no sweat!

thanks to a great deal on social shopper in the fall of 2010, i spent $20 for a 15 class pass at bikram yoga metrotown. even using it once would be worth it! with the coupon expiring next week, i finally built up the courage and went to a class tonight.


first: i was freaking out about the heated room. during vancouver's summer of 2009, i parked myself in front of our AC unit and didn't move. even at night we used it in gabe's room, and chris and i would lie in his room while he slept. how would i survive 90 minutes of hot & humidity? turns out i not only survived it, but i was in the room 15 minutes early :P


second: please don't pass out or throw up! that was my next fear. i called the studio in the morning and got some tips, the most important being don't eat within 2 hours of class. (it think that's where i went wrong at our girls' 30th celebration - we went to miraj hammam after brunch, and i ended up sick as a dog a few hours later.) i did get a little light-headed a couple times, but nothing major. it was a relief to see the experienced students having troubles and resting as well. halfway through class, my mind wandered and all i could think about was a snack :P



third: i was worried that i would feel horrible after class. aside from a slight headache, i felt fine. it's amazing how much sweating happens in class...it was pretty gross. but just knowing that with each droplet, i was burning that many more calories was really motivating. i did go a little hardcore at the beginning of class, and with 20 minutes left, i completely lost steam (haha!) and had to lie down.


fourth: throughout all my training with ryoko, i haven't had any sciatica problems, but with yoga lying down is really hard for me. i need to have my knees bent, or legs splayed, and then i just get fidgety after awhile. it's just really uncomfortable and painful on my back.

all in all, an ok experience. i think i will try and use a few more of the 15 visits...since it didn't kill me, it'll just make me stronger, right! what a day...2 workouts! good for me :-)

3 month update

so, it's been 3 months since i started my exercise regimen, and i met with ryoko for our 8th and last session today. after 3 months, here's how i've measured up:

bust: -3.25
chest: -2.25
waist: -3.25
hips: -2.25
thighs: -1.00

i'm pleased to see results, and i'm glad for the measurement tracking. i hop on the scale, but the number hasn't changed in awhile...but losing fat, gaining muscle. hard to track that :P

now i'm left to my own will. i really do want to see some weight loss, but our healthy eating sort of fell apart. there's always some dinner or function to go to, playoff games to watch, etc. etc. there's never a good time to "eat healthy". so instead, i'll try and focus on portion control and resisting food after dinner.

a new plan

seriously, i don't know what my problem is. i was doing great in january & february, and i'm still trying to get over my big march slump. i've lost interest in exercise. so, i have a new plan. every day i will get up and exercise. 30 minutes of cardio. that's it. then i'll go to work, do my thang, come home for dinner. then 2 (or 3) nights a week i will hit the gym for strength training - ususally happens on a monday/wednesday/friday. in support of my "new plan", i am buying an ipod shuffle. or nano. i don't know yet. i really like the radio feature on the nano, and who doesn't love the touchscreen? but i'm not sure if it's worth $100 extra. on the other hand...i only have 2 more sessions with ryoko and then i'm left to my own devices. i might need the "fun" features of the nano just to keep me interested in exercise. bottom line, i just need some fun and groovy music to keep me going. i find that starting at myself in the mirror while i do my "sumo squat" and bicep curl/lunges whilst counting to 20 repeatedly is NOT working for me. i have also re-started my food/exercise tracking on myfitnesspal. once i fell off that wagon i really didn't care what i was eating. so now to see an estimate of my caloric intake will be a kick in the pants to stop (some of) the snacking. at least zumba sunday continues to be a success! my mom and i might even try to squeeze in a friday night zumba class...but scheduling around HER social life plays a factor in this ;)

fail!

ok, so from my 8 pound, 10 inch "high", i've sunk to my low. i definitely have a monthly cycle...2 weeks are great, then along comes pms and the desire to eat everything in sight. i haven't dared to jump on the scale for fear of how much weight a person can gain in 1 week. i feel like in the past week i've derailed everything i've worked so hard for. i'm meeting ryoko on wednesday morning so i'll have to get back on track. it's brutal...i feel guilty, i feel fat, yet today i ate more chips and drank more pop.

on the other hand, i haven't re-gained the 10 inches...my "old" black pants still fit me, and are actually fitting even worse...with new saggy areas from my weight loss :P that in itself is also depressing because it means i`m at an awkward size...not old size, but not worthy of a new wardrobe yet in case i do lose more weight.

i'm gonna have to research the type of eater i am. i'm definitely an emotional eater, but i'm also an impulse eater. i am the worse. ugh. i'm gonna curl up and go to bed. even worse...tonight i'm going to bed on a full stomach.

at least i`m going to zumba in the morning...there`s a light at the end of this bleak tunnel!

2 inches!

i'm 1/2way through my sessions with ryoko, and she changed my program. i thought i was going to die this morning. my arms were shaking, my legs were shaking...it felt like torture. but at the end of it, when she asked if there was anything unreasonable or exercises i didn't like, i had nothing to say. now it's game time. i have to really dig deep to work through my program. but knowing i've lost 8 pounds this year, AND i've shed an average of 2 inches (pretty much from all my measurements from head to toe!), it's a really great motivator. i am determined to keep this up!

in addition to the program change, i'm now only seeing her every other week. we'll see how the next 2 weeks go and if i can keep up the pace. once my 8 sessions are over, i'll be on my own! it's a pretty scary thought, so as i was driving home this morning i decided i NEED that extra push. i'll probably need to check-in with ryoko once a month and get her to help with new exercises to keep my workouts interesting, challenging, AND results-driven!

happy happy tres!

little black pants

i have to say it...holy shit again! last fall, i bought 2 pairs of black pants at a gap sale. when i bought them, they fit just a little snug. then i put them away and forgot about them until christmas, only to discover they no longer fit AT ALL! i was mortified.

well, after discovering my 8 lb weight-loss, i tried on my black pants, and THEY FIT! they're not tight, not snug, but PERFECT! i'm in black pants heaven right now! now all i need is to get them back from the tailor... :-)

GREAT weekend!

after 8

holy shit...i'm finally losing weight! i actually don't even notice any difference yet, but the scale can't lie, right!? from my heaviest weight (ever - not counting pregnancy) earlier this year, i have lost 8 pounds! i am actually obsessed with weighing myself...really bad habit...but today was definitely a celebration! i stalled at 4-5 pounds for a really long time...and being sick didn't help...but i am so glad to see some results. it really does validate the changes i've made this year.

i think one of the hardest things i've done is cutting out snacks after dinner. after 8 p.m., there's no more eating. i do break that habit on occasion...i find i'm a little peckish after my evening workout so sometimes i'll have a piece of fruit - banana, apple, orange - whatever's easy and healthy.

this past wednesday ryoko changed my workout regime. she's noticed that i'm definitely getting stronger (whoo-hoo!), so it's time for new challenges. she kicked my ass! i was worried about the "day after pain", but it never developed...my body is definitely adapting well to consistent exercise. for me, getting to the gym is half the battle, so having a trainer to check-in with on a regular basis has been great!