Since I'm sure all of my loyal followers read the last post (or will read the last post, it's right under this one) we are not going to review. This is going to be like a class with a cumulative final. All the time I've spent at LLCC the last few days has me in an academic mood, apparently.
By a show of hands, who noticed what my early workouts were missing? Anyone? Anyone? At the risk of repeating myself, Bueller, Bueller. My early workouts were missing...........
ABS!! I wasn't doing anything to strengthen my abs or my back for that matter. Do you know why? Well, do you? Because my abs were weak, and I was embarrassed. I could squat, bench, curl enough to feel ok, but crunches? Situps? I didn't even know what a plank was, but if I had known, I'm sure I would have been bad at them. At one time or another everyone feels self conscious when working out. After a year of working out regularly I decided to try a new ab workout. It started with doing crunches on a ball (easy enough) while holding a 45 lb plate in front of my face (YIKES!) I got through that part ok, the second part of the routine had me laying on a ball and moving a weight from one side to the other to work my obliques. I tried to use the same 45 lb plate, BIG mistake. I fell off the ball. But, at least there were only about 10 people in that part of the gym. One of the women asked if I was ok, I assured her that only my pride was injured, then I went and got a 10 lb weight and continued my workout. When you first start working out, whether at home or a gym, there will be times when you will be outside your comfort zone. That's good, my comfort zone enabled me to get to 264 lbs. Only when I stepped outside my comfort zone was I able to lose weight. It's easy to go out to lunch with your co-workers even when you brought a healthy lunch, it's easy to get a burger and fries or pizza instead of something healthy. It's easy to have that Coke or Diet Coke when your body needs water. I'm just a ray of sunshine today! So, here's some good news, be meticulous about your diet, Dave Ramsey might call it "Gazelle like intensity" commit to 4 workouts a week, work hard when you workout, set goals. When you reach goals reward yourself. If you work hard for a few months, most of you will reach your goal weight, then you can have the occasional cheeseburger, or chocolate cake. Occasional, Occasional, Occasional
So get out of that comfort zone, be weird. Remember, weird isn't always bad, it's just different.
