NekoLuvr85

So I've been going to the gym pretty regularly since January. About 3-5 days a week. On a good week, I go 6 days a week. I've been struggling with seeing any measurable differences though. I've been focusing more on strength than cardio, but still trying to get in at least 20 minutes of cardio a day somehow. My current stats as of yesterday are 153.0 lbs, chest: 32 waist: 32 Hips: 41. I was able to raise the weight a little bit thus far for my chest (up to 30lbs from 20lbs) my squats (up to 55 lbs from 30lbs) and my deadlift (up to 80lbs from 60 lbs.) IDK... I still feel like something that I'm doing isn't working. Even though when I'm focused, most of my diet consists of chicken breasts, tilapia, steam veggies, and tomato soup. I take celery with me to work as a snack almost everyday and eat that with peanut butter. I also occasionally eat whole wheat bread or whole wheat crackers, pears or plums. If I feel like eating but I'm not actually hungry, I chew gum. However, I have realized through my journey that I'm an emotional eater and even though it's not normally more than twice a week, if I'm stressed or upset, I will get something from the vending machine at work or I'll go out for dinner (fast food) instead of eating something from home. I'm drinking about 90oz of water during the week. I'm still thinking of stopping the strength workouts temporarily in the hope that I can drop the weight I want and then start up on it again later. I've also been thinking about going back to P90X, because it seems to be the only thing thus far that's made me stick with the amount of intensity I need to lose inches. Right now I'm at the point between just barely hanging on and giving up completely...

Friday, 1/27: 1 hour weight training, 15 minutes cycling, short ab workout Saturday, 1/28, Zumba class, short ab workout. New stats as of 1/29: Weight: 154.4lbs Chest: 31 inches Waist: 32/36* Hips: 42 inches *my lower waist measurement was technically lower than 36 inches, but just barely, so I counted it as 36. Monday, 1/30: deadlifts, 65 lbs - 3x10 squats, 35 lbs - 3x10 assisted pullups, 90lbs counter weight - 2x10 assisted dips, 90lbs counter weight - 2x10 short ab workout.

Thursday, 1/26: Body combat class.

Wednesday, 1/25: 35 minutes weight training Had a meeting with a personal trainer before, and since my husband went with me today, and needed to get home, I didn't have time for much else.

Didn't make it to my Zumba class today (Boooo!) I've been anxious to go back to the gym ever since I left yesterday. I had a dentist appointment this morning right around the same time as my class. I have a consultation late morning tomorrow with a personal trainer. I am not going to buy PT sessions (mainly because I don't have the money,) but I'm hoping he can critique the routine I already have set out. I talked to him a little bit yesterday about what I want. When I told him I want to focus more on power lifting, his eyes got big... So we'll see how this goes tomorrow. Since I'm not going to the body pump classes anymore, hubby said he can [hopefully] start coming with me to the gym again. He's coming with me tomorrow, so I'm excited for that, too. All I've been thinking about all day is being able to go to the gym tomorrow and lift something heavy.

Thursday I went to Body Combat class. Still not to where I can go through a whole class without a break, but I think I did pretty well. Missed body pump on Friday because of issues with my son's school, and I missed Zumba on Saturday because of family time. Today I decided that I'm not going to go to Body Pump class anymore. I like the class, I think it's a good class, but I don't think it's for me. I got to class 10 minutes early today (we can't even get into the studio until 15 minutes before class because of another class going on until then.) I almost was unable to find a spot to setup, and when I finally did, all the small plates were taken (5.5kg weights is all that was left.) I said screw it and went to do my own thing. I actually think I do better with heavy weight/low-rep workouts. I feel more accomplished afterward, and by "accomplished," I mean "sore." I would feel a little bit of discomfort after the class, so I know I was doing something, but I like this soreness better. So now, MWF I'll be doing my own weight lifting thing, plus cycling. Tues/Sat Zumba, and Thurs body combat. I wanna try to stick with body combat as mucha s I can until Mid-February. I love Zumba, so I'll probably stick with that just because it's fun. Monday, 1/23: 55 minutes weight lifting, 15 minutes cycling. 5 minute warmup/cooldown.

Friday, 1/13: 1 hour body pump class Saturday, 1/14: one hour zumba class (BTW, I love the Zumba class.) Monday, I missed my body pump class, so I went in the evening since I has off. I did 45 minutes lifting, and 15 minutes cycling. Plus 5 minutes warmup and 5 minutes cooldown Tuesday: one hour Zumba class Wednesday: I missed body pump again today. I hate the instructor that normally teaches on Wednesdays. She's the only one that tries to correct my squat form, and I think she's telling me wrong. I might either go to the later class, or just not do a class that day and just go do my own weight routine. I had way too much sodium in my diet last week, and I gained 1.5lbs. My measurements haven't changed.

Thursdday, 1/12: I overslept yesterday, so I missed my body combat class. I still went to the gym though, and I did 3x10 deadlifts (65lbs), 3 sets of pushups, 10 total, 2x5 assisted pushups, and 1x5 assisted chinups. I also did 10 minutes on the cycling machine. Hubby said that when it gets warm here again, he wants to ride bikes down to the lake and workout there. (There's some stationary gym equipment at a park on the lake.) I looked up the best route to get there... Since we live on the opposite side of the city from the lake, it will take up 1.5 to 2 hours to get to the park we plan to go to. (They do have busses here, iwth bike racks on the front, but he says riding the bike there is half the fun... I will be doing a lot more on the cycling machine in an attempt to get myself more cardiovascularly ready for this... Any steps towards my goals that have not been met before we start this will surely be met by the end of summer. I'm sort of dreading the bike ride, but that's only because I know *right now* I'm not ready. Add that to my list of things to acheive before my birthday.

Saturday, 1/7: Zumba Class Sunday, rest day Monday, 1/9: Body pump Class Tuesday; skipped Zumba Wednesday, 1/11: Body pump class BODYPUMP™ Pump up the volume with the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. This class challenges all major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises—squats, presses, lifts and curls. BODYPUMP™ Features great music and motivating instructors. Choose your preferred amount of weight and let this class inspire you to get the results you want.

Forgot to mention I did the Body combat class at the Y yesterday. It's very fast-paced. I felt a little bit silly since I didn't know the moves very well, but they did know it was my first class... And unlike the zumba class I do, this one was split mostly even as far as younger/older persons go. It was hard, but that just makes me want to go back. I did my 3rd body pump class today. 3 classes, with 3 different instructors, and three different ways of instructing, but still basically the same routines. So far, I like it.

I would have to agree. All the women on my mom's side have generally the same body type... except for the three that are vegetarians. The three of them have stomachs that are pretty much completely flat... even the one aunt who has a 3 year old, 2 year old twins, and an almost 12-month old. And did I mention she didn't get any stretch marks after all that? Yea, I'm totally jealous.

I'm not giving up on them, not at all. I'm doing the classes because I think it will be interesting to try a few of them, and with each class being 6 weeks, and at the same time each day, I think that will help me get into the habit of getting up and going everyday... I feel like I have more of a purpose to be there. Also, in the body pump class, the weights I'm using right now to do each track are only 2kg and 5kg... That's not very much weight, but I'm still sore after class. Even some of the old(er) ladies in the class can lift more than that through each track! It's sad really... At first, I was still going and lifting some heavy stuff after each class, but that proved to be too much very quickly...

Getting back into it this week. I meant to go a few days last week... but I couldn't find my membership ID. I finally found it on Monday. It was in my wallet of all places. Go figure. Since the YMCA has so many group classes available, I'm going to try my hand at a few group exercise classes for the next 6 weeks. Supplementing the classes with swimming (goal, 20 laps a day,) I should be able to see some changes in that time... Mon, Wed, Fri: Body Pump; strength training class. Use light weights and work each part of the body through a song the instructor picks. There's even a part for abs! lol Tues, Sat: Zumba Thurs: Body Combat; martial arts class. Takes you through different kenpo, karate, etc moves for the purpose of cardio. Meaning the focus is on doing the movement, not necessarily gaining skill. So far, the way the classes are separated during the week reminds me a lot of my P90X program. 6 days of workouts, an hour each, with a pattern of strength/cardio/strength/cardio/ strength/cardio. Sundays have always been meant to use as my rest day, and I plan to use it to do my P90X Stretch disc. I'm a little bit nervous about starting the body combat class tomorrow. I know I can do it, I'm just worried about how well I'll do. I got a little peek at the class yesterday, looks pretty intense. Stats as of 1/2: Weight: 154.6lbs Chest: 31in Waist: 34/37in Hips: 42.5in

Thursday, 12/22: Lap swim, 11 laps (out of the 20 I had planned on.) I attempted to climb out of the lane I was in so I could rest for a few minutes, and I cut my arm on the wall while trying to climb out... It was that bad, but it was bleeding, and I know that's frowned upon in public pools. So I left. o_O This is how I know I'm way too out of shape. Swimming used to be my THING back when I was in high school... I started feeling winded after only the 2nd lap, and my whole body was sore afterward!

Wednesday, 12/21: warmup/stretch small barbells, Back squats, 40lbs 3x10 (Was able to complete, but my form was not as good as it should have been... too much weight.) overhead press, 25lbs 3x10 front squats, 25lbs, 3x10 back rows, 60lbs, 3x10 lat pull down, 45lbs, 1x10, 60lbs, 2x10 leg raises, 10 oblique crunches, 20 each side reverse crunches, 20 50 bicycle crunches 5 minutes elliptical machine. cooldown/stretch