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Friday, May 21, 2010

Feeling Inadequate and needing gym help

Hello all
I know it has been about a week since I have posted, I think I have been avoiding it. I still read everyone else's blogs and they are so good and so motivational and give good tips and have great ideas. I just feel like I am not even close to these people like I am not organized in my weight loss journey I do not think I could plan meals or exercise, I am too hard on myself I think, and do not really know why people would want to read my blog!! But I am going to keep going with it and I hope the people who do read it actually like it!

For my birthday I went to my hometown and went for thai with K and my 2 former university roomates and their boyfriends and a lady that I used to work with. It was a small dinner but very nice and tasty ofcourse. On my actual birthday I had lunch with my oldest friend (we have been friends since we were 3) we do not see each other much but when we do it is just like old times. So that was very nice and then my mom made a nice big Italian dinner (mmm) it was so good. I did really well with my eating over my birthday weekend however I did eat 3 pieces of pizza bread at dinner, I am telling you this stuff is AMAZING and I only eat it about once every 2 years so I had 3 pieces and it was delish. I got some very thoughtful presents as well. My mom is so happy that I am into cross stitching now as my sister is not very crafty and my mom lives for crafts. She gave me a lot of supplies that I needed and also a cross stitch that she made a long time ago with a cork board attached for little notes and such and she wrote a messege on the back about how happy she was to have another stitcher in the family, so that meant a lot to me. My mom also gave me a ring that my dad had given her over 25 years ago so that was very nice. I also got a pink i pod so I made sure I put my music on it so that I can have a good work out mix...

Bringing me to work outs, seriously I have no worked out in forever. I do not know why, I just cannot get the motivation to go to the gym, but I NEED TO. Any words of advice about the gym would be greatly appreciated. The thing is I just do not know what to do when I am there. My goals are to lose weight in my tummy and thighs. So I guess I should be doing cardio? But how much? What machines are best? Any work out classes recommended? Swimming? I am trying to work up the courage and motivation to go to the gym but I want to know what to do once I get there. So thanks in advance for any help! My eating has been just ok. I am still stuck at 189 and I know why. I need to eat more fruit and veggies but I have been doing better than I used to but I can definitely improve. Another thing I need help with is I am alone for dinner almost every night, as K works 4-12 or 7pm-3am so I am always alone for dinner, and I just cannot get the motivation to cook for 1 or always feel like I make too much. Anyone else out there have a spouse who works shift work and has to eat alone?

Biggest Loser this week was good, I am loving the final 4. I really hope Daris gets put through to the finals. I like Koli but I think he will gain all his weight back it does not seem like he is learning life lessons but just wanting to win and will have a hard time dealing with real life when he gets home. I could really relate to Daris eating at night and he felt so bad, I think we can all see a bit of us in him so I hope he makes it through, and I LOVE Michael and Ashley so I will be happy with whoever wins this year! Who are y'alls faves? Yes I am not from the south (I am a good ole Canadian) but I love the saying "y'all" just makes me happy and I do not know why!!

I think that is all for me today, just trying to make myself go for it you know? I know what is holding me back... ME! I want to just push myself out of the way and go for it but there is a voice in my head that says I can never be like those people on Biggest Loser or I can never be like the bloggers I read everyday who are succeeding. Such an evil voice...

PS My weight watchers loss this week was 1.6 not bad, but could do better!

8 comments:

  1. The hardest part about going to the gym is going to the gym. I find that once I'm there and mid workout I can't remember what all the fuss was about. As for what to do, my doctor instructed me to start out slow and work my way up to doing more so that I don’t hurt myself or burn myself out from doing too much too soon. I’m now up to at least one 45 minutes workout a day during the week, a barbell class (includes free weights, squats, lunges (blah!), arms and abs with great music) once a week and I’ve just added some kickboxing into the mix. But when I started out it was 30 minutes on an elliptical (easy on the joints and tracks your calories burned) 3-5 times a week. As for classes I would a barbell class when you feel you can handle it to compliment your cardio, you still have to work and tone your muscles and muscle burns fat (learned that from my time in WW). You might even feel up to some cardio after that class. If your coordinated (unlike me), step classes are a great workout and Zumba is a fun cardio class if you like Latin music and dance like salsa. So start slow and build up, smalls steps add up.

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  2. Going to the gym cam be difficult, but fun as well. Having a plan is essential. When I go to the gym I like to start with a good,OMG stretch, and then do a cardio machine I'd class.( I love Zumba btw) Then I do so weight or resistance training and I always end with a swim. Now I cannot do this everytime I go, so sometimes I do 20 minutes on the treadmill, 20 on the elliptical, and then swim for 30. Swimming is an awesome way to burn calories, build muscle, and get fit. It is my favorite exercise, but be prepared to get sore.

    Also, you should see if your gym offers,a buddy system and they can set u up with a buddy to workout with if you are meeting someone there sometimes it helps you go more actively and frequently. I hope this helps.

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  3. Well right now I am a fan of the elliptical; have you tried it? If not it can be a bit awkward getting used to but just take it slow and it comes to you pretty quick. You mention swimming; are you a swimmer? I know how to swim, I swim very well, but I don't call myself a swimmer. Not my thing. My wife is, she has always enjoyed it and so she looks to that as her primary exercise. It is a very good total body work out - so if you are a swimmer then get in the pool :-)

    Go Gett'em Lauren!

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  4. A gym trick...even if you don't feel like going, FORCE yourself to put on gym clothes and go for a walk/run or go to the gym. Tell yourself that if after 10 minutes you still aren't feeling it, that you can go...

    However, more often than not, once you get started, you'll get extra energy and want to keep going. The same holds true with an exercise video or anything else!

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  5. Lauren,

    There is no right answer accept the following:

    1) Do as much cardio as you can as often as you can
    2) Using whatever machine you like best

    There is no way to get this wrong...you can't waste time as long as you are doing something. Anything is truly better than doing nothing.

    I'd like to say go to the elliptical 30 minutes per day, 3 days per week at a minimum...but, I like the elliptical and can do it. Some hate it, though, and would rather use a stationary bike, a treadmill, etc.

    You ask 10 people, and you'll get 12 answers on this.

    You know that doing cardio is the right thing to do, it is up to you to find the activity that'll get you out there to start and building from there.

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  6. This post i can really identify with. I find myself wondering why I can't be the person who writes down every bit of food and organizes workouts by the week. I"m not. I work out as often as I can, with my friend. I'm not even at the point where I can go alone without paralyzing fear. I don't have a diet, or a plan, i just make good choices for every meal, and eat less than I normally eat. I recognize my bad days, and do my best. The only word of advice i can think of is don't ever give up. Ever. Use your blog as a therapy :) I do, and the support is what keeps me going day after day. The people who comment are the ones that keep my spirits up, and they don't even know it!! Don't ever look back, or kick your self, just keep moving forward. You can do this!

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  7. My trick for getting in my cardio is to do interval training. run, walk, run, walk, run faster, walk, etc switching every min or so. I do 30 min 4x a week and do weights 3x a week. I feel seriously DUMB doing some of the moves I do, but I just suck it up and do it because it's WORKING! Check out Trainer Momma she is super knowledgeable and has workouts and videos. Love her! http://trainermomma.blogspot.com/

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  8. I love reading your blog - it's actually one of my favorites because I think we have a lot alike!!

    Honestly, sometimes I don't know how I convince myself to work out. Here's the only thing that's really worked for me. I go to the gym with the intention of doing 15 minutes. I tell myself that all I have to do is 15 minutes and if at 15 minutes I'm miserable, I leave. If I want to stay and do more, I stay. But it gets me to the gym because it just feels like a manageable amount of time.

    And before I moved to Texas and was still living in Canada, I LOVED saying y'all. It just rolls off the tongue. Now I'm living in Texas and I get to say it all the time - it's awesome!!

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