Most of us don't have the luxury of living on a ranch, isolated with trainers and personal chefs, and hours at our disposal to workout. Most of us have a full-time jobs that are something other than working on our weight loss. I've heard from so many people that their biggest challenge is not the willpower, but finding the time to get to the gym. We're so fortunate at my work to have a full-size gym right downstairs for us to use. It eliminates a lot of factors that would normally give us an an excuse not to work out. I remember back in the bad old days when I worked elsewhere and held a membership at Golds. I would drive past the parking lot, and think, "Whoops, no parking spots, guess I'm not working out today," and be about my merry unhealthy way. "Whoops, it's raining, guess I can't work out." Or, "oh man, it's Tuesday. Guess I'm not working out."
These days I don't let anything get in my way. That being said, finding time to get to the gym today was tough. It was only nine floors down, but it might have been two miles down the street for the amount of work I had to get accomplished. I found myself working though lunch and not shutting my computer down until 6:30. I live about an hour away from work, so I was itching to get on the road. I always exercise in the middle of the day instead of taking lunch because I know my motivation to do it after work is next to none.
But, I knew that I needed to get it done, so I drug myself down there despite having minimal desire to do so. I even almost turned around when I got halfway to the locker room. It would have been easy. None of my gym buddies were there or my trainers. There were probably four people in the gym, including myself. The locker room - usually a hive of hairspray, girl talk, and laughter - was quiet as a tomb. Boo.
Deciding to get on with things, I changed clothes, cranked up my music and got my workout done. Someone had left behind a Glamour magazine with some interesting articles, and that helped too. I must have been in my own little world, because when I got off of the bike, I looked around and for the first time in my life I found myself totally alone in the gym.
Weird. I wasn't sure I liked it. Then I realized, I am totally alone in this gym, I can do anything I want. It turned out to be awesome. No waiting for equipment. No worries about looking ridiculous when trying new exercises like the Perfect Push-up paddles I see the guys using - yep, I can do them. No feeling self-conscious about how silly I feel when I run, which if you're a fan of the show "Friends" looks a lot like Phoebe in the episode "The One Where Phoebe Runs." And I could sing along to my music as loud as I wanted. All in all, not a bad time. I still prefer to have my buddies with me, but tonight I proved to myself that I have the motivation to get things done, even when everything told me to forget it and go home.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Gauntlet Part Dos
If you read my blog you may recall a post entitled "The Gauntlet." If you don't remember it, here's a link: The Gauntlet. Today was my first workout back with Jeff and with the new team. Before we split off into two teams, Jeff and Marisa gathered all of us together for a meeting to get everyone on board for the last sixty days of our program. They asked us, besides the obvious benefit of losing pounds, what was better in our lives because of this program?
"Being able to move" was a popular answer around the room as well as "getting strong. " Also was "the knowledge of what is healthy and what is not when it comes to food." "The ability to resist the chips." Roy said. When it was my turn, I felt like I could go on and on but in summary I said, "There is not one aspect of my life that is not better because of this." Frank also summed it up with, "I just feel better!"
After our meeting we split up into two groups and Jeff led us over to the ellipticals. I knew he was going to get us good today. I fully expected a hard workout. I was prepared to go the distance. What I wasn't prepared for was...the gauntlet part two.
Do you ever watch horror movies where the carefree teenage babysitter has just put the kids to bed and has gotten on the phone with her friends, chatting and laughing away, totally unaware that Jason or Michael Meyers or that hooded guy from Scream is just outside, lurking in the bushes, preparing to bust in the windows and rip her to shreds? Follow that analogy on into the gym today. There I was, gliding along on the elliptical, chatting and laughing away with Sylvia on one side and Dana on the other, when here comes Jeff, armed with his gauntlet workout, preparing to rip me to shreds. Well at least my muscles that is.
Oh it was on today! Its only been several hours ago, but I can't even remember the sequence of speeds, times, and levels he put us through, all I know is that he would call out a speed and a resistance level and we would do it for however long he told us. It was probably one of the toughest cardio workouts I've ever done. I simultaneously wanted to throw up, call for Jesus, and cry, but I made it through it. The funniest thing of the day happened at one point; Dana started singing that old song from the tournament scene of Karate Kid, "You're the best around, nothings gonna ever keep you down...." I almost fell off of my machine, for several reasons.
Yes, Jeff channeled his inner Cobra Kai, because we weren't done yet. Again, can't remember how many rotations or how long each rotation was, but we had to hold ourselves in plank position until I felt like my arms were going to break, then stand up and hold a static squat until my legs felt like they were going to collapse underneath me. And then go right back into plank, then right back into static squats, and then again and maybe even again. Can't remember, it's all a blur of ragged breathes and quivering muscles and sweat that dripped off of me to puddle on the floor.
All in all: one awesome workout. I survived the gauntlet again...and went on to do 30 more minutes of cardio with Sylvia afterward.
"Being able to move" was a popular answer around the room as well as "getting strong. " Also was "the knowledge of what is healthy and what is not when it comes to food." "The ability to resist the chips." Roy said. When it was my turn, I felt like I could go on and on but in summary I said, "There is not one aspect of my life that is not better because of this." Frank also summed it up with, "I just feel better!"
After our meeting we split up into two groups and Jeff led us over to the ellipticals. I knew he was going to get us good today. I fully expected a hard workout. I was prepared to go the distance. What I wasn't prepared for was...the gauntlet part two.
Do you ever watch horror movies where the carefree teenage babysitter has just put the kids to bed and has gotten on the phone with her friends, chatting and laughing away, totally unaware that Jason or Michael Meyers or that hooded guy from Scream is just outside, lurking in the bushes, preparing to bust in the windows and rip her to shreds? Follow that analogy on into the gym today. There I was, gliding along on the elliptical, chatting and laughing away with Sylvia on one side and Dana on the other, when here comes Jeff, armed with his gauntlet workout, preparing to rip me to shreds. Well at least my muscles that is.
Oh it was on today! Its only been several hours ago, but I can't even remember the sequence of speeds, times, and levels he put us through, all I know is that he would call out a speed and a resistance level and we would do it for however long he told us. It was probably one of the toughest cardio workouts I've ever done. I simultaneously wanted to throw up, call for Jesus, and cry, but I made it through it. The funniest thing of the day happened at one point; Dana started singing that old song from the tournament scene of Karate Kid, "You're the best around, nothings gonna ever keep you down...." I almost fell off of my machine, for several reasons.
Yes, Jeff channeled his inner Cobra Kai, because we weren't done yet. Again, can't remember how many rotations or how long each rotation was, but we had to hold ourselves in plank position until I felt like my arms were going to break, then stand up and hold a static squat until my legs felt like they were going to collapse underneath me. And then go right back into plank, then right back into static squats, and then again and maybe even again. Can't remember, it's all a blur of ragged breathes and quivering muscles and sweat that dripped off of me to puddle on the floor.
All in all: one awesome workout. I survived the gauntlet again...and went on to do 30 more minutes of cardio with Sylvia afterward.
Monday, July 11, 2011
We Go Girls!
The results of the battle of the sexes are in and....Team Reesy (the girls) won the challenge!!! It was by a three pound margin, but we still emerged the victors! Thank you so much to all the wonderful ladies on the team and to our fearless leader, Marisa. I know that we have developed friendships for life. You have all given me so much encouragement and drive. We've laughed together, sweated together, and cried together. We've cheered each other on and helped each other up. When I didn't think I could go on, you all stood around me in a circle and told me I could. You helped me dig down deep and find the strength I needed to persevere. You allowed me to bare my soul and my deepest fears in front of you with no shame. We all come from different demographics and walks of life, but together in this, we are sisters.
For this next and last phase of our transformation year, Jeff and Marisa put all the names (guys and girls) into a hat a drew for teams. I'm on Team Jeff along with Dana, Roy, Sylvia, Laks, and George. It's a fun group and I'm looking forward to the next three months. I had a long talk with Jeff to determine goals and our mission for this phase. We are basically going to go all out, push harder than we have before. I'm ready. I've been coasting on this plateau for the past two months (but hey, maintaining "ain't" gaining) and it's time to kick it into high gear, and I now have the self confidence to know that I can do it.
For this next and last phase of our transformation year, Jeff and Marisa put all the names (guys and girls) into a hat a drew for teams. I'm on Team Jeff along with Dana, Roy, Sylvia, Laks, and George. It's a fun group and I'm looking forward to the next three months. I had a long talk with Jeff to determine goals and our mission for this phase. We are basically going to go all out, push harder than we have before. I'm ready. I've been coasting on this plateau for the past two months (but hey, maintaining "ain't" gaining) and it's time to kick it into high gear, and I now have the self confidence to know that I can do it.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
No Ma'am.
I was raised in the South and taught always to have nice manners and to be polite. Southern girls don't say something untoward without blessing someone's heart first. Southern girls say "please" and "thank you" and always "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am." I'm down with all of that but what happens when you've said "no thank you, but I appreciate it" to the bearer of homemade lemon pie, but the baker is persistent?
As Southerners, we always want to be hospitable to our guests and offer them refreshments. As proud cooks, we always want to have our cullinary masterpieces appreciated and complimented. So what happens when you're trying so hard to get off of a plateau, your resolve is weak, and you're in a polite face-off with a hostess who just insists that you try a piece of their mouth watering lemon pie that is famous in three counties? You politely decline saying, "I'm sure it is so good, but I have to get on the scale on Thursday. I know I'm missing out!" Then she says, "Oh, but you have to have some! I'll get you a small slice!" And then she returns with a big whoppin' slice that's falling all over the plate, probably is around 600 calories, and if eaten, means you'll have to skip dinner and possibly breakfast and lunch the next day too.What does one do in this situation?
I'm sure this happens everywhere, not just in the South. I don't understand why folks who know you're dieting insist on forcing high calorie treats on you. Don't they understand what a thin ledge you're teetering on anyway? Do they not know about that false theory we subscribe to from time to time that tells us, "well I've eaten this slice of pie so I might as well have pizza for dinner, since I've screwed up this much"? It might just be a piece of pie to them, but it could mean the beginning of the bad food spiral for you.
These folks don't have mean intentions, they just don't understand how when you're on a journey such as mine, you have to stay strong. You can't decide to give yourself a treat every time the opportunity presents itself. You can't approach each meal like it's the last time you might have a chance to have pie or a side of fries. That's how many of us get where we are. So, you have to learn to politely stand up for yourself and eventually folks will get the picture. Just make sure to add a "ma'am" to your "no thank you." : )
As Southerners, we always want to be hospitable to our guests and offer them refreshments. As proud cooks, we always want to have our cullinary masterpieces appreciated and complimented. So what happens when you're trying so hard to get off of a plateau, your resolve is weak, and you're in a polite face-off with a hostess who just insists that you try a piece of their mouth watering lemon pie that is famous in three counties? You politely decline saying, "I'm sure it is so good, but I have to get on the scale on Thursday. I know I'm missing out!" Then she says, "Oh, but you have to have some! I'll get you a small slice!" And then she returns with a big whoppin' slice that's falling all over the plate, probably is around 600 calories, and if eaten, means you'll have to skip dinner and possibly breakfast and lunch the next day too.What does one do in this situation?
I'm sure this happens everywhere, not just in the South. I don't understand why folks who know you're dieting insist on forcing high calorie treats on you. Don't they understand what a thin ledge you're teetering on anyway? Do they not know about that false theory we subscribe to from time to time that tells us, "well I've eaten this slice of pie so I might as well have pizza for dinner, since I've screwed up this much"? It might just be a piece of pie to them, but it could mean the beginning of the bad food spiral for you.
These folks don't have mean intentions, they just don't understand how when you're on a journey such as mine, you have to stay strong. You can't decide to give yourself a treat every time the opportunity presents itself. You can't approach each meal like it's the last time you might have a chance to have pie or a side of fries. That's how many of us get where we are. So, you have to learn to politely stand up for yourself and eventually folks will get the picture. Just make sure to add a "ma'am" to your "no thank you." : )
Friday, July 8, 2011
Do What You Like
If you are into working out regularly, you know the feeling that a great workout gives you. You feel revved up, exhilarated, giddy, and confident. On the flip side, if you feel like you didn't do your best, or your workout was just so so, you feel let down and unsettled. Today was the good kind for me. We had an awesome kick boxing class that is still making me feel great hours later.
I can keep up in pretty much any exercise class these days, but am by no means the best in the class. In step, I'm on the lowest riser. In Zumba I'm doing most of the moves, but my salsa step is very lacking. But in kick boxing, I feel right at home. Today Pam led us in some turning kick, jab-cross combos set to a fast paced play list that included the old school Mortal Kombat theme. I never missed a beat. I'd slurped down two iced coffees prior to class and I was amped and ready to go! My fists were flying, my feet were kicking, the bass was thumping, and I thought to myself, "I kick a&*! I have the eye of the tiger. I am a ninja."
In all seriousness, I'm no Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, but after class as I stretched out my muscles on a mat and slowed my heart rate down, I realized that when we find something we're good at, we like it, and when we like it, and get into it, we push ourselves harder and get better results. I don't know what it says about me that I love to fight so much, or that I've been excited ever since Millie's husband (a former dojo master) told me he could teach me to break a board with my hand, or that I have worn through my first set of pink Everlast gloves on the heavy bag at the gym, but whatever puts the fire in you, you should go with it. For Millie and Mary, learning to run and find their stride has done it for them. Sylvia excels at Step class. Lakshmi quickly found a love for Zumba. My thing is fighting I guess. Whatever it is that gets your blood pumping, like Nike says, "just do it."
I can keep up in pretty much any exercise class these days, but am by no means the best in the class. In step, I'm on the lowest riser. In Zumba I'm doing most of the moves, but my salsa step is very lacking. But in kick boxing, I feel right at home. Today Pam led us in some turning kick, jab-cross combos set to a fast paced play list that included the old school Mortal Kombat theme. I never missed a beat. I'd slurped down two iced coffees prior to class and I was amped and ready to go! My fists were flying, my feet were kicking, the bass was thumping, and I thought to myself, "I kick a&*! I have the eye of the tiger. I am a ninja."
In all seriousness, I'm no Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, but after class as I stretched out my muscles on a mat and slowed my heart rate down, I realized that when we find something we're good at, we like it, and when we like it, and get into it, we push ourselves harder and get better results. I don't know what it says about me that I love to fight so much, or that I've been excited ever since Millie's husband (a former dojo master) told me he could teach me to break a board with my hand, or that I have worn through my first set of pink Everlast gloves on the heavy bag at the gym, but whatever puts the fire in you, you should go with it. For Millie and Mary, learning to run and find their stride has done it for them. Sylvia excels at Step class. Lakshmi quickly found a love for Zumba. My thing is fighting I guess. Whatever it is that gets your blood pumping, like Nike says, "just do it."
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Pad Thai or Toned Thigh?
I've really been into the show Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition because it focuses on a year-long transformation, like my own weight loss program. I really study it closely and pay attention to the psychology behind everything because I've heard over and over, whether pertaining to running a marathon or breaking a board karate style, the body gives out long before the mind and the heart, and the majority of working out and dieting is mental.
It's interesting to me because they break the year up into four three month phases, and every one of the folks on the show has had a stumble around Phase Three, which is where myself and my team mates are currently. We've all had a bit of a stumble currently; some have plateaued and some have gained a little back. It made me feel less anxious about my plateau to see that show and know that it is very common.
Sylvia and I had a discussion today about pressing the "re-set" button and getting back down to business. We decided we're going to switch our food around, get strict, and go at this full force for Phase Four. Today together we did the treadmill, bike, elliptical, hit the punching bag, did squats, hammer curls and squat curl presses, and threw some leg presses in there for good measure. It really does bring home the transformation aspect into play when I realized how much knowledge we've gained from our trainers and the different mindset we have now than the two girls we used to be. A year ago our favorite thing to do together was to hit up the Thai restaurant near work for some chicken pad thai. Now our favorite thing to do is exchange some sweat and gossip every day down in the gym. Giving up pad thai for toned thigh, I'd definitely call that transformation!
It's interesting to me because they break the year up into four three month phases, and every one of the folks on the show has had a stumble around Phase Three, which is where myself and my team mates are currently. We've all had a bit of a stumble currently; some have plateaued and some have gained a little back. It made me feel less anxious about my plateau to see that show and know that it is very common.
Sylvia and I had a discussion today about pressing the "re-set" button and getting back down to business. We decided we're going to switch our food around, get strict, and go at this full force for Phase Four. Today together we did the treadmill, bike, elliptical, hit the punching bag, did squats, hammer curls and squat curl presses, and threw some leg presses in there for good measure. It really does bring home the transformation aspect into play when I realized how much knowledge we've gained from our trainers and the different mindset we have now than the two girls we used to be. A year ago our favorite thing to do together was to hit up the Thai restaurant near work for some chicken pad thai. Now our favorite thing to do is exchange some sweat and gossip every day down in the gym. Giving up pad thai for toned thigh, I'd definitely call that transformation!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Independence
We had a great weekend at the beach, celebrating the Fourth of July with family and friends. A friend from Atlanta, who I only see this time of year at the beach, is a photographer. As soon as he saw me this weekend, he handed me a picture that he took this time last year of me and said, "See how far you've come." As hard as it is to look at that picture and share it on my blog, I feel like I should, so here goes:
I am by no means finished with this journey. I have a long ways to go. This is the time when I need to not rest on how good I feel, but dig down deeper and push harder. On Independence Day I am declaring my freedom from old bad behaviors and the ways that created the person in that first picture. I am going to visualize these bad behaviors as chains that bound me up in an unhealthy body and held me back last year from the freedom to enjoy my life the way I do now, and the way I will even more so in the future.
It was cool to see how far I've come and made it a lot easier to resist that homemade chocolate cheesecake!
 | |
| Last July the Fourth, 2010 |
 |
| This Fourth of July, 2011 |
It was cool to see how far I've come and made it a lot easier to resist that homemade chocolate cheesecake!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)