MaxFit workout #7... because I forgot that we missed #6
And to be perfectly honest, we missed #6 because my partner wasn't feeling well, and to me that meant a day off. Don't know why. That's just what happened. BAD JOE!!!
Anyway, went over and we worked out tonight. A workout ahead and it was a bit different. Adding to the muscle confusion and adding the burst training element... This workout HURT!
1) Superman/Banana
2) Prison Jacks (burst)
3) V-seats (ouch)
4) Side Jumps (burst) - you would think that jumping side to side as fast as you can for a minute wouldn't hurt so much. LOL and with NO time to catch my breath...
5) Half burpees (To which I had to come up with a variation because the size of my gut makes that IMPOSSIBLE... my legs just cannot go that far - which is a little embarrassing, to be honest.)
6) Front-Back Squat jumps (which is just SICK Dr. Fred! Take people who are working hard and have them jumping and twisting at the END of a tough workout. Not a great idea, LOL!)
I got light headed and dizzy and wasn't able to do the 2nd set of exercises. And by the way, Dr. Nikki isn't a great one to be demonstrating the beginner's version of the exercises because she looks bored and that's not exactly encouraging to those of us who are STRUGGLING to do the beginner's version. I mean, it's not HER fault that she's in much better shape than I, but to be demonstrating the beginner's version, I think it would be better to have someone who is a beginner, maybe. See that real people struggle with doing that version too. I will say that watching the future Doctors Sean and Dan struggle through the intermediate and advanced versions made me feel a little better (at least I'm not the only one hurting), and it was amusing to watch them roll into each other when going from the Superman to the Banana. :-)
Well, my partner is going to be out of town for a conference this Friday, so I will work out on my own... hopefully. I need to. I could do workout number 6 since I skipped that one, LOL.
In other news, I passed the CLET Competency Exam (huge test that allows me to stay in the first CLET class, which I have to pass in order to enter student clinic next quarter). To celebrate a friend and brother in Christ is taking me out to dinner tonight! :-)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
1/22/10
Friday morning! MaxFit workout number 5... 34 to go!!!
After about three hours of sleep, I got up and went to my partner's place... as is the plan for Fridays and Sundays (Tuesdays are at my place).
Alternating pull ups to chin ups (normal grip vs. underhand grip)
Ball Wall Squats (leaning, with the ball in between you and the wall, and doing squats)
Biceps curl to triceps extenstions
Bentover mornings (not even going to try to describe them... they look easy... LOOK easy)
Incline to Decline push ups
Isometric Lunges
It was a good workout... I've driven back home. I'm tired. I'm going back to bed.
After about three hours of sleep, I got up and went to my partner's place... as is the plan for Fridays and Sundays (Tuesdays are at my place).
Alternating pull ups to chin ups (normal grip vs. underhand grip)
Ball Wall Squats (leaning, with the ball in between you and the wall, and doing squats)
Biceps curl to triceps extenstions
Bentover mornings (not even going to try to describe them... they look easy... LOOK easy)
Incline to Decline push ups
Isometric Lunges
It was a good workout... I've driven back home. I'm tired. I'm going back to bed.
1/21/10... plus about two
So, Life University cancelled the last day of New Student Orientation on January 8th. Because of that, they cancelled the first day of class on January 11th, so that they could make up the day. Then, the Monday of week two was, the always glorious, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Which is one of the few days in the calendar when America recognizes a real hero. A man of God who was determined to LOVE the ignorant majority into acting right! Anyway, the celebration of the day means no school at Life University. The first two Mondays of the quarter, gone... no school = no bueno.
Someone at the school had the bright idea that we should have our Monday schedule on another day of the week... Thursday. Well, to me, this STINKS because Thursdays are very light for me this quarter. Meanwhile, Mondays are 7AM-11AM straight, and then 12PM-5PM straight. NOT a fun schedule. SO, I was at school all day yesterday (Thursday).
Thursday is also supposed to be my day off from my workout plan this quarter, but since MaxFit was moved to Wednesday, I had planned on making my return to the run schedule yesterday. Didn't happen.
I came home from school and took a little break (from 6-8) and then decided to go through the American Heart Association's Core Instructor Course. Well, because of malfunctions on their part, I ended up finishing at 1:30 in the morning!!! Yeah, that's not a mis-type. 5.5 hours!!! I had to take several modules more than once and then, at the end of it all, I STILL couldn't finish! FRUSTRATING!!!! So, I emailed the technical support people. Hopefully, I will be able to print my certificate of completion today. Either way, the daggone AHA course made a direct trip to the bed necessary, with no detour to the treadmill. DAG. Saturday... I need to get back on the running!!! I am WAY behind where I hoped to be... that 5k is looking a bit daunting right now. I am going to keep pressing forward and I will do what I can. I would still like to run the whole thing. We'll see.
Someone at the school had the bright idea that we should have our Monday schedule on another day of the week... Thursday. Well, to me, this STINKS because Thursdays are very light for me this quarter. Meanwhile, Mondays are 7AM-11AM straight, and then 12PM-5PM straight. NOT a fun schedule. SO, I was at school all day yesterday (Thursday).
Thursday is also supposed to be my day off from my workout plan this quarter, but since MaxFit was moved to Wednesday, I had planned on making my return to the run schedule yesterday. Didn't happen.
I came home from school and took a little break (from 6-8) and then decided to go through the American Heart Association's Core Instructor Course. Well, because of malfunctions on their part, I ended up finishing at 1:30 in the morning!!! Yeah, that's not a mis-type. 5.5 hours!!! I had to take several modules more than once and then, at the end of it all, I STILL couldn't finish! FRUSTRATING!!!! So, I emailed the technical support people. Hopefully, I will be able to print my certificate of completion today. Either way, the daggone AHA course made a direct trip to the bed necessary, with no detour to the treadmill. DAG. Saturday... I need to get back on the running!!! I am WAY behind where I hoped to be... that 5k is looking a bit daunting right now. I am going to keep pressing forward and I will do what I can. I would still like to run the whole thing. We'll see.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A little rant...
OK,
I have a mold toxicity. It has a direct effect on my hypothalamus. To be general, here is a list of the things that the hypothalamus controls:
I said all of that to say this:
I spent most of the afternoon today fighting... did I mention FIGHTING with my apartment complex, Barrington Mill. Oh yeah, that's right... I'm putting their name out there! I reported the mold to them in September. What was their response? Replace a couple of tiles and try to cover it up. No testing, to confirm the presence of mold. No attempt at mold remediation. NOTHING. I was baffled, and actually said to myself, they can't seriously be thinking that they are done, right? I got busy with school and, as I mentioned, had a rough November and December.
I start calling again earlier this month (the 8th) and talked to Donna Chance, the property manager. She basically told me that it was my fault for not being a squeaky wheel. WHAT THE CRAP?! So, I report a problem. You don't take care of it. That's MY fault?! OK, you want squeaky? Watch this! SQUEAK, FREAKING SQUEAK!!!! Fast forward to Wednesday, I have the maintenance supervisor and three maintenance workers in my bathroom arguing with me as to whether there is mold in this hole that has been cut in my ceiling.
Maintenance supervisor: "No mold, look!"
I try to calmly explain that:
1. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.
2. Where there is water damage, there is mold [as I point out the leaking pipe directly above where there was water damage on my ceiling]
3. It's not really the mold that causes the problem, it's the toxin that the mold releases when it grows.
Extremely dense Maintenance supervisor: "I don't see nothing."
Me, getting a little annoyed at his ignorance: "Are you serious? That's what you're going with? If you can't see it, it doesn't exist?"
"Dangerously close to angering me" Maintenance supervisor: "There no mold, look!"
Me, thankful that I have the Holy Spirit inside of me, giving me self-control: "Have you TESTED the place for mold, or are you going to stick with your eyesight as the measure of mold presence?"
Ignorant moron (he earned that name, I was trying to be respectful): "We don't have that equipment."
Me: "Are you going to GET IT?"
Ignorant moron: "You have to request at office."
Me: "What the heck do you think you're doing here, cleaning the freaking carpet?! I requested that almost two weeks ago!!!"
Ignorant Moron (Wisely changing the course of this conversation): "I tell you what we do. We put new drywall in, then we paint. Make you happy, right?"
Me: "Do what you think you should. You're not who I need to talk to."
I'm so freaking frustrated. I am moving out. I need to be able to detox and I need to get well. It's very tough to go through doctoral studies when your apartment is making it increasingly difficult to THINK!
I have a mold toxicity. It has a direct effect on my hypothalamus. To be general, here is a list of the things that the hypothalamus controls:
- Controls Autonomic Functions
- Emotions
- Endocrine Functions (hormones)
- Homeostasis
- Motor Functions
- Regulates Food and Water Intake
- Regulates Sleep/Wake Cycle
- Headaches
- Body Aches
- Hypersensitive Emotions (things hit you harder than they should... and you sometimes freak out when it's just NOT that serious!)
- Inability to find your words (VERY frustrating for someone who talks as much as I do)
- Decreased effectiveness of study time (so I study MORE and learn LESS... Grrrrr)
- Brain Fog (what a sister (in Christ) of mine calls: "losing time" This is when you "zone out" but you are cognizant of it: "I know that all I have to do is reach over and pull the handle and I could get out of my Jeep. Why am I not doing that?")
- Inability to lose weight despite steadily improving diet and exercise
- Inability to have restful sleep or to sleep for more than 5 hours consistently
I said all of that to say this:
I spent most of the afternoon today fighting... did I mention FIGHTING with my apartment complex, Barrington Mill. Oh yeah, that's right... I'm putting their name out there! I reported the mold to them in September. What was their response? Replace a couple of tiles and try to cover it up. No testing, to confirm the presence of mold. No attempt at mold remediation. NOTHING. I was baffled, and actually said to myself, they can't seriously be thinking that they are done, right? I got busy with school and, as I mentioned, had a rough November and December.
I start calling again earlier this month (the 8th) and talked to Donna Chance, the property manager. She basically told me that it was my fault for not being a squeaky wheel. WHAT THE CRAP?! So, I report a problem. You don't take care of it. That's MY fault?! OK, you want squeaky? Watch this! SQUEAK, FREAKING SQUEAK!!!! Fast forward to Wednesday, I have the maintenance supervisor and three maintenance workers in my bathroom arguing with me as to whether there is mold in this hole that has been cut in my ceiling.
Maintenance supervisor: "No mold, look!"
I try to calmly explain that:
1. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.
2. Where there is water damage, there is mold [as I point out the leaking pipe directly above where there was water damage on my ceiling]
3. It's not really the mold that causes the problem, it's the toxin that the mold releases when it grows.
Extremely dense Maintenance supervisor: "I don't see nothing."
Me, getting a little annoyed at his ignorance: "Are you serious? That's what you're going with? If you can't see it, it doesn't exist?"
"Dangerously close to angering me" Maintenance supervisor: "There no mold, look!"
Me, thankful that I have the Holy Spirit inside of me, giving me self-control: "Have you TESTED the place for mold, or are you going to stick with your eyesight as the measure of mold presence?"
Ignorant moron (he earned that name, I was trying to be respectful): "We don't have that equipment."
Me: "Are you going to GET IT?"
Ignorant moron: "You have to request at office."
Me: "What the heck do you think you're doing here, cleaning the freaking carpet?! I requested that almost two weeks ago!!!"
Ignorant Moron (Wisely changing the course of this conversation): "I tell you what we do. We put new drywall in, then we paint. Make you happy, right?"
Me: "Do what you think you should. You're not who I need to talk to."
I'm so freaking frustrated. I am moving out. I need to be able to detox and I need to get well. It's very tough to go through doctoral studies when your apartment is making it increasingly difficult to THINK!
aaaaaaaand we're back!
After a weekend in Asheville, NC for my friend and brother, Matthew's wedding, and the subsequent "late night swerve-fest" driving back to Atlanta, I had a bit of a time getting back on track.
Monday: 1/18/10
I got back to Atlanta early in the morning (read: 6AM) and tried to catch a nap before my client at 11AM. Got up at 10 to shower and prepare the apartment. Gave her a massage and went back to bed... Apparently, all of the festivities, and keeping the groom in line was more tiring than I thought. After all, the bride's mother DID point out that she has Aztec blood in her and WOULD rip Matthew's heart from his chest if he didn't show up. Since I was staying in the same hotel room, I was informed that my chest cavity was also in danger. LOL I liked Luisa right away!!! Anyway, all of that, plus about 12 hours of standing and dancing in rented tux shoes (with NO PADDING) didn't lend weight to my mind's reminder on Monday: "You're supposed to be running today!"
Didn't happen. It's not about perfect performance, right?
Tuesday: 1/19/10
At first, my workout partner said that she had to change the time of our workout. Either later (9pm) or the next morning at 5:45am. I chose 9. Then, about 8, she called and said that the last time we worked out late, she couldn't get to bed. I understand that is common, but I have never really had an issue with that. LOL I can go to bed just fine after a workout (and a shower), I just have to give myself about two hours between working out and going to bed. Anyway, we worked it out that we would workout Wednesday at 11, after my morning classes
Wednesday: 1/20/10
We worked out... first day back. Might as well have been the first day!
Alternating pull ups (wide grip vs. narrow grip)
lunge-squat-lunge-squat (harder than it sounds)
Standard to military push ups (shoulder width vs. elbows in to your sides)
Toe Raisers (seems like it would be a break, doesn't it)
Concentration curl with isometric lunge (didn't we already do lunges?)
Lunge and reach (What the heck? MORE lunges?)
WOW... holy burning legs! That's a good workout anyway, but to do it after being off since last Friday? That's what I get!!!
Friday, January 15, 2010
1/15/10
Well, I decided to do my Run Day with my friend Matthew on Saturday night after the rehearsal dinner... that's why there's no blog for yesterday.
THIS morning, I got up at 5AM to my cell phone alarm. Praise God I set it, because apparently the power went out in my place while I was asleep and my actual alarm clock was flashing. I stumbled around my place, gathering the resistance bands and my laptop so that we could work out at my partner's place (which is the plan for Friday mornings). I got there and we worked out... hard
Pull ups (apparently Dr. Fred has a great affinity for pull ups and pushups)
Wall Squats
kick backs to tricep extensions
Lunges
"Prison cell" pushups (harder than it looked in the demonstration)
and Frog Squats (I'm noticing that the hamstrings exercise seems to be the hardest in every workout... hmmmmm)
Anyway, after we worked out, I walked outside to the cold and realized that there was probably steam coming off of my head. LOL Soooo, I decided to take a picture and I thought the street light behind me might illuminate the steam. What do you think?
I'm travelling to Asheville, NC for the weekend. I've got Matthew's wedding this weekend and a crazy week ahead next week. Big CLET test on Tuesday, and someone had the bright idea that since we were going to be missing two Mondays this quarter (weeks 1 & 2) that they would make next Thursday function as a Monday... so now I have to take an iRAT quiz on Thursday of week 2 when I was told it would be Monday of week 3. Plus, I have my full spine 3 practical exam on Wed morning (which runs the full gamut of responsibility... look at an X-ray, determine how the vertebrae that they point out are in the wrong position - ie: the listings, decide what type of adjustment to do and then set up on them)
Monday classes on Thursday?! I hate it that the school just assumes that we have no life other than class. No, of course we didn't schedule other things on Thursday, based upon our THURSDAY schedule!!! SHEESH!!!! Life University does not care about the students, and then they wonder why they have no endowment fund. Why the heck would I give back to a school that treated me like CRAP the whole time I was there?!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
1/13/10
Well, today was a tough day for me... I was VERY energetic in the morning. I felt good, I went to class and to get adjusted. It was a great morning. Then I met a friend for lunch, and after lunch I started fading... I mean badly.
Though fading, I went downtown to apply at a new apartment complex (there's a lot that has to happen for me to get in there... PLEASE Jesus!) and if I get in over there, I will be in a mold-free environment!!!I am still dealing with my apartment complex and their not wanting to let me out of my lease without exorbitant penalties. Then I went to a friend's apartment and helped her prepare for putting a second coat to the paint in her place. Then I came home and gave a massage.
After the massage, I was exhausted and I decided that I could make up my run day tomorrow (Thursday) or Saturday. My goal for the week was to train (in the "run day" schedule) for a total of 30 minutes this week. I did 15 minutes on Monday and I still have two non-MaxFit days this week in which I can run. I think I would much rather do it tomorrow than Saturday as I will be in North Carolina this weekend watching a good friend and brother in Christ get married! Next week, I won't have AS much flexibility as I plan to move to 3 workouts a week and a total of 45 minutes of run/walk time.
Early to bed and, thanks to yet another 7AM lab, early to rise on Thursday. Good night all!
Though fading, I went downtown to apply at a new apartment complex (there's a lot that has to happen for me to get in there... PLEASE Jesus!) and if I get in over there, I will be in a mold-free environment!!!I am still dealing with my apartment complex and their not wanting to let me out of my lease without exorbitant penalties. Then I went to a friend's apartment and helped her prepare for putting a second coat to the paint in her place. Then I came home and gave a massage.
After the massage, I was exhausted and I decided that I could make up my run day tomorrow (Thursday) or Saturday. My goal for the week was to train (in the "run day" schedule) for a total of 30 minutes this week. I did 15 minutes on Monday and I still have two non-MaxFit days this week in which I can run. I think I would much rather do it tomorrow than Saturday as I will be in North Carolina this weekend watching a good friend and brother in Christ get married! Next week, I won't have AS much flexibility as I plan to move to 3 workouts a week and a total of 45 minutes of run/walk time.
Early to bed and, thanks to yet another 7AM lab, early to rise on Thursday. Good night all!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
1/12/10
Well, it is day 3 of my first week of this 90 day (or so) journey to increased fitness and culminating in running my first 5k on April 17th.
I felt like I could barely lift my legs today. LOL and I had class all day. Getting up at 5:30AM, class from 7AM-11AM wasn't bad. Lunch with a brother was fun, but I was out of it. I was so exhausted that my eyes kept crossing and I didn't know HOW I was going to make it through the day without falling asleep in class. My 1PM class was long, but a friend came and sat next to me and helped me to not fall out. It was much appreciated. Then in my 3PM lab, we were practicing set-ups for adjusting. I used the opportunity to let my partner set up... which, in reality, functioned as a pretty good stretching session for my tired muscles. My professor for the 5pm lab was a no show, so I got to go to dinner early. Some friends and I went to Wild Wing Cafe' for some wings. Gotta love "2fer Tuesdays!"
After dinner, I came back to my place, where my workout partner was waiting for my "20 minutes late" self! She is so patient with me and I REALLY appreciate it. What awaited us? Dr. Fred, Dr. Nicki, "Jersey" Dr. Dan and Mrs. Kim Roberto demonstrated MaxFit workout #2... (37 left)
Two-speed pushups (harder than Dr. Fred made it look in his demonstration)
Medicine ball squat jumps
Weighted warrior to lateral raise
Romanian split squats (during which I very nearly fell over twice)
Chin ups
and Dead lifts
I pushed myself again, but I feel better after this workout than I did after the first. Could my body be responding already? Hopefully, that is the case and I will be able to walk tomorrow! LOL
On a very personal note, it is very hard when you are on this side of what I see as "a mountain of fat" to not focus on how big the mountain is, or how far you are from the top, or how steep the climb seems. I am trusting God and just taking the next step. For me, the next step is to get back on the treadmill again tomorrow, even though my trip there last night was a bit embarrassing. Even though I was the only one in the room, my performance on that daggone treadmill felt shameful.
Father, I thank you that self-control is not a fruit of MY EFFORT, but is a fruit of the Spirit... a fruit of your presence in my life. Help me to trust you and to take the next step in faith, just as I have taken this one in faith. The results are up to you. You told me not to be weary in well doing, because I would reap a harvest if I did not give up. Please make that Biblical concept a reality in my heart and in my body. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I felt like I could barely lift my legs today. LOL and I had class all day. Getting up at 5:30AM, class from 7AM-11AM wasn't bad. Lunch with a brother was fun, but I was out of it. I was so exhausted that my eyes kept crossing and I didn't know HOW I was going to make it through the day without falling asleep in class. My 1PM class was long, but a friend came and sat next to me and helped me to not fall out. It was much appreciated. Then in my 3PM lab, we were practicing set-ups for adjusting. I used the opportunity to let my partner set up... which, in reality, functioned as a pretty good stretching session for my tired muscles. My professor for the 5pm lab was a no show, so I got to go to dinner early. Some friends and I went to Wild Wing Cafe' for some wings. Gotta love "2fer Tuesdays!"
After dinner, I came back to my place, where my workout partner was waiting for my "20 minutes late" self! She is so patient with me and I REALLY appreciate it. What awaited us? Dr. Fred, Dr. Nicki, "Jersey" Dr. Dan and Mrs. Kim Roberto demonstrated MaxFit workout #2... (37 left)
Two-speed pushups (harder than Dr. Fred made it look in his demonstration)
Medicine ball squat jumps
Weighted warrior to lateral raise
Romanian split squats (during which I very nearly fell over twice)
Chin ups
and Dead lifts
I pushed myself again, but I feel better after this workout than I did after the first. Could my body be responding already? Hopefully, that is the case and I will be able to walk tomorrow! LOL
On a very personal note, it is very hard when you are on this side of what I see as "a mountain of fat" to not focus on how big the mountain is, or how far you are from the top, or how steep the climb seems. I am trusting God and just taking the next step. For me, the next step is to get back on the treadmill again tomorrow, even though my trip there last night was a bit embarrassing. Even though I was the only one in the room, my performance on that daggone treadmill felt shameful.
Father, I thank you that self-control is not a fruit of MY EFFORT, but is a fruit of the Spirit... a fruit of your presence in my life. Help me to trust you and to take the next step in faith, just as I have taken this one in faith. The results are up to you. You told me not to be weary in well doing, because I would reap a harvest if I did not give up. Please make that Biblical concept a reality in my heart and in my body. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Winter 2010 Testimony Building
A little background...
When I started the Doctor of Chiropractic program, I was 365 lbs. Over the next three quarters, I lost 75 lbs. at a steady rate of 25 lbs a quarter. Then the weight loss stopped. It stopped despite my eating and exercise habits continually getting better. Fast forward about a year and a sister in the LORD finally put my symptoms together: Mold Toxicity was the tentative diagnosis. After several tests, including toxicity challenges, the VCS test, and a couple blood tests, the diagnosis was confirmed. After some investigation, we concluded that it was my apartment (with its water damage and mildew and falling tiles) that was the source of the exposure.
This past fall, 2009, I was frustrated because I found out about all of the mold stuff about a month after I signed a lease renewal. The apartment complex isn't trying to let me out of my lease without forking over what amounts to $1,700 in fees. I was very frustrated. That, coupled with some personal issues that were deeply distressing caused me to just kind of "pack it in." The last two months of 2009, I ate horribly and very rarely worked out.
One of the things that God is working me on is learning to fight again. There was a certain area of my life (and many of you know EXACTLY to what I refer) in which I had not been trusting God. I was very vulnerable to attack in that area, and when I was, I WAS! Anyway, I am learning to really put that area of my life on the proverbial altar and die to it.
As a result, I am now working on my physical health again. I am rebuilding the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am starting this blog for some accountability and hopefully some encouragement from and to you! I am going to graduate in less than two years as a Doctor of Chiropractic and one of the most powerful things that I can have is a TESTIMONY of being morbidly obese and coming to a place of massive health and fitness. Rebuilding my temple = Building my testimony = Building the Kingdom!!!
Here is my two-pronged approach to increasing my fitness, that I plan to employ this quarter:
Sunday, 1/10/10
The first MaxFit workout. It is a 90 day program, 3 times a week, 39 workouts... (38 workouts left to go) :-)
I really pushed myself during this workout. Pull ups, staggered squats, Isometric lunges, hammer curls to military presses, and tips... YIKES!!! My shoulders were burning and my hamstrings were sore. I mean SORE, and only an hour after the workout. LOL Dr. Fred... my legs don't like you right now! But, one day down, and I am really trying to not look at the MOUNTAIN that I see before me in my body fat percentage and the numbers on my Tanita body composition scan. I haven't had one of those in a while, and I can't get to Dr. Fred's until Wednesday, but I will get one then.
Monday, 1/11/10
First run day. I am in worse shape than I thought. My original plan will have to be tweaked. I still plan to do trainings of the same duration and the same 50/50 run/walk pattern, but the intensity will HAVE to be changed. I'll be happy to see how my lungs and heart respond to the stress I am now putting them through. Good stress ;-)
I started out by running at 6 miles an hour. My goal was 5 minutes. I made it 3. Then I walked 3 mins at 3 miles an hour. After that, I alternated jogging at 4mph and walking at 2mph. I did that for my total time goal of 15 minutes. I am seeking God to not be discouraged by that. I thought I was in better shape than that. Oh well. When I said I was setting up my program to assume that I was not able to run AT ALL, I didn't know I was so close to literal. I guess running this 5k will be a bigger victory than I thought.
All in all, I realize that I am going to have something in my arsenal that most doctors cannot have: the ability to look at a morbidly obese patient and say, "I have been where you are. I KNOW it can be done. I am here for you, if you want it!" I know what it feels like to look in the mirror and see what seems to be a mountain of fat and feel trapped in your body. Thankfully, I have faith, and I have a God that lives inside me who is a mountain mover!!!
When I started the Doctor of Chiropractic program, I was 365 lbs. Over the next three quarters, I lost 75 lbs. at a steady rate of 25 lbs a quarter. Then the weight loss stopped. It stopped despite my eating and exercise habits continually getting better. Fast forward about a year and a sister in the LORD finally put my symptoms together: Mold Toxicity was the tentative diagnosis. After several tests, including toxicity challenges, the VCS test, and a couple blood tests, the diagnosis was confirmed. After some investigation, we concluded that it was my apartment (with its water damage and mildew and falling tiles) that was the source of the exposure.
This past fall, 2009, I was frustrated because I found out about all of the mold stuff about a month after I signed a lease renewal. The apartment complex isn't trying to let me out of my lease without forking over what amounts to $1,700 in fees. I was very frustrated. That, coupled with some personal issues that were deeply distressing caused me to just kind of "pack it in." The last two months of 2009, I ate horribly and very rarely worked out.
One of the things that God is working me on is learning to fight again. There was a certain area of my life (and many of you know EXACTLY to what I refer) in which I had not been trusting God. I was very vulnerable to attack in that area, and when I was, I WAS! Anyway, I am learning to really put that area of my life on the proverbial altar and die to it.
As a result, I am now working on my physical health again. I am rebuilding the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am starting this blog for some accountability and hopefully some encouragement from and to you! I am going to graduate in less than two years as a Doctor of Chiropractic and one of the most powerful things that I can have is a TESTIMONY of being morbidly obese and coming to a place of massive health and fitness. Rebuilding my temple = Building my testimony = Building the Kingdom!!!
Here is my two-pronged approach to increasing my fitness, that I plan to employ this quarter:
- MaxFit: a friend of mine, Dr. Fred Roberto, has taken several concepts (surge training, muscle confusion and functional fitness) and melded them into one awesome workout program. It is in the testing phase right now, and I was in one of the test groups. I was not a good test group participant, though, as the test group started last November and we've already covered that (clearing throat). Thankfully, I have a friend and sister in the LORD who has committed to being my workout partner in the MaxFit workouts three days a week. For some reason, I do so much better in being consistent with my workouts when I have a partner. This is something I have been sorely missing since my last workout partner, Amanda, and her husband moved to Texas.
- Running: I have had a desire (though obviously not overwhelming) to begin to run for a while. I decided that I am going to start doing that. My goal is to run my first 5k on April 17th, 2010.
Sunday, 1/10/10
The first MaxFit workout. It is a 90 day program, 3 times a week, 39 workouts... (38 workouts left to go) :-)
I really pushed myself during this workout. Pull ups, staggered squats, Isometric lunges, hammer curls to military presses, and tips... YIKES!!! My shoulders were burning and my hamstrings were sore. I mean SORE, and only an hour after the workout. LOL Dr. Fred... my legs don't like you right now! But, one day down, and I am really trying to not look at the MOUNTAIN that I see before me in my body fat percentage and the numbers on my Tanita body composition scan. I haven't had one of those in a while, and I can't get to Dr. Fred's until Wednesday, but I will get one then.
Monday, 1/11/10
First run day. I am in worse shape than I thought. My original plan will have to be tweaked. I still plan to do trainings of the same duration and the same 50/50 run/walk pattern, but the intensity will HAVE to be changed. I'll be happy to see how my lungs and heart respond to the stress I am now putting them through. Good stress ;-)
I started out by running at 6 miles an hour. My goal was 5 minutes. I made it 3. Then I walked 3 mins at 3 miles an hour. After that, I alternated jogging at 4mph and walking at 2mph. I did that for my total time goal of 15 minutes. I am seeking God to not be discouraged by that. I thought I was in better shape than that. Oh well. When I said I was setting up my program to assume that I was not able to run AT ALL, I didn't know I was so close to literal. I guess running this 5k will be a bigger victory than I thought.
All in all, I realize that I am going to have something in my arsenal that most doctors cannot have: the ability to look at a morbidly obese patient and say, "I have been where you are. I KNOW it can be done. I am here for you, if you want it!" I know what it feels like to look in the mirror and see what seems to be a mountain of fat and feel trapped in your body. Thankfully, I have faith, and I have a God that lives inside me who is a mountain mover!!!
And AWAY We Go!
As this is the first blog, I am going to be a little wordy, because I want to lay out my vision and share my heart. I hope you are encouraged. I hope you will join me on my journey. I hope that you enter into a deeper LOVE relationship with God, no matter how deep it is now...
I am calling this blog "Kingdom Building" because I know that God has created me for His purposes. I have a battle that He has called me to fight. I have an adventure that He has called me to live. I have a beauty that He has called me to rescue. I want His will to be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. I know that MY part in this massive story that He is allowing to unfold is a very small part, in the grand scheme of things. At the same time, I believe that it is vital.
Every soul is vital... including mine. God's main goal is the hearts of the people He created. Jesus came to die, to pay the price for our sins so that we could be forgiven and (here's the important part) KNOW GOD!!! Knowing God IS eternal life, and THAT is what Jesus died for us to be able to attain. And this Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, is within us. The Bible tells us that the Kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Learning to walk in this Kingdom that He has placed within us is a process. This is what my blog is about. Allowing the Kingdom to be built in me... or more accurately, allowing God to chip away at the foolishness in my soul that keeps me from living in the marvelous freedom that He has purchased for me.
First, I'll talk about JOY: The word "joy" is mentioned 71 times in the New Testament... it's worthwhile to do a study on joy, but what I want to mention is the last thing that Jesus talked about before he was arrested. Before Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane, He spoke to His disciples about abiding in the vine and remaining in His love... and He told them that "so your joy may be full." In His presence, is the fullness of Joy. The lies that we have been told and that we have believed about ourselves tend to shake us and play on our insecurities and use our defense mechanisms to take us out of an awareness that Jesus is real; He is present; and He loves us. When that happens and our focus shifts from Him, to us and our circumstances, we become robbed of our joy.
Righteousness and Peace, I believe go hand in hand. The reason I say this is that they are mentioned together in what is probably my favorite section of Scripture: Hebrews 12:7-13. Righteousness and Peace... there is a lot I could say. And I probably will in later blog entries, but for now, I think it is sufficient to say that God wants us to be able to walk in His Kingdom. He wants us to see Him (that's why He disciplines us, so we can share in His holiness. Why? Because without holiness, no one will see the LORD). Somehow, through hardship/discipline that is promised to be painful, God causes a harvest of righteousness and peace to be produced in us. That's pretty darn cool! It doesn't show up in those "Bible promises" books, though it should! It's not happy-go-lucky, touched by an angel Christianity, but it is real and it is better than the fluff!!! God is willing to allow us to go through the pain that makes us able to be closer to Him! His love for us transcends the desire for us to be happy all the time. God won't raise a spoiled child, He is building the Kingdom in us... by chipping away the mess on our soul that isn't the "us" that He created! Hallelujah!!!
I am calling this blog "Kingdom Building" because I know that God has created me for His purposes. I have a battle that He has called me to fight. I have an adventure that He has called me to live. I have a beauty that He has called me to rescue. I want His will to be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. I know that MY part in this massive story that He is allowing to unfold is a very small part, in the grand scheme of things. At the same time, I believe that it is vital.
Every soul is vital... including mine. God's main goal is the hearts of the people He created. Jesus came to die, to pay the price for our sins so that we could be forgiven and (here's the important part) KNOW GOD!!! Knowing God IS eternal life, and THAT is what Jesus died for us to be able to attain. And this Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, is within us. The Bible tells us that the Kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Learning to walk in this Kingdom that He has placed within us is a process. This is what my blog is about. Allowing the Kingdom to be built in me... or more accurately, allowing God to chip away at the foolishness in my soul that keeps me from living in the marvelous freedom that He has purchased for me.
First, I'll talk about JOY: The word "joy" is mentioned 71 times in the New Testament... it's worthwhile to do a study on joy, but what I want to mention is the last thing that Jesus talked about before he was arrested. Before Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane, He spoke to His disciples about abiding in the vine and remaining in His love... and He told them that "so your joy may be full." In His presence, is the fullness of Joy. The lies that we have been told and that we have believed about ourselves tend to shake us and play on our insecurities and use our defense mechanisms to take us out of an awareness that Jesus is real; He is present; and He loves us. When that happens and our focus shifts from Him, to us and our circumstances, we become robbed of our joy.
Righteousness and Peace, I believe go hand in hand. The reason I say this is that they are mentioned together in what is probably my favorite section of Scripture: Hebrews 12:7-13. Righteousness and Peace... there is a lot I could say. And I probably will in later blog entries, but for now, I think it is sufficient to say that God wants us to be able to walk in His Kingdom. He wants us to see Him (that's why He disciplines us, so we can share in His holiness. Why? Because without holiness, no one will see the LORD). Somehow, through hardship/discipline that is promised to be painful, God causes a harvest of righteousness and peace to be produced in us. That's pretty darn cool! It doesn't show up in those "Bible promises" books, though it should! It's not happy-go-lucky, touched by an angel Christianity, but it is real and it is better than the fluff!!! God is willing to allow us to go through the pain that makes us able to be closer to Him! His love for us transcends the desire for us to be happy all the time. God won't raise a spoiled child, He is building the Kingdom in us... by chipping away the mess on our soul that isn't the "us" that He created! Hallelujah!!!
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