Jonahgirl’s BodyBlog

I have a new personal record for the leg press of 250 yesterday. Shooting for a new personal record in push ups today.

Scheduled my next vacation in a couple of weeks. Heading back to South Florida to spend some more time with my friends and veg on the beach.
Tentative daily schedule:
Eat breakfast
Workout
Lay by pool
Meet friends for lunch
Go to beach
Shower
Meet friends for dinner
Rinse and repeat all week.

And yes, this time I am going solo. Looking forward to taking the new roadster on its first long drive.

Okay, I did it. I wore a dress today with a short skirt that showed my thighs…a big, no huge step for me. This dress was given to me several months ago from a friend. (She had been gifted bags of clothes in various sizes from one of her friends and she passed all the smaller sizes on to me.) At the time I got it is was a little too small so I put it in the back of the closet. I saw it this morning and thought…Hmmmm I wonder. It fits beautifully. It is 7 inches above my knee standing and much, much shorter when I sit.
This was a true step of faith for me as I have always gone out of my way to hide my thighs..It was only three weeks ago I wore a swim suit out in public. Mentally, I know my thighs are small now but old habits die hard as they say. Note to self: Next time I should rethink the thong.

Not me, but my state. Alabama ranks third in the fattest state in the nation. I am actually shocked we are number 3. I thought for sure we clenched number one from what I see people eat on a day to day basis but our neighbor to the west took the honors of number one. For those who are geographically challenged that would be Mississippi. Number 2? West Virginia. The leanest? Colorado. Want to see it all visit:
http://calorielab.com/news/2008/07/02/fattest-states-2008/

…for any calories injested because of this recipe. This recipe is solely intended for those NOT eating clean. Let’s face it we all have to bring dishes to BBQ’s and hummus and veggies just don’t cut it for some get togethers. The trick to this one is to make it but not eat it.

Symphony Brownies

Ingredients: Favorite brownie mix (plus ingredients on the box) and three Hershey Symphony bars. (they are the big ones like jumbo hershey bars usually found in the candy isle. Milk Chocolate with toffee chips is the best).

Prepare pan and brownie mix according the directions on the box. Pour half the prepared brownie batter in the 13 x 9 pan. Unwrap the candy bars and place on top of brownie mix. Pour remaining brownie batter on top of candy bars. Bake according to package directions.

Let cool and cut into squares.  Cover with foil.
Now prepare the food you will eat at the BBQ. Ignore the brownies.

How do you do it? It is a question I get asked nearly every day. Sure, I eat right and I workout but it is HOW I workout which is my little secret.

Back in February I signed up for a trial program by personal trainer Steve Oldfield. He was testing "the viability of training remotely via web".  I answered a questionnaire that included my specific goals, did a set of before pics, and started the program. Each day (M-F) I would receive my workout via email then report back how the workout went. In my case the trial was very effective. So effective I continued with his paid program.

He described his style of training as " I lean toward the unusual. I generally use a number of exercises that employ weight interspersed with exercises that are aerobic in nature, often sport training exercises. I think my workouts tend to be close to standard HIIT workouts, but with a little more emphasis on developing female form that strictly dropping pounds or adding muscle."

Each morning is like Christmas as I check my email to see what today’s workout will be. They are never the same which always keeps it interesting. At the beginning he included links to various websites to demonstrate an exercise or wrote a brief description of what he wanted me to do. The instructions are very specific. I "attack each workout with gusto" (Steve’s words). If it is on the paper I do it. I push myself when he lists a weight I have never done before but I always try. I highly doubt I would be leg pressing 230 without Steve pushing me to try 250.

Steve pushed me much harder than I would have pushed myself especially on the plyometrics. Having asthma they pushed my limits at the beginning. Now I have no chest tightness and (thanks to Steve’s training) I no longer take any daily meds for asthma.

The proof is in the pictures. Look at my February pictures then the July pictures. My arms and shoulders have the most dramatic change. My thighs thinned a lot and my cellulite is all but gone. My calf definition has really increased.

I have had dramatic results in all areas but here is a few:

February 27th starting weight 115, today it is 108.
Starting measurements 36 - 26- 36, today 34-25-34
Starting max push ups 15, today 31.
Starting pull ups none, today 6.
Starting wide grip pulldown 70#, today 100#
Starting Leg Press 100#, today 230#

So now the important part…what is the cost? I pay $60.00 per month (four weeks) which works out to $3 a workout. How do you contact him? Steve Oldfield, stevestraining@yahoo.com

Okay here is part two to the vacation story: After four days of seeing old friends and having a good time we headed for the Keys….
A few months ago I wrote about "Separate Vacations". My husband loves, no, is obsessed with fishing. He uses all his vacation time do just that. I don’t mind as long as I don’t have to go. (I am not allowed to relax on the boat while he fishes. He nags the sh!t out me to fish so that is impossible)
I did ask point blank if he was going to fish all the time. He said no. Technically he didn’t lie. He napped and watched TV too.
I spent three days at the resort’s pool reading trashy books and trying not to burn. On the third day while he was out fishing (again) I walked to the resort across US 1 and sat at the Tiki bar, had a drink, and watched the sunset. I had left a note telling him where I had gone. He found me just after dark.
We argued after we got back to the room. I told him I was tired of sitting around and waiting on him to get back from fishing.
He woke me early the next day and announced we were leaving and going back home. Somewhere around Tallahassee he remarked that it "would have been a fun trip if his brother had come"
Gee thanks….and that is why I will stick to separate vacations.

The first four days of my vacation down to South Florida were amazing. It was the first time anyone had seen the "new and improved" me. My last visit in 2006 I was at my heaviest. Although I talked via email to my friends I never mentioned weight loss mostly as my two closest friends have weight issues. I saw many, many old friends and the reaction was the same all around. Most didn’t recognize me at all until I spoke. (The long hair threw them)
OH! MY God!!!! Look at you! was said over and over again.
A former co-worker told me I was stunningly beautiful.
My favorite was my friend Anita, "What the f#$& happened to you? You look f$%&ing fabulous!
I was asked over and over again about the "how" and shared my story of losing 57 pounds through good eating and exercise. It was quite and ego boost!
I did a little shopping and finally found some dress pants in my size (00) at Ann Taylor that were on sale. (You have to love Ann Taylor ’cause you are always a size smaller there.)
Although I didn’t get to work out I did eat clean. I did try to have a cheat meal at TooJay’s Deli in Palm Beach of a grilled cheese with bacon and tomato. Later my body decided it no longer wanted that thing inside of me. It wasn’t pretty. After that I stuck to veggies and grilled fish. One restaurant stood out. It is called Seasons 52. All fresh food, no entree over 470 calories, no trans or sat. fats, no creams. Real portion sizes. Desserts are shot glass size. I really recommend it.
One more plus….my old job down there asked if I would be interested in coming back in the future. I said yes. Right now I am going to freelance for them a bit until the new boss comes on line.

Up next….the last three days…and why the vacation ended two days early.

It is almost like Extreme Makeover. In two days I leave for a vacation. I am visiting friends in South Florida where I used  to live then heading the the Florida Keys for some R & R.
These friends have not seen me in two years (see my before pic at 160+ pounds). Not only will it be a shock to them but my first public reveal of me in a swim suit. (my backyard doesn’t really count). I didn’t manage the six pack abs I wanted by July 1st but a 57lb weight loss will still stun them none the less.