So, I didn't make it to Anytime Fitness last week to work out, but boy am I sore from shoveling snow! I had to burn a good lot of calories heaving all of that heavy snow. And now more snow and shoveling today! Didn't gain any weight over Thanksgiving, which was the goal, so mission accomplished there...but now Xmas is on the way and oh so many yummies for my tummy! I'll definitely be in to Anytime Fitness this week to get back in the groove and keep a tight rein on the food intake. I've lost over 10lbs. so far and I'm hoping it'll continue slow and steady:) If I don't check back in before the holidays, I hope you have a happy holiday season with your families and friends:)

I gotta tell ya, I feel good today. Back is almost pain-free and I am ready to rock this workout today at Anytime Fitness! I am, however, dreading the upcoming holiday season...so much good food. I'm gonna really have to watch it and eat in moderation. That's never been my strong suit. If I can maintain my weight over the holidays, I'll be happy. Most people gain during the holidays, so if I don't, that's a victory for me:) Probably going to rock the cardio today on the elliptical, 40-50 minutes with at least 30 in the fat burn range. Belly fat is a bitch!

Got in a couple of good workouts last week at Anytime Fitness. I like the fact that they periodically get in new machines, so you can vary your workout and exercise different muscle groups. 8 weeks on the elliptical...you'd think it gets easier...it doesn't. Maybe because I'm increasing incline and resistance...and I have noticed that more of my leg muscles are contributing to the workout. My feet, knees, ankles, etc. aren't hurting as much, so my muscles are actually bearing my weight instead of my joints. My back still isn't where it needs to be, so it makes the workouts more challenging not to re-injure, but I'm doing the best I can. A little frustrating at times, but I just gotta keep pushing forward:)

Got in a couple of good workouts on the elliptical last week at Anytime Fitness. Been able to increase resistance every 10 minutes and really get my heart going! Back is almost back to 100%, I've got another chiropractor appointment on Friday. Going to Anytime Fitness today and tomorrow for more cardio. I feel like that's the best route right now, so I can take some weight off, so when I do weight training, my joints aren't taking on so much of my body weight. I still have to check in with Sara at Anytime Fitness to get weighed and measured, I guess I'm ready to see where I'm at and how to go forward. Kinda wanted to wait until my back was up to par to start the next level of workouts. I got into a pair of jeans yesterday that I haven't been able to wear for a couple of months, so that's cool. Food-wise, it's going pretty well. I'm eating more realistically than I have when I dieted previously. This I think I could actually maintain, rather than take off a bunch of weight only to regain when I began eating normally for my lifestyle again. I don't feel like I can't eat certain things, but that I won't...or if I do, in moderation.

Only worked out at Anytime Fitness once this week...kinda sounds like a cop out, considering that Anytime Fitness is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How could I possibly not find the time...but, I did what I could this week, including some free weights and exercise ball stuff at home. I keep procrastinating on making my appt. to get measured/weighed to check my progress. Just a fear of failure...as usual for me. My brothers coming up to visit and we're going to the Packers game on Sunday. I'm very excited and I'll get in some good walking and stairs:) Go Pack!

A couple of vodka martinis and visits to my chiropractor and my back is on track to be back to 80%-90% by Monday:) I worked out earlier this week at Anytime Fitness, cardio only, on the elliptical and it went really well. No pain during the workout, but I had to be mindful of the positioning of my back, hips etc. to make sure I didn't re-injure it. I haven't been able to get back to doing the circuit routine yet and its making me a bit nervous, so I've been lifting some free weights at home here and there and testing the waters with leg lifts, etc. to see how it feels for my back. I feel like I've lost some weight, but I don't want to weigh or measure until a month in, so we'll see. My posture is getting better and I'm more aware of it now, so when I am slouching I can correct it. Gotta get those core muscles in shape! The health eating is going pretty well, I'm definitely eating better foods and watching portions, although last night I just had to have some popcorn with cheese powder and today I had a client meeting with free pizza! Those are my splurges for the week, so back to Anytime Fitness I go! Saw a woman working out at Anytime Fitness in a Rick and Len t-shirt earlier this week and it made me smile...

Interesting week...first I had a general physical, always recommended before starting a new workout/healty eating routine. Got some blood drawn, etc. shocker, my triglycerides are high, cholesterol is at borderline levels for both the good and bad cholesterol and my blood sugar is fine. Not any major worries there, so I go to Anytime Fitness to do my workout the next day, I do the circuit 3 times and some cardio... I notice that it feels like my joints are doing more work than my muscles are at this point, but again, I guess ya gotta start somewhere. So, I get up the next day, get my workout bag ready to go, bend over to grab my shoes off of the floor...and bam! my back goes out. It never seems to happen when I'm doing anything strenuous or exciting...no, it happens when I bend over to get something off the floor. Really? Come On! So, I've pinched a nerve in my lower back and it kills to sit. I go to the chiropractor and he tells me that one of my hips is so twisted that it has lifted one of my legs an inch higher than the other. Good times...so Doc reset it and I'm off the workouts until at least Monday, after I see the chiropractor a couple more times. It's frustrating when I'm trying to do the right thing getting healthy and all...and then this happens. In hindsight, I should have went to the chiropractor before I jumped on the workout wagon. Hopefully, by Monday, I'll be back at Anytime Fitness doing at least a cardio workout. I'm worried about backsliding, but I have to focus on moving forward from this point. A couple vodka martinis over the weekend might help...low in calories, practically water, right? :)

My big toe. That's about it. I met with Anytime Fitness personal trainer, Sara last week and we created an exercise routine for me. Simple core-muscle targeting exercises for balance, posture, etc. but holy crap, was that hard! Sara walked me through the proper form, number of reps, weight to push/pull, etc. so I had a good handle on each movement and a solid routine to start with. I figure you gotta start somewhere and the only way I can go at this point is up. I was kinda freaked at how hard it was the first time and how sore I was, but I did another 3 sets and I did really well, not nearly as sore and definitely more confident about what I was doing. Plus, I'm doing well with balancing my meals and reducing portions by having healthy snacks throughout the day, so I'm not feeling hungry all the time or overeating. Right now, I am doing 1 day of all cardio and 2 days of floor exercises, weight training and a bit of cardio. I have to make sure I do this realistically and incorporate into my lifestyle and not go all gung ho and then eventually stop and gain it all back. Slow and steady wins the race:)

It's time...enough with the fast food, lack of movement and all around unhealthy choices. So, I'm back in the gym and eating healthier. Lifestyle changes can be kinda scary and intimidating with all the "what ifs" that go through my head. What if I fail? What if I hurt myself? What if I make all these changes and I still don't feel better about myself? But you can't give in to those daily doubts, so I'm working through them in sweat at Anytime Fitness. I really like the facility, it's has a much more personal feel than some of the really big gyms. Of course, I'm wondering "are people looking at me, judging me, etc.? Believe me, no one judges me more than myself, always has been that way...but at Anytime Fitness, I didn't feel as self-conscious as I thought I would. Maggie and the staff was very inviting and positive and all about moving forward and getting healthy, no matter what my starting level is. Workout #1, I decided to do cardio...my goal was 15-20 minutes on the elliptical...I did 40 minutes. O.K. not so bad, btw...the ellipticals at Anytime Fitness are awesome! Personal TV attached to each one, just tune in, plug in your headphones and go! Workout #2, I meet with Sara, one of Anytime Fitness' personal trainers. She's a roller derby chick for the Fox City Foxes, which I think is awesome! Anytime Fitness Workout #2 details to come....