Sprite Stitch Board!

no_need wrote: I'm thinking salsa or something along those lines.

DO IT!!!!

Salsa is actually a perfect pick for a beginner. They work with you on how to move your body and the movement isn't too complicated even right at the beginning. You'll have a great time too and probably meet a lot of lovely people. I used to go to salsa three times a week back when I was doing a lot of dance. Its a lot of fun.

I've been off track for awhile now. But I'm getting back into using the C25K app. Tonight I did the Week 3 Day 1 routine, and instead of walking when it told me to I kept running... And I was able to keep going. That was huge motivation for me to keep up with the C25K routine.

I'm also back to usign MyFitnessPal to track my food. I'm feeling the fitness motivation again!

I'm tearing up Jillian Michaels' "Ripped in 30", and am really seeing a big difference in my endurance. I took my son to the park on Tuesday, and ran a nice chunk of the 2.5 miles that we went through. It was a very, very big day for me.

I'm also the closest that I've ever been to my High School weight. I wear leggings without shame. That's a big deal.

It's definitely getting in the way of my stitching time, but I'm trying to overlook that. I start teaching again in two weeks, and I'm also trying not to focus on how that will impact my stitching/exercise time.

yafashelli, that's amazing! Don't forget to congratulate yourself on your achievements!

Just the word miles makes me wanna hide...But I am about to start some cardio program soon, got an elliptical that is just sitting there looking sad. I quit smoking....again....and have put on 30 pounds over the last year and a half, so I got some making up to do. Last time I quit smoking I started running about 5k 3-5 times a week. Got up to about 43 mins after about 6 weeks of running. not bad for a 10+ year smoker, I guess, sooooo now I got to do it allllllll over again. The elliptical is a lot easier on my joints, and it rains about every day in florida so thats great, and Ive really stepped up my game on the quality of food, anything I can get thats organic i get. And if I can I will get the grass fed, no antibiotics, free range ect ect....meat. Quite a price change though, but man is it gooood
Something to look forward to is somehow the more tired you get from exercising the more energy you have....its weird....plus when you sleep it is much deeper and nicer, so you feel better right away. I love the way I hurt after running and such, Its such a....Good? pain? ..... I guess Im just weird like that. LOL.

Batboard, I totally get what you mean about the good pain thing - I have barely been able to exercise at all lately because of how much time I've had to spend at work, and I'm missing that feeling of having had a good workout and feeling good about myself for doing it. I've also noticed that I'm a lot more tired, even though I'm mostly sitting (constant meetings taking up my entire day at work ). I'm only managing to avoid putting on weight by avoiding eating as much as I want to, which has been particularly difficult recently because this is the time of year when all our student workers leave for uni and at my workplace there is an understanding that when you leave, you buy lots of cakes (or samosas - my work has this huge thing about samosas...). It's so hard to walk past cake every day, especially when it's being offered by someone I like - I feel bad about saying no, as if they're going to be offended :/

Finally managed to get to the gym after weeks of not working out due to being stuck at work most evenings for the past month - and I feel awesome. I didn't realise how much I missed working out. I tried a new boxing class which was really fun and helped me work off some of my frustration.

I must not get back into a slump again!

I really need to start working out again. I feel that if I had a partner, then it would make it easier. I had a great time at the 5K when I had a group with me, so I'm thinking that if I could do that in a gym setting that would be awesome.

I'm terrified of the gym. Like, I know a lot of the people wouldn't give me a second glance, but in my head, I just *know* everyone is looking at me and thinking awful things about me. Just one of my many hang-ups that I'm trying to work on.

I've been doing two things to get back in the habit:

• I linked MyFitnessPal with AchieveMint so that I can get points for entering meals and exercise. Eventually I'll get rewarded with a gift card. The thought of getting paid to work out, however pitiful the hourly rate might be, is a motivator.
• My partner had the idea of sticker charts. Each day we have a list of possible activities including 20 mins exercise, cleaning, reading, writing, practicing an instrument, crafting, et cetera. If we check off a certain number of items from the list, we get a sticker for the day. We trade in stickers for rewards, like a new MP3 album or an outing with friends - we also put on impossible goals of trips overseas or commissioning an awesome piece of art for 150 - 200 stickers, so we'd have to be pretty dedicated to achieve them. Sticker charts never worked to get the kids interested in doing their chores, but I'm sure excited.

Kareesh wrote:I'm terrified of the gym. Like, I know a lot of the people wouldn't give me a second glance, but in my head, I just *know* everyone is looking at me and thinking awful things about me. Just one of my many hang-ups that I'm trying to work on.

I felt like that at first, but honestly I think you'll find people are mostly really helpful and supportive. Plus, gym based classes are a great way to meet people who are in the same boat as you. I know it's not for everyone, but seriously, joining the gym was the best decision I've made in a long time.