60 Day Fitness Update, Part 1: Exercise
I can't believe I've been at this routine now for 60 days! On one hand it feels like it's been so much longer, but when I do something new and my body aches, I remember that in the grand scheme of things, I'm still pretty new to all this hard work.
Yep, so it's been officially 60 days today that I first set off to tackle my new year's resolution to get fit, get healthier, and hopefully get thinner as a result. It's been a pretty amazing 60 days and I have pushed my body to places I didn't know I could go. As I mentioned in my 30 day fitness update, I have been working with a trainer named Yuichi. What's amazing is that he pushes me to do things that a) I'd never do on my own because I'd crap out if he wasn't there telling me to do it, b) I'd never even know to do a certain workout because it's outside of the basic running/weights/etc kind of stuff I'm familiar with, and c) I'd be afraid that I'd hurt myself if I was doing an exercise that was potentially too hard or dangerous without a spotter.
my Target workout wear - images from TargetHiring him has been the best money I've spent on myself in ages, because when I'm afraid I'm going to hurt myself, or my heart is going to pound out of my chest, or I'm going to fly off the treadmill, I know that he's there watching me and making sure I'm okay and pushing me just the right amount. Yeah, I'm gasping and grunting and he jokes that the other clients probably think he's killing me, but I am pushed right to my limit each and every week which feels amazing and empowering. When you don't have a fitness background and you feel your body reacting, it's hard to know what's okay and what's dangerous. Like I said in my last update, I am so fortunate that my randomly assigned trainer was an ideal fit for me. I trust him, I like him as a person, and I know he has my best interest in mind.
I'm happy to report that as of today, I've officially lost 10 pounds! Any 10 pound weight loss would feel fantastic, but this feels especially amazing since I'm doing it the right way. Last week Yuichi asked me when the last time was that I felt like this, and I honestly had to pause and think about it. About 2 years ago or so, I lost about 10 pounds in a month doing a really intensive juice cleanse. It was a healthy cleanse - juiced fruit and veggies etc, not the honey and cayenne pepper kind of thing - but I eventually gained it back and felt weak and weary. I wasn't working out properly and wasn't strong at all. These 10 pounds are earned with healthy food choices and hard work at the gym, burning fat and building muscle. Totally different. So my answer to his question was honestly, "never." When I was young I was fit by the nature of being young and active, and I've certainly eaten healthy for a very long time, but I've never put the two together to be fit and healthy and strong all at the same time. Better late then never!
Get that makeup off! - images from Drugstore.comIt's also pretty amazing to be able to do things with my body that I've never done before, like kicking and punching! I've literally never thrown a punch before, but now not only do I know how, I punch Yuichi every week. And I kick him too! Seriously, he wears a body pad and I literally kick him! Other fun things appear in the midst of this, like who knew, but not only do I like jumping rope, I'm quite decent at it too! Want a quick boost? Jump rope for 200 reps! That will get your heart rate right up!
So, I'm rambling a bit here, but I do have a point, and that is that anyone can do this. I now understand that it's not rocket science, there's no quick fix, and it's basic math about what you put in your body and what you give in return to your body. I always knew this, but now I know it.
this Shuffle keeps me moving!
How am I making this work for me? Here are a few tips I've learned along the way:
Make yourself a good gym mix! This can be filled with whatever keeps you running! For me, it's a solid mix of Beyonce, LCD Soundsystem, retro disco, and M.I.A. All of these make me want to either kick ass, have sex, or dance my troubles away. Get yourself an easy way to listen to music at the gym. I had an old iPod and arm band that I used for the first month, but then I upgraded to a new iPod Shuffle. Tiny, clips onto my t-shirt, and only $49. Perfection. Have plenty of gym clothes on hand so laundry isn't the excuse you use to not make it there. I bought a bunch of basic yoga-style pants at Target and then stocked up on cheap t-shirts at both Target and thrift stores. Doesn't have to be fancy, unless you're also there to get a date (which I am not)! I know I can sew these items, but again, I didn't want there to be any excuse for not going and I wasn't looking for another project. I wanted to get my goods and go!Pack your bag for the gym every day and keep it in your car. This is not really possible for public transportation urban folks, but since LA is a car town, I drive to work so this works for me. Except for the day I work with Yuichi (which I do on my day off so I have maximum energy), I go to the gym after work. Do I always want to go? No. But I've packed my bag and I've already made it this close to the gym (the gym is by work, not by my home), so what the hell, I might as well go! Though now, I actually like going!Do not exercise on an empty stomach, nor on a full one. Eat a hearty and healthy snack about 1-1.5 hours before hitting the gym so it's into your system before working out. Don't workout in makeup! After work it's important to clean your face before sweating all that crap into your pores! My pal Haley tipped me to the waterless Burt's Bees face wipes, and they have been a dream come true! Wipe the grime off and sweat it out baby. Get a gym buddy. At this point I'd keep going with or without Haley's help, but it has been amazing to talk about our experiences together, encourage each other, give each other tips, and go to the gym together when we can. I'm happy to report that she also clocked in a 10 pound weight loss last week too! Go Haley! Find stuff that you actually like doing, and learn to like sweating and being sore. If you're bored with your routine, change it up! Keep it fresh and keep yourself interested. I'm now at that weird place where I kinda like being a little sore from my workouts. It keeps me in check with my body and aware of what's going on and what I've worked on my body and how hard I've worked it. Also, leaving the gym looking like you just took a shower is a weird and wonderful feeling. (Gross I know, but hey, that's what you gotta do!)Don't be afraid to ask questions. I am really happy that I like the gym I've been going to and everyone that works there is super nice. Find a place that you like and feel comfortable asking the staff for help and assistance with machines, classes, etc. You want to feel cared for and safe and that is their job. Read. I've started reading fitness magazines in both print and on-line (I'm partial to Women's Health and Self) and have started following many fitness boards on Pinterest. It's nice to learn new tips, new workouts, be inspired by others, and keep the interest alive!Hire a trainer if you can afford it. I've set up a plan to meet with Yuichi once a week, which I'm not going to lie, is an expense. But as someone who teaches people one-on-one sometimes, I know roughly what the going rate is for personalized attention, no matter what the skill. So I know that it's worth every penny. If you cannot afford to workout on a weekly basis with someone, book a session once a month to keep your routine fresh and to learn new things. I now have a whole list of things I didn't know how to do before working with Yuichi, but now they are part of my routine and I can do them with or without him. So, what are your tips for keeping motivated and active? Do please share your experiences in the comments! I'd love to learn from each of you and I hope my experiences are inspiring to some of you as well! Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of my 60 Day Fitness Update: Nutrition!
Yep, so it's been officially 60 days today that I first set off to tackle my new year's resolution to get fit, get healthier, and hopefully get thinner as a result. It's been a pretty amazing 60 days and I have pushed my body to places I didn't know I could go. As I mentioned in my 30 day fitness update, I have been working with a trainer named Yuichi. What's amazing is that he pushes me to do things that a) I'd never do on my own because I'd crap out if he wasn't there telling me to do it, b) I'd never even know to do a certain workout because it's outside of the basic running/weights/etc kind of stuff I'm familiar with, and c) I'd be afraid that I'd hurt myself if I was doing an exercise that was potentially too hard or dangerous without a spotter.
my Target workout wear - images from TargetHiring him has been the best money I've spent on myself in ages, because when I'm afraid I'm going to hurt myself, or my heart is going to pound out of my chest, or I'm going to fly off the treadmill, I know that he's there watching me and making sure I'm okay and pushing me just the right amount. Yeah, I'm gasping and grunting and he jokes that the other clients probably think he's killing me, but I am pushed right to my limit each and every week which feels amazing and empowering. When you don't have a fitness background and you feel your body reacting, it's hard to know what's okay and what's dangerous. Like I said in my last update, I am so fortunate that my randomly assigned trainer was an ideal fit for me. I trust him, I like him as a person, and I know he has my best interest in mind.I'm happy to report that as of today, I've officially lost 10 pounds! Any 10 pound weight loss would feel fantastic, but this feels especially amazing since I'm doing it the right way. Last week Yuichi asked me when the last time was that I felt like this, and I honestly had to pause and think about it. About 2 years ago or so, I lost about 10 pounds in a month doing a really intensive juice cleanse. It was a healthy cleanse - juiced fruit and veggies etc, not the honey and cayenne pepper kind of thing - but I eventually gained it back and felt weak and weary. I wasn't working out properly and wasn't strong at all. These 10 pounds are earned with healthy food choices and hard work at the gym, burning fat and building muscle. Totally different. So my answer to his question was honestly, "never." When I was young I was fit by the nature of being young and active, and I've certainly eaten healthy for a very long time, but I've never put the two together to be fit and healthy and strong all at the same time. Better late then never!
Get that makeup off! - images from Drugstore.comIt's also pretty amazing to be able to do things with my body that I've never done before, like kicking and punching! I've literally never thrown a punch before, but now not only do I know how, I punch Yuichi every week. And I kick him too! Seriously, he wears a body pad and I literally kick him! Other fun things appear in the midst of this, like who knew, but not only do I like jumping rope, I'm quite decent at it too! Want a quick boost? Jump rope for 200 reps! That will get your heart rate right up!So, I'm rambling a bit here, but I do have a point, and that is that anyone can do this. I now understand that it's not rocket science, there's no quick fix, and it's basic math about what you put in your body and what you give in return to your body. I always knew this, but now I know it.
this Shuffle keeps me moving!How am I making this work for me? Here are a few tips I've learned along the way:
Make yourself a good gym mix! This can be filled with whatever keeps you running! For me, it's a solid mix of Beyonce, LCD Soundsystem, retro disco, and M.I.A. All of these make me want to either kick ass, have sex, or dance my troubles away. Get yourself an easy way to listen to music at the gym. I had an old iPod and arm band that I used for the first month, but then I upgraded to a new iPod Shuffle. Tiny, clips onto my t-shirt, and only $49. Perfection. Have plenty of gym clothes on hand so laundry isn't the excuse you use to not make it there. I bought a bunch of basic yoga-style pants at Target and then stocked up on cheap t-shirts at both Target and thrift stores. Doesn't have to be fancy, unless you're also there to get a date (which I am not)! I know I can sew these items, but again, I didn't want there to be any excuse for not going and I wasn't looking for another project. I wanted to get my goods and go!Pack your bag for the gym every day and keep it in your car. This is not really possible for public transportation urban folks, but since LA is a car town, I drive to work so this works for me. Except for the day I work with Yuichi (which I do on my day off so I have maximum energy), I go to the gym after work. Do I always want to go? No. But I've packed my bag and I've already made it this close to the gym (the gym is by work, not by my home), so what the hell, I might as well go! Though now, I actually like going!Do not exercise on an empty stomach, nor on a full one. Eat a hearty and healthy snack about 1-1.5 hours before hitting the gym so it's into your system before working out. Don't workout in makeup! After work it's important to clean your face before sweating all that crap into your pores! My pal Haley tipped me to the waterless Burt's Bees face wipes, and they have been a dream come true! Wipe the grime off and sweat it out baby. Get a gym buddy. At this point I'd keep going with or without Haley's help, but it has been amazing to talk about our experiences together, encourage each other, give each other tips, and go to the gym together when we can. I'm happy to report that she also clocked in a 10 pound weight loss last week too! Go Haley! Find stuff that you actually like doing, and learn to like sweating and being sore. If you're bored with your routine, change it up! Keep it fresh and keep yourself interested. I'm now at that weird place where I kinda like being a little sore from my workouts. It keeps me in check with my body and aware of what's going on and what I've worked on my body and how hard I've worked it. Also, leaving the gym looking like you just took a shower is a weird and wonderful feeling. (Gross I know, but hey, that's what you gotta do!)Don't be afraid to ask questions. I am really happy that I like the gym I've been going to and everyone that works there is super nice. Find a place that you like and feel comfortable asking the staff for help and assistance with machines, classes, etc. You want to feel cared for and safe and that is their job. Read. I've started reading fitness magazines in both print and on-line (I'm partial to Women's Health and Self) and have started following many fitness boards on Pinterest. It's nice to learn new tips, new workouts, be inspired by others, and keep the interest alive!Hire a trainer if you can afford it. I've set up a plan to meet with Yuichi once a week, which I'm not going to lie, is an expense. But as someone who teaches people one-on-one sometimes, I know roughly what the going rate is for personalized attention, no matter what the skill. So I know that it's worth every penny. If you cannot afford to workout on a weekly basis with someone, book a session once a month to keep your routine fresh and to learn new things. I now have a whole list of things I didn't know how to do before working with Yuichi, but now they are part of my routine and I can do them with or without him. So, what are your tips for keeping motivated and active? Do please share your experiences in the comments! I'd love to learn from each of you and I hope my experiences are inspiring to some of you as well! Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of my 60 Day Fitness Update: Nutrition!
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