The Friday class at my work gym rotates between either yoga or kickboxing, two totally different ways to relieve tension. I have never done the yoga class before because I really didn't think I could do it and also because, before today, I didn't think I could get in a good calorie burn without loud music and lots of fast cardio.
Today my buddies and I headed down to the gym, preparing to get our punch-on, but when we walked into the group exercise room in order to stake out our places on the floor before changing, we discovered that the lights were dimmed and there was light, tinkly tinkly music flowing out of the speakers rather than the usual bumping hip hop. As Pam, our instructor, confirmed that today was yoga, we looked at each other with doubt on our faces. I'm glad I didn't have much notice of the change because I probably would have backed out and hit the treadmill instead of shrugging and saying, "Okay, let's try this."
I walked into the room in my tennis shoes and socks, but when I looked around, everyone was taking their shoes off. Okay, at this point you probably are gathering the severity of my yoga ignorance. I took off my shoes but kept my socks on until my friend Marianne, who's not yoga-ignorant, explained that it was better to take off socks so you wouldn't slip on the mat. So, I yanked those off too, thinking ironically that had I been better informed, I could have saved myself the ten minutes I spent this morning trying to find a matching pair of clean gym socks.
As I sat on the mat waiting for class to start, the tinkly music lulling me already, I figured that the class would be good for stretching, but there was no way I was going to burn calories. Yes, I was that yoga-ignorant, but I quickly learned a few things.
First, yoga is no joke. I worked up a sweat almost to the degree of my Wednesday Step class.
Second, I can do yoga! My year of faithful exercise has created a body that is flexible, balanced, and that has one heck of a set of muscles that can do almost every pose in the routine. It was one of those wonderful times where my body surprises me that I am simply able to do something. These are the moments that make up my momentum to move forward on my path, the wonderfully addictive little experiments.
Third, it might take me a while to be able to get into the whole meditative state of yoga. Today my Transformation team mates and I were on the back row of the class giggling at each other as we twisted ourselves new ways. No amount of mood music or low lighting could keep my chuckles away and for some reason I couldn't help myself from wanting to make corresponding animal sounds from the names of the poses. Coming up into Prone Cobra I just had to hiss. Then when Pam instructed us to get down low into our runner's lunge, I wanted to sing some Lil' John ("let me see you get low, you scared, you scared").
Surprisingly we didn't get kicked out of class and the best part part came at the end when we got to lay on our backs and relax ourselves all the way down to our tows. It was a great way to end a hard exercise week where we've banged our bodies through 5K training, Step class, a killer workout in the heat with Jeff and Marisa, and Jeff's torturous 100/20 rep strength training combos. Yes, my Pigeon pose was more like Dead Buzzard on the Side of the Road, but I realized today just how strong all these muscles that I've been building really are....I'm hooked!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
On the Other Side
Everyone has hideous pictures. Ones that when you happen across them in a drawer or old album, make you cringe at all of their weird-outfit-wrong-shoes-eighties-hair awfulness. You know, those snap shots or school photos that immediately cause you to cringe and say, "What was I thinking?"
I told a friend the other day that these days, strangely, I have been dragging them out and saying, "Look at this really bad picture of me! Isn't it awful?" and laughing. Yeah, I get strange looks sometimes, but it feels great to look at those shots and know that that person is no longer me. So here goes another bad picture. It was taken last year, a few months before my healthy journey started, along the Cape Fear River with my cousin Holly and her daughter, Maggie:
Boy, at that time I had no idea what a wonderful journey I was about to embark on. Now for the current shot. Below is a shot from last weekend with my husband, taken on the other side of the Cape Fear River and on the other side of the first year of this journey:
I told a friend the other day that these days, strangely, I have been dragging them out and saying, "Look at this really bad picture of me! Isn't it awful?" and laughing. Yeah, I get strange looks sometimes, but it feels great to look at those shots and know that that person is no longer me. So here goes another bad picture. It was taken last year, a few months before my healthy journey started, along the Cape Fear River with my cousin Holly and her daughter, Maggie:
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| Last year, along the Cape Fear with Holly and Maggie |
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| On the other side. |
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
How Far We've Come
There have been many times on this journey where I've looked back and realized that I'm going to remember that particular moment for the rest of my life. Moments like these are the ones that you add to your own personal movie montage reel.
Today was one of those days. After our warm up, Jeff and Marisa surprised us by leading us out of the gym and into the sunshine. We all looked around at each other, wondering what was about to happen, but I was excited about doing something new and the absence (finally) of rain clouds. It started off right there in our parking lot as we stood up and sat down from the benches fifty times. The sun was warm and I had already started to sweat.
As soon as we'd finished that, we had to jog after Jeff down the length of the parking lot and across the street to our parking deck. I've felt pretty good about my running skills on the treadmill, but outside on pavement I found running to be a LOT more difficult. My confidence about running a 5K started to go down rapidly - unlike the temperature. I started slowing down and my breathing got shallow, but Marisa stayed by my side the entire way down the parking lot, across the street, and up six flights of stairs to the very top level of the parking deck.
As I climbed the steps, my team yelled encouragements to me and Marisa kept up a steady stream of support. It was hot, the stairwell had a weird smell, and there were enough seagull feathers scattered around to make me nervous. Seagulls freak me out due to my previously being attacked by them, but that's another story all together. So here's the situation: it's hot (I hate that), there are stairs (I'm still a little scared of falling to my death), and there's the possibility of coming face to face with a seagull (i.e., winged terror). Needless to say, I was struggling. But then, from above me I heard the cheers of my team mates, calling my name and pushing me forward. When I got to the top, they applauded me and there were high fives all around. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't speak, but that's just how this group is.
The workout was far from over though. Up on the roof of the deck, where no cars usually park but where the view of downtown Wilmington and the Cape Fear River is spectacular, we did lunges, squats, sprints, and a round of sixty push ups. The sun was bright, the temps were up, and this was one of the toughest workouts ever. Then came the finale...walking down the steepest ramp of the deck and running back up...twice. I had serious doubts, but Marisa and Jeff and the rest of the team cheered me on. I pushed the heat and the fatigue to the back of my mind and just concentrating on my feet while blocking everything out but the sound of Marisa's voice. And I did it! Yes, I was the last one up the hill, but at the top were the other members of my team cheering me on, and at my side were my two trainers, keeping me going.
As I slowed my breathing, I looked out across the horizon at all of the personal landmarks down below, different distances I have marked on the months of this journey, I could literally see the distance that I have come. That, and the incredible group of people surrounding me, took my breathe away more than the toughest of workouts. We were hot, sweaty, thirsty, and worn out, but we were also victorious. Victorious...and we still had to go back down all of those stairs and walk back.
Today was one of those days. After our warm up, Jeff and Marisa surprised us by leading us out of the gym and into the sunshine. We all looked around at each other, wondering what was about to happen, but I was excited about doing something new and the absence (finally) of rain clouds. It started off right there in our parking lot as we stood up and sat down from the benches fifty times. The sun was warm and I had already started to sweat.
As soon as we'd finished that, we had to jog after Jeff down the length of the parking lot and across the street to our parking deck. I've felt pretty good about my running skills on the treadmill, but outside on pavement I found running to be a LOT more difficult. My confidence about running a 5K started to go down rapidly - unlike the temperature. I started slowing down and my breathing got shallow, but Marisa stayed by my side the entire way down the parking lot, across the street, and up six flights of stairs to the very top level of the parking deck.
As I climbed the steps, my team yelled encouragements to me and Marisa kept up a steady stream of support. It was hot, the stairwell had a weird smell, and there were enough seagull feathers scattered around to make me nervous. Seagulls freak me out due to my previously being attacked by them, but that's another story all together. So here's the situation: it's hot (I hate that), there are stairs (I'm still a little scared of falling to my death), and there's the possibility of coming face to face with a seagull (i.e., winged terror). Needless to say, I was struggling. But then, from above me I heard the cheers of my team mates, calling my name and pushing me forward. When I got to the top, they applauded me and there were high fives all around. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't speak, but that's just how this group is.
The workout was far from over though. Up on the roof of the deck, where no cars usually park but where the view of downtown Wilmington and the Cape Fear River is spectacular, we did lunges, squats, sprints, and a round of sixty push ups. The sun was bright, the temps were up, and this was one of the toughest workouts ever. Then came the finale...walking down the steepest ramp of the deck and running back up...twice. I had serious doubts, but Marisa and Jeff and the rest of the team cheered me on. I pushed the heat and the fatigue to the back of my mind and just concentrating on my feet while blocking everything out but the sound of Marisa's voice. And I did it! Yes, I was the last one up the hill, but at the top were the other members of my team cheering me on, and at my side were my two trainers, keeping me going.
As I slowed my breathing, I looked out across the horizon at all of the personal landmarks down below, different distances I have marked on the months of this journey, I could literally see the distance that I have come. That, and the incredible group of people surrounding me, took my breathe away more than the toughest of workouts. We were hot, sweaty, thirsty, and worn out, but we were also victorious. Victorious...and we still had to go back down all of those stairs and walk back.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Do it. Get Hooked.
I've been enjoying playing trainer for the past few days and got an unexpected compliment from my friend Mary who said that my workout on Thursday (running stairs, pull ups, burpees, wall-sits, weights, rowing machine, treadmill, flying squirrels, and planks just to hit the highlights) was just as tough as Jeff and Marisa's. In fact Frank has started calling me Marisa Junior. I've taken leadership positions in various aspects of my life, but never in a million years would I ever have thought I'd find myself leading workouts. Little over a year ago, I couldn't even contemplate how I would have the stamina to make it through a workout, much less find the pleasure of designing one and leading people through it.
Little over a year ago, I avoided anything physical. Physical exercise, or even the physical things you have to do just to live your life equaled pain and exhaustion to me which also equaled avoid at all cost. Never, ever did I think that I would find the joy and elation that having strong muscles and endurance would give to me, or the reward in pushing myself as hard as I can go.
These days I can tell you that there is no better feeling than to feel myself run faster and faster on the treadmill, or to look out across the gym as we all do a workout I created and to find satisfaction in the red faces and sweaty shirts of my friends. It's addictive and heady to look back after a year and find myself transformed from a person who actively sought the easy way out into a person who shows up at the gym begging to get her butt kicked.
I recently ran into a friend who has been wanting to start her own journey and who has been so supportive to me in mine. On her face I saw the same want and desire to change her situation that I had a year ago and it got me excited for her and the amazing journey I see her starting very soon. To her and to anyone who wants it bad but may not feel like it is possible I say: do it. Do it, it is so worth it. Even in the workout that I created, I was the slowest one up and down the stairs, but five other people (my dear friends who have fought this battle at my side) kept running extra laps up and down until I finished mine so that I wasn't alone. Do it. People will be there for you. I will be there for you each step of the way.
Even if you think it's impossible, just start and see what happens. It will be hard and frustrating at first, there are aches and pains. There are tears of frustration. There are times when you feel like your body is rebelling against you. But one day it gets easier. Then it gets better. And before you know it, you find yourself running on the treadmill and grinning like an idiot because you're proud of yourself. That's when you really get hooked.
Little over a year ago, I avoided anything physical. Physical exercise, or even the physical things you have to do just to live your life equaled pain and exhaustion to me which also equaled avoid at all cost. Never, ever did I think that I would find the joy and elation that having strong muscles and endurance would give to me, or the reward in pushing myself as hard as I can go.
These days I can tell you that there is no better feeling than to feel myself run faster and faster on the treadmill, or to look out across the gym as we all do a workout I created and to find satisfaction in the red faces and sweaty shirts of my friends. It's addictive and heady to look back after a year and find myself transformed from a person who actively sought the easy way out into a person who shows up at the gym begging to get her butt kicked.
I recently ran into a friend who has been wanting to start her own journey and who has been so supportive to me in mine. On her face I saw the same want and desire to change her situation that I had a year ago and it got me excited for her and the amazing journey I see her starting very soon. To her and to anyone who wants it bad but may not feel like it is possible I say: do it. Do it, it is so worth it. Even in the workout that I created, I was the slowest one up and down the stairs, but five other people (my dear friends who have fought this battle at my side) kept running extra laps up and down until I finished mine so that I wasn't alone. Do it. People will be there for you. I will be there for you each step of the way.
Even if you think it's impossible, just start and see what happens. It will be hard and frustrating at first, there are aches and pains. There are tears of frustration. There are times when you feel like your body is rebelling against you. But one day it gets easier. Then it gets better. And before you know it, you find yourself running on the treadmill and grinning like an idiot because you're proud of yourself. That's when you really get hooked.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Ooo That Smell
Remember those old episodes of Tom and Jerry where Tom would be really hungry and start hallucinating that various objects and people around him were turning into juicy hams or large turkey legs? I think the same thing is happening to me only instead of seeing visions of food I am experiencing phantom smells.
Today in the gym as I ran on the treadmill, I suddenly caught a whiff of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. It was so strong that it was almost like being in my Momma's kitchen. There's no logical reason for the smell. No one had cookies in the gym and there wasn't even anyone near me who could have been wearing cookie-scented body spray (wouldn't that be torture?). What was disturbing was that earlier in the day I had smelled fried chicken, pot roast, baked beans, and spaghetti. All again for no reason.
It must be my stricter diet that has me "hallucinating" smells lately. If only I could harness this mental fake-out and use it to my favor. After my workout, I sat at my desk crunching carrots and trying to mentally turn them into Doritos. Ummm I LOVE carrots. They are just as tasty as Doritos. They are orange and crunchy like Doritos. Sooo satisfying.
Didn't work. I finally broke down and ate a 100 calorie snack and was so grateful for it I started singing, "I have popcorn, I have popcorn, na na na na na nahhhhhh" to the tune of La Cucaracha to myself at my desk. I'm sure my cube neighbors doubt my sanity, and quite frankly so do I after everything I've been smelling today. Dieting will plain turn you crazy.
Today in the gym as I ran on the treadmill, I suddenly caught a whiff of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. It was so strong that it was almost like being in my Momma's kitchen. There's no logical reason for the smell. No one had cookies in the gym and there wasn't even anyone near me who could have been wearing cookie-scented body spray (wouldn't that be torture?). What was disturbing was that earlier in the day I had smelled fried chicken, pot roast, baked beans, and spaghetti. All again for no reason.
It must be my stricter diet that has me "hallucinating" smells lately. If only I could harness this mental fake-out and use it to my favor. After my workout, I sat at my desk crunching carrots and trying to mentally turn them into Doritos. Ummm I LOVE carrots. They are just as tasty as Doritos. They are orange and crunchy like Doritos. Sooo satisfying.
Didn't work. I finally broke down and ate a 100 calorie snack and was so grateful for it I started singing, "I have popcorn, I have popcorn, na na na na na nahhhhhh" to the tune of La Cucaracha to myself at my desk. I'm sure my cube neighbors doubt my sanity, and quite frankly so do I after everything I've been smelling today. Dieting will plain turn you crazy.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Mental Vacation
"I promise you that I'm smart." I used to say that repeatedly to my trainers. Why the need to reassure them that I wasn't in fact an idiot? Because of the weird phenomenon that happens when I walk through the gym doors...my brain completely takes a vacation.
They say left, I go right. They say right, I go left. Every time. You should see me in Step class. It's a hot mess. I have trouble following other commands too. Just last week Marisa was stretching us out after a tough workout and as I stood there stretching and sweating and slowing my breathing, I heard her saying, "Feet together. Feet together. Feet together."
I started chuckling, thinking it was funny that one of my friends didn't get where to put their feet until I heard, "Minter. Feet together."
I looked down and sure enough, my feet were spread widely apart. Whoops. Today I was back to confusing my left and right. I'm also very likely to trip on random weights that are strewn out across the floor due to lack of looking where I'm going. And I've flown off the back of more than one treadmill. But I promise, I really am smart.
They say left, I go right. They say right, I go left. Every time. You should see me in Step class. It's a hot mess. I have trouble following other commands too. Just last week Marisa was stretching us out after a tough workout and as I stood there stretching and sweating and slowing my breathing, I heard her saying, "Feet together. Feet together. Feet together."
I started chuckling, thinking it was funny that one of my friends didn't get where to put their feet until I heard, "Minter. Feet together."
I looked down and sure enough, my feet were spread widely apart. Whoops. Today I was back to confusing my left and right. I'm also very likely to trip on random weights that are strewn out across the floor due to lack of looking where I'm going. And I've flown off the back of more than one treadmill. But I promise, I really am smart.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Hard Work Never Hurt Anybody
It was definitely a busy Monday today.I missed my workout time with my buddies and found myself faced with the gym after work. I rolled in close to six o'clock to find Sylvia finishing up her workout. As I stood there chatting with her, I was so tempted to turn around and head home. All I wanted was my comfy chair, conversation with my husband, and dinner. I wanted no part of that treadmill.
"I don't want to do this Sylvia." I said.
She said, "Just get it done. You will feel better."
Simple words, but oh so true. I remember hearing my Mema saying to me when I was a child, "Hard work never hurt anybody." It is a theme from that generation who had to grow up tough during the Great Depression. She is the next to youngest of six children whose Daddy died young from blood poisoning and left her mother alone with the children to raise and a farm to contend with, right smack in the middle of the Great Depression. Mema learned from an early age that everyone had to pitch in so that the family was able to survive, in fact she used to tell us stories of pulling weeds from the strawberry fields when she was just a little thing, probably not even in school yet. No one back then had to worry about diet or exercise. They had fresh farm food and plenty of hard work to burn off any calories they took in.
Fast forward to now, me standing in the gym, needing a workout because I sit at a desk all day to do my work. I buy all of my food at the grocery store that someone else has grown and if I get real squirrely, I don't cook at all and pick up food that someone else has worked hard to prepare. And here I was whining about not wanting to exercise, shame on me.
I got on the treadmill, turned on my music, and picked up my feet. Soon I had a good sweat going and when I walked out of the gym, all the jittery Monday feelings were gone. Mema is right. Hard work never hurt anybody.
"I don't want to do this Sylvia." I said.
She said, "Just get it done. You will feel better."
Simple words, but oh so true. I remember hearing my Mema saying to me when I was a child, "Hard work never hurt anybody." It is a theme from that generation who had to grow up tough during the Great Depression. She is the next to youngest of six children whose Daddy died young from blood poisoning and left her mother alone with the children to raise and a farm to contend with, right smack in the middle of the Great Depression. Mema learned from an early age that everyone had to pitch in so that the family was able to survive, in fact she used to tell us stories of pulling weeds from the strawberry fields when she was just a little thing, probably not even in school yet. No one back then had to worry about diet or exercise. They had fresh farm food and plenty of hard work to burn off any calories they took in.
Fast forward to now, me standing in the gym, needing a workout because I sit at a desk all day to do my work. I buy all of my food at the grocery store that someone else has grown and if I get real squirrely, I don't cook at all and pick up food that someone else has worked hard to prepare. And here I was whining about not wanting to exercise, shame on me.
I got on the treadmill, turned on my music, and picked up my feet. Soon I had a good sweat going and when I walked out of the gym, all the jittery Monday feelings were gone. Mema is right. Hard work never hurt anybody.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Anniversaries and Wedding Gowns
Twelve years ago today my husband and I got married, two days after Hurricane Floyd hit our county. It was a beautiful day nonetheless and we carried out the wedding although we had no power. I remember feeling like I floated through that day and it was one of the happiest days of my life.
This weekend we had a great time hanging out together and celebrating our anniversary. After a wonderful brunch, I stuck to my regular eating plan even though it was a "holiday" of sorts, I decided to dig around in the closet and find my dress.
It's literally been twelve years since I wore it because I knew there was no way it would fit. Today as I drew it out of the closet and smoothed it over the bed, marveling again at it's satin, pearl, ivory loveliness, I felt all over again enchanted by the dress, the most beloved article of clothing I've ever owned. I ran my hand over it, remembering that beautiful day back in 1999, and wondered if I could finally wear it again. Taking a deep breathe, I took it off of the hanger and "swam" into the dress like they had told me to back at the bridal shop. And. It. Fit!
I must admit I spent some time swooshing around the house in it and made Eric take my picture. Unfortunately the full length shot didn't turn out, but it was so much fun playing dress up in my wedding gown on our anniversary.
This weekend we had a great time hanging out together and celebrating our anniversary. After a wonderful brunch, I stuck to my regular eating plan even though it was a "holiday" of sorts, I decided to dig around in the closet and find my dress.
It's literally been twelve years since I wore it because I knew there was no way it would fit. Today as I drew it out of the closet and smoothed it over the bed, marveling again at it's satin, pearl, ivory loveliness, I felt all over again enchanted by the dress, the most beloved article of clothing I've ever owned. I ran my hand over it, remembering that beautiful day back in 1999, and wondered if I could finally wear it again. Taking a deep breathe, I took it off of the hanger and "swam" into the dress like they had told me to back at the bridal shop. And. It. Fit!
I must admit I spent some time swooshing around the house in it and made Eric take my picture. Unfortunately the full length shot didn't turn out, but it was so much fun playing dress up in my wedding gown on our anniversary.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Year Two Begins
Year Two of the journey started out kind of surprising to me in that my motivation was low. At the end of the month, our Transformation Program will be over and we'll be without our trainers at work (they'll still be there as our friends and supporters, but won't be training us anymore) and I started to seriously worry that I wouldn't be able to push myself to the level that they do... I knew that I would continue to workout and eat right, but would I be able to take things to the next level when I needed to? What if my old default setting to slack came back?
Then Jeff asked me to take the lead and workout the group on the days when we're not trained by them, and I started to think...what if I wrote up a workout that included all the things I hate most? Surely I'd be forced to push myself then. Questioning my sanity as I came up with the battle plan, I emailed the team saying that they were cordially invited to the Minter's Version of Hell aka I'm Going to Cuss Myself workout.
I must admit I chuckled evilly when the group assembled and asked what we were doing, but the joke was on me for sure because I was in for it too. First up on the list, my least favorite: the stairs. Right outside the gym are several flights of stairs that have played a critical part in my journey. I have out and out refused to take them, I have been scared of falling down them, I have been forced off the elevator by Jeff and made to take them, and been coaxed by my friends down each and every one of them as my fear of falling and my former terrible balance petrified me and made me look like an old lady slowly, slowly lumbering down. This day, I devised a workout that had us running laps up and down the stairs. It was not only a test of the physical but even more so, the mental. It felt awesome to conquer those stairs and crush my fear under my feet with each and every step.
Next up, we lined up behind the pull up bar and did four pull-ups then ran to the back of the line to go again for ten rounds. At one point, Jeff came over and said, "Are you guys still going at this?" Yep, forty pull-ups each. Then it was on to wall-sits. Sounds simple, you just put your back up against the wall and slide down into a sitting position and hold it there for a minute. Easy right? No way. 15 seconds into it, your quads are screaming and you definitely have to go to a happy place in your mind. Holding the stop watch and trying not to think about my legs, I looked around at my "trainees". Their faces were contorting like mine, they looked desperate for release, they started to slide back up the wall and I would say, "Back down. You can do it." I said this to myself as well as we did three rounds of it.
From the wall-sits we moved on to the rowing machine. One person would row as fast as they could to 100 meters, while the rest of the crowd would alternately do jumping jacks and run laps. We did two rounds of this and by the time we were done and stretching out, we were sore, sweaty, and feeling accomplished.
I am so so sore, and as are the others, but it was fun to play trainer and the knowledge that I am going to be okay eventually on my own was priceless. Next up: devising a workout for Monday.
Then Jeff asked me to take the lead and workout the group on the days when we're not trained by them, and I started to think...what if I wrote up a workout that included all the things I hate most? Surely I'd be forced to push myself then. Questioning my sanity as I came up with the battle plan, I emailed the team saying that they were cordially invited to the Minter's Version of Hell aka I'm Going to Cuss Myself workout.
I must admit I chuckled evilly when the group assembled and asked what we were doing, but the joke was on me for sure because I was in for it too. First up on the list, my least favorite: the stairs. Right outside the gym are several flights of stairs that have played a critical part in my journey. I have out and out refused to take them, I have been scared of falling down them, I have been forced off the elevator by Jeff and made to take them, and been coaxed by my friends down each and every one of them as my fear of falling and my former terrible balance petrified me and made me look like an old lady slowly, slowly lumbering down. This day, I devised a workout that had us running laps up and down the stairs. It was not only a test of the physical but even more so, the mental. It felt awesome to conquer those stairs and crush my fear under my feet with each and every step.
Next up, we lined up behind the pull up bar and did four pull-ups then ran to the back of the line to go again for ten rounds. At one point, Jeff came over and said, "Are you guys still going at this?" Yep, forty pull-ups each. Then it was on to wall-sits. Sounds simple, you just put your back up against the wall and slide down into a sitting position and hold it there for a minute. Easy right? No way. 15 seconds into it, your quads are screaming and you definitely have to go to a happy place in your mind. Holding the stop watch and trying not to think about my legs, I looked around at my "trainees". Their faces were contorting like mine, they looked desperate for release, they started to slide back up the wall and I would say, "Back down. You can do it." I said this to myself as well as we did three rounds of it.
From the wall-sits we moved on to the rowing machine. One person would row as fast as they could to 100 meters, while the rest of the crowd would alternately do jumping jacks and run laps. We did two rounds of this and by the time we were done and stretching out, we were sore, sweaty, and feeling accomplished.
I am so so sore, and as are the others, but it was fun to play trainer and the knowledge that I am going to be okay eventually on my own was priceless. Next up: devising a workout for Monday.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Thank You
Tomorrow is a very special day to me because on September 14th of last year, I started this journey and it has been 365 amazing days of transformation. My birthday is in May, but September 14th will hereafter become a day that I consider my re-birthday because this year has been one of rebirth for me.
On this day I want to say thank you to two very special people, my trainers Jeff and Marisa.
On this day I want to say thank you to two very special people, my trainers Jeff and Marisa.
- Thank you for choosing me for this amazing opportunity.
- Thank you for believing in me before I believed in myself.
- Thank you for making this fun because that is what kept me engaged.
- Thank you for your patience and constant, unwaivering encouragement.
- Thank you for your time and expertise.
- Thank you for bringing out that inner fighter in me that my Mema always told me was there.
- Thank you for every sore muscle and drop of sweat.
- Thank you for celebrating every victory, no matter how small, along the way with me and understanding how important each one was.
- Thank you for making me strong.
- Thank you for helping me beat down the fear that always held me back and for every time you told me that I could do it.
- Thank you for showing me a whole new world and for everything you've taught me.
- Thank you for taking something that I've always dreaded and faltered at, and turning it around into something I love and that makes me feel successful.
- Thank you for every time you've helped me up, pushed me forward, or held out your arm to help me balance.
- Thank you from everyone that loves me.
- Thank you for saving my life.
- Thank you for my transformation.
Monday, September 12, 2011
She's Got No Socks. I've Got No Shoes.
"I forgot my socks!" said Millie from across the locker room as we were changing out today. Inevitably this happens at least once a week with our group. Someone will forget their socks, or a hair tie, or some other garment and we'll all go digging around in our gym bags for extras.
"Hey," I said as we got dressed. "At least it's not something critical like pants or shoes."
Ironic words out of my mouth because five minutes later as we started to warm up on the treadmills, I had a shoe calamity. It turned out that the new pair of running shoes that had felt right in the store this weekend were the wrong, wrong choice. As soon as my feet started moving on the belt, the side of my right foot up near my pinky toe that always gives me a fit started burning like someone had lit a candle to it. The shoes were pinching in the worst place and I realized that everyone who had told me that this particular brand of shoes were always too narrow had been right.
They had felt fine at the store. I had walked briskly up and down the aisles of shoes, thinking that my idea to run back and forth to test out the shoes would have gotten me some odd glances from the large crowd of weekend shoppers. I should have done it and let everyone think I was a weirdo, then I wouldn't have been in the predicament I found myself in at the gym today. I also should have listened to my instinct that told me to take my old shoes along with me this morning.
Frustrated, I got off of the treadmill, jealous of my friends in their perfectly comfy shoes who were already into the 5K training we'd planned today. What to do...I could have gotten on the bike, but I wanted to run with my friends.
"Just take 'em off and come on." Millie said.
So that's what I did. I ditched the cute but wretched pair of shoes and ran in my socks. I had no shoes and Millie had no socks, but we made it work.
"Hey," I said as we got dressed. "At least it's not something critical like pants or shoes."
Ironic words out of my mouth because five minutes later as we started to warm up on the treadmills, I had a shoe calamity. It turned out that the new pair of running shoes that had felt right in the store this weekend were the wrong, wrong choice. As soon as my feet started moving on the belt, the side of my right foot up near my pinky toe that always gives me a fit started burning like someone had lit a candle to it. The shoes were pinching in the worst place and I realized that everyone who had told me that this particular brand of shoes were always too narrow had been right.
They had felt fine at the store. I had walked briskly up and down the aisles of shoes, thinking that my idea to run back and forth to test out the shoes would have gotten me some odd glances from the large crowd of weekend shoppers. I should have done it and let everyone think I was a weirdo, then I wouldn't have been in the predicament I found myself in at the gym today. I also should have listened to my instinct that told me to take my old shoes along with me this morning.
Frustrated, I got off of the treadmill, jealous of my friends in their perfectly comfy shoes who were already into the 5K training we'd planned today. What to do...I could have gotten on the bike, but I wanted to run with my friends.
"Just take 'em off and come on." Millie said.
So that's what I did. I ditched the cute but wretched pair of shoes and ran in my socks. I had no shoes and Millie had no socks, but we made it work.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Summer Days
What awesome weather we had today! It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday that was not too hot but warm enough that the pool felt so cool and refreshing. I had the top down on my car all day and swam hard for about two and a half hours, then floated like a crocodile for about half an hour. Perfect day in my book. The water gives you the wonderful option of feeling weightless, plus you can get in some great exercise without getting sweaty.
Today reminded me of all the wonderful summer days I spent as a child with my cousins at the lake. Back then we didn't know what a calorie was and we got tons of exercise without even realizing it. Days started early in the boat when conditions on the lake were slick and primed for skiing, hydrasliding, and tubing. We were only out of the water for the amount of time it would take to eat a meal and play a few video games at the arcade while waiting the mandatory hour you have to wait after eating before you could go back to swimming. Afternoons would drift by as we'd bob in the lake, laughing at our inside jokes and playing games we'd made up, like an underwater version of tag we called "Never Trust a Shark." At Sunday lunch there was always chicken on the grill and delicious summer vegetables grown by my aunt and uncle and our screened-in porch always rung out with the laughter of my boisterous family. Wonderful days for sure, and I'm happy to say they're still going on every summer with our family and the next generation.
Nothing can top the carefree days of childhood summers, but it felt great today to be outside all day, burning some calories in a weightless environment. I even did a few handstands and flips in the water like we used to in the lake.
Today reminded me of all the wonderful summer days I spent as a child with my cousins at the lake. Back then we didn't know what a calorie was and we got tons of exercise without even realizing it. Days started early in the boat when conditions on the lake were slick and primed for skiing, hydrasliding, and tubing. We were only out of the water for the amount of time it would take to eat a meal and play a few video games at the arcade while waiting the mandatory hour you have to wait after eating before you could go back to swimming. Afternoons would drift by as we'd bob in the lake, laughing at our inside jokes and playing games we'd made up, like an underwater version of tag we called "Never Trust a Shark." At Sunday lunch there was always chicken on the grill and delicious summer vegetables grown by my aunt and uncle and our screened-in porch always rung out with the laughter of my boisterous family. Wonderful days for sure, and I'm happy to say they're still going on every summer with our family and the next generation.
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| Back in the day with my cousins Holly and Jason |
Thursday, September 8, 2011
It
So I'm a scardey cat, that has been established. 95% of the stuff I'm scared of is irrational. Case in point: I get totally freaked out whenever anyone is chasing me, even if I know that it is a game and no harm will come to me.
Today Jeff trained Millie, Laks, Flo, and I and after doing a tough circuit of arm band exercises, he moved on to making us run 40 yard sprints with and without weights, and had us do sets of squats while holding a 25 pound weight over our heads.
Next up though was the real fun. He filed us up in a single file line with me at the front and said that I was going to run the lap first and then he'd tell the others when they could go. Okay, no problem, I thought and took off when he yelled "go".
Ah but the twist. I had no sooner reached the half way point when he yelled for Millie to go. "Tag Minter! Get her!" I looked back as I ran, and sure enough, there was Millie (who is just as competitive as I am but a heck of a lot faster) gaining on me and grinning as she did it. Then Jeff was telling the others to go and giving them the same instructions. I suddenly found myself as "it" in an old school game of tag.
Panic! Terror! Old irrational fears stabbed at me as I ran and in my mind I felt like the last human survivor of the apocalypse with not my friends chasing me, but instead a troupe of hungry zombies ready to suck out my brains. I must have made some crazy face with the way Jeff was laughing. Somehow I made it past the safe zone without Millie tagging me and I staggered off to hold my side and catch my breathe.
Not long though and we were running, in the same order with me as bait again, only this time Jeff sent the girls after me sooner and this round Millie caught me. A short pause to catch our breathe and Jeff sent me out first again. As I rounded the corner and started back I jumped into Millie's path and yelled "Counter-attack!" She started laughing and it was enough to throw her off a little bit and get me, untagged, across the line.
One more time we lined up and one more time I was "It." This time though I was winded and Millie easily gained on me, so in order to avoid being tagged, I made a quick right in between two weight machines and she flew on past me. Cheating yes, but hey, my agility is better!
Today Jeff trained Millie, Laks, Flo, and I and after doing a tough circuit of arm band exercises, he moved on to making us run 40 yard sprints with and without weights, and had us do sets of squats while holding a 25 pound weight over our heads.
Next up though was the real fun. He filed us up in a single file line with me at the front and said that I was going to run the lap first and then he'd tell the others when they could go. Okay, no problem, I thought and took off when he yelled "go".
Ah but the twist. I had no sooner reached the half way point when he yelled for Millie to go. "Tag Minter! Get her!" I looked back as I ran, and sure enough, there was Millie (who is just as competitive as I am but a heck of a lot faster) gaining on me and grinning as she did it. Then Jeff was telling the others to go and giving them the same instructions. I suddenly found myself as "it" in an old school game of tag.
Panic! Terror! Old irrational fears stabbed at me as I ran and in my mind I felt like the last human survivor of the apocalypse with not my friends chasing me, but instead a troupe of hungry zombies ready to suck out my brains. I must have made some crazy face with the way Jeff was laughing. Somehow I made it past the safe zone without Millie tagging me and I staggered off to hold my side and catch my breathe.
Not long though and we were running, in the same order with me as bait again, only this time Jeff sent the girls after me sooner and this round Millie caught me. A short pause to catch our breathe and Jeff sent me out first again. As I rounded the corner and started back I jumped into Millie's path and yelled "Counter-attack!" She started laughing and it was enough to throw her off a little bit and get me, untagged, across the line.
One more time we lined up and one more time I was "It." This time though I was winded and Millie easily gained on me, so in order to avoid being tagged, I made a quick right in between two weight machines and she flew on past me. Cheating yes, but hey, my agility is better!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Beginnings of 5K
I always used to hear people say that life can turn around for the better in an instant. You hear something like that, it goes through several synapses in your mind, and then (if you were like me a year ago) you quickly discard this phrase in the good-for-them-but-that-would-never-happen-for-me pile and go on painfully plodding down your current path. At this point in your life, you really want to make a change but you don't know how you would ever drag yourself out of your current circumstances, whatever they might be. You feel defeated before you start. So you just don't ever start and the situation grows worse. That was me this time last year. And I am here to tell you that I know for a fact that life can turn around for the better before you even know what has happened. Sometimes that change is instantaneous, like those random lucky convenient store customers who find themselves instant millionaires due to the purchase of the right lottery ticket. For me, turning my life around has taken literal blood, sweat, and tears, but even after nearly 365 days of this journey, I am surprised every day by new little victories.
Last September I weighed almost 100 pounds more than I do now. I was sedentary. I ate all the wrong things. I avoided the gym like the plague. My left knee always hurt and it was sad how short of a walk would make me out of breathe. I knew that my Transformation program was about to start but I really had no hope at all of being successful. Jeff and Marisa met with us and told us that starting out they wanted us to work out twice a week. I sat there and nodded my head, but inside the logistics of even two workouts a week was staggering to me. I didn't have any gym clothes, no gym bag, I had no clue where my tennis shoes were... I thought, How am I going to fit this into my lunch hour? My knee is never going to let me do this. I can't do this. How am I going to do this? The answer to all of those questions was simply to put on my shoes and start. Now I workout five to six days a week and I've worn out three pairs of shoes so far.
By no means has it been easy. At my first workout with Jeff, as I stood up and sat down over and over again (aka, one of the only things I could do) I told him that one of my goals was to be able to run. As I said these words, I thought to myself that I might as well have been wishing to win the lottery because that's how good the odds were. But like I said, life can change before you even know what's happened and today, almost a year later, I started training for our work's annual 5K in December. My calves sure are hurting from running but I cut my time for a mile in half from when we did the President's Physical Fitness challenge in June.
Crazy things can happen even when you think there is no way possible for them to... Marisa says next year I'll be running a marathon with her. I laughed when she said that, but stranger things have certainly happened. If I can be successful at this, anybody can. Just put on your shoes and start.
Last September I weighed almost 100 pounds more than I do now. I was sedentary. I ate all the wrong things. I avoided the gym like the plague. My left knee always hurt and it was sad how short of a walk would make me out of breathe. I knew that my Transformation program was about to start but I really had no hope at all of being successful. Jeff and Marisa met with us and told us that starting out they wanted us to work out twice a week. I sat there and nodded my head, but inside the logistics of even two workouts a week was staggering to me. I didn't have any gym clothes, no gym bag, I had no clue where my tennis shoes were... I thought, How am I going to fit this into my lunch hour? My knee is never going to let me do this. I can't do this. How am I going to do this? The answer to all of those questions was simply to put on my shoes and start. Now I workout five to six days a week and I've worn out three pairs of shoes so far.
By no means has it been easy. At my first workout with Jeff, as I stood up and sat down over and over again (aka, one of the only things I could do) I told him that one of my goals was to be able to run. As I said these words, I thought to myself that I might as well have been wishing to win the lottery because that's how good the odds were. But like I said, life can change before you even know what's happened and today, almost a year later, I started training for our work's annual 5K in December. My calves sure are hurting from running but I cut my time for a mile in half from when we did the President's Physical Fitness challenge in June.
Crazy things can happen even when you think there is no way possible for them to... Marisa says next year I'll be running a marathon with her. I laughed when she said that, but stranger things have certainly happened. If I can be successful at this, anybody can. Just put on your shoes and start.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Deep Thoughts in Plank Position
I was walking to the break room today to fix my salad for lunch when one of my friends stopped me in the hallway. She was breathing heavy and had a red face and damp hair.
"Are you okay?" I asked, wondering whether or not to call the emergency response team
"Jeff. Taught. Boot camp. Today." she said, finally catching her breathe. "Watch out."
Uh oh, I thought to myself as I was putting together my salad, I am about to get it. A nervous foreboding crept over me and I added some extra chicken to the salad, figuring I'd need all the protein I could get. Feisty trainer = hard workout.
Down in gym a short while later, I lined up with my team mates in front of not only Jeff but Marisa too. Oh Lordy, I thought, here it comes. It was without a doubt one of the hardest workouts yet. We did twenty some exercises that ended with burpees as the grand finale. On that last burpee, the muscles in my legs and core were literally cramping in on me and I was drenched in sweat. Masochist that I am, I loved it. There is nothing like getting through a tough workout to give you a sense of accomplishment.
I'm really concentrating hard on the mental aspect of exercise. As the workouts get tougher and you push yourself harder, it's a must. Some of the random things I'm thinking while holding a plank position until my arms feel like they're about to break:
"Are you okay?" I asked, wondering whether or not to call the emergency response team
"Jeff. Taught. Boot camp. Today." she said, finally catching her breathe. "Watch out."
Uh oh, I thought to myself as I was putting together my salad, I am about to get it. A nervous foreboding crept over me and I added some extra chicken to the salad, figuring I'd need all the protein I could get. Feisty trainer = hard workout.
Down in gym a short while later, I lined up with my team mates in front of not only Jeff but Marisa too. Oh Lordy, I thought, here it comes. It was without a doubt one of the hardest workouts yet. We did twenty some exercises that ended with burpees as the grand finale. On that last burpee, the muscles in my legs and core were literally cramping in on me and I was drenched in sweat. Masochist that I am, I loved it. There is nothing like getting through a tough workout to give you a sense of accomplishment.
I'm really concentrating hard on the mental aspect of exercise. As the workouts get tougher and you push yourself harder, it's a must. Some of the random things I'm thinking while holding a plank position until my arms feel like they're about to break:
- This floor is an interesting blend of black with blue specks.
- Dang this is hard.
- Think about the floor, yes the floor. Germs on the floor! I bet there are a lot of germs on this floor. Okay don't think about the floor.
- Dang my arms are getting tired...they are starting to shake. Okay, don't think about your arms.
- The meaning of life. Concentrate on the meaning of life. Nope too complicated, all my energy is going to holding myself up...deep thought must come later.
- Oh, my abs hurt. I don't know how much longer I can do this.
- Okay, you got this. Just look over at someone else. Look at Lakshmi over there.
- Bad idea! Looking at her struggling reminds me I'm struggling.
- Okay...think of a happy place. Think of shopping. Yes, there you go. Mentally cruise through your favorite stores, you have a wad of cash in your hand, think of all of those new clothes hanging on the rack, waiting to be bought.
- It's getting to be time to buy new stuff...everything is getting too big.
- Oh my arms!
- Dang, how much longer are we going to be doing this.
- Shopping...retail therapy.
- My hands on the floor are a weird combo of white and hot pink.
- My arms are shaking. Seriously when are they gonna call time?
- I don't think I can make it.
- I am going to give up.
- I can't give up!
- My arms are numb.
- Yay! Time's up! Now I can....
Monday, September 5, 2011
Better Than a Spa Treatment
An added bonus of losing weight...looking and feeling younger! That's something any girl in her 30's can appreciate!
It's a better than any spa treatment or anything out of a jar!
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| Before |
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| Current |
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Fear
I have always been a scaredy cat...this is no newsflash to anyone who knows me well. As a kid, my mom had to string garlic up in my window after I accidentally saw a vampire movie. Our poor family dog (who hated me by the way) was commissioned every night to sit by the foot of my bed (her mortal enemy) to keep away the boogie man who I was convinced had taken up residency in my closet. Once my poor mother had to actually drag me into the doctor's office because I knew a shot was coming...and one thing I feared most was pain.
Fast forward to present day and a year ago I found myself to be a full-on germaphobe who always had not only hand sanitizer but a purse-sized can of Lysol spray on her person at all times. I'm always finding new, wonderful changes that have occurred in this year of my journey, and the fact that I've been released from the fear of germs and the fear of pain (well, everyday, run of the mill pain) is something I'm just now realizing.
First up, the germs. If you're going to spend any significant amount of time in a gym and a locker room, you quickly have to get over a fear of germs. They're everywhere from various and assorted sweaty body parts, and while you have to be practical about washing your hands, you can't be spraying Lysol around every 30 seconds. I knew I was getting over my fear on the day that Marisa and I had taken a long, hot walk outside and literally collapsed onto mats in the gym upon our return. I didn't care who or what had previously occupied that mat, I was just grateful to lay down in the a.c. Since then, my hand sanitizer consumption is much less and you know what? I've had a lot less colds and viruses.
Next, the pain. If you put your body through what I do every day, something is going to hurt. In fact, if I'm not sore by the end of the week, I feel disappointed. Sore muscles have become my badge of honor, and if I don't have them I feel I haven't done anything. Something, whether it's my muscles or the place on my foot that screams every time I run, is always hurting...you just have to push past the pain and conquer it. Waiting around for perfect conditions is futile.
I'm still a weenie about a lot of things, but becoming stronger in fortitude was something I didn't expect from this venture.
Fast forward to present day and a year ago I found myself to be a full-on germaphobe who always had not only hand sanitizer but a purse-sized can of Lysol spray on her person at all times. I'm always finding new, wonderful changes that have occurred in this year of my journey, and the fact that I've been released from the fear of germs and the fear of pain (well, everyday, run of the mill pain) is something I'm just now realizing.
First up, the germs. If you're going to spend any significant amount of time in a gym and a locker room, you quickly have to get over a fear of germs. They're everywhere from various and assorted sweaty body parts, and while you have to be practical about washing your hands, you can't be spraying Lysol around every 30 seconds. I knew I was getting over my fear on the day that Marisa and I had taken a long, hot walk outside and literally collapsed onto mats in the gym upon our return. I didn't care who or what had previously occupied that mat, I was just grateful to lay down in the a.c. Since then, my hand sanitizer consumption is much less and you know what? I've had a lot less colds and viruses.
Next, the pain. If you put your body through what I do every day, something is going to hurt. In fact, if I'm not sore by the end of the week, I feel disappointed. Sore muscles have become my badge of honor, and if I don't have them I feel I haven't done anything. Something, whether it's my muscles or the place on my foot that screams every time I run, is always hurting...you just have to push past the pain and conquer it. Waiting around for perfect conditions is futile.
I'm still a weenie about a lot of things, but becoming stronger in fortitude was something I didn't expect from this venture.
Friday, September 2, 2011
A Challenging Friday
I was faced today with the usual two challenges, exercise and diet, but in much stronger degrees. Challenge one came when I went out to lunch with my family at a wonderful restaurant situated along the Cape Fear river. All week I've been eating clean, but I'd been to this restaurant many times before and had already worked out my battle plan of what I was going to order. No problems then right?
Wrong. My grilled tuna and side salad came out just delightful, but also along for the ride was an old tempting enemy:
There they were, french fries, in all their crispy, salty deliciousness. Let me say this: I love french fries. Back in the bad old days, they were a normal staple in my diet, and today they called to me. Since I've changed my ways, I've been in this situation before and how I avoided temptation was to simply sweep them off of my plate onto another plate and move that other plate as far across the table as I could get it. Today I felt I was strong enough to avoid them. I resolved to go through the whole meal eating only my tuna and salad, with one of my biggest temptations there in front of me, and not eat a single one. I guess I was testing myself, and here's how it turned out:
Tuna gone. Salad gone. Every fry still intact. Jenn: 1. Fries: 0.
The day's challenges were not over yet. Because of the holiday weekend, work was letting out at 3pm. Because I went out to lunch, I was faced with working out after work, alone with my music as everyone else was beating quick tracks out of there. Motivation was waning. Enter Lakshmi. My wonderful friend agreed to join me in the gym and said I was motivating her to go as well.
However, at 3 when I went to her office to gather her up for our workout, I could tell her desire to exercise was fading. So was mine. I was ready to get out of there and let the weekend begin. Sinking down into a chair in her office, I said, "Laks, I don't want to do this." She grimaced and said, "I don't either." We looked at each other like two kids contemplating skipping school.
Then I said, "We need to go. Come on let's get it done." She agreed and said, "We are in training. We can't skip." Together, we went to the gym and got things done. Because that's whatcha gotta do to get results.
Wrong. My grilled tuna and side salad came out just delightful, but also along for the ride was an old tempting enemy:
The day's challenges were not over yet. Because of the holiday weekend, work was letting out at 3pm. Because I went out to lunch, I was faced with working out after work, alone with my music as everyone else was beating quick tracks out of there. Motivation was waning. Enter Lakshmi. My wonderful friend agreed to join me in the gym and said I was motivating her to go as well.
However, at 3 when I went to her office to gather her up for our workout, I could tell her desire to exercise was fading. So was mine. I was ready to get out of there and let the weekend begin. Sinking down into a chair in her office, I said, "Laks, I don't want to do this." She grimaced and said, "I don't either." We looked at each other like two kids contemplating skipping school.
Then I said, "We need to go. Come on let's get it done." She agreed and said, "We are in training. We can't skip." Together, we went to the gym and got things done. Because that's whatcha gotta do to get results.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Variety
The key to getting into working out is to keep things fresh and fun. I do something different every day, most of the time with my group. It's almost like I have a split personality when it comes to exercise because when I'm with my friends and/or my trainers, I'm into it and push myself harder. Alone, it becomes a chore and I don't want to do it and I tend to slack. In every attempt before this one, I'd start out on a mission to workout and lose weight, and I went at it alone...just me and my music or a book, doing the same old thing on the treadmill. It got old fast and sooner rather than later, I would quit. Sylvia used to call herself "the old grouch" in the gym back before our group got together, when she'd suffer through a workout on the elliptical with just her book for company. That she's found joy in exercising is directly linked to the formation of our Transformation team.
We've learned a lot of different exercise options and we keep it fresh everyday so we don't get bored. There's another added benefit to this: muscle confusion. After a while, if you eat the same things and do the same workouts, your body gets used to it and you quit seeing results.
Today it seemed like Jeff was inspired by the start of football season as he had us running sprints and doing this thing that I think was called a T-drill. All of us were feeling good from eating clean and we worked up a good sweat and had fun at the same time. The old saying goes, "variety is the spice of life." You don't want to eat the exact same thing everyday, or wear the exact same outfit. Same goes for a workout.
We've learned a lot of different exercise options and we keep it fresh everyday so we don't get bored. There's another added benefit to this: muscle confusion. After a while, if you eat the same things and do the same workouts, your body gets used to it and you quit seeing results.
Today it seemed like Jeff was inspired by the start of football season as he had us running sprints and doing this thing that I think was called a T-drill. All of us were feeling good from eating clean and we worked up a good sweat and had fun at the same time. The old saying goes, "variety is the spice of life." You don't want to eat the exact same thing everyday, or wear the exact same outfit. Same goes for a workout.
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