I had an appointment today at the doctor's to check out my knee. It has been hurting me for a while now when I go down or up stairs, walk up a hill, or put all of my weight on it. Walking normally is fine, but if I bend it too much or do something like stationary biking, it starts to hurt. So I got an x-ray done. I have a very small tear in my ACL. Fortunately at the moment I do not need surgery. However if I do not take it easy and let it heal, I will. She recommended that I not do anything high impact such as jogging or running, no high intensity biking (but light biking with low resistance is okay). I can still walk on the treadmill and lift my weights so it is not going to stop me from going to the gym, I just have to be careful with what I do with it.
Yesterday I had set a goal for myself of:
5 miles on the bike
1 mile on the treadmill
30 reps each on the weight machines
I did not completely make my goal but came pretty close. I ended up with:
4.15 miles on the bike
.6 miles on the treadmill
However with the weights, I did 30 reps each but on every single machine bumped up the weight by at least one set (ex normally do 15lbs, did 30 instead). There is one machine where you grab the handles above your head and pull the weights down...I like that one. I managed to do 60 pounds on that one. Did 80 on the leg press, 30 on the leg curls, 45 on the rowing, 30 on one where you push the handles away from you, 30 on both tricep machines, 30 on another upper body one, and 75 on an ab machine. All in all a lot heavier lifting than I usually do and I was sweating, but it felt good. A little sore this morning, but nothing too bad.
I wasn't planning on going to the gym today, but became so frustrated with things that it was necessary to go on lunch. I did 3.1 miles on the bike and half a mile on the treadmill at 3.0 mph. I didn't do the weights because I know the muscles need to rest.
Tomorrow I am setting a goal of:
4 miles on the bike (on easy resistance)
.5 miles on the treadmill
30 reps each on the weight machines
.5 miles on the treadmill to end things
I like being able to go to the gym after I drop Cody off with Steve because I don't feel as rushed to get things done and can take my time and really get a good workout in.
So that is a long-winded account of the last couple of days!
I am going to be starting to take photos soon of myself so that I can do before and after photos as I feel like I am losing some inches at this point but since I am not losing weight I can't really tell.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Long Weekend and No Workout?
It has been a long weekend but I haven't gone to workout yet. I feel like I am slacking. I didn't get to go on Friday or yesterday and do not think that I will have time to go today either. I may go when I am done with the charity event that I am photographing tonight, but I will be leaving there around 10 and need to get to bed to wake up early tomorrow morning for work. At least Cody will be with Steve tomorrow night so I can get out and workout after he leaves. I know that my muscles need to rest as I have been doing a lot of work lately on them, but I feel like if I take a rest I am going to gain weight in between my working out time even though I know that is not true.
I am setting my goal for tomorrow as follows:
5 miles on the bike
30 reps each on the weight machines
1 mile on the treadmill
We will see how it goes I guess!
I have still been eating well so at least I have that going. I was offered a dinner of Chinese food the other night but declined. Yesterday I went out to lunch with my father to a place that had some amazing looking gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches but got a salad instead (which was amazingly good as well). Last night I limited myself to one Angry Orchard so that I wouldn't have a bunch of calories. Today I am going to be at a bar all night for the charity event but am going to be really good and have one or two drinks and that it is. Glad I don't have the money to drink either!!
I am setting my goal for tomorrow as follows:
5 miles on the bike
30 reps each on the weight machines
1 mile on the treadmill
We will see how it goes I guess!
I have still been eating well so at least I have that going. I was offered a dinner of Chinese food the other night but declined. Yesterday I went out to lunch with my father to a place that had some amazing looking gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches but got a salad instead (which was amazingly good as well). Last night I limited myself to one Angry Orchard so that I wouldn't have a bunch of calories. Today I am going to be at a bar all night for the charity event but am going to be really good and have one or two drinks and that it is. Glad I don't have the money to drink either!!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
That is the Smell of Determination
I have gone to the gym every day this week. I didn't really set goals until today. Last night I did not feel like going to the gym at all but ended up doing a really great workout.
Today my goal was to do:
3 miles on the stationary bike
1 mile on the treadmill
30 reps each on all 10 weight machines
So did I do it?
Stationary bike:
Today my goal was to do:
3 miles on the stationary bike
1 mile on the treadmill
30 reps each on all 10 weight machines
So did I do it?
Stationary bike:
GOAL ACHIEVED!!!
Treadmill: (I did a little before the weights and the rest after)
GOAL ACHIEVED!!!
Weight Machines:
GOAL ACHIEVED!!!
Yep!! I did it!! Even went over by a small amount. I feel good! My knee was KILLING me on the bike but I pushed through and it was fine through the rest of the workout. I am now a hot sweaty mess but I did it and I am proud of that.
I hopped on the scale this morning and was really frustrated to see that I had gained 4 pounds in the last 2 days. Now normally that would make me want to quit all together, but not this time. I am still going to the gym. I am still eating right. I have never lifted weights before, so I know that I am building muscle (I can tell especially in my biceps) and I know that this is a lengthy process and it's not going to just melt off as soon as I start working out.
So onward and upward!
Saturday, September 28, 2013
And Yet Again, Here Goes Nothing
Here I am again. Back down the same road that I have tried to go down many many times before. Every time I have taken a detour and then fallen completely off track or given up. I need to stay motivated, I need to stay determined. I need to do this.
My renewed motivation came last Sunday when a friend invited me to come workout at the gym with her. She showed me her weight/cardio routine. It was fun and it was nice having someone to workout with. The next day I decided to rejoin Planet Fitness. I went to the gym Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I have lost 6 pounds through the week.
The hardest part is getting to the gym for a full hour workout. I can go Monday and Wednesday night, but then other than that can only go every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday since I have Cody all the other days. I have however made up for that by going to the gym on my lunch break from work and doing the 30 minute express workout which incorporates all of the weight machines that I would have used normally and includes a little cardio too. If I have time after that I will hop on the treadmill for ten to fifteen minutes at a 3mph pace or higher.
I feel good when I am done at the gym, but after the first week is usually the point where I start making excuses as to why I can't go and then I end up donating $10 a month to Planet Fitness. I am hoping that after this first week this will not be the case. I am ready to go back to the gym but am scared that since I cannot go today or tomorrow come Monday I will be like, nahh. I am not in the mood. I am going to try and avoid that at all costs, but unfortunately that is the way that I usually swing.
I feel like this time may be better (I know I say this all the time), but I am not on an up and down emotional roller coaster. I have gotten rid of someone in my life who was creating too much drama and was sucking the life out of me and I feel so much better, like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I am actually happy, which is something that I have not been in a long long time. I have been getting out with different friends, doing more things for myself, and taking time for me to work on things. I have been going through my house little by little trying to get it spotless so I can have get togethers at the house. I miss beer pong nights!
Exercise was not the only part of this that I needed to work on, I definitely needed a change in the way I eat. I went to the grocery store the other day and the worst things that I bought was a fat-free angel food cake. Other than that I got lettuce, salad fixings, watermelon, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, bananas, apple slices, peanut butter, cornflakes (instead of sugary cereals), cinnamon (which is a great metabolism booster), hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, and some greek yogurt.
I got rid of all junk food in my house. No more soda, no ice cream, nothing. The only bad thing that I have kept is my alcohol (yup, not throwing that away. Moderation right?).
I have been tracking all of my food intake with two different apps on my phone. One of the apps is the Lose It! app which is something that we are using for a weight loss challenge at work right now. The other one is called Noom which I am finding to be very useful. It uses a "coach" and gives you little challenges to do every day. It tracks your nutrition and tells you where you should cut certain foods out. It also connects with an app called Cardio Trainer which maps walks/runs and lets you know how many calories have been burned.
I am taking my weight loss goal step by step. Right now my goal is to be down 15 pounds by November 2nd which is when my dad and I are going on a day trip to NYC. After that I am taking it 10 pounds at a time so it doesn't seem to be such a big goal.
So here we go again. Fingers crossed.
My renewed motivation came last Sunday when a friend invited me to come workout at the gym with her. She showed me her weight/cardio routine. It was fun and it was nice having someone to workout with. The next day I decided to rejoin Planet Fitness. I went to the gym Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I have lost 6 pounds through the week.
The hardest part is getting to the gym for a full hour workout. I can go Monday and Wednesday night, but then other than that can only go every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday since I have Cody all the other days. I have however made up for that by going to the gym on my lunch break from work and doing the 30 minute express workout which incorporates all of the weight machines that I would have used normally and includes a little cardio too. If I have time after that I will hop on the treadmill for ten to fifteen minutes at a 3mph pace or higher.
I feel good when I am done at the gym, but after the first week is usually the point where I start making excuses as to why I can't go and then I end up donating $10 a month to Planet Fitness. I am hoping that after this first week this will not be the case. I am ready to go back to the gym but am scared that since I cannot go today or tomorrow come Monday I will be like, nahh. I am not in the mood. I am going to try and avoid that at all costs, but unfortunately that is the way that I usually swing.
I feel like this time may be better (I know I say this all the time), but I am not on an up and down emotional roller coaster. I have gotten rid of someone in my life who was creating too much drama and was sucking the life out of me and I feel so much better, like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I am actually happy, which is something that I have not been in a long long time. I have been getting out with different friends, doing more things for myself, and taking time for me to work on things. I have been going through my house little by little trying to get it spotless so I can have get togethers at the house. I miss beer pong nights!
Exercise was not the only part of this that I needed to work on, I definitely needed a change in the way I eat. I went to the grocery store the other day and the worst things that I bought was a fat-free angel food cake. Other than that I got lettuce, salad fixings, watermelon, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, bananas, apple slices, peanut butter, cornflakes (instead of sugary cereals), cinnamon (which is a great metabolism booster), hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, and some greek yogurt.
I got rid of all junk food in my house. No more soda, no ice cream, nothing. The only bad thing that I have kept is my alcohol (yup, not throwing that away. Moderation right?).
I have been tracking all of my food intake with two different apps on my phone. One of the apps is the Lose It! app which is something that we are using for a weight loss challenge at work right now. The other one is called Noom which I am finding to be very useful. It uses a "coach" and gives you little challenges to do every day. It tracks your nutrition and tells you where you should cut certain foods out. It also connects with an app called Cardio Trainer which maps walks/runs and lets you know how many calories have been burned.
I am taking my weight loss goal step by step. Right now my goal is to be down 15 pounds by November 2nd which is when my dad and I are going on a day trip to NYC. After that I am taking it 10 pounds at a time so it doesn't seem to be such a big goal.
So here we go again. Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Why are you so damn moody all the time???
PCOS, or PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome. It is a bitch of a disease. Just a few of the symptoms include:
Acne
Sudden weight gain
Moodiness
Irritability
Impossible weight loss
Erratic insulin production levels
Erratic periods or lack of period
Hair growing where it shouldn't be
Hair falling out from where it should be
Cramping
Hiatal hernias
Heartburn
Infertility
There are more but this is just a portion of the symptoms. Sounds fun doesn't it?
Not everyone who has PCOS has all of these symptoms. In fact, some don't have cysts on their ovaries as the name would imply. (The syndrome name is currently under review for this reason)
One of the main issues with PCOS is a hormone imbalance. This is the source of the acne, weight gain, hair growth, and erratic periods.
There is no cure or even solid treatment for this disease. Some do well being on birth control as the hormones are able to be regulated. Some are put on Metformin, which helps keep their blood sugar and insulin levels even and can sometimes help to lose weight. But if you can't take either of those like I can't, what else is there? They give you a list of foods that you should stay away from when you have PCOS, but the list of things that are okay to eat seems to grow shorter and shorter every day. No carbs, no processed flour or sugar, no gluten, no sweetener, no dairy. What is left? That's right, not
much.
I was diagnosed with PCOS about three years ago after a cyst on my ovary burst. Ay treatment I have gone through has been unsuccessful in helping any of the symptoms. I have had most of the symptoms I have now since I was a teen, but they finally just figured hit what the cause of it all was.
So how can I get better if there is no treatment plan out there? Doctors and the public need to be better educated on this disease so that hopefully someday there will be a cure or at least a treatment plan for people like me, but who knows.
PCOS is a big pat of the reason I am a fat girl in a skinny world.
More to come. It is time to educate.
Acne
Sudden weight gain
Moodiness
Irritability
Impossible weight loss
Erratic insulin production levels
Erratic periods or lack of period
Hair growing where it shouldn't be
Hair falling out from where it should be
Cramping
Hiatal hernias
Heartburn
Infertility
There are more but this is just a portion of the symptoms. Sounds fun doesn't it?
Not everyone who has PCOS has all of these symptoms. In fact, some don't have cysts on their ovaries as the name would imply. (The syndrome name is currently under review for this reason)
One of the main issues with PCOS is a hormone imbalance. This is the source of the acne, weight gain, hair growth, and erratic periods.
There is no cure or even solid treatment for this disease. Some do well being on birth control as the hormones are able to be regulated. Some are put on Metformin, which helps keep their blood sugar and insulin levels even and can sometimes help to lose weight. But if you can't take either of those like I can't, what else is there? They give you a list of foods that you should stay away from when you have PCOS, but the list of things that are okay to eat seems to grow shorter and shorter every day. No carbs, no processed flour or sugar, no gluten, no sweetener, no dairy. What is left? That's right, not
much.
I was diagnosed with PCOS about three years ago after a cyst on my ovary burst. Ay treatment I have gone through has been unsuccessful in helping any of the symptoms. I have had most of the symptoms I have now since I was a teen, but they finally just figured hit what the cause of it all was.
So how can I get better if there is no treatment plan out there? Doctors and the public need to be better educated on this disease so that hopefully someday there will be a cure or at least a treatment plan for people like me, but who knows.
PCOS is a big pat of the reason I am a fat girl in a skinny world.
More to come. It is time to educate.
I'm baaaaaaaack
After being away for a while, I am back. This time I am trying to make some money off of this blog. Lol. I have signed up for some pay per post sites in hopes that I can generate at least a little cash for doing this, and who knows, maybe help some people along the way.
With that said, I must post this sentence: a quaff swims like a trash can
What does it mean? It means that I own this blog man! Lol
So, lately I have been down because I fell off the wagon. Again. I quit Weight Watchers because it was too expensive and I have the tools to count points on my own. I was doing really well, but then I just stopped counting points because even though I had been following the program the way I was supposed to, I gained every pound back that I had lost. I was discouraged and pissed off, so I quit. However, for some mysterious reason, the weight is gone again. I chalk it up to the PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), because your weight can be so up and down with it and it makes it very hard to lose weight when you are trying.
I am not motivated enough in the winter to get out and exercise. It's just too damn cold. So I have been able to keep myself somewhat active in the house by doing DDP Yoga. It has definitely helped my back pain, and feels pretty good after, not like I just did an intense workout. I can't wait until it is warm out so that I can start walking Cody to and from school again because that adds up to 3 miles per day which I am sure would help!
So I guess that is my update for now, but I think I am going to start gearing this blog not so much towards my weight loss trials and failures, but towards educating people on PCOS, what it is and what it means. Not many people know about it, but it affects many women and messes our bodies up so badly.
Until then, adios.
With that said, I must post this sentence: a quaff swims like a trash can
What does it mean? It means that I own this blog man! Lol
So, lately I have been down because I fell off the wagon. Again. I quit Weight Watchers because it was too expensive and I have the tools to count points on my own. I was doing really well, but then I just stopped counting points because even though I had been following the program the way I was supposed to, I gained every pound back that I had lost. I was discouraged and pissed off, so I quit. However, for some mysterious reason, the weight is gone again. I chalk it up to the PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), because your weight can be so up and down with it and it makes it very hard to lose weight when you are trying.
I am not motivated enough in the winter to get out and exercise. It's just too damn cold. So I have been able to keep myself somewhat active in the house by doing DDP Yoga. It has definitely helped my back pain, and feels pretty good after, not like I just did an intense workout. I can't wait until it is warm out so that I can start walking Cody to and from school again because that adds up to 3 miles per day which I am sure would help!
So I guess that is my update for now, but I think I am going to start gearing this blog not so much towards my weight loss trials and failures, but towards educating people on PCOS, what it is and what it means. Not many people know about it, but it affects many women and messes our bodies up so badly.
Until then, adios.
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