Back in the saddle again

Given that I have this horrible history of starting and stopping exercise all throughout my life, I was afraid that I had fallen off the wagon again but only getting in two sessions last week (one was with Guapo, so it's not really heavy cardio). I started again on Monday, fearing that I had completely lost my motivation to continue exercising. Contributing to this blog has definitely helped inspire me to keep going. You guys are doing amazing things. I did get myself to run on the treadmill last night, and I plan on going back to the gym tonight and Saturday night. I'm also ice skating with some co-workers during my lunch hour today. It's been ages since I was on skates, but the coolness of the ice rink sounds just about right in this 100 degree weather.

Green with Inspiration, not envy

These blog spots are truly motivating me. I fulfilled my promise to have the TV/Gilad training thing last Saturday (since no cute Guapo is anywhere to be seen around here!) Today I was ready to relax after getting home from work. I reread the hikingblog and the two new ones about daddy and Guapo and I got into action quick. I started on two loads of laundry then grabbed my sneakers and my fabric shopping bag. Instead of driving to the supermarket, I WALKED to the closest Trader Joes. I did the gas-free environmental thing. I left the house at 6:45PM and returned at 7:47 with a 5-pound bag of groceries. All the shoppers at Trader Joes must have seen me red and huffy puffy because they sure kept away from me in the aisles! Now I know why. When I got home I saw my face red like I had a sunburn or maybe they thought I was having hot flashes or a fit or...who cares. Definitely a useful work out and the laundry is still goin'. Keep the motivation going.

Father Knows Best...

He'll never hear it from me, but my dad was actually right about me weighing myself on a regular basis. I got on the scale Monday evening, I was terrified to see the numbers. When I looked down I realized that I have lost 4 lbs in 3 weeks. I called my doctor's office, I was there 3 weeks ago for an appointment, to see what my weight had been and sure enough, I had lost 4 lbs. It was really encouraging. I'm not going to tell my dad he was right about weighing myself because I dont' want to hear it.

My trainer es muy Guapo!

Having a personal trainer in Los Angeles is about as commonplace as having a nanny in Manhattan. There are so many types to choose from: the boot camp types from Celebrity Fit Club, the Gilad types who use their previous Israeli military training experience to "motivate" you, the touchy-feely granola-y types, etc. Living in the suburbs, my trainer is my dog Guapo. Guapo stays indoors most of the day due to his separation anxiety (he was dumped at a park in East LA by his owners), so his only exposure to the outside world is his daily walk. Usually, my dad walks him and his anything-goes walking style has erased all those months of Dog Whisperer training I did on Guapo when we first got him. Once in a while, when my dad steps out to run errands, Guapo looks at me with those pleading eyes and begs me to take him out. Walking with Guapo usually involves cleaning up after his business, almost having your arm pulled out of its socket when he sees a squirrel running across the street, and prying that nasty neighbor Corgy off of Guapo's neck if the kids forget to close the door leading to their backyard.

Being dragged down the street by 50 pounds of pure muscle is not my idea of fun after a long day at the office, but Guapo just looks at me with those big sad brown eyes and I see the hope intensify in the flapping of his tail. If the people in my life all looked at me with such big sad brown eyes, forgiving people would be a piece of cake.

Up Hill Battle

This morning I did the West Hollywood hike with my trainer. We have not made it to the top of the hill yet. I will say that the entire hike was easier than last week. I'm still huffing and puffing all the way up, but somehow I'm not straining as much as I was last week. On the way back down we passed a stoner who was sitting in front of an apartment complex off of Sunset. As we passed he remarked that we would not be getting up that early to workout if we on the bowl (I believe that was a metaphor for the bong); he clearly was on the bowl.

We ended the work out with sit-ups. Next week we will ascent further than we have thus far.

THE PANTS

I have this pair of pants that I have never worn. I've had them for over a year. They are one size too small. I put them on this morning- they still don't fit. On the bright side, they weren't as tight as they had been when I had last put them on. My goal is to have these pants fit properly by the end of September. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE BEST OF ME, PANTS!

Red Faced

I have not yet exercised to Gilad because I keep missing his show on FitTV cable. They sure have a lot of shows. I need a fitness show or routine to aggressively counter-attack the daily stresses of my job! My trainer, Marie, had me hang from my feet for about a minute. It helped, but my fat cheeks squished my face and made my lips and face turned really red. Nice picture, eh? I am having teeth clenching issues and I can really feel it at my temples by day's end (TMJ city). Marie said that acupuncture helps with that. Anybody know if it does?

Chipping Away

Monday night I did a forty minute walk. It was pretty low-impact but I did work up a sweat. Last night I did more weights on the giant ball. I need to take it up a notch this week...hopefully I'll be able to do that. I've decided that when I'm watching TV I must be doing something like weights, or sit-ups; I'm not allowing myself to veg.

Melting as I read

You guys are doing great. Very original ideas for keeping yourselves motivated and active physically. I am really inspired by the exercise efforts and plans during this sticky-wave of humidity and mild heat. I could barely stay awake during the day. Now it is going to be a new week of exercise planning. I will have my planned two weekly sessions (can't afford more than that), but since your examples inspire me to try to be more creative , I am going to add something new and different...?...Maybe I will try a few TV work outs. I love watching my favorite TV jock GILAD on Fit TV cable. His workouts are great, he looks incredible and the background is a wonderful inspiration for visiting Hawaii. Yes, any excuse to watch that guy and the scenery. Let's see if I can at least get one TV workout done too.

"And now, I will torture you guys. . . hee hee"

That's how my ballet teacher likes to open up our adult beginner's ballet class. I've been neglecting my ballet classes for the entire month of August so I could finish the marathon that is the end of the service year pioneer crunch. With that done as of yesterday (woo hoo!), I'm committed to being a regular at my twice a week ballet class again.

Ballet provides a lot of the same benefits as yoga --- increased body awareness, strength building and improved coordination and flexibility. I started taking ballet classes with Elena, a Russian retired ballerina, when she was 5 months pregnant in December 2005. She kept on teaching for the next 3 1/2 months until she was 2 weeks away from giving birth. In that 3 1/2 months, she had gained about 25 pounds and was as big as a house but could still gracefully kick her leg up to her ear and do the splits with ease. Within four weeks of giving birth, she shrank back down to her normal weight and never missed a beat with her amazing strength and flexibility. This woman is a walking infomercial for lifelong exercise --- one that says "Exercise makes me beautiful."

BUNNS OF STEEL

Yesterday I went on an 18 mile bike ride, from El Segundo to Redondo Beach. My friend Linda invited me to go, and I'm very glad that I accepted the invitation. I hadn't been on a bike since 2000, maybe 2001. At first I looked like a feeble old woman on the bike- it was quite embarrassing.

Ridding a bike on the street has always been intimating, and at certain points in the ride we did have to negotiate some streets. For the most part we were on the bike path, and I'm more comfortable with that. About halfway into the ride I thought- I'll never make it. I was going through a rolodex in my head of who I could call to come pick me up in Redondo Beach. Then a resolve came over me that I to finish this ride, and there was no other option. We stopped and had a fabulous Italian dinner and then resumed the ride. The last leg was especially difficult because MY BUTT WAS ON FIRE. All in all I'd have to say that I had a great time and I was so overjoyed to have completed the ride, even if I had to walk my bike up the hill to Linda's house; it was all worth it.

This morning I met my trainer Cindy. We did a hike in West Hollywood that was really steep. She had weights with her and she'd have me do reps as we were walking. This walk was super challenging. At some points I felt like I was on a death-march of sorts; Cindy assures me the more we do this hike, the easier it will become. I felt really great after our workout. MY BUTT IS STILL BURNING from the last two days of activity. I'm going to go soak in Epsom salts right now.

Motivational Algebra

I've recently decided to handle my goal of exercising and eating healthier in increments --- monthly increments, that is.

Last week was week one of dieting and exercising. My goal is to do 4 sessions of aerobic exercise a week (5 times a week would be a stretch goal). So far, I've completed one full week of workouts, or 25% of my monthly goal. The end of this week, week two, would put me at 50% completion rate for my first monthly increment of intense exercise. I'm halfway during week two, and have completed 75% of this week's workouts. That means I've accomplished 7/16 of my total scheduled monthly workouts. Considering I have a history of starting and stopping early on in my previous exercise attempts I find these percentages highly motivating. I guess all that Algebra from high school did come in handy after all.

Pilates Gelato

Yet another Pilates Day (#32). I do get a work out that not only makes me sweat but makes me feel all limber and longer even if it is just in my imagination. My lower back and abdomen are definitely benefitting. I have trouble with very taught shoulders and neck. The trainers are all working on that with me, and I know I am more flexible than ever.
Well, Joe Pilates himself said "In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in twenty you will see the difference, and in thirty you'll have a whole new body." I think that for a clutzy one like me, maybe 40 sessions will do the trick?
I do want to reward myself with a gelato, though. The gelato place on Hillcrest near Los Feliz. I may have to make an excuse to go out there... mmmm

Thursday Night

Last night I did weight work while balancing on one of those giant balls. My trainer, Cindy, said that you can do all your weight work while stabalizing your core on a exercise ball at the same time. I also held the ball between my legs and did lifts. I awoke this morning and did 20 mintutes on the treadmill. Little by Little!

Start Post - Pilates day 31

I went to my 31st Pilates session yesterday with a new instructor named Emory. Not Emery, like the nail file, but Emory. Thirty first lesson definitely does not mean Pilates Master. It means I can aim both arms in the air withou tripping.