The View from the Classroom

I didn’t really believe it was gonna happen until I saw it last night on the website…my weight loss story is featured in the December issue of "Women’s Health" magazine.  I’m not sure if the issue is out yet, but they already have it on the website.  You can see it here:

 http://www.womenshealthmag.com/article/0,6176,s1-11-68-1052-1,00.html

Last night hubby and I were working chest and tri’s.  I’m thinking to myself that I haven’t been pushing myself like I used to.  I mean, I lift heavy and if I feel like it I up the weight where I can, but I haven’t REALLY pushed myself in a while, especially when it comes to the chest.  So….I made up my mind that I would cause I still want to bench 135 at least once before the end of the year.  Warmed up on the elliptical.  Did two sets of bench press, one at 95 lbs and one at 105. 

Now, hubby says I should just put the 45’s on and try it.  I say "Are you freakin’ crazy?!!!  There’s no way!  That’s like YOU putting 30+ pounds more on your highest bench and trying it!!"  He thinks about it and replies "Yeah, but you never know if you don’t try."  So…I compromise and try 125.

I pump myself up, lift it off the rack, take a deep breath, bring it down to my chest and start to think, "no way".  Hubby gives me a little spot, tells me to breathe, which I do, and I lift it.

He says he didn’t help me much, but he has a tendency to lie about stuff like that.  He says it’s like when he’s doing a crossword and gets stuck.  I give him the answer to a clue and that gets him going so that he can finish.  He says it was just a little help to get me going.  I don’t believe him. 

BUT…I tried it and at least I know.  I know I need to work harder and push myself more if I’m gonnna get to the 135.

Have a great weekend everyone.  I’m taking it off the weights…just a little cardio and some relaxation.

Just in case the few friends of mine I do have are wondering, I thought I would share a little bit of what I’ve been up to…

WORK…teaching middle school is hard work!!  I don’t know how I’d do it without my workouts.  They are my stress relief.  At the same time though, this year has been one of the best in my short teaching career.  I’m teaching a lot of the same kids as last year since I moved up a grade and our class sizes are significantly smaller…I have about 40 less kids than last year and it makes a HUGE difference.  Work is the main reason I’m not on here too much these days.  Just don’t have the free time I have in the summer!!

WORKOUTS…Weight training 4 to 5 days per week and still trying to add some mass to the upper body.  I think I’m seeing some results, but it’s hard to tell when you see yourself everyday.  I’m doing 4 days of cardio, mixing it up, stairmaster, elliptical, some running now that my disc seems to have recovered for the most part.  I still have to be careful and feel that it could flare up at anytime, but the running hasn’t bothered it at all and I even ran 3 miles the other day.  Did some sprints today.  Anyway, it feels good to be able to run once again.  I’m keeping the cardio because it really seems to help the disc problem.  Hubby and I went through a boxing session with a PT at our gym the other night.  It was AWESOME!! My shoulders/arms were a little sore the next day, but I loved it and think we may start adding that once a week to our workouts.  For me, that will mean I will get to nix the 2nd day of early morning cardio I do during the week.  Gotta love that!!

OTHER STUFF…Finished a PT class and took my test.  Won’t have the results for a few weeks, but I feel good about it.  Not sure what my intentions are as far as using it, but I don’t have to decide that right now. 

I’ve had a hard time keeping the diet clean for the last 6 weeks or so…it all started with my birthday.  Problem is, it just didn’t stop.  And…I have put on some weight.  I’m up to around 142-145.  Body fat % is still in a good range…11.5%-15% depending on the time of day I take it, but I’m having a hard time getting ok with my clothes fitting tighter.  I really don’t want to start buying larger sizes.  So…decided a  couple of days ago to clean up the diet at least until Thanksgiving break and I’m doing well with that thus far.  It’s just a matter of making up the mind and doing it, huh? 

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I’m supposed to be featured in the December issue of Women’s Health Magazine…I’m sharing my weight loss story…including the real before pics…it should be out later this month!! 

Other than that, fall baseball and volleyball are over and neither of my kids are playing basketball so we get a little break.  I actually get some free time!!