Summer Vacation Means....

-Ability to get groceries when it's not so god-awful busy.
-Able to buy, put together, and use new lawn mower to make the yard look gorgeous (read: workout, too!)
-Sleeping in and waking up on own, not to loud, beeping alarm
-Reading the newspaper (yes, I'm old-fashioned) while watching Good Morning America and Ellen
-Not feeling stressed

Is it a coincidence that my weight has gone down two pounds since school being out? I blame stress big time. I feel so relaxed and so good. I got about an hour workout in this afternoon with mowing lawn and now I'm off to my workout class for some weights and resistance bands. I kind of like the two workouts a day. In fact, I may just try that to see how that affects my progress.

While I know many of you who aren't in education are jealous of my time off, but after this year, I need a chance to refresh for the next crew in August. They literally almost killed me! I'm actually excited to not be working at all and only have six weeks of class (3x/week) starting here in a couple of weeks. I can focus on ME!!!!

After all, it is all about me :) LOL!!!

Excuse Eating

How many of you have eaten because you have so much to do? How about because you're under a lot of pressure? How about because you're exhausted and can't think straight? How about because you don't feel the best and comfort food sounds fabulous?

THAT'S ME!

Today was not a stellar eating today. I probably consumed my daily calories by noon today. Our lounge was full of birthday treats (for those of us who have summer b-days) and I ate and ate. I had snack mix, cake balls, scotcheroos, chex mix, chocolate covered strawberries (hey, it was partially fruit, right?!?)....

I was so full I didn't even eat much of my lunch. I picked at my grilled chicken, ate a bit of salad and ate my fruit. My body doesn't know what to do. I know that I should eat something tonight because I have to workout in the morning but nothing sounds good.

I'm in regret. When you've been so good for six weeks and splurge, it sucks. Your stomach feels like it weighs 1,000 pounds. You feel gross and feel like you look gross. But I didn't skip my workout. In fact, I pushed it tonight and upped my weights I was using. My biceps and triceps are burning still!

Lesson for the Day: Eat like crap, feel like crap.

No Mercy!

First things first....my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the devastating storms and tornadoes that occurred this weekend. Our sirens went off in town, but the severe storms stayed away. Unfortunately, this is not the same for thousands of others.

Week six of bootcamp has begun and they have literally no mercy on us. Kickboxing was so intense tonight. We were punching and kicking and doing ab work like nobody's business. It was insane! You know you're working hard when you're down doing a plank and you literally have sweat just dripping off of your face!!!

I feel good. I hope my body follows through!

5 Week Progress Report

I'll let the numbers speak.

Starting Weight: 249.4
Week 5: 247.0

Starting Body Fat: 41.2%
Week 5: 40.4%

Inches Lost: 4.75 in.

Fitness Changes:
Starting 1 min. Step-Ups:47
Week 5: 55

Starting Push-Ups: 25
Week 5: 35

Starting Sit-Ups: 15
Week 5: 23

Starting Flexibility: 9.75
Week 5: 11.25

Vertical Leap: 15 (both times)

Heart Rate Test: Let's just say my heart rate is happier now than 5 weeks ago.

Thoughts: I don't know. There were a couple of ladies there in similar circumstances. In fact, one who weighed more than me only lost a pound and didn't lose much for inches. Discouraged? Slightly. I also talked to a girl who did this in the fall and she said the first five weeks she only lost 4 pounds and the second 5 weeks she lost 10. The guy who runs the place said everyone's body is different and reacts differently.

So, here's to the next five weeks!

I'm not giving up

Saturday is 5 week testing in my bootcamp. If you've been reading my blog, you'll know I have concerns with results I'm going to see. I haven't seen the numbers on the scale. But there is measuring tape. My goal is to lose 1/2-1 inch per measurement (neck, chest, waist, hip, thigh...arm probably not so much).

I'm not giving up. If I don't like what I see on Saturday, then that proves to me I need to work harder before my 10 week test on June 25. And I have a plan for that. Even if I do like what I see Saturday, I just might do it anyway.

After all, I have goals to accomplish.

New clothes to buy.

More daylight to enjoy.

And someday, babies to conceive.

I don't understand.

I have been working out hardcore for 45 minutes 6 days/week and have been 95% diligent in following a healthy eating plan of 5-6 meals per day. I have felt stronger and better.

I have not lost a pound. In four weeks, I'm where I was a month ago. Next Saturday, we will have our 5-week check-in where we will go through all of the measurements, minute timings of sit ups, etc. I'm scared there will be no change.

Part of the issue...my IBS. I'm not blaming it, but I think it has something to do with it. Right now, I feel like a backed-up, bloated whale and I've only eaten two small meals, one containing fiber to try and get things moving. I feel like this is somewhat holding me back. I'll have two days where I eliminate (trying not to get too TMI) large amounts and then I'll go three to four days straining and barely getting rid of anything. My wonder is if I'm bound up and that's adding to my weight.

I don't know. I'm frustrated. I'm giving 110% into this program (I know I haven't blogged daily, but you bet your ass I'm doing it). I feel like I'm getting no where. By now, I expected to be out of the 240s for good. I'm not. It sucks.

In six weeks, we'll have our final results. I'm going to just cry if I've made no progress then. I didn't pay $300 to get nowhere.

I wish I knew what was going on wrong inside of me.

Update and back to normal

Well, I didn't get the job. I came in 3 out of 4. The two who "beat" me had financial experience in schools and are actually being recalled for an additional interview. I feel good about how it went and was proud of how I presented myself. I'm actually glad I didn't have the stress of being offered the job and then contemplate the 'yes' or 'no' answer.

So, time to move on.

This weekend was a big weekend in our house. After five years, my husband graduated with his BA in Physical Education. It's been a long road with a lot of stress, but now his classes are done. Next problem, no prospective jobs at this time. Jobs in education are tough right now with schools cutting budgets left and right, but it's even a bigger problem in PE because that's a specialized position that once people get in, they don't leave until they retire. Worse comes to worse, he can substitute which in a bigger urban area like ours, that won't be difficult, but the consistency can be an issue.

But anyway, back to me.

This week has been a stressful one. As a result, I haven't gorged in my eating, but I also haven't recorded what I've eaten. I've been snacking more on unhealthier options (crackers and cheese versus fruits and vegetables). My weight also hasn't gone down for the second week in a row. Part of that is the transfer from fat to muscle, but also some of it's from water retention to some unhealthier options.

So, it's time to hit the restart button and go back to reasoning why I started this 10-week program. I'm now entering week 4. I feel stronger, but I think I could feel better if I followed through with the nutrition part 100%. I will have a 5 week testing in two weeks and I want to see progress. So, I have a lot of work to make up for this week. Here I go.

Tomorrow's the day!

My interview is tomorrow!!! I'll have my first glimpse into the life of being an administrator. Anxious to meet the staff, see the kids and see if this is a right fit for me.

I've been working out this week, but to be honest, my eating hasn't been 100%. I haven't gone hog wild but I haven't tracked what I've eaten. For the next two days, I'm okay with that. Once I get this behind me, then it's back to tracking and focusing.

I multitask some things well, but not big things.

My mind is in 5000 places right now. Maybe I can report a more coherent blog entry tomorrow! Don't worry...I'm not missing kickboxing tomorrow night!

Bootcamp Week 3 Day 1

Holy cow, life is going by fast right now. Sorry I haven't been updating my blog. My life is all-consumed with this impending interview on Friday. No worries, though...I've been still working out and eating right.

Yesterday was the start of week 3 of bootcamp and we entered the phase called the "Burn Phase"....read: cardio max. In the 45 minutes of kickboxing yesterday, I don't think we stopped moving once. We went from punches to kicks to core work to jumping jacks to planks to more kicks and punches. I was dead.

People are work are already telling me I look thinner/leaner. Wish the scale said that. I'm up a pound from last week. I hate that I'm so attached to that stupid number. Some days it feels like my clothes fit better and others it doesn't. So I don't know! Frustrating. I want immediate gratification, but I didn't become this overnight. The change won't happen overnight.

Grrr....

On a side note with the interview, the more I research the school, the more I'm questionable about the future of its existence. It's solely a K-6 elementary building as the middle/high school kids go to a neighboring school with whole grade sharing. It's been doing this for 5 years and enrollment has declined every year. My question is, how long will this school be in existence? I can't take a job that won't be there in two years without knowing I had another job lined up. At that point, it would have to be another principal job as I would be too expensive of a hire as a teacher. It sucks because it could be the perfect first job that I can't afford to take. I'm sure the stress of all of this is playing havoc with my body as well.