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!

[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

[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!!!!!!!!