Little Voices

Made a big mistake today...I "popped" into the grocery store to buy some Vitamin 10 water on an empty stomach! To make it worse, I entered on the side with all of the prepared foods and gourmet cheeses!!! I heard all these little voices begging me to take them home with me...promising how happy and comforted they could make me feel!!! UGH!

I left with three Vitamin 10s and two bottles of flavored seltzers -- trying to give myself a break from regular water, regular water with electrolytes and unsweetened tea. I also went to the health food store and purchased all of the vitamins and supplements that the nutritionist recommended. She even told me brands to buy to ensure the ingredients are whole and healthy.

So now I am going to be taking...
1) Power Multi Vitamin (made from whole foods)
2) Calcium/Magnesium
3) D3
4) Fish Oil
5) CoQ10
6) Probiotics
7) Baby aspirin
...and my daily doses of ibuprofen so that I can move.

I also bought some new sneakers today. While I am a pretty loyal Asics wearer, I bought a pair of Brooks to try out. My two new pair of sneakers that I brought out here are trashed! On my way home from all these errands, I had to pass TWO Starbucks....the voices were back!!! I beat them away by drinking one of my Vitamin 10s.

In honor of my one month here at camp (Monday), I had planned on taking Sunday off and going to the Ritz Carlton for a spa day. Sadly, now the only way I feel like treating myself is SLEEPING. So I am taking Sunday off and....sleeping, recovering, relaxing...and did I mention sleeping???

Ready for the Weekend!!!

So happy tomorrow is Friday!!!!! My calorie burn is still struggling, but I am hoping that by the end of the weekend my calf will heal. I was not cleared to do the Santa Monica Steps tomorrow. Instead, I am going for a 2 hour bike ride (yay me!) and several training sessions and circuits in the gym.

One of my friends here, Mariah, dislocated her shoulder today in one of the boot camps. She popped it back in place herself!!!! She is TUFF...she consults in something with military security. I am such a wimp compared to her. She has been right on target with her weight loss goals (she gained a bunch of weight after her last assignment in Baghdad). This past Monday she had only lost three and she was very disappointed. She weighed in again today...she has lost 7 pounds since MONDAY!!! Go figure.

Well...I am in the middle of my nighttime ritual...soak, ice, yada, yada, yada...thought you'd enjoy this photo so you can enjoy the experience with me. Those are my legs under

the peas. Next is Icy Hot!!

Hope all of you are getting ready for a fun Halloween!!

To Rest...or Burn???

My fourth week here is bringing me confidence in my workouts. I am now consistently working out with the level 2-3 people and have been able to intensify my own level in my workouts.

Unfortunately, week four has also brought my first injury. Fortunately, it is very minor. I have been struggling since Monday night's beach boot camp with a muscle spasm in my calf. When it is in spasm it is very painful. When I rest it and treat it well, it is fine. However the second I engage it again it starts to spasm. SO...my struggle is rest it and not come near my calorie burn goal. Or keep pushing and come close to my calorie burn goal. I know the right answer...I just don't want another weigh in like Monday!!

I have worked with my trainers to adapt most all of my workouts. Today I was even able to "kill it" during Cardio Boo Hoo Hoo Camp (it is nicknamed that for a reason!). I did the boot camp (on the elliptical instead or the treadmill) in place of climbing the mountain...which would have killed my calf. I have also been riding bike a lot in place of impact cardio workouts. The Santa Anna winds are blowing like crazy, which made my bike ride today super hard. I could not even coast because the wind would stop me...had to pedal HARD the entire 20 miles.

The two things that are really making my calf better are SLEEP (I have been getting 9 hours...my body needs it to recover) and the massage therapist. She is this little woman from Thailand...little but STRONG. She worked on my legs last night and today. Last night, She was actually walking on my legs!! Today she was tying my legs up like pretzels to get deep stretches! Painful...but SO helpful!!

The last two days I have only worked out 5 hours instead of the 7 in order to try and rest a bit. I am hoping to get back to the 7 tomorrow. Unfortunately...that also means my calorie burn has only been around 2700 instead of 3500 where it is supposed to be on a daily basis.

Good news of the day is that we had the YUMMY pizza. My slices keep getting smaller...but it is good, good, good!

I am the Turtle and Not the Hare

Okay....so I only lost three pounds. YES, I am frustrated. YES, I want to pack up and go home. But the simple reality is that my furnace does not burn as hot (or quickly) as it should and therefore I loose the weight at a slower pace. Hey...didn't the turtle win the race??!!

This is going to be a long, slow journey that will continue on long after I leave this place. Every other time I have started on it, I quit. NOT this time. I just have to adjust my thinking and focus on all of the positive outcomes that I am already noticing. My strength, endurance, fitness level, muscle tone, and my overall increased confidence with working out and understanding of what my body can do. I also have a great new hobby in biking...and with some more practice I can add yoga and spinning.

All of this "sane" talk came out of a jet-fueled bike ride that I took right after my weigh in. A group bike ride was on my schedule. Well... I took my ipod that has about 4 hours of new workout music (thanks K), my frustration and my new love of riding ....and took off!! I was so far ahead of the rest of the group that I passed all of them on my return trip as they were still huffin it to the pier!! It was great...wind on my face, nothing but beach and ocean for as far as the eye could see, good music and plenty of time to have a serious conversation with myself. (plus I burned over 750 calories)

When I returned I had several people touch base with me -- like my coach, nutritionist, and even the owner of the gym. All had good bits of advice...and all asked about my thyroid. The nutritionist has given me a list of vitamins and supplements that she wants me to start taking...and she is changing my meal plan again. I am being moved to the "A" plan which is usually 1100 calories, but they are going to add an extra meal. So I will eat three 300ish calorie meals and two 200ish calorie meals per day. So my amount of calories per day is not changing, just the way I am taking them in.

My coach had analyzed my calorie burn for the amount of work I have been doing and noted that it is low...even for my age (thanks). We talked about what workouts I burn the most calories doing and she is modifying my schedule.

The owner of the gym just gave me a pep talk and told me his door is open if I want to talk more or if I have any questions. He also recommended a local doctor to have all of my hormone levels checked again...but I told him that I had just done so prior to coming to camp (and I am not about to spend another $1,000 for the blood panels that insurance won't cover!!!)


Other than all this drama...I had a great day of workouts. My energy level was good and my calorie burn is even up a bit ...not at the goal...but still up a bit for me.


Gotta go ice some minor strains (nothing serious Mom!)...then soak!!

I Survived CPK!

I took a little break from blogging this weekend so I thought I would provide a quick recap. Nothing too exciting to report.

Saturday we had 4 hours of work outs and then I came home and relaxed. Then about six of us went to California Pizza Kitchen to celebrate a birthday of one of the "campers" who I hang out with a lot. I did my homework prior to going out and did very well at my first restaurant challenge. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Salad (which is one of my favorites) -- I ordered a half portion with the dressing on the side and a club soda with lime. I only ate half of the salad and was satisfied. Everyone else at the table ordered PIZZA!! And sodas!!!! And dessert!!!! The woman whose birthday it was had calculated the calories she was going to consume and "saved" that amount through the day and day before. Everyone else...well, that's between them and the scale!

Today, we only had two hours of workouts (yay!!). I took the rest of the day OFF! I had a long week and have been really stiff and sore (and still am today). So, I took the rest of the day to chill. I caught up on some work, talked with some friends and family and did laundry...I even took a little nap!!

I am headed to bed in hopes of getting a full nine hours! Weigh in tomorrow morning...positive thoughts....positive thoughts...positive thoughts...

Oh .... as a P.S. ... In our nutrition class on Friday I learned that not only does alcohol slow your metabolism (which I knew), it slows it for up to 72 hours!!!!! I guess that means that my metabolism might pick back up right around my 75th birthday!

Trying to Keep the Faith

I am tired, sore and hungry...oh, that sounds just like all my other posts. I am not feeling any lighter or smaller this week. Two women that I work out with each only lost 1 pound this week. I just don't get it. How can you burn 3500 calories a day and only eat 1200 and NOT loose weight???? Anyone? Anyone?

On a more positive note, I climbed the Santa Monica Stairs today...NINE times! That tops my record by two. I am really learning how to manage my heart rate during my workouts, allowing me more endurance. I also did some interval running and was not completely winded.

Week three is coming to an end...fingers crossed for Monday's weigh in and measurements. I have faith in myself (which is a nice change in the health and fitness department), but am trying to keep faith in the program.

P.S. .....I REALLY miss my sweet doggy!!!!!

Coach Swap

While we are trained by all the trainers throughout the week, they assign one coach who is supposed to be our "go to" -- whether it is for support, encouragement, working through challenges or just general info. It is the coach's job to know what our goals are and to help us work toward them.

The trainer they had assigned me just doesn't seem to give a crap about anybody. The most encouragement I have ever hear come out of her mouth is "you've got this" during one of my workouts. I have never seen her drop an ounce of sweat in the gym even though she is known for brutal workouts (and they are). When I had gained weight my first week...she didn't say a word to me!

I talked with the head trainer tonight, who I have worked out with a ton over the last week and a half. She is really hard core...no BS...but still has a great personality. I really like her style...and she leads by example. I have seen her just tearing up a workout on her own when we have free gym time. I asked if she would consider taking me on and she said "I would love to...as a matter of fact, I was going to ask you if you wanted to switch." I am really happy about it...even though she is also known as one of the toughest trainers. That is what I'm here for!

Other than that, it was a typical day...yoga, spinning, cardio boot camp, two training sessions and 30 minute of boxing -- ALL level 2-3!!

Couple of stories about some of the other members.

One guy went out on a binge this past weekend. He ate at a ton of restaurants/fast food joints and was out drinking...by himself!!! More annoying...he still lost 2 lbs (instead of the 12 he lost the week before)!

We have had about five or six new people start over the last week. One woman, who told me she was 44 (but she looked much older), was in such shock over the workouts that she picked up and left after a day and a half...NO refund!!

Now, I am not saying that I have not had the urge to do either of these things, but I HAVE not...and WILL not. It really helps to have the support system that I came here with (you all) and the support system I have built here. I have chosen to surround myself with the most motivated people and now...one of the best coaches.