4 Month Post Op totals and Gym Today

Hey guys. I just got home from the gym, and want to get this posted while hopefully I can still remember what all I did. Today was a day with the trainer, although Holly was sick, so I actually worked with 3 different people today. Below is my workout for today:



Today is also 4 months since I had my surgey. I weighed and did measurements this morning, even though its not time for my weekly ones, because it was my 4 months. So far I have lost 79.2 pounds, and a total of 91.75 inches! I am sooo excited. I will post a new picture as soon as I get one taken.

Awesome... completely awesome

Hey guys... I just got home from the gym. I wasn't working with Holly today, so it was just me. I had the most amazing work out ever. I can not believe how incredible it was. I got to the gym as 12:00... I left the gym as 2:45 and I was going hard the whole time I was there. I got to the gym and started on the bike. I did 10 miles, it took me 43.4 minutes to do it. I averaged a level 5.7, but I went anywhere from 4 to 9. My heart rate was 123. After that I went down the the machine area. I stretched out real good and then got started. I did the ab machine first.... and I did... TEN sets of FIFTY reps... uh huh... 500 reps on the thing, at 55 lbs. When I started working out, 2 months ago, I could barely do 3 sets of 25. A month ago Holly increased my reps to 4 sets of 25 and I jokingly said if i keep up this pace in a month, I'll be doing 500 reps. Little did I know... I really would. It was amazing. My abs are burning good, but it feels great. So then I did steps. I did 4 sets of 25 on them. That was the least I did of anything, but they are very challenging for me. After those I went to the bicep curl machine, I did 4 sets of 50 at 20 pounds. So while I was on the bicep machine, I was looking around the room at the other machines. Shortly after I started at the gym, my original trainer left, and I worked with one of the guys that works there one day. I was doing the shoulder press machine, and was really struggling, and he laughed at me because I couldn't do it. I have not been back on that machine since. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Every time I would look at it, I heard him laughing at me. So today, I decided it was time. He had held me back too long already. I did it today. I had at 20 pounds. And I did 2 sets of 50, And 2 sets of 25, and the last 50 I had to do in sets of 10.... but I did the 200 reps that I was doing on all the machines today. I got of that machine and I was crying. I had done it. And it hurt very bad, but I finished. It was a huge accomplishment for me, before if something had bothered me like that, I probably never would have done it again. And I not only overcame the fear of that machine, and the horror of what happened that day 2 months ago. But I moved past the ability to just forget about things that have given me trouble before. After I stopped crying, I finished up on the triceps machine. I did pounds on that one. I did one set of 50, and one set of 150. If I didn't have class tonight, I could have, and would have stayed a lot longer. It was just amazing. I can't believe how far I have come in so short a time period. Someone once told me they expected great things out of me. At the time, I had a hard time imagining I would ever really get to greatness. Now, I fully believe I WILL achieve greatness. Occasionally I do it now. Today was a day for greatness. I feel like I could conquer the world right now. Every time I get like this, the more I want every day to be like this. Life is just so amazing. And every day is a new adventure, because every day I change in some way, and right now there is no limit to what I can do in life. The only thing that can stop me anymore, is me... and if I can keep this attitude, that won't be possible either.

Food today
Scrambled egg and cheese
Half piece of toast with sugar free blackberry jelly
Stuffed Chicken for Lunch and Supper (I didn't have time to cook, I stayed at the gym too long :) )

Tuesday Food and Workout

I talked to Holly my trainer yesterday about my results from the weigh in last week. She couldn't believe it either. She really didn't have any idea why that would have happened, or how it could have happened. She talked to the other people that work there, and none of them could figure it out. So they decided it was either that I was getting sick, like an infection or something, OR that my body has gotten used to the workout I'm doing, and that it is no longer enough. She suggested I come to the gym everyday, I would only work out with her 3 days a week still, but the other days I can work out on my own. Yesterday's workout was a good workout physically, but I really had a hard time with it mentally, I just wasn't where I needed to be. Usually I finish a workout feeling very fired up and energized and ready to take on the world, yesterday none of that was there. My attitude just wasn't where it needed to be. But here is my workout from yesterday.

Treadmill - 30 minutes, avg 3.2 MPH, 1.5 miles, HR 115
Bike - 30 minutes, Levels 3-9, I did it manually this time instead of the interval mode, 7 miles, HR 125.
Ab Machine - 4 Sets of 40 at 55 pounds
Bicep Curls - 4 Sets of 40 at 20 pounds
Thigh Machine - 4 Sets of 40 at 30 pounds
Triceps Machine - 4 Sets of 40 at 30 pounds
Treadmill - cool down - 10 minutes, 2.5 MPH

Food from yesterday
Boiled Egg
Peanut Butter Toast
Cheese Stuffed Chicken
Protein Bar

I still didn't eat enough yesterday. I have GOT to do better. I seem to either want to eat to much, or not eat enough. I did get my protein and water in yesterday, and took my vitamins and calcium.

See you later today with my workout and food for today.

Frustrated and Confused

Ok. Where do I start. Last week I went to the gym Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I planned on going Friday night, but it didn't happen. I did go to the zoo Friday though and walked all over it, so I still got some exercise in. Saturday I went to Dollywood and walked all over and pushed a wheel chair almost the whole time, so I got exercise that day too. So Saturday I did my weekly weigh in and measurements. It was devastating. When I measured I had gained 32 inches total in one week. That is anywhere from a month to three months worth of work depending on which area I compared, that I had gained back in one week. When I weighed, I had just eaten not long before, but I had gained .6 pounds. Now... I know there is a LOT I don't have any idea about when it comes to health stuff. However, I also know there was no way possible I could gain 32 inches and not even gain a pound. It simply wasn't possible. So after lots of sitting here in disbelief. I measured again, something had to have been wrong before. My results that time were better but still horrible. My final measurements had me gaining 17 inches. I reweighed later too, longer after I'd eaten, and my final weight loss was .8 pounds. Now I have yet to be able to figure out HOW that is possible. How do you lose weight and GAIN 17 inches?!?!? HOW??? So tomorrow I am going to have a long talk with my trainer and figure out what is going on, because something is obviously not working. So anyway, after that weigh in, I was very confused, and even more frustrated. And Sunday I didn't care about any of it, I didn't want to fool with it, what was the point anyway? So I ate some stuff that I should never eat since my surgery. I didn't take my vitamins and calcium, I didn't get my protein in, I didn't get my water in, and I didn't care. I found some way to justify everything I did. And then when I sat down last night, and started thinking about it all.... I did care. I felt horrible. I took the first step towards throwing EVERYTHING I have worked so hard for away. I started doing the one thing that I have been scared to death of since surgery. I started eating in ways that would stretch my tummy. I started eating like I would have before. Now no, I didn't eat as much as I would have before, and no, I didn't eat everything I would have before. But I ate more than I should have, and things I shouldn't have. So since I am obviously struggling alot, and I have to make sure I don't go back to where I started at 4 months ago, I am going to start posting what I eat on here. I would ask that you all please continue to support me and help me stay focused on what I need to be doing.

Today I had a half peanut butter sandwich with some kashi cereal on it. (I know, it sounds terrible, but it kinda tastes like crunchy peanut butter and it is high in protein) And then later I had a half wrap with chicken, ham, cheese, and some honey dijan on it. I did take my vitamins today and my calcium. I haven't gotten enough water in today. I guess I only had about 40 ounces so far. I didn't get enough protein in today either. I am supposed to have between 62-74 grams of protein a day, and I had 50 today. I need to do better on that. The problem is that I only ate twice today, so it is very hard to get in enough protein when I'm not eating enough.

Now for today's workout. I went to the gym and ended up getting in the pool and doing my workout there today. I did 10 minutes each on the bike, the treadmill, and the elliptical going forward, and then 10 minutes going backwards as well. I did 10 times across the pool doing lunges, 50 leg lifts on each leg going forward, back, and to the side, and 10 minutes of rowing motion with the exercise band. All that was done with 2 floating weights on each leg. I then swam 10 laps in the pool. And finished off with 10 minutes in the hot tub. I was really hesitant to do much right now, until I can talk to my trainer, because I'm afraid I may be OVER doing my workouts or something.

Anyway, I just ask again that anyone out there who reads this or is following my journey to please continue to support and help me stay on track. I am really struggling right now, and I have to be careful or I will make the surgery and everything I have done since then a waste of time and energy. Thanks for the support you all give. I will be posting a lot more, at least for right now.

This week at the gym....

Has been absolutely insane. I was on the bike Tuesday going like normal, and decided I was going to see how fast I could go. I went 2 minutes on level 9 at 21.4 MPH. That alone is completely insane. But then you know I had to tell Christy what I'd done, because it was awesome. And that is when it got really crazy. We decided we were going to have a competition with the bike for the next two weeks, along side our biggest loser competition.

Below are my workouts for this week:

Tuesday:
Treadmill - Level 1 for 20 minutes with an average speed of 3.4 MPH and an average Heart Rate of 124, I did 1 mile in 18.34 minutes.
Bike - I do interval mode on it, which goes at two different levels (5 and 9), but my average level was 6.7, and I did that for 27 minutes, average speed was 15.7 MPH and average HR was 112. That is when I did the 2 minutes at 21.4 MPH on level 9.
After that "warm up" I did machines. My trainer has had me decrease the weight I'm doing and increase reps. So I am now doing 4 sets of 40 on every machine. I did the Ab machine at 50 lbs, Bicep Curls at 30 lbs, Leg press I did 2 sets at 80 lbs and then 2 sets at 100 lbs because 80 was just too light. I did tricep extension at 30 lbs, and then Compound Seated Row Machine at 60 lbs.
So then it was time for my cool down, and I did the bike again, this time I decided I would try "fat burner" mode... which is NOT a cool down exercise, but oh well. I did that for 10 minutes with an average speed of 15.4 MPH and my heart rate averaged 131. It went at several levels ranging from 6 to 16. When it hit level 16, again I decided to see how fast I could go, and went 18.5 MPH for 90 seconds.

Wednesday:
Treadmill, level 1, 30 minutes, with an average speed of 3.2MPH, I did 1.5 miles in 30 mins.
Bike, average level 6.8, for 32 minutes, avg speed 15.2 MPH, and avg HR was 124. I did 6.5 miles in a half hour, and hit 23 MPH on level 9 but could only maintain that for about 45 seconds
Ab Machine, 50 lbs, 4 Sets of 40
Vertical Chest Press, 20 lbs, 4 Sets of 40
Tricep Extensions, 30 lbs, 4 Sets of 40
Bicep Curls, 30 lbs, 4 Sets of 40
Bike, Level 4, 10 min, 2 Miles - cool down

Thursday:
I woke up today, and didn't want to go to the gym, I didn't want to do anything, especially not if it looked like work. But... thanks to some encouragement from Christy... I went. I told her I would go, but I wasn't killing myself there today. So my workout today looks pretty small compared to the other days this week.
Treadmill, level 1, 30 Mins, average speed 3.5 MPH, I went 1.69 Miles in 30 minutes.
Bike, Level 11 & 6 interval mode, 30 minutes, did 7.59 Miles, I hit 163 rpm and maintained for about 5 seconds (which was only so I could beat Christy!!!!), i went 1 mile in 3.5 minutes at lvl 11 (again, I had to beat Christy)!
Then after my time on the bike I was going to do the elliptical, but my trainer wouldn't let me, said it could be unsafe after what I had already done, since I am not used to it. So then I was rather upset so I got back on the treadmill, at level 1, for 26.25 minutes. I was going for 1.31 miles that time, not a specific length of time, I just wanted to get to a total of 3 Miles. Which I did!! I went at 3 MPH for all but one minute of it, which I did at 5 MPH!!
Sooo it doesn't look like much, but it was one heck of a work out! And yes, I still ended up killing myself at the gym today. I left the gym with a MUCH better attitude then I got there with. It has been an amazing week so far, and I still hope to go tomorrow night for my last chance workout.... plus I'm going to the zoo with mom tomorrow, for a field trip with Kindergarten and First grade... and we are going to Dollywood Saturday, so I will get lots of exercise in both of those places. Can't wait to see how the weigh in and measurements go this week! Will keep you posted.

Wow

Hey guys. I did my wiegh in and measurrements today. I am happy with them. I lost 3 pounds this week, and 8.75 inches total this week! I went to the gym this morning, in addition to my three regular days I go every week. So today I was there on my own, no trainer to push me to continue, no friends to push me to continue. Just me. I have to say I think I did very well. I did 16 minutes on the treadclimber at an average of 2.3 mph. I have done it three times total now, and the first time I made it 3 minutes on it before my heart rate hit 240. Needless to say they made me get off, and I stayed off it till this week. Today after 16 minutes my heart rate averaged 133! I did 5 minutes on the elliptical, it is still very hard for me, my heart rate hit 190 on it today, so I went ahead and got off of it. I did 32 minutes (2 minutes cool down) on the bike and the treadmill. On the bike I have started doing interval mode and today I did level 5 and 8. On the treadmill I did 3.4 mph average, and 4.5 mph for one minute. So I did a total of an hour and 20 minutes of cardio, and when I finished that part, my heart rate was only 112! That is absolutely awesome, considering when I started the gym about a month and a half ago, I had a resting heart rate of 102. I am getting so much healthier. My first thought after my cardio this morning was, my heart is getting so much better. I have already added time to my life, in just the month and a half I've been working out. I have also now hit a total of 75 pounds lost since surgery. I am thrilled with my progress, but I am to the point now, that its not about losses anymore. It is truely about what I am gaining from all this. I have more energy then I ever even dreamed was possible. I am getting stronger. I am getting healthy. I am truely happy, for probably the first time ever in my life. Yes I have lost a lot, but I have gained SOO much more. And its all the things in life that really matter. I can't wait to see where my life is going to take me, and I know everyday I'm giving myself longer to get there.

Current losses

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been posting very regularly. I will try to do better about that. I am now about 3 and a half months post op. I have lost as of my last measurements 72.2 pounds, and 77.75 total inches. Christy and I have decided to have a biggest loser competition of our own. I went to the gym today, and mentioned it to my trainer. She was all excited about it, and really pushed me hard. I am sore in all my muscles, including ones I didn't realize I even had. I will post my latest picture too, the difference in the preop picture and my three month picture is just amazing. I have so much energy now, it is unbelievable. Life is good. I will update more later.