The soporific Spinny's stunning... Journal? Eh.

[spinscent]

Hello, yo's.

My life has been happening to me for the past 18 years, and I'm finally deciding to pay attention to it. I'm very socially phobic, a bit overweight, and I tend to never finish what I start. It's not that I lose interest, I'm still interested in what I don't finish, it's just that other things are more interesting. I'm a curious little Spinny. I'll be working out somewhere, then notice the most peculiar chunk of ceiling tile hanging. Of course, I can't fix it, but I can talk at myself about how I'd fix it. Then I'd wonder what sorts of subconscious psychological distress that ceiling tile brings to people. Maybe even wander into my bedroom to write an essay about it. But, really, getting back on topic, now I'm realizing that those traits are probably somewhat unhealthy.

My main interests are music, philosophy, psychology, and writing. Yeah. Those interests don't really force me into any crazy amount of physical activity. Well. Music. Playing my saxophone takes a lot of effort, but people normally don't notice how sexy my mouth muscles are.

So I'm going to start paying attention to my body.

I'm female, 5'6'' and 136 pounds. I have very little muscle, and I'm quite pear shaped. I'm not exactly sure how much weight I want to lose, since I've always been roughly the same weight/height look. I guess I want to lose ten pounds by the time school comes around. Which is... August 28th. I've got a month or so.

To lose it, I'll DDR every day, avoid the tasty yet unhealthy food (1300-1500 calories a day), and attempt to improve my strength with weights. I'm not too sure how good of a plan that is, but... You know.

Dance Dance Revolution burns a lot of calories. Because it's a game, though, I wonder if it's actually helping me. On Hard mode, I'll be panting and sweating. On Light mode, I can sing while DDRing. On Standard mode, sometimes I can talk, but sometimes I can't. I tend to start off with a couple Standard mode songs to warm into it, try a Hard mode, rest with a Standard mode, try Hard mode again, etc. If I'm feeling ambitious, I'll go for the mode that's harder than Hard mode.

The weights, though, I'm anxious about. I can barely lift a 5-pound weight with one arm. I know I have to start somewhere, but it's still discouraging when I see my female friends being alright with the 10-pound weights. My wrists, and joints in general, are also very weak, and I'm not sure how that will affect me. Will they get stronger too, or am I going to end up with broken wrists and elbows?

I can't do anything today, since it's the 4th of July and everyone's over here to pester me until the morning light. So, tomorrow, I'll begin.

But... I'm also worried about my skin, and my schedule.

My skin likes to be oily. I wash regularly and use ProActiv, but sometimes end up with a spot or two anyway. I have many acne scars on my chest and back, and would like to avoid getting more. If I just take a shower after I exercise, then I'm hoping that I won't get too much acne. It still makes me paranoid, though. I've been trying to get those scars to go away so I can wear shirts that are lower cut than a turtleneck sweater.

During school days, I get up at 4:30 AM to go to Jazz Band, Band, and Choir, so I'm not allowed to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom until 11:30 AM. I'm starving by the time I can eat again. Isn't that bad, from a health perspective? If I do lose the weight, will I gain it all back? Or if I end up with any muscle, what'll happen to it? I feel like maybe I'm too paranoid, but it also might be a valid concern.

Anyway. Tomorrow's when the journey of this Spinny's journal begins. Wish me luck and stuff like that, alright? I'm going to try my hardest to not get distracted.

Oh! I almost forgot. I'm doing this, beside just improving some unhealthy personality flaws, so I can look decent in my marching band uniform... And leather/PVC, of course. I like punk/goth clothing styles, and so do my 'fans'. I feel comfortable with a leather corset-style top, but there's no way anyone's replacing my jeans. At least for now.

'fans': Friends that worship me for some unknown, vaguely frightening reason.

 

[Trusylver]

Sounds like a good exercise plan, Starting of with light weights you should start to see a difference in what you are able to lift with good form quite quickly. Working your muscles will also strengthen your joints.

do you have access to a gym for your weights ? if not what weights do you have access to ? If you have not lifted before it is important to learn how to do each exercise correctly so you can avoid injury and make the most of lifting weights.

Do you know what your current bodyfat % is ?

You are off to a good start and will get lots of help here on the forum to keep you focused and on track

 

[spinscent]

---

Trusylver--
My bodyfat is 33%. I think.

As for being a newbie to lifting weights, I feel uncomfortable, but pretty much know how. 20% of my PE grade my freshman year of highschool was weights/squat/bench. Because of my psychotic PE teacher, I have enough nightmares about it to remember most of it. I bought a book that has different exercises, how to do them, what not to do, and stuff like that... I have pairs of 3 lb, 5 lb, 8 lb, 10 lb, 15 lb, and 20 lb weights that you hold in your hands... I have a bowflex-looking machine, too, but I'm not sure that I really want to use it. If I felt like it, I could wander over to the gym, since it's only like 10 minutes from my house. There's also a Curves near here, but Curves doesn't really sound very appealing. Girls are scary.

---

Today was alright. I burned 400 calories DDRing after breakfast, and another 400 DDRing after dinner. I yawned, stretched, drank some water, played non-physical video games, wrote in my journal... Then sauntered over to the room in my house that I call the "weight room."

I stared down at the weights, at first. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to. So I picked up the 3-pound weights. I did 12 reps of three different exercises for my chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and back. Then I picked up the 5-pound weights, and repeated what I did, except with 10 reps. Finally, the 8-pound weights with 8 reps.

I'm not sure how to measure my success today. I couldn't voluntarily flex using the 5 or 8 pound weights, but I didn't get tired, either. More reps? Higher weights? I shook a lot using the 8-pound weights... Maybe they're too heavy, so I'm not using them right...?

I'm not sore at all right now except in my hands, wrists and elbows.

Hm... Eh. I guess I'll do some research tonight or something. It's just a rough start. Don't be discouraged, Spinny!

 

[Trusylver]

it sounds like you have a good selection of equiment to use at home, it sounds like the 8 lb weights are a little to much for the exercizes you are doing at the moment. Try doing 3 sets of 10-15 reps of each exercise to start with and then when you feel more comfortable increase the weight.have a rest of about a minute between sets.

Going over to the gym would be a good idea, at least for a few visits and ask the staff to check your form on the exercises you are doing.

I also think an all girls gym would be awfully scary, there is one in town here but i have never been inside and their promotional staff agreed that curves would not suit me lol

you will need to work on your lower body as well, working the larger muscles will burn more calories. Bodyweight squats and lunges would be a good option or hold some weights in your hands and step up and down a step. The squat works a lot of muscles and will tighten up your ass muscles even if it does bring back memories of your PE teacher.

by building muscle you should be able to increase your metabolism to burn more fat.

http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

the link goes to a site with animations of each exercise which might be more helpful than a book if you are still nervouse about visiting the gym.

My diet is awful so i will leave assisting you with that problem to other forum members.