2nd session with Personal Trainer

I just got back from my 2nd session with my personal trainer. Today we did more balancing on the bosu - I sucked at it even worse this week than last week. Then I had to do lunges the length of the gym holding a heavy ball out in front of me. On the way back I had to lunge to the side on a diagonal, still holding the ball out and in front. Then to my triceps. Ouch. Next up was... lat pull downs. My gym has the machine that has two handles to pull down instead of a bar. I like that exercise. We then moved to the glute machine. Trainer told me at this point that walking and running does not work the glutes, and that is why long distance runners have to bums. You need to do stairs, or hills to get some shape. I did not know that. Once that was done we went to the mats where I worked my back and my stomach. Oy! The stomach exercises were very effective.

I feel exhilarated and tired at the same time. I guess that's good? I'm trying to talk myself into taking the pup for a walk.... but the urge to lay my head down is strong.

So, is anyone watching Biggest Loser out there? I'm getting so mad with the show. All this dis-ordered eating that is required for the challenges makes me SICK. And that Lance's wife. I fucking hate her. Seriously - she completely sabotaged her husband and I think made him feel guilty. What a ditch pig she is. She better not be the one that gets back on the show next week - or I may have to boycott it. I think this will be the last time we watch the show. Honestly, the contestants are just too heavy to be relatable. Having said ALL of that - isn't Sam looking great? I love Tongans!! If the contestants on the show (from last season and this) are any example of what they are as a people - I am impressed!! Plus, I find his tat's really sexy!!

Husband is curling in a bonspiel this weekend, so we are going out to the banquet tonight where there will be dancing! I love dancing!! If I can move, that is, after my session with PT!!

Well, peeps, that's about it for now. I know there was something I wanted to talk about.... but now that I'm sitting here typing..... I got nothing!!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

I can move again!

thank goodness!

finished my job at the oil company today for another month. this month was very hard to say no to the junk.

my muscles seem to be done being sore after saturday's workout. thank goodness! I did some exercises today from saturday's workout. that was fun.... NOT!!

I'm really tired tonight. Just turned on curling a bit before bed time. I feel like I haven't had a good night's sleep in forever. I need to tweak my eating habits I think. I'm all over the place and it is wreaking havoc on my digestive system.

not much to report today, but I want to start posting more regularly.

have a healthy day bloggers!!

PS: 31 days till my picture with Spock!!

Monday in a big way

Today really, really felt like a Monday!

I found it to be a really long day today. I actually left work at 4:00 today instead of 4:30 because I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I just thought I can NOT sit here 30 more minutes! That is the nice part of being a contractor I suppose. There has to be something, right?

I meant to tell you all that my walking group has signed up to volunteer at the HSBC Marathon/ Half marathon. We are hoping to be able to get the food tent. There are 7 of us, and "we"'d all like to be together. Personally I wanted to be on the course. I didn't really care about being with the other girls. I just know that I appreciate people cheering me on so much when I'm out there doing a race. Oh, well. I suppose all that matters is that we are volunteering. I guess all positions are important.

I can still hardly move today since my workout Saturday. I have to do it all again tomorrow. I wanted to run tonight - but there is no freakin way I could do it!!

So peeps. DWTS starts tonight. What an..... interesting cast. Bruno the judge cracks me up. I don't know if I will be tuning in all the time, but.... there is potential for entertainment, that's for sure!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

PS: Ochocinco..... yummiest contestant ever on the show I think..... I wonder if he will dance naked? I might tune in weekly after all just in case.......

Thank God I have ears!

They are the only part of my body that doesn't hurt after my first meeting with my new personal trainer.

I met with her yesterday and I love her!! We never picked up even one weight and I can hardly move today!

I had to work for a few hours this morning and when I was done I walked my dog home from our club. It is just over 8 k. I thought moving around a bit would work the kinks out. Holy noodle. I could not have been more wrong. Every step hurt. It was so windy to boot that it took me twenty minutes longer than it normally does. Oy!

My little Indiana had a swim lesson this week while at doggy day care. Look at what a little star he is. I was a bit worried about how he would do, but he did great.

Not much else has been going on. I think daughter is thinking of taking a year off of school when she is done high school. I actually think that might be her best course of action.

I'm going to do the exercises that I did with Personal Trainer twice this week. If my limbs don't fall off. Or if I don't cut them off to rid myself of the pain.

Have a healthy day bloggers.

Who Am I?

I found myself wondering this lately.

As we waited anxiously for daughter's marks, I realized that my whole sense of who "I was" was a complete unknown to me. I am a mom. Always wanted to be one. Quit work to spend time with daughter when she was 14 as I figured that is the age they start making decisions that can change their whole life. Now, here we are, actually waiting to see if daughter passed all her classes. She didn't. I can't remember even the idea of failing ever even passed through my head when I was her age. And yet here is my daughter failing her chem class. Her other marks so low that she is virtually assured to have her conditional acceptance into University revoked. My sense of being a failure is all consuming. Of course, intellectually I know this isn't my failure at all. I got her to school, spent literally thousands of $$ on tutors, nagged, argued, explained that school is essential for a decent chance at a good life. But I wonder - at what point did I fail her when she failed to acquire the common sense that tells you that a high school diploma is the below the bare minimum of what you need to get places in life?

ARGH!!!! Of course, when you're co-parenting this kind of stress means stress on the marriage. Almost every conversation, every thought, every bad dream is about daughter. And where we went wrong. And how we will move forward. And with both of us coming from such different families, we hardly ever agree.

So, where are we now? I have finally accepted that it is ok for daughter to upgrade, take the time to mature a bit so that when she does go to Uni she will be prepared to study hard. Husband has finally stopped being angry. Daughter continues to live oblivious to the fact that we spend so much time fretting - she is just going about her business.... hanging with friends, working occasionally, and facebooking.

In the mean time I have decided that I need to get on with my life. Find some focus that isn't daughter. It isn't healthy for either of us. To that end, I am now working more. The company I had hoped to get back on with full time has been.... slow in retaining my services and so my contract work with them will finish the first week of April. All is not lost though. In the mean time, I have one week a month at the oil company, which I really like, and an old boss tracked me down to offer me contract work for the rest of the month. In March it will workout that I will have worked every day, just for 3 companies! This newest job, which I only started this week, seems like it will be really nice. I really like the fellow that I'm working for and my direct manager seems quite nice. Anyhow, there is a possibility that it will only be 3 days a week, which would be quite nice. Kinda the best of both worlds.

Since I'm working so much, I needed new work clothes. I went on a total spree. I bought new pants, a ton of tops and even new skirts. Almost all of it from Banana Repulic. And it all looks quite nice, if I do say so myself! I also bought new pumps. I look and feel like a million bucks! Normally I would put off buying new clothes, thinking I will do it when I've lost weight. But I'm living in the moment.

Of course, with all this stress I slipped into my old coping mechanisms. Every time I felt panic set in.... I ate that feeling away. Sheesh. The good news is that I've kept up with my running. Yay me.

I've also decided that, now that we have extra $$ coming in, I'm getting a personal trainer again. I start a week today. I'm quite excited about the girl I managed to get - I think she will suit me perfectly.

It was also my birthday this week. I turned 44. It was a nice birthday. We went for a lovely birthday dinner to Caesar's and it was SO good. I also got the absolute best birthday gift ever. I cried when I opened my card. Two two-day passes to the Sci-Fi convention coming to Calgary to the Round Up center in April where I will be getting my photo taken with Leonard Nimoy!!!! This is a childhood dream come true. I can hardly stand waiting.

Well, this is a huge post. If anyone is still reading - have a healthy day!!

Regularly scheduled programming will return in...

a week or two. I am taking a small break - just waiting for my daughter's marks and quite frankly cannot concentrate or think about anything else. Once I have her marks and know what she is doing and where she is going - I will be back. And by then I may also have work news. Old boss called today - sounds promising!!!

Go Canada!!!!

My runometer just blew up!

That is what my little Nike+ Avatar is saying tonight. We did hills tonight at the 10k clinic. 5 of them. 7.5k worth of hills. I've been home for almost an hour and my lungs are still sore!!

I also took the pup for a nice long walk this afternoon. It was so sunny out. I really needed the sunshine. Sunshine just makes everything right, doesn't it?

I have to work tomorrow and daughter is going to meet me downtown to look at grad dresses. That should prove interesting. Or frustrating. Or both.

Not much else going on. I made a really, really tasty shepard's pie for supper tonight. I love shepard's pie.

Have a healthy day bloggers!

Biggest Loser - Didn't watch? Then don't read!!

I totally think that red chick threw it to go home!!!! There is no way she looked anywhere near as upset as she should have. Big stinky liar!!!!!!!!!! I actually threw my arms up in the air when I saw her results and yelled "YA!!". I think she just didn't like working so hard.

Thoughts?

working through the stress

So, after blabbing about my stress and how I need to find another way to deal with it..... Sunday I had an argument of sorts with husband about daughter and immediately picked up the phone to call cousin to tell her I would be skipping our scheduled run with the running room 10k clinic. I had the phone in my reach, and then thought to myself that if I was ever going to make a change it had to be now. So I went for the 8k run. Small steps, right? At one point I was talking to cousin about the tiff and got myself so worked up I had to stop running because I got so short of breath!

Oh, and I did run Saturday with Indiana. It was slow and a smidgen frustrating because Indiana kept stopping. And just sitting. What a little monkey! Anyhow, we finished the run and I'm sure we BOTH felt so good when it was done.

Last night we went up the the club for Superbowl fun and frolic. All food written down and counted.

This morning I joined daughter for her session with the personal trainer. Oy! The up side was that she commented on my form and said that is was perfect! The down side was that it friggen hurt!!! I have some work to do with weights!

Not much else on the agenda for today. Taking the pup for a nice long walk this afternoon. Not going to run because I've run two days in a row and my knees are quite sore.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

What a friggen week

I did not have a good week this week. My stress level is at an all time high. My daughter, whom I love dearly, is on a mission to drive me completely insane. Just school issues. But enough to be all consuming. Sadly, I eat when I'm stressed. I'm back on plan now though.

Went to the club last night for my first real workout in 3 weeks. While my lungs were quite unhappy with me, it felt really good to exercise. I did an hour on the treadmill - upping the incline every minute. First go up and down I went as high as 11, and the second go up and down I went all the way up to 15. I was drenched by the time I was done.

Today I plan to try a run with the pup (try in that we will go out, I just don't know how much running I can do, not try to go out). I'm sure he could use the time outside. He's been in doggy daycare all week because I've been working. Of course, he has a ball there - especially this week, they put him in with the medium sized dogs (up to 70 lbs) because his style of play was better suited for that group. He is exhausted every night. But he also got so excited the one day when we pulled into the parking lot to drop him off that he yelped and hopped up and down in the back seat! Anyhow, even with all that I think both of us would benefit from some vitamin D. It certainly will help my mood.

I wonder when I will learn to deal with my stress in a positive manner? I guess when I just do it. I want to be someone who goes for a run when I want to put my daughter through a wall, instead of grabbing a glass of wine and some Tostitos!

Anyhow, I should boogie.... get some food in me so I can get out there. Have a healthy day bloggers!!

PS: My contract at the one place I work got extended 2 months - woohoo!

Personal Growth and a Weigh In

Major personal growth happening here!!

I was raised to feed a cold. For the first time in my adult life, I was sick (for 2 weeks now) and I DID NOT GAIN WEIGHT. This is huge for me. It turns out that if you don't stuff your face - you will still eventually get better. Who knew???

I'm not kidding - normally a period of illness this long would easily, easily result in a 5 - 7 lb gain.

Moving on.

I went to Zumba today. Daughter was finally able to attend. She hated it. It's not my favourite, but I do enjoy the music and I sweat like a pig, so I know my heart is going like crazy. Of course, today that could have just been a fever... I felt dizzy a couple of times during the class and had to nap this afternoon after my big exertion!!

Tonight is date night with husband. We are going the The Catch restaurant. While I do not eat stuff out of the water, husband loves his sea food. I will be having some lovely beef tonight and I can't wait!! Black Angus AAA tenderloin. Does life get any better than that? We are going to take our time, order a nice bottle of wine and just enjoy each other. The thing that is really nice about a really fancy restaurant though? Not the price, certainly. The portions. They are usually really small and in the end, the perfect size!

I'm thinking I may even put makeup on tonight. I don't normally wear makeup cause I think it makes wrinkles. But tonight might be a makeup night.

Oh, I never made it to belly dance Thursday. Just still felt to icky. And got a headache. I've sure had really bad ones since being sick. I think it is all the coughing. I did curl yesterday though. Curl a really, really good game. I was on fire!! Of course, now my skip will think I can make the occasional shot and she will be disappointed next time I go and get back to my regular missing everything! HAHA

Well, I guess I'd better go get my face on. I need to take some cough medicine and a couple of advil before we go. Wow - how sexy is that - I have the new Benalyn mucus and phlem busting formula stuff. Sigh....

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Back to the land of the living

Still congested in my chest and coughing but boy do I feel better. Good enough that I'm going to go to belly dance this week. My first "exercise" session in over a week! I still have a day of prescription pills to take. You know, I think it was the rescue inhaler that was making me nauseous.

Still on program - with 4 flex to last me 2 days. It drives me friggen crazy that I can be SO sick and still not lose my appetite. I have been starving and now that I'm feeling well enough to keep my food down.... I've been eating what feels like a lot.

OK peeps. I need to just go on the record regarding the Red Team on Biggest Loser. If you haven't watched then stop reading... NOW!

She is a liar, liar, liar. OMG. Does she really think that we are all so stupid? I hate liars. To my mind, if she wanted to keep up with the lie, she should have thrown her weigh in's until she didn't have immunity. But it was so obvious. I don't normally care for Jillian as I don't like the yelling (I find it actually quite abusive) BUT I was loving her on this week's show. I loved that she didn't back down.

And that Green team. OMG. I have never, ever seen two more angry women in my life. That daughter - when she was sitting on camera all hunched over, eyes half closed - completely shut down. It is inconceivable to me that she is even married. They both need some serious therapy. And that mom telling her not to cry. I just wanted to slap her!

Well, time for breakfast. Have a healthy day!

Oy!

I am not getting any better. I threw up in the car last night and for most of the morning today. I have a headache from throwing up. ARGH!!

Can't keep any food down and can't exercise. I'm one of those people who does NOT lose their appetite when sick - so I'm friggen STARVING. I guess it is good to know that I still recognize the feeling. Always a silver lining, right?

Anyhow - short post today.....

Have a healthy day bloggers!

OMG! Enough already!!

I have been coughing so much I've actually given myself a headache. Work was long but productive today. My manager just called me (it's 7:15) - I thought I must have made a big mistake, but she was just calling to tell me that I don't need to come in tomorrow. I'm so relieved. I really think a day in bed will do me good. I didn't go to belly dance tonight. No energy.

Did any of you notice that I slipped my weigh in up on the side? I ran out quickly last night. Didn't stay for the meeting because I felt like crap, but at least I won't miss out on the cheap fees!

Not much else to report. Eating is good. Coughing is a pain. Exercise is non-existent. Yep - that pretty much catches us up.

Oh, my puppy was so "full of energy" today that doggy daycare put him in with the medium sized dogs. The gals said that he just had a ball and was so buy trying to jump OVER the bigger dogs!! I so wish they had web cams in the play areas....

Have a healthy day bloggers.

Blog Award!!

Hey peeps! I got an award - how exciting!!!

7 things you might not know about me:

1) I haven't spoken French since, while still living in my home town of Montreal, a French co-worker laughed at me for using "le" instead of "la". That was 22 years ago. I decided last week to take French lessons. Thanks to "H" for mentioning it on her blog. The lesson, not the huge chip on my shoulder.

2) Fatinah is my belly dance name, but if I could change my "real life" name to any name, I would chose Elizabeth.

3) I picked my daughter's name out when I was 16

4) Even though I am a firm believer that WW is THE plan for healthy living long term, when LA Weight Loss called me out of the blue the other day to say they had changed their program I still thought "hmmm, should I try it?" Always that part of me looking for a secret weapon.

5) I'm one of those people that doesn't think living together is the same as being married, and I will be devastated if my daughter does it. I know, I know....

6) I get really, really, really irritated when I read stuff like on blogs like "well, I didn't lose cause I ate that cupcake" or similar. Seriously, if you count your effing points, there is no reason you can't have a cupcake. Not at every meal, but if you gained a POUND it is because you didn't count your points accurately. Seriously makes me so nuts.

7) I'm very claustrophobic and have to leave the room if I'm watching a show that has a character in a small space.

8) Bonus fact: my last tattoo was totally inspired by the lovely Tigerlilly!!

Bloggers I would like to pass this award onto are:

1) H-Woman

2) Sparky

3) Graciela

4) Cinemarie

5) Tiggerlilly

6) Totegirl

7) Expressomama

sick :-(

I have a cold. Which sucks 'cause I actually have to work this week. I ended up coming home at 3:00 today and I just woke up (it is 7:00).

To give everyone a break this afternoon they brought in a sundae bar, complete with around 20 different toppings!! This is how sick I was - not only did I not have any - I wasn't even tempted. They had crushed Skor bars for one topping choice and all I could think was "right after I go throw up, I want to sleep!"

Today was supposed to be workout with weights with husband - ya, he went without me. I'm thinking tomorrows run won't happen either. Boo. I also have to find a time to weigh in this week at night 'cause WW is having a lifetime special and I don't want to miss a week and miss out on the special pricing. $14.70 is significant savings.

My group went to make lattes this morning (no one included me) and they all came back, stood back from my desk and said "We've talked about it and we think you should go home". I know they meant well, but I felt bad. I already felt like a leper with my cold, but I'm hired to work just this one week, and I really didn't think they would appreciate me not coming in - because it would mean overtime for at least two of them. Sigh. I finally did leave when I was feeling so tired I thought I would cry. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better.

Not much else on the go. Started to watch the Golden Globes, but I found the jokes just too mean spirited this year so I turned them off. Too much nastiness in the world today to watch a bunch of dressed up people insult each other.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Success!

That is what this week was. I earned almost 40 points of good quality activity points this week. I didn't spend HOURS exercising. I just dialed up the intensity. Yay me. It paid off. See my weight tracker on the side.

Still have no idea how much I weigh. I even left my glasses on my chair in the meeting before I went to the scale so that I wouldn't be tempted to peek.

Apparently the secret to success is filling foods. That is what I learned at my meeting today.

2nd Zumba class in an hour. My knees are sore from the treadmill last night so it will be interesting to see how that goes. Just ate a piece of left over homemade pizza for breakfast. I love pizza way more when it is left over. Mmmmmm....

Daughter is in diploma prep all weekend so husband & I are on our own. Should be a fun weekend. It is weird that I miss her when she is gone like this.

I have to work tomorrow. I work all week and this week is going to be very busy. Should be interesting to see how well I stick to my plans. Do or do not - right?? Our deadlines are so tight this week - I have a headache just thinking about all that I have to do!!

Well peeps - have a great day!

Another quiet day....

I felt quite blech today. I had coffee with two friends, which was really fun, but I almost cancelled. The thought of having to talk for a couple of hours seemed too much. Don't know what that was about. In the end, I'm really glad I went.

I met up with my cousin for the Running Room practice run tonight. She is doing the 10k clinic. They ran 5.6k tonight. It was an awesome night for a run, except for the ice. Holy shit peeps - it was really hard going out there. The run felt great - I much prefer running outside to the treadmill as I find it much easier on my knee. Having said that - the ice was very hard on my knee because I was so tense. Sigh. Oh, and my stupid Nike +..... would not activate the sensor. If it's not on the Nike + it's almost like the run didn't exist - do any of you feel that way?

Food was awesome today. I'm a rockstar. HAHA

Am thinking of signing up for the Rocky Mountain Soap 12k in Canmore in May. My walking group is doing it - but I will run.

Hey Calgary bloggers..... would you be interested in all joining in to do a 5k sometime in the fall together?? Think on it. We all run anyhow....

I'm watching Star Trek the movie for the millionth time. I just love it.

So, who is watching the Biggest Loser this season? I am finding it hard to watch this go around. First off, it is just too soon after the other one. And second, I just find the sheer size of the cast completely overwhelming. Having said that.... I also haven't picked my fav's yet. Of course, I have a soft spot for the Tongans (sp??) And I really like the fellow from the white team. He just tugs at my heart and I think when he loses weight he will look his age and likely will be quite handsome. With such large contestants, the red team looks quite out of place I find. Not many people are talking about it this go around - I wonder if others are also feeling it was just too soon?

Well peeps - Star Trek isn't the same without a cup of tea, so I'm off to make that. Have a healthy day!!

quiet day.....

Last night daughter & I went up to the club to hear all about the "I Lost it at the Club" challenge. It's pretty exciting. This year is very different than last year.

We all received nutrition/exercise logs made especially for and designed by the trainers at our club. They are running a whole bunch of exercise classes for people to participate in, at various times throughout the 3 months of the challenge. They have set up an e-mail account specifically for the challenge where we can get questions answered by either the nutritional consultant or the fitness consultant depending on the question. They talked us through our goals. We will receive weekly e-mails with news of upcoming classes, strength and cardio routines for the week at all levels (beginner, intermediate & advanced) and we will get homework each week. If we do the homework we get a sticker. You know I will be doing my homework as I find stickers very motivating!! Homework will be either a fitness task, or a nutritional one. Small changes for us to make toward a healthy lifestyle.

Daughter wants to run a marathon. Now, she currently isn't a runner, but her trainer is going to put together a program for her that should have her ready to do one by August. I told her that if I see her training, I will do it with her. I don't know why the hell I said that, as I hate the hours that go into training for a long run, but there was no way I wanted to discourage her from doing it!!! I personally would like to shave 6 minutes off my 5k time by the end of the challenge. Apparently we have an Olympic athlete/personal trainer at the Club that specializes in running programs and gait analysis. I'm going to talk to husband tonight about hiring him for a session or two. I was told he would be able to design a training program for me. Plus, I thought if I have my gait analyzed perhaps it will help my knee?? Couldn't hurt it I suppose, right????

Daughter was the only young person at the challenge, or so we thought, until this young lady came over to exchange cell #'s!! Daughter actually texted her last night and they have a workout date tonight after daughter is done teaching swim lessons. Daughter is so much more outgoing than I am. I love that about her. Just one of her many awesome qualities.

So, our challenge journal is calorie counting. I'm a WW'er, so I don't actually know much about how many calories I eat in a day. I sat down and figured out my calories for yesterday. Yesterday I ate 22 daily points and 7 flex points. That translated into: 1394 calories and 29 g of fat. Interesting. Well, I thought it was.

Tonight I'm going to the Club with husband and he is going to work me out with weights. I will let you know how that goes. I'm kinda excited about it. That will be our Tuesday date.

Tomorrow I'm going to the practice run at the Running Room for the learn to 10k clinic. It's so nice out - I'm looking forward to the run outside.

I took the pup for a walk today for 45 minutes. He was so happy to be out again. There was quite a bounce in his step! Little muffin hasn't eaten yet today though.... wonder what that's about? Hmmm.....

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Monday again....

and not a moment too soon!!

Yesterday husband & I had massages. Not together, one after the other. Boy, oh, boy did I need it. I am still sore today. We had an early supper and then toodled off to the gym. I had a good run on the treadmill, followed by 20 minutes of walking on the treadmill. I then stretched diligently like a good girl!

Today I have a bazillion things to do. Argh. By 9:30 I had dropped daughter off at school, gone to get groceries, gone to pick up a prescription, gone to get keys cut and stopped at Starbucks! I've also taken my daughter's mac in to be fixed. Next up is: change bed sheets, clean 2 of the 3 bathrooms and do all my husband's ironing. F*ck - I hate ironing.

I joined my Club's annual "I Lost it at the Club" challenge. Our first meeting is tonight - and so I will update with the particulars tomorrow - as I don't really know what to expect yet!

Congrats to all who have joined the X-Weighted Challenge. I'm really excited to read everyone's journey - I have no doubt you will all have great success!!

Not much else to report. I picked up the new Yoga Journal, Weight Watchers, Canadian Running and the 15 minute Weight Watchers Recipe book. Looks like I have some reading to do!!

Have a healthy day bloggers.