My first 5k!

I had never entertained the idea of any distance running. I favor sprinting in my cardio because it keeps me busy, focused, and never do I get too short of breath for too long. Truth be told, the idea of RUNNING more than a mile scared me to death. Oh I don’t know why. Runners made it seem like such an occasion (with races and training). Would I be fast enough or let everyone down? Would I injure myself because I’ve never ever [not never] been a runner or an athlete? The very idea raised a lot of anxiety and reluctance for me, so I avoided it. I found myself staring at myself in the mirror the whole time; my treadmill was about three feet from the mirror, so that was easy. It really helped me focus, seeing my body move, it became a measure for me. I didn’t look exhausted, so I must not be. I ran the entire 26 minutes it took, at an incline of 2.0. I acknowledge that running on a treadmill is not like the real deal, but I used to struggle running at 5 mph for one minute. I ran this at 7-8.5mph, for 26 minutes straight, AND I COULD HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. Damn it feels good to be a gangster!

Level Up! Unlocking leg strength and the mysteries of the weight room.

So, do I even lift?

I’ve never lifted “heavy” until now.

The majority of my progress and success in the weight room I’ve accomplished using relatively light weights, the right tempo, and 10-12 reps.

Cautious by nature, and often lacking a reliABLE gym partner, I’ve avoided trying any exercise or weight that might require the spotter I don’t have. The last thing I need is a barbell to the head.

Recently, I’ve stepped away from the fixed barbells and Smith machine into the great unknown…the squat rack. Now to you hardcore testosterone messing crazies, I realize this is a no brainer. Lift the weight, repeat, chest bump, repeat. But for me, this transition took major ballz. Not only am I attempting something for the first time, but I have no spotter, and the squat rack is a place that everyone (even noobz) watches!

So I set up, head down, trying to avoid onlookers gaze. I set the weight to be 135 lb. I got under the bar, and alas, I could lift the damn thing! A silent rite of passage, unappreciated by onlookers.Surprised as I was, I took one brave step back. Easy! Then another! Finally, feet spread, heels ready I dropped into position and pushed. It was easier than I expected, more natural, less stress. So I did it again, and again, and again. On the fifth rep, I tried pressing, really I tried, but my legs wouldn’t do it. So I dropped to my knees, defeated by this damn weight, just like I knew I would be.

No! Not defeated I thought, more aware; Aware of my strengths, abilities, weaknesses, limits, and desires.

The mystery here, is when the safety bar (thank gawd for that) catches the weight that defeated you can’t lift right now, how on the world do you easily (without being too obvious about it) get the bar back to starting position for another set.

This, I don’t know. So, shamed, I continued my sets at the Smith machine, leaving my 135 lb burden for one of the dudes that seemed so interested in it moments before.

My short term goal is to conquer that rack. I want to be able to do 5-8 reps AND re-rack the bar myself. Hopefully I’ll be able to do this by the end of February.

LA Fitness- Macy’s Plaza (Bally’s)

Now how I rate a gym could be a little unconventional, but it’s different for everyone. I’ll be rating gyms based upon:

1 Accessibility
1 Cardio equipment ratio to weights
1 Level of business
1 Group X
1 Employee interaction
1 What “type” of people are there
1 How many times I get hit on with headphones in
1 Layout

I immediately had a bad taste in my mouth the second the elevator opened and revealed a mall. I mean I knew it was near a mall, but inside?! Already ugh on location; I don’t even give a shit if you validate, I’m going to have to walk my swampy-workout-ass back out of this mall, and that’s awkward as hell, so no thank you. (0)

I think it’s important to mention, while my boyfriend and I were still waiting for an elevator down to the gym (which took way too long) I had a tingle of suspicion and moved my purse from the front seat of his car to the trunk.

So once you go a floor further down than the maps say you should, you eventually find their janky ass gym. I’ve been with 24hourfitness for years until recently, and I always knew it to be true that LA Fitness had (and boasted) nicer facilities, while 24 cornered the market for the poor man and “don’t give a FUUUUUCK” types. There’s a desk and a bunch of cardio equipment facing you (and visible to the mall through windows). They have tons of flat screens, none if which were on. I regretably had a dead cell phone, a situation made worse once I realized none of the equipment had headphone jacks on which to listen to the powered off TV’S 😦 But, in their favor they did have a great selection of cardio equipment (none of which seemed out of order). The free weights were accessible and there were plenty, but the machines were lacking some essentials (back extension, assisted pull up, etc..). (0.5)

Something else to know is that they’re completely remodeling the place in a couple weeks.

It was a shitty gym, so it’s almost pointless to confirm that the place was dead. Soooooo I guess (1) for level of business.

There was no indication that Group X was offered, although I’m sure it will once the remodel happens. (0)

Now I suppose I’ll clue you in on the real kicker of this gem of a place…my boyfriends backpack was stolen it of his locker. Lock clipped. Luckily, the asshat left his car keys. But what a bummer!! I think my weird give about my purse was meant for him 😦

Anyway, the staff was as helpful as possible in regards to this incident. “Alfredo” took down our info and actually shortly after we left called to say that the backpack was found (empty of course) in the restroom. Employee interaction (1)

Pretty much just women and hispanics at the gym. No real problem with douchebags of any kind, OH WAIT, THERE’S THIEVES THERE (-1)

I wasn’t hit on, so that’s cool (1)

The layout was complete bullshit, confusing and poorly executed. (0)

Total: 2.5/8

Won’t ever go back. Not never.

LA Fitness- Pasadena

When you think of gyms in southern California a few things might come to mind: bronze, muscle bound bodies; unattainable physiques; plastic people, with a passion for fitness you can’t wrap your head around. In my brief experience in LA, you may be correct in thinking this, save the Pasadena location…

Two immediate conclusions I’ve made about the city of Pasadena based on this particular gym are:

There are no young people in Pasadena.

There seem to be many “differently abled” people and senior citizens.

Now how I rate a gym could be a little unconventional, but it’s different for everyone. I’ll be rating gyms based upon:

1 Accessibility
1 Cardio equipment ratio to weights
1 Level of business
1 Group X
1 Employee interaction
1 What “type” of people are there
1 How many times I get hit on with headphones in
1 Layout

Accessibility at Pasadena was alright. Very easy to find, Part of a business park (there’s a parking garage). I was able to have my parking validated, but the front desk girl informed me that parking was now $5 a day. Boo indeed (0.5)

Cardio equipment was easy to come by, but all the ellipticals looking over the pec deck had no TV’s (an unexpected twist given the overall niceness of the gym). Weight floor was ok, but lacked some foresight which I’ll get to in layout. (0.5)

The level of business was nice, it wasn’t empty but it wasn’t packed at all. I had at least a free people to state at during my warm up on the sans TV ellipticals. A spin class I saw was about 1/3 full. I arrived at about noon. (1.0)

Group X was pretty much a joke. I didn’t try it, and wouldn’t, because the spin class instructor WAS Jerry Garcia. Donning a Bob Marley tee and a huge gut, the guy want even on a bike. He was standing i’m front of the class telling them what to do. It looked like this:

I don’t know of you’ve ever taken a spin class, but for me it’s imperative that EVERYONE SUFFERS AS I SUFFER. (0)

Employee interaction was fine, the front desk girl was nice and NOT texting. (I’ll later update with my terrible customer service experiences at LA Fitness and you’ll know why this is it’s own section). (1)

Now, this gym had no meat heads to speak of. It was almost a miracle. There was hardly a hard body i’m the place. But they did have quite a few seniors and disabled people, so if you’re in a hurry, you probably wouldn’t be able to work in. Not a motivating location. (0)

Probably partially due to the clientele (and my winter weight) I wasn’t hit on once! This was a welcome surprise. Usually they come in droves. Trying to help with my “form.” (1)

Layout. Ugghh, four flights of stairs between the three levels. All of which a well rounded workout would use. Not great unless you’re doing cardio on, stairs between sets. (0)

Rating: 4/8

I probably won’t go back unless I happen to be in the area. It offers all the amenities possible, but I didn’t enjoy the layout.

2013: Lean, mean, and ultra clean

Goodbye 2012! What a journey! This past year had been full of personal failures and triumphs for me. I accomplished many things I never expected to be able to do; whether the road block was a physical limitation, a mental one, or luck of the draw.

I got in great shape at the beginning of 2012, following a great program (Jamie Eason’s 12 week LIVEFIT trainer) off bodybuilding.com. I fell off track around April for many reasons. I think once I got results I wanted I assumed (naively) that I was set. Among the other reasons were the 18 units I was taking to complete my degree and the late nights I was working (until four am) trying to get into bartending.

A basically a huge lack of motivation kept me from making extra efforts to stick to my plan, and so I watched my hard earned definition vanish, steadily.

I did succeed in quitting smoking, but it was a long road, one that only ended recently. This was also a factor in packing on a few more pounds. The commitment to my education paid off in other ways, I finally graduated! A huge deal and a very long time coming.

The last half of the year was a blur; I was planning a move to L.A. to live with my boyfriend, and so a lot of things never panned out in regards to getting myself back on a workout routine. I seemed to always be taking a final, starting a new job, or taking trips to LA.

I’M FINALLY IN L.A.

Settled, found a gym (LA FITNESS), and I’m starting to feel like a normal woman again instead of one constantly in transition.

I begrudgingly joined LA FITNESS by the way, and I fully intend on updating with detailed reviews of their individual locations in the LA area.

Feeling great, more to come.

P.S. Got a puppy, named Tallulah, follow her on instagram @tallulahgram

new shoes!

$40!

Core or bust

Today I did this lower body circuit.

It went okay.. I did intervals of 3.7/8.5.

I did captive lunges instead of using the dumbbells and I used 10 lb dumbbells on the standing calf raises.

It was a nightmare. I definitely had to take breaks in a “don’t fall over” sorta way.

Begrudgingly I got through it, and I feel better for having done so. But damn, cardio-leg day is not anything I’ve ever done. In fact usually I don’t do any cardio whatsoever on leg day. So the hiit training really tore me up.

I got after it though, and I can’t wait for tomorrow.

Inspiration

Today, I did this

And it was pretty great.

Aside from this bodybuilder guy trying to pitch me shit, and then apologizing in a really backhanded way:

“Do you want me to put those dumbbells away for you?”

I take out an ear bud

“Uh, no. Still using them.”

He smirks

“Are you sure? You can lift something heavier, we don’t mind.”

I wipe some sweat off my forehead

“Cool.”

He walks away

Man was I miffed.
He soon came back and apologized. Probably having taken in my PISSED-off-ness.

“I’m sorry, I was just pitching you shit because I can see you have strength“

The worst part of this encounter came after his apology. When I realized he was sorta right. I was keeping the weight intentionally really low, since the circuit uses such high reps without rest, but I had never really tested myself. I actually pulled like an extra ten pounds on a couple things when I tried.

Todays lesson….

Sometimes the best motivation is being told you can’t.

Sometimes better motivation is being told that you can.

Ooooh yeah, and today I officially finished school. So it seems the general lesson is, you can do more than you know.

Cutting (yourself off)

Changing your lifestyle is difficult. There are many variables and obstacles to overcome; some actively working against you. For me, my obstacles are mostly my friends, and myself. What I consider “fun” usually doesn’t include healthy habits.

Always a social butterfly, I love a good party. I’m also obsessed with my friendships. Unfortunately, things need to change because none if my friends share any of my goals. I’ve talked about this in previous entries and it’s hard to admit that it’s not a good fit anymore, but many people stand in my way. Truth be told, all things considered, can’t afford it anymore.

I’ve been soooooo lucky to have recently found a great job, with great people! I’ve been in the service industry for years and never have I found an environment of co-workers that are so healthy and encouraging of one another. I wish I had gotten this gig years ago. That being said, I have an huge move coming toward the end of the year, and it’s weighing hard on my psyche. I feel like I’m waiting for my life to start, all while trying to cut out many people and things from my life currently. It’s a hard position to be in, and I feel like I don’t belong anywhere anymore. I started writing to keep from crying today. It’s worked so far..

On the plus side, the inner turmoil has made cardio a real treat! I’ve been zoning out lately during my HIIT training and I really really love it