I highly recommend...

...standing in front of the seam in the mirrors in the exercise room.  Suddenly slim!  Seriously, my reflection was about 20 pounds lighter.  Sure, the middle third of my body was optically removed, but I looked good!  Instant motivation.

Perhaps it's just the leftover warm and fuzzy feelings from my own little Mirror of Erised, but I am really feeling good about my body this week.  I can see that I'm shedding the fat: I have to keep pulling my jeans back up, the stomach pooch is less poochy, and the girls aren't busting (aha... nice pun, huh?!) loose from my button-down shirts.

But more than that, I'm feeling strong and I'm feeling fit.  I pushed myself by adding weight in my BodyPump class and I made it through right along with everyone else.  In BodyStep yesterday I was horrified to see that two of the cute young moms from my daughter's Kindergarten class were there.  I was going to have to sweat in front of them--they probably only glow!  But they actually had to take several breaks throughout, while I powered through.  Just goes to show that, just as fat doesn't mean unfit, thin does not equal fit.  Still, my competitive side was doing a little happy dance.

One thing I do know is that this feeling is not because I've lost more weight--I actually gained 0.6 pounds this week.  I guess it just goes to prove that the scale does lie. 

C25K: Still Moving!

I've started the Couch-to-5K program several many times in the past.  It always starts out great--"What, I only have to run for one minute, then I get to walk?"--but, as pathetic as it sounds, I've never completed week two. 

Today marks the end of that era.

I can't even begin to describe how proud I'm feeling of myself!  Despite a history of fizzling out, I am definitely not fizzled!  In fact, I even went out and did today's run despite an extremely painful shoulder. I thought I slept on it wrong, but it's getting worse and worse.  It's so bad I'm having trouble taking my clothes off--hey, maybe I should enlist hubby's help!  Then I could count the win for item 16!

So despite all the self-talk telling me it was okay to skip out since I was INJURED!!!  I just went out and did it.  I told myself before hand that if it was too painful to run I could walk.  So glad I did--it turned out that as far as my shoulder's concerned it's much less painful to run than to walk.  End result: Week 2/Day 3 of Couch-to-5K is history!!!

Now on to Week 3.  It's definitely going to be a challenge, but I've proven I'm stronger than I give myself credit for.  I'll be there, and I'll see you all in Week 4!

I Love Exercise!

Yes, I do!  I love exercise; how 'bout you?

I just realized tonight that I totally love to exercise. How do I know? During the commercial break in Project Runway I got up to go to the kitchen. And yes, I went to the fridge. Can you guess what I did next? (Hint: It's probably not what you're thinking...)

(tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock...)

Time's up!

I consulted my YMCA exercise schedule for tomorrow to see what class I could go to after dropping my girls off at school! Yessssss!

Can't believe how I've changed.

So, how about you? Do you love exercise? Is it a necessary evil? Or do you avoid it like the plague?

BTW - I'm going to BodyPump tomorrow (love working those arms!) followed by Week 2/Day 1 of "Couch to 5K." Go me!

I'm PUMPED!

Yes, it's true--I faced down the one class that most intimidated me: BodyPump.  Actually, I've now officially faced it down twice. 

Why so intimidating?  There are men in this class.  LOTS of men.  So I'm sure my issue comes from some sort of middle-aged "women should only glow" sort of conditioning, but seriously, I find it hard to be all I can be when there are men around.  I hate that about myself, because that is not who I want to be, it's not who I believe myself to be at my core.  But I still feel that hitch about showing myself to be a truly strong and capable woman.  Even when I try to be, I still have that little "aren't I cute" wink in my eye...

So, BodyPump is another Les Mills class set to music.  That means the routine is repeated for about three months before it's changed up.  Theoretically, if you go to a BodyPump class in Boston or Los Angeles, Seattle or Miami, they should be the same. 

The intimidation factor--for me anyway--is that this is basically a weight lifting class.  There are barbells and weighted disks.  This is the type of class where you might grunt or make a funny screwed up face.

So the good thing is that it's your barbell, you decide how much weight to put on it.

The bad thing--for hyper-competitive me--is that you decide how much weight to put on and you might notice that you have less weight than anyone else in class. 

I've been going to a Saturday morning class.  It's the only class I can fit in around my daughters' dance and horseback riding lessons.  It seems like a pretty regular group that attends.  So lots of them have really heavy weights.  I've been forcing myself to scale back.  Because if I let my instinct take over I'd be trying to do at least what they're doing.  When I look at my puny little barbell I have to consciously remember that they've been doing it longer--they ARE stronger.  And I need to do what's right for my body, not theirs.

But it does make me feel weak.

On the other hand, it's a really good workout.  Most classes--and I'm a classy kind of girl--are cardio-based.  Sure, most have a few minutes of abs or push ups at the end, but that's not going to give me the arms I want.  (I actually LOVE having really defined arms.  And, yes, I have had really defined arms in the past to know.)

As to the intimidation factor, the instructor and other attendees were super helpful.  In fact, on the first day I walked in looking definitely bewildered and the woman in front of me helped me choose all my equipment and set them up.  The instructor also immediately looked for any newbies (ME) and kept a special eye on them--lots of very detailed form tips right where I could see them.

I'm planning on making this a Saturday regular and I'll be upping my weight next week--just a little though.  I'd like to find a way to incorporate more strength training into my routine, but I'd have no idea what to do in the open gym.  Since I can't afford a personal trainer, BodyPump will fill that niche. 

Shakin' it Like the Tin Man

That creaking and crackling coming from the back of the gym?  Yes, that would be me trying to get my hips to move.  Seriously, I don't physically know how to make my body do that! 

So yes, after several threats and false starts, I actually got my non-shimmying hips to Zumba.  Here's the thing about Zumba:  You can always tell who is going to Zumba based on their logo tank tops, cargo pants and arm loads of bangles.  Definitely not typical gym attire.  After the classes they gather in packs and practice their moves in the halls, hips shaking, long hair flipping.

So, part of my reluctance to go to Zumba was due to these women.  Would it be like crashing a high school cheer leading practice?  Would they be looking over their shoulders at me and wondering why I would even consider showing up?

But it wasn't like that at all.  Not that I'll be hanging out in the halls after class, but I was definitely part of it.  Well, not my hips...  but the rest of me was all in!

So the class just started off with a bang.  Music on, start shaking.  There are set routines that go with each song, so a majority of the class already knew the moves and could jump right in.  As far as instructor direction, the moves really weren't explained, you just tried to follow along as best as you could.  But a lot of the moves were fairly repetitive, so you could kind of figure it out after a few turns through.  Unfortunately, it seemed like as soon as I'd get a move it would be time for another!  And I'm not sure I'll ever figure out how to shake my booty like that--especially that whole front/back hip thrust.  I'm having trouble with that even in slow motion.

Despite the Zumba girls, the majority of the class was just normal gym ladies--some fat, some thin, some young, some old, some could clearly groove, others were trying just as hard as I.  There were even a few men.  After the first few minutes I didn't feel self-conscious at all.  Biggest bonuses: it really didn't feel like exercise, the time flew by...  and I burned over 500 calories! 

My one tip if you're thinking about trying Zumba: Don't pick a spot in the very back of the room.  If you're anything like me that will be your first inclination.  Instead try to get a spot where you can see the teacher.  I really couldn't see her at all for most of the class.  Luckily I was behind several of the Zumba ladies so I tried to copy them, but it would have been so much easier if I could have seen what the instructor was doing.

I will definitely be doing this again--I'm actually a little sad it doesn't fit into my schedule tomorrow.  But I might try another new class called Burn.  I think it's a cardio/interval training type class.   I also missed my C25K day today--after Zumba plus a full day at Disneyland, my legs were begging for a break.  But weigh in is tomorrow night, so hopefully all this moving will show up on the scale too!

Mutants: Out. C25K: In.

Things are still moving along on "Plan."  Well, except for the book thing.  I finally gave up on Go, Mutants!  I realized that I was actually scowling at the book and planning elaborate ways of destroying it every time I saw it on the nightstand.  Fortunately for it, it's from the library, so I couldn't go much beyond the dirty looks without risking a heavy fine.  Unfortunately for me, I still haven't returned it to the library, so it's currently racking up $0.25 per day.  Stupid book.  Remind me to never again check out a book with a fifties-style space alien on the cover.  The library will probably be able to build a new wing once I finally get the book turned in and pay the fine.  This is the reason I should stick to bookstores!!

I did start a new book, an autobiography, yesterday that I think I will enjoy called Born Round by Frank Bruni, the former NY Times restaurant critic.  I've only read the first few chapters so far, but it's fascinating to read about his struggle with food and his weight that started in childhood.  Although I'm sure the obsession comes from a different place, but as the mother of a food-obsessed seven-year-old it's very enlightening to hear it from a different perspective.

And, I've started work on another goal: running a 5K!  Yesterday I started doing the Couch to 5K program from Cool Runnings.  Basically, it's a two-month training program designed transform couch potato into runner.  Perfect!  So day one was a five minute warm up walk followed by eight 60 second run/90 second walk intervals.  I actually felt amazing!  I've been walking around the lake a couple times a week, so I just started with the C25K program, then continued with my walk around the lake once the intervals were done.  I'm planning on running Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Cool thing--the walk from my house around the lake is 3.3 miles.  A 5K is 3.11 miles, so once I can run all the way around the lake, I'll know I'm ready for a 5K.  I was thinking maybe a Turkey Day Trot would be fun, but we're not sure where we'll be on Thanksgiving yet.  If we stay home, I'll probably shoot for Dana Point. 

Fists of Fury?

I did it!  I tried a new class at my Y!

I've been regularly doing the Aqua Boot Camp class three to four days a week, and I really enjoy it.  It's a solid workout, plus you don't get all sweaty.  Now I know that if you were standing on the deck watching, you would see a bunch of old ladies bobbing around on their swim noodles, but the class is actually a pretty good--sometimes even strenuous--workout.  Yes, there are certainly those who come for the social aspects of class, but if you want a good workout you can easily ignore the gossipers (they tend to clump up in the corner) and get one.  In fact, last week several of the women brought their husbands along and they were all pretty red in the face (and surprised) by the end of the class! 

So, although I really do enjoy Aqua and like the way my body feels afterwards (especially my biceps and back) I wanted to mix it up with something new that would be more strenuous.  Under consideration: Zumba (requires hip shaking--might make fool of self), BodyPump (requires lots of equipment--might make fool of self) or BodyCombat (requires no equipment and no hip shaking--perfect!)  Plus, I spied on the class last week, saw lots of kicks and punches--I can do that!

So Monday morning found me in the gym ready to duke it out.  I not only survived, I had fun! As the name indicates, it's a kick boxing/martial arts inspired class (non contact) with lots of different different punching and kicking combinations.  The choreography wasn't too difficult to follow. Like all the Les Mills branded programs it follows a single routine for about three months before a new one is released.  Even if you're a complete klutz (raising hand here) you'd learn what's coming next pretty quickly and wouldn't find yourself facing the wrong direction like I did a couple of times.  Plus, it's possible to take down the intensity when needed by staying low instead of doing the "power" moves. 

This was the first time I've done a combat-style class and I really liked it.  There were no "dancy" (made up word alert) moves, so I didn't have to feel embarrassed by the sad state of my hip-swiveling abilities.  One combo, though, involved lots and lots of punching and elbow smashes towards an imaginary opponent who could only have been lying on the ground--way to kick a guy when he's down!  Take that!  When the combo was over, the teacher yells, "And don't get up!"  Even though I'm pretty sure my opponent would have escaped pretty unscathed, I'll admit I felt a twinge of liberal guilt.

Today I'm feeling the sort of ache in my arm, back and shoulder muscles that I thought only came from lifting actual weights--love it!  I'll definitely be back for more.  I think I'll need a name for my imaginary opponent, though.  Next time he's not getting off so easily!

Weigh-in and Plan 52 Progress

Today was weigh-in and I'm down one pound.  It's not much, but it beats the alternative!

I must say, it seems like all I write about is losing weight.  Yes, I am a bit obsessed, but--believe it or not--I actually do think about a few other things.  I even ventured out of my diet cocoon today to take the girls down to the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla.  Then I had to call my husband and whine about how unfair it is that I don't get to live there!!  Besides that, there has been some ever so slight progress on Plan 52.

First, I am reading a book, but I'm not loving it.  It's Go, Mutants! by Larry Doyle.  I think the problem is that all the characters are so repulsive (I mean literally--it's about a future Earth that is co-inhabited by humans and mutant creatures), that I just can't get past all the slime and goo and exploding body parts.  I'm giving myself until this weekend, then I'll ditch it if I'm still not feeling it.

I've had a bit of a setback on the goal to go back to school.  We moved from New York to California in April 2009, which should classify me as a California resident for tuition purposes.  Unfortunately, they chose to classify me as out-of-state meaning I'd have to pay $183 per unit vs. $26 per unit.  I know that's a great deal for most states, but it's the difference between my actually being able to afford college.  I sent them my proof of residency at the beginning of the month, but they still haven't reclassified me.  I'm going to try to drop it off tomorrow--won't that be fun with four kids in tow?--but since classes started this week it's really too late.  If I can get reclassified, I'm going to try to take a late-starting online course, otherwise I will be ready for spring semester in January.

I've been going to my regular Aqua Boot Camp class at the Y this week and I'm plannning on trying a couple of new classes this weekend--perhaps even the dreaded (for this uncoordinated girl) Zumba!