I was not going to do this 60day – my mom was going to have tendon surgery on her right foot and she would not to be able to put any weight on her foot for 2 to 3 weeks, and then she would be in a boot for 8 weeks.  I needed to move my dad into a respite memory care as mom would not be able to take care of him during this time.  I moved in with my mom to take care of her as well as run back to my house to make sure my son who was home from college had food and everything he needed and animals and gardens were ok.  I was telling one of the trainers Sara at the Plymouth Life Time about my upcoming family obligations with my mom and dad and that I would not be able to put as much time into this 60day as I will need to be taking care of my mom and everything else.  Sara’s response was “Life Happens” but not to use it as an excuse to not take care of myself.  I said you are so right and I signed up for my second 60day.

GOALS:

1. Continue to loose body fat
2. Run my first 5K on the 4th of July

I did my resting and active metabolic assessments and discovered that I needed more cardo for exercise and I actually needed to add more carbohydrates to my diet.  I worked with a dietician and put a meal plan together to help me achieve more fat loss.  I was not able to get to the gym as much as I did my first 60 day, but I was able to get a 2 to 3 mile walk in every day and was able to do body weight bearing exercises at my mom’s home.

While taking care of my mom, she fell.  I knew exactly what to do and how to lift her properly by using my squat and lift form and utilizing my legs and not my back.  Half way thru lifting her she panicked and turned sideways to try to grab onto the back of a chair.  This took me out of proper form and I felt the pop in my lower back, surprisingly I seemed to be okay and was able to get mom up safely.

Unfortunately about 2 days later my back went out, one of my disks in my lower back had ruptured and I was unable to move.  The doctor put me on Prednisone and muscle relaxers and I spent a couple of days in bed before I was able to just get up and walk a little without a lot of pain.  I was now thinking that my 60day was over and I was feeling defeated.

The trainers and other 60day participants were so supportive and turned me from thinking negatively to thinking positively reminding me not to give up.  I was encouraged to do the things that I can do, like some light stretches and to stay on my eating plan.  I was reminded once again that “Life Happens”.

A week after being on Prednisone I started to have serious side effects.  I put on 10 pounds in one week and my ankles and feet were so swollen it prevented me from being able to walk.  Again I felt defeated and started to think negatively. I am so thankful to the 60day community as they all once again turned my negative thoughts into positive ones and I was again reminded “Life Happens”.

I was finally able to make it back to the gym a week before the 60day challenge ended.  I felt like I was starting all over but Kirill, my accountability trainer, told me that my body will remember where I was and to take is slow and easy.  He showed me how I can accomplish Zone 4 & 5 without running on the tread mill,  that I can walk the speed that I could handle and increase my incline to the level that my body was able to tolerate.  He introduced me to the stabilizing weight equipment that I could do to help keep my muscles strong and fit until I am able to get back to my barbell and dumbbell workouts.

To my surprise I was still able to meet my original goal which was to continue to loose body fat.   As for the 5K I did not run it but I did walk it in 49.52 with lots of hills!!

Lesson learned when “Life Happens” – Stay positive, do what you can and never give up!!

Thank you again Life Time and all of the incredible trainers for this great 2nd 60day and I am looking forward to many more!!