weightnolonger

I’ve never done yoga and I am a bit intrigued.   Tell me about yoga.

There is a Sunday class that would fit well into my schedule.  It is called Gentle Yoga and is described as follows:  Geared for those just starting out, recovering from injury or simply want a less intense approach to fitness yoga. We’ll hold some poses longer and enjoy an extended final relaxation. Options will be offered for a variety of poses.

Then there’s another class that would work.  It is called Fitness Yoga:  This non-purist yoga class is specifically designed for the mainstream fitness participant. We’ll integrate body and mind through yoga poses for total performance with focus on strength, conditioning and flexibility.

Should I wait until I’m more fit to try yoga? 

Curses, why am I only 5′1″?  LOL, j/k… While I’d like some extra height, I’m rather glad I’m not 7′11″.  At least I can *lose* weight.  Seriously, my BMI would be 20.9 if I was 7′11″…. yikes, I need to work on change!!!

But, I’m officially 40 lbs lighter now, so that means I’m on a new mission working toward 50.  :)  I love progress! 

Today was a GREAT day at Hydro.  I worked really hard and I’m feeling the burn.  No pain, no gain.  Pain = change.  So, I’m loving the soreness.  I’m feeling very positive about everything today.

OH, another great thing happened today.  Not only did someone notice my loss - someone who didn’t know I was trying… but when I put on my swimsuit for Hydro, it was kinda loose.  I reached for something, and the strap fell off my shoulder!  This is extra cool because I had a swimsuit that was kinda small.  I started working out and it fit better.  Then it got kinda big, and so I bought this swimsuit in a smaller size.  NOW THIS ONE IS GETTING TOO BIG TOO!  :)  Yay for change!  I’ve gotta try and find a smaller one soon - it’ll be hard to find a suit in December, but I’ll need one all winter for Hydro.  And I can’t have another “wardrobe malfunction” at the gym or people are going to start talking… rofl

Hope everyone is having a great week.  Stay strong!

Yes, you read that right.  

Picture it for a moment.   Me.  Scared to try a new class.   Especially a Latin Fusion dance class, with my oversized butt trying desperately to shake my hips.  Especially since I have no rhythm.  And I’m still sore from previous workouts.  But I’m motivated and driven to bring about change.  And so, I bravely forge ahead into the unknown.

I scrutinize my wardrobe, not knowing what to wear.  I pick out something and husband approves - black workout shorts and a blue top.  Secretly, I’m fashioning hot pink sports bra and panties beneath it all.  It makes me feel energetic… and girly… and ready for this my first class!

I stride into the gym confidently, grab a water, and secure my bag in my locker.  Then head up to the studio.  It’s a pretty big class, but not everyone is ‘in shape’ so I’m feeling ok about it.  I scope it out for a minute before entering the studio, and decide to press onward.  I take a spot at the very back left corner.  Mirrors abound, but I try not to catch my own awkward image.

The music begins and I give it my all.  Shaking and thrusting those bumbling hips.  Trying to learn the steps.  I am confident and do not give up despite my two clumsy left feet.  The clock ticks slowly but I persist inelegantly.  Sweat drips.  Tick. Tick. Tick.  Turn, spin, face left, face right.  Mamba, cha cha… I don’t know the difference, but I think I’m making the effort.  60 full minutes.

I’m exhausted, but proud of my graceless performance.  I did it.  I wasn’t intimidated.  I worked hard.  Burned Calories.  Kicked butt - again today!  I’m on top of the world, now that it is over.  I rush down to the locker room as quickly as my weary legs can take me, which is comparable to a snail’s pace.  I gulp down 30 oz of water to rehydrate myself, and just chill for about 10 min before heading back out the door and to the car.

Blasting the A/C and the radio, I slowly cruise home.  I’m still unsure if I want to add this class to my weekly routine, and I’m reviewing it all in my head.  I arrive at home and review the experience with my husband and friend.  It wasn’t THAT bad.  All is well, maybe I’ll go once a week just to ’shake things up’.  Haha… pun intended.

 Suddenly I realize I’m hungry and go to grab a banana.  I walk toward the kitchen and my husband says.  “You didn’t wear those shorts to class, did you?”  I stop in my tracks.  What does this mean?  What’s wrong with my shorts.  That’s when he tells me there is a 2″ rip down the seam in the back and my glowing pink panties are there for all the world to see.

I relive it all in my head.  Picture it with me once more.  Shaking and thrusting those bumbling hips.  The clock ticks slowly but I persist inelegantly.  Sweat drips.  Tick. Tick. Tick.  Turn, spin, face left, face right.  Mamba, cha cha… ALL OF IT WITH A GAPING HOLE IN MY SHORTS AND PINK PANTIES EXPOSED!!!

Tell me your workout was worse than THAT!!!!

I have completed exactly 4 60-min Hydro classes as of today, in 7 days. That is pretty darn good for my first week, I think. Taking a class has given me new energy and added motivation. I keep hearing Trainer Randi’s words in my head. “Feel the burn - that’s change. Do you want change? Yeah, you do! Now go get it! Can you do it? Yes or Yes? You can have anything you want, but you gotta work for it. Let’s work!” etc. Her positive motivation has helped me realize that I CAN push through it, I CAN work harder, I WON’T give up, I CAN DO THIS!

In my last blog I said I’d do better. And I DID! This morning I went to Hydro at 8:30, and after a 60-min workout, I dried off and went upstairs to do Cardio on my own, wet hair and all. I did an additional 20 min on the bike and 15 min on the Arc Trainer, then I did 100 crunches at 80-lbs. I feel really GREAT about the work I did this morning… GREAT! I might even go back to the gym with my husband and son this evening! GO ME! I CAN DO THIS! I WANT CHANGE!

After all of that, I was feeling a bit famished and my husband wanted to go out to lunch. We went to a new grill place and I had salad, 1/2 a grilled chicken breast, a couple bites of mashed potatoes (no gravy or anything) and (confession time) 2 onion rings (but only 2!). Overall, I felt I made pretty good choices.

I also talked to someone else who is overweight like me, probably in about the same range, about some of the other classes and got some tips. If she can do them, so can I. She didn’t feel intimidated or anything, so it has given me motivation to try some new classes. I *really* want to try Intro Kickboxing, if I can work it into my schedule. I’m feeling so energized and motivated… I REALLY WANT CHANGE!

Oh, and I peeked at the scale today before class, since tomorrow night is my official weigh-in. I was down 2.5 lbs so far this week. With a good day today and tomorrow, I might lose a little more. I was hoping to get in the 260’s this week, and the scale was undecided as to whether I was at 269 lb and 14 oz, or 270-even. Just a little extra work and I know I can weigh-in under 270 after this week. I’m happy, happy, happy!!!

I have not seen my in-laws since May.  They are traveling in an RV and will not make it down here again until March.  We hadn’t gotten on board with the weight loss thing until after they left, and we made a decision not to tell them anything about it - just surprise them with a new us when they return next year.  HOPEFULLY, by then, it will be a big enough difference for them to notice… lol.

 So far, I’ve lost 35 lbs. in three months.  I have 6 more months until they return, approximately.  Therefore, if I’m able to maintain the same pace, I could potentially have lost 100 lbs by the time they make it back our way!!!!  How cool is that???

 That should DEFINITELY be a noticeable change!  Now, I just gotta stay ON the bandwagon and keep working hard til March… and DO NOT at any cost let the holidays foil my plan!!! 

I can’t wait to see their faces!

I finally did it! I was nervous for a long time, but I finally sucked it up and worked up the courage to go to this class at the gym. It was SO FUN! It was perfect - hard, but not too hard. The instructor was fun and motivating, and not critical. All the things I was worried about - were a breeze. Sure I had to wear a swimsuit, but I got a pair of shorts to wear with it and it wasn’t that big of a deal… hardly anybody really looked superfit in their swimsuits anyway.

It’s basically like water aerobics. You have water dumbells and bands to stretch while moving underwater, and you do a lot of strength training. It was a one-hour class.

I am so glad I went, and I’m planning to try and make it twice a week now. I really used some muscles that I haven’t been working so much too, so that’s great!

I can’t tell you how much I *love* my gym membership.

I  did my  usual workout last night - 15 min on the bike, 10 min on the Arc Trainer, 5 min on the other style bike.  Then I went and worked out my legs on the machines.  I was going to do crunches, but the machine was occupied forever by the wonder-crunch team who took turns doing crunches until they were nearly in tears.  I gave up, with their abs of steel it didn’t look they were ever going to quit.  LOL!

Anyway, 10 min on the Arc Trainer was still a challenge, but it was a bit easier this time.  I made it through allright at a good pace.  I can feel some soreness/tightness in my legs today, but just a tad.  I’m not hobbling around.  So, I’m making progress!  I love the Arc Trainer because it burns so many more calories than the bike - yay!

Tomorrow morning will be my first day of Hydro Training, aka water aerobics.  I’m excited about that, and a little nervous too.  Then, I may try to squeeze in some cardio afterwards, depending on how I feel.  Tomorrow night is a fun-filled Casino Night for me… not a real casino, just an employee appreciation event with our spouses with casino games and prizes.  They’ll be serving dinner and dessert too, and I have no clue what will be on the menu.  I sure hope it isn’t tooooo bad!

 Oh, I also thought I’d post my Before/After pictures so far.  I took an after pic in the same dress.  I hope you can tell the difference 35 lbs has made.  I just threw on the dress with no makeup and wild hair before heading to the gym, so please don’t mind my sloppiness.

I can’t wait to update this even further as I continue to lose.  I want to see more drastic changes!!! 

I wasn’t supposed to weigh in today.  I’ve gotten in the habit of doing it daily and obsessing over it, and I’d rather wait and see one big drop (hopefully) at the end of the week.  But I weighed in today, just the same as I did yesterday and the day before.

 Yesterday I was at 273 lb 14 oz… just barely sliding in under 274.  I decided not to count it yet and hold out before entering it on my tracker.  But today I was down to 273 lb 2 oz, and I couldn’t wait any longer.  THAT IS 35 LBS LOST in roughly 3 months so far!!!  Things are going so well.  I’m going to add a Hydro Training class (water aerobics) to my schedule soon too.

 I am doing a bit of a happy dance at that progress tonight.  Today I wore a skirt that I had never worn because I bought it and didn’t like the way it fit (very tight on my butt).  Today, it was fine.  Tonight at the gym, one of the workers there said “you have been doing so well - you are here almost every night working hard!”  That made me feel good, too.  I’m finding motivation everywhere today.