Crossing My Fingers!

Tomorrow is Weigh-In Day.  I was going to wait until after I made the Italian Beef Stew to post a new blog, but I'm excited about tomorrow, so I just had to say a few things.  First of all, tomorrow is my first chance at being back in the 170s.  Last week I weighed in at 180.6 and I've been working EXTREMELY hard to lose another pound so I will officially be in the 170s.  At that point, I am going to work my butt off even more so that I never get into the 180s again!  I have already vowed never to see the 190s again, and thus far, I haven't even fluctuated up to that point.  For that, I am proud. 

Yesterday I started a new routine at the gym.  Changed up my cardio and changed up each of the exercises I do for arms, core, and legs.  I raised the intensity a bit, not to mention the weight.  I have read, and found through experience, that interval training and circuits are a great way to get in shape.  Keep the body guessing.  My cardio routine is now 18 minutes at the beginning, and 15 minutes at the end.  It is HARD, but I know it's good for me.  I start out on an elliptical-type machine that has three different stride lengths, one very long, one shorter as though you are sprinting a short distance, and one that is like a stair-stepper.  I do this machine for 10 minutes, changing my stride every 10th of a mile.  Then I do the stationary bike for 5 minutes, pushing as hard as I can, and then I do a 3 minute run on the treadmill.  It makes it easier not to quit when you're doing each exercise for a shorter amount of time.  It's like, "Come on, it's only 3 more minutes.  You can do anything for this short amount of time left!"  It's like you can see the finish line as soon as you step on the machine. 

The key is to really work HARD.  I mean, don't just sit there and pedal "la-dee-da," you need to do WORK!  It isn't supposed to be easy.  That is the difference between a "workout" and an "easy out."  You won't get anywhere taking the easy way out in any aspect of your life, so why take it for your body?  God only gives you one body, and it is given to you with the expectation that you will take care of it, love it, nourish it.  So get out there and do work!  Break a sweat!  Like I have said before, and I continue to live by this, at the end of my workout, I go into the locker room and look in the mirror and hope that my hard work is showing on my face.  Red face, messed up hair, damp clothes, the works.  You aren't there to look pretty.  There are plenty of other places to go and look pretty.  The gym is not one of them.  Great results come from great effort, and only YOU can make yourself do the work.  Get moving!