Exercise regularly

but not as much as I’d like. I’ve really cut back on frequency of workouts these past few weeks (and oddly enough, I’ve lost nearly 10 pounds—exercising less?!). However, I haven’t stopped going completely, and I haven’t gone a week without exercising at least once in a really long time. I made it to the gym three times last week (which is an improvement), and I’m making it my goal to go at least four times this week. I want to get back to exercising at least four to five times a week.

I’m having a really hard time with getting to the gym right now. I haven’t stopped going (which is good) but I’m not going as much as I’d like. I’m going to keep working out when I can and pray that I’m having difficulty working exercise into my schedule because it’s the end of the semester.

I have a torn ligament, and the doctor guesses that I got it from working out too hard. It’s really minor, but it’s uncomfortable, Fortunately, the doctor said I can still work out, but I’m going to have to be careful for the next couple of weeks (and wear a splint while at the gym—yuck!). Just to be safe I took yesterday and today off from the gym, but I’m going to attempt a light workout when I get out of class tomorrow afternoon.

To my massive annoyance, I’ve done something to my left foot. I’m not sure when or how it happened, but it hurts and I don’t think exercising is necessarily the best thing for it right now. I did make it the gym yesterday for interval training, but my foot was very throbby and uncomfortable afterward. I’m going to try and get in at the health center tomorrow morning so that I can find out exactly what it is that’s going on because the sooner this gets better the sooner I can get back to the gym.

I really hate this and I’m worried that a few days off from the gym will get me into the habit of not going—because that’s exactly what’s happened to me in the past. I would really hate to lose all that I’ve spent the last two and a half months working for. Sigh…

Like the responsible person that I would love to be, I went to the gym on Friday and did the weight and cardio routine that my trainer had made for me earlier in the week, which involved a lot of squatting exercises. I was sore that afternoon and on Saturday morning, but I didn’t really think about it until about five minutes into my cycling class on Saturday morning-when the horrible cramping in my quads started. I managed to make it through the class, but I was really uncomfortable all day long, even after taking some ibuprofen. I feel much much better today, but my quads are still achy and I think that exercise might not be the best thing for me today.

And I feel really bad about only exercising four times this week (especially since I skipped an extra day last week as well), but I shouldn’t. Going to the gym four times a week is not bad at all, but I still feel like I’m letting myself down a little (and that I’ll begin to backslide into not going at all). However, if it warms up today-and the weather channel says it’s supposed to-I’m going for a walk in the park with a friend. It’s not a workout, but at least it’s some activity. In the meantime, I’ll use my break from the gym to do something productive, like getting a little extra reading time in for my comps.

it’s Friday, it’s cold, and it’s rainy. And of course, my apartment is nice and warm. I put off going to the gym this morning because my right knee was bothering me (and today’s workout is supposed to involve lots of squatting type exercises), but I ate some breakfast and took some ibuprofen, hoping that my knee would be good enough for a workout later. Well, it’s later, and the ibuprofen has done it’s job. But I don’t want to get out and go the gym.

It’s really hard to motivate myself to exercise in this weather. However, it’s really important to me that exercising regularly become a lifestyle change. I’ve been overweight and out of shape for so long and I really want to become a healthy and active person. I don’t think I’ve ever exercised this consistently for this long and if I cop out now, I’ll really be letting myself down.

And actually writing this entry has really helped me. Because now I’m going to turn off the computer change my clothes and go the gym.

which was good because I hadn’t worked out in two days. Thursday is normally a day off for me, but Friday-’ll admit it-it was cold outside and warm and cozy in my apartment and I was just being lazy—and that’s not a good enough excuse for skipping the gym. However, I went to my second cycling class this morning, and I’m happy (extremely so) to report that I’m not so saddle sore this time. The class went well, and I think I’m going to make this 9:30am cycle class on Saturday morning a part of my workout week. And darn it, I’m proud of myself for trying this class because I really thought it might be too hard for me.

I tried a beginning cycling class this morning, and I swear I must have gotten the worst bike in the entire room. It made awful noises and the handlebars kept falling down and sliding forward. My legs ached, I was sweating buckets, and I can’t explain to anyone how saddle sore I was. But, I completed the class and I think it’s going to turn out to be a good challenge for me—and people have told me that my butt won’t hurt after a couple more classes. So next Saturday morning at 9:30, I’ll be there at the YMCA on my bicycle, ready for a workout and praying that my backside won’t hurt so much this time.

And writing this has made me realize something. Somewhere in the last two months this has become more than my desperate quest to lose weight. I’ve started to enjoy exercising. Going to the gym isn’t a chore—figuring out what days of the week to rest has actually become the most difficult part. I’ve discovered I love the elliptical with a passion that I never thought was possible for a piece of exercise equipment. My tap and ballet classes have become one of my favorite parts of my week. I look forward to being sore after weight training because it means I’m using my muscles. And, honestly, I never thought that this would be me. And I have to say it’s a really great feeling.

Angela, my trainer, really kicked my tail today, probably to make up for the fact that I haven’t seen her in three weeks. But she really kicked my butt. I’ve only been back from the trainer for an hour and I’m already sore. I’ll take some sort of pain reliever tonight before I go to bed, but I can tell tomorrow will be an uncomfortable day. But that’s okay—it’s all good for me, and I don’t mind being sore.

And tomorrow my dance class starts again. Yay! I had so much fun in my tap class in the fall that I’ve decided to add ballet as well. So I can have a bit of fun, get even more exercise, and relive a part of my childhood.

I’ve found myself really not wanting to go the last few days. However, I buck up and repeat my exercise mantra—exercise is a part of my life now. That’s what’s gotten me to the gym the last few days. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so hard if I could just see some sort of result. It’s been two months since I started working out regularly and I haven’t lost a single pound and my measurements haven’t changed. I will say that I do feel better, and that’s definitely a benefit, but I’m not going to lie. I want to lose some weight, and it’s frustrating that I’m making the effort (at long last) and I haven’t even lost a couple of pounds. Right now, I’d be happy with a couple of pounds. However, other issues have convinced me that I may have some hormonal problems that are preventing me from losing weight. I’m going to go the doctor in a couple of weeks to see what’s going on. And I am at least thankful that I haven’t gained any weight.

In the meantime, I’ll keep on exercising. Because even though I haven’t wanted to go the last couple of days, the exercise makes me feel good and gives me energy. And darn it, I’m proud of myself for having stuck with it for this long.