Sara’s Rants & Raves

Okay, here it is.  I have gone two days in a row towards my goals, and I am feeling great!  Today I focused on hamstrings and lower abs and then went for a run.  Let me just say this, too, that running after abdominal work is great but not so much after working the legs hard!  The first few minutes I thought my calves were going to cause me to drop to the floor.  (They’re often tight.)  I didn’t roll them out before my run, and I should have thought about that.  But, it worked itself out and I finished three miles.  I had read somewhere that two miles a day for 18 days equals one pound of fat being burned, which makes sense at an average of 100kcal per mile.  Eating habits have been better, as I have not been consuming as much salt and noticed a big change immediately!

After my run I went to conquer some pull ups.  Why not?  So, I put the weight at 40 pounds to assist me, and I ended up moving it up to 30 after a full set of 10.  I think I’m on the right track for these goals I have set.  I am going to continue to try my best to get down to 15% body fat by the end of the year.  It is the difference of four pounds of fat.  That’s it, but on my frame it is not easy to lose four pounds.  Or, is it?  Add muscle gains to that, and then I will have to give you a new story.  [I smile.]  I have 64 days to the end of the year.  If I continue to stay on track, then I am bound to meet my goals.  The key is to stay on track and continue to work hard and eat clean, and still drink lots of water and get rest.

At the same time, Jeremy comes home in 16 days.  The challenge and motivation is to get in the best shape by then and also to get as involved as I can with the gym, so we can rock out the workouts when he gets here.  With my brother moving in, my bro will help to challenge me to get into better shape too.  I cannot wait!  I need everything to come together nice and smooth the next six months, and I know having my brother around will help me keep on track.  (He is like 8% body fat.  I cannot look at him without making myself feel fat.  haha)

It’s October, already.  Although I should be excited, I am simply not.  Saturday brings November just like that.  I am no where near where I wanted to be this year physically.  I still have two months to redeem myself for the year, but I still know I wanted to be so much further.  Saying that, I can hope that, at least, I make it to complete my 30 push ups, as I have been saying I shall but have been ignoring doing so, and get back down to 15-16% body fat.  That is where I would like to be!

Recap the year and it is amazing that I am at this point.

I have been living on my own, no roommates, for six months, and, as much as I have enjoyed it, I know that I have been somewhat of a hermit.   Thankfully, my brother’s lease is ending this month, and, in fear of attempting to live once again with new roommates, he has asked to live with me and will be moving in next week.  He and I are very similar, we were always called twins growing up, and he is also a personal trainer, and, with my gym less than a mile away, we are planning on working out together like we did years ago.  So, I believe that will help motivate me.

Since my surgery in February, I have not gotten back into the gym on a regular basis but for a short while during May and June, when my boss began calling me "two-a-day-Sara."  It was immediately in that timespan that they hired in a few new trainers from out of state, who I seemed to have immediate conflicts with, and it was then that I stopped going myself.  I know that my cardiorespiratory system is operating pretty poorly these days.  I know that I could not go out and run the five to eight miles that I used to at least three times a week, not even one day of the week.  The last few weeks I have slowly returning to my previous gym occasions, but it is not even half of what I used to do.  I need to get back in there!

My nutrition is pretty consistant.  For a while they were having ridiculously great sales on frozen lean cuisine meals, and I could tell that I was consuming a lot more salt than normal.  I also notice when I slow down or take too much caffiene during the week.  My sleeping habits have not been as great, but I know that I have been more productive lately with my time.  This semester is all business classes, unlike the Kinesiology I was taking that was a nice challenge on my time, so I am looking forward to putting my extra time in at work and in the gym.  I will continue to eat well, and perhaps more because my brother is moving in and knows how to make the best french toast in the world!

Recently I have travelled to Kentucky, and it looks as though I will be travelling back and forth every other month (again in January and March) until I move there in May.  I am currently studying for my Nasm test, and I plan on transfering my other work down to a location in KY and then applying to become a PT.  Why Kentucky (you may ask)?  Because that is where the lucky guy is.  Yesterday was my 24th birthday, and while I have been saying 22 for the last two years and now have to remember 24, he was sweet enough to send me a gorgeous arrangement of flowers (and still will not admit he sent them… though I know better).  Because my brother is moving in, I know that financially I will be better off when the moving day comes.  Also, with my brother moving in, it has forced me to get this house clean and helps me throw out so much that I do not need!  Closets are so bare right now, and I love it!  I honestly believe I will be able to transport myself down in one trip and in just my little car!

With yesterday being my birthday, my brother and his girlfriend and my mom came over for a visit.  When my brother saw me (and how empty my fridge is) he asked if I have been eating.  Unfortunately probably more than I should, but fortunately my padded bra hides the fact pretty darn well!  [I laugh.]  Despite yesterday’s rain, it was a great birthday.  I did not have a drop of alcohol, which I have been trying my best to avoid since my post-surgery depression that had me drinking far too regularly.  What else can I say?  I really cannot believe I am 24!  I still feel 19, but I am so glad I am not!  Age, I suppose, is one more of those things that motivates me to get up and get moving like I use to!

Yesterday, I took a picture of my mother while she was here with me and she told me to erase it off my camera.  I really wish I kept it so I could post it on here and create a page for her, but it was pretty horrifying (since halloween is just about here ).  She told me she knows what she has to do, and I really hope she does.  She told me that she knows she needs to lose weight and wants to be around for many more years.  (We went to visit my dad yesterday at the care center, who is not doing his best but looks a lot better than the last time I saw him!)  I know it scares her to know that I am moving away next year, as for so many years I have hinted at the fact that I wanted to leave the state but still have yet to do it and am more than serious about it this time.  [Did that make sense?]  She knows she is at-risk for a lot of diseases and is already fighting obesity.  I would like to see her at a size 12 this time next year, but I can only suggest it with some motivational factor and hope she tries her hardest.

Still, I am pretty beat.  My two jobs and full time college, along with travels, family and friends, and trying to have Sara time and nap time, has me extremely strapped down.  I have a project and a quiz still to take today for classes and all I want to do at this point is go for a few mile run and sleep until my early morning shift at the gym.  I have a house to continue to clean, and though I know I can do it tomorrow when I come home from work, I would much rather do that now than homework and test-taking.  Oh, procrasitination!  I should be going to church today, as well, but instead I will save myself the travel and prep time and instead do my own study in the book of Philippians or listen to podcasts while I get a ride on my stationary bike, that would be good!

It is ONLY four pm right now, and though I wake for work in 12 hours, I doubt I will get to bed before 11pm, like usual.  Oh well.  Wish me luck with everything, though, and I will make better attempts, with all the upcoming changes taking place, to better keep things updated here.  I know I still owe you all updated pictures and stats, but that will come with time.  I do have a new camera and have been learning to use it, but I am just not ready for that exposure!

Many thanks and best wishes!

Sara