November 26, 2010-present weight loss




2012 weight loss



Saturday, February 4, 2012

One Month In And A Spinathon

I am very happy with my 2012 progress.  I am on a pretty amazing gym schedule and am making good food choices.  Shockingly, I am having a fantastic time at the gym.  I have become friendly with a little group of women who frequently work out at the same time and take similar classes.  We chat in the locker room and stand/bike in the same area during classes.  I really like The American (TA) who helped me with my first Body Pump class.  She pushes me to take additional classes, and we even text in the evenings to psych each other up for the following day's schedule. 
  
Last week she mentioned that she attends three back-to-back Spin classes on Saturday mornings.  I did not go last weekend, and on Monday morning she said that she missed me at the Spinathon.  Even though I work out for 2+ hours a day, I was concerned that I could not make it through three classes.  She promised me that if I make it through two classes, I CAN make it through the third.  So... I signed up for and COMPLETED all three classes this morning!  It was so much fun.  We both arrived early to get 'our' bikes and were the only two lunatics who did all three classes.
  
TA knows all of the instructors and told ours that she and I were both staying for all sessions.  He almost turned a ghostly white when he saw me.  I looked at TA, said that his reaction was not all that encouraging and laughed it off.  After the first class the instructor saw me eating two wedges of a peeled orange, and I think he understood at that point that I DO actually work out.  We looked at each other and laughed as he decimated his banana and I sucked on my orange.  His laugh was also probably a bit of a Holy $&*%, this gal is actually staying for a second class! 
  
In the middle of the second class TA tapped me on the arm and mouthed that we only have one more hour left.  The countdown had started!  Most people left after the second class, but we remained.  A few minutes into the third session we were listening to the same B.r.i.t.n.e.y.S.p.e.a.r.s. song that we use for our Body Pump triceps routine.  It was my time to tap her, and I acted like I was working out my triceps, with my hands coming to my forehead.  A few seconds later we looked at each other and said SINGLES, mimicked the triceps routine and burst out laughing (I realize that this is probably only funny for some of you who do Body Pump).  The instructor thought we had lost it, but it just helped keep us going. 

The best thing happened at the end of the class.  Because our gym has wireless receivers for Spin, the studio is not at all loud.  We just plug our headsets into the receivers and adjust our individual volumes.  We had finished our last climb and were cooling down.  The instructor looked directly at me, nodded and said 'good job'.  TA and I left the studio with the instructor who again said that I did really well.  I joked that he didn't look all that convinced that I would make it in the beginning, and he just laughed.  Getting a compliment from this guy was very gratifying!  
 
I am learning that having a gym buddy is SO important as long as that gym buddy is really serious with his/her workouts.  Another girlfriend flits in and out of the gym and only comes if it easily fits into her schedule.  That is fine for her but doesn't work for me.  I will stick with TA and the other women for my gymming. 
 
Lastly, here is my January vs. February comparison picture.  It is hard to see much difference, but I think my thighs and waist have come in a bit.
 

21 comments:

Vanessa said...

You look great! I see a difference!

Lap Band Gal said...

you are ROCKING that exercise!! wow! :)

october 11 said...

You look awesome! Congrats on the spinathon!

october 11 said...

You look awesome! Congrats on the spinathon!

A.J. said...

Don't you feel like such a badass when you do a "super session"? I know i do. Plus there IS something satisfying when you show the disbelievers what you can do!!

Liz said...

Holy crap! THREE spin classes in a row?? I'm skeered to try even one!

Oh, and I see a difference!!!

Jacquie said...

You are my hero!

greenie said...

Oh my god! Who are you?? The Traveling Iron Woman!

I can totally see a difference since last month! You rock!

Dawnya said...

Looking good Nora!! Keep it up.

Sam said...

That is an amazing difference for one month :o) Congrats on working so hard!

MB said...

I disagree. I can totally see a difference. You look amazing! Great job on the bikeathon!

Melissa Wolf said...

So impressive, Nora! Glad you're having fun at the gym and you can DEFINITELY see the difference in the photos!! Way to go!

vickyd said...

Go Nora!!! I'm so impressed that you did 3 spin classes in a row!!

MandaPanda said...

I definitely see a difference. You're a full blown gym rat now. I can barely make it through one spin class, much less 3! You're crazy!!!

Catherine55 said...

AWESOME!!! Three hours of spin?!? I salaam to you!! That is just amazing. :)

Lisa said...

You look incredible!! I definitely see a difference! Even your "girls" are more defined with a small mid section. Keep up the incredible work and thanks for your note on my blog about being newly banded. I can't wait to catch up with everyone.

banded bella said...

You look amazing honey...way to go!

Andrea said...

Good job on the working out! I can totally see a difference in your waist!

trishajo said...

I am with everyone else!!! your waist DEF looks smaller! you're rocking it out girl! :)

Dani said...

Can't even imagine 3 spin classes in a row!!How's your butt feeling?-Definite difference in your picture!!

Rhonda said...

You look fantastic, I can definitely see a difference in your waist.

I love that you have a gym buddy that pushes you so well! I want one now, too. :)