Day 80: Don't Eat Before You Swim

Okay, so I have jumped off the deep end this week.

Monday I went to Strike at 530a and then spinning at 545p. Tuesday I went to the gym at 515 and stayed until 8p. Today, I went to kickboxing at 530a and went again at 7p.

I'm finally seeing the numbers drop a little. Not much, but enough to get me hella motivated to finally getting to my goal. Slowly but surely.

Today, however, I learned a very valuable lesson that pop culture has told us over and over again it's a myth. Don't eat before you swim. Now, in my case, I wasn't swimming, but working out with D in hard core kickboxing. I can never figure it out. Do I eat before I go to the gym so there is something in my system? Do I eat afterward to "optimize my 45" (eat something within 45 minutes of your workout so your next work out works for you instead of against you).

Well, I got home at 515p so I thought if I ate before the 7p class I would have plenty of time to let it digest. WRONG! I had the worst cramps through the class. It made it very difficult to make it through the class without quitting, but damn it, I made it through.

Tomorrow, I will go to the gym at 530a and just work out on a machine. Then go back at 530p (haha 12 hours later) for a 30 minute core conditioning class, and then a 60 minute Strike! class. God help me. If I can make it through this week doing this insane schedule, then I'll definitely consider making it a habit for 2010.

If I could do it, I can do it. :D

Looking back, I'm very disappointed in my lack of weight loss in the last 80 days. But I understand as well. I didn't work as hard as I should have. And I definitely took some serious liberties with my diet. I'm sure sleep has something to do with it as well. I haven't slept well in weeks. But also my stress level has skyrocketed since things are changing at work. So those factors are definitely working against me. It's the constant uphill battle, but I'm armed now and prepared to fight.

And one day, I'll get to writing this stupid book that's in my brain. One day at a time.

Day 73: Long Break

Okay, I've taken a long break from this. I'm very bad. Sorry. Well, the commit to fit program has taken a little break for Thanksgiving, but I'm back on track and have lost 3 lbs. That's something during this holiday season. I guess the loss of appetite is good. I haven't been very hungry lately. My stress level has elevated exponentially. And I'm doing so much to curb my appetite and not stress eat. I'm sure I'm burning calories stressing and concentrating.

But I'm doing okay. Four months and three pounds. Talk about massive failure, but in all honesty I have not been very loyal. So there is that.

I do have a wonderful recommendation, however especially for the holidays. I have found a "digestif" or after dinner drink. It's heavy on the liquor, but it numbs the holiday stress and makes your kitchen smell amazing. Also, if you have trouble sleeping, it's a good way to knock yourself out to sleep through the night.

Family Therapy Cranberry Rosemary Digestif (From the Food Network)

1/2 cup water
1 cup cranberries (fresh)
1 cup sugar
3 inch cinnamon stick (whole stick)
or one teaspoon of ground cinnamon
2 sprigs of rosemary
or 2 tablespoons of rosemary
Pinch of salt
1 lemon, zested

Add the water, cranberries, sugar, cinnamon stick, rosemary, salt and lemon zest to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat and simmer until slightly reduced in volume and thickened to a syrup. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl. Discard the solids. Refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes.

To make a drink:
Put a handful of ice in a drink shaker along with 1 1/2 ounces of whiskey and 1 tablespoon of the cranberry syrup. Shake gently a few times and strain into a glass. Repeat for the remaining drinks and serve.

Day 57: 2 out of 8

Yes, I took a break over the weekend because I was out of town. So shoot me.

But I did go to the gym today and worked my ass off in David's kickboxing class. I couldn't get to the gym fast enough after work to get to spinning, but ah well. Kickboxing burns more calories anyway.

Well, I looked at my Commit to Fit chart and it said I only took two classes last week. Okay -- you (who are reading) know I went to seven classes last week. Puke and all. So I brought this up, by means of the system, they are just slow. Ironic for a gym. So I'm supposed to keep myself accountable. WTF? I thought that was the point of the gym. For them to track myself for me.

But I made it to class number 8 of the Commit to Fit 2009.

Now if I could write or stop eating junk, I may lose weight and gain a book.

And oh yes, the mundane weekly recommendation: The House of Night Books. Okay, yes it's lame. But I'm a little obsessed with them now. If you're a fan of the awesome series of Twilight, you will like The House of Night. It's a vampyre boarding school where kids who are "marked" are sent to learn about the vampyre culture and see if they can take the change into the bloodsucking being.

If you haven't heard of them, I recommend giving Marked a quick read. They're fun, flighty, easy, and quick. When you're read Twilight too many times, pick this up for a change of pace. I recommend.

Day 53: Vomit and Goals

Hey everyone. The first time ever, I threw up while working out.

I did my Wednesday. I took Total Conditioning and completely forgot how hard it was. I threw up a little half way through the class. So, I decided I shouldn't go to Kickboxing. But at least I made it through the whole 75 minutes of Total Conditioning.

Today, I went to Strike! with Cathy. I usually switch the 6lb bar halfway through the class. But today, I got the 9lb and made it through the whole class.

My shoulders feel like they will fall off.

But I'm just reporting, vomit and 9lbs. Gotta love it.

Day 50: Commit to Fit

My amazing gym has started up this thing. It's called Commit to Fit. I found out I couldn't do the six week nutrition class through the holidays, so now I'm doing this program through the holidays.

So, what happens is the instructor of the class you attend signs a piece of paper, and they take it and document how many times you go to a class. Supposedly, there are prizes at the end, but I thought I'd rock this contest. They try to get you to go a minimum of four times a week.

Well, check this: Core Conditioning is a 30 minute class, and it's offered four times a week. So I figure the new schedule for the week is this.

Monday: Spinning for 60 minutes, Core for 30 minutes
Tuesday: Core for 30 minutes, Strike! for 60 minutes
Wednesday: Total Conditioning for 75 minutes, Kickboxing for 60 minutes
Thursday: Core for 30 minutes, Strike! for 60 minutes
Friday: Strictly Strength for 60 minutes
Saturday: Spinning or Kickboxing for 60 minutes
Sunday: Core for 60 minutes, Pilates for 60 minutes

So, as you can see, it's pretty easy...except for Wednesdays. I will die. But I couldn't even begin to think about doing it if I hadn't done it before. There is a 15 minute break between the two classes, and that is the perfect break. Wednesday will be weights/cardio and then cardio.

I do NOT want to stop taking kickboxing, but I know I'm prepared for TC again. Mondays are now for spinning, and I love spinning.

Anyway, I will die on Wednesdays but feel AWESOME!

And since today is Monday, I will give you a recommendation. LOL. Like you guys care.

My recommendation is Last.fm. It's an online radio that you do not have to pay for. I've been using Pandora, and I'm sure there are many people that listen to Last.fm, but I just found it today, in fact. It's great. You type in an artist and you get what you want. I listened to Frank Sinatra radio and then Christmas Sinatra played. Gotta love the Christmas season.

Yeah, it's lame, but I'll get something better for next week.

Day 46: New Motivation

You know everyone has a different personalities depending on where they are. I'm a different person with my friends vs work vs home vs outside world where no one knows me. And so rarely do any of these worlds collide. Well, tonight, two collided for a brief three minutes.

So, I went to the gym (oh yeah, on a roll). Well, I got there a little early. I always forget that the 530 class goes right up to 6p. I take the 6p Strike! class. Well, I was waiting when I spotted my boss. AHHHH!!!!

Do I say 'hi?' Do I pretend I didn't see her? Do I leave? Am I not supposed to see her outside of the office world?

I was not leaving the gym. I needed those 800+ calories to burn. So, I said hello. I then pretended through the class that she was watching me. Because of this, I pushed myself harder and faster. I am very competitive and must keep up with the instructor come hell or high water.

I pushed. I made it. I rocked it.

Oh yeah! Tomorrow: Strictly Strength. Weight training class that gives me a break from cardio.

Now the question is: Do I give myself a day off a week? Or do I push and work out everyday and take the spinning class on Saturday morning. You know, that's an extra 500 calories to burn.

I think we know our answer.

Funny how our worlds collide.

Day 45: Old Asian Lady Logic

Yeah! I've gone everyday this week so far! Sunday through Wednesday. Good streak so far 2200+ calories burned. Yesterday, I went to Strike! Great class. Well, before the class I was talking to an older Asian lady. She was in amazing shape, and she was very talkative, so what could I do but talk to her. Well, she went on and on about trying to stay in shape. I said something like, "Yeah, you have to keep the weight in check." Well, this woman looked me up and down and gave me a look.

I know a man wouldn't notice, but women notice those little things. Especially when you're self-conscious about your weight. So, I continued talking to her until, thank God! Amy started the class.

I did take kickboxing tonight even though I was a little sick these last two days with food poisoning. But I went, and my knee hurts like hell, but it's okay. It'll be worth it when 50 pounds go away.

Tomorrow, since I can't get up and work out, I'm going to write. I'm going to get up at 6a (instead of 5a) and get to a coffee shop to write. I need to write.