No she didn't!

I was on the elliptical this morning and a girl got on the one next to me.  All was fine until she farted!  OMG it smelled so bad.  I was so angry!  I know we all have bodily functions but JEEZ!  I couldn't get that smell out of my nose for the next 20 minutes.   I looked at her once and she appeared to be giggling.

She should stay far away from me.  It must be something about that gym because the guys there are like that well.

New journey

Had a pretty hard workout yesterday, legs and back. I no longer have to workout twice a day because I decided not to eat the things that cause me to gain weight or better yet, body fat.

I started eating clean 8 days ago. Everything is cooked and eaten fresh. It takes some prep but it's worth it. I was 139 at start and i am now 137 as of yesterday. I ate two small Cadbury chocolate eggs on day 5 of this journey and immediately didn't feel well. I had a headache and my stomach was upset. I figured a little chocolate wouldn't hurt. Man was I wrong! I am allowed to have a treat meal but i gotta' use that treat meal wisely! I buy a lot of fresh veggies and fruits. As far as meat, I will only eat chicken, turkey and fish. It's a good thing that I can cook or I would be in trouble. I've also given up refined sugars and processed grains. I have especially given up alcohol. Now this isn't new considering I gave up alcohol when I moved to PA. Six months into it I traveled back to SD and had a drink with my friends. Although I didn't over do it i still felt guilty that it would hurt my weight loss. Now I'm back to my plan. 

My workouts trump almost everything except my family and job.  I prefer not to engage in any personal commitments (i.e. relationships). I don't ever want to have to choose between my partner and the gym. I will always choose the gym. My family understands why I work out but others usually don't. My best friend @realresults411 understands me and that's why we are friends to this day. Actually I think I have one or two other friends that understand but we don't talk often so I'm sure it doesn't matter one way or the other.

I guess this is just a continuation of the new journey I started months ago only now I am more focused.  I miss being able to fit into my clothes and I miss having a round firm butt!  I see women and men on Instagram who are fit and fab and I wonder what ever happened to me.  I'm not saying I want to be just like them but I long for that die hard dedication I once had.  Grant it my life was totally different back then.  I can have that again I just have to get on my grind.

Junk!

Men's white training trunks may not be  the best when u can see gonads and underwear lines. Im just saying!

Smelly!

Im convinced that if you smell like unwashed butt crack while your getting dressed for the gym you are 100% likely to smell like straight up shizzle during your workout! Come on guys! If you smell before you come to the gym WASH YOUR A**!

Exhausted!

Insanity this AM, leg workout this PM. Im exhausted however i gotta push through. I have some weight to get rid of!

Still trying to get back on track.

I worked legs and back this morning but did not do the Insanity workout because the aerobic room was in use.  Check out my AM video

This evening I am going at it again for my second full Insanity workout.  I believe my body has been fueled adequately with one cup of pasta with black beans and red sauce (pasta sauce) and the last few bites of that apple pie.  I know it sounds ridiculous that I would eat apple pie after that last video I made.  Well, I didn't want to waste it.  Now that there is no more pie I can get back to basics!  LOL.  Now, back to what I have eaten today to fuel me for this evening's workout . . . I also consumed romaine leaves stuffed with, tuna, diced avocado, tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumber and stewed 3-bean mix.  WOW!  It was sooooo good.  All ingredients are fresh with the exception of the corn.  I buy it frozen because it's less cumbersome and easy to cook with.  I developed this recipe based on what I usually eat every day (lettuce or salad, beans, avocado, salmon, tuna or chicken, tomato, corn and cucumber).  I still eat my whole oats with egg whites for breakfast and a Nutri-Bullet drink for my morning snack.  However my other meals were getting boring so I decided to shake them up a bit. 

Here's a picture with recipe.

 

 

Stuffed Baby Romaine (when cooking for one)

Serves 2 (with a little left over)

 

4 Baby Romaine Lettuce Leaves

2.5oz Pkg of Tuna (packed in water)

1/2 cup diced cucumber

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup diced tomato

1/2 Avocado Diced

3/4 cup 3-bean mix (light red, black and pinto) cooked/seasoned

Cilantro to taste

 

Drain most all the cooking liquid from the beans to keep your mix from getting soggy. However do not drain the tuna unless there is excess water.

 

Gently mix ingredients together and fill romaine leaves. I say gently because you do not want to mash the beans and avocado unless you are spreading it on the leaves before adding chopped chicken.  Now that's an idea! Do not fill romaine leaves until you are ready to eat. Top with extra cilantro.  Consume while chilled and within 1-2 days.  The fresher the better.  Remember you should be able to taste every ingredient.

 

TIPS

You may also want to try the following:

1.  Add lightly steamed/chopped asparagus or broccoli

2.  If you can afford the calories give this dish some zing by adding dried cranberries and feta cheese

3.  If tuna isn't your thing try this dish with sauteed salmon brushed with a raspberry chipotle glaze, grilled chicken or shrimp

4.  If you are not adding chicken or seafood and find that you are hungry after eating this dish try spreading some non-fat yogurt over the leaves before you fill them.  I tried it with Greek yogurt.  Nice touch but a bit heavy and that's why non-fat yogurt may work best.

5.  For a more citrus flavor dress this dish with fresh lemon juice

 

Bon Appetit!

 

Chapter 2: My Insane Journey

I fought it for as long as I could but couldn't fight it anymore.  My journey has brought me to Shaun T's Insanity workout.  Okay so let this chapter of my journey begin!  The video below was filmed yesterday 4/5/13.  I know I look rough but look past that part.  It's all about the journey right now. I will worry about my appearance later.  LOL.  Besides, I'm still a cutie just a bit heavier.

Not Fit For Spring

I've been working out at least four times a week and sometimes twice a day. I am seeing results but wonder if I am going to make it in time for June 1st.  that's the day I am going to wear shorts.  This is a big deal for me.  I have not worn shorts in two years.  Not only that, I am traveling back to San Diego for a week at the end of May and I need to look hot! I will be wearing very sexy clothing and sexy is the operative word! I have a ways to go.  My knees are acting up and my chest and shoulder are in pain but I have decided to try a modified version of Insanity.  I got a list of the exercises and I start tomorrow.  Currently I am not fit for spring but give me 30-days.  I am going to upload a video tomorrow to kick the countdown off.  It's 8:22pm EST and I have got to get some sleep so that I can be at the gym by 5am tomorrow.  Stay tuned!

All Eyes On Me

Im on the treadmill right now listening to Pandora, my new favorite app by the way. All Eyez On Me has got me feeling good. Visions of me crip walking replay in my head over And over! Its hilarious!

Eavesdropping

Okay! So I eavesdrop! Sometimes I cant help it. The other day I heard a guy at the gym admitting to another guy that he cant possibly come to the gym in the mornings without showering first. Finally someone that does the same thing. My ex couldn't understand why I did it. Even after explaining that sweat and unwashed skin tend to smell worse than if someone had washed up first he still didn't get it. I also heard the same guy saying it helps warm his muscles up.

Today I overheard a guy talking about his "case" as in court case. Maybe he doesn't care who knows that he has to go to court. He talked really loud and occasionally using explicative words. To be honest he didn't do much working out.

I should probably mind my own bees wax. Lol. In retrospect some of my conversations with the regular gym goers probably should have been kept to myself.

Great Workout

This morning I have had a great workout.  I worked Back and Biceps and finished up with abs and 40 minutes of cardio.  Sometimes I wonder how long I can go on like this.  Am I going to have to work out twice a day really hard for the rest of my life?  Probably so if I continue to eat cake and peanut butter M&M's.  I do understand that if I am going to eat these things that they must be consumed in moderation.  I get that.  Maybe this will all subside when I no longer care what size fat rolls I have.

On another note when I go to the gym I sometimes get a sneak peek at this guy who is always there for one reason or another.  I try not to oogle at him but dang his body just won't quit.  He has shoulder's to die for and a nice tight backside.  I wonder if he is going to compete this summer?  It's a good thing I have morals because if I didn't I would be all over that!  One of these days I will get up the courage to ask him out.  However first I gotta get myself together and by "myself" I mean I gotta get my body right and tight!

Cake Please!

I can't believe that I only lost 1% body fat and my BMI went up!  I was flabbergasted but didn't know what to say for myself.  Actually I know just what to say.  I ate like and uncontrolled champ!  I ate like I didn't know any better.  I ate like my first, middle and last name was "Cake Please".  I ate like I was never going to be given the chance to eat again.  By now you get the picture.  Need I say more?

Barely There. . .

Im on the recumbent bike and I'm ready to go already! As you can see from the picture I'm only 12 minutes into my hour long session. This is pure madness! No i'll tell you whats madness: resting my elbows on the fat pockets that have accumulated on my waist. Let that be one reason why i stop complaining with my chocolate devouring, pretzel chomping, carb loving, cake jonesin' , food luvin self.

Im not so diluted to think that i can get close to resembling my old self without good nutrition, adequate cardio and strength training. Well if making myself go to the gym when i feel yucky from the craziness I ate then let the madness continue.

Black Bean Pasta Without the Workout

Black Bean Pasta

I prepared this meal shortly before I was to meet with the trainer tonight at the gym.  Three ingredients (pasta, low sodium black beans and tomato/basil pasta sauce) that blended to make an awesome meal prior to the anticipated die-hard kickboxing workout.  See, today was to be just for kicks (meaning front, side and roundhouse) because my chest has been hurting so jabs, uppercuts and crosses were out of the question.  However my workout was not to be today.  I had a beef with some things that transpired between me and the trainer.  I addressed them and doing so ate up my session.  I hope the air is clear between he and I and I look forward to my next session.  By the way he was cool enough to null that washed session and allow me another opportunity to use it in the coming week.  I appreciate that.  For the record he apologized for some things I felt were out of line.

Although I am a different person now then I was even two to three months ago I still let things fester while trying to work them out and unfortunately when "payday" comes sometimes my communication can be straight to the point.  I don't want to hurt any one's feelings but when it involves customer service and communication I get beside myself.  It's not different in any other environment other than my workplace.

In the end I still love fitness.  I love the gym.  I love working out and it doesn't hurt when I see the yumminess of a nice fit guy.  In reality though I can't mix my fitness with a man.  It just doesn't work.  

 . . . Back to the reason why I am writing this blog . . . I prepared this pasta dish and didn't get to use its energy for my workout so I am somewhat bummed however I have another opportunity tomorrow morning to workout.  I can't wait.  Working out is the highlight of my life right now and if I had a man he would be a close second.  LOL

I'm not perfect

You know, sometimes when talking to people I get the impression they think I do things right. Well I don't.  I don't eat healthy all the time and I certainly don't attend every single workout 100%.  Sometimes I can't when my knee, traps or chest are hurting.  But everyday He wakes me up is another day for me to try again.

I was talking with a co-worker today and she commented that I eat healthy and she doesn't. After we finished our chat I felt like maybe I came off like a little miss goodie-two-shoes or that I was looking down my nose at her.  I don't ever want her or anyone to think that I judge what they eat or whether they work out.  I do want to inspire people through communication so I am always willing to talk about food and fitness.  I'm not the healthiest bird on the wire.  I will never tell anyone they are going to get fat if they eat a certain food or dessert.  That is not my place.  Chances are that person is already aware of the choices they make so far be it from me to say something like that.  It doesn't sound nice and I don't want to hurt the feelings of others.  Besides I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite. 

What's not so new but was a year ago is the that feeling of wanting to work out but wanting to eat those wonderful foods that make me want to work out in the first place.  I know what it's like to realize that the lifestyle you are living does not support working out regularly and making healthy food choices.  I used to preach "lifestyle changes" to my clients when I was a trainer.  I didn't understand why they couldn't make a choice to do what they needed to live longer.  Well now I know.  I used to live with someone who didn't workout and he didn't eat healthy most of the time.  It wasn't his fault that I gained weight but I became more relaxed in my setting.  Sometimes he only ate two times a day.   While I was having my fourth meal/snack of the day he was having his second meal.   I used to wonder what it would be like to have someone in my life that cared about fitness and trying to live a healthy life as I was.  With the way things are going I may never know that life.  As for the current date I have shaped my life around fitness and I am happy I did.

So glad I went to the gym 2x today!!

 

 

I went to the gym this morning and this evening. The gym smelled like funky fafa (that's armpit in the Chamorro culture) this evening! While working out I realized that I had my pants on backwards! I kept wondering why by butt didn't feel 100% covered and why there was extra material around the abdominal area. I couldn't understand it. Had my butt gotten bigger? No it hasn't (let me tell it!).  Although tired I was excited to go to the gym this evening.Ha Ha Ha. So discovering that my pants were on wrong didn't matter because I had a workout to tend to. I got a really good bicep workout in tonight. I also practiced my kickboxing and took care of the calves . . . life is good.

Pretty good week

I've been good this week about going to the gym at least once a day.  However I did miss one work out because I just didn't feel good.  I've been feeling like I'm coming down with something then the next day I'm fine.  I think my body is trying to tell me to take a day of rest.  Rest would be great if I didn't have 20 pounds to lose.  Eight of those pounds I would like to loose by my birthday next month.

During my training session I did some kickboxing.  I gotta' get those combos down.  Actually the roundhouse is my nemeses.  I have never been able to do that while pivoting on my left foot.  When I am on the ball of my foot I become off balance.  I'm determined to get this right and not quit on myself.

Two Chances Lost

I was supposed to work out on Sunday as as I prepared my gym bag I began to feel ill.  So I spent the whole day in bed.  My Monday workout was awesome!  I worked back and triceps with 40 minutes of cardio.  I can do this!  I know I can do this!  I just have to stay focused.

Staying focused was my mindset until I woke up late this morning.  Sadly I missed my workout because my alarm didn't go off until 5am.  That makes two chances to get fit that I lost out on! To make matters worse I overindulged in chocolate.  It's so early in my quest to become that fit person I once knew myself to be for me to become sidetracked by chocolate.

Come rain, shine or snow I am working out tonight.  I missed cycling this morning so I am going to cycle tonight for one hour and possibly more if I can keep up. 

The highlight of my day despite missing my workout was touring the fitness center very close to where I work.  It's got a speed bag!  How great is that?  That was a rhetorical question because without a doubt it is a great thing.   I'm so excited! 

Fitnesslyfe begins today!

In light of my shameful 10 minute attempt to get through a kickboxing assessment yesterday I decided to go to the gym today and give it my best shot.  But before I could leave for the gym I had to record my weight and body fat %.

Weight 141lbs
Body Fat 28%

Not very good numbers, I should say, but not the worst. (check out my video)

Today my workout consisted of an hour of indoor cycling.  I had a hard time breathing but did my best. I later worked deltoids (anterior, middle and posterior) and abs.  Overall it was a good workout.  Tomorrow is kickboxing drills to help me prepare for what is to come when I see my trainer next week.  Ugh!  I hope I make it through without puking my oats and egg whites! 

Gym Rat

I'm going to eat, wait 30-minutes and then head to the gym.  I had a hard time yesterday while getting my but kicked during the kickboxing assessment.  But I'm not going to give up.  This morning while laying in the cozy comfort of my bed all I could think  about was this new challenge to loose weight, get fit and to excel at kickboxing.  I jumped out of bed and stormed into my spare bedroom and immediately began tearing through the boxes of books I had not yet unpacked.  I found such titles as Sports Power, Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Sports Stretching and Facilitated Stretching.  This is one of the many moments I realized that I love a challenge.

The thoughts I had after retrieving the books was that "I can do this".  I am capable of doing anything and not letting my age come between me and the gym or between me and fitness.  What can I say?  I'm a professed gym rat who would rather be single so I could focus all my time on fitness and wellness.

It's time to say goodbye to the mini muffin top and hello to sexy!