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. :)
Thursday, August 25, 2016
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
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. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!! :) :)
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. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
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.
Monday, August 22, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, August 19, 2016
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? :)
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
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.
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.
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.
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