My "Little" Minions: Cruise & Enlightenment

This week I have had some great workouts. Though being sore does not determine how productive your workout is, it still is a fabulous feeling! I feel that I have done something to really build my muscles. The two I had this week, with Danny, have my muscle fibers screaming. It feels so good!!!!

Last week I trained with Danny on Wed & Thur. Thursday was brutal. For some reason I woke up at 2am, tossed and turned until 3, laid there awake until 3:30am and finally got up to do somethings. I don’t know why. I was mentally awake all day. My body wasn’t too bad either until I got to Danny’s.

Actually, I got on the treadmill warming up. It wasn’t fast enough I had energy built up and it wanted to explode so I ran. Only for probably 20sec because I got scared of what it would do to my back later. It was hard to stop, I wanted to keep going. I hope one day!

Danny had created a timed workout for her group class while she was away. She called it

“While the Cat’s Away”.

Jump thrusts w/ 15lb bar (jumping jacks with a press into the air)

Jump lunges (lunging with one leg you jump to switch legs, 1 on each side is 1)

Push Press (standing give a little jump, for momentum, to press the weight into the air)

Kettle bells w/ 18lb

Military style sit ups w/ legs in a butterfly on the ground

Lateral raises w/ 5lb

Your choice ie. Sit ups, pushups, body rows, shoulder taps, squats, etc

I feel like I’m missing something but can’t think of it.

I was soo drained, maybe I should have saved some of that bottled energy for this, haha. I was NOT hurrying between sets. I was walking. I couldn’t believe it. Average was 42min. She had not seen anyone do it yet and was wondering how hard it was. I was not the one to be judged by. It was pathetic. I actually was tempted to tell her I was done. I quit. I wasn’t going to finish. I just couldn’t bring myself to say it. I knew I had to finish. I also felt bad because Nate was so sick and ready to go home. I told her that come the end of the session she should just leave and I would finish… I REALLY would, but she didn’t. It took me 59min & 33sec. I had told her I would REALLY beat my time next time haha.

Mark and I had our 12^th anniversary this last weekend. We went on a 3 day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. Our first cruise ever. We planned a short one to see if we get sea sick.

This picture turned out HOT. I don't know how. haha

I knew there would be lots of food 24/7. This did not feel like too much of a challenge for me. I have found a renewed devotion and commitment. I felt no desire to have anything. I new I would try somethings but didn’t really feel like I needed it. It was a good feeling. Danny said to enjoy myself. Think, if it’s something that I would regret (after the cruise not 1hr later) not having then have it, but most things you can get at home… in other words later in life. However, if you do have something like a danish, have just the danish for my carb and not the oatmeal or toast thinking it would balance out healthy with unhealthy haha. So true. So that was my plan.

I generally did this. I would get a protein carb & fat for breakfast, protein carb, veggie for lunch, etc… I know most of it ended up being more fattening than I had wished so I would get somethings, such as just egg whites instead of the the whole egg, because they cook them in oil.

I did have more than I should have but I did way better than I could have. Many times I chose a salad or something healthier than something I wanted to try because I knew I wanted to have a dessert or something else.

Fortunately, the food was NOT good. It was ok. The best things we had were frozen yogurt ice cream cones and the bread and butter. One night I did have a bunch of bread and butter. Oh it was so good.

There were times that I would get something to try, it would be nasty or not good enough for the calories, and I would just leave it. I struggled with this because I saw soooo much food wasted. Many people wouldn’t even have opened the yogurt or taken a bite of one of their items. Really? We waste a lot. After seeing this it made me ill to leave wasted food, but it was something that I had to do for my benefit.

We boarded the ship on Friday (found out we needed to board sooner than expected so we missed our workout :o( ). Saturday, we planned on working out. Come Saturday I thought, “Nah, I don’t want to work out. We will get enough exercise walking around, right? I don’t want to miss anything on shore.” Thankfully, Mark was there to keep me in line and make us go.

I was pleasantly surprised at how many people were there working out! Probably at least 20. And quite a few intensely working/running. I thought it was funny when I noticed that we were the heaviest people in there. There were no other ‘fat people’. Only the truly dedicated were there. I’m pretty sure the ‘fat’ people thought the same way I did; that they would get enough exercise on shore or around the ship. Mark said that it was probably the most exercise they get. True for many. I kicked myself for even thinking of skipping. I was proud to be in the dedicated group.

We could only workout for ½ hr due to the busy gym (rules of the machines) but it was good. We did the elliptical and then I did some abs. Oh just writing about this is making me want to finally go to the gym! Good!

We walked around the town and then joined a tour which took us to the blowhole. I didn’t realize how much the walking around didn’t bother me until towards the end of the day I was still able to walk quickly down a street and then run back up. Mark was asking me to slow down. Really? Then back at the ship he was tired and a little sore, but I realized then that I wasn’t tired at ALL. I could still go. It was AMAZING! So cool.

Sunday came and we rested. It was good because I started getting sooo tired. I was wanting to sleep even while I was chewing food. As well as, my stomach started getting upset. Even when I ate good food, I wanted to throw up. It’s Friday and I’m still fighting it though I am doing much better. I figured it was because of all the processed food I wasn’t use too. YUCK!

Anyway back to Sunday, it was nice to lay out on the deck and read. I started reading the book Danny gave me, Body by Design from the editor & chief of BodySpace.com. I couldn’t wait to start reading it and now I could.

Sunday came and went. Monday we disembarked the ship early enough we didn’t get a workout. However, we did have time to kill before the Lakers vs Magic game that night, so we toured LA & Hollywood. I wanted to see some of the famous ‘must see’ sites. We live so close but have never seen the more popular spots.

I thought of the Walk of Fame… then I had the brilliant (note: sarcasm) idea to do burpees WITH pushups on the Walk. I had already done them in front of the Vatican. Why not? I “should change my blog to Burpees Around The World,” Mark said. Uh? No. Hehe. I’m such a dork…

Well, I did some on the Walk of Fame AND the Chinese Theater. There were quite a few people, I was soo nervous and wanted to chicken out, but knew if I didn’t do them I would regret it. My husband is the best sport to put up filming them for me. Haha :oD I LOVE ya!

The Lakers game was fun; considering I have only been to one UNLV game. The next day we came home. I planned on going to the gym but I was sooooo tired I could barely keep my eyes open so I did not go.

However, I did get to read more of the book on the drive home….

The first of the book talks about the 4 pillars of strength; I don’t remember them off the top of my head. It talked about surrounding yourself with good influences and people who are on the same track as you. Use group forums like BodySpace to create support.

He also covered many of the excuse people use for not losing weight. No: support, time, gym membership, trainer, money for healthier food or supplements, etc.

I realized this book was NOT for me. Haha. Not really, but I realized I have ALL of that.

I have extreme support from my family. All my friends are supportive: no one brought me holiday treats or if they did it was strawberries with a little drizzle of chocolate on them instead of them being dipped. Even last night I was teasing a friend for not bringing me some of her famous chicken salad and she said it was too high in fat, Danny would kill her. LOL

Tons of my friends are gym rats as well. I have almost all the time I need for the gym during school hours and Mark is not stressed if I don’t get the house really clean. I have a gym membership, a trainer and enough money for good food and supplements. I don’t even have a period to worry about (that was my issue before)…. Sorry guys for that insert…. But it’s true! I HAVE EVERYTHING!!!!! I have NO EXCUSES! :oD It is all ME and in my head. “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

I have seen changes lately, as well as Danny and others, even though I have not really lost much weight. I only have 15 weeks left of this competition and as the Eminem song says,

“Look, if you had, one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, one moment. Would you capture it? Or just let it slip….. He choked, he’s so mad but he won’t give up that easy, no, he won’t have it…. You better lose yourself in.. The moment, you own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow this opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”

I have 15 weeks. I can do anything for 15 weeks! I CAN DO THIS! I CAN WIN!!!!! I WILL WIN!!! Get my head out of my rear and get a move on. Only 15 weeks. Really easy. So I text Danny on the way home.

“K 15 weeks left. I have this one opportunity and don’t want to blow it. I CAN WIN. I want you to put me on a stricter program. It’ll be hard but I can do it and want too. Only 15wks. This weekend was better [than the last vacation weekend] but I feel like crap from processed food (stomach & exhaustion). I’ve been reading this book and have some questions on your opinion: cardio etc… if you are ok with it & have time I would like to start Monday or Tuesday.”

She said ok. I feel bad in a way because I know I’m an all or nothing person. I try not to be but I do. I’m sure she is tired of me being so gun-ho and then slacking off… rinse and repeat. Arg. I’m so frustrated.

Well, I talked to her on Wed. In person. When I asked her before what the girls training for the stage show where doing different she had said it was a stricter diet. I remember thinking I’m so glad I’m not them. I could not do that. Now I’m asking for her to give me something more. She said she is going to put me on a “Prep” program like theirs and the weight would melt off. I asked what the real difference is and she said not much but you have to be exact, a lot more measuring, no stealing bites from kids plates and you MUST eat all the food, no skipping meals. We would see about upping cardio in time. However, I might do it anyway if I have time. I really want to start being faithful doing my weights again.

I am excited and now scared. Why do I do this to myself? How do I keep that motivation up? After writing this I feel better and more encouraged now. It’s only 15 weeks. I just really need to plan well, EVERYTHING! Especially meals, that’s my hardest thing.

I can do this. I will do this. I don’t want another unfinished thing that I could have done and let it slip…..

By Darlene Newton on April 02, 2011 8:40pm
yes we are a wasteful society and that is hard to see...good job that you stayed in control...
By Rachel Little on March 31, 2011 6:55am
thanks guys! I finally got the meals down and loving it. It's forcing me to look up new ways for cooking.
By Christina B. on March 31, 2011 4:56am
Yes, you are the winner!!! Sounds like you had fun!!! And you'll get the meal planning down, it just takes some time for change and to make them a habit!!
By thall24 on March 30, 2011 8:44pm
You win for longest post ever :) Love the fire. You are kickn booty.