My Knees are killing me! Why am I smiling?

Heck of a good week so far! Eating well, feeling strong. Knees not too happy though. I told one of my trainers today that squatting while holding a weighted bar is not making me knees happy and I said we won't be doing that again until I drop another fourty pounds. Actually, I asked him nicely, it is not a good practice to try and boss your trainers around. Complaining is not too smart either, they seem to to pile it on if you whine. Luckily, when I get in the zone I don't whine too much. They do listen to your constructive comments though and genuinely want you to make progress but not get injured.

Tomorrow I get another free massage, Working Well and Wellquest rocks!

In light of my new policy of full disclosure here is my report from last week:

I got in 390 minutes of cardio last week and 120 minutes of weight training.

That’s the good news, the bad news is that I went over my max calories three days last week. I recorded the facts and sent my food log to Steve, I expect that the beatings will commence soon.

I also only lost a half a pound last week which gives substance to my theory that you can never get enough exercise to allow you to eat what you want.

Glenda

Still Going Strong

Week six is ending on a high note. Our team works out together on Saturdays, I love it when we get together. I have been reading the other team's blogs, very inspirational! I do laught hysterically every time I read where someone doesn't want to share how well they are doing because other teams will find out. Trust me, you won't lose any faster if I know how you're doing. In fact, I hope everyone rocks this challenge! Working Well has given 24 people the opportunity of a lifetime here so we are all winners here.

Watching the Biggest Loser is more fun when you're losing than when you're gaining!

Love to watch the Loser. Lots of folks as fat as me or fatter trying to find the answers. Every once in awhile one of the contestants will look straight into the camera and say something about never going back, never regaining the weight. I can see the doubt, we all have it. Will we be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle? Will we keep up the exercise? People who have won the whole challenge, $250,000 and shown off their new bodies in front of millions have gained it back. 5% keep it off, frikin 5%. How will I make sure I am one of the 5%? Got to change inside and out,that's how. I can do that.

Working out on Friday instead of Happy Hour!

This is a trip, worked out at 5:30 PM on a Friday. Not at happy hour on a Friday, what??? This is a definite change, crazy changes! Going again at 8:30 tomorrow morning, what the hell? Working out at 8:30 on a Saturday morning, crazy changes! Feeling great today, work was so crazy busy and lots going on but I had energy all day and didn't get stressed out even when the poop was hitting the fan. Crazy good changes!

The Team to Beat - Week Three

We are having a good, strong week. Our team workout last Saturday was great, and when I say great I mean we got a good butt kicking! James at Body Track Health and fitness was whaling away on us. He is the third trainer from Body Track I have worked out with and they have all been great. They are very good at working around my various health issues (bad knees, bad back, you know - all the fat old lady ailments) and finding a way to get great workouts out me and the rest of the team as well.
We are working out twice a day and making good progress, I can see the changes in my teams faces (and butts and legs) and we are all committed to making the most of this opportunity.
Go Team!!!

Man (Actually Woman) Down!

The Team to Beat lost a team member to injury. The youngest one to boot, who would have thunk it. We have an alternate but I feel for Monica.
I have a bad back, one herniated disk surgery already and several other iffy discs but so far, so good. I remind my trainers when I need to and do what I can so other than the normal muscle soreness after workouts I'm fine and dandy.
If I can lose some more weight and strenthen my core my back will be so much better, my knees already feel better so that's a good sign.

Massage - That's what I'm talking about!

Got a massage today. Working Well got some incredible sponsors for this challenge.
Free gym memberships, free trainers and free massages! Now if we could only modify the workout to massage ratio it would be perfect! Here's a scientific breakthrough I could get behind, how about someone inventing a way for you to burn as many calories getting a massage as you do at the gym.
Brien Schmauch is our massage therapist, he is a student at the Core Massage Institute, he'll graduate in mid-March and he is fabulous. The first time I spoke with him he was so excited I thought at first he must just like to massage fat girls but then he told me his story. In the past two years he has lost over 200 pounds. He came to meet all of us at work and tell us about his journey, he is committed to supporting us and even gave us his cell number. He is such a great guy and another wonderful source of support for us as we go through the challenge.

Calories and Food Journals

I have been keeping my food journal faithfully, a total pain in the neck but so worth it. Nothing like listing everything you ate and adding up the calories to keep you real. Steve at Body Trac conducted metabolic testing on our team which showed that I have a metabolism that's pretty normal, a little on the slow side but even the fastest metabolism couldn't handle all the prime rib and red wine I had been eating before the challenge. Now it's a healthy eating plan and eleven workouts a week.
I am really working on learning as much as I can about the science behind weight gain and weight management. Right now I am reading up on the effects of stress on weight, all about cortisol and how chronic stress causes excessive amounts of cortisol to be released into the bloodstream which can negatively impact blood sugar and thyroid function. My hopw is that knowledge will bring power to make positive change.
Any fat person can tell you that this is not about will power, we have to change on the inside if we wany to make lasting changes on the outside.

Day 9

Sorry I'm so late starting my blog. I got off to a good start, then came down with a bad cold. Kept working out until Friday, then I gave in and called Steve, the owner of Body Trac Health and Fitness and our sponsor.
"Hey Steve, this is Glenda" I said.
Steve replied"Hey Glenda, are you running in place as you are talking to me?"
Uh-Oh, I can tell this isn't going to go well. I explained to Steve that I had a reeeaaally bad cold and that I would be missing Saturday's team workout. I can tell you that by the time I hung up I felt like a big fat lazy ass. Not that Steve yelled or anything, but I could sense his disappointment. It is truly a gift to have someone to answer to and who you know expects you to do well.
I am going like gangbusters again, cold be damned.