What's Been Keeping Me So Busy

You may have noticed that posting has become somewhat sporadic recently. I'm very sorry if' I've disappointed anyone, but I do have a great reason for my absence.


Do you remember the Monday List from almost two weeks ago? I mentioned in that post that I'd taken some steps toward improving my health and promised to talk about them soon. Well, today seems as good a day as any!


Two and a half weeks ago, thanks to my husband's new job, we became members of Wilson's Fitness. I've wanted a gym membership for a very, very long time, but until now it just hasn't been in our family budget. When we discovered that his new company would pay half of a family membership, we jumped on it immediately. (Goodness Bless the belief that prevention is cheaper than the cure!) After a bit of debate and a couple of tours we ended up going with the biggest fitness company in town because it provided the things that our family needed the most.


I've never worked with a trainer before, but I knew that it could potentially be extremely beneficial, and so I signed up for the 30-Day Makeover plan. Why? Several reasons. First, it's been two years since I had a regular exercise schedule and almost seven since I had a gym membership. I wanted help building a good routine. Second, I have a long way to go. To be blunt and honest, I need/want to lose around 75 lbs. I've spent the last year doing the background work that needed to be done - through acupuncture and therapy - and the actual physical portion deserved every bit as much attention. Third, it's an investment. I know myself, and I know that if I spend the money it's going to push me to follow through. Fourth, I feel as if I can no longer afford to remain as I am. It's time to change, and I figured I might as well jump in with both feet.


I met my trainer, Meghan, last Monday for my initial assessment. We did all of the standard things - checking weight and body fat, testing for flexibility and strength and going through lifestyle questions. She then prescribed exercise for Tuesday and we made plans to meet for our first official workout on Wednesday. Meghan also instructed me to sign up on The Daily Plate, giving her my password and ID so that she could check up on me. Later that day she emailed my caloric requirements - also listing the amount of protein, carbs and fat she wanted me to get each day. The final piece of the puzzle....water. I was instructed to drink half of my body weight each day in water with an extra 8 oz. for each half hour I worked out. (Believe it or not, with the way I'm eating right now it's actually tougher to get the food and water intake that I need than it is to do the exercise!)


Since then, I've been in the gym almost every day. I meet with Meghan on Mondays and Wednesdays for an hour of strength training after 30 minutes on the treadmill. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays I'm to do 45 minutes of cardio, with an additional five minute warm up and five minute cool down on top of that. Meghan recommended a class to try on Friday - mat pilates - which was extremely difficult, but surprisingly fun. (You've got to love it when the entire staff laughs, shakes their heads and tells you that you won't be able to do everything in the class for at least a month!) I'll probably make the class a part of my regular schedule, even though I'm to do 25 min. of cardio prior to any classes I take. Meghan scheduled rest days on the weekend, but as she told me I didn't have to do that if I didn't want to. As there's a yoga class on Saturday mornings, I'll probably go ahead and include that as well. I tried it last weekend and while 'fitness' yoga is quite different from the style I learned some years ago, it was a great way to start the day.

Where are the girls during all of this? We have free childcare with our membership! Yay! I'm actually using two separate locations - FIT, a female-only facility, and Wilson's South, which is literally just across the parking lot from FIT. I meet Meghan and take classes at FIT, which has a smaller playroom. Wilson's actually boasts a climb and slide in their playroom, so we go there on cardio-only days so the girls can have some variety. I've been very pleased with the quality of care they receive in both locations, as it makes it a lot easier - and a lot more fun - for me to do my workout. On some occasions, like today, I might get up and go to the gym before my husband leaves for work.....but I anticipate that being an exception to the rule.


The really wonderful thing is that I LOVE going to the gym. In fact, I had forgotten how much I enjoy working with the weight machines and doing cardio in a way that I can easily track progress. Plus, my gym time has already become beloved 'me-time' in a way that home exercise never did. My motto right now is to, "Do EVERYTHING Meghan tells me to do," and I can honestly say that I'm enjoying doing just that.

And the rest of the family? Two words....Beach Club! My husband and girls are delighted to have access to the Beach Club, and already we've used it quite a bit! In fact, we've plans to go this weekend! There's a pool at FIT/MAC as well, and now that I've a new swimsuit I anticipate taking the kids there quite a bit, too.

So thanks for baring with me on this very long post about a very non-creative aspect of my life. All I can really say, though, is that after two weeks I already feel a million times better and that's going to impact my life in a whole bunch of ways.

Comments

Shelda said…
Oh, I don't know about "non-creative." It's kind of like the base foundation that makes everything else possible, isn't it?

You go, girl!
Bonnie said…
Sounds like a terrific gym - and the child care is a huge plus. I'm like you - since I've paid for my gym membership I feel obligated to go and not "waste" the money.
fleegle said…
I am glad you enjoy it, because it sounds like torture to me :(

Harry says Hi to the Green Woman and wants to know if she does karaoke?
=Tamar said…
The gym sounds great, but - half your body weight in water per day? Have your kidney doctor on speed-dial. A well-exercised woman died during a marathon from drinking too much water, and it was a lot less than half her body weight.
KPiep said…
Tamar - Drinking 1/2 your body-weight in water is actually a fairly well-known plan for any sort of physical training, especially when you are overweight as you tend to be dehydrated and undernourished. (Sounds crazy, but it's true!)

Having done a half and full marathon with my husband a couple of years ago, I also know how much water you have to drink in order to safely complete that kind of challange. The poor woman who died had to have been drinking considerable amounts to have pushed her kidneys so far. (and I do remember that case)
Paula said…
Wow! You have been busy! It sounds like a great plan for fitness and you are showing the girls a healthful model for life as well.

Popular Posts