Am I happy?

I was sitting on one of the orange chairs outside of the studio room after my TRX class this morning.  While sitting there waiting for my muscles to stop shaking a woman who I know (our kids play sports together) says to me "You've lost a weight.  Are you happy?"  Ummm.  I've never been asked that.  I said , " thank you and yes I am".  We continued to talk for a few minutes and then she went off to get her workout started.

I am still processing her question.  Am I happy?  I got to thinking.....

This journey has had its up and downs.  There have been many tears, lots and lots of sweat, and even some blood.  There will still be more to come.  This is not over.  It is a life style change and I have added years to my life.  I am learning about health, and fitness, and myself every single day.  Should I eat that?  Did I work hard enough?  Did I burn enough calories? or too many? Am I challenging myself or cheating myself?  Will this harm me or help me?  I don't know.  I realized...that's ok.  It's part of life and it's part of learning.  I know more now than I did a few months ago and I'm pretty sure that in a few months from now I will know even more.  I won't know if I can, unless I try.  

Am I happy?  Yes!  Yes I am.  I am happy with where I am, how I got here, and where I'm going.

Too late to start?

I was born in New York to a Dominican mother and father.  We were not a healthy family, at all.  Rice and beans daily.  Meats in heavy sauce or fried.  Canned veggies saturated in Wishbone Italian dressing.  Sometimes we had iceberg lettuce but the canned veggies were still on top. 

I would go to church with my mother and I remember coming home and eating a ham and cheese sandwich with avena (Spanish oatmeal).  Lunches would also be heavy.  For example, a Spanish favorite known as tripleta (mashed plantains with butter, fried salami, fried cheese, and fried eggs).  Not kidding.

Parties would be plentiful of moro (rice and guandules), oven roasted pork shoulder, potato salad, fried meat pockets, etc. 

Did I eat this?  Yes, I didn't know any better.  There was also ZERO exercise being done.  No biking, no walking, no school sports. 

I met my husband in 1998 and he was raised eating and enjoying fresh veggies.  I was introduced to fresh veggies as well at this time.  I never thought I would eat let alone enjoy veggies.  Me?  Eat broccoli?  Eat Asparagus?  You've GOT to be kidding!  Well, I'll be damned!  It is good!  I ate it and I didn't die!

I continued to eat the veggies and introduced them to my meals but I didn't cut out the bad.  I made the salad, but still made the white rice and the fat full, non reduced fat meals.  Was I young?  Yes!  Lazy? Absolutely!

Few years later the children came.  When young, my oldest ate everything!  His favorite....fish and veggies stew his babysitter would make!  My youngest would eat his veggies first.  Man did I screw that up!  At some point they became extremely picky.  I didn't stick to healthy snacks, raw veggies and fruits.  Now.....my oldest will not eat anything green, but he does eat fruit.  My youngest eats some veggies, but does not eat fruit!

I so wish I would've realized the damage I was causing earlier on.   I would have made different choices.   
That being said, it's never too late to start being healthy.

I have changed my eating habits.  I no longer drink soda as I have replaced with seltzer.  I eat and love almost all veggies and fruit.  I started eating seafood this year.  I very rarely eat fried foods.  I do treat myself at times if I'm craving something.  As a matter of fact, I love pumpkin anything and it's the season.  I will treat myself to pumpkin ice cream.  The difference this time...... I will share with a friend and I will only have once!  Not depriving myself but also not over indulging and buying at market, putting in freezer and tempting myself every time I walk by the fridge.  Small change.....huge difference!

Now, I need to change the mindset my boys have of fruits and veggies.  Though they are both more active than I ever was at their age, I believe that eating healthy is a much better way of living.  I would hate for them to go through what I went (and am still currently going) through.  It will take some time, this I know...but I am ready for the challenge. 

It's never to late!

Waste of Time?

Battle #1
Today was one of those mornings.  The kind that you battle with yourself.  Just five more minutes (oh just get up already).  I can skip one day (and do what just lay here...you're already awake).  It's dark out (well that's why there is electricity).  It's raining (use your rain jacket that's too big...and why is it too big....cause your on track).  Ok i'm up!

I get to the gym and run into a fabulous woman in the parking.  This is someone that I have met in my TRX class.  Guess what?  She was having one of the mornings too.  So glad we both won the battle and got up. 

Battle #2

TRX class is a beast.  It's always a hard workout no matter what shape or level you are at.  However, just like anything you can cheat.  I'm little upset with myself that I did cheat somewhat this morning.  Why?  I don't know.  Was I tired?  Maybe.  Was I feeling weak?  Maybe.  Was I making excuses?  Maybe.  Do I wish I challenged myself?  ABSOLUTELY! 

I have got to move past my workout this morning and look forward to making up for this evening in my zumba toning class.  What's done is done.  I can only blame myself and only I can fix it. 

I want to share the ups and down...we all have them.  I can't let one off morning set the rest of my day.  I'm stronger and smarter than that.  Was it a waste of time?  No!  I got up, got my blood flowing, got my heart working, got my muscles working.  It's something...but I know I can do better and I will. 

Rematch of battle #2...set

Breaking the Cycle

For years…and I mean years I have been wanting to lose weight.  I have been heavy my entire life.  So many times I tried and tried to lose weight…and failed.  Three months before my 30^th birthday I decided ‘this is it’.  I signed up at a gym, met with a trainer and started working out.  I LOVED it.  I lost 30 pounds and was really motivated.  Then….life happened.  I stopped working out got involved in too much and lost …well me really.  It’s so easy to say “ I WILL START MONDAY” or “ I NEED TO GET NEW GYM CLOTHES” or “ I FORGOT TO SET MY ALARM”.  Trust me cause I’ve used those excuses.  

A couple of years ago, yet again the same cycle, I said those famous words, “this is it”.  I got my lazy butt up packed my bag at night for the next morning.  I set my alarm for 4:45.  Not going to lie, I did hit the snooze button and more than once!  I eventually got up and went.  I actually used the membership I was paying for.  I used the treadmill for 15 minutes and thought I was going to die, however, I didn’t.  I did my 15 minutes, went to locker room, showered and headed to work.  I felt GREAT!    Then I thought; “ugh, did anyone notice I was dying after 15 minutes?”  That thought was in the back of my head still as I was walking in the next morning.  Then I tried a new machine and as started moving I forgot all about that.  I mean, come on, at least I was there.  So I kept going in the mornings and I will be honest there were days I did not go but I made myself go back.  I know what I needed to do.  I needed to get healthy.  

A girl I used to work with started working out as well and her gym and wanted me to try a zumba class.  She was telling me how great it was and how much fun.  I was sold.  I went and she was right and was fun!  I looked at the schedule of group exercise classes at my and gym and decided to try a Monday class.  I went that morning and use the treadmill and also that night to try the class.  I thought I was a bad ass.  Two class…in one day..ohhh yeah!!!  The class WAS fun too.  Different than the other one I  tried and I knew some of the women in this class and all the smiles were infectious.  It hit me….wait a minute…..I love to dance…I love to sweat….hmmmmm.  

I went again two days later.  Whoa!  I know this is working out but I never knew it was going to be fun!  I tried the classes of a few other instructors and found one instructor that motivated me like no other!  The workout was amazing and the feeling after was EUPHORIC.  I was hooked.  I went to all her classes religiously!  The pounds were coming off and fast.  The exercise was fun, the instructor was magnetic and the people were friendly and accepting  

I haven’t been the same since.  I found my motivation.  I found my love for fitness.   

Calories Burned

For the month of October I will track the exercises I do, the length of time, and how many calories I burned.  I will update daily.  

October 1st
- Zumba, 60 mins, 584 calories
- Spinning, 60 mins, 673 calories

October 2nd
- TRX, 40 mins, 351 calories
- Tabata Bootcamp, 60 mins - followed by Kickbox Bootcamp, 60 mins 1320 calories

October 3rd
- Zumba toning 60 mins - followed by Step Interval, 60 mins 817 calories

October 4th
- TRX, 40 mins, 211 calories
- Zumba Toning, 80 mins, 857 calories

October 5th
- Challenge, 15.5 mins, 117 calories

October 6th
- TRX, 50 mins, 573 calories

October 7th
- Zumba, 60 mins, 571 calories

October 8th
- Zumba, 60 mins, 569 calories
- Spin, 60 mins, 583 calories

October 9th
- TRX, 40 mins 369
- Tabata 60 mins followed by Kickbox Bootcamp 60 mins 1135

October 10th
- Zumba toning 60 mins - followed by Step Interval, 45 mins 978 calories

October 11th
- TRX, 40 mins, 319 calories
- Zumba Toning, 80 mins, 702 calories

October 12th
- Rest

October 13th
- TRX, 50 mins, 436 calories

October 14th
- Zumba, 60 mins, 571 calories

October 15th
- Zumba, 60 mins, 592 calories
- Spin, 60 mins, 652 calories

October 16th
 - TRX, 40 mins 347
- Tabata 60 mins followed by Kickbox Bootcamp 60 mins 1133

October 17th
- Zumba toning 60 mins - followed by Step Interval, 45 mins 865 calories

October 18th
- TRX, 40 mins, 303 calories
- Zumba Toning, 80 mins, 885 calories
October 19th
- REST day

October 20th
- TRX 50 min, 456 calories

October 21st
- Zumba 60 min followed by
- Boot camp 60 mins 1114 calories

October 22nd
- Zumba 60 min, 511 calories

October 23rd
I did not record this day.  I left my monitor at home all 3 workouts!  Let's just say...it was a lot :)

October 24th
- Zumba toning 60 mins - followed by Step Interval, 45 mins 905 calories

October 25th
- TRX, 40 mins 303 calories
- Zumba Toning, 80 mins 898 calories 

October 26th
- Rest Day

October 27th
- TRX, 50 mins, followed by an hour of outdoor boot camp 892 calories burned

October 28th
- Zumba, 60 mins 551 calories

October 29th
- Zumba, 60 mins, 743 calories

October 30th
- TRX, 40 mins 342
- Kickbox Bootcamp 60 mins 586

October 31st
-  Zumba toning 60 mins - followed by Step Interval, 45 mins 1017calories
 

Inspiration

I have been inspired to start my own fitness blog.  Please join me on my life long journey to being and staying fit!

My name is Cindy and two years ago I made a decision to get healthy for my children and for me.  I found myself not having energy, motivation, or desire to do anything.  I couldn't stand myself.

I had always been overweight.  When I did lose weight I would gain back and then some.  I was tired of it!  I knew it was going to be difficult but I had to start somewhere....I started by using the gym membership I was paying for.  

I started by trying several classes at my gym.  It didn't take to long for me to fall in love with zumba...and once I found the instructor for me.....there was no going back.

Two years later....I am now officially a gym rat.  I take and enjoy Zumba, Kickboxing, TRX, Zumba Toning, and Spin.  I also recently added a 6 week session of Tabata Bootcamp!

I still love food but I do watch what I eat.  I recently started counting calories in and calories burned.  This seems to be helping.

Looking forward to learning from you and sharing more about me!