What I Am Working On Now

More on protein, veggies and fruits.

I am enjoying dancing as my cardio exercise the past weeks.  I join Zumba and Body Jam.  I am loving the moves! 

I am also working on my triceps and core - my belly specifically.  I do strength training after my cardio.  

And here's one video I just discovered from the YouTube channel of Steadyhealth.  I have started giving time again on my belly exercises and will start on these tomorrow. 

This I learned/validated after all these years at the gym:

1.  Maximum duration of exercise should be one hour and a half. More than that, muscles are wasted because cortisol are produced which eat away muscles.  - Please just browse Google if you want to know more about this. :) 

2.  It's better to take a bath right after an exercise because pores are open.  Skin are thoroughly cleansed. (I read about this before I know but I still rest a while before freshening up after a workout.)

Anyway, here's the video to flatten your belly. LET'S DO THIS! 

Spinning

Finally, I had my first try at spinning yesterday. It came off like a sudden decision. I have been meaning to - in fact, I often check the RPM schedule and see if my time at the gym can accommodate it. But I always postpone.

Yesterday was a different story. I just thought about it while doing my pre-work out stretching. Just do it now. And I did! And I am so glad I finally joined the RPM class. Like what I have said in my Facebook status, after three years at the gym, I finally tried cycling. A little pathetic, don't you think? Haha.

Yes, it was not as hard as I thought it would be. I just had a minor blooper when I suddenly sat down without slowing down from biking on a standing position. It hurt a bit on the butt.

Overall I enjoyed spinning. Maybe it's new to me and maybe because it felt really good sweating it all out. It was my second day this morning joining the class. I can say that I put more effort this day and I already used the knob which controls the resistance.

I searched the web for more spinning tips. I am interested if I'm doing it right, the way I sit and stand and the way I set the cycling equipment.

Let me share a few things which will be helpful for beginners like me. From Indoor Cycling, Wikipedia:

The seat position must be right for the participant's height. The height of the seat should be in level with the hip when the participant is standing next to the cycle.

Horizontally the seat should be set in order for the front of the knee to be directly in vertical line with the ball of the foot when the pedal is pointing forward.[6] This results in a position where the knee is slightly bent at an angle between 25% and 35% when the leg is extended with the foot resting flat at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Handlebar height can be adjusted for comfort; less experienced riders may want to set them higher to ease lower back discomfort. A reasonable reference point is to set it in level with the seat.

Warm up before spinning is very important too. And don't forget to bring your bottle of water and a good sweat absorbing towel. I look forward to my spinning classes. :)

Gym Etiquettes

I appreciate the badge you see on the left side of this post. :) Now on to other news.....

I generally do not mind about other people's quirks and attitudes. I normally go with the saying "to each his own". I am not in the habit of talking about people except when you're a super celebrity.

But I love to watch people. On rare times they affect me, a lot of times not really. But I do notice some people need to practice some etiquette especially at the gym. Just common courtesy and sensitivity to your gym mates will be highly appreciated.

1. Please follow the rules. If the gym management posted an advisory not to leave your toiletries and change clothes at the shower room, then don't. Please let others use the shower first. Moderate your greed. Haha.

Increase Your Metabolism

One of my concerns, specially when I was starting with my weight management, is how to increase my metabolism. I have no scientific basis but I just knew then I have a very slow metabolism. I work five days a week but mostly my time is spent at the office, sitting on my chair or sitting on a meeting for hours on end. Not much physical activity, right? But my officemates are able to manage their weight even if we have almost the same activities. I don't know what they do at home but I sure gain weight faster than they do.

Since I got serious with my weight management I've been checking how to increase my metabolism. I need about 1,250 calories a day and anything beyond that I should burn. So far I have a constant weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs a week which should indicate my metabolism is working well compared before. Thanks to regular exercise and consistent managing of my food intake.

Gym Fatigue? I Just Do It.

I guess this happens to everyone, even to those we call gym rats. Too much of anything will tire us. Boredom strikes when some activities are part of our routine.

I still go to the gym regularly, like five times a week. I just noticed I give some effort to do all the work outs I need to do unlike the past weeks and months that merely thinking about them excites me. They make me want to go to the gym right away.

Is this boredom or complacency? I am so close to my weight goal that a little voice tells me to take it easy now. I can pass some of the exercises I do or decrease the number of repetitions. I followed the voice twice already. But today I went back to my regular treadmill time and running time. I stick to the number of reps for my weights.

No, I Did Not Take Anything

I am quite proud of my efforts in managing my weight. From February of this year up to this month of May, I already lost a lot of unwanted pounds, 2-digits, baby. I still need to lose some more to achieve my desired weight. My body fat decreased considerably. What I am so happy about also is that my BMI is just a hair's strand away from being normal. Yes! I'm jumping for joy! :)))

People do notice how I am getting slimmer. Modesty aside, I am flattered by their compliments. People who knew me when I was still very slim tell me that I am back, my body is back to how it used to be, slim and curvy. I am getting there, friends. Not still as slim as I used to be but getting there.

The thing is a lot also wonder what I did or have been doing. One even asked me pointblank what I took. Is there a slimming pill that I can share? NONE. NADA. Because I have always been wary of taking anything even if it means I will lose the fats in just a couple of weeks. I am afraid of the side effects they could bring. No way. I could have taken them years ago when my friends where all drinking this and that pill. But I am scared.