Tag Archive | working out

The $160 Experiment

My relationship with food is messed up. Due to years of forever trying to get to that “magic” number on the scale, I’ve been “brainwashed” in counting calories. Sadly, this has resulted in just a mess right now.

A few years ago, I saw a nutritionist and started to get myself straightened out on the food thing. I was definitely eating better thanks to seeing that nutritionist and it helped tremendously. I wasn’t eating terribly at the time, but I could definitely improve what I was doing. One thing that did come up though was that I just don’t eat enough. Continue reading →

Random Thoughts: The Winter Edition

Feb7

It’s been a couple of months since I shared with you the strangeness that runs through my head. And since it is the beginning of a new year, it seems like a good time to share the craziness that is happening now. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but as usual, I have thoughts about a lot of things. Such as . . . Continue reading →

Focusing and Goals

Jan8

January 2, 2014 I had my first training session of the year with my trainer and while we were discussing some of my grand scheme goals, the idea of what do I really want to accomplish came up during the session. Before the year started, I already had a running goal in mind. I also had some ideas of things I wanted to accomplish otherwise as well. But now, I need to figure those goals out concretely and figure out a plan of attack.

I suppose the number one goal is to get to the number I have been “dreaming” about on the scale. I’m much closer than I was at the start of last year. And while I should have met that number last year, I’m ok that it didn’t happen. It was aggressive to meet but now I think it can happen.

At my session, we were kind of brainstorming some things I should try to do this year. For instance, one of the things is to go shopping for clothing that is not workout related. I hate shopping and I really desperately need to buy some clothes that fit. Just about everything I own is way too big. However given my past shopping experiences I always dread it because while I may be smaller, things still never fit. So it is beyond frustrating to shop for something new. However, I should probably try to not look like a slob when I am not working out. Continue reading →

Come With Me

Jan7

He said in such a seductive voice. “Come with me.” And so we obediently went with him as he asked us to add a little more resistance to the wheel because we were ready to tackle the hill.

Come with me is what he said as he gestured with his hand for us to come out of the saddle and go to a standing climb from the seated climb we were previously in. Then he motioned with his hand to indicate where our hearts rate was and where he wanted us to take them. Those were the little things he did to make the ride so delicious. Continue reading →

Exhilaration

Dec29

Lately, I can honestly say that things are good for me. As I’ll explain in another post, I changed and that change has made me immensely happy. The past couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to do some subbing of Spinning® classes at my gym. So far I have done two of them and each time I teach, it is just more and more awesome.

The first time I taught a Spinning® class, it was pretty frightening at first, but then it turned out quite well. To say I enjoy throwing myself to the wolves is probably an understatement. That first class was a very last-minute subbing thing and it was at the club that I’ve heard from many people has a “special” personality when it comes to the Spinning® classes.

My first hiccup in that class began when I couldn’t figure out how to get the fans on full speed. This annoyed one of the members quite dearly, but he managed to get them turned up. That was good since this particular studio tends to get hot really fast. Continue reading →

Starting Over

Nov29

Burpees. As you know, I hate them. The month of November I was supposed to be doing a burpee challenge to work up to doing 100 of them by the end of the month.

I wish I could say that I was extraordinarily successful at this challenge. But, that was not meant to be. Instead, you could say I failed miserably. I made it to the halfway point and then life took a disappointing turn where the very last thing I wanted to do was a burpee. So, after making it to 50, I was done. Continue reading →

It’s Back

Nov27

My gym for the past two years has offered a 30-day challenge. Go to the gym for 30 days straight between thanksgiving and Christmas and they will pay for a month of dues, give you $50 to use toward services and five guest passes to use at any location or bring your friends to work out with you.

This year will be the third year of the challenge and it is only 25 days. This because Thanksgiving happens so late this year. It begins on Friday and of course I’m up for this challenge. Continue reading →

Why

Nov10

That is a question I get asked by some when it comes to my spending so much time at the gym. Why do you go? What is so interesting about it? Can’t you do that stuff at home? How do you have time to be there so much?

Truth of the matter is, I really like it. It is my “happy” place. Working out feels good. Whenever I am feeling like crap or crappy about my life (which is way too often), I just go to the gym and usually within a few minutes of being there, I feel better. Also there are classes that I really enjoy doing and by workout out, I get to challenge my body to do more than it has done before. Sometimes I even surprise myself with how much I have pushed myself physically. Continue reading →

you’re not getting any younger. . .

Jul29

If you’ve read any past posts on here, you know I spend a lot of my time at the gym working out. So it should come as no surprise that last week I was at the gym and had a most interesting conversation.

That conversation involved of all things relationships. Or more importantly, starting them. It all began when I was talking to another member about how he doesn’t show up for a particular class on Thursday mornings with one of his favorite instructors and attending law school.

Eventually this led to guessing how old I am and conversation about how blondes and gingers are not my type, but brunettes are just so good. Oddly, the guy is just the opposite and he can’t stand brunettes, but loves him some blondes and gingers. Continue reading →

Athletes, Burnout and Routine Shake ups

Jul13

Before I started marathon training, I had been taking a number of rest days. Part of me knows that was completely reasonable to do. Especially since I had run a half marathon and a 10 mile race within six days of each other. During the weeks of the taper leading up to my half, I started to get sick. That would explain my half not being the absolute best and why I ended up missing my time goal.

Anyway, Shortly after the 10 mile race, I ended up taking consecutive days off from working out. And I realized I was starting to get burned out from working out. Yes, I took days off, but then to get back at it seemed like such a chore. I tried to run a couple of times and each time, all I could muster was a mile. It felt so pathetic. Pathetic because I was the person who had gone over 450+ days straight of doing something, whether it was easy yoga or an intense weight class to leisurely runs. I talked about this revelation with my trainer and she said, well part of it is because I am now an athlete. Athletes have to and do take breaks. To prevent injuries and so as not to start hating what they do. Continue reading →

In My Head

Thoughts and Observations on lots of stuff