Celebrating success and a new challenge

Celebrating success. That is really what I want to talk about. I want and hate the attention all at the same time. While with some you can celebrate, there are others that frown upon it. Why? I’ve made 1 too many mistakes in this weight loss challenge of mine. Voice my opinion. It’s hard not to have an opinion.

I get questions on how are you doing it? What are you eating? I answer each and every one truthfully. Boot camp, logging my food, sticking to my macros and calories. Once I say ‘Here let me show you’, that is when I get a look like ugh no don’t show me - I know what to do- I just wanted to know what you are doing.

To date my success ... 25 pounds lost! YEP! I went to see my doctor last week and he said I lost 5 inches alone around my waist. I've had to go shopping for some new clothes (not complaining) and I feel so much better all around. My best success honestly is my cooking. I'm cooking things I would never have eaten before and my taste buds are having a party.

My next challenge, I'm doing a 28 day alkaline weight loss program. It's using SEVENPOINT2 Alkaline products. It's a huge lifestyle change for me. It's shakes and veggies and lots of veggies. No meat. Yes...you read that right. Which in a way I am totally OK with. Just this week I had meat a few times and it had me running to the toilet. All this clean eating is cleaning me out. hahahaha yeah I crack myself up.

So here goes, my before photos for this challenge. Starting weight 161. Just thinking about it now, but totally going to take measurements tomorrow. Super excited and can't wait to see what changes my body goes through!

   

 

  

6 Week Challenge No.3 - the results are in

When I joined Burbank Fit Body Boot Camp I was on a mission. Lose the weight. I'm sure that is what everyone who walks in says to the trainers. They will be surprised at what the trainers suggest, and I say suggest because most people will be like WHAT! 

1. Eat more calories. This was really hard for me to do in the beginning.  I don't even know how many calories a day I was honestly eating. My breakfast consisted of a bagel and coffee. Lunch was usually left overs from dinner. It could be tacos, to lasagna, to whatever. Then I'd go home and have dinner. Probably the same thing I had for lunch, unless it was Pizza day. My husband loves his pizza day. That was usually 3 slices of Pepperoni pizza with a salad of course. Can't forget the beer. Pizza and beer my favorite. Anyway the point is I was not eating very healthy. I was filling up on foods that were bad for me. Learning to eat healthy calories has been amazing!!!    

2. Tracking Macros. I had no idea what this was. It took me a while to figure it out.  Right now I'm doing 40% Carbs, 40% Protein, and 20% fat. Carbs? Yes but my carbs come from veggies and fruits. Protein from protein shakes, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, eggs, etc. The fats are in everything, so as long as I'm sticking to my 20% goal , I'm happy. 

3. Cottage cheese. YUCK! It looked like spoiled milk to me. All I knew about cottage cheese was that it was a good fat burner.  My new favorite is 1 cup of Knudsen cottage cheese with 1 cup of fresh pineapple. AMAZING!! I have this a couple times a week. It was also suggested to me to add cottage cheese to my protein shakes. At first I was like NO really that just sounds gross. I tried it ...and I am in love. It makes the protein shake more smooth and creamy.

All in all I am loving this lifestyle change. It is a struggle at times but I am learning to cope with it. I think the hardest part is trying not to make it look like a diet to others. What do I mean? OK an example would be going out or even getting invited to go out. Most of my friends don't call me anymore. I'll get the 'Oh we didn't invite you because we know you aren't drinking'.  Or we are barbecuing and are wondering what can you eat? One time I got this and this was amazing,keep your healthy food out of our house we only eat junk food here. I laugh because not 2 minutes later - Oh that looks good can I have some. Punk!  

I still crave the junk food when I see it, but that is why no junk food is allowed in the house. If my husband has it, he has to put away somewhere that is NOT in the kitchen and where I can not see it. 

Now on to the results picture. Where I started and where I am at. 

I find my weight so embarrassing! I cry. I'm very sensitive about my weight. (Side Note: I asked my husband to read my blog and he looks at me and says you never weighed that much! I didn't see it. Gosh I love him!) So before I started boot camp I lost 3 lbs on my own and my starting weight at boot camp was 184 lbs. So *sigh* my highest ever was 187. Yeah...I don't even know what to say!! My ending weight after this last challenge is 166.4.            

So all in all I have lost 20.4 lbs. More than that I have lost 14.65 FAT POUNDS. Have you seen what that looks like?  I can tell you exactly where I've lost it. My thighs, my tummy, my back, my arms, actually everywhere. For the next challenge I want to focus on keeping my lean lbs the same and losing the fat lbs. 

I do have a goal photo, but it's not really about what I looked like in the photo it's about the jeans. I still have those jeans and have kept them in hopes to fit into them again one day. They are nothing special I just love those jeans. 

For now I'm still on my own challenge until the next boot camp challenge starts. I'm staying focused and looking forward to slipping those jeans on again but more than that being healthy feels good. Sometimes I just want to bottle up this feeling to share it around. 

  

Who are you calling fat?

I cried after I saw this photo (picture taken November 2014). Who is that?  What happened to me?

I made excuse after excuse about my weight. It's menopause. I'm going through the change, so you know at my age it's harder to lose weight. Maybe it's my thyroid. Yeah that's what it is. Or you know what it is, Diabetes. It runs in my family. That is what it is. I know it. It didn't matter how little I ate or how much I exercised I wasn't losing anything. 

Then it happened. Someone called me fat. Well not straight to my face, but it was more like 'Us fat girls need to stick together.' WHAT? Who are you calling fat. I looked backed to see who else was around and it was just her and I. I smiled but deep down inside I knew it. Honestly that wasn't the only time. I noticed in a group photo that holiday season I was 'cropped' off at a holiday party I attended. I was the only one that didn't look like the rest - you know in size. I just smiled when I was told oh you know Instagram cut you off. After that I was like who needs enemies when I have friends like you. OK fine... whatever. Over it.   

I then went on diets. I tried an all protein diet, I tried crazy cleanses. Nothing. I would lose 3 pounds. Gain back those 3 plus 1 or 2. It made NO SENSE! NO SENSE AT ALL. 

My bursitis in my hip wasn't getting any better and the Orthovisc shots I received in my knees would soon wear off. I asked what can I do so I don't have to come back and get these shots again. Doctor looked at me and said losing weight would really help. Umm.. hello. I'm solid. I do triathlons, I run marathons.. it's all muscle at least that is what I thought.   

Then one day I saw photos of an old teammate pop up. The transformation was amazing and I wanted to find out more about it. I sent her a message on Facebook. She told me all about this bootcamp she was attending. It was more then a workout they also talked to you about nutrition. She mentioned they were starting a new 6 Week challenge and this would be a great opportunity for me to try it out. During these challenges the trainers would give you extra workouts on the weekends and help you with nutrition. I figured I have nothing to lose. 

I joined Burbank Fit Body Bootcamp in the month of June 2015. Lets fast forward because I'm a boring writer. 

Part of the challenge is that they take before and after photos. In the beginning I hated them. Actually I still hate getting them taken, but when I see how much my body has changed I get so excited. 

From June to November I know I was a lot more motivated. During the holidays I admit I got a little lazy. I didn't gain any weight during the holidays (which is AWESOME) I actually lost about 2 pounds, but then my body pretty much stayed the same. 

What I have learned. Lean bodies are made in the kitchen. It's the whole 80/20 rule. 80% Food 20% Exercise. I log in all of my food and try to attend boot camp at least 4/5 days and sometimes 6 days. Just really depends on what is going on. 

(1-. When I strted bootcamp, June 29, 2015. 2- At the end of my 2nd 6 week challenge, November 10, 2015. 3- The start of this current 6 Week challenge, January 9, 2016)

What I love about this is that I make my food choices. I am learning what is good for my body to keep it healthy. Most places give you a meal plan. At Fit Body Boot Camp it's the members who help eachother in this part. We all talk about food all day long. What works, what tastes great, but it's up to you to make it and keep yourself accountable. 

Each time I get tired or I am feeling unmotivated I look at my challenge photos. While I still have a lot to lose the changes are happening slowly but surely. I cry. It's not about trying to impress anyone. It's about feeling good - physically!   

This is the last week of this 6 week challenge (my 3rd) and I can't wait to see my before and after photos side by side. I did get a little sick and didn't make it in as often, but I still kept to my calorie and count and watched my macros. 

I feel like I can start planning races again. It's been a long time since I've felt motivated enough to even look at a race website. I look at the bike (I HAD TO HAVE) and it's just sitting there - flat tires and all. All Triathlon gear is neatly put away. 

What do I want to do? 

I want to do Kona 70.3. I want to do an Ironman! I won't get ahead of myself, I know I have to start over and I'm OK with that. Summer 2016 is when I plan to start training again. Now to find a race. :) The possibilities are endless. 

Why are they talking about me in that song?

Have you ever heard a song and right off the bat it's like hey that song is me. I could have wrote it.



As I kept on listening I heard this little voice sing:
♫ ....but before I give up,
        before I give in,
        I look to my friends in the stars,
        and he said
        you gotta go
        you gotta get up and go
        before you get anywhere ... ♫

Tears. Yeah I am pretty emotional like that but I was crying! The song was speaking to me. Last week I was sick, I missed another swim practice and had absolutely no motivation. I email my mentor and said you know maybe this isn't the best time for me. I mean seriously what am I doing here. I'm no 'real' triathlete. I don't care about PRing. I care about crossing that finish line. After my injuries last year I kind of lost hope in myself. What am I trying to prove?

That is when all my crazy emotions hit me. As the song says "I mess up, I haven't done my best..."  But in the words of bucket "I am not giving up." 

I'm still in training, Training for Super Hero Cancer Fighter Status. 

So much to catch up on!

Nautica Malibu Triathlon.

So I won't bore anyone with the details but my goal was to swim that swim like no ones business. I did it! I came out feeling amazing. 

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I also participated in the Bonelli Park Steamboat Express Triathlon. 
That race was so much fun!! I can't believe I said that. The swim was over in a blink of an eye. The bike portion was a bit of a pain - the hills - and the run was over before I knew it. I laughed because I came out 7th in my group. I was like WOO HOO then I realized there were only 8 people in my age group. Good times.

I love my teammates. They are so inspiring and my biggest cheerleaders.

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last but not least - my annual girls get away weekend Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. 

The race was a bit challenging because my hip still isn't feeling it's best. But I still felt good throughout the race. For me it wasn't about the time it was about me showing myself I still had the spirit in me. 

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And now I'm at it again. I've joined Team Audrey!! What is Team Audrey? A group of amazing people whose goal is to  raise $100,000 to link Audrey Duffy to a Research Portfolio! Who is Audrey Duffy? 

She is a woman who cancer doesn't know who it's dealing with. Her spirit, her fight, her determination, it's what drives me. I was running with her and I said you know I may take a season off - just you know relax a bit. Her answer "I wish I could tell cancer I want to take a season off." Ah yeah!! So umm what do you say to that? You can't say no. 

 http://pages.teamintraining.org/calso/yourway15/BucketOfLove

not so perfect

For the last week I've been getting up and doing a few dance moves, see the inspiration below.
I've heard it said that dancing makes people smile. And it's true. Try dancing with a frown and I bet you can't. It's not that I have anything to be sad about but I'm just dancing to dance. I've got moves NOBODY should ever see, so dancing by myself is the way to go.  

Putting away my medals
This past weekend I was cleaning my bedroom. After months of training and not being home it was a much needed thing to do.  I made a decision to put away my medals. Why? Sometimes a fresh start is in order. At least that is what I told myself. As I was taking all my medals off their hook I didn't quite as gently put them on the floor - then I heard this 'CRACK'. It was my Barbs Race Medal. :( I sat down and cried. Yeah I know..a little too emotional for most but that medal meant so much to me. *Sigh* broken. Shit happens and I'm going to try and crazy glue it back together. I've got tons of medals and all have a special place in my heart but last years Barbs Race meant a lot. 

9 more days
The Nautica Malibu Triathlon is coming up in 9 days. I haven't really been thinking much about it. I'm still swimming, biking, and running (well..OK walking) and getting ready for it. I keep hearing from people around me that if the waves are too big that day they may cancel the swim portion. At work I sit near the team who is part of putting on the race and wozers they go through a lot to put on such a huge event. I know the triathlon fundraisers have already raised over $1 million dollars. It's so amazing! It's been pretty cool to talk to my co-workers about training also. Last year since I got here later in the year I didn't sign up to participate with the CHLA team. I'm actually pretty excited for race day.  Signing up with the team has also given me a chance to meet more of my co-workers. With my work load and what I do I don't actually get to really talk to everyone. All I ever hear is 'Oh you are Susan'. I smile and say 'Yep that's me'.

Labor Day Weekend...........FUN
Went on an awesome bike ride with friends. 

I looked up at one point and realized I was down the street from my aunts house.

 This picture totally makes me smile. Little Zachy is loving the goggles I got him. At one point I saw him trying to mimic my swimming. So ADORABLE!  

Here is a picture of the grandbaby. I can't wait for him to stay awake longer and to start smiling. It's as if he is always thinking 'I'm not sure if I like you yet.'

Sometimes he looks like my son and sometimes he looks like his mom. I think he looks more like his mom.  He truly is a mixture of both of them.
 

what happened..

It's not fun you know, to DNF but I'm over it. It's taken me a whole month to write about it. 

What happened. Have I mentioned I have blood sugar issues. Yep, it runs in the family. While I don't have full blown diabetes I do have it. I have always had blood sugar issues but not until I was older did it get bad. 

Anyway, I didn't follow my race plan. Didn't eat my healthy breakfast. Didn't continue to hydrate before the race, it was a hot day and well I ruined my race. It didn't help that I had been sick the the last 2 weeks before the race so I was already dehydrate from all the sinus medicines I had been taking. Some people will say yeah I had a friend who did the race and she was sick with a cold and she was fine - SO WHAT. Good for them. Sorry I'm being bitter, I'm not a bitter person I swear. Everyone is different - i just hate that people talk behind my back. That bucket - she just gave up - you weren't there so how would you know? See not bitter.

My race stopped when I got to Bike Sag 1 (mile 18 I think). I had been seeing stars while riding my bike and was like whoah..what is going on. I started hydrating like crazy and was OK for a bit but when I stopped at SAG I was all shaky. I didn't even realize it until one of the volunteers grabbed my bike to steady me. That is when everything went black. And that is also the point when the race ended for me. SUCKS. And there goes my goal of completing 2 half Ironman's this summer. 

What's next? I'm still training but on a smaller scale, training for Nautica Malibu Triathlon - classic distance. First and foremost I have to get physically healthy. My hip feels a LOT better. I 'tried' running on it last weekend, but that was after swimming and biking - and it was OK. Not going to say it was 100% it was just OK. Did it hurt? Yep. Like really bad. Nope. Next time I'll tape it up and see how that does. Taping does wonders!! I LOVE Rocket Tape and Rocket Sauce - just had to add that in.

Meet Barbara. Sweet as pie! I met her through my friend Tina. Curtis is a fellow teammate. We all kept an eye on each other during one of our open water swims. It is nice to show up to a totally new team practice and see familiar faces. 

We swam in the ocean once and well it was amazing. I've only ever said that a few times. I did have a bit of a panic attack. I had to calm my nerves and relax. This time I had no familiar faces around me so I just stopped looked up at the clouds and smiled. I remembered what Coach Kevin once told me 'Just look up and enjoy the calmness. Clam your breathing. Breathe in - breath out'. It took a few minutes but I was OK. It's a struggle for me still. I do wonder if I will actually ever enjoy it. I hope to. So many of my friends love it. It's like goat cheese - either you love it or you don't. 

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This isn't training related, but I just have to share. 

 

My baby is now a daddy. 

That makes me a grandma. WHAT! Yep. I'm a grandma. 

He is perfect! No really. He keeps his parents up and he loves to eat, shit, and sleep - on repeat all day long.His name is Nicholas Alexander and he was born on August 2nd.

Here is a more recent picture. I feel like he is looking at me and thinking..so this is the one .. the one my dad warned me about - His mom. She gives way to many kisses and is always taking pictures. Yes little Nicky - I am that grandma.  He is going to be so spoiled - with hugs, kisses, and love.