Working out again is scary. I know, it's only been two weeks, but it's still scary. Getting back into the swing of things is never easy and I'm not blind to it. I know it's going to be hard as hell, but I'm willing to do the work.

There are lots of reasons to workout; for your health, your state of mind, your stamina, to lose weight. Yes. I agree that these are all good reasons and all are reasons that I am starting up again, but there's another very important reason to get the booty moving - my favorite jeans. My favorite jeans (in black) are not the all coveted skinny jeans (and I do have a pair of those). No. These are the jeans that make me feel so good. They make me feel a lot of things, actually. Comfortable, sporty, trendy, sexy, fashionable...they are awesome! So awesome, in fact that I've tried to find a back-up pair, just in case something ever happened to these but to no avail. They are unique...one of a kind...special, like me.

I haven't been in these jeans since last winter (before the baby came). I can't even find them, but I know they are near...waiting ever so patiently to be worn again. We miss each other and they only way we can find ourselves skin to denim again is for me to lose this baby weight. It seems silly, I know but wouldn't you be wiling to do whatever it takes to feel all those emotions? I mean, come on!

My hubby suggested that he and his lovely wife work out together, to get in that quality time we so desperately need. I told him I was all for it and he says we'll get started soon. When's soon, I wonder? I've been off the wagon for a couple of weeks, now and I don't want him pushing too hard. He has a tendency to whip out the personal training hat and that stuff just doesn't fly to well with me on the initial. If I've been working out for a while, then I really don't care. Since there have been a couple of weeks there where I've gotten soft, I need time to build up.

I'm sort of afraid of how my body is going to react to the machines. Will they itch and burn again? Man, I was so happy to have gotten past that point before. Will I need to do it all over again? And the elliptical, Lord the elliptical. I fear it, now. Two minutes was painful...I wonder if I'll even last thirty seconds? Body memory to the rescue. Let us pray...

Oh, thank God for my husband getting a "light bulb" with this blasted swamp cooler. He figured out what was wrong with it and wham! Instant cool air in my house. Hallelujah! I couldn't be more thrilled. I need to start back up, but haven't as of yet (my mother-in-law is still at our home). It's funny but she's kind of "theif in the night" quiet and has, on more than one occasion, scared the crap out of me by just sort of appearing out of no where. I hesitate to work out in my skivies until she's gone (I think on Thursday).

I didn't work out much, this weekend. In fact, I got in one more episode of "Hooked" then didn't work out again. Not because I wasn't motivated but, dear Lord! My house is so hot! We are having unseasonably warm weather in our neck of the woods (about twenty degrees warmer, in fact). It's nuts! I'm not used to nearly 90 degree days in May and my house isn't really prepared for it. We've now got fans everywhere to try and keep the house cool. By 5:00 p.m., you're nearly melting and it doesn't really cool down until 11 or 12 in the evening. I'm not enjoying this at all. So, it makes no sense to get myself all sweatied up only to take a shower, get out and start sweating all over again. Yuck! I left Nashville sweats, I'm not trying to do that again. I'm really hoping we'll get another couple of cool days before true summer arrives, then I can workout on those days then hopefully by then, we'll have some sort of cool house air.

It's looking as if our neighbor's friend will never come and install the air conditioner we so desperately want and need and I know my husband is never going to get on the roof to service the swamp cooler. Am I destined to burn up, implode, melt in my own home? Death by heat...doesn't sound too pretty. I'm not sure what I'm going to do because I was so motivated and ready. Another stumbling block to get over. Hate those blocks, I gotta tell yah. Please oh please anonymous friend of my neighbor, if you're out there and you read blogs about weight loss and new lives, this is your friend Ryan's neighbor who is in desperate need of that air conditioner you're holding for ransom. What is the ransom fee, I'll pay whatever, if only to keep my butt from getting any rounder. Is a check okay?

Man oh man. My love for the 80's is out of control! This was a show that began in the conservative state of Utah, then went to mass television in the early 80's. It's too funny - the outfits, the music, the goofy looking man instructors, but they did get some things right. The three levels say low effort, medium effort and high effort. Actually, it should say the three levels in terms of impact. The high really looks like you could hurt yourself. On the other hand, the medium and low are not so intense that you could really injure yourself. In fact, the instructors encourage people who are of limited mobility to try the low effort and cater it to their own needs. Even those who are physically disabled should try. Now, what workout program allows for that kind of flexibility with it's viewers?

The program still airs on the KBYU channel here (that's the public broadcasting channel designated for BYU...high Mormon influence) on Saturday mornings. A couple of years ago, I would set the VCR to tape the shows, so I have several episodes. The other nice thing is that there are no commercials to interrupt the workout. I did one of these last night, so that I wouldn't wake up my mother-in-law (the workout room is next to the guest bedroom). I pendulumed, ponied, chugged and grape-vined my way into a heavy sweat,then jumped into the shower. I did well, for not having done a workout in the last few days. I was proud of myself.

Today, I feel really good and am thinking another episode is in order this evening. I think I will stretch a bit more (although, there is a stretching segment). I think I may be headed for a Charlie horse in my right calf today. I've been flexing like crazy to try and ward it off.

So here's a bit more information about the workouts, if you're interested.

My Hooked on Aerobics Review
There are three instructors, as I indicated earlier. The cast is made up of a host and two additional instructors. The host, a very pretty, almost exotic looking woman named Ellen, warms up the viewer and shows them some of the steps that will be used in that episode's workout. The hosts then rotates to the left (like Volleyball...hmmm) and the workout begins with the second instructor. Intensity is increased and by that person's end, the heart-rate chart appears to make sure you have reached your training zone. Rotate! The next (third) instructor takes the viewer through a series of moves and then...rotate! Our original host has returned. Again, a series of moves and...rotate! The second instructor who, once again, stops at the end to allow for a quick heart-rate check. Rotate! We have our third instructor taking us through moves that are, hopefully, a little less intense. I've watched many an episode and I often wondered if they allowed BYU students free run of the audio. The music is sometimes way too fast or entirely too slow. Rotate! We're back to the lovely Ellen who cools us down and gives us some additional stretching time (encouraging the viewer to continue stretching, even after the program ends). With a quick plug to the write in to the station with questions, our workout ends and the viewer is left worked out and energized.

Pros - a. The variety of workout intensities. I would never recommend the high due to possibly killing your knees or another living person. I've seen so much bouncing around that it's scary. Truly 80's, before we knew how bad it was for people b. The variety of instructors. If you don't like one, another is bound to start up sooner or later c. The pace. This definitely clips along without a lot of lag time. You don't feel like "it's never going to end"d. The female instructors are non threatening (no cheerleader types, thank God), pleasant and attractive. They appeared to be in their late twenties to early thirties (hard to tell with all the 80's make-up), average height with fit bodies. Not too skinny and very tone. Achievable results in instructors. I really like that.

Cons - a. The clothing. Ugh! What the hell were we thinking wearing belts during a workout, anyway? The color scheme is enough to either distract or blind you. Geesh! Ellen has a lot of hair and most times it's braided and in a ponytail, but there are episodes where I think she's going to smack the hell out of herself with her hair b. A couple of the male instructors are totally annoying to hear, strange looking and too aggressive. There is only one I find tolerable and he comes across as a dad-figure c. Guest instructors. There are about 6 or 7 standard instructors but, every so often, they bring some random person on who (most times) looks utterly ridiculous and out of place. They never speak and look like little aerobic puppets; "Do my bidding! Jump, I say. Jump!" d. the music isn't the best. As I said before, they catered this show to a Mormon audience initially. Very conservative with their dress, mannerisms and music. Once they went mass-market, that changed a bit, but not by much. Many of the songs sound like other, more known 80's songs. There are even a couple of songs heard on some famous t.v. shows of the time (Love Boat & Fantasy Island) Some of the music sounds just plain stupid e. There are many editing problems. I understand that they taped the first twelve episodes one after the other, wiping down the instructors and adding more make-up between takes (eww, nasty!). Then, when they went nationwide, they taped more episodes daily. Sometimes, our instructors seem to be lost or unsure of what to do next. Hesitations between moves, primarily (okay, we've ponied for two minutes, now what?). Sometimes, Ellen would make all sorts of mistakes in her "speech" to the viewers. One I remember distinctively is "Remember, aerobics isn't for everyone," (when that's what they touted from show to show) and "Let's get hooked on maerobics." Hmmm. Maerobics. Sounds like a disease.

So, there you have it. These episodes are not on DVD and there are a couple of VHS tapes you can buy, but they're expensive for VHS. I would imagine, with the resurgence it's had here in Utah, they will be converting those episodes to DVD soon enough.

Other than that, the eating is good, I'm on a new supplement and hubby has me doing a colon cleanse for the next fifteen days. Doesn't that sound appealing!

I worked out to FitPrime again on the fifth. I did much better this time around and felt really good, afterwards. Hubby caught me in mid pump and asked me to use the mat when I'm working out from now on. I guess he's afraid I'll sweaty up the carpet too much and he's probably right.

Saturday night and Sunday, no workouts for me. Instead, I drank myself into almost a stupor (not a good thing) but it sure was fun. Tonight, I'm going to get back at it with some cardio on the machines. Well, that's the plan and I hope it comes to fruition I need to burn off all those empty calories I drank over the weekend. The good news is that I didn't eat a bunch of horrible things, like I could have. I'm proud of myself for not going over board on the eating, during this crucial period. Now, if I could just leave the spirits alone....

I climbed onto the elliptical trainer last night for the first time since I've had the baby. Yeah. I'm still looking or my quads. They were on fire! I knew that I'd only be able to do five minutes, getting on, but after only fifty seconds I thought I would die. So, two minutes was all I could muster (I know, I know. I felt like a total weakling, too). Then, I jumped onto the treadmill for 25 minutes, walking at a pretty fast clip and doing only about three minutes worth of a jog (this portion's music really didn't allow for much jogging). It wasn't fast enough for a run; however, try walking to "Turn the Beat Around" and see how much you're sweating, afterwards? Phew!

After my five minute cool-down, I thought I'd give it another go on the elliptical. I burned thirty calories in the next two minutes. Man, that thing is great for burning up those pesky calories. I really hate the build-up period, you know? I just want to jump on and be where I was this time last year but, alas. I must practice patience and work my way back up. Rome wasn't built in a day...


She looks so happy, doesn't she? Yeah. I didn't quite look like this last night. This is the model I have, by the way; a Proform 675. It's going to be great again (my ability to workout on a whim with no problem), I'm sure. I'm going to continue to be optimistic (yes, even if it does kill my quads).

Mercy! I worked out to The Firm:Volume 4 or Time Crunch Workout. Yikes! I was pretty much sweating buckets by the fifteen minute mark (this is a forty-five minute video). I only stopped twice; once, during the "step up, step down" routine on the 10" box with weights (a rotation of bicep curls, laterals, and kick backs), and during one of the segments for the ab routine. Geesh! Those reverse crunches were kicking my tail (seeing that I have no muscle tone whatsoever in that area, right now). I just had a baby, for God's sake! I told the t.v., "I'll get back to you on that one." Anyone who may have walked into my living room at that moment, would have thought me a raving lunatic. Oh, well. I'll hit them back on the full deal in a couple of weeks. I'm still building my strength, after all.

I did feel great, afterwards. It wasn't until this morning that I felt like someone had taken one of those vehicles (you know the kind...they use them to lay down the tar when they're redoing or putting down new roads) over my stomach a couple of times. Obliques, lower and upper abs...they were all screaming. Thank goodness for the stretching at the end or I really would have been in trouble.

Tonight? I'm thinking treadmill or maybe a go at the elliptical. The only thing about it (and I know it is less impact and burns more calories) is that it's so tough for me to get going on it again. I can usually only go in five minute spurts, at first so. Maybe, I'll warm up on it, then hop on the treadmill. We'll see. The working out after dinner was also a good idea. I was tired, but I didn't feel like I was going to pass out.

Now, we'll see if all of this is for not on Monday. Oh yeah, I'm weighing on Mondays, right now. That may change. We'll see.

That's the name of the CD I created to run to, since there's no t.v. in the workout room (yet). I took the baby down with me and put her in her bouncy chair, sent the oldest upstairs to eat dinner (and meditate on why lying is not good...she got herself grounded for trying to be a sneaky, devious five-year old and I will not have it), then started the disc. Here's the layout:

1. Borderline - I was moving at a good pace for warming up (about 2.8 or 2.9 mph). The baby thought I was funny as I tried to walk, punch the air and sing at the same time. I probably looked a wretched mess.

2. Love Shack - The pace picked up to about 3.3 to 3.4... Warm up's over and I'm moving (please keep in mind that I'm five feet, two inches so my stride isn't very long. This may be slow for some, but I was moving pretty good at this point.

3. Wild Wild West (80's) - Yeah, I was sweating on this one and it was the extended version or something. I thought this song would never end! (Around 3. 7)

4. Cool Jerk - Yep. I was off and running on this one (4.0) Phew! Thank goodness this song is only a couple of minutes long.

5. Tequila - 4.2 (this was too intense on a first go, so I slowed the treadmill down to a fast walk, again). I hope to be able to do the 4.2 in a week or so. It just wasn't going to happen last night.

6. The Hustle - 2.8 cooling down. Thank God! I've never been so happy to hear that song before in my life! It reminded me of when my girlfriend and I used to do step aerobics and our cool down song was UB40's version of, "I can't help falling in love with you". We were always thrilled to hear that song.

I then jumped on the elliptical for about a minute, stretched, then called it good. I showered, came back to the kitchen and cooked dinner. By eight, I was eating but completely wiped out. Normally, I don't eat so late but with the menu, I have to cook in order to eat. We've got great leftovers for the next couple of days (Italian Pasta Primavera was last night's entree). I put the baby down at 8:30, and was in bed by nine. It was nice to get the extra couple of hours of sleep. I don't plan on doing things quite in that order tonight. I think I'll eat first, wait a couple hours, then workout. There just wasn't enough on my stomach and that's definitely necessary for a workout as intense as what I did last night. Tonight, I'm thinking either another dose of FitPrime or a Firm classics (we'll see).

Today, we went out for lunch and I ordered the orange peel with tofu and veggies. My carb? Why, brown rice (loaded with fiber). It was tasty and I have leftovers. I'll eat them for dinner and will have had a really good day of nutrition (oatmeal for breakfast, protein bar for snack). Things are looking up.

So, I took on Susan Harris' Floor Burn last night for the first time and I gotta say, I took it like a trooper...but oh man. This DVD is no joke! My butt was screaming during the dog kicks and leg turn outs. She brings in the tall box from the firm videos, weights and a towel. I noticed she only has five-pounders...gone are the twenty-pounders she hefts in the Firm Volume 1.

You use the tall box to stabilize your body, but that also allows your leg more room for movement. Thus, more intensity...thus, more butt burning. Yikes! The stretching segment at the end is true Firm (Anna Benson gets the credit, I'm sure). I love how it allows for gaining flexibility. The yoga segments are pretty good, but I wish they'd slowed the music down more. When I think yoga, I think peace and tranquility. Birds chirping, ocean waves, kokopelli music and the like. They continue the hip hop beat that is found throughout the video, granted it's at a slower pace but it didn't allow me to "get into" the yoga like I wanted to.

That being said, that's the only complaint I have. I do like the music, actually. The set is very basic but there are not so subtle throw backs to the Firms of old with a bust on a pillar in the corner and some lace strewn around, Susan works out on a sort of oriental rug/mat...a little odd. Susan is alone with only her box, towel and weights to keep her company. She's an awesome instructor, concentrating on form and good, solid repetitions. I always enjoy her style of teaching. Instructors that are constantly screaming at you or (ahem) encouraging you along (Denise, please shut up!) are such a turn off. I especially dislike the ones that are working out with you, all of a sudden stop, and show you how your form should be on another participant on the tape. (Uh, Billy Blanks, do you hear me?) I mean, I know they're already in shape and really don't have to work the whole program, but I certainly appreciate it when they do. It's like, "I know, you're going through this and it's tough so, I should too, if only to keep you motivated" mentality. The only time showing form on others is acceptable is if you do it along with that person. Leslie Sansone is good about this.

Okay, so this totally turned into a review but I did want to show that I'm truly back on track. It's the first of the month and the first of the week. No better time, eh? Hubby has the workout room all set up, I might as well use it. Besides, I'm just so tired of being "large and in charge." I can certainly be "small and in charge". I'm wearing a size 14 today and it's a perfect fit. Yep. That pretty much did it for me. It's time to get back into those 8s. Sweat on, my sisters. Sweat on!