It's been a week and results are decent. Last week I jumped back into Pilates in full swing but wore myself out that first day; I didn't watch another Pilates video all week. Instead, I focused on doing the beginner exercises during the week while also taking care to watch what I eat. It's Lent season and so I've sworn off the comfort foods for Lent, which will not only help in my goals concerning that, but also my goals concerning this.
I'm down a little over three pounds since last week, a good start and a nice pace. In the past, I would have been upset at such a small mark but seeing as I have till May before I put on a swimsuit (you won't be seeing me in one before that: if you do, God help us all) I can take my time. Plus, if I do this well enough, I might be able to get into the 130s. The last time I did that was nearly two years ago and I had little muscle mass, so it looked freaky.
I definitely have muscle mass this time around and I'd like to give the 130s another go, but we'll see. The first goal is to drop that ten pounds.
Today, a new Blogilates video popped up on my newsfeed and it was focusing on my focus: Abs. The video was about the five best ab exercises and I only actually knew the first one, the Double Leg Lift. Cassey makes a very good point that our body reflects mostly what we eat and that exercise/genetics play a role in the rest. That's a good thing to remember for me and others, especially during this time of year when the summer (*dramatic music*) approaches.
So, I started with the Double Leg Lifts and found them a bit of a challenge, though I accomplished them easily enough. The workouts from last week have helped bring me closer into Pilates shape so the first exercise didn't take too much out of me.
Next, though, was the Reverse Crunch. This thing is a BEAST. It kills me every time because it blends the movement with balance (not a strong suit of mine). Lifting the legs in the air is fine for me, but bringing them back down slowly is difficult and trying not to fall backwards or over on the initial movement is also difficult. I like this move, though, don't get me wrong but it's a like that's resentful. I'd never say it to this move's face.
After that, my pulse was racing and I could feel my abs starting to hurt. Next move after that was the Heel Clicks. The hardest part of this move was keeping my legs up. Other than that, the strain was minimal and the break was nice.
The Cheerleader Ls followed. Brutality. This is the one that killed my abs. Up to this point I had managed to reserve some stamina, I knew a tough one was coming, but this one was tough. Holding the leg up and my shoulders up like that, while maintaining balance without my hands on the floor ... it was a very tall order. My heartrate spiked here and I was straining. Towards the end of this exercise I just had to lay down (which was allowed but really for beginners, which I'm so not).
She followed that up with the Rocket, which I was barely able to do. I didn't do them well.
At the end, abs were hurting. I was feeling it. Mission accomplished.
Now, all that said, the next week will prove to be an interesting one. I can make some big progress this week if I really push it, though whether I do or not is another question. I really don't want to push too hard because I feel like if I hit a wall I'll go for the ice cream in the freezer (which I realize I shouldn't have bought but it's my least favorite flavor, so the temptation isn't great). Slow and steady is what I'm aiming for ... but if I can be down that first ten or so pounds to my fighting weight (145) and then go into the 130s by the end of the month, I'd be really pleased.
We'll see. I have a tendency to be overly ambitious and hate myself when I don't meet said goals.
Anyways, this week will be about taking advantage of the nice-ish weather (sunny and in the 50s) while also maintaining good eating habits (key) as well as being productive in other areas of my life (writing). I think I've managed that, to some degree, today as I did go for a nice morning walk (two miles roundtrip), ate a pretty decent lunch (ham and cheese) and did write some.
Overall, the first week has gone well. We'll see what week two holds and whether or not I can minimize the sad sack of loose skin before swimsuit time hits. Thanks for reading, folks.
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