Avoiding the dreaded tummy tuck, (or how I am taking my life back)

[MaryLyss]

Today is not the beginning of my story.  It started last October in a doctor's office.  There I sat, after a disastrous weigh in at 278 pounds.  The doctor had just told me that I had to start Diabetes medicine, blood pressure medicine, and would have to have gastric bypass or a lap band put in if I didn't lose weight by my next appointment.  So, I started with diet.  Atkins, it would be.  It was the only thing I hadn't tried, and I thought, "What the hell?"

 

Now, 9 months later, I weighed in at 221 the other day.  57 pounds lost!  Yay!  Not enough, though.  My next thought, "I don't want to just lose weight, I want to be the healthiest I have ever been".  So, I started strengthening my core with ab exercises along with watching my diet.

 

That is when it happened.......

 

"What happened?", you may ask. 

 

I found this site.

 

I was on Pinterest one day, looking at core building exercises, and I found an article on sprinting and it's benefits.  At the same time I found an article on why sprinting is such a good ab exercise.  My curiosity piqued, I came to the site and found this great host and wonderful community.

 

Saturday, July 27, I started my sprint workout.  I warmed up, ran 100mX4 and then stretched my hamstrings, calves, and quads.  Why did no one mention that my groin would hurt?  I followed that up with my ab workout. 

 

Later that day..........

 

OMG!  My groin, hip flexors and arms HURT.  I think I am going to need 2 days recovery, but that is ok.  I will be on the track tomorrow morning.  I have kept up with abs and on the first of August, my friend, Jessica, and I are starting a squat challenge.  Look forward to that pain! 

 

Today is still hard.  My abs hurt in places I have not felt since pregnancy.  I think I need a rest day from abs tomorrow.  Oh, yeah, I almost forgot........

 

My initial body measurements are as follow:

 

Waist 40"

Chest 43 3/4"

Hips 50"

Thighs 23"

 

Don't have a measurement goal, just want to feel comfortable in my own body.

 

[wideeyed]

Fabulousness!

[MaryLyss]

OH, and I am off the blood pressure medication!!  WOO HOO!!!

[neutral-mente]

OH, and I am off the blood pressure medication!!  WOO HOO!!!

 

That's awesome!

[hvfpaints]

AWESOME!!!!

[MaryLyss]

This morning I won a hard fought battle.  Went out at 6:30 am, warmed up, and then ran 4X100m sprints.  Halfway through the second sprint, my left quad spasmed.  Still dealing with it, but I pushed through the last 2 sprints.  Friday will be my last day at 4X100.  Monday, I will go up to 5, and hopefully only need 1 day recovery between interval training days. 

 

I am taking a rest day on my ab routine, as I thought I was going to die yesterday.  It was the first day of my cycle, and the cramps made everything that much worse, so I am not doing my abs today.  It's hard.  I have gotten into the habit, and don't want to stop, but know I have to. 

 

2 more days until my squat challenge begins...............

[MaryLyss]

Today is a rest day from sprinting, so other things have to fill in.  Upped my ab reps today to 35, with a 20 second plank.  Gonna work on doing a proper form push-up today, and it might only be 1, but gotta start somewhere, right?  Also, dumbbell rows are on the menu.

[MaryLyss]

So, here are my goals for the rest of this year......

 

1.  Be able to do sets of 10 pushups (properly)

2.  Be able to do one pull-up.  I don't care if it is December 31, I WILL do one by the end of the year.

3.  Run 10X100m sprints every other day.

4.  Rock some size 14 jeans.

 

How I will accomplish these goals.

 

1.  Complete body weight circuit every other day.  I realize 10 pushup are in the circuit, but I will build until I can do them.

2.  Once push-up goal is met, I will start doing exercises that Steve lined out in his pull-up post until I can do a pull-up.  Also, plan to hang from everything in sight.

3.  Keep building on where I am at.  Right now, I can run 4X100m with 2 days recovery between.

4.  Clean up my diet.  Stay away from processed carbs.  I am finding out that much of the processed crap out there just tastes nasty after eating cleanly for a week or two.

 

So, that is where I am right now.  When I am not exercising, I try to stay active in all other areas of my life instead of sitting on the couch.  This morning, my tire blew, so I carried 3 streets of my paper route on foot.  They were long streets, too.

 

Hugs and kisses!

[MaryLyss]

So, last night I started doing dumbbell rows.  3 sets of 10 reps, that were way too easy.  Need heavier weight.  I guess it's time for sand in the ol' milk jug.  Today, I completed 30 squats, my ab routine (35 reps each, and a 20 second plank).  First day of school for the kiddos (5th grade and kindergarten, *SOB*).  Kind of a rough day.  Back to running in the morning.

[lela gypsypunk]

If I could like this post, I totally would! You're doing pretty awesome