speckled6’s BodyBlog

I am trying to get back to working out.  I have only a few short months to complete my pt cert. and I want that so much.  I have always wanted a career where I could help others.  When I was younger I thought that meant I would have to be a nurse.  Now I know that I can do so much and help people in a meaningful way as a personal trainer.  I know what it’s like to come back from a devastating injury.  I know what it’s like to be overweight (I’ve had 6 kids…I know what it takes to lose weight!).  I know what it’s like to have physical ailments that sap your strength and motivation.  And I want to show people that you can overcome those things.  I want to help people reclaim their lives.  Yes, I know a lot of people hire personal trainers to get them that last few steps…maybe lose the last 10 or 15 pounds or  build just a little more muscle when they are already in great shape.  That’s wonderful, I’m sure I would love working with those clients.  But I really want to make a difference to those people who think they can’t do it.  I want to help the people who think they can’t help themselves.  And I want to show them that they can do it…start them on the path and guide them part of the way and then just point them in the right direction and see them acheive their goals on their own.  What satisfaction for both of us there will be in that!

In the meantime…I have my toughest client-myself.  I have to find it in me to fight for what I want and not just give up when it comes hard.  I have to keep going when it seems I am almost, but not quite, there.  That’s the hard part.  That’s the part that will really show what I am made of.

The unfortunate thing is that I am unable to compete.  I don’t have a deadline to meet in that way.  The only deadline is October 4th of this year when I have to have my exam completed by.

I just have to keep reading, keep studying, keep working and the results I want will come…I know they will. 

They will.

Getting on that treadmill showed me just how far off track I’ve gotten.  I got home at 6 am the other day from my run and my boyfriend asked me what I did, "Coughed, sputtered and felt like I was going to die" was my response!  1.56 miles and I had to walk for a minute or two after only 1/2 mile.  That was Tuesday.  Yesterday I stayed in bed (bad, I know…but starting slow is a good thing) and this am I got up and ran for 1.6 miles, no resting at 5.0 the whole way.  I ran across one of my old oxygen mags yesterday with a 6 week plan in it and I am going to start following it as best I can tomorrow. 

I lost my way for a bit, but not so much that I can’t find my way back again.  And I think I will go much further this time…maybe I’ll make a new path!

 Woohoo…yay 5:20!

I have totally lost focus.  Actually…I had lost focus.  I met this guy and he was amazing…and he still is.  But we both lost our focus on fitness when we got together, partly as a byproduct of really just enjoying hanging out and partly as a result of us living so far from each other…driving 36 miles each way is a real time suck!

But now we are under the same roof 24/7…and I couldn’t be happier!  And we live in an area that has a Y really close by so we are signing up this week and the first order of business for me will be to see how far I can still run on the treadmill.  I have gained about 10 lbs. in the last 8 mts and I feel every ounce of it.  So I need to get on a schedule and keep to it.  That means I will have to get up at 5 am every morning to go and run and lift, but without that I don’t know if I will ever be able to reach my ultimate goal of becoming a trainer.  I have heard people say that as a trainer, you personally will be your toughest client.  I believe it!

I really just want a nice figure back at this point.  Nothing fits me.  The things that do fit make me look like a total blimp and I don’t like it.  I want to feel good about what I see in the mirror again.  I know what it will take.  I’m daunted by the task in front of me, but what frightens me most is the strong possibility of crossing that 160 lb line on the scale…that is a place I don’t want to see again ever!

Well, off to check in on a few of my old friends and see how they have been.  Love to all and keep strong!

Ciao!

I’m am sooooo going through withdrawals!  LOL

Sorry, I didn’t mean to flake out on ya’all like that…my computer had a meltdown–I mean it, literally.  My youngest poured water on it and it started on fire!  LOL.  Kids…ya can’t help but love them!  But all is fixed now and I am back online, once again connected to the world!

I have been busy this week painting still and doing some demo and all that fun stuff.  I ran into a few snaffus this week besides the computer thing so I didn’t get to the gym even once   but I kept the eating clean for the most part (I had another date with the fella and I just had to take him to the best ice cream place in town–where I only ate 1/2 of my ice cream and I had eaten less than half of my meal when we went out too)

So, it wasn’t a great week….but I did get some lifting in–upper body workout with clean up after demo work (have I mentioned that I love powertools and these last couple of weeks have been an absolute blast for me?)

Uh, ok….so the part that I am really dying to spill about is the fella!  We went for a walk on our date too–I think we walked about a mile.  It was really nice.  And he asked me if I have a bike, which I do now, so I think we will go for a bike ride on our next date (and I am soooo happy that it looks like there will be a next date!)  We laughed so hard that I was crying and my sides hurt.  We talked and talked and I even drove him around my hometown and showed him all the little places I know.  He was very sweet and at the end of the date we shared our first real kiss (BIG grin!)  I’m like a schoolgirl!  I blush all the time when he looks at me and I can’t help but smile just when I think about him.  And his outlook on life is so positive and balanced–even with all he’s been through.  I guess it would be fair to say I am smitten!

Ok, enough on that.  I am dead tired after this week so I think I am gonna call it a night.  I will try to get to all my friends and competitors to share some encouragement this weekend.

Be well!

jean

LOL!  I didn’t get to the gym too much this week, but I worked my backside let me tell ya!  I have been up and down a ladder so many times this last week my tush and hammies are screaming!  Not to mention holding my arms above my head for what seemed like hours on end!  I have been painting ceilings and walls and scraping and painting.  Crazy, but crazy fun!

I think I lost some weight too.  At least it feels that way since my stomach is flatter this week (does a little happy dance!)  I am going to get to the gym tomorrow for a run and weight check. 

My goal next week is to get to the gym for a 3 mile run 4 days (12 miles for the week then) and to do weights at least 2 days.  Situps every day and vigorous activity every day (playing with the kids, housework, then more painting next week so those days it will be easy!)  Clean eating all the way, no treats.

I will report how I do throughout the week probably and get to as many of you to cheer you on as I can through the week too. 

Have fun!

jean

Hi all…I had a great day today!  I did my presentation in class and it went really well, also finished my final exam for MS office and got a 97%.  Got a nap in this afternoon, had dinner and went to the gym. 

I ran 3.2 miles (3.4 total, but the .2 was warm up so I don’t count it).  The last 7 minutes I upped the speed to 6.0 and kept at it.  I was workin’ hard to keep it up, but I made it and was very pleased. 

After my run I went to the situp machine and did 15 reps at 70 lbs., 20 hyperextensions @100 lbs, 5 (set at 15) assisted pullups, 10 (set at 15) assisted dips, 10 (still set at 15) assisted close grip pullups (as a side note, I have always been afraid of that machine, but I was the only one in the gym as it was late so I figured what the heck, and I really liked it!), 10 machine bench presses at 30 lbs. 

Then they started shutting off lights and I had to go.

I must say though that today I have felt a little lost.  My kids are staying with my sis in law and my brother for a couple of days so I could have some down time and get some work done for school and it has helped, but today the pressure was off and I can’t tell ya how much I missed my kids!  I called to talk to them and was almost in tears for missing them–and I just saw them last night–and they are just across town!  But I didn’t want to go over there and get them all excited and then upset when I left.  I have to paint tomorrow and I need to be up really early so I am letting my sis in law take over for a little bit and letting the kids play and have fun.  But I can’t wait to get them back tomorrow night!

Maybe it’s just the stress letting go and I am overwhelmed with all that has happened in the last few months and that is contributing to my emotional behavior.  At any rate, I guess the really great thing is that I got to take a step back and see how empty my life is without my kids and it has given me a renewed sense of gratitude that I have them.  I am very blessed. 

With that I am gonna go.  Laundry doesn’t stop even when the kids aren’t home!

Be well,

jean

Last week of school here and I am under the gun, in a big way so I haven’t worked out…but I did do some vigorous housework yesterday and my heartrate was definitely up and I was sweating buckets so I guess that counts.  Then, today I was painting…up and down that ladder all day long!  And again, sweating buckets…so I know I am getting something in there.  My goal right now is to get to the gym at least twice yet this week.  I will be painting again on thursday and maybe friday.  The real obstacle is the fact that I have a date this week with a really great (and OMGosh gorgeous!) guy and I will be busy one evening for sure…plus I will be trying to catch up on all the sleep I have been missin’ with the schoolwork crisis I am in!  So, it looks like Friday evening I have a date with the gym and again sat morning.  I will slate time for 3 mile runs both days and also some weights on sat.  I am so excited!!!  Ok all…

Be well,

jean

That’s it…I’m out of the last man standing challenge!  LOL…that didn’t take long! 

Ahhh, but it was the s’mores that really done me in…if I hadn’t figured the calories on them I probably wouldn’t have even touched one, but I figured it out and once I had one I had like 4!  But it was really a craving for carbs driven by a carb rich diet for the last couple of days.  I am trying hard to pull it back today and tomorrow it will get even better.  I am still in for the baby got back challenge and so looking forward to cheering everyone on to their goals with both challenges. 

Don’t think that I am gonna be eating ice cream and cheesecake just cuz I’m outta this one…it’s game on all the way!  I have 3 challenges going on right now actually and clean eating is the way to go!  So, I’m right there with you…just my names not in the ring for last man standing anymore. 

Soooooo….eat clean, be well and keep on truckin’ ya’all, cuz this specklie chick is hot on your heels!  LOL

Okey dokey….here we go!

last man standing challenge:  ok, I would like to say that I am gonna eat clean and leave it at that….but I know me and I can rationalize anything–yes, even the peanut butter!  so, I am gonna say that clean eating for me means actual portion sizes, 5-6 small meals per day, no cream sauces, sour cream or cream cheese, no cheesecake (this is a tough one since the day after tomorrow is the family reunion and that stuff is always around on those occasions!), no ice cream (gasp!), oats for breakfast, fruit for a snack, salads or sensible sandwiches for lunch, veggies and tea for a snack, soup or whole wheat pasta for supper with some sort of protein or veggie stir frys for supper and nighttime snacks will have to be a protein like beans or fat free cottage cheese or lowfat kefir (which does have a good amount of protein in it)  Ok, I think that about covers it!  I will be having my cheat for the week on sunday–I will let everyone know what it is in a blog that day or the next.

Ok….baby got back.  this one, I guess I had just thought it was for the heiny…but if it’s whatever on the backside I would like to see a change in my hammy’s.  well, actually in the area from just above my hips (those stubborn muffin tops) to my knees is the area I would really like to see slim down and tone up.  I guess I would measure this with..well, measurements!  I will also take before and after pics…but I don’t really want to post them until the end…I think I will do that.  that way I won’t be so focused on where I started from.  I will just be pushing to see where I can get to.  I think that will work better for me.  I don’t think you can really measure the muffin top area, so I will have to rely on pics to see the progress there…but the true measure will be my pants.  Guys: you might not understand this part but the girls will totally get it!  I have this pair of LEI jeans…size 7, perfect length, perfect color and perfect shape for my body.  I love these jeans…but they are too small.  I can squeeze into them and if I don’t breath, I look pretty good in them! (LOL) but I want to be able to comfortably wear these pants by the end of the challenge and feel really really good in them.  So that is the biggest measure, the best measure I can come up with for progress. 

so, there it is.  I hope this covers the qualifications for the challenge.  please let me know if I need to add something in here or if there is information missing.  I really want to rock this challenge–both of them.  this is such a great idea, can’t have one without the other can you?  Ok, gotta run off to the gym before my games tonight.  be well all and I can’t wait to read all of your goals! 

let the fun begin!!!

Ok…trying to get geared up for the last man standing challenge and trying to figure the clean eating thing.  I went to mydailyplate.com and also to fitday–these 2 sites give me such wide ranging results that I am just lost!

Here’s what I came up with for eats for one day…

breakfast:

1 cup oatmeal with 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, 2 tsp wheat germ, 1/8 cup slivered almonds and 1 small banana

midmorning:

1/2 cup lowfat strawberry kefir

lunch:

2 cups romaine or other dark green lettuce, 3/4 cup chickpeas, 1 cup fresh portabello mushroom pcs.

afternoon snack:

slim tea, 1-2 cups fresh veggies (broccoli or cauliflower most likely) and 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese.

supper:

 2 cups veggie soup (mix of zucchinni, summer squash, edamame, pasta and soy sauce with some crushed red peppers and ginger in veggie broth)

nighttime snack:

3/4 cup chickpeas heated up with 1/2 cup quinoa

before bed:

1/2 cup lowfat strawberry kefir

I’m trying to get good protein in there, low fat and complex carbs.  So what do you guys think?  Calorie wise is this good?  Is it too much?  Too little?  What about fat?  Am I going overboard on that?  I honestly don’t see that much fat in there…but the calorie sites are telling me anywhere from 16.23% to over 30% in fat!  Ugh. 

I looked in the forums and couldn’t find anything that specifically addressed the issue of fat, carb, protein ratios in daily intake.  Most look to protein levels or supps.  I want a good balance without supps.  Any ideas?  I’m just lost on this right now and tomorrow is the big day we need to put our plan up!

I have been having 20 oz sodas the last couple of days…but I am going to consider them cheats for the purpose of the challenge, even though they are zero calories they are definitely NOT clean eating!  I think that will rank right up there with giving up ice cream for a while!  LOL, we all have our vices don’t we???

Ok, any thoughts, ideas, input–much appreciated as always.  Be well and I can’t wait to see everyone’s plans for the new challenge!

jean