Workout

So I'm on my 4th week of working out, fairly consistent. I'm proud of myself. It's the longest I've stuck to a workout routine on my own. In high school, I got my workout from volleyball. I loved volleyball. I wasn't great at it, but I did enjoy it. My coach was awesome (shout out to Ms. Holland)! Anyway, so since then I haven't done much of anything exercise-wise. About 6 months before I got pregnant, my metabolism started slowing down and everything I ate was getting to me. Once I had Valerie and quit breastfeeding when she was about 9 1/2 months, my metabolism slowed way down. She's 2 1/2 now, and I had to do something about it. I was always "tired" and never felt like doing anything. I even went into a depression. I haven't felt good about my body, either.

People will look at me and say "You're little. What are you worried about?" When you know your body, you know when it's out of control. I may not be as big as everyone else but I felt like it because I was out of shape and not taking care of myself. I also got tired of hearing, "Are you pregnant?" That's where all my fat goes, my belly. So here I am.

1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" For me in my walk with Christ, I had to put that in perspective to motivate me. Would I want to present this physical body to Christ? Why would I? I don't even want to present to myself. After 4 weeks, there's not much transformation body wise on the outside. I've lost about an inch in my waist. I'm aiming for 2 more inches and then maintaining. Inside, I feel so much better. After almost 10 years of no constant exercise routine, I can't expect what I want in 4 weeks. I just can't. But I've had progress and that motivates me.

What's my routine? Well, working out at least 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week. I haven't missed more than 2 days in one week and I've had days where I had to shorten it to 15 min. But something is better than nothing. I have learned that evening workout works better for me. I started P90X before near the beginning of the year. It wasn't motivating enough and I did it in the morning which require early mornings. It worked. I lost about 2 inches in 2 weeks but I couldn't stay on top of it. So this time I started doing Hip Hop Abs. It's fun and keeps me interested. I do incorporate some P90X ab exercises. This week I am starting Insanity. This workout is by the same instructor as Hip Hop Abs. I did the fitness test today and the 6 min. Hip Hop Abs. By combining the Hip Hop Abs and Insanity, I'll get what I want in the amount of time I hope for. I don't follow the meal plans step by step but I follow the basics of them- eat small and healthy more often. I'm more thoughtful about what I eat. I'm still working on portion control and self control but I think I'm at a good point when it comes to food. I will follow Insanity's 60 day workout all the way through.

Feel free to give me your tips. Encourage me and keep me accountable. I'll post before and after pictures at the end. I'm too embarrassed to show where I'm at now. It's one thing to look good to other people, it's another when you don't feel and look at yourself that way. I'm comfortable with who I am on the inside but physically is what I struggle with on a daily basis. We all have our faults which makes us far from perfect. That doesn't mean we have to except less than the best for ourselves. My life verse reminds me that I must stay one track and that I can do it. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." He is my ultimate motivator, trainer, and best of all, friend.