An Update!

Well, it seems I’m over due for an update here! I’ve been very much feeling like there isn’t much to write about, no amazing number of pounds or inches vanished. Just plugging away. Day in. Day out. Plus, Google and I are in disagreement about my password again, so I’ve had issues getting here to write!

Today is officially 4 weeks since I first met this amazing group. Our day one class of 24 people has widdled down to 10-12. My heart aches for those that shelved their goals once again, but I am inspired by those who have stuck around. Some are really struggling, but they keep coming back, keep making an effort. It’s a beautiful sight. Plus, the smaller class size gives us a very nice ratio of trainer-per-workoutee (my blog, my made up words)!

I have gotten the opportunity to work out with each of the trainers. Wow! Each has their own style. Each very effective. The one I’ve spent the most time with (who I may or may not have called a jerk at one point in time) is brutal. And loud. His wife, she’s so quiet. So supportive. So slyly brutal. The third trainer left a little room for ME to make sure I was pushing MYSELF hard enough. It was really inspiring to see what I could do on my own.

The nutrition plan and I are doing quite well together. I am constantly conflicted as to whether or not to tell people it’s easy or hard to follow. The trainers gave us a very specific equation to follow and started us out with examples of options for foods and meals. From there it took time (i.e. hours of wandering aimlessly around Walmart reading labels) to determine what I liked to eat that would fit into the equation. My foods for the past 4 weeks have been very consistent. I am starting to play with variety a little bit, adding a thing or two each week. I don’t always get everything quite right, but I definitely get an A for effort!

Now, where it gets hard is that I’ve given up EVERYTHING I loved to eat. Every delicious, mouth watering bite of high calorie, high sodium junk, gone! Not one splurge. I’ve been VERY fortunate in that the cravings for these foods have almost been nonexistent. Just this past week I have really developed a hankering for one thing. One thing that, in one “meal,” greatly exceeds my calorie and sodium content for the entire day. I’m not falling for it! If I still want it in six months, I can have it then. Today, I have work to do!

My biggest struggle right now is sleep. Before I got accepted into this class, I volunteered to work graveyards for six weeks so that I would have a chance to develop a routine of exercise and eating. The first four weeks were hard, but doable; these last two have been absolute hell! My body is done with these sleeping during the day shenanigans. I’m sleeping very little and in a constant state of tiredness/near exhaustion. I am falling behind on my work outs and my body isn’t getting the rest it needs to recover properly from the exercise I do get in. It’s just been hell.

That being said, it is absolutely amazing that this class came along when it did. I feel like this opportunity was dropped in my lap at the exact moment I needed it. Had I been on day shift, I would have never been able to attend the classes. I had a goal of developing a routine and this class has given me a solid foundation that I believe I will be able to work with when I return to the daylight next week!

I do have some lingering anxieties going on… You see, I’ve eaten only foods that have been prepared in my own kitchen, by my own two hands for 4 weeks now! Next week is my first meal out! A friend’s birthday! Reservations were made in February! I’ve deliberately stuck to the nutrition plan 98% of the time for weeks so that I could enjoy this meal with my friends. I know I will make better choices than I ever did dining out in the past! Still, I’ve created a comfort zone and this is WAAAAAYYY outside of it!

In addition, I have a two day trip planned that involves air travel. This means no liquid protein shakes. I’m pretty sure the containers of white powder I carry around with me at all times now would create quite a stir with the TSA as well. I’ve talked with the girls I am traveling with and they are so incredibly supportive! They know that we will need to hit a market pretty early upon arrival so I can get whatever foods I was unable to travel with. Love them!

Okay, so I guess I did have a lot to write about! The one thing I haven’t really discussed is results. I’m uncertain how I want to go about presenting them here. My numerical results to date are good. They could be better. I am a typical American Female – I want what I want and I want it now! This means, when I step on the scale, I’m not satisfied with the results. I know this will take time. I also know that I could work harder. So that’s my new goal once I’m done with graveyards. Sleep at night. Work harder during the day. I really want to fit into that new pair of jeans sitting on the dresser calling my name. I am so close…