I did .... that???

Yup!  I did it.  It was awful.  It was great.  It made me hopeful.  It made me question my sanity.  What did I do, you ask?  Well anti-gravity yoga, of course. 

"Anti-gravity?"  uh huh!

Like ... hanging from the ceiling?  yup!

And so started many a conversation in the staffroom at lunch today. 

My goal yesterday was to go to a beginners yoga class that started at 4.  Unfortunately I arrived 5 minutes too late so off to the gym, I went.  I cycled for the first time (ouch) then did a short amount of time on the treadmill, alternating between running and (mostly) walking.  Naturally, I was itching to get into the water but wanted to check the schedule to see if it was aquafit or if I could do lanes.  That's when I saw it on the schedule and began to feel a moment of bravada.  I, the person who has never taken yoga in her life, was going to make her first experience a dramatic one.  As are most classes at my club, Anti gravity yoga rated 'E' for everyone.  HA!  If that wasn't the most stupid thing I had read all day.  It turns out, as I learned at the end of the class, that there are 3 levels of AGY (much faster than typing anti-gravity yoga ) and the class that I was just finishes was level 3.  Strength and cardio ... and that it was!  While I didn't flip or hang upside down, I did swing, balance, shake and sweat with the rest of them.  I am many, many workouts away from taking that class again but I will definitely pay more attention and clarify the class level next time before signing up for the first level AGY class.  (on the upside .. it wasn't just me who didn't know it was a strength and cardio ... it was about 75% of the class)  After that, I soothed my overheated skin with some laps in the pool.  *bliss*

To my facebook friends who got 4 daily miles in their daily feed today ... I apologize.  I want everything to be accounted for and I just don't think that there is a way to enter more than one activity therefore you get the multiple entries passed. 

In the meantime, I hurt a tad from all that I did yesterday but its a good hurt.  I feel good.  I cant wait to go tomorrow and work out again ... but maybe not for as long.  Maybe I'll spend more time in the gym and skip the pool .... maybe.

Here's to a happy and healthy week for everyone.

P.S.

When searching for a video to share, I found one that is from my club, just a different location.  It is actually a local news group talking about what was coming to here when these facilities opened ... which they are now and are totally awesome.  If course, the moves in this video are the ones I couldn't do but I did swing like the move in the beginning.  cant wait for more ... eventually.  :-)

Who's getting healthier?

I'm not too sure it's me.  I am getting yet ANOTHER chest infection.  This will be the third one since the fall and I've never, ever been sick this much before.  So far I am not horrible so I am going to work out tomorrow after a funeral, lunch and a few errands.  I am tempted to go and work out today too but I'm afraid that if I push myself while I am feeling 80%, I will quickly decline. 

First things first ... a shout out to my friend Katie who tried Yoga for the second time.  The first time she hated it.  Then, she was bigger and not as in shape as she is now.  This time .. not only did she love it, she rocked the positions and even did advanced ones.  (you'll know who Katie is because she is the only one that reads and/or comments on this blog.  lol).  We are going to go to my club one day and do a Hot Yoga class together.  I figure the best way for me to prepare for that is by doing regular yoga first.  Good idea, eh?

On the plus side (plus side ... no pun intended  hahaha), I ventured over the the US of A last night.  I was a tad disgruntled to find out the the store I went for was actually closed early.  Not sure why.  Its always been open until 9 ... for years.  I called today to find out what their hours were ... 8pm Mon-Thurs for winter hours.  Well then.  So much for that sports bra and those athletic clothes.  Before going there I stopped at the mall because runners are usually cheaper there than in Canada.  (an average of $30-$40/pair).  Double bonus, I found a pair that I liked that was $30.00 cheaper than here and they were on sale for 50% off.  So I got a pair of Asics for $40.  I loved Asics in high school.  Best volleyball shoe ever!.  I managed to pick up a couple of workout clothing items from WalMart but the plus size pickings are super slim.  I didnt try them on so hopefully they fit.  If not, then I will just have to shrink into them.  Not a bad goal, I think.  For now I will leave you with a photo of my shoe because I just feel like 'spicing it up' with a photos so ... enjoy and have a happy heart healthy day.

It's 3:25 am ...

..... and I'm still awake.  Well, truth be told, I was in bed early for a change.  9:30.  So early for me but washroom then dogs and husband followed by my mind wondering what comes next in the book I am reading kept me awake after my eyes popped open at midnight.  The final chapter of the book is read, internet is surfed, you tube tutorials are watched ... want to now where my mind is now?  Working out.  I want to get in my car, make the 30 minute drive to my 24 hours athletic club ... and work out.  Logically, I know I cant because I have to go to the art store and that doesnt open until 9:30 but this is where my mind is at right now.  Plus I am supposed to meet up with my sister for the workout we postponed from yesterday but that isnt until 2pm.  I have to say though .. the idea of leaving in a few hours, working out for a couple, showering and dressing, shopping, commuting back home and all my noon has appeal to it.  That being said, I will likely fall back to sleep soon, dreaming until mid morning before getting up, shopping and meeting my sister as planned but the fact that I have the urge counts ..... right????

Enjoy the day.  Can you believe we are 6 days into 2011 already?

And I'm Off..

Well it's three days into the new year and I did my first work out of 2011.  After a month of nothing, it felt sooooo good to be in the water again.  Amazing, really. 

I am also pleased to share that my first workout of the year started in a brand spanking new 14 million dollar club.  Now this place is pretty swanky.  It has a coed area and a womans area, with salt water pools in both.  Pilates, anti-gravity yoga, hot yoga, spinning and more.  While I certainly wont be hanging from the ceilings anytime soon, I pan on working my way through as much as I can there.  Aquafit classes, house league sports, spinning.  And all this is included in my membership.  Seriously stoked. 

Did you read that right?  Did I type that right?  Stoked?  Moi?????  About working out?  Who'da thunk, eh?  What is even better is that one of my sweet friends already goes and another is about to join as soon as her current membership expires at the end of the month.  Can it get any better?  Of course!!!  My sister works there so that means random moments shared when we least expect it. 

Next week I have an appointment for a fitness consulation & assessment.  It comes with every new membership and I am a little scared.  I mean, I know I'm extremely out of shape and overweight but there is something about being told you have the body of a 70 year old that scares me.  Ah well ... I'm going to turn that fear into motivation.

Speaking of fear, I was challenged by a friend to do something that I never, ever, EVER would have considered before and, although I am not ready to share quite what that is just yet, I will tell you that I accepted the challenge which again translates into MOTIVATION.  Seriously, what am I thinking?

Here is to a happy and healthy start to 2011. 
*cheers*

So Discouraged

I did my measurements again today.  A couple of days less one month and ZERO change.  I am still fighting that 20 pound mark - for almost 2 months now, I might add - and, despite working out 3-5 times a week, nothing is happening.  No shrinking from weight loss or inches.  While I know I am not giving up, it makes me wonder why bother?  I should have lost alot more than 20 lbs in three months.  I know this because I have done it just on Weight Watchers alone with no exercising ... just by watching what I eat ... and now I exercise more and eat better with no results?  What am I doing wrong?  I swim an average of 3x/week and, when I do, I am breathing heavy, heart rate is up and the pausing between laps is less both in frequency and duration.  Last week I started walking and it is a brisk walk.  Again, heart rate is up, breathing is heavier and my body temperature is increased to almost a sweat yet still ... no changes.  My eating is not 100% but it is pretty damned good for the most part.  I just don't understand the human body.  Even with my PCOS, it shouldn't be this hard.  Time to change my habits more, I think.  Less of this and more of that.  At this point, I could really cry.  *sigh*

it's ONLY one minute...

this is what I kept telling myself as I attempted jogging again - this time following day one of the Couch to 5k program.  I did a brisk walk for 5 minutes before starting the program which also starts with a 5 minute brisk walk.  Then it happens.  ding - - ding - - ding - - "start running" the voice on the iPod tells me. So I did and wouldnt you know it ... I FREAKING DID IT.  I ran for 60 continuous seconds ... ONE WHOLE MINUTE.  I was stolked and actually cheered for myself when I was done -- out loud.  Unfortunately, a friend drove by and stopped my workout for about 20 minutes and I found it hard to restart after cooling down completely.  That being said, I did complete a 4.5 km walk AND RAN TWO MORE TIMES @ 1 minute each time.  Man I was sucking wind but it felt good.  I actually felt proud of myself for the first time in such a long time.  I haven't run a continuous minute since I was in high school a million ago and a bazillion pounds lighter.  Week 1 of this program may actually become week 1 a, week 1 b, etc but I will eventually get to week two. :o)

Reflection

On Friday October 29th, two friends and I ventured away from the aquafit world and went lane swimming.  One friend worked out this way all through college.  The second friend was a competitive swimmer until her mid teen years.  Then there was me.  I major lover of the water.  A strong swimmer but not as strong after reaching some pretty high plus size poundage.  The place where I came alive, feeling so free and light.  But to swim lanes ... hell no!  On this particular occassion, why not.  It wouldn't hurt.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would love it so much.  Now, here we are 6 days shy of the one month mark for lane swimming and I am addicted.  I also can not believe how much change I have seen in myself after only 3.5 weeks. 

• approximately 20m across, I was winded and out of breath after my first freestyle crossing .... but it was manageable.  The return trip however, not so manageable.  I needed to stop between laps to have water and regain control of my breathing.
• fortunate to have a relatively smooth stroke (i think), I still didn't carry the grace that more experienced and in shape swimmers have.  I also had to lift my head out of the water higher than I should when breathing.  Favouring the right side, I breathed every other stroke, never every third stroke as most swimmers do.  Every fourth stroke?  Forget it.  Not enough oxygen in my lungs. 
• after a quick warm up, we did a timed swim.  It took me 25 seconds to swim 20m freestyle as full out as I could.  I could barely breath afterwards.  Talking wasn't an option.

Fast forward to today:

• Yesterday I swam 2000m in an hour and two minutes.  I barely stopped but to quickly move my counter after each lap and maybe, after a few hundred meters, stopped for a few extra breaths.  Despite being out of breath at times, I pushed on and continuted swimming, not letting my lungs get the better of me.
• today I swam 1650m in 53 minutes.  My muscles were a little tired from yesterday's swim but again, I pushed on.  A bit slower of a pace but pushed on, none the less.  Stops to catch my breath were even more infrequent than before and often only because I had to constantly readjust my goggles as water kept seeping in on the right side.
• thanks to the addition of a swim cap and goggles, my freestyle breathing is more streamlined.  I don't life my head out of the water as high and almost have the technique down. 
• While I still favour breathing on the right side, I can now breath every 4 to 6 strokes, depending on my pace, if I wish and do not feel winded or short of breath
• after 1650m and a few minutes of rest, I did a timed swim and swam 25m in 25 seconds.  Unlike my 20m in 25 seconds at the beginning of a workout, this was 25m after my workout and I was breathing heavy but controllably as my friend and I talked about our progress immediately after the swim.

Believe it or not, the best part of the swim wasn't the reflecting as I did my final laps.  It wasn't thinking about how far I feel I have come in just three short weeks of dedication and passion for what I am doing to lose weight and get healthy.  It was the compliment from a man who was swimming in the same lane as us and whom we have seen there on a couple of other occassions.  He is a man of decent physical shape - not stong and buff but a bit soft and snuggley (however this is only known because he is in a bathing suit.  In street clothes, you would be none the wiser).  He said "You girls need to slow down.  I am 45 years old, swimmng longer and I can not keep up with you."  Outside of the Hubs telling me how proud he is of me, the best compliment thus far.

For now, I set my sight on some goals. 

1. see how many laps I can complete in an hour and two minutes, trying to improve on the 2000m mark, over the next month.
2. improve my breathing techniques (especially breathing more comfortably on the left side) as well as my freestyle swimming abilities.
3. take a swim class that helps improve strokes.  Back stroke ... good.  Freestyle ... needs fine tuning but otherwise good.  Breaststroke ... arms are good, legs - a conversation for another time.  Butterfly ... you mean those pretty little insects that caterpillars transform into, right?
4. learn more about Total Immersion Swimming.  It is so smooth and graceful.
5. master my flip turn so that I can use it when swimming laps comfortably, efficiently and effectively.
6. keep working towards better health and fitness.
7. and finally .... convince my friend - who is already running and spinning - to get herself into a pool and start swimming and training herself to become a triathlete.  I know she could do it!

And with that, I bid you a happy, healthy and super fit day.