DAY TWO

Here it is, the end of day two and I am exhausted.  I hurt and ache and am really tired of peeing.  I have no interest in eating as often as I need to be and nothing sounds yummy. 
Last night I slept in the fetal position because I was afraid to stretch my legs out for fear of a leg cramp.  I tend to sleep next to a man that has been known to respond with "walk it off" when I get a leg cramp in the night.  Oh, and that was when I was pregnant.  Tonight I am going to try to stretch them out and really hope for the best.
Wednesday, the first day, was kick boxing.  I remembered how to do it all but had a hell of a time keeping up.  What started as great form quickly turned into pathetic form.  I could hear my first instructor's voice from six years ago "keep that fist up, protect your face" but I couldn't do it, first I couldn't protect my face, then my neck and quickly I couldn't protect myself at all.  A troop of ferrets could have marched in and beat me senseless and I would have had no defense.  At one point, my low-medium-high kicks were low-lower-nope, not even able.  But I got through it.  None of it was pretty.  I don't expect pretty for quite some time.  I ate well last night and slept the fitful sleep of impending charlie horse.
Thursday was lower body bands.  They have changed things up some so I had a little trouble with a few exercises, but I muddled through all my sets.  All my sets except full sit ups.  I laid there on the floor (it was my only defense) and muttered my favorite four letter word under my breath.  I couldn't begin to tell my abs to engage themselves to the point that I was able to pull myself completely up and put my chest to my knees.  I seriously couldn't do it.  Full sit ups scare me a little from the weak back point of view.  I am always afraid that I will hoist myself the wrong way and be out of action.  But today that wasn't the issue, it was clearly a mind - body disconnect.  I could crunch, I could sort of toe tap, I could almost alternate toe touch (with knees bent and range of motion pretty motionless) but a full sit up was not in the cards. 
Oh, and I used all yellow bands (the lightest yet the brightest).  There was not another single yellow band on the mat.  I thought that was odd because even at my fittest several years ago, I still used primarily yellow bands.  I increased on some exercises, but I never felt like I needed more resistance.  I remember people going up in bands and then their movements would get really jerky.  I wanted to stay fluid.  I don't know if it mattered as far as muscle development.  The new thinking is to move up in bands.  I fear change and resist new ways of thinking.  We'll see how that goes. 
I remember how to eat, five to six small meals with protein and carbs based on body fat and weight.  I won't do it.  I am not going to count.  I am reducing my gluten intake for other reasons and that should help some of this weight issue.  In an attempt to get the plumbing running more smoothly, adjustments are being made.  Pastas and breads are on skids for me right now.  I have also been shying away from the soda pop!  Mainly because the local gas station has a really crappy fountain station.  The cherry to add to the coke is not cherry syrup (as it should be) but something else.  In an effort to save money on the fountain drinks, the coke is never properly mixed either.  Knowing that it will not be satisfying has made it easier to forgo. 
Tomorrow I will be back for the kickboxing.  I paid my money and I am feeling the burn.  Might as well make a full go of it and get fit. 

P.S.  I have before photos, taken in the mirror with the cell phone so there is a certain amount of desperation mixed in with the back fat and touching thighs. I will put them up with the afters - when I have reached an after. 
 

Back in the Saddle and My Ass is Already Sore

A few weeks ago I had written about the terrible shape I was in and that it was time for me to knuckle down and get fit again.  I bought another Denise Austin DVD, got a great calorie counting app and really gave it the ole college try.  Except that my college try was about six weeks in 1988 and then I dropped out.  Get my drift.
So yesterday after some hemming and a bit of hawing, Danny and I joined Farrell's again.  We signed up for three months on some sort of "we want you back" promotion and we, in a baptism by sweat, worked out today.
I look for signs - we got three solid ones.  Danny got the "we want you back" email.  Danny saw a guy from our orginial class twice in two weeks but hadn't seen him for years prior to that.  My cousin just enrolled in Cedar Rapids. 
I loved, loved, loved my time at Farrell's back in 2007.  I tried to go back several different time since then with no results.  Injury or apathy seemed to be the cause of the zero results.  I don't even know if it will be different this time.  I hope to not injure myself, and that is the ironic part, to not injure myself, I need a strong core.  To have a strong core, I must work out.  Then there is the elbow/wrist issue.  I know that injury came from a poorly landed hook many years ago.  There is a standing order for physical therapy.  I only notice the discomfort when I hand write for long periods of time or cake decorate for long periods of time.
I think one of the aspects of Farrell's that I loved so much was that I was the engine that could.  By the time '08 rolled around, I was fit and instructing.  I had become the person that I wanted to be and could tell people that they were capable because I was living, boxing proof.  If I could do it, seriously, anyone could.  I wouldn't say that I inspired, but I certainly made people realize that it was possible for them to complete the program and improve their health.
So as I write this at 2244 on the first evening of my return, I am afraid to stretch out my legs for fear of cramps.  I am aching through the upper back because I do not use this group of muscles when I am not jabbing or crossing or hooking.  My bladder is filling, but I don't really want to get out of bed, muscle cramp deal.  And I feel really, really great!
So here are my stats as of today- I weigh 149.8 pounds which is the most I have ever weighed.  I know that the numbers on the scale do not tell the whole story.  I know that I can lose fat and gain muscle and that those numbers on the scale may not change much.  But today, right now, that number represents a whole lot of fat.  The frustrating part is that I have been giving real effort with my diet. 
My waist at belly button is 38 1/4 inches around.  That was the only measurement I took.  If I lose weight anywhere on my body other than my belly, I will be very disappointed.  My sit and reach was 13.25 centimeters.  That is terrible.  Let me just say that it is a stretch for me to sit with my legs out in front of me without my knees bent.  That number will improve considerably. 
There are before photos as well, i am going to hold on to them for a little comparison photo shoot later. 
I am exhausted.  I am sore.  I am exhilarated.  But mostly, I am exhausted.