New Fitness Challenges & Goals

As you may have heard, I am expecting my second child this fall (nine years after my first one!) I would like to NOT gain any more weight than necessary, since I have a few (ahem) extra pounds I'm carrying around already. Since it's really difficult to control how much I'm eating (when you are hungry and pregnant, you HAVE to eat something), so I am trying to stick with healthy foods and continue to exercise regularly. Even this has proven challenging so far. I am still in my first trimester and fatigue is an issue (I'm napping on days when I can). I've also had some dizziness issues- maybe linked to blood sugar. For exercise, I am walking (on the treadmill so far) for about 30 minutes 3 times a week. Now that spring has finally arrived, I will try to get out and walk, too. When the semester ends, I also plan to start swimming. I swam the last 4-5 months of my first pregnancy and it was wonderful. I almost never had back pain, leg cramps, or swollen ankles in late pregnancy and being in the water felt great- especially toward the end when it felt so difficult to walk with the extra weight. I think that the fall semester will be the hardest time to stick with exercise, but I plan to do my best- we have some aqua aerobics classes, too, so maybe I'll try one of those!

Thanks again to Seeking Solace for the link, too!

W. W. Woes

I love Florine Mark; her most excellent plan has allowed me to lose weight and improve my overall health. I've been a bona fide Weight Watchers member for eight months now, and I firmly believe that the plan works. I partied too hard over Christmas and gained back four of the pounds that I had lost, but I have subsequently lost that again. Good things.

However, for the past month, I've been beyond frustrated. One week, down half a pound. The next week, up half a pound. Next week, down. Next week up. Gah! I'm staying within my points, not exhausting my flex points, and earning about 30 points per week in activity. I'm doing everything right, right? Right. Talk about frustrating!

I talked to my leader this weekend, and she said that my body is getting lazy. It's used to all the fruits and veggies, and it's growing complacent. So, I need to mix it up. Beginning Saturday, I did just that. While still staying within my points, I'm eating all different things -- and I'm kind of weirded out by it. I've focused on fewer veggies and instead am doing low-fat dairy and meats. Y'all, it's working. I weighed myself this morning and was down two pounds in two days.

We'll have to see if this holds up on the scale this weekend, but I'm hopeful. Of course, the strange thing is that I miss my salads, fruits, etc. I'm hoping to return to my normal later this week.

In the meantime, 'tis passing strange to eat this stuff. Such a creature of habit, I am.

RussianViolets

Cross-posted at RussianViolets.

I Didn't Do My Scheduled Workout...

And the world did not come to an end.

Husband and I work out every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. We have been very diligent about going, except on those days where weather heinousness or RA flares keep us at home. But this past Wednesday, I was having none of it. I was stressing over one of my courses. I just didn't want to got to the gym, knowing that I had all of this stuff I had to do.

In the past, I would feel extremely guilty about not going to the gym. I could justify sickness or that there is two feet of snow on the ground and the gym is closed. But even under those circumstances, I would not allow myself to be human. I would beat myself up and/or overcompensate the next day by not eating or working out in excess as a form of punishment. Sometimes, I would figure I was doomed and give up on working out altogether.

The truth is, it is not the end of the world to miss a workout. Would working out have helped me in that situation? Probably. Sometimes a good workout can help alleviate stress. But, I really believed that I needed to just get the task done sooner rather than later. And I did complete what I wanted.

I also told myself that I should not expect perfection. That is something I have battled with for most of my life. If I don't do things perfectly or don't complete every task I have set for the day, somehow I am unworthy or a failure. I have to learn that one missed workout does not mean that I am doomed or that I now have hustle to make it up. Working out is only one part of my life that has to be managed like everything else. It is supposed to make me feel good about myself. It's supposed to help me be a healthier person.

So, I gave myself permission to be human. To quote Husband's favorite professor from undergrad "Well, we didn't get much done today, but we'll give 'em hell tomorrow."

So true.

Discredited

Husband I have been unhappy with our pilates class. We decided to call and leave a message with the director. She calls back today and tells me 1) "You should have called sooner." She harped on this so much I almost felt guilty. But honestly, life has been a bit hellish and calling to complain about something wasn't at the top of my list. I tried telling her that and she still was "well I wish you called sooner" 2) "Instructor X is a great instructor and I've had her for 12 years and viewed her classes, people are always raving about her." I could barely get a word in edgewise, though I was trying to explain that I agree, and that the previous 2 sessions I took with her were great, she's just totally changed now. "Well maybe her teaching style isn't for you, but she's really a good teacher" Ok, are you listening? her teaching style WAS great. She's changed this semester and I'm trying to tell you that I don't want to change instructors, I want this one to work. "Well everyone gives her great reviews and I've known her for a long time, and ....." I could hardly get in a word to explain myself and hated that it was more of an attack on my credibility instead of actively listening to the customer. I wasn't asking for money or make-up sessions or anything. I just wanted to provide feedback to a person and now I know not to do that.

I'm feeling extra sensitive (it's that week) even though I know it's not my fault and I should be upset, I am. A co-worker (in a different dept) suggested a yoga instructor of hers....I might consider it.

What is one supposed to do? I need classes to get my butt in gear, I don't exercise at home no matter how much I say I will. But to feel so discredited as a customer is really disheartening--even if I went with a different instructor. I'm partially tempted to speak with current instructor myself and tell her my concerns, but knowing that she's such great buddies with the director...well it'll probably just get messy.

I loved pilates. I hate how the class is run right now: it's something totally different every class so you never get to master, or attempt to master anything. Director wouldn't listen to that, but supposedly she'll give the feedback to instructor X. But she made me feel like crap in the process.

What would you do?
Cross posted at my "home".