Weppa!

This evening I went to Zumba! I just can't get enough of it. I started out with the Zumba Gold class and I have moved up to the regular Zumba class. I actually love all the classes the YMCA has to offer and I find that everyday there are at least 2 classes that I want to go to, if not more! So when they are not offering Zumba or Zumba Gold, I have some other favorites. I really enjoy the cycling, kickboxing, pilates, yoga and turbo kick classes. I like having the choice to go to a class or workout in the gym. I have been working out for 18 days now and I have lost a total of 8.4lbs. It isn't just about the weight loss which of course is good but I am feeling so much better too. I have more energy and I am much happier! I actually look forward to exercising everyday; especially when the classes don't really feel much like exercise :-)
Tonight for dinner, I made 17 bean and barley soup. I had the great idea of adding some elbow macaroni and of course I added it way too early! It was still yummy, but the pasta really thickened up the soup too much and some of the beans didn't get as soft as I wanted. But I added some more water and that seemed to help! Well, I guess that's the fun of cooking! It is all trial and error. Lesson well learned :-) 


~ A cheerful heart is good medicine. - Proverbs 17:22 ~

Just Do It!!

I didn't make it to a morning class today like I wanted to but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise since I went to a kickboxing class tonight and WOAH!! It was by far the most difficult class I have taken so far. It was definitely a very high intensity class and the instructor was really into it :-) He was very high energy, moved around the room checking on everyone and encouraging all of us. It was great. I have to say I did struggle a bit, moved a little bit slower than others in the class, and I wasn't able to do some of the high jumping, but I didn't give up! I did what I could, and never stopped moving. There were a couple of times during the class, that I almost talked myself into stopping and leaving, but I pushed through and completed the entire class :-) 
Tonight, for dinner Jesse and I made chicken burgers from Trader Joe's that my uncle Eddie made for us last week. Instead of putting it on a bun, we made some quinoa with chopped veggies (which I also got from Trader Joe's) and put the chicken burger on top of the quinoa and we topped the chicken burgers with sautéed onions, mushrooms a little bit of bacon, and smoked cheese. I have to say it was delicious. It was a great healthy dinner! 


~ Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.
-Vince Lombardi 

Surprise!

I am trying to kick things up a notch. I want to get in the habit of taking one class in the morning and one class in the evening. Today, it didn't work out that way because Jesse was off last night and was supposed to have SWAT training this afternoon and evening so I decided to stay home this morning to spend some extra quality time with him. As it turns out his SWAT training was cancelled :-) YAY!! But, since I missed a morning class, I noticed there were two classes back to back that looked interesting to me so I decided to go with those this evening. The first class was called Cardio Circuit and the second class was Zumba. I have been going to the Zumba Gold class which is a lower intensity, but I really wanted to try the regular Zumba class to see how different it really was and if I would be able to keep up. To my surprise, the first class was not Cardio Circuit at all, it was Turbo Kick! For those of you who don't know what that class is like I didn't, it is a mix of kickboxing and dance moves. Apparently, this class is sweeping the nation and it allows you to burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour. It is a fat-blasting, ab-defining cardio workout! I was a little intimidated when we first got started but the instructor was really great and showed us how to make it work for whatever level we were at. I really enjoyed the class. I am glad I stuck it out. Next, was Zumba. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous since I am not so dance inclined. But the teacher was fabulous and walked us through the steps and I actually felt myself loosening up and getting into it. I enjoyed the music and just continued moving the whole time. I was able to master most of the steps and what I didn't today, I know after going a few more times I will get it! So all in all, I am pretty proud of myself. I did a great job in two new classes, which even though the first one was a surprise I am glad I went. I am so blessed I am able to be a member at the YMCA. I have realized over the past two years that even though I can no longer physically go to work a full time job, my full time job is keeping myself healthy and by working out, taking my medicines and watching my diet I can be successful at this new job :-) 


~ Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states.
-Carol Welch ~

I think I can, I think I can....Nah, I know I can!!

It was a busy last few days. Thursday, I went to a gentle yoga class. To be honest, their was nothing gentle about it! It was still a workout :-) Jesse and I got to go eat with my sister, the kids, and my dad for dinner and then visit with my aunt and uncle. On Friday, I went to Zumba class. By the end of the class I was really pushing myself to get through it. I guess all the working out I had done during the week was catching up with me but I did it. Friday night my niece Adrienne spent the night with me and we ate with Karie and some other friends for her birthday at Fox and Hounds. After dinner, I took Adrienne to Barnes and Noble to pick out a couple of books. She is 8 and she loves to read! I was the same way when I was her age. Then we rewarded ourselves with some TCBY Yogurt! Saturday, I dropped Adrienne off at her dance class. After my bro and sister in law picked her up, I went walking around the mall for a few hours. It was a good way to get some exercise in since it was so rainy and cold outside. The highlight of my day had to be going to shop at Trader Joe's. I absolutely love that store and we don't have one close to our house so it is always such a treat to shop there. I had dinner with my dad, aunts, cousin, and uncle. My uncle Eddie made homemade beef vegetable soup with noodles. It was delicious and so perfect for a cold, rainy night. 
I have to say I am feeling a little bit discouraged about eating healthy and exercising. I haven't lost any weight. To be exact, I have gained in the past couple of weeks. But I am going to push even harder this week. I am going to really watch everything I eat, keep track of it, and really push it at the gym. So here we go Monday I am ready for ya!!


~ Change requires the belief that change is possible for you. You are far more powerful than you believe yourself to be. You would not have made it this far if you were not capable of change. ~

Exercise in disguise!

Today, I went to Zumba class. I have to admit it was pretty tough after cycling class yesterday! About halfway through I wanted to stop, but I kept pushing through. I didn't realize how much I have been working out my arms as well. I went to do one of the moves today and realized not only how sore my legs are but my arms too. I have to say that the hour really does fly by and it feels like I am not working out at all. 


~ Commit to be fit. ~

Pedal, Pedal, Pedal....Faster, Faster, Faster!!

Today, I went to my first cycling class at the YMCA. The instructor had a goal of 28 miles in 50 minutes. I was able to complete 22 miles in 50 minutes, so I would say not too shabby for my first time :-) I was pretty impressed with myself. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the cycling class. I mean obviously I knew you would ride a bike at different speeds and intensity levels, but I had no idea we would do 700 to 800, what the instructor called "jumps" in 50 minutes. A jump is when you stand up, pedal completely 3 times and then sit back down. So basically you count 1, 2, 3, sit; 1, 2, 3 sit!. You do that for a whole song!! Boy, was it hard. I honestly can say I was not able to do it continuously for the whole song, but I was able to keep up pretty well. If I couldn't continuously do the jumps I would speed up my pedaling so at least I was still moving or I would stand for a while and pedal as fast as I could. I was fine standing up and pedaling, it was getting up enough strength once I sat back down to get up and stand again. I am sure that as I continue working out and going to the class, I will improve. I can definitely feel this workout and can't wait to go back to this class again!


~ Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.  -John Wooden ~

Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.

It was a busy weekend. Friday night we had a meeting for our trip to Bonaire in April, which we are so EXCITED about. We can't wait for April 9th. Then we went to a Bonfire after the meeting and we had a BLAST with our friends. It was a great time. Saturday morning we left for Ocala, Florida to bring Steven back after he got to spend his spring break here with all of us. We had a great week spending time with him! On Sunday morning we went to Church at Triple Cross in Micanopy, Florida. It is a cowboy church and Susie Mcentire was there with her husband. Yes, she is Reba's sister. She has a beautiful voice and it was such a blessing to have both her and her husband there. I am so glad I was able to be there. Then that afternoon I was blessed to enjoy a nap and some sunshine by the pool; one of my most favorite places to be. 
Today, it was time to come back to reality. I was able to work out this evening at the YMCA. I rode the stationary bicycle for 30 minutes, used some free weights, and then went to my first Yoga class. It was a good class. I was a little frustrated with myself because I don't know the names of the poses and I am not very flexible. I know it will take some time and the more I do it the more comfortable and more flexible I will become. So I am definitely going to stick with it and continue to practice! I am feeling more energized everyday with the exercise I am getting. I so look forward to going to the YMCA everyday. It is not something I dread doing but I look forward to going back every day.


~ Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they're meant to be. -- Anon ~

anon

To feel 'fit as a fiddle' you must tone down your middle!!

Pilates was the exercise class of choice for me today! It was AWESOME!! I really enjoyed it and the hour just flew by. We did exercises with free weights, the ball, and lots of crunches/stretches. It was a great class. I know I have only been working out for a few days and I hate to admit it, but I can't believe how much better I feel and how much more energy I have. I can't wait to go back tomorrow :-) 


~ Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states. -Carol Welch ~

Cha Cha Cha

Today, I went to a Zumba class! I absolutely loved it!! The YMCA offers two different Zumba classes. One is called Zumba Gold; which is the one I went to. It is for beginners and a lower intensity then the regular Zumba class, which one day I will hopefully build up to. I was surprised how fast I caught on to some of the moves and some are going to take some time, but I kept on moving the whole time! It was an hour long class and it totally rocked my socks off! I can't wait for Friday when I can go again :-)


~ Even on my weakest days I get a little bit stronger! Sara Evans ~

Good kind of sore

Day two of working out was a success! I even remembered to stretch today :-) I walked on the treadmill and rode the stationary bike. I also used the mat to do some abdominal crunches, and used the free weights. I am sore but it is the good kind of sore! I am really proud of myself and I am going to keep on pushing on!


~ We are only limited in life by the limitations we set upon ourselves. ~

Change and Growth

Today, I started working out at the YMCA! I haven't exercised since finishing the cardiac rehab program. I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes, elliptical for 10 minutes, stationary bike for 10 minutes and worked my arms, abs, and used the rowing machine. (which I actually grew to love during cardiac rehab) There were many times throughout my hour and half of exercising that I wanted to stop but I didn't. Even if I slowed my speed down or decreased my incline for a couple of minutes I kept going. I am such a perfectionist and sometimes get caught up with doing things just as good, or better than everyone else. Today, I told myself that no matter how much I wanted to stop and just go home I would not give in to the negative voices in my head. It didn't matter if someone next to me was running on the treadmill while I was walking, or the guy next to me was staying on the  bike longer than me. All that mattered was that I was doing the very best that I could! I left the YMCA today with a feeling of accomplishment and I actually can't wait to go back tomorrow; which I can say I have never, ever felt that way about exercising! I am going to try and update my blog everyday to keep myself accountable. If anyone has any words of encouragement, diabetic friendly recipes or even wants to come and meet to exercise I would love it!!


~ Needs to do what needs to be done. Change is hard. You fight to hold on and you fight to let go. In the end, we all know change is needed for growth. ~