Day 6: Double Workouts and Discoveries

So yesterday was my first workout with Carlos. We scheduled it for 4:45pm before Zumba so I could do both. I was nervous about working out with him. I didn’t know what to expect. I pull up and he’s sitting outside on a tractor tire with 2 sledge hammers and a kettle ball. We went inside for warm-ups -- squats, forward and backward lunges, pushups, hip circles, and leg extensions. Those hip circles and pushups got me! Don’t let the size fool you …my arms have no strength! On we go outside to walk; and Carlos has a faster pace than I usually do and that was regular tempo. We did intervals of “slow” and speed – concentrating on breathing and pushing with the arms. We walked around the parking lot and restaurants, then back to the studio and on to the rotations. This included walk-out burpees, step-ups, push-ups, and sledge hammer swings….all but the step-ups on the tractor tire. I think he was supposed to have kettle ball swings in there too, but he forgot those. We got 3 rounds in before he let me “relax” before Zumba started. Laurie also took some pics and video for the transformation.

The workout with Carlos wasn’t as bad as I think I expected it to be, but it was still challenging. I could hear that voice in my head saying “you can’t do this” and “it’s okay to stop”….but I didn’t listen. I knew I COULD do it and NOT to stop! I had to keep pushing – through the pain and the doubtful thoughts. This was just workout #1. I HAD to keep going! And I did. I made it through his workout AND Zumba! Now, granted, I couldn’t go at the intensity I usually do during class; but I did my best, kept up, and I made it work! At the end, most definitely I was worn out. But it was worth it. The pain in my arms: worth it. The pain in my thighs: worth it. The soreness in my hips: worth it. The confidence that I can do it again: WORTH IT!

In addition to my workouts yesterday, I was finally able to weigh. I stopped by the hospital at the Wellness Center after work. They were actually already closed, but the door was still open. I walked in and the director was so nice and let me go ahead and weigh anyway. I’m not about to disclose that number in public, but I’ll just tell you I was surprised. It wasn’t quite as bad as I expected but not where I want to be. It really made me think about where I started from. I don’t know how much weight I have lost to date, but the 39.5 inches has to be a lot. Adding that to what I weigh now is – it’s reality. When I started this journey, I was the size of TWO overweight people….not just two average people, but overweight adults! It really makes me see just how bad things really were. I’m still not where I need to be, by any means, but I’m working on it. It is a long journey, but I know I’ll get there and I am blessed and privileged to have Inspire 4 Life on my side right now pushing me along!

Days 2-5

So I haven’t had much time to blog this past week. Thursday we had the first Inspired! meeting at the studio. It’s like Weight Watchers, but it’s the Inspire 4 Life version! :) They obviously have some different views, information, and ways of doing things than WW. This first meeting was basic informational and getting weighed/measured. I compared that measurements that Laurie got to mine, and they’re pretty close so I’m happy with that. I measured myself last night and I’ve lost 1.5 inches this past month! YAY! I like that number much better than my 0 and 0.75! That puts me to 39.5 inches lost in almost 11 months. I’m interested to see where I am at the end of the month with this transformation process.

So on Thursday, while at the Inspired! meeting, Carlos (one of the trainers) asked me if I was staying for a class. I told him that I hadn’t planned on it because I hadn’t even been home from work yet to change clothes, eat, or anything. Laurie convinced me to go home to change and come to her Zumba class at 6:15. Granted this meeting was at 4:45pm. I left there around 5:20 and went home to scarf down a sandwich and change clothes and be on time for class! And, oh my heavens! That additional Zumba was CRAZY!!! My arms and legs were SO SORE! I didn’t expect just one extra class to make that much difference but it did. I was making some pretty painful faces, but I made it through!

Friday and Saturday, I got my workout on by moving boxes and totes into the living room (Friday) and outside (Saturday) for our Yard Sale. I didn’t do much else Saturday night or Sunday. We actually travelled to see my cousin Mike Bowling (The Bowling Family) in concert in Greer. It’s always great to see him! We’re planning to go see him the Friday we go to Indiana for our family reunion. He’ll be about 30 minutes or so away from where my aunt lives. Plus, I’m hoping to be able to swing through Ohio to see my former youth pastor and his wife. Love and miss them TONS, so if we’re close we try to go see them.

I’m pretty excited [and nervous] about this week. We are really going to kick things into gear and I have my first workout with Carlos today at 4:45 before Zumba. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do and how I make it through Zumba! We’re also [finally! ;)] going to do the pantry raid and grocery trip this week. I’m ready to get on board with the food they want me to eat and changing some habits. I also still have to get with Bobby about when he wants me to train with him. My weeks are going to be JAM PACKED from now until this transformation is over! I know it’s going to be tiring and trying, but I also know it’s going to be worth it in the end. God showed me favor enough to let me win this contest and I am going to make the best of it to the very end. When I get down and exhausted, I am leaning on you readers and followers for encouragement! You have helped me thus far with your comments and positivity; I know you’ll help me get through this when I don’t think I can go any farther! For now, it’s one workout at a time. Keep pushing on…

Day 1

I have quite a few people that have requested that I keep them update with my progress and the transformation journey. Well today was day one. It felt like just another day, but at the same time it didn’t. It was almost like today was the first day of the rest of my life. In essence it kind of was. I’ve been on a plateau for the past two months, edging toward the cliff, ready to fall off. Today, I backed away from that cliff. It felt really good. It felt good to know that I have a purpose again; that I have a goal to reach for. I had the motivation to stay away from the snacks and empty calories. I ate fairly well today, except for my one snickerdoodle cookie. I felt in control again. It’s hard to not feel in control and the toll it can take on your habits and emotions.


Zumba was amazing! I felt like everyone was watching me though, which was awkward. But at the same time, it made me work that much harder and to keep pushing. I got a couple of extra looks, pushes, and encouragement from Laurie during class. Then afterward I stuck around to talk with her about our plan and my eating for the day. She showed me a few arm workouts to do at home with some light weights. I’m gonna start working on that and getting a pedometer to count my steps.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about what’s to come. I am; but at the same time I’m excited. I know I’m going to be pushed beyond my limits. I know I’m going to be sore and tired. I know it is going to take a real sacrifice to make this work. But I can honestly say I’m ready. I am ready for what’s to come and the new goals I’m going to reach throughout this month and the months to come. Let’s do this!!

Pictures

I wanted to post pictures yesterday but didn't get a chance to. So here you go. Some pics of my progress and where I started from.

  

  

Catching Up

I realize I haven’t blogged lately. It’s been kind of crazy since the last time I was on here. I guess I’ll start with my weight-loss status. Since May, I really haven’t lost anything more. Seriously – June was a big fat goose egg. July was only .75 inches. I’ve been pretty bummed out about that and have let it get to me. I am extremely blessed that I have not gained anything back. That helps me know that I still have some sort of something left in me! I have still been doing Zumba, and even picked up a Step Aerobics class a couple of times to try to throw my body off routine. I have felt myself drifting lately thought…quite a lot actually.

Well, I had the chance for an intervention. The place where I do Zumba (Inspire 4 Life) was hosting a Fitness Transformation Contest. Here is the description of the contest: Do you have a friend or family member who needs a little push to get up and make some changes for the better? Someone who's willing to be filmed as we take them through each step of their total body transformation. They must be available to workout with our team of trainers a minimum of 4 times per week. This exciting journey includes a complete overhaul of their eating habits, as we invade their refrigerator and cabinets, eliminating all the junk. We will then take them shopping and restock their cabinets and fridge with the right foods! After a month of hardcore workouts and eating the right stuff, your friend will deserve to be pampered. We will give them a complete makeover including hair, nails, make-up (for ladies) and a new outfit to show off that new body!... We want you to tell us why your friend or family member deserves the chance to be our first total body transformation contestant. Details please! We want to know what kind of habits they currently have and why they've struggled to lose weight. Impress us and give us a reason to choose your friend or family member!

I debated on entering because they were asking people to nominate a friend or family member. I asked about nominating yourself and they said “Go ahead!”…so I did. Let me tell you – this was hard. This was the first time that I had really sat down to write out my whole story. I know I’ve shared bits and pieces on here, but this was an honest recount of my life leading up to and over the past 16 months. I shared things in my essay submission that only my closest friends knew until now. I laid it all on the line for them. I really wanted to win. This was just the kick I needed to get back on track and not let myself give up. So here it goes. I am actually going to share with you my essay submission…

My Story

My name is Alisha Scott. I am a morbidly obese adult that just can’t take it anymore. I have been overweight all my life, ever since childhood. I have never known anything different. Growing up, I dreamed of doing certain things – playing volleyball, being a cheerleader, being popular, and to just plain be skinny – but it never happened. My weight has constantly limited me. I would think from time to time that I need to lose the weight and would start to diet. But within weeks, sometimes even days, I was back to my old habits and going about life as I was used to it. I hate to say it, but I was “content” with being fat. That’s how I had always been and I had come to the realization that I was always going to be that way. I couldn’t see life any differently.

My honest statement is: My weight/health is what it is because I ate what I ate and didn’t do what I should have done. Last year I had a wake-up call. I went to the doctor for a regular check-up and my blood pressure was extremely high. I knew in the back of my mind that it could always be a possibility. I have a family history; my mother and grandmother have both had health and heart problems. My grandmother passed from congestive heart failure. My father died of a heart attack at the young age of 34, while my mother was 6 months pregnant with me. When my doctor told me what my reading was, I completely broke down. I was scared! She referred me to a cardiologist. I went for my appointment and he did a complete blood panel and EKG. Everything was fine with my heart and cholesterol; I just had the high blood pressure. At my high weight, I am blessed that there aren’t a million other things wrong with me. But the cardiologist bluntly told me that if things didn’t change, I would die very early. I knew my life had to change – my eating habits, my activity level, my thoughts about food – ALL of it!

Even after my doctor’s appointment and receiving all this news, it took a while for it to really sink in. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to start. I was used to eating whenever and wherever I wanted to and could find/buy it. I wasn’t worried about portions. I just ate. I think people were afraid to say anything to me, including my family, because of our situation. But it’s not their fault. I am the one who ate the food. It’s my life and I made myself who I am. So now was my chance to take it all back. This was my chance to make it right. I knew it would be a long, difficult journey, but I had to make it or I would die. I had to find somewhere to start and I finally did.

I started my journey simply by counting calories. I was shocked to really see what I was eating and the impact it was having on my body. I started adapting my eating habits. I didn’t just eat whenever and wherever anymore. I had to figure out my true hunger pangs. I had to find better foods. I started really taking note of nutritional values. I had to change my thoughts about eating from “I live to eat” to “I eat to live.”

My next step was adding exercise. I started by walking, pacing really, in my living room during Biggest Loser. Then I started walking with a friend of mine. In January, she introduced me to Zumba. I’d always seen the infomercials on TV, but never thought I’d be able to do it. The first time, we did a 20 minute routine on the Wii. It was so much fun! I was amazed that I could [at least halfway] keep up. I loved that I burned as many calories in 20 minutes of Zumba as I did on my 2 mile walk that took 45 minutes! I had found my exercise passion. It wasn’t a boring routine. I found something I could do and loved it enough to stick with it.

I have been on this journey now, whole-heartedly, since September 11, 2011. I kind of started before that, but that date is when I consciously made the decision to attack this thing full-force. It has been a roller-coaster. My life is a journey and my journey to weight-loss and health is a daily struggle. I’ve been this way all my life; it’s hard to change habits. It’s hard to change the way you think about food, how you eat, and your level of activity after doing it the same way for 29 years. There have been days that I wasn’t sure if I could make this a true lifestyle change. It’s hard sometimes to keep my mind focused on what I need to be eating versus what I want to be eating. I have been dedicated to this change because if I continue to feed my mind and body what I want, I’ll stay the way I am and that is just not an option.

I have had some great accomplishments over the past 10 months. I don’t know how many pounds I have lost because, honestly, I’m too overweight to be weighed on a regular scale or even at the doctor’s office. I do measure inches and so far I have lost 37.5 inches. I completed my first 5K in January and have another one scheduled for November. But the fact is I can feel myself running out of steam. I don’t keep track of my calories anymore. I notice myself picking back up some of my bad habits. I’m beginning to snack whenever I want to. So many times before, this is where I would just give up. I would let myself keep drifting until I didn’t care/worry about what I was eating anymore. I can’t do that this time. I can’t let myself have that option. I can’t let this be just a fad. This is a battle I’m going to be facing for the rest of my life.

This is where the Inspire 4 Life Transformation Contest comes into play for me. I need something to get me back to where I need to be. I need to get a new outlook on my journey in order to really make it long term. I have been blessed to be part of the Inspire 4 Life family since starting the Zumba class back in January. I know that the instructors and trainers have the knowledge and ability to kick my journey back into gear. This is the perfect extra push I need and to revamp my eating habits again! I would be honored to be chosen for your transformation contest.

The deadline was July 12th and they were supposed to start workouts on July 16th. I expected to know the winner that weekend. Well, that weekend passed. The next week passed. I was getting desperate to know the results. I had already asked on their Facebook page, so I had a friend of mine ask when they would announce the winner. They finally responded and said they would alert the winner by Monday July 23rd. My nerves were building. Then Monday around 2pm, they said they would announce the winner that night. I had Zumba at 5:30pm, would they announce then?!? By now, you can assume right that my stomach was CHURNING – I was ready to know if I won or not! I get to class and all 3 trainers were there. No biggie, it could be anyone in class…well, that anyone was ME!!!! They finally announced right before class started and I actually WON!!! I couldn’t believe it. God was on my side. He knew I needed this and showed favor on me! They got my response on video, which should be posted online soon - either on their website or Facebook page. I start the whole process today and it will last the whole month of August. They should be posting my journey on their website, so keep a lookout there. I am actually going to try to get back into blogging during this transformation so you can find updates here too. I am so excited!!! Like I said, this is exactly the kick in the rear that I need to get back on track and where I need to be. I know it is going to be tough. Laurie, Carlos, and Bobby are NOT going to take it easy on me. They already told me they are going to “break” my [yikes!] – but I’m ready. My one year anniversary of being on this weight loss journey is coming up 11 days after this transformation is over. I can’t wait to see where this pushes my at that one year mark.

Me and the trainers - (L to R) Laurie, Carlos, and Bobby

Let's do this!!