Oh the Memories...

This week I went to my first hour long workout class at the white building. Calorie Killer was determined to get me back in shape, even if any calories killed we just later consumed in a desperate late night group project call to Gumby’s Pizza. And while I could tell you about my inner battle of deciding if I wanted water or air more during our active recoveries or how I counted down the last ten minutes of class like it was my job, I won’t. There’s not much to tell about me staring at my red-in-the-face, sweat drenched self for an hour. I surprised myself when I didn’t find the class completely unbearable, and I’d be willing to do it again. I’ll spare you the rest of the sweaty details.

I mentioned in my post about my sudden urge to run, that I had made a killer running playlist. (Which I’m still proud of, it has gotten me through a good many workouts.) Music is a very important part of my workout. The right mix of upbeat songs sets the tone for my workout and makes it fly by. If the music isn’t just right time drags on and working out becomes more like suffering.

The Calorie Killer instructor was an older man instead of the usual college age girl. The playlist of the average class consists of a remix of all the popular radio songs and while Lady GaGa and Rhianna are great to work out to I enjoyed this man’s more classical approach to the music selection.

For me his choice in music was like a trip down memory lane. Most of the songs he picked like Land of 1000 Dances and Space Jams were songs from my dance past. Throughout the workout, whenever a new song would start I would have a flashback to sequins and neon spandex. I could remember bits of dances and taking a musical journey through my childhood made time pass quickly.

Just one question, why would I work out to the song Baby Got Back? “You can do side bends or sit-ups, but please don’t lose that butt,” actually no that’s why I’m at the gym right now, sorry Mr., but you’ll just have to deal with that.  It wasn’t a song from my dance past, but it did make me think.

What to Wear….?

Even before I became obsessed with working out, I was obsessed with workout clothing. At the end of my senior year, you know the point where you don’t care about anything at all anymore, yoga pants went from a once a week thing to a nearly every day thing. Please note: I own multiple pairs of yoga pants.

I just like the athletic look. Yoga pants, cute little sweat proof tank top, and an athletic jacket, with my newest sneakers (usually decorated with some sort of pink accent) complete the comfortable sporty look.

So now that I’ve actually been working out, instead of just dressing like I do, my obsession is justified. I can walk to class dressed like I’m going to the gym because I actually will be going to the gym after class, not because I am too lazy to get dressed in jeans and a nice shirt in the morning.

It also means I can rationalize buying (or getting someone to buy for me) new workout attire. At Christmas time, when I told my parents I wanted a gym membership, I also convinced my mom to stop at Dick’s Sporting Goods on a pre-Christmas shopping trip. We raided the sales racks while I chimed in, “You can give it to me for Christmas!” The neon shirts and tanks filled our cart and I wasn’t completely surprised Christmas morning.

The new workout clothes are helpful when I’m running to (and at) the gym every day. The clothes even make working out a little bit more fun when I can get excited about what I’m going to wear to the gym (or class) later that day.

I mean; a girl has still got to look cute right?

Inspiration

When I checked the mail today, our mailbox was stuffed with our magazine subscriptions. I pulled out Glamour and Self and started to mindless flip through them as I walked back from the commons to my room. Once back in my room I completed my monthly ritual. First I rip out the annoying advertisements for a subscription to a magazine that I already get. They go right in the trash. After, I scan the magazines for the monthly workout sections. Guaranteed to help you lose five to ten pounds in two weeks! I then take these pages and tape them up with the other similar articles on the back of my door.

Now I am not naïve enough to believe that doing the magazine’s version of a modified push up is going to help me lose ten pounds fast, but it’s nice to dream isn’t it?

I have actually never even completed a magazine workout. The exercises just don’t strike me as that beneficial that I absolutely have to do them. I would rather go to the gym and do a real work out with my time, then pretend to do one. That’s what is in these magazines, pretend workouts. Well that’s what I believe anyways.

So you must be asking yourself; if I think these workouts are pointless, then why do I post them on my door? Well everybody needs a little inspiration. I see these when I walk out my door and they are a reminder that I should go to the gym. They remind me of my goals and what I want out of my fifteen week project. Little reminders never hurt anybody, they just help me out.

Spring Break

After enjoying a week off of school, it’s hard to get back into my old habits like doing homework and being productive with my free time. While meetings, papers, and tests are already covering my desk calendar, one thing I’ve been looking forward to about coming back to school is going back to the gym.

I wasn’t completely inactive over spring break, but I did take a considerable break from my workouts. All I managed to do was one run, a 4 mile walk, and a basketball game. I don’t feel bad about taking the time off though because I got to see some friends who I won’t get a chance to see again until May. To me the break is justified and has left me itching to hit the gym again.

I also decided over spring break that I am going to work out more. Nothing too intense, just an extra washboard abs class some days and now that the weather is getting nicer, I plan to go running outside when the urge strikes me. (I’ve already accomplished the first step by creating a killer running play list.)

I was finally able to cave into my workout cravings last night when I went for a run to successfully avoid the monotonous task of unpacking. I grabbed my iPod, with the brilliantly crafted playlist, and went for a run enjoying a calm, quiet night on campus.

I actually enjoyed my run. Which, coming from the girl who would only willingly run after a hot young starlet, is saying something. Normally I HATE running! Quickly getting sweaty and out of breath isn’t really my kind of thing; I just don’t find it fun. But last night, running felt good. Maybe it was due to all my pent up energy from spring break, or the small part of me that was happy to be back at school energized my run. Whatever it was, hopefully I’ll feel like that more often, so running doesn’t become a chore.

Now it’s time for washboard abs and Zumba, both of which I missed dearly.