Day 32-Feeling the burn, feeling the pain, venting my frustration

Today’s weight: 170

Starting weight: 184

I’ve gained 1 pound. I went over my calorie count by 49 calories. I’m certain I gained a little muscle with all the exercise I endured yesterday. Maybe that is the reason for the extra pound. Please read on to find out more.

Today I am aggravated-and in pain. This blog is to express how I feel, what I am going through, and serve as a guide to help you in your weight loss journey. I want this blog to be positive and motivating. But I also know that sometimes issues come up that need to be discussed. Perhaps you have gone through this before or it may help someone avoid the same trap I fell into yesterday. Let me throw in this disclaimer. Today’s blog is not to discourage anyone. I believe once you read this, you will understand what I am saying and why I am venting. There is nothing wrong with being pushed to the next level to burn calories but when you do that to someone who is not in physical shape, you run the risk of turning them off all together. Let me explain.

I am so sore today that I can’t hardly move. Literally I am hurting all over, throbbing, stabbing, pain. The top of my thighs burn. They are so tight I have to literally fall into a chair and all but crawl on my belly to get into my SUV. Why you ask? Yesterday we had a double shoot…one for “No Excuses” the other for Eric Sollman’s “Fitness Friday.” We shot Eric’s piece first. We had a trainer working with us. We really only needed about a minute of video of us working out. It turned out to be total tortue-for more than an hour!! In all, I was in the gym 2 hours.

I explained to the trainer in the beginning that I have not worked out in a very long time. I knew if I over did it, I would pay the price. I don’t know anyone who wants to be so sore they can’t hardly sit on the toilet. Our trainer worked us like we are body builders or preparing for a marathon. Even Eric, who is in incredible shape was falling apart. We did sit ups, pushups, planks, weights, squats, medicine ball, over and over and over again. I was nauseated by the time we finished-and I still had to shoot my “No Excuses” exercise piece. When we got back to the station, both of us were so tired yesterday that we couldn’t stand up for an hour long newscast.

My aggravation is that the trainer didn’t listen to my needs. If someone comes into your facility and says-and its clear by the way they look-that they haven’t exercised in a long time-you should listen to that person. I am paying the price today because someone didn’t take me seriously. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure it was good to get my muscles going but it was too much, too soon.

I don’t want to burn myself out and not want to do this anymore. I believe we all have a limit, and yes, we probably should push through that hurdle to make it to the next step. But we are all in different stages of weight loss and exercise. And every body type is different. Not all of us live to get fit. I hate exercise but I am willing to do it to tone up, get my heart rate up, and feel good. However, I am a believer in starting out small, working my way to a goal, and having fun. Killing myself at the gym is not how I want to go out.

That brings me to this point. I have an elliptical, light weights, a medicine ball and 2 legs. I have ‘no excuse’ for not exercising at home. It is difficult for me to get in a workout at the gym because of my work and school schedule. I would love to take my friend’s class at the Y-and when things slow down in the next 2 weeks I may do just that. I know she will push us to do our best but I also know she’s not going to work us until we drop dead. You don’t have to go through what Eric and I did yesterday to see results. If you can’t do but a few exercises that is better than nothing–or too much. I encourage you…if you have a trainer or its your first time at the gym to do what you can, do your best, and leave there feeling good about yourself. I did not feel that way yesterday. I knew what was coming and today I am miserable.

From livestrong.com, When you train, you gather energy from several sources of fuel found in your body. When oxygen is present, the energy comes from stored glycogen and blood sugar. If you train hard enough, your oxygen level drops and your muscle cells and red blood cells respond by breaking down carbohydrates for energy. The result is the presence of lactic acid and a burning sensation in the muscle. At times, the pain is intense enough to effect performance or stop a session of activity or exercise.

It is advised by fitness experts to eat high protein foods after a hard workout. I did just that by eating a packet of salmon and a carton of Muscle Milk. Protein synthesis is an important process in the body’s ability to recover from workouts. Protein synthesis can’t happen without the needed nutrients.

Moral of this story: Do what you can, don’t let anyone pressure you into doing more than you know you are able to handle. You will see all of our hard work during “Fitness Friday” on WAFF-48 News Now at 4pm. I’ll also have an exercise routine for you to do at home or the gym Monday morning in my “No Excuses” report.

Hope you all have a great day…

Elizabeth