preshuz

This weekend has been a stressful one. The OLD me would’ve stayed depressed, not eaten or worked out.

I’m trying not to do that anymore. Yesterday & today, I used my stress and took it out on my workouts. I worked out hard both days. I feel like with every ball of sweat that released from my pores made my heart feel that much lighter. I didn’t feel AS stressed and I definitely didn’t make myself more stressed. Oh, and I’m eating pretty well. I might make it through a WHOLE weekend and not mess up my eating habits.

My body is so sore, but I just know that I’m giving my all towards my workouts.

Now onto Mother’s Day. I spent the day with the mom and other mothers I know. My best friend’s mom made a comment that just didn’t sit well with me. My best friend made a comment on how I’m older than her [by 4 days] and I’ll be 26 this year. So my best friend’s mom was like “When are you going to have a baby?? Don’t have a baby when you’re old. I was 28 and that was old.”

I was complaining to Nancy about this a few days ago when she had her blog about having kids.

It just bothers me that people feel the need to tell ME when I should have a child. I would love to be a mother, but it’s not MY TIME. To me, I’m still young. I still want to enjoy my life. There’s so many things I want to do before bringing a child into this world. Like finishing my masters degree, having a better job, maybe even a home of my own.

I guess it’s “expected” of me to have a kid right now because ALL three of my best friends have children. Solange has 2 sons, Paula has a daughter, Maria has a son and is pregnant. Stephanie is childless.

[End Vent Session]

I walked into Gold’s Gym and the vibe I got as soon as I walked in wasn’t the best. I ask the lady at the desk if I could get a tour. She said you can walk around yourself. WHAT? I have to show myself around? No one is going to help me? I’m not the type that likes to be bombarded with sales people, but c’mon I will have questions about the facility and at least act like you care about me becoming a customer. So I walked around with my boyfriend and I didn’t like what I saw. Yeah it was cheap, but it wasn’t a good fit for me. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy going there & all in all, I want to ENJOY my workouts.

So I had a backup plan, Bally Total Fitness. I went in there and the vibe was way better. Kevin walked me around, told me about the place and tried to sell it to me. I felt pressured into signing in because there was a “One Day Sale”. Don’t get me wrong. I liked the place and it was a nice deal, but I wasn’t 100% sold on it. Not the missing piece to my puzzle.

I came home & thought about it. Finally the decision was made - BOSTON SPORTS CLUB! I know a lot of you were not for BSC because of the price, but I think it’s worth it. I love the facility, the people are very helpful, lots of classes, it’s convenient to my house & when I hop off the train from work it’s RIGHT THERE! Another thing that it came down to was motivation. My boyfriend motivates me and gives me that extra push that I need.

So I got a workout after I signed up on the bike & on my lower body. My boyfriend KICKED my butt (my own personal trainer). My legs are already sore on top of the soreness from Kickboxing yesterday. I love it though. I can’t wait to workout tomorrow!

So tomorrow is the last day of my gym membership. I am soooo sad to leave! I absolutely love my gym because it’s convenient to work, all women, spa-like, many classes are available, clean, towel service, personal tvs on the machines, HUGE, etc.

I canceled my membership because it was pretty expensive and my job will be moving to another office in the summer so it wouldn’t be convenient anymore for me.

So now I’m left with the decision of what to do…where to go.

I was going to just work out at my college’s gym, but that will be out of my way on the weekends and I will be only be on campus 2x or 3x at the most. No classes either (would have to pay extra for that).

I’m trying to join another gym, but I don’t know which one to choose. What would you do?

Choice #1: Boston Sports Club

Pros:

- convenient to my house

- HUGE (3 floors)

- clean

- my boyfriend goes there so we could work out together

- classes available

- frills:  towel service, personal TVs on machines, pool, juice bar, basketball court

Cons:

- $39 initiation fee / $59 a month

- have to sign a one year membership

- might be moving August 1st so it won’t be convenient anymore

- co-ed & I’m more hesitant to workout in the weights area because of that; I need to get over that!

Choice #2: Gold’s Gym

Pros:

- on May 1st is having a One Day Sale of $69 for the whole summer

- no contract

- classes availble (but limited times)

- still close to home, but not as close as BSC (next town over)

- has an all women’s section

Cons:

- still no workout buddy

- I might’ve been spoiled at my current gym so it won’t be as nice to me, but then it’s like I don’t need all the frills!

I went to the gym today and spent nearly 3 hours there. I did a 30 minutes weights class, 45 minute on the bike, 1 hour ZUMBA class! Yes, ZUMBAAAA! I finally tried it & I loved it. I love dancing so I had a lot of fun. So I’ve accomplished my challenge of taking a new class this month.

After the gym, I walked over to the Hynes Convention Center & picked up my 5K materials (free shirt, bib & timing device). I can’t believe my race is tomorrow. I’m nervous & excited! I’m hoping this will be the beginning to longer races — 10K next! Maybe one day I’ll be in the Boston Marathon. I saw so many people in the city today with their Boston Marathon gear on. I will be volunteering for the Boston Marathon on Monday and I heard it’s a great experience — get to see it in another perspective.

I will let you all know how the 5K is tomorrow! Wish me luck

I took the Bosu Challenge class today. I haven’t been in a while. Straight BOOT CAMP, but I loved the feeling I had when it was over. The instructor worked us out! I was drenched in sweat throughout the class. Thank goodness for that mini towel. I used to hate the bosu because it requires so much balance, but I love it now! So good for your core. Still growing to love the push-ups she made us do the on the bosu! That was painful lol.

So I made the decision to no longer do modified push-ups (Leida, I know you’re doing this too girl!). I want to build up my regular push-ups. I need to increase my upper body strength and I want that sexy back! I did 25 regular push-ups today and to some, that’s probably nothing, but to me it’s a start and a great start. I’m going to focus on increasing the # while also listening to my body so I don’t injure myself.

The 5K race is in 16 days!!!! I’m not ready for it! Damn the treadmill and damn this sucky Boston weather. It’s supposed to be nice this weekend so hopefully I can get a run in, but I’m going to be super busy this weekend. Tomorrow would be my best bet because Sunday I’m volunteering for the MS walk from 9:30am-4pm and then at 4:30pm I’m meeting with my group from school to work on our project.

P.S. I maintained my weight this week. I’m happy with that! Now I know I just need to work harder!

I’ve been fiendin’ for these cookies since the first time I had them in years a couple weeks ago! Today as I get off the train, I see the girl scouts standing at their table selling cookies. My boyfriend & I walk to the table and each purchase a box of cookies. These things are ADDICTING! I will eat one and want another one…and then another one…you get my point. My boyfriend opened up his box & I had 3 of them. I can really see myself eating the whole box, but I won’t lol. 3 for today and THAT’S THAT! I swear if I was an addict, this would be my drug. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO BE SO GOOD?? I think everyone has a food weakness & this is definitely mine. Oh, and it doesn’t help that my boss loves these cookies too and keeps them in the office. To top it off, the Girl Scout Headquarters is next to my job! So I can go there anytime to get cookies!

I went to the gym twice today. During lunch & after work. I did 45 minutes of weights (lower + upper body), ran 2 miles & walked 1 mile. I’m currently working on my push-ups (GOAL: 110) and planks (Wildcats challenge for the week).

I tried counting calories today. I haven’t before because I don’t really know how. I’m still learning. So my final count was about 1350 calories. Not bad even with the GS cookies!

A week full of crying, stress, depression, not really eating is OVER! Goodbye sorrows! No more rain pouring on my parade!

In a nutshell, this week was just bad. I kept away from BS for a few days because I was dealing with issues, but I feel like it just made things worse. I wasn’t eating like I should’ve, or exercising like I wanted to. Instead of progressing forward, I took 2 steps back. I felt the OLD me creeping back into my life and I was fighting it. When I come on here, I feel more motivated. Crazy, right?

I’m better now. More focused. Since I’ve started my personal comeback I’ve been back in the gym and trying to eat better. I’m not giving up the fight. This won’t kill me. YEAH RIGHT! It will only make me stronger.

I have to admit that I did get discouraged at last week’s weigh-in when I gained 2lbs because I was completely lost. I don’t know where I went “wrong”. I almost really gave up on myself, but something triggered in my mind like NO STEPHANIE DON’T DO IT. It’s only going to be harder the next time around. So I finally snapped back into it & now I’ve lost the 2 lbs and 2 more! For a total of 4lbs. I’m ONE pound away from my mini goal.

After yesterday’s weigh-in I went bananas in the gym. Ran 2 miles, 2 miles on the elliptical machine & 100 jump ropes. I haven’t ran since Monday so it wasn’t easy. I need to keep up with my training & I will from now on! Yesterday was the first time I jump roped in ages & it is a GREAT workout! Had me winded for sure lol.

So when the going gets tough, TOUGH IT OUT!!! Don’t give up. Find that motivation again. Sometimes just logging on here HELPS. It’s definitely helped me. Exercise does help to relieve stress. I’m an advocate for it now. It might not make the problems go away, but it will help put your mind at ease for a while. Talk to someone…don’t try to keep it in like I was doing. It only makes it that much harder to deal with.

I swear everytime I take spinning class on Wednesdays with Jon it’s a new adventure! I love that he keeps us interested. Today he played 80’s music for it. I’m an 80’s baby so I loveeeeeee 80’s music! Right as we’re getting started he plays one of my favorite 80’s songs: Aha - “Take On Me”. So you know at this point I’m pretty psyched. My legs are pumping on that bike quickly. He even played the video on the flat screen tv in front for us. Heaven! All the songs he played motivated me to keep on pushing and pedal to the beat. I felt like I was dancing on that bike. From Madonna, to Bon Jovi, to Prince — I just loved it all! I walked out of that class sweating and feeling so good.

I am so tempted to go again tomorrow to his spinning class to listen to more classic 80’s, but I told myself that I’m going to take Kickboxing. Let me explain something. I have only been to Kickboxing ONCE at this gym and I am still scared to go back. Not as scared as I am to go to Step, but it’s up there. I think because the instructor looks like he means WORK…he seriously looks like a boot camp instructor. I’m going tomorrow though. No matter what! It’s going to be a grueling hour I know it, but my body will love me later for it. Step – I will be seeing you again soon so I can build up my choreography and one day conquer you!

Last night I went out with a co-worker. I ate an assortment of tapas, sushi, endamame & seaweed salad. Whenever I drink, I get really hungry! I had 4 glasses of sangria (love this drink!) & a mango margarita. I mean we literally went to one bar to have tapas & drinks and then ended up going out for sushi because we built up an appetite. Lol, oh well I had fun with her…I really enjoyed the night. All is not lost because I’ve been working hard. I’m not going to make this like an old blog when I was like omgggg what did I do?!? No! Everything will be okay Stephanie! I got a great workout in today and hopefully I can go to the gym again after work to get in some more running. I ran a mile yesterday and then walked a mile at a 4.0 incline. Today’s GOAL: run 2 miles on the treadmill.

Push-ups tonight!!! Wooohooo!

Today was weigh-in day and I lost 3 pounds! Which means I lost the pound that I gained last week & 2 more! So happy about that.

I had a very fun-filled day in the gym today:
- 45 minute Urban Rebounding class
- ran 1.25 miles!
- 15 minute bike
- leg workouts

So, I tried something different this week — Urban Rebounding. I heard that it was fun so I decided to go. Lol oh I wish you were all there to see how funny I looked trying to keep up. I want to go back though. My feet were killing me though. I don’t think my feet are used to jumping up & down on that mini trampoline. The same thing happened when I got on the Bosu for the first time. So I’m going to go back & hopefully next time I can pick it up quicker and my feet won’t bother me so much. It was a great cardio workout — had my heart pumping!

My registration for the 5K race is COMPLETE!!! I’m so excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time! I found a 6 week training program online that I might use it or tweak it up a bit. I ran today for 1.25 miles. My goal was just a mile, but I swear when I looked down at the treadmill I was almost at a mile. My workout playlist really helped. So I was like what the heck…let me aim for another .25 miles and guess what…your girl Stephanie did it!!! It’s supposed to be nice this weekend — 60 degree weather — so I would love to finally run outside. This will be a first!

Oh yea, I’m feeling it in my chest today. The 70 modified push-ups I did last night. I attempted regular push-ups and I did 3! Wooohooo!

I hope everyone has a great, active weekend!!

I took spinning today…it’s my current love because I love the way it makes my body feel afterwards. I still need to go back to Step & Kickboxing. *makes a mental note* You can do this Stephanie!

So, as I’m getting ready to leave work today I get an email from the BAA [Boston Athletic Association]. I’m volunteering at the Boston Marathon this year on April 20th. So, I’m excited about that. The purpose of the email though was to inform us about a 5K that is happening the day before on April 19th.

“This year, the B.A.A. will host a 5K timed road race in place of the traditional Freedom Run. The B.A.A. 5K will take place the day prior to the running of the 113th Boston Marathon. The race will offer a fun and competitive course for athletes and - for those who have always dreamed of crossing the Boston Marathon finish line - a ‘non-qualifying’ chance to do so.” — I would love to say that I crossed the Boston Marathon finish line!!

I WANT TO DO IT!!!!!!!

I’ve talked to my boyfriend, one of my best friends & old college roommate and they are all rooting for me to do this. My BF said “I know you should do this”. That made me smile. My best friend said “what’s the worst that could happen?”. Hhhmm I pass out LOL. My college roomie did a 3.5 mile race and walked/ran through it and she said that it’s not easy, but it’s not difficult and this was before she started going to the gym so she didn’t train for it.

I’ve been going to the gym and I’ve ran a mile on the treadmill before, but I know that I need train for this! I don’t want to go into this “cold turkey”. I would love any tips/ideas from any & everyone. I’ve never done anything like this and don’t really know where to start. I’ve got a little over 6 weeks until the race.

Registration starts tomorrow morning at 10AM. I’m 99% sure that I want to do this. That 1% is the OLD me still being fearful, but I want to challenge myself. I’m the only person that I will be competing against and I want to do the best that I possibly can. Hopefully this can be a stepping stone to other things that I never thought I would ever do.