Friday, March 26, 2010

Rusty's Email

I hope you don't mind I am sharing this but I just want everything documented about boot camp so when we're asked to go on Oprah to talk about my transformation it is all here!

Hey,


Just wanted to say I am inspired by how far you've come. I'm sending this email because I don't want you to think what you have accomplished is anything short of remarkable. The first day we did testing you couldn't even do a prone plank on your knees for over 10 seconds. Now you're doing them on your feet for close to a minute. You doubled your pushups, and I think you quit early! You averaged almost 1 squat per second for an entire minute!!

As far as the weight goes...it is just a number. Everyone gets caught up with pounds lost because of shows like Biggest Loser. But lets think about what you did. When you factor in your muscle weight gained you lost over 1 pound a week consistently for the entire challenge. One to two pounds a week is the way you make it work, it becomes your LIFESTYLE not a fad diet.

And then think about all the other positive things that have come out of the last 12 weeks. You're blood pressure is lower than it has been in years, you have more strength than ever before, you have lost over 11 inches (I especially see the difference in your face/neck, wish we measured that), and your frickin about to run a 10k!!!!

Good job rockin Robin

Christmas Morning

I always have a moment on Christmas morning where I am so sad that the hoopla is over. June Cleaver said I've done this ever since I was a little girl. You've shopped for the perfect gift, you've decorated, cooked and you get so excited for the day and then it is over within a second it seems like and I am feeling that way about boot camp tonight.

January 6th I started this boot camp a freaking hot mess. I had partied like a rock star up until the very last second and walked into that gym not having a clue what I was going to do for the next 12 weeks. I was nervous but excited. Instantly, I was excited to start because I met two returnees and heard what they had done so I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could have my "own" story from boot camp.

Driving to the gym tonight I was once again a hot mess but I was jamming out to old school and was so pumped up. I was wondering what the scales would say but told myself I wasn't going to get upset because I have made a tremendous difference in my lifestyle and I feel awesome and to me that is the most important thing. My doctor is happy, my blood pressure is normal for the first time in years, my friends and family see a difference and I have already paid for the second boot camp which has been named "Bootsie" by Alligator Molester in Charlotte, who got me started searching for a boot camp. Chaney, I always be grateful to you for making me want this...I thank you and I am so glad we're friends.

We had the option to weigh in/fitness test tonight or Monday night. I was the first one there and so we began right away. I think Rusty was a little nervous as well because he knew I wanted some serious results. We did measurements first and I have lost 11.5 inches. One inch is from my upper arm. He said that is huge achievement. My biggest area was my hips. 3.5 off of those bad boys. We then did the weight and of course every girl wants huge numbers but I was proud and then the boomer came....Fitness test. This is when Ralph decided to show up and I was like great I get to do fitness with the Rock Star of our group. I rocked it hard core. We got tested when we first came and then tonight. Squats: Jan-39 March-57, Push ups: Jan-12 March 24 (There is no way I did 12 in Jan) Prone Plank Jan-10 sec March 32 sec (Jan was more like 2 sec), Right Side Plank Jan-35 sec March 1:13, Left side plank Jan-60 sec March 1:39.

The Christmas morning feeling kicked in the minute I walked out the door of the gym. I am so glad the other two stooges weren't with me because I probably would've cried and then RedHead would've called me ridiculous and pissed me off and ruined it. I am just pretty proud of what we've done and decided to be healthy. The minute I got in my car I analyzed my numbers and started setting goals for what I want to accomplish in Bootsie. Of course I can set huge unachievable goals so I will do this with Rusty on Monday at the next personal training session. I am ready for April 7th to get here. It took me a while to get settled in Boot Camp and then Tina was added into the mix with the nutrition and I was a mess there for a bit but with the personal training I feel like I am right in the groove and I will go play in Cancun and then come back ready for Bootsie!

Tomorrow is the 10k and it is the last thing...I knocked out rock climbing, I knocked out fitness testing tonight so I have no other choice but to rock out on the 10k!

Rock On!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Emotionary

Emotionary is a word that one of my friends made up and we use it from time to time when we're moved by something or if we're getting emotional over something that you feel cheesy about...I am sure Webster's wouldn't take that definition but who cares I am in charge.

I am in the final week of boot camp and I am starting to get emotionary. Last night we had field day that was anything but the field day I thought it was going to be. I didn't expect to have Popsicles and the trash they gave us in elementary school but I didn't expect to be on the Amazing Race park version either but I survived and looking back probably enjoyed it. We had 6 stations and had to run to each of them and do what the envelope said and then on to the next station. We had to find combat men at one of our stations and bring them home. So here I am in the park with a hand full of combat men trying to get to the next station and this gorgeous guy runs past me and just looked at me like WTF. I am pretty sure it looked like I had escaped from the pysch ward!

This morning I had another personal training session and I was so dreading it but once we got started I was fine. I truly regret not doing this earlier in boot camp. He focuses on my form and he knows I hate certain things so he comes up with new exercises and tricks me into doing what I hate but I don't figure out he has tricked me until it is almost over. Try skipping one stair while going up a set of stairs, go back down and then try walking up skipping two stairs. BossLady told me last fall that I would love having a personal trainer. I had one before but not like this that I really enjoyed working out with....remember "AFB" friends? I already scheduled another session for Monday. I did it before the back and knee pain kicked into gear. I texted him back "thanks for everything you've done" and he texted back "thank yourself for what you've done and how far you've come. so proud of you."

Dawn and I were talking about our group this morning and how it is almost over and it did make me emotionary. Our class is amazing and just has really neat personalities. There is no way I could do Biggest Loser even though I think Rusty is a cross between Bob and Jillian but if I had to vote somebody off I would be in hysterics. I probably would've gotten voted off last night for my temper tantrum when I realized it was Amazing Race and not the crab walk relay races.

I could care less what the scales say on Friday night. I am excited to see what the inches are and how long I do hold the plank but regardless I am pretty proud of us. We've not been perfect at all but we're not on the verge of AA, my blood pressure is normal and our eating habits have changed but more importantly we're physically active and like Dawn and I were talking about this morning we feel the best we've felt in years.

Last week I had the annual dreaded Dr. visit and she was asking why my weight was down (she couldn't say how much because remember I am not finding out until Friday) and she wanted to know what was up and I told her. She was already familiar with Endorphin Fitness but not the boot camp aspect and she was blown away. She is a huge runner and I told her I hated it with a passion but I am trying it out and she looked at me dead in the eye and said "Robin, you've got a lifetime to learn to love it and at one point you will fall in love with but you've won. You've won the battle in your mind and body to get healthy and do this and it is a battle people lose every day and because of that you now have a lifetime to learn to love it." She was so happy and proud of me that day that I didn't have the heart to tell her I am pretty sure love and running will never come out of my mouth in the same sentence but I've learned in my life never say never and once I get this down I will be up for the next challenge.

More to come this week...tomorrow is rock climbing 2.

Monday, March 22, 2010

50 Days

soda free! I so miss you Coke Zero and I think about you a couple of times during the week but we have to remain broken up.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Never Again

Thursday was the first day of our 2 day staff meeting and I love staff meetings. I work in a satellite office by myself so getting a chance to be with my other colleagues is always something I look forward to...I know I am the only person in the world who loves a staff meeting.

Flash back to the January blog about my staff meeting where I was so great and didn't eat anything bad and promised my trainer that I wouldn't do happy hour. Well none of that happened this staff meeting. I was a disaster and it was disgusting. I ate a dessert at lunch, reeses pieces, jelly bellies and swedish fish for snack time. I attempted to do happy hour but my body started shutting down 2 beers into it. It was the most bizarre thing ever. I started sweating, I had to sit down and I couldn't focus on what anybody was saying and all I thought was I am going to die and I don't want to do it in public. I asked my colleagues if they would mind if I left and they could tell I didn't feel good and kept saying "it is great your body is rejecting this stuff." Ummmm, it sure didn't feel great at all.

I got home and made it to bed and prepared to die. I literally felt that bad. I threw up and then prayed to God my old prayer but substituted "never eat sugar" with "never drink again" if he allowed me to live. I finally passed out in a sugar coma. The next morning I woke up and still felt like crap. I could barely function in staff meeting. I had to exercise to get this crap out of my system so Rusty, who had no clue what I had done, said I could do my three miles early. I then had to go represent a teacher at a late meeting and was so worried I would pass out in the meeting. One former colleague fell asleep in a meeting with administration and notice I said former.

I felt my biggest accomplishment of my life was living through the day and making it home. I went over to my neighbors and almost threw up when I saw them drinking beer and they're nurses so I told them what I had done. They were so shocked to see me so calm on a Friday night. I was still outta sorts on Saturday but it is Sunday am and I am back to normal......well as normal as I can be and I will never ever misbehave like that with food again! I am pretty shocked at how the food affected my body but more so I am wondering if I felt like that before but just felt it more often. I have really taken in account how my body does feel. I am not a fan of drinking anymore simply because I hate the way it makes me feel and now I can add sugar to the list.

The ironic thing is early on Thursday am my colleague sat beside me and she had a cookie for breakfast. I know she is trying to be good as well and I said "let me go get you something healthy, that cookie will destroy you." I got us a hard boiled egg and fruit. 2.5 hours later I get buck crazy.........WHY? I can think about that for a bit I just know I will never do it again!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Countdown is on!

I've been quiet because work life is anything but quiet. There isn't really anything earth shattering either to report. I am still soda and coffee free. Monday will be 6 weeks completely free of soda! I do feel like I am in a coma at times and forget the craziest of things. Today I got dressed and ready for a bridal shower and went to punch in the address to the GPS and realized it was at 2pm not 3pm. It was 2:30 at that moment in life. I am not sure to blame that on my withdrawl as Tina and Kieth call it or idiocy?

St. Patrick's Day is coming on Wednesday and I am all about pretending to be Irish and I will be at boot camp doing cardio circuit. I know it is hell impending but I am actually excited to see how far I've come since we started this boot camp.

I could tell significant difference in my body during this past Wednesday night's cardio kickboxing. I thought we would be in the gym boxing and so forth and when Rusty told us to go outside and run I was like WTF. He said "Have you ever seen Rocky? He runs and trains Robin." I didn't say but all I could think is well he also gets in a ring and fights till he is a bloody hot mess and I don't want to do this. I did it and was excited I lived through the class.

Fun note. Last night we had Stretch X and Rusty was in so much pain that it was visible. I know I've wished Rusty pain in previous posts but Rusty is training for his first triathlon. I am not sure why in my sick and twisted mind that this makes me want to push myself but it just proves to me that even he is always pushing himself to better himself. Just because you're fit you can't stop...always go for more. I am starting to ramble so peace out!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Random

My boyfriend Dave said this today on Twitter: Holy crap I had no clue what I was doing to my body! Do you take 12 sugars in your coffee? With the Starbucks mocha frap you do--& 28 with a McD's shake! http://bit.ly/56OpPq

Biggest Loser is on my nerves......they were irritated they had to go work regular hours.....hello people that is what normal people do! All I know is I don't think I could ever vote any of the boot campers out of class.....seeing them each week is what gets me there half the time!


Friday, March 5, 2010

I'm freaked out

I did what Keith told me to do and I've researched Excitotoxins and they're so damaging to your body. This is exactly what I am going through right now and it talks about the damage to your body and the long term affects. They've been linked with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's....one of my biggest fears in life.

Read the article if your interested.

http://www.rense.com/politics6/excito.htm

and here it is in simpler terms

http://www.funimky.com/downloads/EXCITOTOXINS.pdf

Mindboggling!

So tonight at boot camp we had Tina, the nutritionist, come back for follow up and her partner Keith came as well. My mind is still spinning from what I learned and I think I have decided that I need to set up an appointment with her to go over what is happening in my body. Tonight was one of those nights where you think "Thank God for boot camp". I've learned so much and getting it on track takes time.

We talked a lot about the food that we put in our body. Keith said that food either makes energy or blood. That was news to me. I might have learned that in Health but I was shocked tonight. He simplified it by saying look at your plate of food and does it have life? This made sense but it also reaffirmed that I clearly need one on one time with them.

They talked a lot about inflammation and hyper thyroid. I have no clue where I go on that spectrum so I need them for that as well. You can be eating the healthiest food but if your body is outta wack you won't lose weight. You need to eat to balance out and this is why I think I need them in my life!

So they kept saying when people would ask about cutting things out "give it 21 days" and I finally said "it doesn't get better after 21 days" and I told them that I am 34 days with no sodas and I've fully given up the coffee and I basically feel like I am in a coma half the time and I wake up and I realize where I am. Donna said she was going through the same thing. Keith looked shocked and said that basically I am detoxing from neuroexictants and it is like fighting a drug addiction. Tina said she did this as well and finally after 30 days she started to feel better. She said it will take 3 months for my body and mind to realize I can live without it but Keith scared the crap out of me because he said "that I don't want to give into my cravings because it can make me incredibly sick and cause harm to my body". Another reason I think I have to go visit them ASAP.

If this wasn't a buzzkill enough...Keith calls ice cream a bowl of snot because of what it does for your body! Ughghghghghgh!

Reassurance

I am going organic in my meat and my latest crush http://twitter.com/DaveZinczenko confirms I am doing the right thing. "TERRIFYING The avg piece of chicken has 266% more fat than it did in 1971, while its protein content dropped 1/3rd."

Yesterday he confirmed that my trainer, Rusty, knows what he is talking about. "
For great abs--and to protect your back--do 60-second planks instead of sit-ups."

If you aren't following this guy you're really missing out on some great info!

I am really excited to see my nutritionist today. I can let her know I am 33 days free of soda. I did want a Coke Zero so bad I could taste it and I think I am 10 days without WaWa coffee. I can't wait to tell her about my blood pressure as well!

Peace Out!


Monday, March 1, 2010

I drank the Kool Aid

I just signed up for two private sessions with Rusty, who is my trainer at boot camp. Last night I was thinking how I was about to start the last month of the 3 month program and how I need to push myself really hard and honestly I think I need my trainer to do that for the results I want to see on the 26th. I've been working out on my own but I never have the "after feeling" that I get from boot camp when I workout by myself so I emailed him and said I want the one on one training. BossLady had a personal trainer and highly recommended it and I just talked to my WorkHusband and he said it is the hardest workout you will ever do so I am a little scared but I keep thinking I want this and it is only an hour.

Will let you know how it goes!