Stronger Than Britney Spears

Click for an awesome history of female bodybuilders

I have had such a love affair going on with group classes that I forgot the rush of lifting. Don't get me wrong, I really love the group workout classes-- they're what got me into campus gyms in the first place. I enjoy being pushed and challenged and doing new moves and techniques I hadn't even thought of. With weight lifting, I feel strong (even though my wimpy little arms can barely do more than a 10 pound curl).
This morning I had an awesome first day back with the weights.  My lifting was near-full body today; I was going to do lower back but I felt so light on my feet I knew it was time to finish up (not that lower back would have taken much time). Some muscles were like "whoa I thought we were done with that nonsense" while others were gun-ho and asking for more.
Now let's hope the rest of today is as productive as I need it to be- there's laundry to do and so many people and places to call about financial aid and moving into the new apartment come September.

Self-motivation

On mornings after a work out, I often wake up and see me as myself in the mirror. It's not that I don't see me, it's just that I really see me-- I see a transformative person who knows that life is full of change. If life is change then I can choose the changes.

I've come a long way from being that chubby girl who didn't know anything about nutrition. Looking back, I see that it was all necessary for me to become who I see in the mirror now-- and I see someone who knows Truth and can make happiness. 

There are too many aspects of life to be happy about to focus on only the sad. Viva la vida. 

Cardio/Warm Up

I absolutely cannot skip my warm up with cardio. Today I just stretched and went to the weights because I was cut short for time. It was leg day. I was ready to run.
Never again. No longer will I think it's even feasible to skip out on my cardio warm up. While I was lifting I felt so antsy and the antsy-ness is still with me right now.
We live such sedentary lives that, once you really get going for a while every day, you gotta keep going or the flow is messed up. Tomorrow I plan on a date with a Tredmill followed by arms.
I wish I could sit still. I'll correct the issue tomorrow after school.

I forgot to do the online sign up for Spinning class with one of my sisters. Boo.
Today included some downs... the hate in Boston... but the world keeps spinning. We should do what we can to help, then look to positive things to "Keep Calm and Carry On,"-- have a cup of tea. Toast to Mondays that are not quite Mondays.
Look to the future with hope.

I hope. I do.

Intimidating machines

I conquered the treadmill this past week-- sort of. I know it sounds silly but weren't you initially intimidated by a specific machine, or a new machine that doesn't look quite natural?
A treadmill may be far from out of the ordinary but for a woman who's found endearment with her elliptical, it's hard for me to go to something that simulates a much more natural form of movement. The pounding of my feet on the tread and the actual bouncing of my body is very different from the swish swish of the elliptical. I'm really bad with controlling my breath while running so, naturally, the treadmill led me to an asthma attack. Boo.
For my gym buddy, every weight machine looked like a torture contraption. After the initial novice feeling, she became adventurous and even tried out a controlled weight system all on her own. The instructions are on each machine but, come on, they are not always the easiest to simulate properly. She did good. My only worry is that she's bored or that I'm not guiding her properly.
Form is of high importance, especially when using a machine: not holding your elbow to your side during a tricep pull will cause different muscles to be used instead of the backside of your guns.
I'd love to hear your moments of intimidation with machines and new exercises.

Goals

I've been realizing just how important goals are in life. Why are you doing something? To achieve something: discover, create, observe, analyze, be a part of-- the list goes on.
In order to make a thought a reality we need to make it a goal. Instead of thinking on it we need to act. One step at a time, and you'll get there.
With fitness, I'm at a spot where I need to make changes and add and learn new things. With each workout we do, our body adjusts and adapts to it so we must always be changing it up.
Since I'm already at my healthy weight, I need to tone it up and Body Tone once a week isn't enough. In addition to keeping healthy eating and cardio habits, i believe it takes lifting weights a least three times a week for you to notice a difference.
The FSU Leach offers free BMI(body mass index) exams so once that opens ill go and hopefully have a little more information to work off of. BMI is a test where they pinch your skin and calculate your body fat percentage. Body fat is good as long as its around a certain percentage. Ill find out more about where I stand and how it's determined once I get my BMI.