Hi Everyone..sorry been away from the puter for a while BECAUSE!!!!...

I have decided that since I have been going to the gym, eating clean, living the best life I can, for the past 4 years, that now it's time for me to move up one more rung in my ladder of "Being a better Me". I've become to complacent, to comfortable, and to adjusted to my thinner life.(never thought I'd say that???)

Time to BASH out of my comfort zone!!!

I have taken on a 84 day challenge from the website "Bodybuilding.com" Jamie Eason's bodybuilding program, along with a group of friends. We've picked the best trainer/program that suits us individually.

I cant even begin to tell you how OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE this is. I don't do challenges. I don't even jog!! I strength train a lot, but not to this degree..YIKERS!!

So, my program has NO cardio, the object here, is to build muscle. not burn calories. which goes against everything I've learned so far with WLS. I now have to do the OPPOSITE of everything I've been doing with WLS..talk about SCARY!!!.. BUT I have been doubly reassured (through the weight trainer at my gym) that the food I will be consuming are conducive to gaining muscle. So thats the reason I been absent from this site..

I have been learning about Bodybuilding foods..I must tell you all THIS: it is exactly what I've been eating for the past 4 years...lololol...I must drink Protein shakes, I do...I must take Vitamins, I do...I must eat boat loads of chicken, I do..I must consume large quantities of leafy greens, veggies and fruits..I already do...lollol...dodged that bullet..lol

I also had to learn what a 'Raw Foods' diet consists of, because I will have to do that for a week or 2 at some point, no prob there, just cut out the chicken..ok breezing threw the food part..lol

So, I've also been learning how to navigate the weight room, and what all the moves are called, some I've been doing for 4 years, just didn't know the names of the moves..lol..like--> Lat Pulldowns..lol.,been doing that for years, just had no name to go with it..lol..so been learning all the names of the equipment, and how to use what look like torture contraptions. Today would have been Day1..but damnit I had to work O.T. So tomarrow (Marcch 4th) will be Day 1..got a whole lot of reps in my future..but Im gonna give it all I got..This is just another thing I don't want to fail at. I can do this, I can this, I can do this...Right????? :/

Oh my gosh!! Good for you!! This has to be a HUGE mindset change!! I wish you the best of luck. I am only two years post op... I am still learning how to " handle" the bad habits. I've been able to keep the weight off (130lbs).. Still it's not easy.. Then again the thought of protein shakes...UGH!!! Good luck!!!

lol..Thank you Apryl..lol..it is HUGE for me. But like I told my husband, I think its just a natural evolution to what I've been doing all along. Kind of UPPING the 'hum-drum' stakes, if you will.

Been reevaluating the past 4 years and all I've learned and accomplish, I have climbed that 'WLS mountain', did my happy dance while I was up there.. why not try another 'mountain'. Funny how this healthier/ skinnier life is so different from my much heavier life..Im thinking about OTHER ways to be stronger, better, and just all around healthier, all the time...sitting still is becoming impossible...lololol..

Dee if anyone can do it you can! We must be picking up the same vibes from the Universe. I recently purchased a Total Gym and started strength training for the first time in my life. Hey, it's never too late, right?! Been working about five days a week for three weeks. I never in a million years thought I would say this but here goes - I am actually enjoying it. There, I said it! It really is quite fun. It is not professional equipment with each machine designed to do a very specific task. But it is well made and quite versatile in terms of the wide variety of exercises that you can do to work most if not all of the major muscle groups. Very weak in terms of cardio but I walk two to three miles four or five times a week so I don't need a machine for the cardio.

"Buff", here we come!!

Dee that is fantastic! I strengtg train 3 days a week but consider myself a cardio junkie. I love cardio but dread strength training. Lately ive been pushing my comfort zone by going to the gym, getting in between the big lunjy guys and doing my lunges, squats, burpees, arm curls, chest and back. I felt uncomfortable at first but quickly realized I am doing the same as them, albeit much lower weights. My shape has changed dramatically in just the 6 weeks.

Dave: Good for you!!!!.. yes indeed, buff bods HERE WE COME!!

today was DAY 1..all was good, no trainer today, we needed to see if I could do it on my own and later discuss how I felt about navigating the machines. Well I breezed threw the sets, all expect the 'push-up' which just about killed me!!!!..I do have a b*tch though..my gym is to crowded for how I need to navigate, people are all over the machines I need, luckily we have a 'Women's Zone', which I'm not use to using, but that seemed the solution to the overcrowd of machines. So my biggest accomplishment today was finding an alternative solution to keep forging ahead...lol..I bet in about 3 weeks my sunny disposition will be greatly clouded..lol..Im to cocky about getting threw today..I better shut it, before I have to eat my words.

Imsoworthit: I have also been strength training for the past 3 years, but not to this degree, heavier weights. I've lost all the weight and more I was suppose to, and started noticing that my body was becoming to long and lean, like a runners or bicyclists. That what cardio does, make long lean muscles. I don't want long and lean, I want strong and shapely ..Eric, the trainer guy, explained that to me when we met. Cardio burns calories, for that long and lean look a runner has. Strength training, gets me sexy shoulders, back and a small waist, with a flat tummy and beautiful legs with awesome calves...SIGN ME UP!!!!!

Day 2, tomarrow!!!

PS..ohhh ohh .. I also love the fact that muscles burns fat faster, and a broad plant food based diet/lifestly will accelerate the process..Im hearing ALL GOOD HERE, lot of discomfort, but so was WLS in the beginning..forging forward, I am..going that a way----->

PS..ohhh ohh .. I also love the fact that muscles burns fat faster, and a broad plant food based diet/lifestly will accelerate the process..Im hearing ALL GOOD HERE, lot of discomfort, but so was WLS in the beginning..forging forward, I am..going that a way----->

Pick me, sign me up and count ne in!!

I love my shoulders lately and realized it is all the focus on weights. I am not to goal yet but close so seeing my body change is exciting. The gym has become my me time.

I'm so proud of you Dee and you inspired me to change it up a bit too.

Day 2..made it through all the reps..but left disgruntled and hobbling..lol..the calf lifts destroyed me!!! ..Day 3 bring it on!!