As you know, I lost a decent amount of weight last year after about four months of absolutely NO appetite. I'm really thankful it happened because I've been trying to lose weight for about 31 years now and nothing has worked. And I'm not asking for the desert to return for the sake of my weight management. But now that I'm feeling better and my appetite has returned, I'm forced to be creative about ways to at least maintain what I've done, even if I can't lose much more.
One thing I'm doing is portion control. And I'm trying is to eliminate as many snacks as possible but if I must have one - I try to make it healthy. Dessert was another killer. I'd been known, back in the day, to have dessert for dessert. (Like a regular dessert and then a little one to cap that off.) Now I try to only have dessert once a day.
And then, of course, there's the matter of the exercise. IWU offers a wellness program for employees to work out so many minutes a day...for so many days a week...for so many weeks out of the quarter...in exchange for a little extra cash or a little extra time off work. It's a great incentive.
And even in the rough days of last year, when I bordered on malnutrition, I never gave up exercising. I did, however, give up variety in exercise. So this year, I determined to bring back the variety.
Over break, I borrowed Rachel's zumba DVD's to see if I was any good at it. Oh my WORD. I recognized the moves I made...from the years I used to babysit toddlers. I don't know if it was because I was trying to do the steps backwards from the TV...or because the instructor wasn't speaking English...or because I have zero background in dance...but it was a dismal FAILURE. So I rushed the DVD's back to Rachel's hands and went to the store instead.
Came home with Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred DVD and these little guys:
OH MY WORD again - but in a different way. Jillian's DVD (and keep in mind I'm still surviving level one - haven't tried two or three yet) is filled with a bunch of things that kill me (a.k.a. shred me) but I can do them. Well. Except for the push-ups. But we won't talk about that. She has me shuffling among boxing punches, jumping jacks, hiney kicks, fake jump rope, crunches, reverse crunches, bicycle crunches, squats, and all manner of lifting the itty bitty weights.
It's a good workout. I like it while I hate it. I think you know what I mean.
The days I don't shred...I do a walking/running routine on the indoor track at work. It's been nice so far because the track has been pretty empty. I'm not looking forward to the gym filling up this week when students return...because they're much better runners than I! Nothing humbles a girl faster than being left in the dust of the skinny track folks!
And for the days when I tire of all those things, I still have four of Billy Blanks' tae bo workouts from a few years back, one of Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds DVD's and my trusty mini-stepper that I can use while watching a David Phelps DVD.
So we'll hope all these things help keep me from becoming Biggest Loser material...
...how about you? What are your workout secrets? I might need to borrow your ideas...I get bored easily in the land of exercise.
11 comments:
I was wondering about Jillian's dvd..I don't know if I am up to that, yet. I just walk at our local sports center...very boring, but I use that time to pray!
My routine might be boring to some - but for me it's the only thing that keeps it from being super-dullsville. All I need are a treadmill and tv. Run on the treadmill, watch the tv. The time flies by and I feel like I'm multi-tasking (because I'm still going to watch the show, even if I don't run while I'm doing it. I only watch my favorite shows when I run.)
I know I'm doing well when I sit down to watch tv and I feel antsy because I'm not running at the same time.
Oh, and after my 10th grade physical fitness test I SWORE I would never run another mile again. I thought runners were complete idiots. It took me forever to build up to running two miles, but once I got past about the three mile point I finally understood what a runner's high was.
Karen - I also use my running/walking time to pray and I love it! I used to pray for more breath when I ran. LOL!! But now I pray for people.
Whitney - you've given me great hope for my running future. I'm not up to even one CONSECUTIVE mile yet - I alternate my laps of running and walking. But maybe in time...I can get there??
I used to walk on the treadmill, which I miss very much. I absolutely loved it and did a couple miles each day. Now I do nothing; well, actually I DO play with toddlers every day.--Lori
Lori - I can't do the treadmill at the gym because it makes me dizzy and that's so not pretty when I step off of it. But I do like using Mom and Dad's now and then. You guys gonna get a new one ever?
I started with a half mile and added one-tenth of a mile every run. It was very slow going at first. I thought I was going to die. Then something in my body clicked and I could suddenly add a quarter mile at a time. I'm no long distance runner, but I was doing 4 miles a day, 5 days a week within 6 months of starting.
I started running after my husband deployed because I'd been sitting around eating ice cream and feeling sorry for myself and had gained 20 lbs. The running took off the weight plus put on muscle. It also help quell or eliminate the snack cravings in the evening if I'd gone for a run earlier.
I also can't say enough about the right shoes. I went to a store that specialized in analyzing your gait and then they choose shoes for you based on how roll your foot. It was the best $90 I'd ever spent.
Actually I did get a new one with insurance but didn't have anywhere to put it except the basement. There's no satellite hookup down there and I MUST have the TV while I walk. So I sold it on Craiglist, new in the box. -Lori
Whitney - More good information to know. I like the idea of a "breakthrough moment." I might try your theory. My friend Faith went to the Running Store or whatever it's called and ran on the treadmill and got good shoes - is that the same kind of thing you did?
Lori - I don't remember any of that. Where is my memory going??? I'm glad you didn't end up movie material after that! I would get a treadmill for here (since no one could watch) if I had a place to put it!
You know I went to the doctor the other day and I was down close to 10 lbs and I have NO clue how that happened. I blame stress haha.
You do a great job sticking to a workout, I always say I am going to, and then I forget or just don't do it. I figure I play enough tennis that will count for my exercise right? Good luck with it I am sure you'll do great.
Phats - you definitely get to count the tennis. THAT is a good workout. I only wish I were more coordinated and could add that (regularly) to my list of options. I'd ask you to teach me but Dutch Blitz is humiliating enough. I'm not letting you see my lack o tennis skills.
(Jealous of the 10 pounds by the way. But good for you!)
Bekah - Yes, I went to the Running Company to get my shoes. In one run I went from limping off the treadmill to stepping off without pain. It was unbelievable.
And there were days I just didn't think I could run farther than the time before. But I never ran less. I think making that "rule" for myself made it easier to keep going when I wanted to quit.
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