Grocery Shopping...

I went to the grocery store tonight to stock up for the week.  With all the workouts that I'm going to be doing now, I need to plan my meals way better than I have been.  I texted Mr. Muscles a few questions and he ended up just meeting me at the grocery store and shopping with me.  It was good to have him there with me to get advice on the things I should eat.  Of course, along with that comes his advice on the things I shouldn't eat! :) 

I made some yummy quiche tonight and have plenty of salad fixings.  I also bought some nuts and bananas for snacks during the day.  And some oatmeal for breakfast.  I have a hard time eating in the morning with my band, but I'm going to need the energy so I'm going to try out some oatmeal. 

And now it's 10pm.  I'm going to be one tired girl tomorrow since my alarm is set for 4:00am! :)

Measurements and such...

This morning Mr. Muscles took my measurements.  I started working out with him on May 30th, exactly 2 months ago today.  He measured 6 places; my bust, my waist, my abdomen, my hips, my right thigh and my right arm.  In the two months I've lost 15 inches...and 15 pounds.  I'm happy with that.  I wish it was more, but I have gained alot of muscle and that weighs alot...or so I'm told. 

We talked today about me upping my workouts.  I know...I feel like all I do now is workout!  But I'm going to do all of my training in the mornings at 5 (which he loves anyway because he says it's better for me) and then I'm going to do an additional hour of cardio in the evenings. 

I've lost a total of 45 pounds, which includes before surgery when I went on the liquid diet, and the 15 I lost immediately after surgery.  I'd love to lose another 30 more before Hawaii.  Considering that's 6 weeks from today, I need the extra workouts to lose more weight. 

After all the measuring and discussing what comes next, I walked 3.1 miles in 56 minutes.  I thought that was good, but not great.  I need to work on getting faster.  Then I did an hour of full body weights with Mr. Muscles.  And finally I worked about 30 minutes with King Kong on abs.  Just another typical Saturday at the gym!

It's hot...

It's hot outside, which means it's hot inside and therefore hot at the gym.  Tonight we switched up my workout and I lifted weights first.  Then I worked with Greg...who I think I'm going to nickname King Kong...on abs.  We did this ridiculous maneuver where I had my legs bent in front of me and he criss-crossed his legs over mine for stability.  I had an 8 pound ball in my arms and I twisted from side to side with the ball stretched out and then back with it over my head.  Then I had to lean backwards without letting my back touch the ground and come back up.  It worked my upper abs, my lower abs and my side abs.  It was a little out of control but kind of amazing!

By the time I was done with weights and abs, I was already crazy sweating and I hadn't done any cardio!  So I hopped on the treadmill and pounded out 2.5 miles before heading home for a nice salad. 

I weighed myself again today at work.  And the scale showed a loss again.  Thank goodness it's going down.  I was really worried at the beginning of the week.  But there was no reason for me to worry.  I just get in my head sometimes and forget there's alot more than just the number on the scale. 

Before my workout tonight I chatted with my friend in Chicago. I hadn't talked to him since before surgery so he asked how I was doing with my band and everything.  And I told him...I'm overwhelmed.  I never thought I would focus my whole life on food and exercise as much as I do now.  It is exhausting to constantly think about what I'm going to eat, what I'm currently eating and what comes next.  I definitely have moments where I question if this was the right decision and then I have moments that I'm just sure it was the right decision.  I'm guessing I'm not the only person who's had weight loss surgery with those kind of thoughts. 

Today is one of the days that I'm glad I had surgery.  I've lost 42 pounds, my clothes fit better, my favorite swimsuit is too big, and it got me back in the gym.  Things are good today. :)

Tuesday recap...

Again I woke up at 4am to workout with Mr. Muscles at 5:00.  I was on the elliptical for 40 minutes this morning and then did some intense arms.  By the end of our workout I was having a hard time lifting the 10 pound weights at all...and I certainly couldn't get them high! Then after I was exhausted, sweating like a crazy woman and beet red, Mr. Muscles walked me over to the treadmill, put it on an incline of 12, a speed of 3.8 and told me 10 minutes.  Uh...I'm sorry, but it was like I about to fall off the darn thing the entire time!  I held on with dear life for those 10 minutes and I wanted to give up more than once, but then I thought of Extreme Makeover from last night.

A gal named Krista had a few hard years with a daughter who has serious medical needs.  As she coped, she ate and when she was cast on the show she weighed 445 pounds.  Chris Powell was amazing for her and although she had some major setbacks during her 365 days, she was super successful.  And at her 9 month weigh in and training session, she was working on her internal motivation and started running full speed.  She still weighed more than me...but she was running!  At a 7.1 on the treadmill!

So when I hit the 7 minute mark on the treadmill on that incline of 12, I just thought of Krista and her running and realized that if she could do it, I could finish 3 more minutes.  And I did.  Go me. :)

Catchup...

I've had some serious workouts, some early mornings and a bad weigh in since I last posted.  First the workouts:

Friday morning I went to the gym at 5am again!  It was so long ago I don't even remember what I did.  How sad is that?  I do know that I came home and fell asleep for about 30 minutes because I sat down.  So now I know...after an early morning workout I just need to shower and go to work because sitting = sleeping.  Saturday morning I got up and had a killer workout! I did an hour of cardio...half on the bike and half on the elliptical.  I did almost an hour of arms with Mr. Muscles.  And then because I hadn't been tortured properly, I did 45 minutes of abs with Greg! Oh my! I need a new nickname for Greg...maybe Mr. Abs?  Because that's how I'm going to spend my time with him. 

Because I have a great aunt in the hospital, I decided that if I wanted to spend time with her in the evenings, I need to work out in the morning.  So this morning I was up and at em at 4am again! I decided to work the elliptical again.  It feels a little better on my knees.  Then we did legs for 45 minutes.  I did just 200 crunches since Mr. Abs wasn't there.  But as I was walking out, he was walking in and tried to talk me into coming back in and working out my abs with him.  I told him he was crazy! But that if he got there a little earlier tomorrow morning, I'd do abs with him.  I guess I'm a glutton for punishment! :)

Then when I got to work I decided to weigh myself.  And I've gained 4 pounds.  WTH??  Seriously?  I gained 4 pounds?  I've worked my butt off for the last two weeks and this is what I get in return?  So I texted Mr. Muscles that I weighed, I gained and I was very unhappy.  He instantly called me and asked me why in the world I would weigh myself after a workout?  I said...because it's Monday morning and I like to weigh on Monday's.  And he said no one should weigh themselves after a workout.  I didn't know that.  I guess muscles retain water after a weight training session.  And I had a few cocktails on Saturday night which will make me retain water also.  So he said I shouldn't have done it.  And tomorrow I'll weigh before my workout and see what the scale says. 

He said I shouldn't focus on the scale, but instead how I look, how I feel and how many inches I've lost.  So maybe when we take my measurements this week I'll feel better about my progress, but right now I'm pretty bummed. 

Early morning...

I guess if I have to wake up at 4am, at least I get to have a good time at the gym! :)  I got there right at 5am and did 40 minutes on the bike...aka 9.5 miles.  Then Mr. Muslces and I worked on my chest for 45 minutes.  Before we started I rubbed some BioFreeze on my shoulders because Mike said that would help...I'm kinda thinking no. 

I'm now at home with ice on my knees.  I know we didn't work lower body, but my knees can always use some ice. 

Then i'm off to work. Wish me luck that I don't fall asleep at my desk around 3pm! :)

Pooped...

I am so exhausted today! I haven't been feeling great today and was not looking forward to my workout tonight.  In fact, I was just sure that Mr. Muscles would yell at me at least once.  Surprisingly he didn't!  Of course, he pressured me to find out why I wasn't feeling well and when I said it's because I'm having a heavy period, he stopped being mad at me! HA!

We did all shoulders today and stayed off of my knees which was nice.  But as I sit here and type, it's hard to hold my arms up to laptop.  It's a good burn. :)  And I'm so grateful for Mr. Muscles because without him, I would not have workout out tonight. 

I didn't do a very good job of eating today.  I didn't eat healthy at lunch, I overate at dinner because I had dessert.  So now I'm going to bed and hoping that tomorrow will be a better day. 

Ouch...

This morning I was so sore that it hurt to stand after I had been sitting for more than 5 minutes.  Needless to say, I sent Mr. Muscles a text message today telling him that my thoughts of him were not very nice.  So I was hoping that we would do arms today because I was so sore...but No!  I started out with 300 abs while holding a 15 pound weight under my chin.  Good times.  And then I did legs.  Lots and lots of legs.  I was mad the whole time but now I'm home, I'm not sore anymore. 

Damn you Mr. Muscles for knowing what you're doing! HAHA!

I'm feeling pretty good about all of my workouts (despite the grumbling) and feeling pretty good about my eating.  Mr. Muscles and I discussed that later this week we are going to take some measurements.  I've been working out with him since May 30th, so this is the beginning of my 8th week.  He took measurements before I started so it will be interesting to see what I've lost so far, pounds and inches. :)

I don't go back to Dr. Hoehn until the first week of August and I can tell I'm ready for another fill.  I can eat what I want (within reason) which is good, but I'd like to lose weight a little faster.  So I'm excited for that to happen. 

And I've officially started my Hawaii countdown...54 days and counting before I'm on a plane! And I'm excited about the changes that are happening to my body and looking forward to strutting my stuff on the beach! HA!

Workout recap...

I am so sore! Last night I worked out with Mr. Muscles, working on arms.  We did triceps so much that I kinda wanted to cry!  Then this morning was 40 minutes on the treadmill and then all legs.  He worked and worked my legs until they were almost jello.  And then because he hadn't tortured me enough...I had to do 12 flights of stairs.  I called it 24 because one flight was up and down. 

On about flight 10 I told him that he was going to have to pay for my next knee surgery! There's a new trainer at the gym named Greg.  He's super nice and did my whole workout with me this morning.  And he said...you won't need knee surgery because you're getting the weight off and your knees will be in better shape!  He better be right.  But right now both of them are definitely achy!

I ate well for the last few days.  However, this morning after my workout my sugar did dip down a little bit.  It wasn't brutal and I happened to be in QT when it happened so I was able to get it right back up.  But after surgery, Dr. Hoehn had me stop my metformin because he said my sugars would be regulated with the smaller quantity of food I'm now eating.  And so far he's been right.  I haven't had a need for the metformin.   And hopefully today was just an anomaly because it was such a hard workout and I did it on just 4 hours of sleep. 

Tomorrow is my rest day and I'm going to need it after the last two workouts and a fun night out tonight for NKOTBSB.  :)

Good day...

I had a good day today.  An omelet for breakfast, part of a burrito bowl from Chipotle for lunch and a piece of Kashi pizza for dinner.  All yummy. 

And then I had a great workout tonight.  Some chest work, some arm work and an hour of cardio.  I didn't do any abs and that was fine by me! HA!

Because it was a good day...I don't have anything else to say! :)

Weight Loss...

I was so tired on Monday that I forgot to blog about my weight loss! On Monday I weighed and my grand total is now 40.8 pounds! WOO HOO!!! 9.2 pounds until 50?  I'm just so happy!

I had a nice workout yesterday.  Because my great aunt had surgery in the morning, I took the day off work and was able to work out at 11am.  What a great time to work out! I didn't have to wake up early and I still got all the energy benefits from a morning workout.  Of course, that energy wasn't really needed to spend the rest of the day in the hospital.  But at least my aunt is doing well.  If only I didn't have to work. :)

I enjoy Wednesday's; not having to workout.  It's also nice to have an evening free for whatever I want to do, like get my hair colored and a pedicure!  

Riding bikes and taking names...

Tonight I rode the bike at the gym for 17.6 miles! Holy CRAP! I'm exhausted but it went well.  My butt is sore. :)

I tried to eat a little more today.  I wasn't crazy successful, but it was better than other days.  I had some risotto for breakfast and some macaroni and cheese for lunch.  So although I was hungry for my workout, I at least had eaten something.  Then tonight I got home and made a salad with 4oz of salmon.  Yum!

I'd write more...but I'm just too tired.  An hour on the bike and an hour of weight training with Mr. Muscles was alot!

Weekend of exercise...

Friday morning I worked out with Mr. Muscles at 5am again! And this time I woke up at 3:58 to do it.  I ate a few bites of yogurt before my workout and I was proud of myself.  Unfortunately, Mr. Muscles wasn't. :(  It wasn't enough food.  It wasn't enough calories and I needed to eat after my cardio before weight training.  Darn It!

Friday afternoon I had about 3/4 cup of risotto for lunch with some chicken in it.  But then after work I went shopping and met up with some friends for a late movie.  I ended up shopping too long and didn't have time to get anything to eat for dinner.  The movie was over a little before midnight and on my drive home I was hungry.  But I didn't know what was better - to eat that late right before bed or not to eat.  So I chose not eating. 

Saturday morning I went to the gym and asked Mr. Muscles which was better.  And before I got my answer, I got another lecture! I think all he's done this week is scold me for not doing a good job. :(  And then he gave me his advice:  eat.  He said that late in the evening I should eat protein.  It will make my body work overnight and keep my metabolism up.  And then I told him why I asked...and how I'd barely eaten on Friday.  I should have just kept that to myself. 

So I made a conscious effort to eat on Saturday.  I had a protein drink after my workout.  I had a salad for lunch.  I had some delicious chicken for dinner.  Go me! :) And I walked alot outside.  I strolled along the Missouri river during the day and then walked around the Nelson Art Gallery in the evening. 

And then I just realized it's 5:50pm and all I've had to eat so far is a protein drink about 9am.  Darn It! I thought I was starting a new eating trend.  Tomorrow's a new day.  Tomorrow I will be more vigilant and eat better.  And I'm back to my workout schedule in the evenings.  Thank goodness - those mornings were brutal!

4:17am...

That's what time I woke up this morning to work out with Mr. Muscles.  I had a work thing again tonight and because I'm such a dedicated trainee, I worked out this morning.  Well, I thought I was dedicated.  But Mr. Muscles yelled at me this morning! :(  I got to the gym a few minutes before 5am and got on the bike for 30 minutes.  And when I got off the bike is when he yelled at me...about two things!

I walked over to him and he shook his finger at me and said - I don't ever want to see you just cruise on that bike ever again! Now, I rode 7.5 miles in those 30 minutes, but I didn't ride hard enough.  I tried to give the excuse of being tired and he didn't care.  He grabbed my wrist and my heart rate wasn't even 100 so I couldn't even lie. :) 

Then he asked me what I ate before I came.  And of course the answer was nothing.  I mean, who eats at 4:30am?  So I got another lecture about how you have to eat calories to burn fat and how ridiculous it was I was trying to workout on an empty stomach.  What he doesn't know is that I just about always work out on an empty stomach! 

Nonetheless...tomorrow morning I'll be working out at 5am again.  And I'll get up a little earlier and eat something.  And I'll ride my heart out on the bike!  Because I don't like being yelled at.  And I certainly don't like being yelled at before the sun is up! :)

Food...

I don't do a very good job of eating.  I'm hungry all the time.  I don't eat enough.  I don't eat often enough.  And I can tell.  I should be losing more weight and I shouldn't be as tired as I am.  I'm at work almost asleep at 6:15pm because I have only had two chicken strips from ChickFilA today.  All day.  And about a half of a Diet Dr. Pepper. 

I need to plan meals better.  I can no longer be up in the air about what I'm going to eat and when I'm going to eat.  I was worried before I had the surgery that I would struggle eating certain foods.  I had no idea I would struggle eating in general.  I've been on diets before where it takes so much concentration to eat healthy that it is no longer fun.  But I've still eaten.  I've never just stopped eating. 

So for all of you out there that I see on a regular basis, please help me eat.  I've been working out on an empty stomach, I've been going to sleep on an empty stomach and I'm not eating in the mornings.  I am often asked how I'm doing and I say I'm great, but tonight I just needed to be honest. 

I feel better putting it out there; asking for help.  I have the exercise part down, now I just need to get my eating stable. 

A good day...

After a nice weekend enjoying some sun and friends and all around merriment, going back to work wasn't a fun concept.  But my day was good!  And tonight Mr. Muscles decided I needed a super hard workout because I took yesterday off.  I tried to tell him that I rode my bike yesterday so that counts as some nice cardio, but he didn't care! So we did close to an hour and half of training tonight. 

Arms, legs and an insane amount of abs! But I came home, made a salad and already my muscles are calming down and I'm feeling better again.

I decided to weigh myself this morning.  I had such a good weigh in last Monday that I thought...what the heck?!  So I did...and literally didn't lose an ounce.  I weigh the exact same as I did last Monday.  Sure - it's great I didn't gain.  But it would have been nice if I would have shown a loss.  Oh well.  It's not ruining my good day. :)

Happy Holiday Weekend...

What a great holiday weekend I've had! My Friday night workout was great.  My Saturday morning workout was even better.  Mr. Muscles complimented me on my strength and my muscle recovery after a hard workout.  Sunday was my day off.  And this morning I took my bike out and rode a few miles.  I can do 10 miles on the bike at the gym and not feel like dying...I did 3.2 miles on the road today and wanted to collapse! 

Look at that...I've finally decided to post a picture! :)

Because there's been a lot of eating out, I was a little worried.  But I'm still free from issues.  I even had a few bites of rice on Saturday at the yummy Mexican restaurant we tried.  I am missing bread this weekend, but I'd rather miss it and lose weight. 

This coming week I have a few work things in the evenings and a comedy show on Friday night so instead of missing my workouts, I'll be at the gym at 5:30am!  I've NEVER been a morning person so we'll see how I do.  Mr. Muscles suggested 5am but I said No No No! HA!