The Gym - 12 Week Challenge . . .

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Well . . . I'm up, or should I say, I never got to bed. I couldn't sleep. Funny how the start of this challenge kept going over and over in my head all night . . . is my nutrition right? Can I handle the workouts? But I know that my nutritional plan is spot on . . . I also know that my workouts will work just fine . . .

I kept thinking over and over, "let's see what your body can do." "Have faith in your plan and see how far it takes you."

So I'm off to the gym this morning for my first workout of the challenge.

Oh good grief! I'm so glad I only do that particular workout once a week. But I've got to say that I'm proud of myself today. I was pushing through my intervals and on one of them I stutter-stepped because I was gonna back off but in an instant I knew I would hate myself for not sticking with it for another 15 seconds, so I pushed hard and made it through not only that interval but all the others afterward.

I warmed up my workout singing to Suzie McNeil's "Believe" and cooled down to "Proud."

Weigh in is today. I saw that at least 13 people have signed up for the challenge. There may be more as the manager has said that the whole first week people are welcome to join.

It's time to shower. TTFN

17k rep

MemberMadison, WI

Best of luck with the challenge! Keep us all posted on your success! You can do it!!!!

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Thanks, Laura. The first week or two is the honeymoon period, but after that it gets serious.

I went back to the gym this evening to work pecs and bi's. I ended up doing a face plant in the floor because my pecs failed on the pushups. LOL Totally hilarious! I can't move my arms now . . . tomorrow and the next should be interesting as DOMS sets in.

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

W1D2

I was right . . . can't even lift my arms to rub my eyes. Great workout yesterday!

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was only able to get my cardio in, but what a cardio session it was! I am very pleased with it now that I think about it. I was able to do the 20 minutes of the elliptical I planned on doing and then transfered over to the upright bike for 20 minutes. Halfway through, though, I had to drop the resistence due to knee pain. I was seriously disappointed that I could not keep my heartrate up to where I wanted it, but then I thought of two things . . .

1. The ruler analogy that my psycho doctor told me about. I'm an all or nothing type of gal and that ain't good. So when I had to back the resistence off I felt defeated, but once I applied the ruler analogy I was able to finish with a more positive attitude! (Analogy can be found on the bottom of page 57 under prescription for weight loss) I may have started my workout at a 9 on the ruler - got up to a 12, but then had to back down to a 6, but I didn't quit!
2. The second thing that went through my head was something that Bob Harper said on Biggest Loser tonight. He said as long as you were moving you were burning calories. So that's what I did . . . I just kept moving!

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

I was a little disppointed in my nutrition today. I didn't stick to my menus and I really thought I blew it, but when I plugged my nutrition into fitday, my calories were spot on even though I didn't like the ratios. But it's calories in verses calories out, right? So who am I to argue. Hey, at least I stayed away from the foods I really wanted today! There were so many times I kept thinking about where I wanted to go to get something to eat and then I would remember that I took all my money and credit cards out of my wallet, so even if I DID stop at one of them, I couldn't pay for the food! Hey, it worked, right?

Okay . . . getting ready for W1D3 (week 1, day 3)

5.3k rep

MemberRed Lion, PA

Good luck Dusky! I know you can do it! And the feeling of accomplishment afterward is a wonderful motivator all in itself. Go getem girl!

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Eye of the tiger, Tami! Grrrrrrrrrrr

17k rep

MemberMadison, WI

Way to go Dusk!!! Keep it up girl!! YOU can do it!

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Thanks Laura, that'll help me get through the humiliation of spinning class tonight.

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Wow . . . my head is NOT in the game today. Nutrition is good, but I'm sitting at a 3 on R-scale, maybe less

I'm taping up my knee now . . . I know it will be easier once I get there . . . I'm actually talking myself out of going by thinking about how badly I don't WANT to go . . . so, let's change things up a bit in the mind . . .

I'm not sure how to do that right at this moment. If I have to watch and listen to the video over and over again I will do it. I'm worth the effort!

Believe by Suzie Mcneil - Biggest loser Tara Costa

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

BELIEVE

One minute's fading
One minute's past
But I've got this moment
To make it all last
I'm standing before you
Taking my chance on everything
I never thought that I could be
Cuz you can do almost anything

If you just believe
You can move mountains with dreams
The higher you climb
The better it gets
Cuz you will see things
You'll never forget
If you just believe

It's like I'm falling through my own fears
They used to haunt me, but now they're not here
There's no looking back, my future is clear
No giving up
And I'm holding on when it gets rough
Cuz you can get through most anything

If you just believe
You can move mountains with dreams
The higher you climb
The better it gets
Cuz you will see things
You'll never forget
If you just believe

No one says it's easy
And no one says you have to be perfect
But as long as you try
You're always gonna find
It was worth it

If you just believe
You can move mountains with dreams
The higher you climb
The better it gets
Cuz you will see things
You'll never forget
If you just believe
You can move mountains with dreams
If you just believe
You can move mountains with dreams
If you just believe
You can move mountains with dreams

847 rep

MemberAvon Park, FL

Keep your head up, if you want to succeed for yourself you will find a way to do it, Drag yourself to the gym on days you dont feel like going and you can get into your routine of 5-10 minutes of suffering. Be strong.

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Thanks JC. I need that extra push.

W1D3

I made it to the spinning class early and so I went over to the other cardio equipment and rode an upright bike for about 15 minutes at a low intensity. I was so amazed that I still worked up a sweat at about 65% heart rate. WHODDA THUNK IT?!

Then it was time for spinning. I did a much worse job of it this week than I did last week, although I did sweat more (does that count?). I was just off my game tonight . . . mentally not there, but I still got my daily burn in for the day, so it's all good. Now my bottom is screaming at me! Man, even though I have extra extra padding back there, where my seat meets the bike seat, there ain't that much meat, that's for sure!

I found it very interesting tonight . . . as I was setting up my bike and stretching, someone I knew came to the class. My mind just froze. What I find interesting is that it's easier to workout in front of people you don't know than in front of people you do know. I'm not exactly sure what all went through my mind when I saw her, but I do know I felt a sort of panic and defeat run through me. Kind of like a "why try? You're just going to humiliate yourself."

Why is humiliation such an issue with me? So I fall on my face . . . so I can't keep up in spin class . . . I'm trying to change all that . . . I need to realize that the humiliation is choosing to stay at over 300 pounds and not in trying to lose it.

Okay . . . enough of that . . . I'm starving. Nutrition was good again today with less desires to go out and eat something not on my menu. Onto the next day!

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Can I just say that . . .

I COOKED! AND IT WAS ACTUALLY EDIBLE!!!!!!

I own several of the hungry girl cookbooks and I tried this recipe out tonight. Made yummy sounds the whole time I was eating it AND it was sooooooooo moist! My chicken usually is so dry you can barely swallow it.

Glaze-of-sunshine-apricot-chicken by Hungry Girl

17k rep

MemberMadison, WI

Way to kick it up a notch, girl!! Keep up the awesome work!
I have not tried spinning yet - but I hear the seats are not comfy in the least.

Feelings of humiliation & embarrassment can be hard to shake. I remember this when I start to feel not so great about something (my current weight, or the fact that I have the ability to look like a wounded hippo in the gym, etc): It is all in my head & I am doing something about it.

Each day that I eat healthy foods instead of McDonald's...
Each day that I go to the gym instead of sitting on my butt all night in front of the TV...
Each day - I make better choices for a better, healthier, happier me. If I have to look foolish or feel like a dork occasionally to get there - then so be it!! It will all be worth it in the end!

6k rep

MemberPlainfield, IN

Did someone say McDonalds?

Seriously, I had a tough time with deadly desires of Mc'Ds and others the first couple of days, but I'm past that hurdle now . . .

You should try spinning, Laura, just to say you did it. It's an incedible workout. Truth be told, it's like doing interval training, at least, the way the instructor at this place does it.

You mentioned looking foolish or like a dork . . . I'm not unaccustomed to dorkdom or doofusism for that matter. It's funny how I find myself thinking that these qualities are okay in certain settings but not in others. I'll work this.

Thanks so much for the encouragement!