Third Week

This week the Flu Bug hit our house. Which means that all 5 of us had a sick day. My 8 year old took Sunday. My 6 year old and 2 year old shared Monday. My day was Tuesday. Wednesday I was still in recovery mode. Thursday evening my hubby began his round and ended it Friday evening. So, I went to the gym on Monday, then did 2 classes on Thursday. Wednesday, even though I was not feeling well, I took my oldest kids to a corn maze and wandered around for a while. On Friday evening I went to the gym and did 45 minutes on the elliptical. So I still did 3 days, and one of those days I did 2 classes to make up for missing one earlier that week. Not bad for a week of sickies. Right? Have you ever noticed that men don't handle the flu quite as well as women do? Is that only at my house? When I was sick, I emptied my own bowl, still managed to get the kids lunches packed, back packs ready and kids out the door. My husband laid in bed and asked me to empty his bowl each time he got sick. Under normal circumstances, my husband doesn't mind helping around the house...but when he's in charge of the whole day, well, it turns out he DOES mind. It was a LONG week. Incidentally, it turns out that the flu offers some pretty quick weight loss. 5 lbs in 24 hours. Not bad. Also not permanent and certainly not the way to do it. I don't recommend it. Fortunately THIS week has already started off better. I even talked my hubby into joining me for circuit training. It's fun to exercise with a buddy....and for me, it was even better that it was my hubby.

Second week done

Okay, so remember in my last post, just one week ago, I mentioned that it takes 12 weeks to see a difference? And I sort of naively inferred that I would STILL be stepping on the scale (daily) just to check-in? Well, I have ben doing it. And after 2 weeks I can tell you that the scale isn't budging. I *KNOW* I am working hard. I confess that I haven't changed my eating habits. BUT, I figured I'm working out and burning massive amounts of calories 5 times a week and DARN IT if I didn't expect to see some sort of drop on that scale. It is SO hard not to get frustrated. I even did 2 extra classes this week. I mean...come ON! What's a girl gotta do? Okay. That's not a fair question. If I were to alter my diet on top of this increase in calorie burning, I'm sure I would see the number on the scale begin to drop. Anyway, despite the lack of decrease, I am still going to keep getting up every morning and going to these classes. I tried a "pump it" class this week (one of my new "extra" classes). It was 45 minutes of weights using a barbell and hand weights but working your whole body. Most of me is just a touch tender but my pectorals are KILLING me. A good sign. Sore muscles. This coming week I am hoping to make it to a spin class. Shudder. I don't like to bike. That little teeny tiny seat just doesn't do it for me. But, it looks like a good calorie burn...and my husband wants to go. (Just what I need, to work out next to my incredibly healthy skinny husband...who just happens to be a cyclist.)

One of the positive side effects of this exercise thing is that I have no problem falling asleep at night. If I would just get off the computer and close my eyes, that is. So I'm going to do that now and probably dream about working out. 'Cause that's what I do now. I even workout in my sleep. Ridiculous.

One week

I read an article the other day written by a collaboration of nutritionist and personal trainers. It was full of advice and answers to health questions. Most of it I already knew. But there was one questions inquiring about how soon you should see results. The answer shocked me. I figured 4 weeks and you should be able to tell that you've been busting your tail...at least a LITTLE something, right? Do you know how long before you see results? 12 WEEKS! That's right, TWELVE freaking weeks. Is it any wonder that I usually only make it 6 weeks before I get frustrated and give up? So I'm committed to 12 weeks. I'm going to try to do some sort of cardio and/or weight training at least 5 days a week. I'm one week down. I missed going to the gym on Friday this week and I generally try to take Sunday off (I don't consider 50 sit-ups before bed a violation of that). So I made it. 5 days of classes at the gym. My favorite class was offered on Thursday and Saturday. It was a quad-step aerobics class...the last 20 minutes of the class the instructor pushed us to do 6 steps. Awesome. Exhausting. Totally worth it.

Now, despite my new found knowledge (remember, 12 weeks) I still find myself stepping on the scale every morning hoping that I'm the exception. Why? I don't know. Maybe just to torture myself....maybe because I find it difficult to believe that one can work so hard and NOT see some sort of result. It just doesn't seem fair. (I know, I know. LIFE isn't FAIR. Does this statement make you want to stick out your tongue as well?) So, another 11 weeks to go. I expect to see results...and I'll probably still step on the scale every single morning....because I'm just that kind of person right now.

Short and Sweet....

I joined a gym on Saturday. On Monday I tried a "circuit training" class that had me sucking wind and thinking that I might black-out at any time. (I'm trying it again on Wednesday.) Today I did step aerobics. LOVE IT. Looking forward to trying more classes. I was a step class master about 10 years ago (pre-babies) and foolishly thought I could just jump right in at my old level. I now know differently. I'm back a square one EXCEPT that I still know some of the steps so I can enjoy the workout and not get too frustrated trying to figure it all out. Fun stuff, I tell ya. Looking forward to a QUAD-STEP on Thursday morning. It's gonna be awesome. I've decided to become a gym junky. :)

A few words . . .

It is me, Tracey.

I ran last week.

I ran last night.

I might run again tonight.

I'm back on Week 1

Just thought you'd like to know. :)

Sunday check-in

What did you do this week? For yourself. Not for your family (although they certainly matter). But did you take some time this week just for you? I hope so. If not, we're starting a new week and you have another opportunity (or many) to make sure you get in some YOU time. This past week, I took some ME time to exercise, read, shop and eat. Time by myself, or with a friend or family member that uplift me and remind me that I'm not just a dishwashing, lunch making, house cleaning, homework general (toss in some laundry too, while we're at it). I went running. I discovered that Comcast Cable offers "on demand exercise". Awesome! I can pick 10 minute, 20 minute, etc workouts. I can choose to target just one area. I can even meditate. Thank you Comcast. I told my husband I was gonna do the "sexy legs" workout. He was supportive. :) Then I found the "bootylicious" workout. Not for me. But, I gave it a try. I've mentioned that I'm open to trying new forms or exercise these days, and I thought that was a perfect example of trying something I normal wouldn't. Anyway, something I did worked though 'cause I have some achy muscles...and I LOVE that feeling. Mostly because I know what it means....and I like it. I'm looking forward to finding more "me" moments this week. Even if it is just 10 minutes of "on demand exercise".

The triumphant return

HI. Yep, it's me. I'm back...and I'm not offering any excuses for my absence. I confess that I have a mixed bag of emotions right now. A touch of shame, a bit of embarrassment, a lot of disappointment, and maybe a pinch of sheepishness all combine to create a big messy recipe for discouragement. A little over a year ago I committed to running a half marathon...13 miles...by Labor Day of 2010. My determination held out for a while. And although I have some great explanations (note: I did not say "Excuses") for my dwindling commitment, I have to own up to the fact that I simply didn't do it. I didn't REALLY think I could do it. I was not convinced. And to prove it, I failed. But, there is redemption. Thank goodness. I'm not going to commit to a half marathon. I might not commit to anything, to be honest. I'm at a very special "place" in my life right now. I just moved my family all the way across the country (East Coast to the West Coast) for 1 YEAR. I have dreams of returning to the East Coast svelte, healthy, and rockin' a "new me" body. I haven't set a weight loss goal or a real solid fitness goal. I just have a vision of the person I would like to (and realistically can) be. Anything that gets me closer to THAT person, is going to be an accomplishment.

So today I went running. That's right. I laced back up my running shoes and jumped on the treadmill. The whole time I was running, I was thinking about THIS blog. And feeling ashamed about the fact that I haven't kept it up....or accomplished the original goal....and I was almost too embarrassed to post anything today. But then I thought, I'm certainly NOT the only one out there like this. I have too many friends who talk about running and/or getting healthy....give it a go...and then, for whatever reason, they stop and get distracted from their goal. Why is that? I don't know. For me, it is the slowness of the process. I get so discouraged when I eat well and exercise regularly and DON'T loose weight or see results OR even worse, when I gain weigh. I know, everyone says, "...muscle weighs more then fat". Whatever. I find myself thinking that if all this work isn't going to pay off, then I'm not going to do it! Probably not the best approach, right? Maybe my muscles are trading places with my fat cells, but the scale doesn't seem to be paying attention to that and despite all of my study and understanding and education, the number of the scale DOES matter. I can't get away from that. I'm not that person. For me, the number of the scale indicates progress. So, I want a lower number. That's my goal: a lower number. I don't know how low that number is going to get, but I have a general idea. For now, LOWER is as good as it's gonna get in the goal setting department. Simple. Sweet. Brief.

Oh, and just so you know....I am going to keep running. And maybe I'll run in some sort of race sometime. I'm sure I'll blog about it, if I do. I'm also gonna try some funky new classes....who knows, maybe belly dancing, zumba, or hot yoga will inspire me. If you've tried something and LOVED it, by all means, share. I'm sure I will. Let's be triumphant together.