Back on Track After An Unexpected Detour - Weight Loss and Fitness Plan, Week 3

(Originally posted  July 13, 2012)

Week 2 started well again, with an intense barre class, followed by a fresh, satisfying 6-inch sandwich from Subway. But two hours after lunch, it was all derailed. The worst stomach flu of my life put me out of commission for the next four days, and briefly in the ER, so all of my well-planned exercise was out of the question.  On Friday, I finally felt well enough for a one-hour walk, which I repeated on Saturday, and again on Sunday. I took a step back in my physical training that week, but at my post-ER follow up appointment, the doctor’s office scale, which is never my friend, weighed me at 145 lbs. I guess the silver lining of surviving a painful stomach virus was that I lost a few pounds by not keeping anything down for several days!  

Week 3 (if you can call it that, since Week 2 was a no-go), began with me feeling very blessed to have my health back, but uncertain if my strength was enough for barre class. At the end of the class, I felt better than ever, and ready for more. Back on track with yoga on Tuesday, I followed it with a short run rather than a walk. I met with a personal trainer the next day, Revelle, and she showed me some new strength moves and took my measurements (Yikes!).  She confirmed (gently and with many disclaimers about the variance in measurement results) that I could lose body fat, but that my girth in legs, arms, hips, and yes, even my waist, is appropriate, and that I clearly seem fit compared to many of her clients who are just starting out. She challenged me, starting me with 5 lb. hand weights, then moving to 8 lb., and when I balked at 10 lb. weights, she offered to take them from me if my arms wobbled. They did not. I discovered that 10 lbs. wasn’t so bad, and that I am a wimp when it comes to giving myself bigger challenges.  Clearly, I need someone like her to push me.  She also put me on the scale, and to my delight it showed 145 lbs. again.  I may not be focusing on weight loss, but in the process of trying to get fit, some of it is bound to come off. Imagine what could happen if I actually put some effort into calorie tracking and cutting out sweets, seconds, and wine!

Week 3 concluded with the exercise plan is still intact.  I did not succomb to laziness on my unscheduled days - mostly because I added a personal training session on one of them! I also stayed to true to my plan by running on the other unscheduled day. I chose a route that I love - a residential neighborhood with charming homes, varied hills and flats, and an ocean view from several turns.  A playlist of upbeat favorites helped keep me pumped, and when it felt like drudgery, I walked, letting myself choose to pick up the pace when I was ready.

I met colleagues for happy hour at the end of the week, so the prospect of limiting junky foods and alcohol didn’t seem realistic, but hopefully the six hours of good exercise over five days helped me boost my metabolism and hopefully bank some fitness points in advance of the nachos and margaritas.