Making_A_Change’s BodyBlog

I had a cheat meal of waffles, eggs, and bacon. It was wonderful and I savored every bite. Since my week typically consisted of water, oatmeal, tuna, chicken, spinach, and brocolli; that sweet, buttery waffle was delicious. This evening I decided to run around the lake which has a 3 mile parameter. I wasn’t going to workout today, but I felt like I HAD to and I actually WANTED to. I started running later than I would have liked and half-way into the run it was dark. I don’t run at night,so I was just trying to finish as strong and as quickly as possible–and I finished!! I ran the whole way!

 Tomorrow morning is a chest/back and ab day. And since I feel like I am getting into a groove, I’ll be recording my workouts. I hope to post some progress picture in a few weeks, around April 8th.

 Mmmmmmm….waffles.

I am still sore from Thursday’s leg workout. I wasn’t sore the following days of my workout (Friday), a bit stiff and sore today (Saturday).  My quads are the most sore. I had plans to to the stadium steps, but they were closed due to a track meet, so I went to the school’s gym, instead. It was my first time this year. I remember going there as an undergraduate student over 10 years ago, but haven’t been back since. I wasn’t as sore as I am this everning, so I did 20 minutes of cardio on the treadmill (9.-9.5% incline; 3.4-3.5 mph). I got a good swet going. I stared to feel really warm at 23 minutes. Is that the point where you are burning fat and should keep going? I have class on Monday and Wednesday that ends just 1 hour before the track closes. So, I am going to  be able to get some evening cardio in. Funny, how your are able to see opportunities to get extra workouts in when your motivation changes.

I have been making alot a excuses. There are alot of professional woman on this site, who are students, mothers of several children, single, married, working, mananging health issues, etc. who mangage to make their bodies and health a priority. I remember a caption in one of my magazines that said, "Everyone has the same 24 hours." And I am beginning to put that quote to use. Just during the last couple of weeks, I have begun to feel an increase in my energy levels. I have been able to come home from home and class and clean or do laundry , play vigorously with my daughter, and make a really good dinner (which I pack for lunch the next day). My profile photos are burned into my brain, a reminder of what I don’t want to look like.

Tonight, I’m going to do a nice, long stretch. Tommorow will be a check/back day, and I will do calves since they aren’t  sore at all.

So, I have been eating well, around 5 small meals per day. I have been trying to get to the gym in the morning (5 a.m.), and trying to figure out when I am going to go in the evenings to get more cardio in. My university opens the track to the public during certain hours, so I plan to go walk up and down the stadium stairs. I am going to go for the first time on Saturday. I feel like now that I have written in, I am committed. The hunger pangs and the cravings are still there. My cycle is about to start and that makes the cravings more intense. My weakness is ice cream-Tin Roof Sundae or Cookies and Cream. I can take out half a gallon in a few days. I do allow a new vice, though, and it has been pudding with low-fat milk. I get the chocolate goodness and and cool, creaminess. I am juiced about going grocery shopping today, I have had my list since Wednesday.

This journey has forced me to be alot more organized. I pack my foods and have been getting back to my roots and spending more time in the kitchen. It is so nice to spend that time with my 3-year old, daughter. She chops, stirs and tastes everything. She can take out a spoonful of butter if you don’t watcher her. We act like we’re doing a cooking show and she narrates. I have been packing my food and carrying it with me in a cooler. I may spend more on groceries, but I am spending less money eating out. Last night, I made chicken tacos, with corn tortillas, a pinch of cheese, and green salsa. I didn’t have any lettuce so I used sauteed red cabbage. It was really good and so pretty! I had left overs today.

 Last night, I took pictures of the parts that I want to see improve over time–just to give me something to compare later. I have my mom’s legs. I worked my legs last night. I focused on compound movements like squats, presses, and lunges. I would like to get another leg workout in this week and isolate parts. Hopefully, this works. I would normally only be able to work on my legs once per week, because they would stay sore for 4 days. I don’t know if it becuase I was dehydrated, malnourished, or what. But I am going to keep track of those things in a week or so. Right now, I just want to workout consistently.

"I see you pee." I remember hearing this joke for the first time in around first or second grade. And at the time it was really funny and naughty–our attempt at taboo jokes. Yesterday, I came so close to drinking a gallon–over 3/4 of a gallon. I am extremely pround of myself and know that it will help me reach my goals, but it felt like urinating consumed my day. Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it was definitely more than I typically go. I couldn’t get through meetings and I couldn’t get through my class. There were some points in the day when I was going every 45 minutes. I have to be going at least three times more often than I was going inthe past. But on a positive note, I also succeeded in eating every 2-3 hours yesterday. The meals weren’t as complete as I would have liked becuase I need to go grovery shopping, but a good day nonetheless. I was surprised to find that I once I put my little on to bed at 8:30, I had the energy to clean the entire apartment before bed. Leaving my weekend free for something else. Nice.

I have never been more attentive to what I put in my body, than when I posted my “before” pictures on this site. That publicly posted image, and the numerous profiles I have been visiting, have had a powerful effect on me. I have become more conscious of what I am eating and how it is making me feel. And when I update my profile picture in a few weeks, I would like to see some change. It is moving to see people who have changed their bodies, and their quality of life, in such dramatic ways; and continue to work towards new goals. Unlike the transformations in magazines and on websites, you get to see “after the after” and find out how people are maintaining, continuously improving their physiques. And the reality is that there really isn’t an “after”.
  

Right now, I am a little frustrated at the size of a “true” portion. As I write this, I am trying to determine if I am truly hungry or just want to eat because I am sitting at my desk. I had a small bowl of turkey chili, a stick of pepper jack cheese, and 16 ounces of water. And do you hear me when I say; I really wanted to smother that chili with sour cream.  I have even resorted to using smaller plates to “trick myself” into thinking that it is more food. I don’t know if the urge is because I am truly hungry or that I am trying to adopt new habits–making then more desirable.
  

I do appreciate the feedback and encouragement I have been getting. Phearless reminded me of not just the physical, but the day to day advantages of being fit. It is really going to touch every facet of my life. It will be interesting to discover if my fear of public speaking, for example, is in any way linked to me being conscious about the way that I look.
  

 Damn, I’m hungry…I think. 

I have never done anything this bold before. But I was beginning to feel like I would continue to repeat the same patterns if I didn’t do something drastic. I am fat. I am 5"8′ and it has been fairly easy to hide my flaws because of my height and conservative dress.  A good blazer and a pair of slacks can do wonders to camaflouge rolls and ripples. But lately its been harder to hide, and frankly I don’t want to anymore. I have a supportive husband that loves my body at any size, both a blessing and a curse. Someone on this site, I believe it was ChickenTuna (who looks AMAZING), said that (and I am paraphrasing) that one of the advantages of being fit is getting to feel sexy all of the time. I tried to imagine what that would be like. No matter what I was wearing-sweats, a suit, jeans-I would feel good. I wouldn’t have to layer shirts or unbutton my pants to hide my "muffin top", put my bra strap in a certain place on my back as not to exacerbate the "back bubble", or have a "pie butt". I have been looking at alot of profiles and blogs on this site and the common threads are: consistency, intensity, and sacrifice. And I am finally ready to do what it takes.

What have you had to give up or are giving up to get the body that you have now?

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