May

I love May. It's this magical month when spring finally banishes the last of winter and you just can't help spending as much time as possible outside. Even through all my stress and certain circumstances that have delayed the extra motivation I usually have at this time of year to eat as healthy as I can, at least I have not stopped moving. If I did I expect I would be in big trouble.

There is a quote on the wall at Curves from the owner here in Provo. Something to the effect of, "I have never once worked out and then regretted it. Never. The hardest step in any workout is the first step in (or out) the door." I have found that to be true. There have been plenty of days that I did not want to leave my bed. Seriously? What mom of two babies wakes up before they do? Especially since it's still quite rare that I get to sleep through the night. I have been so stressed out lately that it would be so easy to just give myself those extra precious moments of sleep. Everyone would understand. I need that sleep. But what I really need is a couple more hours of sleep, and that's just not going to happen. Not for another decade or more probably. So in the mean time I know that working out at 7am is going to give me worlds more energy than sleeping until 7:30 if I'm lucky. But I still have to convince myself every single day.

The Jillian workout for May was harder at first than any other month. And March was hard. The first day I did my best, feeling silly as I usually do on the first day of a new workout. It didn't even take the entire day for my entire lower body to ache. Sitting on the floor, picking up babies, climbing over the baby gate were all extremely difficult. Naturally day two was worse, but that was what I expected. I faithfully went to Curves and did the routine again. I hoped I would feel less sore on day three, but I didn't. But still I went, and did my best again. After the weekend I went back, having recovered mostly. And you know what? I didn't get sore again. It was amazing how well my body adjusted to this new hard thing after just a few days. The exercises are still quite hard, but not unbearable. I actually kind of enjoy the challenge.

This week I am down to 180. That's pretty exciting! I've lost 42 lbs since September, and I have 30 more to go before I meet my goal. But I am only a few lbs off of my lowest pre-pregnancy weight. My goal for June is to lose those last few lbs and then some.

Zumba

Ever since I went back to Curves in August, I have been meaning to try Zumba again. I couldn't while my husband was taking classes, because Zumba starts at 8 and I have to be home so that he can be to class by 9. But now that class is out for the summer his schedule is not quite so firm. So this morning I woke up later than usual and decided to give it a try. It was definitely out of my comfort zone to join a class of ladies who have been doing these routines by heart for months. They don't even really need the instructor. I felt like an idiot, but I did not feel like anyone was watching me, so I guess it wasn't that bad. It was good, fun exercise for me. I did some Zumba in St. George, and LOVED it. But then I came to a Zumba class at the Curves in Provo 3 years ago and found out I had been doing Zumba for sissies. I thought I was going to die by the end of dancing without a break for a full half hour. And I weighed about 5 lbs less then. I was at my lowest weight ever (though not for long) but I am in even better shape now. The half hour of dancing this morning was really only uncomfortable because I had no idea what I was doing. I never felt left behind, I was never needing to catch my breath. It was literally no big deal for me to dance for a full half hour, and it passed in a flash. Kind of makes me wonder what else I might be able to do. "Run" a mile maybe?

My weight is holding steady at 183, which was a relief considering the amount of stress I've been holding onto lately. I have kept going to Curves, but my eating habits have been less than stellar. It's probably a good time for me to try that apple cinnamon water again, because I guarantee my body is holding onto more than just stress. Thank goodness summer is coming. My whole family is so much more in the mood for fresh veggies this time of year. Sadly we gave up hope of having a garden when we moved this month. I'll have to scout out the farmers markets when summer really hits.

Keep cheering me on! My goal is to lose another 30 lbs by the end of summer, and that's going to be a tall order unless I can get more excited about it really soon.