what am I doing differently?

This is the question my trainer put to me.  What are you doing differently than when we started 2 years ago?  I was losing weight then, but I’m maintaining now, doing the same exercises I did, eating and keeping track of all my intake and my exercises.  What am I doing that keeps me from losing?  I am more disciplined than I was then.  I think green, and I do try harder at keeping the gym routine.  I was lackadaisical 2 years ago, going to the gym when I felt like it, then doing the “I deserve a cookie” routine.  I was supposed to lose 2 pounds/week starting in June.  That would have put me at 203 now.  I’m at 212.1.  I have hit 211 twice in that time, but bounced back up. 

It seems harder to go for 1 hour of cardio now.  I don’t think I could do 1/2 hour on the elliptical now let alone adding 10 min on treadmill and 20 on the bike.  I have increased the cross train and resistance levels to 6 and 6 on the elliptical, and now I can walk at 3 mph on treadmill.  I am at lvl 5 on bike.  I think that I’m giving myself too much catch up time.  You know you haven’t been in the gym for a year, don’t take it too fast, or you’ll be sorry.  I’m not sure…maybe that’s it.

My starting point, although I’m heavier than I was, is better measurement wise.  I don’t know.

Something to contemplate the next time I’m on the cardio machines…

Hubby and I haven’t been to the lake to walk in a long while, or to the walking trail near the school’s training center for that matter.

I guess I’m doing a lot of things differently.  I guess I’ll start by doing longer cardio sessions, and adding the lake/trail walks.  We’ll see if it helps make measureable progress.

 

 

 

Measurable Regress

Poor me!  Poor me!  I’ve been traumatized!  I need PIE!  I know it’s 11 PM, but I’ve had such a day and I’m sooooo hungry.  Just had breakfast this noon, and it’s been 10 hrs.  Why is it every time I have what I think is protein, fruit and vegies, it shows up as carbohydrates and fat?  Well, it’s hopeless and there’s nothing I can do about it, and it’s late and I spent the better part of 3 hrs in the car (including hitting the deer) and 2 hrs standing facing the bass drum and cymbals and having to look over my shoulder to see the music.  CRAMP!  and my feet hurt, and my calves hurt, and my abs hurt.  What’s a little piece of pie?  NOTHING!  I’m gonna eat it.  I know my trainer is going to look at my food log, and I DON’T CARE!  (yes I do)  

“So how’d you do on your cardio?”  I played drums for 3 hours… 785 calories.  “GREAT!  Now lets check your food log…”  oh crap.  “Hmmm 37% carbs, 45% fat and 18% protein.  and your goals are… um… 30% carbs, 30% fat and 40% protein.”  Carbs are doing better, but where is all that fat coming from?  What about all that yogurt and meat and cheese I’m eating?  oh…yogurt and cheese!  That’s the fat isn’t it.  What protein can I eat that doesn’t have fat in it?  Raw hamburger?  No… that’s 15-20% fat.  crud.  So I look things up and run into “don’t eat bananas” and “don’t take supplements” website.  Where’s the empirical evidence?

TRX exercises (from that hanging strap thingy in the gym…)  Chest presses 15, triceps extensions 15, 2 handed rows 15, ball slams 12 pounds 15x, chest passes against the wall 12 pounds 15X, side passes to wall 10 pounds 15 times.  3 sets

Weight…regressed 212.7  DAM!

 

 

owie

I hate changing schedules!  I was supposed to meet with my trainer on Friday morning, and I had to reschedule because I had another meeting that unfortunately trumps training.  I went Saturday instead.  Now I’m starting to get confused.  She really made me work!  I did chin-up and dips, and she increased the weight by 10 pounds.  Then, in between sets, she had me do calf raises, which in ballet would be eleves, but done as fast as possible.  Then we proceeded to a core series:  assisted crunch machine–30 crunches with a 30 second hold at the end, then to the crunch machine and had that set at 80 pounds for a set of 15, then to the sitting ab crunch machine with feet extended 15 at 65 pounds, then over to the incline bench and do a sit up to standing position with a twist  from side to side and a 10 pound plate for 15.  Went through the series 3 times.  Our concert that night was cancelled due to bad weather.  But it feels like Friday.  Sunday comes and I go to church then cook a bit, then we head down to our next concert which is roughly in the same area as where we practice.  Leave at 5, get home at 11.  But we practice on Mondays, so now when I wake up on Monday, it’s TUESDAY.  All the things I’m supposed to do on Tuesday I’ve done on Monday without the bonuses.  Then we head down for practice, and it’s Monday again.  Smoke is appearing out my ears.  Standing on cement in flip flops, in a twisted position playing 2 instruments at once, and all that ab work is taking its toll, and now my calves are cramping because of the shoes.  I’m stiff when I get into the car and drive home.  Left at 6, getting back about 10:20.  15 miles from home, hit a deer.  DAM!  Damage to the headlight on driver’s side, Left front panel, destroyed driver’s side mirror.  I have no idea what day it is now.  Go and get something for supper (missed due to rehearsal) and I think it’s Free Pie Wednesday.  Lord knows I don’t need pie.  So I get some.

Then I limp out of the restaurant WIDE AWAKE, and go home.  I have a training session this morning, at 9 or 8 or is that Yesterday or maybe tomorrow, then I have more stuff to do… all the Tuesday stuff I did on Monday has to be redone today.  Argh…thus the title:  Owie