Okay, haulin’ my butt out of bed almost an hour earlier every week day is a drag! However, I do have to admit that I feel better and my pants are beginning to feel a little looser. I’ve lost only a couple of pounds but I convinced myself it’s because I’m gaining muscle mass and muscle weighs more than fat. (Yeah, right?!)
I was so proud of myself for losing a couple of pounds, until I talked with a coworker at a training session yesterday afternoon. She’s about my age, has teenage kids, at home and is juggling work, family, and fitness. She’s lost 50 pounds!! We talked about how easy it is to get off track and fall back into the bad habit of not exercising regularly. We’re both convinced our exercise regimes will be better once all this d*&n snow melts and we can get outside and walk during our lunch breaks. (Good thing UW-W isn’t closer to McDonald’s or Culver’s. Because if it were, I could see us walking there during our breaks for a “bite” to eat instead of walking for exercise!!)
My 23 year old son who recently returned home from a 4 year stint in the Army and who is a UW-Whitewater student has agreed to be my workout buddy if I pay his membership to the fitness center here on campus. I sure hope he’s not thinking of putting me through some boot-camp like regimen! My stomach muscles already ache from the few sit-ups I do each morning before I jump in the shower!
Last night I experienced a full moon, hormone fluctuations, and chocolate cravings. SO, I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and ate half of the cookie dough before I could get the cookies baked. I was so sick I couldn’t even get up early to do my little morning exercise routine I recently readopted. And, needless to say I won’t be getting on the scale tomorrow for my weekly weigh-in. #*($!
Work, school, homework, family obligations, housework, work, school, homework, family obligations, housework. Ugghh! When am I supposed to find time to exercise? How can I justify not making the time to exercise? I need to make a re-commitment to myself. My typical size 8-10 frame has expanded to a 12-14. I have no energy, none of my clothes fit, and I feel miserable!! I’ve got to do something!!!
So, I set my alarm for 45 minutes earlier than normal–5:15 A.M. instead of 6:00. And, just as I was settling into some delectable REM sleep, the annoying little buzzer on that damned alarm clock went off. I hit the snooze button. Nine minutes later, the same annoying buzzing sound. Then reality struck! Today was the day I promised myself I’d pull my ever-increasing sized arse out of bed and perform my morning exercise routine–the same routine I abandoned two and a half years ago when my family moved back to Wisconsin from Iowa. Yep, today was the day. No more excuses of I’m too busy, too tired, too this, too that.
After struggling with 25 crunches (I used to be able to get in 50 before I even began to think about ‘feeling it’), I launched into an upper arm workout and was horribly dismayed that I could only perform twelve push-ups and I had to exchange the 7 pound weights for 5 pounders. My ‘break’ from exercising had turned into a stint of 30 months of not doing much of anything for my body and boy was I paying the price!!
Hi. Welcome to my Blog. This is where I’ll be sharing thoughts about juggling fitness, family, work, and life. So, jump off the hamster-wheel of your chaotic life and join me on the elyptical machine as we sweat our way to a healthier, less stress-filled life!