DAY 46

I have really started looking forward to Mondays which is odd--I know.  I am now to the point where waking up early is no big deal anymore and I enjoy going to my morning classes.  I can't tell you what  a difference it has made to exercise in a class.  I don't think EVERY class would have the same positive result, but Kevin's classes are perfect for me.  The class is a small group of people--most of whom I know pretty well now.  We are like a little community and it is so great to have some social interaction every day; the workouts are really great too and it has been wonderful.  I've never been in an exercise class small enough where people notice when you are not there and genuinely care about why you weren't able to make it.  It is refreshing to put it simply.  I do not miss my days at 24 Hour Fitness or Gold's when I would squeeze myself into the back of the room because the class was so crowded.  Going to the rec center is the way I want to exercise for life.

Exercise report:

Todays workout really kicked my butt.  We did 4 different exercises the whole hour.  The first was a wrestling move called a kick out or step out--I can't quite remember now.  We jumped out on all fours to do a push up and then jumped our feet back to our hands.  We then kicked out one leg to the side while flexing the opposite arm at a 90 degree angle and then repeated the push up + jump and kicked out to the other side.  I have very little shoulder and arm strength, so I hated doing these kick outs.  I only did 4 sets of them and they completely wiped me out.

After the kick outs, we had to do 20 air squats and 20 mountain climbers.  We finished off the set by doing 10 burpies with hand release once in push up position and clap overhead.  I normally try to stop as little as I can but I had to stop a lot.  As far as my own personal performance goes, it really wasn't my best.  BUT, it was a good workout despite all my stopping.  Kevin got after me a lot for being a wimp; I deserved it.  That's why I go to classes--to ensure that I am pushing myself as hard as I can.

Eating report:

Good foods

1/2 Kashi granola bar (this really is the perfect thing to eat for me before my workouts.  It gives me great energy and only has 2-3 grams of sugar).
2 pieces of low carb bread with cream cheese, cashew pieces, tomatoes, and cucumbers  (a delicious protein snack with fresh veggies--what a good combination)
1.5 cups spring mix with 1/2 cup tomatoes and cucumbers
1 string cheese
1 tilapia loin
1 cup spring mix salad
8 pb filled pretzels

Bad foods

1 bag of veggie chips (even though the chips have veggies in them, they are mostly made with potato flakes which have loads of carbs)

Tip for success:

If you are trying to lose weight, make sure you keep track of how many grams of protein and carbs you eat in a day.  Consult a nutritionist to figure out how many grams you should eat of both in one day.  I personally try to keep it right around 100 grams for both carbs and protein (this is what a fitness expert recommended for me after evaluating my fitness level and personal circumstances).  I am 5'6" and have a medium frame.  My typical weight is right around 135.