After my blog announcements of needing to lose weight and being bored at the gym, I decided to make a change, mix up the routine and try new things. And here is my week one report: I SURVIVED.
Oh that’s right, the pain train has left the station, woo woo! Woo woo!
So here’s what I’ve done to date:
- Started logging my food again (a PITA)
- Try new gym classes
- Avoid going right back to the elliptical machine
Let’s take a closer look.
Logging food:
I won’t lie, I really hate doing this, but I know it’s necessary. It’s tedious and often finding the right food to log and calculating the right amount can take some time. But so far it’s kept me on track calorie-wise and helping me make better choices. Plus, my inheritantly lazy nature often keeps me from snacking because I don’t want to log it. Wow that sounded sad.
And despite one slip with Texas chocolate sheet cake at work today (I really couldn’t help myself), I’ve stayed in my calorie ranges. I haven’t seen a lot of results yet, but I feel leaner and I know if I stick with it, I’ll start losing the weight slowly again. Goal is to drop what I’ve put on by February.
New gym classes:
This has been fun and PAINFUL at the same time. So far I’ve tried a variety of things: yoga, Pilates, dance class, extreme athletic conditioning and cardio cross training and its been intereting.
I’ve also learned the following things:
- I am Pilates-challenged. Holding your neck up and keeping you legs at a 45 degree angle with your feet in a Pilates “V” = insanely difficult
- I like high energy cardio classes, but the first time I took one, I could not move my arms, sit down, bend over or wash my hair without being in excruciating pain. And I plan to go back for more
- I am ridiculously uncoordinated, but in dance class, I can shake my moneymaker!
- A 5lb and 8lb weight and cause more muscle pain than anything 20lbs or above
- I need to learn basic yoga poses before going into classes, I easily look like I don’t know what I’m doing
- When several people refer to your teacher as “the devil,” that is not a good sign
The adjustment has been difficult but I like mixing up the classes and next on my list: SPIN!
NO MERCY!
And finally, I only went back to the old gym routine once this week because I got out of work late and missed all the classes. Seriously, 5:30 p.m. classes suck a**. Some of us have full-time jobs and can’t make it there and be changed by then! Geez.
So the adjustment is still in process, but I think things are on the right track. And eventually all parts of my body will stop hurting when I work out and do the classes. I cannot wait for that day!
Question for tonight: How do you like to stay active? Do you like high energy classes or more calm-natured classes like Pilates or yoga? How sore have you ever been after a serious class?
My compliment for today: First, you guys were sweet to leave me some on the last post so I thought I’d share what I told myself today as part of my experiment. I said, “Jess you really kicked some a** dancing to Single Ladies at the gym tonight. Nice job, now put a ring on it an ring on it and go home.”
Motivational speaking at its best.
