Trainer, 5K's, Belts and Things

Hey guys,

I have just been swamped of late with work and travel. I do have quite a bit more travel coming up over the next few weeks - by August, things should hopefully settle down. I have been so busy with work conferences and business trips that I haven't even had the time to see my trainer. We've been in touch regularly via email but I ABSOLUTELY need to see him. He has a new program for me which I haven't yet seen. He will email it to me and hopefully I can follow up with him after. In the meantime, I will try the new program and just email him with any questions or concerns I may have. So it will be on-line training...my e-trainer....should be interesting. I just don't want to fall behind and it is time for a new program (it's actually past the time - my fault).

Anyway, I've started my 5K training and holy crap it's tough. I'm blogging about it specifically at http://www.my5k.blogspot.com/ , so please check it out. Jogging is excrutiatingly tough for me but it really is one of those things I want to tackle in my lifetime and I've started. My goal is to run a 5k race in October and I will!!! One of my girlfriends has actually started the training as well. She's in a different city but following the same program. Right now, I think she hates my guts for asking her to do this with me..lol!! She told me how sore she was after Day 1!! Hang in there BEH and keep it up!!

Something else I wanted to mention which I just found amazing, is that I can no longer leave my house without wearing a belt!!! I remember days when I left the top button of my pants un-done (so that I could breathe)....and my pants could stay up for days!! LOL!! Belt??? There was never a need. Now, most of my pants require one! It's amazing to me. As I was walking from a meeting today, I could feel my slacks slipping down, I kept tugging at them to pull them up...this stuff just freaks my freak!! So my plan is to go and purchase a couple of belts (pairs of belts?? I don't even know what it's called - 2 or more belts) lol!! It's something I never thought I'd have to purchase.

Anyway, I will weigh myself and take some pics in the morning and post tomorrow. This month the weight has been coming off literally 1 pound at a time...hey, at least it's not a gain. This is my big flashing sign that I need the new program, one that is just that much more challenging than the current!! I think I'll see a jump in the loss once I start that!!

All in all, I'm still feeling great...I've noticed that extra effort is required on my part to stay with it, but I try to re-focus daily and remind myself of the reasons why I set out on this journey in the first place.

Anyway, that's it for now...

Until next time

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Just call me "SPIN-derella"!!!!

I just completed my very first ever SPINNING class and HOLY MOTHER OF EVERYBODY!!! I was sweating like you wouldn't believe, my crotch area, (maybe too much info here - but I'm keeping it real), inner thighs, thighs in general, my butt cheeks - entire lower body as a whole is burning and sore!!! Holy crap what a workout!! My legs are pumping and burning....I KNOW I will be sore tomorrow.

So I get to the class, and let me tell you, these bikes are no joke!!! They don't look like the typical stationary bikes ( you know, grey and boring), these ones look mean! I did feel a little intimidated - but again I reminded myself of my goals and reason for doing this and for the time being that was enough to keep me from running out of there. The spinners started filing in and setting up their bikes. In walks this cute little girl/woman named Tiffany. She was a fricking POWERHOUSE!!! So sweet - until she started TEACHING THE CLASS!!!! I spoke to her briefly prior to starting, just to advise her that I was new and I had my health card with me!!! I was so nervous. Anyway, she was so helpful...she showed me how the bike worked and how to properly set up the height of seat and how to stop the wheels etc... I hopped on and it was on!!!

It was just awesome. I know it's only Day 1, but I swear I'm hooked. The workout was extremely challenging and I was just so friggin proud of myself for finishing the class. I will be doing it twice a week and I just know I will see results. Between eating right, the awesome strength training plan that Rob created for me (and his regular guidance) and this new form of cardio, my body will have no choice but to say "Buh-bye" to my fat!!!! My next class will be on Thursday morning and I'm really looking forward to it.

I'll keep you guys posted...again, if any one of you living in the Ottawa area is interested in joining me....check out the website . I will be going every Tuesday (6:45pm to 7:45 pm) and Thursday (6:30 am to 7:30 am).

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch....Massage Please!!!

My legs are killing me!!! My new program yesterday included some new exercises targeting my leg muscles (lunges and squats) and I can testify, under oath that they work!! I worked those muscles to soreness! When trying to sit on the toilet feels like a form of exercise, you know you've worked it to the max!! WOW!!

All I could think about today is my next reward level (lose 3 more pounds and I get an hour long massage). I went ahead and reserved my massage for April 4!! I know I won't be as sore then but I still think it will be fabulous. I'm hoping I will be down 3 more pounds by then.....afterall, I don't want to cheat my own reward system.

I booked online here. I went to a Health and Wellness show back in January. It was a typical trade show type set up where in this case it was all health and fitness vendors advertising their services. Anyway, my girlfriend Tanya and I were walking around, checking things out, when we saw that one vendor offered a free 15 minute trial massage. Sounded great so we signed up and waited our turns. We each had a different masseuse.

I introduced myself to my masseuse. Her name was Alice and this may sound a bit weird but I felt an immediate connection with her...not anything major or creepy, just like when you meet someone who for what every reason, you just know is a kind soul/a nice person. At least that's what I felt when I met her. Anyway, she asked me a few questions and I got on the massage table. She gave me a sample and it felt amazing. She then asked me if I wanted to try a Reiki massage.

Now, I've heard the term before but to be honest, I didn't really have a clue what it was. So I asked and she told me, "Reiki is an ancient Japanese healing art based on balancing energy systems. There are 7 main energy centres in the body where we either store energy or express energy. These are known as chakras. The chakras correspond to mental, emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of wellbeing. Reiki is a very light touch using intention to feel and re-direct energy. Reiki helps to restore positive energy which helps bring you into harmony". There's no way I retained that info from January, I scooped it off her website. Check it out, you can even book your massage online. She's in Ottawa (west end).

Anyway, this Reiki massage FREAKED MY FREAK y'all!!! Alice barely made physical contact, but I felt every movement. I was sooooooooooo relaxed, felt like my head was floating...it was absolutely amazing. I've never felt anything like that before. I'm generally a skeptic with certain things, but I KNOW what I felt and experienced. I know I left that trade show feeling awesome and ready to take on the world. I had just started on this journey (it was less than a month) and I was in a good place. It was just incredible. So I'm hoping that we could follow up in future sessions.

So if you're in the Ottawa area, check her out. She came off as being very passionate about what she does and you can always see the difference when someone is doing what they love. Anyhoo, I will definitely follow up and give you guys full details of how my massage goes next week. I'm really looking forward to it.

That's it for now. Have a great Sunday. I plan to get in some cardio today and hang out with my son!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)