I lost track of the days....

During my last gym visit, I was able to complete 10 minutes on the elliptical!! 10 minutes!! YES! I was so proud of myself. Now I am going to work on some squats and continue building the endurance for the elliptical. 

Unfortunately, all weekend I ate so many unhealthy foods. Cake galore!! My weight hasn't changed much but I feel light and airy when I workout. I do also feel really tired a few hours after a workout and usually need to take a nap. I hope that doesn't happen again today.

I don't think I'm going to the gym enough. I keep going anywhere between 2 and 4 times a week, which is more exercise than I usually do, but I don't notice a big difference. What do you think?

Day #7

I spent 5 minutes of my life on the elliptical without a break. WITHOUT A BREAK!! I'm super excited that I'm achieving this goal and it's not as hard as I thought. 

I'm kind of proud of myself about going to the gym so often but I get concerned about how I am going to squeeze the gym in if/when I go back to work AND have the kids in school. How do other people do it?

My routine starts with a quick warm-up on the elliptical, then I start some squats using this harness machine so I can distribute my weight and balance. My knees have been crunching during the squats so I try to take it easy for now. Next I jump onto the treadmill and walk for about 15 minutes with alternating inclines. I then go leg lifts and stretch out.

For now, this is working for me. It gets me acclamated into working out on a regular bases but I know eventually I need to do more. I plan on starting a water aerobic class but I need to find my swim shoes and buy new swim shorts or possibly a new swimsuit. I have a  two piece and I know that the top could keep floating up during the workout. I just hate to have to go and buy it. LOL 

One thing I'm trying to completely and utterly ignore is my eating habits. 😒🙄 Exercising is only a portion of my weight problems and working out alone is t going to solve the problem. I am going to have to eat better. Stop going out so much. Less packaged foods. Less process foods. I don't know any other way of eating. 😔

Day 6 - Back in action

I was able to complete a workout regimen suggested by Justin, a personal trainer. I was guided into a direction that best serves my goals and my health limitations. It was nice to see how some of the machines work and how they will benefit me.

Last week was spring break and my kids and I were busy so I didn't make it to the gym. It's okay because the kids are back in school and I'm in the gym parking lot. LOL

After my last visit, I found out that the Pilates class that was used as a selling point for me is actually an additional charge. 😒 I felt like I was scammed into a membership and that makes me feel frustrated and a little annoyed. Am I going to cancel? Eh, I don't think so. All things considered, I like the place. 

During my last attempt on the elliptical machine, I was able to go a whole 4 minutes with a break and I was so proud! It's been over a week so I think I'm going to have to re-train my progress. I got this!!

Days 4 & 5

Yesterday's workout was a success! I started by completing 3:30 minutes on the elliptical (with breaks) and ended the workout with 4 minutes on the elliptical. FOUR! And I don't remember but my pride keeps telling me that I did the 4 minutes without a break! I'm building up a tolerance!! Yes!

However, I had a convo with the hubs and he reminded me to not check my weight every since time I go. He's right because I don't see a difference yet. Well DUH! This is my 4th workout! I don't have the patience. LOL 

My next workout is in 6 minutes. They call it my onboard session but I'm sure it's their ploy to get me to buy personal trainers... we shall see.

Day #3 - Do you really need a play by play?

You probably don't need the play-by-play but I don't care. It's my blog and if you don't like it, go get your own. LOL 

Day #3 at the gym! In addition to my gym goals this week, I need to check out the group class schedule and log into my account online. I think they have an app. 

I want to take their barre pilates class. The skinniest time of my life was when I attended SFA and took a modern dance class that used the barre pilates techniques as a warmup. I was 160lbs, size 12, flat stomach and over 6ft tall. Why didn't I see my beauty then? My best friends at the time were size 6, 4 and 2 and I was always the biggest. I associated beauty with attention and the attention was always on them. I was stupid. I'm wiser now and my beauty is based on how I feel, screw everyone else! LOL 

Here I go!

Goal: 2:30 elliptical before and 2:30 elliptical after (breaks allowed)

Day off - I don't want to pay to go to the gym

I'm not going to the gym this weekend because I don't want to pay for childcare. Why am I going to pay even more for sitters or daycare at the gym when I pay enough for my membership already. I'm just going to have to wait until Monday to go back when the kids are at school.

In the meantime, I've increased my Fitbit daily goal from 5,000 to 7,000. I may not meet it over the weekend but it's inspirational.

I hope you enjoy your weekend and I'll check back in on Monday!

Day #2

The elliptical machine is goal. I lasted 2:30 with two breaks. 

O.M.G. The burn! 

Next week I want to complete 2:30 at the beginning of my workout and then 2:30 at the end both with breaks. If I can complete 2 sets each workout day, I'd feel accomplished. 

My cousin can do an hour. AN HOUR on the elliptical. Honestly, I'd get bored doing the same thing for an hour straight. LOL I'd watch Netflix while I worked out.

My heart rate peaked at 114 but with moderation and breathing techniques, I was able to lower it while finishing my workout. 

Side bar - They told me so

That moment you realize you should have waited to spout off to anyone who would listen that you are okay when you really were not okay. One quick analysis from a brief viewing isn't definitive and I should have waited for the full report. 

I just got my official results from an ECHO and they are slightly different than the discussion I had with my DR the day of the test. In her defense, she only had time to glance at the ECHO without the analysis completed. From what she could tell, my aorta was around the same size range as reported in the past. Also she said that my heart looked good besides a little weakened left ventral. 

The results show that my aorta is bigger than desired at the root and not the LV and the LA are weakened. In my head, that's a huge difference between our discussion. 

People say I think to much into things. I am not a DR or an expert so maybe these things will be okay. I know they will be okay but my weight is catching up to me, my lifestyle is catching up to me. At what point does this turn into being completely my fault?

I keep telling myself that declining heart heath isn't my fault, I was BORN with these issues. I was born with predisposed heart problems! It's not my fault! Right? Eh, not so much. There are so many out of my control but there are just as many thing IN my control. My weight being one of them. I have so much FAT on me, it takes more heart strength to pump my blood to other parts of my body. 

I didn't give myself cardiomyopathy but I could have made it easier for my heart by loosing weight 5 years ago when I found out I had it. 

I didn't give myself Marfans but I could have made it easier on my aorta by actually listening to people about not lifting things (and of course the strains of weight on my heart).

I didn't give myself these issues but I could have been more responsible with taking my medications.

Those things are on me. 

I know that loosing weight isn't a cure for my problems. No, but it will help. 

I hate being overweight.

Day #1 - Attempt #3,827

Here I go again. Again. Again. Weight, what am I talking about? Yeah, I'm in the gym parking lot preparing for the burn about about to feel, the sweat down my back and the uni-boob sports bra. (Note to self: go buy a sports bra with cups.) 

Why is this so hard for me? Oh yeah, that's right... I'm lazy and would prefer to binge watch Netflix on my couch. Maybe I can start binge watching while I'm on a treadmill. Not as fun, right?

My longtime goal is to master 45 minutes straight on the elliptical machine. Short term goal is to master 10 minutes straight by April. I can't last more than 2 minutes without a break.

Here we go...