Two weeks into this gym thing. Whewwwwww. I'm up to an hour on the bike and a round on the Universal weight machine. I've been five days a week thus far. I'm just trying to get four in a week and some weeks it will be six, others two. It will even out, I'm sure. It's been fun. No, really! I am enjoying feeling my body move and work. It's already noticeable.
I wore those slacks I talked about a while back. they fit even better than the last time I tried them on and was excited. I was ecstatic today.
In addition, three people commented on my weight loss. Woohoo.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
OUCH %#@*&
It's my own fault. My butt hurts. It's not from using the muscles, it's from sitting on the exercise bike seat. Bicycle Butt, a horrific gym syndrome. All the tissue between my skin and the sacrum are tender. I'll have to take some Tylenol before heading the the gym this evening.
Other than the pain, it was another good workout. My goals are in place and I'm going to reach them. I made it an hour on the bike last evening and would like to get up to an hour and a half. I'm not straining, I'm putting in the time. I'm not concerned about pretending I'm doing the Tour de France; I'm just gently working my body and heart. If I get to the point I can do 12 miles a day, I'll be happy. My upper body is doing pretty good too. I'm at 4 sets of 5 reps on the Universal gym. My end goal is 5 sets of 10 reps each. That will give me all the strength I need. I don't need to add weights to bulk up; I just need to work the muscles until they're tired.
Now the exciting part: as I was leaving the gym, the most amazing man was coming in. He smiled and said hello to this hot, sweaty, tired woman. If I go a few minutes later, I will probably run into him again. I'll stalk him until I meet him. Now, THERE is motivation to workout.
Other than the pain, it was another good workout. My goals are in place and I'm going to reach them. I made it an hour on the bike last evening and would like to get up to an hour and a half. I'm not straining, I'm putting in the time. I'm not concerned about pretending I'm doing the Tour de France; I'm just gently working my body and heart. If I get to the point I can do 12 miles a day, I'll be happy. My upper body is doing pretty good too. I'm at 4 sets of 5 reps on the Universal gym. My end goal is 5 sets of 10 reps each. That will give me all the strength I need. I don't need to add weights to bulk up; I just need to work the muscles until they're tired.
Now the exciting part: as I was leaving the gym, the most amazing man was coming in. He smiled and said hello to this hot, sweaty, tired woman. If I go a few minutes later, I will probably run into him again. I'll stalk him until I meet him. Now, THERE is motivation to workout.
Monday, March 12, 2012
This gym stuff
I am surprised how easy it has been to get back into the gym routine. The last time I belonged to a gym...well, it was the heyday of disco and the Jazzercise classes played Earth Wind and Fire. I was in my 20s. The "trainers" on the women's side wore Danskins, fishnet stockings and spike heels. How things have changed!
I show up in my sneakers, baggy knit pants, t shirt and headphones. My pants have pockets for my IPod and keys. There is no looking pretty in this workout. I get on the bike and ride. I'm up to 45 minutes already. Today I'm going to do an hour. Then I head to the Universal machine for some upper body. I'm only doing 3 sets of 5 reps each with no added weights. I'm not looking to bulk up, so I will increase to 5 sets of 10 reps and then think about adding weight. I'm trying to tone, not muscle up. I have enough muscle mass, thank you very much. All my years of sports left me with a solid basis. Water skiing gave me thighs, swimming gave shoulders. I'm shooting for that Wonder Woman look!
I show up in my sneakers, baggy knit pants, t shirt and headphones. My pants have pockets for my IPod and keys. There is no looking pretty in this workout. I get on the bike and ride. I'm up to 45 minutes already. Today I'm going to do an hour. Then I head to the Universal machine for some upper body. I'm only doing 3 sets of 5 reps each with no added weights. I'm not looking to bulk up, so I will increase to 5 sets of 10 reps and then think about adding weight. I'm trying to tone, not muscle up. I have enough muscle mass, thank you very much. All my years of sports left me with a solid basis. Water skiing gave me thighs, swimming gave shoulders. I'm shooting for that Wonder Woman look!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Well, I've gone and done it now...
A couple of days ago I noticed it was much easier to go up and down the stairs. I live in a 3rd floor walk-up with 32 steps. Some days it has been a daunting task to face the stairs. However, it has never been an option; my bed is at the top of the stairs. I've also planned my grocery store trips so I can carry everything up in one load if possible. It has limited the amount and weight I can buy in any one trip. And just for fun, I have a torn medial meniscus in my left knee. The stairs have not been my friend.
As the weight has melted off, the stairs have become easier. I almost sprinted up them last evening. So it was time to take the next step.
I had been on a fabulous date with a man who works out 5 to 6 times a week, a retired basketball player. Long, lean and totally unlike me. I'm built like my ancestors, the Finnish reindeer herders who are built low to the ground with short legs and big butts so they don't blow over in the wind in Lapland. If my legs were proportionate to my torso, I would be 6' tall. No matter how much weight I lose, I will always have heavy thighs. In the horse world, I am the Clydesdale, not the thoroughbred. Muscles. So, this guy thought I was just fine. Really. He said so. And I didn't even ask. So, all day Tuesday, I thought about the gym up the street from my apartment. I could walk to it.
I joined and paid a year in advance on Tuesday evening. That will get me through the 60th birthday. Then walked home. Signing up was all the drama I could handle that day.
Last evening, Wednesday, I went to work out for the first time. This is not a fancy gym; this is a GYM. Machines and weights. It is not filled with gym rats and body builders. It's filled with people like me or people who were like me. I managed 30 minutes on the bike and 15 minutes of upper body work on the universal. And then a massage. Hey, a girl has to take care of herself!
As the weight has melted off, the stairs have become easier. I almost sprinted up them last evening. So it was time to take the next step.
I had been on a fabulous date with a man who works out 5 to 6 times a week, a retired basketball player. Long, lean and totally unlike me. I'm built like my ancestors, the Finnish reindeer herders who are built low to the ground with short legs and big butts so they don't blow over in the wind in Lapland. If my legs were proportionate to my torso, I would be 6' tall. No matter how much weight I lose, I will always have heavy thighs. In the horse world, I am the Clydesdale, not the thoroughbred. Muscles. So, this guy thought I was just fine. Really. He said so. And I didn't even ask. So, all day Tuesday, I thought about the gym up the street from my apartment. I could walk to it.
I joined and paid a year in advance on Tuesday evening. That will get me through the 60th birthday. Then walked home. Signing up was all the drama I could handle that day.
Last evening, Wednesday, I went to work out for the first time. This is not a fancy gym; this is a GYM. Machines and weights. It is not filled with gym rats and body builders. It's filled with people like me or people who were like me. I managed 30 minutes on the bike and 15 minutes of upper body work on the universal. And then a massage. Hey, a girl has to take care of herself!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
A stellar day...
I woke, snuggled in my flannel sheets and down comforter, warm and happy. I was looking forward to stepping on the scale this morning. I dashed to the bathroom to get rid of any excess weight and put the coffee on. The aroma of Peet's filled the apartment. I tripped the mechanism with my toe and waited for my signal to step on. And waited for the number to appear. YES!! It happened!! I broke the first major weight loss goal!!! I SHATTERED it by 1.8 lbs.
I can't even tell you how good this feels. I'm almost needing to buy another smaller pair of jeans. All my pants are all too loose. Thank goodness for drawstrings. At least I can cinch them up for a while yet. And even more exciting, three years ago I bought a pair of slacks which were just too small. They are cream crepe and fully lined. I kept them in the closet hoping one day. Well, today is the day. When I bought them, I could get them on and that was about it. The pockets bulged and the thighs were creased and there was no way I could ever sit down in them. A month ago I tried them on and the pockets didn't bulge anymore, they weren't creased, but the lining was too tight for me to sit down. Well, here I sit in them, comfortable. I can wear these for another 30 lb. loss and they too will have to go. Thank goodness for drawstrings!
This has been an epic, milestone day and it's not even 10 am.
I can't even tell you how good this feels. I'm almost needing to buy another smaller pair of jeans. All my pants are all too loose. Thank goodness for drawstrings. At least I can cinch them up for a while yet. And even more exciting, three years ago I bought a pair of slacks which were just too small. They are cream crepe and fully lined. I kept them in the closet hoping one day. Well, today is the day. When I bought them, I could get them on and that was about it. The pockets bulged and the thighs were creased and there was no way I could ever sit down in them. A month ago I tried them on and the pockets didn't bulge anymore, they weren't creased, but the lining was too tight for me to sit down. Well, here I sit in them, comfortable. I can wear these for another 30 lb. loss and they too will have to go. Thank goodness for drawstrings!
This has been an epic, milestone day and it's not even 10 am.
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