Jo's space

A more relaxing day at Bally's

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:10:29 GMT

Tried to work out but was cramping so badly I decided to spend an hour in the steam room. Man, I feel great! Darn near fell asleep in there, it felt so wonderful and relaxing.

I do love that place. I always feel so invigorated when I leave. :)

I might go back tomorrow and work out since I really didn't get my cardio done today. It's really fun. :)

Tonight's workout should be loads of fun...

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:21:30 GMT

since I'm on my period and cramping like I've been kicked by a mule. *sigh* My luck...and what happened to this menopause I'm supposed to be going through??!!!

What a bloody mess...no pun intended.

All I want to do is curl up with a heating pad on my abdoman and do nothing. But, I know I can't, because once I start making excuses not to work out, I won't accomplish anything.

I think I'll spend extra time in the steam room..the heat will feel wonderful. ( I hope! )

Finally!!

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:54:33 GMT

Ok, so I'm starting a new week of working out, and man, did it start off great!

Stepped on the scales, and I LOST 5 POUNDS!!!

Everyone in the place knew it too. I was bouncing all over. Told my trainer, and my buddy who signed us up. Both were happy for me. And just about squished the poor hubby. LOL

I'm worn out though, may have overdone it in my joy. Will see what happens on Wednesday.

But wow...just to have lost weight!! YAHOO!!! Let's celebrate a bit, shall we?

Great workout last night...no results

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:41:06 GMT

Workout was great, I feel as if I accomplished something. The time really flew, and I enjoyed it.

Until time for my first trip inside a sauna. OMG! I thought I was going to have a flat out panic attack! I stepped inside, and immediately was unable to breathe. The hubby had to help me outside and into a chair by the pool. Never going to try that again, let me tell you.

I find it amazing that people who use different sections of the gym or different pieces of equipment that they've never used before aren't given some sort of intro to the things before using them. And the young gentleman I asked about it when I was leaving actually *laughed at me*! Not exactly the reaction I would have expected on asking an honest question about something I'd never done before. At least he gave me an idea of what to do if I ever decide to try it again. That's something, I guess.

I'm starting to have second thoughts about Bally's. I would have expected a lot more caring from the people there. As well as a bit more variety to my workout. I'm becoming bored with the same old thing every time I go.

Oh well....at least the hubby is seeing results. He's losing weight. Only thing I'm seeing is that my legs are firming up and getting thinner. Oh wow...spaghetti legs holding up an elephant's body. How impressive!!!

I need a workout that targets ALL of my body, not just my damn legs.

*sigh*

There's always Friday, I suppose.

Another night at Bally's

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 21:03:54 GMT

Well, tonight is another workout. At least I found a tank top and some shorts, so I can hit the sauna room after I'm done.

I'll be honest, I'm sort of not looking forward to it. Mainly due to the fact that I'm scared of seeing another gain at the scales. How can I possibly be gaining if I'm working out and eating differently???

*sigh*

Maybe this whole 'change my life' idea was a joke...on me.

We shall see, after the workout.

Meant to start this sooner...

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:49:14 GMT

but I suppose better late than never.

A bit about me is in order, I guess. Not that I'm all that proud of being a yo-yo. See, I've been 'chubby', 'large', 'fatso', and 'lard-butt' most all of my life. I got used to those, and worse names, early in my childhood. Along with shopping in the 'chubby' section of Sears for school clothes.

I never participated in 'gym' class, mainly due to the fact that I was tired of constantly getting picked on, and made fun of, when I DID try to take part in anything. I always finished dead last, or dropped the ball, or, well..insert your own phrase, I probably failed at it. I was always the last one picked for anything, or not picked at all, in most cases. I finally stopped 'dressing out' and simply sat in the bleachers, letting the 'perfect' kids take part. By the time high school hit, I was wearing maternity clothes because nothing else really fit me.

Then, a miracle. My family doctor put me on some sort of diet pills (I do wish I could remember the name!) and the pounds dropped off. I wasn't jittery, or high or speeded out or anything, the weight just dropped off. And I was soon a wonderful 115 pounds, and wearing clothes that were really HOT! And gasp, I could even cross my legs!! Now, that may not seem like all that big a deal to you, but I never could get my legs to cross because they were so big. So crossing them was like a major milestone!

I'm what they call a 'comfort' eater, I take comfort in food. And my wonderful 115 streak didn't last too long. A couple of bad relationships, and my weight started going up. My Mother had a stroke, and I ate more. Two bad marriages and we will NOT go into the kids, and up it went again. I was over 200 pounds by this time. And I really didn't hold out a lot of hope of ever being healthy or happy again.

After 2 frogs, I found my prince, and my third marriage is wonderful. I have a man who loves me for me. (And he can cook too!) BUT, we both are 'fluffy' and while that makes for some really toasty snuggling in the winter time, lol, it doesn't make for good health or longevity. We've tried losing weight before, me with a bit more gusto that the hubby, since he really doesn't LOOK big. But his cooking, and my complete lack of willpower, kept me big, and getting bigger.

I fell in love with that TV show, The Biggest Loser. I thought, 'Wow, if ordinary people like me can do it, then why can't *I* do it?' from season one, I've wanted to be on that show, but as my sorry luck holds, no video camera...and they require a 5 minute video along with the application. Heartbreak city, let me tell you. Every season, I watch, cheering on those wonderful people, and wishing I was there. (And wanting nothing more than to train with Bob. Not only is he a hunk, he cares about all aspects of his team, not just their bodies. He is spiritual, and gets in their heads too. I really admire that. Jillian is cool too, and I hate the fact that she left the show.)

Well, finally coming to accept that Biggest Loser isn't coming to me, and I'll never meet Bob Harper, or Jillian Michaels (and crying a lot over both realizations), I decided to just give up. What was the point? I've never really been able to do anything 'by myself', I've always needed a support system.

Then, one night as the hubby and I were watching the Deal or No Deal Xmas special, one of the prizes the audience won (along with those at home) was a 2 week free pass to Bally's Fitness. Ok, now free I can do! So, we both went to sign up for it. Well, they got us such a great deal, we joined as members. Lol! My starting weight as of January 6th was 235.5 And I was determined to change my eating habits, and work out at home as well as at Bally's.

Instead of eating one big meal in the evenings, I started eating several 'smaller' meals throughout the day. I also used 2 big cans of juice as weights for curls to work on my arms. The hubby gets a chuckle out of that. And I tried to do 'step' routines on the stairs but just couldn't get it in sync with the music.

Went back to Bally's on the 13th, and headed for the scale, hoping to have at least lost a pound or two. Imagine my shock at seeing I'd GAINED 5!!! I was devastated. It said the hubby had gained as well, and he eats less than I do. We were both confused. We'd both talked with a trainer but any further 'trainer' sessions have to be paid for so we are on our own as far as what to do or how to do it. We do the 4 things he showed us, and then the hubby goes to the sauna, and I watch advanced classes of things I would love to get into but there are no beginning classes in the evenings, which is when we both go to work out.

Went to work out last night. Tried 3 different scales, and got 3 different weights. So now I don't know if I've gained or lost anything! Nothing is consistent! Did the usual 4 things, and watched an intermediate step class, then came home feeling as if I'd accomplished nothing at all. I know I need more things to do there, but having never been in a fitness center before, I have no clue as to exactly what. I'd love to go during the day, but I don't have anyone to work out with so the time passes more quickly and I enjoy it more. And I don't know who to ask for more exercises or suggestions for things to do at home either.

I'd love to be able to join The Biggest Loser Club online. Maybe there I could find a partner here where I live to work out with. Maybe some more support. Maybe some friends who have been there, done that, and can understand where I'm at. But their only interest is the almighty dollar, so that's out.

I'll be heading back to Bally's on Wednesday. But it's already getting boring, doing the same thing every time, and nothing new to break up the routine or make it more fun. They say on Biggest Loser that you're supposed to have a variety, and switch up from time to time so that your body doesn't get 'used' to the same stuff. It's getting the variety that is the hard part. No one will tell me what to do!

BOB, HELP!!

Oh well...time for my granola bar and Crystal Light for breakfast. Will add more tomorrow.

Book List: Book List

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:27:57 GMT

The Biggest Loser Experts and Cast with Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, PhD: The Biggest Loser
The book that gives you all the help you need, from the contestants and cast of The Biggest Loser