Two consecutive days ... no, three

Today was my third consecutive day in the gym, this week, as we've amped up my routine a little bit more to, hopefully, shed some more pounds. Honestly, I haven't weighed myself since my last doctor's appointment at the hemotologist's office - where I believe I weighed in at 170 or so, which means I had lost a couple pounds in between my regular doctor's visit and my appointment with the specialist.

But that's really here nor there, quite honestly. I don't like weighing myself. Why? Because I feel like that's the quick track to down-on-yourself-itis. Because, when you weigh yourself, you're not taking into account all the muscle you've potentially put on. As we all know, muscle weighs more than fat. But, anyway. Back to the whole workout thing.

After I was done with my workout, I guzzled what was left in my waterbottle and just sat in my car with the A/C on because I was on fire. I don't know about you guys, but when I work my legs, my quads BLOW UP. It's a crazy feeling, but I was told that's normal and it's because all the blood rushing to your quads. Whoa! The first time I felt that, I was all, 'But I can't move....' with patience, Miss Lori said, 'Yes, you can. You'll be fine...' She's wise, that one. I actually can move, it just feels like I can't. Though can't isn't a word I really want to use, ever, in my workout routine. There isn't room for can't. There's only room for can and will. Because, well, the second you start using that nasty little can't word, it's I can't get to the gym, I can't do that much weight, I can't continue, and it just goes on and on and that's not my road. My road is the can and will.

Can you tell I get distracted?? But anyway, post-workout, and I'm just sitting in my car. My whole body just aches. My quads haven't yet gone all the way down to their normal size, my back is stiff as all get out, my shoulders aren't much better, and really all I can think of is, 'This feels amazing!' That's not even being motivational - it's true. My next thought is, 'What's next week gonna be like?' Because I'm at that weird point where I actually look forward to the next workout and I'm really not sure that will ever change. What?! Me? Yup, that's right. My goal is to get through my work week, go to the gym when it's time, and then visit my ponies. Because, really, all you need is a good workout and a lot of pony time (and can't forget the doggy time, too, of course!). It just feels good to be sore because that means I actually did something with my body - would rather be sore because of that than bceause of stress, though, I'm sure stress (from my job) plays a part in there somewhere.

But, anyway. For your motivation...

A little intro...

So. Hey there, all you fellow internet-ians. :) This is a little introduction about this blog...

What's behind the name?
So, the name of my blog is derived from my lovely mare, Bella, (reg. name is Devine Intervention) and our journey together. She's become one of the foremost important things in my life - next only to my family, my best friends, and my other two fur-children (to be introduced). She has taught me SO damn much about horses and being able to have the tenacity to train a stubborn, too smart for her own good, kinda horse. She's been my staying power, my sanity, and my world for the past two years and five months. The journey part is, obviously, just the journey we're going on together, but lately, there's been another thing I've added to my already pretty decently busy life.

DUN DUN DUN....
That would be my weight loss journey. I wasn't always considered "obese" by medical standards, I used to be a pretty thin kid. Then, BOOM, puberty (and being on steroids for my asthma) hit me like the proverbial mack truck. I got chunky, ate a lot, and just was, in general, chunky as heck. Honestly, I'm 100% about body positivity. Babe, you go ahead and rock those leggins, those tight jeggings, those pretty decently tight shirts and tanks. But I've never been 100% comfortable doing that. Generally, if you see me wearing a tank top, I'm pulling it up, down, re-arranging it so my fat rolls don't stick out, and all that jazz. I mean, hey, I'm getting more and more confident, but being perpetually single, socially awkard, and uncomfortable with myself as a person, I knew I needed to make a change.

That change almost started when my parents and I joined Planet Fitness.....well, let's just say, I wasn't comfortable going there by myself and it was just an all-around hot mess. Then, we got a new boarder at the barn. Her name was Lori. She was blunt, to the point, hilarious, and I enjoyed her and her girls' company. What started out as giving her and her two little ones lesson turned into I was meeting what used to be one of the nation's top body builders and her family. Talk about wow! I was amazed! I had mentioned, at one point, I wanted to become more active and start going to the gym. At this point, I weighed in at a steady 262 (having gone up from my high school weight of 245). I was nervous. I mean, who wants to see a 262 lb person doing her best impression of a floppy noodle, at worst. But, I sucked it up and started going to the gym with Miss Lori in January of this year. Man, the first couple work outs were rough - the first one was the worst, yet. We worked upper body and I've had problems with my shoulders since a couple years ago after working at my job for a year. Man, I can tell you that my shoulders SCREAMED for at least five days. At the very least.

But Miss Lori wasn't stopping there. I've been going once or twice a week (except maybe a couple weeks in February) since. It's, quite honestly, addictive as hell. Yes, it hurts. No, I haven't seen results as of yet, but man the physical rush is absolutely exhilirating. Afterwards, I'm awed at what I just did. Sore, but in awe. I mean, if someone would've tried telling me I was going to be in the gym learning how to lift weights, do leg presses, squats, and all that jazz two years ago, I probably would've laughed in their face and told them they're crazy. But here I am. And I'm not stopping.