My Private Parts Hurt!!!

OK, so this isn't the most glamorous of titles, but it is the truth. The cause of my current state of uncomfortableness is last night's spinning class. For the past 6 months, I have been consistent with my early morning workouts and the past 2 months have mostly revolved around weight lifting and toning. The results have been exactly what I had hoped in terms of toning up, but I still need to shed a few pounds. Basic science tells me that in order to do this, I need to expend some calories...especially since I'm choosing not to reduce my intake of said calories. I have been so motivated by all the bloggers who are logging numerous miles walking and running that I decided to re-acquaint myself with my treadmill. I always refer to my treadmill as my "friend". Something about it soothes me. Yes, I'm weird! Well, my dear "friend" has passed on. The motor is fried! We had a long and wonderful relationship, but it is over. Not wanting to spend the money on a new one just yet, I figured it was time to darken the doors of the gym again.

I had intended to stop by after work and log a few miles on the treadmill there, but the second I pulled into the parking lot I knew the likelihood of that was slim. All the cardio equipment was occupied. Not wanting to waste my resolve to burn those extra calories, I eagerly jumped in on the spinning class. Hey, I've been working out...should be no problem. Now I'm not new to spinning, but it has been a while. Being the eager beaver, I claimed the bike in the middle - right in front of the instructor. She was this perky little thing that spent time "getting to know us" before the class began. I had no intention of drawing too much attention to myself, but I certainly wanted her to know I might struggle to keep up. I made it clear that this was the first time in a mighty long time I had climbed aboard a bike. The other class members were regulars except for me and a brand-new spinner who happened to be a teenager, so she doesn't count. I mean, when you are in your teens, you are supposed to be able to keep up in any cardio class...right? Right! LOL!

Class began well - a mix of 80's music and a fired up instructor. What more could you ask for? Obviously, alot! I made it through the first 2 songs, sweating and only gasping for air a few times, all the while thinking "Not so bad. I think I can do this". Then the fun began. What I didn't realize was the first 2 songs were just the warm-up! Throughout the class, the instructor kept checking in on the newbies, you know, making sure we were OK. I always responded with a thumbs up and a smile, muttering through clenched teeth, "I'm dying here! Get me some oxygen!" Forty or fifty simulated sprints and hill climbs later we were done. I was sweating profusely but I was feelin' good! So good, in fact, that I decided to stay for the boxing class. Like I said earlier, I'm crazy. Fortunately for me, it was a beginner's class, but it was still a butt-kicking session. I left relaxed, happy and committed to returning next week for both classes.

But today I am rethinking that decision. I hurt in places I didn't even know I had. Do we really have muscles around our knees? My bum hurts, my legs ache and we won't even talk about the pain I'm feeling in my nether region! I had forgotten how that cycle seat does a number on...ahem, our most private places. I'm hoping my awkward walk will be attributed to my recent episodes of vertigo. We'll keep the real reason between us friends. OK? OK!

Working Out & Girl Time

Month 2! That's right, baby! Getting started on month 2 of my extreme workout routine. My friend, Lydia, and I started way back in October working out 5 days a week at 6:00 am. The goal at the time was to just get through the holidays doing minimal damage to our waistlines. Secretly, I had hoped to actually lose some weight...a wish of most women most of the time... but no such luck. Even still, I was feeling better, actually beginning to feel more toned and I survived the holidays sans weight gain. All in all, I would call that a success. But I wanted more. Enter Chalean Extreme. To explain, I have to reveal my obsession with infomercials. OK, it's not really an obsession, but anytime I come across anything that offers me a complete body transformation, I'm hooked. And for any of you who have ever watched the Beach Body infomercials...well, who wouldn't want to look like that?

Fast forward from October to January. Time to get serious. We made it official. We met at Starbucks and over a cup of coffee mapped out the next 90 days. We planned each workout session, stated our goals and decided the best way to be accountable to one another. I weighed, took my measurements and calculated my body fat percentage. And just so you know, it was a most humbling experience. As for the pictures from every imaginable angle...didn't go there. First of all, I can hardly photograph myself from head to toe...that darn tripod just takes too long to set up. And heaven forbid I bare my cottage cheese ravaged body to anyone else. Just NOT happenin'! And so it began.

So far so good. In 5 weeks, I have only missed one workout and that was due to this silly vertigo problem I am still battling. I guess you might want to know how things are going as far as results. Weeelllll, I guess it is all in how you measure success. lol! Truthfully, I'm disappointed and happy all at the same time. That 15 pounds weight loss I dream of...didn't happen. But I did lose 3-1/2 pounds and lost 1/4 - 1/2 inch on each body part. The biggest boost came when I realized I had lost 3% body fat! This month I'm working hard on eating better...something I only half-heartedly did last month. Baby steps, baby steps. But I'm getting there.

On a scrappin' note, I'm excited to be spending the weekend with my scrap buddy, Pam. We are going to play Friday night and all day Saturday. Yea for girl time! I have a Valentine's project to finish for my sweetie and I plan to tackle my lastest Scarlet Lime and Studio Calico kits. I hope to post some of these on Monday. I guess I'll have to wait to post Keith's Valentine's surprise...he discovered my blog and he gets a kick out of reading it. He says he feels like he has been let into our secret club. Don't tell, but I think he is a closet scrapper....will probably get in trouble for that one! lol! Happy weekend!