The Shaping-up of the Girlie-Queue

Back on June 2nd, I weighed in for the start of a 4 week "Boot Camp" fitness session and paid my $50 for 12 classes. Theresa, one of Shelly's cousins is a nutritionist and a fitness trainer, back in May she began advertising for West Baton Rouge Boot Camp.  A "Boot Camp" fitness series; three, 4-week sessions, meeting 3 times each week for one-hour. Did I mention outside, on the levee over in Port Allen... in the Louisiana Summer heat?

A brief description of the area: Baton Rouge is located on the East bank of the Mississippi River. Port Allen is located immediately on the other side of the New Mississippi River Bridge from Baton Rouge on the North side of the bridge and the levees of the two cities face one another. Each levee has been built up so that there is concrete on at least the river side of the levee with grass on the other and a huge side-walk/walkway along the top of the levee with a gazebo located in the middle of the sidewalk.

We work out from 5:45-6:45PM Mondays and Wednesdays and from 8:30-9:30AM on Saturdays. I should let my readers know that I have been exceptionally lazy for the first five months of this year. Sure, I've been performing and have even taught a few dance classes, but it is not the same as being committed to teaching five to nine hours of class a week and performing on weekends. I have officially been at my current desk job for 2 years and 11 months. During that time I have seen my dancing time drop off to almost nothing, let alone any kind of physical activity besides the occasional afternoon canoeing venture. I have become a cream-puff by comparison to my former Dance Instructor/Performer life-style of almost three years ago now. During the course of the last 2years and 11 months I have somehow managed ;-) to gain approximately 13 pounds. I am 5' 1" tall and even something as little as 5 pounds really affects my body; joints begin to ache, I can feel my breath shorten, oh no, it does not take much.
Back to June 2nd, the weigh in. I was weighed in at 18.2 lbs with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 21.8 (18 being the border-line to anorexia and 24 being obese). I was beyond unhappy. Of course I'd been watching this happen at the doctor's office for two years, but since I only go once a year, it was easy to ignore the steady weight climb. Regardless, it was beyond time to start truly taking care of myself.
The first day of "Boot Camp" I remembered what it was like to work in a group, not necessarily with, but in a group. I was immediately brought back to high school volleyball practices and circuit training where there would be 30 or 40 girls all working out together, but for their own individual progress. I am now reminded of how many groups I have been a part of where emphasis was/is placed on the work load seeming to lighten when working in a group. It is true, no matter how you slice it. Group energy will always pull you along if you're willing. Ultimately I decided to join this class because I knew I needed the group energy to get me going.

I can be a highly competitive person, but in this instance, it was all about me. And so it began, day one, warming up and right into running "The Snake". The Snake is a run that begins at the top of the levee and zigs down (about 30 feet) and then back up every 10 feet or so for almost 100 yards. That was the first exercise she had us do and I was certain I would fail. I did not. I ran the entire time, but only walked back instead of jogging when I reached the end of the snake. Since then, almost five weeks ago, the running has become easier. I have remembered with zeal how much I enjoy sprinting; just a flat out sprint for the sake of running as hard an as fast as I can. I have also remembered that I am almost 37 years old and that my knees have always given me problems. So now I have to balance my zeal with my body's insistent messages that I pay attention.
I have been loving sweating. I mean, pouring sweat, some days the heat index has been 109 degrees, but it has been challenging and I have remembered how much I need challenges in my life. Not the kind where Life itself challenges me, I get that plenty ;-) but I have not been challenging myself nearly enough. Anyone who knows me will know how much I do not enjoy running, but running suicides that last 10 minutes or The Snake, or "Indian Runs" where you have a line of people running and the last person keeps sprinting to the front have been challenging, and that has made it fun. Theresa one day showed up with home-made medicine balls that we and our partners chucked to one another while walking down the levee. We've also been working with 5lb weights for our arms, as well as when we do crunches and sit-ups. We've done walking lunges, jumping squats, you name it, everything I would groan about as a teenager, I find I still groan about as an adult, the difference now is that I appreciate that I am even capable of this kind of workout.  All-in-all, I feel like I'm back at circuit training for volleyball pre-season. It's great!

The second weigh-in occurred Saturday, July 3rd and I had dropped exactly 4 ounces and my BMI went up one-tenth of a point to 21.9. I cannot deny that I left the levee that morning on a bit of a down note, even with the 4th of July around the corner.  But it was a turning point in my thinking and that was what I really needed - a new mind-set.  Even though I had been working out regularly for four weeks, I had not attempted to count calories or really mind what I was eating. Last Tuesday, July 6th I began counting calories. And that apparently is it. Doing what we always knew was the key, Eat Less, Exercise More; balancing my new more-sedentary life with appropriate eating. As of yesterday I officially lost one pound and I feel good about this first small step.  I know I am creating a life-style change that will carry my body into future decades.