First of all, I apologize for failing to update my blog last week – things have really heated up in regard to my son and his wife adopting little Izze (watch for a blog post update on that later this week) and I have felt pretty paralyzed by all the legal drama.


So….I had a rather interesting weekend that is presenting a few challenges for the upcoming week. 


 I am still maintaining my weight, but bought a new pair of jeans on Saturday in a size 6 – I was wearing a size 10-12 prior to beginning this challenge.  In spite of the scale not moving I can see how much better my clothes are fitting and am content with that for now!  The scales will eventually “catch up”!


On Saturday I got an evil flu and was the sickest I can ever recall being.  I started about 4:00 p.m. and by 8:00 p.m. was passing out.  The first time I blacked out I was sitting down already, so no huge deal.  The second time I was so sick and “out of it” that I couldn’t call for help from my husband who was in the next room.  I knew I was in a bad way, but thought if I could just get to my bed and lay down I would be okay.  The next thing I know I am laying on the wood floor of my bedroom with my husband and son asking me what the heck was going on.  The best that we can surmise it that as I blacked out I hit the huge armoire in our bedroom and then fell face forward onto the floor.  It took me quite a while to sufficiently recover and be able to get back up with assistance and back to my bed.  My hip was on fire and my arm hurt so bad I could not move it.  My husband wanted me to go to the emergency room, but I was so sick I did not think I could make the trip down.  I kept saying if I could just get some sleep I would be fine.  Our neighbor is a paramedic and David (my husband) insisted on calling him for an opinion.  He was attending a football game and did not make it until 11:30 p.m.  By then I was pretty out of it and he figured I was severely dehydrated and that it was possible I had fractured my elbow, thus insisting I head to the emergency room.  I wasn’t really convinced that I needed to go, but was too weak to argue.  I made it as far as the garage and the next thing I knew had passed out again on the hood of the car.  At this point, I was pretty well convinced that I needed to head out.  


I was unable to walk into the ER and my husband went in for a wheelchair.  They pumped me full of 2 quarts of fluids, gave me 4 or more stitches in my elbow (fortunately NOT fractured, just deeply bruised and cut from the inside out), and sent me home with pain meds and anti-nausea meds.  It was 3 a.m. when we arrived back home.  Soooooo, for this week I am having to modify my exercises significantly to give my arm a much needed rest.  I am focusing on abs and legs, with some work on my left arm, but nothing on the right.  I simply cannot support myself and am pretty limited in my range of motion without stressing the right arm (yesterday I did not even have any feeling in my right hand due to the swelling).  My right upper thigh is extremely swollen (I look like I have a “saddle bag” on that side) and is very painful.  HOWEVER, I am determined to keep up with the workout.  This morning was pretty successful and I felt I had a good, although different, workout.  I rode the stationary bike for cardio.  Hopeful for a great week in spite of my setback and extremely grateful for an amazing husband who is so supportive.  He has been traveling a ton as of late, and had just returned home on Friday.  Not sure what I would have done if he was out of town.  Also, a huge shout out to my neighbor for his assistance – no telling what condition I would have been in by morning – you know, after “sleeping it off”.  Next time I am up until 3 a.m. I hope it is for something a whole lot more fun!!!!!


Here’s to a great week!  

Remaining the same for this week.  I pretty much expected that after my loss last week.  


I have had a lot of people ask me about my home gym (so to speak).  It is set up in my garage and consists of:  one incline bench with leg attachment, one flat bench, dumbbells (3 lb, 5 lb, 8 lb, 10 lb and 15 lb weights), resistance bands (we own 3 sets of these and use them in various combinations), an elliptical trainer and a stationary bike.  I have workout mats lining the workout area as well.  I also own a sauna and try to use it at least 2-3 times a week.  My husband put up two posts in our garage (attached to the garage floor and ceiling) and used eye-hooks to make different “stations” to do the resistance exercises.  It beats the pants out of having to move the bands around in a door jam every time you switch to a new set of exercises.  Each morning when I go out to workout, I look to see which exercises I will be doing, set each “station” up with the correct bands and off I go!  LOVE it!!!!  It is getting a bit cold in the mornings now and I am wearing a sweat jacket and gloves while I work out, but I will not be deterred!  Once you get moving it warms up pretty quickly.  We do have a space heater, but have not had to turn it on yet.  I had to sacrifice one-car of my two-car garage, but I am okay with that!  I think when there is a will, we will figure out a way to make it work.  I have found that you can work any muscle group with the resistance bands and there is a ton of video demonstration available online so you can make sure you are doing it properly.   This save us from having to have all kinds of machines.  Hope this helps those of you just getting started.  Here’s to good health!

Down 3 pounds this week!!!!!  Halle-freakin’-luja!!!!  I have hit the coveted 25 pound mark!  VERY motivating to really stick to the program – even when you seem to be hovering forever!  I wore a jacket yesterday that I could not even get on (WAAAAAy too tight thru the arms) and it was quite loose and fit great!  Can’t promise that I will do the 3 pound drop again, but I do know I will continue to live my life this way!  I will work on before and after pics and try to get some posted in next week’s update.  Thanks for stopping by!


If you have joined me in the challenge I would love to hear how you are doing too!