LLAKE62’s BodyBlog

You all know what the muffin top is, right?  It’s the part of your body that folds over the waistband of your jeans when they are too small - or you are too big.  

It’s right there, where the sides of your waist push out, forming and becoming your own personal muffin-top.  For the record, I like muffins ~ a lot!  Warm blueberry muffins are a favorite and may be a primary cause for my current body shape.  

In the past few months, I’ve been creative in hiding the muffin-top.  Outside shirts and jackets really help!  Hoodies are a definite wardrobe choice of preference.  

But let this blog be notice: I am posting an official muffin-top eviction today!

In 12-weeks the muffin top will no longer reside on me.  I will eat smart, sleep regularly, and be healthy.   All known experts say that the muffin-top  cannot survive in healthy, nutritionally sound, exercise driven environments.  

The muffin-top prefers processed foods, long and lazy days, and weeks of excuses.

Therefore, I resolve to the following:

I will consistently and routinely jump rope, bond with the treadmill, and pump iron.
I will not turn to processed foods.
I will not blame the dryer for shrinking my clothes.
I will not claim "monthly" bloat.
I will not deny its existence!

So I ran into a friend yesterday outside Walgreens.  We hugged and both exclaimed what good luck to have run into each other.  She has been my friend for years.  Anyway, the last time we saw each other I was wrapping up week 5; we had hung out with some other friends by a pool.  I told her then that I was "eating clean" and that I was committed to working out consistently.  I told her then that I had goals.  As we talked, she nodded encouragingly and munched on some of the wonderful grapes I’d brought for a snack!

Fast forward to yesterday - three weeks later.  We run into each other outside of Walgreens and she gets a serious look on her face and says - "I tell you this as a friend, I am worried about you."  I grin, knowing already where her head is, and I say - "Why."?  She says - "you are so thin." "Look at you."

I told her that I am gaining weight~ but it is muscle; I have never eaten healthier or more consistently in my life; and that I probably consume more calories in a day than she does.  

My friend just shakes her head in disbelief.  As I explain to her again about "clean eating" and eating six times a day, I’m also thinking - what would she think if she saw ChickenTuna, AmySuds, BuffMother, DeborahAnn, KatNap, On the Road,  or any number of other great role models from our space! 

I’m thinking - OMG - I have made great progress, but I’m not even ready to post pictures, because I can’t get my abs to POP the way I want them to.  I’m thinking - My legs are just barely starting to show definition.

For the record - I am in the best shape I have ever been: mentally and physically.  I’m tighter than ever.  But I still have goals, because  while I am pleased with my progress - I’ve just started!  I asked her, have I really changed that much since we saw each other three weeks ago?  YES - she exclaims, you have!  I grin, happy with the report.

And as she climbed in her car, lit her cigarette, and drove off  . . . I worried about her.

Today (and really last week) the scale’s digits read "111"  It’s bizarre to me.   I didn’t set out to drop that much weight; I have not been below 115 in more than 20 years.  It’s no longer about numbers - it never should have been about numbers. 

My kid (also a member of this site) keeps instructing  me to update and to blog!  But i don’t have that much to say.  I’m just doing what my role models here said to do: eat clean, work out, stay consistent.

I’m not prepping for competition, and I wasn’t crazy overweight when I started.  I’m nobody very different from anybody else, not really.  I’m just somebody who:

Refuses to give in to meno-pooch. 

Wants to be able to play with her grandkids, whenever that day comes. 

Likes to feel healthy and energetic.

Feels proud from eating clean.

Enjoys success.

Enjoys feeling lean.

Giggles each day as I stand in front of a mirror, lift my shirt to show my belly and bend at absurd angles that have nothing to do with posing or form, to see little indents  that look a lot like abs!

I’m Somebody . . . because I feel like somebody, and I’m loving life ~ what more is there?

As I enter my 22nd day of eating clean (squeak-squeak) I’ve no clue what I should weigh.  So, I changed the goal to 108 and we will see.  A number is just a number - so I don’t know.  And, as my lifting numbers increase I’m confident my weight will increase too, with the definition of sleek, toned muscle.  I’ve never taken such good care of my eating habits:egg whites, chicken, turkey, lots of leafy greans, fresh veggies, a few almonds and water, water, water.  Oh - and my daily bowl of oatmeal w/ fresh blueberries (yum).  I’m eating five and six times a day.  ALL I’ve done is get rid of the processed grains and diet soda and increased how often I eat and wham, 10 pounds have melted off! 

Over the years I have grown accustomed to my little “pooch” i.e., my “pudge.”  I named the fat around my midsection some things kinder than “FAT.”  But it is what it is.  I was never really concerned with my little bulge until I realized that both IT and I were morphing into the stereotypical middle aged spread.   

Until recently I didn’t place myself as middle aged?  The whole reality just kinda’ snuck up on me, ya know?  So did the growing pudge . . . 

I am on my second full-week of eating very clean.  It’s obvious to me already that the Pudge is not going down without a fight!   IT and I are having a battle of wills.  IT wants pretzels sticks and popcorn.   I want abs like DeborahAnn, KatNap, and several others whom I’ve adopted as role models on this board. 

While I struggle with the battle of wills between IT and Mine I frequent our Board and find strength in the success and will power of others who have overcome obstacles far greater than mine.   

Thanks to each of you who have shed pounds, built muscle, and made lifestyle changes by choice and hard work.  You are my inspiration. 

Well -I think my bicep was just the result of too many months away from the gym. I felt pretty good this morning and did not feel any unusual pulls when I went thru my shoulder workout.  AGAIN - I kept it really light.  I was on the smithie -pulling behind my head and I didn’t have ANY weights.  I don’t even care (sort of).  I mean, I am working for the long run and I’m not going to let ego get in the way.  It’s not like I was ever some sort of monstor lifter.  My weight is coming off nicely.  I just weighed in at 119!  I should have weighed tomorrow, but I’m doing good not focusing too much on the number. 

 Shoulders felt good.   I still have next to zero definition- but I’m cranking thru it!

June 13

As promised to myself - I went to the gym on June 7.  In honor of being "back" I started my routine with some back work: pull downs, rows, morning glories, a few other.  Very very light.  Then I worked the shoulders - all very light.

June 8 - chest; June 10 - biceps/triceps; June 12 Back/Shoulders; June 13 . . . my left bicep hurts.  It could have been the pull down . . .?  I’m really hoping I’m just sore.  . . just pushed it  a little bit.  I cannot be injured this soon; I didn’t even push it.

Chest day tomorrow — let see how it feels.

EATING -have been eating very lean.  My carbs have mostly come from fresh veggies.  Lots of water is happening.

I need to up my cardio and get my act together. 

I’ve kept the weight VERY low.

June 7 - my first day back to the gym in months.  I’m irritated at how weak I am.  I’m embarrased by the light weights in  my hand.  I look in the mirrors and don’t see any cut.  The little progress I had gained was lost.  The reflection in the mirror was a soft, clumsy woman.  Where had I gone?  How had it happend?   

Truth told, I really haven’t been at it consistently since December.  Every excuse was working:  my schedule, my job, my attitude.  I went on a Cruise in March and I thought I was "okay" - you know - I looked better than most my age.  Then, I carried the cruise habits into a wicked rebound - cookies, breads, lots of processes crap.

By June 1, I cranked up to 125: clearly this was not muscle.  The sleek 116 from the cruise was long gone and everything was fitting . . . "snug"  I felt like crap - it was terrible.

I joined this forum.  Got my mind into game and analyzed what happened.  Part of what brought me away from the gym was an injury to my shoulder.   So - I knew I had to be careful.  Injury or not -my eating habits were convenient and not about being healthy -much less cut.

It was time to start at it.  Goal ONE - back in the gym by Saturday, June 7.