I Joined a Gym - Now I'm out of my comfort zone

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Yesterday I joined a local gym. I'd been scouting it out since February. I took a drop in Zumba class. I went to their website once a week and reviewed the schedule and the costs. And I realized I was "looking" at the gym and talking about joining the gym and 3 months had gone by and I hadn't done anything about it!

During that time I was working out at home doing some strength training with dumbells and walking on the treadmill. So I go to my first class last night and get there right when the class is starting. It was a Power Blast Abs class. I thought that since I was working out at home I was in fairly decent shape. That class kicked my butt. I was out of breath and sucking wind and sweating like mad. Which is what I needed. I kept up for the most part but it also made me realize that I don't push myself nearly hard enough when I work out by myself.

I need to work out with other people to push myself out of my comfort zone.
And so it begins. I'm serious about being healthier and losing this weight. Yesterday I ate an extra sandwich at lunch (the pitfalls of working at a place where there is tons of free food everywhere) and snuck 4 petit fours. I was eating like mad all day. Another motivator for joining the gym.

So I've stopped talking and now I'm doing. My goal is to go to the gym 2-3 times a week. It won't be my comfort zone which is good. Being comfortable has helped me hold on to this roll around my waist. I am going to do this!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FINDYOURSPARK 4/20/2010 3:02PM

Way to take the first step! Soon the gym WILL BE your comfort zone! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEEDRAR 4/20/2010 9:27AM

I love the classes that kick my butt the first couple times! They get better and I feel so accomplished. I have never worked out as hard when I am home alone as when I am in a group with an instructor pushing me. I know I can do all the same stuff at home, but I also know I wont! Keep the motivation and love it, love it, love it! You will do great! Report Inappropriate Comment

KOUNTRYKID 4/20/2010 9:21AM

Good for you!!! It's not easy getting out of your comfort zone but stick with it. It will be worth it!! Good luck Report Inappropriate Comment

Sticking to it

Saturday, April 17, 2010

I got up and went walking today. I woke up early couldn't get back to sleep and everyone else in the house was asleep so I decided to take some time for myself. I ended up walking through a new neighborhood for 62 minutes. I also feel like I undid some of the negative things I ate yesterday. I've decided not to beat myself up yesterday after having 2 cokes and Jack Daniels BBQ chicken at Dave & Busters. It was a party for a project at work. I indulged and then played a couple of rounds of Dance Dance Revolution. I can't remember the last time I played like a child. It was fun. Then I got home and hit the treadmill for 30 minutes and did some strength training. This morning I got and walked. I'm not dwelling on the slip up. I'm still sticking with my program.

There was another coworker there who is doing Weight Watchers. She hadn't lost any weight in the last 3 weeks after losing 16 lbs. She ordered the parmesan chicken ceasar with dressing on the side and sparkling water. I commended her on her choices but she just seemed miserable and kept talking about how much she missed certain foods like pizza.

I may not be losing a lot of pounds very quickly ( more like .5 lb a week) but I'm also losing inches off my waist (.5 inches a week for the last 4 weeks) and I'm not miserable. I'm enjoying life and my food and I feel like I'm getting healthier and fitter. This is a healthy lifestyle choice and change I'm making. Not something I'm going to do for a few months to fit into an outfit and the minute I hit my goal I eat pizza and then gain all the weight back. Not Me. Not this time. I'm going to meet my goals and maintain them. These pounds are going to melt off all 25 lbs of them and I won't be miserable doing it!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PRIN1978 4/17/2010 2:44PM

Good for you and staying motivated too. Keep up the great work, you're doing well! Report Inappropriate Comment

Spreading the Spark

Monday, April 12, 2010

I walked the Dearborn MI Martian Half Marathon on Saturday. I flew from Philly with a girlfriend whom I train with regularly and we did the Half marathon on Saturday. This wasn't my first half marathon and I only walked it when I usually walk/run. But the GOOD NEWS is my girlfriend who lives in Detroit who used to say "you're crazy!" when I'd say I'm going to get up early and go walking or go do a race - got out there with me and did the whole thing and she finished! I was so proud of her. And now we're even talking about doing it again next year. My relatives who live in Detroit also said they wanted to do it. I'm not making in bets on participation but I think it's great that these people who wouldn't even consider exercising are now starting to think about it and want to do it with me. I'm Spreading the Spark!

My weight this morning was 174 lbs (I did indulge a bit after the race but hey I figured I could do that after 13.1 miles in the cold it was 32 F at the race start). The extra good news is my waist is now 36.5 inches. It's coming off slowly and surely.

Now if I can just get my mother to start walking to build up her strength and get healthy it will be ALL GOOD!

Spark On!

  

My Easter Miracle

Monday, April 05, 2010

This past weekend was a phenomenal one for me and my family. Saturday April 3 was my mom's 65th birthday. A few months ago I decided to throw her a surprise party. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 09. She has had incredible spirit and faith throughout this whole thing. This past week was her last radiation treatment. I figured after 3 surgeries, chemo, and radiation and all the side effects plus her turning 65 this was a prime time to celebrate.

I contacted her friends, former co workers and neighbors and family and alot of them hadn't seen her in the past year. Just about everyone showed up and she was definitely surprised. The Miracle part is that my brother and his family showed up (wife and 2 kids included). My brother and my mother had a falling out and he hadn't spoken to her or seen her in almost 6 years. It broke my mothers heart and over the years I'd tried and she'd tried everything to get them to reconcile. My mom hadn't seen her grandkids from him since they were 4 and 2 .

But God is GOOD and my brother showed - my mom saw her grandkids for the first time in 6 years (even though they didn't remember her) and everyone was on their best behavior. I'd been praying for God to resolve this situation for 6 years. I know that God answers prayer. This was my EAster miracle. Because even when I told my brother that mom had cancer he still wouldn't even call her. And they only live 5 minutes away from each other. Walking distance. So I know it was GOD.

I also know that my weight is something I need to pray about. Specifically around me making lifestyle changes and God working with me to remove the mental blocks I have around food and what is really keeping me from losing the weight and keeping it off. So I'm praying about this that God will work with me and help me lose these 25 lbs and I make it a lifestyle change so I keep it off.

I weighed in at 175.5 lbs this morning. I don't feel fat and I feel like I'm in decent shape but ....I want this weight off.
I know I can do this. I will do this. The pounds are melting off (I'm speaking those things that are not as though they are). If God can bring my mother and brother together he can work with me so I let go of whatever is keeping me from losing this weight.

Amen.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FITWITHIN 4/5/2010 8:44AM

I know that had to been a lot of happy tears that filled the room; when your mother saw her son and his family. Stay positive and keep it moving to keep on losing. I'm wishing you much success on your weight lost journey. Report Inappropriate Comment

IKIRSTEN 4/5/2010 8:43AM

Girl, God is working all the time. I am so happy for your family. Keep on praying and trusting and believing and God will move things for you that you won't think is possible. Report Inappropriate Comment

One step back Two steps forward

Sunday, March 28, 2010

I hurt my knee last week so I haven't been exercising at all. That's an excuse - I know. I could do some strength work and lift weights. I got on the treadmill today wearing a knee brace and I'm feeling pretty strong. I was trying to lose 5 lbs this month. Instead I gained two. I did however lose 1 inch off my waist.

My goal for this week is just to track everything I eat. Starting again. Starting small but still moving forward.

I keep getting frustrated. With myself for not being consistent. With my son, with my husband, with my life. I am the only one who can make this change so I can't get too frustrated with others. This is on me. I know I'm going to mess up (like eating that KitKat I ate today). Am I the only one who gets mad when other people say the pounds are just melting off? Well even if I am that's ok. I got mad. I ate the KitKat then I did 50 minutes on the treadmill. I figure if I keep moving and working the pounds may not "just melt off" but I will do my darnedest to get them gone!

So I'm going to track what I eat this week. And I'm going to move something every day this week.
One step back. Two steps forward. As long as I'm moving in the right direction more often than not.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KALEIGH2010 3/28/2010 8:15PM

Fantastic! Changing your lifestyle isn't meant to be easy. We get so caught up in our bad habits of the past that it is only natural for us to resist what is actually good for us. Keep up the great work! (and who cares about the kit kat, so long as you truly enjoyed it!) Report Inappropriate Comment