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Category Archive: Fitness
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Dealing with Peer Pressure
Right now I’m super committed to getting and staying healthy. I’m excited about being a Beachbody® coach. I’m motivated to work out. And when working out, I feel better when I feed my body the nutritious foods it craves.
Problem is, the people around me aren‘t committed. And they are trying to pull me over to the dark side. I don’t think it’s really intentional. I definitely don’t think my friends want to see me fail at getting fit– but they just don’t get it.
I have a lot of extra time in the mornings now, so I have the luxury of spending a considerable amount of time working out. I’m also able to take my time to plan out great meals for my family. I acknowledge that time is a huge factor in all of our busy lives. Just like anything else, though, if you have a worthy goal, then it’s worth making a sacrifice.
For me, the sacrifices are all stemming around food right now. I love cream. And cheese. And salty potato chips. And wine. And fresh homemade bread. And pizza. Oh, pizza. But can I forgo that pizza today so I can have a flat belly and rocking body tomorrow? You betcha.
What’s your obstacle to fitness and a healthy lifestyle? Is it lack of culinary skill? Is it lack of motivation? Is it that you’re surrounded by people who don’t care enough about their bodies to sacrifice what’s good now for the long-term benefits of being in shape?
My advice is find an accountability partner. (Mine is my sister.) Find someone who will work out with you, cook with you, plan healthy meals with you, who will be your conscience when you are struggling the most. That partner doesn’t have to be close geographically. The Internet brings everyone together. Hop online and find someone and get started today!
Day 3: Zumba(dy) Help Me
We didn’t go to the gym over the weekend, and sis didn’t want to do Yoga this morning. She talked me into a Zumba class instead. So, Zumba is a dance/aerobics fitness class to Latin music. I discovered during the course of the class that I have no rhythm. I also cannot shake my hips.
Part of getting fit and healthy is about self-discovery. You push yourself to see how far you can go. If necessary, I’ll do another Zumba class, but I much prefer yoga. I don’t mind moving around to get the cardio necessary for a healthy heart, but I almost prefer The Torture Chamber (the Elliptical) over the salsa dancing. Almost.
Sis and I have agreed to try all the different classes at the gym, just to see what they’re all about. So yes, that includes the line dancing, water aerobics and spin classes. It also includes the Holy Grail — the 5:30 a.m. Body Pump class where folks lift and flex at a ridiculous hour. Someone help me.
Day 2: The Torture Chamber
The Elliptical is the torture chamber.
Sis and I decided that we needed to do some cardio today. We plan on starting the Slim in 6 program soon, but we both agree that I just need to get into the habit of working out each day first.
And so I hopped on the Elliptical. For 15 minutes. My legs are still on fire and I couldn’t breathe after one minute. I honestly didn’t think I would make it through. We did some weight machines after the cardio, but I can’t remember what I did or how much I lifted. My mind can’t wrap around anything but what happened in the torture chamber.
It’s just after 5:00, and I am ready for bed. Amazing how hard it is for the body to adjust!
Day 1: Body Flow
Today was the first day of the rest of my life. And I’m exhausted.
To give a little background, before moving to SC, my husband and I both worked in the food service industry at dinner-only establishments. He managed a casual dining steakhouse, I served at a fine-dining steakhouse. He worked 65 hours a week and I worked… maybe 25.
Each morning one of us would drag ourselves out of bed, run our daughter, G, to school around 8:30, and hang out at the house with our son, J. Around noon D would go to work, and I’d still be hanging around the house. At 3:00, I’d run to pick G up. We’d do homework, I’d cook dinner, and then leave for work around 5:30. I was home by 10:00 or 11:00. D would come home around 1:00 and we’d stay up til 2:00. Repeat.
Our abnormal schedule suited us, but wasn’t ideal. We didn’t really have any structure other than the parameters of school and work. I would float through the day, wander through the week, waste time… And now?
Now I get up at 6:00 every morning. Now I have two different carlines, with different drop-off and pick up times. Now I go to the gym in the morning. Now I don’t take naps. Now I have an accountability partner to make sure I stay on the straight and narrow. Now I’m starting to make changes in little, yet important ways every day.
My sis and I took a Body Flow class at the gym today. It combines Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates. I feel like I’ve been stretched on a rack and run over by a train. Every muscle aches. I got out of breath doing Yoga. Seriously. Out. Of. Breath. Yuck. I wish I didn’t have to climb up the stairs to tuck the kids in bed. Ouch!
And so it begins…
Afternoon all! It’s been a productive Wednesday around here. We managed to register both kids for school, unload the U-Haul into the storage shed, and start unpacking things around Mom and Dad’s house. Not feeling completely settled, but I will be relieved when both kids start class tomorrow.
After lunch, my sister dragged me down to the local Gold’s Gym to sign up for membership. Okay, she didn’t drag me, but she convinced me it is something I need to do. I am newly dedicated to overall fitness. I have a typical mom’s body, squishy in places, jiggly in others. I’m not obese, but I haven’t really been happy with my body since my daughter was born (almost eight years ago.) Another pregnancy added extra padding, and I lackadaisically attempted home fitness videos.
A few weeks ago I also signed up to be a Beachbody Coach. My sis has been on Shakeology for a couple of months now. She uses it as a daily supplement/meal replacement. When coupled with some of Beachbody’s famous products (like P90X, Slim in 6 or TurboFire) Shakeology can make a real difference in your life. Much more on coaching, Shakeology, and P90X to follow.
So, I have a fitness plan. My goal isn’t really a specific weight number. I think I’ll know when I’m there, but let’s just say that ideally I’d like to lose 20 pounds of fat and gain some of it back in muscle. I want to go from a size 8 pants to a 4, and I want that poochy baby belly to be… flat.
My plan is to drink Shakeology once a day, use a calorie tracker (and be honest with the calorie tracker,) work out with the Slim in 6 DVD routine and to take some classes at the gym. It’s been a year and a half since I worked out seriously. Back then I lost about ten pounds doing Rodney Yee’s Yoga Burn and using the Ab-Lounge. Cardio, however, has never been my thing. I think it’s going to be a long few weeks before my body catches up!
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