And yesterday at the gym...

Some of the people I encounter at the gym never cease to amaze me. Yesterday was no exception. 


I know I tell stories about the gym all the time, but I seriously see and experience the strangest things. 


I had to make up a workout from last week, so I was at the gym alone. I hate the gym when I'm alone. I was just finishing up my workout. I was doing some oblique things with a 25 pound plate. As I was putting the plate back and an older man comes up to me and says...


"What are you doing lifting all that weight?"


I didn't hear him at first because I was wearing headphones. I took them out and said, "Excuse me?"


"What are you doing working out with all that weight? You're going to get bulky like a man."


"Oh, that's not going to happen. I need to lift heavy."


"For what reason? You're working too hard."


"Well, if you lift heavy it burns more fat."


"No, no, no...you just want to firm up, right? You need to lift light weights. Ladies need to lift light. You don't want to get bulky."


"Oh, that's not going to happen. You can't get bulky from lifting heavy. I would have to take something for that to happen."


Then he yells across the gym, "Hey.....hey Chuck....tell this little girl that she shouldn't be lifting so heavy."


"Ok, I'm not going to get bulky unless I start taking steroids...trust me." Then I literally ran out the door to get away from him. 


I'm one of those people that can't think of witty responses when I'm caught off guard. I'm one of those people that thinks of great comebacks after the fact. 


So, on my way home I think of this and I should have said, "Oh, if I lift heavy I'll get bulky like a man? I see you lifting really heavy and you don't look like a man." Damn...why couldn't I have thought of that sooner. 

Dear Zach...

Dear Zach, 


I know I have been struggling this summer with my meal plans and I have no one to blame but myself. Even if I tried to give you excuses you wouldn't buy them and they would probably just piss you off. 


I'm not gonna lie, my self control has been pretty out of sorts for the past few months. I'm not sure what to do about that, but I've been getting back on track for the past few weeks (with the exception of that wedding reception on Saturday). 


So, I need some help getting refocused. I'm not sure right now how to get back to that mindset from last January. Janelle and I did have a long talk at the gym yesterday and she did bring up some good points and helped me to realize some things that I had forgotten about. 


Anyway, I would also like to clear up the whole "cheat day" issue. I know everyday is a cheat day because I get to eat what I want at certain times and certain portion/calorie sizes. I call it a "cheat day" because it helps other people around me to understand what I was doing. That term is not so much for me, but for everyone else. (Janelle said you feel the same about the word "cheat day" as you do "tone up")


Seriously, I'm ready to get back on track with this whole meal plan business. I'm ready to do what I know I need to do and what I'm expected to do. I'm sorry if I made you mad/upset by so blatantly going out and screwing up and then posting the evidence on Facebook. (not my brightest moment) 


Basically, if I wasn't serious about this I wouldn't have written this letter for the whole blog world to see. Hopefully I'll see you soon to get a new meal plan and you can help me get back on track mentally. 


Thanks, 
Sarah

Wedding fun time

I went to a wedding yesterday for a great friend of mine. It was a pretty wedding, pretty reception, and pretty everything that had to do with the wedding. 


This morning I was looking at the pictures on my camera and finally had something weight loss related to talk about. It's really just comparison pictures. 


Last July I was at a wedding and this July I was at a wedding (obviously). The one similarity from last year to this year is my excellent tan. I've been a little obsessed with my tan lately. You can ask anyone; they'll tell you. 

July 2010

July 2011

That was a killer workout

So, I totally forgot to write anything yesterday, but I didn't really even have anything to say. 


This morning, however, I have a lot to say. 


We went to the Reserve this morning. It was already hot and humid too. Then it started to rain...


Anyway, we had to run, jump, lunge, squat, jump up stairs, run up hills, and in general do a bunch of crap that I don't want to do. 


Since I wear a heart rate monitor I know that my heart rate was out of control and I'm pretty sure my heart was actually about to explode. 


Half way through I was pretty sure that my legs were going to give out and I'm also pretty sure the only reason I finished was because my legs were totally numb. 


I think all of us were about to puke at different times throughout the workout. I kept asking who was about to puke. I told them it didn't matter if they did, but I was not going to clean it up. Ashley reminded me that we were outside and there was no reason to clean it up if someone did puke. That made me feel better. 


No one puked, we all finished, my legs and lower body are killing me, and now I'm going to the pool for the rest of the day....and I might get a pedicure today too. I think I deserve it. 

Why is it so hot?

Ok, it's not really that hot. It's been like 90ish, but high humidity. I don't really care how hot it is, because I spend most of my time inside during the day. 


The heat sucks though because I like to walk outside. On my off days from the gym (Monday and Wednesday) I try to go take walks. I wanted to take a walk tonight, but I just think it's too hot...or...I really just want to watch the Reds game and I'm making excuses. 


I'm going to use the heat as my "excuse" for the night. I think I will do some ab stuff while I'm sitting here watching the game. 


I've been having headaches lately too. I think that is heat related. I think I'm getting a little dehydrated and it's causing some headaches. I keep trying to drink more water, but I can't keep up! For the past week I know I've drank over a gallon of water every day. I still feel like if I was getting enough I wouldn't be getting these headaches. (I'll blame the heat for this too and that gives me another "excuse" to stay in tonight.) 


Well, now that I'm done making excuses, I better get off my butt and do something. 

Zumba.....no way.

Against my better judgement I tried Zumba.....for 10 minutes. It's all I could tolerate. 


Ok, I'm not a dancer. I'm not coordinated. I don't follow dance steps. I need to go slower and take more time. I don't feel energetic. I don't want to shake my ass, jump in the air, and wave my arms around. 


I tried to leave before we even started when the instructor was calling out the steps to a new dance/song they were going to be doing. 


Ok, let me back up.....Ashley asked if we would go Zumba. I was hesitant, but Janelle reminded me that I would probably burn a ton of calories. I'm all about burning the calories. She also said we were sure to have fun....yea, right. 


I tell Kelly that this is all going down tonight and she says that she wants to go because she has been trying to get me to go to Zumba for a long time. 


When we were standing around waiting for the class to begin I started having that panic feeling that I didn't want to be there. I can't quite explain it, but it's an overwhelming feeling I get when I start to feel uncomfortable. (I guess it's like that fight or flight attitude) I just start saying that I want to leave and I'll just walk while they are taking the class. 


I tried to grab my keys a few times and leave, but Ashley kept grabbing my arm to make me stay. Kelly kept calling me a baby. Janelle kept telling me the class hadn't even started, I needed to give it a try, and no one cares what I look like. 


All I know is, I had to get the eff out of that room. I'm sure no one does care what I look like while doing the Zumba crap, but I care. I know they could care less what I look like, but to me  everyone is staring at me and I just can't stand that thought. I love to be the center of attention if I'm comfortable with what I'm doing. I was not comfortable even standing in that room with all those other people in there. 


So, I tried to leave again, and I was stopped. I love my friends, but I was about to flip out on them. I had to get out of that room. 


The class started and I could not follow what was happening. I was so frustrated. They all keep telling me to try and I'm not even putting in any effort. 


I don't know how to put effort and energy into something that I can't even follow. I was miserable. I can't even explain how miserable. I was also frustrated. I'm one of those people that will rarely, rarely cry, unless I'm frustrated. I was so frustrated that I finally just told them I was going to get water. I never went back. (Ok, I stayed for like 1.5 songs)


I just got on the treadmill and then the bike and waited for them to finish up. Ashley came out at one point and tried to get me back in there. 


I don't know why I would want to do a workout that does nothing but frustrate me. I felt nothing exciting or fun about the time I was in there. It was awful. I'm upset just thinking about it now. 


They can think I was being a baby all they want. I know the real reasons that I left. I don't feel the need to explain myself and why I didn't want to be there. I will not ever do that again either. I would rather lift. 

I'll just have water.

I'm getting my butt refocused. Really. No more sabotaging myself. I've been out nearly every night for the past 2 weeks.....and I've drank water...a lot of water. 


I go out. I order water and everyone else orders drinks. Bartenders and servers ask, "Why aren't you drinking?" (I guess they are used to me ordering drinks after years of, well....ordering drinks.)


"Oh, I just don't feel like drinking." There is no real need for me to explain why I'm drinking water. 


"Are you sick?"


"Nope. Just not drinking."


"Pregnant?"


"Oh, heck no. I'm just not drinking!"


"Oh....that's weird."


"Why? I don't see why you are so concerned with my lack of alcohol intake. It's not like we're talking hard drugs here. I'm just off the booze for a while. Geeze......oh and bring me some celery and lemons with that water....and don't ask. Just do it."


I try to tell people that this situation is just temporary. I'll be out getting wasted again before they all know it! Ok, maybe not wasted...but eventually a few beers or whiskeys won't be an issue. I just don't feel the need to defend myself for NOT drinking!

I smiled all the way home

I went to the gym alone yesterday at a time that I never go to the gym (on a Saturday, that is). That place was crazy. I've never seen so much weird activity in my life. Too much of it is difficult to explain, except one story.


Do you ever get the feeling that someone is watching you? I do all the time, and it's usually the jerks that work at the gym. They still think that Janelle is training me and I'm paying her. So they seriously spy on us; no kidding. 


So, I have that feeling, but it's from a guy who I see there all the time. I'm pretty sure he's a body builder, and if he's not he should be. I just keep catching him watching what I'm doing. 


I start thinking that there must be something on my face or my clothes are messed up or something. 


Finally, I notice him walking toward me and I just keep doing what I'm doing and assume that he's just walking toward me to get to something else. 


Nope...he stops right in front of me. I take out my head phones and he says.....
(He also sounded like a drill sergeant. He was very nice, but abrupt, and a little scary.)


"Ok, tell me how much weight have  you lost?"


"Oh, officially, 92 pounds."


"That's great. I can tell. I can tell you work hard when you're here."


"Oh thanks. I usually work out with my friend."


"I know. I've seen her. She looks good too. Does she compete?"


"Yes."


"People are wrong."


"What do you mean?"


"People don't realize that this (lifting) is how to lose weight. They think you have to get over there on that treadmill and run until you pass out."


"I totally agree." 


"You look great. Keep up the hard work," and then he was gone.....he just turned around and walked off. 


It was a very nice conversation, but it was so abrupt. He was nearly yelling at me, but he wasn't trying to yell. It was weird....I told Janelle about it (of course). She was laughing. I told her he was like a trainer, body builder, drill sergeant. 


Anyway, I smiled for the whole drive home. 

...and hold the cheese

I say, "No cheese" or "Hold the cheese" nearly every time I go out to eat. I love cheese, but I don't usually get it on my food because it's unneeded calories at this time. 


Yesterday I was out shopping with Janelle and Kelly. We stopped for lunch at a random fast food restaurant. I ordered a half baja salad with no cheese. 


The lady was like, "No cheese?" 


"Yes, hold the cheese. Thanks."


"I can do that for ya. I'll just go make your salad right now."


So, I watch her put the spinach in the serving container and then I watch her scoop the chili onto the spinach. Then I watch her scoop more chili onto the spinach.


I look at Janelle and tell her what's going on. Actually, I say, "Oh my god. That's enough freakin' chili for the whole serving size of that salad. I only ordered the half."


Right on cue, this lady turns around and has my salad ready for me and puts it on my tray. She looks at me and says, "I put some extra chili on there for you...since you didn't want the cheese. It looked a little bare."


"Oh thanks." I grabbed my tray and gave Janelle a strange look. When I sat down at the table I looked at Kelly and then my salad. 


Kelly was like, "That's a lot of chili."


"I know. The lady told me that she gave me extra chili because I said no cheese. I swear, she thought she gave me the hook up." 


I started scooping chili off of my salad and when Janelle sat down she just looked at me, smiled, and said, "I think that lady missed the point of no cheese." 


"You're damn right she did. I don't have a salad...I have chili with spinach floating in it!"


So, I had to scoop a ton of chili off of my salad before I could even eat it. It was still a good salad, but that lady was a little crazy. I feel like I would have asked for an extra scoop of chili if I wanted more!

You just said what to me????

Ok, so I've been wanted to write about some of this stuff for a while, but I was feeling like it was too off topic of this blog. Then I realized that I don't care and I can still spin this to deal with losing weight. Sweet. Please note though, that this will be chalk full of foul language and probably pretty long, but I swear you will laugh. 


Anyway, I am a single gal. I've been single for longer than I would like to admit at this point, but I do enjoy my freedom. Lately I've been getting hit on by the fellas more and more and I really attribute it to the weight loss. I do like the attention, but it's from all the wrong people! Some days it bothers me that I'm getting this extra attention, but that's an entirely different blog...


What I would like to tell you about are some of the jacked up things that men say to me while trying to hit on me. I'm telling you though, I have a warped sense of humor and I'm not easily offended. I just chalk a bunch of this crap up to, "it could only happen to me."


A few months ago, I met up with a friend at a bar pretty late at night. Long story short, this guy starts talking to us and then introduces me to his friend. This guy's friend was really shy, so I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt because it was painfully obvious that he wanted to talk to me, but he would hardly speak to me. (Ok dude, you wanted to talk to me....so talk.) Here's how most of this went. I'm leaving out a lot of the conversation, because I can sum up how creepy it is from this little snippet. 
Me: So, what do you do?
Him: I work in Columbus.
Me: Oh
Him: (no response, just staring...then finally) I watched you walk in here tonight.
Me: So......ok.
Him: Do you hang out anywhere else in town?
Me: Yea. 
Him: I've seen you at BDubs. 
Me: Oh yea?
Him: I've watched you there. 
Me: (frantically looking around for somewhere to hide)
Him: Do you live around here? Where do you live? 
Me: Um yea....(followed by an excuse to get the hell away from him)


Another interesting encounter happened in the middle of a Monday afternoon while I was out on my lunch break at the drug store. I'm not even lying, everyone I've told this story to has laughed so hard that they've begged me to stop talking because they just don't think they can possibly hear anymore. 


I had to go to the store because I had to get some girl products. I run into the store and the guy wearing red pj pants (jammy pants) totally hones in on me when I walk in the door. I'm sorry, but he was total white trash. It is really just my personal opinion that you should not wear jammy pants out in public. Put on some damn pants! 


I run back and grab what I need and as I'm walking back to the front of the store, he walks out in front of me (jammy pants and all) and starts looking me up and down. Then he sees a box of tampons that I'm holding and says, "Well, I guess I should wait until next week to ask you out," and smiles at me. 


I was so shocked by the whole thing that I just kinda laughed and stepped around him, paid for my stuff, and ran out of the store. I was in shock for the rest of the day. I really wanted to hit him, but it would have been quite another situation to call my principal and tell her I couldn't come back to work because I was arrested for assault. That guy was a d-bag, but it really makes for a good story now. 


Finally, the most vulgar story of the day. (I'm really not trying to offend anyone. These are really things that happen to me. It's just another day in the life of Sarah.) 


I run into this guy all over the place. We're really just casual acquaintances, but we talk, laugh, and have a good time when we run into each other. 


I was sitting on the patio of a bar with my good friend, Kat. He walks outside and walks over to the OPPOSITE side of the patio. He sees us and says, "Oooohhhh.....hey ladies."


Both of us respond, "Hey."


He YELLS at ME, "SARAH....YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH BEFORE I F*CK IT!" No joke! I couldn't make that up if I tried. 


My response, "OH! NO!"


So, there are so many more stories, those are seriously just the hi-lights. Maybe another day I'll tell you about the 21 who told me he was into older women. I'm only 28 and that nearly made me cry that he called me an "older woman". None of these things really bother me. I'm pretty laid back and what-not. It takes a lot to offend me. 


Maybe someday I'll tell a few more of the twisted encounters I have.