Day 29: More running intervals

One reason I've never joined a gym is that I'm a little intimidated by the cardio machines and the weight machines. I don't know how to use the weight machines at all. Part of the problem is that I'm short so I have to fidddle with the settings to get the right height. I also find it to be a pain to have to adjust the weight settings, I have no idea what weight to use. None of that seems worth the effort.

I am more comfortable using the free weights, especially since I started doing DVDs like Jillian's and Jari's which have plenty of strength training moves. I have written out a little cheat sheet and take it with me to the gym. I only feel slightly dorky doing that, but at my age, I'm beyond worrying about what other people think of me and what I'm doing.

As for the cardio machines, I know the basics of how to use them. I know how to get started, but I don't take advantage of all the different settings and training programs. I usually just use "Quick Start" and then adjust manually as I go along. I've used the elliptical and stair master machines in the past, but I don't really like those machines (I don't even know if stair masters still exist.) The past few times I've gone to the gym, I've stuck to the treadmill.

Today, I tried an interval training program. I set the time for 30 minutes, and the machine went back and forth between 2 minutes of walking at a 3.5 mph pace on a 3% incline and 90 seconds of running at a 4.7 mph pace. It was perfect!

As I have written before, I'm considering joing the rec center for the summer months, so I guess I should figure out how to use these machines to my advantage.

Day 26: Just Yoga and Disappointment

Today was going to be an off day, but when I was only able to get in Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred video yesterday, I decided to move the Yoga to this morning. I did 30 minutes of Yoga Sculpt from Exercise TV On Demand (yep, still working) followed by 10 minutes of Pilates Abs. It always amazes me how much I sweat when I do yoga. I mean, I was dripping all over my mat. I hope this means that I'm doing it right, and I'm working all my muscles hard. Even though I haven't done a yoga routine in, gosh, about a week, I still feel pretty strong.

Disappointment: I weighed myself this morning... 140 lbs. I just don't get it. I have been eating well, I think. I keep track in a journal of everything I eat. I average about 1100 calories per day. Some days I eat 1000 calories, and other days, I eat 1200. On weekends, it's harder to stay within the 1000-1200 calorie range, but that's not unusual for anyone trying to lose weight. Fortunately, I'm able to take comfort in the following: I feel great! I feel strong, and I've noticed that I have more energy than I did a few weeks ago, when I was complaining about feeling tired all the time. It feels like my "tummy bulge" is getting smaller. In fact, today I am wearing a pair of jeans that previously I was unable to zip. I guess I need to focus on the positve and not dwell on the number on the scale, but that's easier said than done.

Tomorrow is my first session with the personal trainer. I purchased 8 sessions, and I plan to go twice a week. At the end of those 8 sessions, assuming I've seen progress, I will purchase another 8 sessions. They are running a 2 for 1 special that ends at the end of April. Those 16 sessions should get me to the end of May, after that I will have to evaluate what to do from there: continue with the personal trainer or join the rec center gym and try to continue on my own or some combination thereof. The problem is the personal trainer will get really expensive, so I need to be really close to my goal in order to justify the expense. I have high expectations, so we'll see what the next 2 months holds.