Good morning, Readers!
This weekend was a first for me. For the first time in a long, long time, I stepped foot inside a gym.
For the record, I hate gyms. A lot. I have since, well, high school when I was a assaulted in one. I have tried at various points to return to one, but it just never worked out. At first, it was because I did not feel safe. I got over it. Then it was because I felt so incredibly judged - my fragile self-esteem couldn't handle even a glance my way. I got over it. Then it was because I was bored out of my tree. Gyms are seriously dull places. I haven't gotten over that one yet.
There are a myriad other reasons why I dislike going to a gym (dude-bros/meat-heads who try to intimidate you into relinquishing the machine you're working on early so they can go, exorbitant costs, etc). I don't think, outside of special excursions like the one I took on Saturday, that I'll ever step foot in one voluntarily.
Anyway, those who know me will probably fall done in shock at the news that I went to a gym, but I did. It was for a special reason. I say special... it was to use the facilities. Obviously. As most of you know, if you follow this blog, or my twitter feed or my facebook page, that I have started to do weights before training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My Kung Fy brother, J.K. has been helping two other Kung Fu brothers by doing weight training sessions before class starts on those days. For a semester I watched them and envied them.
They can do unassisted pull-ups.
Bastards.
The point is, my Kung Fu sister and I decided that we wanted to give it a shot. We both have different goals. C.S. is looking to build muscle; to get as strong as possible. I'm looking for strength enough to haul my weight around without much difficulty. I want functional muscle as I want to start doing all the obstacle and adventure races in and around Ottawa next race season, including but not limited to the Zombie Run, Mud Hero, Prison Break, Badass Dash, and Warrior Dash (which will be a problem as both the Badass Dash and the Warrior Dash are on the same day next year... I'll have to choose). They just look like so much fun, and I really want in on the action.
This weekend was a first for me. For the first time in a long, long time, I stepped foot inside a gym.
For the record, I hate gyms. A lot. I have since, well, high school when I was a assaulted in one. I have tried at various points to return to one, but it just never worked out. At first, it was because I did not feel safe. I got over it. Then it was because I felt so incredibly judged - my fragile self-esteem couldn't handle even a glance my way. I got over it. Then it was because I was bored out of my tree. Gyms are seriously dull places. I haven't gotten over that one yet.
There are a myriad other reasons why I dislike going to a gym (dude-bros/meat-heads who try to intimidate you into relinquishing the machine you're working on early so they can go, exorbitant costs, etc). I don't think, outside of special excursions like the one I took on Saturday, that I'll ever step foot in one voluntarily.
Anyway, those who know me will probably fall done in shock at the news that I went to a gym, but I did. It was for a special reason. I say special... it was to use the facilities. Obviously. As most of you know, if you follow this blog, or my twitter feed or my facebook page, that I have started to do weights before training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My Kung Fy brother, J.K. has been helping two other Kung Fu brothers by doing weight training sessions before class starts on those days. For a semester I watched them and envied them.
They can do unassisted pull-ups.
Bastards.
The point is, my Kung Fu sister and I decided that we wanted to give it a shot. We both have different goals. C.S. is looking to build muscle; to get as strong as possible. I'm looking for strength enough to haul my weight around without much difficulty. I want functional muscle as I want to start doing all the obstacle and adventure races in and around Ottawa next race season, including but not limited to the Zombie Run, Mud Hero, Prison Break, Badass Dash, and Warrior Dash (which will be a problem as both the Badass Dash and the Warrior Dash are on the same day next year... I'll have to choose). They just look like so much fun, and I really want in on the action.
I mean... Come on! How awesome does this look? Image from Ottawamagazine.com. Click for link.
The problem with me, of course, is that I have very little upper body strength. Hauling my arse over a wall will not be an easy feat. So, I took up weights to help increase my upper body strength. I don't really feel like it's been working, though I did have to take a considerable amount of training time off, as I had injured my left triceps. Unsurprisingly, my triceps are the weakest of my weak muscles. I'm almost all healed now; healed enough to start using the muscles again... even if (frustratingly) only a little.
We started weight training in the middle of September - when Wutan began training again. Due to my injury - the beginning of training would just seem lacking if I didn't injure myself in some way. It's become tradition - I couldn't do as much arm stuff. So, naturally, I don't feel like I've progressed very far.
This has gone wildly off topic. Right, back on track.
J.K. invited C.S. and myself out to a gym in order to work on our strength. Unlike the training he gives us at Wutan, this time it was heavy weights with few repetitions. Usually the weights are lighter, and there are many, many repetitions. It felt weird not to be sweating a bunch, like I normally do. Of course, I did not do as well as I wanted. C.S. makes me jealous (but in a good 'I have a goal' way rather in the much more destructive 'I want to hurt her' way that some people have when jealous). She is really very strong. I am not.
But at least I have a starting point. I know my base level, and I can and will improve. Eventually.
C.S. and I are very silly when we get together. If we're partnered up, you will hear a lot of giggling. It was no different during our excursion. Probably much to the annoyance of the gym members, C.S. and I were making wisecracks about ourselves and our training and, of course, giggling. It's hard to take anything seriously at training and when in the company of C.S. It really is.
So, despite my general dislike of gyms, I had a great time. We are, apparently, going to be doing it again in February some time. J.K. is using these as milestones, I suppose. Which is a good way to do it. That way he gets to track our progress (or lack thereof), and we can see how far we've come... or not. Whichever.
I also stepped onto a scale for the first time in ages at the gym. Because they had one. I do not. I'm now under 160lbs (just). This is a big deal for me. When I started training all those years ago, I was clocking in at almost 180lbs. Sure, it took seven odd years for me to lose the weight, but still. I never thought I would get under 160 in a million years.
Heartened by that, I decided to restart checking in everything I eat with My Fitness Pal - a habit that had long ago fallen by the wayside. Ugh! Even after inputting everything I have planned to eat today, and adding food I'm going to buy because I was 1 400 calories short of a healthy amount of food, I have to find another 900 calories to eat. It seems I've fallen into the old habit of not eating nearly enough for the exercise I'm doing.
Good grief! It is impossible to eat that much. Who eats that much?!?! I'm going to have to go grocery shopping some time after training and pick up some more meat - it's the fastest way to get the calories and protein I need without having to eat a truckload of food.
My lack of eating the necessary amount may account for how tired I've been of late. You would think that someone who has spent almost her whole life being chubby would be eating more than enough food. Apparently not. Why am I not a skinny little rake? Psht. Bodies are weird.
Um... I was supposed to be talking about my weekend. So yes, after the gym, I went to a friend's birthday celebration. I had accidentally scheduled this month's meet-up at the same time, and fought to find a way to reschedule everything so I could make both. Alas, I couldn't find a way, so I had to cancel the meet-up. I had promised myself to the birthday party first, and they're very dear friends of mine. We went out to dinner, then headed over to Monopolatte to play some Cards Against Humanity. I have never laughed so hard for so long! It was basically continuous laughter for four and half hours.
Sunday, my voice raw from laughing, I headed over to film two upcoming episodes for Silver Stag Entertainment's Nights at the Round Table. Then I came home and, exhausted, napped until dinner time.
There, that was my weekend... and a lot of stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with my weekend.
How was your weekend? Did you do anything special?
I have to go and learn some Welsh now.
Ciao!
We started weight training in the middle of September - when Wutan began training again. Due to my injury - the beginning of training would just seem lacking if I didn't injure myself in some way. It's become tradition - I couldn't do as much arm stuff. So, naturally, I don't feel like I've progressed very far.
This has gone wildly off topic. Right, back on track.
J.K. invited C.S. and myself out to a gym in order to work on our strength. Unlike the training he gives us at Wutan, this time it was heavy weights with few repetitions. Usually the weights are lighter, and there are many, many repetitions. It felt weird not to be sweating a bunch, like I normally do. Of course, I did not do as well as I wanted. C.S. makes me jealous (but in a good 'I have a goal' way rather in the much more destructive 'I want to hurt her' way that some people have when jealous). She is really very strong. I am not.
But at least I have a starting point. I know my base level, and I can and will improve. Eventually.
C.S. and I are very silly when we get together. If we're partnered up, you will hear a lot of giggling. It was no different during our excursion. Probably much to the annoyance of the gym members, C.S. and I were making wisecracks about ourselves and our training and, of course, giggling. It's hard to take anything seriously at training and when in the company of C.S. It really is.
So, despite my general dislike of gyms, I had a great time. We are, apparently, going to be doing it again in February some time. J.K. is using these as milestones, I suppose. Which is a good way to do it. That way he gets to track our progress (or lack thereof), and we can see how far we've come... or not. Whichever.
I also stepped onto a scale for the first time in ages at the gym. Because they had one. I do not. I'm now under 160lbs (just). This is a big deal for me. When I started training all those years ago, I was clocking in at almost 180lbs. Sure, it took seven odd years for me to lose the weight, but still. I never thought I would get under 160 in a million years.
Heartened by that, I decided to restart checking in everything I eat with My Fitness Pal - a habit that had long ago fallen by the wayside. Ugh! Even after inputting everything I have planned to eat today, and adding food I'm going to buy because I was 1 400 calories short of a healthy amount of food, I have to find another 900 calories to eat. It seems I've fallen into the old habit of not eating nearly enough for the exercise I'm doing.
Good grief! It is impossible to eat that much. Who eats that much?!?! I'm going to have to go grocery shopping some time after training and pick up some more meat - it's the fastest way to get the calories and protein I need without having to eat a truckload of food.
My lack of eating the necessary amount may account for how tired I've been of late. You would think that someone who has spent almost her whole life being chubby would be eating more than enough food. Apparently not. Why am I not a skinny little rake? Psht. Bodies are weird.
Um... I was supposed to be talking about my weekend. So yes, after the gym, I went to a friend's birthday celebration. I had accidentally scheduled this month's meet-up at the same time, and fought to find a way to reschedule everything so I could make both. Alas, I couldn't find a way, so I had to cancel the meet-up. I had promised myself to the birthday party first, and they're very dear friends of mine. We went out to dinner, then headed over to Monopolatte to play some Cards Against Humanity. I have never laughed so hard for so long! It was basically continuous laughter for four and half hours.
Sunday, my voice raw from laughing, I headed over to film two upcoming episodes for Silver Stag Entertainment's Nights at the Round Table. Then I came home and, exhausted, napped until dinner time.
There, that was my weekend... and a lot of stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with my weekend.
How was your weekend? Did you do anything special?
I have to go and learn some Welsh now.
Ciao!
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