Personal Development Community

Hey all - Happy 2010

Ok here I am - back again for another year.  First off Hi to all my old friends and I hope to get to know many more awesome people who find there way to this site.

Time to come clean - I did not make my 2009 weight loss goal. I have no-one else to blame but myself. I lost 10 pounds early in the year and then held my weight steady.  But then I went nuts between Christmas and New Year’s.  I let myself eat everything in site and went up a good 5 lbs. I think I’ve came back down to close to my previous low, but I’ve been to chicken to get on the scale this past week. Pants that were previously hanging a little loose before Christmas are still bit snug.

In 2008 I lost over 50 pounds and I attributed much of that success to the support I got from all of you great people here on this site. So I really need to try to get back on here regularly and start reporting my progress again.

I am am still faltering a bit in staying consistent with my workouts. This past week I only got one workout in. The week before I did great. I worked-out every day. 

But workouts are only 1/2 of the weight loss equation.  Diet is still my downfall. 

I learned a fair bit in my online “Lean Eating Coaching Program” - however I did not find it to be a supportive envrionment - the ‘coach’ seemed only impressed by the girls who were figure athletes.  I know more of the theory of nutrient timing - but I certainly have not mastered it.  I also found some new high quality supplements.

Physicaly my body is no worse for wear (mind you I have just taken a week off).  I still have to be careful of my weak spots (back and knees).  But I have developed an issue in my left ankle.  Currently I think it I have a ganglion cyst.  It is a hard lump just behind the medial malleolus.  It seems to be affecting mobility and flexibility especially after treadmill workouts.  I saw an orthepdic surgeon but she wasn’t positive that’s what it is.  I waited a month to get an appointment with her - I have to wait a month to get an ultrasound and then wait another 2 weeks (for the results to go up 4 floors) to see her again.  Meanwhile I can’t do much impact type cardio.  So again the treadmill at home is pretty much rendered useless to me. 

Well that enough for my opening post.  I’ll stop by a few of your threads and say hi in person.

P.S.  I forgot to add this fun detail. 

I won my gym membership for the year!! 

I renewed it on-line on Christmas day (parents present to me) and was automatically entered in a draw.  I was thrilled when I got a call saying I’d won last week!!  (But now my parents basically gave me a cash gift for Christmas… but I’m not complaining!!)

Welcome back Catherine!  What are your goals for the next 100 days?

Welcome back Catherine. Well, now that you’ve acknowledged that you didn’t make your 2009 weight goal, that’s behind you and you can move forward. Look at how much you have maintained in the past two years!

So if you’re off the treadmill, I’d try an elliptical, arc trainer, and/or bike. Also, can you stretch the ankle/leg that’s hurting (as well as the rest of you)? I’m assuming that gentle stretching won’t hurt anything but I don’t really know. I do know that I’ve had lumps and they’ve been from muscle tension. I have learned that I have to stretch, stretch, and stretch again.

You can work your upper body at the gym without impacting your ankle.

So what are your goals for 2010?

Ahhh - just typed a long post ... then hit the wrong button and lost it to cyber space!!  Here it is re-typed!!

Well I guess my goals are the same as last year - but now I only have 40 lbs to lose instead of 50 to get to my goal weight of 150. At least the clothes I bought last year are getting some good wear before I have to go shopping again. the pants that I mentioned yesterday (not fitting quite as tight today) I had taken in at the end of the summer so I could extend my use of them.

Anyway - I got back at it today. I had a good long session at the gym. I broke it up into 3 parts. 30 min on the Cross ramp - Arms and Shoulders workout - 30 min on the bike. Unfortunately my ankle didn’t feel very good on the Crossramp which surprised me. I didn’t think it would be an issue. I spent some time stretching and massaging it before weights which helped, but I was still favouring it as I walked between stations. 

The ankle doesn’t limit my weight training at all. I can still do all my leg exercises including squats and lunges. I was being mindful of it for the last month and only using the machines with no impact for cardio training - even the step mill was OK. However last week I tried the treadmill at home again. I did what my trainer suggested and stuck to walking (no jogging) and just raised the incline, but the ankle has felt off since. Not painful, maybe a bit achy and “full’ - not necessary swollen because it not in the soft tissue, but affecting the tendon. The last few times I ran back in December it ached up the inside of my calf for days. I remember commenting to my Chiro about the feeling of the edema likely back in November, before I felt a definite lump. Once I had him check the lump he suggested it was a cyst. I came home and looked it up on-line and made an appointment with my Doc. She agreed that it could be a ganglion cyst, but would not drain it herself and sent me to the surgeon. Now I’m playing the waiting game.

I hope the time passes quickly while you wait for the MD.

It’s good that you can still do the weight training despite your ankle.

Quick post - no wokout today - but I would like too…

Yesterday’s workout
20 min Crossramp,
Chest and Quads workout,
another 20 min on the arc trainer.
When I got home I couldn’t keep my eyes open - so over tired from lack of sleep - in bed at 7PM - slept through till 4:30am - worked so much more efficiently than I would have exhausted

Today’s workout -
25 min Crossramp (10 warm-up - 15 speed intervals)
15 min on the step mill (I still think that is the most evil machine!! Level and my HR was in the 150’s),
a bit of a stretch.
20 min on the bike
another good stretch.

I booked an ultrasound appointment for my ankle at a different clinic (not in the hospital) for the end of next week! Now I can to move up my appointment with the surgeon.

Great workouts--and good luck with the ankle.

I’ve managed to get in my workouts for the last few days.

Friday I had a session with my trainer. Back and Hams. (He almost caused me a nose bleed! While doing back extensions over a ball he teased me about letting go of my heals and seeing what would happen during the first set. While doing the second set I was at about 15 reps when I said “alright...” and he let go. I was about to add “3 more” He saw what happens. My reflexes were fast enough and I caught myself, but we had a good laugh.)

Today is squeaked in an Arms and Shoulders workout. My triceps feel burned out right now. I’m about to go downstairs and walk for a bit on the treadmill. I know I’ll pay for it later, but I need some more movement. I’ll ice it after and sleep with my splint on tonight and see if that helps.

ok - didn’t actually get to the treadmill Sat evening… spent the time tidying up instead.

Sunday - Swim - 2 Km in just under an hour.

Monday - got into a project at home and didn’t make it to the gym ... 45 min on the treadmill downstairs instead. Kept it fairly easy, but did do a few speed walk/ slow jog and incline intervals. (Ankle holding up today)

Today -
20 min cardio - on Crossramp
Chest and Quads workout. Increased the weight on a few exercises. Good thing I asked for a spotter for the DB chest press otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to get the new weight up to start with without clobbering myself in the face… I still only got to 7 reps instead of 10
Good Stretch and 20 min in massage chair… but could use a real massage.
I’ve spent some time working on my legs tonight with my various massage tools.

Asking for a spotter is a VERY good idea. You go, girl!

Thanks Joan

Yesterday ended up being a rest day - I didn’t have time to get to the gym or even on the treadmill at home, but I was needing a rest day so it was all good.

Today I did an extended workout. 1000 calories burned!!
30 min treadmill with a few short runs and walks on a steap incline.
Back and Hams workout
Stretch
Another 30 min on the treadmill - lower incline walking
Stretch

Now I’m pooped.