Lori's Story

My first race this year!!  I finally did it and I know I owe it all to a few people.  The first is Mike Leve from FFC Lincoln Park.  He is an awesome trainer, friend, and motivator. Whenever I felt like I could not do it, he made me feel like I could.  Lots and lots of strength training and core work really helped me get ready for this race.  Mike and been by my side for over a year helping me try and reach my goal.  He has never let me down.  I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a trainer in Chicago.
I also feel the anti-gravity treadmill has helped me a great deal.  I love Ryan with Nova Care at the FFC Lincoln Park location.  I swear by that treadmill and still plan on using it.

This was my first race in 2010.  3,400 women ran for lung cancer.  A few weeks later I ran my second race and beat my time from the first race.
I try to keep my workouts mixed up.  I love going to spin class at FFC Eastlake View with Jason Hammers.  The class gets my heart rate up right away and it is a fantastic hour workout every Monday and Wednesday.  Jason is a perfect person for me to use for classes at FFC.  He is an avid runner and is always providing me with running tips and ideas.  I am fortunate to have such a great team to help.
I believe with weight training, spinning, running, and biking I feel so much better.  I am almost to my goal weight and I will not quit now.

I am sorry I have not been blogging.  I promise to blog more and I look forward to comments from readers.  The comments keep me motivated.
I feel so proud to post my race photo!  I worked most of 2010 to run this race.  My next race is supposed to be August 21st at Montrose Harbor.  I am having some lower back pain and keeping my fingers crossed I will run that race.  If not, I will find one the following week.  I will run until the snow comes!

Lori

I am looking for people who live in the Chicago area and would like to do an upcoming 5k race together.

If you are interested, please reply to this blog with your contact info and I will get back to you asap.

I have been running/walking 4 to 5 days a week and the weight is falling off.  I want to do some upcoming races and would love some blogger company.

Let’s do it!

This past week, I made myself get up early and walk 3 to 4 miles each day.
When I got on the scale today I was so happy.   The walking took another 3 pounds off !!

I recommed it to anyone…….just walk.
It is a great way to get started.

Wow!  Wow!
I finally did it.  I lost ten pounds in two weeks and I am so excited.
I want to say I am sorry for not blogging for a little while but I have been so busy.  I have a really sick old dog that I love to death and I have been working out like crazy.
As you know, I blogged earlier about gaining weight due to medicine from my doctor but the weight is gone.
You need to know that no matter how much stress you have in your life, or what medications you take, or what other excuse you give yourself to eat, it is not the answer.
I believe the way I lost the weight so fast was by cutting out all carbs after 2:00 PM.
I still have my steel cut oats with breakfast and some carbs with lunch but no more carbs after lunch.
I am making sure to drink lots and lots of water and I took up walking/jogging again.
I have been mixing walking with jogging for about 6 to 7 miles each time out.  I did this 3 times a week over the last two weeks.  I also mixed in spin classes and personal training.
That is how I got off the 10 pounds.  If I can do it, you can do it!
Do not give up.  This is key.  If you spend an entire weekend killing yourself at the gym and outside walking but the scale stays the same……….do not quit.
The next time you weigh in you could drop 2 to 3 pounds at one time.
I am so happy the ten pounds is gone and I will NEVER let a doctor give me medication that causes weight gain EVER again!
I still have 15 pounds to lose to reach my final goal. 
It will not be easy, but I will try my hardest and I will blog about it.
Have a great day………….thanks for reading

It seems like I am always ‘getting started again.’
Weight goes off, it comes back on, it goes off, it’s the same old story.  Just wish I could get a handle on the whole thing but that is why I blog.
If you think you are alone with weight loss struggles, you are not!

My favorite spin instructor/friend at FFC is moving to NY so I better get a handle on my final pounds to lose soon.
In the past, I have always gone to his spin class to help shed pounds and get my spirits lifted.  I no longer have that outlet so I need to find something to take its place.

Just when I thought I had it figured out, life throws me a bone!
It’s ok, I can deal with it.

I just hope my friend does great in New York and I wish him all the best.

He will be sadly missed and very hard to replace.
Some tears will be shed!

Hello Everyone:
Do you live in Chicago?  Are you interested in a fun spin class this Friday night?
A trainer I love at FFC is having a disco spin.  Please find the information listed below with a link to follow for all information needed.

Event: Disco Spin Fundraiser
What: Fundraiser
Start Time: Friday, May 21 at 6:30pm
End Time: Friday, May 21 at 7:30pm
Where: FFC Halsted Street

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=872965421&k=SXGU62SYTT2GWBLHSDWVPVVWRPAKWZ&oid=114497845259100

A good friend told me today learn to love myself first.
I never realized how hard that can be!  If I love myself first,  the rest will fall into place.  I am the only person I have and I like it!

So today I said ‘What the heck’ and I tried yoga for the first time.
I just loved it.
I took a beginner class at FFC Goldcoast and the instructor was very helpful.
If you get a chance to take the 11:00 am class on Sunday, I recommend it.
I have always been concerned I would not be able to stretch as others or look stupid trying so I never went.
I posted earlier this week about stress and weight gain so I decided to try and limit my stress with yoga.
I am going to try and fit yoga into my workout at least two times a week for now.  I have a feeling I will end up doing it way more in the future.
I’m attaching an article I love regarding the benefits of yoga
Enjoy:

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginnersguide/yogabenefits.asp

I used the anti-gravity treadmill again today.  I was going twice a week but fell off my routine due to family issues.  I realized today how much I miss it.
Spring is almost here and I really want to run some 5k races.  Right not I am taking away 50% of my body weight on the treadmill.  When I go back on Monday, I will take away 45% and just keep going down from there.
I still swear by this treadmill.  I just love it.
If you have this treadmill in an area where you live, it is definitely worth trying. 

I promise!
I ran 3 miles and burned just over 600 calories in 32 minutes.
I will not give up on my goal to run someday soon.

OK, I have been working my damn butt off for awhile now and I cannot lose a pound.  This is so frustrating.  Tomorrow I will try to run as far as possible on the anit-gravity treadmill and then this weekend I will hit the open road and run, run, run.

I have read countless articles that the fastest way to lose weight is walking or running.  I need to find out if this is true.  I just hope my knees will cooperate with my plan.
To anyone that may think I lost weight easily and am keeping weight off easily, I am here to tell you it is not true.  It has all been difficult but I do not give up.
I do the best I can and if you do as well, you cannot ask for anymore!
I just get so damn frustrated sometimes.  My trainer does an excellent job of keeping me focused.

Good luck………