Friday, October 28, 2011

Friday at the Y

Tonight, after work, I decided to get out of the house, away from screens for a while, and try out a class at the Y. I figured that Friday night would be a good time to go, especially for a newbie like me. I haven't taken a group fitness class since my mom was teaching jazzersize and I was knee high to a grass hopper.

I figured that Spinning wouldn't require too much coordination and it just happened to be in the right time slot. (Which, since it was the ONLY class that I could make it too, was even more of a deciding factor.)

Let me say, that Spinning work out was AMAZING. I mean, seriously - look at that picture. It's JUST an innocent little stationary bike, right? Right...until it's under the direction of a sadistic very fit instructor. We did intervals. We stood. We crouched. We climbed hills. We sprinted. The instructor was awesome and made sure to praise me since it was my first time. It's funny how pushing yourself (and someone recognizing it) makes such a big difference in your day. Now, I want to go back. Even after an hour plus in the hot tub, my legs are getting that tingle of working out. Which means the next 2 days will SUCK, but I've got a plans for that.

I have lots of walking in mind this weekend. There is a local craft fair I'm going to check out, and I'm thinking of hitting up a local mall or going to Seattle (on foot) to poke around. Worst case, I can walk down to the movie theater.We'll see how adventurous I get. And if the weather keeps me more indoors than outdoors, I'm also discovering the addictive qualities of Dance Dance Revolution (even though I still suck at it).

Reality check: Every once in a while, I lose sight of how my mind is different now than when I was truly obese. Obesity is a prison. Not just in your body - but even more so in your mind. At least it was for me. One I didn't understand I had the key to all along. I would really stress out about how I looked, if I was the heaviest girl around, etc. In the spinning class, there were 5 women, the instructor, and 1 man that ducked out 1/2 way through. But here's the thing - I DIDN'T CARE. It's true, what they say. Say something to yourself often enough, and you'll come to believe it. It's how you learn anything in life - repetition. I believed I was fat, ugly, and unlovable for DECADES because that's what some cruel kids in grade school treated me as. Now, I'm in my 30s and I feel free from that. Sure, I still have the natural "compare yourself to others" every once in a while (when I do this, I ALWAYS fall short). But it didn't even enter my head when I stepped on the bike. Sure I was the heaviest. I was also the tallest, the one with the longest hair, the only first timer, etc. It's refreshing and encouraging to recognize how my mindset has changed.
I guess you can say, I finally got out of my own way.

3 comments:

  1. bahaha the guy ducked out. so funny. poor dude.

    if it makes him feel any better, first time Brian did 30 Day Shred with me, he couldn't keep up with me either lol maybe us women just are slightly more sadistic? hmmm

    after the baby, I totally want to do a spinning class. I've always wanted to try one and found out they have them at our Y too. Now I just need to sign up!

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  2. Awesome job with the spin class - I've never done one, but I'm sure it would kick my rear!

    That's awesome that your mindset has changed. Isn't it a great feeling.

    I've had those same negative thoughts and still do at times. It took getting comfortable running in public on my own and finally races to realize that it really doesn't matter what others think as long as I am out there doing it and having fun! It took me a lot of years to get to this point...

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  3. Christie - maybe your Christmas present should be a membership? It's totally worth it - when I get off my butt and USE it. :) And they have great parenting and family classes too at most of them.

    Amanda - Tell me about it! I was worried about being the heaviest girl at my first tri. Especially since it was an all women's Tri! I met women heavier AND thinner than me, and the coolest part was we were all encouraging one another to hang in there and power through! I highly recommend Danskin tris! It was a great, life changing experience. Maybe that is where the switch finally flipped...

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