Out of the fog

It didn't take as long as I expected to recover from my weekend at the Renaissance Festival.  All it took was reaching my water goal, eating good, clean meals with a balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats and a good strength training session.  

I fell into bed after Midsummer rehearsal Monday night and slept through very well.  I woke up feeling like a rockstar!  My brain wasn't foggy, my motor skills were back, and I wasn't dreading trudging my way through an eight hour work day.  AND I lost 2.5 of the 4lbs I gained over the weekend! 

I decided to switch up my strength training, because I've noticed that I have these little bulgy bits near my armpits that make wearing tank tops and sleeveless bodices unsightly.  I've also been developing what I call a mini-muffin top.  As I was browsing the Fitness and Health section of Pinterest, I came across this workout that is supposed to work all the bits that regular moves miss.

http://www.prevention.com/fitness/strength-training/fat-burning-workout-routines-trouble-spots?cm_mmc=Pinterest-_-Fitness-_-Article-_-So%20Long%20Spillover%20Spots  

I did one set of each move in addition to the 2 sets of modified pull-ups I've been doing.  Once I'm more comfortable with the routine and don't have to check back to see what move is next, I'll add another circuit, possibly a third.

This morning, I woke up and looked down at my mid-section and could see ab definition.  That was exciting as I've not had any ab definition in ages. 

I'm feeling good and can't wait to conquer my next hurdle, whatever that may be!

  

Skinny vs Strong

I read this blog post today, and it really made me think.  It's about body image and the desire to be strong vs the desire to be skinny.  It made me very sad to think that there were probably girls in my classes in high school and while I was teaching drama who felt the way Sophia did. No girl should ever have to feel that to be accepted, she needs to starve herself. The top priority should be health. If you are eating so little that you can't function properly, there is definitely a problem.  

I never really felt pressured to be skinny in high school. To be fair, I WAS skinny in high school. I was slender, but well muscled, because I was a dancer and a swimmer. I never felt remorse (and still don't feel it) over that cheeseburger or piece of cake. I've always had a healthy love of food.

My senior year, I weighed 79lbs, but it was a healthy 79lbs. Before you get indignant and scoff, you have to remember that I am tiny. I'm 4'10" tall, so 79lbs of muscle looked much better on me than 79lbs would on someone who is 5'3".

It's been only recently that I've begun to feel panic about my body. My muscle mass has decreased significantly, and I've gone soft everywhere. When I realized that I was almost 50lbs over what I was in high school, but that it was mostly fat, I was horrified. I still looked okay as long as I was fully clothed, but most of my muscle tone was buried under an increasingly thick layer of fluff and cellulite. And my blood pressure was sky high!

I didn't freak out. Okay, I freaked out a little, but I didn't go on a crazy binge diet. I've simply been eating cleaner and healthier while incorporating three strength training workouts into my schedule. If I have the time, I'll do a Zumba session on my off days.

Since January, I've dropped 20lbs and gained quite a bit of muscle tone in the process. I'm never going to be 79lbs again, and I'm fine with that. I like finally having boobs, frankly. But my body was getting away from me, and it was time to get it reigned in.  That being said, I still have some work to do.  I'm trying to think more in terms of inches than pounds at this point.  I'm building more muscle, so I may not drop any additional weight.  In fact, I may gain a little, and that's just fine.

The effects of Renaissance festivals on the urban pixie...

This weekend marked the opening of the local Renaissance festival that I've been part of in some capacity for 14 of its 18 years.  It was great to see old friend and make new ones, but it was rough.  I was unkind to myself this weekend and am currently paying for it this morning.  It's going to take me the week to recuperate, and then I get to do it all again.

I definitely need to remember to pack lunches, because no matter how much I love festival food (especially from the new pastie/baked potato vendor), it does not love me.  There tends to be too much sodium, which makes me puff up like mini Staypufft marshmallow man.

In addition, I left my mug at home, so I didn't drink nearly as much water as I should have, which also add to water retention; and I definitely didn't sleep enough which also adds water weight.

The miserable 40-50 degree rainy weather didn't help, either, as cooler temperatures slow down your metabolism and digestive system.

I also ate a meal from Long John Silvers last night, which I know is highly reactive for me.  It was tasty, but I not only did I puff up, it's also made me dumb and lethargic.  I slept a solid 8 hours last night, so there's really no reason for me to be so exhausted.  I'm sleepy, clumsy and can't think clearly.  It feels like I'm moving through molasses.

I'm constantly amazed by the effect that different foods can have on a person.  So, as I sit here typing, eating my bowl of cherries and flaxseed, I have made myself a promise to be good to my body for the rest of the festival.  Not only do I have intense weekends, but I also have rehearsal every night until Midsummer opens. I won't have the energy to make it through aerial classes and 3.5 hour rehearsals if I'm not taking care of myself.  If I continue as I did this weekend, I will crash hard and make myself sick.

So, wish me luck, my friends.  I will need it to make it through this week.

Conquering the Crossback Straddle

Last night's aerial class was extremely gratifying.  After three months of aerial class, I have finally conquered the Crossback Straddle.  Combine that with performing Double Dance Wraps in the air successfully on the first attempt and performing the Marionette for the first time, and you had one happy pixie.

Combine that with dropping 6 of the 15 pounds I have left to shed, and I'm feeling pretty spectacular.  (Granted, after last night, I feel more than a little like someone beat me with a stick, but that will pass!)  My body is getting stronger, I'm getting leaner, my belly is flattening out, and I'm having a grand ol' time.

Mountain Climbers made easy?!

I've been trolling backonpointe.tumblr.com (as usual) and came across a core strengthening article.   In this article, there is what appears to be an amazing (to me) invention.  It's the Valslide.  I know it sounds ridiculous, and it sounds even more ridiculous when you know what it is, but I've seen how easy it makes Mountain Climbers (my fitness nemesis)!  And I want it!!!

Any person who has tried Mountain Climbers knows how difficult they are.  It is one of the most awkward fitness moves I've ever seen, and they are physically exhausting.  Humans just aren't meant to move that way!...Says the girl who spends a good deal of time upside down these days.

Seriously, folks.  Check out Coach Dos's video demonstrating a Mountain Climber variation using the Valslide pads:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBdCXMSaZEw.

Pull-ups: A Pixie's Perspective

Pull-ups.  Oy.  Just the thought of me trying to do a pull-up makes me laugh hysterically.  I've tried.  There's no way.  I just wriggle about like a fish on a  hook.  

I made a Facebook post about not being able to do a pull-up, and my aerial instructor responded that it took her a year to be able to do her first pull-up.  o.O  A year!  This actually makes sense, because most women find their strength in their legs - especially dancers.  I knew immediately that aerial would be a challenge, because most of the climbs (except for the Taco Climb...gotta love the Taco Climb!) depend on your upper body to do most of the work for you; and I had little to no upper body strength when I started.

My instructor did, in her infinite wisdom, impart to me that starting by jumping up and lowering myself as slowly as possible would utilize the same muscles thus making those muscles stronger.  Good to know!

So, I tried it.  I'm glad I was alone in the house when I did, because I'm sure I looked ridiculous.  I'm 4'10", so I couldn't exactly jump up and reach the pull-up bar.  I had to use a chair.  So, I got in the chair, pulled myself up into the top of a pull-up and slowly lowered myself to the ground, climbed back into the chair and did it all over again.  I was only able to do 8 reps before the muscles in my forearms screamed at me to stop.    

I'm convinced I need to be doing more of these, because my trapezius, deltoids and scapular muscles were sore the next morning.  In fact, they're still sore two days latern (despite my foray into active recovery techniques), which could be a problem since I have aerial class tonight.  My plan is to incorporate these bastardized pull-ups into my routine three days a week so I can get to work building those muscles that will most certainly help with my foray into the aerial arts.

I hope this helps someone out there who is just as hopeless at pull-ups as I am.

What is "Active Recovery"?

Aerial class is working a completely new set of muscles for me.  In the past, my strength has been in my legs.  So, naturally, my aerial classes have left me a bit (read, extremely) sore the next day and even more stiff and sore 48 hours after.

In researching how to prevent this soreness, I kept seeing the term "active recovery".  The first question I had was "What is active recovery?"  Active recovery refers to a low-intensity method of exercise done either immediately after or the day after an intense intense workout.

Unfortunately, I don't have time after my aerial class to do any low-intensity cardio, because I'm getting in my truck right after class and sitting for 10 minutes on the drive home.  At that point, a low-intensity workout becomes pointless as my muscles are no longer warm.  

So, it looks like I'm stuck with option number two, which will be a low-intensity cardio routine the day after aerial (or any of my other conditioning sessions).  It's not ideal, but perhaps it will help with the lingering soreness on day 2 after a workout.  It's certainly worth a try.
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/tipsandtricks/a/activerecovery.htm

The following article mentions Self -Myofascial release (SMR), which is a method of self massage using foam rollers or tennis balls.  I use tennis balls and have found that massaging my forearms after an aerial class helps release the muscles.  I have been doing this for the last two weeks, and as a result, my forearms haven't been sore at all.
http://www.builtlean.com/2013/01/21/active-recovery-workout-ideas/   

I hope this helps those of you who may be experiencing the same problems I am.