The treadmill desk has meant I’m doing at least 2 miles a day, working on a consistent 4-5, but still finding it difficult to do some things while I’m walking — so I’m doing a lot of just standing while I work, which I guess is still better than sitting.

This is also the end of my 2nd week as a Curves member — though week one was a free trial, and I only just got my computer tracker chip yesterday to really get going. The difference already, previously I was finding it to be really more cardio oriented, because I couldn’t really tell how hard I was working on the machines. Now with the chip, it’s a different ballgame. The thing harasses you if you dont work AT LEAST as hard as you worked last time, and supposedly it begins to harass you if you dont gradually improve. It monitors your range of motion on the exercises, power and reps. I find myself thinking less about keeping my heartrate up on the cardio pads, and more thinking about the next machine and what I need to do. Anywho, it’s essentially a 30-minute circuit training workout, and the computer chip estimates your calories burned — mine last time was over 400 for the half-hour. I’m pretty happy with that, considering how sore my muscles have been from the machines — I am feeling it!

So, with these general lifestyle changes in place — all I have to do is keep on keeping on. Walking every day, 30 minutes of circuit training at least 5 days a week, and monitoring calories. After one more week of Curves, I’m going to try their diet-cycle plan to try to jump-start some real weight loss. It’s a 7-day strict 1200 calorie diet, then 21-day 1500 calorie, then 2-day break. Rinse. Repeat. We’ll see how it goes.

The bright side, in my mind, is that I’m walking every day and I’m doing 30-minutes of circuit training. Even if I don’t change my eating habits, I should be improving. Monitoring to not overeat is a good idea. Monitoring to restrict calories is just a bonus. I’m loving this plan.

Met two nice ladies today who are also going to be daytime class people, sisters actually, who are working out together and just getting started. We’ve agreed to meet up tomorrow for the ABS and cycling class over lunch… “if I can walk tomorrow”. They laughed at my predicament at first, but them confessed that tomorrow will be their first cycling class. I warned them!

I also mentioned to Patrice — the only instructor I’ve met there so far — that Maggie and I were considering doing a hike up and down Stone Mountain on Wednesday late afternoons, and she said if we ever needed motivation to do that, she’d be happy to join us for the hike. She said she usually tries to do it in 40 minutes, and to take plenty of water with us. I didn’t tell her a time we were meeting, so I doubt we’ll have her show up this time. I sure would like to just go hike it and see how long it actually takes at my own pace before I invite miss “40 minutes” over to “motivate” us.

*ugh* I am a tired, sweaty mess now.

Will detail items other than puke later. *ugh*

You should consume about 1250 calories a day to reach your goal weight.

Generally, women should not consume any less than 1,200 calories per day, and men should not consume less than 1,500 calories per day.

1) No more bootcamp for a while… your feet and ankles can’t take it, and injuries knock you way out for a while. Pilates, for as much as you LOVED it, isn’t enough cardio. Go check out fullcycle-fitness.com — a group classes/cycling gym in Tucker with monthly membership for unlimited classes, and apparently a rare find with classes during the work day instead of just before and after — hence, continue to take advantage of work-from-home status.

2) No more, or at least REALLY limited, diet soda. A decision after yet another horrible intestinal battle that could link back to diet soda — between the acidity and the artificial sweetener, who knows why, but even if it was coincidence, you still drink too much of the stuff. Thus, water or tea… or juice or G2, cut with water. Or milk…. You get the idea.

3) Stop musing over Nutri-crap-system or Jenny Craig or whatever you think might be worth paying a fortune for not having to think about food and just THINK about food. Money spent on this diet endeavor is ALWAYS better spent on exercise classes than meal plans. You have a brain, use it. Skipping a meal is better than crap for convenience. Learn some willpower. Count some calories. Spend more than you take in, seriously how hard can it be.

4) STOP thinking the next DVD or gadget is going to be “the thing”… it will never be “the thing”… dvds always get boring, remember you HATE working out alone. Again, spend the money on a group class, make sure it’s a during the day class so you’ll go — as in, not at the ass-crack of dawn so you will want to oversleep, and not after work so you’ll want to spend time with JamesT. Go during the day, make up work in the evenings, you know it works better for you — remember it.

5) Go to the dang doctor. ESPECIALLY if regular exercise and a conscious diet doesn’t help the intestinal issues soon. Normal people don’t pop antacids like candy or drink bottles of pepto in a week.

6) You may be off the soda, but DRINK MORE WATER. Regular exercise again will no doubt help that. Don’t JUST drink water instead of soda, consciously drink more and make that more WATER!

7) Take your daily multivitamin and suppliments. Oh, and that means actually take them DAILY for a change, and not “whenever you remember this month.” Those 60 pill bottles? Yeah, they should last 60 days — not the year.
Stretch more. Everyday. You installed the “Big Stretch” work reminder, so stop ignoring those popup reminders. Get up and stretch means…. well. Get. up. Even if you’ve worked out, you can still be still at a computer for too long if you ignore them. In fact, same thing can hold true for the TV, so think about a stretch reminder for TV time, too. Or, I dunno… maybe use that big treadmill while you watch, since that’s why it is there. Even if you walk, it’s not sitting. And if you’re still not convinced, remember the very recent night you spend in agony with your shoulder in constant pain… taking too much tylenol, stinking up the house with creams, using a heating pad to try to get it to release, and the ever popular slamming your shoulder into the wall to get it to pop. All brilliant ideas we are looking forward to repeating. See #5 and sub CHIRO when necessary. Better yet, make it not necessary by STRETCHING MORE!

9) Which leads to the all important… Just Move More. Every day. Every chance. Get up. Stretch. Move. Take the stairs. Take the long way. Park farther away. All those stupid little things.

10) And most of all, cultivate your mental health with some friends and family connections. Harass the girls to hike or take a class or come over and workout … you have plenty of gear, or at least just use that treadmill to walk while you talk on the phone to mom, or sis, or nieceseses or anybody. Move more AND connect more. You let too much time pass “being busy”. Make the time. You need to for your mental health, and if you don’t soon, your friends will make better friends and stop even wanting to see you.

Today I was rewarded with the info that there is NOW a noon class on Tuesdays, too. Brand new, not on the official schedule, started last week, and YES I can go to that one instead of 6 AM.

Yippee!

The new sched: MTW&F noon-1, Thurs, 6pm-7

I have until Tuesday, June 24th booked and paid for. Then I think I’m going to do a week by week until after the 4th party — the summer special is $300 for 3 months unlimited, and if I’m not bankrupt then, I’ll probably do that.

Anywho… had to post today because it is actually a day to remember and celebrate, or so says the very kind Ashley, today’s instructor. From a completely prone position on the mat, I was today for the first time able to do a full, slow deliberate roll-up to a seated position, without moving my legs or raising my feet or using my hands or any of those other little helper tricks. I always try, I’ve never done it. Last time she put her hands very lightly on my feet and I was able to make it up that way, but this time was completely unassisted.

So, she notices me do it the first time, then we repeat this rolling slowly up and down several times and I make it all the way through them. She just keeps clapping and telling the class how happy she is at my milestone improvement in strength.

Personally, I think she really likes having a newbie in her class so she can have someone to actually watch and correct.

She said if I take a couple weeks of hot yoga that I should reach another big milestone, comfortable stretching past my toes without bending my knees. I’ll use the “flexible” icon, even though I’m really not very yet.

PS: Working around the yard and house at Sis’s this past weekend, don’t remember what I tried to carry, but my ankle gave a pop and gave out on me again just from walking on such uneven ground.

Pilates Sculpt would be my Monday noon and Thursday night classes on this schedule, and I guess I’ll keep going. Hopefully twice a week won’t kill me, as I just keep telling myself that this can’t be any harder than bootcamp. Goodness, do I ache, though. Even my hands!

From my understanding so far, the goal with pilates is to master slow, deliberate moves, stay very conscious of your bodys alignment, and to work smart as you work hard. The mat classes have used some props to help keep us with correct posture and perhaps at times add a bit of challenge, but this sculpt class went all out with weights, stretchy bands, and that evil magic circle.

I’m sure that my pain right now is more than just today’s workout, since I’ve also been going everyday now, but todays work with all that added resistance was painful during. I actually left this class with a headache from concentrating so much instead of my usual relaxed and energized state, and right now I’m aching pretty much everywhere.

Obviously, didn’t do the hot yoga class today, as I let some work and mostly my party invitations get the better of my time. I have noticed, though, that most people leaving one of those classes tend to use the showers and change clothes, so perhaps I should plan for that. I also really don’t think I’m drinking enough water anymore now that I’m not food journalling for bootcamp, so i’m worried about being hydrated enough to survive the class. If there is one Saturday, perhaps I’ll give it a go then, when I don’t have to come home and sit down to work.

Met a very nice girl before class today, late 30s, spent her younger days as a working ballerina in New York, had relocated with her husband to Atlanta, stopped really practicing and had a rug rat or two. She’s still a very tiny-boned girl, but was there taking her very first Pilates class. She was intrigued by my description of bootcamp, and laughingly said she thought that kind of workout would break her in half. I totally agreed. Somehow, it’s kind of nice to me to meet skinny, tiny people who really aren’t in such great shape, and especially to hear them gush and be envious of MY accomplishments. Good day!

She really has me intrigued with the hot yoga classes now, especially after talking about my weak ankles and the problems I’d had with bootcamp. She said she thought the yoga classes did more poses that might strengthen the muscles around my ankles than pilates, and that if I was looking to sweat off some water weight, that hot yoga was perfect for that.

I’ll have to take another look at my scheduling options, as I don’t want skip my current pilates classes, but perhaps I can work in an evening class on one of my noon pilates days… like today.

Also, some advice from Ashley has told me that I don’t want to take a Pilates 2 or 3 class until I can get through a 1 class without modifications. Also, that the Pilates Sculpt classes, which are level 1-2, use all the props, are a bit faster pace, and are a hell of a workout. That was what I missed Monday at noon, so my first one of those will be tomorrow night from 6-7. There’s a noon Hot class tomorrow, too. Hrm. Decisions.

Let me also say that though I know I’m not getting the cardio I need with these classes, oh my JEEZ CRIKEY CRAP are my muscles getting a workout. Muscles around my core that I don’t think I realized existed are letting me know loud and clear that they are tired!

I think the hardest thing I’m finding is there are a couple of pilates moves where you essentially do slow situps with your feet off the ground the entire time. I’m still having to grab a thigh to pull myself all the way up — though I’m not the only one.

The strangest move was their “Pilates Pushup”, which starts out in a standing position, you touch your toes, then walk out with your hands in 3 counts until you’re in pushup position, then you slowly lower yourself in 3 counts and back up in 1 several times, then you walk back toward your feet with your hands and hang there touching your toes for a moment, before you slowly roll back up to standing. And repeat several times.

Still very pleased with the classes, the people, the location, and especially how good I feel afterwards. Stepped on the scale last night for the first time since my last day of Bootcamp, and somehow even without consciously working out or dieting most of that time, I’ve managed to be down 8 pounds. I guess whatever extra muscle I’ve put on under this pudge is doing it’s thing afterall.