My New Friend Ed

This past year I changed my workouts from evening to morning.  I became a morning person through this tough transition and absolutely love it!  The drive in the dark to the gym is peaceful.  I love this 10 minutes as I focus my mind on the day ahead and get my mindsest on eating clean and my workout.  Sometimes I use this time to pray, sometimes to listen to the radio, but it is MY TIME to focus on ME.  The early morning gym-goers are very different than the evening ones.   It is very crowded and loud at night with a younger crowd.  The 5AM crowd is a little older and seem to be very focused.  I was a little intimidated when I first started.  I felt out of place among the body builders.  Over this past year I noticed this one elderly gentleman with a head full of white hair.  He is a little bentover, walks a little slow, but is very fit.  I would guess he is in his upper 80's, maybe 90.  His smile is so warm and friendly.  He always says good morning to everyone, including me.  I find myself looking around for him when I get there.  His smile makes my day.  Yesterday as I was struggling through p90X, he came up to me.  He said, "I see you here every morning and don't even know your name, my name is Ed".  I introduced myself and we shook hands.  When I said that I am impressed to see him here daily working out,  He just smiled and said, "For me, I exercise everyday, it is a matter of life and death".  I thought about Ed the rest of the day.  There is just something about him.  His friendliness with everyone - he knows no stranger.  His commitment to his health.  I want to be like him when I grow up.  He makes me feel good.  Sometimes he winks at me or gives me a thumbs up when I am doing some crazy pullup or pushup.  He encourages me without even saying a word. 

Yesterdays workout was a tough one.  I am having a shoulder issue and I just didn't feel strong yesterday.  My eating was ok, although my portions were too much on some things.  Ed made me realize something though.  He is committed, but I bet he isn't perfect - just a hunch.  I am committed, but not perfect either.  I struggle with perfectionism sometimes and it is a waste of energy.  So my goal today is to truly enjoy this journey and not be so focused on my weight.  I AM GETTING CLOSER TO MY GOAL and this is all that matters!

Lessons learned from Ed......I don't know if he is Christian, but he sure does demonstrate what "love your neighbor" is all about.  Although he is focused on his fitness at the gym, he is also focused on being so kind, welcoming, friendly, encouraging and non-judgemental.  I go to the gym and I am extremely focused on self.  Although it is important to have my mind in my workout, it is more important that I am approachable, friendly, kind and encouraging anywhere I go.   It's not like I'm rude or anything, but I keep my ipod up loud and don't interact with anyone at all.  So, I think I will begin acting more like Ed.  I will smile more, say hello more and give a thumbs up once in a while.  I want to be a blessing to others like Ed was to me.

The Sports Bra Workout

     Exercise has been a considerable part of my life for many years.  I have done Jazzercise, step aerobics, Tae Bo, cardio kick boxing, spinning, circuit training, and of course Richard Simmons’” Sweatin to the Oldies”.  I have belonged to various health clubs and used free weights as well as the Nautalis machines.   Walking, running, cycling, tennis, water aerobics and kayaking – I have benefited from them all.  Yes, working out has taken up a big part of my life but still I struggled to find the ideal all around exercise program that promotes faster weight loss – until recently.   After all of these wasted years I have finally found the key to a successful exercise and weight loss plan – a sports bra.  Yes, that’s right, I said a sports bra.  Not just any style, but specifically the spandex-cotton blend that must be pulled over your head, no fasteners.

            This year I resolved to really focus on losing the weight, build Terminator type muscle definition, flexibility and reach optimum health.  I committed to going to the gym 5-6 days each week to reach this aspiration.  Things were going well in the beginning.   I was very motivated and felt the results of my endless hours in the gym.  I went from walking on the treadmill to running; hence the need of a sports bra. This is when my new weight loss and exercise plan was born.  Running in an ordinary, run-of-the-mill bra does not work.  The straps fall off the shoulders, the elastic stretches out, and the support just is not there.  Now at my age, things in that department have shifted and gravity has taken over.  I definitely need the support even with my petite B cup size.  So I did what every woman does – I went shopping and purchased my first sports bra. 

            Due to my work schedule, I need to go to the gym in the evening after working all day, making dinner, and all of the other chores necessary as a mom.  The routine is the same each day.  I rush the kids through dinner; help my son find his missing shoe, and then off to change into my work out attire, praying along the way for more energy.  I am already exhausted and perspiring.  I get my new sports bra, rip off the tags and pull it on over my head.  It gets twisted in the back and I can’t reach it.  I stretch my right arm behind me and try to reach the twisted portion.  It is just out of my reach.  I try with my left arm.  Same problem.  I take a deep breath and by the second attempt my flexibility somehow must have improved and I am able to reach a small piece of fabric.  Due to the perspiration, it is really stuck.  I use all of my strength and yank it down a little.  As I wiggle around, the bra slowly becomes untwisted and I can reach it and smooth it out.  I look in the mirror and see that my face is flushed and sweat beads have formed on my forehead.  I finish getting dressed and am now way too tired to go to the gym.  Instead, I dish myself some ice cream and recover from the work out.

            The next day, same routine, same sports bra, same problem.  This time though, my arms are extremely sore from the twisted sports bra experience from the evening before.  I have to humbly ask my daughter’s help for the next few days.  It is humiliating to ask your pre-teen child to be careful to strategically stuff the back fat under the material.

            On the 4^th day of being a sports bra owner, it is far past the time to launder this undergarment.  Fear of shrinkage kept me from washing it sooner, but now the white bra is turning a slight tinge of yellow.  The tag says to line dry, but time was of the essence.  It was not completely dry, so I put it on while it was slightly damp.  Not a good idea.  I worked for 30 minutes trying to get it on without degrading myself again by asking for assistance.  As I lay down on the bed, stomach down, back arched, I reached behind me in an extremely unnatural position and pulled a muscle in my neck, unable to move.  I had to humble myself once again and call for my daughter’s aid.  I didn’t make it to the gym, but thankfully my massage therapist is open late.  She recommended that I not use that piece of exercise equipment for at least three days.   I went home and had another bowl of ice cream.

            Well, after recovering from my injuries, I proceeded to get ready for the gym once again.  To my wonder and amazement, the bra went on much easier.  My flexibility improved immensely as well as my strength.  I got on the scale and was thrilled to see that I had lost 5 lbs since the purchase of my sports bra.  I realized that in order to continue the process of weight loss, it was necessary to buy a few more, maybe in different colors and smaller sizes.

            This is how I lost 20 lbs.  I am now in the process of writing an exercise program for sports bra proprietors.  I have found that it is the best way to get a cardio workout without even setting foot in the gym.  Flexibility in your arms, back and shoulders will improve dramatically as well as upper body strength.    This book will be recommended for women only and it is vital that you have a good massage thereapist while breaking in your new bra.  Please take heed, consuming large quantities of ice cream while on this program will slow the weight loss process, but is highly recommended as the calcium builds strong bones!

      

My First Blog

In 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 25, the apostle Paul writes, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

These Bible verses really make me think about my life.  About 4 years ago I started trying to live a physically healthy lifestyle.  Like most women, the journey started even longer ago as I tried every diet known to mankind.  I lost and gained the same 20 pounds my entire adult life.  I have always been athletic and a bit of a tomboy.  I played tennis very competitively before children, women's soccer, softball and lots of other outdoor sports.  As a wife and mother, I lost myself.  I no longer even really cared about exercise or what I ate, although I did care that I looked frumpy.  Not enough though to change anything.  In 2001, I went through a divorce and became a single mom of 2.  This was a very difficult time, gained weight and lost it just to regain it again.  I finally decided that I had enough and started to get serious about my health and fitness.  In 2006, I learned about the calories in versus calories out concept and began tracking my food and exercise.  This was great.  I learned so much, lost weight and began to exercise at my gym.  This was the beginning, but I was so far from really changing yet.  I still was in bondage to food and struggled with binging and late night snacking.  Food was my closest friend.  In January, 2007, I again had enough.  I gained back some weight and had a horrible experience in a boutique.  The sales clerk looked at me with pity and said, "We don't cary anything in your large size".  I was a size 16 and weighed 186 on my 5'2" frame.  Being a single woman, I think I was hiding behind the weight in fear of relationships.  It was weird because I wanted a man, but then I didn't.  Within a few months I bought a treadmill and started walking at home.  I was still tracking calories and journaling regularly.  As I began to lose a little weight, I got little bursts of energy while on my treadmill and began to jog for a few minutes.  I thought I would die, but it felt good to sweat.  I NEVER sweat, so I was pretty proud of it.  During this period of time I met a young woman named Jen.  She and her husband were runners, in fact he was an ironman.  I had no idea what that was at the time.  Jen suggested that we run a 5k together.  My initial reaction was that she was out of her mind.  I don't run.  I hate running.  I have asthma, I can't run.  But then my competitiveness came out.  "Well, if she can, I can".  So I began my very first "Learn to Run" program.  I did it diligently.  There were times that I thought I would pass out, but I was getting better.  In May, 2007 I ran my first 5k - Race for the Cure.  It wasn't pretty, but I ran the whole way.  As soon as I crossed the finishline, I knew that I was changed forever.  It put a drive in me like I have never had.  For the next year, I began working with a personal trainer - Debbie at Studio Fit.  Right before hiring her, I decided that was my new goal - to become a trainer, but I needed to see what it felt like to be at the receiving end first.  It was the most incredible thing ever.  I learned so much about my body and what it can do.  I had muscle definition and strength I didn't know I could have.  I continued to run, lose weight and exercise, but hit a plateau.  I had lost 42 lbs and felt great, but as the pateau lingered, the weight began to rise.  It was not too bad, I evened out at around 150.  By this time I had done a half marathon and a few triathlons - a new passion.  I became a cerified personal trainer in May.   Then, in September, 2008 I met Matt.  One of the pastors at my church, Pastor Jay, introduced us.  I was trying extremely hard not to be shallow and get to know him from his heart.  You see, Matt was a very big guy.  When I pictured myself with someone, it was a Lance Armstrong kinda guy.  Matt was more of a John Goodman.  I really prayed that God would reveal Matt's heart and help me to look at the inside.  I really liked him.  I felt so comfortable and safe.  Things progressed rapidly and we were engaged by Christmas.  Matt began to eat better and dropped a bit of weight.  I think 20 lbs.  We also started to go on hikes together.  He has a very physical job and never made the time to exercise.  Anyway, we got married on Oct. 17, 2009.   So over this past year, I gained a little weight, but continue to workout and train hard.  My workouts are a priority.  I love it and know that I need them to be a better wife and mom.  This past May I discovered Tosca Reno's "The Eat Clean Diet', which is NOT a diet.  Basically, it is eating whole foods, lots of fruits, veggies and protein.  I eat 5-6 meals a day and am NEVER hungry.  My body is changing and I am getting closer to my goal.  I am very far from eating clean 100% of the time, but am so excited about how great I feel. 

So, where is God in all of this?  You see, I am a follower of Christ and am running the race for Him.  I want to glorify Him in all of this; because without Him, none of this could have happened.  I don't in myself have the willpower, strength or motivation.  But I do feel that He has given me a very important responsibility to take care of  the body that He gave me.  It is His temple.  Throughout the past 4 1/2 years, there have been times that I know He was pleased and times that I tried to take control and do it on my own.  The verses in 1 Corinthians really speak to me.  I know that God wants us to be fit and healthy, to train hard and eat right.  But it is not just to look "hot", but to glorify Him.  Looking "hot' for my husband is just a blessing. 

Well, this first blog went long, but I wanted you to know me.  I am very passionate about health and fitness, but even more passionate about my relationship with God.  I have been involved in Women's Ministry for a number of years and believe that He is using all my struggles and triumphs to help others.  I'm very excited to see where He takes me with all of this.