Getting back in shape!

Me in my mid-twenties.

No more kidding around! I am back on the band wagon after injuries have kept me off and fear of pain has kept me down!!!

I have 3 herniated discs in my back and they apparently have healed by now but that doesn't mean that for the rest of my life I will have it easy. I continually have to be careful about my back and the extra weight is not helping! When you injure your back and can't do anything but rehab for a year all of the surrounding muscles become atrophied. Now I am ready to start focusing on rebuilding my core strength which includes the back muscles.

Many think that core is stomach only, it's not. Your core surrounds your mid-section, anterior and posterior. It also includes your hamstrings, glutes, and psoas. The research shows that 90% of all back pain is due to tight hamstrings, weak abdominal muscles, and tight psoas muscles. You can fix all of these problems by stretching! The psoas is best stretched in a lunge position, the back leg will be tight up high, that is the psoas major.

Even a broken leg couldn't stop me from 
teaching the ROTC cadets at age 30!

When you have all the knowledge and experience of being a great personal trainer, kickboxing instructor, and then on top of that you have a degree in Sports Medicine, prior to that I was going to school to become a Registered Dietician, and 2 Master's, one in Exercise Physiology and the other in Cardiac Rehabilitation, you can think that some rules don't apply to you. Well, the human body is a machine but all rules apply to everyone at one time or another!!

I was in denial and what made me wake up was being backstage at a concert (my man is a physician for some rockers) and the lead singer didn't recognize me! That was one major blow! He asked where I was and upon finding out he began acting the same to me as he always had and not like I was a stranger.

Not this picture,
but another made
my heart sink!

But then a picture taken by a friend that evening really made my heart sink! I didn't recognize myself! I knew I had gained weight but I didn't realize how much till then! It's easy to be in denial when you have a man that loves you and never says a word about the weight gain!

When I brought it up that weekend he said he had seen me get out of bed one morning and just thought, what are you doing to yourself! He never said a word but thought I knew too much about this topic to be letting myself go like this!

The thing is I wasn't, "letting myself go" as others would say. I was still exercising and eating healthy meals but I was eating too much for the activity I was doing and I wasn't really pushing myself during my workouts because I was so fearful of "hitting the floor". Anyone who has major back issues will understand this term. Your back spasms and you literally hit the floor!

The weight started coming on after my back injury in 2006 and more in Graduate School due to hormone problems. We have been trying to have a child for over 2 years now and knowing that my hormone problems may be due to my weight (which may be linked to hormone problems), this vicious cycle has to stop! I do not want to go back on a prescription to have a cycle so I will try my hardest to get my weight back down to my previous weight and then take it from there.

I was at my heaviest last week and have decided to try and keep up with my blogging as I attempt to lose this weight! This is not only for vanity but also and more for my health. Had a full blood workup done along with an ECG and my cholesterol, and triglycerides, especially, are sky high, along with my weight.

Me, summer 2010, age 36.

I have lost a few pounds since last week and I am currently at 181 pounds. Man, first time I have seen that in writing! I am now 5' 6" due to shrinking 1" due to my herniated discs. Hopefully the next time I write I will state what I have done to better my health!! I will be writing some tips and exercises along with recipes so others may follow and become healthier with me!

Sabrina S., M.S.