I have managed to make it just over two months. I have survived 20 sessions with my trainer, and just signed up for even more! I am happy that I chose to get a personal trainer. Yes, it is expensive and I truly can’t afford it, but I am making it work. As I have said before, this is an investment, one with myself that I can’t afford not to.
I won’t lie, it has been a frustrating ride. The first workout session was gruesome. Ugh, I didn’t realize how bad I let my muscles deteriorate. In the end, I was left feeling like a limp noodle, stuck at the bottom of the pot… and surprisingly I got the “high”. You know, the kind they talk about with runners. And unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Apparently, you only get one, or at least that is what I got. The following Thursday session… Nothing. Nada tostada! Just felt exhausted and run down.
I also realized that my asthma was worse than I thought. Even though my mom and brother have been dealing with it for decades, I wasn’t diagnosed with asthma until a few years ago. After my first two sessions with the trainer, I had to do something about the lack of breathing and went to see my doctor. I was having such a hard time breathing and even a day later, felt like someone had taken a scrub brush and shoved it down my throat; inflammation central! We are currently on the third trial of a new every day inhaler along with an asthma/allergy pill, Singulair. What we have done has helped, but I am still doing at least four puffs from my emergency inhaler during my hour-long session. By the way, if you are looking for an awesome Allergy, Asthma, and Immunologist – Dr. Fieman is fabulous!
As for the weight… I have only lost a few pounds here and there. That’s it! Disappointing to say the least. I had it in my head that when I changed my diet and introduced intense exercise, the pounds would just melt off. So much for the 50 in 5… but I still have time. I wish I would have taken my measurements before starting so I could see if there was a change there. There has been muscle growth as I can feel the difference when lifting weights, but I am not sure of how much. Based on old clothes that I can fit back into, I would say I have lost about 10 inches; 3.5 in the waist, 1.25 in each arm, and 2 in each thigh.
With the lack of weight loss, I am working on not drinking all together. While I was still incorporating those calories into my food tracker, I know it is hindering my weight loss. So… bye bye glass of wine after work… hello tea! My therapist and I figured out that I have been using alcohol to relax and come down from the stress of the work day. Even when I have taken time out to meditate in the middle of the day, it wasn’t enough. I stopped buying wine for the house, but would still find myself stopping by the bar on the way home for a drink to chill out for a bit. It is also a good habit for when I (hopefully) become pregnant. While the tea helps as something to sip on, I have found that listening to my current my audio book and laying down in bed with the lights off works better.
To wrap this up, I thought I would share some of the things that I have learned since starting this whole 50 in 5 thing.
- Fitness Trainers are awesome! Without a trainer, I wouldn’t have the willpower to push myself to the point of muscle exhaustion. I would have quit 2/3 of the way through; each day and each time
- Don’t forget your sunglasses! It may be 5:30AM when you get to the gym, but when you leave, the sun is up and blinding you in the eyes
- Best feeling in the world? Getting into the car, resting my hot sweaty body on the cool leather seats. Just a little sigh of relief after some hard work
- An even better feeling? Walking into work, knowing I have already kicked some ass today, and it isn’t even 9:00AM
- It is hard not to let my depression take a hold of me and stop me from going to my bi-weekly sessions
- After 35, 30, or even 25 years of age, your body doesn’t respond/ function the same way it used to
~Side note: thanks to the TimeHop App, I have noticed the pattern of doing this weight gain/weight loss every year around the same time. The only difference was I never was this heavy and always able to shed the 15-20 pounds and get back down to 130 pounds
I am ready to step up my game. No more “cheat” days that turn into cheat weeks. I need to stay with my strict meal plan and keep making every meal. Meal prep SUCKS but makes such a difference – when I sneak in the meals out or sugary treat(s), my body shows it and feels it.
Since I am able to breathe and my strength has increased, I know my body and mind can do more. So besides my two workout sessions with my trainer, I am adding on two classes over the weekend. I am thinking the Ballet Sculpt and yoga (not hot yoga, I would die). Maybe a Zumba class too? I will try a month of these changes – hope the changes will make a more dramatic difference which would help inspire me to keep going. I will write again in a month with an update – and measurements! Cheers.