get back in shape

I’m still coughing from my bout with pneumonia several weeks ago. I’ve been taking my antibiotics every day as prescribed and they have wrecked my complexion. The coughing pulled a muscle in my abdomen and my back. It’s really hard to sit and be comfortable.

Between my wife and I we’re a real pair. She with her messed up knee and walking with a cane now and me right beside her, wheezing and holding my back. Probably look like a couple of senior citizens even though that’s still a few years off.

Lately it seems that I just don’t have much motivation. I don’t know if it’s because of the illness of things that have been going on at work. I usually am self directed and tend to find special projects for myself at work, but that hasn’t happened for a couple of months.

For a while I was going to the gym regularly too, but that has come to an end after the pneumonia set in. The doctor said it could be a few months before I was back to full strength. I think this is probably the sickest I’ve been in years.

I can just feel my clothes getting tighter as the pounds add up from the lack of exercise. It’s just not fair that when you start putting on weight you start feeling less and less motivated to do the things you should to be taking it off.

I have only been to the gym about 3 times since October. I try to make excuses to myself that it’s my hip injury, but I know that there are things I could still do. I have a problem standing or walking for very long. After about 15 minutes, my thigh is on fire!

What I have found that I can do is the recumbant bike. I stay fairly pain free in that position.

A new LA Fitness just opened up next to where I work so I need to get myself over there a few times a week.

The struggles of keeping up with work changes and taking a couple of college classes left me with no time for going to the gym. Since I completed my classes recently I decided on Monday that I would meet my wife that evening at the gym.

Well, Monday morning I got to work and after an hour I was feeling pretty bad. The cramping in my stomach was increasing rapidly and I was beginning to get light headed. Finally my boss took my to the clinic where they said I had stomach flu. The rest of the day was terrible with vomiting and diahhrhea.

Finally I’m back to work today but my abdomen is very sore and my energy levels are very low. I guess I’ll just take it easy here today. Fortunately at times my job allows time for me to just sit as I wait for incoming calls. This is gonna be one of those days.

The other night I was telling my wife I had this craving for something sweet. A little while later the doorbell rings and when I open the door here is this smiling angelic face. One of the young women who I had helped over the phone with a computer problem had dropped by to bring me a plate of still warm chocolate chip cookies.

Aaargh!!!

Sayanora diet. Oh they were so good!

I did go into the gym the next morning and worked my sorry tail off.

But they were really, really good!

I was making good progress but had to drop back to 1 or 2 days a week at the gym. My eating has changed too recently. Probably something to do with the stresses of a new job and going to school.
I really am in awe of the folks out there that go to school full time and hold down a job. The awesome ones are the single moms (dads too) that do all this plus take care of raising kids.

I had some real problems today doing chest work. My left rotator cuff just would’nt allow full range of motion. My trainer has suggested that we will work the RC in isolation gradually over the next few weeks in addition to the other workouts and back off on the heavy weights that may cause further injury.

Yesterday I worked legs with my trainer. It’s really nice that I found a trainer that trains. I was so frustrated at these guys that stand around with clipboard, counting reps but actually watching the other people around the gym. The trainer I’m working with now so freely pours out his knowledge that it’s like drinking from a fire hydrant each session. I’m learning about how my body responds to different exercises; ways to create a healthy diet; how to push myself. Best of all it’s working. I’ve lost 38 pounds. I’ve dropped 2 pants sizes and am almost down 3. I can move now without being exhausted.

My trainer has been working me really hard. Saturday the arms were so sore I couldn’t even straighten them out. Today it’s my quads.

The good part is that I remember how worth it all the pain was. I’m getting back to that point I was at 8 years ago and I will get better. This time I won’t be letting myself go again. This is a life change.

Worked back & biceps with my trainer on Thursday. Now I can’t straighten out my arms.

About 8 years ago I had a great trainer that taught me a lot. I lost about 70 pounds and was really solid. I was getting that bodybuilder physique that I wanted.

After an injury in the gym then a motorcycle accident I allowed myself to gain over 100 pounds.

Since April 1st I’ve lost 33 pounds and the muscle mass has been increasing. My appetite has changed so that I no longer crave the junk food. Well, not as often anyhow. ;) I did have this powerful urge for a rootbeer float the other day. It was really good. That memory will hold me for a while now.

I plan to get into shape to compete in the Portland Highland Games heavy athletic events next July. I fell that I have 75 pounds to go. The strength is coming back quickly so that is helping me maintain the workouts.

I’m looking forward to my time with my new trainer who seems to understand my goals and is not going to apply the cookie cutter formula to my workouts.