Saturday, September 28, 2024

The Next 90 Days. (Weight Loss and Strength Training)

 Many years ago—maybe 14 or 15 years now, let me think about it—it was around 2007, I think. I tried this thing where I was going to lose 30 pounds in 90 days, and I had a plan. It was a great plan, too. The whole thing was from the internet, and it seemed to work miracles for some—so why not me? Right?

    Turns out that shocking my body the way I did was not only unhealthy, but it ended up causing or at least significantly contributing to a gallbladder attack that may or may not have been an underlying problem - - but it was a BIG problem. Right in the middle of my first two weeks of the 90-day program, I had what I thought was a full-blown heart attack! It wasn't; it was my gallbladder, but you couldn't convince me; it was painfully devastating, and to make matters so much worse, the doctors sent me home for a week to let it relax before they took it out! Can you imagine? It really wasn't the most fun I've ever experienced. I'll say that.

    Well, I gave up the 90-day thing that time and picked up another sort of thing years later in 2020 when I woke up on August 3 and decided to lose 30 pounds before my birthday, November 22. I did it, too. I lost 38 pounds as a matter of fact, and I went on to lose another 10-12 pounds before Christmas. All in all, between August 3, 2020 and February 14, 2021, I had lost 58 pounds. THAT was an amazing time for me. I need that time back.

    As we get older and start making many mistakes and even more excuses, we figure out that we're not nearly as strong and confident as we thought we were -- at least, that happened to me. I lost jobs, I struggled financially, and all of it had a huge physical and mental effect on me. I gained most (not all) of the weight back, and I didn't give a flip if I could not fit in my jeans because I had given up wearing real clothes anyway. I work from home! I wake up, put on my jammies and that's how I stay unless and until I go out to the store or something. Then,  I pull on a pair of sweats or loose-fit joggers, and I go! I haven't worn real clothes in quite some time.  I don't have to; I don't need to. 

    Well, today, September 28, 2024, I put the 90-day thing back into effect. In 90 days, by December 27, 2024, I want to be at least 30 pounds lighter and much stronger. I have a plan, and I really hope it works. I'm older than I was in 2007, and I'm older than I was just 4 years ago. I'm OK with the age, but my body has decided to balk at some of what it used to want to do. For instance, I walked 4-6 miles a day for most of the weeks that I was losing all that weight -- and now my freaking right hip has decided to show its age (a little). I'm working on it as best I can with pain relievers, stretching, and all that, but now I have found another source of exercise that may replace all that walking.

    Last week I bought myself a 40" indoor Bcan trampoline with a handle to hold onto because I'm not stupid. I know people can fall; even the balanced ones, I'm not about to do all that bouncing without something to steady myself.  Laura helped me put it together after I hurt myself of course, she lets me try, but she usually ends up saving the day. I cussed too! yes, I did. I let out really bad words! It's not the bouncing that gets me, it's the assembly!  The point is that I now have a good indoor trampoline to bounce on while watching my shows. I thought I could do the mini-walking treadmill -- that was the latest and the greatest, but it wasn't. 

    My hips needed more space to move, and the walker forced me to put my feet too close together, which was not good. The pain was immediate! After three minutes, my joints screamed at me. Laura now has a new mini-treadmill walker - - and I have a new bouncy trampoline in my office to use while I watch my shows.  I worked up a sweat in just a few minutes and jumped 4180 steps in 15 minutes. I'm going rather slowly, too. I have more room to roam and get all the support I need. It's fun, and it's good for me.  I think I'll be able to use it for a while; I don't have to have my shoes on, which I did when I used the mini-treadmill.

    It will take me a few days to get the routine down, but let me just say that this trampoline and the new carrot juice I found at Sam's today will be a game changer. You don't know this about me, but I'm the biggest carrot juice fan. I juiced it with an amazing machine, but now I can buy it at Sam's and for the same cost! Yeah...and now that I know this, I'm already making plans to stock up on the stuff to the tune of two or three quarts a week - - I may be addicted. I put cinnamon in mine; if you haven't tried it, you really should.

    OK...so I'll keep you posted on the weight loss and the strength training. We have a really cool torture device in the dining room - we put the table and chairs away. We have a full gym now in the house - and I think we're happy about it. In 90 days, I'll be able to do 50-60 leg lifts on that chair thing, and I'll be able to say I could fit into my jeans if I wore them; at least I can put on a pair for a picture maybe -- or maybe, I'll just donate them all and keep to the jammies. We'll see.   Christmas is coming! I will be happy and fit -- hopefully, Santa will bring me a new hip...ha!


Photo Credit:  Pinterest.com 


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