I have been working hard this week in preparation for Saturday’s 5k. I worked out on Monday at Andy’s office on the Bowflex, and worked out Tuesday with Donnie at Fitness Together in Patton Creek (Hoover, AL). Also, I walked 2 miles on Monday, half a mile on Tuesday, and one-third of a mile this morning. Also, this afternoon I will be working out with Donnie again.
I tell you, working out with a personal trainer is awesome. Donnie shows me everything I need to do, sets the equipment up, plans my workouts, and explains why he has me doing certain lifts. Sure, at first I was very sore, and this is normal when first starting to lift weights. However, now I can put in a major workout and not feel sore the following day. So, when starting out, focus on surviving the first two-three weeks because after that is when the magic starts happening. I have noticed a major boost in energy and I can tell that my muscles are firming.
I love Donnie’s training style in that he doesn’t get in my face and yell at me like the stereotypical trainer. I guess some people need that to train, but I don’t like that. Don’t get me wrong, he provides a great workout. I am worn out when the workout is complete.
On Tuesday I did the bench press (95lbs, 3 sets of 5 reps), Clean & Press or Press & Clean [I can't remember] (45 lbs, 2 sets of 10 reps), Bicep Curl (45 lbs, 2 or 3 sets of 10 reps), Dead Lifts (75lbs one set and 95lbs two sets of 12 reps), Body Weight Squats (3 sets of 12 reps), and Sit Ups with 8lb medicine ball (3 sets of 10 to 12 reps) — I think I left some things out, but Donnie takes notes and tracks my progress. I think I need to get a copy of his notes.
On Saturday, I will be be doing some pre and post race tweets. I might even do a video with my phone, but I will definitely have some pics and a post on Saturday night. Saturday should be pretty crazy. It’s my first race, and it’s the biggest 5k in Alabama. I have to go pick up my race packet either today or tomorrow. Also, I bought a black sleeveless shirt yesterday, and will be printing out my blogosaurus and WhoAteMyBlog.com text on t-shirt transfer paper. I’ll be putting that together tonight or tomorrow night. I’ll post pics of the completed shirt before the race. The WhoAteMyBlog.com text will be pink for the Race for the Cure.
I hope you have a great Thursday.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey, a free t-shirt is a free t-shirt! It’s awesome that you’re able to turn down free sweets like that. Baked goods have always been the worst for me. You’re so lucky that you can work with a personal trainer, though! Good luck on your race!
Hey, a free t-shirt is a free t-shirt! It’s awesome that you’re able to turn down free sweets like that. Baked goods have always been the worst for me. You’re so lucky that you can work with a personal trainer, though! Good luck on your race!
I’m so excited for you that the 5K is this weekend! Some friends of mine are in it too. I hope you are out of the “dumps” soon. I know it’s frustrating to have a “don’t care” attitude.
I’m so excited for you that the 5K is this weekend! Some friends of mine are in it too. I hope you are out of the “dumps” soon. I know it’s frustrating to have a “don’t care” attitude.
Hey Stephen, I just want to encourage you to hang in there. I know how debilitating depression can be. I’d lost almost 30 lbs this summer, and then in August I started feeling depressed for no real reason…kind of lost a lot of my motivation as well…I gained most of that 30 lbs back. But, like you, I’ve made the decision NOT to give up…to keep on keeping on so to speak. And I feel like I’m back on track again, watching those lbs come off.
I also don’t work out as much as I’d like to. I have a hard time getting up in the morning–I always want to sleep in, but it’s pretty apparent that mornings would be the BEST time for me (time wise and motivation wise) for me to work out. So that’s my next goal…to start working out in the mornings. In the meantime, I’ve been doing a lot of reading/learning about what kinds of things I need to be eating…more whole foods, less processed junk, and lots of fruits and veggies.
I was thinking about you the other day when I was tempted to trade in my fruit for a pizza. I thought about how you’ve already lost over 100 lbs. Granted you HAVE been working out, but it sounds like most of your sucess thus far has come from changing what and how much you’ve been eating. So I clung to that thought. I remember thinking, “If Stephen can have the will power to be treating his body better, so can I.”
You’re a living, breathing motivation for those of us who have large amounts of weight to lose (I need to lose about 150 lbs to be back where I was when I was down in basic training and stuff…seems like a big number, but you’ve already almost done that in less than a year! It’s amazing and it’s proof that I can do it too! Thank you so much for staying the course and inspiring so many of us!
Good luck with the race on Saturday…you’re going to feel SO awesome about yourself once you’ve finished it…
Hey Stephen, I just want to encourage you to hang in there. I know how debilitating depression can be. I’d lost almost 30 lbs this summer, and then in August I started feeling depressed for no real reason…kind of lost a lot of my motivation as well…I gained most of that 30 lbs back. But, like you, I’ve made the decision NOT to give up…to keep on keeping on so to speak. And I feel like I’m back on track again, watching those lbs come off.
I also don’t work out as much as I’d like to. I have a hard time getting up in the morning–I always want to sleep in, but it’s pretty apparent that mornings would be the BEST time for me (time wise and motivation wise) for me to work out. So that’s my next goal…to start working out in the mornings. In the meantime, I’ve been doing a lot of reading/learning about what kinds of things I need to be eating…more whole foods, less processed junk, and lots of fruits and veggies.
I was thinking about you the other day when I was tempted to trade in my fruit for a pizza. I thought about how you’ve already lost over 100 lbs. Granted you HAVE been working out, but it sounds like most of your sucess thus far has come from changing what and how much you’ve been eating. So I clung to that thought. I remember thinking, “If Stephen can have the will power to be treating his body better, so can I.”
You’re a living, breathing motivation for those of us who have large amounts of weight to lose (I need to lose about 150 lbs to be back where I was when I was down in basic training and stuff…seems like a big number, but you’ve already almost done that in less than a year! It’s amazing and it’s proof that I can do it too! Thank you so much for staying the course and inspiring so many of us!
Good luck with the race on Saturday…you’re going to feel SO awesome about yourself once you’ve finished it…
Hey Stephen, it’s great what you are doing. I read the workout and you are so far from where you once were! Two other great things…you no longer crave sweets and your progress picture is amazing!
I can see such a huge difference in your picture. Your shirt sleeves hang so much lower, as well as the total shirt length. Everything is getting smaller on you! You have so much to be thankful for.
Please don’t get discouraged. You are doing so well. You have set such a high bar for yourself. Try not to look at the numbers, but your total overall lifestyle change is amazing. You are already a winner to us! Are you still taking your Fish Oil capsules? Remember how much happier you were when taking 4 capsules after every meal. Keep doing that!
–Much love and best wishes,
Robin
Hey Stephen, it’s great what you are doing. I read the workout and you are so far from where you once were! Two other great things…you no longer crave sweets and your progress picture is amazing!
I can see such a huge difference in your picture. Your shirt sleeves hang so much lower, as well as the total shirt length. Everything is getting smaller on you! You have so much to be thankful for.
Please don’t get discouraged. You are doing so well. You have set such a high bar for yourself. Try not to look at the numbers, but your total overall lifestyle change is amazing. You are already a winner to us! Are you still taking your Fish Oil capsules? Remember how much happier you were when taking 4 capsules after every meal. Keep doing that!
–Much love and best wishes,
Robin
Keep going Stephen – keep pushing yourself through this down time. Life can’t always be positive, happy wonderful moments like we’d hope for so just keep doing what you gotta do to make it one day at a time. What you are doing, this transformation you are on, it’s tough. Taking it slow & making sure your habits are really learned is the best route. It may seem like nothing is happening, but go back to your home page and check out your progress pictures because holy canoli, you are doing it right! JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
Keep going Stephen – keep pushing yourself through this down time. Life can’t always be positive, happy wonderful moments like we’d hope for so just keep doing what you gotta do to make it one day at a time. What you are doing, this transformation you are on, it’s tough. Taking it slow & making sure your habits are really learned is the best route. It may seem like nothing is happening, but go back to your home page and check out your progress pictures because holy canoli, you are doing it right! JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
Hey bud, completing that race will give you some much needed ego boosting. It’s hard when alot of the parts of your life just arent fitting together. Its hard to stay motivated when you want to comfort yourself with the food. But you are doing it, you are staying on track. Don’t let the number you are get you down, focus on the numbers you earned. You have lost over 100 lbs. That is an achievement in and of itself. Keep up the hard work.
Hey bud, completing that race will give you some much needed ego boosting. It’s hard when alot of the parts of your life just arent fitting together. Its hard to stay motivated when you want to comfort yourself with the food. But you are doing it, you are staying on track. Don’t let the number you are get you down, focus on the numbers you earned. You have lost over 100 lbs. That is an achievement in and of itself. Keep up the hard work.
Stephen, I hear ya dude. I am not losing weight at the rate that I would like either. You always hear that the more you have to lose, the faster it comes off. Well, the pounds fell off at first, but now every pound I lose represents great effort on my part and more time than I counted on. I understand your frustration.
When you have a lot to lose it takes awhile for your body to reflect all of your hard work. You will get there. Push yourself through this difficult time. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to “see” the man that you will be on the other side of this! You are in my thoughts and prayers everyday!
Stephen, I hear ya dude. I am not losing weight at the rate that I would like either. You always hear that the more you have to lose, the faster it comes off. Well, the pounds fell off at first, but now every pound I lose represents great effort on my part and more time than I counted on. I understand your frustration.
When you have a lot to lose it takes awhile for your body to reflect all of your hard work. You will get there. Push yourself through this difficult time. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to “see” the man that you will be on the other side of this! You are in my thoughts and prayers everyday!