We Are the Champions

Yesterday we had a celebration at my gym.  If you recall, back in March we started a “diet” competition called Game On!  You can read about it here and here. 

My team was the Wonder Women.  We placed 2^nd out of 3 teams.  I participated the first 3 weeks here at home, then finished out the last 5 weeks in California. 

The competition culminated  with an 80’s dress up night and karaoke.  The losers had to serenade the winners.  I missed it, but everyone there had a great time! 

The gym gave the participants 2 weeks off then started another 8-week round of Game On! mid-May.  I was still in California, but opted to participate again because I figured it would be yet another point of accountability for me.  My first 2 weeks I participated while in California but finished out the last 6 weeks at home and my daughter, fresh back from college, joined me.  I released 20 lbs in the 8 weeks and my daughter released 11.  By the time this contest ended right after July 4^th the Wonder Women were the Champions and I was the Winner or Biggest Loser. 

Yesterday the 5 teams converged on the gym armed with “legal” food and gifts for the winning team.  No singing or dancing this time, but some of the stories were very inspiring and some were downright hysterical!

The new Game On! begins tomorrow for 7 teams – as more people find out about the success of the program at the gym, they decide to give it a whirl.  There are a few men participating this time around as well – Let’s Hear It For The Boys!

Alas, I have opted to sit out this round.  I did 21 consecutive weeks between Game On! and LIFE and I need a bit of a break.  But don’t worry, I’ll still be on track releasing pounds and keeping up with my workouts.

Maria’s back home in Miami and we’re using the buddy system to keep each other going.  Together we’ll be Champions!

Roll With the Changes

Keep on rolling...   Keep on rolling...

oooh...   oooh...   oooh... 


I have been down for the count the past few weeks.  My cervical discs are still acting up.  I had the cortisone shot which has prevented me from having pain higher than a 5…hooray!  But that niggling, annoying radiating pain into my shoulder & bicep still persists.  Some days my neck feels the pain, but it’s never higher than a 4 or 5. 

The problem is it’s still preventing me from getting any good workouts in.  And I haven’t done any upper body lifting since leaving LA – a situation which needs to be seriously rectified.

Last week I was feeling pretty good, so I went to they gym on Wednesday for an hour of treadmill sprint intervals.  I basically did Trainer Jonathan’s cardio boot camp: a combination of sprinting and walking at different speeds and for different times.  After that came lower body weights followed by 10 minutes of abs.  I felt great the rest of the day and my neck/shoulder/arm didn’t bother me at all.

Thursday I went back to the gym.  If you recall, I began really running towards the end of my time in LA and I had an IT Band issue.  I didn’t want to have a relapse so I did incline intervals on the treadmill: a combination of walking at 0% incline up to 12% incline for different time periods.  That was followed by lots of stretching. 

I still felt great so I decided to go for broke.  Went to Zumba that night.  Ouch!  It’s the dancing.  When I dance I use my whole body including my head.  Actually, just listening to music gets my head bopping.  I bopped a little too much because my neck was sore the next day.

Maybe I need a neck brace for Zumba!

This week I have been a slug again due to many different circumstances.  I do my neck exercises and some light walking, but I’m really itching get back to the weights.  I’m driving my docs nuts because all I talk about is how I NEED to get back to working out.

I know they think I’m a little obsessed. 

Maybe you do too; however, I know me.  I’m worried that if I get too complacent I may lose the fire in me to keep going until I reach my goal.  After all my hard work I cannot let that happen!

So, I’m rolling with it…doing what I can when I can.  It’s really my only option right now.  I can’t complain too much as I’m down 12 lbs since leaving LA.  I just gotta keep workin’ it!

My Newest Injury

My newest injury started out as a small nuisance much like a continuous buzzing gnat.  I awoke my last Friday at LIFE with a niggling intermittent throb in my left bicep.  It didn’t really bother me, but it was weird.  That Tuesday I was finished with the program but went to Santa Monica to get my hair done.  Then I joined my friends at the gym for a famous Chef Seong lunch and saw the chiropractor Dr. Hans for the last time.  Dr. Hans’s diagnosis – my 1^st left rib had moved out of place.

I didn’t know I had a rib that high, but apparently I do and it moved which was causing the annoyance in my left bicep.  He adjusted it and the problem was gone…for the day.

The niggling has continued for the past month.  2 weeks ago I awoke with a screaming left shoulder and bicep and my chiropractor here (Dr. Scott) took care of it.  And it went back to being a niggling pain for another week.

Now it’s much worse.

It landed me in the ER last weekend and I’ve been miserable ever since. 

I have been on major meds to deal with the pain and it finally took an MRI to make a correct diagnosis – 1 herniated disc and 1 bulging disc in my neck.  The mass from the herniated disc is pressing on my spinal nerves on the left side, which is causing the pain to radiate through my shoulder, behind my shoulder blade, and into my bicep. 

It’s not pretty. 

It’s quite frustrating.

It’s affecting my sleep (read: I’m not getting much!).

I’ve been a slug for a week now: no workouts, lounging around on the coach reading and watching TV, applying moist heat, icing, stretching, even putting my head in a ‘home traction’.  I’m doing all the physical therapy my doctor has prescribed.  I get relief where my pain goes from a 9-10 on the pain scale down to a 4-5.  It hasn’t gone below a 4 at all this week.  Right now as I sit here writing the pain is a 9.

I’ve decided I can’t live with the pain anymore.  I’m doing everything I can to work with this injury, but some days (like tonight) I get no relief.  So here I sit at 1 am chanting, “Come On Tuesday!”

Tuesday is the day I get the cortisone shot. 

In my spine…yikes!

I figure “what the hell?”  I already had 2 epidurals when I delivered my kids.  It can’t be any worse than that, right?  But this is a big deal as I’ll have to lie down on an x-ray table while my doctor uses x-ray guidance to show him exactly where to shoot the cortisone. 

I hope it works.  If not, I’ll need surgery, which entails a neurosurgeon going into the area and snipping off the portion of the disc that’s pressing against the nerves.  Let’s hope that neurosurgeon’s skills are on par with McDreamy!

Again…yikes!

Right now in the middle of the night when I’m awake with pain and feeling all alone – it’s looking grim.  The way I’m feeling right now I suspect poor Dr. Scott won’t have a full weekend off.  Do you think I can call his office now and get him to come in? 

Dr Scott, if I can’t sleep…no one can!

Come On Tuesday!

Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow

"All I wanna do is stay right here on the floor

Get lost in the night and dance like there's no tomorrow

Don't care about the sunrise; Somebody please just hit the lights

All I wanna do is dance like there's no tomorrow."

I’m attached to my ipod.  Really.  Physically attached. 

I got so used to wearing my ipod at LIFE that I’m now wearing it at home.  Let me just say that doing mundane housework and laundry is much more fun when I’m dancing simultaneously.   I do believe it’s time to install an ipod connector into my car.

I have been home for 11 days now.  My first weekend back was one big party – with my family, with my friends, with my honey.  I allowed myself to eat out on both Friday and Saturday and I did imbibe in wine.  I was still pretty good eating…not perfect, but I was taking a short break. 

I allowed myself some entertainment food.  You know what…some of it I don’t need anymore.  I don’t crave it and I could care less whether or not I ever taste it again.  The first victim is potato chips.  I love salt & crunch so I had 1 serving of potato chips on Saturday.  I actually read the label and counted out the correct number of chips for the serving size.  An hour later I had a stomachache.  I decided the taste was not worth the pain.   So…buh bye, chips!  I’m also addicted to Crystal Light Lemonade & Iced Tea.  So I had some iced tea…YUCK!  It tasted like a bunch of chemicals.  It will no longer pass my lips.

The wine still tasted as delish as I remembered…ahhhh.  I don't think I'll ever lose the taste for wine!

I got right back into my Zumba routine.  I’ve been to Zumba 7 times in the last 11 days.  There are new dance routines for me to learn, but I still love it as much as I always have.

I also bought a bike.  I need to begin training for my Big Bike Ride in November.  We’re having a LIFE reunion during the 165-mile ride from Miami to Key West.  I think it’s brilliant…it helps us all stay in touch, but also forces us to stay accountable.  We are excited to see how much slimmer and fitter we all will be in 5 months.

So I went to see my buddy Alan at Princeton Sports and he hooked me up with a sweet ride – a Cannondale Quick Hybrid.  I didn’t realize how much gear bike enthusiasts need.  Wow!  I got a bike with an upgraded seat (I need as little butt pain as possible), padded bike shorts, a biking shirt, water bottle, helmet, tire pump, a cute little bag to hold my cell phone & car keys, and a bike rack for my car.  There’s still more I need but I’m just starting out and Alan didn’t want to overwhelm me.  Thanks, Alan. 

My Cannondale Quick

On Tuesday night I went with a local cycling group through the HILLY county roads.  I lasted 6 miles.  Not because I physically couldn’t continue, but because I kept messing up my gears.  So I had the Princeton Sports Chase/Support Vehicle pick up my bike and me.  Wayne (the driver) and I followed the cyclists for the remainder of the ride.  I picked his brain about the dos and don’ts of cycling and using my gears and I think I have it down pretty well now.  I’ll be trying out a myriad of bike paths we have here in Maryland.  I have a few friends who are interested in riding with me – Sharona, Becky & my neighbor Anthony.  It’s going to be so much fun!

I got through the remainder of the week doing Zumba and Trainer Jonathan’s ab workouts.

Friday night was a graduation party.  I cooked and ate dinner before I went.  While there I didn’t even look at the food.  I drank club soda with a lime and everyone thought I was having a gin & tonic.  I brought an apple with me and ate it at 8:30 when I got hungry again.  My friends were so excited to see the new me. 

Everyone I have seen has been very positive except 2 people.  I’m taking a break from those 2.  I’m in a good place and I cannot afford negative people in my life right now.  I’m staying on the right path to health and fitness!

Saturday morning, my daughter and I arrived at Nordstrom at The Columbia Mall by 8 am for a 2-hour Zumba party.  While people shopped we provided cat-calling, booty-busting entertainment with about 25 other women from our gym.  I burned a lot of calories.

That night we met Alan (the bike guy) and Jackie for dinner at Flemings.  Honey and I were standing at the bar; I had my back to the door when I heard this very recognizable female voice (Jackie) whisper in my ear, "Your ass is so small and cute I want to just grab it!"  There's never a dull moment with Jackie...lol!  I had a petite filet mignon and steamed asparagus (both with no butter or oil).  I ate half of each and saved the rest for Sunday lunch.  I also had a glass of wine and two glasses of water.  I was fine. 

This morning was the annual Zooma 10K & half marathon in Annapolis. Ginger and I had planned to participate back in April.  I had registered for the 10K via the internet while in California, but something went awry and my registration didn’t go through.  Then I couldn’t get to Annapolis yesterday to pick up my packet.  So…I didn’t go.  Instead Sharona and I decided to go to a local park that has a 3-mile loop and do our own 10K there.  It turns out our local hospital was sponsoring a Family Health Day at the park featuring a 5K.  We joined the crowd and did the 5K…twice.  I burned over 1000 calories in the 87-degree humidity. 

I miss the gorgeous, non-humid SoCal weather.  I miss my positive LIFE bubble.  Mostly, I miss my dear friends from LIFE.  I’m posting a picture of me and my new BFFs taken on the day before I flew back home.  They are all strong, empowered, awesome women who will accomplish each and every goal they set their minds to!

Me, Ginger, Judy & Maria

Forgive Me…I’m a Social Butterfly

Dear Readers, so sorry I haven’t written for a bit.  My last couple of weeks at LIFE were filled with socializing with my new friends from around the world while I still had time left with them.

The past 14 days have been filled with excitement, satisfaction, accomplishments, travel, reunions, and just a little negativity.

My Last Week at LIFE

Monday I began with a BANG – literally!  During Jonathan’s Cardio Boot Camp I was on fire – sprinting like I never have before.  During my very last sprint (6.5 speed) I felt a snap in my left I-T Band – where it meets my hip. 

I had to take it easy and focus on weights, circuits and biking for the rest of the day.

Later in the week I went with Bronson on the 20-mile Manhattan Beach bike ride – my fave.  Wow!  My fitness had really improved -  I passed the 20-somethings in our group twice on the way to Manhattan Beach and twice on the way back.  Who knew I had it in me?  The 20-somethings were impressed that I was a 48-year-old obese woman and kicked their butts…lol!

Friday morning was a Cute Butt Boy circuit.  Surely by now you must know how we all dread his workouts as he pushes us beyond whatever we thought we could do.  Cute Butt Boy added a couple of new exercises I hadn’t done before.  One I was confident about; the second…I didn’t think I could do at all.  To my delight, when I got to that exercise (a full push-up plank hold while lifting each leg up and down for two minutes) it was a piece of cake.  I was simply shocked.  When I first arrived at LIFE I couldn’t hold my body up with my arms – they were too weak.  As the weeks progressed I could do some exercises that required me to hold my body weight up with my arms but they were easier, shorter exercises.  It felt great to know my strength had improved exponentially.

My Last Day

Monday, May 26^th began with a weigh-in, body measurements, VO2 test & hydrostatic bodyfat testing in the dunk tank.

Before – my 1^st day at LIFE – 3.29.10 

After – my last day at LIFE – 5.24.10

I dropped another 6 pounds for a total of 30 while at LIFE. Remember, I dropped some before I left for LA so on my last day I was down 45 pounds, 32 inches and 2% body fat since I began this blog on February 15th.  Plus, my lung capacity improved and I went up 2 categories.

The New Me

I really changed – physically, nutritionally & emotionally.  I have become the woman I was back in my 20’s when I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.  Of course, I was always able to do that, but I no longer believed I could.  Claire, the LIFE therapist, helped the former me come back to the forefront…and I’m letting the real me stay in front!

Before I left my LA life behind I had one more change to make – my hair.  I wanted to go to a fab hair expert who could improve the look of the new me.  So off I went to Linda at Art Luna Salon in Santa Monica.  I’m 90% gray in the front and my hair grows quickly – I have my roots touched up every 4 weeks, but honestly, I could do it every 2 weeks (and that can be very costly!).  Linda considered my dilemma and came up with a solution: she lightened my color by 2 shades and added tons of natural highlights to make my overall look lighter and brighter.  It works!

Since my new lifestyle includes working out everyday I’m wearing my hair curly (it’s natural!) which allows me to spend only 5 minutes on it in the morning.  Growing it out will let me get my thick mass of curls off my neck by sporting a ponytail.

A sprinkling of bronzer, a few swipes of mascara and a smear of lip gloss has me “face ready” for workouts and errands.  That’s how I’ve decided to live my new life right now.

My Trip Back Home

I had to plan for my trip back to the east coast.  The first thing I did was have Chef Seong make food for me to bring on the plane.  It was the best idea I had.  Remember, I’m gluten free so my options with airport food are quite limited and I wanted to continue eating the healthy whole foods I enjoyed at LIFE.  I had yogurt for breakfast, finished packing, & headed out to the airport.  Once the plane was in the air I opened my next meal:  a roasted veggie & cheese wrap.  I ate half, 2.5 hours later ate the second half and 2 hours later had a protein bar which I brought with me. 

My daughter had just arrived home from college so she accompanied hubby to pick me up.  She came inside to the baggage claim to find me and walked right past me.  My trimmer self and lighter hair was a great disguise!  Needless to say, she was quite shocked, but ecstatic with my transformation since she last saw me in February.

When I arrived home around 9pm the dogs went beserk and my son took one look at me and said, “Mom, is that really you?”  I ate my 2^nd wrap – Southwestern chicken with black beans & veggies – and unpacked. 

The jetlag was much worse traveling west to east, but I was glad to be home with my honey living my new life with my new stronger, trimmer body and lighter, brighter hair.  

Can you hear the smile?

He's Still A Loser

I was quite surprised when I watched The Biggest Loser this week and saw that Daris gained weight after 30 days at home.  I know there will be a lot of naysayers and negative comments made in the cyberworld, but, first off, let's give credit where credit's due.

He's dropped over 150 lbs. so far (that's a whole person)!  He entered the contest as a boy and emerged as a man, but he's still young.  He went home and still had to battle some personal demons.  That's the battle he lost; however, his goal to be a real marathon runner came to fruition.  He had a setback, but I guarantee he picked himself back up and went home for his last weight loss phase - and he lost it!  I know because that's where my brain is right now.

I thought, as most of America did, that Daris & Koli would be the top 2 at the weigh in.  But they weren't and it all came down to balance.  They were single-minded in their focus and lost the balance they worked so hard for on the ranch.  

I've already heard negative comments about Koli being cocky - talking about the confetti raining down on him.  That's not cockiness - it's someone finally loving himself enough to see that he deserves something so wonderful just as much as the others deserve it.  Let's not forget Koli's reaction when John went home.  He was ready to give up his spot on the ranch because he felt John deserved it more!  I'm so happy to see Koli turn it around.

I didn't vote on Tuesday night.  I couldn't choose between the two of them.  Both are guys who have never been in love, never thought they deserved anything good in life.  How can I possibly choose one over the other?

Kudos to Ashley & Mike.  They struggled at home but were still able to maintain the balance.

And that is what I will be working on beginning next week when I fly back home.  I won't have trainers to push me or chefs to fix my meals.  It'll be me, myself & I making the right choices and maintaining balance in my life.

I can't wait!

And The Beat Goes On

Just like my love - everlasting!

It’s been 7 weeks now.  I still miss my hubby.  I guess that means I have a really strong marriage, huh? 

It’s funny.  I love my kids…and I do miss them, but not like I miss my honey.

I’m not actually antsy to get back home, but I am looking forward to next Wednesday when I fly back to the Baltimore-DC area to continue my journey at home.  I will so miss my LIFE bubble and friends and trainers, but we have plans to get together.

Hopefully, Bronson will come east for a short time this summer to teach women’s self defense.  Ginger and I know we could get a boatload of women and their daughters to participate and seeing Bronson again would be so great…he is truly the most inspirational of all the trainers.

My coach Arleigh may be doing a quick jaunt to Baltimore too…so my friend Bess and I can do a boot camp with her.  That means her visit will be both heaven and hell…lol!

A bunch of us are planning a reunion in November in Miami.  Call us crazy, but we’re going to do a bike ride from Miami to Key West - only 165 miles!  We’re trying to get Rob & Jonathan to come out and do it with us...both great trainers that we love…and a lot of fun!

You know I’ll always miss Cute Butt Boy.  That smile, that BUTT!  But I’ll certainly miss how much he has always believed in me…more than I believed in myself.

I’ll truly miss my Zumba cohort Amber.  She was Miss Fitness Hawaiian Islands 2008.  She looks it too.  Killer arms!  I want my arms to look just like Amber’s!  She’s helped me in so many ways, answered so many questions; even though she trains only part time she has a great influence over so many of us.

I’ll miss Luis the Chilean God’s sense of humor.  I always laugh when he trains me…even if my legs are on fire…and with his leg workouts they usually are!

We have another new trainer - Becca.  She’s quiet.  But the quiet ones are the ones you usually have to watch out for.  She’s quick with a smile and a compliment on how great you’re doing, but she goes for the kill during a training.  Just ask my abs.

Then there’s Nicola.  My butt hates her.  The rest of me loves her…always smiling…always positive…that cute British accent.  Nicola always makes my day.

Yup, leaving will be bittersweet, but I just can’t live without honey.  Maybe we can get him to move to LA.  Not!  Honey is not a city boy…no way no how. 

A favorite from The Whispers:
    “Don't stop for nobody
    This time I'll keep my feet on solid ground
    Now I understand myself when I'm down
    Like the sweet sound of hip music
    There'll always be something new
    To keep the tables turning
    Hey this super song
    There'll never be an ending
    The beat goes on, the beat goes on, the beat goes on.”