Ripped

Wow. Been so long since I posted here. Four years!

I'm at 140 and decided to push to get closer to 135/130. Just started lifting weights again. Feeling good, just too flabby & not strong enough. Time to get that body fat percentage right.

Maybe eat processed sugar/carbs (e.g. pizza) once every couple weeks. Otherwise, it's All Whole Real Foods. Feels so good.
 
Thank you Omega and CloudyMuffin!

I still want to lose 5-10 pounds, plus improve my body fat percentage so I wouldn't call it maintenance. Technically, I'm not overweight. But, I am not nearly my healthiest either.

I'm looking forward to maintenance though. It will be a challenge to strike that balance of not being in "losing" mode and living life as a healthy person. That means I can't say, "I've made it! Now I can eat whatever I want and exercise half as much." hehe
 
Only my 2nd day of lifting weights in a long long time. I'm still unable to lift then do cardio. When I was in very good shape I could do both back to back. Now, I have to lift weights for 30min to 1 hour. Then I go about my day. Finally I return to the gym for cardio in the evening. Yup. I'm just too tired to do it all in one shot.

Hoping to lose some inches lifting. Build up some muscle. Get stronger. Even if it's piecemeal.

Oh, a pregnant lady at the gym was lifting heavier weights than I was.

I didn't let that discourage me. I just laughed (wayyyy down deep on the inside).
 
Very familiar with the you-shouldn't-be-outlifting-me syndrome. When I see that, I tend to criticize their technique (in my head, of course), then add to the weight.

Then again, I haven't been to a gym in a couple years, courtesy of parenthood. So I do it in my basement, alone, where I can't judge anyone. I kind of miss the people-watching.
 
Ah, Little John, a private workout space sounds like a luxury. If you ever get the hankering for ppl watching, you can always grab that one week free pass at any gym. Just to mix things up.

I lifted yesterday for the 3rd time in 2 years. Still all very new & each time I add an exercise. I try not to rest much in between sets other than to get water. Once I'm done w/ a chest set I do a back set. So I sweat like a hog and am winded the entire time. That's exercise I guess.
Gonna get my body fat measured this week to see where I'm starting from. I'm scared of the results.
 
Tomorrow I'm doing my first zumba (or is it hip hop) dance class. I got a groupon to try 10 classes. Was reading Omega's thread and inspired by her. Even though it's too $@% hot to get outside and move, I can mix things up in the cool a/c. Nice break from the elliptical.

No excuses!
 
I conveniently forgot to mention that I had some delicious Mexican food two days ago, overate, and got diarrhea. Think it was all the lard in the refried beans. I skip the rice/tortillas and just get sautéed veggies (veggie fajita w/o the shell).
I ate 2 entrees that day. One for lunch one for dinner. That's a lotta fried beans yo.

So...yeah. That was a bad idea.

The next day I only had two oranges & sipped water b/c my tummy was so angry & grease coated. Talk about a protest.

Shame on me for only remembering to mention the good bits. Talk about Rose Colored Glasses.
 
I hope that you enjoy the zumba.
I've just been and done my hour of zumba for today. :)

I'm sorry to hear about the diarrhea.
 
I did my first zumba class today. Was an hour and a half. I enjoyed it. Did the lower impact/easier moves when there were options to scale it back a bit. My mini goal is to go every day for a week and see how I like it. Maybe I'll learn the choreography faster if I don't wait & do it once or twice a week or something.
 
I'm sure that you will learn the choreography quicker with regular practice.

I'm pleased that you enjoyed it.
 
Thanks Omega. I'm hanging in there.

Today I did a hip hop dance class & a Ripped class. Was fun but I'm still such a weakling. Myself and a 70 year old lady were using 3 pound weights and everyone else was using 5-10 pounds.

Just gotta keep strength training and eventually... I will be strong. ;)
 
Do not compare yourself to others... Playing fields are rarely even...

Remember - you do not know how long other people have been doing things or what their history is... People often work their way up in such things... They may have started out with smaller weights again... You never know...

Lets face it - if someone like Trusylver on the forum walked in she would probably be able to make the best of them feel like a weakling.

In every field - there is always going to be someone better...

I know my dance teacher - who is an absolutely brilliant dancer and zumba instructor - and very fit because he does a lot of intensive cardio in the zumba (he not only teaches the open classes that I go to, but also teaches zumba in various schools and to an number of societies that encourage fitness like the cadets). He frankly does an amazing amount of cardio (and is a qualified personal trainer)... Anyway - he recently started also working in an established stage and busking act working for and alongside someone who happens to be a double Olympic athlete (Liam Collins - hurdles and bobsleigh). On the days when they have been busking outside and the weather warm - Liam was all in favour of them stripping off their shirts during the dance... The sight of rippling muscles can only help the amount of money people put into the bag at the end of the routine... Chris told me that he didn't fancy stripping off because he knew that he would look like he was totally plump and out of shape next to Liam... Whenever I caught the act and saw Liam strip off - Chris kept his clothes on... Comparisons are odious.

I am useless at ST and would be on the light weights next to you. I would actually be pretty pleased if I could manage the 3 pound weights for long... I suspect that I might look to see if there were any lighter...

The important thing is that you are doing it - and the only person worth comparing yourself to is the less fit person that you used to be.

The hip-hop sounds fun... I did a reggaeton class (which is very similar to hip hop) instructed by Leandro Charanga last month and it was brilliant fun and excellent exercise.
 
Love the name of your diary :). I agree with everything Margaret said. You are improving and getting stronger and that is all that matters.
 
Yup, what Omega said, it's not a competition. Then again, I get the feeling you're just using a little self-deprecating humor, which is A-OK in my book. As long as you're not discouraged by the whole thing!
 
Welcome back! I know it's been a few weeks, but heck you've come back after 4 years!

I know you still want to lose 5-10lbs but stop for a second and congratulate yourself on keeping the rest off for so long!

Zumba sounds like fun. I've always loved salsa dancing and Zumba sounds like people will be doing it to lose weight - as opposed to hip hop class which I would LOVe to do but reakon I'd be the only fat one there!


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Thanks Omega, angel and Little John. You're all absolutely right of course. I'm not competing with anyone. I am only responsible for challenging myself.
I think I look deceptively in shape/strong. I've been to classes with four different instructors and 3 of them have said, oh c'mon you can lift heavier weights than that. I correct them and say I haven't lifted in 2 years and do not want to injure myself. Not fun to have to specifically admit weakness in front of everyone at the beginning of class but.... I just have fun anyway!! I really do, with my little 2 & 3 pound weights.

I've also been lifting on my own at the gym. I haven't taken measurements in a bit but my size 6 clothes fit comfortably if not a bit loose. I was a size 8 before lifting. Curious to see how my body fat changed and what the scale says.

I still feel fat (as in not toned or strong). I think my head will take a while to catch up with my body. I also think I need to give my body some time & appreciate the changes I'm seeing.

I am eating well. Not well like King Henry VIII, but well as in clean. I haven't seen a processed carb or sugar since... I dunno when. They used to be part of every meal. I don't necessarily think those things are the devil. I'm sure they are fine in moderation. But they're trigger foods for me and until I learn moderation, I'd rather skip 'em and really savor more adult flavors/textures and nourish my body while I'm demanding it to do all this new stuff.

JJay, thanks so much for the warm welcome! We have fat & skinny hip hoppers in class. :) Pretty much all of us look silly b/c the instructor is the only one who knows the choreography.
 
The good news with starting lifting back up is that it's only a matter of weeks before you're back up to max power from the last time you tried!
 
Thanks LJ, I am starting to feel the strength gains. On legs, I'm already lifting what I was before, albeit with more effort.

I've been traveling, thus missing out on the dance classes I like to take. But, I'll be done traveling for a while starting Sunday. In the meantime it's mostly been the gym or nothing. I went 3 days without exercise and felt like I really needed to get moving by the 3rd day. That's a good sign I'm in an official workout routine. HOORAY! Anyone just starting knows how difficult it is to start moving and stick with it at first.

Headed to the gym this morning so as not to make it 4 days of no exercise. Working out twice on Sunday. Boom.

More is better than not enough.... especially if you're a wimp like me & do lower impact/easy stuff so as to avoid injury. :) I've ben introducing speed intervals though, just to burn more calories & challenge myself.
 
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