I messed up my knee 3 times since I’ve been to the gym so I
had to quit the treadmill. The first time I injured my knee was BECAUSE of the
treadmill. The second time was lifting 150 lbs. on the leg press after being out sick for 2 weeks. I thought I was bad-ass, but I was just stupid. I should've worked my way back up to that weight. The third
was doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with someone much bigger than me. That injury lasted over 3 months.
I thought I would never be able to lose weight without the
treadmill because sprints burn a lot of calories.
I was at the same weight for a year and a half. I just
couldn’t drop any lower even while eating chicken breast and broccoli almost
every night for dinner. I even cut out soy protein shakes when I heard how bad
soy was. My body couldn’t handle whey protein every day.
This summer, I decided to change my routine to see what
would happen. I took more classes at the gym, used Sweet Sweat, and took DotFit
LeanMR after my weight lifting workouts.
I didn’t even use the 2 scoops recommended because I didn’t
want a stomach ache from the whey. I used one scoop within 45 minutes after my
workout which is within the time limit for my muscles to benefit from the
protein.
One of the trainers at the gym is lactose intolerant like me
and told me that the LeanMR doesn’t hurt her stomach like the other proteins
do. She takes one scoop before and one scoop after her workout and that girl is
ripped! Plus she’s a vegetarian. How is that even possible? A lot of guys wish
they had arms like hers and they eat meat.
Anyway, there is something about the makeup of the protein
in LeanMR that allows lactose intolerant people to tolerate it better than
other whey proteins. I don’t remember the technicalities of what she told me,
but I tried it and I’m fine with one scoop. No stomach aches.
I used to just lift weights on my own, use the elliptical,
sometimes jump rope, kick and punch the heavy bag, use the rowing machine, do Muay
Thai, and Women’s Self Defense. That was my routine for a year and a half where
my weight stayed at 117 lbs. My husband calls it putz-ing around the gym. No structured routine.
My favorite Zumba instructor came back to the gym, so I
started to go on Sundays. Instead of working out 5 days per week, I changed it
to 6. When we started the gym, we were going 7 days a week.
Monday, I do a high intensity cardio/barbell/dumbbell class
for 1 hour. It’s like the Les Mills workout from what I hear.
Tuesday, I took out Muay Thai and added Zumba.
Wednesday, I alternate Women’s Self Defense and Zumba. I’m
not sure which burns more calories. They seem the same.
Thursday, I either putz around with weights, jump rope, heavy
bag, rowing, etc. and/or do a 25 min. jump rope class.
Friday, I putz around, but it’s mainly just weights for a
total body workout. I also do abs that day.
Saturday I rest so my muscles can grow.
Sunday it’s Zumba. The instructor for this day is not like
other Zumba instructors. It’s very high intensity. Our gym is sort of like a
fighting gym, so she knows some of the women do martial arts and boxing. She
will add some exercises to the routine that martial artists do. She is awesome!
With this routine, I broke through my plateau weight. I can’t
believe I have muscles now! I’m not ripped, but I hope to have the arms I want
in about a year.
I don’t know if the Sweet Sweat works or even if the LeanMR
works. Maybe they work in combination with my workouts.
I was doing more weights before the summer, but I don't think my muscles got smaller. Maybe I
finally have enough muscles to burn a lot of calories while I’m not working
out. This summer I was finally able to wear tank tops without being embarrassed!
For the same amount of time, running on the treadmill burns
about 200 calories, Zumba burns 700, and Women’s Self Defense probably burns around
700 calories. I’m glad I don’t have to run on the treadmill anymore. That thing
is so boring! And I used to think it was fun!
I guess in a way the knee injury was a blessing because it
got me off the treadmill. A bunch of trainers told me what to do to help my
knee. I build my hamstrings and my quadriceps to strengthen the muscles around
my knee. It has helped me tremendously! Now I can do Zumba without a problem. I’m
supposed to foam roll my knee out every day, but d’oh! I forget or just don’t
have the time to.
I’m not a trainer or a fitness expert, but hopefully this will
inspire or help someone lose weight and get in shape. This is just what helped
me this summer.
Eating the right foods is 80% of the battle. I’m so sick of
chicken breast! But we all suffer now and then.
I ate ice cream twice during the week last week because it
was so damn hot out AND ate some white rice one day, but still didn’t gain any
weight from it. I even ate a bowl of chips yesterday and when I woke up this
morning I had lost a couple of more pounds.
So, you don’t have to give up all of your favorite foods. We
have one cheat day per week, but we do 2 a lot of times.
Cut out the soda, white rice, and bread. If you consume
those things on a regular basis, you will most likely drop weight if you cut
those out. Also, easy on that salad dressing! Try to cut it down to 1 or 2
tablespoons or else you might as well be having a cheeseburger. Well, that’s
only partially true. Depends on how much and what kind of dressing you put on
your salad.
When I started at the gym, I had a trainer for a few months
and I told her at the beginning, “I don’t do diets.” LOL! I crack myself up now
that I think back on it. I did not want to give up my food back then! My
attitude was that I would eat whatever I want, but just in smaller portions to
lose weight. What a dum-dum! No wonder I didn’t lose any weight the years
before the gym. People still thought I was pregnant 4 years after I had my last
child! Now I know what foods to eat and what to stay away from.
My husband has gotten into amazing shape from the time we
started at the gym. He didn’t see results for the first year and started to get
discouraged. Now he has the body that other guys are aspiring to get to. He’s
going to be Superman for Halloween this year and the costume doesn’t need to be
padded!
We never thought we would join a gym, but now we’re kicking ourselves
for not joining sooner.
If you have young kids, find a gym that has a daycare so you
can work out without having to find a babysitter.
It might be hard in the beginning, but just get yourself
over there. Find a class and make it a point to show up. Make friends at the
gym and either train with them or take classes with them. If you know someone
is waiting for you to show up, it’s easier to get your butt to the gym than if
you have no support.
You will feel better after you work out. Don’t wait for
January. New Year’s Resolutions are BS. Do it now.
Wow, I sound like an advocate for the gym. This post was not
supposed to be like that. I’m just happy
that I broke my plateau and I wanted to share it. Hopefully it will inspire at
least one person reading this.