It's Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I've blogged, and of course I have a million excuses (new job, new schools, sickness), but I think everything is starting to level out now....so I'm back. I've been teaching my indoor cycling class MWF at 5pm and I feel that it's going good. I had a full class this past Monday and it's so much more exciting when the room is full. My mom actually takes my class and told me that she "hated" me half way thru the workout, I was so pleased...yes, it's a compliment! This past week and a half has been a real struggle teaching as I've been sick and have not been able to completely shake it. Although, I did learn that I can teach off the bike if needed and it actually allows me to check people's form and make corrections discretely, which is nice. When I think about it I can't believe that I'm instructing because it's not something that I ever thought I would do, but I really enjoy it! I think I get a better workout because I'm pushing myself to push the people taking the class...it's really cool.



Okay, my weights training has taken a backseat again....along with my eating. One would think that when you get a nasty cold that you would stop eating, but no not me...ugh. I got on the scale this morning and I've only lost 1lb since my last post, and I know it's because I've been eating fast food for the past week. I was watching the Biggest Loser last night (thank God it's back on... so motivating) and they were showing how to make several snacks/meals at one time and then package it into separate baggies and put it in the fridge....this is what I need to do. For my job I'm driving from house to house, so what's in between? yes, you guessed it....FAST FOOD. I need to carry a cooler with things that I enjoy eating and that are healthy.



Enough said....I know what it is that I should be doing, but now it's time to make the commitment to do it. I'm going to hold off until next week to get back to lifting weights (still not feeling 100%), and after eating dinner tonight at my mother in law's house (chicken spaghetti and my favorite refrigerator cake) I will be back on track with my eating TOMORROW.

Fit to Tell?

This last week was somewhat successful, I finally have lost 2 more pounds which puts me at my lowest weight since having my last baby (who by the way just turned 3!). I've been burning a ton of calories in spin (averaging 550-670 for 55 min workout), but I need to get my schedule down for getting my weight training in. This week my oldest will begin kindergarten and then next week my youngest goes 2 days a week to mother's day out, and I go back to work part time while they are in school, plus teaching spin 3x a week at 5pm...I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and at this point I'm not sure how I'm going to make it work, so I'm a little frustrated and anxious. By the way school begins way to EARLY for kindergarten (7:45am...really, I don't think my kids have ever gotten up before 8am!). This week I have found my food choices a little easier and I have this blog to thank for it. I was thinking about what I was going to write and it hit me "FIT TO TELL" and I realized I am NOT "fit to tell", at least not yet. I know that this is a way to blog about my journey to get fit, but I feel that I've been failing, at least with the eating (they say it's what 85% what you eat). In the end I want to look back and say, "wow, I did it", not "there goes another year"...

Belly Dancing?

I went into the gym to practice a spinning routine a couple of months ago and I ran into a girl wearing a RED sash that was covered in medallions...hmmm....curious I asked her what she was doing and she said BELLY DANCING. She invited me to come into the class and I agreed, but I only wanted to watch. Sure enough as I was "watching" the instructor kept telling me to jump in! Finally, I consented and joined the group OMG...it was so much fun! I could tell that my core and legs were getting a workout all while I was feeling a little SEXY! Well, needless to say I was hooked, but I really wanted a scarf with the medallions to shake like the other girls. I signed up for my 1st month of classes and have really enjoyed it. When we get going my heart rate goes up and just as I begin to sweat we take a break :( I was really wanting to use this fun dance as a way to burn calories that's different from anything that I've been doing, but I guess we have to learn the steps and hip/belly movements before we can just keep dancing. One thing that I loved was that the instructor says, "We are NOT ladies in here...all lady like behavior is left at the door. When you enter here you are a hotty", I have to admit it feels good to let all inhibitions go, relax, and tune into your body. Since I'm not getting the workout that I wanted I at least plan on making up a dance to show off at home (hee, hee)! My kids also love wearing my hip scarves when we dance around the living room! Overall, if you're looking for some fun and different try belly dancing, but unless it's a steady dance you're doing I don't think it's going to add up to much for calorie burn (I only burned 320 cals in 1 1/2 hr session!)

What am I doing?

Yes, I'm going to report another week of good workouts, and poor eating. I need some professional help. I have the best of intentions and plans, but then it all falls apart. Spinning has been going great I'm burning about 600-680 calories a class (about a 100 more than when I take a class), and some people are becoming "regulars" in the class which is exciting! I began lifting again and it always amazes me how good that it makes me feel. I wish that I had someone willing to cook all of my meals & snacks, so I didn't have to put any effort into my eating. That's where the problem lays: the planning, the shopping, the preparing, and the cleanup that go into every meal, especially when it's 6x a day..ugh Does anyone have any good meals that are quick & healthy? I'm trying to do an equal balance of carbs and protein for the day with veggies added in. HELP ME!!! I met this one women who was talking about all the cooking that she does for her husband that is body building..WOW, can I get a wife?

Another week passed

Okay...this blog is definitely a reality check. I've been dreading writing this post, again. I don't know what's wrong with me....why can't I get my eating back in check? I think I need to go to church and get some people praying for me. Truthfully, I do know what it is... Lack of planning. I have to plan out my week of meals to be successful because whenever I try to do it on the fly it always ends up bad. My weight is back to what it was before my anniversary in SA, but if I could just get myself back under control I truly believe that I would be losing some fat!

I just started adding my weight training back into my workout. I've been so obsessed with spinning that I let it take over my workouts, and I stopped lifting. On Sat. I did triceps and chest, and noticed that I have truly missed lifting weights. I was so inspired that I even got up at 5:15am to get to the gym and worked out biceps and back before work this morning (now if that inspiration could only spill over into my diet)!

Spinning is going well over all. It's really weird to be an instructor vs. someone taking a class. I have to do so much planning when before all I had to do was show up! It's difficult to know where I need to change as there is very little feedback...I really enjoy giving the class, but I want to make sure that I'm giving everyone a great workout. Hmmm.....

I've decided that I'm going to log the number of calories that I eat and the number calories I burn for the next 14 days, and if that doesn't motivate me I don't know what will.

Yeah, I did it...I gave my very first spin class (solo) last night to a group of 9. I feel that I can breath easily now that it is all over! I have to admit that I felt nervous, although I've been practicing on Tammy for the last 2 1/2 months. It was hard because I wasn't used to having to talk as loud as I did, but I do love to have the music loud too:) Overall, I feel that it was a success...it looked as though everyone was sweating and smiling (for the most part). The part that really killed me was that I took Tammy's class yesterday morning (M-F 8:30am) to give her support...she also came to my class and we were both dying! At the end of the class my legs felt like leaded weights and I was wondering if anyone could tell. I was trying not to laugh because I'm telling them to "push it/you can do it" and I was wondering if my legs were going to stop at any second. I'm looking forward to W, and hope that it goes as well.

Life gets in the way

I've been avoiding writing this blog, and that's because I have to fess up to what I've done...Let me start by saying that my anniversary was on July 3rd and my husband and I were able to get out of town without our two little ones in tow, so I'm sure you can only imagine how my weekend went. Yes, you've guessed it Mexican food, margaritas, cake, margaritas, hot wings, margaritas, pastries, and have I mentioned margaritas? When we returned I just kept going with the "bad" eating and drinking since there was "nothing good" to eat at home. I'm going grocery shopping today so I have no more excuses and getting back on track tomorrow....man, it's really hard getting back on track on a Sat. part of me just wants to say "forget about it" it can wait until Monday...yes, I know a classic saying.

In my defense I did work out one of my two days in San Antonio. I did this really good routine in my room that only involved using a deck of cards that I got from my friend/workout partner Tammy. I thought this would be good to share with anyone that will be living out of a hotel room/not able to get to a gym.

The Workout

Take a deck of cards, and remove the Jokers

Flip 3 cards over and add them up

*All face cards are worth 10 & the ace can either be a 1 or 11*

Do each of the following excercises in order until the deck of cards is gone.

1.) Jumping Squats

2.) Jumping Jacks

3.) Jumping Lunges

4.) High Knees

5.) Mountain Climbers

6.) Butt Kicks

7.) Push Ups

8.) Jumping Jacks

9.) Crunches or Bicycles

I really only missed two days of working out, but I'm terrified to get on the scale. I know I've been bad, but it was my anniversary and the 4th of July weekend, and the week following these events....ugh, I need my motivation back. I told myself that I wasn't going to do what I did, but I did it anyhow. This is "LIFE", as my girlfriend Awbrey (who is a registered dietitian) tells me, and that we just have to suck it up and not get overwhelmed with guilt. So, that's what I'm going to do and per her advice I'm staying off of the scale for 2 weeks. I figure if I'm back to where I started in 2 weeks than it is what it is...and I did enjoy myself, but not enough to make it a habit again.

On a final note I just wanted to mention that it was so much easier for me to eat healthy during the fall and winter. When summer is here I just want to hang out at the lake/our pool, and cookout on the grill and have a couple of margaritas and just have all that summer fun....this is truly the time of year that is a challenge for me...say a prayer for me, because I need it!

Tomorrow is the Summit's RE-GRAND OPENING, be sure to swing in and check out all of the new things going on. Among many of things they are adding new cycling/spin classes, which I'm proud to be a part of. I will be joining my workout partner Tammy this Sat at 10:15am to give a joint spin class, and then will begin giving classes on MWF at 5:00pm....come and join me, I'm really excited about this and wondering how this is going to impact my life (all for the good I hope!)