In preparation...

CHICAGO BABY!!  I can't believe it's almost here.  It feels like forever ago that I won that trip to the Biggest Loser resort.  I never thought the trip would actually come!  I leave this Sunday and come back the following Sunday.  I'm feeling quite the mix of emotions about it.  Of course I'm excited beyond words. I get to spend a week working on myself at a wonderful resort...for FREE.  I also get to meet one of my best friends for the first time!  I'm so excited to finally meet Amy after all the support she's given me during my weight loss journey.  It's so weird to think we've never met in person.  We talk every day!  I also get to meet two of my idols...Olivia Ward and Hannah Curlee from season 11 of Biggest Loser.  I'm terrified that I will go all fan girl on them and cry and act like I'm seeing Elvis, but whatever lol.  I'm allowed to be excited! They helped to jump start my weight loss as much as anything and I want to thank them in person.

The other most dominant feeling that I'm experiencing is fear.  A lot of fear.  I've received calls from the resort to talk about my trip and have been reminded that I will be working out 5-7 hours a day.  A DAY!!!  And that I should bring enough workout clothes to plan for such.  I'm used to working out almost every day but nothing even close to what I know I will be doing there. And it terrifies me.  It really does.

To prepare for this trip, I started changing up my routine a couple weeks ago.  I added some strength classes to my weekly workouts and I went to my very first spin class. Olivia teaches spin for a living and I get the feeling she'll be teaching in Chicago.  I don't want to miss that.  Spin has always scared me for some reason, but after one class I was in love with it.  It was a great change from my regular routine and I look forward to doing more of it in the future.

I also started doing double workouts a few days a week.  I'd go to my regular zumba class in the morning then another class at night, whether it were spin or bosu bootcamp (bosu balls are those half balls that you balance on.  VERY hard work!) or just another zumba class. That's been really tough.  The more I do it, the easier it's gotten, but I still find myself feeling tired all day when I do doubles.  Imagine doing triples or quadruples!

One thing that's kind of thrown a wrench in my preparation is that my gym decided to close from Sept. 3-12 for maintenance.  They've never closed for that long a period before and it freaked me out.  I'm really missing my classes, but it's also helped me to realize that I really am in a good place right now.  I've still worked out almost every single day and I'm still on track.  Being without my fitness classes has not been the end of the world and I haven't gained 20 lbs in the process.  I restarted the Couch 2 5K program for the third time and it's been great to get out running again.  My foot has gotten a bit sore again from the plantar fasciitis, but not so bad that I've quit running yet.  It's felt great to do 4-5 mile workouts and not feel like I'm dying.  I don't think I'll ever be a marathon runner or anything, but this is still progress :)

The thing that has really saved me the most is my awesome zumba instructor, Dee.  She is also a personal trainer.  Normally she doesn't have room for extra clients, but with the aquatic center not holding classes for 2 weeks, she has had room to work with me a few times and it's been a huge wake up call for me!  She's had me doing pilates, which I've never done before.  And man is that stuff hard.  I told her I really want to work on my core and boy have we worked on it.  We've both had a bit of a laugh at how weak my abs are during some of the insane exercises she's had me doing, but she's really pushed me and I love it.  After our first workout together I was sore for 3 days.  It sucked, but I needed that.  I needed that "I worked so hard I'll feel it for days" feeling.  After our second workout yesterday, the soreness is much less...but she pushed me so hard yesterday I actually felt nauseous (nauseated?).  I have never in my life vomited after a workout. I think if it's ever going to happen, it will happen in Chicago.

So yeah, I'm terrified and nervous and excited and I cannot wait to go.  I know it will be the hardest thing I've ever done, but I can't wait to see how it changes me.  I've been on a plateau for 3 months now and I'm ready to get off.  This will be just the kick in the butt that I need and I'm ready for it.  I'm as prepared as I will ever be.