Wisteria Lodge
New member
I joined a gym back in 2006, but after a series of unfortunate events my attendance slacked off to once in several weeks. Back in March, the Biggest Loser was having a casting call in town. I wasn't sure about going, because it was quite cold, but a friend talked me into going. I was in line for 7.5 hours, inside the building for 30 minutes max, and in a group with the casting person for maybe 5 minutes.
There were over a thousand people there, some of whom were deluded that they were fat enough for the show and others who made me feel skinny. I was shocked by the behavior of the crowd: ordering pizzas, grabbing a meal from a nearby fast food restaurant which calories had to exceed 3000, and on and on.
I decided then that I would get back to the gym regularly and work as hard as I would if I had been a contestant. Unfortunately at the time I was babysitting for my neighbors 4 days a week for up to 12 hours and I was just too tired. I got into the gym once and saw a notice about a Biggest Loser style workout boot camp class, but I was babysitting.
So the babysitting ends over Memorial Day weekend. On June 11 I go to the gym again, doing 10 minutes on the treadmill, the leg and shoulder press machines, and swam .5 miles in the pool. I was there probably an hour. Around the gym is another Boot Camp class notice, so on the way out I sign up.
The next day I show up and I'm the fattest person by a good 75 pounds, if not more. But I go ahead anyway and it was tough! Too much jumping, balancing on one foot (or both at the same time) or other things which require a rapid change in balance or elevation, but I do my best even though my heart rate got as high as 168! As the class is winding down doing stretches, the teacher comes over and asks me my name. So when class is over he proclaims me to be the rock star, which I assume is a designation they give to someone who is making a big effort (no rock stars since then, so I guess he was pleased I didn't wimp out after 5 minutes). After a break I went and swam a quarter mile and realized I was just too tired.
Since then, I've been every day but 3, the last missed day being on July 2. Yesterday I swam a mile for the first time and repeated the feat today. By the time I walked out of the door, 4 hours and 59 minutes had elapsed since setting the chronograph as I stepped onto the treadmill. 4 hour workouts are not unusual for me, probably 4 of them in the last week.
The weight is slow in coming off, only 7 pounds so far, but I've lost 2 inches on the upper tamorso and 3 off the waist, so I know I making progress. The most important thing is that I'm going regularly.
I've spent what is for me a lot of money buying incidentals: new shoes with good arch support so I'm not in constant pain, resistance tubes and a new exercise ball, sweat bands, gloves for weights, and new clothes to wear while working out. I still need to clean a spot in the house where I can do home workouts, but I do use the 5 pound weights I already had while watching television.
The biggest problem I have is portion control and not giving into temptation foods, though when I went to a buffet with a friend 2 weeks ago I didn't even finish my first plate, which was a major change. My big temptations are: french fries, pizza, ice cream, and big juicy hamburgers. I've been having some success with avoiding some temptations by buying fajita mix from the local Mexican market, saving me money and calories consumed.
Eating healthier foods is expensive. I'm a bargain shopper and can get a lot of really economical foods, but they are frequently high in fat, calories, sodium, or something else bad. But I've been telling myself just because it's cheap doesn't make it a good deal, so I've been avoiding much of those items. I'm constantly shocked by how expensive fresh produce is lately and have a hard time talking my frugal soul into buying something for 4 times what I used to pick them up for. I've cut out soda pop almost completely (diet Mountain Dew).
I really wish I knew how many hours a day they work out for on the Biggest Loser, because 7 pounds over six weeks isn't much for the kind of effort I've been making.
There were over a thousand people there, some of whom were deluded that they were fat enough for the show and others who made me feel skinny. I was shocked by the behavior of the crowd: ordering pizzas, grabbing a meal from a nearby fast food restaurant which calories had to exceed 3000, and on and on.
I decided then that I would get back to the gym regularly and work as hard as I would if I had been a contestant. Unfortunately at the time I was babysitting for my neighbors 4 days a week for up to 12 hours and I was just too tired. I got into the gym once and saw a notice about a Biggest Loser style workout boot camp class, but I was babysitting.
So the babysitting ends over Memorial Day weekend. On June 11 I go to the gym again, doing 10 minutes on the treadmill, the leg and shoulder press machines, and swam .5 miles in the pool. I was there probably an hour. Around the gym is another Boot Camp class notice, so on the way out I sign up.
The next day I show up and I'm the fattest person by a good 75 pounds, if not more. But I go ahead anyway and it was tough! Too much jumping, balancing on one foot (or both at the same time) or other things which require a rapid change in balance or elevation, but I do my best even though my heart rate got as high as 168! As the class is winding down doing stretches, the teacher comes over and asks me my name. So when class is over he proclaims me to be the rock star, which I assume is a designation they give to someone who is making a big effort (no rock stars since then, so I guess he was pleased I didn't wimp out after 5 minutes). After a break I went and swam a quarter mile and realized I was just too tired.
Since then, I've been every day but 3, the last missed day being on July 2. Yesterday I swam a mile for the first time and repeated the feat today. By the time I walked out of the door, 4 hours and 59 minutes had elapsed since setting the chronograph as I stepped onto the treadmill. 4 hour workouts are not unusual for me, probably 4 of them in the last week.
The weight is slow in coming off, only 7 pounds so far, but I've lost 2 inches on the upper tamorso and 3 off the waist, so I know I making progress. The most important thing is that I'm going regularly.
I've spent what is for me a lot of money buying incidentals: new shoes with good arch support so I'm not in constant pain, resistance tubes and a new exercise ball, sweat bands, gloves for weights, and new clothes to wear while working out. I still need to clean a spot in the house where I can do home workouts, but I do use the 5 pound weights I already had while watching television.
The biggest problem I have is portion control and not giving into temptation foods, though when I went to a buffet with a friend 2 weeks ago I didn't even finish my first plate, which was a major change. My big temptations are: french fries, pizza, ice cream, and big juicy hamburgers. I've been having some success with avoiding some temptations by buying fajita mix from the local Mexican market, saving me money and calories consumed.
Eating healthier foods is expensive. I'm a bargain shopper and can get a lot of really economical foods, but they are frequently high in fat, calories, sodium, or something else bad. But I've been telling myself just because it's cheap doesn't make it a good deal, so I've been avoiding much of those items. I'm constantly shocked by how expensive fresh produce is lately and have a hard time talking my frugal soul into buying something for 4 times what I used to pick them up for. I've cut out soda pop almost completely (diet Mountain Dew).
I really wish I knew how many hours a day they work out for on the Biggest Loser, because 7 pounds over six weeks isn't much for the kind of effort I've been making.
