look forward to doing cardio and strength training exercises 2-3 times each week (cardio and circuit training)

...to undo all your accomplishments in less than two years.

Okay, that said, time to get a move on.

Three mornings each week I wake up at 5:45 AM to “Hey Mama” by the Black Eyed Peas and ride the stationary bike for 30-40 minutes (175-200 calories). I’ve managed it only twice this week; first time, I got overzealous and injured a calf muscle. But this morning, I honored the commitment, made a fiber smoothie for breakfast afterwards, took a long and wonderfully refreshing shower, and got to work fairly early.

The other four mornings I get to sleep in a bit and wake up to Cat Stevens’s “Morning Has Broken.” I’m getting myself trained…

While going to the gym more often is also a goal, I’ve separated it from actually DOING the cardio and strength training. If I don’t drag my sorry behind to the gym, I can still get a good workout on the equipment I OWN: stationary bike, weight machine, punching bag, floor.

It’s the “look forward to” I still struggle with. But I should “look forward to” it – that’s what’s going to help me get back to a size 10. I was there 8 months ago. I know I can do it.

I’m down 3 lbs. in two weeks, and I’m sure that burning 1417 calories a week (average) for two weeks in a row has something to do with that! I have kept my promise to myself (Self, you’re a hard taskmaster and I am not always so very fond of you!) and gone to the gym (or used the stationary bike at home) 3-4 times each week.

Amazingly, I bought jeans in a familiar brand, but a new style yesterday. Without trying them on. Size 10L. And the damned things FIT like a glove. I haven’t had the guts to do that since the last time I ordered 16L’s from the GAP.

It’s not just the pounds, but the inches, that keep me hitting the gym.

I am re-committed (not about to BE committed – do you believe EVERY damned rumor you hear?) and on track.

I worked out on Sunday (that’s twice this month, but hey, it’s a start). I’ve written this down on my planner and told my family that dinner will be late those nights. I’m going. And by God, I’m going to learn to like it.

No, really, I am. Learning to like it is now part of the goal. Stating it any other way only ensures that it will always feel like a chore.

Ouch. Yes, I think it has.

We were allowed to leave work early this afternoon, and I used the extra time to recommit to exercising several times a week. I may have overdone it (only the weekend will tell); I burned off over 500 calories on the treadclimber, and spent about 20 minutes on circuit training. According to CalorieLab.com, an hours’ worth of guitar practice (@#$%, but I hate that thing now) adds up to another 79 calories burned (not the nearly 300 that SparkPeople lists for “playing an instrument”).

I’ve made healthy food choices today and I drank about 12 8-oz. glasses of water, maybe more. Took my multivitamins, too. Yay, me. Now, off to get my 8 hours of sleeeeeeep. Blessed sleep.

...your former personal trainer calls you at home to inquire as to whether you’ve died, or what.