Some Stuff About Fitness
Josh and I bought memberships to the local YMCA a few weeks ago, which has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. I know I’ve talked before about how I started running with him over the summer and that I took a bit of a hiatus when we moved in October, and I have FINALLY gotten back into it now that we’ve purchased memberships.
I have been spending most of my time running and strength training, but am actually tempted to try doing laps in the pool, too. I have NEVER been a swimmer. In high school gym class I failed the treading water test and pretended I had a freakish period and a tampon allergy (seriously) so I could sit out whenever I wanted. I hate being told what to do, especially when I am in the same class as the fucking swim team, so I’ve always hated swimming laps. However, the pool at the gym looks amazing, and swimming laps sounds like it might be worth trying at my own pace on days I don’t want to run. I might give it a try. I’ve even found some fitness swimsuits with boy shorts so my ass won’t be hangin’ out of the corners. I would like to find an eco-friendly fitness swimsuit, so if anyone knows of a brand that offers this, please holler.
OK, enough about workout clothes and my buttcheeks.
The really exciting stuff:
I have started to notice some changes over the past year in the way I look at fitness and my body. When I worked out at the gym in college, I was always concerned with losing weight and getting back to the ballet body I had in high school. I wasn’t concerned with time spent on the elliptical, strength, endurance, or anything other than calories. I went to the gym to lose weight and that was that.
Today, I work out and go to the gym because I like the way it makes me feel. Growing up as a dancer made me love the feeling of being sore after a good training session. I still dig that feeling, even when I wake up and can’t raise my arms. I like that it gives me more energy during the day and I love doing something that benefits from my progress. I don’t go to the gym today with a goal to drop 30 pounds by spring (although I wouldn’t complain if that happened). I go because I want to run a 5K by the summer, I want to run a marathon before I’m 30, and I want to feel myself getting stronger as I add more weight to the machines.
Still, I would like to drop some pounds. It’s not because I hate how I look or want to look like Jennifer Aniston (only a little) or refuse to wear a bikini until I reach ___ weight. It’s because carrying extra weight makes me physically uncomfortable. It might be because I work at home and spend most days freeballin’ in a pair of sweatpants, but I hate the feeling of extra belly fat suffocating me in certain kinds of pants, I hate the feeling of chafing thighs when I wear shorts, and carrying extra weight has made a HUGE difference in the things I can do. It’s much harder to rely on my upper body strength when I have 40 pounds of unnecessary fat on me, even if my muscles are plenty strong. Overall, I’d like to see my body balance out a bit. Gain strength, lose fat, and maintain a healthy weight that does not hold me back or cause all this physical discomfort. My body image is and will be fine, and it makes me really happy to finally be able to say that.
Posted in Fitness
Great goals! I think the key is getting fit for overall health and wellness, instead of working toward a specific physical result. Go you!
I’m working toward a 5K this year too, and am planning to do the Tough Mudder in Ann Arbor in July. I’m slightly terrified, but really excited to be challenging myself in a way I never have before! I could use any running tips you have to share
Totally agree! You are awesome for doing the Tough Mudder, I am still too much of a wimp for something like that.
HELLZ YEAH for healthy goals. And can I just say making up a horrendous period/tampon allergy totally sounds like something I would’ve done? I actually once made up a blueberry allergy because I didn’t want to eat a blueberry muffin. (I was 11. I was weird. I freaking love blueberries now.)
It’s really nice you have the option of a pool, though. I run primarily, but sometimes I get sick of the treadmill and will hop on a bike instead. Changin’ it up works out lots of muscles. Have fun!
Blueberries are the best! Weird thing though is that I really don’t like blueberry muffins.
I should probably do a little cycling too, that’s a good idea. I mostly want to do some laps in the pool so I can walk 10 feet to the hot tub afterwards, heh.
ha I used “I have asthma & the chlorine is bothering me” as my excuse.
I totally get you about being uncomfortable tho – some days it feels like I’m wearing a fat suit. I just want to take it off. Luckily, it’s been getting better the last few weeks. I ran all last summer at a middle school track. I’m looking forward to the weather breaking so we can get back to it.
That’s great! I’m so ready for the weather to become a little more mild, too. Hopefully my work on the track and treadmill will build me up enough for a few miles by spring.
I think these are great goals! I’ve been looking into different fitness options, primarily because right now I don’t… well, I don’t really do anything. I sit at a desk at my 9-5 job and then in the evenings and weekends I’m usually being lazy in one form or another. Obviously this is not healthy so something needs to change! I think it’s good to change things up with different forms of physical activity (swimming, running, water). It changes up what you’re working on with your body and also just gives you something new to do, which makes it more fun.
Definitely. I think swimming sounds like a good thing for me to try because it’s much lower impact and will give my calves a bit of a break while still providing a really good workout.
I remember that feeling when I worked at a desk 9-5, it was really rough to get motivated after work to do anything other than plop on the couch. I bet it would make you feel really good after a few tries, though!
My idea of good exercise nowadays is taking my dog on his two 30-45 min walks every day, but your description of that pleasant ache after a good day of dancing or a good workout is really making me miss those things. Danger, Will Robinson…
You should run the Corktown 5k in March, http://www.corktownrace.com/. It’s a great first 5k because it starts at noon and is about having fun. There is lots of beer afterwards, defeats the purpose but could be motivational. I’ve also run the Martian in Dearborn in April. A couple new ones I’m thinking about are the color run in May and a Foam 5k at Stoney Creek in June. Just some suggestions
Good Luck!
So, we should chat about this Y thing. I’ve been thinking about rejoining it because the fitness center in my building is useless. But, I used to live right next to the Y and it was SO easy. Now that I’m a whopping 4 blocks away, I have no motivation to go. I’ve also always wanted to try swimming — but it scares me. I don’t know the appropriate swim etiquette. I need a buddy.