Ok so I know it's been a minute and that isn't because I have stopped working out. Truth is, my workouts have been sort of standard so I didn't feel like there was anything ridiculous to write about. Until now.
In a mini update: I have been swimming and jogging (mostly away from creepy guys that walk around Greenbelt Lake) with my cousin. The only small newsworthy story might have been when I got into a verbal tiff with a stranger at Greenbelt lake about the real estate industry. Strange, I know.
But here I sit now, with pains in my stomach that make me confused on whether I want to eat lunch or yak it up. How you ask? Let start with a brief background clip- my sister who is half my size (height and weight) has been doing P90x. Not once, not twice, but this is her third round. And yes, by now she is cut. It's quite motivating to see. So we have recently finished up our belly dancing classes and I mentioned that I needed something good for my abs, well, since I have no abs right now. She offered up one of her P90x dvd's called ab ripper x. I kindly now refer to this as grim reaper x. I really had no excuse to not do this dvd other than all the excuses I told my sister as to why I hadn't done it yet. She'd ask me on a regular basis, "have you done the ab ripper yet?" Me: "No, ummm, I had to unpack... umm then I got tired." Right. That was all I could come up with. Sometimes, I managed to pull out a "already went for a swim, don't want to overdue it." Shame. Shame on me.
So last night as I sat in my humble abode surrounded by boxes I couldn't throw out since I don't know what day my recycling picks up, I realized that there was no time like the present. That and I was running out of excuses to give my sister, I almost resorted to "I broke a rib", I know, right? I knew I had to be stopped. So I pushed those boxes to the side, laid down a towel, and turned on the grim reaper x dvd. What a mistake. Maybe a good mistake, later I will thank myself for the good I am doing, but right now...I hate myself. Ugh. So it starts off not so bad, you do some leg cycles and some sit up combos. I'm thinking, I got this son! Wrong. I couldn't have been more wrong if I was on Maury Povich looking for anything but my baby's daddy. On to leg climbs, which pretty much means climb up your leg while its in the air. Next came this weird position I laid down in and then had to awkwardly lift my butt off the ground. It was all downhill from there. It ended with some crazy side switch thing where I had to hold my legs off the ground while touching my clasped hands back and forth on either side of my body. Yeah that was the end, not the beginning.
By the time he said cool down, all I could hear was "try not to die." Which is exactly what I did for the next 45 minutes. I laid in "child's pose" as recommended by the instructor as I reached up to grab my cell phone to call for help. I couldn't get off the ground... how was I going to sleep? I could sleep there, right? Whatever, priority number one was letting my sister know that I put a hit out on her for this brutal sabotage to my body and she would pay for it later. I gave her the old "I'm bigger than you" nudge. Yeahhhh that'll show her. Too bad I can't actually do anything about it since I can't get out of child's pose. When I finally made it to my bed an hour later I spent another 45 minutes just laying there trying to decide whether I really wanted to try and fight my sports bra off because my arms hurt so bad or if I could just sleep in it. Arlene quickly pointed out via Facebook chat that it would only be harder to get it off tomorrow so unless I wanted to go to work in a hot pink cross back, I should get to work on it now. Success followed with a possible dislocated shoulder.
I spent the rest of the night not even rolling over in bed because it took muscles I no long have to use. And now? Yes now I sit here with pains in my stomach that make me confused on whether I want to eat lunch or yak it up. The worst part? I am going swimming tonight and then I have to do the grim reaper x again tomorrow. Eeek! The good news??? I have officially lost 6 pounds! I know its probably a curse to announce that to soon, but after last night I have decided to bask in it. Expose fitness to come- they have a free weekend class and I am inviting all those who want to join me in my stripper/chair workout. Don't all jump at once.
More to come! Wish me luck- I just won some free yoga classes in Bethesda, and we all saw what happened to me the last time I went. Yeesh.
-Sara
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Namaste these yoga!
Okay before I explain my harsh words for yoga, I should say its only because I am currently in more pain today (2 days later) than I have been this entire journey so I may be a little crabby. Lets start from the beginning. I decided that my friend Jess and I should take a class together and I know she is a big yoga fan so I was instantly in. After all- I had been doing Zumba and swimming and frankly I could use a little relaxing focused workout. So we signed up for flow yoga 1.5. Now I was a little leery about that .5, and frankly I think it may have been the death of me later (note to self listen to your instincts). In any case, I suited up in my best yoga attire - my RUN DMC tank and some stretch pants I found hiding in the bottom of my hamper, dreading the day I would find them there.
We get into the class and it is quite small so my efforts in hiding myself somewhere in the back of the class were slim, in fact I was facing someone about 2 feet in front of me, so there was no hiding at all. But there was no room for the teacher? Where was he -tie dye shirt and all- going to sit and demonstrate the moves?? No where. That's right... that .5 means that he was calling out names of positions like shannasanamana and I just had pretend I knew that meant stick you leg in the air like a crazy person. Now if I had actually read the description of this yoga class, I would have learned that flow yoga meant that every transition was also a move that made you want to pass out. Considering the class started at 6:15 and the first time I checked the clock to see how much longer I had to go was 6:27.... I knew I was in trouble.
But alas! I would let this small class of 8 people see me collapse, so I kept on trucking. What they should have also included in that class description was that you sweat. Alot. So much so that a towel should have covered the mat I was using not to mention to wrap around my head like a turbine. The only thing flowing in that class was the sweat into my mouth. I spent a good portion of the last 30 minutes just trying to get it away from my face so I could stop eating it. Sexy right??? Who cares, at this point I'm just trying not to die while I casually look to my left to see yoda balancing on her head. Seriously? Time check- 6:45. So the class ends at 7:30 right? I can do this... hmmm....
"Passsnanshanaphlamans" he says as the class then dips over backwards and sticks their leg in the air. You want me to do what with my what? So without asking I decided in order to not create a toppling effect with the rest of the class by attempting to lift myself off the ground, I would just half it with one leg and hope to the Lord my legs didn't collapse. The shaking of my core to my finger tips wasn't a good sign so I backed off only concentrating at this point on how I could get that instructor to let me have his tie dye bandanna so that I could stop the Niagara falls coming from the top of my head. 7:10. Almost there.
At last we reach the point in yoga where you get to lay on the ground in peace and just rest. This is the part I live for... even though I spent the first two minutes trying to strategically position myself under what seemed like a vent with air coming out. Hahhhhh peace and quiet. Once we finished I felt proud, considering this group was far more experienced, I can only be happy that I am alive to write about it. I made Jess take some pictures of what we looked like afterward. They looked a little like this:
Please try and note the difference in our facial expressions.
All in all, I will say this was one of the best workouts I have had in awhile. Do I hate myself today because it hurts to sit and stand? Yes.. a little. But its a hurt that makes me proud and frankly I would do it all over again- perhaps with some healing time and without the .5.
Glee Dance coming soon as well as some Jiu Jitsu and someone suggested Xpose fitness which is... you guessed it (or you didn't) pole and chair dancing workout. Adding it to the list, but may choose to leave my camera at home for that one.
Till then (a very broken),
Sara
We get into the class and it is quite small so my efforts in hiding myself somewhere in the back of the class were slim, in fact I was facing someone about 2 feet in front of me, so there was no hiding at all. But there was no room for the teacher? Where was he -tie dye shirt and all- going to sit and demonstrate the moves?? No where. That's right... that .5 means that he was calling out names of positions like shannasanamana and I just had pretend I knew that meant stick you leg in the air like a crazy person. Now if I had actually read the description of this yoga class, I would have learned that flow yoga meant that every transition was also a move that made you want to pass out. Considering the class started at 6:15 and the first time I checked the clock to see how much longer I had to go was 6:27.... I knew I was in trouble.
But alas! I would let this small class of 8 people see me collapse, so I kept on trucking. What they should have also included in that class description was that you sweat. Alot. So much so that a towel should have covered the mat I was using not to mention to wrap around my head like a turbine. The only thing flowing in that class was the sweat into my mouth. I spent a good portion of the last 30 minutes just trying to get it away from my face so I could stop eating it. Sexy right??? Who cares, at this point I'm just trying not to die while I casually look to my left to see yoda balancing on her head. Seriously? Time check- 6:45. So the class ends at 7:30 right? I can do this... hmmm....
"Passsnanshanaphlamans" he says as the class then dips over backwards and sticks their leg in the air. You want me to do what with my what? So without asking I decided in order to not create a toppling effect with the rest of the class by attempting to lift myself off the ground, I would just half it with one leg and hope to the Lord my legs didn't collapse. The shaking of my core to my finger tips wasn't a good sign so I backed off only concentrating at this point on how I could get that instructor to let me have his tie dye bandanna so that I could stop the Niagara falls coming from the top of my head. 7:10. Almost there.
At last we reach the point in yoga where you get to lay on the ground in peace and just rest. This is the part I live for... even though I spent the first two minutes trying to strategically position myself under what seemed like a vent with air coming out. Hahhhhh peace and quiet. Once we finished I felt proud, considering this group was far more experienced, I can only be happy that I am alive to write about it. I made Jess take some pictures of what we looked like afterward. They looked a little like this:
Please try and note the difference in our facial expressions.
All in all, I will say this was one of the best workouts I have had in awhile. Do I hate myself today because it hurts to sit and stand? Yes.. a little. But its a hurt that makes me proud and frankly I would do it all over again- perhaps with some healing time and without the .5.
Glee Dance coming soon as well as some Jiu Jitsu and someone suggested Xpose fitness which is... you guessed it (or you didn't) pole and chair dancing workout. Adding it to the list, but may choose to leave my camera at home for that one.
Till then (a very broken),
Sara
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Heyyyyy macarena aight!!!
So I have been a busy bee!
This weekend I got in a good swim with my friend Barbi who completely schooled me whilst being pregnant. (I am trying not to hold it against her) In any case, I headed off to belly dancing again on Tuesday which was fun as usual. I went for another round of swimming with my cousin on Thursday, which aside from working on not running into the lane guards due to my foggy goggles, is pretty standard. The surprise this week came just yesterday when I joined my good old pom girls for Zumba at the Bally's in Wheaton. In no time the weird began to set in when we checked in. The gentleman at the counter told us that the woman who taught the class cancelled, and that something else was going on up there instead. We asked if it was Zumba, to which he responded "something similar." We paused for only a moment in confusion but then he said we didn't have to pay, so we were immediately back on board since you can't beat free.
Once in the room we were greeted by a tall man with a lisp, short shorts and capezios.(For those of you unfamiliar, they are fancy dance shoes). He basically indicated that he was a student and that he was going to teach the class instead because he "needed to get his workout in". Amazing. was all I could think as we went straight into some serious pelvic thrusting and jumping around with no warm up. I am not sure where the real fun began, but what I can tell you are several highlights that will make me wish that every class I go to is taught by this man. I should say that I felt like we were interrupting his private dance moments as he swirled around in dancing bliss. Anyhow, the first brilliant moment came when... come to think of it, I can't remember his name, for the sake of the story I will refer to him as Cha Cha... when Cha Cha came around as each of us girls shook our butts and he proceeded to fo-play the bongos on all of them. Yes... he played our butts as instruments. Then "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur" began to play and we did some rendition of what only I could consider the macarena. (I may have taken a moment to add a few extra shakes in order to complete the set) I can't forget to mention when we formed an actual conga line and proceeded to shake and hop our way around the room without actually catching the dance steps since Cha Cha was in a world of his own. But my favorite moment may not make sense to most of you. See these are the girls who helped make dance what it is to me. So when "somehow" I ended up in the back of the class with my old roommate Amy, I was not at all surprised to see Kesso and Mya up front diligently trying to catch every step, while much like our years in high school Amy and I stood in the back figuring out how to fake it why still looking like we had it down.
This is not to say that we weren't working our butts off- this was just self preservation so there was enough energy left to at least walk out to the car. So- lesson learned? Take lots of strange classes so you can laugh at yourself while somehow managing to get your own sweat in your mouth (yuck), and have the rest of the gym gather to stare at you through glass walls. But I think the better part of this evening was doing it along side of the girls I learned how to dance with and having Cha Cha ask us where our cohesive dancing came from to which we proudly held our heads high for a moment to say 'we've still got it'.
Thank you ladies- next up? Amy has discovered a Glee dance class, let the Journey begin. Also in the works- hip hop, and a possibly purchase of the shake weight. Stay tuned and don't forget suggestions are welcome!
*****Update!!!**** Next Up: Jiu Jitsu on Sunday! I can't believe I got convinced to do this... eek!
This weekend I got in a good swim with my friend Barbi who completely schooled me whilst being pregnant. (I am trying not to hold it against her) In any case, I headed off to belly dancing again on Tuesday which was fun as usual. I went for another round of swimming with my cousin on Thursday, which aside from working on not running into the lane guards due to my foggy goggles, is pretty standard. The surprise this week came just yesterday when I joined my good old pom girls for Zumba at the Bally's in Wheaton. In no time the weird began to set in when we checked in. The gentleman at the counter told us that the woman who taught the class cancelled, and that something else was going on up there instead. We asked if it was Zumba, to which he responded "something similar." We paused for only a moment in confusion but then he said we didn't have to pay, so we were immediately back on board since you can't beat free.
Once in the room we were greeted by a tall man with a lisp, short shorts and capezios.(For those of you unfamiliar, they are fancy dance shoes). He basically indicated that he was a student and that he was going to teach the class instead because he "needed to get his workout in". Amazing. was all I could think as we went straight into some serious pelvic thrusting and jumping around with no warm up. I am not sure where the real fun began, but what I can tell you are several highlights that will make me wish that every class I go to is taught by this man. I should say that I felt like we were interrupting his private dance moments as he swirled around in dancing bliss. Anyhow, the first brilliant moment came when... come to think of it, I can't remember his name, for the sake of the story I will refer to him as Cha Cha... when Cha Cha came around as each of us girls shook our butts and he proceeded to fo-play the bongos on all of them. Yes... he played our butts as instruments. Then "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur" began to play and we did some rendition of what only I could consider the macarena. (I may have taken a moment to add a few extra shakes in order to complete the set) I can't forget to mention when we formed an actual conga line and proceeded to shake and hop our way around the room without actually catching the dance steps since Cha Cha was in a world of his own. But my favorite moment may not make sense to most of you. See these are the girls who helped make dance what it is to me. So when "somehow" I ended up in the back of the class with my old roommate Amy, I was not at all surprised to see Kesso and Mya up front diligently trying to catch every step, while much like our years in high school Amy and I stood in the back figuring out how to fake it why still looking like we had it down.
This is not to say that we weren't working our butts off- this was just self preservation so there was enough energy left to at least walk out to the car. So- lesson learned? Take lots of strange classes so you can laugh at yourself while somehow managing to get your own sweat in your mouth (yuck), and have the rest of the gym gather to stare at you through glass walls. But I think the better part of this evening was doing it along side of the girls I learned how to dance with and having Cha Cha ask us where our cohesive dancing came from to which we proudly held our heads high for a moment to say 'we've still got it'.
Thank you ladies- next up? Amy has discovered a Glee dance class, let the Journey begin. Also in the works- hip hop, and a possibly purchase of the shake weight. Stay tuned and don't forget suggestions are welcome!
*****Update!!!**** Next Up: Jiu Jitsu on Sunday! I can't believe I got convinced to do this... eek!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Michael Phelps better watch it.
So I have been getting my swim on folks! To be fair I have had a bit of a rocky week. After going to visit a friend out of town and eating lovely foods that I shouldn't have then skipping out on my belly dancing class to see a friend in concert, I have some serious redemption to work on.
I joined my cousin, who has agreed to be my swim buddy bless her heart, last week for our first outing in the pool. I get to the register, "can I buy some goggles?" I ask. Sure he says, "do you want the $5 dollar ones or the $10 goggles?" Hmmmm lets be honest, I tend to be one of the cheapest people I know- "$5 bucks please!" And we are off to the pool. After securing a lane together we first had to figure out how to swim by one another without laughing... Seems easy right? You try staring your cousin in the face while you look like your drowning with one foggy goggle lens... not so easy. Damn you $5 dollar goggles!
In any case after a grueling 10 laps... yes you heard me correctly. I would prefer to say 20 laps since that's how many times I huffed and puffed back and forth in the pool, but details, details... Now all I have to do is get out of the pool and go sit in the hot tub. Oops, that's right, I hopped out and fell right back in. Apparently when I am unable to sweat after a workout, I am also unaware of how tired I am. Clearly my arms weren't having it, but after going for it on the second try... phew! success.
What I will say is after going swimming for the second time last night, I made a vast improvement. I was able to drive home without the fear of loosing my grip on my steering wheel which is a plus. But that stupid pool exit is killing me. Who knew getting my long legs out of the pool would prove to be the most difficult part?? (Well that and when my co-worker convinced me to jog through the deep end, right?!) This time I ended up with a charlie horse that left me clutching my calf as I took an awkward seat by the pool. Thank goodness it left as quickly as it showed up and I hit the showers.
I will conquer this pool yet I tell you, wait and see. In other news I was invited to yoga with my neighbors which might be neat. Considering the only thing I have done with them yet is drink outside, this could also get weird real quick. They obviously don't know that nobody wants to do yoga with me since I laugh constantly and act like a two year old since I always end up next to the guy that is so relaxed he farts. Hmmm decisions, decisions...
I joined my cousin, who has agreed to be my swim buddy bless her heart, last week for our first outing in the pool. I get to the register, "can I buy some goggles?" I ask. Sure he says, "do you want the $5 dollar ones or the $10 goggles?" Hmmmm lets be honest, I tend to be one of the cheapest people I know- "$5 bucks please!" And we are off to the pool. After securing a lane together we first had to figure out how to swim by one another without laughing... Seems easy right? You try staring your cousin in the face while you look like your drowning with one foggy goggle lens... not so easy. Damn you $5 dollar goggles!
In any case after a grueling 10 laps... yes you heard me correctly. I would prefer to say 20 laps since that's how many times I huffed and puffed back and forth in the pool, but details, details... Now all I have to do is get out of the pool and go sit in the hot tub. Oops, that's right, I hopped out and fell right back in. Apparently when I am unable to sweat after a workout, I am also unaware of how tired I am. Clearly my arms weren't having it, but after going for it on the second try... phew! success.
What I will say is after going swimming for the second time last night, I made a vast improvement. I was able to drive home without the fear of loosing my grip on my steering wheel which is a plus. But that stupid pool exit is killing me. Who knew getting my long legs out of the pool would prove to be the most difficult part?? (Well that and when my co-worker convinced me to jog through the deep end, right?!) This time I ended up with a charlie horse that left me clutching my calf as I took an awkward seat by the pool. Thank goodness it left as quickly as it showed up and I hit the showers.
I will conquer this pool yet I tell you, wait and see. In other news I was invited to yoga with my neighbors which might be neat. Considering the only thing I have done with them yet is drink outside, this could also get weird real quick. They obviously don't know that nobody wants to do yoga with me since I laugh constantly and act like a two year old since I always end up next to the guy that is so relaxed he farts. Hmmm decisions, decisions...
Thursday, July 15, 2010
I like to move it move it.
Sooooo... slightly rocky start. Swimming with Barbi didn't actually happen. To be fair her country was in the World Cup and drinking started early. So instead I lifted some weights in the house which is much more dull than it sounds. In order to bounce back I headed off to belly dancing class on Tuesday. Prior to the class I made a slightly sketchy Craigslist sale which left me feeling fraudulent well... after the guy called me a fraud. It seemed like as good a time as any to get my shimmy on to shake away the thought that someone might be waiting for me in the parking lot (to end the suspense, i lived).
All was going well until "I like to move it move it" came on in the arabian nights version. I will admit I was slightly thrown off but I worked my way through the high school flashbacks of when this song was actually popular, you know without the new jingling in the background. In any case I am enjoying belly dancing but my knees are not. Don't let them fool you- your belly does practically nothing! In any case me and my knees are looking forward to a swimming re-do tonight with my cousin Connie. Slightly concerned that I can't swim straight but I guess I will deal with that if I run into an old person or something.
By the way, is it possible to call Comcast and have them personally remove Man v. Food from my t.v.? Don't forget to post suggestions for exercise- I am down to try anything once, just so long as it doesn't break the bank.
Possible upcoming workouts: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, some sort of stripper workout? (clearly my friends are enjoying this 'try anything once' suggestion box), plyometrics, and hip hop dance class. Stay tuned for my input which involves mall walking with the oldies and some infomercials like the inappropriate shake weight and that crazy neckline slimmer that makes you look like you are nodding yes to everything.
Till then!
-Sara
Thursday, July 8, 2010
I eat as I type...
Good Morning!
So for those of you who may not know me, my name is Sara. At one point in my life I weighed 125 pounds at 5'11. You do the math- but basically I was practically invisible. That is no longer the case, and at 27 years of age I now weigh___ . You didn't think I would give it up that easy did you?
But this isn't your average chubby girl's struggle to greatness- I am attempting to find my old body somewhere underneath the rubble that I call my new body (I use the term "new" lightly since I have been this way for about 5 years). So in order to do this I thought it would be best to keep myself honest and document the process on here for the whole world, or those who don't have anything better to read, to see. For instance, I am currently eating a granola bar this morning for breakfast. In an attempt to do away with my morning bagel routine- this Quaker chewy granola bar has become my poor substitute. To top it off it is about the size of my index finger and I am aware that my stomach is now growling for more like a rabid dog. But alas! this is how I got into trouble in the first place. So... eh hem.... pay no attention to the growling dog in the background and lets stay focused.
If you are wondering why I decided to start this process now, I can simply say it had something to do with a recent belly dancing class and the obvious difference between my shimmy and that of the girl next to me. Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me be clear. I don't hate myself, I love my giant ass and I can still dance till my face falls off. So please do not confuse this for some self deprecating blog where everyone needs to tell me I still look great. I am interventioning myself away from the potato chips and plan on telling you what I can only assume will be hilarity in the process of taking on new exercises in an effort to reclaim my turf. So I hope you join me on the journey- suggestions to new activities are welcome!
First stop: Swimming this Sunday with Barbi. Note: must go buy bathing suit in order to complete this task. Actually have to put said bathing suit on in public. Clearly not a thought out activity, but will participate regardless.
Next: Belly dancing again on Tuesday possibly followed by some hip hop on Thursday.
Wish me luck!
-Sara
Oh p.s. To the left we have me after a crash diet looking somewhere close to my former self and to the right we have me close to now. Not bad.... but whatever you get the point :)
So for those of you who may not know me, my name is Sara. At one point in my life I weighed 125 pounds at 5'11. You do the math- but basically I was practically invisible. That is no longer the case, and at 27 years of age I now weigh___ . You didn't think I would give it up that easy did you?
But this isn't your average chubby girl's struggle to greatness- I am attempting to find my old body somewhere underneath the rubble that I call my new body (I use the term "new" lightly since I have been this way for about 5 years). So in order to do this I thought it would be best to keep myself honest and document the process on here for the whole world, or those who don't have anything better to read, to see. For instance, I am currently eating a granola bar this morning for breakfast. In an attempt to do away with my morning bagel routine- this Quaker chewy granola bar has become my poor substitute. To top it off it is about the size of my index finger and I am aware that my stomach is now growling for more like a rabid dog. But alas! this is how I got into trouble in the first place. So... eh hem.... pay no attention to the growling dog in the background and lets stay focused.
If you are wondering why I decided to start this process now, I can simply say it had something to do with a recent belly dancing class and the obvious difference between my shimmy and that of the girl next to me. Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me be clear. I don't hate myself, I love my giant ass and I can still dance till my face falls off. So please do not confuse this for some self deprecating blog where everyone needs to tell me I still look great. I am interventioning myself away from the potato chips and plan on telling you what I can only assume will be hilarity in the process of taking on new exercises in an effort to reclaim my turf. So I hope you join me on the journey- suggestions to new activities are welcome!
First stop: Swimming this Sunday with Barbi. Note: must go buy bathing suit in order to complete this task. Actually have to put said bathing suit on in public. Clearly not a thought out activity, but will participate regardless.
Next: Belly dancing again on Tuesday possibly followed by some hip hop on Thursday.
Wish me luck!
-Sara
Oh p.s. To the left we have me after a crash diet looking somewhere close to my former self and to the right we have me close to now. Not bad.... but whatever you get the point :)
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