The Gym

So the gym I go to I absolutely love because it has so many options of group fitness to equipment and a convertible indoor/outdoor pool.  The Big Vanilla!  I still do not understand where the name came from or understand how it relates to fitness...  Anyway.  While I was at the gym last night for a quick 30 minute upper body workout, I took a look around the gym at the various members ranging from young high schoolers, to probably retired people...good range of demographics, I thought.  Then I started watching the different programs that they had on the plethera of televisions.  3 out of the 10 television were on different cooking programs.  "Cooking with Paula" with Paula Deen, whom I love to watch even though she has on more than one episode said "everything fried is better!"  to which I agree.  Ha ha!  The other cooking show was "Down Home with the Neely's".  They were making delicioius BBQ recipes similarily to what they serve in their restaurants.  Anyway, my point is, while working out watching the delicious, gourmet meals, BBQ, desserts, and fried foods being cooked before me, my mouth started watering!  "Mmmm, steak!" I thought, "oooh key lime pie!"  It all looked so good~!  So the more I started thinking about this I thought, has anyone every thought about what's on the television at the gym and when?  I am lucky to get to the gym 3-4 times per week.  I enjoy going around 9am, and would everyday if I could, however I have an 8-5 job, so during the week, my gym time is right after work...just in time for me to want to eat dinner!  Going to the gym around 5 or 6 o'clock and to see those cooking shows totally makes me want to leave the gym and go home and EAT!    Granted there are other television programs on the other tv's like the depressing evening news, ESPN Sports and watching the scandels of Tiger Woods, and a couple music television channels as well.  For me...that's, well, BORING~!  So, I guess maybe watching these shows is a good way to try and hurdle over the temptation of eating and staying at the gym...increasing my will power while working out and watching food!  HA HA.  Well it didn't work last night, I went home, cooked up some asparagus for my dinner...ate that, then resorted to eating a bowl of mac and cheese and some pumpkin bread, then a cookie.  DOH!  I failed.  Will power has been depleted.  Ugh.  But, there is always another day to try again.  :)

Baltimore Women's Classic 5K

Last year, me and a few friends participated in the Baltimore's Women's Classic 5k.  I am not a runner by any means, but it was a great experience and signed up again with the same group of friends to do it again this year.  The race was not competitive if that's what you are looking for, but it was a friendly, encouraging atmosphere for women of all ages.  Some walked, and some ran.  This year the race is on June 27, 2010.  My goal is to merely shave a minute or two off of my time from last year.  BWC 2010

Food

LUNCH
So I just came back from lunch.  Health conscious as I am trying to be, made this delicious turkey sandwich.

Recipe?  Ok...

I used Sourdough bread, but whole grain or wheat would probably have been healthier

4 slices of turkey

handful of fresh baby spinach

2 or 3 sliced fresh portabella mushrooms 

sliced cucumber

tomatoes

Give it a try...it was so good!

LAST NIGHT:
So last night I went to the gym for about an hour. Did 25 minutes of cardio on the ARC -Trainer, then a lower body workout. Went home and decided, I'll have a meal replacement shake! I called it the "peanut butter and jelly". Well halfway through my shake, I was starving!! Then I started having cravings for everything that was bad for me; french fries, potato chips & dip...DOH!. So I settled for a small bowl of Mac & cheese. Progress not perfection....

Not going to lose the 5 lbs I want to lose eating that at night. My trainer told me he is doing a diet where he doesn't eat carbs after 6pm. Maybe I should try that!?  I found this book on Amazon that I might try to have more recipes on hand ...














Maybe I need to get a parrot that yells at me "FATTY!!", like in the book "Chasing Harry Winston" by Lauren Weisberger. HA HA HA~!! Good book by the way...funny! :)
 

Getting into shape...

I just signed up for the Pound for Pound Challenge sponsored by "The Biggest Loser".  For every pound I lose, $.14 is donated to Feeding America. Pound for Pound Challenge
I only pledge to lose 5 lbs, you can pledge up to 50! 

I made a new year's resolution to get into the best shape of my life this year. Being that I am celebrating this year, the 5th anniversary of my 25th birthday ;), I figured it's a good time to do it. My motivation has been the "Dirty 30" Las Vegas trip coming up in July. I started with a trainer in March to show me the ropes at the gym. He was great, and very helpful even with a food list and drawings of ab workouts! My training sessions are over as of 1 week ago, so now it's up to me to keep it going. I thought blogging on my daily routines and progress would keep my motivation high to succeed in my goal! HA HA! Wish me luck!!