Changes

It’s been a little bit since I’ve posted. And I hate to admit it, but I’ve been slacking in my C25K training, though I have been doing a lot of cardio to help with my endurance. I’ll be getting back on track with C25K on Saturday. My legs are in need of a rest day tomorrow. In other news though, in 3 weeks I’m down 5.4 lbs and have lost a total of 4.25 inches… 2 inches in my under bust, 1.25 inches in my waist and 1 inch in my hips.

I can feel my knee getting stronger even though after some of the more leg intensive workouts, I can still feel it pop, it’s not nearly as bad. The next set of pole classes starts April 27th, which I won’t be participating in. I want to gain a little more knee strength, and hopefully overall strength first, not to mention losing more weight. But I plan on enrolling again for the sessions that will start in June. I’m really looking forward to it. The Herbalife fitness club that I go to gets a lot of credit for my success this last month. It’s such an amazingly supportive group of people I’m proud to call friends, and who can argue with free full-body workouts? I’m not huge on the idea of drinking my meals, but I am considering taking their 10 Day Fat Blast Challenge in May, which involves drinking the Herbalife shakes and sticking to a lower calorie goal for the day + eating back any exercise calories. I don’t have all the details of the Challenge yet, but I’ll certainly keep you all updated.

Po(le)stponed

My knee hasn’t fully strengthened since I dislocated it at work about a year ago. There have been several times when I’ve felt it move around and pop like in ways it shouldn’t. The last few pole classes and practices, I’ve felt it moving around, and it’s become painful. And this last practice it popped and locked up to the point where I had to force my knee to bend to move the kneecap back into place. So, with much sadness, I’m choosing to postpone my career as a stripper in hopes of doing some rehab on my knee. But don’t worry! I let the studio know what’s up, and they’re going to give me a 50% credit toward my next session as soon as my knee is up to par. With any luck, in the next 5 weeks until a new session starts at the studio, I’ll have a stronger knee, stronger body overall, and I’ll be down at least another 10lbs.

Pole: Week 1

Today I’m proud to say that I took my first step out of my very small comfort zone. I attended my first pole dance class. Now if the only idea that comes to mind when you hear “pole dance” is a sleazy strip club, I would recommend that you hop on over to YouTube and watch a few competitive pole routines. The amount of muscle strength required to do the basic moves (and I use “basic” loosely since there’s nothing basic about they can do) and then to add artistic styling to those moves is insanely impressive. The center I’m taking my classes at teaches in 8 week sessions and they separate classes by skill level, so those of us just starting don’t feel intimated by women who’ve been dancing for years. I would like to point out that, even when I don’t really dance… like ever… not even drunk. So I knew going into this that 1) I’m very out of shape and 2) I’m probably the least coordinated person you can find. Any of my peers could attest to how ridiculous I looked in gym classes.

Speaking of which, when the class first started, I must say that a part of me immediately felt like the chubby asthmatic kid in middle school gym. Without thinking I sought comfort in the back of the room next to the only other woman in the class who wasn’t already in decent shape. I saw myself in the floor to ceiling mirrors, barefoot and clad in a pair of very short shorts and a tank top, and I instinctively wanted to cover up… to hide. I had to remind myself that while it was OK to stand in the back of the room, it wasn’t OK to feel like I didn’t belong simply because my body isn’t in the shape I’d like it to be. I had paid to be there just like the rest of the women. This wasn’t a mandatory gym class. This was something fun I had chosen to do. As the class went on I felt less and less self-conscious.

I’d like to clarify some things about pole dancing. When they say you don’t have to be coordinated to do it, they’re liars. Big. Fat. Liars. Seriously though, I really am not very good at getting all parts of my body working toward the same fluid movement, but it got a little easier as the class progressed, and the instructor was excellent at explaining how to move your body to complete a particular move. I still have a lot of progress to make, but I learned a lot.

• When they say that women of any shape or size can pole dance… they mean it
• When they say that it’s a great workout… they mean it
• Every movement looks fancy if you do it on your tiptoes
• Toenails are ugly and I really need to keep mine painted
• Tyra is right… everyone looks sexy with a booty tooch!

Reality Check

As a single 23 year old looking to start school full-time and working two mentally and physically stressful jobs, most people would describe me as a workaholic. I like to think of it as being hardworking in pursuit of my goals, though there are times when I think of it more in terms of not wanting to be poor – something we can all relate to these days. Even though I know my work ethic and the job experience I’m gaining are helping me get closer to a financially stable and rewarding career, I’m also beginning to realize what my friends have been telling me for years: I work too much. Don’t get me wrong though. Both of my jobs (one full-time, one part-time) have me caring for developmentally disabled adults in their homes, and I absolutely love it. I feel very lucky that three years ago I fell into a job that I love at the young age of 20. I wouldn’t trade the experience this field of work has provided me for anything. That being said, though, I have been trading away my free-time in exchange for a paycheck that I rarely spend on anything fun. And I guess that’s where this blog comes in. One thing I’ve learned these past few years is that I’m a really good planner… as long as those plans aren’t for my own life. In my own life I’ve been more of a dreamer. I’ve always believed in the power and reality of everyone else’s dreams; however, I guess it’s only been a recent discovery for me that my own dreams can be a reality. In the short 23 years I’ve been alive I’ve had to very quickly learn some of the harsh lessons this life has to teach, and until this year, I’ve let those things skew how I viewed what I can accomplish. Sob stories aside, I’m now understanding that I need to turn my own dreams into plans. In terms of physical fitness and general health I’m a resolutioner this year. What can I say? I’m a sucker for “new beginnings” as they were. I’m proud to say that since January 1st, I’ve lost nearly 20 lbs, and I’m still going strong. Weight loss has always been one of those dreams I never really believed in the reality of before. But as I’ve made progress these last two months, I’m starting to ask myself, “Why not?” Why not go skydiving? Why not travel? Why not take a naked yoga class? So I made a list, and you guessed it… all of those are on it. Perhaps it’s a bit cliche, but I’ve chosen 30 things to do before I turn 30. If you’ve made it this far,  I’m sure you’re waiting to see what made the list. So without further ado…

1. Take pole dance classes
2. Take boxing lessons
3. Take belly dance classes
4. Go skydiving
5. Take ballroom dance classes
6. Run a 7 minute mile
7. Run a 5K
8. Run a 10K
9. Finish LPN program
10. Finish LPN to ASN program
11. Finish ASN to BSN program
12. Take sign language classes
13. Finish therapeutic massage certificate
14. Visit Albuquerque Balloon Festival
15. Visit Nantucket
16. Visit Sequoia National Park
17. Visit Maine
18. Travel abroad
19. Learn to ski
20. Learn to snowboard
21. Ride a zipline
22. Finish my reading list
23. Host a dinner party
24. Host a Sunday brunch
25. Participate in a poetry reading
26. Sing karaoke
27. Take a naked yoga class
28. Learn to drive stick shift
29. Buy a house
30. Change someone’s life for the better

Every item on this list is something that I have been wanting to do for some time, but the majority of them are pretty far out of my comfort zone. I’m sure there are a few on here that will even surprise my friends (Hey, friends! Surprise!) I’ll explain some of my choices in later posts. For now… I’m off to nap before work!