Gym Time!

We recently joined the local YMCA, and I absolutely love it. I don't even know how many times we've been. Ian, unfortunately, hasn't been able to go with us yet. But Cayman asks him all the time (mainly, because one time I said that we can't go to the pool unless Daddy is with us. So now Cayman wants to Daddy to go with us to the gym so we can all go swimming together.) Cayman and Charis both love going into the play area. Charis sometimes has a difficult time adjusting to a new environment where we drop her off and leave. But she had no issues whatsoever at the gym. I think it helps that her and Bubba both go in together. :)

Since we got back from our trip last month, I have been trying to be very careful about what and how much food I consume. I have cut back drastically on my portion sizes, portioned out some yummy snacks, choose different foods at restaurants (especially Chick-fil-A), and use my new favorite app, My Fitness Pal, to keep up with how many calories I consume as well as I how many calories I burn. I'm happy with how much weight I've lost, I refuse to take one of those horrible before/after type pictures to post online, but I was excited to buy a smaller size pair of pants at the store last night (and I didn't even have to SQUEEZE myself into them, if you know what I mean!) I love eating salads (loaded with veggies, not with cheese and dressing), I do miss a good ol' order of a Chick-fil-A Sandwich and waffle fries with a medium cherry coke... But sometimes I'll order the sandwich (usually when I've just had an awful day and just need a little comfort food) but I've switched to the wheat bun and cut it in half and save the rest for the next day, order a side salad instead of fries with fat free honey mustard and I've switched to diet soda/coke zero/water only. I also generally skip one day a week so that I don't get too burned out or calorie starved. :) This means that when we go to eat out, I'm not overly concerned with counting calories, and I generally eat a much smaller portion than I used to. Especially my all-time favorite - supreme nachos at a Mexican restaurant. Mmm....mouth is watering already! Oh well. Not today! :)

I'm kind of easing my way into fitness/working out. I haven't tried a class yet (a little nervous to do classes because I am WAY uncoordinated.) I usually do a machine - I don't know the name of it - but it's a little like stair climbing, and a little like running. So far I can do 12 minutes on it and burn over 100 calories. I was proud of myself until I glanced at the lady's machine beside me and she had burned 361 calories! I've got a long way to go, but I'm proud of my 12 minutes. Then I usually do one or two of the weight machines (honestly, they're the ones I actually remember how to use from my weight lifting class in high school since I haven't met with a trainer yet who gives you guides you through each machine...gotta add that to my list of things to do at the gym!) Then I spend about 20 minutes on a bike - this is my favorite time. I usually bike about 7 miles (next week I will aim for 10-12 miles), but I love that I can usually read a magazine while I'm biking. So it's a workout, but it's also fairly relaxing to me. Next week I will take "The Help" with me since my sweet MIL mailed it to me, and now I finally have a chance to start it!

Following my workout, I head to the locker room. I've had to get over my shock at seeing other women walking around butt naked. Just being honest here, people. :) But now that I'm over that, I thoroughly enjoy my time in the LR. I mean, I get to take a nice, hot shower (and I'm not paying the water bill either - haha), I can do my hair and make-up (if we have errands to run afterwards), my kids are well taken care of (and not running around the house doing who knows what), AND that means that I have all of nap time to clean the house, etc instead of spending that time taking a shower which is what I used to do! Ahh.... Life is good... Ian pokes fun at me sometimes because I spend 30 minutes working out and the rest of the two hour limit for childcare showering/dressing/getting ready in the LR (which is an exaggeration...I don't ALWAYS spend that much time...just the one time I dried and straightened my hair before going to a Kids' Night at Chick-fil-A!) :)

We're trying to decide whether we should sign Cayman up for T-ball or swimming lessons through the Y. Cayman wants to do T-ball (the boy LOVES baseball and is kind of a natural at it, and all sports, just like his Daddy), but I want him to be more comfortable in the water before this summer... Decisions, decisions...

So. There's no photo today, because I don't want you to have to see me in my workout attire or in the locker room - there's not really a need for that. :)