As you read from Ashley’s post on Tuesday, we’re both on a mission to get healthy and lose our post-full-term-twins weight. So I’m trying really hard to sound motivating and all positive like Ashley, but I’m just not in a happy place right now – not gonna lie to ya!
I’m working with Mike Danenberg with Performance Therapy and I’m hoping that he is not a regular CSP reader today! I am in the Nutritional Counseling program with him and he is great (really:-). The problem is on my end. I mean seriously, what grown adult truly needs counseling on food?! That would be me – the one who has been running like Forrest Gump for 5 weeks now and has only lost 4 lbs total. I seriously think my body just adjusts to whatever I throw at it and holds onto fat cells for as long as possible.
Mike’s program is hard core for sure. When I first went to him, I was a little intimidated by his testimonials on his site, Jake Delhomme (yup, I like to think that I’m in his category!), Ironman trainers and a competitive female body-builder. And then there’s me, Jen P, trying to hang with the big dogs! My diet is bland at best – no carbs, no dairy, no sugar and no alcohol. Sounds wee-fun, huh?! I’m ok with the first three stipulations but don’t keep me from my wine! So the first two weeks I was fine because my social calendar was pretty weak. But when you add in my girlfriends supper club, a baby shower and a Florida/Tennessee football game, this hard core chica falls off the wagon every single time. I think I’m just going to have to lay low for my detox period (hopefully only one month, not sure) and then reenter socialization when I come back a skinny bitch!
My workouts are intense – 4/5 runs a week first thing in the morning to get my zero metabolism up to a normal rate. So I’ve been running with my buddy, Keely (captain of the Jen Bunich LungStrong team) every M/W/F at 6am and we’re trying to build up to the LungStrong 15K on October 18th. And every single morning we have a ritual of cursing all of the skinny women in the world. Don’t get me wrong – I know there are WAY worse things that could be wrong with me than needing to lose 20 lbs and 15% of body fat. But right now, this is my world (on top of the world crumbling down around Charlotte with the financial and gas crisis that we’re all in). The other two days I spend working on a functional strength training program which is actually pretty fun. All in all, I’m kicking booty in the workout category. Not so much in the diet category.
So I get to have my fat measured tomorrow (yay, can’t wait!) and we’ll see how bad the damage was with two cupcakes and a few glasses of wine during my “detox” phase. Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck!
P.S. Polka Dots cupcakes in the plaza across from Park Road Shopping Center is pure evil. If I go to another shower with these cupcakes, I’m turning right around and getting back in my car! They are just too yummy and I can’t resist:-)
10 comments
Jen, you are too funny! I’m quite inspired as I still need to lose my baby weight…best of luck to you! Kristin Durnin
I started walking early in the morning about 3 years ago, do it before my husband goes to work and then it is off my list of things to do for the day. Dont get me wrong, when I started doing it, the last thing I wanted to do at 6 am was get up and go walking, especially in the winter when it is freezing outside. But now if I cant go in the morning I really miss it and actually “panic” a little if I cant go for a few days, still not hard core enough to go when it is raining, but with the drought that has not happened all that often. Hang in there, once you do it long enough it becomes habit and it feels so good to know that by 7:30 am you are all done with your workout for the day!
How inspiring! I had an emergency c-section 2 years ago when I had my son, and I’m still battling weight issues (and getting my tummy to just work again – Pilates classes are very humerous). I had been training this summer for two 5ks, the Race for the Cure this weekend, and the Hopebuilders 5K next weekend, and unfortunately messed up my back and have been sidelined since early August. If the MRI comes back clean next week, I’m going to try morning workouts so I can squeeze it in without feeling guilty!
I finally got a trainer 18 months after my first to get my weight off…After 8 weeks of strength building exercises, cardio, yoga, pilates, etc., I lost zilch! I couldn’t believe it! I did manage to lose 2 inches off my butt and my thighs. I kept at it and then, miracles of miracles, it just flew off suddenly! And I kept it off. Now, pregnant again, it’s coming right back on. Keep on going, don’t worry about what the scale says and things will kick in if you just keep at it.
to make the pounds slide off, I’ve got one word….Zumba. It is way fun and it works wonders!
By no means am I any type of pro or skinny bitch for that matter but a few things have helped. I think a workout partner is key. It makes you accountable. I often write an exercise class at 9:00 or “run for 30min.” on my calendar just like an appointment. Signing up for a race or event also helps you work towards an attainable goal. Reward yourself with cute workout clothes instead of lunch out. As far as food goes -I think portion control is essential. Don’t deny yourself the cupcake…just split with a friend 🙂 Now, if I could just follow my own advice…
Hey Plym, had to comment: I can’t believe your trainer would have you working out so much without eating any carbs? Is that right? Also ask him: isn’t it true that to lose weight and burn fat you need to up your mileage in running and/or go faster – and/or both?-Katie
I believe in a more balanced approach in regards to diet and exercise. My experience has been if you eat sensibly on a regular basis and have a solid workout regimen 4-5 days a week, you will maintain a healthy weight and achieve an attractive physique. I think extreme changes in diets and depriving oneself can be demotivating and will not work long term. I have friends who’ve tried this approach and they do great initially, but eventually peter out. They end up disappointed. I think the key is finding a good balance that is both achieveable and sustainable long term.
I worked with Mike about 3 years ago. I lost 20% body fat and have been able to keep it off for 3 years. His approach to work with behavior modification and teaching you to eat sensibly allowed me to eat the fun foods without guilt. My husband, who said I could never do it, now calls me his trophy wife. I had tried other diet programs but Mike has a unique way of customizing a program to help you to reach your goals and then maintain it. I actually met Mike because my daughter pulled a hammy and the docs said she would be out of Soccer for at least 4 weeks. A friend told us about him and what he did for their son when he got hurt. Mike was able to get my daughter back on the field playing in only a week. He even showed us what we needed to do with her involving training to help avoid this in the future. My husband has seen Mike off and on over the years for various problems from his weekend warrior athletic issues.
Thank you for the last post. I needed to read that right now. I’m getting really frustrated with how hard I’m working. I know I can do this though. I did lose 15% of my body fat last fall, but fell off hard in Feb. Overnight, I had not a spare second to work out and then gradually my diet went down the tubes too. So I’m back. I know his program works. The beginning phase seems harder this time and my results are slower (probably b/c my cheats were higher!). But I’m up to 7 miles for this LungStrong 9.3 miler next weekend! I’m so close!I’m glad to hear that you have kept it off. I’ve never had a problem keeping weight off – just have a hard time getting it off after birth. Although, this last twins full-term pregnancy has really messed with my metabolism. I think I need to have it checked out. This isn’t right!