Is it possible to stay on plan in Vegas?

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     This week was a challenge for me. It started with a beast of a leg day with Brandon. He killed me with lunges to the 'lunge chair' (a chair precariously placed across the room and known for being the destination the trainers have clients lunge to from various starting points in the gym) and squats. My legs were sore before I even left the gym on Monday. It didn't help that the next day I had agreed to help my son move into his new apartment...on the second floor. When I mentioned that to my trainer, Brandon, his response was 'good for your recovery.' Thank you very much boss. But I guess in a way he was right. As always. Because I did feel better before we were even done that day. I had walked up and down the stairs moving boxes for my son probably 100 times (at least it felt like that) and forgot about my leg day whoas.

     But the biggest challenge was on Wednesday when my husband and I went for a short getaway to Vegas. After a month of training and talking about changes in my meals to eat more clean, I was more than a little bit nervous about going to sin city. I decided to go with the attitude that I would exercise and eat well as often as I could but if there were obstacles to doing that I would make the most of it and enjoy myself. After all it was only 3 days. And in my head I thought it would be good practice for staying on plan when I go away for a week next month and again in August. When I asked Brandon what I should eat in Vegas he told me he wasn't going to tell me what to eat in Vegas and that I should 'get it out of my system' (not being on plan) so when I get back I can concentrate on training and eating clean.

     So I packed with good intentions and made sure to bring my workout clothes and sneakers and I would hit the gym here before we left town on Wednesday. The resort we were staying at had a fitness center and I intended to hit it every day the three days we were there. We were scheduled to leave on Wednesday mid-morning. I guess I could say I didn't start off to a great start when I consider the fact that I didn't make it to the gym that morning before we left. I had convinced myself that I would make the time to workout at the resort gym once we were settled in our room. I should know better because even the best laid plans go awry.

     So day one in Vegas we arrive on time, get to the resort and after waiting in a long check in line find out that our room will not be ready for 3 more hours. We end up getting sucked into a timeshare presentation in an attempt to get free show tickets but not before we get a bite to eat. Meal #1 in Vegas was a win; grilled chicken salad with a bottle of water. Was so proud of myself I sent a picture to Brandon. He was impressed but sure it wouldn't last. He apparently had no faith in me even though he said he did. At the time share thing we went to they, of course, they had coffee, soda, water, snacks and cookies. I stuck with water and no snacks which was a feat in itself considering the 90 minutes they said we would be there turned into 4 hours!! By the time we got back to our resort we had only a couple hours before the show so I went looking for the fitness center. When I asked the security guard in the lobby where it was because I couldn't find it according to the map they gave us, his response was to laugh. Yes. He laughed! I was like wth? He told me NO ONE goes to the fitness center. And when he gave me directions on where to find it I still couldn't find it. Either the fitness center was in some alternate reality or there was no fitness center. Seriously. The resort was as big as an airport mall. It was easy to get lost just going to your room. So I gave up for that day.

     We decided to walk up to the strip to the show from our resort which was located about a mile down the strip from where The Mirage was located. A mile is fine. I've walked/hiked more than a mile before. But not in the Las Vegas heat while wearing a dress to go out to dinner. But I sucked it up and we walked. One thing someone had told us is that everything in Vegas looks a lot closer than it actually is. So i cringed when my husband said, 'The Mirage is right there.' I wish I had a Fitbit so I could have seen how many steps we had walked that night. THAT was my workout for the day. And as far as meals goes I did well by having another salad at dinner.

     Thursday and Friday played out about the same with walking, the heat and meals. I was surprised at how much easier it was than I thought it would be to eat healthy. I mean I could probably do better cooking my own meals but meals like the salmon dinner with rice and steamed veggies at Margaritaville were delicious and the menu bragged how it was low cal. We walked up and down the strip, over to the Pawn Stars shop (which was pretty amazing) and all in the Las Vegas heat of 104 degrees. (no humidity like back home in PA tho). The whole time in Vegas I did super good with meals. So Friday morning I decided to have a cheat meal with French toast and eggs for a late breakfast. We had walked an ungodly amount of steps while we were there. So I figured we would have time to walk off a cheat meal before we took the red eye home last night.

     Although we had a good time in Vegas, I think I would have enjoyed myself more if I had gone when I was younger, could drink and didn't have to worry so much about meals because I was training to lose weight. But when I look at the 3 days in Vegas with my new perspective, I think I did pretty well trying to adapt and stay on plan. I missed the gym tho. I could not wait to get down there this morning to do cardio and tomorrow training with Brandon is going to feel so good!

One month and seeing results, feeling good!

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     So it has been one month since I started on my transformation journey and I've learned a lot about taking care of myself, eating right and weight training. I know we are still in the beginning stages of this whole process but I already feel a lot better and I'm starting to see results. The results are not on the scale or in the mirror but in the way I feel and how I think. Going to the gym 5 day a week for the last month has helped me focus on the positive, look forward to changes, set goals and be patient. About 2 weeks into training with Brandon I was sitting at my computer one night after teaching a lesson. (I work part time as an online English teacher). I was thinking about the workout we had done that night (and when I say 'we' I really mean me lol since Brandon will demonstrate and then I do the work) and how I can feel my body changing. Sitting at my computer I could feel the muscles in my abs and shoulders. I've learned the difference between good and bad soreness and although I have bursitis in my shoulder that acts up after an upper body workout, I ice it and it recovers. And after one month that recovery time keeps lessening. I am amazed by what I've been doing at the gym. Having never lifted a weight before I started training and not knowing the first thing about working out beyond the cardio machine, never in a million years did I ever see myself doing chin ups! Brandon is an amazing trainer who pushes me and as a result I push myself a lot harder than I ever imagined I was capable of. Brandon has told me that it's all about changing for the better gradually mentally, physically and spiritually. I can now see how I'm changing. I got home from work late one night about 3 weeks into training. I could have easily plopped down on the sofa to watch tv or gone to bed. It was a long day and I was exhausted. But instead of being a bum I put on my workout clothes and out the door I went. It was about 9pm when I got to the gym. When Brandon told me he saw me on the treadmill I told him I had a choice between going to bed or going to the gym and you can see where my mind is at. He told me that's where it should be and that I'm already changing my habits. And it's true. No matter how I'm feeling good or bad I always feel better if I make it to the gym that day.

      Don't get me wrong. This journey is a challenge. Although at times I am motivated and on track, there are still a lot of challenges. The change is in the way I handle and recover from the challenges. My husband and I love to go to concerts. This month was the start of a summer of concerts. Twice this month I've been sitting in a diner or Waffle House at 1am staring at a plate of food I know I should not be eating and regretted it the next day. The difference now though is the next day I get up and brush  off my pride and determination and go to the gym. In the past I would spend the entire next day regretting eating a greasy cheeseburger and french fries in the middle of the night and using that setback to springboard a weekend of binging or unhealthy eating. No more. I recognize I should have made a better choice, check it off as a lesson learned and move on. Baby steps to changing my life and mindset.

Training, a whole new experience...

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     So in my entire life I have never done weight training. My husband has weights and tried once to guide me in what to do but we didn't do it regularly and then eventually our schedules got in the way and we stopped. I have only ever belonged to one other gym when I was in my 20's but I joined to go to the aerobics classes. (is aerobics even still a thing). So my first day at Muscles Inc with my trainer, Brandon, was a little bit intimidating to say the least. I don't think I had ever stepped beyond the cardio machines part of the gym. I didn't know the first thing about lifting weights. And it is obvious my trainer has been doing this for a long time. Not to mention that I am a complete clutts and have been very self conscience about my body. So here I am with a good looking guy half my age talking about my goals and what I want out of the training.

     I decided that day that I had three goals; to lose weight, to get in shape and to have more energy. Brandon seemed to think these were reasonable goals. I told him I was currently going to physical therapy for the pain in my shoulder and he told me we would work around it. To my surprise we did an upper body workout that day. Having never lifted weights, every weight felt heavy. I felt so weak. I never realized all there is to know about weight lifting, what exercises work what muscles, how many reps/sets are appropriate (hell, I wasn't even sure what a rep was! LOL) After my first training the next day I thought I would be in a lot of pain but I woke up feeling pretty good. When I told my husband he said, 'wait until tomorrow.' I texted Brandon to tell him I wasn't as sore as I thought I would be and he said the same thing. So the next day I woke up and sure enough I was in pain. I thought this is why people hate their trainers. I was worried for our first leg day workout and whether or not I would be able to walk afterwards. Seriously, I was scared.

     So as I anticipated my first leg day was brutal. As I walked out of the gym my legs felt like jello. I tripped three times walking to my car. (as clumsy as I am, I'm surprised I didn't fall on my ass).  After that I was sore for a few days. Today I decided that leg day is my least favorite. In the moment I hate it but I try to focus on getting to the results I want. I know I'll be sore in the morning but I am realizing it's a good sore.  I've only had five training sessions with Brandon so far. Twice a week doesn't seem like enough. I am already thinking about bumping up to three a week next month. I think I'm becoming addicted. Why didn't I do this a long time ago! I haven't weighed myself in three weeks. l've been trying to focus on how I feel and not on a number. Today I decided to weigh myself just out of curiosity. I've lost 3lbs already! I know 3lbs doesn't sound like a lot when I've got about 70lbs to lose but any loss is a good loss and I'm excited!!