This week, we bit the bullet - we joined a gym.
It's a small one that just opened up about 2 minutes from our apartment but has multiple locations (one of which happens to be right next door to my office).
So, we walk in and speak to the trainer who is also the owner (who will now be referred to as "Fitness Guy").
As I'm filling out the paperwork, Fitness Guy turns to Ben and says "So, what are your fitness goals?"
Ben, being the smooth talker that he is simply says "I don't have any". Doh!
Fitness Guy: "Did your wife drag you here?"
Ben: "Yep." Again...Doh!
Fitness Guy (to me): "Since you're obviously the one in charge, what are YOUR fitness goals?"
I'm sure I had some witty response (which I can't remember) - but that question really got me thinking. What ARE my fitness goals?
Here's what I've come up with:
- I want to ride in an airplane without having a panic attack about fitting in the seat or needing a seat belt extension.
-I want to wear a smaller t-shirt size than my husband.
-I want to walk the dog without being out of breath.
-I want to climb a flight of stairs without worrying that I'm going to have a heart attack and keel over and forever be remembered as "that fat girl whose heart exploded because she climbed a flight of stairs".
-I want to go shopping and not immediately flip to the back of the clothing rack where the biggest sizes are.
-I want to spend a single day not worrying about how fat I look and feel.
-I want to laugh without everything jiggling.
-I want to go to a restaurant without worrying about whether I can fit into the booth without my stomach touching the table or my boobs resting on top of the table.
-As Kevin Spacey put it in American Beauty - "I want to look good naked".
Today I had my first training session with Fitness Guy. We'll see if any of these goals are actually attainable...
P.S. My boss and I have made a pact - as soon as we both lose 10 pounds, we're treating ourselves to pedicures!!!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
1 Month To Go
When I began this blog last year, I was hoping to lose 50 pounds by my birthday. (Insert naive optimism here)
Well, I've got exactly 1 month to go and about...48 pounds still to lose.
It's been a bit of a roller coaster, and while I haven't come anywhere near my weight loss goal, I have discovered some things about myself, about my frustrations with food, and about my bad habits.
I know I didn't gain weight overnight, so I can't expect to lose weight overnight - no matter how much I long for a "magic pill" solution.
Even though I'm still struggling, I'll choose to look on the bright side - at least I haven't gained any additional weight!
I'm also sticking to my fast for Lent - no ice cream or pop until Easter!!!
Well, I've got exactly 1 month to go and about...48 pounds still to lose.
It's been a bit of a roller coaster, and while I haven't come anywhere near my weight loss goal, I have discovered some things about myself, about my frustrations with food, and about my bad habits.
I know I didn't gain weight overnight, so I can't expect to lose weight overnight - no matter how much I long for a "magic pill" solution.
Even though I'm still struggling, I'll choose to look on the bright side - at least I haven't gained any additional weight!
I'm also sticking to my fast for Lent - no ice cream or pop until Easter!!!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Progress
Over a week ago, I gave up ice cream and pop.
While I didn't expect the pop to be much of a challenge, I was terrified that I'd not only miss the ice cream, but also replace it with something else.
I'm proud to say, after 10 days, I'm not only not missing the ice cream, but I have managed not to replace it with M&M's, cookies, brownies...you get the idea.
In addition to making strides as far as my eating habits, I'm also back on the horse, or rather, the bike!
I was doing really well, then got out of my routine. But, now I'm back!
I'm coming back slowly - I was beginning to irritate my foot and my knees by doing the bike every day, so this time I'm going to pace myself a little more and hopefully avoid all that.
For a few weeks now, I've been toying with the idea of joining a gym and enlisting the help of a trainer - I'm wondering if that will help keep me on track.
Unfortunately, that's just not in our budget right now, so I'm going to have to keep myself motivated and energized.
While I didn't expect the pop to be much of a challenge, I was terrified that I'd not only miss the ice cream, but also replace it with something else.
I'm proud to say, after 10 days, I'm not only not missing the ice cream, but I have managed not to replace it with M&M's, cookies, brownies...you get the idea.
In addition to making strides as far as my eating habits, I'm also back on the horse, or rather, the bike!
I was doing really well, then got out of my routine. But, now I'm back!
I'm coming back slowly - I was beginning to irritate my foot and my knees by doing the bike every day, so this time I'm going to pace myself a little more and hopefully avoid all that.
For a few weeks now, I've been toying with the idea of joining a gym and enlisting the help of a trainer - I'm wondering if that will help keep me on track.
Unfortunately, that's just not in our budget right now, so I'm going to have to keep myself motivated and energized.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Days 1 and 2
Lent has arrived...which means that it's time to give up one of my favorite things...ice cream.
Boo =(
Actually, this year, I'm getting a two-fer.
After I informed Ben that WE would be giving up ice cream, WE (and by that I mean "I") decided that WE should also give up pop.
Well...we've survived Day 1 and Day 2 - I haven't had any major cravings for ice cream, and Ben has had more water in the last 2 days than he's had in the last 2 months!
The trick is going to be not replacing ice cream with something else...for example...seasonal M&Ms...
Boo =(
Actually, this year, I'm getting a two-fer.
After I informed Ben that WE would be giving up ice cream, WE (and by that I mean "I") decided that WE should also give up pop.
Well...we've survived Day 1 and Day 2 - I haven't had any major cravings for ice cream, and Ben has had more water in the last 2 days than he's had in the last 2 months!
The trick is going to be not replacing ice cream with something else...for example...seasonal M&Ms...
Monday, February 20, 2012
16 Minutes
Today, while browsing the Yahoo headlines, I came across an intriguing story. A 16 minute workout!
Of course, me being me, I clicked onto it. Poor, gullible me. Thinking that there would actually be a workout that I could do in only 16 minutes and still see results. It's just the sort of magical solution that people like me pray for.
I soon realized that it was 8 "magic moves" from Jillian Michaels.
Ok, I'll come out with it - I DON'T LIKE JILLIAN MICHAELS!!!
I think she's smug, condescending, and looks down on everyone who isn't a size 4 and in the best shape of their life.
That said, I continued to scroll through the article, hoping that somehow this magical 16 minute workout included sitting on the couch, or simply walking in place.
No such luck.
It was a series of 8 exercises designed to help you tone twice as much in half the time. And, best of all, there were pictures showing how the exercises were supposed to look.
Now, I know that I'm not even close to being in shape, but I almost had a stroke just looking at the picture of some skinny-ass woman going from being on all 4's to having her legs kicked up above her head (picture how a donkey kicks).
Yeah right!
And it only got better from there - high kicks, a psychotic modified push-up, and something terrifying called "dragging dog" which required pulling yourself along the ground from a flat laying position into an "upward dog" yoga pose using just the palms of your hands and your toes - hahaha.
Exercise plans like that are a great idea...if you weigh 125 pounds and are already in shape.
But for someone like me, it makes me want to cry...or scream...or smack the "fitness guru" who came up with that routine from hell right in the face.
I think I'll stick with my low impact exercises - while secretly chastising myself for not being in shape enough to pull off even one of those maneuvers without having a heart attack.
Of course, me being me, I clicked onto it. Poor, gullible me. Thinking that there would actually be a workout that I could do in only 16 minutes and still see results. It's just the sort of magical solution that people like me pray for.
I soon realized that it was 8 "magic moves" from Jillian Michaels.
Ok, I'll come out with it - I DON'T LIKE JILLIAN MICHAELS!!!
I think she's smug, condescending, and looks down on everyone who isn't a size 4 and in the best shape of their life.
That said, I continued to scroll through the article, hoping that somehow this magical 16 minute workout included sitting on the couch, or simply walking in place.
No such luck.
It was a series of 8 exercises designed to help you tone twice as much in half the time. And, best of all, there were pictures showing how the exercises were supposed to look.
Now, I know that I'm not even close to being in shape, but I almost had a stroke just looking at the picture of some skinny-ass woman going from being on all 4's to having her legs kicked up above her head (picture how a donkey kicks).
Yeah right!
And it only got better from there - high kicks, a psychotic modified push-up, and something terrifying called "dragging dog" which required pulling yourself along the ground from a flat laying position into an "upward dog" yoga pose using just the palms of your hands and your toes - hahaha.
Exercise plans like that are a great idea...if you weigh 125 pounds and are already in shape.
But for someone like me, it makes me want to cry...or scream...or smack the "fitness guru" who came up with that routine from hell right in the face.
I think I'll stick with my low impact exercises - while secretly chastising myself for not being in shape enough to pull off even one of those maneuvers without having a heart attack.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
More Effort!
I've kicked things up a notch.
I was rocking my stationary bike. I was doing anywhere between 5 and 5.5 miles in 20 minutes, depending on how fast I was pedaling.
Now...haha...I'm doing 6 miles in just under 20 minutes.
Ok, not to toot my own horn, but do you have any idea how fast you have to pedal at a constant rate in order to go 6 miles in 20 minutes?
It's insane! It's no wonder my legs have been sore and my quads started burning within minutes of hopping on my bike last night!
It's not pretty. I'm huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf's big-fat-out-of-shape sister, and sweating like a pig, and by the time I'm done, my legs feel like rubber!
But it's such a rush when I scroll through my display menu to see that I'm pedaling anywhere from 18.5 and 19 miles per hour - seriously, go me!!!
Now I just need to keep it up!!!
My boss is going to be gone for the better part of the next 2 weeks. My goal is to have her comment (unsolicited, of course) on how I look when she gets back. I've been on my kick for about 2 weeks already, so I'm hoping that after a month of watching the food and exercising like crazy, there should be SOME change!
We'll see!
I was rocking my stationary bike. I was doing anywhere between 5 and 5.5 miles in 20 minutes, depending on how fast I was pedaling.
Now...haha...I'm doing 6 miles in just under 20 minutes.
Ok, not to toot my own horn, but do you have any idea how fast you have to pedal at a constant rate in order to go 6 miles in 20 minutes?
It's insane! It's no wonder my legs have been sore and my quads started burning within minutes of hopping on my bike last night!
It's not pretty. I'm huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf's big-fat-out-of-shape sister, and sweating like a pig, and by the time I'm done, my legs feel like rubber!
But it's such a rush when I scroll through my display menu to see that I'm pedaling anywhere from 18.5 and 19 miles per hour - seriously, go me!!!
Now I just need to keep it up!!!
My boss is going to be gone for the better part of the next 2 weeks. My goal is to have her comment (unsolicited, of course) on how I look when she gets back. I've been on my kick for about 2 weeks already, so I'm hoping that after a month of watching the food and exercising like crazy, there should be SOME change!
We'll see!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Food Log
It's been a while since I did a weekly weigh-in. I haven't wanted to be a slave to it, and quite honestly, it wasn't making me feel good about my attempts at losing weight.
But, I've been doing my bike on a regular basis, I've been watching what I eat, and yesterday, I was feeling brave.
So, yesterday morning, I reluctantly climbed onto the scale to check the status of my seemingly ongoing ass expansion.
I somehow wasn't surprised to see that I'm back where I started months ago. Not heavier, thankfully, but right back at square one.
Perhaps this is a good thing - a new year, new start, new motivation.
I'm taking steps in the right direction. I've been working out 5 or 6 days a week for the last few weeks. I've also started logging my food and exercise on MyFitnessPal.com (thanks Tricia for introducing me to that incredible website).
The cool thing about MyFitnessPal.com is that when you finish your daily entry, there is a message that pops up telling you "If every day were like today, you'd weigh ____ in 5 weeks." (By the way, the number that they give is about 15 pounds less than what I currently weigh)
That remains to be seen. I've religiously logged my food for over a week - there really is something to being held accountable for what I'm eating. I find that I'm catching myself before I have a snack, wondering whether it will push me over my daily caloric intake goal. I'm thinking twice before deciding what to have for lunch, so that I don't pay for it later.
I'll just be curious to see if I continue on my current path whether in 4 weeks I actually manage to lose 15 pounds - here's hoping!!!
But, I've been doing my bike on a regular basis, I've been watching what I eat, and yesterday, I was feeling brave.
So, yesterday morning, I reluctantly climbed onto the scale to check the status of my seemingly ongoing ass expansion.
I somehow wasn't surprised to see that I'm back where I started months ago. Not heavier, thankfully, but right back at square one.
Perhaps this is a good thing - a new year, new start, new motivation.
I'm taking steps in the right direction. I've been working out 5 or 6 days a week for the last few weeks. I've also started logging my food and exercise on MyFitnessPal.com (thanks Tricia for introducing me to that incredible website).
The cool thing about MyFitnessPal.com is that when you finish your daily entry, there is a message that pops up telling you "If every day were like today, you'd weigh ____ in 5 weeks." (By the way, the number that they give is about 15 pounds less than what I currently weigh)
That remains to be seen. I've religiously logged my food for over a week - there really is something to being held accountable for what I'm eating. I find that I'm catching myself before I have a snack, wondering whether it will push me over my daily caloric intake goal. I'm thinking twice before deciding what to have for lunch, so that I don't pay for it later.
I'll just be curious to see if I continue on my current path whether in 4 weeks I actually manage to lose 15 pounds - here's hoping!!!
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