Took the Plunge

[hsapiens]

I've been putting off dealing with the fact that I need more exercise for a long time. Yesterday I finally pulled up my big girl pants, joined a gym -- and got a personal trainer. It's not cheap but I feel as if I need one. I hit plateaus that can last for months; that just demoralizes the hell out of me and I do the unhelpful thing: I stop working out. I've never before had a personal trainer. I'm so out of shape right now that I expect I'll see some immediate results (I picture some perky coach telling me, "nowhere to go but up!" but thankfully my trainer seems friendly but not perky) but eventually I'm going to hit one of those speed bumps. Hopefully, this will help me break the doldrums before I allow myself to give up. My membership includes 3 "free"** personal training sessions but I bought a few more because I need that motivation while I'm learning to make this a habit.

The gym has lots of classes, including some that sound cool: dance, pilates, and balance ball. I'll finally try out an elliptical trainer, something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I'm actually looking forward to dancing again on a regular basis; I've really missed it. There are also the much-dreaded weight machines. It has been 20 years since I last used one. I'm going to have to learn to not hate them but that will be a...challenge.

I still don't want to exercise but I want even less to suffer heart disease and crumbling bones. (And, you know, in the short term I'd like to lose body fat and be able to climb four flights of stairs without losing my breath.) At least, that's what I think now. We'll have to see how I feel on Friday after my evaluation and first workout. ;)

** "free" being code for "already added into the original membership price we quote you"

Comments

[selmak.livejournal.com]

Yes, I could use a work out buddy for motivation.

I haven't gone this week as I have the FLAT STANLEY FROM HELL project. It's for a friend's kid. He's shy, he's slightly autistic, and new in school. so she wanted to us to be creative. So, the last week or so, janet and I have been busy putting together a "where in the world is Flat Stanley?" scrapbook.

the little bastards been to So. Korea, Ireland, Scotland, England (Two different spots), possibly hitching a ride to Singapore (I hope he remembers to behave), San Francisco, Turned into a klingon in washington DC, Ohio, met someone else in Ohio who went to No. Carolina to film a stargate fan film, So. Carolina, Mississippi where he met Peter M. (Chewie from Star Wars), and Gigi from Farscape, gone to NYC, another place in Virginia, Alabama, NJ, the local highlights round here (Orange County Choppers, West Point, loads of Revolutionary War spots, FDR presidental library, Val-kill.....) yada yada yada.

Somehow I didn't expect to have deal with over 300 pictures of Flat Stanley :P

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

This is why I'm committed to my child-free existence. I have no idea what you're talking about but just reading about it makes me exhausted. ;) I occasionally think that I'll be sorry for having been childless when I get older but those thoughts aren't enough to change my conviction that I'm too selfish and too tired to be a proper parent.

You are an extraordinarily kind friend. :)

[selmak.livejournal.com]

Ah... you don't know the true horror of Flat Stanley as it's Educational!

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/cultures/flat_stanley_project.htm

Yes, I wonder about my childless existence when I'm old and gray. Who will get all the family heirlooms, but then I realize that I'd make a lousy mother as I'd demand my Helena time.

:D

I think I'm not extraordinarily kind friend. I just have SUCKA written right across my head.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

OK, that's cool but I still find myself grateful for avoiding that fate.

I still think you're an extraordinarily kind friend and you aren't goign to convince me otherwise. ;)

[superbadgirl]

I've done the Flat Stanely project twice. It's fun, but (insert nephew and niece names here) kind of annoying that you pay for tourist attractions just to get a shot of a flat kid riding the Ducks or up on the Space Needle. ;)

[selmak.livejournal.com]

We drove all over for these pics, so it was a bonding moment for the family. :P We did meet someone who knew a flat stanley that went white water rafting in Alaska. Alas, he was swept out to sea, so she had to tell her grandson that Flat Stanley was sleeping with the fishes.

Fortunately, we had plenty of stunt doubles for Stanley.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

That seems like waaaaaaaay more trouble than I ever want. Again, there's a good reason I haven't procreated. Yup. *nods*

[janiekins.livejournal.com]

Yes, I could use a work out buddy for motivation.

i keep telling you that you could go with MOM to the "y" instead of her going with me... (sigh) please, won't you bond with her? PLEASE?!?!

M - good luck with the gym :) the personal trainer thing sounds great...

j

ps - Flat Stanley MUST DIE! :)

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I've been torturing myself for - god is it ONLY three days now??? it seemed like YEARS! - 3 days and I have to say that sitting in front of the computer, vegetating, is looking even better these days. *sigh* I'm at that stage of sore where my calves constantly feel as if they're on the verge of cramping. This, too, shall pass and then I won't be a bundle of hurt but until I reach that happy Zen place, I'm a hurting girl. :)

The personal trainer is probably going to be necessary to keep me from quitting but for now we're doing the, "evaluate precisely how out of shape" I am. Which is, not surprisingly, a LOT. I guess it's a good thing that I can achieve my target heart rate so *quickly*? It means I start the clock on my "maximum effectiveness" workout that much sooner and am done that much sooner. I forgot to inquire about hair follicle workouts, though. I am *determined* to show up in NJ this year with an even bigger head than ever because I know how much the two, er, people behind me love my hair. ;-)

I think we should have a ritual burning of the Flat Stanley this year.

[janiekins.livejournal.com]

wow... you're going to look like a lollipop girl at the nj con ( if they can find any guests / or people to host it!) you know, the girls with itty bitty bodies and big heads :)

maybe sel and i should get big 80s perms so we won't feel left out sitting next to you :)

hope you won't be too svelte to talk to us :)

j

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I wish! I'm afraid that Dori will still be our only lollipop. I have a thyroid problem and even though I'm on medication to replace some of what it isn't producing, I have real issues moderating my weight. For instance, I've been eating 1500 calories a day and spent 4 days in intensive aerobic activity and two days working on building muscle. I'm in the first week when one's body hasn't adapted and the weight melts off. Some people will lose as much as 7 or 8 pounds in their first week. How much have *I* lost? A pound? No. A half pound? No. A quarter pound? No. Nothing? Yup. I have lost not even an ounce in 4 days. Believe me when I say I've considered a medical coma/liquid starvation plan in my really down times.

You and selmak need change nothing, silly. I love your geeky and slightly off kilter selves. :)

p.s. Need I mention that every time I see that icon, my first thought is that he has an amazingly big and speckled penis?

[(Anonymous)]

Yup. I have lost not even an ounce in 4 days. Believe me when I say I've considered a medical coma/liquid starvation plan in my really down times.

i understand completely about the thyroid problem... before the introduction of the "happy drug" (i swear, synthroid acted like prozac for me) things were horrible... fortunately, it sounds like you're not having a problem with your hair... otherwise we might have to buy you a big foam cowboy hat to wear...

any chance that you're retaining water... i didn't realize how much of a problem that was until i started trying to keep an eye on things...

i understand the discouragement... i went to the gym 5x one week, tried to eat better (not perfectly, but i'm trying) and was stuck... hopefully next week will be better for you!

You and selmak need change nothing, silly. I love your geeky and slightly off kilter selves. :)

you are too sweet! wish you would be going to Shore Leave..

p.s. Need I mention that every time I see that icon, my first thought is that he has an amazingly big and speckled penis?

LOL - i use this icon on my class reunion site with an account name from the dragonlance series... (i wanted to remain anonymous) i sent a reply to someone... she thought i was a gay porn site...

j

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Synthroid didn't make me "happy" but it did make me able to think again. I never had the classic signs like hair loss, dry skin, constipation, and so I discounted that it could be part of my troubles. I noticed that I had weight control problems, I healed far more slowly, and that finally I just couldn't *think.* I figured out something was wrong but even when the doctor asked about my thyroid, I told him I didn't think it was. Luckily, he said, "let's test for it anyway since not everyone has the same symptoms." Bingo.

When I first started sythroid, it was like speed. I felt 18 again, totally wired and full of energy. Alas, I quickly adapted and now I'm just as lazy as before.

I do enjoy the irony that the cretin behind me at the con thinks I have "big hair." :)

It's a good question about the water. I thought yesterday that answer was, "no" as my rings weren't fitting any differently. This morning, though, the scale says I've lost 3.5 pounds since last week. That's in line with what I expect in a first week of diet/exercise. Since I doubt I burned up that fat overnight, I need to consider that I was retaining water even if I didn't have the usual symptoms in my hands.

I wish I were going to Shore Leave, too. That one sounds like fun. I'm seriously considering, if the con stays in where ever it is this year and the hotels suck as much as the internet reviews indicate, trading a different con for that one. In which case, maybe I'd trade to Shore Leave. I'm undecided but I won't be spending my vacations in a hell hole, no matter how much I love seeing all of my friends.

*snort* Oh yeah, I can see where she got that idea. I must be used to LJ now to have known it was "just another great icon." ;)