Falling Off the Wagon

Yup, that's my wagon...

So... I guess I'll just come right out and say it. I didn't make it to the gym last week. Not only did I not make it to the gym my goal of 3 times, I didn't make it once.

Now, granted, I spent one day cleaning/de-icing my car/doing laundry... all of which burn calories, but I know, I know... it doesn't count.

My excuses:
1. Tuesday: preparing for Vday
2. Wed.: Vday
3. Thurs: stuck in the snow and stranded
4. Friday: just no time.
5. Sat.: Got a late start, whopped instead and someone told me they wouldn't judge if I didn't go
6. Sun: Taxes, more shopping, and a delicious dinner.
7. Mon: Crazy work day

I KNOW- none of them are good excuses. Not at all. My scheduled gym days were Fri, Sat, Sun.... but the weekend malaise set in and I just didn't motivate to go.

So, we'll count week 2 as a "set back" and here's hoping week 3 is better!



PS- please feel free to gently prod me back to the gym. I leave for vacation on Sunday, so I have to go three times between now and then.

Combing My Favorite Thing with the Gym

I'm realizing I enjoy my workouts more if I'm distracted during the cardio portion, so I've been thinking of ways to keep myself occupied. Magazines work great on the elliptical but not so much on the treadmill.

While I was running on the hamster wheel on Friday, I tried watching the gym's TV, but nothing good was on. I thought if I actually had a show on that I liked, I would be entertained and my gym time would fly by.

This week, as a reward for meeting my goals last week, I'm going to download the 2 last episodes of Grey's Anatomy (which I missed) onto my i Pod and watch them while I'm running. The hope is I'll be so enthralled with the show that I'll run the entire 42 minutes.

I will let you know if it works!

Update

It's been awhile, so here's the latest and greatest in my workout world.

SO- I DID IT!!!!! I made it to the gym 3 times last week. I went for the 3rd time on Monday.

Of course, Jason Priestly was there to greet me. He looked at my name on the computer after I swiped my card and said, "Have a good one Julie". It just made me feel uncomfortable. I like to pretend that I'm invisible at the gym- no one can see me sweating, panting, dropping things, trying to figure out how the machines work... the list of my gym blunders goes on.

Anyways- I opted for the dreaded treadmill. I walked, but then got motivated to run. So I pumped up the speed and ran for 15 minutes. WHOOO HOOOO! I have to admit, after minute 8, I was about ready to kill myself, but I trudged on for another little while. Then I finished up with a little walking. Total 30 mins on the treadmill, and I believe I burned 200+ calories.

Then, in an effort to firm the tush, I decided to conquer the StairMaster for 10 mins. Not bad- I like the StairMaster because I feel the burn. Then, it was off to do some arm weights.

So, what are the goals for this week?

- Go to the gym 3x/week and inform my enforcer of scheduled gym days.
- Add 3 minutes to my cardio workout dujour
- Research new arm/weight exercises

It's not looking like I'm going to make it to the gym until later in the week- so wish me luck!!!

Pat on the Back for Me!

Today was a scheduled gym day, and I did it! Just got back, ate a wrap and I'm feelin' G-O-O-D!

When I got home this morning, I put on my gym clothes so I'd be ready to G-O when it was time. I also found my iPod, uploaded 'Let's Get Physical' and plugged it in for charging- all before coffee. I wasn't going to let anything stand between the gym and I today!

Finally, work came to a stopping point, and I headed over. I was greeted by my favorite guy, Jason Priestly, and headed back the locker area to hang up my coat. All was fine until I managed to shock myself and my ears (I had my iPod headphones in) while touching the metal hook. I recovered and headed out onto the gym floor.

I purposefully ignored the treadmill and made a beeline for those elliptical machines where you move your arms too. I opened my Improper and got to work. The timer got messed up, so I'm not sure how long I was on there, but I'd say 35-45 mins. I burned 200 calories. Since my arms were moving that entire time, I skipped arm weights and just did legs.

'Let's Get Physical' was great, but all my best 'pump me up' music came on just as I was cooling down. I'll be moving those songs up in the playlist shortly, but having a workout playlist definitely made time go faster. Having the Improper to read was also a treat! For anyone who knows me, I eagerly await the new editions of the Improper to find out what's going on. (Ladies, beware, I already have some plans brewing for us) It was really nice to combine something I enjoy so much with something I really dislike a lot. The Improper will definitely be accompanying me to gym in the future!

All in all- a great day!

2 down, 1 day to go this week!

Lift, Sip, Repeat

Thanks to this guy I'm also trying to eat more healthy. Although I am becoming more aware of the food I'm nibbling on (inhaling), I also try to keep an eye on what I'm sipping. For example, I save a few calories by ordering a NON FAT Cinnamon Dolce Latte at Starbucks rather than a regular one.

I thought it would be fun to feature some nutritional, mostly calorie, information every week in something I call Thirsty Thursdays.

*Disclaimer: Don't be surprised if many of these are 'adult beverages' as the weekend is just around the corner!

To get this party started, I decided to feature my most favorite libation:

Red Wine!!!!

Wine Calories

Burgundy, 129
Cabernet Suavignon, 123
Merlot, 123
Pinot Noir, 122
Syrah, 123
Zinfandel, 131

These numbers are based on 1 serving- 5 oz. But if you poor anything like me, each glass is probably more like 7oz, 8oz, ok, even 9oz.

I'm not working out, I'm ROCKING OUT!

Today is most likely going to be a no-go on the gym. But that's okay... I'm still working toward gym bliss!

As most of you know, 'pump me up' music is essential to making it through a work out. It gets you jazzed and motivates you to push harder and faster. Well, I need all the help I can get, so I made myself an iTunes playlist just for the gym. It's called, "Let's Get Physical".

I thought about putting it in a specific order- you know, starting off a little slow and then building to songs like, 'Rollin' and 'Doesn't Remind Me', and then cooling back down with something like 'I Drove All Night' (yes, Celine Dion is on my mix). I did that a little off the top, but decided not to over think it. Who knows- maybe if an inspirational song like, 'Let's Go' comes on, I'll run that extra 3:47.

Check out the 2.6 hours (185.6MB) of songs I've compiled. If you have any great workout... I mean rocking out... songs, please tell me! Click on image for larger view.

Worth Slacking For

Sometimes it's good to sit and relax. Like, on a random Monday night with a good friend :) Next time you're feeling like a little couch potato action (or inaction?), I suggest checking out the movie, The Devil Wears Prada. Just watch the video... it's hysterical and so is the rest of the movie!! Definitely a movie worth slacking for!!

I missed the endorphins :)

I did it! I got up this morning and went to the gym! In by 8:30 out by like 9:20am. Easy Peasy!

Ok, ok, I admit, I WAS NOT happy this morning when my alarm went off at 8:10am. In fact, I even snoozed, but for that whole four snoozy minutes, I laid there in true gym slacker fashion and thought of several excuses for skipping the gym. A couple excuses and thoughts were:

- I'll tell them my alarm didn't go off
- I'll go later
- Why do I want to go to the gym again?
- I don't feel good (I felt fine)

But NOPE... I stumbled out of bed, ignored the cute gym outfit I laid out, stayed in my pjs, donned the JLo puff coat, and trudged to the gym.

For those of you who have seen me bright and early in the morning, you know it takes my face awhile to wake up. I am not the picture of beauty. Entering the gym, I am faced by the overly friendly gym attendant at the card swipe. See his picture here.

So, I smile- ok, grimace- and swipe. It doesn't work. He says, "Oops do it again." I mumble, "yah, sometimes it doesn't work." Sometimes it doesn't work? UM, hello... how would I know if it works or not- I haven't been to the gym in months! I feel like he knows this- that my gym history pops up as I swipe my card, and I immediately feel like an ass and run back to the locker room.

Good news- I figured out what to do with my coat. (For those of you who don't know, my excuse for the last 2 weeks for not going to the gym was that I didn't know what to do with my coat!) I hung it up on the hangers.

So, what exactly did I do today? I hoped on a treadmill next to a 76 year old man and went to town. I walked for 30 minutes. That took me 2 miles and I burned 173 calories. Sure, I did have gym envy when I looked down the row of treadmills and saw an 85 year old man RUNNING and thought to myself- wow, I hope I can do that one day.

Then, I did some arm weights (5 lbs)and then some leg weights. Then I left the gym carried on an endorphin high and listening to 'Hips Don't Lie'.

That's 1 day down for this week- 2 more to go!

Yippee!

Is This Thing On?

I have a problem. I don't go to the gym. I pay a lot of money each month to that gym, but I haven't seen the inside of said gym since um June? Possibly July? As of Feb. 1 that's (gulp) $420 spent on a place I avoid like a pair of skinny jeans. In fact, I am in denial that the gym is actually about a 3 minute walk from my apartment and yes, I do avert my eyes every time I walk by. ALRIGHT-- I admit it-- I AM A GYM SLACKER!!!! (apparently I also enjoy throwing money out the window- but that's a whole other blog in and of itself)

It's time to turn it all around though. Today, with the help of my Sharon, I decided this behavior has to stop, but I need motivation and accountability. This dear friends, is where you come in.

I need you to be my virtual work out partners, enforcers and cheerleaders. With your help, I will stop making excuses not to exercise and I will workout. I will write about gym visits, workouts feelings, thoughts, goals etc on this blog, and you will check in with me, yell when I don't work out and give me kudos when I do good. Deal?

Let's get this workoutapolooza started!!!

Goals for Week 1:

1. Work out at least 3x a week.
2. Make blog (Done!)
3. Continue to eat more healthy
4. Set gym dates/times for the rest of the week

Baby steps here people, baby steps.