(43-119) I FEEL GOOD

When I posted "A Helping Hand," on Sunday; I told you that I had made my long, overdue return to the gym, and that I was planning to go back the next day... and indeed I did.  I went today as well, so if you're counting that's three days in a row, and although three days isn't much; it's three days more than I had gone in a long, long time; and I AM very proud of myself.

I am so grateful that Lesa G suggested that we go to the gym the other day.  I KNEW that I needed to get there; and yet I just kept standing in my own way.  Now that I've gone back, and I've been reminded of how good it feels; I believe that I'm going to stick with it.  After all, once upon a time I wrote post 43-3; and look at me now.  I'm already up to post  43-119; so before you know it, I'll be telling you that I made my 119th visit to the gym; and HOPEFULLY by then, I will have lost at least 20 lbs.  It's good to have goals.  Of course I need to lose a lot more than 20 lbs; because if you recall, in "100 MORE Random Things About Me;" I shared that I need to lose 100 lbs.  I'm going to approach my weight loss just as I am this blog; and I'm going to set small goals for myself; so that I can enjoy success along the way. 

I was talking to my friend Dawn earlier today, and she was telling me that she was very happy and proud of me for getting back to the gym.  Dawn suggested that I try a Zumba class; but I explained that I go to a no frills kinda gym and they don't offer any classes; they just have treadmills, stair climbers, ellipticals, circuit training machines and free weights.  Not even a shower; but that's OK because you get what you pay for; and I really don't pay very much at all.  I must say that although a class would be nice; I enjoy going to Fitness 19 because there are all kinds of people, all kinds of shapes and all kinds of ages; so where I had always thought that I'd feel self-conscious at a gym; that has NEVER been the case here.

It's only three days in; but I can honestly say that I FEEL GOOD; and when I'm saying that, I'm hearing James Brown in my head of course.  I'm not the biggest James Brown fan, but somehow it seems unavoidable. Dadda Dadda Dadda Da!

I don't want to get ahead of myself; but the promise of what can be, is extremely exciting.  I want to look like the picture on the side of my blog again, the picture on my Facebook avatar, and NOT the woman in the pictures that my friend Tiffany posted on Facebook yesterday.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Facebook; if a friend posts a picture and you're in it; they "tag" you so that the picture is associated with your account as well. This morning I actually removed my tags from my friend's pictures because I didn't want any of my other friend's attention being called to them.  SO SAD, I know.  I emailed Tiff and explained why I'd removed my tags; and I NEVER want to have to do so again.  This is it!!!                       

Till next time...

Queen of EVERYTHING

Working it out...

Disclaimer: Anyone who comes to my home within the next few days - I was informed that my blog was long overdue; so please excuse our mess.

Ok, so I've been busy, yah, crazy busy, and one of the things that I have been busiest with - yes I did it; I joined the gym!! Now first I'd like to pose the question - if one has never been in shape; how can they be out of shape? I'm sure I'm not the first person to ever ask this question. I'm sure it's been asked before by someone smarter, funnier and let's hope; fatter than me; yet it does make ya wonder...

Now admittedly I have NEVER gone to a gym. Well, I shouldn't say NEVER. This one time in band camp - (ha ha, No, not band camp; college.) This one time in college, I needed an extra credit, so I signed up for I think they called it weight training, but I went once and I NEVER went back - it's the only class in college that I ever failed; but me trying to work on those machines in front of really hot guys - yah, I was just too uncomfortable - and I was like a hundred pounds lighter then so imagine how great I feel walking into the gym now.
So picture this; I went to the gym with Michelle (Contemplating becoming legally) K and I spoke to Jesse the manager and he asked "So Paige where's the last place you worked out?" I had to laugh, I was like "Um - Woodglen Elementary 1979" haha, just kidding. What I actually said was "ah, no where, that's how I wound up in this shape." I mean who's kidding who - from May 1999 until early 2006, the only working out I did was lifting my size 42 DDD's a bazillion times a day to nurse a hungry baby and if that doesn't count there's been no working out for me. OH, except for this one day last year when I bought a Carmen Electra strip aerobics DVD; (yes, you read that right, I thought I'd kill 2 birds with one stone.) I tried it once, and word to the wise; don't attempt to make Cinnamon rolls while your doing an exercise DVD, it just doesn't work out and the rolls burn...

So anyway, I joined the gym last Sunday and so far I have gone everyday except, Friday and Sunday. I was feeling pretty proud of myself until last Thursday when I was convinced that this very fit girl was taking pictures of me with her phone and posting them on You Tube. (Do I have a healthy ego or what??) Now you may ask what I was doing that would have prompted her to snap my photo; but suffice it to say I have yet to figure out all of the circuit training devices and my means of getting in and out of each, aren't exactly orthodox. A la another Lucy moment no doubt. Top it off by just being considerably older than her and unbelievably outta shape and I'm sure she and her friends were having a rousing laugh at my expense. Alas misery does love company and although Michelle (Contemplating becoming legally) K has taken me under her wing and tried to show me how to use the machines; to my credit it was me who actually showed her how to properly open the leg rests of the hip abducter (Boy you should have seen us trying to maneuver our way into that machine before I saw someone pull up the plunger like control on the base) YIKES! We must have been quite a site - especially coordinated me. Oh boy, I hope you guys can picture this because this time even I have to laugh at myself. The word pathetic comes to mind; but hey I am the Queen of BEING HARD ON HERSELF so did you think I would cut myself some slack - heck no!!

Well, MCblK recruited me, and I've recruitred Lesa G, and Lisa B says that she's going to join too; so the fun is just beginning for me at the gym - Gee Luis I don't know why it takes me 3 hours to do a 1 hour work out - LOL Nah, that would never happen and truth be told I'm getting quicker and quicker. Yesterday I walked over a mile and then rode the bike for more than 10; in just 55 minutes. Every little bit counts I'm sure because it's a ton more than what I wasn't doing 2 weeks ago.

And here's that irony again; I just proof read this blog to my wonderful husband and he didn't laugh once. Ahh, the injustice; my humor is completely wasted on him; thank god I have you.

Well, that's it for now. I have to get ready to go the gym. Ya know it's true, once you start going, it's addicting - I mean I actually find myself looking forward to going. Who woulda thunk it.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING