Final Week of Super Heroine Fitness

Welcome to The Long and Winding Road to Wellness all ye visitors from the Grow Your Blog Hop!

Not long after I published last week's post I received notification that I'm a Sweat Pink Ambassador!  I'm excited to see where this takes me.  I already ordered and received 40 #sweatpinklaces to give out for various special achievements over the holidays. 

This also adds to the Fitfluential Ambassadorship.

5 Random Things About Me

Since there are new folks visiting as a part of the Hop I thought I'd try another 5 random things about me.  It's been a while since I've done one of these so bear with me.

1. It's only since starting on this journey that I discovered it's my dream job to be a Wellness Coach and run a Wellness Center.  Finding the money to pay for the certification through NETA and getting my foot in the door somewhere without any formal experience and education is proving to be a mighty challenge.
2. Growing up I used to be scared of the grates in the sidewalk downtown.  I would do everything I could to avoid walking across them.  For some reason I had this fear that I'd fall through.  Some days it still bothers me but for the most part on my walks I go over them with no problems now.
3. I used to regularly dye my hair an auburn color but wouldn't go full red.  Can you imagine me as a redhead?
4. I took ballet & tap in preschool.  My uncoordinated self would be the one you'd often see going the opposite direction from everyone else.  Grandma (mom's mom) still has a picture somewhere from a show where this actually happened.
5. I've never been drunk.  Buzzed but never fully loaded.  Every time I tell people this there's always someone that says that they're going to get me drunk but never invite me anywhere to even try.

What are 5 things you'd like me to know about you?

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...


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THURSDAY I got in more reps during Super Heroine Fitness Episode 3 Adventure 4 Circuit B than the last time despite being sweaty and lightheaded with my nose dripping.

SATURDAY I began the final week with Adventure 1.  The first song that popped up on my Pandora was a perfect title for Halloween - Ghosts 'n' Stuff by Deadmou5.  After eating lunch Austin and I headed to the library.  Austin wore his costume (less the knife).  Because it was Irvington's Halloween Festival we had to park about 3/4 mile away and walk in.  After picking up our items we checked out the non-food booths but didn't see anything we wanted to buy.  It was windy and sprinkled on us a couple of times while trick-or-treating that night.  (I had to wear my jacket draped over my shoulders but Austin was hot.)

SUNDAY night I went to bed with the chest and back pain similar to what I've been experiencing during the early phase of a gallbladder attack.  I took 4 acetaminophen and went to bed.  The pain didn't increase but held steady throughout the night.  I think I just dozed and never really slept.  I was so sleepy I couldn't bring myself to even do some yoga Monday like I'd planned.

TUESDAY I did Adventure 2 sans sprints.  This was for two reasons - I didn't feel like doing sprints of any kind and I took Benny to his first election.  Sure, it was only the municipal but he needs to know how it works without the crowds.

How was your week?

Next Tuesday will be the last Super Heroine Fitness workout.  I don't yet know what I'll be doing next.  I'm considering designing my own program as I had to make many substitutions due to the lack of equipment or ability/comfort in doing some exercises.  If you have a program that you recommend or something like a template to help me come up with something please be sure to leave a link in the comments.

I was excited to find out that our team is FINALLY offering a weight maintenance contest!  If you're not already involved with Beachbody check out this little press release I wrote up about the contest.  I'd love it if you'd join so we can maintain together.

Linking up with

#MotivateMe Monday Linkup with Fitness Cheerleader & Running Rachel

Happy Halloween

I'd asked Austin a few months ago whether he still wanted to Trick-or-Treat or give out candy (with him being 14 in a month).  At that point he wasn't sure what he wanted to do.  Then suddenly he started talking about a couple of costume ideas from anime and online cartoony things.  He finally settled on Eyeless Jack from Creepypasta.(don't ask because I don't know and don't get it LOL).

One of this weekend's projects...Austin's #eyelessjack mask for his #halloween #costume

A photo posted by Cassandra Schmigotzki (@longandwindingroadtowellness) on Oct 12, 2015 at 4:07am PDT

I finally got everything for my Wonder Woman costume (except a lasso).  Not sure if I'm going to play with makeup or anything special with my hair (like hairspray).  It's been so cold the past several years I hope I can stay warm this time!

Halloween 2012-2015

Do you still dress up to give out candy, take your kids trick-or-treating, or a party?

I'm in this week's Weight Watchers Weekly!

I knew this was coming but not when.  Ever since they asked for my picture I'd immediately look for my comment in the Weekly.

Next week I'll be one of the featured bloggers on Kristy of the Runaway Bridal Planner's Grow Your Blog Hop.  That means possibly 38 new faces will be checking out this blog (and I need to have my post up by Midnight LOL).  It's also my monthly weigh in so that'll be in the post.  Is there anything that you'd like to know about me or you'd like to see/read?  I'll put everything I can in the post.



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THURSDAY I did Episode 3 Adventure 2.  For whatever reason my mid/lower back kept spazzing during the front squats.

SATURDAY I did Adventure 3 using the 10 lb dumbbells for Circuit A and 15 lb dumbbells for Circuit B.

MONDAY nights Benny and I have been having Torc sessions on our abs.  You're supposed to do these in conjunction with proper diet and exercise (neither of which Benny does).  I attempted to get a shot of the procedure but it's difficult to hold my phone still while being squeezed.

A photo posted by Cassandra Schmigotzki (@longandwindingroadtowellness) on Oct 26, 2015 at 4:26pm PDT

TUESDAY I did Adventure 4 Circuit A with the 15 lb dumbbells.  On the 3rd set of right leg deadlifts I apparently forgot to press start on the timer so it skewed my stats. LOL

Today it's too rainy to walk for the last farmer's market of the season.

Linking up with

#MotivateMe Monday Linkup with Fitness Cheerleader & Running Rachel

Happy Back to the Future Day

Image Courtesy of Naypong | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Yesterday's post-op was short and pointless...could've been done over the phone or the EMR.  As expected nothing cancerous from the polyps.  They did do the dilation and curettage even though it wasn't noted on the discharge paperwork.  So now only time will tell if it was money well spent....Apparently I'm now on the 5 year PAP schedule so I won't need that test until 2019/2020.  So he said we can move my annual

I think I have finally discovered the reason why my nose is always stuffy.  Benny's ENT had said it at one of the follow up appointments after his salivary stone removal but I'd forgotten what it was almost immediately.  It's been driving me crazy for months!  From what I can tell it appears that I have enlarged turbinates and may need functional rhinoplasty (aka a nose job).  The referral is in process so we'll see when I'll get an official diagnosis and treatment plan in place.



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THURSDAY I did Super Heroine Fitness Episode 3 Adventure 4 Circuit B.

I swapped Saturday and Sunday because I went to a spa party at someone's house.  We enjoyed facials, foot treatments, and mini massages.

SUNDAY I skipped Circuit C since I haven't found what I wanted to sub for 2 of the exercises.  I did Adventure 1.

MONDAY I did PiYo Core.

TUESDAY I didn't do SHF since I knew Adventure 2 would make me late for my follow up appointment.  Instead I did PiYo Strength Intervals...more cardio than I expected LOL

Today I walked 2.85 miles around downtown.  I picked up some bell peppers at the farmer's market.

Linking up with

#MotivateMe Monday Linkup with Fitness Cheerleader & Running Rachel

Super Heroine Fitness Week 8

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This is my first TOM post surgery.  So far it's behaving as it has been; I didn't expect any changes this month anyway.  I figured it'll be 2-3 months before I can expect to begin to #BringComfyBack to TOM.  Definitely continuing to rely on the U by Kotex Lightdays® Liners during the spotting at the beginning and end of my cycle.  Tuesday is my follow up appointment with the GYN so we'll see what he has to say.

Be sure to visit bringcomfyback(dot)com where you can upload an uncomfy pic for a $1 off coupon to try either liner out for yourself and enter to win this month's prize package.


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THURSDAY I was finally able to begin Super Heroine Fitness Episode 3 with Adventure 1.  Turned out to be very much a leg day for me!  I had trouble sitting, standing up, and walking until Saturday's workout....Definitely have to lower the weight the next round of this one.

SATURDAY I was still somewhat sore from Thursday but somehow when I started in on Adventure 2 it all went away.  This is the workout where you're supposed to wrap it up with 8 minutes of 50 yard sprints.  Yeah, me running on uneven ground with my weak ankles...not a good idea.  So I jumped on my stationary bike and attempted bicycle sprints - 20 seconds hard pedaling, 10 seconds light pedaling.  I lasted about 6 minutes doing this.

TUESDAY I did Adventure 3, which seemed super easy to me.  So, unlike Thursday, I'll need to go with a heavier weight on the next round.

Today I walked 3.03 miles, picking up another butternut squash at the farmer's market.

Linking up with

#MotivateMe Monday Linkup with Fitness Cheerleader & Running Rachel

Super Heroine Fitness Week 7

In June I won a $500 gift card to Spafinder from a Socialshops giveaway on MomItForward and received it last month.  Monday night we went to 7eFitSpa for a free consultation to check out the Torc treatments to tighten my loose skin.  They use this device to work with your body's natural electrical currents to manipulate your muscles.  They'll do it everywhere but your upper back or chest as that's too close to your heart and they don't want to risk anything.

Since I have loose skin everywhere I wasn't sure what area to concentrate on.  I figured Benny would say my arms (as he's commented on them many times before).  However, he said I should do my abs.  Lauren gave him the option to try it too but he wasn't up for it.  She measured my abdomen in three places and got me hooked up to the machine.  OMG did it feel weird!  I felt the waves of the electrical current working my muscles.  From the outside Benny couldn't feel the movements.  I wasn't feeling much in the lower abs but when I did it felt like when I was pregnant with Austin and he'd kick me!  After we were Lauren she measured me again and I'd lost 2.5 inches throughout my abs - .5 in on the top measurement and 1 in off the other two.

Benny decided that he wants to do it too so we'll be splitting the 8 pack.  Honestly I don't think he's going to like the vibrations so I may be having 7 sessions myself! LOL


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THURSDAY I did 5 sets of Episode 2 Adventure 1.

SATURDAY I dropped the weights back to 10 lbs to do 4 sets of Adventure 2.  I feel so weak with this workout having to use the lighter weights and move slower to complete it.  It's officially my least favorite of Super Heroine Fitness.

TUESDAY I did almost a full 6 sets of Adventure 3.

Today I walked 3.23 miles during lunch, stopping off at the farmer's market for a couple of tomatoes and the YMCA at the Athenaeum to ask about financial assistance for memberships.  The guy at the front desk said the best way to see where you'd fall is bringing in a copy of your tax return.  I'd only printed off paystubs so I couldn't find out anything today.  If it's not raining next week I must remember to bring last year's tax return with me.

Writing it all out it sounds like I didn't do much of anything this week compared to normal.  No cardio until today's walk, just weightlifting.

Saturday's the Arsenal 5K and Austin expressed an interest in running it (from lapping kids in gym class LOL).  It's supposed to rain so I don't know if he'll really do it.  We can sign him up (for free) the day of so we'll see...

Next week's going to be crazy with Monday's consult and Tuesday's surgery.  Supposedly you're supposed to be able to function normally the next day.  I've been spotting since Saturday so I may still be in full TOM mode during the surgery so that'll make it all interesting.  Have you ever had surgery during your TOM?

Will play it by ear how much I workout.  I may just walk then start Episode 3 the following week.

Images are in "the cloud" so the surgeon should be able to see everything from the CT scan in July.  Both the gallbladder and kidney stone removal can be done at the same time so they'll just have to coordinate schedules between the doctors.

Be sure to pop over to yesterday's post to request a free sample of U By Kotex® Ultra Thin pads with 3D Capture Core plus Xpress DRI!

Linking up with

Super Heroine Fitness Week 6: Prepping for Surgery Season

Just two weeks until Surgery Season!  Yes, I have to make light of it all because it's so depressing to me.  I never had a broken bone or stiches.  Childbirth was the only instance for me spending time in the hospital.  To have these issues pop up after starting my journey makes me so sad sometimes.  It's a great mental challenge to keep my spirits up some days....

 

Yesterday was my birthday.  KayBee of Nats & Fitness featured my brief transformation story.  I went to work as normal and we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner.  I ate off their fall menu - two salmon patties with green beans and hashbrown casserole.  Instead of water I drank apple cranberry iced tea.  I'm picky on my teas but this was rather tasty.  I don't know how many glasses I had.



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THURSDAY I was only able to complete 3 sets of Episode 2 Adventure 2 so I determined that I'm not ready for the 15 lb dumbbells for this workout.

SATURDAY I completed 5 sets of Adventure 3 with the 15 lb dumbbells.  We went to Goodwill's 50% off sale but didn't buy much as the selection wasn't very good for me.  Perhaps it's because we went so late.  I'm trying to get the pieces to make my Wonder Woman style Halloween costume.

Two Pairs of Pants

Two Blouses

Two Shirts - S was more loose fitting than the XS!

Pair of dolphins for my collection

MONDAY I did 45 minutes of power yoga with Adriene.

TUESDAY I wrapped up this round of Episode 2 with 4 sets of Adventure 4 using the 15 lb dumbbells.  I wanted to take a picture of the TGU Roll/First Move but those 10 seconds on the timer weren't enough to get back in place.  I kept falling over and almost dropping the dumbbell LOL!

It's supposed to rain most of the day today so I'm not walking.

Linking up with

Super Heroine Fitness Week 5

I weighed in last night down 2.2 lbs so I'm safely in the goal window again.

September is a busy month for me...my birthday on the 8th, the Arsenal 5K on the 19th, the surgery consult on the 21st, and the hysteroscopy with polypectomy on the 22nd.  It's all a waiting game now.

Did you see any of the #WeAreEverything Movement on Monday?  Brittnei Washington came up with this idea for all of us to join together and seeing one another in each person's perspective in all lifestyles and situations.  It's all about showing love and compassion for everything and everyone.  Check out the hashtag on Facebook to see the posts and share with us the last day of every month (except NYE).



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WEDNESDAY I walked a 5K through downtown during lunch.

THURSDAY I completed 6 sets of  Episode 2 Adventure 3.

SATURDAY I did 5 sets of Episode 2 Adventure 4.

MONDAY I did a session of Yoga with Adriene.

TUESDAY I did Episode 2 Adventure 1, upping the weight to 15 lbs (except for the flyes - still not yet ready to move off 8 lbs).  I almost got in a full 6 sets again...first time the timer ran out on me.

Today I stopped at the farmer's market and picked up a couple of zucchini.  On the circle they had something for the NHRA race this weekend.  I looked around and took a picture for a guy next to one of the cars.

Now that most kids are back in school I invite you to join the Back to COOL DietBet to get back to working on YOU this fall.  It's just $35 to sign up.  Let's continue to make 2015 the best year yet!

Linking up with

The Gallbladder Strikes Back

Image Courtesy of dream designs | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thursday morning about 2AM I had another gallbladder attack.  This one was a doozy, lasting all day!  It didn't start out the way the others did so I wasn't sure of what it was at first.  I vomited a lot more this time around.  Thankfully no recurrences in the every other day pattern the last round held.

I was freezing most of the day (thermometer kept reading my temp under 97F) so after the bathroom portion of the attack was over I went to the front room and lay on the recliner in the sun under a blanket.  Eventually I warmed up but I never slept more than 30 minutes at a time.  I was fighting with Netflix because it didn't want me to see anything (the annoying error message saying that it couldn't display the title at that time on everything I tried to watch).  I drank water off and on while I lay there.

I finally started getting hungry late afternoon.  I begrudgingly ate a piece of flatbread....tasted gross and made me nauseous.  At dinner time I ate about 1/4 cup of potatoes but that also made me nauseous.  I went to work Friday and ate some bacon and sliced turkey throughout the day.

Saturday morning I made a smoothie but couldn't finish it by the time we left for the State Fair (about 3:30 pm).  We strolled around the fairgrounds and occasionally sat down when Benny needed to rest for a bit.  Normally I'd stand or pace in front of him but I sat down each time.

I made sure we popped into the Lego area for Austin before it closed.  While he built a Mayan pyramid I walked around the pavilion, checking out the rest of the exhibits.

My Favorite Cancreation

I wasn't able to eat a full meal until Sunday night but it tasted gross.

Saturday I also found out that they cancelled the Indy Cooking Expo for some reason.  No explanation just an email that Cumulus had cancelled the event.  Not sure what that's about.



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Yesterday I worked out for the first time since the gallbladder attack.  I did Episode 2 Adventure 2.  More reps on this workout than the one I did this week so I didn't want to push it.  I got 4 sets in with about 1:30 to go.  It felt good to do something!

I weighed in last night down .6 lbs so I'm back in the goal widow.

Today I'll be walking during lunch.  Last week I hit 3 miles, the farthest I've walked during work.  How far will I go today?

Linking up with

Super Heroine Fitness Week 4

I weighed in last night down .8 lbs, just .2 lbs above the goal window.

I received the Exspiral Veggie Spiralizer for free in exchange for my honest review.  When Benny saw the package he wondered why I had something German. LOL  I've been playing around with spiralizing squash and zucchini.

Messy leftovers

I didn't realize there would be such a mess to clean up afterwards.  So glad they provide the cleaner brush to get in the tight spaces!  The lid you're supposed to put on the end of the veggie you're spiralizing when you near the end of the item.  I tried that and it just squished it more.  It did not help in spiralizing the end piece.

End piece after spiralizing

I've heard from others that it's not uncommon to have the end piece after spiralizing with some spiralizers.  It was suggested to just chop it up and that's what I did.

 



Ready to toss the Zoodles & Squoodles

I enjoyed spiralizing the zucchini and squash but I haven't been creative with using the zoodles and squoodles (is that what the squash is called?).

Zoodles & Chicken leftovers for lunch at work

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THURSDAY I did Adventure 3.

SATURDAY I wrapped up Episode 1 with Adventure 4.

SUNDAY I explored Episode 2 to see what I could do and what needed swapped.  I think I'm going to get hurt on Adventure 3 with the Stability Ball Leg Curls!  That ball won't stay still even on the carpet.  This next phase will be totally different doing AMRAP in 25 minutes!

MONDAY I did a cardio workout from FitnessBlender.com.

TUESDAY I started Episode 2 with Adventure 1.  Now the guide says you complete 3-4 circuits on average.  I think I either went too light (8 & 10 lb dumbbells) or too fast because I knocked out 6 circuits and still had just under a minute left.  I didn't want to start a 7th circuit.  Take a look at the exercises (linked in Sunday above) and let me know in the comments how many circuits you think you'd do on average.

Today there are storms in the forecast off and on all day so I'm not sure if I'll get a walk in.

Saturday we're going to the Indiana State Fair.  We haven't gone in several years so it'll be a new experience for us.  Benny and I went to the media preview event on the 5th and we saw so many changes!  I spotted on the map a Lactation Station...and it's in front of the Public Safety Center.  Multiple Designated Smoking Areas but only one single "safe place" for women to breastfeed?  I found that odd.  Is this the new norm?

Speaking of the Fairgrounds, if you are planning to be in the area late September be sure to enter the giveaway for tickets to the Indy Cooking Expo as it ends Saturday!

Linking up with