More fitness stuff"!

Fitness....I post a lot about it, and sometimes I feel bad...Like maybe I post TOO much...But this morning it dawned on me, IT IS MY BLOG...I can post what I want. (NANANANANAAA! ;) )

So, here it is...A new fitness post. 1 year ago, I started this journey. I started out of shape, and heavier than I had ever been! At 5'2" I was weighing in right around 160-165. I saw a pic on someones blog, and thought, "THIS ISN'T ME!!" While I had never been a 'workout person', I was blessed with decent genes, and weight wasn't a big issue. 3 kids later, it had changed. (I maintain that North Dakota makes you gain weight. Most everyone I know has put on lotsa weight living here... =) ) I started with cardio. I loved the elliptical and the bike. I did strength training, but I did it very casually. I decided to join the bootcamp class at the gym. It was fun, and I liked it, but it wasn't what I wanted. I kept up with the cardio, and the casual strength.
Then I got pregnant again, lost the pregnancy, and in that time gained 7 pounds...None of it muscle. I decided I was done with that. It was time to get muscle. I was "thin enough", but somehow, I still wasn't really in shape. I could go 5 miles easily on the elliptical, but I couldn't do 10 pushups in a row.
On top of that, I was hitting burnout with the gym cardio. I was to the point I didn't really try anymore, because I grew to loathe the bike, elliptical and treadmill. (Gimme a break..I'd been doing one or the other everyday for a year!) So, I started researching. I learned some stuff.... Mostly that lifting 5 pound dumbbells was NOT going to get me to my goals. I also learned that if I lifted heavy, odds of me looking "manly" were slim to none. Then there was the realization that I needed to even eat HEALTHIER than I was. There is a saying I read a lot that says, "Abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym". Huh.
So, what am I doing about these things?? Well, as mentioned previously, I found some new Zumba classes to go to, and am able to do 3-4 a week. We also got our punching bag hung, and on non-Zumba days, I go out and do a 20 minute routine mixing that with a high intensity plyo mix thing I put together. I love that punching bag. And if you think 20 minutes is nothing, I dare you to go hit one around, mix in some jumping jacks, burpees, squat jumps etc. I tell you what. I did it this morning, and it was MAYBE 20 degrees in my garage, by the end of it I was SWEATING! (Fun with gloves on!) Cardio...CHECK. (Plus I save money on gym fees!) I started a new routine in February, and have steadily increased my weight on most of my exercises. I make sure to push myself. I have mentioned my love of lifting before, and it is just growing. I no longer dread my workouts. (There are certain exercises I dread...Hello push-up position row.) I love love love lifting weights. There is not a thing that feels better than feeling strong!! The food thing is still a work in progress, but I am getting there. I am starting my progress pics again, so I can see the changes. I know that more often than not, these changes will not be reflected in the scale, and I will not be discouraged!!

My goals are lofty, but doable. Why not shoot for the stars, right?? If you haven't done a workout today, I strongly recommend fitting one in. You will NOT regret it!