Eating Less, Moving More

I really, really surprised myself and ran for FORTY minutes last night. I am estimating, but I have good reason to believe I ran 3.5-4 miles. No stops, no breaks. And not on the easiest setting, either.

Say what??? I'm sort of amazed.

This is a Call to All My Past Resignations

So many things happening all at once!

As my life has seemed to become more inundated with things to do, I've let a few pounds sneak up on me.

It's been a shock...and a blow to the ol' ego. Up until probably a few years ago, I couldn't GAIN weight. Now it seemes here to stay, even though I eat a pretty healthy diet. (Very little fast food, I love fruits and veggies.) I probably eat too much cheese, but I've cut back on that.

On a bad day I'm about 12 to 15 lbs heavier than I was last year at this time. There could be reasonable explanations for this:

• I spent the winter working my butt off on freelance...but that meant a LOT of sitting on the couch and writing after sitting at work all day. (And snacking).
• I was diagnosed with IBS and began taking medication for it...which could account for the weight gain, not only as a side effect of the drug, but also because of reasons I'm sure the internet does not want to read about. So. I'll leave it at that.
  
• My metabolism is slowing down...I am 28.5 years old now. (Although it's been screwed since I turned 19 and acquired hypothyroidism). I was slow the last time I went to the doctor, so my meds were switched up a bit, but losing the weight isn't as easy as it was to gain, even if it wasn't my fault.

Here's the thing. I hate exercise. Seriously. I have been taking a belly dance class every Saturday for the last few months, which is two hours and a good workout. I'm glad I've taken it. I'll resume after the summer rush is over. I'm also taking a yoga class, and I like doing that a lot. It's a hour of stretching and core muscle building.

So I have to find ways to try and work my body every day. Some current ideas:

• Walking Molly at a fast clip
• using our gym in our building (weights, elliptical)
  
• buying Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred... (I need to actually DO that, though).
• cutting waaaaay back on pop (I am about a can-a-day girl, I'm trying to cut that back further. And NO, I will not drink diet pop. Life's too short. I'd rather only have one a week than one a day with that awful diet aftertaste.

But here's my thing. I need YOU, internet.

• What are some of your least-hated workouts?
• Healthy meals? (Vegetarians, I'd love your input here, as our Farmers' Market is kicking into high gear and I love buying fresh produce there!)
• How do you stay on the workout wagon?
  
• What are songs that ALWAYS put you in a good mood, rev up your energy, and keep you going when all you want to do is plop down on the couch with a pound of goat cheese and a spoon (or whatever your vice of choice may be)?I'm not a music snob in the sense that I won't listen to Top 40, but I like other smart dance songs, like the recent Yeah Yeah Yeah's Heads Will Roll?

It's time to take charge, friends. I'm up high enough that I can't fit in a lot of last summer's clothes. Help me.

Let's Dance

So...it's NaBloPoMo again, and I'm going to attempt a perfect record...We'll see how this goes!

As part of an ongoing improve-Kat program, and to help manage my symptoms of IBS, of course one of things I could improve or do to help myself that doesn't involve taking a pill is to exercise. I hate exercise. Seriously. It's very hard for me to get motivated. I have never been an athletic person. I am not flexible or even very coordinated. And the idea of running on a treadmill makes me only want to run far, far away from it. I hate playing team sports for the most part. (I am actually a decent tennis player.) I can't even really throw a ball that well when I play fetch with Molly (see: Incident Wherein I Tossed a Tennis Ball into My Wine Glass, which I Couldn't Have Done if I Tried.)

BUT. My sister and I had been talking about how we just aren't...metabolizing the way we used to. (We have been blessed with fairly slim genes, thank you God.) And we don't want to be unhealthy or not take care of ourselves. And you can be thin and still be out of shape or lack muscle tone completely (see exhibit A: Kat.)

So we decided on a lark to take some community education classes (ponying up for a gym membership? We are SO NOT THERE yet.) After a glass or two of wine, we ended up signing up for a yoga class and a belly-dancing class. (My mom also signed up for the yoga class.)

It's now been six weeks of exercise, twice a week, for an hour and hour-and-a-half, respectively.

I'm feeling better. I enjoy going to class. I laugh at my foolish attempts to look flexible and coordinated and centered. One class is right after work, so I'm already out and about, so I don't dread going. The other is in the morning on Saturdays, but not so dreadfully early that I can't get out of bed. After both classes, I feel better. I feel less stressed out. I am in a better mood overall. I like learning the new skills.

I have seen improvement—more muscle tone in my core muscles, and some slightly more flexibility. I can almost touch the floor when I'm bending over in half. I have never even come remotely close to that before. I can do more without getting tired in class. I'm standing up a little straighter (I have TERRIBLE posture). I feel like my body is something useful. I get to spend some time with my sister and my mom. I get a kick out of the look on people's faces when I tell them I'm belly dancing.

It's one way in which I'm trying to take my stomach parts, which keep revolting against my body's permission, and make them behave. Letting my body know that I do care about it.

I guess maybe I took some of the best advice out there: find something you enjoy that also happens to make your heart beat a little faster and your muscles work a little harder. The class, and paying for it, motivates me to go every week, especially since I know people will be counting on me to be there. And maybe, just maybe, I'll exercise once more on my own during the week, moving it up to every other day.

Hm. I might get somewhat fit after all. I didn't want to jinx myself by writing about my plan, but now that I survived the first session, it's time to give myself a little pat on the back—and keep going.

Tonight: off to a belly-dancing performance at the famed Cassandra school, complete with champagne and snacks!