I orginially started with p90x since Frank had been doing it, got great results, and pushed me to do the same. I hate P90x. I never looked forward to it. I got frustrated with the weight lifting because I felt like I wasn't burning any fat. And I didn't enjoy one minute! So, ofcourse after a few weeks I stopped.
After that I joined a gym with the expectation that paying for a membership every month would be motivation to keep going--plus my best friend is a member at the same gym. This worked for about...2 months. Then, I started to get sick of the drive since the gym was a bit further (I thought the distance wouldn't be a problem for motivation since my friend would be there). Then, my friend started to stop going...hence why I stopped going. And subsequently wasted a ton of money for the following...9 months or so...
After that I got motivated again and tried to combine P90x with running. My sister had been running like a fiend and was getting amazing results! I tried an app on my iphone called "couch to 5k" with hopes to sign up for a race in the fall. So, I began running around my house. It was SO difficult. I have exercise induced asthma which totally throws a wrench into everything, but I was determined, yet again, to overcome it with an inhaler and perseverance. However, the summer was probably not the smartest time of year to begin this. It was hot. I got tired quickly. The pollen and grass was NOT helping the whole asthma situation (as I am allergic to most plants outside. AND I was not keeping up with the P90x for 2 reasons. 1. It was too much to expect myself to all of a sudden do 90 minute workouts each day AND run for 30 minutes. 2. I still hated p90x. ALOT. I actually gained alot of weight doing it and it still did not make me feel any better. (except maybe the ab ripper X)
Then the fall semester happened. I ate horribly. I gained weight. I felt like crap. I told myself the lie that I was too tired and too busy to fit workouts into my schedule. So I did absolutely nothing. All. semester. long. Then, I tried to cancel my gym membership and was told that I actually signed up for an 18 month contract and had the membership until May if I liked it or not. Also, I realized that I was getting married in 6 months if I liked it or not and was not going to like the way I looked in a bathing suit--which would probably ruin my vacation to Punta Cana if I didn't get my tooshy in gear REAL fast.
So, all of that to say: I started slow this time. Ditched what I hated, because exercise is supposed to be alittle enjoyable. I'm not going to go back to the workout if it makes me want to pull my hair out and scream. So, I picked 2 days a week to go to the gym with my friend (who fortunately now goes regularly again). When I go, I don't kill myself, I just do as much cardio as I can--usually 40-50 minutes. I've tried to use the treadmill when I can and alternate between running and walking .5 miles at a time. This was challenging at first, but with a friend it really helped pass the time. Now, I've been trying to go 3x a week and I've been using the cardio ab workout from Insanity when I can (Frank owns it). I love that ab work out...and the Insanity workout altogether. But, I've been losing stomach fat and beginning to see results a little bit at a time. Ofcourse this includes cutting out fast food and other gross things that are fried (I try to tell myself they're gross...).
I am by NO means there yet. I am still working on it and still have days when I just want to skip the gym and take a nap. And I honestly don't think that 3 days is enough to get the results I want, but I realized to keep up with a routine I had to start small. I've been going strong for 2 months now! I just got to keep it up.
And today I am writing this, because I had one of the best runs I've had yet. I ran the longest I've ever run straight through without stopping--OUTSIDE! Granted, it's winter and it's crazy warm for February, so I have the best of both worlds (no pollen and warm air). But I also realized that I really enjoy running. I finally got that feeling of refreshment and rejuvenation afterwards that I've heard people talk about but never really understood. It felt amazing! And I want more!
I hope I can keep this up! No, I don't hope. I'm determined. I will keep this up.
