A Token of Appreciation

I received a letter/notification from my gym, Fitness First, a month or so ago I think. It's actually informing its valued members such as moi that "there will be an approximate 5% annual increase in the monthly dues of those who have completed the minimum contract period."

And to cushion the impact of this increase to members, they mentioned ongoing improvement in equipment and renovations for some of the clubs. Also there is a token of appreciation presenting three choices but only one of the services can be availed.


I have been wanting to try this since I received their note but it slipped my mind and I thought the due date has passed. Lucky me, I checked the date this afternoon as I was organizing my files. The services are valid until the end of this month.

I'm torn between trying the one-time TRX (suspension) session for free or the free nutrition assessment. I am letting go of the free 30-minutes spa treatment.

I'll be honest here. Since this is free, I am not sure how the assessment will go. It may not be as thorough as I want it to be. And I really want to try the TRX. If I get to like it, I just might enroll in it.

I just might try the TRX. I can't wait to get back to the gym next week. I have been to the gym this week for 3 days only I think. Blame the weather and nature's cycle, lol.

Last time I weighed in within this week, I have retained my weight, below 120 lbs and my fat mass decreased by 1% versus a week or so ago. Can't wait to do weights this coming week.

Oh by the way, one thing Fitness First can do, at least the club where I go to most of the time is bring back the hair dryers they pulled out. There are only two left which at least 8 women share at any given time as I have observed. This is quite annoying especially in the early morning when most of us using the gym are rushing to work after our workout and after we freshen up and we need the hair dryer for obvious reasons. The 5% increase in the monthly dues can cover for the extra hair dryers. No, this is not a shallow demand. It's part of the service the gym should provide.

112 lbs

That would be my magic number.

That's the weight I am willing to maintain.

And that would be by the middle of August 2011, countdown to 112 lbs starts tomorrow, June 13, 2011.

And so I need to continue my low carb, more protein diet. No cheating.

Less 1 lb a week, maximum of 2 lbs if I want to make it faster to my goal.

I've the ideal weight now but my new goal is to look more lean and more toned - arms are on the way and so are the thighs, my midsection needs maintenance.

Focus, visualize, work on it, be disciplined, achieve it.

Self-portrait

This week's photohunt is all about self-portrait. Thinking about my entry, I am tempted to change the theme to Please Indulge Me for a Moment.

As this blog chronicles my weight and fitness program for myself, I am unabashedly posting my pictures when I was still size 16-18 and now that I am size 6. As recorded in this blog, I started going to the gym on 2008 but it was only at the start of 2010 that I seriously took steps in managing my weight. I did it naturally - through regular exercise and a very disciplined diet.

As I have related in my Fitness Story, I have been slim all my life until the late 90s when motherhood and work took over my whole being. I did not think of anything else for more than a decade but work and family. But I was really motivated to live a healthier lifestyle. I want to see results with the time and money I spend on my gym sessions. There is no point in enrolling in a gym if there will be no significant change in me physically as well as emotionally, psychologically, whatever -ally.

All the people who know me from work, from our neighborhood, from church and from everywhere else are surprised with my transformation that they always ask why I decided to lose weight and how did I do it.

I managed my weight for health reasons as I am not getting any younger. I want to take care of myself. I want to be a good example to my family in healthy living. And yes, vanity. I will not apologize for that as I have mentioned several posts back. I want to look good. I want to wear the clothes I want to wear. I take pride with how I was able to discipline myself for 10 months, from January 2010 to September-October 2010, from 165 to 115-117 pounds.

Now the challenge really is maintaining what I have already achieved. I still continue with my regular exercise. I have leveled up to the weights and number of reps I do. I also read about exercises I can apply the latest of which I posted a few days back, No Pain, No Gain.

Do I still want to be a size 5 or 4? Yes, but that will be a bonus. I am also realistic that at my age and of course, genetics, I am not sure if I can still be at size 4. Size 5 maybe. What I am working on now is to look really lean and ripped.

I am enjoying the results of my weight management for almost a year. This is already a lifestyle for me. I am happy that I have discovered the joys of exercises and eating the right kind of food in moderation.

Please indulge me for a moment.

Why Did I Decide to Lose Weight? Why??

The top one question I get with my weight management program is if I have taken anything to make me lose weight. I posted about it a few entries ago. I did not take anything. I did it naturally, diet and exercise.

The top two question would be why I decided to do away with my excess pounds. If I may describe the look in their faces when they ask this question, it's like they can't understand why I have to do it. It's seems as though they would like to understand why I went through all those sacrifices in my diet and exercises. It's like asking me is it all worth it with matching crossed eyebrows and matter-of-fact tone of voice.

It has been asked to me several times and always I am left dumbfounded for a while.

Feeling Light

I was feeling lighter the past days. Most of my house clothes seemed to feel bigger on me compared to the past weeks. Some shirts look like they're hanging on my shoulders. I somehow know the diet and consecutive back to back work outs are working.

I weighed in when I got to the gym today. I almost jump for joy when the body analyzer printed my weight.  I lost five pounds in the past two weeks. :)))) I am so near my desired weight for the month. It's been a month and three weeks and I have lost a total of eight pounds already. Just about right.

Buff Women

And by buff here I mean having good muscle tone.

I attended a body balance class today after my cardio and weights. I like all the instructress so far but this one we had today sort of inspires me. She has a very cool, soft voice. It was so effortless when she gave instructions for the next poses. Most of all, I like her body contour. I like how buff she is but not too muscular. She still looks like a woman with very toned muscles on her arms, torso and legs.

Thinking About Yoga

I'm home early but I have a few take home work to do, mostly project reviews. I want to get these done in an hour so I should not be lingering here in the blogosphere or in plurkdom. And I want to cook dinner. But I just have to post about my sudden interest in yoga. Maybe it's not sudden. The interest grew on me as I see it.

A good friend, Chats, is into yoga so I asked her last night where should I start. I don't want to be looking dumb contorting my body together with the experts or those who have been doing yoga for quite some time. She suggested I should join the gentle flow class. We have the same gym membership by the way. I'd like to check the schedule of the said class tomorrow.