Pools

I'm starting to realize something about aquafit. You really can't rely on the pool! 

Today I woke up early, took my hubby to work and headed to the gym to enjoy the class. When I arrived I found out the pool was closed. Chlorine issues this time. 

Bummer.

Staff told me I could go to another class instead at 9:30am, or just use the machines, but unfortunately I wasn't dressed for it. I was wearing my bathing suit, but also a sweater and moccasins. 

Last time, when at the recreation centre (before I joined GoodLife) someone was sick in the pool.  I could have gone to yoga instead that time, except I was wearing jeans. That wasn't really going to work, so I came home. 

I need to be better prepared!!! 

As this has happened twice now , my plan moving forward is to prepare for everything. Either wear gym clothes when I head to the gym (even if I'm just planning to use the pool)  and change into my bathing suit there, or wear my bathing suit there but keep  gym clothes in my bag just in case. I'll probably do the ladder. 

Such a simple thing, but it will make a world of difference. 

For today, since aquafit didn't work out I'm going to head back to the gym for Zumba Step  followed by regular zumba tonight. I'm kinda curious if zumba step will be like other step classes I've taken in   the past or not. I guess I'll find out soon!

Weekend weigh-in

Loss this week: 1.5lbs

Total lost: 16.5lbs

New weight: 230lbs

I'm not going to lie, I was really hoping I would see the 220s  this week, but I guess I'll have to wait a little longer. That's okay.  I'm pleased I lost what I did. I lost the thanksgiving weight I gained plus another 0.5lbs. Not too shabby. I continue to move in the right direction and that is what matters most. 

Exercise update: 

Yesterday, I went to my first aquafit class at GoodLife. At first,  I wasn't sure about it as the instructor was in the water with us.  I found it hard to tell what moves she was asking us to do, but as it went on I adjusted and it ended up being a great class. Aquafit is definitely my thing. I love being in the water. 

After aquafit , I then went to see my horse Joelle and I rode her for about 30 minutes with friends. It was such a beautiful fall day here that I kinda wish I took pictures. 

This morning I then went to my first ever "pilates and stretch" class at the gym. I figured it would be a lot like yoga. Well.... it wasn't.  Okay well, not as much as I thought it would be. I found some poses challenging due to my hips, but overall I liked it and would go back. 

Funny story, when I first got to the class I was surprised at how many people were there. The place was packed. They all had mats and weights. I thought "oh, that's weird", but went with it and grabbed the lightest weights I could find. Then I asked the lady beside me where I could get a mat from. It was from asking that question that I learned I was in the "boot camp" class!!!! I entered the wrong studio! I bolted out of there so fast, let me tell you!!! Lol... I'm soooo not ready for that. Way to intimidating still at this point. Maybe one day, but not now.  One step at a time, right? Overall though I'm pleased with my progress. I've come a long way. I'm on the right path. Finally. 

Zumba and Aquafit

See those check marks? That's right folks, so far I have kept to my plan. 

two checks down, many more to go!

Last night I went to my first ever Zumba class.   I had no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was great! There was about 20 or so woman of all ages,  shapes and sizes,  and we just danced away. At first, I seemed like any other aerobics class I had taken in the past.  I recognized most  moves and was thinking, oh they just marketed old aerobics with a new name to generate interest.  Then it got funky and fun and not like any other aerobics class I have taken in the past.  lol... Did I get all the moves right after that? HA! Of course not, but I didn't care, nor should I. I was just proud of the fact I was there and moving my behind. Not going to lie, at the half way mark, I was feeling it and pretty tired, so I tended to look at the clock more, but I made it through and will go back for sure. It was fun. My plan is to go to this class every other Wednesday. I'd go every Wednesday, but my work schedule does not allow for that. 

Now after going to Zumba last night I came directly home and had an epsom salts bath and stretched my hips. I also took one naproxen and used my anti-inflammatory spray. I did this as before Zumba I went to my chiropractor who worked on my hips in ways she hasn't before.  I knew because of that and the fact I went to Zumba I would be super sore today if I didn't. Thankfully, all of that did help and I felt much better than expected this morning. Yay! 

This morning I woke up, took hubby to work and then went to the next exercise class scheduled for this month. Aquafit. I loved it! I forgot how much I love the pool. It's sad to say, but today was the first time I've been in the pool this year!! Pathetic I tell ya! To my surprise it was an even better workout than I remember it being. Several years ago I went a couple times, but today was better. The instructor was awesome and we did moves in the pool which I know overtime will only help my hip issues. When getting out of the pool my legs felt like lead which sounds bad, but I was happy about it. I knew I worked them hard. I ended up heading to baby pool (which is much warmer than the adult pool) where others were going and soaked for a bit. Funny enough, there I met a woman named Dawn who was going to aquafit for the same reasons as I am. Hip issues! We shared stories and stretches before heading to the change room.  It was great. My next aquafit class I have planned is on Tuesday. I can't wait to go back.

So ladies and gents, this whole exercise thing that I've been struggling with for the last few months, I'm finally starting to get a handle on. I've always known that the key is to find things you like. Thankfully the two exercises classes I've tried, I do like and that makes it much easier to go again! 

Planning

Well... My plan to track hasn't been going so well for the last three days. I've been completely off program. Thanksgiving tends to do that to people. Saturday we had hubby's family over and then Sunday we went out for dinner with my parents. They then came back to our place for pie. I've ate a lot of pie these last three days. Thankfully it's all gone now. I don't regret my decisions to eat what I wanted this past weekend, but I know it's now time to get back to tracking. I have been more tired than normal lately and I know it has to do with my carb and sugar filled meals I've been eating. So today I will count points and continue on with my journey. I expect a gain come Sunday but hopefully if I stay on point for the next five days, it might not be as bad as I think it could be. 

Besides getting back on track with counting points, I also have realized I need a better plan when it comes to exercise. You see, as I lose weight my daily WW point limit goes down. I've already dropped two points from when I started. It's exciting to drop points, but scary as well. I sometimes have a hard time staying within my daily limit and end up using some of my weekly points. It's totally allowed, but I don't like having to use them like that. The only way I can avoid that is to gain points with exercise. I need to start doing this now. It's time. If I don't get into a routine now, it will only be harder later. I struggle right now with 37 points a day at times, if I get to my weight loss goal and only have  25 points, I'll be starving! I need exercise points!! 

As a result, I created a plan. I made an exercise calendar. Firstly,  I looked into yoga. I've been thinking and talking about going back to the studio for awhile now, so last night I sighed up for a new beginner class. It will run for 6 weeks starting on Monday October 27th. I then looked into Zumba and found one offered on Wednesday nights. As I work shift work I'll only be able to do two a month for now, but it's a start. I then looked into aquafit and found times I can enjoy doing that too. I wrote it all out, now I just have to execute it! 

I love this new plan and I think I should be able to do it without any issues. I just have to fight the laziness. Like many others, when I'm tired all I want to do is, well.... nothing. Doing nothing got me fat. It's time to start doing something! I picked exercises that I think will be okay for my back and hips as they are still giving me issues. My hope is that with more stretching and strengthening and muscle building I'll only improve.  Each time I do the exercise I wrote out on my calendar, I will give myself a check mark. 

At the end of the month I'll add them up. Wish me luck!