My quest to be a Gym Bunny, part I.

As it turns out I haven't been updating kristyland so much. I usually blog in the morning before work, but lately I've found myself occupied. Don't worry, it's good. I figure, what better time to blog than while sitting on the couch, watching American Idol (yes, I watch American Idol - you got a problem? No? I didn't think so), trying to avoid the contestants who make absolute fools of themselves. This is not just any American Idol; they're in Minnesota. Lotsa talent there, dontchya know. Oh yes, definitely time to blog.

I've been working out every weekday at the Y - really fucking early in the morning. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I woke up at 5:30am on purpose. After downing a cup of coffee and eating a bit of the Real Ultimate POWER colon blow "zen" cereal, with extra fiber, you know, to keep me regular, my knight in dingy Rav4 wisks me away to the Lakeview YMCA where I listen to bad techno and hair rock while sweating my ass off on any number of exercise contraptions. Dirty Vegas, Van Halen, SugarHill Gang, Yoko Kanno, ZZ top, Smile.DK, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, and I grunt out at least thirty minutes on the elyptical and 20 minutes on a bike, treadmill, arc trainer, or wave machine. Oddly enough, I enjoy myself. I've got a good mix AND I can usually put Democracy NOW! on a tv somewhere, which IMO is far better than the today show or anything that can be seen on ESPN. Then, it's off to the showers with me and then to work. Well, there's a Whole Foods right next door to the Y, so sometimes I pop over there and pickup a healthy breakfast, some water, maybe a salad for lunch from the yuppie feeding trough. It's good - I like it. Endorphins are awesome.

So far, I've only been going on weekdays, but eventually I'll expand it to everyday. I prefer working out in the morning since I get all sweaty and nasty and I can just hop into the shower when I'm done. There's the sweat factor and also the lack of motivation to do anything after I get home during the weekday. Getting home is a feat in itself, but by the time dinner is over, I just want to take it easy. Plus, I have class on Mondays, so I wouldn't be able to make it to the gym until 9:30 or 10pm. And that sucks.

I haven't done it yet, but I plan on setting up a calendar or a marker lined poster where I can mark my progress with a reward structure. It'll be kind of like book-it, but instead of pizza hut coupons, I'll get new tennis shoes, sweat bands and the like. Maybe I'll call it Work-It. Yeah, Work-It. Now I need a wordpress plugin to mark my Work-It progress. I still need to figure out prizes, but I do know that after 1 month (4 full weeks of 5 days working out) I'm gonna get an ipod shuffly. The 1gb will be plenty to host a few workout mixes and everyone's favorite, booty shaking raggaeton. It's hard not to keep pumping when that stuff is playing.

I've been eating much better too. I'm not on a diet or anything, but I'm trying to put good food into my body instead of junk. Lots of organic fruits and veggies and other tasty things along with all the exercise make me feel a lot better than some of the heavy crap I was eating. At some point, I might start a diet or join OA, but one thing at a time.

You know, it is kind of depressing, reading through the archives, remembering all the times that I started a project like this. Seriously though, I'm tired of being out of shape, and I'm tired of failing at getting into shape. Why can't I be the kind of person that goes to the gym every day? Why can't it be part of my normal routine? Someday, I'll have 20 pairs of tennis shoes (SHOES! I know, I have a problem), a six pack that doesn't involve beer, and some arms that will allow me to say things like "Welcome to the gun show." Oh yes, and I will also kick ass. Not that I can't kick ass now, I'll just kick more ass. Much much more ass.

01.16.07 10:22pm(2 comments)

a new beginning

I'm officially declaring the change, upgrade, and upkeep of my blog to be my new years resolution (NYR) therefore leaving myself to do other self improvement type things without the threat of breaking a resolution (you know, since hardly anyone keeps a new years resolution). It makes sense however, that after the holidays, your end of the year crazy hectic / vacation time, that you would want to get your shit back together and on track after the new years. Since so much social stigma is placed on a new years resolution it's practically impossibly to not succumb to an expected failure, which I think is really sad. Many people start some self improvement, few follow through past mid february. I, on the other hand, chose a realistic goal and have already completed it. My NYR is done, and now I'm free to work on myself, much like a New Year's bait and switch.

So last night, with the support of a friend who I dragged along with me, I joined the Y. I've been doing my research for awhile now, and it seems like the best option for working out for me - there's one right off the paulina stop, it's agreat facility, they have great classes, great equipment, a website, it's the right price, and there's a whole foods right around the corner for post workout healthy eating options. I didn't have time to stay for a tour last night, and of course it was mobbed, so I think I'll go for a tour tonight and start working out following that. I'm more of a work out in the morning kind of person, so I need to rent a locker and put some shower stuff in it so I don't have to drag all that stuff all over creation. I also need to get some new tennis shoes and, of course, a new gym bag :)

I'm sure I'll be blogging more about my experiences with the Y, but mostly right now I need to stick to going on a regular basis - even past mid february.

01.04.07 7:47am(1 comment)