Month 1 Results... Not so Fabulous.

Okay, I've procrastinated enough. It's time to post the unthinkable. (Insert Horror Music Here) The dreaded BEFORE pictures. Not that anyone will read this before scrolling down to the photos, but I'll still build the story for you because it's just too "special" not to. :)

I came in to see Lanell for the first time on September 28 2009. I had done my research and knew that she was a perfect match and fitness partner for many reasons.

1. She is a female not a requirement, but I've learned that communication is easier with women. For example, I told a male trainer once that I might not be up to par because I was experiencing heavy cramping. He told me to eat a banana. Potassium was my answer? Really? Gotta love him, but not during that time of the month. The little fella was lucky to escape with his life.
2. She is a female fitness competitor. This means that she understands my vision and knows how to get me there. But most importantly, she doesn't judge me for wanting more out of my body and objectively sees the work that needs to be done. Let's face it, women are interesting creatures. I remember going to a Curves. Loved the concept. 30 minute circuit training, all women...you can't beat that. The problem...they stared, rolled their eyes and often asked what I was doing there as I didn't need to lose any weight. Now I'd like to think that they weren't being unkind, but it was clear that I was not welcome.
3. She is a female fitness competitor over the age of 50. Need I say more? Heck, some nights I don't know if I'm sleeping or swimming. If you don't understand what that means...get off my blog!
4. She is a female fitness competitor, over the age of 50 with back injuries. I found out last year that I had a bulging disc at L4-L5 and a herniation at L5-S1. This is the very low back and is nothing nice. Lanell has the exact same injuries and has worked her way back to health and beyond.

To sum it all up, I have had wonderful trainers over the years who have been amazing. But for this challenge, I want to work with someone who has been where I'm going.

So back to the story, she works me out, determines my strengths and weaknesses. Writes ALOT of notes and sends me on my way.

Have your legs ever been so sore that you suddenly realize how low the potty is? Why is the potty so darned low!!! I’m just sayin….

Imagine my shock when I returned to Lanell 2 days later to discover that the last session was only an assessment!! You can probably figure out how the remainder of the month went. My pleas for breaks, water and even an epidural went unanswered. Okay, I’m exaggerating about the breaks and water, but I DID ask for the epidural. When Lamaze breathing comes to mind…Something is just not right.

Sidebar: Good news is, she knows her stuff and has been working with my injured back without sacrificing the training. She's building the muscles around the injuries to support area more effectively. She also added stretches and additional home exercises for that purpose.

My Routine: Workouts with Lanell 3 days a week, 2 days a week weight training on my own with cardio every day. Log my food online, eat this much protein, this much fat, this many carbs, that many calories... Right.... Sure Lanell... Lol!

I thought I knew better. After all, I can drop 20 pounds in 2 months. I got this. We have 7 months before the April fitness competition. Plus, it was Domestic Violence Awareness month and in addition to writing my book, working client projects and the kids, I was busy speaking my behind off. Well, I wish I was speaking my behind off, as you will soon see. Lol!!

Sidebar: When you read Lol!! I am really laughing..out loud. Sometimes to the point of coughing and choking. I really crack myself up. Perhaps I should come up with another acronym LOLCC!!

Anyway....I was decent. I stayed within my calorie count, cardio 4 days a week, weights 1 day on my own plus 3 with Lanell. If I had been in my twenties or early thirties, I would have been dangerously underweight by the end of the month. Well... Not so much. LOLCC!! Below are my stats. I'll figure out how to put a chart in here for next month, but for now....

My Stats 9/28 - 11/2
Height 5ft 11in
Weight: 158 - 157 = 1 lb loss. (Yes can you believe it?)
Weight 30 day goal = 150
Bodyfat: 24.7 - 24 = .7 loss
Bodyfat 30 day goal = 23.5

I won't get into my measurements at this juncture other than to say:
Hips dropped 1.3in
Chest dropped .25in
Real Waist (at navel) increased .7in (smallest part wasn't measured until now. results in Dec)
Thigh increased .35
Arm increased .2
Forearm increased .1

So let me sum that up for you....
My behind and breasts decreased. My thighs and arms increased. My husband will not be pleased. Lol!!

All in all, I'm building muscle, but not dropping the fat as fast as we would like to see. Below are the before shots.

You are not going to believe this....They won't post. Yeah!!!! Stay of execution. I'll figure this out and try again shortly under separate post.