupe……now to have the discipline to eat it and not whatever they’ll have that always smells so darn good.  What is it about grills and good smells? 

 Thank you to all my buddies who take the time to read my ramblings and post.  Your encouragement is appreciated and valued.  Have a wonderful weekend all!

Thank you for all the well wishes on the job interview and for liking my blog yesterday.  I’m uncertain as to how the interview went.  It was my first in nearly 13 years and I am beyond rusty.  I also spoke with his assistant (the gal I would be replacing) very briefly yesterday afternoon (she had no questions because she’d not talked to Jim since our mtg) and she said her or Jim would get back to me.  I’m hoping I didn’t put Jim off during our meeting…..he said he took pleasure in txting his trainer that he couldn’t make their session that morning and I replied that I’m my own trainer and still knocked out my workout.  Not that exact wording or nearly anywhere as condensing. Sometimes I just can’t help my mouth.  It hits my brain and is out my mouth before I know what happened.  My co-worker said I’m missing the sensor that most folks are born with.  Anyway, I sent the f/u thank you email but so far nothing.  So it is in God’s hands and what will be is His will. 

Been a great week for nutrition and exercise.  Somehow I’ve gotten my calories down to around 1200 which I thought was too insanely low but I’m not hungry so….  I think I’ve reached the point where I am “committed” to my workouts.  Tonight should be an Abate meeting but I told my hubby to go ahead without me that I’m going to the gym.  Also kicked up Billy this morning by adding hand weights to my taebo workout.  I love starting my days with Billy!!!

Is it ok to make your workouts that much of a priority?  To avoid making plans during the week cause you don’t want to miss one?  No one I know works out or even has a gym membership so I can’t combine social into my workouts.  Comments?  Suggestions? 

Let’s start with the UGLY….truth that is…..I get home from the gym last night and stripping off my soaking wet clothes while my husband and the kitties catch me up on their day.  Kerry says wow your belly is getting flatter before it used to make your belly button ring stick up.  I was horrified!

The bad/good is that I received my layoff notice nearly a year ago and October 9th is my last day.  I was referred by one of our sales folks for a possible job opening.  This is GOOD because it finally forced me to work on my resume.  I spoke with the VP I would be reporting to yesterday and we arranged to meet this morning at 7am at a local Starbucks.  This brought about potential for BAD……I had to shop for an outfit to wear for the interview after work when I normally would be taking my strictly strength class because if I waited until after class I couldn’t get a thing on my fat sweaty body…..BAD.  And then of course there is stepping into NY&Co and not being able to find a fat size in any of the cute clothes…..BAD.  But the sales gal was very helpful and pulled together some very cute business casual outfits for me to interview in….GOOD.  As I walked to the truck with my bags, my head was telling me I really needed to go home and hang everything up so it wouldn’t get wrinkled BAD but my heart was telling me I could still make the kickbox jam class at 7pm GOOD.  And I even had extra time to do a quick 15 min walk on the treadmill before class…..GOOD.

Now, I was only going to weigh in on Friday’s but for some reason…..like I needed to be depressed going to an interview……I stepped on the scale and it was down to 199.6.  I danced around the house hooting and hollering……GOOD…..Kerry and the kitties thought I’d lost it.  I get to Starbucks BAD (my normal quad venti toffee nut latte is loaded with nearly a days worth of calories) and get a plain black coffee GOOD.  I think the interview went well and I feel I would love it.  Waiting on a call from his assistant who I will be replacing and who would be training me to see if she approves. 

So all in all I am good and very thankful!  I even got that lovely stern warning about needing to consult a dr because I’m losing weight to quickly…….what does this silly machine know anyway?  I’m doing it honest and simple….calories in vs out. 

So I reported my weight lose to my team on Friday of 6 lbs only spiral out of control into a freefall of bad food choices and no exercise.  WTH?  Why do I do this to myself?  Yes, the weekend was insane…..charity ride, wedding, and birthday party is a little much for one weekend even I admit but why do I seem incapable of making wise choices when eating out?  Is the good time worth the feeling of guilt and the penance I will pay at the gym all this week?

During the week I am textbook….exercising twice a day and mostly clean eating.  My food for breakfast/lunch/snack….ff yogurt, 2% cottage cheese, nectarine, cantaloupe, romaine salad with red cabbage, carrot, celery and tomato, lean ham and lite mayo to have on one of those new peppridge farms flat rolls.  I keep a 32 ounce cup on my desk that I drink from all day (on my 2nd refill) and my two cups of coffee in the morning are black. 

Today and tomorrow we meet with Kerry’s dr for diabetic nutrition training…..carb counting, serving sizes, etc…..in preparation for the insulin pump.  I hope and pray that this will enable us to find a common center when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle though at biker events the pickings are very slim…..either burgers, hotdogs or some kind of bbq. 

Thanks to all my buddies who keep cheering me on!  I definitely need the encouragement…..now, if I could just strap one of you to the bike to follow me around on weekend : )

 Have a great week!

Wednesday at Strike class I was talking to Kristen (the instructor and former chubby person) about my frustration with the scale.  She recommended that I don’t weigh as often and that since I work it hard all week to pick Friday as my weigh day which is what she does.  And was she ever right….got on the scale this morning at 203.4 down from 208.8.  I was thrilled and my husband though happy for me said see I told you that you were looking slimmer.  I got a red star when I logged in my weight this morning and am happy to report 15 lbs in about 5 weeks.  Not too bad for this old broad!!!

Hope everyone elses week is going as great! 

Have a marvelous weekend and tks to all my buddies for their support!  You guys rock!!!

at 208.8 for the 2nd week……GRRRRR!  I’m trying not to get frustrated, looking at changes I made and changes I need to make.  This week I cut my starbucks syrup from my coffee saving 150 calories per day.  I’m back to exercising 2x per day M-F with a workout once or twice on the weekend.  I eat stellar all day at work because of  packing my breakfast and lunch.  I’m logging my exercise and nutrition and everything seems in line.  So patience and perserverence.  On the bright side my wonderful hubby told me last night as I stumbled in from the gym that he noticed at the dr appt my face looked slimmer….yay!

Sorry to all my buddies for not commenting more and being more supportive.  Been crazy busy and this entire month is going to be like that.  Charity rides scheduled for every weekend this month, a wedding this weekend, and local friends needing support.  So excuse me if I’m not on it as I’d like to be.

To catch everyone up……Monday’s session with Brian was good and I think we’re reaching the end of meeting with him.  Our communication has become much clearer and there is significantly less tension and disagreements.  No matter how much love, it has been difficult blending two very strong-willed, independent people.  So that is a big YAY!  Yesterday we met with Kerry’s endo dr about getting him on the insulin pump.  I liked what they had to say as taking this step means Kerry is really going to have to step up his game and take his diabetes seriously or the insurance company will stop paying for his supplies.  So while I headed off to the gym he called our insurance company and thank you God they will pay 100% for the pump….another big YAY!  Since I was out of work early and didn’t really have time to make it back I went to the gym early.  They had a 4:45 spin class I thought I’d try before the 5:45 strictly strength class.  My goal was just to make it through the 45 minutes.  I’m not strong enough to do all the standing and the instructor recommended that I stay in the “saddle” the whole class.  Anyone ever take a spin class?  Saddle is not what I’d call it.  It feels like about an inch wide piece of metal covered in barethread fabric.  It reminded me of that cartoon with the heavy lady in a big floral dress looking for her lost dog that is stuck in her butt crack……everyone know the one I mean?  Ok so right there hurts to high heavens today but I did make it the entire 45 minutes and even managed to stand up a couple times for a few brief seconds…..another big YAY! All in all everything is going well and is on track….except that darned scale.

And another super thing is my mom seems excited about getting healthy too.  I gave her copies of my BL dvds and told her all about this wonderful place.  She just signed up so if anyone is looking for an extra buddy her name is Sherry, 64, from OK.  She’s a super lady and needs our support as she starts out on her journey!

Sending a big hug and positive, healthy thoughts to out to all my buddies!