OMG! What’s that pain

Today’s workout in its crazy entirety:

Warm Up and Stretch (always, always, always)

Coordination drills on the “Ladder“.  These are never about “just the feet”. It’s about the whole body and how it moves and the realization it will never be perfect.

THE Workout

4 rounds: 28 long, slow minutes

50 , 40, 30, 20 —  Double Unders on the jump rope

20, 15, 10, 5     —   Burpees to Box Jump 

20, 15, 10, 5    —   Jumping Pullups on the Rings

50, 40, 30, 20 —  Butterfly Situps (with bottom of feet touching)

It’s been a while since my stomach wanted to visually remind me what I had for breakfast.  The crazy irony, as hard as it was, I’m halfway through the day and I don’t feel sore.  My recovery rate is has improved signigicantly.  Granted, it took me about 6 minutes longer than it really should have.  It all comes down to the mental games my body throws at me.

Food: Breakfast: Protein shake  Snack: grapes  Lunch: Pork roast with carrots, onions, celery (homemade, no salt)

Water intake:  64 oz by 12:35 pm

1 Year in My Changing Life!

It’s been 365 days, 1 year of working out with my trainer, Brent Davidson.  It really comes down to change, change in lifestyle.  How has the change worked?

March 2010 Before starting the workouts

Start:

• 244 pounds
• 34% body fat
• High Blood pressure (Dr. talking about meds)
• Poor resting heart rate – 85 – 95 bpm
• 41 inch waist wearing 42 inch pants
• 17.5 inch neck
• Pot of coffee per day
• Chronic lower back pain
• No physical endurance and everything else you can imagine with being obese.

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One Year Later:  

March 2011 - One year later

•  197 pounds – 47 pounds!
• 21% body fat
• Safe Blood Pressure
• Resting Heart Rate – 59 bpm
• 36 inch waist
• 16 inch neck
• 2 cups of coffee per week / 90 ounces of water per day!
• Strengthened lower back
• Can run a mile in 7:30
• Run 3-4 miles a couple of times per week.

I eat smart and healthy and I learned to get rid of the processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, and empty carbs. I’ve found my palate has changed due to eating vegetables, clean meats, and healthy snacks.

This has truly been an adventure one step at a time while modifying my lifestyle.  Hear are some more pictures to prove it!

Mick at the beginning of the workouts in 2010

Mick – one year later

March 2010 Before starting the workouts

March 2011 – One year later

Mick showing off a little

Another Wonderful Week in the South

So, I told my trainer, Brent Davidson, that I felt I was at a plateau and he just said “hmm -ok”. Probably should have been worried at that point. I could have just sat back and milked it on the plateau.

Now I’m two weeks into this next level of training and I love it, but don’t mistake that as easy.

Brent has me doing handstands and handstand push-ups (pretty cool, cause I couldn’t have done that 6 months ago); some wicked sit-up combos that has him standing on my toes while I reach up and touch his hands at shoulder height; and a perpetual attack on my butt, more specifically, the glutes, hamstrings, and adductors (the muscles that let you squeeze your thighs together).

I’m already feeling stronger, I can run 3 and 4 miles without worry. I can push through some brutal crazy workouts. The single biggest change is the self confidence, being able to start the day with a win!

What a huge difference from a year ago.

Going for a run when you don’t feel like it, then it rains in your face…

A typical Seattle Monday with regular work but nothing exciting. No “wins” just breath in, breath out.
I finally convinced myself to go for a run and the skies opened up and poured rain on me. Although, I feel like I won. I won over my old self. I won over the day. I’m one day closer to 50 pounds off. If I lose 7 in the next 3 weeks, I’ll be at 50 pounds in 1 year. Who would have thought?

Most the water was on the hood and in my shoes!

40 Pounds in 10 Months

I weighed in 2 weeks ago and hit 204. Yep, 40 pounds off from my start of 244 10 months prior. This has truly been a step by step journey. It reinforces the need for lifestyle change, not quick diet band-aids. I actually enjoy working out now. I can feel it make a difference in my body. Remember, nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!

Crazy 6 mile run! (yes, I really did it)

I went to Boulder, CO the third week of July and was determined to exercise despite the altitude.  Believe it or not, I manage a 6 mile run.  I haven’t exercised like that in 15 years.  I somehow found the right pace and right breathing and just kept running.

Once I got back to Seattle I  get out and tried it again. No such luck!  I don’t know what is different, but in Seattle I just can’t get my breath.  I feel “heavy” when exercising in Puget Sound.

I felt light and energized in Boulder.  Granted the temp was about 70 – 72 in the morning so my back didn’t feel tight.  (I don’t like running in the cold – Back hurts, calves hurt, shoulder hurts).  Even though the air was thin, I felt like I could breathe.

Total Body Workout

Holy cow! On Tuesday, Brent put me through one of the most intense workouts I’ve experienced in 15 years.  It was non stop movement for 40 minutes consisting of push ups, rows, and squats.  Whew, I was hurting after that and sore for the past 2 days.  In fact, last night I hardly slept.  I tend to sleep on my side but my hips and arms were so sore I couldn’t find a comfortable position.  My best attempt was looking like the Vitruvian Man laying in bed.

I will admit, there is some sick satisfaction about getting my butt kicked and surviving through it.  My trainer likes to say “You’ve been living on the credit card of junk food and no exercise.  It’s time to pay your bills and get on a budget”.