Day 2: Feeling Good

February 27, 2008 — lvaldes

Day: 2,  February 27, 2008

Weight: 139 lbs

Today I woke up easily, feeling good.  I was a bit sore today, mostly in my abs and back.  The soreness wasn’t annoying or debilitating like it has been in the past when I began working out after a hiatus.  Most of the time I didn’t feel a thing and was able to go about my day with no problems.  Occasionally when I’d move in a certain position, I’d feel a dull ache slight fatigue in my muscles.  I could feel it in my arms, quads, abs and back especially.  It was nice to know that I had worked my muscles, but will have no problem working out again tomorrow. 

 Tomorrow is Session #2.  I can’t wait!

Daily Food Intake:

Oatmeal and Bananas for Breakfast
Oats, Regular Quick
Bananas 

I made spaghetti and meatballs for lunch… mmm mmm good
Beef, Ground
Parmesan, Grated Cheese 
Bread Crumbs, Dry, Grated, Seasoned 
Organic Family Marinara Pasta Sauce 
Spaghetti, Whole-wheat
Extra Virgin Olive Oil   
There was garlic, egg, and parsley in the meatballs too, but in such small amounts I didn’t record it

Ham and Cheese Roll-up for Dinner
Classic Whole Wheat Tortillas 
Provolone Cheese 
Black Forest Brand Smoked Ham
Tomatoes
Lettuce

And that blasted cookie I love
Chocolate Chunk Cookie 
Total Calories Consumed: 1,774

  Fat - 30.5% (44 grams)
Protein - 22.7% (74 grams)
Carbohydrates - 46.8% (152 grams)
Alcohol - 0.0%
Other - 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake - 2,503 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 42 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 150 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 19 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 21 grams		  

 Additional Exercise:  I walked the 2 blocks to the grocery store to pick up parsley and more bananas.

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Pilates: Day 1

February 26, 2008 — lvaldes

   

before-front21.jpg

Day 1: February 26, 2008

Session: 1

Weight: 140 lbs

Thoughts:
Since today was the first day, I took a Fitness Screening Test to assess my fitness level.  I was asked to do get into various different positions to measure my strength, flexibility, and locate any problem areas specific to my body. 

I scored pretty well on the tests gaining an intermediate fitness level.  I suppose sporadic gym visits are beneficial in some way, even if the results aren’t noticeable through belly flab.

Below is a list of my problems:

  • Flat feet, pronates - meaning that the inside arch of my foot falls in.  This has something to do with my not liking my hips, therefore being emotionally detached from them, making them weak and ultimately causing my inside arches to fall flat to the ground.  I know, I said “Whaaat?”, too.  Oh, and this arch has something to do with my adrenal gland, so once its corrected, I should have as much energy as everyone else walking around on arched feet.  I had no idea I was being jipped my whole life, and I’m ready for the onslaught of energy!
  • Weak shoulder girdle - no clue what a shoulder girdle is
  • Scoliosis - this isn’t the kind that the nurses/cafeteria workers checked for in middle school.  They were checking to see if your spine curves like an “S”.  The type of scoliosis that I have goes from back to front, instead of side to side.  Its still an “S”, but one that would be drawn when I’m standing with the side of my body facing you.  I’ve known about this for quite a while.  I was supposed to do exercises as a child to correct this, but I was more concerned with playing, so I never got around to it. 

Davidson is the Power Pilates instructor that will primarily be training me throughout this process.  He is an expert and has assured me that he can fix all of these problems with Pilates.  Rock on.

Davidson also took my measurements and Before Photos.  Awk-ward.before-back2.jpg

  • Bust: 36″
  • Ribline: 30″
  • Navel: 34 1/2″
  • Trocanter (waistline): 41″
  • Top of Thigh: 24
  • Arm at bustline: 11″
  • Calf at widest point: 13″
  • Height: 5′6″ -I’ve shrunk a 1/2 inch.  Boo.

On to my first session:
About 3 minutes into the session I exclaimed, “This is hard!”  Davidson replied, ” And it never gets easier.”  Okay…

FYI: I am a hater of ab work.  In the past during a workout class, I usually left during the last 10 minutes allotted for abdominal work.  If I stayed, I half-assed it or used the time to stretch out and plan my grocery list. 

FYI: A Pilates session is a 60 minute ab workout. 

The reason why I think that Pilates is so hard is because you can’t cheat.  There is an instructor there to make sure you are isolating your core (that would be that middle section I hate to use) during every exercise.  The exercises themselves are great.  You do a lot of stretching to increase your flexibility that also feels oh so good.  There are also strengthening exercises that work pretty much every muscle in your body.  The only problem is that the entire time there is this guy making you isolate your core.  When you try to cheat, he’ll stick his fingers right into your gut, making you contract your muscles for fear that he may poke an organ.  Since he figured out early that I’m a pumpkin-eater, he pretty much kept those fingers in my abdomen the entire workout.  I was pretty sure I’d have a bruise, but turns out he did me no harm.

On a more positive note:  This summer I will be wearing mid-riff shirts for the first time since I was a teenager.  Thanks Davidson :)

Immediately following the session:  I was exhausted.  It felt like I had worked out harder and longer than I actually had.  Kudos Joe Pilates.  So far, I’m impressed.before-side22.jpg

5 hours after the session:  I am feeling all-over soreness.  It’s nothing compared to what I’ve felt the first day back to the gym after a hiatus.  It’s more a faint fatigue.  It surprisingly covers more of my body then I’d thought I’d worked out.  I’m sure it’s because my abs were screaming so loudly at me I didn’t hear when the other muscles making noise.  It feels good.  Very good.

What I ate today:
(items put into www.caloriecount.about.com to obtain daily nutrition info)
Banana
Trail Mix
Carrots
Chicken breast
Mushroom Herb Risotto
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Potato & Cheese Perogi
Smoked Turkey Kielbasa (2 servings)
Another Chocolate Chuck Cookie
Total Calories: 1,426

  Fat - 23.2% (37 grams)
Protein - 23.7% (85 grams)
Carbohydrates - 53.1% (190 grams)
Alcohol - 0.0%
Other - 0.0%Daily Sodium Intake - 1,554 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 62 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 178 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 13 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 10 grams

 

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Getting in Shape: Pilates Style

February 25, 2008 — lvaldes

 

The Pilates Promise:
” In 10 sessions you’ll feel a difference, in 20 sessions you’ll see a difference, in 30 sessions you’ll have a whole new body.” 

Let’s see if that’s true.
Subject: 27 year old female who is currently 10-15 lbs over goal weight
Program:  3 60-minute Pilates sessions a week for 10 weeks, totaling 30 sessions.
During the Program the subject will be cataloging the following:

  • The Day, The Date
  • Session Number
  • Weight
  • Daily Food Intake
  • Total number of calories consumed per day
  • Daily Nutrition information
  • Additional Exercise - if applicable

From the subject’s mouth: cropped-heatshot.jpg
Hi, my name is Lissette.  I am committed to getting healthy.  I have always worked out, but in that infrequent way where several times a year I’d suffer through the first 2 weeks back in the gym, feeling like crap, not being able to walk or sit down without wincing, only to fall off the wagon again and stop going for a few months at a time.  No more of that.  Instead I am going to make working out and eating healthy a lifestyle change. 

I thought that being around like-minded people might help with this life-changing decision, so I got a job at a Studio Lotus, the Premier Pilates Studio in Atlanta.  I had never done Pilates before, but I quickly noticed that all the regulars looked fabulous, so I thought, “what the hell, I’ll give it a shot.”  Besides, I’ve always wanted to touch my toes.

I started researching Pilates online, which is where I found the above quote by the big man himself, Joseph Pilates.  While interviewing for the position, I suggested that Studio Lotus put their money where Joe’s mouth is and sponsor someone to go through a 30 session program.  Joe’s promise was to do 30 sessions in 30 days- which is a little unrealistic for most people these days, both financially and time-wise.  I suggested 30 sessions over 10 weeks time, averaging 3 sessions a week.  Totally doable.  The owners liked the idea and asked if I’d be interested in being the guinea pig.  I hoped that they would.  As soon as I was hired I began the challenge.

As for diet, I have been asked to follow the Traditional Diet as closely as possible.  Basically I will eat whole foods- nothing in a can, sealed package, or containing preservatives.  No low-fat or fat-free items at all (YESSSSS!!!!!!) and lots of protein and fat- especially within 30 minutes of completing a workout.  I will be getting most, if not all, of these items from Trader Joe’s, a local market that has many organic and whole foods at affordable prices.  As I learn more about the Traditional Diet I will try to tweak my diet to more closely resemble it and will keep you posted as to what I learn and from where I receive my information. 

Needless to say, I am excited at this opportunity and looking forward to the end result… and just in time for bathing suit season!

Please use the links on the right-hand pane to follow my experience chronologically.

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