SI Pain is a Pain in My Backside...

Literally, sacroiliac pain... better know as sciatica pain, really is a pain in your backside. It's the point right between center spine and your hip and when it "goes out" you won't, in fact, be going anywhere. It can be in one spot or radiate down your leg.

JUST when I started to think, "Hey, I'm really on a roll with this working out thing..." WHAM. Life says, "haha, that's cute." And changes things.

Going on 6 days, and two trips to the doctor and two prescriptions and one injection later... and I'm on the mend.

One thing I really have to remember is that health and fitness isn't just about working out. It ALL starts in the kitchen. You can only train away so much of bad diet before it catches up to you.

Another thing I've learned is that eating healthy doesn't have to be plain and yucky, typical "health" foods. You don't have to live on salads and bird food. You can eat. In fact, if you're training, you NEED to eat. Your body needs fuel to burn. It's like putting gas in a car--- no gas, no go, and you're running on fumes.

Heading back to the gym tomorrow and I'm hoping it goes well. Cross your fingers for me, and I'll catch you...

On the Weigh Down.
-A

Never Gonna Give This Up, Never Gonna Let Myself Down

It has been over 2 years since I've blogged and I was going to delete this blog and start fresh... but then I thought that would be counter-productive to my story... to my journey...

Since I was about 11 years old, I have been overweight. Throughout middle and high school... even college, I was overweight. I AM overweight, in fact I am currently considered "obese" by medical standards.

When I think of someone who is obese, I think of someone very large---4, 5, 600+ pounds... not me, 5'8" and my heaviest weight being 249.

I've always wanted to be skinny, but I've never the drive to hit that goal. As you can see from my spotty blogging--- I keep falling off the diet bandwagon.

Over the course of the last couple of years I've learned a lot of fitness and nutrition.

First off, I don't want to be skinny. I want to be FIT. It's not about the weight on the scale, but rather how you feel and how your clothing fits.

About a month and a half ago a co-worker mentioned she was going to a personal trainer. She told me the pricing was great and that the trainer was really good. I figured there had to be a catch... a good trainer, for a ridiculously good price... Yeah... RIGHT. But, I was getting ready to begin a new job and the thought of going shopping for clothing was really stressing me out. I was in a position that I wore a uniform for and moving to a job where I had to dress business casual and the only real thing in my closet was yoga pants and t-shirts.

I decided to give this trainer a call. His name was Steve, well, it still is; he hasn't changed it.

My first session began with Steve doing some basic "testing" to check out my strength and mobility. Then, we did a basic, but custom workout. I liked Steve, but felt a cheated because the workout didn't seem to be that hard. But then the next morning came... and I was SO sore that sitting down was a pain. Literally. And it was the "it hurts so good" kind of sore. And I realized that while my workout didn't feel hard that day, it's was great and it was specific to me.

Over the last month and a half I've trained with Steve at his gym "Catalyst" 2-3 a week. After 4 weeks I went to be measured, like I've done for the past 6 months, at a local nutrition shop. I'd gained a couple of pounds, but after measurements we found that I'd lost fat and gained muscle.

It's normal to gain when you first start weight training and working of your fitness. I have to remember that. Another thing I've learned is that weight loss isn't about the scale, it's not about starving yourself, it's not about doing a ton of cardio... it's about eating to fuel your body, eating before you feel like you're starving, and finding a balance between weights and cardio. Ultimately, weight loss begins in the kitchen and contrary to popular belief, girls lifting weights don't get bulky, they get toned. If a girl is bulky and weight training, it's likely not natural.

Steve the Trainer asked me to start blogging. He hasn't really told me why, but I figure why not? I use to blog my progress... you know... a week here and a week there...

The last month and a half is the longest I've consistently gone to a gym and worked out. My nutrition needs to get better and it will, slowly. At this point I've drastically cut down on fast food and when I do I often make healthier choices--- a Farm Fresh Bowl instead of Jack-n-the-Box. Fruit isn't of candy, and less fried foods.

Hopefully I will continue... but only time will tell...

See yah---On the Weigh Down...
-A

R.I.P.P.E.D. 2 FIT

If you could only see me sitting here... Poker face...Deep in thought... trying to think of what to write without sounding like EVERY OTHER "I'm jumping back on the bandwagon" blog that I've wrote.

I've got nothing. Nothing new.

I began my journey last June/July. I lost about 25 pounds in the first 3-4 months and spent the rest of the time wavering between a 10 pound radius and getting discouraged. And when I get discouraged I don't think, "try, try again"... NO... I think "Go eat some junk food, you'll feel better." And I do.

...And then I regret eating... I so say "I'll start tomorrow and pig out today. ONE LAST TIME.

It's always, one more day. One more stop at a fast food joint. One more cookie to satisfy my cravings.

It's never enough.

When will it be enough? When will my brain do a 180 and let me think: "NOW, eat good, go to the gym, be healthy, do it. DO IT NOW."

Never.

FACT: My mentality is NEVER going to change itself.

I have to change it.ME. No one can change it for me. And my mind set is not going to change itself.

I think, as a whole, many people are waiting for the switch to flip. We're waiting for that magical day when it just happens and it doesn't feel hard and we are just compelled to eat healthy and exercise like it's easy.

IT IS NOT EASY.

If it were easy then EVERYONE would be healthy and have a thin, ripped body.

Health and looking like you WANT to look is a challenge and reaching your goal is a reward.

Someone once told me that nothing tastes as good as thin feels. I don't know if that's true, Chipotle burritos make me feel pretty satisfied and happy. I guess I'll never know until I hit my goal and decide if eating too much if worth going back to how I looked and felt before.

My guess is that no food would be worth eating excessively if the result was going from GOAL to the start of the race line.

So here it is... another time in which I say I am going to blog and work on my weight and health and exercise habits.

I guess I should share the motivation behind this time?

R.I.P.P.E.D. is an exercise class at my gym standing for: Resistance, Interval, Power, Plyo, Endurance and Diet. They are hosting a "challenge". In 2 months, (April 15-June 15) with a minimum for 2 R.I.P.P.E.D. classes a week, what can the class do for you? You must submit a before photo and some basic info to enter. I just sent in my before photo... Last year when I began, the weekend before, I attended my cousins wedding... I submitted a photo from the wedding. No one has seen it... well... the unphotoshopped version, that is.

I'm going to try... especially to follow the "D", diet... you can follow me here: My Fitness Pal: Username "WarriorPrncss"

We'll see where I am in 2 months. Wanna join me? Sign up here: RIPPED2fit We'll change how we think together!

Secret Clinical Stength

Deodorant.

We All use it, but does what we use actually matter?

Of course it does!

I have used Secret deodorant for as long as I can remember. It's a great deodorant, I really like it. HOWEVER, recently, as mentioned in a previous blog, I received a VoxBox for Influenster. For more information about Influenster click HERE

Anyhow, of the products in that box I got a chance to try our Secret Clinic Strength Deodorant. I figured it would be the same as all others, but I was wrong!

Here is the breakdown:

Pros:

• It keeps you dry, but not dried out.
• Smells nice
• Keeps away body odor
• Long lasting, NO need to reapply!
• NO white marks, NO clumping.
• GREAT deodorant for stress and working out!

Cons:

• A bit pricy for an already smaller than average size

Overall: I love this product and while it's a bit pricey I will still probably purchase it. Despite the cost, I do recommended this product!

Osteophyes, Arthropathy and Physical Therapy, Oh My!

I'm not sure I've ever talked much about my medical health... I've had many surgeries in the past 10 years.

9 to be exact.

1 on each elbow, 1 major spine surgery in which they placed 2 titanium rods and 3 subsequent surgeries due to complications (because my body doesn't handle being cut on well), 3 knee surgeries.

I've been having a lot of knee pain and instability and will be seeing a specialist next week... I figure he'll probably want me to do physical therapy.

I also began having really bad lower back pain... I'll spare you the story, and jump to the diagnosis: osteophytes and arthropathy, which is basically tiny bone spurs due to disc degeneration due to mild arthritis... C'MON! I'm not even 26 yet! Shouldn't there be a rule that states you can't have arthritis until you're at least 30? UGH!

Anyhow, I began Physical Therapy yesterday. The goal is to strengthen my core in order to better support my lower back, because right now the only thing keeping my discs from slipping is that I have a titanium rod holding most of them in place. Yikes

Right now I am hanging in there, but the back pain came fast and furious and knocked me almost totally out of my workout routine. Most movement is fairly painful, and the one workout I can manage, Zumba, is painful because of my unstable knee. I began attending aquatic classes a couple times a week instead of my normal R.I.P.P.E.D. and H.I.I.T. classes, but I still have pretty bad pain. I can't seem to catch a break.

I suppose that now, aside from Physical Therapy and taking up Pilates, my only way to lose weight is eating even better. Doable, but tough for the emotional eater who loves to snack and never leaves food on her plate. But, I can do it. It will take some work on, but I can do it.

Furthermore-- you can exercise ALL YOU WANT, but if you never change your eating habits you'll never hit your goal and stay there.

I see this as a challenge... I can. I will. Watch me.

I'm Alive! And Reviewing Products on Influenster!

Long time no blog.

I'm gonna cut the 3 paragraphs where I ramble about how weight loss is a struggle [duh] and how I'm gonna try to blog more [it's a hit and miss].

I will say, however that I've been having low back and knee pain which prevents me from working out as hard as I would like to. The knee pain has been going on for awhile-- in fact, upon doing my measurements a few weeks ago I found out that I've been favoring my left left SO much that it's 1.5inches bigger and less toned than my right! Whoops!? >.< For that reason I've taken up aqua classes at the gym. I enjoy being in the water and but I don't feel like I get as great of a workout... as oppose to doing a #HIIT or #RIPPED class. If I'm not sweaty and sore I don't feel like it was a good workout. I also don't love the fact that I cannot seem to get rid of this faint chlorine scent on my skin. No Bath and Body Works shower gel and loofa has succeeded yet... it just turns into the fruity chlorine scent. Blahk!

In any case, A WORKOUT is better than NO workout!

NOW. Onto the real reason I remembered to blog today!

For those who don't know, there is a website out there called INFLUENSTER [You can click the name for a link to their website!] Basically this is a website where people can go and review products and take surveys. It is an invite only website, but I got an invite very quickly after requesting one. The purpose is, as mentioned, to review products-- let people know what you think: likes, dislikes, pros, cons? I was a little weary of this, I mean, could I actually review products and then qualify later on to get sent free stuff to try and review? Heck yes! I've been an active member (since November, I believe?) and because I've been reviewing products I qualified for a Vox Box. A Vox Box is a product filled box that is sent out to qualifying members. The challenge is to review the products and let everyone know what you think! Since I got one, [which was officially called the Sweetheart Vox Box] I decided that the best way for me to share was in my blog.

• This particular Vox Box came with 4 products:

• Olay® Fresh Effects [Facial Claenser]
• Secret Clinical Strength [Deodorant]
• Not Your Mother's® [Volumizing Spray}
• SkinnyGirl Daily [Granola Bar]

In particular, I am REALLY excited to try the Olay Facial Effects. However, the only product I feel I can review at this moment is the SkinnyGirl Daily Granola Bar. The reason for this is because I just got my box yesterday and one use of any of the other products won't necessarily give me a good idea of whether or not I like them. I plan to give each of the other 3 products a week and, then, I will give them the reviews I see fit.

SO... SkinnyGirl Daily Bar. I eat A LOT lot of these types of bars [Though, I eat, Pure Protein bars almost exclusively.] They are fast, easy and filling. Not to mention many bars like this also have lots of protein and just enough sugar to many my brain happy. My favorite is the Chocolate Peanut Caramel bar. Anyhow, I received the SkinnyGirl Greek Yogurt Blueberry Crisp Daily Bar.

Let's begin with packaging: Looks nice, clean, and consistent with other SkinnyGirl products. Not a lot to say here, really.

Now, the contents. The bar itself tastes pretty good. I love blueberry and the bar was not grainy like a lot of others out there. HUGE PLUS. However, compared to other products it isn't quite as large, but packs the same amount of calories, 180.

When I am following a meal plan I try to be very careful about my intake of four things: Carbs, Protein, Sugar and Fats. I allow myself 25grams of sugar a day, this product has 10g! That's close to half of my daily sugar intake for ONE meal bar!

I didn't want this to end up being a "compare products" review, however, to show my point I am going to do so.

As I mentioned above, I often eat Pure Protein bars, in fact I have 6 in my kitchen cabinet as I type this-- and that because I haven't yet gone to the store this week. Below is a comparison of the Pure Protein Revolution bar and the SkinnyGirl Greek Yogurt Blueberry Daily Bar.

• Pure Protein vs. SkinnyGirl Daily

• Calories: 180 - 180
• Cals from fat: 50 - 70
• Total Fat: 6g - 7g
• Cholesterol: 10mg - 0mg
• Sodium: 150mg - 210mg
• Potassium: 55mg - 90mg
• Carbs: 17g - 24g
• Dietary Fiber: 1g - 5g
• Sugar: 1g - 10g
• Protein: 20g - 8g
• Cost: $5.99 per box of 6 - $9.99 per box of 5

As you can see, for the four points that I personally find most important, [carbs, protein, sugar and fats] the Pure Protein bar clearly outweighs the SkinnyGirl Daily Bar AND it's slightly bigger and a little more filling.

Conclusion: Overall SkinnyGirl rating: C+. HOWEVER, this doesn't mean I'm saying don't buy or you shouldn't try out the Skinny Girl bars -- They do taste great and they have a couple flavors I haven't seen before [banana oatmeal and dark chocolate pretzel] which can be a big plus if you're tired of peanut butter based protein bar, because, I admit--- sometimes I get tired of peanut butter. However, I do believe you get more bang for you buck with Pure Protein.

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Final Disclaimer: I was NOT sent or asked to review Pure Protein, it was simply a comparison of a new product that I tried and one that I use all the time.

Eight Days

...that is how long is took my to fall off my weight loss resolution bandwagon.

I had this deal with myself--- I wasn't allowed to eat out except on payday. Not because I couldn't afford to any other day, but because it was TWO set days a month that I could count on to look forward to and satisfy any junk food cravings I had. Also, it helped that I could save money from not eating out for more important things.... like new kicks!

These are my new shoes! I never thought I'd end up with Reebok Zigs, but they were one of very few pairs in solid black and they are SUPER comfy without too much padding. Before I went to Soul to Sole and had my feet and jogging patterns looked at-- I assumed that since I was mostly flat footed I needed lots of padding and major arch support. Turns out (and I mentioned this in a previous blog) that the excessive padding and arch support was causing my ankles to roll out. So, my first pricey running shoes was a pair of minimal Saucony running shoes in white and neon pink and yellow. I LOVE them--- but they don't match much!

Now, back to falling off the bandwagon. I REALLY failed-- I ate out two more meals in the next couple days and then one more yesterday. That's 5 times in a week!

However, today is a new day and I vow that one slip up will NOT dictate the rest of my day (or week for that matter). I can't--- if every time I eat something bad and I give up for the day because I think it's ruined--- then it is. But if I really need a sweet or junk food fix I'll have ONE thing and not a whole day of junk food.

I've also formulate a new workout plan--- I put it on paper so I can look at my week and know what I expect of myself. I've been touch and go with working out--- I need less cardio and more resistance training, so I am using a modified P90X plan. I'm using the Classic plan and using the P90X resistance training portions, but using HIIT and Zumba at the gym in exchange for the P90X cardio. I am also going to attempt yoga at the gym. There IS a P90X yoga, but it's 90 minutes long and I can't sit through it alone, so I am hoping that taking a yoga class at the gym will help. We'll see!

Until next time!

On the Weigh Down!