Day 50 - New York State of Mind

You still with me? I'm here I swear, I've just been MIA for a few days. Unfortunately this time I was MIA from the blog and the gym, so I'm feeling pretty blah today. I actually feel like I did 2 months ago before I even started working out. I'm tired, feeling lazy, and just kind of down. (That's why I'm writing this blog on Monday morning - I was too lazy to write last night but told myself I had to this morning). I only went to the gym 2 days last week, and both those days were lift and sculpt, which has a little cardio but not enough for it to count. And then I went to NYC this weekend and walked around a lot of Friday, but that's also not quite the same as spinning for 50 minutes.

Going to NYC was great - I got to see my family, do some shopping, and went to the opera on Saturday. My only problem with NYC is that it does a number on my self confidence and body image. I know it's not true, but I feel like everyone there is thin, gorgeous, and stylish. And then there I am with my sneakers and rain jacket. I can deal with that though - I'm not from NYC and that's okay. My biggest problem is when I went shopping. NOTHING FIT! And I really think the sizes are based on the shape of a 12 year old. I mean seriously! Why do you have a bunch of size 25 jeans (based on waist measurement), but no 30's?? And can you make a pair of jeans that aren't skinny??

I found lots of cute jackets and shirts, but every time I tired on a pair of jeans that would normally be my size, I couldn't even get them up my legs. And then I went up one or two sizes and managed to squeeze them on, but the waist was way too big! It was really frustrating since I could really use some new jeans. And I'm worried that now that I'm strength training my legs are just going to keep getting bigger and more muscular, and this problem is going to keep growing (no pun intended, but it made me giggle). AAAHHH!

Does anyone out there have this problem, and if so what do you do? Is there a brand of jeans you like, that actually fit you? Am I going to have to start to get my jeans tailored so they fit properly? I'm lost, and feeling down about everything - my lack of clothes that fit, my frustration about how I look - I'm just feeling blah. That's really the best way to describe it.

At least I'm back at the gym this afternoon for lift and sculpt, and the women in that class are great and really encouraging. I just hope it'll get me out of this funk. Til this afternoon.

~Catie

Minutes spent working out this week: None*

*yet

Day 45 - What's Fruit Got To Do With It?

I'm tired. Straight up exhausted. And it's starting to get annoying. I understand why I'm tired right now - I worked all day, worked out, and then went back to work to volunteer for our Spring Pledge Drive until 11pm. That all makes sense, and I believe it's legit. But what about earlier in the week? Or the week before that? I really thought that working out was supposed to up your energy level, but mine doesn't feel any different than before I started working out. Maybe my laziness back then helped store up energy? I'm not sure that's the way it's supposed to work, but that would be just my luck if it was. I mean, I manage to get into a workout routine, and it makes me so tired that I can't keep up with it.

I just can't buy that explanation though. I've done lots of research online (which I'm sure is 100% accurate - but whatever) and it all pretty much tells me that same thing: exercising helps increase energy. This sounds like common sense, but my body says otherwise. As I was reading more I found something that made me say 'oh...so that's why I'm tired all the time' and hit myself on the forehead at the same time. What was it? Eat better!

I'm not sure if anyone out there watches How I Met Your Mother, but on Monday there was a hilarious episode with Jennifer Lopez, who plays the author of the book Of Course You're Still Single, Take a Look at Yourself, You Dumb Slut. Blunt and to the point. And that's how I felt after I read about eating better - Of Course You Can't Lose Weight, Take a Look at Your Food, You Crazy Woman!

And I really didn't think I ate that poorly. I drink lots of water, try to watch my calories, and limit my junk food. But I was definitely missing fruits and vegetables in my diet, which has a lot of necessary healthy vitamins, as well as fiber to make you feel full. A lot of you may be thinking that this is common sense, and I know that it is. I can recite to you lots of great healthy eating tips. But that doesn't mean I'm able to makes those ideas a reality. In fact, I'm not - and I'm suffering for it.

I think it's time to take my get healthy plan to the next level. I've established a fitness routine, which I'm trying to build on that even more. I've also been keeping a food log, which is not quite as consistent as the working out, but it's getting there! But I think that I really need to get to a nutritionist and get some ideas. Why should I be putting in almost 300 minutes a week working out, if what I'm eating is negating everything, or almost everything, I'm putting in. That's crazy! I guess that's why people say "diet AND exercise" not "diet OR exercise". Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but sometimes you have to say things out loud to make them real. Til tomorrow!

~Catie

Minutes spent working out this week: 120

Day 43 - Spinning and Skating and Sculpting - Oh My!

I know it's been awhile since I posted, but that's not because I haven't been working out. I have lots of free time now that Andy and I are done watching Battlestar Galatica (I have an inner nerd - don't judge!), and last Friday night a group of friends and I went ice skating, and it was really fun! I was sore from spinning the day before, but let's be honest - it's not like the soreness of spinning impeded my amazing skating skills. I was just happy to not fall down - and I didn't! I wasn't landing any triple toe-loops, but I didn't take out any small children either. So I'm counting it as a victory.

Ice skating really got me thinking about how excited I am for spring, which I know sounds strange (I promise I didn't hit my head), but it's true. Why? Because once it's nice out I can start doing different activities for my workouts. Skating really made me realize how fun it is to do something active with my friends, and I didn't even notice that I had been exercising for over 90 minutes! And once spring rolls around I can go for evening walks with Andy, and weekend hikes and canoeing trips with my friends. It's just going to be nice to mix up the workouts so I don't get bored, and to be able to get some fresh air.

I really needed some fresh air during lift and sculpt today. I'm not sure why exactly, but I got really lightheaded lifting today and just really missed the fresh air of being outside. I love that class, don't get me wrong, but I really just wanted to be in the sun. I think this may be a symptom of my larger cabin fever issues, but it doesn't change the fact that I want it to be warm out! I want to be doing things outside! I want to be able to drive around with my car windows down and not freeze, or get snow in the car! Yup, definitely suffering from cabin fever. But I think (finally) spring is around the corner. Then I can do all those fun things outside, until it starts to get too hot and I need AC. =0) Til tomorrow!

~Catie

Minutes spent working out so far this week: 60