By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Feeling more energetic, skirt not as clingy
Placeholder Image

To follow Susie McCreath’s fitness journey, receive tips from her trainer, CORE Athletic Performance’s Robert Iniquez, and to see videos about exercises and technique visit and like the Year of You Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theyearofyouchallenge

Editor’s Note: Susan McCreath has been selected to participate in the Year of You, a fitness challenge hosted by The Manteca Bulletin and CORE Athletic Performance. McCreath will keep a weekly journal, highlighting the strides and struggles of her fitness journey. These are her thoughts and feelings shared with you.



Day 15

Tonight’s weigh-in was not what I had hoped for. Barely lost a pound, but Robert reminded me that we are not focusing solely on my weight. I did lose inches and most importantly I feel so much more energetic. I actually have been waking up before my alarm clock and feel refreshed in the morning. Also, the skirt I wore to work was not as clingy on my hips so I need to focus on these things and not just my weight. The workout tonight was all about the legs – squats, lunges, wall squats, and jump squats. I can already tell that using the restroom tomorrow is going to be painful!



Day 16

It’s funny how I will lay in bed in the morning to assess my damage (soreness) level from the workout the day before. I’ll stretch my legs, roll over and sit up slowly, making sure all my body parts are functioning and moving without too much pain. So after this morning’s assessment I decided I wasn’t as sore as I thought I’d be. That is good news. I’ve been doing really well with my eating, but Robert wants me to increase my calories. I’m a bit nervous about that, but luckily some people at CORE have been so supportive and shared their food journals and meal plans with me. The workout tonight was one that I enjoyed for the most part. We had to do this exercise called “Superman,” which involved lying on your stomach face down then lifting your arms and legs like Superman.  Let’s just say Superman would not have been proud of my face-down imitation.



Day 17

All I have to say is that push-ups and planks suck, especially when you have to alternate between the two.



Day 18

I didn’t workout today. No excuse, just didn’t feel like it. It was one of those long days at work where you don’t leave work until five minutes before class is supposed to start and I’m thinking that all I want to do is go home and decompress. I talked to myself the whole way while driving home, telling myself that I would probably feel better if I just went and exercised. But that side of my brain didn’t win tonight. I did decide though that now I have to go on Friday night and Saturday morning. Ugh.



Day 19

I felt pretty good all day today so was thinking that I would have a good workout. However, after the workout I found myself pretty grumpy which is unusual. My husband questioned why the workout made me grumpy and I told him how frustrating it is not to be able to do everything in the workout. I hate the fact that I have to modify exercises so that I can do them. Sometimes I struggle with the modification. I hate not being able to complete the reps needed. I hate that my body does not move like it used to. I hate that getting up off the floor is sometimes the hardest exercise. And I hate burpees with a passion!  Whoever invented that exercise had way too much time on their hands. I’m hoping a good night’s sleep will bring some positive energy to my Saturday morning workout tomorrow.



Day 20

Good sleep, but no positive energy this Saturday morning. I am dreading going to today’s workout and even shed a few tears before my husband gives me some words of encouragement to get me out the door. The workout is OK, but my foot has been giving me some trouble the past couple of days so impact exercises are a bit painful. I do feel better when I get home, a small sense of accomplishment for getting up and going this morning. I am starting to get compliments from people so I know my body is changing. But the best compliment came from my daughter this afternoon when she told me that I was starting to look skinnier!



Day 21

Super Bowl Sunday. CORE posted something on its Facebook page that made me think. It posted different types of foods and how many burpees you would have to do to work off that particular food. Since I despise burpees, I decided that I needed to eat well today.  But then the rain and cold came and all I wanted to do was eat. I knew I couldn’t eat, so I combated it by taking a huge nap. I figured if I’m asleep at least I’m not eating. However, when I woke up I ate a few things that were not the best choices, especially considering that I have to weigh in tomorrow.