On the Road to Healthy

OK, so it’s been two months since my last post. Now that I’m heading to the gym almost on a daily basis, I’m finding it harder and harder to find the time to do web surfing, knitting and house cleaning! So what have I been doing with myself? Basically, working, working out, and hanging out with friends :)

My workout partner, Kit, and I have set-up our workout routine and we’ve been going pretty regularly since the first week of September. We’d go right after work and do the elliptical machine for about 30 – 40 minutes for our cardio routine and then we’d go lift weights. We’d alternate days between the upper and lower body for weights so that our muscles had that recommended 24 hours of rest in-between. Pairing up with Kit as a workout partner was one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. We have different strengths that push each of us to get the gym or while we are at the gym. I researched what exercises I definitely needed in my routine that focused around my knee, back and neck and Kit was happy to add them to her routine as well. She is better at making sure we get our cardio in and pushing me to do more during my cardio. As such, her cardio endurance in better than mine and I can lift more weights then her, so we tend to push each other to keep up. We do this in a very helpful and supportive way. We were spending about 2 hours at the gym Monday through Friday. Kit started thinking that was too much time, so she started looking at all the classes that were being offered and picked a class for each day of the week for us to go to. Yes, I did say every day of the week. Do we really think we’ll be working out 7 days a week?? No, we’re not that crazy, but if one or both of us has to miss a day due to LIFE we have a schedule in place to make up for it. Not to mention that some of these classes, neither one of us has taken, so plans may change in the future :)

I never thought I would say this, but I do miss just simply lifting weights. I know cardio is a very important part of my health and mixing it up helps to keep me from getting bored, but building muscles is just as important to me in that muscles are what are going to help me burn more calories. I guess you can say I’m still working on trying to find my happy medium between both.

So far we have tried a Body Sculpt class that focuses on non-impact, toning and shaping utilizes light weights and Spri bands to work the major muscle groups through resistance training. I try to get to the gym early enough so that I can get at least 30 minutes of cardio on the elliptical before class started. I really like this class because in 60 minutes the instructor really does do a total body workout. What I don’t like is that we don’t really stretch much at the end or rather we don’t stretch as much as I would like. I think next week after the class is over I might just move to another part of the gym and do more stretching before I leave. We tried out a mixed-level yoga class, but we had a substitute instructor the time we went, so we’ll be trying that one another time or two before we decide if we stay or try something else. We went in on a Saturday to take a Pilates class and were suppose to follow it with a Kick Boxing class. Unfortunately, that room had just been painted and the fumes were really playing havoc with my head and boarding on triggering a migraine that we didn’t stay for the kick boxing. So after Pilates we rode bikes for about 30 minutes. I really enjoyed the Pilates class. I need to remember to bring my yoga mat with me for that class though. I’m still looking forward to trying the kick boxing class, but I don’t know if we’ll be doing it this weekend, maybe next. We also tried a Core Strength class which was a short 30 minute class, but wow the abs workout was so worth it! Unfortunately, the class is smack dap in the middle of a Friday evening – not really an ideal time for either of us on a weekly basis.

Last night we went to our first Zumba class. OMG! When the class first started I thought I was going to die!! The first few songs that the instructor had us dancing too were fast paced, but then she took us through a slower paced song and we both actually made it through the whole 60 minute class! And I LOVED it! I think this is my new drug! The instructor had so much energy throughout the whole class and you could just tell that she was having a ball up at the front of the class dancing her ass off. I had so much energy surging through my body after this class at I wish I could take it in the morning to start my day off! When I got home, I turned on my computer to see what other days and times this class is being offered. I realize that for this class the instructor can make all the difference in the world, but you never know till you try!! There is a morning class offered, but it would be cutting it close to me getting to work on time. I might try it next week and see.

My progress so far? Well, before Weight Watchers I had lost 17 pounds. Since joining Weight Watchers, I’ve lost 15 pounds which puts me at a total weight loss of 32 pounds!! In addition to losing a small child, I shrunk a total of 9.5” off my body. I’m down a size and just a few pounds away from my 2nd! The great part of all this is that I’m sleeping so much better and feel more up during the day. The best part of all of it was when I went to a doctor’s appointment last week. My blood pressure has dropped significantly! It’s the lowest it’s ever been in my life – 103/63!! Not even when I was in high school and playing sports was my BP that good. I was pretty steady at 120/70 back then. So needless to say, I’m super pumped to keep going!