Tag Archives: workout

Reality of Weight Loss and Workouts

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I finally had to face it – I am my own worst enemy when it comes to my weight loss. Yesterday was my anniversary. I spent a lovely day with my husband. At the end of the day, I decided to broach the subject of my weight. I feel disgusted with myself for wasting nine months of the year without losing any weight. I know it’s my fault. I’m not many excuses. But I am asking for help.

My dear sweet husband, who loves me the way I am, understands how this torments me. He gently points out that I don’t push myself. And he’s right. I don’t. It’s not that I don’t want to work at it but I just don’t have whatever it is to make me stay on track. If I don’t get feedback – lose a pound or feel better – I end up making excuses and set myself up for failure. What will make me take that final plunge into dedication to diet and exercise?

His plan – to workout with me and push my limits where I won’t do it myself. I am wary of it because I don’t want to cause any problems between us. Am I just kidding myself that he can help me where I can’t help myself? I have to be willing to listen and follow his lead without the excuses. I want to replace the “I’m too tired” with “I’m ready for the next set”. But I’ve got to find the motivation and that’s where I hope he can help.

I have talked about meals and exercise but I am not doing what I should do – follow through. This is a painful cycle I put myself through. I knew when I started out writing about this that I had been down this road before. I had hoped putting it into words would force my hand. But apparently not. So here’s where I use trust. The one person in the world that I trust the most is going to get the test of a lifetime. I hope he’s up to it!

New Workout, Old Joints

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After the first workout with the dumbbells, I found that the joint pain may not start right away. The next day my joints ached like nothing I haven’t felt. There is something to doing these in the correct form. I was trying to read the exercise so I knew what I was doing. Instead I should have read first, then do the exercise. I didn’t realize that the point of the elbow could have pain, but apparently it can.

I needed to have a day off to give my muscles and joints a break. It seems that the achiness doesn’t set in for 48 hours. After applying heat, then ice – repeat as necessary – I found some relief. Today, not feeling the pain that I did yesterday.

Tomorrow, since it’s the weekend, the goal is to do the exercise early and get the benefit throughout the day. It always sounds like a good plan. I’m not an early morning person but if I don’t make it first thing in the morning, I will exercise tomorrow. That’s the goal – keep up the exercise, no matter what.

There are plenty of times when I still think that I don’t need to do this or I don’t want to do this but I that’s why I am writing this blog. I keep reminding myself that I must do this. It’s not an option. Growing older is not optional so if I want to be a healthy old person (not ready to call myself old yet), I need to get myself healthier.

Having events that I plan on attending is another motivator. There is a college reunion that I am going to which is not too far in the future. No one would recognize me in the current state my body is in. So I need to remind  myself that if I want to feel that I look good this is an essential part of the plan.

Keep working towards that goal!

First Day of Weights Workout

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There are muscles that I just didn’t know would hurt that hurt. I started the first day of dumbbell workouts. Starting with my shoulders and then moved down my body. It took me a lot longer than I thought it would. I feel that I be able to get faster with the exercises once I commit them to memory.

My shoulders were already a bit weary but I managed to get through it. What I didn’t expect was the feeling of muscle strain in my stomach. I don’t think I have used those muscles in years (I guess I’ve only used them to eat). I can feel the muscles that were stretched across my rib area. I only hope that it gets easier with time.

My plan is now to alternate workouts. One day on the treadmill, one day of weights. I’ve got to kick start this weight loss. I feel that I haven’t lost any weight but I’m hoping that I’m building muscle underneath the soft stuff. I have to hang onto that until I see the numbers move on the scale.

I still have to figure out what the best food is to eat. I am getting conflicting information. I’ve been eating a gluten-free diet for a while now. I don’t have Celiac disease but I do have a wheat allergy. So I’m not putting too much weight in the sources that say that whole grains are part of a healthy diet. Processed grains are terrible. Whole grains make me feel like there is a brick in my stomach. Since I have been eating a gluten-free diet I have felt better. But there are many prepared gluten-free foods that are higher in calories. And it’s all about calories in, calories out.

It’s time that I step up the treadmill workout too. I’m going to check out a new Jillian Michaels workout on the iFit program. I’m not ready for running, I know that but I need to push myself past my comfort zone.

Can I push myself harder???

Pep Up the Workout

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I have decided that I need to pep up my workout. What I need is something that will help balance the cardio of the treadmill and give me more strength. So I’m borrowing my husband’s dumbbells. I’ve done my research and hope to be able to get my arms in shape along with all of the other untoned body parts. But I’m going to pace myself. No overdoing it (already had a taste of what too much, too fast can do (like when I cleaned  the yard). Only two to five pounds to start with should be enough.

I’ve checked out Jillian’s exercises and found there is much I can do with a set of dumbbells. I’ll switch it up, like suggested, so I work out different body parts and not wear out one set of muscles. That’s the new in the exercise department.

For the snacking, I have a bad habit that I am still craving something sweet after dinner. On occassion, I give in so I don’t binge on whatever I find. One treat – like one piece of chocolate – then off I go. Well, better said than done. So I’ve taken to chewing gum after dinner. It actually seems to help. It’s sugar-free and had a sweetness to it. Plus the sensation of a “clean mouth”  makes it less likely that I will snack.

So far so good. Every day is a learning experience. I continue to read articles, other blogs, and recipes. There’s so much information about exercise and dieting that it can be overwhelming. I am going to consult some professionals, hopefully a nutritionist, to help me wade through the conflicting information.

Until then, pep up the workout…