dangergrl’s BodyBlog

So… After not having a gym to go to for five months, I finally found one that I can afford. I’ve been back in the gym for a month and eating a lot cleaner. I’m amazed at the changes I’ve already seen in my body. Thank God for muscle memory too! I thought it would take me a lot longer than this to get most of my strength back. I just want to lose body fat and look nice and lean. Plus I wanna be in the best shape I can be in by December. Gotta look good for my man when he comes home!  

One of the trainers at the gym has been nice enough to train the me and the girl that has been going to the gym with me lately. For a very low cost too! And according to him, I’m what he calls a “sleeper.” Meaning that when you look at me, it doesn’t look like I have much muscle. But once I start lifting, they pop out. I guess that’s okay. It beats being a sissy! It’s funny though. The three people I’ve trained with have all underestimated me during the first session:
*The first trainer sent me and my workout partner at the time an email saying he was wrong about his first impression of us: “You two are a lot more advanced than I thought.”
*The second trainer went to give me weights and then say “Oh, these might be too heavy for you.” So I told him to give me the weights he already had out because I can handle what he throws at me. I even told him not to underestimate me before we started. After the session he goes “You were right. I did underestimate you. You’re a lot stronger than I thought. I can tell most people to step up on a box and they get a workout from that. Next time I’ll make it more challenging.”
*And the third… Well, he kept to himself. But the attitude he gave toward me versus the girl that works out with me now was totally different. I could tell he didn’t want me to tag along. He didn’t even look me in the eye to shake my hand when he introduced himself to us. But I decided to give it a shot and see if he would treat us the same when training us. And he did. He told me after the workout he was worried about me because he didn’t think I would be able to keep up. He even told me halfway through the workout that I am a lot stronger than I look.

I guess a good saying for all that would be “Tell me I can’t and I’ll show you I can.”

My parents are still giving me a hard time about my eating and working out. I don’t understand why they don’t want me to be healthy. But it gives me that little extra push that I need to stay with it and show them that I’m not going to give up. My brother even gave me a hard time for eating healthy. I was making some chicken and sweet potatoes and he asked what it was for. So I told him I was making it so I could eat it over the next few days because I’m going back to eating healthier. And he responds with “Oh.. that will last about two weeks.” He said that over a month ago… And I’m still eating better! It pisses me off to be underestimated, but I think that’s what gives me that extra drive that I need. I know that I’m not going to give up on my goals no matter what. Nobody can do this for me except myself. It’s just nice to have the support from the people you’re closest to. 

If there was ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing, IT IS NOW. Not for any grand cause, necessarily… but for something that tugs at your heart, something that’s your inspiration, something that’s your dream. You owe it to yourself to make your days here count.
HAVE FUN.
DIG DEEP.
STRETCH.
DREAM BIG.

Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy. There will be good days. And there will be bad days. There will be times when you want to turn around, pack it up, and call it quits. Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself and that you are not afraid to learn by trying.

PERSIST.
With an idea, determination, and the right tools, you can do great things. Let your instincts, your intellect, and your heart guide you.

TRUST.
Believe in the incredible power of the human mind. Believe in doing something that makes a difference. Believe in working hard. Believe in laughing and hoping. Believe in all the things that will cross your path this year. Have hope and have faith.
Take each obstacle that you may come across as an opportunity to grow mentally and physically. You either climb a mountain to overcome something, or just jump over a small ant pile. No matter what we face, we still overcome the obstacle- big or small. You never know what you’re going to come across until you reach it. And never EVER give up no matter how trying times may be. You’ll never leave where you are until you decide where you’d rather be.

If you want change, then find a way to make a change. You’ll figure out your strengths and weaknesses. You can do anything you set your heart to. You just have to find it in yourself to set off on that journey and make it through. Loving every moment of life’s challenges, because in the end… you’ll find out who you are and you’ll gain so much from it. You just have to open your eyes to see the change in yourself.

The start of something new brings the hope of something great.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
 

So get this… I was on my way out the door to go do an hour of cardio and my dad asked where I was going. So I responded with my usual answer when it comes to cardio- “I’m going to go torture myself.” But I say this in a joking manner and he knows that. Well, for some reason he wasn’t happy with me. He started to lecture me… sorta. And I was not happy with what he had to say. Our conversation went something like this: 

Him: Well if you don’t like doing it then don’t go out and do it. 

Me: I was only kidding! I know I say those things but I really love doing what I do. 

Him: I wouldn’t do it so much. God gave you so many heartbeats and this is how you’re wasting them? Look at all those guys who die at 45-50 years old. Most of them were health freaks. That didn’t get them very far now did it? 

Me: Where do you get your information from?? 

Him: I don’t know why you kind of people eat all this junk and workout for hours on end. 

Me: You kind of people?!? Excuse me??? What’s that supposed to mean? And junk? What I eat is NOT junk. I’m sorry I eat healthy foods and want to take good care of my body… (then my mom jumps in. And she’s on my side!) 

My mom: Leave her alone! She wants to eat right and take care of her body and actually stay in shape. There’s nothing wrong with that. She’s better off than we are. Just because we’re the fat and lazy one’s who don’t want to go out and do anything, doesn’t mean you have to try to bring her down. 

Me: Thank you mom! I’m glad you see it in a more sensible way. 

My mom: Don’t listen to anything he says… 

Me: Trust me… when it comes to me working out and eating right, I block out his opinions. He just doesn’t understand. Working out is my drug and I’m addicted… 

By this time my dad was talking under his breath but I just ignored him. 

I do NOT agree with ANYTHING he said… If it weren’t for the fact that I respect my dad I would have yelled at him. I thought about it, but realized it was pointless. He only believes what he wants to. And when he has something in his head, it’s hard to change his opinion. 

This really upsets me… I have very little support from my family. I mean, my mom stood up for me. But she’s also had some opinions of her own. She just doesn’t come right out and say it like my dad does. I think I’m slowly starting to win her support though. But I want them to back me up 110% on what I’m doing. I really am afraid to tell them that I want to compete in bodybuilding competitions later on in ’09. But right now, I know I won’t have their support. It’s going to take a while before my dad sees that what I’m doing is the best thing for me. There’s not much that I can do right now to change his mind. He thinks I’m tutoring myself by working out and eating right. I just don’t understand why he sees it that way. 

When I first started working out, it was to get back into shape. I started in mid September I think. And so far everything is going great! I give my workout partner tons of credit. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. She’s giving me the motivation I needed when I didn’t feel like working out as well as that extra push to make myself do better. And now when I work out…. it’s to transform my entire body- Lose body fat and have killer muscles

At first, our workouts just about killed me. I couldn’t even do a wall sit for a straight minute without taking a break every 15 seconds! Now I can hold it for up to two minutes with a 35 lb. plate on my lap I’ve made some MAJOR progress along the way. I can remember when I first started and I did one armed rows for the first time. I’m pretty sure I only used 15 lbs. at the time. I used to hate one armed rows… but they are starting to grow on me. I can finally use 35 lbs. when I do them.

I can tell a major difference in my body. I’ve lost weight but gained muscle. And I officially HATE scales… they don’t work to my advantage at all anymore. And you know what? That doesn’t bother me. But now is the time I wish I had a camera that worked. I would have loved to take pictures of my body back in September and compare them to how I look now.

Sometime towards the end of September I ended up with shin splints. I was never a runner. But when I first started working out, my partner convinced me I needed to do cardio and I should try running. I knew this was asking a lot because I couldn’t even run 3 minutes on a treadmill!!! But I pushed myself to do it. My first time running with her, I ran for 10 min… but I took a little break after 5 min. Then as the week went on, she added more time to our daily jog. After about a week and a half to two weeks I could run for about 17 min. straight. I was proud of myself. That was a HUGE improvement for me! And it only took about two weeks! My body felt great. My midsection was slimming down. Running was relaxing instead of torture! Then one day on the treadmill my shins felt like they were going to break. Turns out I ended up with shin splints. =/

So I took some time off from running. October came and went and my shins still hurt. October wasn’t my best month either… I felt like I barely worked out. I noticed a change in my body yet again…. I started packing on more weight around my waist again and I was very unhappy with this. I still try running every now and then. But my shoes are old and my shins still hurt. So I have to replace one or the other. I figured it would be easier to go ahead and get new shoes. haha I really can’t wait till I can run again. It really made a difference.

I know with a good clean diet as well as the working out will get me the 6 pack that I want. I just feel like running would be an even bigger advantage and a faster way to the 6 pack I desire…. That and I really really miss it!

So my workout partner and I have been on this diet for about a week now. She found it on someone’s website on here and thought we should try it out. This is what we have:

Meal #1: plain oatmeal w/ 1 scoop protein powder
Meal #2: 1 scoop protein powder in water
Meal #3: 4 oz. chicken and yams
Meal #4: 1 scoop protein powder in water
Meal #5: Salad with 1 T. olive oil and vinegar, 4 oz. chicken, 1/2 cup green beans
Mean #6: 1 scoop protein powder in water

 I’ve been sticking to it for the most part. I do cheat  a little about every other day but I don’t overdo it. I can already see a difference in my body. I’ve even lost about 2-3 pounds of fat. And the muscles in my arms are becoming more defined.

But I have a little problem… my parents. They don’t really understand why I’m doing this. I’ve told them over and over but they still don’t quiet comprehend it. My mom does a better job at understanding this than my dad does. She gets on my dads case for getting on MY case! He’s always saying "if you don’t like the way it tastes then I wouldn’t drink it if I were you!" (talking about protein powder in water) So I told him I may not like the taste of it right now, but I do like the results I’m seeing. It’s all about self control and motivation. When I want something bad enough I don’t stop until I’m there. And a nice defined body is what I want. So exercise and certain diets is what I’m doing to get it. I just can’t wait to see the end results!