This life is not a sprint

Sprints are running short distances as fast as you can.  Life and losing weight are more like cross country, going over bumps and dips and changing terrain, longer distances, and you have to be able to finish your race.  Cross country runners still sprint, but usually just at the end of the race.

When Runner Girl started cross country last year, she was so slow.  She would walk at least half the way in the beginning.  The coaches were worried about her finishing anything, but she learned to pace herself and be consistent, and she finished every race.  She owned her pace and finished each race at the same speed she'd started it, sometimes putting on a slight burst of speed for the last 100 feet or so.  She didn't love running at first, but she does miss it now.  She's anxious to get out and start training now, so I think we'll get out this week on whatever day it is randomly warm enough to do so.

As I watch my 8-1/2-month-old try to walk these days, I see the current day Runner Girl in her.  Bitty pulls herself to a stand and falls sometimes, but other times she stands there, chubby little legs wobbling, until she moves one foot and then the other, while holding onto the couch or a table, to get where she is trying to go.  When she gets to her goal, she will lower herself to the ground and happily keep playing.  Sometimes, she gets stuck under a table or at the corner of one, or on top of the mini trampoline.  She fusses a bit and then gets up and goes on her way again.

Baby steps ... pace yourself ... The two go hand in hand. 

When I go to the gym, if I start out at the heaviest weight I know I can lift (let's say toddler sized), I will wear out after a few reps.  But if I choose a smaller weight, I will tire out at 10 reps but be able to finish 3 sets, even if my muscles get shaky like Bitty's legs.  But the next time I go to the gym, I can lift a weight that is heavier than before and still do my sets with it. 

When I first started going to the gym, I could only handle going in two or three times a week.  If I went more, I burned out and fizzled.  When I was comfortable going 3 times, I increased my frequency.  Still working on getting there 6 days a week, but I do enjoy my time at the gym now, and I miss it when I can't get there. 

Along those same lines, when it comes to diet, I've had to take baby steps and pace myself there, too.  I'm slowly eliminating sugar and soda, and I've come to a point where I know it's just going to take time.  But I am making better food choices in general, eating more veggies and fruits and less fried stuff or fast food, so I choose not to berate myself if and when I have a soda or some chocolate.  I've tried making drastic, huge, overnight changes like they do on Biggest Loser, and I get burned out and give up.  I'll get to a point, and soon, where I can give those things up, and they are much easier to avoid on the days I get to the gym.  But for now, I'm taking lessons from my kids and pacing myself with baby steps and not sprints.

something a little different

I was pretty sick Monday and Tuesday but woke up feeling better yesterday.  Thank goodness.

I worked out with a different trainer last night.  (shhh, don't tell Carlos.)  Trying out a 2-week free trial with a different program, different moves, different trainers, different gym.

Now, there are more "normal" people at Gold's these days, probably more since the new year, but there were a lot of normal looking people at this other gym last night too.  Kind of refreshing.

This training program seems to focus more on functional strength training instead of basic curls and whatnot I've done off and on for a decade, with and without trainers.  I don't know a lot about it yet, but I do know I'm feeling it this morning.  Tonight I'll go to Gold's and do my cardio, then tomorrow back to the other gym (which is a lot farther away) for my next training session.


The baby is trying to walk these days, so I really need to be healthier and more energetic so I can keep up with not one, but two busy bodies.  So I keep working out, even when I don't necessarily feel like it.  I'm going to weigh in tonight at Gold's.  Not weighing in at all hasn't motivated me, so hopefully weighing in once a week will help.  Wish me luck.

so that hurts

I woke up just fine today but about halfway through the day, started having spasms again.  Icy Hot helped a tad, the husband massaged it a bit, but it is still killing me.

I went to the gym anyway and did a very short, light workout. Did a little arm work and brief (10 minutes) cardio.  I talked to Carlos about it.  He was glad I went anyway and took it easy, but it's still painful, so I'll alternate ice and heat tonight per his suggestions. 

I *think* I'm going to try Zumba tomorrow, but I'm not 100% sure I can go in the morning when it is, especially if my back is freaking out.  If I don't make it, I'm hitting it Monday, hopefully with Angela.  Wooo!

Doing it Anyway

When I woke up this morning, I was having some spasms in my lower back on the left side.  This has happened every few weeks since I had the baby.  Tried to take it easy today while still being the mommy, and that just doesn't work out so well.

I have a suspicion that my spasms are because my muscles have become so weak, both my back muscles and my core/abdominal muscles.  So instead of skipping the gym entirely today, I went in for a shorter, lighter workout. I did some back work and 15 minutes of cardio.

Believe it or not, things have loosened up a bit and I'm not in the pain I was in for much of the day.  I know that strengthening my core will go a long way toward helping my back pain as well, so I just keep going with baby steps. 

Baby steps ... pacing yourself ... building consistency.  I have a boxcar on this train of thought and will be sharing soon. 

Time off is bad for me

When Carlos and I were struggling to actually have our schedules connect in December and when I quit in January, I sort of let go.  I ate whatever I wanted and quit working out, and I knew I gained weight but didn't dare step on the scale.  The last couple of weeks again have been harder to get to the gym, and when I'm not there 4 or 5 days a week, I sort of just ... fail.  Eat whatever and don't move much. 

Now, I know I lost some inches while working out with Carlos in January because my yoga pants got a bit baggy.  They still are, which is awesome.  But I know I have to hit the gym and eat much better than I tend to when I'm not at the gym.  And while a pound of muscle does not weigh more than a pound of fat, it is true that the pound of muscle is smaller than the fat.  I can definitely tell a difference in my muscle tone, especially in my thighs and upper arms.  So I know I've gained some muscle and shed some fat because of how my clothes are fitting (or not fitting as the case may be).  So when I stepped on the scale last night at the gym and was 2 pounds heavier than I was in November, I gave myself a pep talk and am trying not to focus on that number on the scale. 

The struggle is making the good choices every day, and making sure I remember that I am worth spending the time on myself at the gym.  Even though the kids are my priority, I can't take care of them if I'm dead.  Which is why I will be going to the gym early again tonight and then going to SEPs at Runner Girl's school, and I will take the baby if she stays up late again.  So, yay for a plan.  Now to make a plan for dinner in the middle of the craziness!  I think I'll go throw some chicken in the crock pot.

Chest and Shoulders

That's what I worked out tonight.  I'm a bit noodle-y feeling now. 

Bitty took a late nap and I knew if I didn't go to the gym early tonight, I wouldn't get there.  So I went, even though she woke up as I was leaving.

Even a few weeks ago, I wouldn't have done that or even thought of doing so.  I would have just bagged the evening and stayed home.  So I'm pretty proud of myself for going, especially since I missed the last two days ...

See, Monday I was looking for something in the garage, and a camping chair jumped off a shelf and landed on my head.  The homicidal chair gave me a goose egg and a migraine, but I'm doing better today.  I just decided not to push it last night.  Head injuries are nothing to mess with.

In addition, the kids have been sick and not cooperative at all ... but the thing is, they're always going to fight me on things I need to do for me.  So, I decided last night that I was going to work out tonight, "Come heck or high water," which I posted on Facebook ... which kept me accountable for going in tonight.  And I'm glad I went.

Jessica G. asked for my play list ... which is sort of embarrassing.  It's supposed to be set up so I listen to sort of angry stuff while I'm lifting, and then some faster paced pop or happier crap or whatever while I'm doing cardio.  I do have a few "want to add" songs that I am going to add in later and am looking for suggestions.  It is definitely in the works and just a random mix of stuff I had on the computer, which isn't much and mostly what the kids/husband like.

BUT ... here ya go. 
*I Like That (Robots soundtrack)
*Going Under (Evanescence)
*Bring Me to Life (Evanescence)
*Love is Dead (Kerli)
*Walking on Air (Kerli)
*Up Up Up (Kerli)
*Get Up Offa That Thing (James Brown)
*Shake Your Groove Thing
*One More Chance (Jackson 5)
*Strange Boy (Kerli)
*ABC (Jackson 5)
*Right Thurr (Chingy)
*Tell Me What You Already Did (Fountains of Wayne)
*Wonderful Night (Fatboy Slim)

If any of you are still speaking with me after the above confession, woooooooooooooo!  hehe

It's a Miracle!

I made it back to the gym tonight.  I even got there early enough to say boo to Carlos. He said he missed me.  awwww.

OK, last week?  Big fail.  I got sick, the kids were sick, everyone was miserable, and Runner Girl had a play she was in so I had no one to play with Little Mister while I went to the gym.  Then, because I got so sick and the babies were sick and wouldn't let me put them down for anything, I didn't get more videos done.

BUT, I went back tonight.  I did a leg workout and the elliptical for a while.  Still have some tweaking to do of my playlist (I have a dumb MP3 player), but it helped to have some happy music to keep me going.

And now I'm ready to shower and go to bed.  Legs make me very, very tired.

well, that kicked my butt

The rest of this week will probably be reviews of different videos since I won't have a chance to hit the gym again until Tuesday.  Wish me luck.

Crunch: Fat Blaster Latin

It's an old video.  I've probably had it 8 or 9 years.  Really.  I haven't done it in at least two, probably 3 or 4 years ... sad.  BUT I made it through most of it tonight, which I couldn't have done even a few weeks ago.  Yay!

She moves pretty quickly through the dance steps though she does break them down, and I don't think I ever successfully mastered the last two or three routines.  I get bored of the beginning too easily.  BUT, it is a good cardio workout, and teaches some very basic Latin dance moves.

I need to come up with some sort of a grading system ... 2 running shoes out of 4.

Next up:  Crunch Cardio Sculpt! 

All By Myself

I decided tonight to get the leg workout out of the way.  Runner Girl is in a play this week, so I won't be able to hit the gym after tomorrow.  I'll do upper body tomorrow, then videos and abs the rest of the week. 

It wasn't as easy to make myself go without having an appointment, though once I did get there and got warmed up (oh my gosh it's cold out here), it was good.  Turned on the MP3 player and just lifted and ignored everyone else for the most part. 

I know a lot of experts say to workout in the morning, but honestly, this is turning out to better for me.  As far as my eating goes, I am stronger in the morning and during the day.  I can usually not overdo or indulge in crap.  When nighttime hits though ... I just want to pig out.  Every night.  Without fail.  Hitting the gym in the evening is actually helping that urge.  I just worked out, I know if I eat much I will not keep it down, and I don't want to sabotage the work I just did.  I still have a snack, but it's usually better food and not a lot of it, and I drink a lot of water too.  So it is working for me.

And here's something cool:  I haven't checked the scale, but my yoga pants are all getting a bit big!  They are a tad baggy on me now, so that makes me happy.  *dance dance*