JANUARY 16, 2010 11:02AM
I Will Survive! I Will Survive! Come on, sing it with me! Did You Think I'd Crumble? Did You Think I'd Lay Down & Die? Oh No Not I, I Will Survive!
I must confess that lately, I've not been happy with my bad self! Since quitting smoking about a month ago, I also made the decision to get back into shape! You know the routine... exercise, eat right, stay positive, etc. etc. I started thinking about the last time I felt like I was in really great shape and sadly, I think it was after I had my first child. This was 1982 mind you. I would plug Jane Fonda videos into my television and try to orgasmically (is that a word?) breathe and donkey kick. You can now watch all these videos on Youtube. Here's an example for your viewing enjoyment. "This is a very isolated movement of the buttocks. Resist bringing those knees together, make it burn!" (some of us don't care to be reminded! Oh, Jane, what were you thinking? and what was I thinking?) My husband, at the time, loved these videos. After all, it was the first time you could legally watch scantily clad women on your television without it being call pornography.
Anyway, enough about Jane and back to me. I am beginning to believe there is a devil! I quit smoking, which is great! I grocery shopped and only bought healthy foods, which is great. I started exercising, which is great.. This lasted for less than a week and, then I get sick with the pseudo H1N1 flu thing from Hell. I continue eating healthy foods, but exercise went out the window. This week I felt sooooo much better. I walked the long walk into the bowels of my home, deep into my basement where I keep all the wondrous exercise equipment, sweaters hanging nicely from the stationary bicycle, treadmill, climbing machine and the ballet bar. I put in the Nia DVD. (if you haven't tried Nia, I highly recommend it!)
I walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes while watching the Nia DVD. Then I plug in "Body by Jake" for my free weight workout.
I do ALL the exercises and feel wonderful!! I record them all, just like Jake recommends. I did it!! I am so damn proud of myself! I am back in the groove! By Spring I will look amazing again! YEAH me!!! I am motivated! I am strong! I am woman!!
Well, friends, that was three days ago and I haven't exercised since. All that enthusiasm went out the window when I could not get my arse out of bed. Well, I take that back. I got my arse out of bed, but it promptly landed on my bedroom floor. My back was out!! My back is still out! But, I will not give up! Damn it! I will survive! (singing) I will survive! (Thank you, Gloria Gaynor!)
Leave me a message and tell me your exercise routine. Did you ever quit for years and start again? Are you starting again for the New Year? I know some of you are, because I've read your blogs!! What keeps you motivated?
Anyway, enough about Jane and back to me. I am beginning to believe there is a devil! I quit smoking, which is great! I grocery shopped and only bought healthy foods, which is great. I started exercising, which is great.. This lasted for less than a week and, then I get sick with the pseudo H1N1 flu thing from Hell. I continue eating healthy foods, but exercise went out the window. This week I felt sooooo much better. I walked the long walk into the bowels of my home, deep into my basement where I keep all the wondrous exercise equipment, sweaters hanging nicely from the stationary bicycle, treadmill, climbing machine and the ballet bar. I put in the Nia DVD. (if you haven't tried Nia, I highly recommend it!)
I walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes while watching the Nia DVD. Then I plug in "Body by Jake" for my free weight workout.
I do ALL the exercises and feel wonderful!! I record them all, just like Jake recommends. I did it!! I am so damn proud of myself! I am back in the groove! By Spring I will look amazing again! YEAH me!!! I am motivated! I am strong! I am woman!!
Well, friends, that was three days ago and I haven't exercised since. All that enthusiasm went out the window when I could not get my arse out of bed. Well, I take that back. I got my arse out of bed, but it promptly landed on my bedroom floor. My back was out!! My back is still out! But, I will not give up! Damn it! I will survive! (singing) I will survive! (Thank you, Gloria Gaynor!)
Leave me a message and tell me your exercise routine. Did you ever quit for years and start again? Are you starting again for the New Year? I know some of you are, because I've read your blogs!! What keeps you motivated?
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Beth Mann
Hayley Rose
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Dianne Schuch - Lindsey
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J. P. Major
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Comments
Rated.
It is really difficult to get on track, but I think I might understand why you are having trouble, you are setting yourself up to fail by putting so many demands on yourself all at once.
When I quit smoking a few years ago, I thought I could do everything....I can, just not all at once. Eat healthy for a few months until it doesn't feel like another sacrifice, then pick up the exercise.
I'm going back to exercising only now, nearly 5 months later...gahh! Good luck, hope your back gets better soon!
I LOVE Nia (actually took a week and got myself a White Belt in it a couple of years back, which gave me the right to own 4 routines on DVD. Worth every penny.)
But you know what, dear? You're doing too much too fast and your body's telling you so!
Don't stop eating things you enjoy. Just eat less of them. Don't make yourself eat broccoli if what you really want is cheesecake; just have two BITES of cheesecake. And next time you decide you want to be active (after your back's better), be gentle on yourself. Stick to just ONE workout.
Hugs.
To answer your question: I just got done losing 37 lbs and I STILL don't exercise with any regularity. I do a 5ks jogging/walking/jogging every few weeks. That's it. I lost the weight using just a couple of muscles with any regularity: The ones that clamp my jaw closed.
;-)
Ok...i began walking last 08/09 hoping to shed a few lbs before attending my eldest daughter's #40 surprise b-day party in 09/09. That was @ 162 lbs. I walk our nearby sports park's 2.1 mi every day. Well, walking turned into adding a little jogging - 50 steps at first, then walk/jog 100 steps then 200 steps, etc., until now i have completely jogged the 2.1mi. 3 or 4 times!! Me - so not a jogger! I am holding 138 and back into a size 8. I drink water for the 1st time in my life. I love broccoli and have been known to make a meal of steamed fresh veggies. Seriously. That's it. Just daily walk/jog, drink lotsa water, eat small helpings several times a day. Get that metabolism revved and the body fat will slide off.
Good luck Lois & congrats on kicking smoking!
When I was a kid I remember going through unmarked VHS tapes to find a blank one so that I could use to tape some tv show. I accidentally discovered something my sister had taped called 20 minute workout. I was blown away. The camera would rotate around a crew of gorgeous women (laced in spandex, voluminous hair - two quintessential 1980s attributes) while repeatedly counting down how long they were going to hold themselves in a compromising position. I never did end up taping over it. Just look at the choreography! Too bad there is no Oscars for workout videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S-DgR_nj0c