“Let’s Celebrate 40 years”

I walked down the aisle 40 years ago today at my smallest adult weight of 145 pounds. Little did I know at the time I’d be 99 pounds more than that 39 years later! My height always gave me an advantage in carrying any weight well. As well as stretching it out over my tall frame, I became quite skilled in covering it up! Before children arrived, I had a very flat stomach!   I think that was in part due to the fact I played clarinet in the school bands from grade 5 through college. It never occurred to me that the breath control required to play the clarinet probably kept my abs toned!  I need to get that clarinet out again. What a fun way to work on those abs from the inside out and get a great respiratory workout too!

Over the 40 years of marriage my husband has always been very supportive of my size. He’s always seen me as beautiful. When ever I’ve tried to lose weight he’s always encourage and commended my efforts. When I’ve put on pounds, he’s never aid anything negative.

On my present journey he’s encouraged and supported me every step of the way. When I told him all I wanted for gifts—i.e. birthday, Christmas, etc. is Bootcamp money he loved it. That made it very easy for him. He’s really tried to notice my improvements. He never seems to  tires of my detailed boot camp work out accountings and is happy  along with me when I can do a little more. He understands when I’m out doing interval in the carport jumping rope or doing some of the other routines in the various weight loss challenges. He helps me celebrate my victories. He understands when I need a nap because I got to bed too late, but still got up for my 5:45 am boot camp. He supports my efforts that are pretty demanding in my time and attention to get fit and healthy and to lose this weight. He figures out how to enjoy eating with the “crazy” cooking I’m doing. I am blessed!

It is a joy to celebrate 40 years of marriage with the absolutely perfect man for me. A marriage some said  in the 70’s had little statistical chance of survival because of our differences in culture, race, upbringing, and nationalities. But we proved them wrong!!! The major factor none of the people with their statistics counted on or considered was the fact we were not the only ones trying to make this marriage work. Our lives and our marriage were and are centered around our relationship with Jesus Christ. Who we are in Him transcends the human barriers of race, nationality, upbringing, and culture. Divorce from day one was never an alternative. It was not a part of our vocabulary. No matter what may come, through God we would make it work and it has! Have we always done it right? Of course not!  Have we blown it here and there? Definitely!   But God _______________!!!  

Yes, God is able to do abundantly, more than we can ask or even imagine!  And He has done that for us.  

Thank you for taking this time to celebrate a bit of these 40 years with this baby boomer grandma gettin' fit & healthy!  Until next time--may God richly bless YOU.





"A Can-Do Attitude"

Back a few months ago I was on my way home from Bootcamp when I decided that I was no longer going to complain about doing burpees!  Prior to this whenever we had to do burpees at boot camp I groaned and complained. I actually had lots of company in that department! I would tell my friends how horrible burpees are. For me, it was a good day if it did NOT include burpees.

However, when I make negative statements, I release negative chemicals. These lead to negative memories that grow stronger and become negative strongholds that control my attitude and life. It became obvious that burpees are going to be a part of my life and with my bad attitude, they are never going to get easier to do! So instead of complaining, I started replacing negative thinking and words about burpees with a positive attitude shift!   Therefore, after 5 months of hating burpees, I am going to embrace them.

• They are one of the best overall body exercises I can do.
• I can do them at any time with no equipment required.
• My form is improving.
• I was able to do 12 of them in a minute both rounds today.
• They are making me stronger.
• When I notice we are doing burpees, my response is ‘all right’!
• I have decided that I LOVE  burpees!
• One of these days they will be my favorite exercise!   

I wrote the above words about 4 months ago. Today at Charity Bootcamp I did two sets of burpees each one minute long. I don’t remember how many I did, but it was more than 12!  Burpees are no longer a negative experience for me. However, I commented to a friend in my group that 60 seconds of non-stop Mountain Climbers have become what burpees used to be!  So I need to start loving Mountain Climbers so they can become one of my favorite exercises as well!  At present they are not even close to that category, but I’m working on it.  I have learned that at boot camp I will ALWAYS have opportunity for growth in fitness as well as attitude!

Do I look at a situation as a problem or do I see the potential for growth? Is it too much of a challenge for me or do I make a choice to be an overcomer?  Is it an obstacle or an opportunity? Is it a set-back or a step-up?  Is it a quandary or an exciting quest? Do I see the trouble or the triumph?  Is my cup half empty or is it half full? These are very important questions to consider, because the answers very likely determine the degree of success I will have in anything I undertake not just weight loss or Renton Results Boot Camp 

                                                                    

Over the years I have worked on and continue to work on changing my focus from seeing all the possible problems to seeing the potential.  For some reason I was ‘gifted’ with the ability to see every possible difficulty, setback or hindrance!  This can be minimally helpful to a point, but it can definitely be debilitating causing paralysis of action, not wanting to do anything wrong or take a chance!  When I stop and think it through, this dilemma can be summed up in three words: “Lack of Faith!”

A “Can do” attitude is part of the structure of my faith because the Word of God tells me: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So do I choose to go with that word and that confession?  I’ve quoted it many times in my life. In fact I have a little decoration hanging on my wall that I was given early on in my walk with Christ that has that very verse on it. Its one thing to read the verse, to ‘know’ it in my head, or to quote it from memory,  but it’s quite another thing to KNOW it in my heart and to put it into action on a daily basis, applying it to every area of my life. This truth from God’s Word  is at the very basis of my having a “Can-do” attitude!

Another quote that encourages me is “When I am weak, He (Jesus) is strong in me.”  This certainly seems like a win/win situation to me!!  I haven’t met any one including myself who will not in some way let me down. For me, “Jesus is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother; He will never leave me nor forsake me!”  My “Can-do” attitude while requiring that I do the action, does not leave me totally on my own, but I have a marvelous Source of help and strength in the Lord!

I hope I didn’t get too preachy today!  But I needed to hear this myself. Thanks again for visiting with this baby boomer grandma gettin’ fit & healthy!  Until tomorrow, may God richly bless YOU!

“Spanx to the Rescue”

I remember some of my teen years when girdles were the slimming fashion garment of choice!  Talk about uncomfortable!  Even at my 145 pound slim weight I wore a corset type bra to slim the non-existent bulges under my wedding bodice!  To give a ‘smooth’ look!

 You can’t imagine the relief when Rebekah introduced me to a garment called Spanx. It was 2009 and my 45^th year high school reunion was coming up. She told me that even Michelle Obama wore Spanx!  I wiggled, pulled, tugged, squirmed, jumped up and down into this garment!  It was actually comfortable once I got into it—far more comfortable than my long ago memory of that girdle. With the Spanx and a flattering dress, cute shoes, sun tan sprayed legs and jewelry to match, I was set for my reunion and I did have a wonderful time renewing acquaintances!  Thanks Rebekah!!!

No spanx, so cover it up!





 So Spanx became my best friend and Lane Bryant my store of fashion choice. Rebekah would hunt down bargains at Ross, TJ Max and Marshall’s for me as well. She even threw in Macy's a few times! Nordstrom Rack



provided my 13+ size foot coverage. However, when I kept gaining weight and the spanx were getting tighter and tighter—my hope got lower and lower! Spanx can only do just so much!  You gotta give them something to work with--or should I say a little less to work with, not more!



Spanx were helping out a
whole lot here. My outfit
almost looks too big! The
fact I had taken off
22 pounds
made a difference too!

 Since September 2010 I’ve reversed that trend and I am so glad to say that those same Spanx don’t do anything for me now that my muscles can’t do! I’ve given away all of my “fat” clothes—even some really nice ones I thought I’d wear on the way down—I just sailed past their size before I realized it.

At the time it seems like forever to my next goal, but I keep an eye on my goal and an eye on how far I’ve come. That was wise counsel from trainer Luka as I was telling him of my frustration with the remaining belly bulge! I need to stop and enjoy how far I have come! This is a life journey and I want to learn every principle and life skill along the way. This takes time because not only is it transforming my body, but also my soul—my mind, my will, and my emotions! 

I don’t want a temporary band aid fix. I want permanent, lasting results. I want to learn from my mistakes. When I fall, I get back up. The greatest glory is not in never falling—not in being perfect—but rising back up when I do fall. I choose to use those imperfections, those failures, those former stumbling blocks as stepping stones of progress and success  as I journey to my lifetime goal of health and fitness.

Thanks again for visiting with this baby boomer grandma gettin' fit & healthy!  See you again soon, with my "Can Do Attitude"--Until then, may God richly bless YOU my friend.

“What’s on My Mind? ”

There’s a lot of brain/body connection or in some cases disconnect, that makes the difference in my current success. Setting a goal of being fit and healthy needed to start in my mind and settle in my heart and start working on my emotions. Without that process it would never have reached the point of action that could be reflected in my body.  “As a person thinks in their heart, so are they”(The Bible) My heart and my mind were on their way to being transformed—to changing in the area of fitness and health!

What had been for so long in my life a preference to be fit and healthy was now becoming a choice.  For years I had mistaken my preferences as choices. A preference is something that one does until the going gets rough. Whereas a choice is backed up by determination and a 'can-do' attitude that comes from the gut—from deep within. No matter what the challenges or obstacle I will choose to push through, to continue, to progress.  

I was in the process of making that choice to be fit and healthy. To do whatever it took to reach my goal; To be in it for the long run.  No ‘quick fix’ had worked in the past. The fact I had injured myself early on could have ended my journey if it had just been a preference. But having made a choice for fitness, I was going to find a way to do it no matter what!  And I was blessed to have a trainer in Luka with the knowledge to help me work through some of those obstacles.

As I have been progressing in my choice for fitness and health, I’ve also been learning how to maintain it once I do reach my goals. My focus is not just losing weight. I’ve done that many times before. Losing weight can be achieved relatively easy by unhealthy means to just come right back with a vengeance and bring along a few extra like minded roommates!  So losing weight, while part of the goal has to go hand in hand with regaining my health and developing my fitness and strength.

When I started transferring fat into muscle, the number on the scales were not going to give me weekly ‘big loser’ results. Some weeks it seems like there is hardly any progress on the scales.  However, one look in the mirror and a reminder of the “pre-weight loss” photos is enough to tell me this IS working! I can sit down and not feel like my thighs are spreading all across the bench!  I don’t feel the need to cover up my belly with big tops. I even consider tucking in a top once in a while!  I’m learning that eating frequently and drinking LOTS of water is a big key!

Mind you, this is hot an over night transformation. Just as my strength increases a bit each boot camp, so too my body is changing and my mind along with it. When the scales don’t show as much progress as I had hoped, the tape measure will give me some encouraging news! That was certainly the case when after the first 9 weeks of boot camp I lost 10” from my belly alone! 

I celebrate the small accomplishments. One more full body push up, the watch that now fits around my wrist, the size large top down from an XL and even the large is getting too big.  The first days of boot camp I had to take joy in what now seems very ordinary.  The fact that I could hold a plank from the knees, that I could get up off the mat, that I didn’t get tired quite as fast, that I made it through the entire boot camp even though I had to do the easier version of the exercise. You better believe I am looking for improvement every day to celebrate and you know what?  I find it every day—a bit of improvement to take hold of and encourage myself.



Its good to look at how far
you've come during the
prosess of this journey!

 I took my version of "Biggest Loser" pictures along the way! I am thrilled to tell you that I do not fear gaining back the weight I have lost and will continue to lose until I reach my goal.  I am becoming more equipped each day with the tools and knowledge that makes it very achievable. Food and fat no longer rule me. I’m smarter than they are! I have more understanding of how my body works in relationship to food. It's not difficult to understand AND it  is liberating to be free from the bondage of appetite and food cravings! Hallelujah!!

Well on my way to health & fitness!!

 

Even though I gave you a double blogging day, this journey is still in its infancy! Thanks again for visiting with this 'baby boomer grandma gettin' fit and healthy'.  And Until next time--probably tomorrow,  may God richly bless YOU!

“Wisdom gained on the Journey”

I realized recently that there are lingering fears that want to pop up from time to time since I first confronted them 17 years ago. I had the hardest time at first wrapping my brain around the idea of not exercising at least a little bit on Sundays. Our weight loss workout schedule had Sunday as a break day.

My daughter, Rebekah,  informed me “It’s your recovery day Mom—take it off!  In fact it will do just the opposite of what you hope to achieve. Not taking a day of recovery will work against you!” Not wanting to be my own worst enemy, I took her advice. I have my day of recovery and the next day? I seem to have more energy for Monday morning boot camp than any other day!

I’ve also learned that if I don’t do it perfectly, just get back up and continue the journey. So I tried a “cheat day”—I’d rather call it an unlimited choices day—the idea of cheating sets ME up for failure in my mind.  Well, my day was really a CHEAT day without limits or controls. Rather than eat the healthier things currently not allowed on my plan, I went right for the chocolate and donuts. Not just one either!  So, what did this tell me? Even on an unlimited eating day I need to keep my eye on my goal of fit and healthy. Will one chocolate stop that? No, but a dozen is definitely detrimental to both my fitness and health goals. Can I eat a chocolate or a donut next time?  I don’t know. I do know my physical addiction to sugar is gone, but the metal/emotional one is still being broken! I look forward to the day that food is my fuel only and not my comfort.

Quilting has been a good exercise for me in maintaining my “reformed perfectionist” status and not going back to my old ways. I started quilting about 9 years ago. My first quilt was for my brother’s first grandson. This was a project of love, because my brother had passed away six years earlier in a tragic motorcycle accident. Incorporated into the quilt was a focal fabric left over from my brother’s childhood pajamas Mom had made for him. I completed the quilt in less than a month and named it after the western theme print “Happy Trails of Memories.”  Was the quilt perfect? Not in construction—not in quilting not in a lot of ways, but it WAS perfect in its intent, its message, its motivation, and its love.  I was genuinely happy with the results. It was the first item opened at the shower and brought tears to all our eyes............

The "perfect" quilt

You see, both of my grand nephew’s grandfathers had passed away before he was born. This quilt was in memory and honor of both of them for their grandson, Kevin.

     Thanks for visiting with this babyboomergrandma, letting me share a bit of my heart and until next time may God richly bless YOU!

"Happy Trails of Memories"

“Making it through the Holidays” and “New Year, New You Weight Loss Challenge--2011”

In the past my mind set for the holidays was eat, drink [non-alcoholic--J] and be merry!  Starting with all the chocolate Halloween goodies and ‘ending’ with New years day—or would it be Valentines—then there’s Easter, St. Patrick’s day, Memorial day, 4^th of July, birthdays, anniversaries—when was there never an opportunity or occasion to eat, eat, EAT???  I would kid myself into thinking that it would just be short term. It was more like long term with intermittent SHORT interruptions of conscience and determination to eat right.

BUT, this year was going to be different. When Halloween came along I was still on the last leg of the 'Back to School' weight loss challenge. That took care of any temptations for chocolates.  When we completed our weigh-in mid November I was well on my way to eating right, so that for Thanksgiving I could eat the healthy choices!  Plus, we were going to have a Transformation Party soon where the winners of the contest would be announced and I needed to be serious about looking good for it! 

The bottom line was that I had made a conscious choice to eat healthy and that was not determined only by a contest. I couldn’t be in contests the rest of my life, so I just kept right on eating like I should through all the holidays. The 21^st of December I had my yearly Physical Exam at the Drs.  The usually unfriendly scales told a whole different story this time. They were my ally weighing me in at 212 pounds---down another 10 pounds since the end of the challenge!  WhoHOOO!! I could have kissed those scales that day!!

As the new year started I was well on my way and proving to myself that I could keep on track. I joined the next weight loss challenge that began on the 22^nd of January. My weigh-in confirmed that I had kept off all the weight I had lost in December. This time I added a small group boot camp session once a week for the 8 weeks. The challenge of this small group were many for me! For one there were fewer people, so the intensity was kicked up quite a few notches and it was at 7:45 PM!  Isn’t it obvious that I’m a morning person—choosing to go to the 5:45 AM boot camp????  That is definitely not by chance that I go at that hour!! Challenges are good for our brain, our body, our attitude, …… I must admit that the first night of small group I almost felt like I was back at my beginning days of boot camp!  Warm ups were more intense and the first night included  bear crawls. Fortunately for me, Albert, the small group trainer, switched me to the regression of knees to elbows rather than bear crawls. Over the course of the 8 weeks my strength and stamina continued to increase. Albert challenged me to use heavier weights and to do the more difficult progression of the exercises. The big 25 foot ropes became a challenging favorite of mine!

I had great progress and found boot camp getting a bit easier for me each week. Calling boot camp easier is very dangerous---Luka does not like to hear that we have not been challenged. So when I say easier I’m just saying I could actually DO some form of most of the exercises now. What is so wonderful about boot camp, however, is that you never arrive at an ultimate level because there’s always something more to do to challenge your body. That’s why all fitness levels can be successful in the same boot camp.  No longer were they letting me ‘get away with’ the easier moves, but were challenging me to kick it up a notch every time!



198 Pounds--first time below
the 200# barrier in years!

The 8 week challenge was over in no time and that ended my small group session. I really missed them, but I had learned so much that would help me in regular boot camp. At the end of the 8 weeks came another weigh in. This time I lost 15+ pounds. Not as much as my first time, but I was satisfied. 

With my sweetheart of 40+ years
at the transformation party!

My husband accompanied me to the follow up party since he hadn’t been at the first one when I won second place.  I thought it was too bad he was coming to this one rather than the other since I didn’t expect to win anything this time. Can you imagine my delight and surprise as Luka is introducing the second place winner----She’s been in this spot before, etc. etc----It was ME!!!!  Wow!  What can I say?  I’ll take second place a second time! I’m just so grateful for the encouragement and support of friends, family, fellow boot campers,  and Renton Results Boot Camp staff!  One of the reasons I have included so many of my very humbling  ‘fat’ pictures is that I want my friends to know there is hope for them if they are struggling with weight. If this 64 1/2 year old baby boomer grandma can join a boot camp with ‘kids’ half her age then you can do it too!

Still got more on this continuing journey---yet to come are "Picture, Picture on the Wall---my wall of Pain,"  "Spanx to the Rescue", "What's on Your Mind?"---Thanks for visiting with me once again and until next time, may the Lord richly bless YOU.

“Final Weigh In—November 7, 2010”

I had put in the exercise, the discipline in eating, the planning, the focus, the mental adjustments. Had I done enough? Would the scales reflect all the effort? These were my thoughts as I went to boot camp that Saturday. During boot camp Rebekah kept encouraging me to go the extra mile with each exercise. “Remember Mom you’re weighing in after boot camp. You need to sweat off as much as you can!”



8 weeks into my weight loss

journey and 22 pounds lighter!

Praise the Lord I'm on my way

to a new health and fitness

level I've never had before!

As I stepped on the scales, the number came up 222 pounds!!! YES!! That was 22 pounds taken off in 8 weeks. It may not have been as phenomenal as the losses depicted on my favorite reality show, “The Biggest Loser”, but it was very BIG for me!

One month later at our Transformation Party I was awarded 1^st runner up (as Rebekah called it)—actually Second Place J with a total weight loss of 22 Pounds, body fat drop of 5% and over 20”!  Of which 10 of those were off my belly!!! —I believe this is the most rewarding second place I’ve ever achieved!  I was on my way and none too soon. We were coming into the Thanksgiving/Christmas season when food is the focus of most family gatherings. Add to that several family birthdays and I had a recipe for weight loss derailment! However, this engine was on track and staying there! 


Along with my second place I received two months of free boot camp, certificates for a couple of friends to attend and an I Pod Touch.  One of the biggest blessings from all this is that my niece Dionne agreed to use one of my free coupons and she has now embarked on changing her lifestyle to one of being fit and healthy. She is an eager boot camper and doing very well on her journey to attain and maintain good health! 



http://amamabringingsexyback.blogspot.com/,







My daughter Rebekah is the one who got this ball rolling originally. So Rebekah,   thanks to you there are a LOT of people in boot camp, small group training, and semi-private training. Isn’t it amazing how you finding Luka, interviewing him to see if he could help you bring about the changes you needed, then doing what he told you has not only transformed your body, but  brought such hope and transformation to so many others?!  Thank you for being a great example and inspiration for all of us!

 

 

 

 

Believe it or not there’s still lots more to this story and journey!  To be continue. . . . . . . . .

Thanks for visiting with this babyboomergrandma and until next time may God richly bless YOU!





“Some challenges along the way!

My trip to Baltimore was only one of the big tests for me!  Backing up a bit, you recall I said the staff watched me like a hawk so I wouldn’t injure myself. But even with that my left glute muscle started tightening up from doing burpees.  The first week at  Renton Results Boot Camp

 I learned about these so called burpees! They are an exercise like no other!! I’m told they are the best full body exercise I can do!  So what’s a burpee?  From a standing position I go into a squat, hands on floor in front of me—thrust legs straight back into a full body plank, jump legs back into squat and spring into the air landing on my feet to repeat the procedure as many times a I can in 30 seconds or so—sometimes 60 seconds. I think Luka had us do 2 minutes non stop the other day!!!!! That’s the basic burpee that probably goes by lots of other names as well.

 I was doing several regressions below that when I mentioned to Luka the pain I was feeling in my left glute . He had me start rolling on a black high density foam roller before and after boot camp. Wow, did it ever hurt as I rolled over those knotted up muscles! It was like a deep tissue massage focusing right on the knot! BUT after I rolled and got back up on my feet it felt so much better.  Eventually the knotted muscle relaxed and I’ve been doing foam rolling every since. I have my own at home and use it daily. 

I did mention getting back up on my feet didn’t I?  That reminds me of some humbling opportunities when I started boot camp. I guess I should be happy that someone didn’t have to come to my aid for me to even get up off the mat!!!  Why is it that all the exercise sequences seem to have you on your feet one second and then on the floor the next, then back up again!  So as I’m trying to get my 244 pounds off the floor, Luka looks at me struggling and shows me how to put one bent leg onthe mat  first and lean on my knee to get up!  DUH!!! That is how I still get up sometimes, but I can also jump up  too!! Hurray!!

One of the intervals included a 60 yard sprint. I was so excited that I could run, I decided to do it around our neighborhood for my cardio!  After an exhilarating run, rather than listening to my body—specifically my knee that was complaining from the pounding on the pavement, I poured it on all the more. I was at my sister’s who had invested in a very nice treadmill. So I cranked it up to 5 mph+ and proceeded to run for 30 seconds, walk for a minute. I did that for 15 minutes. My knee was further complaining. Did I listen? Of course not!  I did it again the next morning after which I could hardly walk!!  The pain was not pleasant to  say the least, but the thought that I may have unwittingly messed up my boot camp experience and not be able to exercise was very 'painful'!  And I wasn't even at boot camp when I did it!!

Not to worry. Yup I had messed up my knee---nothing torn, just irritated and in need of the supporting muscles being strengthened!  Luka modified my exercises and had me rolling the IT band and quads. I thought the glutes hurt when I rolled them. That was nothing compared to the extremely tightened up muscles in my right leg!  Even now I still grimace at the thought of the pain. But I worked through it continuing to roll in spite of the pain and as before there was relief each time! He further showed me what to do to avoid stress on that knee---just as he had modified exercises to allow my glute muscle to recover. I never missed a day of boot camp even in the midst of hurting myself! Pretty soon I was able to add back in high knees and reverse lunges.

To show you how much of a novice I was at all of this, I emailed Luka to tell him about the tight muscles. I had to google front leg muscle/back of leg muscle to even come up with the proper names to explain to him my problem!  I now know a bit about my hamstrings and quadriceps and where they are located!!

The big lesson for me is that I never got hurt at boot camp, but I needed to watch what I tried to do on my own!  It took about 5 months for that knee to be happy with sprints!  I guess it took that long to strengthen the supporting muscles. I’m so glad to tell you that I can now run again. However, I don’t over do it and I LISTEN to what my body is telling me!!! Lesson learned!

To be continue. . . . Thanks for visiting with this babyboomergrandma and until next time may God richly bless YOU!

“Baltimore Here We Come”

With the weight loss challenge came a weigh in once every 2 weeks and accountability for eating via a food journal turned in weekly. In the beginning weeks of the weight loss challenge a major point that Luka drilled into us was planning our meals for the week, shopping and preparing our meals ahead so that it was easy to grab that snack or meal when hungry.  2 ½ weeks into the challenge I was going to have to miss the next 2 ½ half weeks of boot camp while taking my mother to visit my oldest daughter and her family in Baltimore. This could be a major bump in the road for me in maintaining the eating and exercise I had just started getting into!

Mom and Me at Easter 2010



Again, the need for planning that Luka had drilled into me took over!  I was determined to keep with the program while away. The “odds” were against me as I’d just barely embarked on this journey. I was just learning the protocol, but I remembered Rebekah’s word, “Just do what you can do!”  That actually included a whole lot. Luka let me audio tape on my OLD portable cassette recorder a few of the boot camps. I also wrote down the exercises for each tape. I barely knew what these exercises were let alone do them on my own. I packed my work out clothes, some equipment I could use, ordered my protein powder and vitamins shipped to Baltimore, packed my snacks and meals for the 7 hr trip, bought a big bottle of water at the airport and embarked with my 96 year old mother on this leg of my journey! 





My Baltimore support group!



We arrived in Baltimore early evening and were whisked home by my daughter Deborah. She was immediately on board with my plan and very encouraging of my exercising as well as understanding of my eating situation. Basically I planned to eat whatever I could of the meals she prepared for the family and do my own as needed. My protein and vitamins had already arrived. She showed me in the basement where I could set up my “gym”.  She provided a yoga mat and I found some full cans of paint to help for “weights” along with the bands I had packed. Early the next day we headed for the grocery store so I could pick up the foods I needed. I even had my own drawer in her refrigerator!   Since I was just ending the first 21 day phase of what was called “green faces”--- eating every 2 ½ to 3 hrs with 3 meals and 2-3 snacks including some protein each time I ate, I majored on protein and green vegetables, ignoring the carbohydrate foods. until I completed the first 21 days. Then I added a couple small servings of healthy carbs.

So how did it work for me? I used the chocolate protein shake with added spinach, flax meal and psyllium husks as one of the snacks and a second one if needed. Plus I used a thickened version (more ice/less water) as a delightful dessert in the evening. Mom decided the shakes I shared with her were a great way to ‘enjoy’ spinach—not her favorite vegetable!  Along with this I started the day with 4 cups of filtered water and 2 more cups before each meal, trying to drink at least 10 cups a day. My meat/frish/poultry/eggs protein source  along with 2 cups of green vegetables at each meal kept me very satisfied. I was soon able to add in 2 small carb servings of yellow sweet potato. YUM!! Carbs never tasted so good!

I include all this to stress the point that I planned for success while away. I weighed in at Deborah’s, emailed my food diary and sent after work out cell phone pictures to Luka and Rebekah for accountability. Luka told me he could tell by a picture if I’d really worked out enough!  I did consider splashing water on my face once in a while, but with his voice encouraging me on those tape and the familiarity of boot camps I had already done,  I was plenty sweaty without any theatrics!  Daily I headed for the basement first thing in the morning to do my 5 minute warm ups and 25 minute “boot camp”. In the 17 days I was away I only missed exercising the two travel days. I must admit that I was in the basement doing boot camp a couple of evenings at 11:00 pm because I didn’t get down there before the day took over!

The good and encouraging news is that I continued to lose weight taking off nearly 8 pounds during that time. I planned for success, had an attitude of success and proved that I could be successful in a challenging set of circumstances. It also told me that if I could   "DO IT"   away from home on vacation, I could do it anywhere!

 To be continue. . . . Thanks for visiting with this babyboomergrandma and until next time may God richly bless YOU!

“Back to School Weight loss challenge”

As I previously mentioned, Wednesday, September 1^st I walked into my first ever boot camp owned and operated by Luka Hocevar and his staff.  Renton Results Boot Camp www.rentonresultsbootcamp.com/  looked like no gym I had ever frequented.  Where were the tread mills, the elliptical machines, the stair climbers, spinning cycles, weight machines?  There were none of the typical gym machines I was accustomed to in my 15 years of working out!  Instead, I entered a long, narrow, high ceiling garage with green AstroTurf looking floor at one end and black half inch rubber like covering at the other. Lined up along the wall were round balls with handles—I found out later called Kettle bells!

There was boot camp graffiti decorating the walls with encouraging words like: “Go Hard or Go Home!”  What?  Maybe I should just go right back out that door!  Another notice on the wall stated “Things come to those who wait but only what’s left over by those who hustle!”     More encouragement on another wall stated that “The greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising every time you fall.”    And “You can’t change your –potential but you can choose to fulfill it.”  On second thought I might stick around at least for the free week!   And what was that odor?  Perfume a la Gym?????

I soon found out why there weren’t a lot of machines. For one thing there wasn’t the space, but more importantly, my body was going to be the machine. I learned what was for me a new form of exercise---my body would provide the resistance weight.  At 244 pounds I would have a whole lot of weight and a whole lot of resistance to deal with! 

I still recall that my second time at boot camp one of the intervals included forward and backward bear crawls!  I could not even come close to getting up on my hands and feet in a bear crawl stance let alone “crawl”!  So I crawled across on my hands and knees!  That WAS humbling as well as painful on the Astro Turf covered cement!  And probably pretty hilarious as well. But no one laughed---at least not out loud!  I remembered Rebekah’s words, “Just do what you can do, Mom!”  I was short on style, finesse, and form, to name just a few, but not on effort!  I was putting all I had into this boot camp experience.

After meeting with Luka the week after attending my first camp, I was recovering from a bit of sticker shock!  My $21.00 a month current gym membership over the years was a “bargain”-BUT what had it done for me?  My thought since then has been that I can pay for boot camp now or for the doctor later!  And we all know what will be the bigger bill in the long run!! 

So, I made the 8 week weight loss challenge commitment!  Rebekah paid a portion of it for my birthday, gave me a coupon she had been given and my husband, as per my request paid the other half for my 64^th birthday gift! So the money was on the line and there was no backing out now!!! Not that I wanted to. I was actually excited that this just might be something that would finally work for me!  What did I have to lose? Nothing but 79 pounds—duh!!!---I’d already lost my dignity doing the plank and leaving a puddle of sweat on the floor and that was even while wearing my 70’s style pink sweat band which I could wring out after each boot camp!  Talk about gross!  No wonder this boot camp in a garage had a strange aroma when I entered the door that first day!

September 12, 2010 @ 244#'s
What can I say? The sweats tell it all!!

Actually, I was soon to be regaining some of my dignity as I started doing more push ups and more body weight exercises and less unscheduled planks!  I became familiar with words like burpees, the prowler, dynaball slams, kettle bell goblet squats, TRX pull ups, walk outs, reverse lunges, high knees, sprinters sit ups, prisoner squats, squat jumps AND my favorite---squat holds! A whole new vocabulary was assaulting my brain as well as my body! I have to say that it was good for mind AND body!  I was on my way!!!!! Hurray!!! But wait, right around the corner was a potential BIG BUMP in the road.  Stay tuned for more of the adventures in this ‘babyboomergrandma’s journey to gettin’ fit and healthy. I’ll be back with more in a day or so! Until then, may God richly bless YOUR  life!

An added note: 

  Yes, I had crossed over the line from overweight to obese.  So why would I put such a revealing picture of my challenge with obesity on this blog? Because it is not the end of the story and I want you to see what can be done. With the power and grace of God, my can do attitude, good trainers, diet and boot camp you will be just as amazed as I am every day with the on-going transformation!