Well, I am nearing the end of week 3 of exercise and I have to say, I am loving it so far. This is such a different attitude then I've had in the past. The old me would get sore from working out, whether due to cardio or weights, and I would wait until all soreness was gone to resume my routine. The new me loves the feeling of soreness, because that's proof something is changing within my body. Some muscle some where was worked and torn and is rebuilding bigger and stronger than the day before. And yet, I go out and do more despite that soreness. It's wonderful. I've come to realize that once the initial warming up period of my workout is complete, my muscles are warm and I no longer feel that soreness. Why didn't I think of that sooner?? You see, in my senior year of high school, I tore my right quadricep muscle (the bad kind of tearing) and was under doctors orders to not do ANY physical activity for at least 3 weeks and then come back for a check up to see how much longer I needed to be able to resume activity. Well, I did neither of those things, and said the heck with it, its my senior year and my last chance to play. At any rate, once I got going on the field, I could run and kick and sprint like nothing. I felt nothing. But at half time, or at the end of the game (I was usually in the entire 80 minutes) I was toast. I could barely walk, seriously. I pretty much limped for hours after practices or games. I think after that doctor's appointment where I had learned I did indeed tear my muscle (which took me a while to even say I needed to go to the doctor in the first place) I was only able to play 2 or 3 games. We had Christmas break and the first game after that was my last. I played then entire game, but realized when I was done I just couldn't do that any longer. That and I think my coach ordered me to stop. I'm pretty stubborn like that, so that's probably the main reason I didn't finish out the season.
All that to say that I know muscles get warm. So, I should have realized that the pain, well soreness rather, would subside once the muscles got warm. Now, I know better than to repeat senior year soccer, so don't worry. But my point was just that you can work through the normal soreness the muscles go through as part of the break down/build up process. I didn't before, but now I do, and thats a great feeling.
So change #1 is not using soreness as an excuse. Change #2 is the fact that I am also not using the heat as an excuse. If I miss a workout I planned at a certain time, I find another time to do it, or I do another activity in it's place. I try to make it outside either first thing in the morning, or in the evening when the sun is setting to avoid direct sunlight and grueling heat. I'm not going to lie, I'm still hot and I still hate it. But the important thing is I'm doing what I need to do to get healthy, no matter what.
Change #3 is the fact that when I haven't worked out all day, I almost feel incomplete. Take yesterday for example. I planned on waking up early, and getting out to walk/run. I ended up sleeping in, and then my dad came over around 8 or 8:30 pm last night, right about the time I could have made up my missed morning cardio by working out on the elliptical in my condo's gym. By the time my dad left, it was too late to go use the gym (because THEY closed, not because it was too late for me, ha!). So what did I do? I started doing push-ups, crunches, jumping jacks, squats, and lunges. Wow. Who'd a thunk it? Me, not being a couch potato. Awesome. I'm feeling stronger and better everyday.
Change #4 is the fact that I CAN resist temptations if I want to. I can control what I put into my mouth. Take another example from Wednesday. I went and had my 15lbs lost reward pedicure, and afterwards I went to lunch with my sister-in-law, Elizabeth and her friend Rachel. We ate at Ruby Tuesdays and I had a delicious White Bean and Chicken Chili (which was really healthy by the way). They ordered spinach and artichoke dip which is TOTALLY yummy and I didn't get enough of this before I started weight watchers back in April. Anyway, with temptation staring me in the face, I resisted enough to only have about 3 chips. Literally. That's a feat, because I was starving at that moment, and you know how it is when you are starving and want to eat so bad, and there is food right in front of you. But I had 3 chips and not another bite.
Change #5 is that I can put half of my food away at a restaurant and only eat until I'm satisfied and NOT bursting at the seams full. I can stop myself from overeating just because it "tastes good." Like the saying says, "Eat to live, not live to eat," and it is so true. I'm learning everyday.
On another note, tonight I've tried to run to see how far I've come after my 3 weeks of exercise. Before I really couldn't even finish a half mile. Heck I think I only made it a quarter mile. Tonight I ran a mile, but I ran a half a mile first and then took a 5 minute walking break and finished the other half mile. The great thing was that I ran the first half mile in 4 mins 29 secs, however, I shaved 10 secs off my time with the second half mile with a time of 4 mins 19 secs. I was so proud that I was cut some time off the first one. I was proud that I was able to run a half mile non-stop, let alone 2 of them. That is change #6.
So, lest I ramble any longer, I will conclude that there are changes being made and I'm so excited.
All that to say that I know muscles get warm. So, I should have realized that the pain, well soreness rather, would subside once the muscles got warm. Now, I know better than to repeat senior year soccer, so don't worry. But my point was just that you can work through the normal soreness the muscles go through as part of the break down/build up process. I didn't before, but now I do, and thats a great feeling.
So change #1 is not using soreness as an excuse. Change #2 is the fact that I am also not using the heat as an excuse. If I miss a workout I planned at a certain time, I find another time to do it, or I do another activity in it's place. I try to make it outside either first thing in the morning, or in the evening when the sun is setting to avoid direct sunlight and grueling heat. I'm not going to lie, I'm still hot and I still hate it. But the important thing is I'm doing what I need to do to get healthy, no matter what.
Change #3 is the fact that when I haven't worked out all day, I almost feel incomplete. Take yesterday for example. I planned on waking up early, and getting out to walk/run. I ended up sleeping in, and then my dad came over around 8 or 8:30 pm last night, right about the time I could have made up my missed morning cardio by working out on the elliptical in my condo's gym. By the time my dad left, it was too late to go use the gym (because THEY closed, not because it was too late for me, ha!). So what did I do? I started doing push-ups, crunches, jumping jacks, squats, and lunges. Wow. Who'd a thunk it? Me, not being a couch potato. Awesome. I'm feeling stronger and better everyday.
Change #4 is the fact that I CAN resist temptations if I want to. I can control what I put into my mouth. Take another example from Wednesday. I went and had my 15lbs lost reward pedicure, and afterwards I went to lunch with my sister-in-law, Elizabeth and her friend Rachel. We ate at Ruby Tuesdays and I had a delicious White Bean and Chicken Chili (which was really healthy by the way). They ordered spinach and artichoke dip which is TOTALLY yummy and I didn't get enough of this before I started weight watchers back in April. Anyway, with temptation staring me in the face, I resisted enough to only have about 3 chips. Literally. That's a feat, because I was starving at that moment, and you know how it is when you are starving and want to eat so bad, and there is food right in front of you. But I had 3 chips and not another bite.
Change #5 is that I can put half of my food away at a restaurant and only eat until I'm satisfied and NOT bursting at the seams full. I can stop myself from overeating just because it "tastes good." Like the saying says, "Eat to live, not live to eat," and it is so true. I'm learning everyday.
On another note, tonight I've tried to run to see how far I've come after my 3 weeks of exercise. Before I really couldn't even finish a half mile. Heck I think I only made it a quarter mile. Tonight I ran a mile, but I ran a half a mile first and then took a 5 minute walking break and finished the other half mile. The great thing was that I ran the first half mile in 4 mins 29 secs, however, I shaved 10 secs off my time with the second half mile with a time of 4 mins 19 secs. I was so proud that I was cut some time off the first one. I was proud that I was able to run a half mile non-stop, let alone 2 of them. That is change #6.
So, lest I ramble any longer, I will conclude that there are changes being made and I'm so excited.
1 comment:
Gabbi, WOW! is all I can say. You are doing G-R-E-A-T! And your insight, to me, shows that you are going to stick with this thing. The fact that you are eliminating excuses and working through soreness is HUGE ... and that you could only eat 3 chips. Not a chance for me!
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