From **** to Fit!

[Lunu]

I've been posting on here for a couple of years, but figure it's time to own up and make my own journal Particularly because I have a milestone birthday coming up in 2 months (which involves a tropical island holiday!) and I want to make an effort to drop some of the fat I've recently gained and hold myself accountable for it.

BACKGROUND

As a child, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis and the prescribed treatment was at least 30 minutes a day of swimming freestyle as an attempt to straighten out my spine as I grew. It worked, as it never got worse and the pain actually improved substantially. So from the age of 11, I swam frequently until I was 17 which kept me pretty fit. Once I hit 17 though, I'd been given the okay to stop swimming and I was burning the candle at both ends with starting University, a new job and then partying as well. I ran myself into the ground and was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at 18. The same year, I was also diagnosed with Endometriosis. I've had 4 surgeries to treat that since then.

My CFS was so severe that my muscles were virtually non existent; I couldn’t get myself out of bed and had to defer from University and leave my job. I immediately switched to an all organic diet and started taking a lot of vitamin supplements. My specialist prescribed some sort of light assisted exercise for short periods 3 times a day until I improved (My mum thought this was ironic seen as she was only just free of having to take me to the pool every day).

My parents would walk me around a local football field at snail pace a few times a day. I remember they would help me out of the car and would each take one of my arms to support me for the walk. I was so weak, it’s ridiculous on reflection.

After a month or so, I started to feel a little bit stronger and my parents decided that we would hire a walking machine so that I could use that multiple times a day at home. I have to be totally honest in saying it was such a struggle to drag myself up in order to walk for 30 minutes, but I knew it had to be done in order for me to get better.

Many months passed and before I knew it, I decided I should join a gym to continue to regain my strength through weight training. I met with one of the personal trainers and was given what these days I would call a bit of a lulzy routine, but it got me started.

I gradually built myself up and before I knew it I was in better shape than I’d ever been. I was feeling muscles I’d never felt before and running faster and longer than I ever thought was possible.

It took me years to get healthy again and even to this day, if I miss a week or so of training I feel the lethargy creeping its way back into my body.

I’ve been lifting regularly and heavy for the past 5 or so years, but I've always been inconsistent with my food (and alcohol) intake. My weight has fluctuated a few kilos here and there quite frequently over the years and I've always honed myself back in fairly easily. I’ve found it more of a struggle recently though and I’m heavier than I've ever been. I’m not fat/overweight as such but certainly fat for me if that makes sense and I’m definitely more lethargic than I could be.

Starting this Monday 7th, I’m going to whip myself back into shape. I think this journal will help to hold me accountable and possibly provide some support and banter. I’m not expecting miracles in 8 weeks for my birthday, but expect that I’ll really get the ball rolling.

HAI! :P

[Lunu]

And drum roll..... I got food poisoning! lol First day back at work after 2 weeks off and I spent it throwing up while trying to catch up on everything.

Have kept a bit of food in tonight so if I manage to re hydrate enough, I will start tomorrow. Epic fail ha!

[Lunu]

So it took me until last Thursday before I started to feel vaguely myself again. I did a light back and bis session and then a light leg day on Friday. I focused more on diet and re-hydration and whipped up some green smoothies which were yum and nutritious



I was finally feeling myself again yesterday and trained chest, tris shoulders - Chest Press, Chest Flys, Shoulder Press, Lateral Raises, Dips, Tricep Pushdowns.

Today was Back and Bis again but a bit more intense than Thursday - Rack Pulls, Bent Over Rows, Underhand Lat Pull Down, Rope Cable Curls, Preacher Curls.
I followed up with an hour of steady, hill climb cardio on my stationary bike this afternoon.

Didn't have any alcohol all weekend and ate well aside from sharing a large popcorn at the movies last night - naughty but yum

[Lunu]

Today I trained legs during lunch. I'm doing quite a lot of my training during my lunch breaks because it's convenient but it means I'm very time restricted - usually half an hour max which I'm trying to adapt to. Supersets are coming in handy! Today was leg curls, leg extensions, leg press, adductor and abductor. I intend to do another legs session later in the week with squats, lunges and hip thrusts.

I also did 30 minutes of intervals on the bike tonight when I got home which really made my legs feel like jelly.

Last night I made these low cal broccoli soufflés and I took one for lunch today (which I have to eat at my desk after I train so can't bring anything that smells too offensive :P lol)

[bobbydigitaloa]

The title got me, I'm subbing as I love when people are looking to transform. Good luck and cheers for making the change!

That broccoli goodie looks awesome.

[Lunu]

Cheers Bobby! The soufflé is super easy - just eggs, onion, garlic and broccoli!

Did chest and triceps at lunch today: chest press, cable flys, arm extensions and overhead tricep extensions. Ideally I'd throw in a couple more exercises but the time goes so fast. I figure I'm making good use of my lunch break though instead of shopping or going out to eat with co-workers. Was planning on doing some cardio tonight but I'm really beat so going to skip it and get an early night.

Pre-made some lunches for the next couple of days:



Warning - there will probably continue to be quite a few food pics. I love food

[Lunu]

Feeling quite drained like I might be coming down with something so hit the gym at lunch with the intention of just doing a light shoulder work out. Got a bit carried away though - oops. Ended up doing shoulder press, lateral raises, upright rows, front raises and a couple of sets of military press before I packed it in.

I'm about ready to slam down my shrimp salad for lunch may or may not skip cardio this evening. Will see how I feel.

[Lunu]

Still exhausted and full of DOMs today. After 7 days training in a row, I figured it would be wise to take the day off I've recently been promoted at work and this has been a draining and stressful week. Could seriously enjoy a couple of glasses of wine tonight, but I'm not going to - it hit 40 degrees here today so I'll stick with iced water and lemon! Back in the gym tomorrow!

[Icpowell]

Hope Chris Jones doesn't see this.

[Lunu]

???

eta: googled it and lmao - had no idea someone else had been using this as a 'title'. With that said, I've been working on a book about recovering from debilitating illness for years and this has always been the planned title.

[Lunu]

Hit legs at the gym today. I usually do 3 sets of 12, 10, 8 for each exercise but bumped it up to 4 sets of 15, 12, 10, 8. Finally have some more energy back today - thought I was getting sick this week but turns out it was just endometriosis messing with me and making me feel exhausted. Annoying but relieved not to be coming down with something!

Went out to a Japanese restaurant for dinner tonight and had some Sashimi. I had a couple of glasses of Japanese Plum wine too which was refreshing.



The fish is seriously so fresh and tasty at this place - I think it's ruined 'Sushi Sushi' for me forever

[Lunu]

Took both Saturday and Sunday off from training. Having a bit of an endo flare up but I sucked it up and trained today anyway.

Bis and Tris at lunch. Arm Extension, Seated Bicep Curl, Tricep pushdown, Hammer Curls, Overhead Tricep Extension. 4 sets of everything again - really felt it all weekend in my legs after adding the extra set so will give it a whirl for awhile.

30 minutes stationary bike tonight before dinner which was Spaghetti Bolognese with Shiritaki pasta. Yum.

[Lunu]

I had an out of office work training session all day today so didn't get to the gym at lunch. Lunch was included and I was imagining the choices would be less than appealing (gourmet rolls etc) but they had a nice healthy selection of salads so it turned out well.

I did some barbell work when I got home:

Hip Thrusts superset with Floor Press
Deadlifts
Split Squats

Followed up with 40 minutes on the stationary bike.

This is where I'm going in March and my current motivation!

[dyuv001]

Went out to a Japanese restaurant for dinner tonight and had some Sashimi. I had a couple of glasses of Japanese Plum wine too which was refreshing.



The fish is seriously so fresh and tasty at this place - I think it's ruined 'Sushi Sushi' for me forever

Mother of God, do want that meal. I am so in on this thread, keen to see the transformation. Maybe so before pictures so when this thread is a million pages long, people can see what you started as?

[Lunu]

Mother of God, do want that meal. I am so in on this thread, keen to see the transformation. Maybe so before pictures so when this thread is a million pages long, people can see what you started as?

ha I'll take some but won't post them until I have some after pics to back myself up! And the Japanese restaurant is awesome - will probably go back this weekend.

[Lunu]

Trained back at lunch today! Seated Cable Rows, Seated Machine Rows, Lat Pull Downs and Close Grip Cable Pull Downs. A guy asked if he could work in while I was doing lat pull downs and he had the most bizarre form - made me think of the funny thread in female misc haha

I usually eat breakfast around 7am, then eat a small box of almonds and sultanas at around 11 before I train as I tend to not be able to eat lunch until 2 with my work schedule. Anyway, today I had run out of nuts without realising it and then ended up with back to back meetings and I didn't get a chance to eat until 6. I was so hungry and grumpy!!! lol

Did 45 mins on my Stationary bike tonight too

[Lunu]

Today was chest and shoulders day!

Chest Press
Cable Flys
Shoulder Press
Upright Rows
Military Press

No cardio as after work we met my dad for dinner at a local pub and I ordered lamb skewers with cous cous and salad. I have to admit to having a few glasses of wine, but I've structured my weekly calorie intake to allow for the odd alcoholic beverage (or two!) here and there.

After Dyuv001 brought up progress pics, I realised it might be worth posting something despite my wanting to not post a full on before progress picture. Just to show my approximate size and current situation.

So here is me and my 'fatceps' in all our glory lol pic taken last night. I carry the majority of my fat in my mid section, but have recently noticed more in my thighs and arms too. I do think I probably have an alright amount of muscle underneath though so stripping the fat back should be quite an interesting experience.

[Lunu]

Trained legs at lunch today. Leg Press with both a wide and close stance, leg curls, adductor, abductor and I did a couple of sets of leg extensions but the machine was set up for someone really short and with barely any range of motion. The settings were so tight that I couldn't change them and there was only one other guy in the leg room squatting and he looked so into it I didn't want to disturb him to help me!

It's the long weekend here for Australia Day and so I'm allowing a few alcoholic drinks over the next couple days. Hubby met me for dinner after I finished work and we're having a few vodka, soda, limes tonight. We're off to a celebratory BBQ and then to the Pub to see a friend's band play tomorrow night too. After this weekend though, I'm tightening the diet back up again and will have 4 weeks til my birthday trip I know I'm not going to reach my target body by then but I'm really hoping I'll feel a bit more comfortable with myself in a bikini.

[Lunu]

My husband and I decided to skip the bbq and hit the gym this afternoon for back and bis. Seated Row, Pull ups, Hammer Curls, Seated High Row, Bicep Curls.

Had peri peri roast chicken and kale salad for lunch afterwards.



Now it's time to kick back and relax with some drinks and enjoy Australia Day

[Lunu]

Bit of a sore head today - way too much fun was had last night lol! Taking the day off training, but it was planned as I've trained 6 days in a row Having a relaxing afternoon!

[SerpentHearted]

subbed.

[GtRppdOrDieTryn]

hnnngg make me a sammich

[Lunu]

Taken 3 days off training - Naughty, naughty! Will be ramping it up from tomorrow though! 4.5 weeks til the trip

[Lunu]

Trained legs at lunch today. Sticking with my four sets and enjoying it.

I had the same issue with not being able to eat during the day though. I need to get more organised - even if it's just munching on some nuts between meetings or putting a shake in my water bottle to take with me because I'm exhausted by the end of the day when I don't eat. I had an egg for breakfast and then just wasn't prepared to not have time to eat my salad this afternoon so didn't eat until 6:30. Unintentional intermittent fasting lol

Not sure if I'll do any cardio tonight as my cals are still pretty low for the day.

[Lunu]

Today was Bis and Tris.

Rope Cable Curls, Hammer Curls, Seated Bicep Curls - would have done chin ups instead of bicep curls but couldn't get my hands on the machine (I still need assistance lol)
Overhead Tricep Extensions, Arm Extensions and Tricep Pushdown

Managed to fit in some roasted nuts before training and then my salad after training so a vast improvement on yesterday! Went out for dinner with friends but my cals have been well in check all day. Slept like crap the past couple of nights though so hoping to get some good shut eye tonight!

[Lunu]

I slipped and fell running for the tram this morning

[Lunu]

Still waiting to hear my x-ray results but I don't think there's a break. They suspected broken elbow and then muscle/tendon damage through my shoulder and side and my neck is sore because I deliberately tried to hold it up so it wouldn't hit the concrete. I reckon I must've looked a bit like I was doing that wrestling move where they slam their opponent with their elbow...kinda like this:



I may be beaten up but you should see the damage I did to the pavement

Slept well last night due to some awesome drugs that knocked me out. Now I just have to work on an action plan to continue training. Once the bruising settles down in a couple of days I should be good to do cardio and train legs one way or another. If there isn't a break (will know today) I'll see a myotherapist and figure out my best bet for training upper body. Biggest issue for me here will be keeping cals in check.

Anyway, obviously a bit disheartened but it could have been worse and I'm not going to use it as an excuse to give up. 4 weeks today til we leave and I'll just be thankful to not have to wear a cast on a tropical island!!!

[Lunu]

What the hell - Dr still hasn't received the x-ray result! Charge you $100 and then leave you hanging for 3 days before you know if anything is broken! Rant over.

Itching to train but I'm still yelping in pain when I move the wrong way so not even up to jumping on my stationary bike. Patience is a virtue!

[Lunu]

I didn't post yesterday because I'm not very exciting at the moment lol

I'm having a dilemma because the swelling from my elbow is migrating down to my fingers which are twice the size as normal and the doctor told me to elevate my hand high up in the sling, but that really, really hurts my shoulder so it's like a lose/lose situation.

I did manage to cook up a nice, low cal tomato and herb mussel dish tonight with my left hand though and so I'm pretty impressed with myself. Only approximately 200 cals in the entire pan Still tracking well with my diet, despite not being able to train.

[Sloepoke]

5'7 145, wearing a sling. wtf feels like deja vu

broken collar bone: