Cam's New Lease on Life Journal (comments welcome!)

[goldcupmom]

Cam, that is INCREDIBLE!!!!! You are doing so wonderful on your C25K!!!

Hope the weekend went well and that work stays better for you.

LOVE the colors!!!! VR is creeping up on you!!

 

[postesf]

Your pace!!! OUTSTANDING!!! Way to go! I would be so excited too!



Yay!!!
Stacie

 

[keenercam]

Thank you so much for your support, Tracey, Tracy, Julie & Stacie! I am so fortunate to have you guys cheering me on! You guys help me stay on track more than you would ever know.

Tracey -- The picture of you and DD is absolutely gorgeous!! She has grown so much since that picture, though, and has gotten even prettier. How is that possible?

Well, I wasn't around much recently because this weekend was Special Olympics Summer Games - my favorite weekend of the year! Howard and I are both on the organizing committee and Jenn and Andrew both worked with us both days from beginning to end, too. It was such a wonderful event!

I didn't run the past three days because of SO, but got to the gym this morning.

Bike -- 10 minutes -- 1.65 miles -- 50 cals
TM (C25k W9D1) -- 40 mins (incl. w/u & c/d) -- 3.05 miles -- 446 calories

I've decided to switch to the WW core plan starting this morning, so my food choices will look a bit odd as I try to settle in and prepare stuff ahead of time. Right now, it will be pretty intense on protein and fruits & veggies.

B: grilled chicken; coffee w/skim milk
S: apple
L: green salad w/grilled chicken; pear
S: 2 mini bags of popcorn
D: chicken breast; leftover steak; brown rice, corn & steamed broccoli

I am really excited that I have finally been matched up with a personal trainer. My first session with him is Wednesday at 6:45 a.m. This clashes with my running plan with my workout buddy, but she is very understanding and we are going to figure out a way to make it all work.

Thursday night my workout buddy and I are doing our first 5k together and our plan is to run the whole thing. My personal goal (though I hesitate to say it as I fear it may not be possible after working all day) is a sub-40:00 finish.

 

[traceycooper]

Hi cam
DD will be flattered
she has just had some photos taken for a friend who is starting his own photography business

http://www.rikclik.fusiveweb.co.uk/Home/Portraits/tabid/880626/Default.aspx

not the 1st 3 pics, scroll down & theres quite a few

I remember you doing the Special Olympics last year!!
where does the time go!
Hope the new WW core plan works for you

Great news that you have a personnel trainer - i enquired but was told £180 for 6 sessions - cant afford that!!!

 

[keenercam]

Oh, Tracey, DD looks beautiful! I am so glad the photographer was able to capture her personality -- she comes across as cute and charming and smart and a bit impish! Love the hairstye, too.

I felt lousy this morning but still went to the gym, in a continued effort to stay in the habit.
I only ran a mile, but it wasn't supposed to be a TM day, so I am fine with getting that bit in.

Today's workout:
TM -- 1 mile -- 12:45 -- 147 calories
Bike -- 8.48 miles -- 40:00 -- 225 calories

Yesterday was my first day entirely on weight watchers core plan. It went pretty well. Going to make today day 2.

B: coffee w/skim milk; lean ham cubes; apple
L: green salad; brown rice w/grilled chicken, corn & broccoli
S: lite popcorn
D: brown rice w/grilled chicken, corn & salsa

 

[postesf]

Hey Cam! You're doing great girl! You are so dedicated to get so early and go the gym. I always have good intentions, but it seems they never materialize. I hope the Core plan goes well for you!

Have fun Thurday night for your 5K! You can do it!

Stacie

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Stacie! I know myself. If I don't get up in the morning to go to the gym, I will fall out of the habit and have a very hard time re-starting. I just do NOT want to lose the motivation, you know? After all, It's All About the Dress!

 

[postesf]

You can do it!!! Maybe I need a dress! hmmm lol!

Keep it up!
Stacie

 

[keenercam]

Oh, Stacie, I think you should TOTALLY plan a Disney vow renewal! It is the best motivation in the world.

Well, it is 9 pm and I haven't eaten anything since dinner at 8 of all core foods. This was my second day on core. Feeling very accomplished.

 

[keenercam]

Today's workout -- 2 miles 25:16 (pace 12:38, including warm up!) (308 calories). After I did that, I had my first session with a personal trainer, Jeff. We spent an hour going through all the upper body and core machines, which is what I wanted.

He said he wants to get me doing free weights pretty quickly because he feels they'll really help me meet my goals. He was absolutely terrific and supportive and listened to what my feedback was on how the various exercises felt. None of the machines were new to me, but it was interesting to find out that my form, the amount of weight I've been been using, the number of repetitions and the number of sets haven't been precisely what they should be to work on my objectives, so it was really great to have him focusing on all of that. We pushed some limits, but on some stuff we are playing it a bit cautious at first because of the vulnerability of my trapezius from the injury last fall.

I really am hoping this will be the turning point for my weight loss and my toning efforts. My next session with him isn't until Monday, but I am going to try to do at least one and maybe two strength training (ST) workouts before I see him again.

The best part of the experience? I realized that my self-esteem is light years beyond where I've been in the past. I really wasn't as self-conscious as I thought I'd be. Jeff kept telling me that he is so impressed with all I've accomplished and my "incredible discipline", and even though I thought I had NO STRENGTH at all in my upper body, we found that he had to increase the weight on every single piece of equipment in order for me to engage the various muscle groups. I am not as weak as I thought. I am so happy I could cry.

Food today:
B: coffee w/skim milk; apple; 2 egg whites
L: green salad; steamed broccoli; grilled chicken, brown rice & corn mix
S: 94% FF popcorn
D: grilled chicken; brown rice; green beans

 

[kimwim8]

Oh Cam. I'm SO glad you had a great experience with Jeff. I for one have been proud of you for a while now. You're an inspiration to many of us here.

 

[toystoryduo]

Yeah Cam! I am so glad that your appointment with Jeff went well! It sounds like it was a great experience for you.

Keep up the good work! Have a wonderful day!

 

[joelyfaithsmommy]

Looks like you're doing amazingly great...I hate that I don't get her to post anymore...I cheer you guys on though cause I know the struggle!!! I am 35 yrs old TODAY btw, and celebrating my first birthday in 18 yrs at a normal weight (today I weight 160lbs)...exciting stuff!

Hope you have a wonderful day and please email me sometime! I miss chatting with you!

Hugs
Jen

 

[traceycooper]

HI Cam

well done you for getting to the gym when you felt lousy! i didnt think i could be any more impressed with you!!

The PT sounds amazing, you lucky lady

hope the core plan is still going good

I'm planning a vow renewal,,,,only i have to wait 8 more years!!!
(then it will be our 10 yr anniversary!)
oh well i like to plan ahead
i notice you've been on the wedding gown pics thread, i love to look at the gowns

Oh & you are now my DD's favourite person

 

[deekaypee]

So very much to catch up on. I'm sorry I've been away so long (and let's not even mention SP right now, which I need to get back on as I've--gulp--gained some weight since moving).

But about you. You rock! You're a hard-core warrior woman!

10.62 miles. A sub-40 5K! A 12:30 running pace! Running just because you feel like it, not because it's on the schedule. And feeling energized and motivated! What a great series of entries to read, let alone live! I'm so very proud of you!

Meerowsa for the chance in the size and shape of your legs. Men (and women) love shapely calves. The rest will come, I know, and you will rock that dress. Especially with the WOs I'm sure PT Jeff will put you through! He sounds like he'll be good for you, and I look forward to stealing a bunch of free fitness tips from your experiences. Oh, and congrats on your ST experience. I have no upper-body strength, so I'm green with envy that you actually needed to increase the weights!

Yay for the MOH dress. I'm sure Jenn is going to totally rock that style and color. When it feels right, it feels right!

And I think your exercise (and the love of Howard, your family and friends) have really helped with your self-esteem. I'm glad your Christian Fellowship reunion wasn't overwhelming, and hope it put you back into contact with people you'd like to be in contact with. And a special thank you for all you (and Howard, Jenn, and Andrew) do for Special Olympics. You're all just good people.

RE: Judy and the food being the challenge. So true, so true! Eating is such a challenge for me, too. Like you said, exercise can be scheduled and it's such an accomplishment. It feels good. But eating? Good eating just doesn't feel like the same kind of accomplishment, kwim? And poor (lots of sweet-tooth, salty, junk food) eating an ongoing challenge, one that I have the really bad tendency to "solve" with extra WOs. Not smart, because it's not addressing the nutrition and/or it comes dangerously close to WO as punishment. And I try to ignore my bad eating habits by focusing on the exercise--as if the one cancels the other out.

That's actually one of the many things I love about your journal, Cam. You aren't afraid to look at your challenges and face them head on. You're willing to be honest with yourself, and us, and to face the food challenge. Day by day. Hour by hour. I admire that about you--one of the many things I admire about you.

 

[keenercam]

Oh Cam. I'm SO glad you had a great experience with Jeff. I for one have been proud of you for a while now. You're an inspiration to many of us here.

Yeah Cam! I am so glad that your appointment with Jeff went well! It sounds like it was a great experience for you.

Keep up the good work! Have a wonderful day!

Thank you so much, Kim and Tracy! You guys spoil me rotten with your unrelenting support, even in the face of my total abandonment of my WISH journal friends and failure to visit other journals.

Looks like you're doing amazingly great...I hate that I don't get her to post anymore...I cheer you guys on though cause I know the struggle!!! I am 35 yrs old TODAY btw, and celebrating my first birthday in 18 yrs at a normal weight (today I weight 160lbs)...exciting stuff!

Hope you have a wonderful day and please email me sometime! I miss chatting with you!

Hugs
Jen

Happy birthday, Jen! It is so wonderful to see you posting here! Your new picture is fabulous! You look awesome (from what I can see!). Please email me or just PM me your email address; AOL went all funky on my contacts list a while ago and I am unable to recover most of them. Looking forward to hearing all about how things are going!

HI Cam

well done you for getting to the gym when you felt lousy! i didnt think i could be any more impressed with you!!

The PT sounds amazing, you lucky lady

hope the core plan is still going good

I'm planning a vow renewal,,,,only i have to wait 8 more years!!!
(then it will be our 10 yr anniversary!)
oh well i like to plan ahead
i notice you've been on the wedding gown pics thread, i love to look at the gowns

Oh & you are now my DD's favourite person

Tracey - Oh, goodie! We'll all be glad to help you plan your VR! Though how you'd top your wedding, I have no idea! Oh, and the core plan is still going well! THanks for asking.

. . . .
Good eating just doesn't feel like the same kind of accomplishment, kwim? And poor (lots of sweet-tooth, salty, junk food) eating an ongoing challenge, one that I have the really bad tendency to "solve" with extra WOs. Not smart, because it's not addressing the nutrition and/or it comes dangerously close to WO as punishment. And I try to ignore my bad eating habits by focusing on the exercise--as if the one cancels the other out. . . .

Debra, sweetie, I cannot thank you enough for all of your kind words, but thank you so much, even more, for vocalizing exactly what my mentality has been. You understand my struggle so well, and even when I can't put it into words, your wisdom is right there, helping me to come to an understanding and then come to terms with where one of my major weaknesses lies. Isn't it interesting how you used the word "solve" and I have been thinking of my workouts as "buying" me the right to overeat. I do think some of that comes from the WW plan that allows you to earn APs and use them for extra food on a given day. I have had to take a good hard look at where I am and what I have been doing. And I've realized that that is exactly how I was thinking. And while I have to realistically "fuel" my body for all of the extra workouts I am doing, the food should be just that -- fuel. I'll bet if I were to go back and read through my entire journal, I'd find that I've reached this realization several times before and then "fell away" from that healthy mentality and went back to "buying" extra food with workouts.

I joke that "It's All About the Dress" but really, with so much time between now and the "wedding" I'd like to think that no matter what it takes to motivate me, if I put healthy behaviors in place and make them part of who I am, ultimately it won't matter WHAT it took to motivate me as long as the sustained motivation creates healthy habits for a lifetime.

WOW! I did not mean to go on that much. It's just so WONDERFUL to have a lightbulb moment and if I write it down here, hopefully I will keep coming back to it to remind myself of what I am doing and HOW I should be doing it.

 

[keenercam]

Okay, so where am I? Lots of "stuff" today.

1. Our trip to WDW/DCL is one week from today. At some point, I need to start focusing on a mental plan for meals while on vacation. I am even buying some extra running shorts so that I can run in WDW at least 2 of our 3mornings there and at least 2 of our 3 "full" mornings on the ship.

2. Notwithstanding everything we have to do to get ready for the trip, I want to stick to WW core up until dinner Wednesday night in the hopes that my WI next Wednesday (a 1/2 day early since I'll miss Thursday's weigh in) will be a good one.

3. At my weigh in this morning, I was down a pound. Trying not to say "ONLY" a pound.

4. I stayed completely on core again yesterday. Proud of that and my success in avoiding late night snacking & dessert yesterday.

5. I am WICKED SORE from yesterday's ST session. Good to know I worked some muscles I didn't even know I had!

6. I have a 5k tonight. The first my workout partner and I are doing after 8.5 weeks of C25k. The course is difficult with a mid-race hill that my runner husband finds intimidating and often walks, PLUS there is a cobblestone street on part of the course that is terrifying to me because of my vision problems. So, this may not be the one on which to look for a PR. I'll be thrilled if Patty and I can run a good part of the duration. This is her first 5k ever so I am hoping it will be a really positive experience for her.

Today's workout--
Bike -- 40 minutes -- 8.08 miles -- 208 calories
(back tonight to post 5k information)

Food:
B: coffee w/skim milk; lean ham cubes
S: bites of leftover chicken and brown rice mix
L: beef broth; lite popcorn; cantaloupe & watermelon
S (pre-race) -- 1/2 snickers marathon energy bar (non-core, but necessary. )
D: 1/2 bag popcorn; grilled chicken; turkey burger; 1 whole wheat flat-out wrap; pickles, ketchup; bites of corn

 

[keenercam]

Last night's 5k was fun with my workout buddy. I was really proud of her for taking on the absolute toughest local 5k course for her first-ever race and doing such an awesome job. Finish time was 44:45.

Today's workout:
Bike -- 30 minutes -- 4.88 miles -- 153 calories

Today's food:
B: watermelon; coffee w/skim milk; 2 hard-boiled egg whites
S: pear
L: green salad; 4 oz grilled chicken
S: lite popcorn
S: grilled chicken (before a late dinner)
D (applebees): WW onion soup; 3 boneless wings; steak, plain baked potato, steamed broccoli, WW choc raspberry cake

I think I am pretty close to recovered from my upper body workout Wednesday, so my plan is to do that again tomorrow. We are doing another local charity 5k on Sunday (on a somewhat easier course!).

Going to dinner at Applebees tonight with friends. I'll try to stick to core foods, but will look forward to dessert with my weekly points allowance or my activity points. My stomach is starting to feel better and the cramping isn't as bad, so I hope whatever this is, is gone by the time I go to sleep tonight. 2 nights of no sleep is really dragging me down. And getting up early tomorrow to go to the gym won't help matters unless I get some good sleep tonight.

 

[kimwim8]

Congrats on a GREAT 5k, Cam! And how awesome that you were there to share in your friend's first! Another 5k this weekend?? Geez lady, you're a machine!

Have a great weekend!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Congrats on a GREAT 5k, Cam! And how awesome that you were there to share in your friend's first! Another 5k this weekend?? Geez lady, you're a machine!

Have a great weekend!

I have to say "ditto" to kim! You are doing awesome Cam!