sherrygenet’s BodyBlog

I’ve been making really good progress the last 5 weeks.  I think my thyroid meds and hormones must have stablized and maybe I actually have a metabolism again!  In 5 weeks, I’ve lost 8 lbs (14 lbs total), lost 1 inch on my chest, 2 inches on my waist, 1 inch on my hips, and 1 inch on my thighs (now that’s amazing in itself, since I’ve got the biggest legs ever, and even when I am in super good shape, they are still huge.  It’s a blessing and a curse.)  As long as I’m feeling good and healthy, and everything is tight, I don’t care any more how big a body part is.  I just want to look and feel good.

I’ve been training pretty hard and consistent and eating 75%-90% clean.  This is do-able for me.

Anyway, I’m excited for the future.  I want to lose another 10-15 lbs of fat, while at least maintaining the muscle mass that I have.  I’m on my way!

Well, it’s been a week and a half of consistently working out again and eating pretty clean.  I’ve lost 4 lbs, 1.5 inches on my waist, 1 inch on my hips, and a half inch on my thighs.  I’m feeling a lot better, a lot tighter, I look better and I am starting to see better muscle definition when I’m lifting at the gym.  I can also feel the gains when I’m surfing.  My paddling is much stronger, I’m able to catch better waves, and I don’t get as tired as quickly.  My next immediate goal is to lose 10 more pounds (I’ve lost 10 so far), and then see where I go from there.  Maybe lose a little more, or just refine what I have.  I’ll see how I feel and look.

I’ve decided it’s time to change my eating and exercise habits.  It’s time and I’m back on track again.  I’ve cleaned up my diet, bodybuilding style.  You know.  Egg whites, lean proteins, oatmeal, rice, veggies, etc., every 2-3 hours and 5 or 6 meals a day.  Trying to increase my water intake to a goal of 1/2 to 1 gallon per day.  I’m trying to do cardio every day.  I absolutely HATE cardio, so for right now I am limiting it to 20-25 minutes if I’m inside on the treadmill/elliptical/bike.  I do interval training for cardio, keeping my HR at 65% - 90% of my max HR.  I usually ride my bike 8 minutes to and from the gym and I’m walking the beach (1 1/2 hours down and back in the sand - it’s actually a pretty good workout).  I do 3-5 weight workouts per week.  Workout #1 is chest/tris.  Workout #2 is back/bis.  Workout #3 is Shoulders and legs.  I do abs a few days a week.  They’re not usually a problem for me, and as long as my body fat is lower, they come out pretty easily.  So, I’m happy with my progress.  Eating clean for 4 days and I’ve lost 2.5 pounds.  I always love the first few days of cleaning up my diet, because I feel so much better.  Anyway, my goal is to lose another 15 pounds of fat (I’ve lost a total of 9 pounds so far.  I really want to keep my Lean Body weight around 110-115 lbs.  I want to gain some upper body mass and, of course, lean out my lower body much more.  I would like to maintain a BF% between 15% and 19%, and weight between 130-140.  I’m on my way again!!  Yeah.

Well, my life has changed tremendously in the last 6 months.  I had some health issues, moved to a different country, started a new business, and am going through a divorce.  So, I think I’m finally getting back on track.  I’ve finally lost 7 lbs and it’s been relatively consistent over the last month or two.  Now, back to the gym consistently and trying to tighten up my diet a bit.  New goal:  Lose 15 more pounds of fat and maintain my muscle.

Well, after a really rough few months, I have been on my thyroid meds for about 2 months now and have lost 12 pounds in total without really trying too much.  I actually didn’t even work out for about 3 weeks and lost 7 pounds in that time.  So, I am now back in the game.  I’ve been working out for a few weeks now.  I try to work out 4-5 times per week, 40 minutes of high intensity cardio and 40 minutes of weights, then abs and stretching.  It seems to be working well.  I’ve been in Costa Rica for the last 2 1/2 months and will be back in Tampa next week for about 2 1/2 weeks.  Then back to CR for 3 months.  I’m excited for the high season in CR.  My goal is to workout and surf everyday possible.  I will get to work with my trainer 3 X’s per week in Tampa and hopefully that will really kick start me getting back into great shape.  I’m not sure what my body fat is right now, but I’m feeling like I’ve lost a few pounds of lbw.  I’d like to gain about 3-5 pounds of muscle and lose about 15 pounds of fat.  Want to maintain a BF% less than 20%.

I was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia and hypothyroidism.  So basically, I have no energy, NO metabolism, and my hormones are completely screwed up.  I’ve had a bunch of tests done and get more results from my Doc next week.  I’m on meds, which can take a few months or more to regulate and before I’ll feel better.  \

Anyway, I GAINED 15-20 pounds in something like a month!!  It was HORRIBLE.  Especially after I had worked so hard to make the progress I did.  I knew there was something wrong because I was making gains, but not the kind of gains I should have  been making for the type of training I was doing.  And then, I gained around 10 pounds in a week!   Withougt much change in diet or exercise.  It was freaking me out.

At least I have answers now.  I’ve lost 4 or 5 pounds of that 15 or 20.  I’m somewhere between 28.5% 30% BF!!  (I had been down to 23.3%.  My goal is to maintain under 20%).  All I can do is keep going forward.  I’m glad to be back on the boards.  It was just so hard after all the gains I had made, and then such a big set back in such a short time.  It’s just taken a while to get back here.  But, I figure there are a lot of people out there that go through ups and downs, so I would rather tell my story so that maybe other people can see it and be motivated and relate.  Or, if anyone else has been through stuff like this, feel free to write me.

Believe it or not, my Doc told me to lay off the cardio until we get my blood work stabilized (thyroid hormones).  Weight training is fine, so I’ve been lifting a few times a week to keep up my strength and some conditioning.  I’ve started powerlifting a bit again, which feels good.  I was doing so much cardio a few months ago, so my training now is so much different.  My Doc also told me that doing so much cardio could have affected my adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol (I think this is what she said), which also makes you retain and gain fat. 

 Sorry to all those who wrote me that I didn’t respond to.  This is why.

It’s been a long time since I posted.  I won’t get into details, but I had a REALLY rough time physically and mentally the last 2 months.  I’ve had a low grade fever for 2 or 3 months and gained 15 pounds in 2 months without much change in diet and exercise.  Basically, I felt like I was going crazy.

This will be my last post for a month.  I’m heading down to the beach in Costa Rica for almost a month with my whole family (my husband, my 3 year old daughter and  my 4 year old daughter).  I’m a little nervous because my training is going really well, I’m feeling much more conditioned, making progress and stronger.  I’m motivated and things are going in the right direction.

This is all about to change.  New environment, different diet, different exercise, different everything.  My goal is to do Bikram Yoga (1.5 hrs in a 105 degree room!) MWF, run 2-3 miles TThSat, surf everyday possible, and I also brought my exericse bands and sparring pads to use with my husband.  Who knows?  Maybe a change in routine will actually be a good thing and a shock to my body.

I’m excited for the adventure, but also worried because I’ve been doing so well and have been so motivated.  I’ll be strong!  If possible, I’ll check in a couple times a week.  If anything, maybe a darker tan will make me LOOK leaner, even if I’m not !

 Pura Vida!!

I had my last BF measurement this morning before I go away for almost a month. 

Beginning stats:  146.5 lbs, 32.4% + BF (Jan 10 2007), was 153 lbs Dec 2006

New stats:  139.5 lbs, 23.38%BF (May 24 2007)

Since last week, I lost 1.5 lbs and 2.13% BF!!!!  Yeah.

I’m pretty excited and am approaching one of my short term goals of being less than 20% BF.  Since Jan, I have lost 7 pounds overall (actually 14 pounds total since December 2006, but I didn’t do my bodyfat or photos back then, so I’m starting in Jan with my transformation), GAINED 7.17 lbs LBW, and LOST 14.17 lbs of fat. 

I’m pretty psyched when I look at my overall progress.  I still have a long way to go but I’m really happy to be getting the results that I am.

I have to go, but will write more later.

Ran 3 miles tonight.  Felt pretty good.  It’s all relative, you know?  I did 3 miles in 35 minutes, which is amazing for me!  A few months ago I wouldn’t have been able to run 1 mile!  It helps to run at night.  That 90 degree mid-day Florida heat is a killer,  can’t wait for summertime!

• I’ve been REALLY tired lately.  And, having a hard time pushing hard with cardio.   Sunday was my cheat night and for workout I did 1 hour of cardio.
• Yesterday (Monday) I worked out with my trainer in the am (was WAY tired in the beginning but felt good afterwards), eating was ok, not great, not totally bad, and didn’t do a second workout in the evening.  I have to get my motivation going again, eat much cleaner, and start my two-a-days.
• I’m feeling stronger, in much better condition, but definitely not feeling the fat coming off as quickly as I would like.  Slow and steady at this point, I guess.  It’s just always nice to have the little jump where all of a sudden 3 pounds comes off practically overnight and it stays off!
• Getting my body fat done Thursday, so we’ll see how I did this week.
• Plan for today:  workout during the day (cardio, weak body parts in the gym, or yoga), and this evening I need to run.