I have abs!

Well, you can't see them yet, still snuggled down under a layer of fat, but I can tighten them and I can FEEL them. I have never had any kind of muscle tone in my abdomen, even when I was younger and skinnier. I have been doing ab crunches on an ab machine, I kept adding weight, but I wasn't sure it was doing anything. It is sure nice to see (or feel) the rewards of the work and sweat.

I mentioned earlier about me and my weak biceps and my pink 3 pound free weights, I am proud to say I can now lift 20 lbs on the bicep machine. When I started I could not lift the minimum (10 lbs) more than a couple of times. I have noticed that I can lift and empty a pot of water and pasta by myself much easier now.

Still having some problems with flare-ups, but I recover quicker now and they don't seem so bad. I still have to really watch my heart rate during my cardio workout and keep within a certain limit. I have enjoyed the weighted workouts for awhile now, but I have to say, I am even enjoying the cardio workouts, they are over so quick (20 min) that I can't believe the time is gone by. I don't even mind the sweating part so much.

When I started this Blog and called it "My Transformation" I was just thinking about the transformation of my body, the way I would look. I am surprised to find that it is becoming so much more than that. I feel accomplished when I finish a hard workout, I feel capable of using weights and machines that were so intimidating before, I feel athletic when I can pedal faster on my recumbent bike than the person next to me, especially when I was feeling like such an invalid just a year ago or when I go walk around the track effortlessly as I cool down and drink my water like all the other sweaty people (many so much younger than me). I feel proud of myself when I feel muscles coming alive inside me, or climbing the stairs to get to the Fitness Center (it was a killer when I first started, I had to go up sideways). So even though the changes of my body aren't showing much yet (after, it all starts on the inside first), I am "transforming" in so many BIG ways I didn't expect. I am so glad I did this and I still have a long road to ride (on my recumbent bike, of course).