Birthday present to myself

The time is currently 12:09..its November24th. I've been up since 4:20 am...Nov 23. For my Birthday I decided to make it special and do a double workout day. I know I usually do a double on Tuesday...but this week it's Thanksgiving vacation and my Birthday. Last year if you told me that I would be up WILLINGLY on a cold blustery morning on my BIRTHDAY...and would be excited to complete a double workout that would consist of throwing a ball around...be on my hands and knees doing push ups and thinking that THAT would be easier than some other exercises. THEN...I'll go into a 100 degree room and be happy to see myself stretch into interesting positions...and be wanting to go in every other day..waiting to see my happy smiling face in a mirror while trying NOT to wipe sweat from my brow. I'll be honest....I would have said your full of shit. Today...I did all that. Everyday something hurts in my body...sometimes its because of a workout...sometimes the workout helps something that hurts. I sometimes cry at the end of yoga...sometimes I walkout with a total yoga high. How else can I explain why I have been up for 20 hours straight? Yes...there was a bit of coffee involved...but nothing totally out of the ordinary. I actually went to sleep EARLY to prep for this day. I'm not a early person at all...and this is probably be a reason why I'll be going to sleep tonight...so I can be in yoga at 7am on THANKSGIVING morning. I'll be in a 100+ room giving thanks in my own way. I guess in my own way..its not just about the weight...its about how it makes me feel. Good night sleep tight...and my 32 year old self will see you later!

Last day of 31

Today is my last day of being 31. I got myself up and out the door at 11:45 with The Kid in tow to Carl's class. We worked on the TRX...Lots of mat exercises and then threw the ball at the floor. The fun part was The kid got into the act! I look over and she is doing jumping jacks and then Carl handed her a med ball and she threw it on the floor and then picked it up. I think she did great today. Probably better than me and so tomorrow is my 32 Birthday! I'm celebrating first thing in the morning with a lovely workout with Carl and a yoga session at 9. Wish me luck on my birthday double! Have a great day everyone and try to stay dry today. Bryttney- "Do not go in the rain!"

“For me, yoga is not just a workout - it's about working on yourself. ”- Mary Glover

Another day in the yoga chamber! It wasn't too bad today. I only sat out one pose because I'm still trying to get my hip to be nice to me again. All and all it was a good session. We also had a new instructor. Joe from Chicago who is here until April! Joe seems like a nice teacher and I cant wait to have another class with him. Helena went home sick today...Get well Helena!! Talk to y'all Saturday. I'm spending tomorrow in The Kids class because it is the last day before Thanksgiving vacation!! Have a nice evening everyone!

There is an immeasurable distance between late and too late.”-Og Mandino

Well.....I missed my 12:00 workout today. Some leftover stress kept me up until late this morning so I came home from dropping off The Kid at school (a minute late) and came home and went back to sleep. I woke up at 12:45. I wasn't too upset because I knew I could make it up at 5:00. The Kid came along and did her homework between two other people working out on bands being pulled in the door jams. It was a good workout and I did break a sweat. I think Carl received his new bands because these were quite tight. We did forward and side lunges while attached to the bands. I think it was a great break from the wood choopers with the med ball. My hip is still a bit sore. I'm going to yoga tomorrow to help with that. I'm going to be giving up my Friday nooner to help out with The Kid's classroom. Thanksgiving break is coming up and so I'm going to have to adjust my schedule a bit..but it'll get done. Talk to y'all tomorrow. Have a great day everyone!

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."- Thomas Edision

Well. It's Tuesday...It seems this day it seems to be my busiest and is usually stressful in the mornings and with any luck its fun and family in the evening. Lets start with the stressful morning! 4:20am...its cold...I hate early morning..and I HATE WHEN THERE IS NO FREAKING MOVEMENT!! Carl's scale said 219. Well...at this point I don't even care. I do my workout as best as I can because my hip is still locked up. I went to the chiropractor last night and got a good rest on the roller table,and advice to ice my hip. Roll around to this morning and its still sore. I attempted a few bur pees without the ball. I got through it and all that matters to me. I WONT GIVE UP ON THIS PROCESS..even if it frustrates the living shit out me. I cant give up. So I get home....yes...If your on my face book..you saw I went to Krispy Kreme. I also only had 1.25 in change. Enough for 1 stinking donut! I got my fix and I'm over it.....for the next 2-3 months anyways. So I get home and wait for the trash people to leave my alley so I can strip down and weigh myself in my kitchen. 216.9. Well...At least its not 219 like Carl's. I told Maria what happened and she said..well...at least its not 236! Good point. Things could be so much worse. I'm working on another food plan that is just waiting for some financial assistance from moi...time to cash in my cans and plastic. Times are tough people! That's why I'm ever so grateful to Carl and Helena for choosing me. Financially this would have been super tight for The Boy and I to manage on a single income right now. My only challenge these days is to workout....get The Boy off to work with lunch and to get the Kid off to school before the bell rings..and sometimes I even screw that up. Today I gave up yoga to help The Kid at her field trip to the local Marina Market. It was yet another workout because we walked to and from the Market and that proved to be fun...while wearing Uggs and a Pea coat. It was survived and I learned that the Marina Market cores and peels your pineapple.  I'm done for now...Hope something good happens tomorrow. Never give yup people.. matter what the frik the scale says.

Some people develop a wish bone where their back bone should be.-Unknown

Good Morning!!
Yoga is done for day! My left hip is still mad at me for whatever reason so Yoga wasn't my best. I'm going to go to my Cracker Pracker today for a adjustment to make sure every thing is all nice and aligned up. I had Victoria from the previous SBL next to me in class and that was nice to see her this morning. I'm hoping that I have some movement tomorrow..if not..well....I'll deal with that when it comes to it. I'm really craving a green salad with toasted walnuts, feta and a balsamic vinaigrette. Hope that inspires someone in this world to eat a salad! See ya tomorrow!!!

“I would rather have a big burden and a strong back, than a weak back and a caddy to carry life's luggage” -Elbert Hubbard

Wow....My day was interesting today. I didn't make it to 8:00 yoga because The Boy had to work last night and didn't come home until 7:40. The only way I was able to make it there if I suddenly turned into Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place and could use my iPhone to use a spell to get me to Bikram in 2 seconds. (I'm watching it right now cant you tell? ;). I missed 2 classes last week and changed my schedule. OMG..I could tell today! My left hip didn't want to cooperate for anything. I feel like I just walked in there for the first time today! OW!!! This sucks in the worst way! I couldn't even do the poses that haven't been a problem for me in months. So this means I will be back to my old schedule next week. THIS is the main reason why I cant stop doing yoga. The pain in my hip..the shoulders are not aligned...Ugh. I may need to see the Cracker Pracker on Monday. This sucks...but it will be worked out and I will be back to normal within a few days. Normal meaning whatever! Have a good weekend everyone!!

Eighty percent of success is showing up. -Woody Allen

Well...It's been two days that I have missed workouts. Wednesday was planned..yesterday was not. I swore I set my alarm for 8:15. I woke up to The Kid poking me and when I checked my phone..it said 9:09. DAMN!!!! I just missed my yoga class. I couldn't make it to the afternoon class because The Kid is home so there went that. On to today. I made it to Carls class at noon. YAY!!! Class wasn't so bad....I was able to do a few Burpee's and I HATE THOSE! If it wasn't for my belly...I could probably do more. I'm just glad I got a workout in. This week has been strenuous. I'm hoping to get a little focus tomorrow at Yoga. So...see ya tomorrow. Sorry. I'm a bit moody today. ;)

Whoops I did it again!

What I mean by that is that I didn't do my journal (as The Kid refers to my blog as) yesterday. It was a crazy day. I was up from 4:20am to 1ish last night. I had did my workout at 5:00 am with Carl. I gave the scale The Bird prior to getting on...No such luck. No movement again. One good thing I noticed is that I'm getting better at doing exercise with that stupid ball. Throwing a 12 pound ball for a certain amount of time will eventually do something good to your body! SO...afterwards I come home and stand on my scale.....217.1. Yup...screwed again. I get The Kid to school and get myself ready for Yoga. I was trying not to let the frustration get in my way...but it was hard. There were a few new people in class..and there was a new person who actually sat through the class who didn't want to attempt some of the poses. I don't know why that made me so frustrated. Cmon..just freaking try! I know that world is unusual to some people. My first time was scary..but I at least tried and did my best. At least be respectful and try what the instructor is trying to teach you! EECCHHHKKK!!!! OH well...another day. I didn't go to yoga today because I had to take care of some personal business that has been another stress factor to me..and I had to taken care of. SO hopefully tomorrow I can be ready to take in another yoga to help reset myself to where I can take of myself like I was when I was losing weight. I'm also going back to Max Muscle for a consultation. I'm really looking forward to that! Have a good day tomorrow and thank a veteran for all that they have done for our country.

I can see clearly now, the brain is gone...

That's is how I felt after being done with Carl today. My brain is fried, mushed, mashed and the body no doubt will feel it tomorrow. Or tonight. Or in a hour. Today was probably one of the hardest workouts in the past 4 months. We did 1 minute of a exercise...and 20 seconds off. Yes I complained every one of those 20 seconds. Half of us were on mats while the other half of people were on the TRX. That went for two rounds and then we had a break! After the break we had to grab a ball and a partner. We then had to throw the ball on the ground while the other person did a series of planks, spideys, side planks and whatever. I just kept hoping I wouldn't drop the ball or have a ball dropped on my head. My back and front were sweaty. F-bombs were dropped by yours truly. I had to keep telling myself...really all this hell will pay in the end. Really....now keep going. Tomorrow...another weigh in...Great. Lets see what horrors await me. Talk to you tomorrow! BTW...My happy place today was knowing that NKOTB is going back on tour next summer. I think that was probably the only way I smiled in class today!

The hardest battle you are ever going to fight is the battle against yourself

Another day of me writing my thoughts late again. I only got 4 hours of sleep before yoga and I crashed around 1:00 this afternoon. With the exception of me only getting 4 hours of sleep yoga was good today. Helena was back and whipped everyone back into shape again. I'm still working on my Standing Bow pose. Fixed Firm was good today. Toe...well...I can touch the floor while in position. I'm not ready still to bend down to the floor. I figure I'll hang out for a while before going all the way down. Afterwards I made a quick stop by Max Muscle to ask more questions about different supplements and I decided that I'll go this week for a consultation about my diet, measure my body mass and see what can be modified. I had to laugh....the guy working said my life sounded pretty active. I felt like saying...only when I'm exercising! Other than that I'm a total lazy slob. I had to really think about that today...I've been doing this crazy schedule for 4 months. FOUR FREAKING MONTHS! I have NEVER been dedicated to anything like this before. Even Ray said.."I have never seen you been into exercises like this before". I'm still adjusting to the change. I still want to stay up late and be lazy..but yet I know I'm only hurting myself when I don't get enough sleep. I don't drink soda as much anymore. We have officially switched to whole wheat bread in our house (I've been waiting 11 years for that!). I'm not going to touch the Chocolate issue...let me have my chocolate and I'll give up something else. Change is finally happening with me. Slowly..I'm not sure how far I'm going to go with this truthfully. I know this is going to be a life change...not just for the next few months. What I'm going to do with it...is the real question to myself. Remember to change your clocks back everyone!!! See you back here on Monday!

I don't care about being big and strong, I just want to look good naked

Yes. I wrote part of this quote on my application. I also wrote I wrote I wanted to look better naked while having sex. Well...those of you who know me that shouldn't come as a total surprise. ;)
Today was MORE TRX and band work. I kept thinking my hand was going to slip out of the handle and I would either bounce on the floor or hit the wall. When Carl said to grab a handle..Maria and I both grabbed each others "love handles". Yes...were full of one liners. ;) Trying to do squats while holding the handle with one hand is hard! It looks and feels awkward. You just have to keep trying when you think your going to fall on your ass. At the same time I'm trying to remember all the moves because I have my own TRX at home. I remember when I used to think Carl was easier than Yoga. Yeah....its not. I'm not saying Yoga is easy...but Carl whoops your ass at the end of the day. Well...I'm working on my water intake. Hope you have a great weekend and remember we "Fall back" this weekend! Talk to you tomorrow!

"The yoga mat is a good place to turn when talk therapy and antidepressants aren't enough." ~ Amy Weintraub

Today was another morning of yoga!! I swear it's like I get so excited to go in...and its so hard to relax and settle in and CONCENTRATE. It has taken 4 months to finally figure out how to swing my arms into Eagle pose and now I'm just working on getting my legs to follow. I'm now on a quest to get my body to learn how to do a Standing Bow pose. It's so elegant and strong. I can only get into and keep the pose for about 10 seconds and then I go flailing to the side. I can see my foot over my head and to me that's a miracle. I actually wish I could take a picture of myself doing that pose every month to see how I progress. I was telling Adrianne that yoga is one of few things that I have a real commitment too. I don't see it as just exercise. I see it as my therapy. In the past few months I feel like I love myself again. WELL, a lot of times I do have a "its all about me" attitude...but now..its different. I'm not sure if I can really explain it. Without Yoga I see the anxiety, stress, panic attacks running towards me. I wish I had found this studio when it first opened. I've had so many "moments" in class that left me crying on my mat...or made me want to run out of my class to text or call someone (and yes I have text or left messages on Facebook with sweat dripping on my phone. I can't explain this...but all I know is that as long as Bikram is near me..I don't want to leave. Have a great Friday everyone!!!

Progression pictures

June 2009

Spring 2010

June 2009

I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food. ~Erma Bombeck

Today is a semi-easy day. Only one workout! Yesterday was a double up day. Carl's workout today consisted of squats, TRX work and ball throwing. Don't ask me what was in-between because it's all a blur. The exercises change up every 30 seconds and today we were mixing in squat type exercise every 30 seconds with either doing push ups on the TRX or a chest press with a Sumo squat ( Hey I remembered a exercise!). Most of the times you hear me asking...."What's next?" I'm sorry if I don't always remember each specific one. I assume the role of "Tell me what to do next and I'll do it". ;)
I finally got out and about to buy my next container of protein powder for my shakes. This may seem meaningless...but the strangest things intimidate me. I feel weird going into a Max Muscle store and asking for help from a fit person. I have not clue why I feel this way. Especially since I've did  3 months ago. It's almost like I feel like I'm too fat to be in there. It shouldn't have mattered..the guy asked what my progress was and I told him 18 pounds and he said that was great. I swear my own thoughts are my worst enemy. I'm so glad to have my powder back. I actually like the stuff! It been part of my routine for the past 4 months. Exercise..yoga...then protein shake. I think I'll have one now...just because. Have a good night or good morning!

Double up day!

Yup. It's Tuesday...Its the day that begins before the sun comes up! So today is weigh in. I know I'm in trouble since I had tri-tip and chocolate on Sunday and a nice steak dinner on Monday. So its no surprise when I step on the scale and it doesn't move. Hell...I don't think I even looked. I should have just taken Maria's approach and flipped it off when I stood on it. I kept my sweatshirt on throughout the workout and didn't take it off until that last 10 minutes. I was drenched. I could feel it and smell it. I knew I was paying. I managed to save my pride and not give up. I got home and weighed myself on MY scale...Yup. 216.3 I was on a total weight loss high last week and yup..crash landed today. I'm out of protein for my shakes...I ate chocolate on Sunday. I'm back on watching and recording my food intake again. It sucks..but I'm human and so I'll work on it again. If I totally give up...that's when I need to be taken out back and beaten. ;) I had my first yoga class with Isabel today at Bikram. I think I so needed that class to relax and get it back together mentally for the rest of the day. I  did the Firm Fixed pose again..I freaked a little on the second set and didn't go down all the way. I had a interesting neighbor next to me on the floor today. There is a 7 month pregnant woman in our class. I find her inspirational that even with her belly she is totally giving it her all. All I could think that I hope in a few years when we decide to have another child how cool it would be to come in that room and rock those poses. The confidence she has is something that I hope to attain. I was telling Ray tonight that this yoga would have helped me so much compared to the pregnancy stress that I had before. Not that I had a lot of stress with The Kid..but it would have helped so much mentally and physically. It's 11:05 PM..sorry this Rant took all day today. It's my Family day today so we had a lot to get done in a short time. Hope everyone has a great nights sleep or if your reading this tomorrow morning..Have a great day! 

It's November!!!!

Okay ..I fell off the Chocolate wagon onto my butt last night. Hey. At least I'm being honest and not hiding behind it right? Okay...I'll take my flogging now. No, that's tomorrow at Carl's! I did get myself up and after I made sure The Kid made it to her classroom I booked it home and tried to find some clothes to wear to Bikram. I had another first today!! I was able to get into the Fixed Firm Pose today!It's taken a whole 4 months to get to this point. My knees were a little nervous on the way down..and I literally slid into position before I had a chance to really think about it. It was a little almost like "WHOA...I'm here....Umm...where do I put my arms again?" Getting up out of the position is harder than getting into position. I guess I'll be working on that tomorrow after Carl's. I'm a little scared of the scale after falling off the wagon and now I'm dragging myself back on it. I realized this morning that it's NOVEMBER now. Where is the time going?? I love this month because to me..besides my birthday..it means fall is officially here and winter is coming. Turkey day and Christmas!!! Wow...It's a little scary seeing how I've been at this for 4 months now. Hopefully tomorrow I will have hit at least 20 lbs lost. I wish it was more...but I have two more months to work on it. My first goal was to get to 180-170ish by February...and I think with any luck..and a whole lot of patience I'll get there. I just know...life without Bikram Yoga seriously scares me. Talk to you tomorrow.