I've been really enjoying
Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. As suspected, Weeks 3 & 4 are much different, much tougher, but doable (see my
weeks 1 & 2 review). It all builds on the muscles you worked on the week before. The moves are more complex and intense so far, so your body doesn't just get used to the workout. Your constantly being challenged. At one point, she says something to the effect of "just try it once" and that's been my motto. It's so easy to take one look at a move and just write it off with a "yeah, right" and sit with your water bottle while you watch even the beautiful people in the workout video struggle.
But I'm not doing this to watch. I'm doing it to watch myself shrink!
So I try once, and miraculously - I can do one. Then two.
This program is expertly planned out so nothing is beyond the progress you've made so far. And by the time you've mastered a circuit - it's gone and something new is cooked up to challenge your body. I'm really loving it.
But I'm not crazy about the cardio portion. I actually pulled my ham string doing suicides ("my hammy!") in an early week. Yup - not only do I not love it, I kind of fear it. So I've been subbing in my own cardio, and even tacking some on to the "lifting" days. This week I'm experimenting with running. Yesterday I went for a kind-of run after my Jillian sesh. I took the dog with me, and that was my first mistake. Not only does she lack the focus to run, but she's a little out of shape. She wasn't designed for endurance. She's built for speed over short distances...followed immediately by a nap.
Today, I was hell bent on getting to my favorite park to start Couch to 5k program...again. Why again? Well, I've got an actual 5k to run at the end of May. I won't complete the whole program by then, but I'm determined to run almost the whole thing.
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| WHYYYY are other people heerrreee? |
The whole city, however, was also interested in enjoying the beautiful weather at this same park. I'm not sure why this fact didn't occur to me. Nor did the fact that I left the house at rush hour, in a city most people commute
out of at 5, to go to a park clear across town. It took forever to get to the park, we went late, and it was crowded. I was stressed when I got there for sure.
And now I had an audience for my run. Great.
But I was going to get this workout in, even if it meant running my chunky ass in front of all these people. I figured if I could get through this, I will never have an excuse to
not run. I don't have to explain myself to these people!
So I ran.
I tried to ignore everything that was humiliating me. My body is so un-toned that I feel every loose bit shake with every stride. The flab on my arms, the tub on my thighs, the extra gloop on my tummy from Baby Drama, the junk in (and around) my trunk. I'm sure it looks like there's an earthquake, but the epicenter is directly under each footstep I land.
Worse still? I can see it all shake in my shadow. There I am, a long, dark, jiggly figure, cast on the pavement by the late afternoon sun, mingling with the shadows of high school kids with fast metabolisms, young professionals in their just-purchased-for-today-because-I-don't-workout-ever yoga pants, and other moms with seemingly non-existent problem areas.
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| Cheering me on! BD loves going FAST |
But could it possibly get any worse? Of course!
As I'm silently panicking about the whole 'lotta shakin' goin' on, I realize it's time to retire the workout pants I'm wearing. The elastic is clearly shot, and every time I start or stop running, they sneak down a little further, intent on revealing the crack of my ass to the crowd.
So there I am: flopping through the park, weaving in and out of leisurely walkers, real runners, and families with young kids. One hand on the stroller, one hand occasionally reaching to yank up my pants. I couldn't help but think of all the "Dear Fat Girl" posts I've read over the years (seriously - google "dear fat girl"). I know I was
that fat girl today. I wasn't about to give up, or give anyone the satisfaction of my failure.
The important part is that I did it. And I did it well. I'm in better shape (endurance-wise) than I thought. The minute intervals were no problem. I even overran a little (ya know, until my draws insisted on me stopping). Baby Drama even got a little bit of stroller free time, but not too much since the park is still undergoing repairs from Hurricane Sandy.
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| Park still being fixed up for spring. Thanks Sandy. |
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| A few minutes of freedom for Baby Drama |
My whole plan to feed baby drama at home crumbled, so I had to plan to
meet the hubs after he got off the train at a super casual (aka
will-not-judge-my-sweaty-ass) restaurant. We ended up at a burger place
that serves organic meat and is a little more uppity/gourmet about the
food. I got a great salad, hubs got a burger, Baby Drama threw 1/2 of
her food on the floor (per usual). We got her home and to bed much much
too late. It ended up being a debacle, but it was still a win in my
book.
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| Dinner with Daddy |
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| Sweaty Sneaks VS NYC Finery |