I Survived The First Month!

So, it's been about a month of working out.  I've downloaded my calorie counting app.  I've managed to make it to the gym 3 times a week.  I've resisted most of the sweets that I've been tempted with.  I've gone from 4-5 Cherry Cokes a day to 2.  (I'm not going to give them up, completely.  Because, that would be crazy.)

I've done so much better than I thought I would!  And, the best part is that I've lost 8.5 pounds. :)

But, it's not easy.  There's a TV attached to the treadmill and I've discovered that there are a surprsing amount of pizza commercials.  (I find myself looking away from the screen. haha) 



There is now a Three Sisters' Chocolate right next door to the gym.

They can't wait to go.

 

There are sadistic random contests.

I won a free 220 calorie cookie.

There is a little girl who loves to stop for frozen drinks whenever we pass a Race Trac.

I actually got a water instead!  It didn't taste as good.

There is even a co-worker who brings in donuts.



This new awareness of calories is both a blessing and a curse.  I can no longer eat junk food without a little guilt.  I miss eating junk food without guilt.

But, I'm digging the fact that my clothes are getting baggier, that I have more energy, and I just feel healthier, in general. :)

I'm also extremely grateful for low calorie chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate candy bars with yummy caramel. 

Surprisingly good!

And, I'm probably most excited about the fact that, very soon, I am going to have an excuse to go clothes shopping.  I mean, I can't just go around in baggie clothes?!

The Right Work-Out Clothes Are Key!

Well, I’ve been at this working-out/healthier lifestyle plan for a couple weeks and I’ve been doing pretty well.

 

 

I knew that I had to take care of some important things.  So, naturally, I started with my work-out wardrobe.  It was clear that I needed some better clothes.  So, when Brian mentioned that he’d like a Superman shirt to work out in so it could be a reminder of why he was doing it; well, it was clear to me. Why dress in Brian’s clothes when I can dress like Brian instead?

 

Here come the Supermans!

 

So, I knew when I started this that I wasn’t going to cut out sweets and sodas, entirely. Because, well, I really, really like them. But, I knew that it wouldn’t hurt me to cut back. Well, it did hurt a little, but I’ve done well!

 

How is a girl, like me, supposed to resist all this when I often find myself in fast food places 2-3 times a day?   My new rule is, if I don't particularly like the soda, then I have to get water instead. This makes my visits to McDonald's, Burger King, and Krystal's much healthier (and cheaper).  But, if I make a Taco Bell or Wendy's stop, it's on. 

 

I even resisted the chocolate chip cookies at McDonald's!  They are very good, by the way.

 

Apples are almost as good as cookies...

 

 

I made it to the gym three times last week and I'm pretty proud of myself for that. :)

 

 

Each time, I go to the gym, I can do a little more.  I can do more on the weight machines and I now walk the treadmill at 3 MPH.  No more .06 MPH for me!  And each time, I get off the treadmill, the feeling that the ground is moving below my feet isn't as extreme. Or maybe I'm used to it.  Who knows?  Either way, I'm digging the fact that I don't feel like I'm going to fall over, anymore.
 

And, during all this, I've learned several things.

I learned why Brian told me that I shouldn't go to the gym two days in a row (Ow!).

 

I learned why the quad stretcher machine should be destroyed (Ow, again!).

 

I learned that exercising does actually give you energy (Who knew??).

 

I also learned that Subway displays the calorie count on their cookies right on the front where you have to see it (evil). I learned that the employee will look at you like you're a little crazy if you say "That's not nice! Now I know how many calories are in there!" 

 

It really isn't nice.

 

I learned that I can resist buying the fattening cookie, but, sadly, I can't resist getting replacement pretzel m&m's, instead.  But, at least, they were half the calories!!

.

But, the favorite thing that I've learned is that I lost 3 pounds!

 

Well, I think that calls for a Woohoo!

 

Working Out For The First Time!

It was time for our first day at the gym!

I rushed home from work and hurried into our room to change.  That's when I realized that I didn't have any work-out clothes.  So, despite the fact that I ended up in Brian's t-shirt, shorts, socks, and my fake converse; I was still ready to go!



We agreed that we would take it easy since we're not used to working out.  I tried the treadmill and turned the speed up to .06 mph and promptly gave Brian a high five.  He later told me that he didn't have the heart to tell me that I was still going pretty slow.  I got overly enthusiastic and tried to turn it up a level, but accidently set it to level 11.  In a panic,  I paused it.  I then stood there, unsure of what to do.  Finally, I went and asked for help.  Of course, I came back to a machine that had automatically reset itself when I got off. 

I did 3 weight machines at the lightest weight setting for 6 reps.  I then spent 3 minutes on the eliptical.  And, I was done. :)


On the way out, just to keep it interesting, I dropped my favorite Batman cup on the floor.  It cracked and water spilled everywhere.  We stood there for several awkward minutes, guarding the spreading puddle of water while I wished that I could blame the kids for the mess and mourned the loss of my cup.  Meanwhile, the gym employees walked back and forth in confusion because, apparently, they've never had to mop the floors before.

Finally, a little mortified, a little tired, and a bit proud of myself, we left.


And, since Lizzie had made a very stern request, we stopped at Barnes & Noble for drinks.  As anyone should, after working out for the first time, I got a double chocolate mocha and a slice of cheesecake.

I went home and struggled to stay awake until the kids' bedtime; then promptly, passed out.


I might need a little more practice at this whole healthier lifestyle thing.  And, a lot more practice at safely holding a cup.

Happier times with my Batman cup

 

So, We Joined A Gym.

I'm not known for being in shape.  I'm also not known for being a healthy eater.  My favorite thing to do is lounge in my recliner, eat something chocolate, and drink a Cherry Coke.  So, deciding to get in better shape is a pretty big deal, but it's also something that I've said many times before.  Joining a gym is new, though, and for the first time, in a long time, I'm actually motivated.

I decided to blog about my "journey to healthier lifestyle land," not because I think I will inspire others by my huge success.  But, because I think it might be a little laughable along the way.  Did I mention that I really, really love junk food?  And, maybe if I write about it, it might help me stay a little motivated.

So, what got me motivated enough to give my money to a place that doesn't serve me food or provided me with a new outfit?  A couple of things.

The real world reason.  I'm starting to feel my age.  I don't think I act 39.  In my mind, I'm much younger.   I don't even like to admit that I'm 39.  I've been jokingly lying about my age for so many years that I was a little surprised (a little depressed) this year when I realized that I'm only a year from 40.   That reality is bad enough, but I'm starting to feel like an almost 40 year old.  I get tired quicker and I can't pretend to be 29 if I can't even walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffiing.  Of course, I've always been this way.  I've never had much lung power and people used to ask if I had Asthma when I was a kid.  So, maybe it's only in my head that it's gotten worse.  But, perception is reality, as my Dad always said, and if it gets me motivated, then it's all good.  :)

My other (and clearly more important! ha) reason is cosplay.  What is cosplay?  

From the urban dictionary - "Literally, Costume Play.  Dressing up and pretending to be a fictional character (usually a sci-fi, comic book, or anime character)."

We absolutely love going to conventions, as a family, dressed as our favorite characters.  We have dressed as Batman villains, Doctor Who characters, Avengers, and other cool characters. 

This year at DragonCon, we are going as the Justice League.  Lizzie will be Wonder Woman, Antwan will be Batman, William will be Green Arrow, Brian will be Superman, and I will be a female version of the Flash.  I work corsets into my costumes whenever I can and this will be no exception.  Corsets are pretty amazing and can make you look much thinner than you are.  They successfully squish your fat in, but they also squish it up.  My Flash is not going to be very flashy if I'm showing the wrong kind of extra skin.  .

Brian's the one that suggested a gym because he also needs to get in better shape before he puts on a snazzy skin-tight blue unitard.  So, with a brilliant montage of Emily and Brian work-out sessions running through my head, I hopped on-line and signed us up for free 7 day passes at Just Fitness.  :).

So, we got there and had the official talk with Mr. Gym guy.  I checked off my goals on the sheet.  I want to get in better shape - check.   I want to lose weight.  - check.  There wasn't a box that said I want to look good in a super hero costume, of course.  But, I didn't have any urge to share this goal with Mr. Gym Guy because, really, what was the point?  I didn't feel like explaining it.  Brian had other ideas, though.  :)

When he was asked what got us interested in joining a gym, Brian looked at me with what I could only describe as a gleam in his eye and asked, "Can I tell him?" 

I looked at him with a "please, don't" look (which apparently, looks like my "sure, whatever" look), lied and said "Go ahead."

Now, I am not ashamed of our love of costuming, but it's definitely something that a lot of people don't understand.  So, here I was in a place that I was already uncomfortable in, listening to my husband explain to this guy that we are cosplayers and he needed to be in better shape so he could be Superman, I was embarrassed.  I say that I was listening because I couldn't bring myself to look.  haha.

Ever the professional, the guy didn't miss a beat and said that Labor Day was far enough way and we had plenty of time to get ready for our costumes.  So, we traded in our 7 day passes for a membership with no orientation fee.  We signed papers, were given fancy key chains, and  we were members of a gym!

The next day, we headed to the gym for the first time.  Of course, I made sure to have a couple of cookies first, you know, for energy. ;)