Getting Back Up

I've been thinking about this blog a lot lately. Especially since I am STILL struggling with eating healthy and exercising. I fell of the wagon..."hoard"....but in June I decided I need to restart this 17 year struggle. I feel like I am in Groundhog's Day, saying for the millionth time that "I'm really gonna do it this time," but it's not how many times you fall; it's how many times you get up...right? *Cue Donnie McClurkin* This blog was an outlet when I didn't feel like boring my friends with my constant weight talk. Therefore, inspired by my friend, and her motivation to get healthy, I am back at it! Bonus: I came back, and I have a note from Gihane...I actually had a reader (yay me!)

In my last hiatus I've gained a couple of pounds (4), and hovered around that number since I last posted. Since I wasn't gaining, I told myself I was okay. My fat clothes fit, so I'm good. However, I asked myself, what can I do differently this time? If a plan doesn't work, it must be readjusted. Then I got the bright idea....

Work part time at a really nice gym in order to get a free membership (and extra cash!)

My Thought Process

• My Bally's membership is $112 a year to go to ANY Bally's in the country (sweet
  deal I got from a personal trainer ex-boyfriend).
• Unfortunately, the one nearest me is gri-mey: moldy bathrooms, squeaky machines, old carpet, dark...just not a place you want to be.
• Bally's also had a very limited schedule and even less group fitness classes (which I love), so I had to travel 25+ minutes to take classes that I liked.
• I've always admired the posh 24 hour gym that is literally 5 minutes door-to-door from my house.
• Unfortunately, when I found out it cost $90 a month and I just couldn't bring myself to fork out in one month what I could pay for a year.
• Then I started thinking...I got my deal from a gym employe...receptionsists at most gyms...really...don't...do anything.
  

That sounds like the perfect part time job to me!

I decided to apply part time as a receptionist at Posh Gym although I was a little scared. I chuckle at it now, but I honestly thought they wouldn't give me the job because I am not...fit. I really thought they would say: "You're too fat girl! Lose 10 lbs. and holla!"

I have an active imagination.

Now that I work there, I realize that has NOTHING to do with employment. I love that this gym is 24 hours and 5 minutes away.

Once the school year begins, I can go BEFORE work without having to rush or wake up at the crack of dawn. Also, this gym has THE.BEST.CLASSES.EVER. Not only do they have Zumba and a striptease class, but their step class is the bizness, and they have Hip Hip Cycle which is my new favorite class. They have towel service, filtered water dispenser for bottles, and free coffee (which, if anyone knows me, they know that is my crack, lol).

Other unexpected benefits include seeing all of the people at the gym GETTING IT IN! I realized that a lot of "skinny" women actually work at it. Even seeing people that are significantly overweight come to the gym is inspiring. So here is to a job with benefits! For those of you that have fallen down, what are some creative ways that you've gotten back up? What did you change to make it work?

Finally Found It

I'm sure you've heard the advice that you have to find a physical activity you love to stick with working out. A close friend of mine found running and lost and maintains a large weight loss. Nubian Fitness Goddess found a love of running as well, and Synchronicity added swimming to his love of running. I tried, and well, running and only have a lukewarm chemistry, so I continued to look, wondering if I would ever find that true love (wait--this is starting to sound like my love live, lol).

Recently, I've discovered that I really love step class! I've taken it a couple of times in the past, but lately I have taken it consistently, and once I learned the moves I was hooked. I've been fortunate enough to have good instructors with good musical taste, and that truly makes all of the difference (I went to one step class with a horrible instructor who was constantly forgetting his routine and calling out the steps off beat). With step, I get 45 minutes of a strenuous workout with ab work at the end, but I feel like I am just dancing, and I love to dance. It also keeps me engaged mentally because the instructor is constantly calling out steps, and I have to keep up and remember the steps and calls. The best part is that you can really add your own style and pump up or lower the intensity on your own by moving your arms, adding a bounce, or adding risers. I have yet to leave a class not drenched in sweat.

Step may not be for the rhythmic or choreographically challenged. You also have to have the ability to laugh at yourself. I had to take at least 6 basic classes and about 4 advanced classes until I REALLY got it. Now I find myself scrambling to get to "my" step class. It definitely gets me to the gym.

My next goal is to get involved in some type of sport. I've never played a group sport before, but I am willing to try. Any suggestions? I am considering kickball (childhood favorite), flag football (cute men play...), soccer (foot eye coordination = fear), or tennis (too expensive / too much coordination but lots of locations to play and cute outfits).

My Baby

Although I've known about him for a while, I met him only a few weeks ago. I've always believed that a good relationship is one that makes you a better person, and so it is with my new love.

It took me a while to get accustomed to him and his ways which were exciting yet accompanied by a steep learning curve. Despite a few glitches, he has made me a better communicator, time manager, and has provided endless hours of entertainment. He is also helping me with my fitness goals. *Swoon*

Who is this person? Well, I may have deceived you a bit: he is an it, and it is my new blackberry from which I have typed the last few posts.

Not only that, but now I have a snazzy new calorie and exercise tracking program from Livestrong/Daily Plate that is user and cost friendly($2.99). In the past, I've tried Weight Watchers Online (too expensive), and SparkPeople (free -but the food database is not as comprehensive nor is the mobile interface as user friendly as Daily Plate). I know that the easier it is for me to count calories the longer I will stick with it.

Calorie counting has always been a chore for me: logging onto the PC is not always convenient, carrying a notebook around is bothersome and laborious when it comes to calculations, and keeping track in my head is just ridiculous and a waste of brain space. Now that I have found the one, I don't know why I wasted time with all the others. What method do you use to track you food and exercise?