DOUBTS
I’m entering my last full week here at Green Mountain. Although I know I’ve made heaps of progress, the thought of going back to Memphis has suddenly made me start questioning all of that progress. I feel like I haven’t learned enough, tried enough, or lost enough weight. I know I look different, but when I look in the mirror I can’t see it. I just see me, which is good ;), but not different. So I’m entering my last full week hoping that I can make a bigger dent into the long term goals that I have.
EXERCISE
I think I might be feeling this way because last week was such a slow week. I didn’t exercise as much as I would have wanted to, even though I did quite a bit. My workouts for the week were:
Saturday 11/21 -
- 45 minutes – miracle mile (walk 1/10 mile then strength or interval: calf raises, jumping jacks, hamstring curls, plank, pushups, football run, high knees, squats)
Friday 11/20 –
- 1 hour upper body resistance training + abs
- 35 minutes The Stair Workout
Thursday 11/19 –
- 30 minutes sunrise yoga
- 1 hour lower body conditioning + abs
- 30 minutes water cardio drills
Wednesday 11/18 -
- 30 minutes water aerobics
- 30 minutes “progressive” yoga
- 30 minutes cardio stations
Tuesday 11/17 -
- 1 hour lower body conditioning
- 45 minutes kickboxing (super low intensity)
Monday 11/16-
- Nothing, sick.
It was a slow week as I recovered from getting miserably sick last weekend. I’m hoping this week I can just do as much exercise as possible, because I probably won’t have that chance when I go home. So, I’m dedicating next week to the fitness gods so I can try to officially get in the best shape ever. Hopefully I won’t have any unforeseen injuries or illnesses to hold me back and I can push hard through the end!
STRETCHING:
One of the things I love about the fitness program up here is their focus on flexibility. The fitness director really tries to get everyone to take a flexibility based class every day and we stretch before and after EVERY activity. The stretches here are a little bit different than the stretches I am used to, and that is because they are designed for ANYONE. Seriously, they are super easy and effective. I had never even seen some of them before, but they are awesome and work. Of course on some body parts I have to get a deeper stretch using another form, but unless you need a super deep stretch they are great. You can check them out in this video with Jen. The video is 8 minutes long, but a super good stretching routine.
Stretching is so important!! I do it before, during, and after activity, usually, but I want to start a routine of stretching when I wake up. I think it would be a nice start to the day. Maybe it would wake me up a bit more before I head into the kitchen to find breakfast. Do any of you practice stretching routines religiously? Do it in the morning? Have any super awesome stretches I should know about?
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{ 24 comments }
When I lost a crap load of weight last year, 25 lbs in about four months, I remember going and buying clothes, looking at myself in the mirror and not really knowing who that girl was. Here I was at a different, lower weight then I had ever been at before and I was freaking out. I want to go back to the Michelle that I knew before. I felt like I couldn’t identify with the person that I was becoming. Then I started eating again. It felt good to be the person who I felt I DESERVED to be. Little did I know that I deserved to be the person that I was at the weight that I was at.
It does take time to shed the ‘fat’ self. I mean that in the non-harshest more enduring way. I still do it to myself all the time. I still look at myself and struggle with the progress that I have made. However, I OWN it now. I may not totally believe that I’ve made it this far or that I can’t resist shoving my face when I go back to America.
How I silence those doubts and keep my eye on the prize..of being healthy. I don’t care as much about the scale. What I care about is being healthy.
Love the progress that you’ve made. Know that you’re doing amazing things. You have and deserve every ounce of the journey that you’ve gone on. EVERY morsel.
.-= Michelle @ Eatingjourney´s last blog ..Top Ten: Why I am excited to go home to America =-.
Awwww…Hun! How I’ve seen you grow since the first time our “Twitter” paths crossed!!!!! I am so very very proud of you, Home Girl!!! You Look AMAZING!!! But More importantly…mYouve become a KINDER MORE GENTLE ANGEL!! Well Done!!! Yiuve Inspired me!!! Green Mountain in 2010 OR BUST!! ;-)
Keep Up The Great Work, Gorgeous Girl!!!
Love Ya!
Monique
NIce workouut it should be helpful to me thanks for the video also
.-= colon cleasing products´s last blog ..The Benefits of Colon Cleansing =-.
I don’t stretch NEARLY as much as I should. Thanks for the reminder!
Mary: You are so inspiring to so many, and you look so beautiful, you are amazing and I am so proud of you. It is always hard to go home, but you have been so many places and are going to so many more, that home my dear is where your heart truly is happy. I love you but now you are all grown up and you make the decision where your heart is and where you can be happy. I as your mom will always be there for you but now is your time to help others with what you have learned, and you have learned so much, and you do look great.
Doubt is not an option, be strong, be confident, you are awsome adn I loved what Monique said, ditto’s to that.
Love MOM
I know it’s not the same, but I remember feeling the same way when my therapy sessions were up. I was worried I hadn’t learned enough, that I wasn’t fixed, that I needed to keep going. I think it’s only natural when change comes along. But I know what you’re going back to is going to make it so so hard. And I hope you’re able to work something out so where it can be a little bit easier, but you’re so strong and so smart, Mary. Like with your last post, you can adapt things to you, do things that work for you. And if you need any support you know you’ve got it in droves.
Love the stretching video, btw :D
thanks for the words of encouragement! and look at you, wow, that is alot of working out, good job!
I don’t know if that feeling ever goes away. After a year at my current weight, I still sometimes see the old 100 pound heavier person. It’s weird.
Great weekly workouts!
I can’t believe your time went so fast!!! You have made great progress & so exciting for that!
I have to find some time to watch that stretching video cause I stretch after my workouts & then again later in the day after I have warmed up a bit. I always like to be warmed up cause at my age, not only is stretching really important as I have lost alot of my flexibility from youth BUT I might tear or “pop” something!!!! I can still do my splits but I warm up for at least 15 minutes first!
Congrats on all you have done!
@Michelle
Your words really mean a lot to me. I’ve still got sooo far to go both physically and mentally, that sometimes it’s hard to see that I’ve made it anywhere. You encourage me.
@Dr. Mo
Thank you sweetie. I have loved getting to know you! And I totally think you should come to Green Mountain! It is a very special place.
@Mom
Thank you! And I’m laughing over the fact that you are now going by “Mom Thompson” and saying “ditto” … LOL!!
@Lori
That’s what I’m scared of, honestly. Although I like myself and my body, I’m worried I will always see myself as bigger even if I’m not. I seem to be getting more out of touch with what I actually look like.
@Jody
Stretching is really, really important, especially as you age. I’m no expert but I would suggest you start stretching before working out too. Couldn’t hurt. ;)
I finally realized the importance of stretching yesterday…as my leg said no in the middle of a workout and started it’s own rebellion. I apologized profusely and stretched for a half an hour, it’s all better now.
You have the tools you need. You know what to do…now you just need to get out there and prove it to yourself. The last picture i saw was a before after shot from
the side.
You could def. tell the difference. Getting used to the difference is another matter, that will take time. Just hold your ground. It will become your new normal.
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Day 14—Important news…I’m not in Kansas anymore =-.
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was reading about you going up there and now you are almost done! I know that you have had a wonderful, wonderful experience up there and learned loads about yourself and what makes you successful. You will do fine back in Tennessee. It’s a journey of life and you are on your own path.
Stretching? Not so much. But I’m going to try and do better!
.-= Diane Fit to the Finish´s last blog ..Operation Christmas Child =-.
I have never practiced stretching. I guess this is something I should look in to.
.-= South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Weigh-In, Measurements, and Goals =-.
That’s a really great video! I might try to do that every morning, and before going for a run. I always remember to stretch after running, but doing it every day would be great.
Im not a fitness Goddess but if you need a hand? ideas? NAGcouraging? let me know…
.-= Miz´s last blog ..MizFit workout video: crunches. =-.
@Chris
Hate when that happens. Aww, thanks. I know I do. I’m just worrying about change. And yeah, getting used to the difference will take me some time.
@Diane
Yeah, it will be okay when I come back. And we will have to meet! I’m coming to Jackson at least once!
@Cathy
Me too. I’m great at the pre/post exercise running… need to work on just the daily stretchy time.
@Miz
You wanna be my fitness fair godmother? Hehe. I’ll email you soon.
Mary,
I can’t even start to tell you how happy I am for you and the progress that you have made. I read your last weeks posts so I am commenting on all of them here :)
You look amazing in the picture and yes you do inspire others on so many levels!
I think it is hard to figure out how to really love and accept ourselves. If you can get to that point and it seems as though you are then you will be able to conquer anything.
You are beautiful and deserve to be loved and it is all coming together for you, YAY!
Stairs…WOW! I have never dared to try those because I have a fear of heights and falling down them. I bet that is a great workout.
I am going to take your advice on stretching. I am seriously Miss Unflexible to the extreme. Something I can really work on.
Don’t be afraid to go home. You will be fine! You have the tools you need to start a new beginning and it is going to be awesome!
XO
.-= Shannon Fab Fattie´s last blog ..Blogs that YOU are THANKFUL for? =-.
Work it, girl. :)
Stretching is so important – I find it really helps with my range of motion and circulation, not to mention the obvious benefit on the muscles. The areas I always feel tightness are my groin and quads. My favorite stretch is a seated groin stretch. I’m really flexible and can lower my nose all the way to my feet, and I just hang out – stretch and breathe – then bring my upper half back up. Lather, rinse, repeat. I also do a lot of hip circles, standing quad, and seated quad.
Have a good week! Thanks for your comment yesterday!
Erin
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Don’t You Dare! =-.
Good luck for your last week. You can have an amazing week that you will be proud of and remember for a long time! Believe in your abilities this week!
.-= FatFitnessFood´s last blog ..Super Weekend! =-.
Taking the time to focus on flexibility really will help to improve your workouts. I’m sure you’re already seeing results in that you feel more limber and relaxed. One thing I do to stretch in the mornings are sun salutations. It’s a yoga pose that I learned, of all things, from the wii fit. I like it because it involves little effort but really helps to wake me up and get me moving in the morning. If you don’t have the wii fit to see it demonstrated I’m sure youtube would have one. Structure House, where I work, always has a bend and stretch morning class that seems to be pretty popular-probably for the same reasons at Green Mountain. It just feels good!
You’ve got this Mary! Congrats for getting through the program. You have come so far.
I don’t stretch nearly enough. at all. Thanks for the reminder.
.-= josie´s last blog ..Week 8 – Weigh-In =-.
Stretching and strength training has been very beneficial to me…
Can’t wait to hear how you continue your success when you return to Memphis..
Julie
Thank you for posting a stretching video! I am soo bad at stretching I don’t do it nearly enough (perhaps why I hurt my knees and always feel tight..). The most stretching I get is during my lift class, when our teacher makes sure to stretch us before, after and even a little during, because it’s so easy to injure yourself with weights. With my bad memory, I forget most of the stretches so other than that, I just stretch randomly during the day when I feel tight.. A lot at work cuz I get cramped siting in a cubicle. I will watch this sometime soon at home and try to learn the stretches.
By reading your blog, it seems like you’ve worked really hard and that you’ve made tons of progress. And wow sunrise yoga I would fall over asleep during it. Enjoy your last week and good luck with your plans to go back to the real world.
.-= merri´s last blog ..Judging a Book by its Cover =-.
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