Face Changes

OMG, while looking back at some old pics, I came across this one taken just 2 years ago. OMG, my face was so fat my eyes were almost closed (i guess having the sun shining in them didn't help either!).

Anyhow ... here is a pic of me in August 2005 and then a picture of me taken last week .... almost 50 pounds lighter.

August 2005 (below) :

September 2007 (below ... almost 50 pounds lighter):

Thank you, Carlos

This is me with my trainer Carlos on his last day this week and our last session. It was a sad day for me. I want to thank him for everything he did for me in the past 2+ years. Without him, i never would have made the progress that I have. He was my first trainer and the one that got me hooked after I saw results.

A funny story back from 2005 ....

After I had my 2 free introductory training sessions at the gym, i decided to sign up. They asked me if I had any particular trainer in mind. I didn't know any of them so I said "Just don't put me with someone who's going to yell at me and make me cry". LOL. So they said o.k., we'll put you with Carlos. Well, it's true that Carlos never yelled at me, but I have to admit I did cry when he told me he was leaving.

Good luck in your new job, Carlos. Come back to the gym and visit sometime !!

New Trainer

OMG, my new trainer Elizabeth is going to kill me!! haha. Today was my first workout with her and it was tough (but good). We did chest/tricep/bicep and some abs. The abs were hard because my muscles are still sore from Wednesday when I did some sit ups on the decline bench.

This is what I did today:

Bench crunches 3 sets of 15
Cybex chest press 20# - 3 sets of 15
Cable chest press 20# - 3 sets of 15
Cable curls/bicep 15# - 3 sets of 15
Pushups (boy style) - 3 sets of 10
Cable Flys 20# - 3 sets of 15
Tricep Dips 60#/15 --- 75#/12 --- 75#/15
Crunches on ball 2 sets of 15
Dumbell twist on ball 8#/20
*Butt Pikes on ball 15 + 3 (had lower back pain)
*Lower body lifts on ball 2 sets of 15

* These were 2 new things I had never tried before (or seen). One of them that I am calling "Butt Pikes" (only because I think it's easier to remember than "Pike Ups on the Stability Ball". Here is a video clip I found online that shows it. I don't think I looked quite as graceful as this guy did LOL, but I did my best. And hey, I did it !!!!! They hurt like a mo-fo, too. hahaha. It kind of hurt my lower back so my 2nd set I only got 3 in before I rolled myself off the ball and stopped. I will work slowly so I don't injure myself.

The Lower Body Lifts were similar in the starting position, only instead of pulling the ball towards you as you pike up, you just lift your legs up in the air, keeping your body on the ball and your hands on the floor in front of you. It reminded me of doing crunches for my back. These were a lot easier than the Butt Pikes!

I am hoping a change in routine will be what I need to jump start my weight loss again. I have been stuck in the same 8 pound range for what seems like forever (can you say almost a year??), losing and gaining those same 8 pounds over and over and over. At least when I completely mess up and gain, i don't go past a certain point. but, when I do good, and I get down to my low range, i can't get past it. I need to do something.

Now my neck hurts LOL. I think I need a Motrin.

Abs, Shoulders, (knees & toes, knees & toes?)

Today was my last day to workout with my trainer, Carlos. It was his last day. How sad. I felt the tears welling up, but I didn't burst into full blown crying and embarass myself.

It was shoulder day and we always do abs with shoulders (yuck). Short posting today, but this is what I did:

Shoulder Press: 20#/20 30#/20 30#/20
Upright Row: 20#/20 x 3
D.B. Lateral Raise: 5#/15 x 3 sets
Leg Lifts: 3 sets of 15
D.B. Front Raise: 5#/15 x 3 sets
Decline Sit-up: 10 12 10 (these were hard today!)
Bent over lateral raise: 5#/15 x 3 sets
Reverse Crunch: 20 18 20

Cardio: Recumbent Bike: 40 mins, level 10
Elliptical (Precor): 15 mins, level 10

I start with my new trainer on Friday.

Sadness and legs

I am so incredibly sad. My trainer, Carlos, that I've been with for 2-1/2 years is leaving. How can he do this? LOL. I wish him the best, but I will miss him. I am scheduled to switch over to a new trainer starting on Friday. It's hard to start over with someone new.

Anyhow, yesterday was leg day... and sadly, my last leg day with Carlos. Why does it always seem that I post on leg day. haha. I had a good workout. This is what I did:

Ball Squats w/dumbell 10lbs - 3 sets of 20
Dead Lifts 50 lbs - 3 sets of 15
Leg Press 90lbs - 15 reps; 140 lbs - 15 reps; 140 lbs - 20 reps
Prone Leg Curl 30 lbs - 2 sets of 15; 1 set of 20
Leg Extension 45 lbs - 3 sets of 15
Standing Calf Raise 20 lbs - 3 sets of 20

For cardio, I was feeling bummed and lazy, so just did 1/2 hour on the bike.

I was the victim of a root canal on Friday of last week, so ate a lot of soft comfort foods over the weekend. I have also been doing some emotional eating, and after my weigh-in on Friday I had managed to lose 4 pounds (vacation weight) but as of today I am back up again with those same 4. Argggghhh.