Shelli Belly

       Worked out with Alex today.    I’m continually amazed at what I can actually do.  I watch Alex demo the exercise and I try to record to memory every position and then I shake my head and say “OK.”  There is a second of disbelief but then I settle in and give it my best. You’ve all heard of the “ugly cry” well I have an “ugly lift face.”  Teeth clinched and a stiff upper lip I give everything I can.  We do 3 sets for every lift and  by the 3rd set I’m really huffing.  I’m believing that the strength within is finding its way out through this protective layer.  So after the 3rd set I’m spent but curious about the NEXT set.    After the hour I sat for the longest time in the locker room recouping and drinking water.   I want to keep this intensity for when I go home.   It’s becoming a very important part of my day.    (So can you see the brim of my hat? That’s sweat baby:) Off to go find some turtles.  

     I found them on the North Shore of Oahu, near Haleiwa Town.    These turtles come to this exact location everyday.    They even have a private organization called Malama na Honu that supports these endangered green turtles.    Honu Guardian volunteers are on the beach every day to offer educational outreach and to keep everyone at a safe distance.     The Honu Guardians were just as excited to see the turtles come ashore as the tourists.

     I had the easiest time finding the conference this morning.  I drove right to it.  Not one thing looked familiar from the night before, however, my experience made for a nice connection with the speaker, Sheila Walsh.  She answered one of my Tweets from Friday night.  Very gracious of her since she was 5 hours jet lagged.  The conference really solidified yesterday’s post.  
     After a very frustrating night of driving and the disappointment of missing the conference I still chose well.  I chose my healthy lifestyle over the habits and coping mechanisms of the past.  I chose well.   So today I was ready to fully enjoy myself with no regrets.   I met a really nice group of women and had a wonderful time.

          I had my second session with my trainer.  We had a laugh because he read my previous post entitled OUCH! (Hi Alex:) I wish I would have signed up with a trainer sooner.  He pushes me harder than I think I can move.  I have for so long put limitations on myself because of my weight or my knee but he has encouraged me to push just a little more.  In time I will be able to do so much more.  I have overly protected my knee without building the muscles that would help support it.  I’m learning that I can and if I can’t yet then soon.  
     After my workout with Alex I then attended my first Water Aerobics class.  It was so much fun to be that light in the water.    Tina, the trainer, really kept the class going.  There was no down time.  She saw every movement and you wanted to do your absolute best.  She was stern, happy and motivating.  I loved her energy.  There are so many movements that work your whole body.  If you haven’t tried it get out there.  Men you might think this workout is only for women but I believe Tina could kick your butt.  If you yoga then certainly you can try water aerobics. So after less than a week’s membership I’ve lost 5 lbs.  Heeee Hawwww!

      After a morning full of exercise I was excited for my evening plans.  I knew that with the amount of time that I was going to be here in Hawaii surely I could find a concert or conference to attend.  I was so excited to learn that Sheila Walsh was going to speak this weekend.  I was able to get a ticket because of a cancellation.  I left 2 hours early so I could find the conference and take pictures along the scenic mountains.   I got so lost.  I drove around in circles readjusting my GPS on my phone every time I had a chance.  While listening to Talk Radio I became aware of the new law that you can’t even have your phone in your hand while driving.  You might think that I could have stopped to ask for directions but there weren’t any great places to do such thing. Just highways, rush hour traffic and no right turns when the GPS said to turn right.   I just kept wandering.  My own fault. So a few tears and maybe a couple illegal U-turns later I headed home.  Usually in this emotional and stressed state of mind I would have hit the nearest fast food joint but not today.  I made a great choice and headed home for dinner.

      It was a wonderful day at Pearl Harbor.   A friend at church knew a Park Ranger so we got a personal tour of the monument. I had a lump in my throat the whole time.  What an incredible time in our nations history. True Valor.  

      Planning for things that I don’t really want to do needs to be a nonnegotiable deal with myself.  I have for far to long wavered like a ship a sea.  So this morning when the bed was oh so nice  I knew that I had already made a decision that supports a healthy lifestyle so I sprung out of bed and headed to the gym.  It was nice to know that I had already accomplished one of my goals for the day before 7 a.m.

After the gym yesterday I went to the Dole Plantation. I felt like a real tourist.  I watched a pineapple cutting demo and even went for a ride on a train called the Pineapple Express.  So here is a great fact about pineapples….Eat pineapple after eating protein because it helps the stomach’s digestion. Oh and after you cut it rinse it in water that way you won’t get a canker sore.  Good to Know.

     Today everything hurts.  I felt good after working out yesterday but when I rolled out of bed today OUCH!  It was as if every muscle decided to sing out their presence, “Yes, hello I’m here it’s about time you worked me out.” The tops of my legs KILL! 
      So good day to go snorkeling, right?  You bet!  A friend from church and I headed to the North Shore.  It was a beautiful drive straight out of the television series LOST.  We ended up snorkeling at Shark Cove and then swimming over to Table Top.  When I mean swimming over I mean over.  At Shark Cove there weren’t very many fish (Go figure) so we swam and swam to try to find a way out of the cove.  After swimming into a number of deadend coves we decided that the only way was to go over the lava rocks.  I literally had to roll my body over at set of lava rocks and fling my body into the next pool.  Splash! Good thing it was deep.  All of the ocean’s beauty opened up right then.  We saw every stripped and spotted variety of fish, 2 turtles and a starfish that looked like string.  The cool part was that I was exercising. It was a great workout. 
    The part that I was dreading was going back.  I couldn’t fathom how I would pull my body up and over again.  After a number of painful tries I decided to swim in a little way and my friend would bring me my shoes.  Walking on the rocks after the swim was a workout in itself.  Good grief one step and I fell right into a shallow pool of water. I now not only have sore muscles but now I’m scraped  from head to toe.   I can only say OUCH! and I’d do it all again in a heart beat.   I absolutely loved every minute of it.

Fitness Goal — I need to work on my flexibility.

       So coming to Hawaii I believed that it would be a time to reboot.  A time to start new routines that will follow me home.  I was going to read, pray, excercise, eat healthy foods, drive and relax.  
I’m off to a great start.
 
   I believed that the exercise component would come by walking Solomon. I was told that he loved to go on long walks.  The owner told me of his route and routine.  I was determined to tire Solomon out.  Solomon, however, had a different plan.  We started off great.  I did some Dog Whispering in order to get his leash on, some “Wait” commands and then “Let’s go!” We took off down the block at a great pace. We then got to the corner and he stopped.  We’re talking  dead stop.  This boy wasn’t going anywhere but home. This went on twice a day for the first few days that I got here.  Then the rain came.  Solomon has put it together that he gets his ear drops when he gets wet so he avoids the rain at all cost.  I want him to get in plenty of exercise so I’ve been throwing the tennis balls for him in the back yard.   This of course does nothing for my execise goals.
 
So I decided to join the gym.  I had my first of eight session with my trainer today. We did modified lunges, push ups, squats, band stretches and much more.  I’ve always been a 10 count girl but he’s a 12 to 15 to 20 count guy.  My favorite part was smacking a medicine ball as hard as I could into the ground. Nah no aggression issues here.  I’m so glad that I did this.  Alex will certainly push me harder than I’ll push myself.  I need to know what I can do.  As Ali Vincent said in her book, Believe It Be It, she had been collecting excuses for far to long.  I’m going to break that same pattern and start collecting successes. 
     Other great things about the gym
     1. TV near the treadmill 
     2. I got my correct measurements taken. 
     3. There’s a pool and spa

Can’t wait to see the results of this month.

Here are some more pics for ya                          =^..^=   Loretta

July 5th – August 2nd
  

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!  

        I’m having a great time in Oahu. I got settled in and now I’m ready to explore.  As recorded on the Bodybugg  I burned 4165 calories yesterday.  I walked Solomon twice and strolled along the very populated Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki. I was told that the best local fish was served at the Cheese Cake Factory. Go figure?  So I found free parking on the street near the Zoo and hit the road.  The walk was gorgeous, however, it was very hot. I lingered for a while a the beach called the Wall and watched the waves crash. Just beautiful!  By the time I found the restaurant I was soaking wet and dehydrated.  It was nice to sit on the outdoor deck and watch all of the activity.  Everyone was in such a hurry.  Fortunately, I have 27 more days to enjoy any way I see fit.   I’m going to try not to put any pressure on myself during this time.  I’m not going to rush and do rush and do.  I want to find a nice balance between doing amazing things but also relaxing and being OK with my decision to just go for a drive or throw the ball to Solomon or go to a movie or read a book or have a bite of Carb-Free Cheese Cake.  

I’m on VACATION!

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I had a big surprise Tuesday while watching Losing It. 

Jillian Michaels had an open chat on Twitter.

To my surprise she answered my question.
(Read from the bottom of the image to the top).

Now to keep following her advise.