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.

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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

Be Your Best Self

"Be Your Best Self" is this week's Weight Watchers meeting topic. What words to you use to describe yourself now (I.e. introverted, a parent, a spouse, a brunette, vertically challenged, etc.)?  What things about you would you continue to be in the future?

How would you describe your future self (I.e. once you've reached your ultimate goal)?  Use he Best-Self Portrait below, filling in the items in the {} brackets (remember Mad Libs) to get started.

I wish they'd given an example because I struggled with completing my Best-Self Portrait....Not sure if this is really what they were looking for but here goes nothing!

Cassi's Best-Self Portrait

My best self is happy and stress-free.  My best self likes to travel regularly with my family and guide others on their journeys to improve their overall health and wellness.  When faced with a challenge, my best self thinks how I can work through/around this and researches options.  On a typical day, my best self chooses to eat apples and spinach.  In a typical week, my best self gets in a few workouts including weightlifting and yoga.  My best self takes time out for relaxing, restoring breaks such as reading.  Overall my best self feels at peace about life.  If someone starting on their journey asked for my definition of success, my best self would say, "Success is a state of mind.  If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success." (Dr. Joyce Brothers)

 

Which element that you filled in can you work on this week to start making your best-self a reality?  What specific actions will you take?


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Sorry for not having a post last week.  With only walking and yoga I really had nothing to share with you.  The doctor has said it's OK to start Super Heroine Fitness Episode 3 so I'll begin tomorrow.  I'm excited because it was getting boring to me!

Linking up with

Welcome Fall

Hard to believe that today's the first day of fall.  Cold nights and warm days would be perfect year round weather.  I'm not ready for chilly or cold all day with us not having much of a summer this year.  I'm always cold so I sit at work with a sweater on year round.

Monday's consultation felt a little awkward.  We didn't see the surgeon until about an hour after my appointment time.  I don't even recall shaking his hand.  He showed us my gallstones on the CT scan so now I can identify where the heck it is.

3 Views of My Kidney Stone

3 Layers of My Gallstones - 3rd shows the partially calcified one

Benny is still trying to fight me having the surgery.  Yes, the kidney stone and gallbladder can be removed at the same surgery.  We don't know the true cost of yesterday's hysteroscopy with polypectomy so we have no idea how much a second surgery will be with insurance.  He wants me to order more Gallbladder Complete and take that at the next attack.

Speaking of yesterday's surgery, it seemed a little chaotic once we went back to pre-op.  I was thinking that they'd freeze or just snip them off.  Instead they told us they use a rotating blade to slice through it all and chop it up.  Samples go to the lab to verify they're benign.  They'd trim the vaginal wall in a similar manner if they deemed it necessary (curettage).  The doctor did say that they don't want me to get pregnant because it could cause complications with a thinner uterine wall.  You should've seen the grumpy face look Benny gave when she said that we'd have to use condoms for a while!

My long nails made it difficult for them to attach the pulse oximeter and get a good reading (they use a disposable one - what a waste!).  My thumb nail had split some time ago so it's shorter.  They had to open a new one and attach it to my thumb.  So many people were coming in and out of the room I don't even remember who anyone was!  Being on TOM I had to wear these weird looking (think big gauze) disposable underpants and attach a pad to them.

When I headed into the OR they had to hunt for a step stool so that I could climb up onto the table.  I think only one or two people in the room were tall enough that they wouldn't have needed one LOL.  Not sure why they gave me oxygen through a mask before starting; I'm used to that nose tubed thing.  They put these things on my legs like giant blood pressure cuffs I assume to prevent clots in the legs but they seem to have kept my legs warm too.  I was out pretty quickly.

The doctor forgot to indicate the size of the polyp so I have no clue how big it was or even where it was exactly.  Benny looked at the pictures and said it's just huge LOL


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THURSDAY I wrapped up Episode 2 with Adventure 4.

SATURDAY was supposed to be the Arsenal 5K, rain or shine.  It was raining and thundering but they cancelled it for alleged lightening.  Don't know where they were seeing it; neither Austin nor I saw anything.  They let us take a lap around the track but nothing was recorded.  Austin ran the track with his tumbler of tea in one hand and the umbrella in the other hand.  I couldn't believe he was so fast! LOL

I don't think I'll be doing much more than walking this week.  The post-op instructions say to not lift more than 15 lbs until cleared by the doctor.  Yeah, I haven't needed any of the prescriptions they gave me so I think I'll be OK to start Episode 3 next week, although I have NO clue how I'm doing some of the exercises.

Today I walked to the farmer's market but didn't see anything I wanted to buy.  I then headed to the YMCA and signed up.  Benny won't be happy about the expense but I can see if this will work for me.

Linking up with

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!

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