Work It Out Girl!

The main point of my blog is to discuss my experiences during this crazy time in my life, but I wanted to take today (and there will probably be a few more entries like this one) to discuss another journey I am taking – the journey to get fit! Mom has the health and wellness blog, so I’m not going to write entry after entry about the different steps I’m taking to get healthy. I just want to update those who care about my progress.

I started a little before the New Year running on my treadmill at home, and once I returned to school for the winter quarter I decided to take time every morning of the week for me. Each morning, the first thing I do is work out. I have Jillian Michael’s (the Biggest Loser trainer) DVDs, and I started with her 30-day Shred. I did that DVD for six weeks straight, and just this past Sunday I moved on to her Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD. Both are extremely intense and effective. The shred DVD incorporates strength training with weights (I use my 5 pound free weights), cardio, and abs. The second DVD is all aerobic and requires only your body – quite possibly the most intense workout I’ve ever done! I have lost 7 pounds since January 1st!!!

I have done all types of diets in the past; some have worked, most have not. The biggest issue I had was my hope for a quick fix. I wanted to be 15 pounds lighter in 1 month (and I thought that was totally doable). Once I saw that I wasn’t losing weight as quickly as I hoped, I became very discouraged. This time around it is all about lifestyle changes. I workout every morning and realize there is no reason (at least until I have a real big girl job, and even then, 20 minutes can always be squeezed in!) why I can’t workout every day, or at least five days a week. I’ve also started eating better, and I’ve learned many things along the way when it comes to nutrition. The majority of my dinners consist of mostly brown rice and veggies now. I used to eat Lean Cuisines every night until I realized the sodium content was through the roof! (See, always learning new lessons).

The weight I have been able to lose has also motivated me to keep going. I finally enjoy running! It took me 20 years to realize that running is actually a wonderful workout. So much stress is released with a simple 30-40 minute run around campus or the park. Once spring rolls around, I’m hoping to switch between my DVDs and running to keep my workouts fun and interesting. Running will also allow me to see more of the city of Columbus before I have to leave it. My roommate L informed me that Victorian Village is a wonderful place to run. I’ll have to check it out. I’m very proud to say that 7 weeks into my new life and I’m still extremely motivated! If any readers out there are fans of running, I hope to find some races in the tri-state area to compete in this summer and fall to give me new goals to reach. Let’s do them together!

Give me some new workout ideas if you have any. I’m always up for new activities!