1000 Awesome Things - Gym Pain

1000 Awesome Things posted this post the other day and it made me laugh when I read it. How often have I had pretty much this exact same experience, and in the end you feel awesome :)

 

 

#804 Gym pain

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 09:01 PM PDT

 

Believe it, folks: I went to the gym last Saturday. Yes, flabby belly, spaghetti-thin arms, bright white sneakers and all.

Though it may surprise you, I am not a walking talking hulk of a man. No, I’m a scrawny knee-pushups kind of guy who spends more time taking sips of water, talking to the maintenance folks, and figuring out how the machines work than I do actually working out. I don’t tone my pecs, blast my quads, or crush my delts. If my trip to the gym was a short film it would be calledStretching In Trackpants.

But anyway, last Saturday.

 

It was 8:45am and I was sipping some water, trying to figure out how the benchpress worked, when a steady stream of spandex-clad seniors suddenly brisked by me with stern brows and towels draped over their shoulders. Honestly, you might have thought there was a sale on oatmeal or aWheel of Fortune marathon about the start at the back of the gym, because these grannies and granpies were on a mission. When I asked a couple maintenance guys what was going on, they told me Boot Camp was about to start.

My mind immediately flashed to visions of crawling through muddy trenches in baggy camo,swinging over frothy rapids on jungle vines, and standing on the roof of a rusty, beat-up car firing a machine gun into the sky with one hand. I can’t explain these images, but they compelled me to follow the Wrinkle March into the aerobics room.

And I know I don’t need to tell you all what happened next.

 

Large, adult-sized Fisher Price plastic and foam bits were strewn all over the floor, thumping dance music started bumping over the speakers, and a headband-clad Drill Sergeant screamed the sweat out of us. Adrenaline racing, I stepped-out, stepped-down, and moved barbells all around. I pushed up, pushed back, and prayed softly. After about fifteen minutes, most of the old folks were barely sweating, while I keeled over, my mouth sucking back dry, sweaty air while a sharp, knife-like pain quietly stabbed into my gut. And the whole time Sergeant Purple Leg Warmers was barking at me to keeping going, don’t stop, two more minutes, one more minute, and rotate!

It was intense.

By the end, I was a Jello-blob of hot muscles and shin splints. I felt like I’d fallen down a hundred flights of stairs and landed on a cactus patch. I was in pain and agony … but you know what?

It felt good.

I felt like I made it. I felt like I did something. There was a tingling buzz of satisfaction burning in my shredded calves, a lingering ache of pride in the dirtbike tracks riding up my stomach for three days, and a quiet happiness with the gym pain I’d inflicted upon myself.

When you reach up higher than you’ve reached before, give a little more than you gave before, or dig deep to your core to end up sprained and sore, well around here we say that’s a little something called

AWESOME

Roxanne - The Tripping Point

Hello Everyone!
So, the other day I was reading an article on Livestrong.com about the Tripping Point.
Basically the Tripping Point is the point where you want to give up because you feel like you aren't or can't do any better.
And truthfully I feel like I'm there
Like I've been there for a few months now.
My tripping point.

But I can't give up.
I won't.
When I first wanted to lose weight, it was probably mostly driven by my desire to fit into what culture sees as acceptable beauty, but now . . .
Now it's personal.
Now I just want to beat this to prove to myself that I can.

One of the suggestions in the article I read (http://www.livestrong.com/article/562572-the-tripping-point-how-performers-get-stuck-and-what-to-do-about-it/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=03192013) was to remember why you started in the first place, so here is my list of reasons for why I want to live a healthy, active life, through which I lose weight:

• So that I never have to worry that I won't find clothes that fit
• And to be able to buy the cheaper version of things because they have my size
• To not feel like people are judging me when they look at me
• To be athletic
• To know I can do it
• Do be proud of myself
• To feel accomplished
• To prove that I can do it
• To lower my risk of heart disease
• To lower my BMI
• Wedding dress choices (eventually)
• To never need to worry if my bridesmaid dress is going to fit
• So that I don't have to lie awake at night and worry that I will never change and that I'll always be fighting the same fight
• To feel beautiful
• To be a good example to my sisters and friends
• To not have to worry whether I will be able to donate bone marrow if I am ever a match
• To make finding a vein easier to donate blood
• To be faster - "For every pound of fat you lose, you run up to 4 seconds faster per mile . . . Your body won't have to work as hard to go forward." (Self Magazine)

I don't want to JUST lose weight. I want to become "athletic" where I can participate and enjoy sports and activities because I have the energy as well as have taught and trained my body how to move and its limits.
How about you? What are some of the reasons that inspire you to change your habits and live a healthy life?
-Roxanne

Roxanne : Challenge Update 2

Hey Everyone,
So for those of you who don't know - I am participating in a one year health challenge called The Jackson 100 Pound Challenge - during which I will attempt to lose 100lbs.
I'll keep you all updated.
So here is my update for this week:

Starting date: March 11, 2013
My loss for the week is: 0.2
My total loss is: 3lbs
I still have 97 lbs to lose.
Current weight: 220.8

As you can see my weight loss wasn't that great this week, and I'm not so sure why. With the exception of one day I kept my calorie intake really close to my recommended amount. So in the coming weeks I'm going to be adding more exercise and see if I can boost my metabolism into helping me out.
My other goal is to eat only when I'm actually hungry.
I know this goes against what a lot of diets say - but shouldn't my body know when it needs more food?
So it's what I'm doing.
I definitely appreciate all the encouragement I get from all of you, and from my family.
I'm not giving up, and I hope you don't either!
-Roxanne

Roxanne: Challenge Update 1

Hi Everyone,
So, I know this post was supposed to be written on Monday. I apologize for the delay.
If you don't remember I am participating in the Jackson's 100lbs Challenge - which is to lose a hundred pounds in 365 days.
Now I know you may be thinking: Is that possible? Is that safe?
I've done the calculations and to lose 100lbs in 365 days I only need to lose 0.3lbs a day.
Which is 1.9 lbs a week.
Still safe.
Just hard work.

And the great thing if I accomplish this is that my end weight will put me dead in the middle of a healthy weight range for my height.

So here's the update:
My starting date is: March 11, 2013
My total loss this week is: 3.4lbs
I have 96.6 lbs left to lose to meet this challenge.

Another challenge for myself that I have incorporated into this one is this:
- Morning Workout
- Walk
- Run
- Evening Workout

Now before you start thinking "wow, she puts in a lot of time" my morning and evening are often just a set of reps : Jumping jacks, crunches, squats, push ups. Not a full work out.
Although I would love to work up to that.
And I haven't been running very often.
The weather is making it difficult.
But it's a goal that I will continue to strive toward.

I want to become someone who is more naturally active
(And someone who has a faster metabolism!)

Anyway, that's it for me.
Hope your weeks have been healthy and happy!
-Roxanne
PS: We'd love to hear from you, so leave a comment about what goals or challenges you have set for yourself regarding healthy living.

Roxanne - The recipe update

Alright world,
So there are two recipes I would like to share with you today.
The first one is a healthier remake of an old favorite : Banana Bread :)

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sugar free applesauce
• 3/4 cup honey
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 mashed overripe bananas

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together applesauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

 And I added some chocolate chips to mine.
If you would like to see the original recipe, it came from here : http://8weekstoabetteryourecipes.blogspot.ca/2012/09/banana-bread-8-week-friendly.html

 

The second recipe is this really delicious Lemon Garlic Pasta. I know the combination might sound a little different, but it is SO good!

Ingredients

1 clove garlic

2 tsp. olive oil

1/2 a lemon

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

And pasta to put it on :)

 

 

Directions:

While cooking pasta

Over medium heat sauté the minced garlic in the olive oil until it just begins to brown

Remove from heat

Squeeze lemon juice into it.

When pasta is finished and drained, toss with mixture and cheese.

 

Note: I used cheddar cheese because I didn't have parmesan and I added some pepper. Inspiration for this recipe came from: http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1756 

 

 

Okay. Now for a quick update on me.

So I am presently part of an online challenge from livestrong.com, called the Jackson's 100lb Challenge. The challenge is to lose 100lbs in a year. I update on Monday, so I'll make sure to update you as well.
Other than that I've been trying out healthier recipes, trying to estimate my caloric intake and trying to make sure I walk around an hour each day.

 

Trying to be consistent, another update coming soon! :)

-Roxanne





Past to Present ~ Eve

 

Hey guys,
The other day I was going through my usual weekly routine. Everything went by just the same as usual. That was until Sunday morning. I was downstairs sitting with my two best friends and listening to our Pastor start his lesson. I looked over to my left and saw my friends whispering to each other. I looked to my left, there was a big empty space until it reached the wall. There, leaning on the windowsill, was something I never in my life would have thought to see. A girl that I had been friends with until about five years ago stood against the window with her head down.
That girl was always known for... well... she was never really the best influence. She was really well known and people always liked her at first sight. She had lots of friends and was never seen alone. She looked really bitter, standing over there.
I looked back at my friends and then back at the girl. My best friend really hated that girl. As I looked at her I didn't see the same girl that had shoved me away. I saw someone that had gone throught a lot of pain. Finally, after a ot of consideration, I put away my despise for her and invited her over.
I think that we all get caught up in the past a lot. Sometimes it just is hard to put those feelings behind you. Don't look back. Look to your future, to what you can be not who you once were. Life goes on and people change. Just remember that the next time you see someone that may have hurt you.
Sincerely,
Eve

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Hey Everyone,

So this semester I moved into an apartment which means, NO MORE CAFETERIA FOOD! Yay, it's nice to be able to cook my own meals again.
Now I don't know if you are into all the pinterest hype that is going around, but if you are you know how it goes. You see all this great stuff and pin it all and you have all these great intentions to do the stuff you pin, and then. . . it NEVER happens.
So this week I decided to actually make a recipe I pinned. Technically, I heard of this recipe from a friend of mine first but then I pinned it.
It was a "Creamy Avocado Pasta" recipe and I made some adjustments to it, but it was fantastic. It reminded me of a pesto sauce almost, but it was absolutely delicious. With it I had some oven cooked tomatoes and some fresh cucumber.

Creamy Avocado Pasta

• 1 medium sized ripe Avocado, pitted
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 2 tsp dried Basil
• Ground pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated)
• 2 servings or your choice of pasta

Instructions:

Boil water in a pot and cook pasta as per usual. While pasta is cooking mix together all ingredients in a bowl. I attempted to use a blender to just blend in the garlic better, however this did't blend very well so I just mixed it by hand. This just meant some of the garlic was still in pieces and some bites were quite strong, but still tasted excellent) Once the pasta is cooked strain it and mix in avocado sauce. Serve hot.

(Makes 2 portions)

Oven Broiled Tomatoes

• Tomatoes (As  many as you need)
• Dried Parsley Flakes
• Grated Parmesan Cheese

Set oven temperature to broil. Slice tomatoes up, or I cut the tomato into wedges, sprinkle with parsley flakes and parmesan cheese. Place on a baking sheet and cook in oven until cheese is lightly toasted.

Here is a picture of my meal, I'm not a photographer so don't judge the quality of the picture. The recipe is delicious no matter how the picture looks and if you don't trust me, you'll have to just test this recipe out for yourself.

I hope you enjoy!!!

Infinite x's and o's

-A

I AM BACKK!!!

Hey guys!

So it's been a LOOONG time since I last wrote on here. No excuse can be made. I want to try to stop making excuses for the things I do, or things I don't do, instead just taking ownership. So I apologize for not continuing to write.

Today is March 1st, its the beginning of a new month and March 21st is the beginning of a new season! BRING ON SPRING! I love Spring time, I really REALLY do, because it means summer is just about to come!
I just want to update you guys on what I'm doing with my life and fitness, I found a blog awhile back called Blogilates the girl who runs the site is super encouraging and has lots of fitness videos and I really enjoy her stuff. She also makes a fitness calendar for each month and this is the first month I will be following her fitness calendar. If you guys want to join me check out her blog and you can join the calendar as well. Today was the first day and it felt so good to do her workouts. On one of them I couldn't complete all of the arm workouts but almost, its a manageable task! So if you're looking for ideas of what to do this month to try and get fit check it out!

I hope you guys are all sticking to your goals for this year!
I'll try to update on how I'm doing with following this calendar!
HAPPY MARCH EVERYONE!
Infinite x's and o's
-A