*...that mind of yours is going to be the death of you*

This week was an interesting *reflection* week for me. Reflecting or analysing - which ever one sounds better or pertains to the situation on any given day.  I thought I would add into my post this week some excerpts from my email to my trainer the day after a session of my training, and some of his answers back to my questions.  Communication is the key - and this is a learning process, as well as those odd " A HA" moments that we may have in between the self-doubt spurts. These particular paragraphs show how I was feeling and his answers back to me.

(Me) Thanks for a good *beat-down* yesterday -Holy Smokes!!  lol... I thought you were trying to kill me! lol,...  I know - if you didn't push me, then I'd feel ripped off - right?  NOT!!  Frigg'n sprinting on the treadmill; maybe 30 seconds, but really 60 seconds?  But...damm, my mind as you know is such a huge antagonist against my body!  THAT's what pisses me off!  I have to analyse the workout, what I could have done better, how I could have done better, and what I need to do to improve.

(Trainer) That mind of yours is going to be the death of you.  My question to you is, if you are pissed about the DB weight on the squat presses, what weight do you want to do? Then, why is that relevant to your success?

(Me) Then of course there is the word - *hate*.  Example: *I HATE BURPEES*....I have decided, and acknowledge, HATE is a really strong word, and realistically I DO NOT hate the exercise...I know it is beneficial to me whatever exercise you give me, I just *dislike* certain ones more than others.  And...yes you are right its the ones that we like the least that we need to learn to love.  (hmmm....I say that to my students I teach, they need to learn to love what they don't enjoy - or work harder on the things that they are not as good at...)  ...so I think that statement has come full circle and bit me in the ass!!!  

(Trainer)  Acceptance is what we need to preach, you may not like it but you need to accept that you are doing it and move on emotionally. 

(Me) My frustration in having difficulty doing an exercise - annoys the crap out of me!   When we have to drop down the weights, that frustrates me even more.  I use the word frustration as I am not mad or angry, just frustrated with myself and want to be able to do it - knowing it will benefit the full outcome and aid in the goal that we are working towards.  

(Trainer) Doing the exercise period gets you to the goal, not how much weight you are doing while performing it. It will all get very mundane for you soon, just look at it from the point of view that you can be happy/sad/pissed off while your doing it, which do you want to be? Improving yourself shouldn't be as bad, love every minute of it so you can enjoy the body you will be left with. 

***THIS LAST SENTENCE WAS AN ACTUAL "A HA" MOMENT FOR ME!!***

(Me) I also know that you have reiterated to me this is a journey and a process - I am trying to understand that.  I have heard you when you said that we are experimenting to see how my body is going to react, in regards to food and energy -  analysing again, I guess that is why the communication has to be there.   I just usually can tell you what time it is by my stomach growling,..lol...and I am drinking a minimum of 3.2 litres of water or more a day.

(Trainer) Don't look at it as screwing up because that causes stress. It's a learning curve like you said so treat it like that. We are back on track now and we have still achieved great success so far so don't worry.

As you see communication is the key, whether it be discussing the training program, the training process, the eating process, and/or in general how the body is feeling after the fact.  This week in general was a pretty good training and eating week after we got the carb issue under control.  I just wasn't being consistent on eating the carbs with dinner on carb days.  I am however to keep doing what I am doing until the end of the month when we can analyse my numbers again and see where I should be and how far I need to go.  

I have noticed that my body must be shocked a little on the weekends when I only do one cardio session.  I feel that I am almost looking for the time that 'I should go and do my hour of cardio, almost as if my body is starting to crave it.  Remember this is still early, that can change.  

My powerful affirmation of the week I believe is,  *Love every minute of improving yourself, so you can enjoy the body that you are left with.*  Yes, I have the *Go Hard* mentality, but....I need to be happy doing it - try not to get pissed or sad about what and how I am doing.  

Hmmmm....that Blake....he's one wise trainer!!

Until next week...

Metabolism revving up!

...and here we go again...starting into my 8th week ~ I won't lie, I had to look at the calender to calculate how long it has been so far.  Having my own business, working 60+ hours a week (insert violin playing here), add in extra training, added Christmas preparation for my store - one day blends into the next - I welcome Monday because it is the start of a NEW week and a completion of the one past.  :)

You are never to old to learn something - and we really should be learning something new every day.  I learned this past week that my metabolism is revving up and that is what we have been waiting for - unbeknownst to me.  It actually start late last week, without me knowing this - and I will get to that explanation.  For whatever reason I was feeling ravenous - almost EVERY 3 hours on the dot.  No clock watching, my stomach was telling me I was hungry.  Not craving anything in particular, just hungry.  Get out of my way hungry - I NEED to eat!!

Discussing this with my trainer, he explained this is what we had been waiting for my body to do.  Really??  As he put it - your body knows it is going to get the food, so it is letting you know, it is not holding on to everything as it knows you are going to feed it in 3 hours.  This also means the metabolism is firing up.  This is a good thing to help burn the fat as well.  He doesn't like to tell people that they are looking for this from their bodies, as then you get anxious and wonder if that is the feeling that you are expecting or not.  This is why the communication between the client and the trainer is so important - you need to be able to discuss what your body is doing and why.

It turns out your body almost works the same with water.  I thought I drank a lot of water before...yep - DEFINITELY I am in the bathroom more....geez!!  You'd think the amount I sweat during a workout, especially twice a day I wouldn't need to be in there as often.  I have a water jog that is approx. 1.3 liters.- I have been using this to monitor my water intake.  I am drinking 2 - 3 jugs a day now. (room temperature or warm water is better for you)  So - at this time the same analogy applies - the reason I am in the bathroom lots, regardless of my bladder being the size of a pea, is because my body knows it doesn't need to hang on to the water that I am giving it, it is going to get more.  The body knows there is more where that came from, so it actually can release the water more often.

The body is really an incredible machine.  Something else that I have noticed - which I have neglected to tell Blake is that any time I drink a beverage or eat my meal, I feel myself heating up.  Just a guess - could this be my metabolism firing up?  This I will google too.

I have to admit - I cheated yesterday with my food - well I had a home made chocolate chip cookie (slightly healthy as I knew the ingredients that I put in it) .  My reasoning was - I am NOT on a strict diet - YET...and it was a carb day which had not consisted of many carbs.  That sufficed - did I feel guilty?  A little - but one was good enough.  I did refrain from having an enchilda for dinner that I had made by special request, even tho my enchildas are a healthy version too. I stuck with my salmon and bok choy.

As for training this week, I did go to the place that is going to open as the new gym (same people/new location).  Due to permit issues, etc. they still do not have a definite date of opening.  The owner has told me that I can come and use the eliptical when she is there.  I tried this on Tuesday, I found that it wasn't balanced and it did this annoying shake during the time I used it.  It is not convenient to use it until the gym opens as her schedule conflicts with my times - so I will use the treadmill for now.  I am lucky I have the use of Roberta's treadmill - but as I mentioned before it is not one of my favorite things to do - I get bored.  I have started doing intervels of abs in between minutes of the treadmill to make it go faster.  I can't wait till the gym re-opens.  Rumor has it that there may be another gym opening in our mall - if this is the case, I will join there.

So until then...I continue feeling like a hamster on a wheel....run, run, run...

How much is your Health worth?

Have you ever thought about the *price* of your health?  I have always been of the mind set, *If you have your health, you have everything*.

Look around you, usually when you are having either a pity day or things aren't going the way you planned - there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you, and surprisingly, they probably have a smile on their face.

So, is there a price on our health, your health, my health?  We can pay thousands of dollars for cosmetic surgeries, or depending on our medical system and the coverage we have for the drugs we may need to battle an illness or a medical issue that needs attending to, this can amount to a few hundred dollars to thousands.

So, have you ever put it into perspective?  How much do we take our bodies and our health for granted?
Or do we live along the line that we are invincible or think that, *It will never happen to me*.  And...if it does...we are so willing to play russian roulette with our bodies?

We need to be proactive in our health and well-being.  Physical fitness is a lifeskill, it isn't an option. Everyone needs to be active, whether it means walking around the block, taking a flight of stairs instead of the elevator, walking the dog, swimming, cardio classes, or lifting heavy weights, the list goes on.  Physical manual labour also plays into this.  A physical job compared to a sedentary job (sitting at a desk for 8 hours) can be more beneficial to your long term health, coming back to your quality of life.

You can have all the money in the world, but if you don't have your health....hmmmm...what type of quality of life do you have?  I not saying everyone needs to be in tip top shape, what I am saying is, be proactive about your health.  Make smart choices, don't wait for tomorrow to start, as tomorrow NEVER comes.  Start today!!

I challenge you to make one small change for the better of your health.  It may be take an extra step. Choose a parking stall that is further from the entrance so you get in those extra steps.  Get a pedometer and clock your daily steps.  Challenge yourself - you will be better for it - and feel better for it.  Add more vegetables to your plate, instead of breads or those heavy carbs.  Drink water instead of pop or juice.  Watch your caffeine intake and be concious of the amount of sugar you may be adding to your food to sweeten it up or the salt you may add to your plate.

If you have your Health - You have EVERYTHING!!  The rest is just a bonus!!

Defining frustration....

Wow ~ What a busy week!!

First of all training was rough this week!  Not the fact that it was everyday but the fact that there was some frustration involved.  After analysing the way I was feeling I recognized it was frustration over being mad. I have felt like this during parts of my martial arts training as well, when I had to learn a form or sparring technique.  Once again, I am reminded that this is because of my Type A personality.  I was able to look at how I was feeling from *outside the box* and evaluate it...this still didn't make me feel less frustrated but allowed me to acknowledge the frustration over being mad.

Monday was considered a holiday, our dojo was closed, this allowed me the opportunity to take an additional spin class by Blake, and bootcamp by one of his other trainers at Total Body Development.  My training schedule was the same for the rest of the week as it has been lately - we have discussed it and it will stay this way until the end of the month when we do my measurements again.   

Wednesday personal training was more of a treat - I was given more weighted exercises with a little bit of cardio in between.  It was a nice change - but.....Hack Squats with a weighted squat hold for 15 seconds, were a killer!!!  I think these could become one of my favourite exercises, minus the hold.  lol....

Wednesday was also the day (see previous post) that we took more pictures.  I was a little excited and apprehensive about what changes, if any I would see.  My trainer has told me that there are significant changes.  I think we only see what we want to see, or what we envision in our minds or in the mirror, and this may not necessarily be what is the reality.  As I re-evaluated the pictures again, there are changes in my body; which also inspire me to work even harder and keep these images in my mind as I do so. 

Thursday was my frustrating training day.  The day itself was good, I didn't have anything that I can think of that was weighing on my mind.  I went to bootcamp, followed by Spin - all fired up, ready to train.  Bootcamp - was considered self-motivating, I think.  We were given a certain # of reps per exercise, but we all did the same exercise at the same time.  The first person to get to the number, called it out, then we would move on to the next exercise.  In other words, if you didn't get to the required reps by the *call-out* you missed out doing the full reps of the exercise.  In other words you were competing not only against yourself but everyone else in the class.  Nothing more frustrating than not getting all the reps in or getting called on your form in the *static squat*.  Spin class - was good, with exception of 1/2 way thru my stomach started to growl, which seems to be the pattern now.  Type A personality rears its' ugly head again !!  

This week was supposed to be the week the gym here in town reopens.  As they are waiting on permits, it looks like it will not open till the end of the month. This in turn means it is still treadmill work for me.  This week I also added in pushups and ab work alternating with the treadmill, which broke up the monotony.

Sunday - the weather was terrible fall weather.  I could have gone to my friends to use her treadmill but I honestly didn't want to wake her and her husband up first thing on a Sunday morning - I chose to run the stairs at home and do some alternate cardio; which wasn't as motivating.  I needed the accountability.

Reflecting back on the week -I did get some *extra* training in; towards the end of the week I was feeling hungrier than at the beginning.  My diet has been good - I think I am eating better now, as I am diligent in getting all my meals and snacks in and planning ahead for my protein and vegetables.

Sunday was a productive day for me!!  Roberta came over in the afternoon and we got a lot of *basket production* started for my store.  My goal is to have as much done prior to Hallowe'en.  I only put the pressure on myself, but it sure feels good once it is done.  With the help of extra hands, it makes the work go faster and isn't as tedious.  It was great to have her help!!

Onward & upward.....here we go....

6 Weeks In....Picture Day

Six weeks in to my personal challenge towards my May 2013 goal ~

Today I have my weekly personal training session after work as I do every Wednesday.  Last week we did the calliper test - today are more photos.  Blake has told me these early pictures will eventually end up being my favourite pictures.  As this past weekend was Thanksgiving, I was able to go to bootcamp and spin class on Monday evening (dojo was closed).  Yesterday was spin and bootcamp again, and another hour of karate.  I am drinking a minimum of 3 Litres of water, and I am sure I am leaving it all on the floor if not more in all of these classes.  This brings me to how I am feeling today ~ just a little tired.  Not drag my ass tired; but feeling like I could use some more sleep.  My legs (quads) are tight as well.  Note to self; need to remember to stretch.

I actually am curious to see the difference between last months photos and these ones that we will take today only because in the last couple days I have now had customers, different people who do not know the amount that I am training, comment on my weight.  This is a good thing - I think.  It is usually followed up by, *You weren't fat before...* or *You looked good before...*, I haven't taken offence to this but it does make one think, *What did people think before*.  As women, I truly wonder if we are ever happy with ourselves or happy with what we see in the mirror.  There is always something that we would like to change or want differently on our bodies.

The human body can be an amazing machine and it really is fascinating how it actually works.  We hear alot of times, your mind will give up long before your body will.  Interesting concept - brings a whole new meaning to positive thinking and focusing on what we want our bodies to look like and what we are willing to do to get to that point, minus any cosmetic surgery, just plain hard work.

I also have customers who are personal trainers and fitness competitors.  Everyone has advice and their opinion on how things should be done, from eating, to training, to what your mind set will be and what changes will happen, emotionally and physically.  I have a fairly open mind, so I am like a sponge - I can listen, hear what they have to say, and I value people's opinions' - and with hearing the advice that people like to share - I can digest it, share it with my trainer and come up with a plan that is unique to my situation.  I know its' still early in the process ~ I may feel differently as time goes on....

Until then ~ Onward & Upward....I may just post those pictures sooner than I thought I would....

Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble, Gobble....

What a productive week this has been ~ all round!

Many positives and a few negatives....but I wouldn't really call them HUGE negatives.

I continued this week very similar to last week ~ double cardio every day with exception of the weekends - with some interesting stats and a nice surprise on Wednesday.  The stats are still fairly new to me, as I don't understand the *extra* numbers in regards to the percentage of total body fat, etc.  But...since my last weigh in and measurements which was a few months or so back...I have lost 10 pounds, and my overall body fat was 77 ml(?) down from the last number (which again I cannot remember, in the 80's I think?)  I think this is right, not a hundred percent sure.  But, the exciting part was that I was down in calliper measurements and scale measurements.  We were going to do pictures, but that will be this week now as I neglected to bring the camera in to the gym (maybe on purpose?).  Blake http://www.totalbodydevelopment.ca/ has told me that this is great as the first month or so was more of an experimentation to see how my body would respond to the diet (which doesn't feel like a diet yet) and additional cardio.  I have had the odd comment in regards to working out and/or losing wieght - so there must be a change that others are seeing.  Me?  Somedays - Yes; other days - No.  What I have noticed is that my abs seem to be a little more defined, which in itself is exciting...as if they are starting to be noticable, just think where I could be in 7 months from now?  Being the goal person I am, my goal is to get my body fat down to 60 ml (??) by Christmas - so we are in good shape to *go hard* in January.

My training week felt good until I strained my back during my Wednesday personal training session.  This was to my own fatigue and poor form ~ note to self...Blake was more upset with himself for not stopping the exercise or taking weight off the barbell.  I don't hold him responsible in the least, but as our personalities are similar, I do see where he is coming from thinking this way.  He being the trainer should have recognized this and had me the client drop the weight.  Me, being the personality I am...would have been ticked if he had me do that.  A trip to the chiropractor told me almost EXACTLY what my trainer had told me...and ok'd me to continue to train.  Blake had told me to go easy, and no cardio, but the thought of not doing anything almost brought me to tears.  The frustration of it all.

I also added cycling in for a change up in cardio.  My husband has since been riding his bike to burn calories and work out an issue he has had with his hip.  Over the weekend I joined him 3 times, clocked in 75 km in total and got my cardio in for the 3 days I  needed.  The weather has been beautiful for this time of year, so it is hard not to take advantage of it.

Thanksgiving for us Canadian's isn't as big as it is in the States - or so it seems.  I tried to fly under the radar this year to get out of cooking - ONLY because everyone who usually comes to dinner, was mostly out of town.  I could use the excuse that it is I who can only eat certain things. However, turkey is a protein, we would have salad, and it was a carb day so I could actually have some yams.  Since I would cook I would know how everything was cooked, ie. not too much salt, preservatives, etc,  You can probably tell, I caved in, and cooked for a small group of 9 this year - not our usual large number but enjoyable just the same.  As my son said to me, *Mum, you've cooked for the last 24 years, why would it change now?  Besides, it's Thanksgiving*.  Well, I guess he is/was right as we had our dinner last night.

And since I haven't told my family and friends about this blog as of yet....my youngest *sprang* the news to us that we will be Grandparents next year.  Wow!!  A bit of a shock, and yet not.  It is still early - but I have told him I expect to be the *hottest Grandma on stage*.  lol.....

With that being said, this Thanksgiving reminds me how thankful I am for my family, the healthy kids I have, the food that is able to be put on the table, mine and my husbands' health, and the good friends I have in my life.  Life is good ~ we shouldn't just be reminded of this at Thanksgiving but all year thru.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let's rock it going into Week #6