I was on to something...

When I first started this blog, it was just a place for me to log my workouts.  That lasted a few months and then I dropped off from posting.  On New Year's Eve of 2017, I wrote another blog post and in it was the first time I had this realization:

2017-2018

"I am glad I saved this post though, to remind myself that it is not even about looks or shape, I have to keep remembering that when I am eating clean and working out I THINK BETTER and I am a better teacher."

May 2019

It took me until March to get really going and by July I was making strides.

It wasn't until this school year that I really understood how much being fit was helping me be a better teacher.  Regular exercise and tracking what I eat (instead of mindlessly eating/stress eating) has led to the following benefits besides weight loss. 

• Clearer thinking and the ability to be more productive.  
• More energy to be productive.
• Confidence!  This is key when teaching middle schoolers!
• No sick days!  I haven't caught any cooties from my students, even when the nasty bugs were going around. 

This is not just my experience, the National Institute of Health has studies that show that exercise increases the production of a protein in our brain called brain-derived neurotrophic factor which literally supports the neuron growth and the development of new synapses! (Sleiman, Sama F et al. “Exercise promotes the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through the action of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate.” eLife vol. 5 e15092. 2 Jun. 2016, doi:10.7554/eLife.15092)

Summer 2018

On New Year's Eve of 2017, I wrote this blog post,  New Year's Eve Refections

While it was a rough start of the year, I am happy to say that I got my act together and am finally making progress! 

My new job has made me realize how unhappy I was teaching the younger grades (5th and 3rd).  I am so happy to be back teaching Algebra and teens.  It is amazing how stress affects your life.  I really needed that change to get things going.
I know that stress is a part of life and there will be and has been other stresses in my life, but I truly believe that eating healthy and exercising helps me deal with stress so much better!

New Year's Eve Reflections

On 9/20/16 I wrote this...
"I've been hesitant to write a new post because I didn't want to jinx myself.  But I am back and have been on track since last MAY!!!  I'm down 25 pounds and feel wonderful!

I can really say that eating clean and working out has really impacted my teaching.  I have tons more energy and think so much more clearly.

I'm not really going to update this blog too much since I'm tracking my workouts now on bodybuilding.com."

I saved it and never posted it.  In the middle of October I broke my toe.  Thus the end of my streak. I gained every pound back and am at my worst ever. 
I am glad I saved this post though, to remind myself that its not even about looks or shape, I have to keep remembering that when I am eating clean and working out I THINK BETTER and I am a better teacher.

As I get ready to start a new job in a few weeks, I need to be at my best.  I am going back to 8th grade Algebra 1 after teaching 5/6 and 3rd for the past 3.5 years. I need my brain to be as sharp as possible!

I know I can do it!  I just have to keep reminding myself of my why and its not my pant size!

Transformation Challenges

I am a total sucker for these. Back in 1999 two years after my daughter was born I entered my first one.  It was the Bill Phillips Transformation Challenge. I didn't win, but did finish and got a medal, certificate and cool tshirt!
More importantly it got me back on the fitness path which ultimately led to physique competition and made me very happy!

Today I signed up for the bodybuilding.com 2015 250K Challenge.  Here's what I love about it...win or lose, if I work my ass off to win, I will win either way LOL!

Goodbye 2015!

Happy to say that I got a final workout in for 2015!

I went with a friend to sample a cross-fit class!  Wow!

INTENSE!  Since you need to go through 4 weeks of up-ramp classes before you can take an official cross-fit class, we did the cross-fit lite class called be-fit.  Loved it!

This was the routine:

Wall balls (squat with a 10# med ball then throw it up to hit a spot on the wall)

Kettlebell swings (18#)

Burpees

Start with 3 reps, then 6, then 9, 12, 15, 18 for 15 minutes.  Lets just say I only made it to 12 reps in those 15 minutes!   My cardio conditioning is sheer poop.

Next it was 7 minutes of Russian twist tabata style. Couldn't even keep my feet up the whole time! Gonna add this one to my normal routine!

I think I might have to start taking this class once or twice a week. 

Getting Sloppy!

So here we are in the middle of December and I haven't posted since October.  The good news is that I have not given up entirely and I am still getting in some workouts and tracking my food.  However, as the title says, getting very, very sloppy about the whole thing.

I am going to recommit to my blog!  Lets see if that can keep me going for a while!

W/E 10/10

Another awesome week!  I can honestly say the only lift that is hard for me right now is the military press.  However, I realized today that I have the formula on my spreadsheet messed up!  I fixed it now and hopefully that will help things along!

Here is how the week went:

Day 1
Squats: 3 warms, 110/3, 130/3, 145/5
Front squats: 2 warms, 55/12, 12
Leg curls: 2 warms, 40/12, 12
Leg ext: 40/15 x 5

Day 2
Bench Press: 3 warms, 80/3, 90/3, 105/6
Incline DB press: 2 warms, 32/12, 12
Push ups: "knees" 5 x 10
Triceps ext: 1 warm, 28/12, 12
Triceps pushdown:  1 warm, 40/12,12

Day 3
Deads: 3 warms, 105/3, 120/3, 135/5
One arm row: 24/15 x 5
Wide grip pulldown:  2 warms, 70/12, 12
Low cable row:  60/12 x 4

Day 4
Military press: 3 warms, 55/3, 60/3, 70/3
Side laterals: 2 warms 19/12, 12
Face pulls: 2 warms, 40/15, 15
BB curls:  2 warms, 45/12, 12
Hammer curls:  15/12, 12, 24/10, 10