A little more than a year ago, I decided I'd had enough and it was time to take control of my life. My weight had skyrocketed and my energy and fitness had plummeted. I'd gained at least 50 pounds in one year and was gasping for breath climbing the stairs to my bedroom. Definitely time to make some serious changes.
I started looking online for a way to track my food, exercises and hopefully, weight lost. So many sites do this, but some charge and others weren't quite what I wanted or were difficult to use. I "found" SP. Turns out I already had an account because I'd been here a few years before. Wow, wish I was motivated then, but I'm thrilled that I got going last year.
I was so out of shape that I couldn't walk a lap on the track before I had to stop and stretch my calves, because they got so tight that it was painful to walk. Doesn't sound too awful until you understand that the indoor track at the Y is only an 1/8th of a mile. So I realized that I was going to have to find another option. I then found the pool and started walking in the water and joined a water aerobics class. Both of those, I could do. Also started swimming some laps after a couple of months. I'm exercising and looking forward to it. What?!?
Well, school started and I have a niece and nephews I help with homework and reading, so afternoon workouts had to change to morning workouts. Who knew that I would actually enjoy getting up at 530am and going to the gym for an hour or more before work. That first couple of weeks were killer, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it through the days at work. I was so sore and tired, but amazingly I never considered giving up. I'm not sure where I found the determination, but there it was.
Well, I kept walking and adding a little running. Also, started ST a couple of days a week and before you knew it by the end of winter I was usually exercising at least 6 days a week. Summer came along and it is hard to go to bed with no A/C at 900pm when the sun is still shining. So I switched back to afternoon exercising that I did by taking the dog for a walk or walking the perimeter of the dog park while he was having fun. Wasn't as consistent, but tried to be a lot more active with the kids around.
Well, the times they are a-changing and I'm now able to get back to the gym in the early morning. I'm a creature of habit and so I immediately started walking/running and ST again. Well, one of the regulars invited me to the aerobics class that started at 6am this morning.
Considering how far I've come I thought I was doing pretty well fitness-wise. That might have been a little optimistic. Well, ALOT optimistic. Oh my God! That woman has a streak of sadism running through her. I think the class was about 50 minutes long, but I can't be sure because I must have blacked out in the middle. I'm not even sure how I got showered and home. Now I'm at work and starving, because I can't lift my arm enough to feed myself. Actually, it wasn't that bad, but it did point out that I'm too consistent in what I do for workouts. It also gave me a goal to see how long it takes me to be able to do all of the moves. I kept up really well except for some of the abdominal/core moves.
So, when SP or one of the challenges suggest that I change up my routine, I'll be a lot more focused on doing just that. I'd say it is time to look into some different classes or sports to add in more variety.
Sorry this was so long and thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.