Fear LESS

I love that I am facing things that scare me.  And coming out OK.  I feel so strong, and brave.  Tonight, I tackled 'Group Blast'.  It's a high energy step class that meets before my yoga class.  For months I have watched people come out of the class with beet red faces, dripping in sweat.  I'd tell myself 'one day I'll try it'.  Well, tonight was the night I tried it.  And, it was wonderful!

To be fair, I know most of the people who take the class regularly from other classes.  They all said that it was hard, but that I could handle it.  That I could make whatever modifications I needed.  So, I decided to try it tonight.  And I made a lot of modifications.  But, I did the class.  And my face was bright red and I was dripping in sweat.  But, I was so proud.  It feels so good to take on something that you know will be hard, but manage it.  I never thought I would even think this, let alone do it.

So, today was a two hour day.  One hour of the new class, one hour of yoga.  And, I think I have a new Wednesday plan.  So happy!  So proud!

Happy Birthday To Me!

I never thought I would be happy about working out for two hours on my birthday.  But, I am!  (Although, I wasn't so happy to find out we were doing step tonight)  I am so proud of myself.  And, I'm so proud that I've made all these lifestyle changes, and stuck with them.  Since I've been eating the majority of my calories at breakfast, I even had cake at breakfast this morning and kept with my tiny dinner.  And, I love that Steve went along with me!

I really feel like all these changes have just become part of who I am and what I do.  So, keeping to my routine on a day that I used to feel free to binge - that's just huge.  I'm grinning from ear to ear with pride, and also with gratitude.  I really appreciate everyone who wished me a good day today, and who made me feel so special.  Thank you!

Back at it!

I'm back home from the conference and back on track with my exercise.  I guess I must have really missed working out.  I did two sessions of intervals today on the elliptical.  And, it felt really, really good.  I guess I'm finally hitting my stride and deciding what I like, and what I don't like, and what works for me and what doesn't.  That's a great feeling!  So, I feel like I'm starting the new week off with a good start.  This is going to be a great week.

Hard day, OK Class

Today was a rough day over all, but I did keep my promise to myself.  As much as the Group Power classes scare me, I forced myself to go.  It turned out OK.  I didn't like it as much as the Saturday class, but I got through it.  I guess part of the problem is that I'm really confident in the Muscle Challenge class.  I might not be great at it, but I know the moves, I know the form.  This is going to take me a while to get used to.  But, I'll keep at it.  And, it's an hour of strength.  On a Thursday.  That's a very good thing!

Great Day Today

I tried an easier version of intervals today.  I hate to admit this, but it was out of First Magazine.  It was, however, fun and energizing.  I warmed up on the elliptical and then did thirty seconds as fast as I possibly could, then took four minutes to recover.  I alternated between the two for the full thirty minute workout.  It was such a fun workout, and I felt amazing after I finished.  In fact, it was so much fun, I did it again after work.  So, a total of an hour on the elliptical today.  And, I felt great!

Then, I went to yoga.  It was an 'up' night tonight, and I was ready for it.  And, it was a great class.  I love that I am getting stronger each week.  Tonight, I noticed that I am breathing better.  When I first started, I couldn't maintain nose breathing through the warm up.  Now, I can do it for most of the class.  So, my cardio abilities must be getting a lot stronger.  It just makes me happy whenever I see improvements, no matter how big, or small.  Life is good!

Not a Rest Day

I am going to the TACA Real Help Now conference on Saturday, so I won't be able to exercise that day.  I figured I needed to sneak in an exercise session today to make up for it.  As soon as I got home from work, I went up and changed into my workout clothes.  Then, I did a thirty minute session on the elliptical.  Not bad for an office day!

Two Long Hours

Some Mondays are really inspiring.  Some Mondays I just get through.  Today is a mix of both.  In my muscle challenge class, I figured I was going to pass out.  It was so hard tonight!  I know when she starts out with step as a warm up I'm in big trouble.  But, the good news is that I've progressed from doing all the step work on the ground, to the step with no riser, to the step with one riser.  That's great progress!

I wasn't really sure if it was wise to stay for yoga or not.  But, my stubborn streak kicked in and I did.  And, as usual, I was glad I stayed.  The class tonight was really good, and I got a great workout and a great stretch.  Of course, now all I can think about is a hot bath and bed.  But, it still counts as a great day.

Happy Easter!

Since Easter is all about new beginnings and fresh starts, I figured it was time for a new picture. I've finally managed to start losing again, and am down to 295. I'm sad that the plateau/gain took up so much valuable time, but I am thrilled to be losing again, and to be back into 'fresh' weight.

I celebrated the day with a lot of family time, petunia planing, and two 30 minute sessions on the elliptical.  Great day!  I hope you have had a wonderful Easter as well.  

Quick Update

I managed to cut my finger, so typing hurts.  I'll be keeping this pretty short.  Good exercise day - two 30 minute sessions on the elliptical.  Looking forward to a great day tomorrow!

Fabulous Friday

Today was an amazing exercise day.  I started with 20 minutes on the elliptical, and then survived an incredibly painful personal training session.  Imagine this:  standing in tree pose while doing overhead triceps presses with a weighted ball.  Yeah, I did that.  I also did one legged calf raises and one legged ball squats.  She really had a thing about single limb use today.  But, I survived, and even remembered to stretch when the torture was over.

So, that was the morning.  The evening exercise was so much more fun.  I was so sore and tired when I walked into the gym. The instructor for the Friday night yoga class has been switching things up a little bit each week.  Tonight she did a really great quad stretch.  When I left the gym I felt almost good as new.  It's amazing what a good stretch can accomplish!

I surprised myself!

Normally Thursdays are really hard for me.  On office days, I come home really, really tired.  But, tonight I surprised myself.  I had originally planned on coming home and getting on the elliptical for half an hour.

But, it was so pretty out this evening, I really wanted to go for a walk.  I gave myself permission to do a short walk and just enjoy it.  But, when I got to the turn around point, I realized that I wasn't ready.  I ended up doing my full 5k route!  And, my average speed was just over 3 miles per hour.  So, I was really, really proud of myself. 

I love when a day I was skeptical about turns into a really, really good day!

Big realization today

For some reason I took out my drivers license this afternoon.  I looked at the picture, which was taken just a few months before I started this journey.  When I look at the face in the picture, I almost don't recognize myself.  Even though I'm nowhere near my goal weight, my face is so much thinner now.  And, I actually weigh more than 50 pounds less than is on my license.  That's amazing.  I am going to remember this whenever I get frustrated with my progress.  I really have come a long way.

Today was a fairly easy day.  I did 30 minutes on the elliptical at lunch time, and then went to yoga tonight.  It was a good day.  I am really noticing that my flexibility is better.  My tummy is getting in the way less.  Overall, I'm thrilled.

I love Mondays??

I love Mondays.  I know that sounds really weird, because I definitely like weekends more.  But, there is something about my double class on Mondays that really starts the week of right.  Tonight, in Muscle Challenge, we really pushed hard.  I was drenched by the time we got to the halfway point in class.  Then, yoga was just as challenging.  I was so tired from the first class, I did have to take child's pose several times.  But, I also noticed that I'm finally getting a little better in some poses.  So, even though it was incredibly difficult, it was fun, too.  And, the group of people that go to the classes makes it even better.  So, tonight at least, I do love Mondays!

Gentle Sunday

I was really, really sore from yesterday.  So, I decided to do a restorative yoga class that I'd been thinking about for a while.  It was really relaxing.  By the time the hour was finished, I felt like a new person.  I will definitely keep this one in my pocked for days I need something really gentle!

Long, Painful Day. But Really Good.

Today was a great day, but it was also really scary.  And painful.  The gym I go to has a barbell based strength training class several times a week.  I've never wanted to attend it, because I've been afraid of the barbell part.  I did try it once, but I just wasn't ready.  Today, I decided to try it again.  It was still hard, but I did much better.  What I think is good about the class is that it's lighter weights, with many reps.  It's pretty much the opposite of my Monday class that uses high weights and fewer reps.  I think the combination will be a great synergy in my program.  So, I'll be adding this class to my schedule as often as I can.

So, the morning was pretty wonderful. When I got home from the gym, I felt pretty good. I spent most of the afternoon watching a web broadcast of an autism summit.  It had some really good information, but I was getting restless just sitting and watching.  So, when it was done, I decided to go for a walk.

Steve warned me that I shouldn't do the full 5k path.  But, did I listen?  No, I didn't.  I should have.  My legs were still tired after the class this morning.  I guess all those lunges tired me out more than I realized.  By the time I got back home, my feet and legs were killing me.  I took an Epsom salt bath this evening, but I'm not sure if it helped or not.  Tomorrow is going to be an easy day.

Another good day

Today I planned on exercising at lunch, and did a great job.  I put in 30 minutes on the elliptical, and got another great calorie burn.  It felt really good!  I love that level twenty is getting easier - my legs are getting stronger, and my endurance is better.  That's a great feeling.

Then, I went to yoga tonight.  The Friday night class is usually really relaxing.  But, when the weather warms up, she does make the class a little more intense.  It's still my favorite class, but tonight it was just a bit more challenging.  I love it!  And, I love that I'm feeling more confident, and enjoy moving more.  This is a good trend.

Proud of Myself

One of the hardest things for me to do is to come home from an office day and exercise.  Part of it is psychological, but most of it is physical.  I get up an hour earlier on office days, and by the time I get home, I'm really tired.  Exercising is the last thing I want to do.  But, tonight, I did it.

I got home and immediately went upstairs and changed into exercise clothes.  Then, I did thirty minutes on the elliptical, and even set a new calorie record for this kind of workout.  I was so proud of myself!  So, tonight was all about planning ahead, and using willpower to make myself exercise.  It's hard, but so worth the effort!

Lesson Learned

Today was another super busy day and I didn't get a chance to exercise at lunch time.  I was feeling guilty and trying to decide how I could squeeze in a cardio workout before yoga.  But, then I talked with Steve and he reminded me that this isn't a race.  And, an hour of yoga is enough for the day.  So, I listened to him and decided to go to yoga and enjoy the heck out of it.

I am so glad I listened!  Tonight was a more intense class and I was really glad that I was rested going in. I think I had the best class that I've ever had.  The best part was that I actually was able to do sun salutations tonight.  Now, they were the ugliest sun salutations ever, but, I did them.  Normally, going from forward fold to down dog is impossible.  Tonight, I did it.  By the time class was over, I was beaming with pride.

So, sometimes, I think I need to focus on enjoying the here and now, and getting the most out of whatever I am doing.  And, sometimes, I need to appreciate that I am getting stronger, and able to do more.  Tonight, I'm just going to enjoy this feeling.

Short Monday

I had my parent support group meeting tonight, so I only went to the one class.  I think I more than made up for it, though.  Muscle challenge was definitely challenging tonight!  We did so many squats and pliés that I thought my legs were going to give out.  Then, there is a seated leg lift that is pure torture.  I will not have quads tomorrow.  But, it was a great class, and I can almost feel my legs getting stronger! 

Fun Sunday

My legs!  My legs were still sore this morning from one legged calf raises on Friday.  My right calf may never be the same.  But, I was determined to have a good exercise day today.  And, there was a 5K in Virginia today that I really wanted to do.  But, it was just not possible for several reasons.  So, I decided to do my 'neighborhood 5k'.  This is a route that I mapped out and planned to be just under 3.25 miles.  So, a little longer than a 5k, but a great route.  I had a great walk!  I was thinking about this journey, the friends I have met along the way, and listening to great music.  So, even though it was a great workout, it was fun, too.  Actually, it was the perfect Sunday workout.  But, my legs are killing me tonight.  I think I'm going to have a hot bath and then put some arnica on them.  Good night!

Full Day!

Today was one of those days that was really, really full.  I had a personal training session at lunch time, which made it even busier.  Before she got here, I did twenty minutes on the elliptical.  I am so excited that I can do level twenty and not even think about it any more!  Then, when she got here, the fun really started!  We are pretty much back to my full routine.  No more babying the shoulder!  I even increased my weights on a few exercises.  That felt awesome!

The best part was about an hour after the session.  I realized that I wasn't dead tired.  I actually had energy to get me through the afternoon.  And, I was really looking forward to yoga tonight.  That is a major improvement for me.  Normally, after a session, I'm so tired all I want to do is collapse in a heap.  I'm still smiling that my energy lasted all day!

And, yoga tonight was really good, as usual.  She mixed some things up tonight and tried a few new poses.  Nothing overly complicated.  But, overall, it was a great class.  And, I felt like I was doing just a little bit better tonight.  My legs felt stronger, my core felt tighter.  Overall, an amazing end to a great day!

Quick Thursday Update

Today kinda got away from me.  Michael had a doctor's appointment this morning, and then I had a webex this afternoon.  The first I could exercise was 4:30.  So, I did half an hour on the elliptical, and then got sidetracked with other things.  But, at least I got thirty minutes in.  It's not perfect, but it's so much better than I would have done in the past.  For that, I'm grateful.

Much better day

I've decided that I really like doing two thirty minute sessions on the elliptical.  I try to do one at lunch time and another at the end of the work day.  I figure this way I'm getting two metabolic boosts during the day.  And, since I'm breaking it into two sessions, my energy level stays up the whole time. So, I am definitely going to stick with this!

And, I still made it to my yoga class tonight.  It's hard to explain the feeling of accomplishment after working hard, and then getting to relax at the end.  It's just magic somehow and I love it!