The RED team & Howie

Today is Friday.  AND I am doing well.  Sore (I will admit) but well.  Happy.  Glad that last week, in spite of one or two not so good choices (okay, I will admit, I do love my own baking!).... I made it past the 3 week timeframe wherein I usually/quite often/MOST often sabatauge myself.  Not sure what that is all about, but it is my reality.  That is usually where I pack it in.  WHY WHY WHY??
HOWEVER, when I met with Leyla at First Line Therapy we talked about this.  And she said, "you've spoken it out loud.  You are aware of it.  Do not let it conquer you this week!"

Last Saturday I went to the kick-off session at the Wellness (which was NOT an exercise session but a "rah-rah this is your team & this is your trainer" session.  SO then, I got to exercising.

Monday I weighed in with Leyla.  (up .5?? what the heck?)  She said do not let the scale determine your emotions because a scale is just a scale and tells a number - BUT it doesn't say if you are retaining water, or inflamation (which often retains water) or fat losing/muscle turning ...  SO I left determined to make this week count.

Wednesday I went to the first Fitter Firmer Faster session with Howie.  It WAS INTENSE.  There are 6 of us on the RED team.  6 women, which makes it a little more special I think!  We laughed, and moaned throughout the whole session.  At the end we had some measurements taken (poor guy) and we weighed.  I was down on his scale from Saturday weigh in.

It is complicated because I am being weighed in at two places.  HOWEVER I have decided to concentrate on the weigh in's with Leyla, as she is the one monitoring my food plan.  And since I went because of my fibromyalgia and feeling so crumby, I think this is where I have to concentrate.
AND if I am going down in one place - I should be going down on the other scale too.

I went back to the Wellness Institute (WI) yesterday.  It is not as much fun going by yourself, and I was glad that I brought my earbuds.  It makes the machines (bike/eliptical/treadmill) a little better.  I began by doing 6 laps of the track.  I jogged on the straight aways and walked on the corners.
Maybe by the end of 10 weeks I will be jogging all of it.  :)

I woke up this morning and I am sore.  Yesterday I got to spend only 5 minutes in the hottub.  I hummed and hawed about whether it was worth it and determined that even 5 mintues WAS worth it.
I will plan to sit in there longer today when I go this afternoon.

This is a journey - I know it.  I did not put it on overnight (although sometimes it felt like that) and I know it won't come off overnite.  HOWEVER slowly but surely it will come off.  I feel confident this time.  (yes I said that on here before, but somehow this DOES feel different)

SO... each day at a time.  Making wise eating choices.  Making time for me:  exercise being a big component.   I can do it.    Fitter & Firmer is my goal!  (so now I better take this heating pad off and get doing some work!!

SO ... first line and fitter firmer faster meet

Lots has happened.  NO, I have not lost all my weight.  NOR have I lost even 10 lbs!  BUT I have not given up!  (CHEER RESOUNDS)  and I have made it past the 3rd week, where I USUALLY throw all caution to the wind and self-destruct.  YAY ME!!

What is going on?
If you really want to know - here is the latest.

okay, it's NOT me 

Just over 3 weeks ago, I walked myself back into the Center for Natural Medicine (Lorette & Nathaniel) and went to see Leyla, who is the one in charge of First Line Therapy.  I needed to get back onto an anti-inflammatory way of eating.  I weighed in (only up a pound since the last weigh in with her, which was about a year and a half ago).  This was good - since I actually DID go up and down within 8 lbs or so, over that same time frame.

I have been seeing her since - checking in at the clinic for a short talk and weigh in.  She strongly encouraged me to give up dairy for a couple weeks (which I have mostly, except for the very odd thing, like one night I drank a big glass of milk - because I was craving it.)

She encouraged me to also give up red meat.  OKAY, if you know me, you know that I Love, Love, LOVE a good beef tenderloin.  Well, 3 weeks later, I have only had ham at Easter, and that is the extent of the red meat.

She encouraged me to include MORE nuts (almonds are my choice) and to include oils (4 servings) and I have found that I am loving kalamata olives (8 olives = 1 fat)  These are a wonderful snack as they give me the oil and a little bit of a salt fix!

AND ... of course - no white stuff (flour and sugar) as that only INCREASES inflammation, which with my FMS is not a good thing.

She encouraged me to exercise (which I am doing, as Alvin and I have been walking faithfully).
Next week I go again for a BIA (Body Index Analysis) which is so cool.  If you want more info - check Center for Natural Medicine for yourself.  ALL I KNOW IS:  I am feeling less pain (which I know happens when I cut our white sugar and white flour) and I am feeling "cleaner" inside.  I know that sounds dumb, but I don't know how else to describe the way I feel.  OH and I feel happier too!

this isn't me either, but I love the picture

NOW, the next thing I have done - is joined the WELLNESS INSTITUTE for a 10 week course called FITTER FIRMER FASTER.  My friend Betty joined with me.  We are a little bit nervous about how it will all go - but we know people who have done it, done well, loved it, hated it, and signed up a second time!  Oh, and they each lost weight.  How bad can it be?  STAY TUNED!!

The good thing is that I can only get healthier - sure I may not be able to move after the sessions which are 1.5 hours - but I am hoping to shed some pounds, and to get a new attitude toward fitness - and to also get FIT. PERIOD!!

On that note - I think I will sign off.  Part of getting fit - is also going to bed on time, and well, I am WAY PAST my bedtime.  I am surprised I have not turned into a pumpkin!!