Yes I am still around...

If anyone is wondering where I went and how I am doing...I did boot camps off and on throughout 2010 until July. In April 2010, I did my first 5K on my own.  I went down to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and ran/walked.  I finished it is all I can say.  I was proud of myself for trying though.  In May 2010, I was signed up to do the Susan G Komen 5K in Winston-Salem, but last minute had to work.  I did show up to root my team on at the beginning though. 

 This was the whole team for Winston-Salem Adventure Boot Camp.

 And this is my ladies from my boot camp!

This is my July Winston-Salem Adventure Boot Camp Crew!

 A few of you are aware I moved later in the year.  I slacked off from the exercise routine after that.  I have had an extremely tough time getting back on track.

I started keeping track of my food on  http://www.myfitnesspal.com to try and pin point if I was getting too much of one thing or another.  (Thanks to a few good friends that pushed me back into doing this.) That just depressed me, but I am trying to keep up with it, because it keeps me accountable.  I actually downloaded the app on my blackberry to help me keep track. It is very interesting to see what you are really missing from your diet.


My Mom has tried to push me in the right direction by showing me her goals for the year and making challenges with me.  I really just need to get off my butt and do something.  I know that taking that first jump will get me there, but it is the sense of possible failure that is the toughest.  

So Tuesday I waited for Luke to get home from work and we went for a short walk around the neighborhood.  We walked for about 30-40 minutes.  It felt good and refreshing. I plan to go slow, but I think walking around the neighborhood might not be so impossible for me to jump into.
 

I am closing in on the end of Boot Camp #3...

So I just read something from my Jillian Michael's newsletter today that made me smile.  It was about stretch marks on your belly.  Some of you may have these from the incredible experience of birth...but some of us our blessed with these weird marks from weight gain.  But Jillian but it so perfectly when she said, "Instead of worrying about stretch marks, though, try to change your perspective on them. I see mine as a badge of honor. They are from a time in my life when I was heavy, unhealthy, and unhappy. They now serve as a reminder to me that I can change anything I put my mind to. Nobody’s perfect, sweetie — perfect is boring."  "PERFECT IS BORING!"  AMEN Sister!  I could not agree more.  I will be one of those folks, like Jillian, showing the changes that are happening to me.  


I had a tough time this boot camp with oversleeping...that alarm clock issue again!  I could definitely tell the difference though in not having done a boot camp for a month...endurance was reduced quite a bit.  I am anxious to boost myself into a realm of working out on my own.  I have so many thoughts on the best way to get my calories burning.  These boot camps have truly helped me get motivated and push myself to achieve a healthier lifestyle.


I have issues with pushing myself when I don't have others to share the push with...so I am asking all of you out there take the challenge...no matter how little...challenge me to achieve something.  Whether it is running in a 5K with me, running for 3 miles without stopping, doing 150 push ups in one sitting, or anything you can come up with that will push me to continue. I would hope you realize that I expect you to do the challenge with me.  I am here to push all of towards a healthier lifestyle.  So bring it on...I am ready for the challenge.


To your health

Back on track for the New Year!

Today I started my third full boot camp.  I started a bit late, but the stars had to align perfect for me to get in!  I'm just excited to be busting my butt again for the New Year.  I got on the scale today and was pretty excited since you never know what is going to look back at you after the holidays.  So to date I can say that I have lost 15 total pounds since I began this goal of making me a better, healthier person.  I was really excited and actually astounded.  As you all know, getting on the scale is not my preference for seeing how I feel.  

Anyway, this morning, as cold as it was, was pretty easy to get up and go in the AM.  I was excited to see my buddy Gail to continue our friendly competition!  I definitely could tell how a month away from this strenuous exercise had effected my endurance.  I kept going for the most part, but I can definitely say that the fatigue set in when we were done.  I had to take a nap, of course.  Then I just have been pumping myself full of protein and water for most of the day.

So WE ARE BACK AND ROCKING!  For all of you that asked if I was going to continue and push through another boot camp...this one's for you.  Thank you for all the support and encouragement.  You all have helped me keep my head up and my hopes high on the end goal.  

For those of you that heard about me signing up to run in the Tanglewood Running of the Lights on New Year's Eve...I did not go out and do it.  The fog rolled in here about 2.5 hours before start time and the cold was bitter cold.  Mid day I was still going to do it and push through it, but I wimped out.  I instead warmed up on the couch under a comfy blanket and multiple cats, and we watched the ball drop in NYC!  Thank you for the encouragement to do this though.  I promise to keep all posted for the next run I sign up for and actually attend...I'm planning for the spring to bring better weather for this!

Love to all and please let me know if you have plans to pump up your health this year, as I always like to hear how all of you are pushing through the tough goals with me!

To your health!

I DID IT!!!!!

I did it! I really did it this time!  I finished my second Winston Salem Adventure Boot Camp with flying colors this time.  I actually jogged the WHOLE timed mile for the last day of camp.  This was a personal goal and I did it!  I was so excited about it I had to share with my followers. I am sorry I was so slack this camp at posting online, but I was trucking...PROMISE!  AND to top it off I was the BIGGEST LOSER for both camps this time around.  I lost 5 pounds from the previous camp and 7.5 total inches.  So since I was the BIGGEST LOSER with weight I was the lucky winner of a Swedish Massage from Van Davis Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Day Spa. WHHHHHOOOOOHHHHOOOO!!!!
The pounds are really not what I am so excited about.  The fact that I can see the changes in my endurance and in my clothes is what counts for me.  I can't begin to tell you how elated I am about the improvements in ME!  Mentally I am stronger and and have more power to force myself to push through the pain and tough it out!

This camp was tough I can say in that our trainer busted our butts...which paid off!  I did have a few days that I overslept, but I went to the gym and made up for it.  We also had our last three days rained out, but we made them up at the beginning of this week. 
Below you can see the actual results from Boot Camp #2:

             9/14/2009  10/9/2009 11/18/2009  Lost



Left Arm       16.5        16           16         0.5


Right Arm      17         16.5         16.5       0.5


Shoulders      46          45              45          1


Chest            45           44.5            43          2


Waist           45            45            43.5      1.5


Hips            53.5        52.5           52        1.5


Left Leg       30.5        30.5          30.5       0


Right Leg      31           31           30.5      0.5


Total Inches Lost                                      7.5


Weight         248.6       249.8        244.8


Fat %           48.7         47.5          48.5

Mile Run      14.3        13.22        12.58


Push Ups    10m/20f  12m/31f    30m/25f
 
So yes, I have signed up again for a mini boot camp before the Thanksgiving Holiday to boost my ego for the Holidays...and my metabolism.  I have to take December off from boot camp due to working in Asheville for a few weeks, but I think I have the momentum enough to push myself through some workouts everyday to keep me going.

My newest goal is to run/jog/walk a 5K with a friend New Years Eve through Tanglewood Park's Light show.  I think it should be fun...and the challenge is good for me to keep me going. 

THANK YOU for all the compliments and the encouragement.  You may not think it helps, but when I have trouble getting up in the morning when it is cold and rainy, I remember all those people that stand behind me and help push me out of bed.  Thank you for sticking with me.  AND I would really like to thank my trainer Cheri Haught...without your continued push to keep me going it would be hard.  And Thank You Gail Crowe for being my inspiration!

To YOUR Health!

Round 2: Boot Camp #2

Ok, so today marked the beginning of Boot Camp #2.  And oh was it cold...and second thoughts last night when I saw what the temperature was going to be...but I pumped myself up and made myself go to bed at 10pm to get up at my usual 6:15am for 7:00am Boot Camp.  I am glad I did!

So I arrived to see that I was the only camper there!  Big surprise to me!  I came to find out the deal. My good pal Gail who is my inspiration to do better and she helps me push myself even more, was out of town until Tuesday.  And only one other camper would be there on Tuesday as well...she overslept.  So I got my trainer to myself...I am sure some of you may groan here thinking the worst and some would think this pretty cool for one on one time.  Well, it was a bit of both I have to say.  No pain no gain is the deal here!  And no change in the fact that it was just one camper!  

The cold did bring me to camp in multiple layers, gloves, and a ski band to cover my ears.  I looked a bit crazy this morning, but I wasn't taking any chances of freezing.  It was smart on my part, as I did remove layers as we worked harder.  

So today I just did a run around our usual path, since there was no one to Indian Run with.  Then we went straight into a series of running to the cones and doing different exercises...20 jumping jacks, 20 squats, 20 High Knees per knee, 20 reverse lunges, and 20 hand to toe per leg...let's just say we were burning up the legs.  Then we moved back to the shelter and did a series of walking lunges across the shelter stopping to do bicep curls, tricep extensions, tricep kickbacks, upright rows...and no we were no done!  Then we moved on the pole sits with lateral raises, with a run around the playground.  Pole Sits with bicep curls with a run around the playground.  Pole sits with wide bicep curls with a run around the playground.  Then we moved into the shelter to do some plie squats with the weights and then some front and reverse lunges per leg with weights.  BURN IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT ON THE LEGS!  Oh but we are not done...we did another run around the tennis courts and up around the parking lot...I did not finish with a run...I ad to walk the last part of this one, as my legs were on fire!  

We finished camp off with some plank time, bridge plank, and of course some crazy ab work!  When I was doing my ab work I noticed my knees were smoking!  Yes, this is how cold it was...my knees were sweating and steam was rising from them and everywhere else!  Needless to say I got my butt kicked today.  Taking a week off was good for my tender rotater cuff and my sore shins, but man I could tell I took the time off!  

I felt great all day...even though I felt the workout all day.  Back to the grind of the workout, but honestly I can say that I missed it.  I really am excited about a new camp.  So off to sleep I go to get up tomorrow and do it again.  I will explain tomorrow all the exciting things that our trainer has offered for more incentive to do more for this camp.

To your Health! 

Adventure Boot Camp #1 comes to an end...

So sorry for the slackness of posting this week.  Between trying to get enough sleep, working, and pushing out the last week of boot camp I ran short on extra time.  I will try to recap the highlights of the week for you though!


Wednesday was bring a friend/support group to boot camp with you!  I asked a few people to come, but my hubby and my boss were the two that showed up and worked it out with us.  It was lots of fun sharing this fitness with those that have been pushing me along the way.  I am sending a small shout out to you two as a thank you for being there to support me...and burn it up!  There was definitely no rest for the weary on Wednesday just because we had newbies there.  We worked it out just as hard and proved that there IS PAIN with GAINING POWER!!!


Thursday we got our legs burned up something fierce!  Lots of lunges, squats, running, and band walking.  And of course you can forget the serious ab burning!  My abs are a fire!  


Friday was our last day of boot camp and therefore our timed mile again.  We warmed up first and then headed straight into our timed mile.  My calves were extremely tight, so is was tough to jog the whole time.  I wore different shoes to try and see if my shoes were part of the culprit of the shin splints.  It definitely seemed to help...less pain in the shins when running! So I jogged half and walked half of the mile, pushing myself the last bit to a final jog.  It paid off definitely when I shaved off time from my original time.  Then we went back down to the shelter for the pushup test.  We did as many pushups, man and/or woman style, as we could do.  I increased that as well!  There is no rest in boot camp, so we continued our burn by doing some weight combos and some running/jumping jack sprints!


In the end, I can truly say I loved the experience.  I met some wonderful women with some serious will power.  I have decided to join the next boot camp as long as I get paid enough to cover it.  I really feel strongly about continuing this challenge within myself.  I feel powerful!  


Below is my final results from boot camp:

Hey Susan,

Here are your results.  You did such a great job and your results reflect that.  You are truly a determined woman and I believe that you will achieve even better results in the future.  You have great form and are very stong.  Add all those things together and you are a force to be reckoned with.  You motivate the others and give Gail a challenge (which she loves).  I truly hope that you are able to join us again.

                  9/14/2009            10/9/2009           Lost

Left Arm

                     16.5                     16                   0.5

Right Arm

  17                     16.5                  0.5

Shoulders

46                      45                     1

Chest

  45                     44.5                  0.5

Waist

45                       45                    0

Hips

                     53.5                   52.5                    1

Left Leg

                     30.5                   30.5                    0

Right Leg

                      31                      31                      0

Total Inches Lost  3.5

Weight

                    248.6                 249.8

Fat %

                    48.7                    47.5

Mile Run

                    14.3                    13.22

Push Ups

                   10m/20f              12m/31f

To your Health!

Monday...Last week of Boot Camp!

Monday mornings are sometimes tough to get up and go, but especially when it is raining! We do boot camp rain or shine though! So the start of our last week was no less powerful than weeks before. Since we couldn't do our Indian Run this morning we did two cardio blasts to get our heart rates up. Jumping jacks, high knees, toe to hand, and boxer shuffles. Then in between we would do walking lunges around the pavilion. The rain subsided to a minimal sprinkle and we headed up to the parking lot for another fun cardio workout...one person runs weaving through the others while we do a stationary exercise...squats, front lunges, reverse lunges, high knees, jumping jacks, etc.. Then we did jumping jacks Military Style...Cheri counts out 1, 2, 3...we say 1...Cheri counts out 1, 2, 3...we say 2...you get the point. Anyway, it definitely took my mind off the pain that I hate during jumping jacks...but apparently I was the only one that could count for the whole team...so we did this to 20. We went back to the shelter and burned out our arms with some tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, bent over rows, and shoulder presses with the bands. Then we finished off with some glute and ab work....burning it all up!

All felt good, and I was glad I rested this weekend. I learned about the upcoming camp will start up on October 19th. I am thinking about joining it up again. This week is when we get to bring a friend and our support group. So I know the hubby is going to work on getting there and one other friend. Please let me know if anyone else would like to come check this experience out!

To your Health!