Day 10 - Personal Training Day

Today, I woke up bright and early so that I would make sure I had a very good breakfast for my work out with Angelica. I had fat free yogurt, a banana, V8 Fusion Juice, and a turkey and cheese sandwich with fat free mayo. I came to the gym and did some cardio on the ellipticals, and afterwards I thought I had my training at 9am, but it was 10am, so I did some more cardio and I went to the stationary bikes. I had some more time, so I also sat in the Sauna for just a little bit, and then started my training session.

So the training went very well, I got to go on the bench press today, which made me so excited. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the leg press because my knees just kept bothering me and popping. There has to be some way to strengthen my legs. I want to get buns of steel!

During the work out, there were two very strange men, who were rather large and muscular using the famous [Shake Weight]. It was hilarious. All I could hear while I was working out was *squeak squeak squeak squeak*, but according to Angelica, it's harder than it seems and does provide a good work out.

After almost 40-45 minutes into my workout, I started to get fatigued. Angelica got me a 50g protein shake which helped reboost my energy. She recommended that I go to My Fit Foods to get something to eat after the work out along with that protein shake I just had. After that great work out [and as I am typing, my arms feel like Jell-o] I went to My Fit Foods and try one of their meals out. I got a Chicken Spinach Wrap [320 Calories, 7g of Fat, and 16g of Protein] It was actually quite good! There was also some fresh fruit in the box too, and it was very affordable [$3.75] and I was quite satisfied!

Now, I am off to work, and then I'm going to go to the store so that I can purchase a basketball. After doing cardio this morning, I saw a couple of guys play basketball, and it brought back some high school memories of streetball in the neighborhood.

One last thing that really motivated me today was a Success Story that Angelica helped someone. 18 year old guy was 26% body fat [like me right now] got him down to 12% body fat. That's amazing! It really helped add fuel to my work out, and wanting to accomplish my own goals.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

-Dennis

Welcome Back Readers (and unfortunately the weight too)

After almost two years, I have lost a significant amount of weight, and I have also gained some weight back as well. After taking a demanding job, thinking that I didn't have to work out as much or try as hard, I fell back into old routines and eating habits that weren't very good for me. The whole vegetarian diet didn't work out, as I was constantly becoming sick to my stomach. But now, it is time. Time to get back to the grind, time to get back into shape. To be healthy and to find myself again in this process.

Statistics say that more than 80% of Americans who've lost a significant amount of weight, will gain that weight back. When I saw that I weighed over 200lbs again, was when it really started to hit me. I spent so much time, sweat, and tears to lose the weight, why am I gaining it back? It was my excuses that got to me.

"Because I'm too busy"

"Because I'm tired"

"Because I deserve to eat unhealthy, I lost X amount of weight already"

"I will work out tomorrow!"

What I really was saying was:

"Because I'm lazy"

So after much consideration, I decided to get a Personal Trainer again, this time, someone new, close by, and also Seth (my old personal trainer) has moved on to bigger and better things at A&M. I am now working out with Angelica at the 24 Hour Fitness in Rice Village.

I have told her my three goals that I have for this year and they are:

1. Do 1 pull-up.
2. Lose my gut.
3. Lose 30 lbs.

So far, I've had two sessions with her, and so far so good. The first session showed how out of shape I was, and my strength and cardio was not where it used to be a year ago. The second session showed my breaking point, where I got frustrated that I couldn't do the things I used to do. I had bad form, could only do less weights, and I even had to walk away for a second (with tears in my eyes). I felt like a failure, I felt like I let everyone down. After a minute, I used that anger, rage, and momentum, and did my best on the work outs.

The following day, I wasn't feeling very well. After work I ended up taking a nap, and woke up the next morning. Today, I had work this morning, and more work in the evening, so I couldn't work out again. Tomorrow, I am going to work out after work and make sure of it too.

I have also recently been taking the Group X Classes that 24 Hour Fitness offers. Last Monday, my friend Brent and I went to take a Boot Camp class, and let's just say, I felt like Jell-O afterwards. There were so many ladies and older women that were running laps around us, but that gives me so much more of a drive to get better, and one day I will be able to keep up with the other ladies.

One thing I need to focus on is my nutrition and making sure I eat every 3-4 hours. The past couple of days I would eat at 5:30am and the I wouldn't eat until 3:00pm. That's 7 1/2 hours of not eating.

So to everyone who may read this, I hope this blog will show you that this is not going to be easy, but if you have the right support system in place, the motivation, and the drive, anything is possible.

-Dennis

356 Days, 12 Months, 1 Year.

It has been exactly one year since I started this blog, started working out, and started to change my life. It has been a long road for myself, having lost 60 lbs, going through 4 jobs, graduating college, working full-time, running 5K's and 10K's, working out w/ Seth, hitting the dating scene, and towards the end of the year, dealing with sickness and illnesses back-to-back. I honestly have not worked out consistently for over a month now. I have not trained w/ Seth for over a month, and today will be our 1 year anniversary together, working out. I have no idea what he has in store for me, but what he doesn't know is what I have for him. As for this blog, this is the end. This is the final post. To anyone who has followed my blog, thank you. I want to give special thanks to my Personal Trainer Seth Franklin, who has helped me every step of the way towards my goals. I want to also thank the people at 24 Hour Fitness Club 209 for helping support my weight loss journey. Lastly, my friends and family who has also supported me too. Lastly, I want to say Good-Bye Fat, Hello Muscle.

Month Eleven.

It has been a little more than 11 months since I started working out, and here is an update about what is going on. The past couple of months, I've had to deal with some health issues, three different infections, my liver failing, and whatever else you could possibly think of. In April, I was not eating right and not working out. I went up to 190 lbs at one point during the month. In the past couple of weeks, I have been eating right, eating healthy, watching my portion control, and not eating late anymore. I avoid fast food places when I can, and still have not been working out, but once again due to illness. I feel better now, I went running at Memorial Park [and I have noticed my cardio is not exactly up to par]. I weighed myself today, and I am currently 177 lbs. I have lost a total of 63 lbs. On June 1st, it will be one year since I started my weight loss journey, and it will also be my last training session with Seth. I can no longer afford training any longer due to: Myself moving to a new apartment, my bills, and my goals have been met. Now the only thing is to maintain and keep striving for my health.