On Perseverance

19 Wednesday Jan 2011

Posted by Amy Byrne-Henderson in Exercise

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Tuesday was my first day back exercising since hurting my back last Wednesday. I was tired, and I didn’t want to go, but I knew that I needed to in order to get to where I want to be. I was really glad that I went, and I do feel better about myself for having done it.

On Tuesday night Todd and I watched the new A&E TV show “Heavy”, and it reminded me that I need to work through the negative thoughts in my head; those thoughts that tell me I can just work out “tomorrow.” The thoughts that tell me it’s okay to have two scoops of yummy Oberweis ice cream with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup crumbles on top, even though I didn’t even exercise that day and also had a Provolone laden sub from Jimmy John’s. Phew.

So, today I persevered. I ate well, drank so much water I feel like I might float away, exercised, walked the long way from the parking deck to and from work and took the stairs instead of the elevator. It won’t be long before I’m playing badminton again.

I'm on the left...06/2008 when I was more active. (My awesome sister-in-law April is on the right)

I'm on the Injured List

15 Saturday Jan 2011

Posted by Amy Byrne-Henderson in Exercise

≈ 1 Comment

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Amy, Curves, exercise, Latissimus dorsi muscle

When I started working out at Curves I knew I’d be sore. I have not exercised regularly in quite a while. Besides the usual aches and pains, I seem to have pulled a muscle in my back, and it just happens to be one of the two biggest muscles in a person’s back: the latissimus dorsi. The picture below shows just about where the pain is.

It happened pretty early on that I was kinda continually sore in the right one, but then last week I overdid it and hurt them both. For some unknown reason to me, I thought that if I went faster, I’d get finished faster (I was on my dinner break from work and had to go back). What I failed to realize at the time was that 30 seconds is 30 seconds no matter how fast you go! (At Curves you work out on each of the machines for 30 seconds before moving on to the next)

Things got worse on Thursday when I sneezed very hard then felt a ripping sensation throughout both latissimus dorsi muscles. I went to work, but it was pure pain sitting and standing – all I wanted to do was lie down! I lasted until 1:30 pm then went home and lay down on two heating pads. I also loaded up on ibuprofen which turned out to be a bad mistake since my stomach rebelled.

I was laid up in bed all day Friday, and ventured out into the world today because we had errands we had to get done. I’m pretty sure I only whined once that my back hurt and I wanted to go home. Todd may have a different thought on that…

I’m hoping I’ll be okay to go back to Curves on Monday. I’ve actually missed working out!! I’ve noticed a difference in how I feel and look (even though I haven’t lost so much as an ounce!), and Todd said he did too.

Weight a Minute

04 Tuesday Jan 2011

Posted by Amy Byrne-Henderson in Wedding

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Amy, Bally, Curves, exercise, Food, Kinect, postaday2011, Wedding, weightloss, Zumba

It’s a New Year, and I’m going to make myself into a new me!

I’m sure you’ve heard it from other people, but 2010 really sucked! For me, I was laid off, finishing my MLIS, struggled with depression, graduated, got my dream job, moved to a city an hour and a half away from everything and everyone I’d known, and I ate my way through it all. I’m the heaviest and most out of shape that I’ve been in my whole life, and it really sucks. I’m embarrassed for my old friends to see me like this, and when we were back in Rockford for Xmas Eve, I didn’t go out with Todd and my brother because I was too ashamed for people to see how fat I had gotten (My family told me I was ridiculous, and I my friends wanted to see me no matter what. They just didn’t understand.)

Chubby Progression

I started looking through photos of myself to see when this had all happened. Certainly since I was laid off in January 2010, although at my old job we had all been feeling nervous and scared for the 9 months prior. Being laid off at that time was the best thing that could have happened to me, but it was still an uncertain and difficult time. I think it was May 2010 when I finally went to my doctor to get an antidepressant, although I should have done it a long time before that. He prescribed Cymbalta, and that worked for a while, but then stopped. I didn’t quite figure this out, though until early December, and was then switched to Pristiq. It seems to be working, and I finally feel more like my old self (except for all the extra weight!!).

Now I need to do something
about the extra weight…

My health insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, has a program where I pay $29 a month, and I have access to a bunch of health clubs and gyms. I’d already signed up at Bally through the insurance and went a couple of times before I got really sick. Over the weekend I discovered that Curves is included, too. I’d heard a lot of good things about Curves, and it seemed as though it would be less intimidating than Bally. So I went there tonight, and, man, did it kick my butt! I had no idea I’d sweat or get as tired as I got, but it was one heck of a workout, and I cannot wait to go back! Plus, on Saturday and Monday mornings they offer Curves Circuit Zumba!

I’ve seen and heard a lot of friends talking about how fun Zumba is, and I want to try it. The Bally I go to doesn’t offer it, and other places in Naperville charge quite a bit of money. The soonest I’ll be able to do Zumba at Curves is on January 15th. I’ll fill you in about it then. I’m also in the hold queue for a bunch of the official Zumba DVDs at my library. Maybe that’s something Todd and I can do together

I was talking with Logan yesterday, and he said that if you put yourself out there, and you tell everyone what you intend to do, you’re more likely to do it. So, this is what I’ve done here.

I am ready to hold myself accountable.