Head Check
For the past month, I’ve been taking part in a fitness boot camp. Three mornings a week, I force myself out of bed at 5:30 so I can be pushed to the very limits of my physical being. An hour later, I return home, completely worthless for the rest of the day. Seriously. The first day? I took a two-hour nap, then conked out at 9 p.m.
It’s been tough. I’m not a huge fan of exercise — or really anything that involves sweating — and the fact that I’m paying someone to make me exercise is even more painful.
While I’m a little disappointed in the weight loss (or lack thereof — and I’m sure it has nothing to do with the donuts I ate this week), I have no complaints about the improvements in my fitness. In four weeks, I:
- Improved my cardiovascular fitness. I now can jog a mile without stopping to walk, and can do it in about 10 minutes.
- Increased my abdominal strength. I went from doing 60 crunches in a minute to 84.
- Strengthened my upper body. My first day, I did 17 push ups in a minute. Today, I did 30.
And just maybe that had something to do with my decision to sign up for another month of torture.
Tags: boot camp, exercise, pain, personal trainer, torture
June 27th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
fight on girlie. you are however insane for doing said exercise at 5:30.
heidis last blog post..don’t have a stroke
June 28th, 2008 at 2:06 am
Go Mary! Good motivation…..wow, 5:30, but hey, you are inspiring!
JaimeMs last blog post..Freezer Paper Fun!
June 28th, 2008 at 3:55 am
OMG, Mary, you are stronger than me lol. I couldn’t pay to have someone telling me how to exercise lol. Going to the gym is enough for me. I’m the same too, the weight loss is slow but I can ‘feel’ it in my body that I am doing good. I can do things without being puffed, I can do things without feeling my fat is getting in the way and slowly I can see how my clothes are fitting loser. So while that doesn’t show on the scales I do know that it’s working and it’s beneficial
Yay you for signing on another month. Let us know how it goes 
Christis last blog post..Changing Her Name
June 28th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I did one of these last year — except I did it five days a week for four weeks. Thought I was gonna die. But it was all good, right up until I developed tendonitis in both knees that became so painful I couldn’t finish my last week!
I actually didn’t lose any weight (because of gaining muscle) but I could definitely tell my body was leaner and more toned.
Good for you!
Jens last blog post..Lunch with Godrilla
June 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Good for you!
I’m not great at ’structured’ exercise, but do a lot of work around the property. I attended an aerobics class for many years, but with the price of gas and the commute time, one class now takes quite a bit of time/money. I simply can’t justify it any more.
I always gain weight when I exercise, but I know it’s muscle and don’t worry about what the scale says (in fact I don’t weigh myself). I go by how I feel and how my clothes fit.
Good luck with your continued success!
Caroles last blog post..The baby today….
June 28th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Good for you! I find this inspiring and need to do something similar….
June 29th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Well done! And good luck with the next round
wendys last blog post..One plus one equals nothing good
June 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
That’s great Mary!
I am trying to hit the gym at least 3 times a week..this summer! Love to here encouraging and motivating posts to get going on fitness:)
Thanks for motivating me,
kayellen
kayellens last blog post..Party Time
June 30th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Excellent! Good for you! I too have been disappointed with my lack of weight loss from my running endeavors in the past two months, but I just ran a long run on Saturday with a different partner than usual. A month ago when I ran with her, her pace had me panting and yesterday I conversed easily. It was a good feeling that even though I haven’t lost a pound, I must be in better shape, right?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:23 am
Good for you! I don’t like sweating and exercise either. And paying someone to help me do those tortuous things?!? Hee hee, I can’t see myself doing that. But I think it’s soooo awesome when other people do it because I find it so especially loathsome.
And don’t be disappointed in the weight loss part. I don’t even own a scale. I feel better if my clothes fit better, or I should say, when I’m smaller in my clothes. Then who cares if I weighed a gazillion pounds because I’d be smaller!!
Kukys last blog post..Trouble, I Say
June 30th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
oh my gosh, Dennis just started bootcamp this morning! he was out of bed at 4:45am, he said it was fun until the abs part, then it “felt like they were cutting him with knives” is how he put it. Good for you Mary!
Helenas last blog post..Help Me Choose!
June 30th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Yeah…I’m improving with all of my working out as well…I can go longer, and much more flat out. I lift heavier weights and when hiking around, I don’t get tired or sore. HOWEVER…my weight GAIN? NOT happy about that one bit. I don’t care if I lost 1% body fat…I feel all puffy…
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July 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Woohoo!!! WTG Mary!
July 4th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Keep up the good work. I did something similar when I was 34. The weight went down, not as much as you would think, running 30 miles a week as well as push-ips, crunches, situps, etc. But I was so solid with muscle that I went down something like 7 dress sizes.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Wow! I live in SC, and there are fitness boot camps around here as well, and I’ve been afraid to sign up for one, but it is good to hear about someone who has! Our boot camp Army guy looks a little fierce in the photos…