Calories, Calories, Calories.

Things have been progressing since my last post.  I still have the want to go to the gym, but now I am wanting to go almost everyday instead of three times a week and I never thought I would ever say that.  Unfortunately, Andrew (my trainer) doesn't want me to do that until we get further along in the program.  Also, I am not sure my muscles want me doing that, especially since they are still sore days after my workouts.  Legs on the other hand are done so intensively that they are still sore right up until the next training session a week later.  It is all an amazing feeling and experience, but damn am I tired most the time from all the healing and digesting.  I thought exercise was supposed to boost your energy. HAHAHA.  Some good news before the bad, my boyfriend (who is also working out to get in shape) is going on Saturdays (the workout day without Andrew) with me to do his cardio, but to also help spot me so that I can really push myself.  This has been a boon for me and I am grateful to have the help.  The bad news is that I have been losing some weight.  I am down a pound since my last weigh in over a week ago.  Andrew says that it is ok since it could be just my metabolism adapting to the new food regimen, loss of excess water or visceral fat, etc. I hope this trend doesn't continue which is shouldn't considering I saw my nutritionist again on Monday.  Also, recently I have noticed I am starting to sit and stand much straighter without concentrating on doing it.  I would love if my posture improved to where I don't slouch at all.  Baby steps I guess, but I am just getting so anxious to see more results.

The nutritionist has given me a new diet plan to help keep my body guessing.  She has changed me to a high protein/low carb diet 4 days and high carb/low protein diet 3 days, as well as, added on 200 extra calories, so now I am up to 3200/day.  This is supposed to help hard gainers to really pack on the pounds.  I hope that is true because I would really like to get up to 215 soon so I can get my measurements done again. The last time I was trying to gain weight, the was around the weight that I started to plateau and was unable to break past.  It seems recently that my strength and weight gain has hit a plateau already, which could just be my already high metabolism kicking into super mode now that it has all the fuel it needs to get going.  If it keeps up this trend, I might have to see the nutritionist and again sooner to find out if even more calories are needed.  Damn you metabolism! Another side effect of all this, my normal body temperature seems to be skyrocketing.  I am constantly hot, especially when I go to bed at night.  At times it is almost unbearable to sleep...sigh.

So I'm just keeping up the training and hoping my measurements are good when that time comes.  I also hope that the current feeling that I am plateauing goes away soon with more great gains, but I gotta keep my head in the game and not worry about that, just the workouts.  At times I feel like I am regressing strength wise, but I think that is just in my mind...I hope.  I am sure Andrew would do something if he thought I wasn't making the gains he expects.  He has also said I am ahead of the game some, so I just need to get out of my own head and not worry about it.

The Journey Continues and Now I Have a

My workout Monday (pushing muscles) that I did on my own was amazing.  I really pushed myself hard as I know I need to keep up with the kind of workouts I get when I training with Andrew.  Yesterday was doing pulling muscles (back & biceps) with Andrew and wow am I sore this morning.  I can't even extend my arms out fully.  I love this feeling of my muscles sore and achy. 

The good news of the day was I have gained another 3 lbs since March 6th.  That brings my weight up to 214 lbs from 211 lbs.  To date I have gained 9 lbs and am almost halfway to my 230 lbs.  Overall this is a very exciting development.  The last time I got to this weight it took me about 6 months.  I had no idea how to eat properly or really how much I should be eating.  Even then I thought I was eating a lot, but not nearly as much as I am this time by half. 

On a side note, my boyfriend has also jumped on the fitness train and signed up for 50 training sessions with Andrew.  He is looking to lose some weight, but at the same time, gain a bit of muscle.  He isn't looking to gain as much as me, but by the end of it all he will look amazing.  I can't wait for this summer to get here and the results to really start showing. 

Is He Trying to Cripple Me?

Thursday was another torturous leg workout with Anthony.  He is really into pushing me hard during our times together which I actually like, although sometimes I think he is just trying to see how far he can push before I am crippled HAHA.  He says he likes to do it because I always try to do whatever he says and push myself to the absolute limit with no complaining.  Apparently this gets him very excited to train someone.  I did squats, leg press, hamstring curls and lunges.  By the time I came around to doing the lunges my legs were so spent and weak, I fell over almost every time I went down for a lunge.  This of course produced much laughter from Anthony.  Best trainer ever!  As usual I was quite weak and sore after and it has yet to subside completely.  That feeling really makes me feel like I trained good and hard. 

The weekend was the Toronto Comic Con which I had a table at selling my artwork.  Since I was at a table for 8 hours a day, I had to pack up all the food I was going to be eating during the day and take it with me.  It was a huge pain in the butt, but I just keep thinking how worth it this will all be in the end.  I didn't end up eating as great as I should, but I got most of it in my regimine, although I have to say, it was nice not being completely stuffed for a day or two.

Tonight is the workout for the pushing muscles (chest, triceps & shoulders) and I will be doing this one on my own for the first time.  I was supposed to do them this weekend, but he Comic Con interferred with that plan so I have have to do them tonight.  I don't want Anthony to think I am a slacker and shame me at our next meeting.  Shame is one of my best motivators.  I believe that this week or next is measuring time to see if I have gained anything on the initial measurements that were taken when I started.  I hope to get those numbers and post them here for comparisons.

OMG...So Much Food!

Since Sunday, this is the first week of eating according to the nutritionist's plan.  I have to say that on paper, it doesn't look like that much food, but once I portion it out and realize that I am eating every 3 hours, let me tell you...I am full all the time.  The days I don't have a workout seem to be worse than the days I do, but I guess this is what it takes to get 3000 calories a day of healthy food.  Also, I have not had refined sugar or anything with high fructose corn syrup in it for over 2 weeks.  Not because I am against it, but because the plan doesn't have any processed foods in it that contain that type of sugar.  I have to say that I feel pretty good without all that sugar, especially the soda I would have everyday.  I am trying to be as strict with this nutrition plan as I possibly can and so far I am doing a tremendous job, if I do say so myself. 

Yesterday was the exercises for the pushing muscles (shoulders, triceps, chest).  Whenever I do a session with Andrew, I come away exhausted, sweaty and sore.  I really want to get to that point on days when I do the same exercises by myself.  I might have to start asking people to help/spot me although I abhore bothering anyone during their workout.  Andrew also weighted me yesterday because he had a "feeling" about my progress.  He was right and I have already gained 6 lbs  since starting at the gym and doing the nutrition plan (current weight 211 lbs...starting weight 205).  I don't know if that is all muscle, but common sense would dicate that it is a combination of both muscle and some fat...or maybe I am just full of 6 lbs of food HA!  Regardless, all this seems to be doing what I set out to do and I am very excited.  I believe that measurements are going to be taken again either next week or the week after.  I hope there is some growth, but I am not going to be too upset if there isn't.  I am trying to stay in a relaxed mindset and just let my body do what it is going to do during this process.  No need to get upset about gains or losses really...unless I end up gaining 30 lbs of fat doing this.  Once I get remeasured, I will post the starting and new measurements for comparison. 

Onward and upward.

The Full Plan Begins

Lots to talk about today.  Thursday was legs day with Andrew and he really hurt me good this time.  We did squats, leg press, leg extesion and hamstring curls.  This was the first workout that was for training, not trying to figure out what weight is good for me and what my form is like.  That being said, Andrew didn't let me get away with any kind of slacking off, which is the exact reason I hired a personal trainer, you know, besides their fitness knowledge.  The squats were the most brutal because he just kept adding weights and kept making me do more sets.  I believe we did about 5 sets and finally ending on 105lbs.  My legs were complete jelly after just those, but then he made me do other exercises.  Leg press I ended on 180lbs, leg extensions ended on 40lbs and hamstring curls ended on 75lbs.  It felt amazing to be pushed that hard and be that exhausted after a workout.  That was Thursday and my legs are still sore today (Monday). 

Yesterday was also first almost full day of eating according to my nutrition plan.  I have to say it took a lot of running around to get all the components I needed to make my meals and snacks every day.  I finally found the hemp protein powder at a local health food store right by my apartment.  It was not as expensive as I thought, but when I had my first protein shake yesterday, the taste was quite interesting.  I felt like I was eating a shake laced with pot.  It was weird, but if it is what I need, it is going to be eaten.  Dinner was abundant and delicious last night which was salmon, roast potatoes and a huge salad.  Quite satisfying and huge portion HAHA. Today will be the first full day of my eating regimine.

Sunday was also the first workout without Andrew.  I had to do back exercises yesterday.  I tried to do them according to Andrew's instructions, which I think I did a pretty good job.  I felt all the movements in the muscles I was supposed to,  but you never get as good a burn as when you have someone there to push you and help with the weight when you get to that exhausted stage and you just have 2-3 reps left to do.  That being said, I don't think Andrew would be too disappointed in my efforts.