Exercising: Plus Size Style

One of the biggest problems I have found during my journey to a skinnier (less fat) me, is the exercising.  

Aside from the process of actually mustering the motivation to get off my lazy keester and do something, I find that the act of exercising is the challenge.  

I would love nothing more than to go to a weekly Step class, or aerobics, or heaven forbid...Zumba!  Time and cost not being factors, I would love to have something that I enjoyed that I could go out and do, preferably on my way home from work 2 nights per week.

But...I'm too self conscious!  

Several years ago, when I lived in Columbus, I went with my neighbor to her Spin class.  Now, keep in mind, this was about 5 years and at least 75 pounds ago.  

It was the worst hour of my life.  I was humiliated!  My ass didn't fit on the seat of the bike, I was sweating like a pig, and I was so sore that I could barely walk to the car after class - meanwhile, tiny stick insect girls were happily bouncing up and down on their bikes, complete with flawless make up and a noticeable lack of sweat.

It's not a coordination thing.  I played sports, I took dance classes - I'm pretty sure I can rhythmically step from side to side while moving my arms around. 

It's the fact that group fitness classes are seldom geared towards those of us who live at the plus sized end of the spectrum.  We're unceremoniously thrust into a class with women who are "trying to get back to a size 2".  Um...I'm trying to get my size into the low double digits! 

That's what someone needs to come up with - a class specifically for folks with too much junk in the trunk.  They'd make a fortune!  And, no, Richard Simmons and "Sweatin' to the Oldies" doesn't count...although....

Here's what I want:

Low impact
All-inclusive workout (strength, flexibility, cardio)
Does not require moves that my extra baggage will not allow (low lunges, crunches, jumping jacks - nobody wants to see this bouncing around)
Minimum weight requirement of 200 pounds.  

And none of this "all fitness levels are welcome" bullshit!  Instead, it needs to read "suitable for those who will sweat like a pig, will be tired and ready for a break 10 minutes in, and may require the use of an oxygen mask following class".

Now, THAT'S a class that I'd pay money for!  

Until it exists, I think I'm stuck with needing to lose weight before I sign up for a class to help me lose more weight - there's something very wrong with that...

Tight Jeans

Tight jeans...we've all been there. 

You do your laundry, you dry your jeans, and they shrink!  So, before you can attempt to button them, you have to do that thing where you bend over, squat, and lunge to stretch them into wearable condition.

This happened to me this week.  I pulled on my trouser jeans for work and felt like I was pulling them on straight out of the dryer...

...except...they weren't straight out of the dryer.

Nope...my jeans, magically, inexplicably, (and likely at the hands of the same evil elves that work my scale), shrunk practically overnight.  Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Damn you, little elves!

My jeans are my barometer for whether I'm gaining, losing or maintaining my weight.  So, judging by the amount of "sucking in" I had to do to squeeze my ass into them...I'd say I've definitely gained in the last week or so.

Ugh!!! 

Tight jeans are the worst, probably because there's no ignoring them.  They don't stretch, they don't give, and you can't escape the urge to jam a straw into your thigh and start sucking out the fat (or is that just me?)

I know it's the holidays...and gaining weight is practically a requirement...but I was sooo hoping that it wouldn't happen to me!

So, tonight, instead of eating dinner and vegging out in front of the tv with a dish of ice cream, Ben and I threw on our work out clothes, walked down to the apartment complex clubhouse and worked out in the gym!!!!!

I'm hoping to be (comfortably) back in my trouser jeans soon!