On Workout Mode

Aside from helping Mama prepare breakfast (we totally ruined French Toast last week) and going to the supermarket, I've delayed my cooking plans for the past two weeks because 1)our Mama Ets was out of town and there's no one to supervise me in the kitchen (me unsupervised in the kitchen at this point might lead to disaster), 2)I've been catching up on the latest series - finally got to watch Pretty Little Liars and I'm so into Modern Family! 3)I have been trying to focus on this event I'll be helping out on and 4)all my energy has been well-spent at the gym.

So, since I have been hanging out at Fitness First more often, maybe I should just blog about what I've been doing there for the past two weeks.  Yes, I have been putting off domesticated mode and blogging because most of the time I'm exhausted after a day at the gym.  I never considered myself as a gymrat but look who's slowly becoming one.  I go almost everyday and try out almost every class.  The verdict? I'm really enjoying the dance classes.  I love Latin which tries to bring out all the gracefulness that's hiding in me and Body Jam, which is a combination of different dance genres. The Hip-hop class was a bit too hardcore for me, I think it was designed for youngsters who can keep up with the many step variations, or maybe I should just get used to dancing like that again.

For the benefit of my readers, I used to dance a lot when I was a younger.  I remember inventing steps for me and my sister and cousins to dance to, and I was part of a dance group that competed and trained several times a week.  Good times.  Of course, I used to do a lot of singing too :) and it would be great if those two "talents" stays with me forever.  I love the rush I get when dancing.  Of course, I'm no hardcore dancers like my two youngest sibs, but it wouldn't hurt if I still have my moves when I become a mom right?  So anyway, maybe after a few more sessions, I'll be able to catch up with the steps in Hip-hop class.   BodyCombat, which is like taebo is way more exhausting that the rest, but it's a good total body workout.  Mama wants to try Retro tonight and I say, what the heck.  Like I said, I'm at this point in my life where I need to let go and take in all the things that used to make me feel embarrassed and hinders me to really enjoy my time.  So I'm kinda getting used to dancing with a bunch of mom and old women, with people watching us from the window and not care what they think.  If I ace retro this weekend, I'll join a class I've always wanted to try since college: belly dancing.  How fun is that! :) I'll try to take pictures when I get more comfy at the gym.

Aside from the dance classes, I've also already tried a Yoga class which is a LOT harder than I thought.  I thought Yoga was about relaxing while trying to stretch.  But I guess you really have to work harder on breathing and coming in to that peaceful state so that you can fully enjoy it.  I know I have to work on that. My mind is used to multitasking all the time its hard to just hibernate.  I'll try a simpler class though, to improve my balance and practice on proper breathing while thinking of nothing but that.

I make it a point to run in the treadmill everyday, briskwalk for a few minutes and run for at least five minutes. I try to be better at it everyday, increase my speed and time, not just because its a great way to burn calories, but because when I leave for Abu Dhabi in January, I won't have this gym membership anymore and all that will be left with me is my body, my skipping rope and my crosstrainers.  I would have to run or jog with my husband everyday if I want to stay fit.   He's been running or jogging for quite some time and I want to keep up with him, not slow him down.  So I'm hoping that running in the treadmill will kinda prepare me for that.  I also want to join those marathons for a good cause.  It's a fun and fit way to get involved.  I also love using the elliptical trainer and the rowing machine.  The thing with cardio is that you have to do it everyday, increase the time you do with it to keep the fire, er, the calories burning.

What poses more as a challenge for me is strengthening my core.  I have gone for more than a week without a trainer, and admittedly, I'm much better being taught things than discovering them.  So I'm still trying to figure out what exercises to do, what equipments to use, but I know I can do it.  I just need more time to observe and try everything that can help me strengthen my core and address my belly problem.

See that's just the thing.  I started working out because random people (okay, random high school batchmates who hasn't seen me in YEARS, so unfair of them to judge right?) have been asking me if I got married because I gave birth.  Totally unfair especially since Babe and I were the happiest people on the planet when we got married and while we really want to have cute babies someday, we didn't get married because I was pregnant.  Gosh, why can't people believe that two people are mature and happy and sure enough to get married? Anyway, so my motivation is to really get rid of the belly, which is causing too much stir, but then I got a free health assessment and learned that I am 20 pounds overweight.  So now my motivation is to lose these unwanted extra pounds before I go to Abu Dhabi in January.  And I ironic as it may seem, I want to lose the belly and the weight to get myself ready for pregnancy.  It's a given fact that women who get pregnant gain an average of 20 pounds.  So I want to make an allotment for it that will not destroy my health completely.  I want to get rid of the 20 pounds to be ready to gain it when its time to be preggy.  But, 20 pounds... Sounds impossible right?  But remember, no one survives a battle by being half-hearted.  In fact, the girls I knew who made it from chubby to skinny made it through by believing that they can do it and not giving up.  So that's what I'm gonna do too.  I just have to keep trying and not give up.  Besides, gym membership is not cheap.  What with all the fees and the workout clothes, I have to make sure I get all my money's worth.  I might not lose that 20 pounds by the end of Holiday Season, but you know what they say, reach for the moon, that way, even if you don't make it, you get to be in the stars.

In fact, not to brag or anything but I'm already seeing and feeling results.  Baby steps.  I just have to strive to always be at my best self.  I know that I will be looking and feeling good in time for Holiday/out-of-town/wedding season and especially when I meet my husband again at the airport :)

Gotta get ready to hit the gym in a while!:)