I completed my first week of CURVES! In order to get my running and CURVES workouts in, I made it a goal to get in to their fitness center at 6:30am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The first workout left me wondering if it was possible to sweat during their circuit. There is one machine that measures your heart rate and my target was to get it between 132-152 bpm. When I hopped on and started moving, my heart rate was at 103. I sped up but only managed to get it to about 106. I decided that if this CURVES workout was going to be worth my time, I needed to somehow make the circuit harder.
I am a goal person and so for my second workout I was ready to take it up a notch. I decided that before I got to the heart rate machine, I needed to have already gotten my heart rate up because that machine alone was not going to do it. During the cardio circuit stations, I did jumping jacks, jumping knee lifts, and whatever jumping exercise I could come up with. I felt a little out of place because all the other ladies were just walking in place. I tried not to let that phase me and just kept going. When I came to the heart rate machine, I had definitely broken a sweat! My heart rate: 132. I'm used to working out in the 145-165 range and so I knew I needed to kick it up another level. With the CURVES workout, you go through the entire circuit twice and so the second time around, I pushed harder and manged to get my heart rate up to 141. Not bad for my second workout. I left feeling optimistic about their set up. If you want to get a good workout at CURVES, it is possible.
During my third visit, I pushed harder and got my heart rate to 152. Very fun! The only complaint I have about their workouts so far is that I was not sore at all. This of course could have to do with me. I guess I'll see how it continues to go. Since I have finished my first three training workouts, I will get my SmartCard on Monday. From now on, my workouts will be personalized to me. This of course makes me super excited because now I can track my progress!
Another thing I did this week was try their eating plan. I was pretty happy with my current eating habits but decided that since this is CURVES month, I should test out their plan. Here's what I think after one week of being on it. I'll start with the positive things first:
1. Good recipes that are organized by phases and specific meal plans.
2. Recipes are written for one person.
3. Good variety of foods used.
4. You don't feel hungry throughout the day.
5. Provides vegetarian alternatives for almost all of their recipes.
Some of the not-so-good things:
1. Recipes use a lot more processed foods than I would like.
2. Many of the recipes include cheese. This can get expensive especially if you buy organic.
3. High sodium vegetarian alternatives.
4. Because of the processed foods, there is craving for more of the processed stuff. This could be just my thing because I really like the whole, minimally processed food which pretty much eliminates cravings and the tendency to overeat. I found myself gravitating towards the not so healthy food choices this week.
Overall, not a bad eating plan but I don't think it's the right one for me. I decided to go back to my regular eating for now.
My goal this week at CURVES is to strike up a conversation with someone during every visit. I tend to focus on what I'm doing and sorta ignore other people, which is something I realize I have to work on. There's more to fitness and health than achieving physical goals. Relationships with others bring a level of well being that can't be achieved on a treadmill. I love interacting with people but my natural tendency is not to initiate encounters. I am very friendly when others approach me but rarely take the initiative myself. This week, I will try to step out of this comfort zone and reach out to my fellow CURVES ladies. Wish me luck!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
May is about CURVES
My resolution for this month came to me unexpectedly. Last week I was sorting through mail at the church when I came across an envelope addressed to me. I opened it and found a very nice letter from the owner of the local CURVES fitness center. It so happens that they want to do something nice for pastor's wives in the area and are giving us a free 12 month membership to their facility. I was touched on various levels.
After the warm fuzzies cleared, I realized that I knew nothing about CURVES other than that a lot of older women enjoy going. Immediately, I started to visualize all these elderly women in a little gym working out together. I could hear the elevator music that probably played in the background, and I started to put the letter and free membership aside. But then I started to think about some of the great things I had experienced as a result of my April resolution. One of the main lessons I learned was to try new things even if at first you think you may not like them. So in that moment, I made the decision to set up an appointment and go. After all, it was going to cost me nothing, other than the commitment of 30 minutes a day, several times a week. I really had nothing to lose.
If you have never tried CURVES and are wondering what it's all about, this month, I will be documenting my experience. My May resolution is to attend CURVES faithfully and do their program. I will share my thoughts about CURVES, the people I meet, and the results I get in the next 30 days.
I went in for my first meeting with them on Friday and during that time, I also had a fitness assessment done. I don't remember all my numbers, but I will share the ones I do. But before I disclose my weight, measurements, and body fat percentage, I have to tell you about my first real life experience with my local CURVES fitness center.
First Visit
CURVES is everything I thought it would be and more. The receptionist was extremely friendly and chipper. I just had to smile being around her. As I looked around, there were older ladies working out at the various machines. I couldn't help but notice that I was by far the youngest one there. While I was filling out paperwork, the owner came over and commented on how young I looked. "Are you in High School?" she asked. Before I could answer the receptionist piped in, loud enough for all to hear "Oh no, she's 30! The conversation that ensued, much to my embarrassment, was about how young I looked and how amazing it was that I had no wrinkles at the age of 30. All the little old ladies just looked at me. Yes, it was a little awkward but in a strange way, it made me feel good. Not having as many noticeable wrinkles is definitely a compliment even if it was a little embarrassing that it was pointed out to everyone there.
After that conversation ended, the lively receptionist explained the CURVES philosophy and program. I must say that I was drawn in. The hook that got me was their nifty computer program that tracks ALL your workouts and progress. I love having goals! They also reward you for meeting your goals which is a definite plus because I LOVE to get gold stars :) Because everything is computerized, yes, even their machines, your workouts are designed based on your targets. I thought this was a cool feature. Another thing I liked is that you can work as hard as you want. The machines adjust to the intensity you put out but also encourage you to go at a certain level in order to meet your target. It will be interesting to see if I am able to get a hard workout. I am somewhat skeptical because older ladies are drawn to it. If those machines had really hard workout potential, why aren't more fit people using them? I guess I'll find out.
There were some things that I didn't think were so great. The checking in process seemed a bit complicated but that could be because I'm new and was getting a lot of information all at once. When you come in, you have to change shoes. I think this is annoying. The other thing that caught my attention was the interesting background voice that periodically chimes in to prompt you to move to the next station. "You are smart!", "You are intelligent!", "You are sexy!" Not sure what else to say about that other than it was hard not to laugh every time I heard her. In time, I may find her motivating. I'll just have to wait and find out.
After I was somewhat oriented to their process, it was off to the scale, tape measure, and body fat device.
Fitness Assessment
Here are my Day 1 stats as I remember them.
Height: 5'9
Hips: 41 inches
Biceps: 12 inches
Waist: 33 inches
Thighs: 23 inches
Weight: 166.5
Body Fat Percentage: 30%
BMI: 24.6
The exciting thing about my numbers is that they were all within the normal range. Granted they were in the higher range for normal, but normal nonetheless :) What this means is that I am no longer in the overweight category! I'm not sure what CURVES will do in terms of my numbers, but I think something is bound to change. The changes I would like is to see is in the weight and body fat percentage areas. I weighed in during the afternoon, with clothes, so my actual weight is lower. But by the end of the month, I would like it to be 160 on their scale. Body Fat Percentage wise, I'd like it at around 28-29%.
I'm excited to begin the CURVE journey. I have a feeling I'm going to meet some great people along the way! Maybe I'll even start liking the voice-over-motivation lady. Bring on May!!
After the warm fuzzies cleared, I realized that I knew nothing about CURVES other than that a lot of older women enjoy going. Immediately, I started to visualize all these elderly women in a little gym working out together. I could hear the elevator music that probably played in the background, and I started to put the letter and free membership aside. But then I started to think about some of the great things I had experienced as a result of my April resolution. One of the main lessons I learned was to try new things even if at first you think you may not like them. So in that moment, I made the decision to set up an appointment and go. After all, it was going to cost me nothing, other than the commitment of 30 minutes a day, several times a week. I really had nothing to lose.
If you have never tried CURVES and are wondering what it's all about, this month, I will be documenting my experience. My May resolution is to attend CURVES faithfully and do their program. I will share my thoughts about CURVES, the people I meet, and the results I get in the next 30 days.
I went in for my first meeting with them on Friday and during that time, I also had a fitness assessment done. I don't remember all my numbers, but I will share the ones I do. But before I disclose my weight, measurements, and body fat percentage, I have to tell you about my first real life experience with my local CURVES fitness center.
First Visit
CURVES is everything I thought it would be and more. The receptionist was extremely friendly and chipper. I just had to smile being around her. As I looked around, there were older ladies working out at the various machines. I couldn't help but notice that I was by far the youngest one there. While I was filling out paperwork, the owner came over and commented on how young I looked. "Are you in High School?" she asked. Before I could answer the receptionist piped in, loud enough for all to hear "Oh no, she's 30! The conversation that ensued, much to my embarrassment, was about how young I looked and how amazing it was that I had no wrinkles at the age of 30. All the little old ladies just looked at me. Yes, it was a little awkward but in a strange way, it made me feel good. Not having as many noticeable wrinkles is definitely a compliment even if it was a little embarrassing that it was pointed out to everyone there.
After that conversation ended, the lively receptionist explained the CURVES philosophy and program. I must say that I was drawn in. The hook that got me was their nifty computer program that tracks ALL your workouts and progress. I love having goals! They also reward you for meeting your goals which is a definite plus because I LOVE to get gold stars :) Because everything is computerized, yes, even their machines, your workouts are designed based on your targets. I thought this was a cool feature. Another thing I liked is that you can work as hard as you want. The machines adjust to the intensity you put out but also encourage you to go at a certain level in order to meet your target. It will be interesting to see if I am able to get a hard workout. I am somewhat skeptical because older ladies are drawn to it. If those machines had really hard workout potential, why aren't more fit people using them? I guess I'll find out.
There were some things that I didn't think were so great. The checking in process seemed a bit complicated but that could be because I'm new and was getting a lot of information all at once. When you come in, you have to change shoes. I think this is annoying. The other thing that caught my attention was the interesting background voice that periodically chimes in to prompt you to move to the next station. "You are smart!", "You are intelligent!", "You are sexy!" Not sure what else to say about that other than it was hard not to laugh every time I heard her. In time, I may find her motivating. I'll just have to wait and find out.
After I was somewhat oriented to their process, it was off to the scale, tape measure, and body fat device.
Fitness Assessment
Here are my Day 1 stats as I remember them.
Height: 5'9
Hips: 41 inches
Biceps: 12 inches
Waist: 33 inches
Thighs: 23 inches
Weight: 166.5
Body Fat Percentage: 30%
BMI: 24.6
The exciting thing about my numbers is that they were all within the normal range. Granted they were in the higher range for normal, but normal nonetheless :) What this means is that I am no longer in the overweight category! I'm not sure what CURVES will do in terms of my numbers, but I think something is bound to change. The changes I would like is to see is in the weight and body fat percentage areas. I weighed in during the afternoon, with clothes, so my actual weight is lower. But by the end of the month, I would like it to be 160 on their scale. Body Fat Percentage wise, I'd like it at around 28-29%.
I'm excited to begin the CURVE journey. I have a feeling I'm going to meet some great people along the way! Maybe I'll even start liking the voice-over-motivation lady. Bring on May!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Lincoln Marathon Race Recap
Today was the perfect day to be running in the Lincoln Marathon. There was no wind and the temperature was perfect. While I was waiting for the race to start, I had a sense of peace. I knew that I would give it my best and that I would feel strong throughout the course. It's funny that in that moment, I didn't even think about how it would feel to finish or if I would achieve my goal of a sub 2:00 half marathon. My focus, at least before the race started, was on taking everything in. There is something magical about being surrounded by people that share the same passion as you. Right before the gun sounded, I was imagining us all as super heroes, all dressed up in our special attire, meeting together to conquer something. On any other day we would all be dressed in our regular clothing going about the day like everyone else, without anyone noticing that underneath the normalcy of our lives, we are runners. I know this probably sounds a bit dreamy but that's what I was thinking about right before we took off. To top it all off, I had a silly, almost giddy smile plastered on my face.
I can remember every mile because from the time I crossed the start mat, I worked very hard. Every single step and mile took effort. I spoke very little the entire time and tried to focus on keeping a good pace. Every once in awhile, a smile would appear on my face as I thought of all the running superheros out to conquer the world together. But overall, I was very focused. My husband stayed by my side the entire time and made sure I knew where we were in regards to making our goal. He was amazing the whole time with affirmation, support, getting me water, guiding me as we wove through people. I know I couldn't have gotten the time I did without him. In regards to pace, I was all over the place but for the entire race stayed on track to meet the 2:00 mark. Here are my mile splits:
Mile One: 9:12
Mile Two: 8:52
Mile Three: 9:16
Mile Four: 9:10
Mile Five: 9:06
Mile Six: 8:34
Mile Seven: 8:47
Mile Eight: 9:15
Mile Nine: 9:30 ( big hill and stomach issues)
Mile Ten: 9:03
Mile Eleven: 9:17
Mile Twelve: 9:34 (Stomach issues again)
Mile Thirteen: 9:38 (Hit some kind of wall and had a hard time picking up the pace to finish strong)
the last tenth of a mile: 53 seconds
When we hit mile twelve, I was really struggling. I knew that I had to keep a fast pace and I wasn't sure If I could do it. Looking back now, I know that I could have but at the time, it felt impossible. We crossed the finish in 2:00:14. I remember feeling annoyed. If I would have pushed just a little harder, I would have gotten my sub 2:00 time. 14 seconds! Going just a few seconds faster each mile would have done it. But alas, it was not mine to be had this time. I've had some time to reflect on my finish time and have found comfort in several things. First, I ran hard today and I'm proud of that. Second, I set a PR! I totally smashed my previous half marathon time. I cut it by 21 minutes! Third, I am very motivated to train for another half and totally kill it.
I would say that today was a good day. No, I didn't meet my ultimate goal but I still feel good about the race. When we were heading out of Lincoln on Hwy 2, I looked over at the empty bike trail. Just a few hours before it had been packed with super hero runners and now they were gone. We all had returned to our normal lives. Many will never know what took place on the trail today and the dreams that were realized. But as I was driving by, I understood the sweat and effort that every runner put out today, and it made me smile. In a strange way, the connection I felt to all those other runners, brought me comfort and a renewed commitment to lace up my shoes tomorrow and keep running.
Here are some pics from today's race :)
I can remember every mile because from the time I crossed the start mat, I worked very hard. Every single step and mile took effort. I spoke very little the entire time and tried to focus on keeping a good pace. Every once in awhile, a smile would appear on my face as I thought of all the running superheros out to conquer the world together. But overall, I was very focused. My husband stayed by my side the entire time and made sure I knew where we were in regards to making our goal. He was amazing the whole time with affirmation, support, getting me water, guiding me as we wove through people. I know I couldn't have gotten the time I did without him. In regards to pace, I was all over the place but for the entire race stayed on track to meet the 2:00 mark. Here are my mile splits:
Mile One: 9:12
Mile Two: 8:52
Mile Three: 9:16
Mile Four: 9:10
Mile Five: 9:06
Mile Six: 8:34
Mile Seven: 8:47
Mile Eight: 9:15
Mile Nine: 9:30 ( big hill and stomach issues)
Mile Ten: 9:03
Mile Eleven: 9:17
Mile Twelve: 9:34 (Stomach issues again)
Mile Thirteen: 9:38 (Hit some kind of wall and had a hard time picking up the pace to finish strong)
the last tenth of a mile: 53 seconds
When we hit mile twelve, I was really struggling. I knew that I had to keep a fast pace and I wasn't sure If I could do it. Looking back now, I know that I could have but at the time, it felt impossible. We crossed the finish in 2:00:14. I remember feeling annoyed. If I would have pushed just a little harder, I would have gotten my sub 2:00 time. 14 seconds! Going just a few seconds faster each mile would have done it. But alas, it was not mine to be had this time. I've had some time to reflect on my finish time and have found comfort in several things. First, I ran hard today and I'm proud of that. Second, I set a PR! I totally smashed my previous half marathon time. I cut it by 21 minutes! Third, I am very motivated to train for another half and totally kill it.
I would say that today was a good day. No, I didn't meet my ultimate goal but I still feel good about the race. When we were heading out of Lincoln on Hwy 2, I looked over at the empty bike trail. Just a few hours before it had been packed with super hero runners and now they were gone. We all had returned to our normal lives. Many will never know what took place on the trail today and the dreams that were realized. But as I was driving by, I understood the sweat and effort that every runner put out today, and it made me smile. In a strange way, the connection I felt to all those other runners, brought me comfort and a renewed commitment to lace up my shoes tomorrow and keep running.
Here are some pics from today's race :)
Before the race
Me after the race
My Love :)
My Running Buddies! They did great today too!!!
So now that the race is over, I have decided to keep training for another half marathon. Fourteen seconds will not stand in the way of me and my goal of a sub 2:00 time! I will get it and I know that it will happen soon. This race gave me great insights into some of my weaknesses, which in the great scheme of things truly is a gift. Not making my goal, has caused me to pause and reflect on how I could have run the race differently. I know that I am capable of much more than I thought and that there truly are no limits other than the ones I set for myself. I am a better person for having run this race today :)
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