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2002/12/10, 08:38 PM
Two and a half years ago I weighed 225 lbs. At 5'7" that was pretty big. I went through a drastic change in my life and moved in with a friend. I was going through a rough time and didn't feel like eating anyway, so I juice-fasted for a week to try to remove at least the physical toxins from my body so I didn't have to contend with that as well as my mental health. Then I went vegan (since I was eating what she cooked me) and she brought home some Tae-Bo tapes one day. I didn't intend to work out with her but what good was it sitting on the couch reading while she worked out to them right in front of me. So I started working out. I hated it and it made me sick but it was the only time my mind wasn't focusing on my personal dilemma. I was so out of shape that even the instructional seemed difficult at first but after a week of mastering the moves I moved on to the Basic. I started looking forward to working out after work just so I didn't feel so depressed. After several weeks of just the Basic workout, we added Buns of Steel, Abs of Steel- really anything we could get our hands on at a sale price. I realized that I was working out for about 2 hours a day and started throwing in the Advanced one hour workouts. I went back to eating "normally" again and we started joining her boyfriend at the city YMCA on free passes and we liked it so much that we just joined too. So this all started in September and I was around a size 38 (tight) jeans. By spring, I was in 33s and 34s and was down to 165lbs. I had added weights onto my workout but I didn't know anyone to help me with them so I wasn't quite sure what I was doing even though I read M&F, etc. and the free weight room at the YMCA was a little threatening with all those men in there and no women. To this day I wish I had a female mentor for body building. I felt great and looked fantastic- not only physically but mentally as well. About a year and a half ago I stopped working out altogether to let a shoulder injury heal (I created it horsing around with friends, not working out) and I felt fine about how I looked for a while and didn't go back to it- I was just too busy! My life had become so full socially and my work (and animal rescue work) that I just didn't seem to have the time. Well, a year later I find myself back to a size 36 and pretty unhappy. For the past several weeks I have been working myself back into the routine slowly- I just wanted to get my motivation and schedule back- not knock myself out right away! I want to be sure I don't slide again and make it a part of my life. Due to a lack of friends with a similar interest, I'm really glad to find this site and hope that it can help me. I build muscle fantastically and am luckily a healthy person. Just today I won a free membership at the Crunch gym downtown Chicago- so I'll go Friday and see if I can even afford the monthly payments. I only have a set of dumbells at home that I can use two at 25# each or just one dumbell at 50# :)
-suka
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2002/12/10, 08:48 PM
Seems like you are in control of your body and soul. You've done it before and will do it again.
You have a real good positive attitude and thats what it takes.
We are all here to help you. Oh, and I hope the gym is affordable for you.
Good Luck Jaeger!
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The trouble with jogging is that, by the time you realize you are not in shape for it, it is too far to walk back! Franklin P. Jones
Ivan Montreal Canada
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2002/12/11, 12:24 AM
Hey, I'm from Chicago,too! I always wanted to go to one of those fancy downtown gyms, but it's too inconvenient (parking and whatnot) and expensive. But anyhoo good luck with everything! Let me know how Crunch works out for ya!
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2002/12/11, 01:37 AM
I'm the only one of my friends who even has a gym pass. Most of them, while they support my effort, don't understand why I go to all the trouble. I used to be 50 pounds overweight, so I understand how good it feels to take control of your body. Maintaining good health is the best gift you can give yourself. Keep moving forward, even a little progress is still a step in the right direction.
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Think you can or think you can't; either way you're right--Goethe
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