Monday: Apex Caramel Peanut Butter cookie (high in protein) (190), 3 Apex protein bars (630), 11 oz apple (184), Cheese wrap (230), 3 oz ground chicken (173.5), Fiber One cereal (120), Pistacchios (170), 5.6 oz chicken tenderloins (154), fat-free hot chocolate (20), Dove dark chocolate (42), 1913 total calories consumed, 2908 calories burned, 995 deficit.
Tuesday: 36 oz apple (4 huge apples) (602), cheese wrap (230), Fiber One cereal (120), Pistacchios (170), 12.64 oz swordfish (555), Dove dark chocolate (42), 1719 total calories consumed, 3284 calories burned, 1565 deficit.
I should not have 1500+ deficits, should be right at 1000 or so, but I just couldn't eat another bite.
Wednesday: Protein bar (210), cheese wrap (230), Pistacchios (170), 3 apples (451), LVAC gym shake (300), Subway Roast Beef Footlong on Wheat (580), Dove dark chocolate (42), 1983 total calories consumed, 4505 calories burned, 2522 deficit.
Thursday: 2 protein bars (410), 2 apples (301), 2 bananas (217), cheese wrap (230), Pistacchios (170), Dove dark chocolate (42), 1380 total calories consumed, 3421 calories burned, 2041 deficit.
I've given up on trying to have 1000 caloric deficits. My eating can't keep up with my exercising. There is just no way I could ever eat 3500 (good) calories in one day. I have trouble eating that in TWO days.
Friday: 9 ounces apple (150), 2 bananas (217), Cheese wrap (230), Pistacchios (170), protein bar (180), 9.2 oz chicken tenderloins (253), Dove dark chocolate (42), 1242 total calories consumed, 3277 calories burned, 2034 deficit.
Saturday: 5 ounces apple (83), 28 ounces banana (730), cheese wrap (230), P90X recovery drink (220), Pistacchios (170), Quaker chocolate chip granola bar (100), SmartFood popcorn (100), 5.7 ounces chicken tenderloins (156), Dove dark chocolate (42), 1832 total calories consumed, 2983 calories burned, 1141 deficit.
I started using ounces instead of items for bananas and was surprised at how much I was undercounting calories, bananas have about 182 calories per banana instead of 110 or so. Going to use ounces for fruit from now, MUCH more accurate. 730 calories from bananas was way too much, max 2 bananas per day from now on. I've been on a banana kick lately.
Sunday: 10 oz apple (167), 15 ounces banana (391), cheese wrap (230), Pistacchios (170), 2 protein bars (360), 10 oz chicken tenderloins (275), Dove dark chocolate (42), 1635 total calories consumed, calories burned, deficit.
Bananas are really helping me close the gap on the 1000 deficit goal (not over-reaching the goal), and now that I'm close to 1000 every day, I miss the days of 2000-2500 caloric deficits.
Will update numbers below once midnight rolls around and I have burned calories for today. Going to be right around 2900.
Totals for this week:
Consumed: 1913, 1719, 1983, 1380, 1242, 1832, 1635, total 11704.
Burned: 2908, 3284, 4505, 3421, 3277, 2983, 2958, total 23336.
Deficit: 11632 (highest ever)
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MONDAY morning - I'm starting to get annoyed at people who tell me not to lose too much weight and become anorexic. I'm a numbers person (in case you haven't been able to tell by now). I'm considered overweight. In 6 more lbs I'll be considered a normal weight. My normal weight ranges from 108 lbs to 145 lbs. When I get to 107 lbs then you can get on my case about losing too much weight. I'd like to think there's enough people ready to kick my butt at the gym if I ever do get to be unhealthily thin. And, I don't want a thin body, I want a fit body. I want a muscular body. And muscle is built by eating at a surplus. Doesn't really mesh with anorexia and bulimia.
Why is it that part of my weight loss experience involves family and friends mentioning eating disorders all the time? Especially a weight loss experience based on exercise and proper nutrition? What does that say about our society? I'm tempted to answer "Meth" when the next person asks me what my "secret" is.
Not to say that I don't have body image issues. Body image wise, I had a lot better body image at 230 lbs than at 151 lbs. The more I lose the fatter I feel. I want to be in shape already. Well, I'd settle for not being sick anymore, for one. And then to be fit so that I can take the classes the way I want.
I absolutely cannot wait for 9a Zumba to go all hard on it. I expect dizziness and shortness of breath. I actually give in and will call the doctor at 8a so that he can give me the inhaler he offered to help with the shortness of breath while the virus runs its course. I could live with better breathing. At least the classes are spaced out today, and I don't go to work tonight because of the holiday. Speaking of the holiday, doctor may not be there today. Will try and if not tomorrow it is. Having shortness of breath (well, shallow breathing, not shortness of breath) right now at rest.
MONDAY 9a Ann Zumba Michele
MONDAY Noon Agassi Lift Rachel
MONDAY 4:30p Cheyenne SET Kathy
MONDAY 6p Agassi Zumba Linda
I think I kind of phased out the heart rate monitor. Now I pretty much just pay attention to what the BB says I burned and eat 1000 less than that.
The first Zumba was good but a bit out of breath and some dizziness, which started before I even got to class, at home in the couch. I'd say I was at 85%. Lift was rough. I skip weights for a week and it seems I lost ALL my strength. But hopefully it's one of those things that picks up to pre-hiatus levels in a couple more classes. I even have trouble holding up, not even moving, the same weight during chest press. Demoralizing and scary, I had to go low or no weight. And I still have issues bending, ramps up the dizziness.
SET was rough also, went pretty much very light or no weight the whole class. I'm coming back cardio wise but not weights wise yet. There was a hamstring standing extension exercise that I couldn't do because it hurt my ribcage.
Zumba. Night Zumba was AWESOME. I was able to go 95%, it's like someone turned on a switch. I realized it five minutes into the class or so. It felt so good to be able to move like that, pre-sickness levels. It was a wonderful, exhilarating experience. I have R39 today and hopefully I can finally take it high impact. I'm taking it a class at a time and enjoying whatever comes.
Ate A LOT. 991 deficit. 1894 in, 2885 out. I estimated 2800 before I knew my body wouldn't cooperate until the last class. Ate a lot of fat. I've been eating very little fat (like half recommended daily value) so maybe my body needed it. 151 lbs Sunday night, 154 Monday morning, 151.5 Monday night. Weights's good. I am so hoping I can do R39 hard tomorrow. I like that round. Two weeks until Boot Camp Las Vegas, already paid up!!
TUESDAY 8a Ann TKB Michele
TUESDAY 10a Trop TKB Linda
TUESDAY 6:30p Craig TKB Donalin
TUESDAY NIGHT/WEDNESDAY MORNING - TKBs today were AWESOME. I was able to go high impact FINALLY on Round 39 (twice!!). Donalin did her own thing as always. When you take 5-6 TKBs a week you come to appreciate instructors who do their own thing. Rachel does sometimes and Donalin does all the time. Others stick to the current round (which is nice also, because you get really good at it after taking it 50 times or so).
I am still sick and not breathing right and I get winded really easily but I'm able to go 90-95% in class, and it feels wonderful. I developed a fear now, though. Because when I was sick, I didn't know if I could do a class or not until I got there. You get to class, then you push, and you find out if you can or not. During one of Dallas' class I went to get up on the bike and promptly sat back down. It wasn't there. There's being able to exercise and taking it easy and then there's not being able to exercise. It's like you're pushing but you find out that you can't, or you're grabbing for something that isn't there. You just know. And a couple of weeks ago I was able to go semi-hard on a Zumba and then the next day it was gone again. So I've developed a bit of a fear that I won't be able to go on any particular class. It's going away a bit now that I successfully took 4 classes, but three classes yesterday were meh to horrible. It's still too fresh in my mind. So I'm just taking it a class at a time. Show up, push at the beginning, see if it's there. I was a bit more tired by Donalin's since it was my third class, my stamina isn't all back yet. But I'm not complaining, I'm burning 400-488 calories per class per the BB and I can go high impact. And it's GOOD. I love that feeling of pushing myself. Now if I could just breathe normally, everything would be perfect. I still have shallow breathing. I'm thinking of calling the doctor tomorrow and taking him up on the offer of the inhaler. Almost five classes tomorrow (Jazmine's first class ends at the same time Donalin's starts, so I'll be late for Donalin's 15 mins or so, so it's really 4 and a third classes).
At Lift on Monday (and SET) I went all light. My strength isn't where it used to be. But I think it's a mix of losing a bit of strength, having the same strength but having to build up to my weights again, and a mental psych out. On Saturday during the AFAA training I went to the assisted pullup machine and was pulling about 55 lbs down from 70 lbs. It was a different brand of machine than I normally use so it could be a bit of that, but I psyched myself out that I lost 15 lbs of pulling ability. I heard horror stories of losing tons of muscle if you don't continously work it out. So on Thursday, no matter what, I'm lifting my pre-sickness weights. It's a mental thing. I took it easy one class, time to go back to business.
I can already run for 30 minutes straight. Tomorrow I'm running for distance, an even 5K. Going to use a treadmill to make it easy to see distance, even though I really dislike treadmills. I dislike cardio machines in general, you put forth all that effort and never get anywhere. And you don't really move, you're really constricted. I like the feeling of flying you get while running. Already got a great soundtrack for it, starting of course with Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Here's the complete soundtrack:
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Jai Ho! - Pussycat Dolls
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
No Easy Way Out (Rocky)
Hearts on Fire (Rocky)
Baby Got Back (Sir Mix-a-Lot)
Headstrong - Trapt
Boom Boom Pow - Back Eyed Peas
34 minutes and some seconds. I'll just repeat it since I'm estimating it will take me more than that. At 30 minutes I did just under 4K.
TKB certification on Saturday. I think Zumba has helped me a lot in the rhythm department, I think I can "feel the beat" a lot better now than six months ago. I'm just going to go and have fun and remember that I've been doing this for six months and the only difference is the direction I'm facing. I can honestly say the AFAA training is about the best thing that could have ever happened to me right before the TKB training, I have lost all fear about being in front of people. There's no pit in my stomach when I think about teaching now, just a Let's Go Already!! The AFAA training has changed my whole outlook in life. This is my year.
But you know it really is like someone is directing all of this and things are happening right on time. I mentioned Lola in last Saturdays' update. Here's how I met her: Three and a half months or so after I joined 24HF I joined LVAC (mid-October or so). Took classes at both gyms. On 12/7 I started the 24 classes in one week at 24HF and didn't go to LVAC that week out of necessity. But something happened that really bonded me to 24HF. I went through a life changing experience with it (one of many) and kind of formed a really close bond with anything 24HF-related. So I pretty much didn't go back to LVAC. On 1/1 they had limited classes at 24HF. I went to a cycle class and it filled up and I was turned away. I REALLY wanted to get my workout in and I don't do machines. So I went to LVAC and took Olga (who I've taken many many times before at LVAC). Who was taking Olga's class? Lola. She seemed crazy and fun so I was sure she had to be an instructor. So I went over to her at the end of class and then added her on Facebook. Never did go back to LVAC since then (at least for classes, I've used their indoor track a handful of times) and have never taken Lola, and other than that one time, never saw her again in real life until the AFAA training last week. And she was the catalyst for everything that happened that day.
So it's just a series of events with perfect timing and a set of circumstances that snowballed into each other.
I like to think 24HF gave me heart and LVAC gave me courage.
So I've been going around asking my TKB instructors for any words of wisdom to take to Saturday's training. And on Tuesday morning I found out that there's such a thing as "Gold" for TKB certification. You need two things to cinch it = perfect form and lots of yelling. And I told Donalin that I wanted Gold since I heard there's such a thing. And she said not to focus so much on the Gold but on passing. That class attendance is more important than a certificate that tells you you are Gold. That people coming to your class and having fun (or something like that) is more important.
I don't know how I feel about that. I'm a very competitive person and I love to be challenged. I love pushing myself to achieve something, and if I fail I just try again. If I don't get Gold the first time, try and try again. More than one day the only reason I went to the gym was to get all 24 Medals through 24 Hour Fitness' New Member Rewards program in order to get the BodyBugg. I would have not have gone on more than one occassion if it wasn't for the fact that I HAD to get 24 Medals. I had to. And I did. And I went to the gym a lot in order to do it. By late 2009 I was so hooked on the GX classes that now that I finished the program going to the gym has become as second nature as breathing or being.
I went to my first Group X class on 9/1, two months after I started going to the gym on 7/3. And I had such a horrible experience in the past with group classes (could not do the class well, felt fat, everyone else was so fit, etc. etc. etc.) that I held off taking a Group X class for two months, and one of the reasons I did it on 9/1 is because I wanted to see that medal already as achieved and I needed to take a GX class. The rest is history. So I respond well when there's something to achieve, it drives me.
I also don't want to be somebody who gets so hung up on things like achieving Gold that I lose sight of the real reason to get certified: to help people. So I got my words of wisdom after all. So I decided to just show up, do my best, be crazy, yell a lot, and have fun. Whatever happens, happens.
WEDNESDAY MORNING: I'm just a wee bit hungry but don't really want the apple of Fiber One I bought. I'd eat Pistacchios or a cheese wrap. Craving fat, I guess. I can hold it until I get home in 5.5 hours. I have NO interest in eating the apple or cereal.
WEDNESDAY 8a Ann Cycle Dallas
WEDNESDAY 9a Ann Boot Camp Justin
WEDNESDAY 10a Ann Zumba Ginger
WEDNESDAY 12:30p LVAC Rainbow BodyCombat Erin
WEDNESDAY 5:30p Cheyenne Zumba Jasmine (her first time teaching Zumba!!)
WEDNESDAY 6:30p Craig Zumba Donalin
WEDNESDAY 9p LVAC Rainbow Zumba Pat
WEDNESDAY NIGHT/THURSDAY RIGHT AFTER MIDNIGHT: Well, I decided to celebrate the fact that I exercise again by taking seven classes today. Spur of the moment idea that started this morning with deciding to take three classes in a row and then it just escalated from there.
I was late for Donalin's Zumba by 15 minutes because Jasmine's was right before, so I ran for 15 minutes after my last Zumba to make up for it and be able to say I took seven classes.
A little soreness all around but nothing major. I love my body.
THURSDAY 8a Ann SET Beth
THURSDAY 10a Agassi TKB Rachel
THURSDAY Noon Cheyenne Lift Rachel
THURSDAY 5:30p Ann Zumba Michele
THURSDAY 7p Sahara Zumba Donalin
FRIDAY MORNING: It feels so good to be able to exercise again. I feel alive. Legs and arms hurt and it's hard to bend, but I get that all the time if I exercise a lot, so it's all good. TKB certification tomorrow. Easy day today. Two days of heavy exercise, gained 1.5 lbs, 1.5 lbs over lowest, 152.5 lbs currently.
I really need to get over that whole getting Gold thing, it has become an obsession.
People keep telling me how great I look and I keep telling them how fat I look. I need to learn to shut up and just say "thank you" and not be a Debbie Downer.
One more week left of 24HF before my March Boot Camp adventure.
After last Saturday's adventure, I notice I'm a bit more outgoing during Zumba. That training did something to me.
FRIDAY 8a Ann Cycle Dallas
FRIDAY 10a Trop TKB Beth
FRIDAY 6p Craig Zumba Donalin
SATURDAY - TKB training all day, two full rounds.
SUNDAY 9a Sahara Cycle Dallas
SUNDAY Noon LVAC/W Sahara Zumba Lola
SUNDAY 3p LVAC/Rainbow BodyCombat Albana
SUNDAY NIGHT - Few things to go over.
TKB training: On Friday night I stayed up until midnight watching American Idol, and I actually got some final words of wisdom for the TKB training from Ellen Degeneres of all people (watching American Idol): it's not about knowing or being good. Everyone can learn and everyone can get good at something. It's about star power, presence. It's about what YOU bring to the room. It's about owning the room. It's about your heart, spirit, and soul.
The TKB training really wiped me out. Last time I felt like that was my first time taking five classes in one day. I'll be posting a more in-depth account by morning.
I noticed that my cardio came back first, then cycle, then weights, which was really surprising (and I may have mentioned before). But I decided to grit my teeth through it and I'm back to pre-sickness weights by my second weights class after "coming back." Pleased with that, shows it was mostly mental.
Here is a description of what the AFAA training was like: You go over what the day is going to be like, then go over what the practical is and practice it a few times, and go through the whole thing two times or so. The practical consisted of: showing moves for a warm-up, including 2 stretches, of your choice, I believe it was a minimum of 3 different warm-up moves, the more the merrier, then a cardio section that lasted a looooong time where you showed cardio moves. Something kicked in inside of me and I started doing TKB moves, and it was great, because I went from move to move not wondering frozen in place what to do next, it just clicked, then a cool-down section (no stretches) where you showed about 3 cool-down moves. Then it was the muscle portion, which was really long and draining, and you went through a bunch of muscle groups showing two exercises that work that muscle group and then one stretch. You could repeat stretches if they stretched two muscle groups but they liked a variety. I tried to add a little spunk to it by really pretending that I was lifting a weight or pulling a cable, etc.
Then came the long individual segments. There were 73 people. I was #60 for some reason because my name was not on one of the lists even though I registered a week in advance. So it was a group of 40 facing one way and then my group of 33 facing the other. I was # 20 in that group. We had to do the segment for everyone in our group. I was still sick and by now I was fainty. But I wasn't going to sit down. I knew I was either going to make it 'til the end or I was going to faint. I don't take that mentality during a regular class, but this was a special occasion. And I did think about sitting down a bunch of times. I think my segment went well, I did step touch, then add arms, then add a knee, then add a hop, then add a jump, with arms as an option. We had to do at least three layers. First time being in front of a group. I thought I had a good powerful voice and I didn't crack under the pressure.
Then we went over the study guide then we took the test then it was over. It was a very tiring day.
The TurboKick training has left me with weird feelings. I was expecting it to be a life-changing experience like the AFAA one, and it wasn't. It was great and all, high energy, learned a lot, but it didn't change my life, and it left me feeling kind of meh. There's something bugging me about it and I don't know what it is. The instructor was Linda, who I've been taking for weeks, and I take her twice a week, Zumba and TKB, and I drive 25 mins away to a far-off gym to take her TKB, so that's not it. And I learned a lot about cuing, form, the 32 count phrase (don't worry about what it is), etc. So that's not it. I don't really know what it is, but I can't get excited about it. The people were great, got three FB contact, so that's not it either. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe I'm just mentally and physically drained from 25 classes this week plus the training.
For the TKB we went through the study guide throughout the day and took two full rounds. For the practical we split into three lines, I was first line, all the way to the right, three people, three people, four people, ten people total in the training. We showed front and back kick, then line two, then line three. Then side and round. Lines 2 and 3. Then jab and cross. Lines 2 and 3. Then hook and upper. Lines 2 and 3. That was it. Then the written, which I thought it was easy and we covered everything in class. I don't know if I got every question right, but I'm almost 100% positive I passed (C average out of 50 questions which I think means you can miss 15 or so).
Yelled a lot and tried to keep up the energy a lot. Got REALLY dizzy in the morning by 11a (training started at 9a) right before the first round, and I had a sample package of the P90X recovery drink so I took that and the dizziness COMPLETELY disappeared. It was awesome, I was full of energy. That lasted four hours or so and ended right before the practical. I did the practical on sheer will, mostly. Was starting to feel dizzy again and energy leaving. By the second round (after the practical, before the written; the first round was after some book learning and before the practical) I was all wiped out and barely made it through. Funny how I can do seven classes in one day but two high-intensity TKB rounds wipe me out. I kept yelling and my throat got sore, kept trying to go all out and be all full of energy and excitement (and think I succeeded).
4-6 weeks to know if I passed. Next up: Schwinn Indoor Cycle, March 7th. Also in March Zumba (with Beto!!) and willPower and Grace.
During the TKB training they said two of the most important qualities for a good instructor to have are the ability to make small talk and to connect with people, and that's what my boss at work says makes or breaks a good customer service rep, so I finally know why I'm at the job I'm at: it's the perfect place to practice being a good instructor. Fate again.
I am soooo psyched about Monday, I get to do the week all over again. By Sunday the week is all used up, on Mondays I can make my week's schedule and see everyone I'm taking and rejoice in the awesomeness. See you next week.
