Comparison Pics - Part 3

Okay I will stop annoying you with picture posts (at least for a while). Anywho, this is the dress from my best bud's wedding. The first pic is from Dec 31, 2005. The other two are from tonight. I just thought it was a fun difference and I would share since I already blogged about it.

What I remember from the night of the wedding is that I was wearing a VERY tight corset-type bra to try and hold things in and the boning was digging into my side and I could not wait to get it off and breath again. Don't worry! I still drank and ate and danced - alot. We have the pictures to prove it. It is a shame that I remember that feeling. I am sure if that wedding were today that is not the first memory I would have.

Have a great day and may all your clothes be falling off you (just not in public)! Over and out (it is bedtime at camp).

Comparison Pics - Part 2

1st off, I must bitch. Have you ever had a day (or maybe 7 each month) where you want to rip your uterus out with your bare hands just for some relief? That is my day. And at fat camp, that is not much fun. I had to get up early and load up on some major drugs in order to make it through the morning activities. But I pushed through. I just needed to complain some. My best bud does not get lady troubles like I do so she cannot relate.

So, here are more comparison pics. The top is in my pool last summer with god daughter Grayden. The 2nd is at a waterpark this year with god daughter Camden. My hair is actually a lot longer this year which is good. That way I can put it in a ponytail (which has been awesome working out). It is so hard to workout when your hair is too short to put back all the way - and it is hot.

This summer I brought home all the books I have in my student's classroom library so I could organize them. I went to the store and got containers and actually did that today. This is amazing because every summer I say I will do something like that, but I never do. I still have some more labeling to do (and leveling readers) but the majority is done. In one afternoon. And let me tell you, I have TONS of books for them. I keep amazing myself in strange ways.

I think I shall declare this is a whole new me. And just in time. The old me was really starting to work my nerves. Hope you all are having a great day! From the looks of your blogs we have a lot of weight being lost. Yeah!!

Have you ever stopped to think where the weight you lost actually went? It just evaporated in your muscle burn I guess but I just find it strange to think there used to be 70+ pounds more of me. Where is it now? Please don't look! I do not want to find it EVER again. Just a random thought I have been having at bedtime lately. Peace out!

Comparison Pics - Part 1

Here are some pictures. Pool pictures at that. Sorry you must endure. These pictures are in my backyard (this is how I spend my summer days). In the picture is my best bud (she did approve of the photo use) whom I hang out with daily (bless that girl) and her beautiful twin daughters (my god daughters - lucky me!). These pictures are identical (well almost). The top picture is from summer 2008 - my best bud is on the left holding Camden and I am on the right holding Grayden. The 2nd picture is the same setup only it was taken last week. Didn't the girls get so big? Man they grow up fast. I am working on other comparison pics. Mostly because we have lots of bad pics from last year that are fun to share. Hope you are staying cool this summer!

My Official Size

I am in pain my friends. "Lady trouble" pain. Thank goodness it is Sunday when all I have to do is walk the dogs because I did not do much of anything this morning. Except, take a journey back in time in my closet.

I was in my best bud's wedding on December 31, 2005. We were talking about the dress I wore (which was beautiful and black but very large). I kept that dress. I went to find it in the closet today. In order to get to it, I had to move a box with a pair of shorts in it (yes, just one pair in the box - not sure why I do the things I do). They are a pair of jean shorts from the Gap, size 14. I have not shopped at the Gap since college. So these short are probably 10 years old. I tried them on (of course).

They did fit. I do have some muffin top, but they button and zip and I can breath. I would not dare to wear these in public (at least not yet) but my husband and I were impressed. I also have some 14s from Avenue that fit me. I can by workout clothes in a size large (with no Xs in front of it). My shirts are 14/16. The dress I bought is a large. So I am going to declare that my official size now is a 14. Now I will still wear my 16s until they are falling off or my friends make fun of me but I will wear the 14s too.

As for the dress from the wedding, I did put it on too. It is pretty over-sized now. If I were ever going to wear it again it would need some major tailoring done. My husband thinks it is beautiful so I will keep it and perhaps one day get it altered. I think it is so funny to see me in it that my best bud is coming over tonight and I am going to model it for her.

I am working on a post of comparison pics. So be looking for that soon, if you dare!

Les Mills Bodyvive

Today's post is coming late in the day because I am tired. Double workout day! So this morning was the Bodyvive preview I was so excited for.

The lady gym only has one other Les Mills class - Bodypump. Bodypump is awesome and burns a ton of calories. It is a class with weights (which is why I cannot take it on a regular basis - but I have done it).

Bodyvive started with four instructors explaining the class. It was created mostly for the baby-boomer generation. Those who go to the gym and see classes like turbo-kickboxing (which is my favorite) and think it is too hard (which it is hard) so they just walk on a treadmill.

I am glad to see someone is looking to interest them. The class has 30 minutes of low-impact aerobics with fun oldies music. Then they do some tai-chi/yoga moves. Next is a resistance band toning segment. Finally there was some core strengthening.

It is great overall-body, low-impact class. I did sweat. Even though the preview was today they are not putting it on the class schedule until October. They suggested it as a good class for those interested in taking a class for the first time or to use it as a light day for those who take high-impact, high-intensity classes. They also wanted some of us to become interested in becoming instructors.

The training for instructors will be in August. I gotta say, I did ponder that thought. Back when I was 288.5 pounds and I was looking to start group classes, I would have taken this class for sure. Maybe there are others out there like I used to be. I have lost a large chunk of weight and continue to find new workouts and sources of inspiration. The best way to master something (say exercise) is to teach it to somebody else. Hmmm...should I?

But then I remembered that I wanted an easier year so I can have a baby. Teacher craziness also starts in August so I do not think I would want to do a training class. But it's an interesting thought.

My overall opinion is, if you can take this class, you should. At least once. There is a lot I get from group classes that I do not get from walking the dogs or personal training sessions. People there have the same goals as you, they are happy to see you and many times they are very entertaining. The time goes by faster. If you have not tried a class (any class), give it a go. There are people there just like you, they were new once too, they will welcome you. It is like another family - comforting.

Hope you all are having a super weekend! May you all be BIG LOSERS!

Official Weigh-In Results

Since last Friday I have gained one pound. Not as bad as yesterday but still nothing to celebrate. I did need some extra calories two days this week and then of course there was my birthday. However, there was still a lot of good eating and exercise so I still feel wronged by the situation.

Then I thought about it and my lady troubles are about to begin (if my calculations and feelings in my body are correct), stressful week family-wise and birthday. Hopefully next week it will all even out (before I go out of town for the 4th of July). I will weigh-in on Thursday to be safe.

I did work-out hard today. I am a little pooped but some friends and their babies are coming over to swim. I think that is excitement that I can handle.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I am going to preview a new Les Mills class at the lady gym tomorrow called Bodyvive. I will write about it tomorrow. Ta-ta for now!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday was my birthday (hence why there was no post). I went to kick boxing in the morning, then went out to lunch, saw Transformers (save your money) and out to dinner. The gift to myself? My weight is up 3 pounds today. Not an official weigh-in day, I was just curious.

My lunch was not too bad but I did eat some tortilla chips. Dinner was another story. We did not eat until 8:30. I ate more tortilla chips (with black beans, salsa and queso). I ordered cheesy, beany nachos with steak. I slathered them with some guac and sour cream, piled it high with pico de gallo (the most perfect food ever) and lettuce and pigged out. So delicious! At least I did not eat them all.

Oh, I am not finished yet. I also had 2 margaritas (on the rocks with salt - mmmm, salt). When I got home, I had a small slice of carrot cake. I may not be a huge fan of carrot cake but I am a huge fan of cream cheese frosting. I think I ate this mostly because I was slightly drunk and thought "Hey it's my birthday, my cheat meal - make it count!"

Today I got up and got back on the horse. I stuck to my calorie allotment, exercised and drank lots of water. Hopefully some of that weight will go away fast (damn, salt - but yes, I love it). I had NO pep in my step today folks.

Here is what I realized:

1. My body is not used to eating like this anymore and it does not like it. Your diet is a HUGE contributing factor in how you live your life.
2. You have to get right back on the horse or it will spiral out of control.
3. No wonder so many people are obese. It is a pattern. Bad eating = don't want to exercise, no exercise = no energy, no energy = bad eating (cheap, fast and easy food), back to the beginning and repeat.
4. What we are doing is hard and we should give ourselves more credit for sticking with it.
5. Naps are awesome. I could not have made it through today without one.
6. Bad eating really sticks with you because even now (almost 24 hours later) I still feel sluggish.
7. I also may have over-reacted when I sent a text to my trainer telling him we may have to change my diet (somehow I knew this week would be bad besides it being my birthday - some stressful family crap).

I may go to bed early tonight. I have a BIG double workout day tomorrow. I still did my workouts this week and can feel some soreness and progression in my body. I can also feel my bloated belly. It seems like sometimes I am just working against myself.

It can always be worse. I really feel for the families of those who lost loved ones today. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson were both so young. All the more reason for me to focus on my good health. Hope you all are having a super week, Friday is almost here.

There is a Reason Yoga is at Night

Well I survived an hour of the Yoga/Stretch class. There were only four of us so I got lots of personalized attention. I gotta say, I am not flexible and I think this is the sort of things hippies and yuppies have done so I did not think it was going to be for me.

I was wrong. It was actually quite nice. I can see why my trainer has been dying for me to do it. It was all about posture, stretching and breathing (which he is always bitching about).

The reason I think the class was so small was #1 - it burns slightly more calories than sleeping and #2 - it doesn't start until 7:00.

The reason it is only at night is because I am so relaxed I could totally go to bed. Not really the frame of mind for starting your day.

It was kind of a fun work training day. I learned lots about good children's literature which means I now have a huge list of new books to buy which will irritate my husband but I MUST HAVE MORE BOOKS (for the kids of course).

Secretly I must tell you I totally LOVE, LOVE, LOVE books. All the books I buy for my class (and let me tell you there are hundreds, possibly thousands) I totally enjoy myself. My family took me to the library as a kid but I was a slow reader and they were never big book people so it is like I am getting to relive my childhood the way I wish it had been and with all good books. I would never purposely buy a bad or questionable text.

Besides, look at all the books my kids will have to read someday.

But at the training I saw someone I had not seen since April. She did not recognize me and she fell into a wall when she figured out who I was. She was so sweet and gushed over me like I bet my mom would if she could see me. She said she only recognized my smile.

A co-worker from my school was there and I waved her down to come sit with me and she said she couldn't tell it was me because my face got thinner. School has only been out for two weeks. I am not that different. But I gotta say it is nice to hear.

My personal training session was a little rough because he is working on a muscle that is so tight sometimes I want to cry (hence why he was so excited for a yoga/stretch class). My right quad muscle gives me pain in my knee cap. Sounds weird I know, but he swears that is the cause. And he obviously knows more about this stuff than I do, so I take his therapy(what a beating that is) and cuss at him constantly. Whatever it takes to make it through, right?

Well tomorrow morning shall behold a kickboxing class so I need to read your blogs and rest up! Til then campers.....

What I Like About You....

What the hell is THAT?!? No, it is not cat vomit (I do not own a cat), although I can see where it looks like that. That my friends, was my lunch today. It was tuna fish (made with miracle whip light, mustard, pickles, onion and tomato), cucumbers (I used to eat it on crackers but cucumbers are the same size, serve the same purpose and are healthier) and baked chips.

What is the point of me showing you my lunch? Well I have been trying to think about what I like most about your blogs. And what I like about you (besides your wit and positive spirits and brutal honesty) is the fact that many of you share pictures. I don't even really care what they are of, they just add a new dimension to your posts.

I would have much rather shared some video from my Zumba class this morning (I am really loving the Monday morning group) however, some may have found that to be rude. These ladies crack me up! They really like to get their groove on.

So back to my lunch. That is a huge dinner plate (I like big portions - bang for my buck). My point is, that huge plate of food is under 350 calories (not by much though, I do not count calories in the veggies - they are so low in calories it does not much matter to me). My lunch during the school year was also around 350 calories but it was a frozen entree' a la Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine and a tangelo. I did enjoy my frozen meals (they are yummy, fast and make calorie counting easy) but they were not made with the love that the tuna fish was. And did you see how much I got to eat?

I am going to try and post more pictures. I am working on a post with pics of me for sometime this week. So sorry if this one grossed you out. It was delicious.

Other than that, we cooked out with our friends for Father's Day. I did not even exceed my calories for the day and I did not feel the need for the extra 200 calories like I have been. However, yesterday all I did was walk the dogs and swim (and by swim I mean float around the pool and throw the babies around in it).

Today it was back to Fat Camp, trainer and all. He made me do abs and then I did Zumba (which works a lot of abs). Boy were those muscles screaming. Hopefully they will not be too sore tomorrow. I actually have a training all day tomorrow. So tomorrow night I have a training session and I am going to attempt a Yoga/Stretch class (I have like NO flexibility). Dude, that crap looks hard. So wish me luck and I will write my review on that tomorrow.

Do I Get a Day Off?

I got a text message this morning. It was my trainer needing to cancel our session because he was sick. He has really bad allergies that make him all pukey sometimes. He has had to cancel a few times before. I say cancel, but he usually makes it up by adding an additional day the next week - lucky me. I never cancel. I have had to reschedule but I do it with plenty of notice.

I must admit that I was disappointed. I had already walked the dogs and was all set to run on the treadmill. So did I take the day off?

Of course not! I think I am becoming obsessed with breaking a good sweat each day. And man can I sweat. I went to the lady gym and took a group exercise class. It was actually the perfect class because it was 30 minutes of kickboxing and 30 minutes of Zumba. To my dismay, this is only a temporary class until they figure out what we like better kickboxing or Zumba and then it will become a complete hour of either one. Tough choice. I love them both. I would have never thought that I would "love" a class but I do.

You know how you used to walk in a room and check to see if you were the fattest person there (I never did, I guessed I just assumed I was the biggest person and I just never cared if I was)? Well I do something like that now. I am currently taking about 6 group exercise classes per week. About a half hour in, I start looking around to see if I am the sweatiest person in the room and I continue to check until I leave. Sweat just pours off me but I am so proud of it. Now when they say "you can take it up a notch by doing fill in the blank...." I do it. It is kind of like my badge of honor.

In fact I used to go straight home from the gym and would never go in public after working out because I was so sweaty and gross. Now, I make stops on the way home almost daily. Oh I am still super sweaty and gross (I always make sure I smell delightful though). I stop at the post office, Wal-Mart (I fit right in) and every Saturday, Subway. Oh people look at me. In my mind I am smilig and I think "Yup, I already worked out today and burned a lot of calories. Jealous? What have you done for yourself today?"

So even though my Saturday was not the same without my training session, it was still good. I got all gross and sweaty and went to Subway. Who could ask for anything more (I am sure the people at Subway could ask to stand next to someone who has better hygiene)?

After that I showered and went with best bud and twins to a 2 year old's birthday party with a petting farm. It was like 100 degrees today. I love doing things with the girls but I gotta say after two hours there, unless you have actual children to enjoy it, no adult should have to endure those parties. I missed some sunning time in the pool (the sacrifices I make). I will have to make up for that tomorrow.

I have also been extra hungry the last two days and have eaten about 200 more calories than usual. Hopefully I will still lose weight. Actually, my real hope is that tomorrow I will be less hungry.

In closing, I hope you all wear your sweat with pride. Unless you are eating. That is just embarrassing. I know, I have been there too. But not lately, thank goodness.

Friday Weigh-In

Well friends, bad news. I never got my nap yesterday. Why is it when you need a few minutes of down time (or two hours) everyone in the world wants to call you? Even if you do not answer it, the ringing keeps you awake. And then people call all your phones. I was powerless against it, so I gave in to talking and gave up my dream of napping.

Today, however, does not hold bad news. As it is a weigh-in day I shall give you my results. I lost 3.5 pounds this week bringing my total to 77.5 pounds. Simply shocking to me. I had a conversation with my mother about it. Let me give you a little info about my mother. She was a chubby child but is a size 12 now. She is also 5'5 and a redhead. I kinda look adopted but she stakes her claim to me. We do both have the same green eyes.

I moved to Texas from Michigan 9 years ago this month. When I left there I weighed 190 pounds and was a size 16 (My weight fluctuated in college and I believe at one point I weighed as much as 220). I see mom once or twice a year as she still lives in good old MI. The last time she saw me was at Christmas and I had lost 40 pounds. She was very excited and proud because I never lost that much weight before. One year I lost 25 pounds but when I came back from Christmas I gave it up and gained it all back and more (wha, wha, wha...). That is why this year I was so focused to try and stick with it.

I talk to her about everyday via phone and once in a while I email a picture to show progress (the fact that she can't come over and see is just killing her I do believe). Every Friday I call and give her the official weigh-in update. Today this is kinda how the conversation went:

Me - Today was weigh-in Friday.
Mom - And? (said with excitement and anticipation)
Me- Three and a half pounds this week
Mom- Oh my god! Does that make it 78 pounds total?
Me- No, just 77.5.
Mom- You are getting close to 100 pounds. You might hit 100 pounds!
Me- I have to take it one day at a time or those kind of goals seem impossible. But who would have ever thought I could lose this much weight?
Mom- Who would have thought you could have gained so much weight?

My internal monologue - Touche' Mama.

Me- I know. You think you get to a point where you just can't get any bigger and then you do.

I love my family. Brutal honesty. And I appreciate it. I am one of those people where it appears I have no feelings (mostly because I never cry). And you can pretty much say anything you want to me or about me and I will be able to see your point and take no offense. The down side to that? People pretty much say ANYTHING to you. Most of the time it is TMI. However, it is highly entertaining.

Hope you all had some good losses this week too. Fat camp is still going strong. That is why today I made sure I got a nap. Until tomorrow friends....

Is it Nap Time Yet?

I am feeling so tired today. I still exercised this morning but I am contemplating a nap before swimming (instead of the EA Sports Active). Hmmmm, perhaps I will listen to my body. Who doesn't benefit from a nap?

I just got back from the dermatologist. Man is my skin annoying me. This is actually the first time in ten weeks it has looked slightly better (and I mean slightly) but I think it is just drying out from the sun exposure. The reason? Evidently I have been using my topical medicines incorrectly. One of the meds made my skin feel like it was on fire. So me, having common sense, stopped using it. Supposedly you are supposed to wait 20 minutes after washing your face before applying.

Hmmm....I recall the instructions being "wash with only this special soap, apply this crap in the morning after washing and apply this crap in the evening after washing."

Me being the dumb shit that I am, followed those directions (along with the ones for the oral medication) to the letter for the past 10 weeks. They did not say to wait to apply the crap. Nowhere on the meds does it say to wait before applying crap.

It took 10 weeks of my life (which my skin can never get back) and $120 in co-pays, not to mention the hours waiting at the damn pharmacy, to learn that I am my own worst enemy. That is what I get for listening to "experts" from the field.

Now I will follow their explicit instructions for another 6 weeks. I will go back and pay yet another $40 co-pay. But if my skin still looks like it does now (hideously scared and filled with red bumps) I shall tell them to kiss my ass (and admire the skin because it is soft and blemish-free) and move on to a different expert.

Oh enough of my ranting. But boy sometimes people really chap my ass. I guess this is proof that someone is crabby and needs a nap. That someone is me. Enjoy your day!

Might as Well Face it, I'm Addicted to Blogs

So I got on the internet hours ago to research something for my father. And I thought, mmmmm....I will just peak at a few blogs. You all are so addicting to read. Your stories really resonate and make me laugh and I cannot get enough. So fast forward two hours and here I am still reading them.

Everyone is so witty, charming and honest. I am honored to be able to read your inner most personal thoughts. So thanks for sharing. You entertain me constantly.

Fat camp is going well today. I am sore from that crazy muscle endurance class yesterday. Running this morning seemed so easy I made it a little harder. I did personal training this morning and I have Zumba in about an hour. I heart Zumba. This class does not have as many freaky deakies in it so I can concentrate more. But perhaps tomorrow's class will have more for me to comment on.

I went to lunch today with some girls I taught with 5 years ago. I have not seen them in a year. One of them (who is super cute and nice) could not believe it was me. She kept saying I look like a totally different person. And you know what? I am starting to feel like a totally different person - in a good way. I guess everyday on this journey is helping me to reinvent myself. I want to be a fit person. Now I am beginning to think it is something I can pull off for life.

Also, I am changing my ticker today to show my new goal. I have picked a goal weight of 175. When I started this blog and put 185, I did not think I would come anywhere near it. I am picking this weight for a few reasons:

1. I am 5'10 and muscular, I look healthy and lean at 175 (I know this because I was at that weight for about 2 weeks my senior year in college)
2. I have actually weighed that in my adult life and know it is possible
3. If I weighed 175, I could gain 25 pounds with a pregnancy and still not go over 200 pounds

Is this possible? Time will tell. I will work my ass off (literally) to try and get there. I may have said before, my trainer's goal is not a weight but a size 8. He originally said 10 but changed it to 8 after I lost more weight because he says he can see my build more now and it is an 8.

Dude, my tiny mother-in-law is an 8. I tried to tell him I walked out of the womb a size 12. I was 12 in middle school and never went any smaller. I went up and down but never below a 12.

So we will have to see who has the more realistic goal. Hopefully I will meet one of them. If not, I am gonna die trying.

I guess I should do the work I came here to do. Please update your blogs soon so I have something to read later. Ta, ta for now!

Bathingsuit Makes Another Public Appearance

Well fat camp is still in action and going strong. Yesterday my trainer told me (as he was feeling a muscle in my leg) that he can tell my legs have more muscle and less fat this week.

Uh, more muscle? That is fine just about anywhere else on my body but dude, I gotta tell you.....I have some very muscular legs. They are covered in fat (so yay for less fat!!) but I have always had muscular legs. I just do not want to come out of this looking like a body builder. Time will tell I guess.

Lots of exercise. Today I took a class labeled kickboxing but it was not kickboxing. It was like a muscle endurance class (and yes some of the spazzy peeps were there). I am already feeling it.

Anywho, today I went to another waterpark with my best bud and her little twins. So for the 2nd week in a row I have made a public appearance in my swimsuit. Now I must say, I feel much more confident in a swimsuit (a one piece miracle suit) but both times I have run to the closet and pulled out a skirt bottom from one of my plus-sized suits. It is cute and makes me feel more comfortable (covers more if the thighs get to rubbing). The problem is, the bottom is about 4 sizes bigger than my suit. When the water comes rushing up, the skirt goes sagging down. This body transition thing can be tricky. Maybe by the end of summer, I will not feel the need for the skirt.

Hopefully your weeks are off to a great start! I will write you again soon.....probably tomorrow.

I Might Survive Camp Yet!

Exciting pictures, I know. Can you tell I have a little too much free time? You should see the hair cut I gave one of the dogs. Anywho, these are my shoes.


The New Balance cross trainers (1st pic) lasted me about 5 to 6 months. My knees were getting sore, my plantar faciitis (foot thing) was flaring up. So on the advice of the trainers at the gym I went a specialty runners store in February.


That is when I bought the Asics (2nd pic). They are good, cushy running shoes. My pains went away. However, I exercise a lot. If you look closely at the picture you will see the hole in the toe.

When I decided there was not enough support I went back to the first pair. Bad idea. They started to rip the skin off my heals.


My cry for help (new shoes) was heard and answered by my loving husband. I was going to wait until July but my feet could not take it anymore. So yesterday I took my old shoes to the runners store. An older gentleman named Lee looked over my old shoes and found me a new pair (3rd pic). They are the newest Asics with the most cush you can get.


I used them today (but only to walk the dogs) and my feet are happy. I feel like now I can survive my fat camp.


Just as a side note, I asked how long shoes should last me. With my activity level, Lee said 400 miles or 4 to 6 months. That is what I am averaging, but boy is it getting expensive. How are your shoes holding out?

Hello Muddah, Hello Foddah

Camp is better today. My muscles are less sore. Kickboxing this morning was actually fun again. My legs felt okay running and my training session seemed good. The only snag was I had to go back to my old workout shoes and they were rubbing the skin off one heal. A bandaid and socks did not help much. I may have to actually break down and buy new shoes.

It is Friday which means weigh-in day. I am actually down 3 pounds this week. I am must admit that is no Biggest Loser number by far but I worked hard and stuck to my plan and I will take it. So I believe that puts my loss at 74 pounds. Yeah for fat camp!

So I need to gossip about the other campers (meaning the other class members at the lady's gym). When you attend classes at night, it is usually with women who have jobs (including the instructors) so they are a bit mellow (or beat-down perhaps). It is a good workout. I enjoy it, especially after a day of working with lots of children. It is my calm time and my release of stress time.

The clientele in the mornings is a whole different world. They are stay at home moms, other fitness instructors, retirees, college students and the unemployed. Boy can they be freaky. Sometimes there is lots of hooting, which I am not accustomed to. Sometimes people look hungover (I am so talking to you two college girls who show up in your pajamas). Sometimes people are on a serious high (hello fitness instructors). You know the ones. They are taking it beyond level two and taking flying leaps through the air between moves. They know the next move before it is called. They want everyone to give high fives (lame). When you are tired and sore, they are really annoying.

This turbo kickboxing class already has an instructor who does not call very well and she keeps handing the mic over to other class members for them to call and they are worse. Turbos are super fast. I need someone who knows what they are doing. The night instructor is very focused and would never turn the mic over to a rookie. I am still going so it is not that bad. I just hate change. I am sure I will grow to like them as well, I shall give them time.

So enough of my pleasantries. I want to spend sometime reading your blogs. Tonight we are having a cookout. No smores though. Now that I type it, it sounds sooooo good. Until tomorrow!

Holy Soreness Batman!

Fat Camp - Day Four

Nothing but SORE, SORE, SORE. I took lots of Branch Chain Amino Acids which are supposed to help with muscle repair and soreness. The soreness won out.

But we must soldier on. It stormed all night so sleeping was minimal. Of course there would be a huge storm with flooding at camp. It delayed walking the dogs by a few hours and they were not happy about it.

I did go to Zumba...again. Let me just tell you, that class is so fun but if you really concentrate you can get some serious ab work done. I took that class last night so when I showed up this morning I could feel my obliques on both sides and abs from my boobs to my hips. Then I got to work those muscles again. This made class a little less fun. But you just push through.

Then I decided to eat some delicious protein (I made some killer scrambled eggs with lots of veggies and chicken in it - the cook here is quite talented at times) and let my body rest for a while (read nap).

So then in the midst of doing laundry (yes, they make us do laundry, can you believe it?), I got this bright idea to do the EA Sports Active, one of the preset workouts. I chose the easy 22 minute workout. Here was the problem - it had running in it. Multiple times. When I run, I am usually fine but when ALL of your midsection muscles are sore and your fatty flesh starts thrashing around, it makes things sort of miserable. So did I quit? Of course not. This is Fat Camp and quitting is not an option. No one will come pick me up anyway. My solution? Try my best to hold my fat down with my hands (and I had a full body sports bra on, this should tell you how much jiggle I have) and keep on running. Strangely enough, it did help.

I did go back to my 1600 calories today and I have eaten well. God bless tortillas. And my heart goes out to all of you who are not eating carbs. They do keep me full a lot longer than protein and vegetables alone. However, you will probably have better weight losses than I will.

Speaking of, tomorrow is weigh-in day. I do want to go on the record now saying that I do feel more lean. If for some reason the scale is not nice to me tomorrow I honestly did my best. I ate what I was told to and burned a lot of calories. I am thinking with all this change there maybe an adjustment period for my body. Let's just hope it isn't too long.

Tomorrow holds another day of action. Let me just tell you that there is quite a difference at the lady gym between taking classes in the morning and taking classes at night. I will share those observations with you tomorrow. So until then....sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite (you should wear your bug spray at bed time too).

New Resepect for "Biggest Loser" Contestants

Okay y'all. Camp is exhausting. I got to a point this morning where my arms were still sore but I could not really feel my legs. They were there and working but nothing was really phasing them.



So here was my day:

1. Walk the dogs (good news - someone picked up the dead cat)


2. Turbo kickboxing.


3. Running warm-up at training gym


4. Session with my trainer


5. Rest for a few hours


6. Zumba

Must be a Nazi running this camp. I want my money back! Well at least I got my carbs back. My trainer is getting nervous about all the exercise and possible lack of calories. So I am back to my 1600 calories/day. Yeah for bread!

So, now for the title of my post. I was thinking about this day of exercise. It is tiring. It is not easy. And I have lost 70 pounds and have been working out regularly for almost a year. When the contestants arrive on the Biggest Loser ranch they are medically unhealthy, have had little to no exercise and are extremely large. They begin a workout routine that I imagine is not unlike what I did today. My hat is off to those poor souls. Especially the ones that are there right now filming the next season for my viewing pleasure this fall.

Well that is all for now. I will write again soon!

P.S. Please send new shoes as I have worn a hole in the toe of the ones I bought in February. Also, some Gatorade would be nice too. Thanks Mom!

Fat Camp - Mom Don't Leave Me Here!

Day One - Eating very little carbs. I get hungry about an hour and half after I eat. But that is nothing compared to the increased weights from my trainer. Oh and the extra classes - I was tired. Spent the afternoon swimming with babies - good fun!

Day Two - Woke up SOOO SORE!!! Found a dead cat this morning while walking the dogs. I did nothing about it (it wasn't my yard). This is fat camp, I have a schedule to keep. Then I took step aerobics. Wow.....this instructor was hard to follow. But I did leave drenched in sweat. I will not take this class next week. By 10:30 this morning I was on my way the Great Wolf Lodge water park. AWESOME FUN!!! Except.....lots of stairs. After step aerobics. I think I may have some sore buns in the morning, but I will let you know.

I think this fat camp thing is a little crazy but will help me for sure. I have been listening to a song that has been helping me to keep going. Don't laugh too hard, but it is "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. The lyrics are really good. If you have not heard it, you should listen to it.

Well I am EXHAUSTED and heading for my bunk. I will write you again tomorrow. Try not to miss me too much.

I Wish I Could go to Fat Camp!

Last summer I taught summer school and it was over by 4th of July. I had about 5 weeks until school stuff really started up again. My birthday is the end of June and I had just turned 30. I wanted to send myself to fat camp as a present.

Guess what? It does exist for adults however, it is high dollar (about $4000-$6000) and only lasts a week or two. So right away I knew that was not an option.

I had a couple hundred dollars to spend on my gift to me so I decided I could have a month or two with a personal trainer and some serious new workout gear. I ended up sharing two sessions per week with my best bud (saving a few bucks). I also decided I would walk the dogs everyday. I started to watch my food intake. All this began July 15, 2008.

Then I thought: Hey! I can do fat camp myself. I just need to get up early, workout about 3 times per day, eat healthy and I can drop 20 pounds by the time school starts again. Well, that did not happen.

I had my training sessions, walked the dogs, swam a lot and did a walk-away-the-pounds dvd the other 5 days a week. I lost about 13 pounds. Not bad, but nothing to write home about.

This summer I have more time and plan to waste none of it. I will dedicate my mornings to serious calorie burning and my afternoons to swimming. I even have a new diet plan from my trainer. Maybe this summer I will lose more weight. This is my summer of self-imposed fat camp. I am the director, counselor and camper. I hope my body survives!

I will walk/run 1.2 miles with my dogs everyday (just as I have been for the past year). I will have my four personal training sessions a week. I will have 5 to 6 additional aerobic classes (kick boxing or zumba). I also have my yoga dvd to work with and my EA Sports Active, although I am not sure how much I will use them yet.

My thoughts on the EA Sports Active are: awesome and fun. I have not gotten to try everything yet but I am impressed so far. The jump shots in basketball were some all over body work. The dancing was not my favorite because I do not think it was reading my moves correctly, therefor my calorie count was not accurate. The heavy punching bag was so fun. I laughed as I watched myself beat it silly and then it fell of the chain. That is just plain fun.

We will see how this all works. This will be my first week, so wish me luck. I will send you letters as often as I can. Don't forget to write me back.

Free at Last, Free at Last!!

School is over. YAHOO!!!!!! My stuff is finally all packed up and moved to a VERY full storage unit. I own a ton of crap. My book collection is quite impressive and heavy. Some extra calories burned there this week.

But now moving on to my new full time job.....my weight loss journey. Yesterday was weigh-in day. Drumroll please.......217.5. Which means 2 pounds lost this week (not bad since eating was a little different) and 71 pounds lost in all. I am pleased.

I did not miss a single workout even though this has been the busiest week of my life. I also ate pretty well. Not bad considering all the stress and the lady troubles that started Thursday. Next week might not be so hot but I guess I will just have to deal with it. I think I have earned a pedicure this weekend.

I have to workout with my trainer in an hour or so. I believe I am going to receive a new diet plan. Less carbs probably. This week, for the first time, he took my body fat percentage. I was hoping it would just be under 50%. My overall percentage is 38.7% Still seems pretty high for someone who has lost 70 pounds. I can only imagine what it was when I started - scary!

Well I need to walk my dogs. There are yards in the neighborhood just begging for them to come take a crap. Don't worry, it is daylight hours, so I have to pick it up.

Have an enjoyable weekend. I look forward to catching up on blogs tonight! I will also talk about my EA Sports Active tomorrow.