Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Track It Tuesday

I was so excited to go in and see Chuck Rudolph this week the Nutrition Specialist at Renaissance ClubSport Aliso Viejo.  I was really making an effort to stick to the food plan that he gave me eating mainly protein, fat, a ton of veggies spaced out through the day.  I really never felt hungry, but I did and would forget to eat every three hours.  That is just a behavior of putting myself last that I rarely prepare food for myself to take with me if I'm going to be out of the house for more than a couple hours.  However, the handy dandy texts I get from Chuck a few times a day that just say EAT - say it all.  If I'm out, I'll stop and get something that is 2-300 calories mostly protein and move on to my next activity.

When I was getting ready to go see Chuck, my shorts felt a teeny bit looser, and that thrilled me.  So I get to his office in the gym and step on the scale, and it's UP - SERIOUSLY?  I've been working my fingers to the bone, and working out and running and training for this stupid Disneyland half marathon and I was PISSED.  Chuck didn't seemed phased by the number at all.  Then he whipped out his tape measure and pincher machine.  I lost an inch in my arms, also in my legs and 3 around my belly area.  I lost 3% of my body fat and gained 5lbs of muscle.  So that was something, he was happy. 

Apparently I am going to have to learn yet ANOTHER new behavior and not focus so much on the number on the scale but pay attention to shrinking my size.  I may not lose the 20 - 30lbs that I wanted to get rid of but Chuck says we'll have me in a size 8, currently I am a 12.   I guess every week when I see him, I'm going to do like I used to do at the docs office when I was pregnant and turn my back to the scale.  YIKES!!!  I'm taking a leap of faith here, and just going to continue the amazing workouts that Allie Meisch Nie my trainer laid out of me and follow the meals plan and hopefully continue to shrink.  But of course I always have to remember that this meal plan and workouts on paper are all fine and dandy but I MUST DO THE WORK.  Just because I have these nifty notebooks, they do no good sitting in the back of my Suburban.

I did try something new at Renaissance ClubSport this week, I took a Kick Boxing class and the AB express class.  Completely AWESOME!  High energy, great cardio I burned 700 calories according to my Garmin and I was sore the next couple of days.  I look forward to more.  There was nothing more satisfying than pretending I was kicking someones ass.

I can not say enough about the facilities.  If you are looking for a fantastic resource to help you get and stay healthy and feel like a princess also, consider taking a guest pass and letting them know the Real Mom sent you.  It is such an experience, the facilities are so incredible it makes me want to go to the gym and workout even when I do not want to go.


Rebecca

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Congratulations and Thank you

I have been a golf fan since I was younger, my dad always watched the PGA on television as I was growing up and I've continued to follow it my whole life. 

Today, I watched something on a golf course in another continent bring me to my knees with tears.  Ernie Els won the British Open, it was an exciting ending but not as nearly as exciting as why I was thrilled for him.

Ernie and his wife Liezl Els have two children and daughter Samantha, and a son Ben, and Ben is 9 and was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3, and watching Ben is much like watching my Franklin, he's severely effected by his autism. After watching this video shortly after we received Franklin's diagnosis of autism, I have silently rooted for this family to succeed.

I think I will silently always root for any autism family to do well.  Because you have to know that once your life is rocked by this diagnosis and you are forced into a life that there is no preparation for and you are thrown for this big loop that you were never expecting, I think that it is hard to come out of that unscathed and successful.  I have been chronically distracted since autism that sometimes I don't feel like I can carry a conversation because I literally feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants trying and doing (and failing) to make my kid better.

So as I sat there and watched this man get a win, a big win, who hasn't gotten a big win in years, I did cry.   Because, you see autism has this way of taking over every thought, and the grief sometimes that you feel is too painful to participate in the fellowship of life.  Sometimes you want to put yourself in a cocoon because your kid is different, and the looks, the stares, the pointing and general ignorance is beyond annoying and sometimes unbearable. To pull it together and win a tournament, not just a little tournament but the British Open, that's just unfathomable!

This is a man with the resources, and his wife that is just like me, emotional and driven to do anything for her children.  They have the resources and they are making something happen to better their kids lives and other kids who are effected with autism.  They have put up a HUGE amount of their own money to build the Center for Excellence to help children with autism.  How incredibly awesome is that?  Crushed by a diagnosis, emerging from the rubble and moving forward to do good.  That is what champions do!!!!  That is what Autism parents do everyday.  WE ROCK!

I think its amazing that he was able to focus and make this happen, and I'm happy and proud for him.  I love to see wonderful things happen to families that are touched by autism, nothing makes me happier.

Congratulations to the Els family and thank you for sharing your story and helping others.



Rebecca



Saturday, July 14, 2012

Autism How I hate you, Let me count the ways

I hate that you stole my child's voice.
I hate that you make me doubt myself as a mother
I hate that you put a shell that's so,hard to crack around my kid.
I hate that some days you hijack my child and relentlessly torture him
I hate when you turn whining into a meltdown because you won't let him communicate with us effectively.
I hate that you make it nearly impossible for my son to be aware for his own safety.
I hate that you want to put him in harms way.
I hate that you don't like, him to sleep and ruin every one's night
I hate that you have made him so picky and rigid that he could ruin his health
I hate that you're taking a horrible toll on our family and marriage.
I hate that you have taken the gift of friendship away from him.
I hate that you make other kids not want to include him.
I hate that you have robbed our family of some amazing experiences.
I hate that you have made the most inappropriate things comforting to him.
You are basically a terrorist to my child and I am now NAVY SEAL TEAM 6.  Look out!

You are the enemy, you made my cry today, you hurt my kid,and made me feel like a shit mom. So he's, you may have won this little battle, but I am regrouping, re-strategizing and am bringing a new fight to you. 

I will get stronger, I will go to any lengths to protect and help this kid, I will find what works for our family.  I will use the warriors that have fought this battle before me, and we will rise up and beat you.  My kids have autism,  but autism WILL NOT have them.

Rebecca

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Track It Tuesday!

It has been 4 days since I met with the Nutrition Counselor at Renaissance ClubSport Aliso Viejo.  Chuck Rudolph created a Lifestyle Meal Plan, and I had to sign a contract Acceptance of Expectations and Daily Calorie Needs.  Well after our first meetings I was weighed, measured, pinched and got a BMI and he put together a plan for me to get me lean and mean.  This is like no plan or diet I have ever seen.  He asked me all the foods I would and wouldn't eat, what and how much I drank, and when I got up in the morning, my kids schedule and what size I wanted to be.  I am currently a size 12, and would like to be an 8.

Easch meal provides a number of services from various categories. Calulagted with my caloric totals, the formula provides me with total calories for Daily lifestyle needs based on my activity factor.  He designed different food plans for workout days and non-workout days.  Also, every 14-15 days I get a CHEAT MEAL - not a CHEAT DAY - a MEAL.  So it is clearly different than anything I have ever done before.  Which is awesome because it will keep me from getting bored.  That plan that was designed to increase my lean body mass not just scale loss.  If we have more lean body mass we will burn more fat efficiently! WHOOO HOOOO - Who isn't for that.  Also, I get unlimited communication with him, so if I have questions I can text, email or call him, and he texts me everyday and lets me know when I need to eat.  It's pretty amazing.

In Progress
So the science part is out of it, now it's my behavior and using all the tools that Renaissance ClubSport has.  I just have to get out of my head, and continue to do the work.  These last 20 - 30 lbs are getting left on the gym floor of Renaissance ClubSport Aliso Viejo for a Real Housewife to trip over :)

The Before
Speaking of workouts.  I met with my trainer Allie today at RCSAV and I told her when we first met a couple of weeks ago, don't be afraid to train me until I throw up.  Well she took me seriously today.  I almost puked.  It was an incredible experience.  She took me to a level of a workout that I have not reached before.  It is a full body experience, and she is incorporating the weight training with the running training I'm doing for the Disneyland Half Marathon in about 49 days! 

Today pumped me up so much.  I wore shorts today during my workout, so the cottage cheese on the back of my legs absolutely motivated me to not stop even though I was exhausted.  I took it to a whole new level.  I know I can do it, I know I can, I've done it, she witnessed it.  I am pretty sure I felt fat melting off of my body today.  I even used the fantastic steam room and sauna to relax after my workout.  It's amazing I feel like my skin is even glowing.

So next week I meet again with Chuck Rudolph, and will have measurements and a weigh in to share with you. 

If you would like to Renaissance ClubSport Aliso Viejo.  Plus use the link and print out a guest pass, let them know you heard about it from the Real Mom of OC, and get a special offer for my readers.



Rebecca

Monday, July 9, 2012

A new "No Fly Zone" for celebrities

 
I am officially making a “No Fly Zone”.  My kids, any special needs kids, and their families and friends are off limits.  I don't care what kind of celebrity you are if you're talented, have a bazillion dollars, or aren't that talented and people are just conned by your PR department.  Please SHUT UP and ACT, SING, or do whatever it is that you do, but SHUT UP.

 After the whole Jenny McCarthy calling autism moms that weren’t treating their children in the manner she deems appropriate, she pontificated from a podium, that “they play the victim roll”.  I got officially pissed off.  Celebrities have started annoying me the last few years, and I'm sort of over the holier than thou, persona that most present.  
 Then earlier this week Rapper 50 cent tweeted out to his over 6 million followers "yeah just saw your picture fool you look autistic".
And if that wasn’t offensive enough to autistic kids and their families he went with "I don't want no special ed kids on my time line follow some body else".   So not just autistic but the whole special education community is now under attack by a very large JACKASS.
Now I must tell you if 50cent walked into my house I would have no idea who he was because I think rap is irritating for the most part, and it’s just not my thing.  However, there are some people that think he is talented.  Be that as it may, he may be talented but he is also an asshole.  Here is the LAME non-apology that he tweeted today "I realize my autism comments were insensitive, however it was not my intention to offend anyone and for this I apologize," – I really don’t care to take a non-apology like that.  The truth of the matter is that this JACKWAGON has 6 million people that think he’s cool, and some of them want to follow his example and will continue the trail of attacks on the special needs community because they think he is an example to be followed rather than defiled.  To the 6 million people that follow 50 cent.  Get a clue, listen to his music but just KNOW that he is a nauseating human that is a complete waste of oxygen.  So 50cent, please stop being a walking douche bag, just go rap your music and please shut your pie hole.  There is no one on this earth that needs the kind of bigotry that you promote.

Margaret Cho a D List comedienne (if you can even use that term for her), it is abundantly clear she is no more than an angry middle aged woman who is very unhappy with her life.  Her wonderful comments on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen were that she didn’t want to have a baby at this point in her life because she was afraid of having an autistic or a retard.  HONEST TO GOD?!  Anyone that would go and see her show after anyone that would say this in jest or not, needs a mental examination.  How on earth could you say that?  Do you realize that your public platform is not one to spew your hate. Yes there is free speech, and I support your right to say what you want, but for the love of Pete, there is something called common decency, and special needs kids and their families are OFF LIMITS YOU STUPID COW.   Those words that she said brought zero ramifications to her, and she just made a sweeping statement that hurt and brought back the hurt that many families feel all the time.  And women and people like her and 50cent, could honestly care less that they hurt anyone, they care that they got some bad PR – END OF STORY.  I won’t even stop my remote on the Lifetime channel because they employee the piece of human excrement.

So this is an open statement to all celebrities and public figures.  Say whatever you want whenever you want, but us special needs families are declaring a “NO FLY ZONE” over our lives, our children and want you to sing, act, and do your jobs, but after that can you please just SHUT UP until you can educate yourself, grow a soul, or actually meet a child and family with autism and see how truly empty your life is because you were not blessed with the amazing gift of a child with special needs.

So celebrity arena, you have been warned and we are willing to declare war on you if you enter the “NO FLY ZONE”.  We have challenges in our lives that are bigger than any stadium you think you could fill, and we do not need the opinions of you lame brains to hurt those that are defenseless.  And if you have an argument in your favor to say these vile things, please bring it on.  I will own you.

Rebecca

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Track It Tuesday

Well this fitness journey is now not so much an endeavour to lose weight anymore (but it really is about that).  It is about getting and staying healthy.  I managed to get myself from 266 lbs the day of my cancer surgery 2 years ago to 186 lbs, the day I ran my first half marathon nearly 2 months ago.

Well since the half marathon, I have been not really practicing the cleanest of eating habits or putting it all in at my workouts.  I have gained 10lbs, and I'm pissed.   Well TODAY is where it all changes.  I have been working out at the most fabulous gym for a couple of weeks  Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo, and the amenities are enough to make you want to stay there all day alone.

There are amazing top notch Elite Trainers at ClubSport and  I am able to utilize the services of a personal trainer and the nutrition counselor there.  My trainers name is Alley Miesch-Nie, and she has taken what I have already known about working out and kicked it up about 117 notches.  My workouts are intense and long ( an hour ) and there is no screwing around.  My heart rate stays in the optimum fat burning range the whole workout.    She took my training program for running my next half marathon, combined it with my Gunnar Challenge workouts and adding her technique of muscle confusion into the mix.  Last week when we took my son to surf camp, my legs hurt so bad walking the sand at the beach, I wanted to cry.  Today my workout was by far the hardest that I had worked and I left the gym pretty happy and excited that I'm out of the place lazy workouts and walked out of the gym drenched in sweat.  There is something so ridiculously therapeutic about that.  I even got a chuckle because Alexis Bellino from the Real Train Wrecks of Orange County was working out with full makeup and false eyelashes, I just don't understand that kind of workout I guess.

I had my consultation with Chuck Rudolph the Nutrition Counselor and he has put together a plan for my eating that fits into my lifestyle (of course I still have to plan for myself, as well as the family) and it has after a couple of days given me a lot of energy and I'm really not hungry.

So I am making the commitment to myself, my family, my friends and followers to get his last 20 (or 30) lbs. off of my body.

So here it is.  I will Track It every Tuesday and follow along, if you'd like.  Challenges, contests don't seem to do anything for me so I'm going to get back to what I do and what I know works, and just plain old honesty and accountability, in addition to the hard work.


Rebecca