Last night I started training again with Paul. I was nervous, but all in all it wasn't that bad! This week we are starting back with only 30 minute sessions and then next week I will move to one hour sessions again. We focused on lower body and started off the fun with leg press. FYI- I still don't enjoy it! We then moved on and I got reacquainted with the stairs. I remember my first experience a year ago with the stairs...not pretty. I could not run up the stairs, it took everything I had to walk up and down them as I grasped the rail because I was not only out of shape but had zero balance in my overweight body. While I still don't look incredibly graceful I am running up and down the stairs and not touching the rails. Don't get me wrong...still huffing and puffing when I finish! We continued on with wall squats and for the grand finale we went to the middle of the gym where I completed 3 sets of 24 lunges....and I didn't collapse! And my 30 minutes was complete!
My goal is to be in the gym everyday the contestants are. In order to pull this off I am going to have to take Charlie back to the gym. Let's just our last experience at the gym was less than enjoyable. He pooped on Dave, then cried the entire time I worked out...I am hoping that time has given him more courage. If not, I am in trouble!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Day 1 for the New Contestants!
I couldn't help but think about the new contestants this weekend. They officially start their 12 weeks of training today! I think I am nervous for them! I just remember so vividly this day last year for me...
I was so nervous, and anxious I thought I was going to be sick! Haha! I had never really worked out before. I was scared of the gym, scared of personal trainers, nervous I would make a fool out of myself, nervous I would let my friends and family down, just all in all...very anxious about the challenge that was in front of me!!!
Wow was it all worth it. I am starting my training again with Paul this evening as well. I am determined to get down to my goal weight.Something I have wanted to do for about 5 years. I lost 4 pounds last week!
Today, this year, I am feeling confident, I am feeling motivated, and I am excited for my challenge ahead. Ok...I am still a little nervous about the wrath of Paul...but at least I know I will survive!!!
I wanted to reflect on this day last year just to explain how far I have come:
Last year on Feb. 9th 2009 I walked into Aggieland Fitness, weighing 220 pounds, depressed, ashamed, scared to death, for my first workout in the Marethouse Fitness Challenge. Paul was very nice (this was before he got comfortable enough to tell me I ran like a duck), he took my measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, etc...and then we headed out to the gym.
(this is from my blog on the first day of my fitness challenge last year:
Paul was very friendly, and kind, he didn't make me feel uncomfortable at all He explained we were going to warm-up on the treadmill and then we would be working on my legs today. Little did Paul know he had A LOT of work to do!!! I was already winded after my short warm up but trying to hide it from my new fit friend...he lead me over to the leg extensions. I did several sets with ease (or so Paul thought... :) ) he seemed impressed and that made me happy. He was very motivating and positive. On to our next exercise....on a roll, I felt confidence seeping through my veins. He lead me to the middle of the gym (surrounded by what felt like millions of people staring at me!) and he told me that we were going to attempt lunges, 12 down and 12 back. He demonstrated them for me and feeling like a fitness queen already with my new found confidence, I smiled and began lunging.....8 down...really hurting, but all the while smiling....Paul said lets turn around and do 8 back (I guess my smile wasn't fooling him, he could see me sweating and struggling!) I began my journey back, after my 2nd lunge I collapsed! That's right- fell to the floor, legs did not work, in front of the whole gym. I quickly tried to jump up, for one, because I was so embarrassed and for two, because out of the corner of my eye I could see the head trainer running towards me in a panic. Paul grabbed my arms to help me up.....BAM, collapsed again! I couldn't stand, I couldn't get my legs to work! I was mortified....all the while still smiling! I finally was able to get on my feet. Poor, sweet Paul was pale and assured me that I was still doing well. We continued to attempt a few more exercises and at the end of my first hour, I realized this was not going to be easy. In fact, it might be the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
Last year I collapsed on my 8th lunge...I was so out of shape and unhealthy I was exhausted after the warm up. I still have a long way to go, but it is so nice to reflect on how far I have come. Don't get me wrong, tomorrow I will probably be crying because of how much I hurt...but at least I know that I will not collapse...and I will survive...eventually!
Good Luck to all of the new 6 today! I am pulling for you, supporting you, and so proud that you are taking this first step to change your life!
I was so nervous, and anxious I thought I was going to be sick! Haha! I had never really worked out before. I was scared of the gym, scared of personal trainers, nervous I would make a fool out of myself, nervous I would let my friends and family down, just all in all...very anxious about the challenge that was in front of me!!!
Wow was it all worth it. I am starting my training again with Paul this evening as well. I am determined to get down to my goal weight.Something I have wanted to do for about 5 years. I lost 4 pounds last week!
Today, this year, I am feeling confident, I am feeling motivated, and I am excited for my challenge ahead. Ok...I am still a little nervous about the wrath of Paul...but at least I know I will survive!!!
I wanted to reflect on this day last year just to explain how far I have come:
Last year on Feb. 9th 2009 I walked into Aggieland Fitness, weighing 220 pounds, depressed, ashamed, scared to death, for my first workout in the Marethouse Fitness Challenge. Paul was very nice (this was before he got comfortable enough to tell me I ran like a duck), he took my measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, etc...and then we headed out to the gym.
(this is from my blog on the first day of my fitness challenge last year:
Paul was very friendly, and kind, he didn't make me feel uncomfortable at all He explained we were going to warm-up on the treadmill and then we would be working on my legs today. Little did Paul know he had A LOT of work to do!!! I was already winded after my short warm up but trying to hide it from my new fit friend...he lead me over to the leg extensions. I did several sets with ease (or so Paul thought... :) ) he seemed impressed and that made me happy. He was very motivating and positive. On to our next exercise....on a roll, I felt confidence seeping through my veins. He lead me to the middle of the gym (surrounded by what felt like millions of people staring at me!) and he told me that we were going to attempt lunges, 12 down and 12 back. He demonstrated them for me and feeling like a fitness queen already with my new found confidence, I smiled and began lunging.....8 down...really hurting, but all the while smiling....Paul said lets turn around and do 8 back (I guess my smile wasn't fooling him, he could see me sweating and struggling!) I began my journey back, after my 2nd lunge I collapsed! That's right- fell to the floor, legs did not work, in front of the whole gym. I quickly tried to jump up, for one, because I was so embarrassed and for two, because out of the corner of my eye I could see the head trainer running towards me in a panic. Paul grabbed my arms to help me up.....BAM, collapsed again! I couldn't stand, I couldn't get my legs to work! I was mortified....all the while still smiling! I finally was able to get on my feet. Poor, sweet Paul was pale and assured me that I was still doing well. We continued to attempt a few more exercises and at the end of my first hour, I realized this was not going to be easy. In fact, it might be the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
Last year I collapsed on my 8th lunge...I was so out of shape and unhealthy I was exhausted after the warm up. I still have a long way to go, but it is so nice to reflect on how far I have come. Don't get me wrong, tomorrow I will probably be crying because of how much I hurt...but at least I know that I will not collapse...and I will survive...eventually!
Good Luck to all of the new 6 today! I am pulling for you, supporting you, and so proud that you are taking this first step to change your life!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Off to a great start (again)!
I have accomplished my goals this week. I have drank all of my water, exercised everyday, and stayed under 2000 calories everyday....and I must say it feels so good to be back in a healthy routine. And it feels good to be proud of my self again.
I have done strictly cardio everyday this week, each day I have increased my time and intensity. I am pretty sore, but nothing compared to how I will feel next week when Paul gets back at me for slacking off these last few months! I start training with Paul on Monday. We will train twice a week and I will be doing cardio the other 3 days.
I have spoken with several of the new contestants about their approaching fitness challenge. They are very excited and anxious and terrified too! I am not going to lie, it is indeed a CHALLENGE. But I am thrilled to watch and support them through their journey. And they are motivating me too!
I am going to try to enjoy my weekend and I am going to try not to think about my impending doom(Paul) that awaits me on Monday! Just kidding Paul...(not really)
I have done strictly cardio everyday this week, each day I have increased my time and intensity. I am pretty sore, but nothing compared to how I will feel next week when Paul gets back at me for slacking off these last few months! I start training with Paul on Monday. We will train twice a week and I will be doing cardio the other 3 days.
I have spoken with several of the new contestants about their approaching fitness challenge. They are very excited and anxious and terrified too! I am not going to lie, it is indeed a CHALLENGE. But I am thrilled to watch and support them through their journey. And they are motivating me too!
I am going to try to enjoy my weekend and I am going to try not to think about my impending doom(Paul) that awaits me on Monday! Just kidding Paul...(not really)
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day One...2010...
I met all 6 of the new contestants for the Marethouse Fitness Challenge on Saturday and what a WONDERFUL group of people they have this year. They all have different stories and challenges and I am thrilled to death for them as they begin this awesome journey.
I am officially back on track as well. I have even started my food journal again. And I am going to the gym straight from work today! A little nervous, it has been a while...but I have to get back in a routine of regular exercising. It not only makes me feel better, look better, and function better....but I owe it to Marethouse and myself to continue this journey and lose my last 30-40 pounds.
I am so excited to see what this year brings! I am going to sign up for more training twice a week. I need the push!
My goal is to workout everyday the new contestants do...and to make as much progress as I did last year, or more.
Last year at this time I needed to lose 75 pounds, which seemed so far and unattainable. This year I need to lose 35 pounds....sounds much better!!!
I am officially back on track as well. I have even started my food journal again. And I am going to the gym straight from work today! A little nervous, it has been a while...but I have to get back in a routine of regular exercising. It not only makes me feel better, look better, and function better....but I owe it to Marethouse and myself to continue this journey and lose my last 30-40 pounds.
I am so excited to see what this year brings! I am going to sign up for more training twice a week. I need the push!
My goal is to workout everyday the new contestants do...and to make as much progress as I did last year, or more.
Last year at this time I needed to lose 75 pounds, which seemed so far and unattainable. This year I need to lose 35 pounds....sounds much better!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
A New Year, New Contestants, New Goals...
OK, so it has been a while. But I have decided that since the 2nd annual Marethouse Fitness Challenge is right around the corner, that I would set new goals for myself too. Tomorrow I am attending the orientation for the new six, extremely lucky contestants of the next Fitness Challenge. I am going to help them create and manage their blogs during the challenge. I am very excited to help in any way I can. And I am also thrilled to meet, support, and watch their life changing journey begin.
Blogging definitely played an important role in my success. It is not only a wonderful outlet to document, vent, and journal your emotions...but it is also EXCELLENT for accountability too. Believe me, the contestants will be held accountable, especially this year, having to meet and train 5 days a week. But blogging their journey will give their family and friends and opportunity to learn firsthand what they are feeling, what they are going through, and just how hard this whole process is! My husband learned a lot...sometimes more than he wanted to know...from my blogs! My blog definitely took off and it became more popular than I ever thought it would be. If I skipped a day, I would catch grief from co-workers, family members, and friends!
I am also grateful to be involved in the new challenge, so that I can become accountable again too. I still have a ways to go to meet my goal weight, and I need the extra motivation too. I have decided to use this new challenge with the new contestants as a new goal for myself. Utilizing my membership that I won last year, and the knowledge that I have learned, I feel like my goals are very reachable! I received notice this morning that my high school reunion is JUNE 4th....holy crap.I have four more months...EXCELLENT MOTIVATION.
So the bottom line is: It is a new year, new contestants, and I have set new goals too. I look forward to meeting them and blogging this new journey with them.
Blogging definitely played an important role in my success. It is not only a wonderful outlet to document, vent, and journal your emotions...but it is also EXCELLENT for accountability too. Believe me, the contestants will be held accountable, especially this year, having to meet and train 5 days a week. But blogging their journey will give their family and friends and opportunity to learn firsthand what they are feeling, what they are going through, and just how hard this whole process is! My husband learned a lot...sometimes more than he wanted to know...from my blogs! My blog definitely took off and it became more popular than I ever thought it would be. If I skipped a day, I would catch grief from co-workers, family members, and friends!
I am also grateful to be involved in the new challenge, so that I can become accountable again too. I still have a ways to go to meet my goal weight, and I need the extra motivation too. I have decided to use this new challenge with the new contestants as a new goal for myself. Utilizing my membership that I won last year, and the knowledge that I have learned, I feel like my goals are very reachable! I received notice this morning that my high school reunion is JUNE 4th....holy crap.I have four more months...EXCELLENT MOTIVATION.
So the bottom line is: It is a new year, new contestants, and I have set new goals too. I look forward to meeting them and blogging this new journey with them.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Happy and Hurting!
SO, I had my first workout in a while with Paul! And it feels.....PAINFUL! I was SO nervous when I walked back into the gym yesterday evening to train. I was literally shaking. I don't know why, just intimidated again. But once Paul and I got started, it was a happy, familiar feeling. I felt like I had accomplished something difficult. And Paul was very encouraging and made it doable. I was cussing his name this morning when I got out of bed though. I am SORE! Although it makes me feel like I worked hard.
I am so happy and appreciative to be back in the gym, even if it does hurt!
I will be taking new measurements on Tuesday, and also taking my blood pressure, to make sure that I am still running good numbers.
Marethouse Mama is BACK!
I am so happy and appreciative to be back in the gym, even if it does hurt!
I will be taking new measurements on Tuesday, and also taking my blood pressure, to make sure that I am still running good numbers.
Marethouse Mama is BACK!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Finishing what I started...
It has been a while, in fact it has been months. I am sure that by now I have lost my blog audience completely! But initially I started the blog for myself and to keep me on track and it spiraled into something I did not expect. The blog helped me journal my thoughts and feelings during this journey....and I am not finished! This time last year I was 40 pounds heavier....and I intend to lose the last 40-50 and reach my goal. The last couple of months I have struggled, like so many of us in real life...something happens to set us back and then we never pick ourselves up and end up right back in the position (weight) we started at...if not weighing more. I have seen this cycle before. I have traveled this road and I have decided I have worked too hard and come too far to let this pattern reoccur. If I write about it, admit to it out loud, it helps me feel accountable to get back on the wagon, keep going, and finish what I started.
A few months ago, as I have talked about previously, my boss lost his fight with cancer. It affected me more than I could ever imagine. Being at his bedside the last weeks of his life and watching him literally die...was something I have never faced in my life. He was one of the most caring, kind-hearted, and brilliant people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. And I do feel blessed to be one of the lucky ones that got to know and be touched by him. But after his passing, I sort of shut down...I slowly stopped working out as much...and slowly started to slip back into a disease I have fought most of my life, depression. Returning to work came with many more obstacles that ultimately lead me out of the gym. After not exercising for a few weeks, I found myself climbing deeper into my familiar past. Thankfully my husband stood by me, he supported me, and told me I needed to find a new job. He told me that I deserved to be happy again...
SO- after a long two months, I have accepted another position within the Health Science Center! And it is wonderful so far. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, it is exactly what I needed. Now....next step: START EXERCISING AGAIN!
Ryan and I both decided to get back into our healthy routines, we both agreed that is when we were the happiest. I went to the gym last week for the first time in a while. And I was extremely nervous to get back on that dreaded scale. But to my surprise, I had not gained any weight. I had not lost any weight either. Thanks to the Fitness Challenge, I have not completely gone back to my old ways, and even though I have not been exercising regularly, I have been able to maintain healthy eating habits for the most part.
So, I am happy again, motivated to finish this journey...
More to come from Marethouse Mama!!!
A few months ago, as I have talked about previously, my boss lost his fight with cancer. It affected me more than I could ever imagine. Being at his bedside the last weeks of his life and watching him literally die...was something I have never faced in my life. He was one of the most caring, kind-hearted, and brilliant people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. And I do feel blessed to be one of the lucky ones that got to know and be touched by him. But after his passing, I sort of shut down...I slowly stopped working out as much...and slowly started to slip back into a disease I have fought most of my life, depression. Returning to work came with many more obstacles that ultimately lead me out of the gym. After not exercising for a few weeks, I found myself climbing deeper into my familiar past. Thankfully my husband stood by me, he supported me, and told me I needed to find a new job. He told me that I deserved to be happy again...
SO- after a long two months, I have accepted another position within the Health Science Center! And it is wonderful so far. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, it is exactly what I needed. Now....next step: START EXERCISING AGAIN!
Ryan and I both decided to get back into our healthy routines, we both agreed that is when we were the happiest. I went to the gym last week for the first time in a while. And I was extremely nervous to get back on that dreaded scale. But to my surprise, I had not gained any weight. I had not lost any weight either. Thanks to the Fitness Challenge, I have not completely gone back to my old ways, and even though I have not been exercising regularly, I have been able to maintain healthy eating habits for the most part.
So, I am happy again, motivated to finish this journey...
More to come from Marethouse Mama!!!
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