JC Dill

No, it wasn’t a big desert. It was yesterday evening at the gym. For the first time I did 1000 calories in one session. It took about 80 minutes on the elliptical trainer. I followed up with working out on 2 different weight machines, then came home to my sister’s house and soaked in the hot tub for a few minutes. I’m not even sore today. Go me!

A few weeks ago, I guy I’m really attracted to said (in the nicest way possible) that he’s more attracted to a fit and toned body than “the michelin man”. Well duh! I *knew* that a fit and toned body is more attractive, but hearing it from someone else in this sweet way was the motivation I needed. I was already planning on joining a gym, had already worked out at several gyms to find out what worked for me and which gym I wanted to join. I renewed my determination to get fit, joined a gym and started working out daily, sometimes even twice daily. (On a good day I burn 300-400 calories in the morning, and 500-600 more in the evening. If I can keep that going 7 days a week and that’s 2 lbs a week lost just from the increased exercise!)

Today I’m down 10 lbs.

Thanks for the motivation!

I joined 24 Hour Fitness a few weeks ago, following a 25 day trial in October and a 7 day trial at Gold’s Gym which allowed me to compare the facilities and ensure that I was committed to working out before I committed to paying the enrollment/processing/membership fees. When I finally decided to join 24 Hour, I convinced the manager to give me their “best deal” which turned out to be an unadvertised coupon given to employees to sign-up their friends and family – $24 a month with no enrollment or processing fee!

I started out with a relatively modest (and thus achievable) goal, 30 minutes on an elliptical trainer 3-4 times a week. In the beginning, sometimes 20 minutes was all I could manage but as time went on I was able to increase to 30, then 40 without too much trouble. Occasionally I would do some work on the weight machines as I cooled down.

As with anything, with practice things get easier and as it gets easier it becomes more rewarding.

Lately I’ve taken to going twice a day. I currently aim for burning 300 calories in the morning (~25 minutes), and sometimes reach 400 before quitting. And then I try to do a full hour (with perhaps a few breathers along the way) and burn another 500-600 calories in the evening. So when it all comes together I burn 1,000 calories a day. If I can keep this pace up it means I burn an extra 7,000 calories a week = 2 lbs a week in weight loss! I should also see additional weight loss due to boosted metabolism, and even more weight loss if I can stay on a healthy eating program (which consists mainly of avoiding deserts, fatty foods, and eating too much when I dine out with friends).