Back to it!!!!

[yeahbethany]

Today is the day I go.....

drum roll please.......

BACK TO THE GYM!!!!

The sedentary lifestyle is really getting to me...I can feel my strength and endurance decreasing. I need to take some drastic action, hehehe!!!

Today is gonna be a good old-fashioned butt-kicking!!!

I'll let you know how it goes!

[qetta]

Good for you and have fun!!

[Jay]

I should probably do the same... but why is it so darn expensive?!?

anywho, good for you! :p

[Rawism]

I am going to join you, yeahbethany.

I am paying for a gym membership monthly that I hardly ever use. I used it more when I was training for a marathon.

Now that I am finished with that, I have lost my motivation to exercise.

My motivation needs to be the fact I am losing money!!!

[yeahbethany]

I can TOTALLY relate to that, Platinum! I spend so much money on my membership, I need to get my butt in there!

Which I did! I worked my lower body and core today, and did 25 minutes of cardio. I feel terrific right now...but I haven't worked my lower body that hard in years....I won't be surprised if I have trouble walking tomorrow, hehehe. But I feel good now.

Tomorrow, my goal is to work upper body, and do more cardio. I hope I don't back out with some more excuses...

[GoingRAW]

Good job YB!!! Just remember that January is the busiest time of year at the gym, so don't get discouraged if there is a crowd. And I am here if you need extra motivation or some work out ideas, but most of all have fun :D

[carolg]

I had a painful year with a frozen shoulder and several months ago my chiro had actively been working on my shoulder and it's improving slowly, but yes, improving. I therefore did simple exercises at home he recommended so I have not used my long time membership much in the past 2 months. My annual at Bally's I believe is $139 or less. It does go up yearly, but I am one who gets my money work. I signed contract long time ago however.
carolg

[yeahbethany]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys! I can still walk today, so that is a good sign! Today is upper body/cardio.

We are leaving in exactly 3 weeks to go to Matt's mother's house for Christmas...I want to go to the gym six days a week for 3 weeks and really get a good start on these tough workouts! It will be good, because, after the 3 weeks, my body will get a week's rest while I'm on vacation! I'm really excited for this!

[yeahbethany]

Ok, I did it! I worked upper body, and did some walking/running on the treadmill. I hope this will stay easy...

[SwishTN]

Way to go Bethany!
You are such an inspiration.... I love how you are so honest and transparent in your journey. You have always been so encouraging and helpful as well....
Keep it up!
Lauri

[yeahbethany]

Thanks, Lauri! Today is Day 3...lower body, core, and cardio.

[SwishTN]

You're Velcome!!!
I am curious, you had a thread earlier about the protein and depression.... How is that working for/with you?

I would love an update! ; )
Lauri

[yeahbethany]

Wow, funny you should ask about that, Lauri...hemp protein is my new best friend! I've been using it for almost 3 weeks now, I'd say. I have a smoothie with it in the morning, and then maybe another one in the late morning or for lunch. Usually I put Vitamineral Green (a green superfood) in one of those...it makes a HUGE difference! My mood has been so much more stable, and I just haven't had that feeling of hopelessness/despair lately. Its just amazing how quickly it has helped (within a week I felt a huge difference). So its working out really well. As long as I do the smoothies, I don't need to restrict my diet too much. For the past few days, my food intake has looked something like this:

-Water from one young coconut
-hemp protein smoothie (or pudding, if its too thick) made from frozen organic berries, hemp protein, a banana or some young coconut meat, filtered water.
-mid-to-late morning or lunch: another smoothie, with Vitamineral Green in it.
-Fruits or whatever to snack on.
-Dinner: Big ol' kale or collard green salad (with tomatoes, red onion, sometimes avocado), and some of a prepared raw dish, usually with veggies and nuts (like "mashed potatoes" or mock "baked mac and cheese").
-More fruit if I want.

Of course, I vary it based on the day, how hungry I am, etc. Like today I had another kale salad during the day, as well as some cranberry sauce. I'm trying not to restrict what I eat.

The biggest difference for me, I think, is not having nuts be my main protein source. The issue was, I was already getting enough fat, so adding more nuts made me feel gross. I don't feel gross at all using the hemp protein, and just having something "nutty" at night. Also, having the smoothies in the morning helps to stabilize my blood sugar, I think. At least, thats what I perceive to happen.

Also (I started another thread about this), I'm not feeling as sore after my workouts as I expected I would.

So, I guess I changed the subject of the thread...but that's ok. I did do lower body at the gym today, but it took so long I didn't do my cardio (I had to get home and get my laundry out of the dryer). So, I may take a walk tonight.

[SwishTN]

Bethany,
I changed the thread! Sorry....
So, keep us posted on the workouts.... Maybe even the hemp protein is helping with that as well??? It's a possiblity. (The soreness part....)

Lauri

[yeahbethany]

Today was day 4...upper body and cardio!!!!!!!!

[Olive]

Okay, so this it totally off topic, but can you share the mock mac and cheeze recipe?

And congrats for getting in the exercise habit! I'm in the contemplation stage, lol!

[yeahbethany]

Sure, I can share the mock mac n cheese... I'll post a new thread on the recipe boards.

So far, I've stuck to my plan to work out every day except Sunday. I'm already feeling TONS better than I was. I had been kinda sedentary for a while because I felt depressed and had no motivation to get out, and it was just getting harder and harder to do things...stairs seemed like a chore, things seemed too heavy to carry.

Its amazing how much easier it feels to be more active once I'm making a conscious effort to get to the gym!!!!!!! Stairs seem much easier now (even after a few days).

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Oh I needed to hear that... I have been feeling sluggish too... I can totally relate to how you are feeling with things being way to heavy to carry, and I seem to be drowning in my house work- all I get done is the basics to keep the place looking good. Maybe if I get moving on the treadmill it will help... I knew working out was the answer, but it helps to see it in black and white to actually get the courage to do it... So here I go...

[yeahbethany]

Its good to know we are in this together, FEELIN'GOOD. Congrats on your decision to get started.

I think one thing that is helping is really committing to some intense workouts. Before, I worked out maybe once or twice a week, nice and easy. That may be good for some (and it was certainly better than nothing!), but it didn't help me feel motivated to go the next day.

Incidentally, knowing that you all know I'm supposed to be at the gym is helping me to get there.... ;) , Maybe we can do a 30 day workout challenge or something... :rolleyes:

You can do it FEELIN'GOOD! let us know about your workout today!

[yeahbethany]

Ok, an update: I had one day when I skipped my workout, due to poor planning (had a bunch of appointments, didn't pack enough food, came home famished, ate, and didn't go to the gym) but I didn't let it get me down (probably because I know you all know about my efforts!). I went back to the gym the next day! I'm very proud.

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Good for you Bethany! Okay- I did it! I jusmped the treadmill and I did the power walk setting which is pretty intense when you haven't done much of anything for a while... I was sweating hard y'all and I felt relieved! I just felt like I was lighter when I took my workout shoes off I just bounced around for a few minutes! I will definitly be doing this again today! Thanks for the inspiration! I needed this- I was feeling sorta depressed and really not into Christmas... but after one workout, I feel like my eyes have opened again... this is great, thank you! And keep it up! I agree with the exercise challenge... maybe at New Years it would be a fun resolution for us all to commit to a 30 day butt kicking challenge??? Any one interested????

[qetta]

I agree with the exercise challenge... maybe at New Years it would be a fun resolution for us all to commit to a 30 day butt kicking challenge??? Any one interested????

Fanastic idea! * I'm game.
-Lisa


*So says Lisa, who last used her gym card to scrape the ice off her car windows!!