As I mentioned in my previous posting, I have been making some lifestyle changes lately. I am looking to better manage my finances, simplify my life and in general, be healthy. This has come about due to a series of unrelated incidents that got the wheels turning and my thoughts/motivation to where they are today.
One of the first changes I am making is to get back into shape. I have always had a positive self-image of my body, which is why I think I have gained the freshman 15 several times over and have been just fine with it. (Admittedly, I also placed other priorities above working out in recent years.) My motivation for this has been a slow culmination of experiences: my body not moving the way I remember, a little more of me in the way when I put my shoes on, a few too many “bad angle” pictures to be a coincidence and finally a major campaign at work to “start slow but start” exercising.
I made my decision to get in shape just as my gym membership that I never used was expiring. I didn’t want to renew it because it is costly, difficult to get there with my work schedule and the staff is too intense/overbearing for my liking. I have a bike and even two legs for walking but no inclination to do those on a daily basis after dusk/dark by myself. (Since I have been living by myself, I have become a big wimp when it comes to strolling about by myself at night.) I was back to square one with a plan. I used my good friend, Google, to help me find workouts online for beginners but they all were so technical and unappealing. Low and behold, I was mingling around the store down the road and I stumble upon various workout DVDs on sale for 5$/each. I figured that 5$ was an investment I would be willing to risk on potentially bad workouts. I snatched up 3 of them – Cardio Party, Pilates & Yoga.
They could not have been a better match for me if I tried! They fit in my schedule, I can go at my own pace and I can even increase the intensity easily as I grow into them. My biggest problem now is keeping from collapsing as the kitties weave themselves around me, tickling me with their tails and whiskers during my workout. I am also using an app on my phone as a food journal / workout tracker. It took me a little while to understand portion sizes and the amount of calories in all kinds of food but I have adjusted and am pacing to lose about 2lbs/week, even though my goal is a slow and steady 1lb/week.
After my workouts, I get to relax at Spa My Bathroom. I know it doesn’t sound appealing, but I discovered a number of awesome homemade recipes for face wash, face scrub, body scrub, etc. The best part is, all of the ingredients are already in my kitchen and a jar o’scrub that normally retails 50$-100$, costs me only a fraction of that. I don’t think I will ever buy face wash or body wash again. My skin has never been cleaner, looked clearer nor felt softer. Score one for the home team!
Until next time!
