Workout Photo Session and Sick Kids

Tonight was different than the typical FT session. When I got to my training suite, a photographer had set up special lighting and was ready to photograph the session. She was really nice and made me feel immediately comfortable (although it was hard to act like she wasn't in the room!)

Today, Carter has a cold. He spent the bulk of the afternoon laying on me, full of boogers and coughing. When Will got home from school, I found a note in his bag saying they noticed his eye seemed red. I ran him to the doctor's before the session---he has conjunctivitis and probable ear infection. After the session I was off to the pharmacy to get the antibiotics (his first time on them!). Plus, my husband has a nasty head cold too! So needless to say, there wasn't a lot of exercise going on here today. Even the workout session was a little wimpier than normal, as we had to accomodate the angles and lighting for the photography. Oh well, stuff happens!

Happy Halloween!

Thanks Nicole!

Nicole is our aesthetician at Indra. She give us these wonderful plant peel facials, which are a new Aveda peel that is good for sensitive skin / rosacea, but really gives you a good exfoliation, unlike alot of products for sensitive skin.
It was so cold tonight as I was coming in, and I saw the first flakes of snow. In Nicole's little facial room, I was pampered head to toe with warm blankets and towels, a thermal facial, scalp massage, aromatherapy. I could SO get used to this!!! :)

Getting there

Another assessment tonight----the numbers are going down---obviously in the right direction. I'm planning to go really hard core for the month of November in order to make the numbers jump! More cardio, more jogging, more intense with the nutrition---the works!
I hope Cherish did well tonight too with her assessment.
It's funny how even though I've lost alot of fat, lbs and inches, and clothes now fit that didn't before, and people tell me I'm smaller, I don't really feel alot different. How do you get your mind in line with the rest of you???

Time off is hard to do!!!

I had a minor procedure done Friday morning and, in turn, have not been able to exercise. It's miserable!!! With just weeks left before the big Reveal, every day counts. Lisa (FT owner and our nutrition guru) broke her foot last month, and I completely get the frustration she feels at not being able to work out regularly, even if for me it's only a few days---it just becomes a part of you and your routine. Hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things tomorrow.

The temporary teeth are in, and I go to the color lab tomorrow so that the exact shade of white porcelin can be decided upon for the real teeth, which I'll get next Thursday. Dr. Nahata insists on getting the shade just right (which I appreciate). They have you go outside, under different kinds of lights indoors, in shady areas---to see if the color is just right in all different lighting. I can't wait to get the new teeth, in part because I have this one little piece of (plastic from the teeth, I think) something stuck between the back of these temporaries and is driving me nuts. I keep rubbing my tongue over it trying to make it go away! Because these teeth are bonded together, I cannot floss beteen them to get rid of it! I guess it will make me all the more grateful for the real ones :)

As Halloween approaches, I can proudly say that I have not had any candy. I proposely bought some of the non-chocolate ones that aren't my favorites (skittles, popcorn balls, etc)

I believe there is another reassessment scheduled this week or next, so I look forward to those results. My husband told me today I look as small as I did pre-wedding 5 years ago (and I'm wearing those clothes again too!) I am really looking forward to a little shopping spree at Macy's when this is over---I love that they have a free personal shopper to help you find the best clothes for your shape and size (I asked Santa for Macy's gift cards) :)))

Will visit with Nicole at Indra on Wednesday. My sensitive skin isn't too happy with the product she gave me to use, so she said we may have to switch it up. I really love the Smooth Infusion hair products April gave us from Aveda---they smell great and really help with flyaways and frizzies!

I miss the workouts I used to have with Cherish early on, so I'm hoping that maybe she and I can work out a plan to work out together again, whether it be on Sundays outdoors or during FT sessions. I hope she's as ready as I am about pushing hard to make the last few weeks of this EM really, really count.

Fun Workout with Sam!

I had such a fun workout with Sam! I was doing the highest leg weights yet, the music was fun, and we did some really great new ab exercises that I loved---push ups where you come up and throw a ball at the trainer, bring it back, and do it again. Abs with a stability ball which goes from your hands to your feet and back again. Leg raises where you bring your legs up straight and the trainer, standing behind your head, takes your legs and pushes them back down, or to the left or right-you have to keep them front hitting the floor. Super-planks. Fun stuff!
I think I swept my tongue over my front teeth 80 times while I was there----I still can't get over how straight they are! My dear friend Crystal gave me beautiful birthday flowers when I saw her on the way to the gym---I brought them in to share with the staff at FT while I worked out--they were too pretty to leave in the car!
As of tonight my official FT numbers show me down 18.6 pounds!

Thank you Dr. Nahata

Just have to tell everyone in cyperspace---Dr. Nahata (and his assistant Keri) are geniuses! My teeth are sensational!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't even know how in words to thank them enough---what a great birthday gift :)))

If you are thinking about cosmetic dentistry or just need a good dentist, this is the place (they do see kids too)

Drs. Cooper, Spillman, Nahata and Associates
1418 Main Street, Tewksbury
978 851 7890
infa@tewksburyfamilydentist.com

New Teeth Day!!!

In two and a half hours, I will be sitting in Dr. Nahata's chair saying sayonara to my 2 crooked front teeth! They have always, always been something that bothered me. As a stay at home mom, it just wasn't something that I felt I could justify doing for myself. I am so excited!!!!!!

Go Sox!

I always feel sore two days later. Hence today, the Friday workout has proven to be a good one. Dorothy had me doing a lot of different exercises that I haven't done. But you'd think I hadn't been exercising at all for the last couple months! Both my hams and quads are miserable today---I'm reminded every time I climb up stairs and sit in a chair :)

Lisa changed up the nutrition, reducing the carbs and fats for the weekend, and it's definitely been a challenge---my energy level is way down and I'm pretty crabby too(!) It makes you appreciate carbs and fats when you don't get to eat them!!!

Congrats to Anna and Eric on your run today---sorry I wasn't able to join you this time.

Aren't the Red Sox amazing? Just when you think they aren't going to make it this year, they surprise us all by coming back again and again. Bill went to the store this morning in his Red Sox sweatshirt and bunch of strangers, obviously RS fans, high-fived him! We really are living in Red Sox Nation here! Go Sox!!!

Changing up the workouts!

The last 2 days at the gym have been really fun. The trainers changed up the routines on me, unexpectedly. Brian helped me find my abs again (not the whole 6 pack, yet, but we're progressing!). We did a ton of awesome ab exercises and also did some interval exercises. I was spent by the time I left.
Then this morning Dorothy had me do a bunch of lower extremity work---some of the exercises I had never done before. And more abs (on the ball). There are a few steps leading out of the training area, and boy did I feel it as I ascended them!!!

Just say NO!!!

Today alone, I've had to say no to the following foods that were right in front of my face: apple cider donuts (yummy), cookies, cake, cider, hot chocolate, mozzerella sticks, pizza, and ravioli. Just today!!! I'm becoming proficient in just saying NO!!!

As we sit here in disbelief because the MLB playoff game is not on the TV right now due to technical difficulties, I feel triumphant about all that I said no to. I've found the key to making this work is to always, always have good food choices available. I am sure to have nuts, preportioned and cooked chicken (in a cooler), protein shakes, or carrots with me wherever I go. When you're not hungry, it's so much easier to say no!

Here comes a great week! :)

Did my first day of jog/run intervals tonight---this week is a split of 2 steady state, 2 HIIT (high intensity interval) and 2 3 minute interval sessions. Lisa has asked that I continue the new nutrition cycle for this week, after a 2.2 lb. loss last week. I can tell it will be a challenging, but rewarding week!

Halfway!

When we started the makeover, I marked off this weekend as being the likely halfway point. I can't believe how fast it's gone by! There's alot of progress already, but still much to do! I am starting to find the nutrition aspect of the FT program becoming second nature. The cycling of the fuels is still a challenge to get it just right---but I'm finding myself not going for the usual past fast food/junk food that really isn't fuel at all---the refined, starchy carbs and sugars that hooks us in to Dunkin's and Mickey D's.
The fitness portion is pretty easy, as the trainers are there to make sure you don't mess it up. The cardio is starting to als become just something that has to fit in to the course of the day most days. It's not "if", it's "when".
I'm looking forward to a great coming week!

Coming up this week...

Lisa has changed up our nutrition and exercise plan for the upcoming week! Exercise will entail full body high weight/low rep exercise and interval cardio workouts. Nutrition-wise, we will cycle our fuels (carbs. and fats) differently, which I'm looking forward to (although there's sadly still no ice cream or donuts in the plan!)
Dr. Nahata's staff planned to Zoom my teeth, but they've gotten so much whiter that we all decided it's probably not needed. I'll visit with them again Thursday.
On Tuesday I'll get my first in a series of facials at Indra, which I am very much looking forward to!
I hope everyone has a nice week! :)

The great thing about FT...

Someone just asked me what I like best about FT and if I'd recommend they join. I honestly have to say that if you're looking for the most efficient way to workout, FT is definitely the way to go. The amount that you accomplish in one session is awesome. The trainers have your workouts already pre-determined, so you literally just follow their plan. They set the weight, count your reps, and chart your process. There is no waiting for machines, no need to clean off equipment, no guesswork. The trainers know when to push you and add weight or reps and when to ease up. They make sure you're using correct form too, so you're not worrying about injuring yourself. I had a trial membership at a local gym in January and ended up with a shoulder injury that still bothers me. Because I'm always lifting and carrying a toddler, I never really get a chance to heal. I can't imagine ever injuring myself this way at FT.
The other thing that is nice at FT is that you NEVER have to wait---when you have a 6:00 appointment, your trainer has already set up your room and is ready for you. Plus, if you arrive early, there's always a cardio machine waiting for you! As biased as it may sound, I truly would recommend FT to anyone who needs to maximize their time!