"She's CHEATING!!!!"

Wow. ZTT *totally* switched things up today! Lifetime is having this Workout/Weigh-In Competition and SURPRISE! all of the TEAM classes were entered against our will. Here's how it works. You team up (my partner is Stephanie, a woman who was in my last TEAM class, but happened to be there tonight--apparently we are now in it to win it together) and share a treadmill. This is the "home treadmill" where the official time and distance are measured. While one team member is on the treadmill (trying to go as far as possible in two minutes), the other is on an exercise mat doing the dictated exercise. Then you switch. The intervals are two minutes each with an active recovery two minutes after each round. There are five rounds. Winners will be selected by: furthest total distance, most reps and most weight lost.

Here's how it went down for us:

Round 1: incline of 6.0 (I went at a 3.5 pace), squats (I did 60)
Round 2: incline of 8.0 (I went at a 3.5 pace), sit-ups (I did 80)
Round 3: incline of 10.0 (I went at a 3.2 pace), push-ups (I did 35, modified--that was the rule)
Round 4: incline of 12.0 (I went at a 3.2 pace), lunges (I did 40)
Round 5: incline of 15.0 (I went at a 3.0 pace), mountain men (I did 65)

Total Calories Burned: 473 (HR monitor)
Ending HR: 129

I feel like this is great because I have a baseline. The gym will be doing this for 3 months, once a month. I am considering trying to do this regularly (maybe once a week) to 1) prep for the next time; and 2) track my progress.

The active recovery portion was on the treadmills at an incline of 0.0 and speed of 2.0 for 2 minutes. Everyone had to do this to keep the mileage gain identical (as to not skew the furthest distance competition). Two of the people were going faster. So I called them out. First, I called out Larry. Zak the Trainer told him to slow down so he did. Then I called out the woman next to Larry (her name is complicated...I have no idea what it is). She heard me and put a towel over the readout on the treadmill. REALLY!??! I don't think so. So after yelling, "Zak! She's cheating!" and pointing, I yelled out, "Just because you cover it with a towel doesn't make it NOT CHEATING!!!!" Yeah, she must hate me. Am I jerk? I just believe in integrity in competitions involving prizes.

Oh! And for the first day, my team won most reps. No prize. Just street cred...

Oh! And! Fitness FTW!

I was so distraught by Dr. Roseborough's devastating news that I forgot to mention this.

At the vascular surgeon they took vitals. My blood pressure is the lowest it has been in a while 11os/80s (don't remember the specifics) and it has been in the 140s/90s range for years, and my pulse was lower, 68 I believe, and my pulse has always been high, like in the 90s!!!

Being healthy FTW!!!!

I Stumped Zak the Trainer!

Today is Wednesday, a.k.a. food journal day! I may or may not have intentionally left out the fact that I have been seriously slacking in the food journal department all summer. BUT! Recall that I'm back--and this means that I had a completely filled out food journal for this week! Woot! Complete with comments. Comments are designed to 1) inform Zak the Trainer of things pertaining to my food choices; and 2) make me (and maybe him) laugh. On Friday evening, I had attended the Emmaus gathering where we took communion. Well, I did consume it so I felt like it should go in the food journal. In the comments section, I wrote:

Tonight I took communion. How exactly do I count the body and blood of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ???

He died laughing. As did I. I had to hold onto the treadmill to keep from falling off. He told me he was stumped and would have to ask Melissa. :) I look forward to the answer...

So, for my stats today:

Calories Burned: 579 (Treadmill)/555 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 2.90
Total Time: 58:45 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 131

Also! I bought new shoes and tried them out today. It is always scary to try out new shoes on a TEAM day, since I have to walk for an hour! But these were amazing! I am talking DAY ONE, Break-In Day, no pain! They the Softspots Maryla in dark brown. I now ::heart:: Softspots brand. My feet ::heart:: them too.

Swimming in the Sunshine!

Today, between appointments, I swam laps in my community pool! I love swimming in the sunshine! I did the same this as last Thursday: 30 minutes, swim 1 minute, rest 30 seconds, repeat. And, yes, Filly, I did reenact various scenes from the Little Mermaid. Ok. I didn't. But I totally should have. I walked in past a sleeping lifeguard/id checker to a pool all to myself. If ever there were a time to belt out Part of your World, this was it. ::sigh:: I missed it.

Also, on a devastating note, I had an appointment with my vascular surgeon today, aka the best doctor ever, aka the doctor I listen to over all other doctors, is moving to Oregon. So sad. I may have called him a jerk. But I think it was clear it was from my pain. I need to check in with *a* vascular surgeon once a year (so next August) and asked if I could fly to Oregon to do that. He said sure. I was joking, but maybe I was onto something (could I use sick leave for the flights???). He did recommend another doctor at Johns Hopkins: Dr. James Black. I will contact him next year...I suppose. I said bye and thanked him for saving my life..and then he was gone... ::sigh:: Something interesting is that he thinks I only need to be on Coumadin for 2 years (i.e. 1.5 more years). I am going to look into this cause that would be AWESOME.

Zak the Trainer Said I'm No Fun...

Today was weigh-in day! I lost 3 pounds! For a net total of 37 pounds...oh, 40 pounds, I can taste ya! Next week? I hope so... We'll see... During the weigh-in Zak the Trainer asked me if I stuck to the food plan over the weekend. I informed him that I did not, because, yes, Saturday (in PA for jeep competition), Sunday (in PA off-roading) AND Monday (forgot my lunch at home, 'doh!) I was unable to, but I did make good food choices and did the best I could. He then told me that I was no fun because he always *wants* to give me a hard time when I miss the diet plan, but I always lose pounds, so he can't. That's right, Zak the Trainer. I am that good.

I'm still making friends in class *sarcasm*. Per usual, ZTT asked if we had anything fun planned this week (he really needs to get some new things to small talk about...) and I said that tomorrow I am watching the original Star Wars trilogy, as I had never seen it before. He reacted as most do with shock and judgment and asked how old I was. With a smile I said, 28. He then asked how I had never seen Star Wars in 28 years. I told him (and the class) what I tell everyone: Because I am not a loser. ZTT then told me I was probably making enemies in the class with that line and I won't be able to make friends if I keep this up. I told him that that ship sailed a while ago. :)

The workout was good today. But it was short because of weigh-in I did not get on the treadmill until after 6pm, so class was done and I was only 51 minutes into my 60 minute (plus 5 minute cool-down allocation) session. I was feeling good and had been jogging for 30 seconds to a minute at this point, so I stayed on and ran until the 60 minutes was up. I felt great and could have even maybe kept going! Rock on, me!

The Stats:

Calories Burned: 637 (Treadmill)/552 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 3.33
Total Time: 63:00 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 126

WEEKEND!

Due to my crazy social schedule, here is the post from Friday's workout. Speaking of my social life. Zak the Trainer routinely asks the class if we have anything "fun" going on. I typically do. What can I say? I'm popular. It's hard, but *someone's* got to do it. Last Friday when ZTT asked, I told him about the party I was going to. He informed me (and the class) that he used to feel pretty good about his social life...until he met me. I apparently shame him.

So this week when he asked about weekend plans, my hand shot up in the air with fervor. I told him I had a party to go to Friday night, a jeep competition on Saturday day, then a DC United game on Saturday night. Sunday was wide open. He laughed and announced to the class that I should be in charge of planning social events for the class. I instinctive replied with an insult, "Like I would wanna hang out with these loooo-zas!" No one else was laughing. Hmm.. I then said, " I mean, I'd really love...to hang out...with...them." Making friends...fast.

Surprisingly, after that insult I did manage to make friends with the woman next to me who was visiting from the 6am class. She's awesome. But I didn't get her name or contact info!!!! I may have to ask Melissa. We chatted it up for the last 20 minutes of class and I like her lots.

Also, Zak the Trainer weighed me since I had done so well all week and I was convinced I lost weight. I am down 3 pounds from Monday!!! But I told him it was unofficial since it was not Monday and he deleted the records from the system! Here's to hoping I am still down 3 Monday..or maybe even 4!!!

Ok. My Stats:

Calories Burned: 582 (Treadmill)/570 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 3.02
Total Time: 61:36 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 131

My weekend plans have changed. We didn't go to the DC United game because it was pouring...game wasn't postponed. :( Also, tomorrow I plan on going back up to PA to go off-roading in one of the competition jeeps! Sweet!

Park View Trails Pool Time

I decided to swim at the community pool today. I went armed with a book in case it was overtaken by children...which to some degree it was at first. So I read a chapter in Captivating--excellent book!

Then, it cleared up a bit so I swam laps at the far end of the pool. I swam for a total of 30 minutes in 1:30 intervals. So I swam for a minute, rested for 30 seconds, repeat. This gave me roughly 20 minutes of swimming and 10 minutes of resting. No too bad a workout, at least according to my shoulders...they are sore. :)

Back in the Game!!!

Some of my devout blog followers and cheer-support members may have been a bit concerned by my behavior as of late. I mean, I didn't gain a pound by sticking to my diet...if ya know what I mean! Then, while reading Monday's blog post, everyone's hope should have been lifted, since I declared my resolve to be strict again. Well, my friends, I am back. I have stuck to my plan Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday (ok, I had a tall chai latte with skim on Tuesday, but was still within my calorie allotment--I consider that success.)!!! And, today was an awesome workout. High stats. Love that!

My Stats:

Calories Burned: 583 (Treadmill)/606 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 2.91
Total Time: 60:27 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 130

Apparently it was Maroon5 Mix Day

Man. I fell off the wagon so hard last week. But I only gained a pound (and possibly maintained since I weighed so early in the day last week). So...whatever. I'll take it.

Back on the wagon. And I need to get back to being strict! I am cutting far too many corners. I think I should just say no to restaurants for awhile.

Also, when I put my iPhone on shuffle I swear it played the entire "Songs for Jane" album by Maroon5. Whatever...I like Maroon5. But I do question the randomness of the iPhone's shuffle function...

My Stats:

Calories Burned: 562 (Treadmill)/573 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 2.94
Total Time: 60:59 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 136

Yes, I did take my camera phone out in the JC Penney dressing room...

Here's me. In the dressing room. Wearing jeans TWO sizes smaller. I bought two pair. :)

"We Missed You, Erin"

Back to TEAM today!!!! Recall that I went to TEAM early on Monday. On Tuesday evening, I swam laps in the hotel pool in Tampa for about 20 minutes. It was a light workout, but a workout nonetheless.

I went back to TEAM. Didn't want to go, but I went. As I was walking from work to my car I could not recall if I remembered my gym bag. I hoped and hoped and hoped that I did forget it...but alas, I did not. I couldn't just skip the gym--I would let down all my peeps (BTW, I would like to take this moment to thank everyone who "likes" these notes and my statuses and comments...you truly are essential to my success!)!!!! So, I went. And I was all whiny inside.

But! Like always. Once I started, I rocked it! And I felt great! I didn't hold on at all. I didn't reduce speeds to lazy speeds. I kicked tookus!!!!

My Stats:

Calories Burned: 544 (Treadmill)/531 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 2.76
Total Time: 56:54 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 121

I signed up for a massage next Monday after TEAM (Thanks, Vyas family!!!)

I also had a minor breakthrough. I was having a rough-ish day on Thursday and rather than eat while I was upset--which was tempting--I bought myself a Coach purse!!! I traded one addiction for another...and boy! does it feel gooooooood. :)

Funny story from class today. New-ish trainer Brandon is going to take our class with us during the last week in August. (He may teach a TEAM class next cycle and the rules say he has to take some of it). Zak the Trainer wanted to split his push-ups he has to do with New-ish Trainer Brandon. I suggested they race. Zak the Trainer loved this idea. I informed Zak the Trainer that, as the official class push-up counter (yes, I am...), I would be happy to defraud the contest and help Zak the Trainer win. As I told Zak the Trainer--we're a family and "we're thick as thieves!" I think Zak the Trainer was flattered, although I never got the chance to prove my devotion because Newish Trainer Brandon totally pansied out. Laaaaaame.

So, you may be wondering what the title of this post is all about. Well, I was asking Zak the Trainer when we would run at the end of class again. It went something like this:

Me: Zak, when will we run at the end of class again?
ZTT: Umm, it's week...7? Probably week 10ish.
Me: ::sigh:: Oooo-kaaaaay.
Woman Next To Me: Run?!?!
ZTT: Light jogging, really.
Me (to the woman): It's waaaaaay better than all the laaaa-aaaame hills.
ZTT: We missed you, Erin.

Yes, yes you did. And I missed YOU, Zak the Trainer.

My Big Strong Trainer

So, I chose to go to the gym vs. do my laundry today. Considering that I am going to Tampa for 2 days, this is probably a bad choice. I have enough to stretch me til I get home Wednesday night, but Thursday morning is in the vast wasteland of the unknown. :) It may be a late Wednesday night.

Anyways, glad I went. I was able to weigh in and I lost two pounds (35 total)! Now, the weigh in was at 10 am which is much earlier than my normal 6 pm weigh in, so that may account for one of the pounds, but whatever! I will take it... AND, the fact that I did not gain from the Chrysalis weekend is stinkin' awesome!!!

My Stats:

Calories Burned: 538 (Treadmill)/546 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 2.52
Total Time: 54:03 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 127

Melissa taught the 10 am class. It was a good class--a little rough because I missed Friday, hydrated a lot less this weekend and am exhausted (Tangent: my body is apparently used to less than 6 hours of sleep each night--here's to being wide awake at 6:30 am today). During the cool down Zak the Trainer showed up. We had previously discussed Zak the Trainer and how he does push ups for the evening class. I suggested that Zak the Trainer do the push-ups (with claps) for each pound I lost. The other women in the class talked him into doing it for all of us. It was only fifteen push ups and he did them with claps! It was fun. I told him he was my big strong trainer. I think he secretly loves that...

Missing Wednesday's class, but back on Friday. If there is a pool at my hotel, I may try to do laps tonight and/or tomorrow night. IMYA. :)

C-H-R-Y-S-ALIS!

YAY! It was Chrysalis this weekend and it was AWESOME! YAYAYAYAY!

And, I think I will be ok at weigh-in (if I make it to the gym tomorrow--gotta do laundry, go to work AND be at the airport at 2:30ish--unsure if I can take that long at the gym at 1000).

I didn't eat too many sweets (really I think just a twizzler pull and peel and some cookies...). I also only ate at the three meals (other than the sweets listed above). At a really late party we had, I didn't eat ANYTHING. SCORE!!! I said (out loud...several times): "I do not need to eat food just because it is in front of me. I am not hungry." Even though the evil Kaila Contestabile tried to tempt me into eating a yummy chocolate eclair--her wiles did not work on me.

Also, Linda is a certified personal trainer (score!)!!! So when I shared with her Zak the Trainer's workout plan for me (which I neglected to mention to y'all) of 20 body weight squats, a 30 second plank and 10 push-ups a day, she did them with me. AND, the teen girls loved it too! I had a whole little workout group going. I did the whole set twice Friday and twice Saturday. Sweet!!!

New Roommate FTW!!!

::long sigh::

So, today was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Well, perhaps I am being a touch over-dramatic. But it was yicky. I had back to back to back meetings. Also, I am on leave tomorrow and Friday for Chrysalis. Then I go on a business trip (to Tampa!...rough, I know) from Monday to Wednesday. I had to get my regular work done, get ready for the business trip, and deal with putting out fires. At 2pm, while driving to one of my many meetings, I realized that my gym bag was not in my car. Oh noes! I left it at home. And this meeting goes til 4pm! And I have to go back to my desk and close up! And! And! And! There's not enough time! "There's no time! There's no time! There's NEVER enough time!!!" So...maybe I should just skip it. I am tired. I am stressed. I have SO much to do. I could go tomorrow morning. Will I go tomorrow morning? I don't know what to do!

But then, like a lightbulb going *ding* above my head, I thought: Elyse has the day off! Maybe she can bring me my gym bag... So I called her, and she could AND SHE DID! New roommate FTW!!!! Yet another near-skip averted. Slippery Slope: 0, Erin: 2.

I played my music again today (in one ear only, of course) and I also did not want to be there, so I went it with an attitude of just getting it done. I noticed something though. I work so much harder when I am gritting my teeth and wanting to just get through it. I feel like lately I have been a bit lazy--slowing my speeds a little, holding onto the treadmill a lot, taking breaks during the band and weight exercises or doing them half-heartedly. Monday and today, I was all in. I really pushed it. I am not sure if it is my inner rage or bitterness for having to be there when I feel so blah or the music, but I was a machine. This is definitely a good thing. I need someone to anger me or stress me out before every TEAM workout. ;)

My Stats:

Calories Burned: 552 (Treadmill)/570 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 2.87
Total Time: 60:03 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 120

Nearly Slid Down the Slippery-Slope

Well, friends...it was a close one today. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. WRONG side. I was cranky and grumpy and tired ALL DAY (Sorry, Sam!)!!! I actually left work a little early to maybe power nap before the gym. But not really early enough, so when I got home, I decided that I was going to email in sick to TEAM. Shocking! I know! You thought you knew me!!! You thought I was dedicated!!! Who *is* this slacker?!?!

Well, 5 pm rolled around, I was still tired. But I thought of my friend Amanda who once said that a trainer told her that anyone can do anything for one minute. I agree. And I can do this for one hour. It may be a long, miserable hour. But I can do it. So I went.

When I got there I brought my earphones and iPhone (which I never do--because Zak the Trainer didn't like it when people listened to music last cycle, but hasn't said anything this cycle...) with the intention of being grumpy, rocking out and enduring it. Oh--and holding onto the treadmill whenever I darned well pleased.

Well, weigh-in came around and I informed Zak the Trainer of my cranky-pants status. And I lost a pound. I won't lie, this cheered me up a bit. I then got on the treadmill, turned on my music and began to rock it. I put only one earbud in so I could still hear Zak the Trainer. But instead of drudging through it, I kind of rocked it. :) I only held onto the treadmill for a combined total of only 2 minutes. I really think that the music is a great idea! I may do this more often. I was still able to participate and interact in class, yet I was really kicking the treadmill's tookus!

My Stats:

Calories Burned: 518 (Treadmill)/512 (HR Monitor)
Total Miles: 2.63
Total Time: 54:43 (including cool down)
Ending Heart Rate: 123

So, you all must be wondering about the 3 to 1 odds and the push-ups. Did Zak the trainer "pansy out" as a certain blogging exercise machine may have speculated? Here is how it went down:

ZTT: So, you all lost a total of 11 pounds, so I have to do 33 push-ups.
Me: With claps, right?
ZTT: <silence>
Me. WITH CLAPS. RIGHT.
ZTT: <silence>
Me: It's cool. You don't have to do them. But I *did* blog post--on the interwebs--that you would pansy out and not do them...so I would like to state that I was right. And it was documented.

Kudos to Zak the trainer--who did all 33 push-ups--with claps. ::grin::