End of the Year Workout Recap

I intended to use my blog as a way to keep me accountable with my workouts and stuff, but every time I thought about posting, it just felt like I was writing the same thing over and over again and that's just boring. So as 2016 comes to an end, let me bring you up to speed on the last 3 months.

I'm still working with  my trainer and doing my workouts 3 days a week. When I was on my own, I usually just worked on the machines, but my trainer encouraged me to do more with the free weights like we do in our sessions. That meant venturing over to the other side of the gym where the large weights are in order to get the free weights and it was a bit intimidating at first. But I noticed that adding the free weights to my workouts made them different, better, so now it's just annoying when I can't find the weights I need. When I workout out at the gym by my house, it's even worse trying to locate them and I actually have to walk around that entire area cuz they really don't put anything back...ugh.

In addition to doing more with the free weights, I've also added more stretching exercises. I need them more for my arms and shoulders than my legs. I don't particularly like the gym by my house, but I do like my workouts there because I'm not rushed and can take my time and do extra stretching exercises. Overall, I like the atmosphere of my work gym (it doesn't feel like your stereotypical gym), but I think my workouts are better at my home gym. And that's really only because at my work gym I'm rushing there after work and I usually have just enough time to change before my training session. And then I'm rushing to catch the train home. Missing a train and waiting for the next one can mean having to wait 30 or more minutes for my last bus home. :(  So, it becomes very stressful and sometimes I've had to cut my time on the elliptical if I stayed at work later than usual. Whereas, when I do my workouts at my home gym, it's on a Saturday or a day off from work, so I go earlier in the day and have all the time in the world to stretch out and even catch my breath at the end of my workout because I'm not having to rush home.

So it's winter now and it gets darker earlier and the bf worries about me being on the train and bus late. That's why I'm always rushing to catch the train after my workout. He'd prefer me to be home by 9pm. I get it. Everyone always wonders how I can be out late at night on the train. Every one wonders about my safety and I've always brushed everyone else off. Bur the bf, well, that's another story. So because of this, I'm not taking Zumba on Tuesday's anymore. He started having an issue with it since class didn't end until 9pm and sometimes I missed the bus and had to take a Lyft home. So it was multiple issues: 1) getting home late, 2) if I came on the bus, walking home late in the dark, and/or 3) if I missed the bus and had to take a Lyft, my increased spending on Lyfts. So no more Zumba on Tuesdays. I really do miss the class. I felt like I was finally finding my groove. While there were still steps I couldn't do, I had found my own ways, I really liked that instructor too. The Zumba classes at my work gym are friggin' lame. I've watched the classes on MWF when I'm doing my workouts and they totally suck. On Tuesdays now, I just do 30 minutes of cardio on the treadmill. Yup, my trainer still bugs me about the treadmill, so I do it on Tuesdays and have been working on increasing the incline level.

I'm still doing Kickbox Cardio on Thursdays. It's killer and there were a couple of classes where I felt like I was going to die. Usually we do arms first and then legs, but one class she reversed it and oh man, she even knew that was a mistake. She kept saying that it raised our heart rates too high too quickly. It sure did. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest! She keeps telling us we're her toughest and best class. Maybe she says that to all her classes, but I think we're pretty badass. I keep making little goal lines for myself in class. First, it was getting through the first 45 minutes without taking a break. You can of course stop and get water if you need to, but she doesn't officially give us a break until 45 minutes in; it's 5 minutes of warm up and 40 minutes of cardio. After a few classes, I was able to do the full 45 without a break. My next goal involved the jumping jacks. There are 3 times when we do jumping jacks. The first time, you take four steps forward doing a move and then do the jumping jacks back the four steps. If you need to, you can do low impact jumping jacks, which is basically just taking side steps back. So at first, I would sometimes need to do the low impact jumping jacks. The second time we do jumping jacks, it's double-jumping jacks. At first I couldn't figure out how the whole double thing worked, but I figured it out. The third time is just straight jumping jacks when we go from legs back to arms.

So I stopped doing the low impact jumping jacks and then I figured out how to do the double jumping jacks and finally, I got through all 3 sets without stopping. But the first time I did all 3 sets of jumping jacks, it took its toll. By the time we got to the squats, I was done. So now my next goal is for my body to be able to do the 3 sets of jumping jacks without killing me for the rest of the class.

All in all, I love Kickbox Cardio and hate missing it. Our instructor is tough, but very supportive and encouraging.  :)

Last week was a little tough. I had Friday and Monday off for Christmas so I did my workouts those 2 days at my home gym. On Friday, I jumped on the elliptical and my knee was bothering me. I got through 5 minutes before I finally switched to the treadmill. Then on Monday, my knee still bothered me a bit, though not as much as Friday, so I did the treadmill again; I didn't want to risk anything. Tuesday was regular treadmill day, so Wednesday I was back on the elliptical. My knee wasn't bothering me, but my legs were heavy and tight. I had to stop several times and I barely made it to a mile in 15 minutes. I just couldn't go on and got off the elliptical. I didn't understand what was wrong. I missed Kickbox Cardio on Thursday because of work so yesterday (Friday), I went to my home gym thinking they had an afternoon Kickbox Cardio class, but I misread the class schedule and cancellations on the app. It was actually Zumba and it was cancelled. :(

I didn't have my workbook for my regular workout so I just jumped on the elliptical to do 30 minutes of cardio. I was worried because of Wednesday, but also I had walked almost 2 miles earlier taking out a big multi-layered smurf field and my feet were already hurting. I almost hadn't gone to the gym because of it. I tried to go at a slow pace, but I don't know if my legs were just too loose or if it was the machine, but I ended up going at a fast pace. So much so that I did a mile in 13 minutes and ended up doing 2 miles in 26 minutes - a record for me. Thanksgiving week I really pushed myself and ended up doing 2 miles in 27 minutes the day after Thanksgiving. I haven't tried for that pace since, though, aim for the 2 miles in the 30 minutes. So now, yesterday, I hit a new record of 2 miles in 26 minutes considering my feet hurt from earlier in the day. I did pause a couple of times to shake out my legs and still I hit it in 26 minutes and ended up doing 2.35 miles in the 30 minutes, My legs were jelly afterwards though. I was exhausted, and yet, I still walked a little out of my way home in order to do some fielding in Ingress. :)

Today, I went to the gym early to do my workout and once again I was going at a faster pace on the elliptical. I did the 2 miles in 27 minutes and ended my 3o minutes at 2.25 miles. I guess whatever was wrong earlier in the week is OK now.

So with all my workouts and Kickbox Cardio, there hadn't been a change on the scale since my doctor's appointment at the end of September. I know it's just a number and isn't the end all, but it was starting to get me down. I tried to focus on the fact that I wasn't gaining weight, but I couldn't figure out why I wasn't losing weight. My blood glucose was consistent. The bf and I have had some issues, but I've been working on not letting it stress me out. The bf said I wasn't going to lose weight even if I went to the gym if I kept eating crap food, but I don't. I treat myself once a week, but it's not junk food; it's actually protein that I need for my workouts. ;)

The number of the scale wasn't going down, but I could see the changes in my body. I'm in between sizes and have bought clothes a size smaller than usual. My clothes fit differently. I feel different. I've always said I'm oddly shaped. While I've always felt my legs were my best asset, I was cognizant of that fact that I didn't have hips. I was just a straight line when it came to my legs. So I've never felt very feminine. I wasn't curvy, I was just fat. But now, I can see hips. I have curves. My midsection is flatter. I'm still fat (deceptively fat, remember?), but it's OK. I feel more feminine.

The last couple of weeks, though, the scale has finally gone down another 6 pounds, so since the end of May, I have now lost 31 lbs. Still have a ways to go, but I know I'm never going to be super thin. It's just not me. I like being fuller.

What really matters is that I feel great after my workouts. I may be tired or sore, but if I don't workout, my body feels worse. Whenever I don't feel so good and think I'll just go home, I force myself to the gym and I feel a hundred times better. When I miss a workout, it affects me negatively for the rest of the week. 

Who would've thought I would ever feel that way about the gym?!?!

Progress Report

Last week I went in for blood work and today was my 3-month follow-up with my doctor. She was really happy with my progress. Like REALLY REALLY REALLY HAPPY. :)

My test results all came back great. My AC1C level especially came back low.

I had been a little worried because these last 2 weeks, since I've had this cold, my daily blood glucose readings have been higher than usual and I couldn't figure out why. I wasn't eating any differently than the previous weeks and I was still doing my workouts. They weren't incredibly high, though, so I waited to ask my doctor about it today. She said that illness and stress can raise my blood glucose and since I've had a cold these 2 weeks (plus these 2 weeks have also been emotionally stressful with the bf), that's probably why the readings have been higher. Since the blood test looks at the last 3 months, my current cold and stress were not of immediate concern. She did ask me specific questions about my symptoms though, in case they were side effects of one of my meds, which would then me problematic, but I didn't have those symptoms; it's just a cold working its way through my system.

She was also happy to learn I have a trainer. Since my May 27th visit, I have lost 24 lbs. You can't really tell, though. Well, I can. But as the master trainer said during my initial evaluation, I am deceptively fatter than I look. Which to me, supports my contention that I am indeed big-boned. ;)

So all in all, I'm doing really good keeping my diabetes under control and just need to continue what I'm doing. :) 

My doctor just cautioned me to not let my trainer push me too hard than I end up injuring myself. She said that happened to her and she ended up going to physical therapy for the injury she sustained with her trainer.

And I just need this cold to go away so my blood glucose levels can return to normal.

Kickbox Cardio

OMG! I DIED ON THURSDAY!!!

I don't know how I survived Kickbox Cardio on Thursday. It was an hour of non-stop movement. I think she gave us one short water break. Since there's not rhythm involved, I could follow along, but I would still something fall out of sync with the class because I'd fall into a slower pace. After class, I needed longer than usual to calm down and catch my breath, but I did enjoy the class. Plus, it's also good to get home a little earlier. :)

On Tuesday, I was back at Zumba. At first it felt like I hadn't been at Zumba in ages. There were a couple of new routines and even though I still have trouble with the steps (rhythm), the familiar routines were welcomed. I really did miss going to Zumba, well, my Tuesday Zumba class. I really like the instructor. And I didn't have that feeling of "shouldn't I be better at this." I just kept moving and enjoyed the music. :)

I pretty much feel like Zumba on Tuesday and Kickbox Cardio on Thursday is my go-to schedule. I'm still going to try working in the BodyWorks plus Abs class on Saturday (or some other class), so we'll see if I can make it this weekend.

Let's see if I die again tonight at Kickbox Cardio. ;)

Recap

I missed Zumba last Tuesday because of road construction and then yesterday I missed because I woke up with a cold and just wanted to go home, even though everything I read online said Zumba would help.

Like I mentioned in my last post, my trainer has stepped up my workouts and last Wednesday was leg day. I felt leg day through Friday. It's amazing how the simplest of exercises can have such a big impact. I seriously did not think I was going to get through 30 minutes on the elliptical after that workout. I thought I was going to have to quit after 15 or 20 mins; actually, I was hoping all the ellipticals would be taken and I could just do the treadmill, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, there was a free machine. darn! But guess what? I breezed through the 30 minutes! My legs felt light and limber and I didn't have to power through to get through the 30 minutes.

I guess all the endorphins wore off as I was going home because I surely felt it that night and the next day. I was sore. I hadn't been really sore since my first real workout a month ago. And then Zumba on Thursday just made it worse.

So, originally I had planned to go to Kickbox Cardio on Thursday to try it out, but Uni texted me saying it looked like she could make Zumba that night. After trying for weeks to get her to go, I couldn't just come out and say, "no, I'm going to Kickbox Cardio." But I did tell her to confirm by 5pm otherwise I was going to Kickbox Cardio. She confirmed.

I got to the gym closer to her place just after 6pm (class started at 7pm) and after changing, I just waited. And waited. I was going to be so mad if she stood me up. I guess she's not used to driving home from work that early (early to her) on Thursday so she didn't realize how much traffic there would be. She usually boasts about how quickly she gets home. So I get a text about the traffic and that she's going to cut it close. The instructor was late, so Uni made it right on time.

This instructor was different, not so much in style, but how she taught the class. She had different songs and routines so again, hard time following along. And the room has these posts in the middle, so it made it hard to see her. I kept looking at the girl in front of me to figure out the steps. As always, just keep moving. I was still feeling the effects of leg day so I was exhausted and drenched in sweat when class was over. I don't know how I got through it. 

On Friday, I was on my own for my workout and got through my 30 minutes on the elliptical. I'd been working on using the moving handles more and on Friday, I did the entire 30 minutes holding onto the moving handles and I didn't stop once. Hooray!

Again, I hoped to go to the Body Works Plus Abs class on Saturday, but it was a rough, emotionally taxing weekend and I didn't get any workouts in. I really need to though, because my Monday workouts are always the hardest after 2 days of limited physical activity so I'm going to try to get a workout in this weekend.

Since my trainer is stepping up my workouts, I am sore more often now. I guess that's good, right? :/

I have training tonight and tomorrow I will try the Kickbox Cardio class.

Slippery Slope

I've been bad. I admit it.

Seeing the positive effect regular exercise has had on my blood glucose has given me permission to eat certain foods I shouldn't be eating. It started innocently enough. They say you can't fully deprive yourself of something otherwise you end up bingeing and it's just worse.

Monday's are my early days at work and since I get here so early, the coffee is not made yet so I stop at the 7-Eleven for my morning coffee. I usually end up getting a second cup once the coffee is made at the office, so I started getting a pack of 2 cookies from 7-Eleven to eat with my 2nd cup. It quickly went from a Monday treat to an everyday thing. I'd drop by the 7-Eleven just to get the cookies. And then last week, I even got a container of cookies from Lucky and split them up into baggies to bring with me to work.

I wasn't getting Oreo's or those type of cookies, but soft baked cookies. I told myself they were healthier than getting the processed cookies.

But considering I was eating them everyday, not really.

Yes, I'm exercising regularly and it's having a positive effect, but I still have to watch what I eat. A treat every now and then is OK; special occasions.

Yesterday my trainer changed up my workout. I was all like, "what did I do? why are you mad at me???" LOL. He said I've been going long enough that it's time to switch things up; add more weight and stuff. And I was like, "but it's only been a month!" We clearly see things differently. He said he can see the improvement; he mentioned that I can go lower on my squats than when I started. I told him I didn't see it.

I think I don't see it because of those damn cookies! So today, I didn't get the cookies.

After my session, I was on the elliptical. (I had done 10 mins on it before my session and I actually did it at a faster clip.) I was going fairly slow after my session and was just focusing on getting it done. As I was on it, an older woman, maybe in her mid to late 60s, came up to me and told me that when she started working out 20 years ago, she weighed 260 lbs. She kept at it and five years later, she had lost 110 lbs. She told me I was doing great and not to give up.

NO MORE COOKIES.

Isn't It Supposed To Get Easier

I'm talking about Zumba.

On Tuesday, our instructor threw in a couple of new songs so of course I had difficulty following along. But what about the songs we've been doing for weeks now?? Shouldn't I be better?

On Thursday, the regular instructor was back and I realized I didn't remember her routines at all and her style is so different from our Tuesday instructor and all the subs we had. I had an ever harder time following along. I was so tired and achy at the end of class. I was totally feeling it the next day. 

All I kept thinking was, "isn't this supposed to get easier?" I know it's only been a month, but still.

I was back with my trainer on Wednesday and we did some new stuff. The half-hour always seems to go faster when I'm with the trainer than when I'm on my own. :/  I wonder why that is....  After my training session, all the elliptical machines were taken so I jumped on the treadmill. I tried going up to incline 7, but that was too much. My legs were still achy and we did quite a bit of leg work during my session, so I scaled back to incline level 6.

Legs were still achy a bit on Friday and luckily my trainer told me to work on upper body. Usually I have trouble filling the time because the machines are all taken, but since it was Friday, there weren't that many people. I finished up, went downstairs and jumped on an elliptical. "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" was on so I was watching that while on the elliptical. Remember I mentioned that I need to hold onto the handles right in front of me that don't move because if I hold onto the ones that do, it burns me out? Well this time I was able to hold onto the moving handles for a significant amount of time. I did 35 mins on the elliptical, mostly because I was waiting for Legolas' horse scene in the movie. Unlike last week, where Beyonce had to get me through the last 5 minutes to 30, I was able to do it more easily this time.

Of course, I'm still achy, which is why I probably didn't get up this morning in time to do the Body Works Plus Abs class at 11am. I don't know why I have such a hard time going to the gym on the weekends.

On Thursday, I arrived early for class so I watched the last 10-15 mins of the Kickbox Cardio class. On Thursday it's a different instructor and she has a different style than the Tuesday instructor. It actually looked like Kickbox Cardio.

I've been studying the class schedules, so I want to try doing the Body Works Plus Abs class and the Kickbox Cardio. Of course, with the Body Works Plus Abs class the challenge is getting myself to the gym on the weekend. I failed miserably today. This Thursday, I'm going to try the 5:45pm class at my work gym. The plus side to that is I'll get done quicker and get home a little earlier, hopefully. Tuesday Zumba will remain the same.

Last Week

On Tuesday, I had a podiatry appointment (diabetic, remember?) so I left work early. My appointment was at 4:30 and I arrived about 15 minutes early and I guess I was the last appointment so I went in right away and was actually done at 4:30. The podiatrist since my feet are strong and circulation is good, but I do have the beginnings of nerve damage so he put me on 2 more vitamins and reiterated that I need to get my blood glucose under control.

Since I was done so early, I got to the gym for Zumba hella early. I thought about taking a different class, but ended up jumping on the elliptical instead. I was able to increase my time to 20 minutes. WOO-HOO!!

I finished up on the elliptical 20 minutes before Zumba class, but boy was I tired when it came time for class. To make things worse, the AC was broken in the studio so it felt like a sauna, especially since another class had just let out. Our instructor tried to take it easy, but it was still miserable. So after doing 20 minutes on the elliptical, I didn't think I was going to make it through Zumba. When class ended, I was so tired.

Wednesday was my birthday and I had every intention of going to the gym for my workout. I was going to have a quiet birthday consisting of the gym and then detouring into DTLA to one of my favorite restaurants for a yummy birthday dessert. I was really looking forward to it.

Uni & Ro had flowers delivered to my office for my birthday. It was so very sweet and if that wasn't enough, they asked to take me to dinner. I got the go-ahead from F for dinner, so I agreed. Still intending to go to the gym beforehand. Uni mentioned needing to know because tickets had to be bought in advance, but I misread thinking a reservation needed to be made, but then thought maybe it was a dinner show or something when I re-read the ticket part. Well, my boss has a big meeting this week and I've been working on an annual report for said meeting and Wednesday was the only day we had time to go over it and figure out what was missing to wrap it up. I had hoped to leave the office at 5pm to get my workout in, but it was looking like it'd be closer to 6pm. Uni wouldn't tell me where we were going, except that we needed to be there by 8pm and it was going to take about 45 minutes to get there. We'd have to leave by 7pm and if I wasn't leaving the office until 6pm, it meant I wouldn't have enough time for my workout. Bummer.

Uni and Ro ended up surprising me with tickets to see "Newsies" at the Pantages Theatre. I've never been a fan of the movie, but am really grateful to Uni & Ro for wanting to make my birthday special. If you know me, then you know I'm not very keen on celebrating my birthday, so I really appreciate Uni & Ro thinking of me.

If you know LA, then you know traffic from the Westside to Hollywood is horrible. Uni and Ro just aren't used to that drive, so they didn't realize just how long it was going to take or how much traffic there would be. We made it just in time for the show, so no time for dinner. The show ended around 10:30pm and it was already past my bedtime so no time for dinner or anything.

Not going to the gym on Wednesday and getting home so late ended up throwing me completely off on Thursday. I woke up late, didn't have time to stop at the grocery store for my breakfast items, got to work later than usual and then I was just super crazed at work. I was completely out of whack and just felt off. It goes to show that I've gotten used to a routine and not adhering to it had an adverse affect on me.

I went to Zumba Thursday night and felt better. We had another sub, though, and she was way different than the others. Her routines were more aerobic, less dance. And her arms movements were not drill team-like like the Tuesday instructor. Her routines were more of a workout. She was tough. And I was exhausted at the end of class.

I'm always exhausted after Zumba, huh? ;)

On Friday we got out of work early since it was the day before a long weekend. I had plans with Mari for dinner. I didn't tell her I was getting out early because I wanted to make sure I got my workout in. It was so nice going to the gym at 3pm; it was so empty! I got through my training and then jumped on the elliptical. I was still tired from Zumba the night before so I could only do 15 mins on the elliptical and did the remaining 15 on the treadmill. I got done with my workout just in time. Marisela ended up getting over here early so she just picked me up from the gym.

We headed to Santa Monica and had dinner, walked around the promenade and watched "Suicide Squad."

It was another late night, but thankfully I didn't have to wake up early the next day. :)

I had hoped to go to the gym on Saturday or Sunday to make up for Wednesday's missed workout, but laziness got the better of me on Saturday. I woke up, had breakfast and then ended up taking a nap. Then I woke up, had lunch and asked F if he was coming over because I wanted to go to the gym and he told me to go to the gym, but ended up taking another nap. I've noticed that the last few Saturday's unless I have something planned, I've been taking a lot of naps. 

On Sunday, F came over so I got a different kind of workout. ;)

So I didn't make up my missed workout after all. :(  I don't know why I can't get myself to the gym over the weekend. I want to, but laziness wins out. :(

Yesterday was a holiday, so no work. I was not going to miss another workout, so I went to the gym by my house (where I go for Zumba) and did my workout. Doing my training there I realized I don't like that gym. It's perfectly fine for Zumba and maybe even swimming (though I haven't yet); and even working on the elliptical, but the machines are different and I had a harder time figuring out which ones I knew how to use. Plus, they're not well maintained. I ended up working more on my chest than legs, which was fine because I was going to try to get to 30 mins on the elliptical. I finished up my training and went upstairs to the elliptical. I got to 20 mins and I wasn't sure I'd make it to the 30, so I just kept telling myself to get to 25. At 24 1/2, Beyonce's "Formation" came on my iPod and it gave me the boost I needed. I picked up speed and got to the 30 mins. WOO-HOO!!

I weighed myself after my workout, out of curiosity again, and I just don't think I'm doing that right. I wish it was just a digital scale because yesterday it said I was down 15 pounds from my last doctor's appointment. (Remember, last week it said I was down 5 pounds, so an extra 10 pounds seems hard to believe in a week's time.)

I have Zumba tonight and on Wednesday I'm back with my trainer.

Workouts

On Friday I was supposed to have my session with the master trainer, but he had an emergency so he paired me up with the trainer from the week before that was a bit condescending.

I had a good workout with him, but there's still something about him. He's definitely tough, but I don't know, he makes me feel like I'm wasting his time. Like because I'm not fit, he doesn't really want to work with me. But it's like, isn't that the entire point??? What's the point of working with someone that's already fit?!?!

Even though my session with him was all legs, I still tried the elliptical afterwards and I was able to double my time again. If you remember, the first time I could only do 2 minutes, then I went up to 4 minutes and on Friday I got all the way up to 8 minutes. WOO!! I pushed through to 8 minutes mostly because I discovered that if I hold onto the handle right in front that don't move, I don't get tired quickly. Using the other handles that move as I move my legs really burns me out. Like Zumba, I can't do both legs and arms. At least not yet.

I was really happy I got to 8 minutes, especially since my session before was all legs and I was having a little trouble towards the end. I finished up my 30 minutes of cardio with 22 minutes on the treadmill. I did my walk on the level 5 incline and increased the speed a little. I had been on 1.7, but got to 2.0 on Friday. I also worked on my form and did not hold on to the rails and only gripped the handles when I wanted to check my heart rate. I was surprised how easily I was able to do my walk without holding on considering I was afraid I was going to slide backwards and fall.

The good thing about my workouts on Friday is that machines are readily available without any wait time; the gym is practically empty!

Yesterday (Monday), I worked with the trainer from my first session. We did more this time, but I still sort of felt like she went easy on me. We mostly worked on shoulders so that was a little harder on me.

After my session I went downstairs and ended up on the treadmill because all the elliptical machines were taken. I did 30 minutes, gradually increasing the incline and speed. I started at incline level 5 and got to 6.5 (it didn't occur to me to increase incline until later in my walk). I think I got past 2.0 in speed, but can't remember how high I went. However, by the time I came back down to 1.7 and incline level 5, it felt like I wasn't even moving, so that's good in terms of being able to handle higher speeds and inclines. 

I'm on my own for my next 3 workout sessions as I won't be back to my regular trainer until the Wednesday after Labor Day, but now I know lots of difference machines and exercises I can do. Plus, continue to try and double my time on the elliptical.

Tonight is Zumba, so I'm looking forward to that. I didn't get to a Zumba class this past weekend. Maybe this coming weekend...maybe. I just wish they weren't so early.

Another Sub

We had another substitute for Zumba last night. Her movements were very exaggerated and boy was she HARD!! No one could really follow along with her arm movements, so we just did what we thought or like me, sometimes I didn't do the arm movements. I have a hard time doing arm movements and the footwork to begin with so sometimes I have to forego the arm movements.

Man, she was really HARD.

She had us doing squats for an entire song...right at the beginning. I thought I was going to die!! My thighs were burning!

Some steps I could follow along, but since her movements were so exaggerated, I couldn't always tell what I was supposed to do. There's this girl that I've only seen at the Thursday class, that is always at the front of the class (I stay in the back). I like watching her because she moves so effortlessly. She's tall and has a large frame (not big) that's well proportioned and toned. She usually knows all the steps so if I get lost, I watch her to see what I'm supposed to do. The sub was also very petite so I couldn't always see her footwork and I'd look to the girl. Last night, there were times when even she couldn't follow along!

I kept muttering, "she's so hard" under my breath every time a song ended. And each song just felt so long!

My t-shirt was completely drenched in sweat, even more so than usual, and my body ached when class was over. Class went over and I missed the bus home so I took longer to change. I just sat on a bench in the locker room trying to cool down.

Before I left, out of curiosity again, I jumped on the scale. I set it to my weight from last week and it was too heavy. :) According to the scale, I lost 5 pounds - woo-hoo!!

I know I shouldn't get too excited. The scale may be off or something, but I'm still pretty happy about it. :)  It would be great if I could lose another 15 pounds before my next doctor's appointment at the end of September, that way, my doctor will see that I am following her instructions and making significant strides.

I should also mention that I really like how I feel after my workouts/Zumba. Yes, I'm tired, but I also feel rejuvenated. There's a layer of sweat on my skin, everywhere, and I do mean everywhere, but there's also a tingly sensation to my skin. This could be why I haven't let the laziness in me take over. :)

Wednesday Workout

I left work later than I usually do and by the time I got to the gym for my workout, it was busier than usual so there was wait time for machines. My trainer had given me instructions to work on chest & shoulders, which was great because my legs were still achy and tired. I did do one leg machine and boy was that difficult.

For my pre-workout warm-up, I decided to see if I could increase my time on the elliptical. Remember, on Friday, I could only do 2 minutes. Yesterday I doubled it and did 4 minutes. Yay! But, boy was it hard, especially since my legs were achy. But I powered through and made it to 4 minutes. I briefly wondered if I could make it to 5 minutes, but decided not to push it. ;)

After my workout upstairs on the machines, I came downstairs and did another 30 minutes on the treadmill with an incline of 5. I still don't know what that means, but it must be good because I kept looking at the people running/walking on the machines around me and most of them had it set at 0 or just at 1 or 2.

(So I just Googled it and I need to work on my form. I hold on to the rails and while I don't lean back, but stay straight, towards the end of the walk, when I need to push through to the end, I do hunch my shoulders and lean forward a little bit. It's just that when I don't hold on, I feel myself moving backwards and I think I'm going to fall. I'll work on not holding on.)

I made a workout playlist for my iPod and I am totally one of those people on the treadmill that starts swaying and dancing to the music. I don't care, whatever gets me through it, right? LOL. :)

Inner Thighs

Since I've noticed a difference, I keep staring at myself in the mirror. I believe I have narrowed down the most significant change; my inner things. I have flabby arms and well, my inner thighs are the same, er, were the same. When I'm standing up, you can see the droop lines if I'm naked (or just in underwear) or wearing bike shorts/leggings.

Last night, I changed into my workout clothes, went into the bathroom and when I came out of the stall, I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed that I could hardly see the droop lines. I was wearing capri leggings and not the spandex type that would smooth out the lines, just regular cotton leggings. I remember just a few sessions ago being in front of the large mirror wall as I did the exercises my trainer laid out and looking at myself and then looking down because the droop lines were noticeable.

And now I keep staring down at my inner thighs and looking at them in the mirror. They're not completely smooth, but I can tell the difference. I've been thinking about what exercises I've been doing that would have affected them. I haven't been doing any "thigh master" type exercises. I do do side lunges and I wonder if my time on the bike helped too.

A Difference

I'm only on my 3rd week of working out and I can already see a difference, slight changes.

At the gym by my house, they have a scale in the women's locker room so after Zumba last Thursday, out of curiosity I hopped on. I was a bit disappointed because I weighed the same as my last doctor's appointment at the end of June. I thought for sure it had gone down. I know the master trainer at the gym said my weight may go up as I build muscle, but still.

Regardless of the number on the scale, I do feel different.

And maybe look a little different.

Last night as I was changing into my workout clothes for Zumba, the section of lockers I was using has a long mirror in front of them and when I stood up dressed, I caught a glimpse of myself and did a double-take. When I started my new job 5 months ago, I looked pregnant. My belly protruded past my boobs. I've always tried to make sure my boobs protrude farther out that my tummy, but 5 months ago that was not the case. I've also always had a front butt and most of the time, it protruded out more than my tummy. And even when my tummy hasn't protruded out more than my boobs, there have still been the side rolls. I'm very oddly shaped.

Even before I started working out, due to the change in my diet, I no longer looked pregnant, so I was happy about that. Let me tell you, even though F knew I was on birth control and had been for the last year, he was beginning to worry, so it's good that my tummy went down without a crying child being produced. LOL.

But last night I did a double take because my tummy and front butt are evening out and I looked flatter than I ever have. I still have my front butt and tummy rolls, but there's a difference.

I just went to the bathroom and I'm wearing Spanx so I had to take my dress off and I was looking at myself in the mirror and maybe it's not so much that I'm evening out, but my front butt looks like it's going down. Heck, I'll take that. My front butt has always bothered me because I have to buy larger pants and jeans because of it and then my legs are swimming in them. Like I said, I'm oddly shaped.

The difference isn't just physical. I still get winded easily and am panting through my workouts and Zumba, but I'm making progress on my breathing and there's a point in my workouts when my lungs seem to open up. I get this sudden rush and feeling of being able to breathe easier.

So even though I'm new to this whole working out, progress is being made. :) 

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In addition to the above, the most important visible difference (visible to me, at least), is the effect daily exercise has had on my blood glucose levels. They've been on the lower end of the average range, so double YAY!! :) :)

Training and Zumba

I've been trying to do my training session and Zumba posts separately, but since I didn't have time to recap my Monday session yesterday, today is 2-in-1.

I was back with my regular trainer on Monday and we had a good session. I told him what my Friday trainer said about the bike and he said it was OK for me to do the bike as I work my way up to the elliptical. He did reiterate that I should do the treadmill and set it on an incline.

For my session, we did a couple machines that I'd done before, this time with increased weight. And then we did some core exercises.

As the month is coming to an end, I was wondering when I was supposed to schedule my sessions for next month. I was going to ask, but luckily, he brought it up at the end of our session and I scheduled my September sessions with him. I prefer keeping things consistent and just working with one trainer.

So after my session, I was going to try the elliptical again, but all the machines were taken and so were the bikes, so I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, at an incline of 5. I don't really know what that means, but my t-shirt was drenched in sweat when I was done and my legs were sore yesterday.

Actually, they still are.

Zumba was a little harder last night because of it. I was just a little more tired overall yesterday and had trouble keeping up with the class. My body was achy and even my back hurt a bit too.

When it comes to Zumba, though, I'm proud of myself because I just keep moving and stay for the entire class (55 minutes). There are others that don't make it through to the end, but I just keep moving, even if I'm not doing the right steps or in sync with the class because there are definitely times I'm doing the right steps but opposite of the class. ;)

Like I wrote, last night was a little harder though and I was achy and tired at the end of class. Today my legs are still achy. Thank goodness training is on my own tonight and he told me to work on shoulders and chest. I'll try the elliptical if any machines are available, and if not, back on the treadmill.

Friday Workout - New Trainer

I had a different trainer on Friday and I'm not sure how I feel about him.

On the one hand, we went through other machines and he gave me other exercises to do on my own at home.

But on the other hand, he was a bit condescending.

I haven't been working out very long. Just completed 2 full weeks in 20+ years. That's a big deal. At least it is to me. And I don't appreciate being told that working on the bike is nothing because you just sit there and don't have to focus. Excuse me! I know I should do the elliptical, but I'm working my way up to it. It has taken a lot of focus and pushing myself to get to 20 minutes on the bike after my workout sessions, so I definitely don't appreciate you belittling my effort. My effort of TWO WEEKS!!!

You want me to buy a jump rope and do 30 minutes every day, I will do it!

You want me to do leg lifts (or whatever they're called) every day, I will do it!!

Yes, I know my core is weak. I'm fuckin' FAT!! Of course it's going to be weak when I haven't done any kind of exercise in 20+ years. That's why I'm at the gym now! That's why I'm paying extra for a trainer! So I can friggin' work on all this!!


I tried the elliptical after my session and was only able to do 2 minutes, so I finished my 20 minutes of cardio with 18 on the bike. I'll just keep working on it and try to grow the amount of time I can do on the elliptical.

I didn't end up going to Zumba over the weekend, not because I was de-motivated by my Friday trainer, but because F didn't get back to me in time as to whether or not we were doing something on Saturday, so I ended up sleeping in. I needed it, though, since I didn't get a lot of sleep last week.

It's a new week. Today I have a session with my regular trainer and on Friday I have one with the master trainer, plus the one on my own; and I put the two Zumba classes on my calendar. I have to get a jump rope and figure out where/when I can get those 30 minutes a day in.

Thursday Night Zumba

We had a substitute for Zumba last night. Class was led by a male instructor and his routines were more like Tuesday's instructor. A lot of arm movement. Totally felt like drill team. :)

I seem to be getting the hang of it as I was actually able to follow along sometimes and was actually in sync with the class a few times. :) :) :)

I almost didn't go to class last night because I felt a little weird all day and my tummy felt weird, but I sucked it up and went. I'm glad I did.

I really wanted to see if I could handle 2 classes of Zumba with my 3 days of training. We'll see how I feel tonight after training, but so far so good. So much so that I'm seriously thinking of taking the 9:45am Zumba class tomorrow and then hitting the pool. That sounds wonderful, doesn't it? :)

Wednesday Workout

On Wednesday I was on my own again and I did a better job of keeping track of my time. Since we did a lot of chest work on Monday, my trainer said I could focus on my legs for Wednesday (even though every workout should be a combo of both). So I did just that, focused on my legs for my 30 minute workout and then did 20 minutes on the bike.

I did have to push myself a little to finish the 20 minutes on the bike. I really try bopping to the music on my iPod and sometimes I close my eyes to really focus. But mostly, I'm bopping along to the music as I people watch the others in the gym. That really does help get me through my time on the bike. ;)

Tonight, I have a session with a different trainer. A little concerned because I heard he's tough. I really like the trainer I've been work with. I'm back with him on Monday, but then I have a session with the master trainer and the female trainer I first worked with to round out the month.

I think when I schedule my sessions for September, I'm going to schedule them all with the one I've been working with. He gets me.

Dinner Time

The only hiccup with my new workout routine is the time I eat dinner.

F told me I shouldn't eat before my workouts and to wait until after. When I have my sessions with the trainer (or on my own) over here by work, it's not a huge problem because I don't really get out late. A few times I've been able to stop by Trader Joe's on my way to the gym and grab a salad. I end up eating it on the train home. More often than not, though, I don't stop and when I get out of the gym, it's a direct line to the train station and it feels friggin' far to walk back to Trader Joe's. Plus, even though I don't get out Zumba late, it still is later and even 20 extra minutes to catch the train could mean waiting an eternity for my last bus home from the blue line. So then I'm not eating dinner until 9pm or so.

And on Zumba days, well....last night I didn't get home until 10pm and I wasn't done with dinner until almost 10:30, which then meant I had to force myself to stay awake until 11:30pm because I need to check my blood glucose an hour after I eat. Which is also hard to do on my workout days if I eat on the train going home because I'm still on my way home an hour later.

So really, that's the main problem. I need to eat dinner at a reasonable time so I can 1) take my evening meds and 2) check my blood glucose.

I know I'll figure it out eventually. I just need to get on a schedule.

2nd Zumba Class

I did the 8pm Zumba class at the gym by my house last night. This class was led by a different instructor with a completely different style. Her routines incorporated more arm movements and I felt like I was in drill team. ;)

Still had difficulty following the steps, but I just kept moving. I really cannot do the traditional Latin dance steps. :(

In addition to the different instructor, I also only recognized 1 person from last week's class. Maybe people go to classes depending on the instructor and not the time like I do.

I liked both instructors. Last week's routines were high-energy. This week's were a little more mellow. Don't get me wrong, I was still sweating a ton and my t-shirt was completely drenched and I totally knocked out again as soon as I got home.

As I was changing after class I thought it would be a great time to get in the pool, if only it wasn't already late. This past weekend, I didn't do anything because I was so tired, but I think I was so tired because it was my first full week of working out. The last time I did any kind of working out was probably October of 1993 in my 10th grade gym class. OK, no wait, I did have to take swim classes in college to learn how to swim for the swim requirement. I took two quarters of swimming my sophomore year. Still, it's been a looooooooong time, so of course I was going to be tired last week.

Remember how I wrote that I just felt tired on Friday, even before I went into my workout (that I over did)? I was able to walk normally and go down the stairs without any pain, but I noticed how tired I was just walking and going about my normal activities. And then I did my workout and I couldn't even do my regular 15 minutes on the bike (I stopped after 5 mins) and I was sore & achy. My body was just tired, period.

We'll see how my workout goes tonight. I'm on my own again and this time I'm going to keep an eye on the time and limit myself to 30 minutes of training (not including the bike) like I do with the trainer. But I don't think I'll be tired like I was on Friday.

Going back to the pool thing....seeing as I feel like I was so tired and achy because it was my first real week of working out in 20 years, I think I'll try at least one morning Zumba class this weekend and then get in the pool. I bet it's going to feel great! :)

I was also looking at some of the other classes, like Step Plus Abs and Body Works Plus Abs. I watched the videos linked for them and maybe I'll try one or two classes. But, ugh! I hated step aerobics in school.

Monday Workout

I had a good session last night. My trainer had me work out on some new machines and I did variations of some exercises he's had me do before. The highlight of my workout last night, though, was that I made it to 20 minutes on the bikes. Actually 22, but don't tell the master trainer. He doesn't want me doing more than 20 minutes of cardio right now. The only reason it got to 22 minutes is because I hit cool down at 19 and that's 3 minutes.

Those 2 extra minutes took me to 4 miles on the bike. Woo-hoo!!

For me, though, the best part is that in terms of sweating, I cooled down quickly. Yes, my t-shirt was drenched in sweat, but I only had to sit in the locker room for a few minutes before I changed and when I left the gym, I wasn't sweating anymore. :)

Last summer, when I was walking a lot playing Ingress, I noticed that I wasn't sweating nearly as much as I used to, even when I was walking all over my city in the middle of the day. I kept equating it to my stamina being improved. :)

Tonight I have Zumba again. Eventually I'll get the steps. For now, just gotta keep moving.