One year at the gym - 10 reason why joining the gym is a smart choice!

I will be completing one year at my Gym this coming Saturday.

Sometime in early January 2012, my elliptical broke. I had a basic manual elliptical to kick start weight loss for me when I had just delivered Chittu and weighed a ton! One morning when I pushed the pedal hard and felt something break under me. A part of the welding had come off and I was grateful I did not have  abad accident.

In mid-January, I joined the gym after a great deal of should I/ shouldn't I? But it was only in mid-march that I got an annual gym membership. The decision made sense financially. But the huge question was - Will I go?

I remember joining the gym, being newly wed. I took an annual package. This must have been in August. August is monsoon time in Bangalore. I remember to have woken up a couple of mornings to find it drizzling outside. Oh what a great excuse and I went back to sleep. In return for that annual membership, I only went two days if I remember right!

Fast forward to this or rather 2012 when I began to take fitness seriously. I began to push weights, joined the aerobics class, was hooked on to yoga, also became a body pump fan and basically became used to exercise. Did I forget to mention running?? Oh yes, I began to run hauling my big fat behind with me. What a journey it has been!

So quickly, can I tell you why joining a gym could be a smart choice?

1. Options. Plenty. Cardio today? Recumbent bike or elliptical or treadmill? Pilates today? Sounds like fun. Body pump? what is that? So yes I love the options I get at my gym in terms of exercising

2. Inspiration - like the grandmother I know who does the pump class with me and pushes more weights than I do. WOW!

3. Routine. A gym enables a routine. Like having a class at 7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays means I only need to figure out how to work out the other 5 days of the week. 

4. No excuses. Rainy or hot or cold. The gym is there and so is the ambient temperature thanks to the AC.

5. Safety. Oh yes especially being a woman.

6. Flexibility. I know I said routine. But look at it if my son wakes up crying in the morning, I trade my morning run for evening gym cardio! And also if I oversleep on weekends, I can always run on the treadmill right? Yayyy!!!

7. Hot men. Ya ya, I'm married and all. But still who will miss an opprtunity to oggle at those hot guys?No?

8. Motivation. Yes many fellow weight loss attempters who I have seen losing weight in front of my eyes. Really, nothing is more motivating than a weight loss success stiry!

9. Music. Yea man I love some of those workout songs, and can you believe it? The body pump squat track is The Summer of 69!

10. Cute work out wear. And shoes!!!! Yes, don't you think?

So yes, while it could be an expensive affair and I know good gyms are, I'd still like to believe that I'm actually investing some amount back into myself. And yes its totally worth it because it helps you break barriers that you rhought were impossible to break.

I know many people say they will instead run or walk a mile a day. Yes I do admit that should be good enough too. And I've had my fair share of being there and finding stupid excuses to not walk. But something changed for me this time and I am really glad!

 

How today's body pump class happened :)

I was up at 6 a.m for body pump. Gym clothes were ready, so I just needed to get ready and get out of the door. I could not find my scooter keys. The toddler must have taken it from me after I returned from the yoga class last Friday and it could be somewhere amidst his toys. Anyway, I could not find the keys. It was 6.50 a.m and the class began at 7. What did I do? Guess?

 

I decided I just run to the gym instead. I'd be warmed up in case the class started on time. And in case the class was too full, and there were no bars left? I'd do the cardio instead. The point is to get SOME exercsie right? So what if I did not do body pump?

 

So I laced up and ran to the gym. The class had begun and the warm up was almost over when I reached. I looked around. There was a bench, a bar, a mat and some one was sweet enough to give me a couple of 2.5 kg plates! So I joined in for the rest of the class. Of course, I cannot do the push ups right, even the "girl" push ups. Even one. Nope. Not even one. But I can do the lunges, squats, dead lifts, shoulder presses, tricep dips & extensions, bicep curls, pec flys and almost the whole ab routine. So what I can do is far more than what I can't do, right? I will get there. Slowly but surely!

 

I have totally rocked the work-outs this month, so far. Check out my work-out page here. I might not be able to exercise for next 5 days. Wedding and all. But I'll still do what I can. I'm  carrying my new running shoes - my Adidas - Response Stability which feels so good for my flat foot - just in case so that I don't have a dumb excuse if I am presented with an opportunity to run. Wow... look at me. I really have changed!

 

 

Yay!! Holiday!

Welcome holiday in the beginning of the week!

I presumed there would be no body pump class. I turned off my alarm and went back to sleep. The gilt worm caught up with me at 7 o clock and I made a sleepy call to the gym to find out if they were open. Yes, came the reply. So I weighed myself, promptly got into my tracks and scooted off to the gym. The truth is I know I feel so much better when I do go, even if I do the non-designated work out for the day. Exercise also keeps my eating in check and makes me feel agile, strong and energetic. I know I say this all too often here. But I repeat, just in case anyone reading this can cut their excuse for the day and actually get some form of exercise in. It is also a reinforcement for me to remind myself that the hardest part is just getting my butt out of the house. Once out, I always do good!

I cycled for 20 mins until I felt the lactic acid burn my thighs, then claimed my turn on the RFX for 15 short but intense minutes and then went to the elliptical. Man, I found it so lam. Really! I thinking running and spinning and pumping has really strengthened my legs!  Oh, and also I saw a guy walk backwards on the treadmill. First it was walking backwards in the park. Now the treadmill too? Sometimes these fitness trends are wierd, no?

Anyway I stretched without the tension of having to reach home ASAP. I got home, fixed us all breakfast. Cleared the fridge of leftovers, and am planning a lunch date with the husband at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK). The CPK here , I found is far better than the original CPK of california :P. Now I can compare and all. I might also get new running shoes. I'm off to enjoy the day. Hope you guys have a good one too.

Cheers!

10000 Page views and an emotinal post in honour!

Yes my blog views hit 10026. It could have well been me viewing my own blog 10000 times. But I also use the do not track my own views feature.

 

I did not start this blog as a weight loss blog. It was meant to be space I used for my penchant for writing. Eventually, I realised this weight loss attempt is something I should get around to doing seriously because at that time I was miserable, in terms of self esteem - I had gained nearly 20kgs during my pregnancy just because of the total nonsense I fed myself, ended up fracturing both feet and was still having trouble with little things like sitting on the floor and standing up, walking fast was out of question and of course every person who saw me had words of advise to offer as to how I really needed to lose weight. I cried at many comments, fumed at attitudes of people and was drowning in self pity. I googled" weight loss blogs" and chanced upon the many blogs I have on my sidebar, now. I decided to take the plunge and be candid about it. Yes I am fat, but that does not mean I am a bad person beneath the adipose.

 

The husband decided to help a little and get me a home elliptical so that I could exercise within in the convenience of my home at any time and for however long without having to worry about my 6 month old. I initially started off with 10 mins. Can you believe it? And slowly increased until I decided to ditch the elliptical and join the gym because I needed more of a challenge.

 

I lost about 13 kgs ( from 100 to 87) by the time I joined back work in June 2011.Then I stopped doing much of the good stuff, ate out a lot and heard from a colleague one day that it looked like I had put on weight ( in 3 months) I checked the weighing scale, she was right. I was hovering near the 90s. Then I attacked again and got down  to  about 79. Then came March 2012, and our anniversary celeb at the Kovalam, Kerela. I was up 3 kilos!!! Then down to 76-77 ish and then USA in August, and the 80s again.

 

But in between, I can do an unassisted machine pull up, ran a 10 k race, restarted dance class (which I should get my ass back on), even trekked a wee bit and am generally very very fit, right now. But I am still FAR FAR away from goal weight, and really hope I will not stay fat forever. I hope I can sustain a journey into the lower 70s and am pushing hard. I am logging in food at spark people, exercise and weight right here on my blog and really believe that this is the recipe to success. My only battle is against sweet sugar and white rice that surreptiously add up the calories I consume.

 

For all those who made this blog hit 10000 views, my thanks to them. Please let me know if there is anything I should do to improve this blog or you would like this blog to address better. In case, dear secret reader, you would like to delurk, please do. I'd love to know you.  

 

So here's to many more blog posts and hopefully lost kilos.

Yours,
Sugar!

Workout update and March goals revisited

My work out this week looked like this:

Monday: 30 mins on treadmill and 30 mins on arc trainer

Tuesday : 30 mins on elliptical and 20 mins on stationary bike

Wednesday : Personal Strangth Training trial session (was nice and tough)

Thurday: Day off

Friday: Personal Strength Training session 1 ( I loved it)

Saturday: Dance Aerobics Class

So workout wise, I had a good week. Foodwise. I am improving. staying off the chips that travelling with us from Kerela is proving hard. Si I let myself a small portion and cur out the starch from dinner. Todays dinner for example was a half papaya that I shared with Chittu, a subzi I made out of tinda, ivygourd and paneer and glass of cold milk as I type this out. Chittu loved the papaya :)

Weightwise, I barely made it to the seventies again. With 79.8 this morning. I'm expecting the personal strength training to rev up my weight loss and help drop a few quick kilos. Also, the exhorbitant amount I am paying for it, should help me stay with controlled eating.

March goals revisited:

1. Structured workouts:

Yes. I did it. I was regular with strength training before the vacation break. Now even more so with the services of a personal trainer.

2.Improved fluid intake:

Errrm. Doing ok with this one. But some days, in the midst of work, I forget my water.

3. No vacation weight gain.

Total bummer! I messed up!

4. Food weight diary

Yep it has become part of my routine now. It also helps me keep track of my work outs.

Seriously now thinking of it, I totally went out out of control during the vacation. I wonder how long it will take me to get out of the seventies! The eighties costed me seven months, for the record :) Sometimes I panic how long this will take. I really want to make it, and feel time is running out. I hyperventilate. I freak out. I think of doing drastic things. But well, I now know what works! And that certainly is not yo-yo dieting!

Ok baby steps. One day at a time. I should get there :)

Last weeks exercise schedule & holiday eating plan

This post is from my mental drafts:

You know I've joined the gym. My exercise schedule last week looked like this:

Monday : I took off

Tuesday : 40 mins cardio ( treadmill + elliptical + stationary bike)

Wednesday: Strength Training (Chest, Back & Arms)

Thursday: 40 mins cardio ( treadmill + elliptical + stationary bike) & iron man

Friday: Strength Training (Lower Body – legs)

Saturday: 50 mins dance aerobics

This week I expect to miss Thursday, Friday & Saturday because we are going on a temple tour. So I compensated by working out on Sunday and have been able to do so on Monday and Tuesday despite have a sick child.

My huge worry is how well I would be able to eat during the travel. I plan to carry some fruits, cereal and granola bars so that I will not be tempted to stuff myself with carbs over the next three days. When I’m on a holiday, my brain tends to think it is licensed to demand a triple scoop sundae every hour. Usually my eating party begins at the airport.Needless to day, I  gained weight over the last  Diwali and New Year hols.

This time I have mentally been telling myself that a holiday shall not mean unlimited treats. I have been in a weight plateau for almost a month, and I certainly do not want to begin February on a heavier note. So I have a plan:

The plan is to figure out my own breakfast & dinner and enjoy lunch with the rest of the family avoiding/minimizing white rice, sugar and oil. Let’s see how well I do. It's just a three day break! 

Whirlwind weekend? Not really!

I’m late, I know. But the kid was miserably ill over the week end. We went from a cold to a cough to severe wheezing. The wheezing subsided only after a couple of doses with the nebulizer. So quick weekend update:

I worked out both Saturday & Sunday. Saturday, I did the group dance aerobics class at the gym. It was awesome once again. We are planning a pilgrimage this coming weekend and I expect to miss 3 gym days. So, I compensated by doing a fantastic cardio session on Sunday. Like I read on someone’s blog – You never regret a workout. EVER.  Another thing I read on someone else’s blog (Roni’s weigh?) - the hardest part about going to the gym is getting your butt out of the door. So true, for me!

Food wise – honestly, I’ve been alright. Counting calories to about 1300 per day. But I’ve been eating all foods in moderation, including white rice.

Weight wise – I don’t know what to say. Yesterday, scale read 80.8. I was happy. But today, I recorded 81.5. One thing I know for sure is that white rice really stands in the way of weight loss. I lose beautifully, when I totally skip it. But then there come times when I wake up feeling exhausted. That’s not good! I will watch till the end of this month, and go back to phase I, South Beach Diet if I still hover around the same numbers. I need to check up on the measurements also. The new gym routine might have a little role in the weigh-in results.May be better tone? What say?

Also I used the weekend for shopping. I restocked on Weight Watchers jam, Oatmeal and Granola Bars from Godrej – world food store, fruits and veggies from the local market and have whole masoor dal dosa (lentil crepes) batter ready in the fridge. 

As I said we are going to be travelling this weekend. And, I wonder when I will ever graduate to the 70’s. I really need some encouragement now. After being good and resisting the mint oreo cookies the Scientist bought. 

Joining the gym, exercise timings & a general wellness update

Yes I did it! The decision to join the gym was more the Scientist’s than mine. Sometimes, only sometimes, it feels good when someone else decides, and you just have to chug along. So, yes I am a part of a very plush, expensive gymnasium. I have done three days at the gym this week, one was a power yoga group class, which totally rocked! And the other two times, I have been pretty much on my own, sticking to the treadmill and elliptical. I shall have to wait for the physio session, which is tomorrow to get done, so that I will have a structured work out, everyday.

My intention is to do the group class – being either yoga or pilates two days of the week and do the other stuff which will be recommended the other four. Sounds good. No?

The last couple of days, I have felt extreme tiredness. Yesterday I was dying to crash into bed, by afternoon. I figured, may be I just did not give my body enough food. So yesterday, I ate. PELNTY OF CARBS – white rice, rotis, dinner at a Chinese restaurant and had a good night’s sleep. Guess what, I went to the gym at 6 a.m. this morning, even before the sun was up. I am feeling great right now! 

I think I have decided on my workout time, which least interferes with Chittu time, or cooking or work, or socializing or whatever else. The plan is to hit the gym by 6.a.m. Chittu sleeps late into the mornings now a days, and I think will also be able to get Maami to help me with cutting the veggies and get the cooker job done, by the time I return from the gym.

The day before yesterday, was another restaurant dinner. Both dinners did not include dessert. My weight this morning read 83.4. I really have to get my thyroid checked. I am trying not to feel too bogged down by the weight gain/being stuck at the same weight again. But it is hard. I know I’m being good on the food, and very dutiful about the exercise. Things should look up soon, and as always I will keep the updates coming.